The <strong>Armenia</strong>n Reporter | October 4, 2008 We’ll cut the closing costs. You cut the grass. Save over $1,000 on mortgage fees. * Whether you’re planning to buy or refinance a home, HSBC can provide the mortgage solution you need <strong>and</strong> the simplicity you want.Talk with an expert HSBC Mortgage Loan Consultant about your mortgage needs <strong>and</strong> get advice you can believe in from the bank with over 150 years of experience. PeterYuval - Sr. Mtg. Consultant 818-471-7287 peter.r.yuval@us.hsbc.com *Subject to credit approval. Actual savings may be more or less than those shown, but generally will exceed $1,000. Offer can b cannot be combined with other discounts <strong>and</strong> promotions <strong>and</strong> does not apply to broker originated mortgages. Offer cannot exceed t be applied at time of closing. Costs covered in offer are application fee, origination fee, commitment/underwriting fee, docume appraisal, credit report <strong>and</strong> MERS fee. Not available on all mortgage products or to HSBC employees. e cancelled <strong>and</strong> is subject to change at any time, otal allowable mortgage closing costs <strong>and</strong> will nt delivery, recording fee, flood certification,
Number 82 October 4, 2008 Editorial <strong>Armenia</strong>n Reporter endorses Obama-Biden “Seldom do we face such a straightforward choice,” the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Reporter notes in its editorial this week. “As we compare the records of the c<strong>and</strong>idates for president <strong>and</strong> vice president of the United States, we find that, as U.S. citizens <strong>and</strong> as <strong>Armenia</strong>n-Americans, we have every reason to throw our strong support behind Senator Barack Obama <strong>and</strong> Senator Joe Biden.” The Obama-Biden ticket also enjoys the strong support of the <strong>Armenia</strong>n <strong>National</strong> Committee of America (ANCA) <strong>and</strong> the U.S.-<strong>Armenia</strong> Public Affairs Committee (USAPAC). See editorial on page 18 m <strong>Armenia</strong> World-renowned doctors to perform 50 lifechanging surgeries in <strong>Armenia</strong> this week <strong>Community</strong> More than a dozen doctors, nurses, <strong>and</strong> other specialists are in Yerevan this week to perform 50 lifealtering operations on clients with cleft lip, cleft palate, or both, Paul Chaderjian reports. The operations will be realized through Project Smile. Project Smile was initiated by the Cafesjian Family Foundation, Hope for the City, <strong>and</strong> the Smile Network which leads similar projects around the world. The three Minneapolisbased organizations have come together to address cleft-care needs in <strong>Armenia</strong>. See story on page 14m A profile of Armen Stepanian, the Christopher Columbus of recycling Armen Stepanian began promoting recycling at a time when the United States was gripped with an energy crisis brought on by the OPEC oil embargo. As he witnessed the long lines in front of gas stations, he realized that the country’s energy future would be in peril without conservation <strong>and</strong> sustainable consumption practices. It was in 1975 when Mr. Stepanian <strong>and</strong> a group of volunteers initiated Organizers of the William Saroyan Centennial Celebration are calling their year-long tribute to the Pulitzer Prize–winning author a success. A group of Saroyan enthusiasts from Fresno have spent three years planning the almost 100 individual projects in honor of Fresno’s native son. “It’s been extremely rewarding,” said Larry Balakian, one of the lead organizers of the Saroyan Centennial Celebration. Saroyan <strong>Community</strong> <strong>Community</strong> Barack Obama with Joe Biden on April 8. AP Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais. <strong>and</strong> successfully implemented the first recycling program in Seattle. The initiative was to be the first of its kind in the United States. Hailed as a hero for both pioneering the recycling movement <strong>and</strong> educating people to adopt conservation <strong>and</strong> recycling practices, Mr. Stepanian is unhappy with how the movement has evolved. See story on page 7m From lower left, Hratch Abdulian, Hratch Hovsepian, <strong>and</strong> Raffi Pilavian serving up prpoor at the second annual Gr<strong>and</strong> <strong>Armenia</strong>n Festival in Fresno. See story on page 8 m Saroyan centenary continues with Fresno events lived a good portion of his life in California’s San Joaquin Valley, drawing a great deal of inspiration from its agricultural communities. “Saroyan is one of the great giants,” said Edward EmanuEl, theater director at California State University, Fresno. “His work has reached millions. Saroyan is still as valuable today as when he was writing.” See story on page 9 m the armenian reporter Holy Muron is blessed at Etchmiadzin in ancient ritual Pilgrims joins bishops from around the world by Antranig Dereyan VAGHARSHAPAT, <strong>Armenia</strong> – It is an ancient ritual that typically takes place every seven years. In a ceremony that combined solemnity with pageantry, the Mother See of the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Church on Sunday, September 28, replenished its supply of muron, or chrism, the holy oil used for baptism, ordination, <strong>and</strong> other rituals. “It is the unity symbol of the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Church,” said Archbishop Nerses Bozabalyan. The bishops come together to bless the chrism, <strong>and</strong> then each takes some of it to his diocese, where he distributes it to all the churches in his jurisdiction, the archbishop explained. The day was dark <strong>and</strong> gloomy, <strong>and</strong> rain seemed inevitable. But the ceremony would go on, rain or shine, at the open-air Saint Trdat altar at Etchmiadzin. Continued on page 11 m Abp. Barkev Martirossian holds a sacred relic, the right h<strong>and</strong> of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, while Catholicos Karekin II adds an ingredient to the muron, on Sept. 28 at Etchmiadzin. Photo: Photolure. <strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide Museum litigation moves to discovery phase Experts to examine books <strong>and</strong> records of Assembly <strong>and</strong> AGM&M WASHINGTON – The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has confirmed the schedule for discovery <strong>and</strong> depositions in the ongoing litigation over the future of the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide Museum <strong>and</strong> Memorial (AGM&M) in Washington. The parties will be required to respond to interrogatories <strong>and</strong> requests for the production of documents by mid-October. Depositions will begin in late November or early December, <strong>and</strong> be completed by mid-January. The project to develop <strong>and</strong> build a museum <strong>and</strong> memorial was launched over eight years ago, in 2000, when Anoush Mathevosian <strong>and</strong> Gerard Cafesjian donated the funds to acquire a site in Washington. In November 2003 the project was transferred from the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Assembly of America to a newly formed entity, the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide Museum <strong>and</strong> Memorial, Inc. The Assembly, however, was given a trustee position on AGM&M board. At that time, Mr. Cafesjian donated four additional properties, acquired at a cost of over $12,500,000, to exp<strong>and</strong> the project site. Mr. Cafesjian <strong>and</strong> the Cafesjian Family Foundation are the largest supporters of the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide Museum <strong>and</strong> Memorial project, with pledges <strong>and</strong> donations of over $17,500.000. Mr. Cafesjian <strong>and</strong> CFF Trustee contributions to the AGMM Financial contributions by former <strong>and</strong> current members of the Board of Trustees of <strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide Museum <strong>and</strong> Memorial (AGMM) for the benefit of the AGMM as of September 2006. are entitled to three of the six votes on the AGM&M Board of Trustees. However, Mr. Hovnanian <strong>and</strong> the Assembly have used their board positions to block Mr. Cafesjian’s work on the project. Since May 2007, Mr. Hovnanian <strong>and</strong> the Assembly have excluded Mr. Cafesjian <strong>and</strong> CFF from all AGM&M decisions, in breach of all donor agreements <strong>and</strong> the AGM&M by-laws. “Mr. Cafesjian donated over seventeen million dollars, <strong>and</strong> significant time <strong>and</strong> effort, in an attempt to help build the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide museum,” said Cafesjian Family Foundation Vice President John Waters. “Unfortunately, Mr. Cafesjian’s contributions have been met with no comparable support. Mr. Cafesjian still supports development of a museum project that <strong>Armenia</strong>ns can be proud of.” The discovery stage of the litigation will require AGM&M <strong>and</strong> the Assembly to turn over their books <strong>and</strong> records to CFF. The Cafesjian Family Foundation’s legal <strong>and</strong> financial experts will then examine those books <strong>and</strong> records in detail, in order to determine the precise nature of the Assembly’s actions in breaching its donor agreements with Mr. Cafesjian. “We are looking forward to telling our story, under oath, including our motivations <strong>and</strong> efforts in planning <strong>and</strong> designing the museum. We are confident the truth will emerge <strong>and</strong> the issues will be resolved so that the project can move forward,” said Mr. Waters. f
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