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ProfessorYeritsyan’simmeasurablewealthSee story on page 18mMakingway for TheNutcrackerSee story on page 12mNoraduzmedievalcemeterySee story on pageC10mWestern U.S. EditionNumber 87November 8, 2008the armenianreporterPresident-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, left, and Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, wave to the crowd after Mr. Obama’s victory speech at his election night party at Grant Park inChicago, Tuesday night, Nov. 4. AP Photo: Morry Gash.Armenian-Americanswelcome election of BarackObama and Joe BidenReporter.amSee story on page 1 mSee editorial on page 22 m

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Number 87November 8, 2008the armenianreporterArmeniaDecember 7, 1998 – 20 years onAt 11:41 A.M. on December 7, 1988,a massive earthquake rocked Armenia.In its wake, cities, towns,and villages were decimated andover 25,000 people perished. Thisyear will mark the 20th anniversaryof that earthquake, which willforever be remembered as one ofArmenia’s darkest days. On December7, 2008 Armenians aroundthe world will commemorate thosewho perished and those who had tofind a way to carry on.The Armenian Reporter begins aseries of articles dedicated to ourcollective memories of that day andArmeniathe days and weeks that followed.Armenians around the world, incommunities across all continentsmobilized and secured aid for theircountry. Armenians in the homelandrushed to the earthquake zoneand began, at times, digging withtheir hands to find survivors. Thisweek, Armen Hakobyan recounts hisexperiences immediately followingthe earthquake as a university student,and Maria Titizian in her “Livingin Armenia” column recalls howher community in Toronto reacted.See stories on pages 21, 23 mArmenia Fund announces $30 million in pledgesThe Armenia Fund announced onNovember 3 that some 120 donorsfrom Armenia and Russia hadpledged some $30 million in donationsto the fund during a dinnerheld in Yerevan on November1 under the auspices of Armenia’sPresident Serge Sargsian. TheThe American University of Armeniaopened a new, state-of-the-artbuilding, which will allow the universityto double its enrollmentand expand adult and professionaleducation programs and conferences.The Paramaz Avedisian Building,which was inaugurated on November1, is a five-story, 108 thousandLuthier Martin Yeritsyan is thehero of this new installment ofthe Armen Hakobian’s “Armenia atWork” series. A talented musicianand pedagogue, Mr. Yeritsian isalso the son and successor of a renownedmaster of violin making orluthier, Shahen Yeritsyan. Preservingthe rich musical heritage he inheritedfrom his forefathers, MartinYeritsyan continues to make allInternationalArmeniaArmeniapledges were announced less thanfour weeks before the fund’s annualtelethon, scheduled for ThanksgivingDay, November 27. They surpassby far the pledges announcedduring last year’s telethon, whichamounted to $15 million.See story on page 20 mVic Darchinyan makes history by taking WBC,WBA, and IBF super flyweight titleVic Darchinyan became the world’s first unified super flyweight championin history after a 9th-round knockout against Mexican Cristian Mijares.The title unification bout against Mijares took place on Saturday, November1, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. In addition towinning the IBF super flyweight title, Darchinyan captured Mijares’ WBAand WBC titles.A new building sets the stage for the expansion of theAmerican University of Armeniasq ft edifice of honed and rustictufa, basalt, and glass curtain wall.Mihran Agbabian, the university’spresident emeritus, told the ArmenianReporter that the universityplans to “expand its academic programsto cover areas not coverednow and to attract a larger numberof students from outside Yerevan.”See story on page 17 mProfessor Yeritsyan’s immeasurable wealthkinds of bowed instruments in hisstudio in Yerevan. “I am rich whena student plays on one of my instrumentsand afterwards, seeingme, greets me with a smile. I feelthat I am doing a good thing for mynation, for the Armenian child, fortalented violinists and for people ingeneral,” Mr. Yeritsyan says.See story on page 18mPresident-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, left, and Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, wave afterMr. Obama’s victory speech at his election night party at Grant Park in Chicago, Nov. 4. AP Photo: Morry Gash.Armenian-Americans welcomeelection of Obama and BidenA strong showingin Congress butJoe Knollenberg isdefeatedby Vincent LimaIn an unmistakable call for a newdirection for the United States ofAmerica, voters on November 4 decisivelyelected Democrats BarackObama and Joe Biden as the nextpresident and vice president of theUnited States. The winning tickethad firm support in the Armenian-American community, and Armenian-Americanadvocacy groupswelcomed the results of the election.“I have hope that Obama will bethe president to bring Armenian issuesto the forefront,” an Armenian-American voter who identified himselfonly as Hovhannes told theArmenian Reporter’s Lory Tatoulian.(See story on page 13.) But, headded, “That is not the only reasonwhy I am voting for him. . . . I wantto make sure that this country canget back to fulfilling the promisethat it has meant for all of us.”Voters also handed Democrats alarger majority in the Senate andHouse of Representatives, returningmost allies and most adversariesof the Armenian-Americanagenda to Congress. The most notablechange, from an Armenian-American perspective, was the defeatof the co-chair of the HouseCaucus on Armenian Affairs, Rep.Joe Knollenberg (R.-Mich.)“The freely given, multiple commitmentsby candidate BarackContinued on page mRussia brokers Armenia-Azerbaijancommitment to a political settlementDeclaration is firstmajor developmentin peace processsince 1994 cease-fireShort on substanceNews analysis by EmilSanamyanWASHINGTON – The presidentsof Armenia and Azerbaijan, meetingon the invitation of the Russianpresident in Moscow on November2, pledged to reach “a political settlementof the Nagorno-Karabakhconflict” via intensified talks mediatedby Russia, the United States,and France.The text of the five-point declarationwas read out by PresidentDmitry Medvedev on Russiantelevision and carried in full by theRegnum news agency.In substance, the declarationdoes little more than reiterate theparties’ previously announcedreadiness to achieve a settlementRussia’s President Dmitry Medvedev, right, with Armenia’s President SergeSargsian, center, and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, at Meiendorf Castleoutside Moscow, Nov. 2. AP Photo: RIA-Novosti, Dmitry Astakhov, PresidentialPress Service.through continued negotiations. Itpainstakingly avoids contentiousissues and waters down any languagethat could be interpreted asa concession by either Armenia orAzerbaijan.Continued on page m

The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008NationalWashington briefingby Emil SanamyanRegional leaders offercourtesies to PresidentelectObamaFollowing the election of BarackObama as president on November4, foreign leaders communicatedtheir desire to strengthen their respectivecountries’ relations withthe United States.In congratulatory messages,President of Armenia Serge Sargsianand President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakianspoke of a “new quality” inrelations and “epochal changes” inworld politics that they expect theObama presidency to bring about.In his message, Mr. Sargsian underscoredthe importance of theArmenian-American community,which “repeatedly conveyed” toArmenia’s president “their enthusiasmfor the changes” Mr. Obamahas promised the American people.n Continued from page But the very fact of the declarationis likely to renew expectationsfor a peaceful settlement and providefor an important milestone inthe peace process. Not since May1992 have the presidents of Armeniaand Azerbaijan signed a declarationof this kind.Russian mediation, coming soonafter the war in Georgia and Russianrecognition of South Ossetiaand Abkhazia, is meant to reaffirmRussia’s leadership role in theSouth Caucasus.No commitment to thenonuse of forceThe tortured language of the declarationis almost as important inwhat it painstakingly avoids to saythrough omission or deliberatevagueness as in what it says.The first point commits the partiesto a “political settlement ofthe Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.”Importantly, it does not commitparties to maintain the cease-fire inplace or the nonuse of force.A political settlement, the declarationsays, would be on “the basisof principles and norms of internationallaw and solutions and documentsadopted in their frames.” Itdoes not mention territorial integrityor self-determination or anyspecific solution or document.The second point refers to developing“basic principles of a politicalsettlement” in the future. Importantly,it refers to the “meeting” betweenthe mediators, Armenia, andBoth Armenian presidentsstressed the role the United Statesis playing as a supporter of Armeniaand a mediator in the Karabakhpeace process.Also noting the mediating role ofthe United States was Azerbaijan’sPresident Ilham Aliyev, who inhis message appeared to hold outhope that the United States wouldhelp Azerbaijan to “put an end toArmenia’s aggression and liberateour occupied territories.” Mr. Aliyevalso underscored a “strategicpartnership” between two countriesbased on Azerbaijan’s oil salesto the United States.Both Azerbaijani and Turkishcommentators expressed concernsabout Mr. Obama’s pledge toproperly recognize the ArmenianGenocide. Speaking in reference tothe issue, Prime Minister RecebTayyip Erdogan expressed “hopethat some theses raised during theelection campaign will stay there,”in the past, as campaign issues; healso noted the “strategic nature”of bilateral ties, Turkish media reported.From Georgia, one of the fewcountries in the world where thepublic was more sympathetic to Sen.John McCain’s foreign policy approach,leader Mikheil Saakashvilialso highlighted positive expectationsfrom President-elect Obama.In televised remarks reported bywww.Civil.ge, Mr. Saakashvili citedMr. Obama’s supportive commentsand the role played by Vice President–electJoe Biden in securingthe pledge of $1 billion in U.S. assistanceto Georgia following theAugust war with Russia.A congratulatory telegram fromRussia’s President Dmitry Medvedevhad perhaps the most reservedtone. In a message posted to www.Kremlin.ru, Mr. Medvedev said he“counts on a constructive dialogue[with President Obama] based onAzerbaijan during the OSCE Ministerialin Madrid in November 2007,rather than the principles offered bythe mediators at that meeting. Ineffect the declaration leaves roomfor a substantial deviation from theso-called Madrid principles.The third point stresses the needfor “legally binding internationalguarantees of all . . . aspects andstages” of a peaceful settlement.The purpose of this point is not immediatelyclear. But it does mention“peaceful settlement” and “internationalguarantees” favored byArmenia, and “stages” favored byAzerbaijan.The fourth point reiterates thepresidents’ commitment to continuewith the settlement formatin place since 1999 – bilateral meetingsof the foreign ministers of Armeniaand Azerbaijan along withthe three co-chairs, with occasionalmeetings of the two presidents.The fifth point refers to the needfor “confidence-building measures.”Such measures have long been advocatedby Armenia and the mediators;but far from committing Azerbaijanto dropping its hate rhetoricand implementing such measures,the declaration only stresses theimportance of “promoting the creationof conditions” for the implementationof such measures.The absence of any possibly controversialpassage from the declarationconfirms the impression thatthe Russian mediators wanted verymuch to have the Armenian andAzerbaijani presidents sign a jointdeclaration at the end of the summitinitiated by Russia.Vahan Hovhannesian. Photo: Photolure.trust and consideration of eachother’s interests” in order to promotebilateral cooperation “for thecause of international peace andsecurity.”U.S. diplomats,Armeniancommentators disagreeon trends in U.S.Caucasus policyAlthough Barack Obama ran withthe slogan “The change we need,”American diplomats posted in theCaucasus say they do not expectU.S.’ regional priorities to change.The Democratic candidate renewedhis pledge on the ArmenianGenocide and stronger relationswith Armenia in a statement releasedon the eve of the election.Nevertheless, the Regnum newsagency cited a spokesperson for theU.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan, TerryDavidson, telling Azerbaijanis“not to fear” Mr. Obama’s pledgesto speak clearly on the ArmenianGenocide, and promising continuityin U.S. regional policy.An importantmilestoneAlthough largely devoid of meaningfulcommitment to a peacefulsettlement, the declaration is neverthelesshistorically important,since only twice before have leadersof Armenia and Azerbaijan signeddeclarations committing themselvesto finding a settlement ofthe Karabakh conflict.The first was a joint communiqué(declaration) signed on September23, 1991, in Zhelznovodsk,Russia, by Presidents Levon Ter-Petrossian and Ayaz Mutalibov,with President Boris Yeltsin ofRussia and President NursultanNazarbayev of Kazakhstan. Thatdeclaration pledged a cease-fireand the annulment of both Armenia’sdecision to reunify with Karabakhand of Azerbaijan’s decisionto abolish Karabakh’s autonomy;the declaration was followed by intensificationin violence and a fullscalewar in Karabakh.The last time Armenian and Azerbaijaniheads of state signed a jointdeclaration was in Tehran on May7, 1992. That declaration was signedby President Ter-Petrossian, Azerbaijan’sacting president YaqubMamedov, and Iran’s PresidentAli Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.The declaration was followed by thefirst major Armenian military successin Karabakh – the liberation ofShushi – and the subsequent overthrowof Mr. Mamedov.President Ter-Petrossian andPresident Heydar Aliyev later accededto declarations by the headsBut Ruben Safrastian, a Yerevan-basedTurkey expert, cautionedagainst expectations that the UnitedStates could influence Armenian-Turkish relations. He said, “Turkey’sapproach toward Armenia can onlychange through a fundamental reassessmentof the priorities of theTurkish elite, which needs considerabletime to play out.”At the same time, Mr. Safrastianremained hopeful that changes inU.S. policy under the new presidentwould occur. In particular, U.S. affirmationof the Armenian Genocidewill now be “more realistic” andwould contribute to strengtheningof U.S.-Armenia relations, he said.Vahan Hovhannesian, a NationalAssembly member from theARF, similarly suggested that theelection result provides Armenian-American organizations with “newserious opportunities for promotingArmenian interests.”of state of the Commonwealth ofIndependent States (CIS) in Moscowin April 1994 and the Conferencefor Security and Cooperationin Europe (CSCE) in Budapest inDecember 1994 that called for effortsto achieve a peaceful settlementof the Karabakh conflict,which continue to this day.The May 1994 cease-fire agreement,mediated by Russia, wassigned by the speakers of parliamentof Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the Nagorno-KarabakhRepublic, and subsequentlyendorsed by the defenseministers of the three republics.Russian leadershipMore than anything, the MeiendorfCastle declaration of November 2sought to underscore the leadershiprole played by Russia in theSouth Caucasus.Early international mediation effortsin the Karabakh conflict weremarked by competition betweenRussia and the West over who wasbest suited to help reach an agreementand, by extension, lead apeacekeeping mission in Karabakh.By 1994 a compromise solution wasfound, where Russia would co-chairthe CSCE (later OSCE) Minsk Group,with European countries rotating asthe other co-chair every year.In early 1997, Russia agreed to afurther compromise, establishing apermanent troika of France, Russia,and the United States. A June23, 1997, declaration by PresidentsJacques Chirac, Boris Yeltsin,and Bill Clinton in Denver (duringa G8 Economic Summit) gavehigh-level political support to theMoscow declaration onKarabakh welcomed,analyzed in the WestAlthough France and the UnitedStates were not involved in draftingof the Moscow declaration on thesettlement of the Karabakh conflict,the document is nevertheless“totally supported” by the UnitedStates, Deputy Assistant Secretaryof State and envoy to the Karabakhtalks Matt Bryza told Azerbaijanimedia on November 2 and 3.Mr. Bryza and his French colleaguewere invited to the summitbetween the Russian, Armenian,and Azerbaijan presidents, but apparentlywere kept out of the trilateraltalks held near Moscow on November2, Mr. Bryza told the TrendNews Agency.While hosting Azerbaijan’s PresidentIlham Aliyev in Ankara onNovember 5, his Turkish counterpartAbdullah Gül similarly expressedsupport for the declaration.A statement by the Turkish ForeignMinistry carried by news agencieson November 6 similarly expressedAnkara’s desire to “contribute” tothe conflict’s settlement via mediationby France, Russia, and theUnited States.While most Western commentatorssought to downplay thedeclaration’s importance, RadioFree Europe/Radio Liberty’s leadingCaucasus expert Liz Fuller describedit as a “victory for Armenia.”In a November 3 analysis, she particularlynoted that while PresidentAliyev previously threatened waragainst Armenia, has now pledgeda political solution to the issue.Writing for Eurasianet.org onNovember 4, the Russia-skepticStephen Blank noted that while“Moscow’s opposition to the use offorce can be justified for many reasons,but it also is probably the onlyway Baku could ever stand a realisticchance of recovering its lost lands.All of this means that Russia has imposedlimits on Azerbaijan’s negotiatingposition, leaving Baku in an extremelydisadvantageous position.”Azerbaijan ceased issuing publicthreats of going to war after the Georgianattack on South Ossetia resultedin a massive response by Russia.A report by the InternationalCrisis Group (ICG) on October 29suggested that even though Azerbaijanhad spent some $4.5 billionon its armed forces in recent years,“for now at least, the delicate militarybalance with Armenia probablystill holds.”The ICG report also complainedabout the lack of even basic publicoversight over Azerbaijani governmentspending, but noted that “amodern and efficient army, even ifsubject to democratic, civilian control,is not unproblematic while theloss of Nagorno-Karabakh remainsdeeply resented.”fRussia brokers Armenia-Azerbaijan declaration on Karabakhformat that continues to this day.After the failure of the three troikaproposals in 1997–98 to achievea breakthrough, the United Statestook the initiative in the mediationprocess, brokering a direct meetingbetween Presidents Heydar Aliyevand Robert Kocharian in April1999 during the NATO Summit inWashington. That effort culminatedin the near-agreement at KeyWest, Florida, in April 2001.Following the U.S. attempts, itwas Mr. Chirac’s turn to hold Armenia-Azerbaijansummits. But ahigh-level meeting between PresidentsKocharian and Ilham Aliyevat Rambouillet in February 2006and other France-led efforts alsofailed to produce a breakthrough.Significantly, neither U.S. norFrench efforts produced any jointdeclarations, even of the watereddownkind made at the Russianpresident’s Meiendorf castle.Likely impactAt this time, the Karabakh standoffoffers no attractive solutionsto either Armenia or Azerbaijan.The most recent effort by Russia isunlikely to contribute to an actualsettlement, since such settlementpresents both the sides and mediatorswith more problems than thecurrent status quo.The peace process serves as akind of a pressure release valve inthe uneasy and dangerous standoffover Karabakh. The Moscowdeclaration can provide this processwith a fresh lease on life, makingthe existing relative peace just alittle more durable.f

The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008InternationalThe Maiendorf Declaration: reactions fromArmenia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Azerbaijanby Tatul HakobyanYEREVAN – The three co-chairs ofthe OSCE Minsk Group on November6 met in Vienna to discuss Russia’smediation effort in the Karabakhpeace process and the resultsof the meeting of the presidents ofArmenia, Azerbaijan, and Russiain Moscow. Matthew Bryza, theAmerican co-chair, announced thatthe Moscow Declaration made itclear that henceforth negotiationswill continue based on the MadridPrinciples. “The issue of whetherthe Madrid Principles was on theagenda or not has been resolvedwith this declaration. All the effortsgeared toward resolving thisconflict from now on will be basedupon the those founding principles,”Mr. Bryza said.Yuri Merzlyakov of the RussianFederation, Bernard Fassierof France, Deputy Assistant Secretaryof State Bryza, and AndrzejKasprzyk, the Personal Representativeof the OSCE Chairman-in-Office on the Nagorno-Karabakhconflict, talked to journalists aftertheir address to the OSCE PermanentCouncil. “There are personalfactors and objective factors in theregion that give us co-chairs a reasonfor some cautious optimism orrealistic optimism,” said Mr. Bryza.“Among the personal factors,the November 2 Moscow meetingconfirmed the constructivespirit of their first St Petersburgmeeting last June. This constructivespirit allowed them to signthe first-ever declaration on theNagorno-Karabakh peace process,”Mr. Fassier said. He cited discussionsbetween Ankara and Yerevanamong the positive factors.Among the “objective factors,”was the crisis in Georgia. The cochairssaid that Armenia felt thefragile character of their lines ofcommunication for imports and exportsthrough Georgia. Azerbaijanfelt deeply the vulnerability of theso-called energy corridor throughGeorgia.“The Moscow meeting, thoughprepared long in advance in a bilateralway, Russia-Armenia, Russia-Azerbaijan,nevertheless is inthe framework in the Minsk Groupco-chair countries’ efforts of mediation,”said Mr. Merzlyakov.Mr. Kasprzyk noted that an estimated25 people died this yearon the front lines of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and highlightedthat such incidents were detrimentalto the peace process.The Minsk Group co-chairs planto visit the region in the weeks priorto the OSCE Ministerial Council,scheduled in Helsinki on December4–5, to work with the partiesto build on the recently establishedmomentum and to try to find amutually acceptable solution to thelast remaining differences betweenthem.Does Karabakh get asay in its fate?The tripartite declaration, signedby the presidents of Armenia andAzerbaijan on November 2 at MeiendorfCastle near Moscow, mediatedby the president of Russia, isthe first document following the1994 ceasefire agreement to bearthe signatures of the presidents ofthe two countries involved in theKarabakh conflict.But the document is also the firstsince 1994 that does not bear thesignature of the main party to theconflict – Nagorno-Karabakh. InFrom left, Presidents Aliyev, Medvedev, and Sargsian on Nov. 2. Photo: Photolure.1994, Vladimir Kazimirov, whowas the Russian mediator and themain proponent of stopping thebloodshed in Karabakh, at thattime attached great importance toStepanakert’s involvement and signatureon all documents. The Bishkekprotocol and Moscow’s agreementthat were signed that year hadthe signatures of Karen Baburyan,the speaker of Nagorno-Karabakh’sparliament and Samvel Babayan,the minister of defense.The reactions to the Meiendorfdeclaration are different in Yerevan,Stepanakert, and Baku. ForeignMinister Edward Nalbandianassesses the Dmitri Medvedev- Serge Sargsian - Ilham Aliyevmeeting as successful and productive,since “the signing of the declarationwill assist the future processof the negotiations and the politicalresolution of the Karabakh conflict,within the framework of the MinskGroup and the Madrid principals.”The opposition is worried. In aninterview with A1+, Levon Ter-Petrossian, the first president ofArmenia, said, “That document issimply the tip of the iceberg. Other,more detailed documents lie beneathit.” Mr. Ter-Petrossian is concernedbecause the Madrid proposalstipulates that the harmonizationof the two principles of territorialintegrity and the self-determinationof nations will be the basis forthe Karabakh settlement. Duringhis last public appearance at a politicalrally, Mr. Ter-Petrossian saidthat according to the Madrid principles,“Armenia would be forced toreturn most of the liberated territoriesoutside of Nagorno-Karabakh,except for the Lachin corridor, toAzerbaijan.”The Moscow Declaration “speaksof the necessity of resolving theKarabakh issue through the directdialogue underway between Azerbaijanand Armenia. De facto, anew formula is being set for theconflicting sides. This declarationburies the decision adopted atthe OSCE 1994 Budapest summit,where NKR was recognized as thethird legitimate side in the conflict.This means that NKR will not havea role in the negotiation processesthat will determine its fate,” saidMr. Ter-Petrossian.The first president underscoredthat with Mr. Sargsian’s and Mr.Aliyev’s signatures under the Meiendorfdeclaration, “the final stageof the settlement of the Karabakhconflict has been announced.”On October 25, in an interviewwith Armenia’s Public TV, Mr. Sargsianconfirmed that the resolutionof the Karabakh conflict hasentered a new active stage. “Thesettlement of the Karabakh issueis possible if Azerbaijan recognizesthe right for self-determinationof the people of NKR; if NKR has aland border with Armenia, and internationalorganizations and leadingcountries guarantee the safetyof the people of Karabakh,” saidMr. Sargsian.Stepanakert is notsatisfiedGeorgi Petrossian, the foreignminister of Nagorno-Karabakh,said that the meeting at Meiendorfwas an attempt to clarify therespective positions of Armeniaand Azerbaijan through politicalmeans, taking into considerationthe changes in the region after theevents of August.Mr. Petrossian believes that inorder for the resolution process tomove forward, NKR, which has fulfilledall international obligations,must be a full partner in the negotiations.“If Azerbaijan was trulyinterested in the resolution of theconflict, then they would have satdown at the negotiating table withNKR a long time ago, instead of applyingto different internationalbodies to apply pressure on NKRand to cloud international publicopinion,” Mr. Petrossian said.Political analyst Davit Babayan,head of the information office ofthe president of Nagorno-Karabakhsaid during an interview withthe Armenian Reporter that in thedeclaration, “there is no mention ofNagorno-Karabakh nor the Karabakhside.“Isn’t that an attempt to shift theKarabakh conflict to the level of aterritorial argument between Armeniaand Azerbaijan? Such an inclinationis present, but, nevertheless,not decisive. First of all ‘Armenian-Azerbaijaniconflict’ or ‘Conflicton Nagorno-Karabakh’ is notmentioned in any of the points inthe declaration, which not only defacto, but also from the legal aspectwould mean a territorial dispute.Secondly, from the declaration’stext it is evident that Stepanakert’sparticipation is expected,” said Mr.Babayan.Gegham Baghdasarian, an independentmember of the Nagorno-Karabakh parliament, thinks thatthe true evaluation of the documentwill be the steps taken arisingfrom it.“In order to give a complete evaluationof the document, it is necessaryto be aware of all the information.In other words, apart from beingaware of the text, one must alsobe aware of the behind-the-doordiscussions in Moscow and the oralagreements. Since we do not possessthe relevant information, thenour analyses and evaluations aregoing to concern the visible part ofthe iceberg: the text of the declaration.As far as the main wordingis concerned, then it is not verycertain what the president had inmind when agreeing that peace settlementshould be accompanied bylegally binding guarantees for everyaspect and stage of the settlementprocess,” Mr. Baghdasariantold the Armenia Reporter.Vahram Atanesian, chair ofthe Permanent Committee on ForeignAffairs of the parliament ofNagorno-Karabakh noted that allsuch documents can be interpretedin many ways and the Moscow declarationwill not be an exception.“A new name, Moscow Declaration,is being put into circulation.The difference is that in the pastwe were talking about verbal agreements,but today we are dealingwith a signed document. As I see it,Nagorno-Karabakh’s willingness tojoin in or not in the declaration andto take on the responsibility or notis going to be fundamental. It seemsthat in the near future the mediatorsare going to concentrate theirefforts to carry out so called ‘explanatorywork’ in Nagorno-Karabakh.They can outline at least some factorsafter those contacts, but meanwhilethe mediators should not overestimate Armenia’s influence onNKR,” said Atanesian.Armen Sarkissian, the only ARFmember of Nagorno-Karabakh’sparliament, characterized negotiationswithout Karabakh’s participationas “absurd.”“The Madrid Principles are unacceptablefor Nagorno-Karabakh,as Nagorno-Karabakh’s self-determinationis brought under question.De facto, an attempt is beingmade to accept the principles andforce them on Karabakh. Withoutthe participation of Karabakh, thenegotiations are condemned tofailure,” Mr. Sarkissian said to theArmenian Reporter.Full text of the declarationThe declaration, adopted by thepresidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia,and Russia at Meiendorf castle nearMoscow on November 2, was publiclyread out by Russia’s PresidentDmitry Medvedev. This ArmenianReporter translation is based on thetranscript circulated by the Regnumnews agency.The presidents of the AzerbaijaniRepublic, the Republic of Armenia,and the Russian Federation, havingmet in Moscow on November2, 2008, on the invitation of thepresident of the Russian Federation,and having discussed in aconstructive atmosphere directlyand in detail the status and prospectsof the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakhconflict by politicalmeans, through direct dialoguebetween Azerbaijan and Armeniawith mediation by Russia, theUnited States, and France as cochairsof the OSCE Minsk Group,1. Declare that they shall contributeto the establishment of ahealthier situation in the SouthCaucasus and securing regionalstability and security througha political settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakhconflict on thebasis of principles and norms ofinternational law and solutionsThe oppositionin Azerbaijan isdissatisfiedChief of the international relationsdepartment of the Azerbaijan’spresident’s office Novruz Mammadovdescribed the Moscow Declarationas “very important” and“the beginning of a new phase in the14-year-long, complicated and difficultprocess of negotiations. I thinkthe process should be accelerated becauseof Russia’s active involvementin the process and the documentsigned directly by the presidents,”he told APA Azeri news agency.Member of the Political Councilof the ruling New Azerbaijan PartyAydin Mirzazade stated that theactivation of Russia in the settlementof the Nagorno-Karabakhconflict will accelerate its solution.“Signing of declaration means acceptanceof juridical obligations, whichis a positive milestone,” he said.The opposition in Azerbaijan, is,however, first of all dissatisfied andconcerned that the declaration hasbeen signed at Russia’s initiative.Independent political scientistVafa Guluzade (advisor to previouspresidents Mutalibov, Elchibey,and Aliyev Senior; he conductedthe Karabakh negotiations in the90s) said “the document is profitableonly for Armenia and Russia. Ifpreviously Armenia suspected thatAzerbaijan could attack, now theyhave the document and can sleepquietly.”The Musavat Party (the party’sleader Isa Gambar was the actingpresident of Azerbaijan for ashort period of time in 1992) issueda statement which said thatthe joint declaration and its pointsabout the Madrid proposals placeAzerbaijan in an unacceptable positionabout the future status ofNagorno-Karabakh. “Solving theNagorno-Karabakh problem on thebasis of the Madrid proposals putthe issues of Azerbaijan’s territorialintegrity and sovereignty underserious question.”The Azerbaijan Democratic Partyvalued the Moscow talks andRussia’s attempt to take the initiativeunilaterally as revenge for theMinsk Group members’ intentionsto dismiss Moscow for its actionsagainst Georgia. The party arguedthat the 2007 Madrid principles arecontrary to international law andsolution of the problem on the basisof these principles has no prospectsand doesn’t guarantee longtermpeace in the region. fand documents adopted in theirframes, that would create favorableconditions for economic developmentand all-encompassingcooperation in the region;2. Confirm the importance ofcontinued efforts by the OSCEMinsk Group co-chairs, with considerationof their meeting withthe sides in Madrid on November29, 2007, and subsequent discussionsaiming at the developmentof basic principles of a politicalsettlement in the future;3. Agree that the achievementof a peaceful settlement must beaccompanied by legally bindinginternational guarantees of all ofits aspects and stages.4. Note that the presidents ofAzerbaijan and Armenia agreedto continue to work on the developmentof a political settlementof the Nagorno-Karabakhconflict, including through futurehigh-level contacts, and instructtheir foreign ministers to activatefurther steps in the negotiationsprocess, including in cooperationwith the OSCE Minsk Group;5. Consider important promotingthe creation of conditionsfor implementation of confidencebuildingmeasures in the contextof efforts toward settlement. f

The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008NationalHow did they fare?The Armenian Reporter and the U.S.-Armenia Public Affairs Committee(USAPAC) jointly endorsed candidateswho had a record of supportingissues of concern to Armenian-Americans.Ten of the 13 candidates endorsedfor the Senate were elected.Two, Elizabeth Dole (R.-N.C.) andJohn Sununu (R.-N.H.), were not.In Minnesota, the contest amongNorm Coleman (R.), Al Franken(D.) and Dean Barkley (I.) washeaded for a recount. Mr. Coleman,who was endorsed, was ahead by338 votes out of almost 2.9 millioncast.In the House, 185 of the 194 candidatesendorsed were elected. Nine,including Joe Knollenberg, HouseCaucus on Armenian Affairs co-chair,were not. One race is undecided. Allof the incumbents opposed by theReporter were reelected.President andVice Presidentof the UnitedStates Barack Obama and JoeBiden (D.)United StatesSenateColorado Mark Udall (D.)Delaware Joe Biden (D.)Illinois Richard Durbin (D.)Kentucky Mitch McConnell (R.)Maine Susan Collins (R.)Massachusetts John Kerry (D.)Michigan Carl Levin (D.)Minnesota? Norm Coleman (R.)New Hampshire John Sununu (R.)New Jersey Frank Lautenberg (D.)North Carolina Elizabeth Dole (R.)Rhode Island Jack Reed (D.)South Dakota Tim Johnson (D.)U.S. House ofRepresentativesAlabama Artur Davis (D.)American Samoa Eni F. H. Faleomavaega (D.)Arizona Gabrielle Giffords (D.) Raul Grijalva (D.) Ed Pastor (D.)California Joe Baca (D.) Xavier Becerra (D.) Howard Berman (D.) Brian Bilbray (R.) Mary Bono Mack (R.) Ken Calvert (R.) John Campbell (R.) Lois Capps (D.) Dennis Cardoza (D.) Jim Costa (D.) Susan Davis (D.) David Dreier (R.) Anna Eshoo (D.) Sam Farr (D.) Bob Filner (D.) Elton Gallegly (R.) Michael Honda (D.) Darrell Issa (R.) Barbara Lee (D.) Zoe Lofgren (D.) Dan Lungren (R.) Doris Matsui (D.) Kevin McCarthy (R.) Buck McKeon (R.) Gerald McNerney (D.) George Miller (D.) Gary Miller (R.) Grace Napolitano (D.) Devin Nunes (R.) Nancy Pelosi (D.) George Radanovich (R.) Laura Richardson (D.) Dana Rohrabacher (R.) Lucille Roybal-Allard (D.) Edward Royce (R.) Linda Sanchez (D.) Loretta Sanchez (D.) Adam Schiff (D.) Brad Sherman (D.) Hilda Solis (D.) Jackie Speier (D.) Pete Stark (D.) Ellen Tauscher (D.) Mike Thompson (D.) Maxine Waters (D.) Diane Watson (D.) Henry Waxman (D.) Lynn Woolsey (D.)Colorado Diana DeGette (D.) Marilyn Musgrave (R.) Ed Perlmutter (D.) John Salazar (D.)Connecticut Joe Courtney (D.) Rosa DeLauro (D.) John Larson (D.) Chris Murphy (D.) Chris Shays (R.)District of Columbia Eleonor Holmes Norton(D.)Florida Gus Bilirakis (R.) Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R.) Mario Diaz-Balart (R.) Ron Klein (D.) Kendrick Meek (D.)Georgia John Barrow (D.) Jack Kingston (R.) John Lewis (D.) Jim Marshall (D.)Guam Madeleine Bordallo (D.)Hawaii Neil Abercrombie (D.) Mazie Hirono (D.)Illinois Melissa Bean (D.) Jerry Costello (D.) Danny Davis (D.) Luis Gutierrez (D.) Phil Hare (D.) Jesse Jackson (D.) Mark Kirk (R.) Dan Lipinski (D.) Donald Manzullo (R.) Peter Roskam (R.) Bobby Rush (D.) Janice Schakowsky (D.)Indiana Mark Souder (R.) Peter Visclosky (D.)Iowa Bruce Braley (D.)Armenian-Americans welcome election of Obama and Bidenn Continued from page Obama on a full range of core Armenian-Americanissues” energizedthe community, accordingto Ross Vartian, executive directorof the U.S.-Armenia PublicAffairs Committee (USAPAC).“President-elect Obama offersthe possibility of a new approachto the South Caucasus that willenhance the security, freedom,and prosperity of all the region’sinhabitants.” (See page 22 for thefull text of a commentary by Mr.Vartian.)“Barack Obama’s historic victorythis week signals to theworld that change is indeedcoming,” Rep. Frank Pallone,co-chair of the House Caucuson Armenian Affairs told theArmenian Reporter. Looking forwardto working with the newadministration to advance thegoals of the Armenian Caucus,Mr. Pallone said he is “confidentthat the change President-electObama envisions will benefitboth Armenian-Americans andArmenia.”The Armenian National Committeeof America, which endorsedMr. Obama’s candidacy in January– when it was far from clear thathe would win his party’s nomination,much less the presidency– drew attention to the role of Armenian-Americanvoters in someclosely contested states. Armenian-Americans are well represented inthe battleground states of Pennsylvaniaand Florida.ANCA chairperson Ken Hachikiansaid, “Armenian Americans inbattleground states – organizedby an extremely effective and farreachingArmenians for Obamaoperation – played a critical rolein bringing Armenian-AmericanDemocrats, Independents, and asurprisingly large percentage ofRepublicans to the Obama-Bidenticket on Election Day.”As a presidential hopeful, Mr.Obama issued his first statementon U.S.-Armenia relations inJanuary. In it he promised that aspresident he would recognize theGenocide, support a settlement ofthe Karabakh conflict “based uponAmerica’s founding commitmentto the principles of democracy andself-determination,” and continueU.S. support of Armenia’s development.Mr. Obama also spoke out onApril 24 and congratulated Armenianson Armenia’s IndependenceDay. He also participated in theSenate Foreign Relations Committee’sconsideration of the new U.S.ambassador to Armenia.On the eve of Election Day, theObama campaign issued yet anotherstatement on Armenianissues. He expanded on his commitmentto recognize the ArmenianGenocide and to work toend genocide; he also undertookto “continue his active engagementwith Armenian Americanleaders.”Kentucky John Yarmuth (D.)Louisiana Charlie Melancon (D.)Maine Michael Michaud (D.)Maryland Steny Hoyer (D.) John Sarbanes (D.) Chris Van Hollen (D.)Massachusetts Michael Capuano (D.) William Delahunt (D.) Barney Frank (D.) Steve Lynch (D.) Ed Markey (D.) James McGovern (D.) Richard Neal (D.) John Olver (D.) John Tierney (D.) Niki Tsongas (D.)Michigan Dave Camp (R.) John Conyers (D.) Dale Kildee (D.) Joe Knollenberg (R.) Sander Levin (D.) Thaddeus McCotter (R.) Candice Miller (R.) Mike Rogers (R.) Tim Walberg (R.)Minnesota Michele Bachmann (R.) Keith Ellison (D.) Ashwin Madia (D.) Betty McCollum (D.) Collin Peterson (D.) Tim Walz (D.)Mississippi Bennie Thompson (D.)Missouri Emanuel Cleaver (D.) Wm. Lacy Clay (D.)Nevada Shelley Berkley (D.) Jon Porter (R.)New Hampshire Joseph (Jeb) Bradley (R.) Paul Hodes (D.)New Jersey Robert Andrews (D.) Rodney Flelinghuysen (R.) Scott Garrett (R.) Rush Holt (D.) Frank LoBiondo (R.) Frank Pallone (D.) Donald Payne (D.)Rep. KnollenbergThe departure of Mr. Knollenbergfrom the House of Representativesin January will mark the endof a distinguished 16-year Congressionalcareer. Mr. Knollenberg,who “served his district well,” asthe Detroit News acknowledged inan editorial this week, was a hardworkingand consistent advocatefor Armenian-American issues inCongress.“Joe Knollenberg has been oneof Armenia’s biggest supporterson the House AppropriationsCommittee,” Mr. Pallonesaid. “Every year, he successfullyfought the Bush administrationto increase funding to Armenia.He was also a tireless advocateon behalf of genocide recognition.I have enjoyed co-chairingthe Caucus with Joe over the last16 years and wish him nothingbut the best in his future pursuits.”A new Republican co-chair forthe Armenian Caucus will be selectedin the coming weeks. fEmil Sanamyan contributedreporting to this article. Steve Rothman (D.) Albio Sires (D.) Christopher Smith (R.)New York Gary Ackerman (D.) Michael Arcuri (D.) Tim Bishop (D.) Yvette Clarke (D.) Joseph Crowley (D.) Eliot Engel (D.) Kirsten Gillibrand (D.) John Hall (D.) Maurice Hinchey (D.) Steve Israel (D.) Nita Lowey (D.) Carolyn Maloney (D.) Carolyn McCarthy (D.) John McHugh (R.) Jerrold Nadler (D.) Charles Rangel (D.) Jose Serrano (D.) Edolphus Towns (D.) Nydia Velazquez (D.) Anthony Weiner (D.)North Carolina G.K. Butterfield (D.) Melvin Watt (D.)Ohio Steve Chabot (R.) David Krikorian (I.) Dennis Kucinich (D.) Steven LaTourette (R.) Tim Ryan (D.) Zach Space (D.) Betty Sutton (D.)Oregon Earl Blumenauer (D.) Peter DeFazio (D.) David Wu (D.)Pennsylvania Robert Brady (D.) Charles Dent (R.) Mike Doyle (D.) Chaka Fattah (D.) Jim Gerlach (R.) Joseph Pitts (R.) Allyson Schwartz (D.)Rhode Island Patrick Kennedy (D.) James Langevin (D.)South Dakota Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D.)Tennessee Zach Wamp (R.)Texas Lloyd Doggett (D.) Charles Gonzalez (D.) Al Green (D.) Gene Green (D.) Sheila Jackson Lee (D.) Kenny Marchant (R.) Michael McCaul (R.) Ciro Rodriguez (D.)Utah Jim Matheson (D.)Virgin Islands Donna Christensen (D.)Virginia Eric Cantor (R.) Jim Moran (D.) Robert Scott (D.) Frank Wolf (R.)Washington Brian Baird (D.) Jim McDermott (D.) Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R.)? David Reichert (R.)Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin (D.) Ron Kind (D.) Steve Kagen (D.) Paul Ryan (R.) James Sensenbrenner (R.)Key Was elected Was not elected? Outcome not yet known

The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008 5Communityayf Montebello gears up for 50th anniversary and alumni reunionEvent will alsocelebrate 75thanniversary of ayf’sfoundingby Avo John KambourianMONTEBELLO, Calif. – Thisyear marks the 75th anniversaryof the founding of the ArmenianYouth Federation (ayf) and the50th anniversary of the establishmentof the West Coast’s first ayfchapter, Vahan Cardashian, whichserves the Armenian communityof Montebello, California. To markthe twin anniversaries, the VahanCardashian Chapter is organizing aspecial event this month, the 50thAnniversary and Alumni Reunion.The celebration will take place onNovember 15 at the newly-renovatedBagramian Hall of Montebello’sHoly Cross Church.The Vahan Cardashian Chapterholds ayf Alumni Reunions onceevery five years. The last eventdrew over 800 past and presentayf members. According to ZavenAltounian, the chapter’s chairman,to date a large number of ticketsto the forthcoming reunion havebeen sold to alumni from the 1960sthrough the 1990s, current members,as well as members from theEast Coast and Canada.True to tradition, this year’s reunionwill feature delectable foods,live music, and dance. The bandfor the night, which will be flyingin from the East Coast, includesJohnny Berberian, Onnik Dinkjian,Hachig Kazarian, Gurgen Khanzadian,and Ara Dinkjian.The Altounians, like many othersin Montebello, could be calledan ayf family. Stepan Altounian,Zaven’s father, says he joined theorganization when he was 14 toswim in the ayf Olympics. Altounianfound himself more involvedin the organization as he got older.He has served as a member of theThe first meeting of the Armenian Youth Federation, Boston, 1934. Photos: www.ayf.org1950: Crowds cheer on the marathon runners at the first ayf Olympics.Montebello Chapter Executive andlater the Western Region CentralExecutive. Currently he is a memberof the arf Montebello Chapterayf: 75 years of youth serviceThe Armenian Youth Federation(ayf) was founded in Boston,Massachusetts, on July 16, 1933.Through the efforts of GeneralKarekin Njdeh, the “godfather”of the ayf, soon several chapterswere formed across the EastCoast.The first ayf convention tookplace in Boston’s Hairenik Hall,where the key goals and objectivesof the organization wereformulated. They included instillinga sense of national andcultural pride in the Armenianyouth, preserving and fosteringthe Armenian heritage and identitythrough education and communityactivism, and enlistingthe youth in the ongoing strugglefor the establishment of a free, independent,and united Armenia.During its formative years, theayf focused primarily on organizingcultural events and youthseminars and lectures on a widerange of topics, in effect servingas one of the Armenian - Americancommunity’s first educational institutions.The organization alsoprovided song books and literatureto its young members. Thefirst executive secretary of theayf, James Mandalian, wrotehighlights of Armenian historyand biographies of historical figures.These materials were madeavailable to youths in the form ofpamphlets.In 1935, the ayf became the firstArmenian-American organizationto provide scholarships. A yearlater, the first ayf Olympics tookplace in Brockton, Massachusetts.The event has since become an annualtradition celebrated acrossthe U.S.An estimated 1,000 ayf membersserved in the U.S. armedforces during World War II. Inaddition, the organization raisedclose to $750,000 in war bonds tohelp the Allied Forces. Throughoutthe war, ayf chapters sentissues of Hairenik Weekly to membersserving in the armed forcesoverseas.In 1948, the ayf Juniors Organization(Badanegan) was founded,aiming to prepare youngsters ofages seven through 15 for servicein the ranks of the ayf. In 1951,Camp Haiastan was founded onthe East Coast.The 1960s saw the creation oflarger ayf chapters, meant toserve burgeoning Armenian communitiesin major metropolitanareas. Beginning in 1965, theyear that marked the 50th anniversaryof the Genocide, theayf has placed greater emphasisExecutive. Furthermore, Altounianmet his wife in the ayf, and todaytheir children, Zaven and Talin, areactive in the organization, withon fostering political activismamong the Armenian youth. Inthis sense, efforts to help secureGenocide recognition have overthe years expanded into variousprojects for supporting Artsakh’swar of liberation, aiding the developmentof the Republic ofArmenia, and providing diasporayouths, through programs suchas Youth Corps, the opportunityto spend time and intern in thehomeland.In 1973, the ayf split into itspresent tri-regional form, consistingof the Western U.S., EasternU.S., and Canada regions.The split was in response to theunprecedented growth of NorthAmerica’s Armenian communitiesand the need for more efficientmanagement of chapters.Today the ayf has evolved into amajor, nationally significant organizationand a point of convergencefor thousands of Armenian youths,who engage in community activismthrough a plethora of educational,cultural, social, and sportive eventsincluding the annual Olympics andsummer camps.connect:ayf.orgayfwest.orgayfmontebello.orgKarekin Njdeh.1950: The ayf Olympics continue to be a tradition.Talin serving in the Central Executive.Annik Minasaganian joinedthe ayf in the 1970s. She saysthe organization has kept growingin political activism since themid-1960s, rallying the Armenianyouth for a variety of nationalcauses including Genocide recognition.Minasaganian’s aunt wasone of the first members of theVahan Cardashian Chapter. “Mostof the chapter’s founders wereoriginally ayf members from Detroit,”Annik Minasaganian says.The fledgling chapter initially heldits meetings in a member’s garage,until it could acquire a proper communityspace. Today that space,the Montebello Armenian Center,is one of the largest of its kind onthe West Coast.You share the samecommunity.Discover what happenswhen you sharethe same experience.The upcoming 50th Anniversaryand Alumni Reunion has been inthe works for nearly a year, withcurrent members joining forceswith seasoned alumni to organizethe event. Minasaganian says thatsuch collaboration results in notonly practical benefits in terms ofguidance and experience-sharing,but helps create strong bonds betweengenerations of members.As the reunion promises to be anexceptionally joyful event, the CardashianChapter is also planninga next-day breakfast party. Experience,after all, shows that ayfmembers attending such eventshave difficulty parting.For tickets and other information,including lodging, visit thechapter’s site at ayfmontebello.org.Let’s come together, and if onlyfor one day, unite in the fightagainst cancer. For moreinformation about Relay For Lifeor to join an event near you, visitwww.cancer.org/RelayNYNJor call 1.800.ACS.2345.Paint the Town Purple incelebration of Relay For Life onMay 1, May Day For Relay.1.800.ACS.2345www.cancer.org/relayNYNJ

6 The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008CommunityTHIS ARMENIAN LIFECulmination points:Beirut and Yerevanby TamarKevonianCrossing Syria’s southern borderinto Lebanon, I finally breathe asigh of relief. Under Syria’s cosmopolitanveneer there is a sense of silentoppression that becomes morepronounced the further we moveaway from Kessab, an Armenianvillage on the far northwesterncorner of the country, across theTurkish border.We are heading to Beirut, mybirthplace. My father, Nazareth,and I are on a journey through theancient Armenian kingdom of Cilicia,now the southeastern end ofTurkey along the Mediterraneancoast, and have expanded the tripto include the city where both Dadand I were born.It has been a number of yearssince my last visit and I’m lookingforward to seeing not just friendsbut the city itself, because duringthe last couple of years it has experiencedtremendous upheaval andgrowth. We arrive from the norththrough Tripoli, Lebanon’s secondlargest city, and drive by the Palestiniancamps that were bombardedlast summer. They’re the latest reminderof the variety of social andpolitical ills that have plagued thecountry for the last 30 years.We’ve decided to avoid the city forthe moment and stay at a beach resortjust south of Jbail (Byblos), theancient seaside city that was an importantcenter for trade throughoutthis region’s history as well as a jetsetters’paradise during the 1960s.It is heavenly to wake up toa view of the sea and swim in itssalty waters every day. Dad and Ispend a week in Lebanon visitingfriends, walking down city streets,trying to imprint their new adaptationsonto the older versions in ourmemories.Sometime during our time inBeirut we decide to travel to Yerevan.We arrive a few hours beforedawn. The airport is full of passengersfrom several other flights thathave arrived within minutes of ours.Collecting our luggage, we make ourway through customs. The new airportis beautiful and modern, so differentthan what I had seen on mylast visit. The hotel has arranged forour transportation and Sevag, thedriver, is there to greet us. It is theweek leading up to the muronorhnek,the blessing of the holy oil usedduring mass, an Armenian-churchritual that takes place every sevenyears.The hotels are full and we havehad much trouble finding a placeto stay for the few nights we will bein town. By the time our luggage isloaded on the mini SUV and we’vetaken our seats, it is past 4:30 in themorning. I can’t wait to get to theAdventures in historyhotel and crawl between the coolsheets for a few hours of sleep. Thecar won’t start. Sevag has left theheadlights on and drained the batteries.I’m off looking for jumpercables while Dad helps push the carinto position. Welcome to Armeniaand all its beautiful absurdities.We spend our short three daysexploring the plains at the foot ofMount Ararat. The mountain itselfis shy and stays hidden behind theclouds throughout our sojourn. Yerevanhas changed a lot since mylast visit six years ago. The clean,wide streets, the upscale shops, theplethora of luxury cars are all indicationsof the growing affluence ofthe city. It is a giant leap forwardfor a young, Third-World republicthat has experienced 70 years ofcommunist rule. What an incrediblefeat it is for Armenia to reducemass poverty and step into the 21stcentury in such a short period. Perhapsall the assistance by the diasporaand its goodwill, along withgood old Armenian hard work, hadan effect after all.One late night, suffering fromthe insomnia that occasionallyafflicts me while switching timezones, I hear noises and mutedsnippets of conversation from thestreet outside my window. I leanover the windowsill and look ontothe wide, unlit, boulevard. There isa small, moving circle of light. It’scoming from a flashlight searchingthrough the trash bags collected inand around the two metal bins onthe sidewalk just outside and to theleft of the hotel entrance. There arethree people, a woman, a man, anda young child, searching throughthe garbage. The city has acquired ashiny persona of progress, but thepoverty I remember and which somany organizations have focusedtheir efforts to help alleviate is stilla way of life for many in Armenia,albeit now existing in the shadows.With the trip to Yerevan, ourvoyage has come full circle. Westarted in Istanbul, the jewel ofthe East, drove through the ancientlands of Cilicia, visited Kessab,a 2,000-year-old village fromthe days of the Roman Empire, toDer-Zor, site of some of the mosthorrific chapters of the Genocideand the end of life as our ancestorsknew it, down to Beirut, one ofthe hubs of the modern Armeniandiasporic experience, to Yerevan,the capital of the modern Republicof Armenia. Within our month oftravel, we experienced the vestigesof a thousand years of Armenianhistory and witnessed the progressionof Armenian life.All the high-school years of readingArmenian history, of studyingthe names of long-dead kings anddates of long-ago battles had notmade as much of an impression asa few weeks treading in the footstepsof my forebears. Hearing thecrunch of gravel under my shoesand seeing the three-dimensionalplaces of the names learned only inhistory books brought all of it intothe present. Knowing where I, as aDiasporan-Armenian, came fromfinally gives me the perspective toknow where I will be headed. Everythingis illuminated as the pastwalks alongside the present. New principal brings change to A.G.Minassian School in Santa Anaby Alene TchekmedyianORANGE COUNTY, Calif. – Inthe past five years, student enrollmentat Ari Guiragos MinassianArmenian Elementary School inSanta Ana has decreased significantly;in 2003, the student populationexceeded 120, but now theschool only has 60 students.With the economic crisis at itspeak, the high cost of transportationand the availability of SaturdayArmenian schools, parentshave found it difficult to spendthe extra time, money and effortto send their children to a privateArmenian school.Others deem it necessary to keepArmenian culture and traditionalive for generations to come. Dr.Niary Gorjian, the newly hiredprincipal of the school, and Minassianfaculty members have a visionfor change to increase student enrollment.Having served as a visiting assistantprofessor of managementat the School of Business andManagement of the American Universityof Armenia in Yerevan, Dr.Gorjian firmly believes in properprofessional training for teachersto capitalize student learning.To complement the annual trainingsessions for teachers providedby the Board of Regents, the MinassianSchool has hired gate-certifiedtrainers to provide monthlyin-house professional developmenttraining to teachers, extending theknowledge gained while pursuingtheir teaching credentials. Amongthe many topics of training areeducating teachers of how a child’sbrain functions, how to identifymultiple types of intelligence andhow to develop a child’s emotionaland social intelligence.“[My] primary [goal is] additionaltraining for teachers, so they canbetter meet the needs of students.My main emphasis to make surestudents are at a point where theycan transition to the public schooldistrict and be able to handle thatappropriately,” said Dr. Gorjian.The Western Association ofSchools and Colleges (wasc), a credentialingprogram in Californiathat accredits public and privateschools, colleges and universities inthe United States, has accredited A.G. Minassian School until 2011.The academic curriculum of thePre-K through sixth grade schoolincludes two hours of Armenianlessons daily, math, science, English,social studies, physical educationand electives: computers, art,religion and music.The tuition to attend the schoolis currently over $400 per monthper student, which is high in atime of economic instability, butis relatively low compared to otherOrange County private schools.Allise Panosyan, Parent TeacherOrganization (pto) Chair and parentof triplets who attend Minassian,believes the tuition and highlyranked public schools in OrangeDr. Niary Gorjian, principal of A.G. Minassian School, with her students.County have contributed to theenrollment decline. “Before publicschools were not so great and nowparents feel safe sending their kidsto public schools. Now they are ontop of the list of all the cities [ofOrange county] and are competitivewith private schools,” she said.“Because of great public schools inthe neighborhood, parents don’twant to make the effort or feel theneed to drive kids to Minassian,”she added.To combat this, school officialswill implement a bus system to pickup children from far cities in thenear future to increase enrollment.Panosyan has always valued raisingher children with a strong culturalbackground and plans to sendher children to Minassian untilthey graduate sixth grade. “I get aknot in my stomach thinking theywill be in different school. They getevery necessity academically andsocially, especially our cultural education…they are learning readingand writing…you would be shockedhow well [my children] write in Armenian,”she said.Among the academic improvementsthe school plans to employnutritional, environmental andsafety changes. Every day, thepre-Kindergarten students eat anafternoon snack that the parentsare responsible for providing inshifts, based on a list of appropriatesnacks parents were allowed tobring. “I identified things that arelow in sodium and cholesterol andcontained no saturated fat. I waswary of food allergies that childrenhave a tendency toward, which includegluten in wheat and peanuts,and am trying to make [the snacks]much more nutritional. [The ideais to make them] more health consciousbecause nutrition starts atan early age and what they are exposedto shapes what they eat incoming years,” Dr. Gorjian said.Dr. Gorjian and the (pto) are concernedabout the safety of the elementarystudents and have soughtout an electronic gate. Sponsoredby the pto, the gate will be monitoredby the secretary in the officeand monitor everyone who entersand leaves the school.Parents and teachers recognizethe importance of this addition, althoughthe school was never unsafe.“When you don’t have that manychildren, you always know whensomeone is missing. The parentsmay feel much safer now…I neverdoubted safety in our school,” saidAstrik Ashkarian, a preschoolteacher at the Minassian School for11 years.Another safety change to graceA. G. Minassian is the replacementof black top to Astroturf where thestudents have physical education,which is set to happen by the end ofDecember. Dr. Gorjian has a samplein her office of the artificial grass,which keeps students excited aboutthe upcoming change. “The kids areexcited to play soccer; looking attheir faces and excitement makesme excited,” she said.Dr. Gorjian has also been conductingneeds assessment researchto discover the demandsof the Orange County Armeniancommunity. “I’m trying to collectsurvey research from those wholeft and those still attending toget a snapshot of what the communityneeds, and understand thecurrent situation better. I’m workingon the surveys now; I haven’timplemented or distributed themyet,” she said.Another major long-term additionDr. Gorjian plans to bringto A. G. Minassian is a trip forher graduating class to Armeniaat the end of each year. “I thinkits extremely critical to make thattrip as graduating class from anArmenian elementary school togo see the country that they havelearned so much about as theymake their transition to the publicschool district. They can keepthe values they learned duringelementary schooling and whatthey observe in their country willbe an extremely powerful intervention,”she said.Astrik Ashkarian recognizes theimportance of cultural education.“This is how we are going to pass ourculture to future generations,” shesaid.College studentneeding cash forbooks?Part-time salespositions available.Email jobs@reporter.com

The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008 7CommunityCatering to the community, both locally and abroadA profile of veteranentrepreneur andphilanthropist VaheKarapetianby Jon AlexanianLOS ANGELES – Even underthe current economic conditions,construction and filming is stillvividly noticeable around all partsof Los Angeles. And if you happento be driving around anytime remotelyclose to breakfast or lunchhours it’s likely you will see a cateringtruck or two surrounded bycrowds of hungry workers.For the last 38 years, veteranentrepreneur and philanthropistVahe Karapetian has manufacturedand distributed cateringtrucks worldwide. His business, AACatering, has flourished from itsoriginal concept of building cateringtrucks to a conglomerate thatnot only manufactures trucks, butalso develops customized trucks,distributes food for trucks, andalso owns a truck storage facility.Karapetian also has his own fleetof catering trucks that operatethroughout the southern Californiaregion.“Karapetian Enterprises hascome a long way and we are stillexpanding our trucking business. Iam fortunate to have accomplishedthis much in my life but it camewith a lot of hard work and determination.In life, luck only gets aperson so far. Working hard andadapting to new business climatesare key in staying successful,” saysMr. KarapetianMr. Karapetian was born in Lebanonand moved in 1946 to Armenia,where he graduated from the polytechnicuniversity. In 1968 Vahe,along with his mother and youngestbrother, moved to the UnitedStates with very little. Like manyimmigrants, Karapetian was willingto work anywhere in order toprovide for his family. “When I firstgot to the United States, I took onjobs doing any type of work. EventuallyI got a job working in the airconditioning industry for DaveResnik,” he recalls.While working for Mr. Resnik,Mr. Karapetian developed draftsand plans to create a catering truckthat could be mass produced andapproached his boss with the idea.Vahe Karapetian (l.) on the stretch of the Stepanakert-Goris highway that he maintains.“He wasn’t interested in developingit so I decided to take a risk andmake it myself,” says Vahe.The first prototype took sixmonths to make and was built atMr. Karapetian’s house. Soon thereafterorders started coming in andVahe set up a shop in Montebello.As his business grew he moved tohis downtown L.A. facility, wherehe employees 150 workers, most ofwhom are Armenian.A catering truck, which took sixmonths to build in Karapetian’shouse, now takes only one day to bemanufactured. The downtown L.A.factory produces one truck a day;trucks range in price from $110,000to roughly $200,000, if customized.Over his 38 years, Vahe Karapetianturned a one-man operation into a$25 million business.Mr. Karapetian has designedand manufactured custom trucksfor companies such as McDonalds,Carls Jr, Taco Bell, and even In ‘nOut.Currently, the corporation is privatelyheld and is family managed.Vahe’s son, Vahe N. KarapetianJr., is taking AA Catering to thenext level by developing long-termcontracts with various Fortune500 companies. The company currentlyholds a large market shareDetroit community celebrates50th anniversary of Father DiranPapazian’s ordinationthroughout the Dallas, Houston,Miami, and Phoenix areas and alsosetup partnerships abroad to caterto the European, Asian, and MiddleEastern markets.Although Vahe is deeply involvedin all aspects of his businesses operations,he still makes sure to stayactively involved in the Armeniancommunity as well. His philanthropicefforts reach out to boththe local and international communitiesof Armenians.“Throughout my years in businessI always made it a point to giveback to Armenians and support theArmenian cause. Whether it’s employingArmenians, giving contributionsto the church, or spreadingawareness to the Armeniancommunity at large, I have alwaysmade sure to incorporate it in mylife both in and out of the office,”explains Karapetian.In 1981, Vahe played a pivotalrole in building Alex Pilibos andSourp Garabed Church – the Armenianprivate school and church inLittle Armenia (in Hollywood).“At first the church approachedme as a donor, and then I endedup heading the building committee.With only six months left on thebuilding permits, we had little tonothing finished in terms of planningand we dismissed the committee.However, I wasn’t willingto let the project fail, so I took asix-month leave from my businessand finished the project,” reflectsMr. Karapetian.Mr. Karapetian has also playedan active role in the Armenia Fundand has voluntarily decided to coverthe annual costs in maintainingthe roads to Stepanakert, an annualexpense of $300,000.“I strongly believe that Armeniansare on the right path to building aself sustaining future. It brings megreat joy to aid in the maintainingof roads in Karabakh. They need tostay functional in order to help thelocal economy and allow for accessinto the region,” he says.Vahe was selected by KarekinII, Catholicos of All Armenians, tobe godfather for the second time inhis philanthropic career. In Feburary2000, Mr. Karapetian served asgodfather for the consecration ofHoly Martyr’s Church, which liesright on the border of Armenia andKarabakh.Illustrious in career, philanthropy,and community involvement,Vahe also has a passion for politics.“Although I am not a politician, nordo I belong to any specific Armenianparty, I find myself constantlystaying updated and challengingthe beliefs of our social leaders. Ido this because we are fortunateas Armenians to be able to critiqueourselves and I truly believe bydoing so we will improve our Armeniancommunities around theworld,” he says.For over four years Mr. Karapetianhosted a weekly television programcalled Patsahydootyunn, (Discovery)which served as a forum todiscuss social topics, political topics,and trends that played a role inArmenian lives daily.“I wanted to be able to preachunity, togetherness, and communityinvolvement to the masses asobjective as possible so that peoplewould not think that I was representinga specific demographic,”explains Mr. Karapetian. Everyweek he had a different topic withthe ultimate underlying goal beingto educate the community atlarge.“As a diaspora Armenian I feelthat, as a whole, we need to organizeand work together because weare an extension of our Armeniannation. Without our homeland weare nothing. Of course there arechallenges in our communities (asthere are in many groups worldwide) but we need to always worktoward fixing them. And at the endif we put our best efforts forwardthe only thing that will prevent usfrom succeeding will be God’s will.A homeland without a Diaspora isvery hard to visualize,” he explains.Mr. Karapetian is adamant thatArmenian organizations are in direneed to form a unifying body thatwill represent fairly all voices of thediasporian communities in orderto work globally to improve the Armenianhomeland.“[As Armenians] we have a lotof individualistic organizations,unions, and associations but it isimperative to have a unified voicethrough a global Diaspora congressin order to unite under one peopleand progress toward developing aconstructive future,” Vahe Karapetiansays.SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Theparish of St. John’s Armenian ApostolicChurch honored ReverendFather Diran Papazian, archpriest,at a banquet commemoratingthe 50th anniversary of his ordination.The daylong event, heldin the Armenian Cultural Hall, beganwith Fr. Diran’s celebration ofthe Divine Liturgy, followed by aprogram and sumptuous banquetfor 800 parishioners and guests.Closed-circuit television accommodatedthe overflow crowd in thenearby Vartan Room.During the Divine Liturgy, an encyclicalfrom Catholicos KarekinII, honoring Fr. Diran’s half centuryof service, was read to the congregation.The afternoon program openedwith an invocation by ArchbishopKhajag Barsamian and a musicalinterlude by Deacon Rubik Mailian.Congratulatory letters fromPresident George Bush, GovernorJennifer Granholm, SenatorsCarl Levin and Debbie Stabenow,Rep. Joe Knollenberg, StateSenator John Pappageorge, OaklandCounty Executive L. BrooksPatterson, and Southfield’s MayorBrenda L. Lawrence celebratedFr. Diran’s accomplishments, anda tribute video highlighted Fr. Diran’sministry through the years.Dr. Raffy Hovanessian, vice chairof the Diocesan Council of the EasternDiocese, delivered the keynoteaddress.A graduate of the Armenian Patriarchateschool in Jerusalem, Fr.Diran also attended the EpiscopalDivinity School of Philadelphiaand received his bachelor’s degreefrom the Episcopal TheologicalSchool in Cambridge, Massachusetts.He completed his graduatestudies at Harvard DivinitySchool, where he received hismaster’s degree.Fr. Diran’s retirement in 1993did not mark the end of his activeservice. He continues to serve St.John’s Armenian Church as archpriestemeritus and is often assignedas visiting clergy member toArmenian parishes throughout theUnited States. Fr. Diran is knownfor his deeply rooted passion forknowledge, and his dauntless effortsto serve his people and hiscommunity.

8 The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008CommunityA gift of hope and loveKach NazarTelethon raisesclose to $88,000for orphaned anddisabled children inArmeniaby Anna MargaryanGLENDALE, Calif. – With theholiday season looming on the horizon,the ninth annual Kach NazarTelethon, held on November 2,is igniting the spirit of Christmasand hope within the hearts of disadvantagedchildren in Armeniaby sparking a campaign of givingamong community members inLos Angeles.While many of us live in a cultureof excess inundated by materialismand comfort, the disabledand orphaned children of Armeniaconsider a roof, a warm meal,and tender loving arms preciouscommodities. A dedicating tohelping ensure these basic needslies at the heart of the Kach NazarTelethon.Ever since 1999, the year it wasestablished, the Kach Nazar Christmasfund has provided the underprivilegedchildren of Armeniawith gifts.The call to action for founderOvanes Balayan came when thepresident of Yerevan’s State PhilharmonicOrchestra, Laert Movsisian,approached him about raisingfunds to purchase gifts and organizea series of holiday concerts forchildren living in orphanages.That first year, Balayan managedto collect $18,000 – a notable accomplishment,considering thatit was a one-man operation at thetime.Balayan recalls that he sat downand spent two or three hours a daycalling individuals in the hopes ofraising funds. That grassroots efforthas now blossomed into theKach Nazar Telethon, an annualprogram that has, over the courseof eight years, reached 115,000kids.“Our main associates in Armeniaare the Philharmonic and LaertMovsisian,” says Balayan when Iask him about who has oversightover the funds once they reach Armenia.Balayan’s crusade seems tohave tugged at the heart stringsof the Armenian community. Thetelethon enjoys the support of numerousvolunteers, project advisors,and a long list of prominentlocal professionals, businesses,and cultural organizations includingGlendale Kia, Glendale WestPharmacy and Medical Supply,Universal Service Exchange, CommerceCasino, the Unified YoungArmenians, and Nor Serount,among many others.Today, while teenage volunteerswork the phones in thebackground, organizers and hostswork in front of the cameras, providingstories from the field andsituation reports, making appealsfor help, and acknowledgingsupporters. The only thing thatbreaks their concentration is aneruption of loud cheers and applauseat the announcement thata $5,000 pledge has just been received.The mood is light, but everyonegrasps the significance of the workbeing performed here.The fruit of all this labor, themuch-awaited figure raised duringthe almost nine-hour telethon, isclose to $88,000.Organizers of the Kach Nazar Telethon, which took place on November 2.For the childrenVardan Ghukasyan, director of theprogram that organizes holidayfestivities for the children in Armenia,offers an account of the changestaking place in the orphanagesbecause of the telethon.“The children leave that concertwith twinkling eyes after receivingtheir Christmas presents,” hesays. “These children receive emotionalnourishment from this. Themajority of these children are sick,so their greatest joy occurs duringthese Christmas celebrations.”Ghukasyan, who has been involvedin the program for the pastfour years, continues: “Workingwith these children, I fell in lovewith the happiness and sparkle intheir eyes. You bond with them andcan’t tear yourself away.”The telethon has brought togethermany segments of the Glendaleand larger Los Angeles communities,including residents, entertainers,and city officials.“I come every year to support andbring my check,” says Glendale CityCouncilman Frank Quintero. “Ihope everyone will help that beautifulcountry and those beautifulchildren.”While many prominent speakerstake the floor on behalf of thesevoiceless children, it appears thatthe children are their own bestspokespersons. Video clips of disabledand disadvantaged childrenwere broadcast throughout theevening, depicting images not onlyof great need, but also of powerfulresilience, intense joy, and unforgettablecourage.Today hundreds of childrenwho live a world away from Armeniaand the devastating conditionsin which their orphaned anddisabled peers live will walk intothe studio or call the telethon tocontribute to their welfare. Manyof these youths, who have beenraised in the diaspora, cannoteven envision the hardships anddeprivation that plague childrenin Armenian. Yet a cultural bondand a desire to help are enough tomobilize them.“I do this for the orphans in Armenia,”says phone-bank volunteerSusie Akhverdyan in between answeringphones.For the organizers, volunteers,and donors of this telethon, it’s assimple as that. Their only agendais to bring a smile to the faces ofthousands of Armenian childrendealt a cruel hand by life.As for Balayan, his involvementis grounded in his personal beliefthat the diaspora has a singular responsibilityto help strengthen thehomeland financially and socially.For the organizers, volunteers, and donors of this telethon their only agenda is to bring a smile to the faces of thousands ofArmenian children dealt a cruel hand by life.The telethon enjoys the support of numerous volunteers, project advisors, and along list of prominent local professionals, businesses, and cultural organizations.“I see the diaspora and the homelandas being equally important tous,” he says. “We complement oneanother. We are the same people,but due to circumstances of destiny,we have been divided.”From December 25 until January15, volunteers will distribute thegifts, purchased with funds raisedduring the telethon, to the childrenin Armenia during a series ofholiday celebrations. The gift-givingand festivities will commenceat the Hamalir in Yerevan, whichhas proven to be a cost-effectivevenue because it can accommodateup to 12,000 children. The celebrationswill then circulate among 50orphanages and schools in surroundingareas, where thousandsof children are expected to gatherfor concerts and a much-awaitedvisit from Santa.Last Christmas, 160 childrenfrom Shushi, eager to take part inthe New Year’s celebrations, werebussed in. Balayan hopes that thisyear will be no different.“A lot of these children havehad a lot of traumas,” he says.“They experience huge psychologicalchanges and happinessin those few hours. These childrenknow that once a year SantaClaus comes and gives out gifts.So that joy of receiving gifts,though a short one, means theworld to them.”One suspects that it is not merelythe presents bound in brightpackages that have such a transformativeeffect on the children.Rather, it seems that it is a moreheartfelt and abstract message ofhope, love, and faith which cannotbe unwrapped and resonates mostwith children accustomed to havingso little.Building a futureWhile funds raised at the pasteight telethons have been usedessentially to purchase gifts andorganize holiday celebrations forpoor, orphaned, and disabledchildren in Armenia, this yearassistance was also given to theKharberd Armenian Disabledand Orphan Children’s Center.The institution, located in theArarat region of Armenia, wasin a terrible state of disrepair,prompting the executives of theKach Nazar Telethon to build anew orphanage on the site. Theinitiative, which took hundredsof man hours and approximately$70,000, was completed on August15.The grand opening of the new orphanagetook place on August 19,Continued on page 9

The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008 9CommunityA gift of hope and love Continued from page 8when Dr. Haroutyun Balasanyan,president of the Kharberd Center,dedicated an honorary plaque toBalayan.“The builders were great guys,”recounts Balayan with a smile.“They occasionally called me duringconstruction and would say,‘Mr. Balayan, you see these kidsat a distance, but they are herein front of our eyes, so we will doeverything to make sure they livecomfortably.”The Kharberd Orphanage, a threestorybuilding with modern amenities,serves as a sanctuary for childrendenied the early joys of childhood.This new space, which ensuresthe safety and comfort of 50 children,is a world away from the tatteredremnants of the building in whichmany of these youths were destinedto spend their formative years.For Balayan and his fellow organizers,the challenge now is tocontinue to renovate and expandthe Kharberd complex, aiming tohelp house and care for some 255children.During our talk, Balayan showsme photos taken of some of thesechildren in their own abode. Thesparkle in their eyes and the smileson their faces speak volumes asthey view their new beds and gatheringhalls decorated with colorfulartwork. The warmth of their newhome and the love with which itwas built may compensate for theearly traumas these children wereforced to endure.“If we don’t have a healthy generation,we will be lost. That is whyI do this,” Balayan says, referringto his abiding faith in the longtermbenefits of projects such asthe telethon.In the worksWith the successful completionof the first part of the KharberdOrphanage, Balayan, his advisors,and supporters are now turningtheir attention to the rural regionsof Armenia, where schools and orphanagesare in desperate need ofassistance.Two dilapidated orphanages inShirak and a school in a surroundingarea are next on Balayan’s agenda,as he hopes the telethon willyield enough funds to begin renovations.He spews out statistic after direstatistic to illustrate the plight ofchildren in Armenia.“In Armenian villages there are130,000 disabled and orphaned children,”he says. “Generally speaking,80% of our orphanages are in an extremelypoor state. If you are puttingchildren in a classroom, thatbuilding needs to be safe. We haveto safeguard those school buildingsso when children come to school,they won’t have to worry that theroof is going to collapse.”Balayan goes on to provide anendless list of deficiencies in termsof basic needs, comforts, and amenitiesthat most children in the U.S.take for granted.“They need paper, pens,” he notes.“They don’t have books. For example,the books are copied. In Armeniathere are thousands of amazingbooks published, but the childrendon’t get them.”Plea to the diasporaBalayan’s appeals to the Armenian-American public have not fallen ondeaf ears, as donations have continuedto pour in and the numberof telethon supporters has grownexponentially year after year.The first year of the telethon sawthe participation of an estimated500 people. That number reachedover 2,000 last year.“I think that this year the numberof participants will be higher,”Balayan says. “Maybe the denominationswill be smaller because peopleare facing financial hardships,but the participation will be more.I’ve always said that the denominationis important, but it doesn’thold the first place. The first thingis participation. People’s [awarenessof the plight of] these childrenis what’s important to me.”Despite the current economiccrisis faced by Armenian-Americans,Balayan believes that peopleare prepared to give because theyare impressed with the work thatis being carried out to aid the childrenof Armenia.Perhaps the transparency withwhich these funds are distributedhas contributed to the outpouringof public support. “People believethat this work is being done,”Balayan stresses. “Year after year,our people become more consciousof the fact that they mustleave their sense of indifference.We need to help our country becausethat country is in need.”This year the appeal for aid hasreached a greater audience as simultaneousbroadcasts on amga,aabc, and High Vision as well as asatellite feed throughout the U.S.,Mexico, and Canada have widenthe scope of the telethon’s message.Previously the event was broadcastin only Glendale, Burbank, and LaCrescenta – a fact which makes theamount of money collected evenmore impressive.Furthermore, the tradition ofgiving has been expanded this yearwith strategically-placed donationboxes in over 100 Armenianbusinesses. The clear plastic boxes,bearing the telethon logo and imagesof children, have been overflowingwith donations since theirinstallment last month. Unlike thetelethon, which takes place once ayear, the donation-box campaignwill continue year-round, in orderto supply a steady stream of incomefor renovation projects thatare in the works.It appears that the man who hasbecome a household name withhis satirical Kach Nazar Monthly,published since 1970, and the KachNazar Live TV show, has found histrue calling in helping these children.“Growing up, I always dreamedof someday being able to help mypeople,” Balayan says. “I alwayswanted to be useful to my language,my country, and my countrymen.It’s a huge joy for me.”Listening to him speak about thechildren who look to him for help,it sounds as though he is talkingabout his own grandchildren. Heembodies a passion, warmth, andlove that cannot be contrived and isreflected in the deep Armenian eyesof the children to whom he has becomea surrogate grandfather. Let us knowwhat’s on yourmind.Write to us atletters@reporter.am

10 The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008CommunityCultural Day celebrated at Chamlian Armenian SchoolOver 70 first andsecond graderspresentedtraditionalArmeniancostumes fromvarious regionsin Armenia.GLENDALE, Calif – On Sunday,November 2, 2008, the ChamlianArmenian School in Glendalemarked it’s annual Cultural Day.The Armenian Cultural Day showcasedthe school’s dedication to thepreservation and promotion of Armenianculture and heritage. Theteachers in the Armenian Departmentworked tirelessly to preparetheir students. This year’s event includedthree sets of performanceseach lasting for two-hours in theschool auditorium. The programconsisted of songs, dances, recitals,short-plays, and the school choir.Over seventy first and second graderspresented traditional Armeniancostumes from various regions inArmenia.While the show was going on inthe auditorium, outside, students,teachers, parents, and familymembers spent their time in thecarnival-like atmosphere enjoyingArmenian cuisine and music. Thisevent was entirely sponsored andorganized by the Armenian Departmentand the Chamlian ParentSupport Committee.This year, the Parent InvolvementProgram (pip) was introducedat Chamlian ArmenianSchool. This program encouragesevery family to donate 40 hoursof their time in volunteer services.Rita Kaprielian , the vice principalat Chamlian and the person whoinitiated the Parent InvolvementProgram said, “Over the years, wehave been fortunate to have receivedoutstanding support fromour parents. They have always beengenerous in supporting us withtheir resources, their talents, andtheir expertise. We believe that ourparents will welcome the programas an opportunity to become evenmore involved with the Chamliancommunity. We are pleased to witnessthe program working so successfully.”There was a large turnout of volunteer parents at thisevent.The school has set up a websitewhere all volunteer service opportunitiesare posted for parents toview. The interactive website enablesthe parents to sign-on anytime and select service opportunitiesthat work best with theirschedule and abilities. The onlinesystem automates communicationbetween school administration,various event committees, and parents.Located in the foothills of Glendaleand La Cresenta, California,the school provides the ideal settingfor an excellent learning institution.With 500 students in gradesone through eight, Chamilan isParents volunteering their time to the Chamlian Armenian School.Judge Zaven Sinanian appointed to California Judges Associationone of the eight schools under theauspices of the Board of Regents ofthe Western Prelacy of the ArmenianApostolic Church. Chamlianis recognized not only as an Armenianschool, but also as an excellentlearning institution with thehighest standards of academic excellence.Chamlian was establishedin 1973 and has been accredited bythe Western Association of Schoolsand Colleges since 1983. Chamlianis also the only school in the regionthat teaches both Western andEastern Armenian.LOS ANGELES – The HonorableZaven V. Sinanian, currently sittingas a trial judge in the Central District,Stanley Mosk Courthouse ofthe Los Angeles County SuperiorCourt (lasc) was recently electedby his colleagues to the ExecutiveBoard of the California Judges Association(cja). He was nominatedto the Executive Board by theLASC’s current Presiding Judge J.Stephen Czuleger. The swearingin ceremony took place on September27, 2008, in Monterey, Californiaat the State Bar Annual Conference.Judge Sinanian was appointedto the bench in 2002 by GovernorGray Davis, following 13 years withthe Attorney General’s office in California.He was elected to anotherterm on the bench by the voters ofLos Angeles County in 2004. Priorto moving to the Stanley MoskJudge Zaven Sinanian.courthouse, in 2007, he was thefirst judge of Armenian descent tobe appointed site supervising judgefor the North Central District, Burbank,which has a large Armenianpopulation.“I am humbled and honored bythis appointment, and will do mybest to represent the constituentsof the California Judges Association,”said Sinanian.In 2005, Sinanian was appointedto a three-year term on the CaliforniaJudicial Council AdvisoryCommittee on Access and Fairnessby Ronald George, Chief Justiceof the California Supreme Court.He has worked diligently in thatcapacity to implement changes tothe court system that would benefitthe public and increase accessto justice.In addition to his work withthe Judicial Council, Sinanian,is a current member of the ExecutiveBoard of the Los AngelesCounty Bar AssociationLitigation Committee and wasformerly a member of the lascExecutive Committee, which isthe policy making arm of thecourt.Sinanian is a past Chairman ofthe Armenian Bar, and continuesto participate in seminars, paneldiscussions and continuing educationclasses for attorneys conductedby that organization. In 1992, hetook a one-year sabbatical to travelto Armenia where he served as theCounselor to the Minister of ForeignAffairs, who at that time wasthe Armenian Bar’s founder, RaffiHovannisian.Since his appointment to thebench, Judge Sinanian has mentoredstudents and young professionals,many of them Armenian,who aspire to enter and succeed inthe field of law. He has regularlywelcomed law students for externshipsin his department and hasadvised young lawyers on careerdevelopment issues. He has beena guest speaker and lecturer at conferencesorganized by the ArmenianBar Association, and has continuedto be involved in Armeniancommunity affairs.The cja was established in 1929and is the professional associationrepresenting the interests of thejudiciary of the State of California.It is the nation’s largest professionalassociation, representing2,600 active and retired Californiajudges, justices, commissionersand referees. Its mission is to preserveand promote the integrityand independence of the state judiciary;uphold the quality of justiceand foster public confidence inthe courts; support and enhancethe well-being and effectiveness ofits active and retired judicial officers;and strengthen relationshipsamong the three branches of government.

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12 The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008CommunityMedia City Ballet to host Clara’s Holiday Tea Partyfor upcoming performance of The NutcrackerEdgar Nikolyandances the part ofthe “The Nutcracker”GLENDALE – Media City Ballet(mcb) has announced that inpreparation for the upcomingholiday season, the companywill present Clara’s Holiday TeaParty, A Holiday Celebration forChildren of All Ages at DescansoGardens. The event will be hostedby Clara, mischievous mice, toysoldiers, live toys and the SugarPlum Fairy, all from Peter IllyichTchaikovsky’s perennial favoriteholiday ballet, The Nutcracker.The menu is holiday themed, andincludes menus for both adultsand children. Each event attendee’sentry ticket will be enteredinto a raffle for a Family FourPack of Tickets to see Media CityBallet’s 2008 production of TheNutcracker. Clara’s Holiday TeaParty will also feature a NutcrackerBoutique and Holiday SilentAuction, along with music andcharacters from The Nutcrackerin a live show.Children will delight in an afternoonof face painting, cookiedecorating, seasonal songs, magicand dance, including a previewperformance of The Nutcracker.Party attendees are encouraged todress up for high tea and will havea chance to win Clara’s crown or aNutcracker doll.At Clara’s Holiday Tea Party childrenand their families will learnabout the characters in the balletand the plotline, so they will beable to enjoy the ballet on a deeperlevel when seeing it.During the course of Clara’sHoliday Tea Party, tickets forMCB’s upcoming performancesof The Nutcracker, will be availablefor purchase. Armeniandancer, Edgar Nikolyan, will bedancing the part of The Nutcracker.Performances of theballet will be given on Saturday,December 6, 2008 at both 2:00P.M. and 7:00 P.M. and Sunday,December 7, 2008 at both 2:00P.M. and 7:00 P.M. at the AlexTheatre, 216 North Brand Boulevard,Glendale, CA.The Nutcracker will be choreographedby Natasha Middleton,the artistic director of the MediaCity Ballet Company. The lavish,magical production will featureaward-winning dancers, dazzlingmagical illusions, special effectsand aerialists performing fetesof daring. The presentation willbe staged in the tradition of thefamous Ballet Russe de MonteCarlo with spectacular sets designedby leading artists fromWalt Disney Feature Animationand Universal Features Animation.Now celebrating its seventhseason under the guidance of ArtisticDirector Natasha Middleton,the Media City Ballet Company isdedicated to providing Los Angelesand the surrounding communitieswith quality live ballet productions,utilizing the inspiredand creative talents of the localcommunity, as well as professionalsfrom around the world. It isthe only ballet company in LosAngeles presenting performancesin the tradition and philosophyof the legendary Ballet Russe deSerge Diaghilev. Natasha Middleton’sgrandmother, Elena Wortova,was a soloist in the originalEdgar Nikolyan as the Nutcracker.Scenes from Clara’s Holiday Tea Party, A Holiday Celebration for Children of All Ages from previous years.Ballet Russe, which included otherlegendary dancers like Anna Pavlova,George Balanchine, AlexandraDanilova and Vaslav Nijinsky.Middleton’s father, AndreiTremaine, was a principal dancerwith the Ballet Russe de MonteCarlo, and soloist with the BalletNacional de Mexico and the ColonOpera Ballet of Buenos Aires. NatashaMiddleton, a “Ballet RusseBaby,” was a principal dancer forher father’s ballet company, PacificBallet Theatre, as well as amember of the Joffrey II BalletCompany in New York City, beforetaking on the responsibilitiesof Artistic Director for Media CityBallet Company.connect: www.mediacityballet.orgwww.descansogardens.orghttp://www.alextheatre.orgCraig Dickens as Herr Drosselmeyer and Amara Baptist as Clara.

The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008 13CommunityArmenian-American voters speak outby Lory TatoulianGLENDALE, Calif. – Across America,the electricity was in the air onElection Day, with a mix of anxietyand excitement permeating the atmosphere.As candidates repeatedtheir stump speeches one last timeand television stations 24-hournonstop aired pundits projectingstate-by-state results – votersheaded out to the polls in droves totake part in an election that will godown in the history books. Glendale,California, a bastion of the Armenian-Americancommunity, wasnot absent from the maelstrom.No, the verve was pulsing throughthe streets of the Southern Californiatown as Armenian-Americanstrekked to their balloting places tovote for their favorite candidate.Across Glendale, different opinionsechoed from Armeniansexiting voting booths in variousneighborhoods – from the publicparks that boast newly arrived immigrantcommunities, to countryclubs, tucked away in the hills ofthe city. In these various voting locations,Armenian-Americans helddifferent ideas about who shouldbe the president, the various statepropositions, and what directionthe country should take. But themaxim that all the voters adheredto was that it was crucial to exercisetheir democratic right to vote.Armenians from all walks of life– newly sworn-in citizens, affluentbusiness owners, college students,fifth-generation Armenians, gays,the elderly, liberals, conservatives– stood in line for hours to participatein the historic election. TheArmenian Reporter hit the streets ofGlendale on Election Day and collecteda slew of colorful opinionsand raw reactions of voters whowere out voting.Just like KennedyAt Maple Public Park in Glendale,a group of men sitting on a parkbench hovered over a backgammonboard, voicing their opinions onwho they voted for and how theirdecision would shape the course oftheir newly adopted country. RubenKademyan had just voted atthe public park voting station andhe was winding down by watchinganother fierce game of backgammonplayed by two of his friendstaking it out on the wooden board.Ruben and his friends collectivelyvoiced their support for BarackObama. As the clicks of the tavloodice danced on the board, themen’s comments oscillated betweencalling out wrong moves onthe board game to verbalizing theirjudgments on the candidates.“Obama is what this countryneeds right now. He is the only oneto do it, just like Kennedy did,” Rubensaid. “It doesn’t bother me whatcolor he is; a man is defined by hischaracter, not what the color of hisskin is. I pray that McCain doesn’twin because just like Bush, he willleave this country is shambles.”Ruben’s friends chimed in fromthe background and also showedtheir devotion for the Illinoissenator. “The Number One victoryis that Bush is going to be outof office. Bush is an aboush,” saidRuben’s friend Suren, using an Armenianword meaning dim-witted.“He gave this country such a badname and put us in such an awfulplace. I am going to celebrate morethat he will no longer be the leaderof this country,” Suren continued.This country sets anexampleAs an older couple, Ani and Hovhannes,who have been citizensRouben Kadimyan supported Barack Obama.since 1995, were exiting the pollingstation at the park, they were proudto mention that they had votedin every election since becomingcitizens. Even though they havealways participated in the electoralprocess, both husband and wife expressedtheir genuine enthusiasmabout this particular election.“Obama is going to bring change,”Ani said. “This country has been sostagnant and is going in a downwardspiral, and the only person that cansalvage our situation is Obama.”Hovhannes spoke about how Mr.Obama’s initiatives would be goodfor Armenia.“Even though I have hope thatObama will be the president to bringArmenian issues to the forefront,that is not the only reason why I amvoting for him,” Hovhannes said. “Itis not just about Armenian issues;it’s about this country, the UnitedStates. I want to make sure thatthis country can get back to fulfillingthe promise that it has meantfor all of us. This country sets anexample to all other countries andObama is the only one to put usback on track,” Hovaness said.The poll inspectorSeven blocks away from the park, inthe recreation room of the Churchof Perfect Liberty, poll inspectorAnush Kasemyan was volunteeringher time to prevent mechanicalerrors and assist voters. Weeksbefore the election, Anush tooktraining classes at the public library,online exams, became acquaintedwith all the rules, and set up the entirepolling area with booths, ballots,computers, and documents.A day before Election Day, sheunloaded her car and set up thesite. Anush attributes her devotionto the love she has for the UnitedStates and her inherent need tohelp people.“I want to be with the people onimportant days like the electionsand I want to make sure they arecomfortable and answer any questionsthey might have,” Anush said.The poll inspector confessed thatshe was up until four in the morningreviewing voting guidebooksand memorizing all the rules. Shefeels that her hard work paid offbecause everything was runningvery smoothly and no problemsoccurred.With five languages under her belt,she is a useful asset for a communitythat is a mélange of different ethnicities.Sitting next to Anush weretwo Korean-American and Mexican-American volunteers. “Many peoplehave language barriers, so knowingArmenian, Persian, Spanish, andsome other languages really helpsassist those who might feel intimidatedbecause their English is notvery strong,” she explained.An 84-year-old firsttimevoterAcross town, north of GlenoaksBoulevard, which is considered oneof the more affluent areas of thecity, Armenian-Americans wereleaving a fire station that had beentransformed into a polling station.With smiles stretched across facesand “I Voted” stickers placed oncashmere sweaters, voters werespeaking to neighbors in line andchatting it up about the historic natureof the election.Kevork Panoyan, 84, was takingpart in his very first election.It’s not that he was not a citizenor apathetic toward politics; he hadjust always harbored indifferencefor the candidates who were on theballot. A robust man, he reads theLos Angeles Times every day and admitsto reading almost every Armenianpublication without regard topolitical affiliation. (The ArmenianReporter was one of his favorites.)But this year was different for Mr.Panoyan. He believed that his votewas vital this time around.“This vote is important for theUnited States, for the world, and asan Armenian, for my community,”Mr. Panoyan said. “After the collapseof the housing market, the creditcrisis, the ongoing wars, there is noother solution than to have a dramaticshift in policies. I believe thatObama and his administration cando this. I also feel that he is going tobe the man who is finally going tobring recognition of the ArmenianGenocide, something that this greatcountry needs to officially markas one of the greatest atrocities inmodern history,” Mr. Panoyan said.Mr. Panoyan’s son, Ara, who is adentist, quoted Senator Joe Bidenon his dedication to Armenian-Americans causes. “Biden is a friendof our community and he said, ‘IfA McCain voter who wished to remain anonymous.Kevork Panoyan,a first-time voter,with his son Dr.Ara Panoyan.Photos: HilmaShahinian.there is a friend of Armenians, itis me.’ This makes me see that wehave a prudent and well-educatedcandidate on our hands, who willhopefully bring justice to the firstGenocide of the 20th century, thatstill goes unrecognized,” said Ara.Barack who?Taking a different view were amother and daughter who showedtheir support for Senator JohnMcCain. The voters wanted tostay anonymous, but the mothersaid that she believed that GeorgeBush was unjustly blamed for all ofthe ills of the world.“We cannot blame one man for allof this mess. He was an easy targetto dump all of this on. There were somany other people who made baddecisions and placed our country inthe current situation it is in. We cannotjust carelessly say that Bush isthe crux of all of our problems,” thewoman, a real estate agent, said.“In the first eight years, the Democratswere relishing in the financialboom of our country and buyinghomes in the hills of this city,”she added. “Now that everythinghas gone sour, they place blame iton Bush as an easy target.”Her daughter, who is in her latetwenties, also voted for Mr. Mc-Cain but did not fully agree withher mother’s sentiments. She said,“I voted for McCain because he doesnot always vote with his party, andalways followed what he thoughtto be right and true. McCain hasspent countless years in the Senateand I don’t know who is Obama is.”A perk on Election Day was thatmany businesses were passing outfreebies to customers who showedtheir voting stub. On the cornerof Stocker and Pacific Avenues inGlendale, it was like microcosm ofthe United Nations Security Councilmeetings taking place around wickertables on the patio of Starbucks.Friends, families, and strangers sataround tables and flushed out opinionsabout the day’s progress, whilesipping on their free cups of coffee.Broken promises in thepastA first-time voter, an 18 year-oldstudent at Glendale CommunityCollege, who wanted to stay anonymous,expressed his excitement atbeing able to vote. The young man,who was dressed in a refined dresssuit, was grabbing a free cup of coffeewhile was dashing off to his secondjob as a graphic designer. He said hehad to hold two jobs while in collegejust to keep afloat and pay off his carloan. “I really hope Obama wins, Ibelieve in how he wants to help themiddle class and really make educationaccessible and affordable for mygeneration,” he said.At the Verdugo Hills CountryClub, an anonymous McCain supportersaid she did not believethat Mr. Obama would really bringchange. “Obama has made so manypromises, and I respect him greatly,but I cannot be swayed by his charisma.To be honest with you, I amnot happy with any of the candidates,but choosing McCain wasthe best choice for me out of thetwo,” the older woman said as sheclutched her designer bag to casther vote. “As an Armenian-American,it is important that recognitionis brought to the Genocide,but I have experienced too manybroken promises from candidates. Idon’t want to sound jaded, but thisis my experience.”Genocide recognitionLilit Arvahi, who was not ashamedto be outspoken about her supportfor Mr. Obama, said she believesthat Mr. Obama “represents thegrassroots of American politics andthe people who have been strugglingto make a living for themselves.”The 24-year-old Pepperdinepsychology graduate student alsofelt that Mr. Obama’s passion wascoming from a place of sincerity.“When he speaks of change, it’s notjust rhetoric. I really believe he isfighting for what is right.”As a grandchild of Genocide survivors,Lilit feels that Mr. Obamawill help the Armenian cause inbringing justice to the overlookedGenocide. “Obama is the light atthe end of the tunnel,” she said.Two weeks ago for Halloween, Lilitdressed up as an Obama supporterby sticking Obama bumper stickersall over herself and wearing a blousethat had an image of the candidate’sface plastered on the front. “WhatAmerica has been representing tothe world in the past is actually asmall portion of what this countryis really about, and that image isabout to change,” Lilit explained.At nighttime, as the final ballotswere counted, numerous partieswere taking place across the city, inliving rooms, parks, clubs, and bars.Over 75 people crowded themselvesinto the Sidebar in Glendalefor an Election Day party hosted bythe Armenian National Committee.Young professionals, smartlydressed, sipped on drinks andshifted their focus from politicaldiscussion with friends to watchingthe television.As breaking news erupted on theairwaves that Barack Obama hadbeen elected the 44th president ofthe United States of America, thecrowd burst out into vociferousapplause. Eyes swelled up in tears,fists were thrown into the air, andcontinuous applause reverberatedacross the room. Everyone was ontheir feet giving a standing ovationto the man who had just made history.The cheers continued as the resultsscrolled down the screen.When President-elect Obamaappeared on the television fromGrant Park in Chicago, a deafeningsilence blanketed the crowd at thebar, as young Armenian-Americanswatched an African-Americantake the giant podium and makepromises to be a president of everyperson in this vast and diversecountry.

14 The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008CommunityRacine’s Saint Mesrob Church hosts Old Testament seminarRACINE, Wisc. – At a 6-hourseminar that made learning Biblehistory “truly and incredibly fun,”135 adults, children, and youngpeople recited, gesticulated, andemoted their way through thestories of the Old Testament, theEastern Diocese of the ArmenianChurch reports.St. Mesrob Armenian Churchhosted the “Walk Thru the OldTestament” Seminar on October18 with the leadership of its pastor,Rev. Fr. Yeprem Kelegian. Sponsoredby the Department of Youthand Education of the Diocese andpresented by the Walk Thru theBible Ministries, the seminar wasintended not only to teach Biblebasics but also to rekindle participants’desire to read the Bible andpray daily.“I believe so deeply in the purposeof this ministry – to get peoplereading Scripture and allowing itto inform their lives – absolutelyessential,” exclaimed pastor MelSvendsen of nearby Lake Zurich,Ill., an instructor for Walk ThruSeminars for over 20 years. EliseAntreassian, coordinator ofChristian Education of the Diocese,introduced the program tothe packed house as a means of doing“what the Church needs to doand what we don’t do often enough– focus on Scripture. And since thesalvation story doesn’t begin withthe manger but at the beginning oftime, we Armenians need to learnthe Old Testament!”Many participants came skeptically,not sure if they would stayfor the day. But with everyonequickly abandoning their schooldeskpostures and getting up to“do the walk” through alternatingrounds of storytelling by Mr.Svendsen and acting out memorywords and phrases, the crowdwarmed up and stayed. “This wasa breath of fresh air, totally funand informative,” said St. MesrobSunday School co-superintendentMarj Korakian.“This is such a welcome program,”said Julie Der Garabedian, avisitor from St. Hagop ArmenianChurch in Racine. “I’m so pleasedto see the Armenian Church doingsomething like this.” AddedMeline Grigorian of Racine: “Thepresenter’s style of storytelling andentertainment kept everyone enthralled;all of us, ages 7 to 85, wereinterested and participating!”During the seminar, participantslearned the main events and peopleof the Old Testament as relatedthrough its 42 books (including theDeuterocanonical works acceptedby the Orthodox Church): Creation,the Fall, Noah, Abraham, thevarious families of the patriarchs,Moses and the Exodus, the Judges,the Kings and the Prophets, endingwith the Jewish Exile, the Return,and the years of silence before thecoming of Christ. This included importantthemes, special meanings,and major geographical movements.Mr. Svendsen was unanimouslydeemed “dynamic.” Participantsused hand motions, catch phrases,and group review to understandthe Old Testament in this unusualway. Children with their own ageappropriateactivity books workeddiligently away, shouting out thecatch phrases (“Let my people go”was a particular favorite). Occasionalplayground breaks kept themin high gear to the last minute (andthey proved their attentiveness byreenacting what they learned thenext day at Sunday School). Affirmedparishioner Elsie Garoukian:“God bless Instructor Mel and‘Walk Thru.’ Now when I read theOld Testament, I will feel like I amnot stumbling through it. I lookforward to start re-reading it withmore understanding.”Clergy and parishioners camefrom far and wide: a few cars fullfrom Sts. Joachim and Anne ArmenianChurch of Palos Heights, Ill.(Fr. Tavit and Yeretzgin TirouheBoyajian with family in tow);Deacon-in-Charge Levon Kirakosyan,Fr. Paren Galstyan, andParish Council Chair Debbie DerAsadourian (whose mother Marywas asked to stand and majesticallyrepresent the ancient city of Ur)brought a number from St. James,Evanston, Ill. There were eagerlearners as well from St. GregoryChurch in Chicago, Ill.; St. John,Greenfield, Wisc.; Holy Resurrection,South Milwaukee, Wisc.; andSt. Hagop, Racine.All were grateful to the pastorand parishioners of St. Mesrob whoworked so hard to make the day asuccess. Fr. Kelegian was emailingand telephoning up to the day heand Yeretzgin left for a long-scheduledtrip to Armenia (returning thenight before the seminar); parishadministrator Dan Korakian coordinatedthe room arrangementsand audiovisual setup, efficientlyattending to every detail. Parishionersunderwrote some of the costsand cut up sandwiches, preparedcoffee, and set out the cookies andjuice. Parish Council Chair JosephGabrielian emphatically declaredthat “we’ve got to follow this upnext year with a seminar on theNew Testament.”Gratitude was expressed as wellto the Primate, Archbishop KhajagBarsamian, and the Departmentof Youth and Education of the Diocesefor offering this otherwisecostly program free of charge.The Diocese reports that Fr. Kelegianspoke for everyone’s high spiritswhen he closed the day, saying,“We depart now, but we depart witha mission to yearn to know moreabout the Lord and His Word, toshare our faith and love for theLord with others and, thus, tomake the Armenian Church a morevibrant part of everyone’s life.” Grikor Mirzaian Suni’s music to be showcased in Ann ArborANN ARBOR, Mich. – Theworks of Grikor Mirzaian Suni(1876–1939), a founder of modernArmenian music, will be showcasedin a concert at the Ann Arbor DistrictLibrary, 343 S. Fifth Ave atWilliam St., at 7 p.m. on January2, 2009.Born east of Lake Sevan in Getabekvillage, the composer was raisedin the eastern reaches of HistoricArmenia, in Shushi (Karabakh).Suni’s music is beautiful, soulful,lively classical art music based inArmenian folk music of his owncollecting, and includes vocal solosand duets, four-part choral works,orchestral suites, and instrumentalpieces. His music is unique, and atthe same time “Armenian,” and likethe music of Bach is polyphonic,contrapuntal, and versatile, wonderfulon any instrument.From a long line of ashough singers,Mirzaian (Suni) worked withall the Armenian masters of histime, a close associate of Komitas(Gomidas) in Etchmiadzin. Atthe Saint Petersburg Conservatoryof Music in the Russian capital,Mirzaian Suni studied compositionwith Rimsky-Korsakov. Graduatingfrom the conservatory, he resumedcollecting songs of Armenians duringhis wide travels in the Caucasus,Anatolia, Egypt, Mesopotamia,Iran, and India.A world war, revolution, and theGenocide caused Suni to flee to theUnited States in 1923, where he firstconducted church choirs, then Armenianfolk choruses, soloists, andorchestras, in New York, Boston,Chicago, Detroit, and Philadelphia(where he settled in 1925), and supportedArmenia from afar. Whenhe criticized Stalin in 1937, his musicwas banned in Armenia – whichis why his name is not as knownnow as it was earlier.Suni’s son Gourgen (George)Suny (born 1910 in Erzurum, died1985 Philadelphia) picked up hisfather’s baton in 1939 in Philadelphia,conducting Suni Choruseswith orchestra, sometimes as songand dance ensemble concerts, tocarry on presenting this treasuredArmenian cultural musical heritage.Continuing in sharing this musicare his granddaughters and daughter-in-law.The performers in this concertare two great granddaughters ofthe composer Grikor Mirzaian Suni,and their mother.Sevan Siranoush Suni (b. 1982)and Anoush Tamar Suni (b. 1987),violinist sisters, have been since1998 performing, separately andtogether, Armenian music of theirgreat grandfather. Sevan began violinstudies and classical violin performancesat age 4, and Anoush atage 2. Anoush also plays oud, andsings with her oud, sometimes inMiddle Eastern music ensembles.She has studied with oud mastersTufts gives final salute to John K. Baronianin Yemen and in Egypt, and hopesto study in Armenia next year. Sevanplays in the Stanford UniversitySymphony Orchestra, and occasionallyin a rock band. In spring2009 Sevan will complete her Ph.D.in population genetics, ecology,and evolution at Stanford; Anoushwill complete her B.A. in MiddleEastern studies at Pomona College.Armena Marderosian (Suny),pianist wife of Grikor Suni’s grandson,University of Michigan ProfessorRonald Grigor Suny, studiedpiano at the Oberlin Conservatoryof Music (Ohio) and SuzukiMethod in Japan, and is a teachertrainer of Suzuki Piano method.Ms. Marderosian heard the beautifulmusic of Grikor Mirzaian Suni,and learned that in 1924 her ownmother, Vanouhi Kazanjian, atage 16 had sung in the Suni Chorusin Boston.To make recordings of thisunique and wonderful music, Ms.Marderosian started the SuniProject: Music Preservation, arecognized nonprofit. With thehelp of the AGBU, the MichiganCouncil for the Arts and CulturalAffairs, and other donors, the firstCD was produced in 1997, “ArmenianSongs of Grikor MirzaianSuni (1876–1939): Vocal Solosand Duets” with singers MaroPartamian, Elisabeth Pehlivanian,Henrik Mihranian, andSuni’s own son Gourgen (George)Suny singing on his 84th birthday,9 months before his death, withpianist Armena Marderosian. TheSuni Project has two other CDs:remastered “Grikor Mirzaian Suni(1876–1939): Archival Concert Recordings”from Suni Chorus concerts1935, 1940, and 1971, and“Seda Suny 1986 Voice of AmericaInterview Recital.”connect:www.suniproject.orgby Tom VartabedianMEDFORD, Mass. – Six monthsafter his death, John K. Baronian isstill being remembered on the campusof Tufts University.Perhaps even more so.People walk each day around thetrack of the Baronian Athletic Complexwhere his name is suspendedfor all to behold.The football team is in the midstof a very successful season and onelineman will receive a distinguishedBaronian Award as its most valuableplayer.What’s more, a Baronian familyscholarship will be presented toa student of high academic rankwho personifies the examples setforth by the university and thebenefactor.Earlier this football season,Tufts ended a 21-year drought bydefeating Williams College in agame inspired by Mr. Baronian.At a team meeting, it was decidedto dedicate this game to Mr. Baronianand the players respondedwith exuberance.“We had a tailgate and gave thefootball team a pep talk,” saidAthletic Director William Gehling.“John was up above havinga debate with an angel. He wasthe invisible force that guided thisvictory (17–7) with his never-saydieattitude.”In a memorial tribute worthy ofa departed campus guru, Mr. Baronianwas befittingly eulogized bya host of students, administrators,colleagues and friends on Oct. 23inside the school’s Goddard Chapelwhere he was known to pray for hisfootball victories.On the day of his funeral thispast April, a motorcade wound upat the Baronian complex en routeto the cemetery. A Baronian cronycould be heard yelling, “Win thisone for John.” He may have beenreferring to the imminent Williamsgame.The celebration of Mr. Baronian’slife--that’s what they calledit--included appropriate messages,songs, a powerful video, and moresmiles than tears, just the way hewould have liked.Mr. Gehling recalled the time hewent on a recruiting mission andasked Mr. Baronian to accompanyhim. The three highly-regardedfootball prospects wound up at otherschools, much to Mr. Gehling’sdismay, though John Baronian hadbetter luck that day.He signed each of their parentsto an insurance policy as a topsalesman for American Mutual.There were stories about hismassive elephant collection beingturned over to the university tomanifest the “Jumbo” nickname,tales of his daily courtships atTufts, even the honorary doctoratehe received in 1997, the culminationof 60 years service with theinstitution.Chances are, if you didn’t get afootball ticket from Mr. Baronian,he gave you an elephant pin. It washis way of performing an ambassadorshiprole.“Believing that his college educationgave him a leg up on lifefrom his humble origins as theson of Armenian refugee parents,John was always willing to helpdeserving students in their endeavors,regardless of their backgrounds,”said President LawrenceS. Bacow.“If there were a more loyal, passionateand committed Tuftsalumnus than John Baronian, Ihave yet to meet him,” Mr. Bacowadded. “I never attended a footballgame without seeing John,rain or shine. He attended everyTufts event. Students especiallyloved him. He was always reachingout to them. There might be 4,000colleges and institutions in theUnited States, but in John’s mind,there was only one. As much as heloved this university, Tufts lovedhim back.”One of the last wedding invitationshe received was from AlyssaSerian, a New Hampshire studentwho was among the hundreds Mr.Baronian had assisted and counseledin the Armenian Club. Shemay not have met her Armenianhusband had it not been for thisCupid.“John advocated students of Armeniandescent over the last halfcentury,” said President EmeritusJohn DiBiaggio. “He felt thatevery Armenian who applied toTufts should have been admitted.Consequently, those who were acceptedturned into good students.I wish we could have accommodatedeach and every Armenianwho applied.”News of an alumni lifetimeachievement award being made inMr. Baronian’s name only complementedwhat’s already out there.Soprano Dana Maren Maelzner,an opera major, presented a musicalinterlude, including a stirringversion of the Gomidas Vartabedsong, “Groung.” An original compositiontitled “Baroniana” was debutedby Associate Professor JohnMcDonald.A video documented Mr. Baronian’slife, from his early days asthe son of genocide survivors,Hovannes and Margaret Baronian,straight through to his footballplayingdays at Tufts and finally hiswork as president of the AlumniAssociation and the Gridiron Clubof Greater Boston, which he alsochaired.The evening ended on a ratheremotional note as attendees leftthe chapel to a gauntlet of 300student-athletes each holdingcandles which glowed in the darkness.A reception capped the evening.

The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008 15CommunityCalendar of EventsArizonaNOVEMBER 8 - ARMENIAFEST.Location: Armenian Church CulturalCenter, Melikian Hall, 8849E Cholla St, Scottsdale, AZ. 11am to 6 pm Admission: $1, FREEParking. For more informationcontact Armenian ApostolicChurch of Arizona, 480-451-8171;donna@zabellegroup.com.Northern CaliforniaNOVEMBER 8 - ARMENIANFOOD FESTIVAL AND BOU-TIQUE NOEL. Location: CalvaryArmenian CongregationalChurch, 725 Brotherhood Way,San Francisco, CA. 12:00 -9:00pm Admission: Free. For moreinformation contact Calvary ArmenianCongregational Church,415- 586-2000; Cacc@cacc-sf.org.NOVEMBER 9 - FASHIONSHOW. Location: HYATT RE-GENCY SANTA CLARA ,CA, 5101Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara,CA. 12:30 PM Admission: TBD.For more information contactSt. Andrew Cultural Committee,(650)344-4707; sylvia.baghdasarian@Lmco.com.NOVEMBER 9 - FASHIONSHOW. Location: HYATT RE-GECLANCY, 5101 Great AmericaPkwy, Santa Clara, CA. 11:30AMAdmission: $60. For more informationcontact St. Andrew CulturalCommittee, (650)344-4707;sylvia.baghdasarian@Lmco.com.NOVEMBER 15 - SPIRITUALRETREAT. Location: “God iswith us”, 51 Commonwealth Ave.,San Francisco, CA. 9AM to 3PMAdmission: FREE. For more informationcontact St. GregoryArmenian Church, 415-751-9140;st.gregory1@sbcglobal.net.NOVEMBER 21 - FROM CON-STANTINOPLE TO TBILISI: ANARMENIAN LEGACY. Location:St. Vartan Armenian ApostolicChurch, 650 Spruce Street, Oakland,CA. 7:30pm Admission: $35/ $28 / $15. For more informationcontact Bay Area Classical Harmonies,(510) 868-0695; Info@BayAreaBACH.org.NOVEMBER 22 - FROM CON-STANTINOPLE TO TBILISI: ANARMENIAN LEGACY. Location:St. John Armenian ApostolicChurch, 275 Olympia Blvd, SanFrancisco, CA. 7:30pm Admission:$35 / $28 / $15. For more informationcontact Bay Area ClassicalHarmonies, (510) 868-0695;Info@BayAreaBACH.org.NOVEMBER 22 - A TOUCH OFYEREVAN IN SILICON VALLEY.Location: Private Residence inMountain View, We will providethe full address once we receivethe payments, San Jose, CA.7:00pm-Midnight Admission: $25.For more information contactLayla Sabourian, 415.438.0111;laylasabourian@gmail.com.NOVEMBER 22 - ARMENIANSOF THE NORTH BAY 2008 EVE-NING FOOD, DANCE, MUSICEVENT. Location: CongregationNer Shalom, 85 La Plaza, Cotati,CA. 6:00PM – 11PM Admission:Adults $25 8-13 $10. For more informationcontact Christyne Davidian,707- 762-2995; christyne@callatg.com.NOVEMBER 23 - FROM CON-STANTINOPLE TO TBILISI: ANARMENIAN LEGACY. Location:St. Andrew Armenian ApostolicChurch, 11370 S. Stelling Road,Cupertino, CA. 5:00pm Admission:$35 / $28 / $15. For more informationcontact Bay Area ClassicalHarmonies, (510) 868-0695;Info@BayAreaBACH.org.NOVEMBER 30 - ARMENIANGENOCIDE BRICKS FOR SSUHOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDEMEMORIAL GROVE. Location:Sonoma State University/Schoolof Social Sciences/Center forthe Study of the Holocaust andGenocide, 1801 E. Cotati Ave.,Stevenson Hall Rm 2078, RohnertPark, CA. N/A Admission:$100 4”x8” $250 8”x8. For moreinformation contact ChristyneDavidian, 707-762-2995; christyne@callatg.com.DECEMBER 31 - SF NEWYEAR’S EVE. Location: NewYear’s Eve, 825 Brotherhood Way,San Francisco, CA. Details to FollowAdmission: Details to Follow.For more information contactKef Night Commitee, 415-751-9140; st.gregory1@sbcglobal.net.JANUARY 18 - CAL PERFOR-MANCES: SERGEY KHACHA-TRYAN VIOLIN WITH LUSINEKHACHATRYAN, PIANO. Location:Hertz Hall, University ofCalifornia, Berkeley, CA. 3p.m.Admission: $46. For more informationcontact Cal Performances,510.642.9988; tickets@calperfs.berkeley.edu.MARCH 7 - HYE TAD EVENING.Location: Saroyan Hall, 825Brotherhood Way, San Francisco,CA. 6:30 PM Admission: TBD.For more information contactANC SF, (415) 387-3433; mail@ancsf.org.MARCH 15 - CRD BENEFITCONCERT. Location: CaliforniaPalace of the Legion of Honor,100 34th Ave, San Francisco, CA.2:00 pm Admission: TBD. Formore information contact SupportCommittee for Armenia’sCosmic Ray Division, (650) 926-4444; anahid1@sonic.net.Central CaliforniaNOVEMBER 22 - ANNUAL TUR-KEY BINGO. Location: A.A.C.L.Hall, California Armenian Home,6720 E. Kings Canyon Rd., Fresno,CA. 6:15 pm Admission: $20.For more information contactSelma Chapter Triple X CharitableTrust, 559-226-5796; cjtrex@selmatrex.org.Southern CaliforniaOCTOBER 30 - FEBRU-ARY 12 - GLOBAL TRAV-ELER TOM BOZIGIANINTRODUCES HIS NEWFALL/WINTER ARMENIAN/GREEK DANCE SERIES: Location:Glendale Civi Auditorium,1401 N. Verdugo Roadat Mountain Ave., Glendale.The class is held weekly untilthe party Feb. 12, 2009. Lateregistration through Nov. 6.Adults are $120 and Studentsto 23 years $105. Call 562-941-0845. Visit www.bozigian.com. Bozigian also presentshis Middle Eastern Trio foryour dancing pleasure.NOVEMBER 8 – “SAVE THEDATE” ST. PETER ARMENIANAPOSTOLIC CHURCH 50THANNIVERSARY DINNER & CEL-EBRATION: Location: NazarianCenter of the AGBU ManoogianDemirjian School, Canoga Park– 6:00pm.NOVEMBER 8 - ST PETER AR-MENIAN CHURCH OF VANNUYS 50TH ANNIVERSARYDINNER. Location: AGBU-AYANazarian Center, 6844 OakdaleAve., Canoga Park, CA. 6:00 p.m.Admission: $150.00/person. Formore information contact St PeterArmenian Church of Van Nuys,818-886-8950; eilesq@aol.comNOVEMBER 8 - ART EXHIBI-TION AT ARMENIAN PRELACYHALL. Location: Western Prelacyof the Armenian ApostolicChurch, 6252 Honolulu Ave, LaCrescenta, CA. 11:00 am – 5:00pm Admission: Free. For moreinformation contact HamazkayinPasadena “Shahan Shahnour”Chapter, ; hamazkayinpasadena@yahoo.com.NOVEMBER 9 -THE ARME-NIAN EYECARE PROJECT WILLHOST ITS SEVENTH ANNUALNEWPORT GALA. Location: TheBalboa Bay Club, Newport Beach.The event will honor Nishan andRuby Ann Derderian with a LifetimeHumanitarian Awards andcelebrate “Bringing Sight to ArmenianEyes” for sixteen years.Dinner is at 6:00pm, $500 perperson and proceeds will benefitthe Project’s programs toeliminate preventable blindnessin Armenia. For advance reservationsand additional information,contact the AECP office tollfree at 866-448-2327.NOVEMBER 9 - LEYLASARIBEKYAN EV ARSENGRIGORIAN(MRRO). Location:Alex Theater, 216 North BrandBoulevard, Glendale, CA. 20:00Admission: Soon. For more informationcontact Apricot Entertainment,818 397 8479.NOVEMBER 10 - CLAZZICALNOTES: THREE-PLUS-THREE.Location: Pasadena Jazz Institute,260 East Colorado BlvdSuite 206, Pasadena, CA. 7:00PM Admission: $10. For more informationcontact Pasadena JazzInstitute, (626) 398-3344; paul@pasjazz.org. Tickets on www.itsmyseat.com.NOVEMBER 13 - LAWRENCEZARIAN @ MACY’S BAGS &BUBBLES. Location: Macy’sSherman Oaks At the WestfieldFashion Square, 14006 RiversideDr., Sherman Oaks, CA. 6:30 p.m.Admission: Free. For more informationcontact Macy’s, 818-240-7987; krik@krikorianmarketing.com.NOVEMBER 13 - WINE TAST-ING. Location: Carousel Restaurant,304 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale,CA. 6;30 pm Admission: $20.00.For more information contactAACC GLAC, 818-247-0196; aacc@armenianchamber.com. Ticketson www.itsmyseat.com.NOVEMBER 15 - ANOUSHA-VAN ABRAHAMIAN EDUCA-TIONAL FUND. Location: Palladio,1018 E Colorado St, Glendale,CA. 7:00 pm Admission: $100.00per person. For more informationcontact Ofik & Roza, (818)363-7865; ofikabrahamian@hotmail.com.NOVEMBER 15 - 50TH ANNI-VERSARY AYF MONTEBELLO& ALUMNI REUNION. Location:Bagramian Hall, 900 W LincolnAve, Montebello, CA. 8:00PMAdmission: $40. For more informationcontact AYF MontebelloVahan Cardashian Chapter, 562-760-9578; ayf@ayfmontebello.org.NOVEMBER 16 - ARVESTNIGHT. Location: AGBU PasadenaCenter, 2495 E Mountain St,Pasadena, CA. 6 PM Admission:$20 & $35. For more informationcontact AGBU PASADENACHAPTER, (626) 794-7942; divoleon@aol.com.NOVEMBER 18 - ART KNOWSNO BORDERS. Location: SafariSam’s, 5214 W Sunset Blvd, LosAngeles, CA. 7 PM Admission:$20 suggested/varies. For moreinformation contact Crystal AlleneCook, (310) 739 1159; info@artknowsnoborders.com.NOVEMBER 20 - AACC CIGARNIGHT. Location: Phoenicia, 343N Central Ave, Glendale, CA.6:30 PM Admission: $100. Formore information contact AACC,818.247.0196; aacc@armenianchamber.com.Tickets on www.itsmyseat.com.NOVEMBER 22 - ABRINK: FES-TIVAL OF ARMENIAN LITERA-TURE AND CULTURE. Location:Glendale Central Library Auditorium,222 E. Harvard St., Glendale,CA. All Weekend Admission:free. For more informationcontact Abril Bookstore, (818)243-4112; arno@abrilbooks.com.NOVEMBER 23 - MAGGIE:CHILDREN’S CONCERT. Location:Lanterman Auditorium,4491 Cornishon Ave, La Canada,CA. 5:00 P.M. Admission: $25,$20, $15, $10. For more informationcontact Maggie Tune Production,(818) 426 4956; maggietune@yahoo.com.Tickets onwww.itsmyseat.com.NOVEMBER 23 - ARMENIAFUND ANNUAL GALA. Location:Hyatt Regency CenturyPlaza Hotel, 2025 Avenue of theStars, Los Angeles, CA, 90067,7:00pm . For more information,please call 818-243-6222.NOVEMBER 24 - DR. HAKO-BYAN AND INSIGHT LIVE INGLENDALE. Location: GlendalePublic Library, 222 E Harvard St,Glendale, CA. 7:00 p.m. Admission:$40. For more informationcontact LNH Insight, Inc., (818)230-2789; joeseifert@att.net.Tickets on www.itsmyseat.com.NOVEMBER 28 - THANKSGIV-ING DINNER DANCE WITHPAUL. Location: Pasadena ArmenianCenter, 740 E WashingtonBlvd, Pasadena, CA. 08:30PMAdmission: $51.00. For more informationcontact AGBU HighSchool Pasadena, (818) 247-1717;Paul@Verginieproductions.Com.NOVEMBER 27 - A.R.S.THANKSGIVING DINNERDANCE. Location: PasadenaArmenian Center, 740 E. WashingtonBlvd., Pasadena, CA. 6pmAdmission: $20, age 10+ $35. Formore information contact A.R.S.,626-398-2052 Hasmig); ARSthanksgivingdinner@yahoo.com.NOVEMBER 27 - 11TH INTER-NATIONAL TELETHON. Location:Armenia Fund, Inc, 111 NJackson St, Glendale, CA. All DayAdmission: Donations. For moreinformation contact ArmeniaFund, 8182436222; info@armeniafund.org.NOVEMBER 29 - ARA PROJECTART SHOW AND SILENT AUC-TION. Location: Vill del Sol d’Oro,200 N. Michillinda Ave., Pasadena,CA. 12 pm-6 pm Admission: FreeAdmission. For more informationcontact ARA Project, 626 792-4479; ckaloo@sbcglobal.net.Subscription Couponthe armenianreporterannual ratesU.S.A.: First Class Mail, $125; Periodicals Mail, $75Canada: $125 (u.s.); Overseas: $250 (u.s.)namestreetcity/state/zipDECEMBER 4 - LECTURE:LOOKING FOR ALTRUISM?.Location: Ferrahian Holy MartyrsSchool “Dickranian” Hall,5300 White Oak Ave., Encino,CA. 8:00 Admission: Free Admission..For more information contactHamazkayin San FernandoValley “Baruyr Sevag” Chapter,info@hamazkayin.net.DECEMBER 4 - KAREN JEPPEIN THE RESCUE OF THE AR-MEIAN WOMAN & CHILDRENENSLAVED IN SYRIA DURINGTHE GENOCIDE. Location: HolyMartyrs Armenian FerrahianSchool, 5300 White Oak Avenue,Encino, CA. 8:00pm Admission:Free. For more information contactHamazkayin “Baruyr Sevag”Chapter, 818-599-9926; Seta.frounjian@wamu.net.DECEMBER 10 - IN CONCERT-- ELEMENT, GORE, MARIA AR-MOUDIAN AND MORE. Location:Side Bar, 1114 N. Pacific Ave.,Glendale, CA. 7 PM Admission:$25.00. For more informationcontact Maria Armoudian, 818832 1127; armoudian@aol.com.Tickets on www.itsmyseat.com.DECEMBER 18 - IN HIS SHOESPRESENTS GOR MKHITARIAN“THE SPIRIT” CD RELEASE CON-CERT. Location: Zipper ConcertHall at the Colburn School, 200 S.Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA.8:00PM Admission: $25/$40. Formore information contact SuzieShatarevyan, (626)275-2636; suzie@inhisshoes.org.Tickets onwww.itsmyseat.com.DECEMBER 24 - CHRISTMASEVE PARTY WITH ROBERTCHILINGIRIAN & JOSEPHKRIKORIAN. Location: AraratHome’s Deukmejian BanquetHall, Mission Hills, CA, MissionHills, CA. 8:00 p.m. Admission:$65.00. For more informationcontact Gorun Kazanjian, 818437 4008; girian1@aol.com.FEBRUARY 28 - ANAHIDFUND ANNUAL BANQUET. Location:Taglyan Cultural Center,1201 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA.6:30 P.M. Admission: $75.00. Formore information contact AnahidFund, 818-409-0655; Anahid_Fund@Yahool.Com.APRIL 19 - MIKHAIL SI-MONYAN, VIOLIN. Location:Raitt Recital Hall: PepperdineUniversity, 24255 Pacific CoastHWY, Malibu, CA. 2:00 PM Admission:$25. For more informationcontact Center For The Arts,(212) 994-3540; tdorn@imgartists.com.Check Enclosed OR Charge My:Mastercard Visa Amex DiscoverExp.mail coupon to: armenian reporterp.o. box 129, paramus, nj 07652orfax coupon to (201) 226-1660(credit card orders only)

16 The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008Community“The 21st century should be a century of women”ArmenianAmerican Chamberof Commercecelebratesachievements ofbusinesswomenby Sarene YacoubianGLENDALE, Calif. – On October9, the Hilton Hotel in Glendalewas buzzing with excitementand anticipation as the ArmenianAmerican Chamber of Commerce(aacc) hosted its Second AnnualWomen in Business ExcellenceLuncheon.Last year, when the groundbreakingevent was launched, theaacc became the first Armenianorganization to honor a group ofwomen for their extraordinaryachievements in the business sector.Given the overwhelmingly positiveresponse of the public, aaccChairman Vrejh Hovsepian andhis fellow Board members were encouragedto develop the luncheoninto an annual event.This year the aacc honoredeight women: Jessica Vartoughian,founder and ceo of Jessica Cosmetics;Alisa Asmarian, owner ofFavorite Place Restaurant in Glendale;Sona Yacoubian, founder ofagbu Hye Geen; Amaly A. Avakian,principal of John Muir ElementarySchool; Sylvia Minassian, founderof the Arpa Foundation for Film,Music, and Art; Lisa A. Kalustian,chief deputy director of the Officeof Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger;and Grace and Angela Karaguezian,partners of Kirk Kara.The event started with Judy Chu,chair of the California State Boardof Equalization, handing out certificatesof recognition to all thenominees for the aacc Businesswomanof the Year award.Next to take the stage was keynotespeaker Carla Garapedian,award-winning director and producerof Screamers, the 2007 documentaryfilm on modern-day genocidesand Turkey’s denial of theArmenian Genocide. Garapedianbegan her uplifting speech by tellingthe story of her desire to writefor the Los Angeles Times and thediscouragement she encountered.“Don’t ever tell an Armenian woman‘You can’t do that,’” she stressedwith a chuckle. The more she wastold her work would not be published,the more determined shebecame and ultimately succeeded ingetting her article printed, Garapediansaid. She went on to note herbelief that Armenian women havethe instinctive ability to be goodsalespersons. “Armenian womenare hospitable and warm,” she said,adding that they have a knack for“graciously yet ferociously gettingtheir message across.”Following Garapedian’s address,lunch was served and the morethan 200 guests were given the opportunityto socialize and network.As a thank-you gift from the aaccVisit us atreporter.amJudy Chu with all the nomineesCarla Garapedian.and event sponsors, each guestwas given a bag filled with presentsfrom various vendors.After lunch, the nominees werecalled up to the podium to accepttheir awards and address the audience.They all had inspiring storiesto tell. It was revealed that most ofthe nominees are wives and motherswho balance their home liveswith fulfilling business careers.During her emotional speech,Alisa Asmarian read a poem writtenfor her by her daughter. Thepiece stated the daughter’s pridein her mother and deep admirationfor Asmarian’s ability to dedicateherself to her family while managingto run a successful restaurant.Asmarian’s Favorite Place Restaurantis a small eatery that has beenvoted Best of Glendale in the “MostRomantic” and “Most Original” categoriesfor the last seven years.As the women spoke, a strongsense of pride pervaded the hall,in recognition of the fact that thenominees had not only “broken theglass ceiling” but made a positivedifference in others’ lives.In her remarks, Sona Yacoubiansummed up the spirit of the eventwith a few simple yet powerfulAni Bedrosian Adaimy – 1st Vice Presidentwords. “The 21st century should bea century of women,” she said.The Businesswoman of the Yearaward went to Jessica Vartoughian.Known as the “First Lady ofNails,” she is the founder and ceoof the landmark Jessica Cosmetics.Vartoughian went into business in1969, when she opened Jessica’sNail Salon on Hollywood’s SunsetBoulevard. The salon was soon recognizedas a pioneer in natural nailcare,offering unique and effectivetreatments, among them the NaturalNail Cultivation System, createdby Vartoughian. The salon’s clientelehas always included A-listerssuch as Lucille Ball. Today JessicaCosmetics products are distributedin over 35 countries, and Vartoughianremains at the forefront of thenailcare industry.As the luncheon drew to a close,it was apparent that the event hadbeen a success. Vrejh Hovsepian,who had frantically tried to helpensure flawless execution, nowlooked relaxed and pleased. As theytrailed out, the attendees thankedhim and other board members forhosting such a wonderful event andcontinuing to honor the achievementsof outstanding women. Judy ChuSetting up before the event.

The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008 17ArmeniaA new building sets the stage for the expansion ofthe American University of ArmeniaNew offerings,double enrollmentin the worksby Vincent LimaYEREVAN – The American Universityof Armenia on November1 opened a new, state-of-the-artbuilding, which will allow the universityto double its enrollmentand expand adult and professionaleducation programs and conferences.The Paramaz AvedisianBuilding, which was inauguratedon November 1, is a five-story, 108thousand sq ft edifice of honed andrustic tufa, basalt, and glass curtainwall, designed to accommodate thelatest in video, computer, and telecommunicationsequipment.An English-language graduateschool in the heart of Yerevan, theAmerican University of Armenia inits 17-year history has awarded 1,800master’s degrees in business andmanagement, engineering, publichealth, law, and political science, aswell as certificates in environmentalscience and conservation.The university plans to “expandits academic programs to coverareas not covered now and to attracta larger number of studentsfrom outside Yerevan,” MihranAgbabian, the university’s presidentemeritus, told the ArmenianReporter. The university strives tobecome “a regional educationalcenter in the Caucasus, providingnot just local service but service tothe region at large.”The new building includes largeclassrooms with central coolingand heating systems and wirelessInternet connections, a video conferencingroom that will give newopportunities for distance learningand international conferences, acafé, a bookstore, a gym, and exhibitionspace.The principal benefactor is theKhoren and Shooshanig Avedisianfamily of Pawtucket, R.I. Additional,multimillion dollar contributionsfrom the Manoogian SimoneFoundation and the TurpanjianFamily Foundation, and significantcontributions from a score of othermajor donors made the buildingpossible.University hadoutgrown its facilities“The concept that there is nothingmore powerful and exciting thanan idea whose time has come wasall that was needed to motivatethe Avedisian family,” said EdwardAvedisian on behalf of the familyand as chair of the AUA BuildingCommittee.Recalling that the university wasfounded on September 21, 1991, thesame day Armenians went to thepolls to vote overwhelmingly forindependence, he credited foundersMihran Agbabian, Armen DerKiureghian, Stepan Karamardian,and Louise Simone with great“courage, wisdom, and energy.”Mr. Avedisian said the wisdomof the founders “was tested by thechallenges of creating a universitybased on the principle of democracyin a society that for 70 yearswas firmly entrenched in Communism.Their courage was testedby the cruel hardships of winter:little water, severe cold, andno light. The cold was such thatProfessor Der Kiureghian told hisstudents once who were takingA view of the Paramaz Avedisian Building on opening day. Photo: AUA.an exam with their gloves on toplease put your pens down, standup, move your arms and legs. Thattogether with candles that occasionallyserved as light was morethan what these brave studentsand faculty should have borne.And yes, these founders and studentscontinued on undaunted,enabling AUA to graduate its firstclass, the class of 1993.“Together they have set standardsof excellence and achievement forall who have followed in their steps.The power and excitement of thatseminal idea whose time had comeresulted in a university that hadoutgrown its facilities and todaybrings us the Paramaz AvedisianBuilding, a world-class edifice,” Mr.Avedisian concluded.An extraordinarybuilding“This is an extraordinary building,”said AUA Corporation Board ofTrustees chairperson Rory Hume.As provost of the University of California,Dr. Hume said, “I have spenta fair amount of my time looking atthe University of California’s buildings.This is done as well as anybodycan do buildings.“To create a building of this qualityat this time, at this cost – at atime when building costs were escalatingrapidly – is an extraordinaryachievement,” Dr. Hume continued.“And I know that this building willgive new life and new energy andnew strength to the academic programsof this university.Just inside the entrance to thenew building is a statue of thebuilding’s namesake, Paramaz Avedisian(1931–1996), a humanitarianwho was graduated summa cumlaude from the Rhode Island Collegeof Pharmacy. Though he wonfour of six academic prizes awardedby the college, he believed hisgreatest achievement was tutoringa dead classmate for over four yearsand seeing him receive his diploma,the family reports. Haroutune K.Armenian, the president of AUA,called Paramaz Avedisian “the embodiment”of the universal valuesespoused by the university.A wonderfulpartnershipSpeaking to the Armenian Reporter,Marie Yovanovitch, the U.S. ambassador,called the new building “aFrom left, AUA’s President Haroutune Armenian, AUA Corporation Board of Trustees chair Rory Hume, AUA’s PresidentEmeritus Mihran Agbabian, and benefactors Pamela Avedisian and Edward Avedisian in Yerevan on Nov. 1 cut the ribbon onthe AUA Paramaz Avedisian Building, while Catholicos Karekin II and Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian (partly obscured) lookon. Mr. Avedisian chairs the AUA Building Committee. Photo: Photolurewonderful example of partnershipbetween Armenia and the UnitedStates, with donors from the UnitedStates, a chief architect from theUnited States, but the contractorsand many of the other architectshere from Armenia.”Mr. Avedisian noted in his remarksthat the Building Committeehad decided “to have the higheststandards of earthquake resistance;to have cutting-edge designand engineering; to have energyconservation and sustainable design;and to both employ and workwith as many native Armeniansas possible.” He said the committeehad “met and or exceeded all ofthose objectives.”The building was designed byRonald A. Altoon, principalof Altoon + Porter Architects ofSouthern California, in partnershipwith local firms. Mr. Altoonnoted that the building provides“alternative solutions to the university’senergy needs.” Theseinclude simple concepts, such assetting the building orientationto minimize heat gain in the summerand maximize both heat gainand sunlight exposure in the winter.They also include “more sophisticatedinnovations,” such asa breathing stone wall that addsinsulation, and light shelves thatreflect low winter sunlight deepinto the south-facing rooms.Mr. Avedisian said the projectowed much to the constructionmanager, Faraj Yeretsian. Having“managed many building projects inthe Middle East, Canada, and theUnited States, he returned to Armeniaspecifically for this project,to give back to Armenia from hisvast knowledge and experience inconstruction management,” Mr.Avedisian said.The imperative oflifelong learningCatholicos Karekin II blessed thebuilding during the opening ceremony.He said Armenians care agreat deal about education and believe“it is better to be blind of eyethan blind of mind.”Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian,addressing a domestic audiencethat harbors nostalgia for theera when large factories employedthousands of workers, said that inthis century the principal driver ofeconomic growth is knowledge. Hecalled on society to see people oflearning as role models.Paramaz Avedisian. Photo: Photolure.Praising the American Universityof Armenia for disseminatingand generating up-to-date scholarship,the prime minister notedthat whatever students learn todaywould become old fast. “This meansthe mission of universities is notsimply to convey knowledge, butto give people the capacity to learn.The contemporary world is a worldof continuing education. There isno field in which there is no needfor ongoing learning.“We must develop the skills forlifelong learning,” Mr. Sarkisiansaid. “We are ready to participateand co-finance. We already havean agreement with the AmericanUniversity to cooperate in macroeconomics,because we havea great need for experts in thefield.”On behalf of the president ofArmenia, the prime minister bestowedthe Movses Khorenatsimedal upon Edward Avedisianand Jerry Turpanjian, founderof the Turpanjian Family Foundation,which is among the mainsupporters of the university andthe building.fconnect:aua.am

18 The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008Armeniaarmeniaat workProfessor Yeritsyan’s immeasurable wealthby Armen HakobyanWriting about well-known people isboth easy and difficult. It’s easy becausemost times an introductionis not necessary. Difficult becausewith their status comes responsibility,especially when what they dois unique and remarkable.The hero of our story, Martin Yeritsyan,professor of the quartet departmentat Komitas Conservatoryof Music in Yerevan is someonewho is creating miracles in his profession.Besides being a musicianand a pedagogue, he also makesviolins; the son and successor of arenowned master of violin makingor luthier, Shahen Yeritsyan. He isa person with equally interestingperceptions of the world with anaristocratic air about him.tttA heavy metal door opens and itfeels as though you are entering animaginary world. In reality it is asmall room in the basement of theAram Khachatrian Museum in Yerevan.The chairs and music stands,the pictures on the walls, the photographs,the posters and musicalinstruments for a string quartet remindyou that it is not an ordinaryroom.After getting to know the ownerof the room and feeling the warmthof his kindness, it feels as if thereare no walls and you are in a vastand breathtakingly beautiful gardenof flowers.I bring the instrument to themaster. He sits in front of his worktable, where tools necessary for aluthier have been placed with care.For a second I feel like I am committinga crime for interruptingthe work of a renowned master forsuch a minor repair. I tell him howI feel.“You are wrong, my dear,” respondsMartin Yeritsyan.He picks up the violin and after afew seconds says, “It is the productof the Moscow factory.” Then heexamines the “stamp” more closelyand smiles as if he has met an oldacquaintance. “I have worked onthis violin at least once before, nineor ten years ago,” he says. Of course,Martin Yeritsyan, just like all masterviolin makers has his own signature,through which hundredsof his instruments are identifiable.But how did he manage to recall exactlywhen he worked on this particularfactory production, whichappears to have no outstandingdetails? “Do you see this string?Only I had these stings in Armeniaand I used them about 9-10 yearsago,” smiles Martin Yeritsyan as hestretches and fixes the strings. Fora second, he truly does look like akind magician from a fairy tale; justas my daughter had described himafter seeing him for the first time.I thank the master and ask himhow much I have to pay. He smilesagain, “Nothing. Tell the child topractice well…”Call of the forefatherI go through Meroujhan Simonian’srecently published YeritsyanLuthiers which, meticulously analysesthe individualized musicalinstruments prepared by Shahenand Martin Yeritsyan and Hakoband Samvel Yeritsyan. He writesabout the lives of these Armenianmen. Nevertheless, at the startof my conversation with MartinYeritsyan I ask the master to talkabout his origins and his renownedfather Shahen Yeritsyan. I learn atruly interesting, touching andvery Armenian story; the story ofShahen Yeritsyan who was born inTrabizond, witnessed the horrorsof the Genocide at an early age,miraculously escaped the Turkishsword with his brother Masis (heMartin Yeritsyan in his studio. Photos: Armen Hakobyan for the Armenian Reporter.later became a victim of Stalin’s repressions)and his maternal cousinHakob. For some time he foundshelter with Kurdish nomads as aherdsman. The story of the escapeof the Yeritsyan brothers continuesin Greece, at the boys’ orphanageof Salonika, which eventhough was called American, wasactually sponsored by wealthy Armenians.This is where young ShahenYeritsyan became acquaintedwith the violin and the nuancesof creating this amazing instrument.This is where he learned thesecrets of the Italian masters ofviolin making.“My father moved to Armenia in1925 with his maternal grandmother,Mariam. Since he was already amaster, he established his studio inYerevan. He made mandolins, guitars,violas, violins, cellos,” Martinrecalls.Numerous generations of musiciansand professional performershave grown up and mesmerizedaudiences in concert halls withMartin Yeritsyanholding theremnants of aviolin destroyedduring the 1988earthquake.their performances on uniqueinstruments prepared by MasterShahen.During those years they beganto bring violins to Armenia madeby renowned masters of the past.Gradually a collection of instrumentsmade by Italian and Frenchmasters from the 17th and 18thcenturies were brought to Armenia.The instruments came fromdifferent cities, including Moscowand Saint-Petersburg. SahakKarapetian, president of the SovietArmenia Council of Ministers,Karp Dombaev, ConstantinSarajev, Vazgen I, the Catholicosof All Armenians and many otherdevotees contributed to this collection.Due to their efforts, Armeniacurrently has a collection ofabout 20-22 valuable and uniqueItalian string instruments, madeby Guarneri, Guadanini, Galliano,Belgontsi and other famous masters.There are also instrumentsmade by a famous Armenian, ShahenYeritsyan: two violins made in1933, one viola made in 1935 and acello made in 1938.With typical modesty, MartinYeritsyan doesn’t mention that heis the guardian and restorer of thatcollection.Faithful to the call ofthe master“ I was born in January 31, 1932, inYerevan in our house on MaximGorki Street which my father constructedtogether with my motherSiranoush. From a young age I wasalways in my father’s studio. WhenI was a student, my father alwaysinsisted and advised that I shouldfirst of all become a good violinistand only after that should I studymaking violins. Following his advice,I graduated from YerevanState Conservatory after which, Istudied toward my PhD. After preparinga concert program, whichtook me three years, I was immediatelyadmitted to Armenia’s philharmonicquartet as second violinist,”recounts the master.Living inside the Iron Curtainduring the Soviet era made it almostimpossible to achieve internationalrecognition, let alone goon concert tours to foreign countries.However, Armenia’s philharmonicquartet, composed of firstviolin Levon Mamikonian, secondviolin Martin Yeritsyan, viola YuriManukian and cello Felix Simonian,was allowed to participate in the internationalQueen Elizabeth competitionin Belgium in 1969 winninghigh acclaim and a special diploma.“It was an unprecedented thing inthe Soviet Union that a group oreven a solo performer from Armeniareceived permission to travelabroad. Seldom did they manage toget permission to participate in aninternational competition abroad,”notes my interlocutor.“After thatconcert the geography of out concerttour, of course, broadened. Wepreformed in Italy, France, otherEuropean countries and then in thedifferent cities of the USSR, evenSiberia.”Those were the years of stardomfor the quartet. From 1973 to 1975the quartet performed 26 pieceswritten for quartet by Armeniancomposers; experts consider this aunique undertaking. Today, the 46string quartet recordings by thesetalented musicians are kept in therecord library of Radio Armenia.1975 was a significant year inMartin Yeritsyan’s life. It was thatyear that he chose to leave hisprofessional career as a violinistto become a teacher. More importantlyit was the year that his guidein life, great teacher, and fatherMaster Shahen Yeritsyan passedaway. Martin, who masters the artof delicate engraving, prepared amemorial as a symbol of his loveand gratitude towards his father,reproducing a lacework stone-crosscreated by medieval master craftsmen.He erected larger memorialsby continuing his father’s missionof making violins that are works ofart with more punctiliousness andfervor. He simultaneously continuedhis teaching.Traveling the roadprepared by hisgrandfather and fatherI ask Professor Yeritisyan to takeme on a tour and recount the storiesbehind the photos and posterson the walls. Every single one ofthem has a unique history just likethe tools of the master, the majorityof which he inherited fromhis father. He brought those tools,which bear the stamps of famousFrench, Swiss and American companiesfrom Greece. According tothe master craftsman, “They canprobably be used for another 200years, because all of them havebeen made from high quality materials.”He can talk endlessly about theintricacies of making a violin, beginningwith the quality and drynessof the pine wood and thecurvature of the upper body andending with the significance of thelacquer. But I am more interested

The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008 19ArmeniaMartin Yeritsyan, standing center, participates in a master class led by VahagnNikoghosyan, seated 2nd from right, in the U.S. – at Oberlin. Yeritsyan archive.Pochette, 2006.Martin Yeritsyan holding a sound board of a violin.Three generations of Yeritsyans, Martin (l.) Karen, Shahen. Photo: Yeritsyan archive.Professor Yeritsyan’s immeasurable wealthto know if there are people who willcontinue the work of the master.“Usually this is an art or craft whichis handed down. My father was theone who established it in Armenia.To date his instruments are highlyvalued, as he created amazing instrumentswith an Italian timbre.Currently there are talented andsuperior youngsters at the conservatorywho play on violins, violasand cellos made by my father and I.Many have become laureates.“And, as I already said, since this isusually handed down, currently mysons continue the work. My olderson Tigran lives in Spain and plays,”Martin explains. Tigran is not onlya musician but he also renovatesand makes instruments there.“My younger son Karen is herewith me and we work together.Karen is also both a musician andmakes instruments. In 1990 hereceived a diploma as a talentedmaster at the International TchaikovskyCompetition. As a violinisthe played together with ArtashesMkrtchian, Martin Yavrian andBarouyr Shahaziayan in the AramKhachatrian String Quartet andthere was something symbolic inthat. However, since that quartetno longer exists, he spends moretime on making new instruments. Iam hopeful and sure that my grandchildren[the master has 7 grandchildrenand 3 great grandchildren]will also be able to continue thisfamily craft established by theirgreat grandfather,” says the muchhonored master with a luminousand kind expression while showingme their photographs.One of the most honestand difficult worksSo far Master Martin Yeritsyan hasprepared more than 500 violins,about 300 violas and 30 cellos, notcounting the more than 20 kanons,15 kemanis, 7 bass kemanis, 2 violada gambas, 2 pochettes and 2 violapomposa. By the way the making ofviola pomposas has an interestingstory. “English viola player SimonRowland-Johns asked me to make afive string violas for him with whichhe could play Bach’s suites. Bachwrote suites for the cello and in orderto play them on the viola, he requestedsuch an instrument, namingit ‘viola pomposa.’ Within a year,Rowland-Johns recorded all thosesuites in England using the instrumentmade by me. He sent me twoof his CDs. What I am trying to sayis that you have to be devoted to theart of creating musical instruments.You have to devote yourself to thework in order to create somethingvaluable and worthy of admiration,”says my renowned interlocutor.He then turns to the cellos: “Iam proud that I am now workingon my 31st cello. When I finishedthe 29th, our talented cellist VahramSarajian played Babajanian’sconcerto on it during the openingceremony of the Aram KhachatrianCellists Competition and the entireaudience was thrilled and amazed.When it was announced that Saranjianwas to play on Martin Yeritsyan’s29th cello, the entire hallalso applauded for me, since theinstrument sounded thrilling andI was proud of that.” Another oneof Martin Yeritsyan’s cellos wonan award during the StradivariusInternational Competition in 1980(Italy). This was followed by manyother awards and diplomas at differentprofessional reviews. Themaster has given Armenian namesto the majority of his instruments:Masis, Gohar, Rouzanna…I ask the master what it means tohim when he makes a violin. “Makinga violin is one of the most honestand difficult things to do. It is avery difficult job, of course, becauseit demands great energy and devotion;great devotion to finishingthe work and creating the best instrument.To me it is God’s greatestgift which I have inherited frommy father. I have learned the craft,it can be called art now, with thehelp of which my works are alreadyfamous throughout the world,” hesays.It seems as if inanimate objectscome to life at the touch and skillin his fingers. Is it magic? No. Thereis no magic here. There is simplya skill which has reached perfection.Striving for perfection canbe viewed as a unique miracle; themiracle of loving one’s work anddevoting oneself completely to it.Fragments from thedisaster of 1988My experience as a journalist tellsme that a remnant of a violin thatI see hanging from the wall has astory. When I ask about it, MasterYeritsyan tells me that during thedevastating earthquake of 1988 theviolin, which had been made for astudent had been buried under theruins and severely damaged. Thelittle owner of the violin had fortunatelysurvived. His family hadbrought the damaged violin to themaster, in order for him to renovateit. “It was a damaged instrument.I renovated it. I kept the upperbody of the violin as a souvenir,”says that master and falls silent.Breaking the silence I ask the Armenianviolin magician how it feelswhen people bring instrumentsto him which he has made: “I feelhappy especially when,if I had forgottenabout the instrument, thedate on the label inside will remindme of when I made it. I rememberwho ordered it. It sometimesturns out that the instrument hadbeen ordered by one person and intime has gone from one hand to another.When I see the instrumentsagain it feels as though they havereturned home. Every one of myinstruments are dear to me. Allottingthat much time and handlingthe instrument continuously whileworking on it creates a bond.”I ask him if he has ever tried tomake his own unique violin by makingsome innovative changes.“Ofcourse I have. Probably I was influencedby Picasso when I decided tocreate a completely atypical violin.And imagine I was able to createsuch a distorted instrument. Oneof them was some 30-40 years ago.When Rogiero Ricci was in Yerevanfor a concert, I asked Ohan Durianto show him the violin and tryto play on it. After seeing the instrumenthe started to play on itand noted that the tone was verygood. The instrument was soldmany years ago. I once received anorder for an electric violin, withan original shape. However, thosewere mainly experimental and donot have a future. It is unnecessaryfor a professional master to wanderaway from the classical.”I do not need a lot ofmoneyOther than earning money, whatelse can a job offer? “It gives onea passion to live. I know that tomorrowI have to get up and finishone instrument and then create another,which will enter the pages ofhistory,” notes the master.I ask the master luthier whatit means for himto live and workin Armenia.“You know, my fathercould have gone to Europe, for example,to France. He could havegone to America and become a renownedmaster there and a verywealthy person, but he preferredto come to Armenia and live inhis country. Even now I havemany friends who invite me to goabroad, to America, stating that Ican become a very, very wealthyman in a year. However, I do notneed that much money. For me itis more important to make instrumentsfor young Armenians whichwill always be remembered, here inA gift to MasterYeritsyan froman Armenianartist.the house constructed by my fatherand where I was born. Even thoughI have received many orders fromabroad, I prefer making inexpensiveinstruments for Armenianchildren, the Armenian youth, forthem to play on a good instrumentand play here,” he tells me frankly.“Seeing them play on instrumentsmade by me is the greatest happinessand pleasure; the greatest rewardfor my efforts.”After a moment of reflection, hecontinues, “Do you know what livingin Armenia means? The air andwater that Armenia has… I havebeen in many countries, but thosethings are not as they are in Armenia.Wealth is that which you havebeen given. Thank God I am stillvery rich. I am rich when a studentplays on one of my instrumentsand afterwards, seeing me, greetsme with a smile. I feel that I am doinga good thing for my nation, forthe Armenian child, for talentedviolinists and for people in general.”ttt…I am walking along BaghramianAvenue. It is a typical autumn dayin Yerevan. Trees with their yellowand red leaves are poking theirheads out between the buildings. Iwalk and feel proud for that I amliving in the same country as MartinYeritsyan, that I have such acompatriot. I feel as if the worldhas somehow expanded after meetingwith the Armenian magician ofthe violin; kinder and purer. f

20 The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008ArmeniaDecember 7, 198820 years onThe pain of an open woundPersonal memoriesof the earthquakeby Armen HakobyanThe “wound” of 88, not yet healedcompletely, can be found near thevillage of Nalband, situated betweenLori and Shirak marzes. Itwas the first to feel the powerfultremors of the devastating earthquakeof 1988 in Spitak. It was oneof the first to be devastated as a resultof the fatal tremors and one ofthe last to be restored even though20 years have already passed fromthat dreadful day….I remember that cruel day andits inexplicable grief perfectly. Individualscenes have been imprintedin my mind with microscopic accuracy.However, the past is graduallyfading into the fog of forgetfulness,just like the poisonous fog that surroundedthe major part of Armenia20 years ago, for it had been unusuallywarm that year.A classroom shakes1988. December 7. 11:35 a.m. We,the first-year students of the journalismdepartment at YerevanState University, were in class, asusual. However, those days wereanything but usual. Those days wefrequented Freedom Square andparticipated in the rallies for theunification of Artsakh more oftenthen we went to class. However,that day we were in class. Unable tosilence the just demands of the Armeniannation and neutralize thepowerful motivation to strugglefor Artsakh and freedom, the Sovietgovernment toward the end ofNovember had announced a stateof emergency and imposed a curfewin Yerevan. The rallies stoppedtemporarily and classes resumed.Like typical teenagers, we weresitting in class thinking about whatwe were going to do after class. However,in about 5 minutes nothingwould be left of our youthful andcarefree attitude. Instead we wouldfeel an uncertain panic rising up. Injust a few hours, fear and a soul-desolatingshiver would take over.Everybody jumped up at the veryfirst tremor. Someone said, “It’san earthquake,” putting to wordswhat the rest of us were thinking.Our department building shook. Istood up and instinctively startedmoving toward the window. Ilooked out and said that as it wasrelatively low; we would be able tojump off the second floor withoutbeing injured. Someone else suggestedevacuating the building. Afew seconds later we felt anotherstrong tremor and as we were preparingto leave, the professor toldus to relax. “Do not panic; it will beover soon….”And it was over soon. However,the faces of those students whohad come down from the fifth floorwere pale. The tremors had beenstronger up there. Some dust hadfallen from the ceilings of some ofthe classrooms. At that moment wecouldn’t begin to fathom how closethe epicenter had been. At that timewe could not begin to imagine thathundreds of schoolchildren hadtried to run out of dozens of schoolsand in some places their teachershad calmed them down by saying,“Do not panic; it will be over soon.”They had remained under ruinedconcrete. Eternally. And that darkmoment will remain in our historyforever: 07.12.1988, 11:41am….Meanwhile, the school bus isroaring along monotonously, movingtoward the student dorms inthe second block of Nor-Nork. Itwas about 2 P.M. Nothing had beenannounced yet. However, therewas confusion on the faces of many.Lilit and Karineh, who were myclassmates and my neighbors onthe same floor at the dorm, werealso confused and even in a panic.They were from Kirovakan (Vanadzor).They had tried to call home,but had been unable to get through.Everybody was worried, but theywere even more worried.Rumors flyAfter a few hours we began hearinghorrifying rumors from differentplaces saying, “Spitak has been destroyed”;“They say Leninakan hasbeen destroyed. Have you heard?”“Have you heard that Kirovakan hasbeen destroyed?” “They say…, haveyou heard that...?” “Have you heardthat...?” We were confused. Wewere avoiding eye contact. “People,gather around here,” someonesaid. Responding to that disturbingvoice all of us gathered aroundCultural Center in Kirovakan (Vanadzor). Photos: Photolure.the television in the common room.The scenes being broadcast weresimply horrifying: ruins and death.Destroyed buildings and helplesspeople with contorted faces; ruins,wrecked buildings, houses, entirecities, and villages decimated.John, who was the oldest in ourclass, said that rescue groups of studentswere being organized in frontof the university. They were drawingup lists. Naturally, in less than half anhour all the boys had gathered. Theysaid that they were registering onlythose who were over 18, had servedin the military, or had experience inconstruction work. The buses werebeing filled with quickly forminggroups and were departing one afterthe other. They did not take me, as Iwas to turn 18 in 10 days. “How biga deal is 10 days,” I thought, somewhatinsulted, but I already knewwhat I was going to do.On December 8, at midday, togetherwith several boys and girlsmy age, I was trying to get on oneof the buses leaving for Kirovakanor Gyumri from the central busstation in Yerevan. We were unsuccessful.First of all, the bus stationwas packed. Secondly, we had togive way to those who were tryingto get to their houses, or whateverremained of their houses, as soonas possible. However, just standingthere was not a solution.Commandeering a busWe quickly decided to seize thefirst bus in sight, which we did, liketerrorists. We entered the bus andheld on to the driver, not lettinghim leave the vehicle. We told himthat we would not let him moveif he did not promise to drive toLeninakan (Gyumri). It turned outthat there was a man amongst usfrom Gyumri, whose head was bandaged.This added resoluteness tothe situation. (It turned out thatthey had pulled him out from theruins and sent him to Yerevan onthe first available helicopter. However,when it had become evidentthat his injuries were not very serious,he had left the hospital andwas trying to return home as soonas possible.)At last the driver, who had justdriven from Goris to Yerevan, promisedto take us after going to thedispatcher and informing his superiors.Those at the dispatch pointunderstood our decision to get toLeninakan as soon as possible. Theyrefueled the bus, filled out a passsheet, and sent a new driver.We were moving forward in deadsilence. An entire “river” of vehicleshad been formed along the Yerevan-Gyumri highway; random and disordered.Throughout the journey Iwas in an unnatural state of numbness.“I think we have arrived. It isLeninakan.”Mist covered in dustIt was no longer possible to moveforward and at that point I gotoff with the rest of the passengers.People wearing constructionhelmets and unnaturally tired expressionson their faces appeared.I am saying appeared, as there wasa dense fog covering everything.Only the following morning did Ifind out that it was not a fog, butactually mist covered in dust thathad spread over the ruined city.When my eyes became accustomedto the darkness, I noticed that thepeople with helmets were movingtoward the workers’ buses, whichwere being used as temporary shelter.They sat down. They were tryingto take a break. At that timeanother group was literally digginginto a huge pile of concrete andstones. I realized in horror that itwas the ruins of a building.The lights of the constructioncrane were stinging my eyes in thedarkness. That powerful vehiclewas constantly roaring, unable tolift up the deformed concrete slabs,which had been attached to it withhooks, from the piles. Someoneordered the driver of the crane tohold on to the slab until he found awelding machine to cut the wires.“Brother, will you help?” It turnedout that he was talking to me. IClock tower in Leninakan (Gyumri).turned around. He was a man inhis 40s wearing workers’ clothesand looked like a giant in the semidarkness.“Right here, it is close.Come. I need help,” he said. I approached.I could hear voices fromunder the rubble. Slowly other peoplealso approached. “Listen boyswe must all come together and tryto lift this up. You, you and you,”said the same giant to the others.“Once we lift the slab up, you putmetal bars under it and hold it withall your might.” As if in some sortof a nightmare I was just watchinguntil he explained my duties; I hadto repeat his movements.A survivorSeveral pairs of hands were able tolift the concrete slab about half ameter. It had been fallen at an angleand was not attached to anythingelse. I will never forget what I sawat that moment: in the dirt anddust, there was a human body thathad miraculously fallen in a smallhole between diagonally collapsedconcrete slabs. It was difficult todiscern if it was a female or a male.Suddenly a moan was heard andsomething white became visible.“Boys, hold on to it, he is alive, heblinked his eyes…” said the strangerwho had approached me and lookedContinued on page 21 m

The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008 21ArmeniaArmenia Fund announces $30 million in pledgesDonors are based inArmenia and RussiaWeeks before annualtelethon, 2007record is smashedYEREVAN – The Armenia Fundannounced on November 3 thatsome 120 donors from Armeniaand Russia had pledged some $30million in donations to the fundduring a dinner held in Yerevanon November 1 under the auspicesof Armenia’s President SergeSargsian, who serves also as thechairperson of the fund’s Board ofTrustees.The Armenia Fund said the contributionswould be used primarilyfor the comprehensive developmentof rural areas in Armenia andNagorno-Karabakh.The pledges were announced lessthan four weeks before the fund’sannual telethon, scheduled forThanksgiving Day, November 27.They surpass by far the pledges announcedduring last year’s telethon,which amounted to $15 million.The acting director of the ArmeniaFund, Ara Vardanian told theArmenian Reporter last week that$7.7 million of that total had beentransferred to the Armenia Fund’saccount in Yerevan as of October28, 2008.During the 2007 telethon, thefund announced contributions of$1 million from donors in ArmeniaThe pain of an open woundand another $800,000 from donorsin Karabakh. The largest donationannounced in 2007 was a pledgefrom the Russia-based entrepreneurLevon Hairapetian to invest$2.5 million, though not throughthe Armenia Fund.According to the fund, pledgeswere made by Samvel Karapetian,Sergei Hambatzumian, GagikTzarukian, Seiran Karapetian,Genadi Stepanian, AshotKhachaturian, Mikhail Baghdasarov,Samvel Aleksanian,Barsegh Beglarian, Tigran Arzakantsian,the Zangezur coppermolybdenumplant, the MikayelVardanian Foundation, the EduardoEurnekian Group, ArmRus-GazProm, and Gharabagh Telecom.Details are to be announced duringthe telethon.fThe latest project completed by the Armenia Fund is Lovers’ Park in centralYerevan, adjacent to the Parliament building.n Continued from page 20at me. “Come… together,” he said.I repeated what he was doing. Hefrom above and I beginning at hislegs, started to check to see if hehad been squeezed or was “hookedon” to something. It turned outthat he was not. With the samecautiousness, we started to slowlypull the person out by holding on tothe bits of his clothes on his shoulders,waist and legs. It took us severalminutes to be able to get himout. The timing was perfect as just afew seconds later the concrete slabbroke in two and fell on the placewhere the man was found.Someone had already brought astretcher and we lifted our survivor,who was covered in dust andblood and placed him on it. To bemore accurate, we lifted him a bit,in order to place the stretcher underhim. At that moment his leftfoot, which was in my right hand,caught my attention. It was a distortedmass.The vehicle in which we placed theinjured left with blue lights flashing.The both familiar and unfamiliarman awakened me from my motionlessshock. “Good going brother. Youdid a good job. Here, smoke. It willhelp you relax,” he said. I had almosteverything in my small backpack:bread, water, vitamin C, bandages,iodine, heart drops (for others), andwarm clothes. The only thing I didnot have were cigarettes. I did notsmoke. Until that moment I was nota smoker. “He was probably your firstinjured,” said that unfamiliar manwhose name was Sergey. After receivinga positive answer, he added, “Donot worry. You will get used to it in abit. We removed the 8th person withour boys. I mean alive. Ten otherswere already dead.” He fell silent. Abit later we lost one another. He wentin a different direction and I starteddigging on a different pile with dozensof other people. That night wedid not find anyone alive. Sergey wasright; a few hours later, the horrifyingscenes no longer shocked me.The next morning, I decided tomove forward. I reached a bridgeand went under it. It turned outto be Teryan street, where severalnine-story buildings used to standside by side. In their place now weresmoking piles of concrete blocks.There I met students like me. Theywere geologists and they had comebetter prepared. They had tools andwere trained. We worked on the ruinsside by side for three days; fivealive, including one child, seven oreight dead. This was the result ofthe work of the students and dozensof other men on those ruins.With every survivor, regardless if itwas in our section or elsewhere, weA birds’-eye view of Leninakan (Gyumri) from a helicopter.became excited and attacked theconcrete piles with renewed energy.With every dead body we kind oflost our hope. We found a coupleof corpses on one another, so weguessed that they had been on thestaircase. One of the boys, whosename I think was Ashot, said thatthey had probably been trying toescape, but the staircase was theweakest point of any building.True friendsI have not forgotten anything oralmost anything. And I cannot forget.Not those horrifying four days,not the voices, sometimes moaningand most of the time faint, thatwe could hear from under the ruins,and not our incapability to immediatelyhelp them. Nothing, neitherthe insufficient number of cranes,which were too weak for the job, norour complete unpreparedness. Weenvied the foreigners, who, as geologystudent Anahit said, “It seemsas if they are from Austria.” Weenvied them because they also hada dog and special tools which cutmetal and with the help of whichthey could open the necessary sectionof the ruins where people hadbeen trapped, several times fasterthan us. They were professionals.Is it possible to ever forget that?They say that you can know a truefriend in times of misfortune. Duringour misfortune the whole worldwas with us, next to us, sharing ourpain like the many-many Russians,Georgians, Kazakhs, Lithuanians,Ukrainians, Byelorussians, andthough it seemed impossible duringthe reign of the Soviet Union:the French, Germans, Americans,Canadians, Arabs....They say (this is how GeneralAlexander Lebed described in hisbook), when the Central TV stationof Moscow showed the scenes ofthe earthquake in Spitak and announcedthat thousands of peoplehad died, only Baku and Azerbaijanshook … from the screams of joyand exclamations of happiness. Ialso cannot forget how wagons ofaid trains passing through Azerbaijanwere looted.I will not forget my fellow studentsand friends, whom I nevermet again and whose names I haveforgotten, as we barely spoke duringthe course of those horrifyingdays. Maybe we have met again,but we have not recognized one another.I will not forget how I barelyrecognized my own reflection – myface covered in dust and soot, withdisarranged hair and a cold expressionthat was “staring” at me fromthe mirror. That wasn’t me; it wassomeone who looked like me. I rememberthat on the third or fourthnight, when we were completelyexhausted, one of the locals tookus almost by force to an old stonehouse, saying that it belonged torenowned Poloz Mukuche. I will notforget that for the very first timein my life I drank medicinal alcohol.“They say it helps warm up andswitches off the brain”; two wholecups, but I didn’t “switch off.”I will not forget the mountain ofcoffins made of unpolished woodplaced next to buildings. I will notforget how mad we would get afterseeing how buildings constructedonly 5–10 years previously collapsedinto ruins and how happywe were after seeing Khrushchevbuildings from the 60s damagedbut still standing…Comprehensive insurancecoverage for investorsProperty and CasualtyCargoAutoYour risk is our businessPrayers and poetryFor a long time after that I could notwatch television when they werebroadcasting scenes from the disaster.But when I did watch, my eyeswould well with tears and the imageswould start swimming in a floodof tears. Being raised in the Sovietreality, I did not know any prayers,I did not know how to pray. Thosetears that I shed were my prayers forthe more than 25 thousand victims.A 9 or 10 year old boy was standingnext to the ruins. His name wasOnnik - a common name in Gyumri.He was saying that he used to livein that building; on the seventhfloor. He could not find his fatheror mother. He was at school and heand his friends managed to escapeat the right time. He was not crying,but with a serious frozen expressionwas digging through the ruins withus, constantly hoping that his fatherand mother would show up andtake him away. He only found someof his books, including Paruyr Sevak’svolumes of poetry. He huggedthe pieces of his previous life andsilently wept, like a man. The nextday one of his relatives came; I thinkit was his maternal uncle. So it waspossible to see tears of happiness ina city already in mourning.For hundreds of thousands, millionsof people, for an entire nation,life separated into two parts: “beforethe quake” and “after the quake.”And that “after” has continued for 20years now with still open wounds. fShort term coveragefor visitorsTravelIn Country MedicalAutoRenter’s Insurance

22 The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008EditorialA new chapter beginsWith the election of Barack Obama and Joe Biden as president and vice president of theUnited States, a new chapter begins in the relationship of the Armenian-American communitywith the executive branch. Not unlike previous chapters, this one carries the provisionaltitle, “Working Hard, Together.”As a candidate, Mr. Obama repeatedly reached out to Armenian-Americans. He pledgedthat as president he would3 recognize the Armenian Genocide and work to end genocide;3 support a settlement of the Karabakh conflict “based upon America’s founding commitmentto the principles of democracy and self-determination”;3 “help foster Armenia’s growth and development through expanded trade and targetedaid”3 “strengthen the commercial, political, military, developmental, and cultural relationships”between the governments of the United States and Armenia; and3 “continue his active engagement with Armenian American leaders.”Mr. Obama’s campaign commitments are a starting point. Now Armenian-American activistsand Armenian-American advocacy groups, in consultation with our friends in Congress,need to work together to help the Obama administration carry out these commitments in amanner that is consistent with the best interests of the United States.Working with his transition team, Mr. Obama has already started appointing theofficials and advisors who will develop and carry out the policies he has espoused inprinciple. We know we will be pleased with some appointments and concerned aboutothers. Be that as it may, it will be our job to reach out to the members of the new administrationand help them shape a foreign policy in which America is true to its mostbasic values: standing firmly for democracy and self-determination; opposing ethniccleansing and genocide; and favoring cooperation on the basis of common interests overconfrontation and war.In so doing, we will continue to need the friendship, advice, and cooperation of ourfriends in Congress. We take this opportunity to congratulate those friends who prevailedon Election Day and thank again those who did not, above all our very good friendRep. Joe Knollenberg, Republican of Michigan, co-chair of the House Caucus on ArmenianAffairs.We will need to continue our outreach to newly elected members of Congress, educatingthem about our issues and showing them our firm commitment to the principles we espouse.We will need to continue to build up the House Caucus on Armenian Affairs.If we continue our advocacy work with the same enthusiasm with which we supported theObama-Biden campaign and our friends in the Congressional elections, we can be confidentthat the new chapter now beginning will have a happy ending.Tapping into communitiesIn his election campaign, Mr. Obama made remarkable use of the tools we use daily to communicatewith each other: text messages, video clips, Facebook – all ways one supporter canquickly spread the word to dozens of his or her friends and acquaintances. Using these andother methods, he also organized supporters to do something very old-fashioned: talk tofamily, friends, and neighbors face-to-face.the armenianreporterThe methods would count for little, however, if the substance of Mr. Obama’s messagewere not appealing.The message Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden delivered repeatedly to Armenian-American votersreached us, and it inspired us to support his campaign wholeheartedly. Our advocacy organizationsand mass media – the Armenian Reporter prominently among them – endorsedMr. Obama and urged that our community help him prevail. Across the nation, Armenian-Americans volunteered and organized and contributed.The popular Facebook group Armenians for Obama was one way Armenian-Americansgot the message out. But it went beyond that, as Election Day interviews carried out by ourcorrespondent Lory Tatoulian show (see p. 13): Armenian-Americans of a certain age, someof them new citizens, chatting with each other around their tavloo boards in the parks andcourtyards of Southern California, were enthusiastic in their support of the Obama-Bidenticket.Mr. Obama’s victory was made possible also by the immense unpopularity of the presidenthe will replace, George W. Bush. There is no need to enumerate yet again the missteps of theBush administration; we have discussed those missteps, particularly in foreign policy, onmany previous occasions. We would simply recall that Mr. Obama, as a member of the SenateForeign Relations Committee, and Mr. Biden, as that committee’s chairperson, spokeout thoughtfully and firmly against those missteps as they related to issues of concern toArmenian-Americans.And they have promised repeatedly and unequivocally to pursue a different course. We willwork with them as we have in the past to help ensure that happens.A historic, inspiring victoryOnly a few generations ago, men and women brought from Africa in shackles were boughtand sold as property in the United States, as were their children and grandchildren. In livingmemory, African-Americans were lynched for daring to assert themselves, while racialdiscrimination, segregation, and everyday humiliation were the norm.The history of the United States – from its inception, through the Civil War, through thepresent – is, in many ways, the history of a struggle for civil rights and equal opportunities.For African-Americans and others of goodwill who organized and marched and struggledand went to prison as part of that struggle, this election is a vindication of sorts.Mr. Obama’s election can serve also an inspiration to Armenian-Americans, as immigrantsand children or grandchildren of immigrants, to become more involved and aspire togreater responsibility in public service.It was not that long ago when Armenian immigrants to the United States felt they had tochange their names to make it in America. And now, in 2008, a black man with a father fromKenya, a childhood in Indonesia, and the name Barack Hussein Obama won the votes of over60 million Americans to be elected president of the United States.In the face of widespread cynicism and frequent setbacks, the struggle for equal opportunityhas broken new ground. This election has confirmed our faith that America can be aland of equal opportunity, and that merit can overcome prejudice.Our faith renewed, we know that we have a lot of hard work ahead of us. We look forwardto it.fThe Obama administration: What’s next for the Armenian-American community?by Ross VartianArmenian-Americans are acutely awareof the negative consequences of the Bushadministration’s unilateral and provocativeactions impacting the Greater Middle Eastgenerally and the South Caucasus specifically.The peoples of Armenia and the Nagorno-KarabakhRepublic have been harmed bythe Bush administration’s approaches to theso-called frozen conflicts, to the primacy ofoil and gas over all other considerations, toArmenia being the object of ongoing borderclosures in violation of international and U.S.law, to Azerbaijan’s preparations for the nextwar in the South Caucasus, and of course tothe administration’s capitulation to Turkey’sdemands to oppose American reaffirmationof the Armenian Genocide – thereby underminingAmerica’s crucial role in ending thescourge of genocide.This is why the freely given, multiple commitmentsby candidate Barack Obama on aThe author is the executive director of the U.S.-ArmeniaPublic Affairs Committee (USAPAC).full range of core Armenian-American issueswere so welcome and energizing to our community.President-elect Obama offers thepossibility of a new approach to the SouthCaucasus that will enhance the security, freedom,and prosperity of all the region’s inhabitants.It is incumbent upon the entire Armenian-Americancommunity to remainas vigilant and active during the crucialmonths ahead as we were during the historiccampaign – as the Obama administrationselects its foreign policy team andprepares to govern. This team will continuethe work done by the campaign’s extensivecadre of foreign policy advisors, whoexamined America’s foreign policy challengesaround the world.Of course, Congress will have its role toplay as well.Our community must seek and support alliesin the administration and Congress tofight for a new U.S. approach to the SouthCaucasus. We must remind both:3 that the South Caucasus is incrediblycompact, diverse and tension filled;3 that the region is a major north-southand east-west crossroads linking Europe,Russia, the Middle East and the Far East;and3 that, for centuries, this region hasserved as a both a buffer and zone of conflictamong the Russian Federation (the CzaristEmpire and the Soviet Union), Turkey (theOttoman Empire), and Iran (Persia).Since the welcome demise of the SovietUnion, the United States, China, and theEuropean Union are now, together with thetraditional mix of contiguous states, directlyand increasingly interested and engaged inthe South Caucasus.As the Russo-Georgian five day warshowed, no outside power will be allowedto dominate this increasingly vital regionor succeed in promoting its South Caucasusproxy to prevail over others. The onlyhope to end the recurring cycle of externallyinstigated competition, tension, andrecurring wars is a new international approachto the South Caucasus that is drivenby regional security, cooperation, andenlightened self-interest. The Obama administrationcan be the catalyst to bringtogether all these interested and alreadyactive external parties for a collaborativeapproach to the South Caucasus – an approachbased on the exclusively peacefulresolution of all remaining conflicts, openborders within and through the South Caucasus,and robust international support forconfidence-building measures among thepeoples of the South Caucasus.Specifically, an Obama Administrationshould:3 ensure that each state within the SouthCaucasus disavow and end any preparationsfor war3 select a high-level special envoy reportingdirectly to the Secretary of State to dealexclusively with the so-called frozen conflictswithin the region (Nagorno-Karabakh, SouthOssetia, and Abkhazia)3 catalyze robust international policyand financial support for intraregionalconfidence-building actions to create publicsupport for regional cooperation, integra-Continued on page 23 mArmenian Reporter (ISSN 0004-2358), an independent newspaper,is published weekly by Armenian Reporter llc.Gerard L. Cafesjian, President and ceoPublisher Sylva A. BoghossianOffice manager Lisa KopooshianCopyright © 2008 by ArmenianReporter llc. All Rights ReservedPeriodicals postage paid at Paramus, N.J., andadditional mailing offices.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to PO Box129, Paramus, NJ 07652-0129.The views expressed, except in the editorial, arenot necessarily those of the publishers.Editor Vincent LimaWestern U.S. Bureau Chief andArts & Culture editor Paul ChaderjianWashington editor Emil SanamyanAssociate editor Maria TitizianAssistant to the Editor Seda StepanyanCopy editor Ishkhan JinbashianArt director Grigor HakobyanLayout assistant Nareh BalianThe Armenian Reporter is your newspaper. We urge you to send us your news and yourviews.News. Please send your news to .Letters. Please send your letters to Letters should be no morethan 250 words long and may be edited for clarity. Please include your mailing addressand daytime telephone number.Commentary. 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The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008 23CommentaryLiving inArmeniaDecember 7, 198820 years onby Maria TitizianIt had been a long and grueling federal electioncampaign. We had worked tirelessly forweeks to elect the first Canadian-Armenianto Canada’s parliament. We had canvasseddoor to door throughout the riding, placedcampaign signs, organized town hall meetings,made thousands of phone calls, mobilizedvolunteers, and tried to get out the voteon Election Day. I had been at the campaignoffice every day, working sometimes till lateat night along with hundreds of other volunteers.The year was 1988. Unfortunately allour efforts had been in vain and our candidatehad been forced to concede defeat.I was disappointed and exhausted. I wasalso five months pregnant, and my mother’sconstant phone calls over the course of thecampaign, begging me to go home, had finallysunk in. So once the campaign signs had beencollected and the office cleared away, underthe pretext that I needed to rest, I asked myfellow volunteers from our community tokindly leave me alone and not call me. In realityI needed a break from all things Armenian.The very next day, early in the morning, Ireceived a call from one of our communityleaders. His voice was strained but my annoyanceat being called early in the morningprevented me from immediately sensing thatsomething was wrong. I was half listeningto what he was trying to tell me, mutteringunder my breath that hadn’t I asked to beleft alone? Sensing my tone, he came straightto the point. “There’s been an earthquake inArmenia,” he said. “You have to come.” Hedidn’t need to continue. I was at the center ina matter of minutes.When I walked into the Armenian CommunityCenter in Toronto, the gravity andmagnitude of what would become one ofArmenia’s greatest tragedies was written onevery face. I remember sitting around a largetable with my fellow Armenians listening tothe news reports flooding in and watchingthe images of devastation, feeling helplessand terrified. The homeland, that ephemeralplot of land that we only knew as Soviet Armenia,was somewhere far away, dreamlikeand not within reach. But on this day, weall felt her in our blood. Ten months earlier,when the Karabakh movement had burstonto the pages of our lives, it had broughther closer to us. But this, this unspeakableunkindness of Mother Earth, had knockedthe wind out of us and made our knees buckle.But not for long.My community, like every single Armeniancommunity throughout the globe, came togetherthe day the earth moved under thefeet of our homeland. Men, women, children,Armenian, non-Armenian, religious, agnostic– it didn’t matter. At 11:40 A.M. on December7, 1988, every Armenian on the planet felt thetremor. Ramgavar, Hnchak, Dashnak, Marxist,liberal, socialist, communist – it didn’t matter.We all came together in the form of onesoul, one spirit, one streak of determination.The day the earth moved is the day we putaside our provincial differences and mobilized.We collected money, food, clothes, medicine,equipment, anything that could potentiallysave a single precious human soul. The kindnessof humanity, of our humanity shone theday the earth under Armenia moved.The days and weeks that followed are nowa distant memory to most of us. But I wouldbet my life that there isn’t a single Armenianwho doesn’t remember where they werewhen they heard the news. For it was a littlemuch – wasn’t there a quota on tragedy andhadn’t we fulfilled ours in the 20th century?Once again, we were all in the service ofour community. Just days earlier we hadfocused all of our time and energy workingon an election campaign, thinking that ourlives depended on it. And now? Now we wereworking to save the lives of our compatriots.How the world changed overnight. Eachmorning I would rise, drive to the communitycenter and work with fellow volunteers makingphone calls, asking large corporationsto donate whatever they could – everythingfrom peanuts to pudding to dried milk tocanned goods. Soon, the small piles of donatedclothes turned into mountains. VolunteersThe day theearth movedcouldn’t keep up with people walking into Armeniancommunity centers throughout thecity donating whatever they could.We were driven by a need to do the impossible,for the death toll kept rising. First itwas hundreds, and then thousands, and thentens of thousands. How much more couldwe afford to lose? Every time we heard ofsomeone being pulled out of the rubble alivewas cause for momentary celebration, clappingand laughing intermingled with tearsthat kept flowing.On a particularly tiring and difficult day, Iremember standing in the doorway to oneof the offices in our center that had beenconverted into earthquake command central.At this point, I was not only showing but wasclearly pregnant, wobbling from one end ofthe center to the other. My mother had givenup calling to tell me to go home; she knewthat anything she said would ring emptynext to the reality of the number of thosewho had died. That day one of our older communitymembers, overcome with emotion,boldly and unexpectedly placed his hand onmy belly and said, “Thank God you are hereeveryday beside us. The life growing insideyou gives us hope, makes us believe that aftereverything that was lost, there will be newlife after all.”Somehow my unborn daughter, unbeknownto her and me, had traveled to theland of her grandparents that summer, Ainjarand Kessab; had suffered along with amost stubborn mother during a federal electioncampaign; and now was being asked toendure the emotional strain that her peoplehad been asked to bear, all before she was allowedto come into the world.Carrying her, despite the fatigue and exhaustion,gave me strength and hope, whichshe bravely continues to do every single dayof her life. Her courage, determination, andlove for her motherland is so innate and sonatural that I am convinced her travails whilestill in the womb undoubtedly infected hersubconscience with all things good and allthings Armenian. For me, my daughter, allof our daughters and sons who were bornafter the earth moved, are the symbols of ourcountry’s future.I first came to Armenia ten years after theearthquake. I went to the earthquake zone. Isaw the remnants of the devastation. I sawthe homeless families still living in domiks. Isaw the rows of homes donated by differentcountries. I saw the church, hastily erectedin Spitak, made of tin, to allow mourners tobeseech their Lord and ask for the will to goon living. I saw all of this. I recalled all thatwe had done to help – the days and weeksof sleepless nights. I realized it had been likea drop of water in the ocean. I wondered ifall those things we had collected and senthad made a difference to those who sufferedso much loss. Whether it did or not, I don’tknow. What I do know is that it made a differencefor us. The earthquake became realonly after I saw with my eyes, even after tenyears the unfairness of it all.As the 20th anniversary of the earthquakeof 1988 creeps closer, it should give us all timeto pause and not only remember those whoperished, but also those who survived andcarried on despite their unspeakable loss andpain. We should pause to remember all thosewho came to the aid of our nation. We shouldremember all those young children whocollected coins in faraway countries, thosegrandmothers who knitted sweaters, andthose people who gave all of their energy andcourage and assistance and humanity to theirfellow man. Out of misery and sorrow onemust search for a light. Those lives will neverbe replaced. Those left behind will never forgettheir loss. Those who tried to help willalways wonder if they could have done more.All I know is this is who we are and this iswhat fate has handed us. We have suffered,we have experienced devastation, but wehave been loved and we are lucky, each andevery one of us, to be alive to cherish ourhomeland which is slowly and painfully risingup against insurmountable odds – fromearthquake to war to nation building. Twentyyears on, I also know that being here onthis soil, which is unstable, unsteady, and soprone to tremors gives me strength. fRemember December 7, 1988?A devastating earthquake struck the ArmenianSoviet Socialist Republic 20 yearsago on December 7. Do you rememberthat day? What were your reactions?What did you do in the hours, days, andweeks that followed? What did your familyand your community do? Were youamong the hundreds of thousands whogave what you could and prayed? Wereyou among the thousands who reachedout, collected donations, and sent themforward? Were you among the hundredswho flew to the earthquake zone to volunteer?Share your stories with us! And perhapsyou have an album or box of photographsfrom those days, gathering dust somewhere.Share your pictures with us! We will poststories and photographs on our website,www.reporter.am, and include a selectionin the newspaper.You don’t have to be a great writer, andthe photos need not be masterpieces. fThe email address to use is quake@reporter.amIf you have many pictures, you might postthem to flickr and use the keyword “armenian-reporter”tion, and exclusively peaceful conflict resolution3 include each and every South Caucasusself-governing entity in all American-inspiredmultilateral efforts and in all bilateralcontacts, including Nagorno-Karabakh,South Ossetia, and Abkhazia3 include all of the traditional contiguouspowers (Russia, Turkey, and Iran) in allSouth Caucasus normalization approaches inaddition to the EU and China3 end the Bush Administration’s unequaltreatment of the principles of territorial integrityversus self-determination, which inthe South Caucasus is tantamount to Americansupport for Stalinist border manipulationsthat are the core of extant territorialconflictsThe exact time that the earthquake struck.Photo: Photolure.The Obama administration: What’s next forthe Armenian-American community?n Continued from page 22LettersAbp. Derderian is a true“Tower of Strength”Sir:Your article featuring Archbishop HovnanDerderian, Primate of the ArmenianChurch of America, Western Diocese, was anoutstanding tribute to an outstanding servantof God.Ishkhan Jinbashian was able to catch thetrue essence of the personality, the spiritualand physical being of His Eminence.I am one of those fortunate individualswho had the honor and the privilege to workwith him on his outreach and service programsfor almost a decade.A “Tower of Strength” is a fitting term for3 treat Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgiaequally with visiting U.S. officials, by includingeach nation in every regional tour,thereby reinforcing the essential concept ofan inseparable and indivisible South Caucasusat peace internally and moving forwarddevelopmentally without destabilizing winnersand losersAnd to restore America’s proper leadingrole in ending genocide, the Obama Administrationmust reaffirm the fact and extractthe enduring lessons of the Armenian Genocide.During his term in office, PresidentObama can formally and irrevocably recognizethis crime against humanity. By sodoing, he will fulfill his multiple campaignpromises and serve as a credible bridge betweenthe governments and peoples of Armeniaand Turkey.fthis spiritual leader. He has a charismaticand a larger-than-life presence wherever hehappens to be. Inspired by the life and worksof his spiritual father, His Holiness VazkenI, of blessed memory, he served the faithfulin Canada with compassion, dedication, andtotal commitment, at times risking even hishealth and well being.During these difficult times, this OxfordeducatedPrince of the Armenian Churchwill probably be entrusted with many difficulttasks and responsibilities concerningthe Church. I wish His Eminence ArchbishopHovnan Derderian all the best in all hisendeavors.Very truly yours,Haig MisakyanTorontoTrustee contributions to the AGMMFinancial contributions by former and current members of the Board of Trustees of Armenian Genocide Museumand Memorial (AGMM) for the benefit of the AGMM as of September 2006.

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The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008

The Armenian Reporter | November 8, 2008