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Gorky’s Armenian
experience must
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Some top
names in
sports end
in -ian
The
Flamenco
Kid: Vahagn
Turgutyan
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Eastern U.S. Edition
Number 71
July 5, 2008
the armenian
reporter
Sarkis Tertsakian hands an Iraqi-Armenian refugee family the keys to their new Yerevan apartment, Zvartnots Airport, July 31, 2007. Photo: Armenian Reporter.
Armenia welcomes
displaced Iraqi-Armenians
USAPAC leadership helps to unlock UNHCR
refugee assistance
See story on page 1 m
Reporter.am
The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008
the armenian
reporter
Number 71
July 5, 2008
Armenia
Fitch upgrades Armenia to ‘BB’; outlook stable
Fitch Ratings on July 4 upgraded gran Sarkisian cited the upgraded
Armenia’s long-term foreign and rating as evidence that Armenia is
local issuer default ratings (IDRs) to a good place to invest.
‘BB’ from ‘BB-’ (BB minus). The outFitch’s upgrade of Armenia’s sovlooks have been changed to “Stable” ereign ratings reflects the econofrom “Positive.” The agency has my’s rapid growth, rising incomes
also upgraded the Country Ceiling and strong policy framework, Fitch
to ‘BB+’ from ‘BB’ and affirmed the explained. The Armenian economy
Short-term IDR at ‘B’, a Fitch Rat- grew 13.8 percent in 2007, extendings’ press release announced.
ing a five-year rolling average of
Speaking at an Independence 13% annual growth.
Day reception at the U.S. Embassy
the same day, Prime Minister TiSee more briefs on page 20 m
International
Maria Titizian elected VP of Socialist International
The 23rd Congress of the Socialist
International (SI) on July 1 elected
Maria Titizian of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation, as one
of its vice presidents.
Ms. Titizian is the associate editor of this independent newspaper.
The congress reelected as it president George A. Papandreou, who
was foreign minister of Greece
from 1999 to 2004.
In addition to Ms. Titizian, the
vice presidents of the SI include
Iraqi president Jalal Talabani, the
Spanish prime minister, the Chan-
cellor of Austria, the Portuguese
prime minister, and other heads of
state.
The congress chose not to reelect
as vice president the Republican
People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz
Baykal. The choice was seen as a
repudiation of CHP’s policies, under
Mr. Baykal. These include support
for the intervention of the Turkish
military establishment in civilian
affairs and opposition to minority
rights..
See story on page 21 m
Community
Armenia moves to welcome
displaced Iraqi-Armenians
USAPAC helps unlock
UNHCR assistance
WASHINGTON – The Republic
of Armenia, working closely with
Office of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), has opened the door to
displaced Iraqi-Armenians, offering financial assistance and the opportunity for permanent resettlement and citizenship.
One of the great human tragedies unleashed by the war in Iraq
has been the wave of displaced individuals and families fleeing their
homes to escape the ongoing violence. UNHCR estimates that over Sarkis Tertsakian hands an Iraqi-Armenian refugee family the keys to their new
2 million people have fled from Iraq, Yerevan apartment, Zvartnots Airport, July 31, 2007. Photo: Armenian Reporter.
and that over 2 million additional
people have been driven from their in Armenia, and have opened the PAC continues to work closely with
homes within Iraq. The Christian door to welcome and integrate new UNHCR and the U.S. Congress and
population, including Iraqi-Arme- refugees as they arrive.
State Department to allocate adnians, has been especially hard hit.
Now that the Iraqi-Armenian ditional funding for the new IraqiU.S. Armenia Public Affairs Com- program has been established, in- Armenian program.
mittee (USAPAC), the Washington- dividuals and international donor
“This is a tremendous opportubased Armenian advocacy orga- organizations will be better able to nity for Armenia to build a stronger
nization, has provided leadership participate in and coordinate assis- ‘come home’ policy,” said USAPAC
in the effort to bring together the tance to refugees in Armenia. The Executive Director Ross Vartian.
governments and organizations involvement of UNHCR and the U.S. “The door is open. The American-Arneeded to support Armenia’s refu- government provides the interna- menian community should play a
gee relocation program and to un- tional support and donor leadership leading role, both here in the United
lock the resources necessary for its to dramatically expand upon the States and abroad, in advocating for
implementation. Over $1,500,000 previous efforts of Armenian NGOs. additional resources and financial
of emergency financial assistance USAPAC and the Armenian advoca- assistance in support of the Iraqihas been delivered by UNHCR to cy community can now devote ad- Armenian refugee program. We
support refugees that have already ditional time and energy to building commend the government of Armearrived in Armenia.
increased and ongoing support for nia for taking on this responsibilWorking with UNHCR, the agen- this important program.
ity on behalf of compatriots at risk,
cy mandated to lead and coordiUNHCR receives its support from and we deeply appreciate the supnate international action to protect a number of countries and donors port of UNHCR and our own governrefugees and resolve refugee prob- around the world. The United ment for providing critical financial
lems worldwide, Armenia is provid- States is expected to play a leading and policy support. Together we can
ing assistance to nearly 1,000 in- role in support of UNHCR efforts transform tragedy into hope and a
f
dividuals who have already arrived on behalf of displaced Iraqis. USA- brighter future in Armenia.” Yerado Abrahamian, Vahagn Thomasian, and Anahid Oshagan at the Navasartian
Victory Ball. Photo: Helena Gregorian.
Russian SS-21s in
exercises: Russia
used the system
to attack the
Chechen rebel
capital of Grozny
in 1999. Three
similar systems
were shown off
by Azerbaijan
on June 26,
2008. Photo:
Foundation
of American
Scientists www.
fas.org.
Navasartian Victory Ball ups the ante
Homenetmen’s 33rd Navasartian
Games Victory Ball on June 28 had
all the makings of an Oscar-night
bash. As guests arrived to the affair,
they were greeted with a red carpet,
flashing video screens, and a projec-
tor that welcomed attendees.
The opulent event was staged on
the back lot of CBS Studios.
See story on page 12 m
See editorial on page 22 m
Community
A khatchkar stands in Manhattan .
It seems altogether appropriate
that the famed Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, home to
some of the world’s greatest works
of art, should be the first U.S. museum to exhibit one of Armenia’s
most treasured artworks: a 2,000pound, 12th-century basalt khatch-
kar, which stands almost eight feet
tall.
Florence Avakian reports the story
behind the Metropolitan Museum
of Art’s display of the medieval Armenian masterpiece
See story on page 5 m
Community
Abp. Aykazian, Sen. Obama discuss Genocide
In a meeting of church leaders with “The Armenian Genocide and the
presidential hopeful Barack Obama, Jewish Holocaust have taught us
Abp. Vicken Aykazian asked the never again, and I will do my best to
candidate what he planned to do solve the problem in Darfur.”
about the genocide in Darfur.
Sen. Obama responded by saying,
See story on page 9 m
Vacation Notice
We’re going on vacation later this summer. The Armenian Reporter will
not appear on August 9 and 16. After that, we’ll resume our regular
weekly publication schedule.
Azerbaijan parades newly acquired
military arsenal
Missiles shown
put Yerevan within
striking distance
News analysis
by Emil Sanamyan
Ilham Aliyev showed off newly
acquired missile systems and spy
planes in a grand parade held in
Baku last week. In contrast to combat aircraft already in Azerbaijan’s
possession, the new systems’ characteristics make them more difficult for the Armenian armed forces
to deal with successfully.
New missile threat
WASHINGTON – In an unusually According to television footage and
candid display of military technol- photos available online, the June
ogy that combined Soviet-era gran- 26 parade included at least three of
deur with Azerbaijan’s increasingly the late-Soviet-model SS-21 tactical
Middle Eastern flair, President surface-to-surface ballistic missiles
known in the West as “Scarab” and
in Russia as Tochka.
Depending on specific modifications, SS-21s are capable of delivering payloads of 482 kilograms,
which could be either conventional
or containing weapons of mass
destruction (WMDs), to distances
between 15 and 120 kilometers,
landing with deadly accuracy of between several to 50 meters.
Armenia’s capital city, Yerevan,
is located within 70 kilometers of
Azerbaijani-controlled NakhicheContinued on page m
The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008
National
Sen. Norm Coleman asks Amb. Yovanovitch about
denial, Karabakh, and democracy in Armenia
Senator Norm Coleman (R.Minn.), a member of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee,
submitted seven questions for the
record to Ambassador Marie L.
Yovanovitch, whose nomination
as U.S. envoy to Armenia is under
consideration by the committee.
The senator’s questions and the
nominee’s responses appear below.
Relations with Turkey
Denial of the Armenian
Genocide
Genocide remembrance is vital in
the effort to end this crime against
humanity, and the world rightfully looks to the United States to
demonstrate leadership in both
remembrance and prevention. The
Armenian Genocide is settled history, and is overwhelmingly documented in the WWI-era archives of
the United States, France, Great
Britain, Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary. Nevertheless, it has
been the continual policy of the
Executive Branch in contemporary
history to refrain from employing
the accurate and generally recognized term “genocide” to describe end of the Ottoman Empire. After a
what President Bush himself ac- long silence, Turkey is making progknowledged was “one of the most ress addressing these issues. More
horrible tragedies of the 20th cen- than 100,000 Turkish citizens of all
tury, the annihilation of as many backgrounds demonstrated at the
as 1,500,000 Armenians through funeral of Hrant Dink, an Armeforced exile and murder at the end nian-Turkish journalist murdered
of the Ottoman empire.”
by a Turkish ultra-nationalist, and
Question: Do you acknowledge they demonstrated in support of
that the events in 1915 involved tolerance and a candid exploration
the annihilation of as many as of Turkey’s past.
1,500,000 Armenians through
The scope for free expression in
forced exile and murder at the Turkey, including on the Armenian
hands of the Ottoman Empire?
issue, has expanded significantly
Answer: Yes, the U.S. govern- in recent years, but there is much
ment acknowledges and mourns more to be done. The Turkish govthe mass killings, ethnic cleansing, ernment responded in May 2008
and forced deportations that dev- by amending Article 301 of the
astated over 1.5 million Armenians Turkish Penal Code, under which
at the end of the Ottoman Empire. individuals have been prosecuted
The United States recognizes these for “insulting Turkishness.” While
events as one of the greatest trage- the Administration would have predies of the 20th century, the “Medz ferred to have seen the repeal of ArYeghern,” or Great Calamity, as ticle 301, the amendments reduce
many Armenians refer to it. That the maximum possible sentence
is why every April the President from three to two years and, most
honors the victims and expresses importantly, require the Minister
American solidarity with the Ar- of Justice to determine whether
menian people on Remembrance to accept the case for prosecution.
Day. This was a tragedy that we The Minister’s role should help to
and the world must never forget, reduce significantly the number
so it is never repeated. We mourn of cases brought by zealous prosthis terrible chapter of history and ecutors. The Administration will
recognize that it remains a source continue to encourage the Turkish
of great pain for the people of Ar- authorities to continue this progmenia and of Armenian descent, ress and to end legal action against
and for all those who believe in the citizens for expressing their views.
dignity and value of every human
Our Embassy in Ankara also is
life.
committed to working with the
Question: In your view, what Government of Turkey on ways in
specific actions should the United which the terrible events of 1915
States take to convince the Turkish can be studied. As a recent exgovernment that a global campaign ample, we are currently laying the
of genocide denial and intimidation groundwork for an International
of 3rd parties that seek to reaffirm Visitor Program that would bring
this crime against humanity serve archivists from the Turkish State
no constructive purpose?
Archives to the United States to
Answer: The U.S. Government look at the ways in which we do
has worked to stimulate a candid historical research. As a confidence
exploration within Turkish society building measure, we also have
of these horrific events in an effort contacted Armenian archivists to
to help Turkey reconcile with the participate in the program, in the
past. This is not easy. It was not hope that, upon return, the archieasy for the United States to ad- vists from both countries could
dress its own historic dark spots.
work together on a joint program
The Administration has long that would study the issue.
pressed for expanding freedom of
In addition, our embassies take
expression in Turkey, which has every opportunity in meetings
helped to expand the public de- with the Governments of Armebate surrounding the mass killings, nia and Turkey, and with civil soforced exile, and ethnic cleansing ciety leaders from both countries,
that occurred during WWI at the to encourage improved dialogue
between them. Since 2006, the
United States has provided over
Emil Sanamyan’s Washington
$700,000 in support of initiatives
Briefing will appear again on
to increase people-to-people conJuly 19.
nections between Armenia and
Turkey, including research projects,
Sen. Norm
Coleman of
Minnesota
asked Amb.
Yovanovitch
to address
key concerns,
including
Azerbaijan’s
preparations for
regional war..
conferences, documentary production, and exchange and partnership programs with the goal of increasing cross-border dialogue and
cooperation. These programs are
focused on bringing together Armenian and Turkish NGOs, think
tank researchers, academics and
business leaders at the grass roots
level by creating opportunities for
them to work together on common projects that will benefit both
countries.
Question: As Ambassador to
Armenia, what will you do to assure
the Armenian government and its
people that the United States is
mindful of the facts and ongoing
unresolved consequences of the
events of 1915?
Answer: As the child of refugees
– at a different time and place – I do
feel very strongly about the great
suffering experienced by the Armenian people both at that time
and today as they remember this
dark chapter in their history. I
too mourn the loss of so many innocent lives and fully respect that
the Armenian-American community and the Armenian people want
their pain and loss to be acknowledged. If confirmed, I would assure
the Armenian people that the U.S.
Government acknowledges and
mourns the mass killings, ethnic
cleansing, and forced deportations
that devastated over one and a half
million Armenians at the end of the
Ottoman Empire; that we recognize
these events as one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century;
and that every April the President
honors the victims and expresses
American solidarity with the Armenian people on Remembrance
Day. If confirmed, I also will continue the tradition of participating
in the official memorial event held
in Yerevan every April. I will refer
to this great historic catastrophe
as the “Medz Yeghern,” the term
often used within Armenia to refer to that dark chapter of history.
Most importantly, I would make it
a priority, if confirmed, to promote
understanding and reconciliation
between the peoples and governments of Armenia and Turkey. It
is important for the United States
to do everything that it can to encourage dialogue between Armenia
and Turkey and to encourage Turkey to come to terms with this dark
chapter in history and examine the
terrible events of that time openly.
This was a tragedy that we and the
world must never forget.
Question: As you know, Armenia
continues to offer full relations to
Turkey without preconditions, and
a bi-lateral commission to deal
with historic and contemporary issues that presently divide the two
nations. As Ambassador to Armenia, what specific steps will you
take with your counterpart serving
in Turkey to hasten the normalization of relations between Armenia
and Turkey and to secure an affirmative response from Turkey to
Armenia’s offer of a bi-lateral commission?
Answer: The Administration
strongly encourages Turkey to
move ahead in normalizing relations with Armenia and reopening
the two countries’ border.
If confirmed, I will support efforts by the U.S. Embassy in Ankara to launch an International
Visitor Program that would bring
archivists from the Turkish State
Archives and hopefully from Armenia to examine methodologies
for conducting historical research,
including on the mass killings and
forced deportations of 1915.
I will also support our effort begun in 2006 to promote people-topeople connections between Armenia and Turkey, including research
projects, conferences, documentary production, and exchange and
partnership programs with the goal
of increasing cross-border dialogue
and cooperation. These programs
are focused on bringing together
Armenian and Turkish NGOs,
think tank researchers, academics
and business leaders at the grass
roots level by creating opportunities for them to work together on
common projects that will benefit
both countries.
Turkey has suggested convening
a bilateral commission to deal with
historic and contemporary issues,
as part of the normalization process. The Administration hopes to
see the commission convene and
full relations normalize between
Turkey and Armenia in the nearest
future.
Azerbaijan’s
warmongering
Question: The United States has
repeatedly and unsuccessfully demanded that President Aliyev and
other senior Azerbaijani officials
desist from war preparations and
threats against Armenia and the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic. What
specific additional actions should
the United States take to ensure
that war is not triggered by the actions of Azerbaijan?
Answer: The U.S. Government,
as a Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group mediating the NagornoKarabakh conflict, has led the way
in formulating a set of Basic Principles that offers the best hope for
a negotiated and peaceful settlement. We are actively involved in
encouraging the Government of
Azerbaijan to work with the Government of Armenia and within
the Minsk Group to finalize the
Basic Principles and proceed on
that basis with drafting a comprehensive peace settlement, which
would provide the surest guarantee there is not another war. The
June 6 meeting in St. Petersburg
between Azerbaijani President
Aliyev and Armenian President
Sargsyan restored momentum in
the Minsk Group talks and should
clear the way for an invigorated effort to bridge remaining differences on the Basic Principles. The U.S.
Government played an active role
in de-escalating military tension in
early March, during the most serious ceasefire violation along the
Line of Contact in over a decade.
Additionally, the United States calibrates all of its security assistance
to Azerbaijan to ensure that it is
not usable in an offensive operation against Armenia, does not affect the military balance between
Azerbaijan and Armenia, and does
not undermine or hamper ongoing
efforts to negotiate a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.
Democratic reforms in
Armenia
Question: What is your analysis
of the pace of democratic advancement in Armenia in light of the
February elections, as well as efforts by the new president to further democratic reform – including the formation of a coalition
government, the organization of
a public council to include all sectors of civil society, the support
for the creation of a commission
of inquiry into the post-election
violence, and pledged electoral and
governance reform?
Answer: The developments
noted in the question are positive
in principle, and we welcome them.
However, the key will be to have
these steps fully implemented, not
just announced. Implementation
of other reforms has not been as
fast as we had hoped, and we continue to press for changes not just
in law but also in practice. While
we welcome recent revisions to the
Law on Rallies, Marches and Protests, we have been disappointed
that the opposition has been unable to gain permission to rally,
despite applying for it almost fifty
times. We welcome the fact that
the opposition was allowed to
hold a demonstration on June 20,
despite never being given official
permission. While we welcome
the recent release of some persons
detained for their political views,
we note that many dozens more
remain in prison and must be released. We look to the upcoming
Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe meeting this
Continued on page m
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The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008 National
Sen. Joe Biden asks Amb. Yovanovitch about
denial and Azerbaijani warmongering
Senator Joseph Biden (D.-Del.), archivists from the Turkish State
the chairperson of the Senate For- Archives to the United States to
eign Relations Committee, submit- look at the ways in which we do
ted five questions for the record to historical research. As a confiAmbassador Marie L. Yovano- dence building measure, the USG
vitch, whose nomination as U.S. has contacted Armenian archivists
envoy to Armenia is under consid- to participate in the program, in
eration by the committee. The sen- the hope that, upon return, the arator’s questions and the nominee’s chivists from both countries could
responses appear below.
work together on a joint program
that would study the issue.
Turkish denial of the
Sen. Joe Biden
In addition, our embassies take
of Delaware,
every
opportunity
in
meetings
Genocide
the chairperson
with the Governments of ArmeQuestion: What has the State De- nia and Turkey, and with civil soof the Senate
Foreign Relations
partment done to end Turkey’s de- ciety leaders from both countries,
Committee,
nial of the Armenian Genocide?
to encourage improved dialogue
asked Amb.
Answer: The Administration between them. Since 2006, the
Yovanovitch
has worked to stimulate a candid United States has provided over
whether she and
exploration within Turkish society $700,000 in support of initiatives
her counterpart
of these horrific events in an effort to increase people-to-people conin Ankara
to help Turkey reconcile with the nections between Armenia and
would cross
past. This is not easy. It was not Turkey, including research projects,
the Armenianeasy for the United States to ad- conferences, documentary producTurkish border
dress its own historic dark spots.
tion, and exchange and partnerto highlight the
The Administration has long ship programs with the goal of inongoing Turkish
pressed for expanding freedom of creasing cross-border dialogue and
blockade of
expression in Turkey, which has cooperation. These programs are
Armenia.
helped to expand the public de- focused on bringing together Arbate surrounding the mass killings, menian and Turkish NGOs, think
forced exile, and ethnic cleansing tank researchers, academics and tries would benefit greatly from in the region would promote its
that occurred during WWI at the business leaders at the grass roots increased direct trade, connecting stability and prosperity. Therefore,
end of the Ottoman Empire. After a level by creating opportunities for their electrical grids, and imple- facilitating Armenia’s regional intelong silence, Turkey is making prog- them to work together on com- menting other measures natural to gration is a priority for the United
ress addressing these issues. More mon projects that will benefit both neighbors. The U.S. also supports States. We work steadfastly to end
than 100,000 Turkish citizens of all countries.
more cross-border dialogue and Armenia’s isolation both by probackgrounds demonstrated at the
Question: What is the United cooperation between the people moting reconciliation between Arfuneral of Hrant Dink, an Arme- States doing to end the destructive of Armenia and Turkey through menia and Turkey to reopen their
nian-Turkish journalist murdered Turkish blockade of Armenia? Is it research initiatives, conferences, border, and by working to find a
by a Turkish ultra-nationalist, and your intention to have the U.S. Am- and exchange programs. Our Em- peaceful and lasting settlement
they demonstrated in support of bassador in Ankara visit Yerevan in bassies take every opportunity in to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
tolerance and a candid exploration an effort to move this issue? Is it meetings with the Governments of with Azerbaijan. The Administraof Turkey’s past.
your intention to have the new Am- Armenia and Turkey, and with civil tion believes regional integration is
The scope for free expression in bassador to Yerevan (if confirmed) society leaders from both countries, in the economic interest of all three
Turkey, including on the Armenian travel to Ankara to advance an end to encourage improved dialogue. countries and certainly in our interissue, has expanded significantly to the blockade?
Since 2006, the USG has provided est; for example, U.S. investment
in recent years, but clearly there is
Answer: Facilitating Armenia’s over $700,000 in support of initia- is hampered by regional divisions.
much more to be done. The Turk- regional integration by opening its tives to increase people-to people With its borders to the east and
ish government responded in May land border with Turkey is a prior- connections between Armenia and west closed, Armenia relies more
2008 by amending Article 301 of the ity for the United States. If con- Turkey, including research projects, than we would like on its relations
Turkish Penal Code, under which firmed, I would give this important conferences, documentary produc- with Iran. In terms of Russia’s inindividuals have been prosecuted issue my utmost attention – not tion, and exchange and partner- fluence, Armenia’s history and curfor “insulting Turkishness.” While only by supporting government-to- ship programs with the goal of in- rently complicated relations with
the Administration would have pre- government discussions – but by creasing cross-border dialogue and Azerbaijan and Turkey provide the
ferred to have seen the repeal of Ar- promoting people-to-people con- cooperation. These programs are impetus for a close relationship
ticle 301, the amendments reduce tacts and partnerships, and other focused on bringing together Ar- with Russia. The Administration
the maximum possible sentence cross-border and regional initia- menian and Turkish NGOs, think is working with Armenia to help it
from three to two years and, most tives. I would certainly work closely tank researchers, academics and diversify its sources of energy supimportantly, require the Minister with my counterpart in Ankara to business leaders at the grass roots ply through electricity cooperation
of Justice to determine whether advance this goal, including travel level by creating opportunities for with Georgia, and eventually, by tyto accept the case for prosecution. to each other’s host country, as ap- them to work together on com- ing Armenia into Caspian oil and
The Minister’s role should help to propriate. Contact begins to build mon projects that will benefit both natural gas infrastructure. In looking at the region as a whole, the
reduce significantly the number trust, and trust is the necessary countries.
Administration’s strategic interests
of cases brought by zealous pros- first step to reconciliation and conare focused on several issues: the
ecutors. The Administration will flict resolution. I also look forward Regional stability
continue to encourage the Turkish to working with my colleagues at Question: Wouldn’t the end of the advance of freedom and democauthorities to continue this prog- our embassy in Ankara in this com- blockade and the establishment of racy; security, including counterress and to end legal action against mon effort. Clearly, the status quo peaceful commerce and economic terrorism and peaceful resolution
linkages between Armenia, Turkey, of separatist conflicts; and energy.
citizens for expressing their views.
is not helpful to anyone.
Our Embassy in Ankara also is
Fortunately, some progress has and among the states of the South The Administration believes that
committed to working with the been achieved in recent years: there Caucasus not promote the long- all would benefit greatly from good
Government of Turkey on ways in are regular charter flights between term stability and prosperity of the neighborly relations and regional
which the terrible events of 1915 Yerevan and Istanbul and other entire region? Doesn’t the absence integration of the South Caucasus.
can be studied. As a recent exam- flights to Antalya; bus connections of these linkages undermine the
Azerbaijan and war
ple, the USG is currently laying the via Georgia are numerous; and region’s peace and prosperity?
Answer: I agree that improved Question: Azerbaijan’s substantial
groundwork for an International trade with Turkey through Georgia
Visitor Program that would bring is common. However, both coun- commerce and economic linkages revenue stream from its oil exports
is facilitating increasingly aggressive military spending and dangerous rhetoric. What is the Administration doing bilaterally to prevent
further de-stabilizing conflict in
the South Caucasus? What is the
Administration telling Baku?
Answer: The Administration
consistently stresses publicly and
privately in Baku that there is no
military solution to the NagornoKarabakh conflict. As a Co-Chair
of the OSCE Minsk Group mediating the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
the United States has led the way
in formulating a set of Basic Principles that offers the best hope for
a negotiated and peaceful settlement, which is the only way ahead.
The Administration consistently
stresses to the authorities in Baku
that any rhetoric intimating that
war is an option is dangerous and
undercuts our efforts to negotiate
a just and lasting settlement, which
is outlined by the Basic Principles.
The Administration therefore encourages the Government of Azerbaijan to work with the Government of Armenia and within the
Minsk Group to finalize the Basic
Principles. The June 6 meeting in
St. Petersburg between Azerbaijani President Aliyev and Armenian President Sargsyan restored
momentum in the Minsk Group
talks and should clear the way for
an invigorated effort to bridge remaining differences on the Basic
Principles. The U.S. Government
played an active role in de-escalating military tension in early March,
during the most serious ceasefire
violation along the Line of Contact
in over a decade.
Question: Fourteen years
passed since the end of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh without a permanent resolution and
still people are dying along an unsettled border. What progress has
the Minsk process achieved in that
time and doesn’t the lack of progress warrant a re-examination of
this approach?
Answer: During negotiations
over the past two years, Armenia
and Azerbaijan have moved closer
than ever to a framework agreement based on the “Basic Principles” outlined by the Minsk Group
Co-Chairs. The Minsk Group CoChairs – the United States, France,
and Russia – are working with the
Foreign Ministers of Armenia and
Azerbaijan to build on new momentum following the positive meeting
of Presidents Sargsyan and Aliyev
on June 6 in St. Petersburg, with
the goal of narrowing the remaining differences on the Basic Principles between the sides in coming
months. Ultimately, it is up to the
Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to take the difficult decisions
required to finalize the Basic Prinf
ciples. Senator Norm Coleman asks Amb. Yovanovitch about Turkish
denial, the Karabakh conflict, and democracy in Armenia
n Continued from page week for their views on the pace
of progress and encourage the government of Armenia to do all that
it can to heal the rifts created in
its society in the aftermath of the
March 1 violence.
Question: In your view, what is
the most constructive way in which
the U.S., and you as U.S. Ambassador, work to further democratic
reforms in Armenia? What immediate steps does this involve?
Answer: Promoting good governance and democracy in Armenia is a key priority. The conduct
of the February presidential elections and their violent aftermath
on March 1, in which at least ten
individuals died, were deeply disturbing and disappointing. The
U.S. Government’s aim is to help
the Armenian government and
the Armenian people restore dem- release those who have been held
ocratic momentum and to renew on politically-motivated charges.
their own stated mission of mov- It is important that freedom of
ing forward to become a country assembly and freedom of expreswhere government institutions are sion are fully protected. Longer
transparent and accountable and term, it is important that the judiwhere rule of law is accepted by all. ciary becomes truly independent.
In the short term, it is essential The U.S. Government is looking
that the Armenian government at how our democracy programs
support an independent, objective, can be targeted to better support
and inclusive investigation into civil society, watchdog organizathe fateful events of March 1 and tions, the independent media, and
development of the internet. U.S.
Government programs will continue to focus on anti-corruption
efforts and strengthening the rule
of law. The Armenian authorities
need to show the will to move forward with a reform program that
is responsive to the legitimate
desires of the people and that
inspires public confidence in the
country’s political and economic
f
processes. The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008
International
Minnesotans for Genocide Prevention host
congressional candidate Ashwin Madia
MINNEAPOLIS – The U.S.-Armenia Public Affairs Committee on
June 27 joined with members of the
Armenian-American community
here and other Minnesotans actively engaged in efforts to prevent
genocide for an event honoring
Ashwin Madia, the Democratic
candidate to represent Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District in
the U.S. House of Representatives.
Attendees highlighted the global
importance of genocide awareness
and prevention, the need to combat denial, and efforts to reaffirm
the Armenian Genocide.
The event, held at the Metropolitan Ballroom in Golden Valley, was
co-hosted by Kathleen Baradaran,
Mary Brindle, Edina Mayor James
Hovland, Dr. Ellen Kennedy,
Cheri Kuhn, and John Waters.
Prior to the event, Mr. Madia met
with members of the Genocide Intervention Network and members
of the Armenian community to
learn more about genocide and related issues. During the meeting, Mr.
Madia was briefed on the need for
the United States to once again ac-
Congressional candidate Ashwin
Madia.
knowledge the Armenian Genocide
and the need for a more active role
for the United States in stopping the
ongoing genocide in Darfur.
Mr. Madia noted the importance
of these issues, stating, “I believe
From left, Dr. Ellen Kennedy, Lou Ann Matossian, Ashwin Madia, Cheri Kuhn, Mary Brindle, and James Hovland.
we must play a more active role in
preventing genocide around the
world. Whether by fully acknowledging the Armenian Genocide or
by working to halt the genocide in
Darfur, the United States has the
responsibility as a world leader to
speak the truth on these issues.”
“It is a pleasure to work with
A first generation Indian-Ameri- Ashwin,” said Dr. Kennedy “He uncan and former Marines captain, derstands the importance of genoMr. Madia also discussed other top- cide awareness and prevention. He
ics, including the war in Iraq, the knows that if we don’t take steps to
plight of Iraqi refugees, gas prices, prevent genocide, this century may
and the economy.
be more violent than the last.” f
Azerbaijan parades newly acquired military arsenal
n Continued from page van and within 100 kilometers
of the Kedabek district of Azerbaijan, bordering on Armenia’s
Gegharkunik province, putting the
city within SS-21 reach from both
directions.
Under international agreements,
Azerbaijan – along with other
states – is required to report on any
such military acquisitions. No such
declarations were made through
the the United Nations Register of
Conventional Weapons as of August 2007, suggesting that the acquisition was either recent or made
without notification.
According to a 2005 Carnegie
Endowment study, “World Missile
Chart,” following the Soviet collapse, SS-21 systems were inherited
by Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Slovakia. (In the early- to mid-1980s, older variants had
also been supplied to Syria and Yemen.) Of these countries, Ukraine
has been the most active supplier
of weapons systems to Azerbaijan.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Azerbaijan, Boris Klimchuk, confirmed
to Novosti-Azerbaijan that most of
the equipment paraded on June 26
was supplied by Ukraine.
Also shown at the parade were
at least six multiple-launch rocket
systems (MLRS) known in Russian
as Smerch (see the March 27, 2007,
issue of the Armenian Reporter for a
story about their acquisition from
Ukraine). That deadly system, with
a range of over 70 kilometers, was
paraded along with other smallercaliber and shorter-range non-Soviet MLRS systems that appeared
Israeli or Turkish in origin.
Israeli-made spy planes
Other systems whose acquisition
had not been made public prior
to the parade were two types of
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),
both made by Israel’s Aeronautics
Defense Systems (ADS).
UAVs have been prominent in the
regional news lately after Georgia
purchased about 40 Hermes-450
systems made by Israel’s Elbit Systems and several of them were reported shot down over Abkhazia
since last spring. UAVs are relative-
ly inexpensive systems capable of
supplying round-the-clock battleRUSSIA
GEORGIA
field reconnaissance while evading
many of the traditional air defense
systems.
7
Per video and photography from
AZERBAIJAN
the Azerbaijani parade, the systems
shown were not Elbit’s but ADS’
Gyanja
ARMENIA
short-range Orbiter and midrange
Baku
4
Aerostar UAVs.
6
According to www.IsraeliWeapons.com, Orbiter is a very light sys2
tem that military personnel could
Yerevan
transport in backpacks and assemKARABAKH 3
ble for launch within 10 minutes.
1
Operated remotely, it has a range of
5
15 kilometers, providing real-time
TURKEY
Stepanakert
intelligence to brigade or smallersized units.
First introduced in 2000, Aerostar is believed to be superior to
NAKHICHEVAN
the older Hermes-450. Aerostar,
similar in appearance to popular
Cessna aircraft, has an operational
range of 200 kilometers, which can
IRAN
potentially put Armenia’s entire
1 Distance to Yerevan from closest point in Nakhichevan, approx. 44 km.
territory under surveillance.
Both the SS-21 and the other 2 Distance to Yerevan from closest point in Azerbaijan (Kedabek district, past Sevan near occupied Artsvashen), approx. 84 km.
newly acquired missile systems 3 Distance to Line of Contact in Karabakh from Baku, approx. 210 km.
and the UAVs provide a greater 4 Distance to Line of Contact from Gyanja, the 2nd largest city north of Karabakh, approx. 40 km.
challenge than earlier systems did 5 Distance to Line of Contact from Stepanakert, approx. 32 km.
to the mostly ground-based Arme- 6 Distance to Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, along Kura river in northwestern corner of Azerbaijan, to Armenian border, approx. 12 km.
nian air defenses. They may thus 7 Distance to Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, near the highway between Yevlakh and Goranboy, from Line of Contact, approx. 20 km.
help tip the existing military bal- Dotted line: Baku-Ceyhan pipeline. Armenian Reporter map by Grigor Beglaryan.
ance and undermining the 14-yearabout 4,500 personnel taking part.
old cease-fire.
(None of the regular army units
Lukewarm
participated.)
Writing for Novosti-Azerbaijan
international reaction
on June 27, Azerbaijani journalist
There has been no public Armeand Karabakh war veteran Kamal
nian or international reaction to
Ali could not hide his excitement.
the systems shown. Of major news
“Even a quick look at the military
outlets, only the Reuters news
equipment shown in the June 26
agency carried a report, pointing,
parade assures one of the offensive
as usual, to a potential disruption
nature of Azerbaijan’s war maof 700,000 barrels a day in oil supchine,” he wrote. “Nearly all of this
plies should fighting resume.
equipment was created for an efArmenian Defense Ministry
fective attacks and annihilation of
spokesperson Col. Seyran Shaha defending opponent.”
suvaryan was not impressed, tellCertainly, the parade last week
ing PanArmenian.net on June 28
did send a message to Armenia and
that his agency viewed the parade Israeli Aerostar unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in flight. Azerbaijan showed off
cannot be treated solely as a “fesas a “festivity” organized for the lo- three such aircraft in the June 26, 2008 parade. Photo: www.Israeli-Weapons.com. tivity.” Equipment shown and the
cal population and foreign guests.
manner of its acquisition should
Since 1998 Azerbaijan has minister) were renamed “Azerbai- vessels, and 210 units of ground have real military and political
marked June 26 as a day of its army jani national army.”
equipment, including tanks, infan- repercussions both for Armenian
because on that day in 1918, the
In all, according to the Azerbai- try fighting vehicles, self-propelled armed forces and foreign policy.
Ottoman Turkish army divisions jani Defense Ministry, the parade and towed artillery, and air defense
More coverage of Azerbaijan’s
advancing into the Caucasus and involved 25 combat aircraft (includ- systems. Various special forces and military build-up will appear in
led by Nuri Pasha (younger brother ing several MiG-29s acquired in cadets of ground, air, and naval the Armenian Reporter in coming
f
of Enver Pasha, the Ottoman war Ukraine), 19 helicopters, 31 navy military academies were among weeks. 5
The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008
Community
A khatchkar stands in Manhattan
The story behind
the Metropolitan
Museum of Art’s
display of a
medieval Armenian
masterpiece
by Florence Avakian
NEW YORK� – It seems altogether appropriate that the famed Metropolitan Museum of Art in New
York, home to some of the world’s
greatest works of art, should be the
ﬁrst U.S. museum to exhibit one of
Armenia’s most treasured artworks:
a 2,000-pound, 12th-century basalt
khatchkar, which stands almost
eight feet tall.
The exquisite “cross-stone” is
currently on display in the Met’s
“Mary and Michael Jaharis Galleries for Byzantine Art,” as a special
long-term loan from the State History Museum of Armenia.
To honor the arrival of this
masterpiece last spring (see the
Reporter’s May 3 edition), a special
luncheon was held with a small
group of donors, dignitaries, and
specialists, attended by top oﬃcials at the Met, including director
Philippe de Montebello, president Pictured here are (at right) Helen C. Evans, the Mary and Michael Jaharis Curator
Emily K. Raﬀerty, curator Helen C. of Byzantine Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; (center) Ralph Minasian
Evans, and conservator Jack Soul- of the Hagop Kevorkian Fund; and (left) Antranig Sarkissian of Citibank, who
tanian, Jr. The Hagop Kevorkian assisted with the loan of the khatchkar. Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Fund, which has a special exhibit
room named after it at the mu- volved in the loans to the Louvre lender), some amount of lichen
seum, funded the transportation exhibition.
removal was done. “We think
and installation of the khatchkar.
Also participating in this khatch- it’s an incredible work to have
Ralph Minasian of the Hagop Kev- kar’s journey were Armenian State at the Met because it is of the
orkian Fund was the host for the History Museum director Dr. Anel- same quality of works in the muspecial event.
ka Grigorian, minister Hasmik seum. So it puts Armenia in its
Plans call for additional works Pogosyan, deputy minister Gagig proper context rather than in the
of Armenian art to be installed ad- Gyurjyan, head of the Agency for position of showing lesser works,”
jacent to the khatchkar at the Met Conservation of Historical and said Evans.
in the autumn of 2008. These in- Cultural Monuments Dr. Artyom
Both Evans and Soultanian were
clude Armenian manuscripts from Grigoryan, and senior specialist shown hundreds of khatchkars as
the Met’s own collection and other at the Ministry of Culture Artur they were taken around to dozens
works on loan from other institu- Vardanian.
of cemeteries in Armenia in the
tions.
“This khatchkar was one of many dead of winter. “We felt this one
As for the future, on Sunday, Jack and I were shown in Armenia was truly exceptional. Most khatchNovember 23, a special “Sunday at last December,” related Dr. Evans. kars are carved totally on one plane.
the Met” program of lectures and “It shows the fantastic example of Here you can see the three-dimenmusic, made possible by the Hagop the importance of the gospels, sionality, which is quite rare,” Jack
Kevorkian Fund, will take place, which have always been central Soultanian pointed out.
focusing on the importance of Ar- to the Armenian faith. We have
Some of the khatchkars that the
menian medieval art and culture. the symbols of the four evange- two specialists had selected were
Along with the lectures, there will lists at the base representing the deemed too valuable to leave Armebe a performance of medieval Ar- books.... The symbol of St. Mat- nia. From the very beginning of the
menian music.
thew, an angel’s head, is at the negotiations, both Evans and Soultop, wearing a crown. St. Mark tanian were very involved in assurThe long journey to the is represented on the left below ing the Armenian government that
as a fat lion’s face. At the bottom the work would be presented in a
Met
is St. Luke as the head of an ox. proper way.
In an exclusive interview with Above the horns of the ox, and
“Sent with the level of expertise
this writer, Dr. Helen Evans, who beside the lion head is the proﬁle that we would move any major
traveled to Armenia with Jack of a large-eyed eagle, symbolizing work of art, it was specially crated,
Soultanian to select the khatch- St. John.”
and sent through Austrian Airkar and organized and oversaw
From the evangelists at the base, lines through Vienna. A courier
its installation at the Met, said the eye of the onlooker is drawn up came from the History Museum
that since 1991, when she ﬁrst the central cross to perceive “the of Armenia, saw it unpacked and
came to the Met, she had wanted promise of salvation according to installed, and returned to report
to have Armenian art displayed. the Armenian theological concept,” on it. Nothing has been done
But she credited Jack Soultanian as Evans described it.
without the consultation with the
for starting the khatchkar’s long
“There is a large arch over the Armenians, and at the same highjourney.
cross,” she continued, “and on the est standard that we use with any
Soultanian, who on a trip to Par- upper edges of the khatchkar are works that we borrow,” explained
is had noticed that the Louvre Mu- little birds with a fountain between Dr. Evans. She added that the borseum had a khatchkar, started the them. It’s very similar to the canon rowing process involved a 20-page
ball rolling. Assisting him on this tables that one sees at the begin- contract of intricate details, crequest were a group of Armenian- ning of Armenian gospels. So the ated by lawyers from the Met and
Americans, including architect Nis- whole becomes kind of a large ser- from Armenia, “so that both sides
han Kazazian, Harut Sassounian of mon on how one achieves Christian would be happy.”
the United Armenian Fund, Ralph salvation through the word, and
“When it was ﬁrst installed, Met
Minasian and the Hagop Kevork- the sacriﬁce, of Christ.”
director Phillipe de Montebello
ian Fund, and Antranig Sarkissian
The quality of the crafting, she came with me to look at it, and
of Citibank.
explained, is from the late 12th said, ‘It’s stunning. I want pictures
Playing pivotal roles in Arme- or very early 13th century. It’s to show the trustees,’” related Dr.
nia were assistant-to-the-presi- from Lori in the north of Arme- Evans with obvious pride.
dent Vicken Sargsyan, who knew nia, which fell to the Mongols in
America well through the Davitian 1238, so it has not been carved af- Love at ﬁrst sight
“When we saw this khatchkar, it was
Fund, which has been bringing Ar- ter that date.
menians students to study at Tufts
Through Jack Soultanian’s con- love at ﬁrst sight,” said Jack Soultaand Harvard. Sargsyan, one of the sultations with the State History nian. They were in Lori, returning
ﬁrst sent to Tufts, was also very in- Museum in Armenia (the oﬃcial to their car, when this extraordi-
Correspondent Florence Avakian (right) interviews conservator Jack Soultanian,
Jr., and curator Helen Evans. Photo: H. Koundakjian.
Left: The
2,000-pound,
eight-foot-tall,
basalt khatchkar
at New York’s
Metropolitan
Museum of Art.
The 12th-century
masterpiece
from Armenia’s
Lori region -- on
special long-term
loan from the
State History
Museum of
Armenia -- is on
display in the
Met’s “Mary
and Michael
Jaharis Galleries
for Byzantine
Art.” Photo:
Metropolitan
Museum of Art.
nary work, covered partially with the Armenian Church historically
snow, caught their eye.
did not approve of icons,” she said.
Lori, in the north of modern “Through these image, we recognize
Armenia, is a region bordering on that khatchkars are one of the most
modern Georgia, and the khatchkar typical means by which the Armewas in an area of ruins. After the re- nian people have marked prayers,
gion fell to the Mongols in 1238, it deaths, special events, and acts of
was almost “too devastated to have devotion.”
had the wealth to produce a masThis khatchkar is a “monumental
terpiece like this for many years af- work of art,” Dr. Evans said again.
ter that.” But the sheer size of the “We’ve borrowed a work of excepkhatchkar shows that the area was tional beauty that is worthy of Aronce rather wealthy and powerful, menia. It is such a compelling work
noted Dr. Evans.
that you are drawn to it without
“We think it may have been a even knowing what it is.”
memorial marker, even though it
Well known to Armenian comdoesn’t have a name. Many of the munities worldwide, Dr. Helen
khachkars we saw in the cemeteries C. Evans, is a specialist in Byzdid not have names. It may have antine and Armenian art. She coalso been made as a ceremonial gift curated the extraordinary exhibion the successful completion of an tion at the Morgan Library and
event. There are a number of mon- Museum in 1994, titled Treasures
uments of the 13th century which from Heaven: Armenian Illumirelate to this, such as decoration nated Manuscripts. The recipient
on churches. Geghard has lions of many honors, she was awarded
[carved on it] which look the same the recently established “Mary
[as those on the khatchkar].”
and Michael Jaharis Curatorship
At a recent lecture at Tufts Uni- for Byzantine Art” at the Metroversity, Dr. Evans had explained politan Museum of Art in 2006,
that some of the markers, similar and has been responsible for two
to the ones at Geghard, became major award-winning exhibiknown as “miracle-working im- tions on Byzantium at the Met.
ages.”
Dr. Evans installed the museum’s
“The belief in the power of such “Mary and Michael Jaharis Gallerkhatchkars to heal, or to respond ies of Byzantine Art” in 2000. Its
to prayers, makes them Armenian re-installation and expansion will
variants of the miracle-working be completed in the fall of this
�
icons venerated in Byzantium, for year.
6
The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008
Community
William Saroyan’s centennial will be celebrated at Queens College
NEW YORK� – The AnthropoloThe event will take place on
gy Museum of People of New York Sunday, November 23, at 3:00
and the Armenian Cultural Edu- p.m. in Lefrak Concert Hall at
cational Resource Center Gallery Queens College. The proliﬁc Saat Queens College, in Flushing, royan, born in Fresno, Calif., on
will be celebrating the centennial August 31, 1908, characterized
of author William Saroyan this the American experience through
autumn. The Armenian General his many plays and books during
Benevolent Union (agbu) will co- the 1930s and ’40s.
sponsor the special program.
Readings from Saroyan’s works
and his play, Hello, Out There, are
being considered for production
by the committee. Drew Kiel, artistic director of Hofstra usa Productions theater group, will direct
the play. Music by Arno Babadjian,
from an Armenian production of
Saroyan’s My Heart’s in the Highlands, will also be included in the
program.
Auditions for cast members will
be announced at a later date.
The English department at
Queens College, the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church, and
the Eastern Prelacy, have all endorsed the project and will be assisting with the planning.
In addition to the play, a mobile
exhibit of photos and biographi-
cal information on Saroyan will be
displayed at Lefrak Concert Hall
for guests to view during the reception in the atrium.
The traveling exhibit will be
available to travel to other organizations and locales upon request.
For information, call the muse�
um oﬃce at (718) 428-5650.
anca’s 2008 “Leo Sarkisian Internship” begins
WASHINGTON, D.C.� -- The
24th annual “Leo Sarkisian Internship” of the Armenian National
Committee of America (anca)
kicked oﬀ last week, as student interns gathered in Washington for
an intensive eight-week program.
“This internship is really meant
to serve as a training mechanism
for the next generation of activists in the Armenian community
throughout the Americas,” said Leo
Sarkisian Internship director Serouj Aprahamian. “We are pleased
to welcome this group of highlymotivated interns to D.C., and
have them hit the ground running
as they gain the ﬁrst-hand experience needed to eﬀectively advance
Armenian American issues.”
Each of the interns participated
in an intensive application process
in their respective anc regions.
The year’s intern class consists of
university students from coast-tocoast, including Rita Astoor, Nieri
Avanessian, Zori Eurdekian, Razmik
Tchakmakian, and Arbi Vartan.
Each of the interns are active
members of Armenian American
Correction
ANCA’s “Leo Sarkisian Internship” participants (l-r): Razmik Tchakmakian, Zori Eurdekian, Arbi Vartan, Nieri Avanessian,
and Rita Astoor.
community life, and are set to gain
the necessary hands-on knowledge
to augment their involvement on
their return.
Zori Eurdekian, who is going to be
a junior at Babson College this Fall,
is a 20-year-old Armenian-American from New York. He is majoring
A photo of the honorary presidents of the 2008 Navasartian Games,
in the Reporter’s June 14 issue (p. 11), inadvertently ran without attribution. It should have been credited to Donig L. Donabedian.
in entrepreneurship and marketing.
Her compatriot from U.C.
He is highly active in the Armenian Berkeley is outgoing asa chair
Protestant Church community, and Arbi Vartan, currently majoring
a leader in Babson’s asa chapter.
in organizational psychology. “I
“This internship is one of a kind am able to attend congressional
because it teaches us how politi- hearings and see the impact of our
cal processes play out on a day- community phone calls, and realto-day basis through hands-on ize that they do make the diﬀeractivities,” said Rita Astoor, one ence,” said Vartan, who has also
of the two interns studying at the been working with the anc since
University of California, Berke- his high school days in southern
ley. Majoring in English, Rita is California.
an active member of her asa, as
At 18, Nieri Avanessian has imwell as the school’s Model United mersed herself in the Detroit-area
Nations team, which deals with Armenian community, working on
international politics.
the executive board of the local ayf
“Kopernik Tandourjian” chapter,
and as a member of Hamazkayin’s
“Arax” dance group as well as the
University of Michigan Armenian
Students’ Cultural Association. “I
applied to this internship program
to gain a more intimate knowledge
of the American government and
the way that advocacy groups aﬀect
it,” Avanessian said.
Nineteen-year-old Toronto native
Razmik Tchakmakian is entering
his second year at Seneca College,
majoring in Business-Insurance. He
has been in the ayf’s “Simon Zavarian” chapter since the age of 10. “All
my life I have dreamed of working
on a day-to-day basis to promote
justice for the Armenian Genocide
and to move our collective cause
forward,” said Tchakmakian.
The Leo Sarkisian Internship
Program, now in its 24th year, is an
integral part of anca’s eﬀort to provide Armenian-Americans greater
opportunities to explore careers
on Capitol Hill, in the U.S. Foreign
Service, and at key Washington foreign policy think tanks. Interns participate in a wide variety of projects
based on their individual interests,
and are given the opportunity to
gain hands-on experience within
the American political system. They
participate in a lecture series featuring guest lecturers, including public
oﬃcials and Armenian-American
�
leaders.
7
The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008
Community
A voice that hit a home run in Fenway Park
Nishan Ovian
channels his
mother’s passion for
singing
by Tom Vartabedian
BURLINGTON, Mass.� – Ever
since he was old enough to breathe,
Nishan Ovian could hear his mother singing. Whether he wanted to
or not.
He would hear her singing the
badarak in church. He would watch
his mom at concerts. He would
listen as the music poured out of
Vanessa Ovian -- even while she
was peeling potatoes in the kitchen.
Music made Nishan’s world turn.
But recently, it was Vanessa’s
turn to listen -- in, of all places,
Fenway Park. At that great Boston stadium, she and thousands of
others listened as her son sang the
National Anthem before a Red Sox
game.
The teenager was applauded by
the likes of David Ortiz, Manny
Ramirez, and Mike Lowell. Looking down upon him, no doubt, were
the spirits of Ted Williams and
Babe Ruth.
Of all the audiences Vanessa has
enthralled during her long and distinguished singing career, nothing
has compared to a stadium full of
36,000 avid BoSox fans.
It was that kind of a night for
young Nishan Ovian: a once-in-alifetime experience, the thrill of
which will linger for years to come.
Nishan stood along the thirdbase line with other members of
the Burlington High School chorus,
who had been invited to Red Sox
Nation based on their reputation
for excellence.
“Fenway Park was absolutely
amazing,” said the proud mother.
“Nishan found out about the oppor-
Left: Nishan in
his high school
production
of Thoroughly
Modern Millie,
in the role of
Trevor Graydon.
Right : Nishan
Ovian, part of
a vocal quartet
that sang the
National Anthem
before a Red Sox
game at Fenway
Park. Photo:
KarwanPhotos.
com.
tunity to sing in a quartet about way,” added Vanessa. “Sixteen of
four weeks prior to the event. It his close friends bought tickets just
was a memorable experience, to to be there and give him support.”
say the least. He was beside himself
Included in the cheering section
with excitement.”
were many relatives and friends,
It all started with another Ar- including Stephen and Susan Pilimenian named Mark Kashgegian, gian, who secured tickets right bewho serves on the board of Ron- hind home plate. Nishan sang right
ald McDonald House Charities at them.
through his employment at an area
Also basking in joy was the boy’s
accounting ﬁrm.
dad Larry, who leaves the singing
Kashgegian’s daughter Chris- to other members of his family.
tina is a sophomore in the school
The brush with fame was not
chorus and initially received a solo without tribulation, however.
invitation. Nerves came into play Three weeks before his Fenway deand she asked if Nishan would join but, Nishan came down with a seher. Ultimately, the duo blossomed vere sore throat for ﬁve days, and
into a quartet, directed by chorus couldn’t swallow.
instructor John Middleton-Cox.
Many tests were run as the fam“Everyone who knows Nishan ily anxiously awaited results. Turns
knew he was going to sing at Fen- out, it was nothing more than ton-
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names were announced over the
loud speakers as the kids were getting in their ﬁnal pitches (no pun
intended),” said Vanessa. “I looked
up on the Jumbotron and saw Nishan as the camera panned over
the singers. Right after that, they
showed the American ﬂag waving in the wind. It was absolutely
amazing. The song ﬁnished much
too quickly, followed by hugs and
kisses from everyone.”
In all it encompassed ﬁve minutes of singing -- which will yield a
lifetime of memories. The sole sour
note on the occasion concerned the
Red Sox themselves: they lost the
game. But the singers won every
heart at Fenway.
Nishan is no ﬂedgling when it
comes to the arts and his Armenian
heritage. He just ﬁnished a run as
sillitis, and he was treated with an- Trevor Graydon in the school musitibiotics.
cal, Thoroughly Modern Millie, playThe National Anthem was noth- ing to 3,000 guests who showed up
ing new to Nishan. He had sung over a long weekend.
it at commencements, athletic
He’s an accomplished comedic acevents, and various town com- tor in such shows as Sweet Mystery
memorations like Memorial and of Life. Last year he stole the show
Veterans Days. Finally, the big day with his rendition of Thenardier
arrived with a ﬂurry of activity and (the Master of the House) in a proa jangle of nerves. The singers ar- duction of Les Miserables.
rived at Fenway two hours before
Another special tribute came his
the game to rehearse and get a feel way this past April, when Nishan
for the park.
was named “Teenager of the Month”
A practice run went as expected. by the local Elks Club. He became
This was no pre-recorded gig or the subject of an article in two Burllip-sync aﬀair – which (it turns ington papers, with his photograph
out) is indeed the case 50 per- and a plaque that was presented at
cent of the time. Nishan Ovian, a special banquet in May.
Christina Kashgagian, and comAt last year’s ayf Olympics, he
pany were asked to make a live won a silver medal in golf and has
appearance before a nesn broad- served as president of his juniorcast-viewing audience as well. So senior North Andover Chapter.
virtually millions sat and listened He’s also an ordained stole-bearer.
to the group.
In the fall, he’ll be attending Salem
Because it was Ronald McDonald State College to study Theater.
House Charities Night at Fenway,
Nishan’s last hurrah was singing
special ceremonies were conduct- the National Anthem at his high
ed on the ﬁeld. Out came the Red school graduation -- but not withSox brass and players to take part. out some added fanfare. After a
Manny Ramirez stepped forward prolonged fermata on the ﬁnal high
with his entire family to present a note, the sound system went dead.
check to the charity.
Much to his chagrin, the soloist
�
“Before we knew it, the singers’ had blown a fuse.
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8
The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008
Community
Armenian archaeologist addresses
University of Chicago conference
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich.� ment of Early Archaeology at the In– Diana Zardaryan received a grant stitute of Archaeology and Ethnogfrom Project Discovery to attend the raphy, National Academy of Sciences,
third University of Chicago confer- Armenia. Her areas of interest inence on Eurasian Archaeology (“Re- clude analysis of the pottery of the
gimes and Revolution: Power, Vio- Eneolithic and Early Bronze Age, the
lence and Labor in Eurasia Between origins of agriculture, ancient cults
the Ancient and the Modern”) last and religious practices, and fossils.
May. Zardaryan was among a select
The University of Chicago is host
few who were invited to present a to one of the leading archaeological
paper at the conference.
programs in the world. Attendance
Zardaryan’s paper, titled “On the at this conference will provide ZardOrigins of Complex Societies in aryan with an opportunity not only
the Southern Caucasus,” made its to meet with and learn from other arargument through the interpreta- chaeologists from outside of Armetion of pottery discovered at the nia, but also to share with them the
site of Areni-1. In the fall of 2007, unique knowledge she has from her
Zardaryan participated in a joint archaeological research in Armenia.
Armenian-British excavation at the
For more information on Project
site of Areni-1, a Late Eneolithic/ Discovery, an independent chariEarly Bronze Age site in Armenia’s table organization dedicated to
Vayotz Dzor region.
the discovery and preservation of
Zardaryan received her Ph.D. in Armenia’s historical and cultural
archaeology in 2007, and is currently legacy, visit its website at www.pro�
a laboratory assistant in the Depart- jectdiscovery.net.
naasr concludes ambitious, wideranging lecture series
BELMONT, Mass.� – The National Association for Armenian Studies
and Research (naasr) concluded its
Spring 2008 lecture series on June
9 at its Belmont facility with a talk
by Dr. Razmik Panossian, titled
“Change Without Transition: Politics
in Post-Soviet Armenia. The event
was co-sponsored by the Armenian
Relief Society Summer Youth Program and naasr.
The talk concluded six months of
intense activity for naasr’s public
programs. Since its January commemoration of the anniversary
of the assassination of Hrant Dink
-- held at the Western Diocese of the
Armenian Church in Burbank, Calif.,
featuring Prof. Taner Akçam, Prof.
Richard G. Hovannisian, journalist
Stephen A. Kurkjian, and the naasr board of directors -- naasr has
held 16 programs in eight cities and
ﬁve states. Events were generally co- Survivors: Irrefutable Historical
sponsored with other organizations. Documents of the Armenian GenoThe lectures have covered the cide”; Dr. Vahram Shemmasian, on
Genocide, Armenian merchant net- “The Rescue of Enslaved Armenian
works, ancient Armenian kings, Ar- Women and Children in Syria at the
menian art and architecture, Arme- End of the World War I Genocide”;
nian studies in Jerusalem, and other Dr. Sergio La Porta, speaking on
topics. Speakers during the season “Armenian Studies in Jerusalem and
included Margaret Ajemian Ahnert, the Challenges of the 21st Century”;
author of The Knock at the Door: A Edward Minasian, speaking on “The
Journey Through the Darkness of the Forty Days of Musa Dagh: The True
Armenian Genocide; Prof. George Story of a Film Denied”; and Dr.
Bournoutian, author of Tigran the Donald Bloxham, speaking on “The
Great and Rome; Dr. Sebouh Asla- Role of the Great Powers in the Arnian, speaking on “Honor Among menian Genocide.”
Merchants: The Armenians of New
naasr is currently planning
Julfa and the Growth of Modern events for its autumn season,
Long-Distance Trade”; Dr. Levon which is shaping into another busy
Abrahamian, speaking on “Fighting and diverse schedule. For informawith Memory and Monuments: Re- tion on naasr events, call (617)
shaping Post-Soviet Armenian Iden- 489-1610, or e-mailing hq@naasr.
tity”; Dr. Verjine Svazlian, speaking org. naasr Center is located at 395
on “Testimonies of the Eyewitness Concord Avenue, in Belmont. �
U. Mich. Armenian Studies program
solicits visiting scholars
ANN ARBOR, Mich.� – The Ar- thropology, and political science for
menian Studies Program at the one semester.
University of Michigan is pleased
To apply for the position, canto invite applications for the posi- didates (Ph.D. completed) should
tion of “Manoogian Simone Foun- forward the following documents
dation Visiting Scholar,” for the by October 15, 2009: (a) curriculum
2009-2010 fall semester (Septem- vitae, (b) a sample of writing or a
ber to December).
publication, (c) proposals for coursThe Visiting Scholar Program es the candidate might oﬀer.
aims to enrich the Armenian StudApplications and inquiries should
ies and university-wide curriculum. be addressed to: Gloria Caudill,
Regular faculty associated with the Administrator, Armenian Studies
program oﬀer courses in Armenian Program, 1080 South University,
history, language, culture, and lit- SSWB Ste. 2603 University of Michierature. The Visiting Scholar po- gan, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48109-1106.
sition is open to faculty who will Correspondence may be faxed to
teach two courses in disciplines (734) 763-4918, or e-mailed to arme�
such as art history, sociology, an- nianstudies@umich.edu.
N. Lael Telfeyan, Ph.D., LCSW
Counseling and Psychotherapy
with Individuals, Families and Couples
Adults and Adolescents
140 West 97th St.
New York, NY 10025
By appointment 917-975-3109
24 Windsor Road
Great Neck, NY 11021
e-mail: nlael@aol.com
Pictured, from
left: agbu
Central Board
member Ruben
Kechichian;
Charles
Aznavour;
Buenos Aires
Minister of
Culture Hernan
Lombardi; Levon
Sayan; Armenia’s
Ambassador
to Argentina
Vladimir
Karmirshalian.
In Buenos Aires, Aznavour performs, and
is received at French embassy
BUENOS AIRES� – The great Vladimir Karmirshalian, Buenos
singer Charles Aznavour visited Aires Minister of Culture Hernan
Buenos Aires in May and gave a Lombardi, and agbu Central Board
performance at the Gran Rex The- member Ruben Kechichian.
atre in the Argentine capital. As
During his brief remarks, Amb.
part of his visit he attended a cock- du Laurens welcomed Aznavour to
tail reception at the city’s French Argentina and thanked the agbu
Embassy, which was hosted by for its part in organizing the event.
French Ambassador Frédéric Bale- Minister Lombardi took to the poine du Laurens and included spe- dium to bestow Aznavour with the
cial guests, Armenian Ambassador city’s “Honorary Guest” distinction.
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On behalf of agbu, Kechichian
spoke of the singer’s importance
and how he has become an icon to
Armenians worldwide. General Secretary of agbu Argentina, Antonio
Saraﬁan, presented Aznavour with
a sculpture made by artist Milena
Sahakian.
Aznavour said he was very moved
by the honors and thanked every�
one present.
9
The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008
Community
Archbishop Aykazian discusses Genocide with Senator Obama
Abp. Aykazian, Sen. Obama, and David Neﬀ of the magazine Christianity Today.
HMEM
NAVASARTIAN
SERIES
CHICAGO�  On June 10, a group
of 25 U.S. church leaders were invited by Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama to his
campaign headquarters in Chicago.
Included in the group of invitees
were Archbishop Vicken Aykazian,
legate of the Eastern Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America and
president of the National Council of Churches (NCC), along with
many distinguished guests from
Catholic, Protestant, and Evangelical churches. William Franklin
Graham III, president of the Billy
Graham Evangelistic Association,
was also present at the meeting.
During the event, an extensive
discussion took place among the
religious leaders and the senator.
The goal of the meeting was to afford Sen. Obama the opportunity
to speak to church leaders about
his vision and mission and to open
the ﬂoor to questions.
Archbishop Aykazian took the
opportunity to introduce himself
to Sen. Obama and ask him a series
of questions. Archbishop Aykazian
broached the subject of poverty in
the United States and around the
world as an issue very near to the
hearts of all church leadership. He
then asked the senator how he
would attempt to help Christians
in the Holy Land.
“We, the Christians here, are very
concerned about Christians in the
Middle East and particularly in the
Holy Land,” Archbishop Aykazian
said.
Mr. Obama replied that he would
try to help Christian communities
in the Middle East through diplo-
matic channels, and would try to
address the challenges in Palestine
and Israel.
Finally, Archbishop Aykazian explained to Sen. Obama, “I belong
to a people that is called the Armenians. My people were the ﬁrst
victims of genocide in the 20th
century. As an Armenian, I can
understand the suﬀering of other
peoples in ways that are diﬀerent
from those who have not suﬀered.
And I can understand the suﬀering of the people of Darfur who
are living through continuous
genocide. What do you plan to do
about Darfur?”
Sen. Obama responded by saying, “The Armenian Genocide and
the Jewish Holocaust have taught
us never again, and I will do my best
to solve the problem in Darfur.” �
Behind the scenes of the Navasartian Games
by Shahen Hagobian
VAN NUYS, Calif.� – “I’ve been in
Homenetmen since I was ﬁve years
old. I started out as a brownie in
Los Angeles and worked my way up
through the ranks in scouting, then
I was an executive member for eight
years and now I’m on the regional
board,“ says Salpi Jejeian. She is
a soft-spoken woman beaming with
pride when she speaks about her involvement in Homenetmen and its
accomplishments over the years. Jejeian has been there through many
of the organization’s changes and
now oversees the event and media
planning that goes into most of the
annual competitions that Homenetmen presents.
“The bottom line is, we’re doing it for the kids,” Jejeian says. A
common sentiment among game
organizers across the board is that
the most important aspect of the
sports competitions is to bring
positive and constructive energy
to the youth. “The mission is to elevate the kids,” Jejeian continues.
“What Homenetmen has done for
me, I want to do for the kids. Honestly, it’s the way we keep kids oﬀ
the streets. We give them love and
support and the feeling of belonging to something, and Homenetmen truly does that. And it’s not
just the Navasartian Games. The
whole year we organize games with
all the chapters, every Sunday we
have scouting, We do everything
and anything possible to keep the
kids together and safe.”
With thousands of kids participating each year, Homenetmen
continues to provide a safe and
sound environment for all participants. Even in a time where violence seems to escalate on a daily
basis and new distractions come
up from every direction, Jejeian
and her staﬀ ﬁnd ways to keep the
kids interested and positive. “The
organization and activities have
totally changed over the years,”
she notes. “When I was young,
we didn’t have computers and
cell phones keeping us distracted.
I was initially a scout in Lebanon
before moving to Los Angeles in
the late 1970s and joining the L.A.
chapter. We had our Sunday activities and maybe two or three times
a year we would have outside activities like going on ﬁeld trips,
hiking, camping, and sometimes
we would even go to Disneyland
and we were satisﬁed with that.
Nowadays the kids are getting
bored a little easier and everything has changed. All of a sudden
we are taking diﬀerent routes to
entertain them but we do educate
them and help them grow.”
Left: Salpi
Jejeyan with
anc’s Raﬃ
Hamparian.
Below: Salpi
at last year’s
Navasartian
games.
Jejeian’s own family has been
and continues to be part of the
Homenetmen tradition. “I have
twin boys who are cub scouts in the
L.A. chapter right now and they
play soccer and basketball,” she
says. “My husband, Ara, is also in
Homenetmen as a basketball player
as well as a coach. He was in scouts
in L.A. and played basketball, and
he still plays and now coaches the
kids, and he loves it.”
Past and present
Jejeian oﬀers a perspective on
the evolution of the Navasartian
Games. “The games have been going on for over 30 years, but when
we started, there were no vendors,
there was no food, we competed
out of Los Angeles Community College, we would show up and march,
compete, and that was it,” she says.
“From there we moved to Glendale
High School and from there we
started selling food as more and
more people started coming. Soon
we started selling shirts and over
the years we grew and grew and the
outcome has been amazing.”
“Participation has tripled over
the last ten or 15 years,” Jejeian
continues. “And now, when we do
the closing ceremonies, there is
barely any room to move.”
What started as a modest athletic tournament in need of community support has blossomed into
a major communal and cultural
event that attracts more than just
the participants and their families. “For me, the thing that’s really
amazing is that non-Homenetmen
youths have started showing up
and supporting [the Navasartian
Games], Jejeian notes. “It makes
me so proud to see all these Armenian youths coming together to
hang out instead of hanging out
in the streets. There is good music, good food, and their friends are
all around. They see each other at
the games every year, whereas they
may not necessarily hang out with
each other for the rest of the year.”
The pride can be seen sparkling in
Jejeian’s eyes. “Even after 30 years,
I still cry at the closing ceremonies,” she says. “To see 8,000 young
members marching together can
be very emotional.” The games are
wrapping up this year at Birmingham High School in Van Nuys.
Planning around
deadlines
“First oﬀ, there are deadlines for
everything,” Jejeian explains. “All
the chapters have to submit their
rosters by a certain date, and once
[that’s done], they can’t add or
change any names from the lists.
We are very strict about stuﬀ like
that, and because we have grown so
much, it can become a nightmare
to deal with at this level. Once we
have the rosters, we have to do
the scheduling, we have to get the
gyms, the referees, and the score
keepers, all of which takes up a lot
of time. Plus, all staﬀ beside the
referees are volunteers.”
With the number of Navasartian
participants constantly on the rise,
Homenetmen is becoming more
and more active in getting sponsors
and volunteers to help out. “The
games have gotten so big that we
have committees for all the diﬀerent
aspects of the games,” Jejeian says.
“We have committees for the chapters, the vendors, singers, security,
the front gate, and the festival, all of
which start working in April.”
When it comes to notifying the
public about the games, Jejeian
reaches out to as many outlets as
she can with press releases. “We
generally get the word out by working with a lot of Armenian newspapers, having press releases and
advertisements,” she explains. “We
try to get on as many interviews
and TV shows as we can. But the
Navasartian Games are at a level
where everyone knows about [the
event] and everyone anticipates
it so we don’t have to publicize as
much anymore.”
The deadlines are not just for the
athletes and sponsors. The consumer aspect of past games has also
taken on an important role in the
planning. For every slice of pizza or
jewelry sold at the games, there is
a vendor who had to secure a spot.
“The same thing happens with the
festival committee,” Jejeian says.
“They are all volunteers organizing
that aspect of the games. They have
to get in touch with the vendors and
set up booths for them. The vendors
have deadlines just like the chapters
do. In the past we invited vendors
out on a ﬁrst-come, ﬁrst-served basis and ended up having to turn away
a lot of vendors because they were
late and no more booths were available. So now we have them pay a due
and reserve a booth before anything
happens so that everything can be
organized and run smoothly.”
The Navasartian Games will close
on the 4th of July weekend – which
could not come any sooner for Jejeian and the rest of the staﬀ, who will
ﬁnally be able to take a break from the
hectic schedules of organizing, maintaining, and delivering Homenetmen’s annual extravaganza of competition and community. All their hard
work will be reﬂected on the smiling
faces of the kids and parents who par�
ticipated in the games.
Birmingham High School is located at
17000 Haynes Street, Van Nuys.
connect:
homenetmen.net
(818) 244-3868
10
The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008
Community
HMEM
NAVASARTIAN
SERIES
Forged by Homenetmen
Varant Melkonian
credits the venerable
organization for his
leadership skills
organizations, including Homenetmen and the Armenian Youth Club,
both of which he was an avid member of in Baghdad.
In 1980, three years after immigrating to Los Angeles, Melkonian joined the local chapter of
Homenetmen. In 1983, he became
president of the social committee,
by Alene Tchekmedyian
which organized various fundraising events for athletic and scout
programs, in an eﬀort to unite the
VAN NUYS, Calif.� – Varant Mel- Armenian youth within a nurturkonian, one of seven children, said ing environment.
that being a middle child is the best
Thanks to such events and composition as he has “learned from munity outreach, the chapter’s
the older [siblings] but doesn’t membership grew exponentially,
make the mistakes of the younger and the social committee itself be[ones].”
came legendary for its annual HalAlthough the fourth child of his loween party, which began drawing
family, he was the ﬁrst to immigrate crowds of over 2,000 people.
to the United States from Baghdad,
Event planning and teamwork
his birthplace, at age 18. “I chose helped Melkonian develop his abilto leave and to experience freedom ity to speak comfortably before an
and capitalism… away from social- audience. “I learned to be part of
ism and dictatorship,” he said.
a group, to listen, to participate
The American dream eventually in a small group and talk and bebecame a reality for Melkonian. He come comfortable with that,” he
is the founder of Closet World and said. “And [that translated into] a
the CEO and chairman of its parent larger and larger group. [I learned]
company, Home Organizers, Inc.
to be calm and natural, and of
He attributes his success to the course that impacted me because
leadership skills he acquired dur- now I am a comfortable speaker in
ing his adolescence in Armenian the business world as far as giving
HMEM
NAVASARTIAN
SERIES
seminars and speaking in front of
big audiences.”
Given his abiding dedication to
the Armenian cause, Melkonian has
evolved into quite a philanthropist,
donating time and funds to help
further develop the organizations
close to his heart. He serves on the
Board of Directors of the Armenian
Bone Marrow Registry and on the
Leadership Council of the USC
Institute of Armenian studies. “It
gives you an opportunity to learn
about Armenian organizations and
understand where the needs are,”
he noted. “It expands your mind…
to become a giver actually… to give
back to your community.”
Melkonian gives ﬁnancial support to Armenian organizations,
such as Homenetmen and the Armenian National Committee, and
non-Armenian nonproﬁts alike. He
has been involved in the San Gabriel Valley Chamber of Commerce,
the Kiwanis Club, and Rotary International.
With a sensitive spot for his
birthplace, Melkonian is also the
current president of the United
Iraqi Armenian Fund, which provides emergency relief to the warimpacted Armenian community
of Iraq. The Iraqi Armenian Fund
raised over $100,000 during a raﬄe
in May.
Melkonian has been married for
19 years and has three children:
Arman, Arlene, and Aren. Though
not as involved in Homenetmen
as Melkonian would like, they are
active in other Armenian organizations.
Steve Artinian, chairman of the
Homenetmen Western Region
Executive Committee, recognizes
Melkonian’s outstanding service
to the Armenian community and
recalls that years ago Melkonian
encouraged him to join Homenetmen. “He wants his donations to
go to programs and things that are
important to kids,” Artinian said.
“It is important that we, as an organization, produce results, and he
puts the kind of pressure on us that
is positive.”
In 1990, Melkonian founded
Closet World, which has developed
into one of the nation’s largest closet-organizing companies, serving
160,000 customers annually. Entrepreneur Magazine has called Closet
World the number one growth
franchise in the home-organizing
industry for four years.
Melkonian encourages future
generations of Homenetmen lead-
Varant Melkonian.
ers to continue their involvement
in the organization to further expand its opportunities. “It opens
and expands the mind about the
importance of participating and
being involved as well as advancing
the Armenian cause and our Armenian existence,” he said, referring
activism through Homenetmen. “It
teaches us how to unify as a community and a culture. And it helps
the new generation to understand
their parents and why they think a
�
certain way as Armenians.””
Grace under pressure
At the Navasartian
Games, John
Kahwajian is a
voice of reason
and the face of
Homenetmen’s
Western Region
by Tenny Issakhanian
Avanesian
VAN NUYS, Calif.� – As the 33d
Annual Navasartian Games draw to
a close this weekend, Homenetmen
Western USA Region Athletic Director John Kahwajian remains
grounded and composed during
what many deem the peak season
of the organization.
“John has a very calm demeanor,”
says Western usa Region Chairman Steve Artinian. “Usually athletics are very passionate, parents
are passionate, coaches are passionate. But John is very calming.
He doesn’t react very quickly and
he’s got a quiet way of motivating
people to do the right thing.” Now
in his second year on the Regional Board, “Enger John,” as he is
known by his Homenetmen family,
has worked side by side with Artinian to advance their vision for a
more youthful and technology-oriented organization intent on addressing its ever-looming facilities
problems.
John has brought to the Board
four years of experience as the
chairperson of the Regional Athletic Council (rac) and now serves
as the intermediary between the
Board and the rac. Prior to his Regional work, he was a key player at
the chapter level.
the ranks to chapter scoutmaster,
a decade later John was given the
burden and privilege of starting a
scouting program in the San Fernando Valley. “And that’s how the
Valley’s Massis Chapter started,” he
explains.
After serving as chapter chairman and basketball coach for Massis, John graduated to the Regional
level as the RAC chair. “It’s been
a pleasure to be in athletics, even
though I started with scouts,” he
says. “I don’t know how I ended
up in athletics but it’s been a lot
of fun.” It is as much work as it is
fun, with meetings often lasting
ﬁve-six hours on weeknights and
Homenetmen duties demanding
about 20-30 hours of John’s time
on a weekly basis. And that’s just
during oﬀ-season.
In the midst of all this, John still
participates in Homenetmen as an
athlete. Since the addition of the
30+- and 40+-year-old basketball
and soccer divisions, he has had
an opportunity to play. “We have
a good time and it’s exercise for us,”
he reveals. “We go out there, show
oﬀ our legs, run around, sweat a
little bit, and say we played. But it’s
really fun.”
Public relations
As athletic director, John takes his
position very seriously. “My job is
to keep the rac on the right track
– even though they know the rules
better than I do – and report back
to the Board on the rac and what
is going on in athletics in general,” he explains. However, he goes
above and beyond the call of duty,
opting to attend all rac meetings
over the normal protocol of reading rac meeting minutes. Still,
being at the meetings allows him
to take on a more hands-on but
advisory role.
Realizing the importance of the
Regional presence at these rac
meetings, John deems Regional
The scouting years
representation at the NavasarJohn’s initial exposure to Homenet- tian Games equally important.
men was as a scout for the Los An- It’s good public relations. To this
geles chapter. “Back in 1968, when end, John states, “I’m at most of
scouting had just started here in the games to make sure everyLos Angeles, my [siblings] and I, I’m thing is running [smoothly], evproud to say, were some of the ﬁrst erybody is happy, and everybody
scouts to join,” he says. Working up is on the same page on the chap-
ter level and the rac level.” He
adds, “When the chapters’ athletics representatives see someone
from the Board in the gym, they
think that somebody does care.
Somebody does show up to their
games.”
And he cares in an understated,
unassuming manner. “He’s the
quiet one, the behind-the-scenes
guy. But he delivers,” says Vahagn
Thomasian, this year’s honorary
Navasartian Games co-president
and a longtime Homenetmen
member, of his colleague, John.
Coaching the coaches
In most chapters, coaches are
the parents or older siblings of
Homenetmen athletes – as was the
case for John when he coached his
daughter Annie’s basketball team
when she was nine years old. But
this does not mean that anybody
can get any team of their choosing. Rather, the more experienced
the coach, the more likely it is that
Homenetmen will match them to
the division most suitable to their
skill level.
Once coaches are selected and
appointed at the chapter level,
the rac helps to prepare them for
duty by holding an annual coaches’
seminar. Bringing all the coaches
together for a day of certiﬁcation,
training, and team-building, the
seminar is held just prior to the
opening of the Navasartian Games.
For the second year in a row, wellreputed University of Oregon basketball coach Ernie Kent attended
and spoke at the seminar this past
April. Beside providing pointers
about how to approach the players,
what to teach them, how to execute certain plays, how to meet the
expectations of their players, and
how to serve as both their teacher
and role model, Kent drastically
modiﬁed his keynote motivational
speech this year.
“He adapted it to Homenetmen. It
was really impressive,” John recalls
in an amused manner. “He knows
we have some hot-blooded Armenians who get a little too excited
during the games. So he told them,
‘Before you walk into the gym, you
draw a line, leave all your personal
stuﬀ behind that line, and walk in.’”
To teach proper court conduct are no tournaments, rent it out to
and communication with the ref- chapters for practice, keep it open
erees, certiﬁed pac-10 referee as a gathering place, a practice
Martin Cota also spoke at this place, maybe have a [ﬁtness center]
year’s seminar. As Homenetmen’s there too,” John suggests.
Although the Board has considreferee assigner for several years
now, Cota helped the rac educate ered this idea, it has had diﬃculty
Homenetmen coaches on the occa- ﬁnding a suitable place until now.
sional seemingly questionable call In addition to using athletes’ parby referees as well as the reasoning ticipation fees to cover the expense
of renting these spaces, the search
behind these calls.
“So we’re really trying to im- for facilities has been alternately
prove the Navasartian Games. In expensive as well. “It takes a lot of
the last few years, [the event] has our time to ﬁnd facilities for our
improved in every way, I think. tournaments and our chapters’
It even looks much better,” John practices. We’ve been very lucky
says, referring to the coaches’ uni- to have Birmingham High School
forms. “I wanted to make the uni- for the last few years [of the Navforms uniform. Now, with a lot of asartian Games]. But if the place
the new uniforms, the Homenet- where we held the games had the
men symbol is embroidered on Homenetmen name on it, that
there and has become a part of the would be even better,” John say.
jersey.” And the improvements do Were Homenetmen members to
have their own facilities, it would
not stop there.
The athletic rulebook is updated certainly help them feel less noevery year and distributed to chap- madic and give them more of a
ter athletic directors in January. At sense of ownership.
that time, the directors have the
responsibility of relaying these Viva Homenetmen
rules to the rest of their respective According to John, the ﬁnal weekchapters, thereby maintaining a end of the Navasartian Games “is
uniform code of conduct and de- so much fun, even though you’re
termining expected consequences tired and you can’t even stand
should infractions occur. As a re- up.” He continues, “But to see all
sult, Homenetmen is not only be- the people and all the kids, it’s just
coming more organized but also, great. It’s worth it.” He used to
if any wrongdoing transpires, the be one of those kids, as were his
chapters know exactly what pen- daughters when they were growing
alty to expect. “So, this way, we’re up. And now he hopes that more
not varying our treatment [from youths will walk in his shoes as they
person to person], they’re not progress from spectator to member
guessing, and we’re not playing fa- to leader and executive.
“We have grown every year,” he
vorites,” John concludes.
points out “We’ve gone from six or
The Achilles’ heel of
seven teams years ago to having
270
teams of just basketball today.
Homenetmen
The numbers overall are growing,
In the midst of all of Homenet- which means we’re doing somemen’s improvements remains the thing right and we’re attracting
problem of facilities, a concern that new members.”
has plagued Homenetmen and deAt the end of the day, that is
pleted the organization’s funds for the goal of not only John but
too long. John has his sights set also Homenetmen executives
on addressing this problem if he and Navasartian Games organizgets re-elected for a second term as ers. Expressing sentiments that
regional athletic director this Oc- he shares with many of his coltober. “That is my priority: to ﬁnd leagues, John reveals, “For me,
a facility that Homenetmen can that’s the biggest thing: bringing
buy. Have our own facility where new members, new kids, and alwe can have Navasartian or any ways keeping the Homenetmen
�
other tournament, and when there name out there.”
The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008
11
Community
HMEM
NAVASARTIAN
SERIES
Nyree Derderian ushers in a new era for the Navasartian Games
First female
chairperson of
Homenetmen
Regional Athletic
Council stands
strong
by Tenny Issakhanian
Avanesian
PASADENA, Calif.� – If ever
there was an antithesis to a one-trick
pony, Nyree Derderian would be
she. Whether it’s on the basketball
court or in the grand lecture halls
of Stanford University, the versatile
chairperson of the Homenetmen
Western Regional Athletic Council
always makes a lasting impact on
the entity at hand, not only through Homenetmen Western Region Athletic Council.
membership but also leadership. Back row (left to right): Sevag Garabetian, Shant Tarpinian, Gassia Mehseredjian, Hagop Avedian.
“It’s in my nature to volunteer for Front row (left to right): Fred Babadjanians, Roubina Kabirian, Nyree Derderian, Sako Kahdejian,
leadership roles,” she explains very Garen Mardirossian. Absent from this photo: Sossi Shanlian, Quint Chemnitz, Armen Mahdessian, Tro
Markarian. Right: Nyree Derderian at the closing ceremonies of the Homenetmen 32nd
matter-of-factly.
And that is the type of leader Navasartian Games in 2007. Photo courtesy of Helena Gregorian.
any organization needs. “She is
not only the face of the Council but place every four years. “That was a
This year’s closing weekend will
also the voice of the Council,” says highlight for me, to be part of both have basketball games scheduled
Homenetmen Program Coordina- the organizational and adminis- for 11:30 at night. “This decision
tor Sevag Garabetian.
trative ends and be so successful was made not only because we
Nyree’s current position with there,” she says. The Western Re- don’t have enough time in the day
Homenetmen has been over 30 gion’s teams earned gold medals in to play all the games,” Nyree says,
years in the making. How many can women’s and men’s basketball and “but also because a couple of years
say that they participated in the women’s volleyball, as well as sec- ago the city generators had gone
Navasartian Games at age 2, much ond place in swimming and men’s out at Birmingham, and we ended
less be a member of Homenet- volleyball.
up putting games after midnight in
men so early in life? Considering
Athletics are a constant in the order to make up time.” What they
that seven is the minimum age for course of events that have consti- stumbled upon was the recipe for
Homenetmen membership, not tuted Nyree’s life thus far. Even dur- renewed exhilaration. “It caused an
very many. But then again, being ing her years at Stanford University, entirely new energy that we have
the exception to the rule is nothing where she earned an extraordinary not seen at Navasartian. The gym
new for the ﬁrst female chairper- JD/phd in law and political science, was packed and people were so exson in the Athletic Council’s history. she was playing basketball for the cited to be at Navasartian that late,”
In fact, it is very much a recurring San Francisco chapter of Homenet- she recalls. “Usually, Navasartian
theme in Nyree’s remarkable life.
men. As such, Homenetmen re- is done by midnight and everymains Nyree’s ﬁrst love. And for one leaves the festival. But there Homenetmen Western USA athletes enjoy their overall victory at the closing
It all started when…
the past six years, organizing the were more people at those games ceremonies of the Pan-Homenetmen Games in Athens, Greece, in summer 2005.
Nyree’s ﬁrst taste of the Navasar- Navasartian Games has been at the than at the championship games.” From left to right: Sevag Garabetian, Fred Babadjanians, Nyree Derderian, Shant
tian Games came when she sat on forefront of her responsibilities.
Therefore this year’s experiment Tarpinian.
the shoulders of her uncle, Minas
will comprise games scheduled for
Markarian – the ﬁrst Homenet- The long road to
11:30 p.m. for three consecutive tantly, we got to meet Armenian and close to 8,000 athletes. Navmen Western Region treasurer – to Navasartian
kids from other Armenian schools,” asartian’s closing weekend is the
nights.
participate in the traditional closThe time commitment to an Nyree states. This brings back fond peak recruitment period for new
ing ceremonies and parade. Hav- In a sense, it takes exactly 365 days undertaking like Navasartian is memories for the athlete. “Win- Homenetmen members, resulting
ing grown up in a culturally and to prepare and execute the annual incredible, even more so this year, ning that ﬁrst kaham gold medal in about 200-300 additions each
politically active Armenian family, Navasartian Games. The day fol- with the newly instituted late- was really great.” She continues, year. As the Athletic Council and
Nyree admits that the seed for in- lowing the closing ceremonies of night basketball games. To cater “Working on the administrative Western Region Executive Commitvolvement in community life was a given year’s games, the Council to the nearly 8,000 athletes re- end today, I work with my ﬁrst bas- tee plan on how to keep and retain
planted early on. To that end, she meets to set a date and select facili- quires round-the-clock attention ketball coach from Chamlian, who these members, Nyree’s insight as
has taken on countless chapter ties for the following year’s tourna- from Nyree and her team, from is still the athletic director there. an athlete, coach, and executive in
and regional membership and ex- ment. Soon thereafter, deadlines call times at sunrise to nightly And even though the school con- Homenetmen is invaluable, bringecutive roles in Homenetmen, the are set for event-speciﬁc rosters meetings at the end of each day tinues to win championships, we ing a unique perspective and voice
Armenian Youth Federation (ayf), and team-member applications. “In of the closing weekend. “This talk about how winning is always to the discussion.
and the Armenian Relief Society January, the whole process starts year, those meetings will be at sweetest that ﬁrst time.” She can
where – we have something called 1 a.m., [after which] we have to thank Homenetmen for creating A new chapter
(ars).
An ayf member and later a Pas- homenetmen.net, which is our make the drive home at 3 in the these memories. And she does. She All of her eﬀorts have been voluntary but not thankless, according
adena Chapter chair, from ages database – we create the constitu- morning so that we can wake up is always cognizant of that.
8 to 21, Nyree points out, “The tions and age groups in this data- at 6 a.m.” And that will be on a
“My vision for Homenetmen is to Nyree. However, as nature takes
only reason I left ayf at the age base so that chapter executives can “slow” day, one that is rare but to make sure that the kids of to- its course, she must carve out some
of 21 was because I went away to start creating their teams,” Nyree uneventful and not laden with day experience what I, as a young time in her busy life for her proschool,” to explain the break in her explains.
problems. However, there is a person, experienced being part of fessional track as well. A nationally
Meanwhile, as the Council chair, worse-case scenario. “We’ve gone Homenetmen,” she says. “It’s the registered Parliamentarian who
otherwise continuous service to
the Armenian community. On her Nyree is in constant communica- to the point where all of us have opportunity to excel in athletics, has worked and given lectures on
21st birthday, she immediately re- tion with chapter athletic directors. driven home to shower and then the opportunity to have a safe en- civil society for numerous ngos,
dedicated herself, joining the ranks “Phone calls, phone calls, phone headed right back an hour later. vironment where I can meet other Nyree was also part of the original
West Coast staﬀ of this publicaof the ars. She currently sits on calls. I would say that 80 of the Last year, we were [at Birming- Armenians.”
tion, having devoted the past year
two central executive committees calls I get on my personal cell phone ham] until 5:30 a.m. and we literto handling the distribution of The
for the ars: the Bylaws Revisions are Homenetmen-related,” she says. ally drove home to shower and be One last push
So what makes the Navasartian Armenian Reporter.
Committee and the United Nations In addition, she keeps the lines of back by 6:45 a.m.”
Games so special, so worthy of alNow applying for full professorngo (non-governmental organiza- communication open by sending at
most 30,000 attendees each year? ships at various universities both
least weekly e-mail messages to all A walk down memory
tion) Committee.
“It’s something that nobody else in and out of Southern California,
Prior to her ars years, Nyree of the chapters as well as holding lane
can give you. You can’t get this any- she is undeterred by where her
was active in both the Montebello quarterly meetings.
All of this leads up to the ﬁnal When Nyree was in ﬁfth grade at where else as an Armenian,” Nyree professional aspirations may take
and, later, Pasadena chapters of
Homenetmen as a scout, a stellar weekend of the tournament, which Chamlian, they did not have the op- stresses. The tournament is the her. “I will always continue my acathlete, and a coach. In fact, she began on May 10 this year. Nyree, portunity to play sports other than largest athletic event west of the tivity with Homenetmen. It’s in my
may be best remembered by middle- the entire Council, and two super- on the playground. Homenetmen Mississippi, Armenian or otherwise. bloodstream. It’s in my veins. It’s
and high-school peers for her ath- visors – Sevag Garabetian and Fred addressed this need by creating the “We know that as a fact,” she asserts. not something I can shut out and
letic prowess. A multi-sport athlete, Babadjanians – oversee all the kaham Games, the inter-school “Even in comparison to odars, to the be done with,” she says passionNyree excelled in basketball, soccer, games. Nyree explains, “We evalu- athletic tournament. “It gave an aaua [Amateur Athletic Union of ately. Even if she remembers that
ate the referees, we make sure the opportunity to kids in Armenian America], for example, we have sur- at the end of the stressful Navavolleyball, and track.
sartian closing weekends, a new
In 2005, Nyree led, coached, and coaches are doing their job, make schools [in Southern California] passed all of them.”
As it stands, Homenetmen has cluster of gray hairs always seems
took the Western usa Homenet- sure the athletes don’t get out of to have a competitive atmosphere
men teams to Greece for the Pan- line and that show respects for who where we got to compete with 460 basketballs teams, over 40 soc- to sprout? Indeed, she responds. “I
�
other schools and, more impor- cer teams, over 200 track athletes, can’t live without it.”
Homenetmen Games, which take they’re playing against.”
12
The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008
Community
Navasartian Victory Ball ups the ante
STUDIO CITY, Calif.� – Homenetmen’s 33rd Navasartian Games Victory Ball had all the makings of an
Oscar-night bash. As guests arrived
to the aﬀair, they were greeted with
a red carpet, ﬂashing video screens,
and a projector that welcomed attendees in Armenian, Spanish,
French, and English. Men and women, clad in haute couture, posed in
front of the step and roll screen to
have their photo opportunity. Waiters weaved in and out of the maze of
people, passing out gourmet foods
and champagne.
Honorary President Vahagn Thomasian.
The opulent June 28 event set a
new standard for Armenian banquet culture, as it was staged on the
back lot of CBS Studios. Wedged
in between the façade of an urban
neighborhood set, a vast stretch
of tables, glass centerpieces, and a
dance ﬂoor ﬁlled the street where
so many of America’s favorite television shows, such as The Sarah Silverman Show and According to Jim, are
shot. With the proverbial backdrop
of Americana looming from behind,
a conﬂuence of cultures seamlessly
blended into a new setting, where
more than 700 Armenians had gathered to celebrate the start of the 33rd
Navasartian Games.
The Master of Ceremonies for the
evening, Raﬃ Hamparian, welBaydsar Thomasian, honarary president
comed the guests and expressed his The Thomasian family, honarary presidents of the 33rd Navasartian Games, with Varouj Bedikian. Photos: Helena Gregorian
of the 33rd Navasartian Games.
belief that “it is through Homenetmen hat we reinvent what it means
to be Armenian, in a new place, in
a new time. It is here, in this venue,
that we are reborn as proud sons
and daughters of Ararat and Artsakh. And tonight we, the sons and
daughters, pay tribute to a singular
organization, Homenetmen – an
organization that is of the people,
by the people, and for the people.”
Steve Artinian, chairman of
the Homenetmen Western Region
Executive Committee, explained
how the organization is reinventing itself and making its events
more progressive. “We are looking
to make a huge a change in the way
we do things,” he said. “This banquet is the ﬁrst step we are taking
in making the statement that we
Exemplary Homenetmen Member Albert Ounjian.
are not only keeping up with the
times, but we are setting a new
precedent. We want to make our
events exciting and always imbue
them with a fresh perspective and,
most importantly, connect with
our youth.”
The traditional transfer of medals took place when Varoujan
Bedikian, president of the 32nd
Navasartian Games, introduced
to the guests this year’s honorary
chairs, Mr. and Mrs. Vahagn and
Baidzar Thomassian.
Raﬃ Hamparian the evening’s emcee.
“As children of this great family, we Baydsar Thomasian, Frank Newman, coo Wachovia Bank Western region, Abp. Moushegh Mardirossian,
have learned ﬁrst-hand the remark- and Vahagn Thomasian.
able impact Homenetmen has had,”
Vahagn Thomassian said. “In fact,
we feel that we have been the recipients of the positive inﬂuence of the
organization and today stand proud
to serve it once more. The time has
come to take our rich history, our
unwavering principles, and decades
of success, and set our next path for
our children and beyond.”
Seven-year-old Soseh Thomassian, the daughter of Vahagn and
Baydzar, stood at the podium and
read a letter which she had written for the occasion. She thanked
her father for coaching her basketball team and stated her love for
Homenetmen. According to Artinian, she is the youngest person to
have ever addressed the audience
at the Victory Ball.
Attendees enjoying the Victory Ball.
As young Homenetmen members Rep. Brad Sherman and Consul General Armen Liloyan.
expressed their gratitude, special
attention was given to those who the 2008 Exemplary Homenetmen a Homenetmen member for the education, and through communi- The revelry went on until 2 in the
have devoted their lives to helping Member award to Albert Ounjian past 30 years, I feel very proud ty. The bond that has been formed morning. Many attendees combuild the organization in the past for his 73-year service to the orga- to come to an event like this. between friends over the years is mented glowingly on the sheer
three decades. Western Regional nization.
[Homenetmen] has been the glue irreplaceable.”
splendor of the Victory Ball. “I just
Executive Committee Vice-ChairHarry Vorperian, executive that has held the Diaspora toAs the evening evolved, guests don’t know how we are going to top
�
man Hovig Bedevian presented producer of Horizon TV, said, “As gether through athletics, through continued to dance and socialize. this,” Artinian said.
13
The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008
Community
First daughter
Sosse Thomasian
giving her speech.
Houri and Varant Melkonian with Abp. Moushegh Mardirossian.
Nshan and Nairi Bostian.
Hovig Bedevian, vice chairperson, Homentmen Western U.S.
Regional Executive Committee.
Yerado Abrahamian, Vahagn Thomasian, and Anahid Oshagan.
Rep. Brad Sherman handing the ﬂag to First daughter Sosse Thomasian.
Steve Artinian, chairperson of the Homentmen Western U.S. Regional Executive Committee.
14
The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008
Community
Some top names in sports end in -ian
A roundup of
Armenian athletic
accomplishments
by Edward Shnorhokian
In my last piece for the Armenian Reporter (Jun. 16, 2007), I
wrote about what might happen
when Armenia meets Azerbaijan
on the soccer ﬁeld. At the time,
the Armenian national team was
scheduled to play other teams in
Group “A” – which included Belgium, Finland, Kazakhstan, Po- Argentina’s David Nalbandian, during last April’s Davis Cup. Argentina
land, Portugal and Serbia, as well eliminated Sweden from the Davis Cup behind Nalbandian’s ﬁve-set victory over
as Azerbaijan – in the European Robin Soderling on a windy day on clay in Buenos Aires, setting up a semiﬁnal
championship’s qualifying home against Russia. Photo: AP.
and away matches.
But the match between Armenia have had three professional tennis speech. Aggassi’s record shows that
and Azerbaijan didn’t take place players to look to.
he won seven or eight major tour– due to the refusal of Azerbaijan,
Andre Agassi of the U.S.A. was naments.
which argued that it’s not safe to very popular not only in Armenian
Aggasi also proved a patriotic
play at home, and suggested play- circles but also universally by tennis person, helping and giving advice
ing both matches in a neutral coun- fans. As the Number One player in to his countryman Sarkis Sargtry – this despite the assurances the world several times over, Agassi sian, representing the Republic of
given by the Armenian govern- is one of the three players in the Armenia, who was very unpredictment and the Federation allowing world to win all four major Grand able, beating higher ranked players
them to play their national anthem Slam titles: the Australian open, – one of them none other than the
and display their ﬂag.
the French “Roland Garros” open, great Pete Sampras. Sargsian won
It caught me by surprise to learn Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. only one tournament: the Hall of
that the Union of European Foot- After playing his last U.S. Open in Fame of Connecticut.
ball Associations (uefa) decided 2006, Aggasi oﬃcially retired after
The current great Armenian prosto cancel both home and away losing his match, delivering a mem- pect is David Nalbandian of Cormatches, with no points awarded orable and very emotional farewell doba, Argentina (his name is proto either team.
I tried in vain to ﬁnd out the reason why Armenia should be denied
any points, since they were complying with all regular rules of fifa
Zach Bogosian, of Massena, N.Y., Drafted by nhl’s Atlanta Thrash(the Fédération Internationale de
puts on his new team jersey after ers, June 20, 2008: 1st round, 3rd
Football Assocation). The French
being drafted into the National overall
daily sports paper L’Equipe stated
Hockey League in the First Round Position: Defenseman (shoots
simply that the two matches be– as the third overall pick – by the right)
tween the two countries had been
Atlanta Thrashers during the nhl Ranked second overall among ohl
cancelled, and England’s major
draft on June 20. The 17-year-old defensemen with 50 assists and
monthly magazine World Soccer
Bogosian, who led the Ontario was the only defenseman during
wrote that “both ties between ArHockey League’s Peterborough the 2007-08 ohl season to lead his
menia and Azerbaijan were canPetes in scoring last season as a team in points with 61 (11-50 – 61).
celled by the uefa because the
defenseman, worked with Hall of
Was one of ﬁve draft-eligible
two associations could not agree
Famer Ray Bourque at Cushing players nominated for the ohl’s
on venues and no points were
Academy.
2008 Red Tilson Memorial Trophy
awarded to either country.” In my
Bogosian will participate in for most outstanding player.
attempt to unearth more informathe Thrashers Prospect DevelopParticipated in the chl Top
tion, I even emailed the relevant
ment Camp in July; a chance to Prospects Game and the ohl Alluefa bodies, to no avail.
earn a roster spot with the team Star Classic in 2008.
In the absence of the cancelwill come as early as September
Was selected in four categories
ations, Armenia mathematically
for the defenseman known for in 2008 in the annual ohl Coachhad a chance to qualify for the ﬁnals
his aggressive style of play. Bo- es Poll. He tied with Belleville’s
by beating Azerbaijan at home and
gosian comes from noted athletic Geoﬀ Killing for top defensive
away, and beating their remaining
family; his father Ike is listed in defenseman, ﬁnished second in
matches against the other teams in
Richard Demirjian’s compendium, oﬀensive defenseman and third
his group. Admittedly, this would
Armenian-American-Canadian in smartest player and hardest
have been a little too much to hope
Who’s Who of Outstanding Athletes, worker voting.
for. The tournament as it went forCoaches and Sports Personalities.
Attended Cushing Academy
ward was hosted by Austria and
for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seaSwitzerland, and concluded with a
Zach Bogosian
sons, where former nhl All-Star
1-0 victory of Spain over Germany
Massena, N.Y.
Ray Bourque was an assistant
in the ﬁnals on June 29.
Born July 15, 1990
coach. He played alongside his
Let’s talk about tennis. Arme6’ 2” / 197 lbs.
older brother, Aaron, as well as
nians of the current generation
Peterborough Petes (ohl)
Bourque’s son, Ryan – Aaron Bo-
An emotion-ﬁlled Nalbandian.
nounced “Daveet”). Before reaching the ﬁnals at Wimbledon in 2002
he had won the Esteril tournament
in Portugal. The extremely young
Nalbandian reaching the ﬁnals at
Wimbledon was a surprise for the
tennis world, and he was the top
player in the world for his ﬁrst
appearance at Wimbledon Grand
Slam. In the ﬁnals he lost to Number One player Llegton Hearth of
Australia.
In the 2003 U.S. Open, after
reaching the semi-ﬁnal match
against American’s favorite, Andy
Roddick, Nalbandian was near an
almost certain victory, when the
chair umpire made two monumental mistakes, awarding Roddick two
crucial points when the ball was out
of Roddick’s return.
Nalbandian reached the semi-ﬁnals at the Australian Open in 2006,
losing to Cypriot player Marcos
Baghdatis after leading two sets to
one. Nalbandian won the Master’s
tournament beating Roger Federer
of Switzerland. The Masters tournament included only the top eight
ranked players in a round robin
format.
In November 2007 Nalbandian’s
victory in the master’s tournament was a phenomenon, beating
in succession the Number One
player Roger Federer, Rafeal Nada
(No. 2) of Spain, Novar Djorkovic
(No. 3) of Serbia, and Davydenkc
(No. 4) of Russia in Madrid. Nalbandian repeated the feat in the
Paris Masters tournament, again
beating consecutively the ﬁrst
four players, earning his second
trophy in Paris. By achieving in
these tournaments, Nalbandian
climbed from 23rd ranking to 9th,
just missing the cut-oﬀ for the
year’s Masters tournament (as
I mentioned above, the Master’s
tournament includes only the top
eight players in the world).
To close my article I want to remind the readers that Mr. Arlen
Kantarjian is the chief executive of
�
professional tennis.
Zach Bogosian is 3rd overall pick in nhl draft
Mr. Shnorhokian lives in New York.
Yettem parish produces dvd on the
Armenian Divine Liturgy
YETTEM, Calif.� – What is the
meaning of the Armenian Divine
Liturgy? What is the signiﬁcance
of its traditions and symbols?
What happens behind the closed
curtain?
These are questions average laymen ponder in church on Sundays,
and whose answers have grown
remote after several generations of
Armenian-American life.
To help provide a deeper understanding of the Armenian
badarak, the St. Mary Armenian
Church of Yettem has released
Understanding Our Divine Liturgy
– a 104-minute dvd presentation
that transports the viewer inside
the Divine Liturgy of the Armenian Church.
With cameras behind the closed
curtain, viewers are allowed to
see the service as it unfolds. Each
segment of the service is accompanied by a step-by-step English
explanation, providing viewers
with an “insider’s” appreciation
of the Divine Liturgy, including
the chance to listen in on some
of the “private” prayers of the
celebrating priest, which are usually recited in isolation from the
congregation.
Created as a devotional rather
than an academic commentary,
Understanding Our Diving Liturgy
is broken down into the basic four
parts of the badarak, and follows
the service as it was conducted on
Easter Sunday, 2007, at the Yettem
parish.
For information, or to order copies of Understanding Our Divine Liturgy, contact Fr. Vartan Kasparian,
via telephone at (559) 528-6892; via
e-mail at smacy2@aol.com; or by
writing to P.O. Box 367, Yettem, Calif. 93670. The cost per copy of the
dvd is $20, plus shipping and handling; volume discounts are avail�
able.
gosian is currently a freshman at
Played for the Massena Minor
St. Lawrence University.
Hockey Association from the age
Zach’s father, Ike, was co-cap- of three until he was 14.
tain of the 1981 Syracuse UniCredits his dad for having had
versity football team along with the most inﬂuence on his career –
former New York Giant great “he has been there no matter what.”
Joe Morris, and his uncle was an
Zach wears the number four
All-American football captain at because “I was a Bobby Orr fan
�
West Point.
growing up.”
Let us know what’s on your mind.
Write to us at
letters@reporter.am
15
The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008
Community
THIS ARMENIAN LIFE
The opera singer
by Tamar
Kevonian
Relocating to a new city is jarring,
especially when moving from the
cradle of the Armenian community
to where such a community is practically nonexistent. A year ago Aren
made this move when he left behind friends and family and settled
in Seattle. During an unusually wet
and chilly late-spring afternoon, we
bundled up in jackets and scarves
to sit on the patio and watched the
rain patter over the newly unfurled
leaves of the maple trees surrounding his new home.
He likes his new hometown very
much but misses the people he left
behind. “Here I can’t call and say,
‘Mom, I’m coming over for a cup
of coﬀee,’” he says. The support
of friends and being able to meet
over coﬀee to vent about life’s difﬁculties went a long way in helping
him cope with daily stress. He calls
these meetings a “momentary release” and he took them for granted until he moved away and he had
to make do with phone calls.
“But a phone call is diﬀerent,” he
says. “Gertas, sourjt g’arnes, ge khmes,
ge khoses, asank yeghav, anank
yeghav, dessar, me ban gerar. Yalla
[You go, you make coﬀee, you drink
it, you talk – this happened, that
happened – you see, you eat something. Let’s go.] You’re charged up.
Or your friend calls up: ‘I’m in a
really bad mood.’ They come over,
you help them, they help you.”
These life changes started a few
years ago when, having problems
with his singing voice, he was
forced to reassess his career goals.
Through his connections at the Los
Angeles Opera and network of colleagues, he met Placido Domingo,
the famous opera singer and general director of the Los Angeles
Opera. “I was sitting in front of
Domingo and he was like, ‘Why do
you want to be in opera?’” he retells
the encounter, imitating the famous tenor’s accent. His response
so impressed Domingo that he was
hired on the spot to assist him and
create the young artists’ program.
Aren suddenly had a very high proﬁle and a highly stressful position,
working for one of the most inﬂuential personalities in the world of
opera.
Aren had already met Kyle and,
as usually happens in these situations, he found love and a relationship when he least expected it. The
stress of his new job and the strain
of maintaining a relationship 1,500
miles away ﬁnally forced Aren to
reevaluate his priorities. “The job
really burned me out and it was
like, ‘What is this worth?’ I did
everything [to create the youth
program at the Los Angeles Opera) and I was like, ‘Oh my God, I
have to do this again next year?’
No. I’m going to be away from Kyle,
we can’t even take our vacations at
the same time, it’s just not right,”
he says, explaining his thought
process at the time. He is still convinced that it would not have been
right for him to have stayed in Los
Angeles, stressed and pining for a
life with Kyle.
He ﬁnally made the decision
to be in the same city as Kyle, resigned from his position at the Los
Angeles Opera, found and hired his
replacement within a week, and
moved to Seattle. Just like that, it
was all done.
The plan was for Aren to manage
the rental properties he and Kyle
had purchased over the years. But
fate had something else in mind
and shortly after the move he received a call from the Seattle Opera.
“’So we heard you moved here,’”
Aren reenacts the conversation,
“’why don’t you come in for a cup
of coﬀee?’ And I went in and
[snaps his ﬁngers] they oﬀered me
the job.” This time it was through
the referral of Peter Kazaras, artistic director of the Seattle Opera Young Artists Program, whom
Aren had assisted many years ago
on a project.
Despite some of the trials and
tribulation of adjusting to a new
city and a new home, Aren has no
regrets. “I don’t say, ‘Vay, I wish I’d
stayed in L.A.’ And I check [in with]
myself every few days or so.” Beside the change of city and the new
job, the greatest change was living
with Kyle, a well-known hairdresser with a love of dogs. The relationship developed over a long distance
and now they had to learn how to
“be” together.
“The Amazon starts with two
other rivers and they’re very different waters,” Aren refers to the
analogy of the river to help him
cope with this new stage of his reNow the only test he takes is
lationship. “Then they come and when he wakes up in the mornmeet and when they meet, close to ing and says, “Do I wish it was ﬁve
a hundred miles, the waters do not months ago? Do I wish it was a year
mix. This side is diﬀerent water, ago? No? OK, then I’m ﬁne.”
that side is diﬀerent water; this
This is how it’s worked out for
side has diﬀerent ﬁsh, that side Aren and he takes things one day
has diﬀerent ﬁsh. After a hundred at a time, focusing on his and
miles, the waterfalls into the ac- Kyle’s future and hoping for the
tual Amazon River mix the water. best. “Eghav, eghav. Cheghav... [If
This is the phase we’re in: we’re it works out, it works out. If it
going along together and then we doesn’t…],” he says with a shrug.
can start mixing. Hopefully,” he “There are no guarantees. My parsays with a laugh.
ents got divorced after 30-someAren never thought he would be thing years.” He think a lot of peothe type of person who could move ple who are single because they
away from his friends and family. have an unrealistic vision of what
“Ever, ever, ever!” he stresses. “It a relationship is supposed to be
wasn’t even an option in my book. like, how they’re supposed to reBut in a week it was.” The risk is act, and how they’re supposed to
something he didn’t ever think he behave. “No one really knows [how
was capable of.
things are supposed to be],” he
“All the [personality] tests I would says. “I thought, ‘Well, if whatever
take would say ‘You’re a great risk- I’m giving to someone, [he] gives
taker’ but I was like, ‘Not really,’” he me back, then it’s worth keeping.”
says, describing himself. “I did stuﬀ This is the gauge by which he meaI believed in but I never thought of sures his life’s choices and it seems
�
them to be that risky.”
to be working just ﬁne.
The Fuller Center for Housing
launches Global Builders program
in Armenia
Be part of a two-week Global Builders team and build homes with Armenian families in need
Team dates for summer/fall 2008:
August 2 to 15 - Yeghegnadzor, southern Armenia
October 5 to 19 - Vanadzor, northern Armenia
Approximately $1600 - $1870 not including airfare
Fuller Center Armenia assists low-income families in
on
Armenia to build and renovate safe, simple, comfortable
cti
tru e is
s
n
homes by offering long-term, interest-free loans
co enc
no peri ded
x
e nee
For information visit http://www.fullercenterarmenia.org/get-involved/int-v
To receive information or to join a team, contact volunteer@fullercenterarmenia.org
Calendar of Events
New York
JULY 24 - AGBU Beneﬁt Reception at the United Nations
to Support Armenia’s Youth
Career Trail Project, 7-10PM,
$75, UN Express Bar, 46th
Street & 1st Avenue, NYC,
Cocktails & Hors d’oeuvres,
Live Jazz Music, Program Featuring UN and AGBU Dignitaries. For more info, to RSVP (by
7/18) or make a donation, visit
www.agbu.org/un, email kyacoubian@agbu.org or call (212)
319-6383.
AUGUST 17 - Sunday —Armenian-American
Night
7:00 P.M. Free Concert at
Harry Chapin Lakeside Theater, Eisenhower Park, East
Meadow, L.I. featuring International Singer KARNO in
his US Tour and Akh’tamar
Dance Ensemble of St. Thomas Armenian Church.
SEPTEMBER 13 - ANCA Eastern Region Annual Banquet in
New York. Mark your calendar
for the Second Annual Banquet
sponsored by the Armenian
National Committee of America, Eastern Region. Cocktails
and silent auction followed
by dinner and special awards
program. The Grand Hyatt, 109
East 42nd Street at Grand Central Terminal, New York. Tickets $250. Mention “ANC Banquet” for special hotel room
rate (limited availability). More
details to follow.
SEPTEMBER 27-28 - NY Armenian Students’ Association
presents 59th Annual Artists’
Ball. Famed art exhibit. Gallerie
Icosahedron, TriBeca, Manhattan. More detals to come.
OCTOBER 24 - CHILDREN OF
ARMENIA FUND’s 5th Annual
Save a Generation Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd St., NYC.
www.coafkids.org.
Westchester, NY
AUGUST 17 - ANNUAL SUMMER PICNIC AT ST. GREGORY
THE ENLIGHTENER ARMENIAN CHURCH, 1131 North
Street, White Plains, NY. Noon
to 6:00 p.m. Rain or shine. Free
admission. Live music and dancing to the renowned Michael
Gostanian Band. Lamb, chicken,
and luleh kebob, various pastries
and home-made desserts, 50/50
raﬄe, shae and supervised children’s activities. Easy travel via
Hutchinson River Parkwya to
Exit 25. Church is 1/2 block on
North Street (opposite Maple
Moor Golf Course). For information, call church oﬃce, (914)
428-2595 - Monday-WednesdayFriday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
New Jersey
JULY 20 - The Youth of Tekeyan
Cultural Assoc.of NY-NJ invites
you to a Picnic on Sunday, at 2
PM at St. Thomas Arm. Church
E. Clinton Ave. & Rt. 9w, Tenaﬂy
NJ. Kebobs, Music, Games, Soccer and more. Call Araxie (201)
227-9615 or Sirvart (201) 2655230.
SEPTEMBER 17 - “Save-thedate: FAH (Friends of The Armenian Home) Neiman Marcus
Fashion Show & Luncheon. Details to follow.
SEPTEMBER 25 - River Vale,
NJ. Sts. Vartanantz Church
6th Annual Golf Outing. River
Vale Country Club. Lunch, Dinner, Golf and More. Shotgun
start at 12:45pm. For reservations or more info please call :
Mark Alashaian 201-483-3200,
Rich Krikorian 201-664-6885,
Sarkis Shirinian 201-307-0825
or the Church Oﬃce 201- 9432950.
OCTOBER 3 & 4 - Save the
Date! Hamazkayin of New Jersey presents: For the 40th Anniversary of NJ Chapter and 80th
Anniversary of Hamazkayin
- Cultural Seminar - Armenian
Movie Screening, Literary Competition, Identity and the Armenian Youth
OCTOBER 25 - Gala celebration of the 50th Anniversary
of the Prelacy of the Armenian
Apostolic Church of America
under the jurisdiction of the
Great House of Cilicia and the
110th anniversary of the establishment of the Armenian
Church in America. Marriott at
Glenpointe, Teaneck, New Jersey. Details to follow.
Visit us at
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16
The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008
Community
Homenetmen Glendale Ararat chapter goes above
and beyond the call of duty
Glendale chapter
celebrates 30th
anniversary
by Tenny Issakhanian
Avanesian
GLENDALE, Calif.� – On any
given night, the headquarters of
the Homenetmen Glendale Ararat
Chapter is a hub of assorted activities, be they athletic, scouting, cultural, social, or fundraising. When
I recently paid the chapter a visit,
I found summer basketball-camp
registration being held in one room,
scout-camp registration in an adjacent room, basketball and volleyball
practice in the center’s two gyms
downstairs, multiple scout-troop
meetings, gymnastics classes, the
chapter Board of Directors meeting, and three generations of active
members unwinding in the center’s
coﬀee shop. And this was at the end
of the night, when the activities
were already winding down and I
had missed their “prime time.”
“More than 500 kids will come
and go through these doors every
day. That really says it all,” says
Garnik Abrahamian, the chapter’s chairman. So it’s no wonder
that the behemoth entity is the
largest chapter of Homenetmen in
the United States, currently boasting over 2,400 members.
Ararat turns 30 this year, and its
series of celebratory activities are
already underway, including the
chapter picture, family camp at Homenetmen Glendale “Ararat” Chapter Executive Board. Sitting (left to right): Serge Grakasian (Vice Chairman), Medik Khachikian (Treasurer), Garnik Abrahamian
Camp Tecuya, the 30th-anniversa- (Chairman), Gayaneh Pezeshkian, Armond Gorgorian (Executive Director). Standing (left to right): Siamanto Avakian, Roubina Manuchehrian (Secretary), Roubik
ry celebration, and the annual gala. Mardirossian, Helik Issaghoulian, Robert Minassians.
The anniversary comes on the heels
of several other milestones for the
chapter, including the recent purchase of Ararat’s “North Campus”
building, member Vardan Adzemian’s recent professional soccer contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy,
the opening of Ararat’s new ﬁtness
center, participation in rhythmic
gymnastics at Junior Olympics
in Ohio, and, of course, Ararat’s
record number of victories during
the annual Navasartian Games.
Humble beginnings
In 1978, seven former scouts of Tehran’s Ararat Organization met in
a Glendale park and discussed the
need for a scouting program in the
city to accommodate the growing
Armenian community. Simultaneously, a group of Armenian soccer
players had formed a team and practiced in Glendale. The scouts and
soccer team were brought together
in the form of a new Homenetmen
chapter and held their ﬁrst meeting on December 15, 1978. And so
the Homenetmen Glendale Ararat
chapter was born.
Ararat has grown exponentially
since then, but not without its share
of growing pains and struggles. In
its early days, Ararat operated out
of two modest rooms, which were
rented from the original St. Mary’s
Armenian Church on East Carlton
Drive in Glendale. Armond Gorgorian, an Ararat member since
day one in 1978, a former chairman
of its Board of Directors, and the
chapter’s executive director for the
past 11 years, recalls: “There was a
time that we didn’t have enough
money to pay the rent so we had
to give away our piano to be able to
pay the rent. So from those humble
beginnings, here we are now.”
In 1984, the chapter graduated
to a free-standing center when
14-year old Andranik Shahinyan signs up for Ararat summer basketball camp as
his father, Harutyun Shahinyan, looks on.
Running the summer basketball camp registration drive are Melineh Adoian
(Parent Support Committe Chairperson), Meghedi Moradi (Basketball committee
member), and Shake Gharibian (basketball camp coach and summer league
program coordinator).
it purchased a property on West sial discovery and subsequent purBroadway in Glendale. Consist- chase.
“The building we found was in Los
ing of two adjacent single-family homes, the center served the Angeles, not Glendale, and we’re
chapter well until 1996, which a Glendale chapter, so that was a
many executives believe to be the problem,” Gorgorian says. But as
turning point in Ararat history. the beneﬁts of the building signiﬁ“We grew up so fast that [that cen- cantly outweighed its problematic
ter] just wasn’t big enough for us location, Ararat proceeded to buy
anymore,” Gorgorian says, citing the property in November 1996.
the days when scout-troop meet- What the chapter invested in is a
ings would take place on the steps two-story, 35,000 sq ft building sitleading up to the multiple entries ting on a 65,000 sq ft lot. It houses
to the center. The members used a multipurpose gym/banquet hall,
every square inch of space on a gymnasium, six meeting rooms,
the complex, until it was simply a media room, a gymnastics center,
a ﬁtness gym, a children’s library,
bursting at the seams.
and a coﬀee shop.
Moving on
However, Ararat also has adult
Beside the growing membership and children’s choirs and oﬀers
of Ararat, its leadership has never Armenian folk dance classes, pingbeen afraid to take risks. Abraha- pong, martial arts, painting, an
mian points out, “In 1995, we just after-school program, etc. All of
took a big step with very little bud- this simply could not be housed at
get and we never looked back.” It the headquarters. As a result, last
was this blind faith that led the year, Ararat purchased a second
chapter’s executives and building- center, which is now referred to as
search committee to a controver- the “North Campus.” Now manag-
ing both of the centers, Gorgorian Yes, we can… and do
explains that this time the Board It is this can-do attitude that has
and building-search committee made Ararat a visionary entity, unstood their ground about location, stoppable and trailblazing, both
among its Homenetmen counterdemanding that it be in Glendale.
What they found was a 24,000 sq parts and in the Armenian comft one-story building on a 51,000 munity at large. Gorgorian states,
sq ft lot which, coincidentally, was “We have always looked forward.
three blocks away from the main We have never [been satisﬁed with]
center, ﬁve minutes’ walking dis- just staying where we are. We never
tance. But here’s the kicker: the say that what we’re doing is good
North Campus consists of seven enough.”
Instead, the chapter’s executives,
parcels and sits on the border of
the cities of Glendale and Los An- all of whom are refreshingly on the
geles. Technically, since about half same wavelength, have constantly
the parcels sit on the Glendale side, tried to improve, grow, and be a
the building satisﬁed executive step ahead of its membership. “Beand committee members’ location fore they ask for something, we
criterion. “Everyone asks how we want to have it already,” Gorgorian
managed to do this. It was nothing explains. “And that has been the
we planned. It was just the proper- model for every single person that
ty that we wanted and we went for has been a leader in this organizait,” Abrahamian says. “We are lucky tion.”
Homenetmen Western USA
enough to enjoy the two locations
and I hope that the day will come Region Chairman Steve Artinwhen even the second one will not ian echoes these sentiments. In
be enough. We’ll have to go for a his opinion, the key to Ararat’s
resounding success is twofold: 1)
third one.”
17
The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008
Community
Ararat’s boy scouts holding an emergency meeting.
Armond Gorgorian has served as Ararat’s Executive Director for the past 11 years,
but he has been with the chapter since its inception 30 years ago.
co-sponsoring the Winter Fest
at Brand Park, and participating
in various walkathons for cancer
charities.
Athletic achievement
beyond the Navasartian
Games
Motivational words displayed on the walls of the Ararat center help its youth
become good citizens, good Armenians, good humanitarians.
the geographic pull of being in the
heaviest concentration of Armenians in the United States and 2)
the uniformity among its leaders
from year to year. “They promote
consistency,” Artinian says. “I don’t
care when you served in Ararat as a
Board member or committee member. It remains the same organization. They bring that type of tradition to the infrastructure. I think
that helps a lot.”
It is that like-mindedness among
Ararat’s leadership that makes
Abrahamian reluctant to credit individuals and identify the key players who have eﬀected change in the
chapter’s 30-year history. Rather,
it has been, and continues to be,
a collective eﬀort. Abrahamian
says, “It’s hard to single out an individual, but I go into our boardroom and look at the pictures. My
respect goes to each and every one
of them.”
Another group worthy of credit
for Ararat’s continual success is
its volunteer base. As Gorgorian
describes, within Ararat there are
service-getters and service-givers.
It is the service-givers, namely the
fundraising division, that sustains
Ararat’s operations, in Abrahamian’s opinion. “Maybe 1/3, if not less,
of our total overhead is generated
by membership fees,” he says. “The
rest are grants and the fundraising department’s eﬀorts that help
keep our doors open. The demand
[for Ararat’s services] is there. And
that demand can be fulﬁlled only
by grants and volunteers, because
with just the membership fees
alone, there is no way we could do
what we do.”
Ararat girls’ basketball team, A-2 division, stretch before practice.
The Navasartian Games is the
mother of all Homenetmen athletic tournaments in the United
States, and Ararat is historically
in the enviable position of leading
in most of the events. But Ararat’s
athletes play and achieve outside of
Homenetmen as well.
Many have gone on to earn athletic scholarships to various colleges, have participated in the PanArmenian Games, representing the
City of Glendale, and have competed in various non-Armenian
athletic tournaments. Less than
a month ago, for instance, after
qualifying at the regional meet in
Thousand Oaks, California, rhythmic gymnasts Ella Mokhtarians
and Natalie Keleshian competed
at the Junior Olympics in Columbus, Ohio. In professional soccer,
too, Ararat boasts one of its own,
Vardan Adzemian, as David Beckham and Landon Donovan’s new
teammate. Adzemian has signed a
one-year contract to play with the
Los Angeles Galaxy.
Level playing ﬁeld
With the guidance of Coach Ovsanna, rhythmic gymnasts Ella Mokhtarians and Natalie Keleshian participated in the Junior
Olympics in Columbus, Ohio last month.
Gorgorian explains. “So we decided
that ‘Yes, we’re Homenetmen and
we’re proud of being Homenetmen, but these are the needs that
are out there in the community
and we have to address that.’” The
community’s receptiveness to and
utilization of Ararat’s rich oﬀerings
is a testament to those needs in the
community and Ararat’s willingness to address them.
Circle of friends
Like Homenetmen chapters the
world over, Ararat has served as the
Diversiﬁcation
meeting grounds for many life-long
Unlike most Homenetmen chap- bonds. In addition to the parties,
ters, Ararat does not have two di- dances, and other social events,
visions: scouting and athletics. To the daily activities at Ararat have a
run such an operation requires built-in social component. Whethsix: programs, fundraising, scout- er it’s hanging out at the center’s
ing, general athletics, basketball, coﬀee shop for an hour after pingand cultural. Plus, with oﬀerings pong practice with friends or ﬁndin music, art, dance, gymnastics, ing life partners, as has been the
and martial arts, just to name a few, case for both Gorgorian and AbraArarat has become a community hamian, the social beneﬁts are an
center of sorts.
automatic byproduct of Homenet“If we were going to box ourselves men involvement. “Just by coming
within what we used to be a hun- here together for meetings, those
dred years ago in Homenetmen, meetings don’t end once it is over,”
we wouldn’t have grown so fast,” Gorgorian explains. “They go out
for a drink or coﬀee or sandwich.
Or when they come for practice,
they sit and talk afterwards.”
To further strengthen or renew
these ties, and riding on the momentum of the 30th-anniversary
activities, Ararat recently created
an Alumni Club to actively seek out
and bring old Homenetmen members back to the Ararat family.
says “I’ve learned to become part
of a community. I’ve played on
other [non-Armenian] teams too
but here is where I learned how to
be a teammate and a team player.”
Losineh continues, “And it helps
that we can relate to each other
more because we’re Armenian.”
Community-building
Ararat has continually gained in
The Armenian ties that stature as a Glendale community
organization. “We are very wellbind
known at the city level and school
As his ﬁrst term as chairman nears district,” Gorgorian says. “We’ve
its end, Abrahamian reasserts his had enough success that we can
vision and goal for his chapter. “We present ourselves to them when we
want to make sure we stay on track need help from them.”
and do what we’re good at: that’s
However, Ararat just as readily
serving the community’s youth,” gives back to the community at
he says. “We want to make sure large. Thus, three years ago, Ararat
that we [provide] better services created the Glendale Friendship
and challenge our kids to become Games, to encourage inter-racial
better citizens. And with diﬀerent and inter-school competition
ways, diﬀerent approaches, make in the Glendale area. Attracting
sure that that happens and goes on over 500 participants, the annual
for years to come.”
games will be held in October this
In the opinion of 18-year old Ara- year.
rat volleyball player Losineh PanArarat’s other community-serossian, this goal is being achieved. vice eﬀorts include participating
During her six years at Ararat, she in the annual graﬃti clean-up,
Despite Ararat’s seemingly overpowering presence in Homenetmen, Glendale, and internationally,
Artinian reminds us that “At the
end of the day, Ararat is just another Homenetmen chapter.” Still, he
does not discount Ararat’s strong
organization. “But yes, Ararat has
been able to attract a lot of members and they’ve stepped up to the
plate by providing facilities, taking
chances, and it’s all paid oﬀ.” A solid operational infrastructure motivates Ararat from within. This is
why, Artinian believes, that many
other chapters look to Ararat as a
model to replicate.
Here, however, the chapter executives respectfully and humbly
disagree. “All the chapters are
learning from each other,” Abrahamian says. “We have our shortcomings as well and we are learning from other chapters. I don’t
think the other chapters are looking up to us. Basically, the experiences are all put on the table and
all the chapters just get the best
out of each other.”
Gorgorian agrees with his Ararat
colleague. Like a true team player,
he says, “There’s nothing for other
chapters to look up to. We always
share our experiences with each
other and learn from each other.”
This refreshing attitude gives
a whole new meaning to the
Homenetmen Scouts motto of
“Partsratsir, Partstratsoor” (Rise
and Help Raise), which is practiced
not only at the intra-chapter but
now inter-chapter level as well. �
connect:
ararat.org
18 The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008
Armenia
From Armenia, in brief
Karabakh conflict
mediators visit
Armenia
Matthew Bryza (U.S.), Bernard
Fassier (France), and Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), the co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group, and Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, the
personal representative of the
OSCE chairman-in-office, were in
Armenia last week as part of a visit
to the region. The delegation met
with President Serge Sargsian
and Foreign Minister Edward Na- Seyran Ohanian. Photo: Photolure.
lbandian.
Negotiations have centered No progress about four
around a draft agreement on prin- Armenian citizens
ciples prepared by the co-chairs. A
package of adjustments to these captured by Azeri
proposed principles was submit- troops
ted to Armenia and Azerbaijan in
Madrid in November 2007. During Armenian defense minister Seyran
the meeting with Mr. Nalbandian, Ohanian said the Defense Ministhe sides spoke about Armenia’s try has no new information about
approaches toward this package, four Armenian civilians captured
the Foreign Ministry press office by Azerbaijani troops in April, Arannounced. Mr. Nalbandian also menpress reported. Mr. Ohanian
spoke about Azerbaijani war rheto- was speaking to journalists after a
ric, which he said, is complicating graduation ceremony at the Vazgen
and slowing down the process of Sargsian Military Academy.
The four civilians, young men
establishing an atmosphere of
from Gavar and Noradus, had gone
trust.
From left: Matthew Bryza (U.S.), Bernard Fassier (France), and Yuri Merzlyakov
(Russia), the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, President Serge Sargsian,
Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian, and Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, the
personal representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office. Photo: Photolure.
The Madrid proposals were also to visit a friend serving in a milithe focus of the meeting with Mr. tary unit near the village of KhaSargsian, held on June 28. The del- chik in the Vayots Dzor province,
egation also briefed Mr. Sargsian according to the Defense Ministry.
about its meetings with the leader- After an altercation at the unit, the
ship of Azerbaijan on June 27. The young men escaped, but because
co-chairs had met with President it was late at night and dark, they
Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minis- lost their way and crossed into the
Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan,
ter Elmar Mamedyarov.
The co-chairs traveled from Yere- where they were captured.
van to Stepanakert, where they met
Foreign financing
with President Bako Sahakian.
Mr. Merzlyakov told journal- a focus of March 1
ists in Stepanakert not to expect
anything radical from the meeting inquiry
with Mr. Sahakian, Arminfo re- The response of Armenia’s Special
ported. “We’ll continue discussing Investigations Service to accusathe fundamental principles of the tions made this week by opposition
conflict settlement and will discuss politician Levon Ter-Petrossian
the meeting of the Armenian and revealed that allegations of foreign
Azerbaijani presidents in St. Pe- financing of an attempt to overthrow the government was, at least
tersburg,” said Mr. Merzlyakov.
Mr. Sahakian stressed that the initially, a major focus of the inquifinal resolution of the conflict will ry into the tragic events of March 1
Mr. Ter-Petrossian held a rare
only be possible with the direct participation of Nagorno-Karabakh in news conference on July 1 to hand
out copies of a March 5 letter from
the negotiation process.
the Special Investigations Service,
Deputy to fill in as head which is handling the March 1 inquiry, to prosecutors in the Vayots
of Armenia Fund
Dzor region. The letter ordered inIn response to a query, President vestigators to question antigovernSargsian’s press secretary, Samvel ment demonstrators and members
Farmanian, informed the Arme- of Mr. Ter-Petrossian’s campaign
nian Reporter that the president staff, as well as their neighbors.
had accepted the resignation of Questions ranged from whether
Vahe Aghabegians from the po- they were aware of a foreign intersition of executive director of the est in reducing Russian influence
Armenia Fund. (See story in last in Armenia to what property they
week’s paper.) The deputy execu- owned.
tive director, Ara Vardanyan, will
Vahagn Harutiunian, head
serve as acting executive director of the investigating team, issued
until further notice.
a written response. He wrote that
the investigation had uncovered
evidence of foreign financing and
investigators were pursuing that
line of inquiry.
off in the course of 5 years. The program will be in place until June 30,
2009.
Armenian cyclists head
toward Beijing
The Armenian Cyclist Federation
reports that six Armenian cyclists,
Harutyun Yeritsian, Suren Chatinian, Arthur Grigorian, Edgar
Gevorkian, Sergey Sarkisov and
Arman Kharatian, will be participating in the international race
Road to Beijing, which is expected
to start on July 14 from the Russian city of Chita and end in China
on July 24.
Vladimir Yakunin.
William Saroyan. Photo: Paul Kalinian
Russia-Armenia railway
link back on agenda
William Saroyan
exhibit opens at
Armenia’s national
archives
Vladimir Yakunin, president of
the Russian Railway Company, said
he believes that Russia and GeorAn exhibit dedicated to the centegia will return to talks over the
nary of William Saroyan opened
resumption of a direct railway link
on July 1 at Armenia’s National
between Russia and Armenia crossArchives.
ing over Abkhazia in Georgia.
On display are letters, newspaIn an interview with the Rusper stories about William Saroyan’s
sian RIA news agency, Mr. Yakunin
visit to Soviet Armenia, and other
said: “Three years ago we launched
documents, a total of 55 items. Also
talks with Georgians and Armeon display are Saroyan’s words, “I
nians over the possibilities of the
am Armenian, I love the Armenian
resumption of direct Russia-Armepeople, I love Armenia.”
nia railway link across Abkhazia.
The exhibit is the initiative of the
The political tension that escalated
National Archives and the Yeghishe
at that time between Russia and Armenia at the Beijing
Charents Literary Museum. AmaGeorgia disrupted the talks. Now Olympics
tuni Virabian, the director of the
the process seems to have consolidated and we are going to return to Armenia will have 25 athletes par- National Archives, said, “Though
ticipating in the 29th Summer there is no need to present William
this subject.”
Mr. Yankunin said that the Rus- Olympic Games in Beijing August Saroyan in Armenia, as every Arsian Railway Company has prom- 8–24. According to Minister of menian knows who he is, has read
ised to do everything to end Arme- Sport and Youth Affairs Armen some of his works – without which
Grigoryan, Armenian athletes will it is difficult to imagine Armenian
nia’s transport blockade.
and American literature of the 20th
century – the exhibition is another
occasion for us to focus on him and
his works.”
Armenia ranks 63 in
Forbes List of Best
Countries for Business
Armenia placed 63rd in Forbes’
Best Countries for Business, a list
published by Forbes Magazine.
Armenia has the highest indicator among CIS countries and the
third position among post-Soviet
states.
The rating takes into account the
following indices: Trade Freedom
(Armenia places 35th), Monetary
Freedom (10), Property rights (69),
Innovation (88), Technology (96),
Showcasing Armenia’s rural life. Photo: Photolure.
Red Tape (36), Investor Protection
(62), Corruption (76), Personal FreeArmenian government be taking part in seven categories, dom (92), Corporate Tax Rate (NA).
including Greco-Roman wrestling, Denmark ranks first in the rating.
allocates funds for
boxing, weight lifting, track and The five best countries for business,
agricultural subsidies
field, shooting, swimming, and according to the list, are Denmark,
Armenia’s government has allocat- judo.
Ireland, Finland, the United States,
ed 100 million drams ($330,000) to
According to panorama.am, Mr. and Great Britain. Former Soviet
subsidize agro-credit interest rates Grigoryan said that participating states had the following positions:
in 60 rural communities in the Shi- in the Olympics “is honorable for Estonia 10th, Lithuania 30th, Latvia
rak and Gegharkunik provinces.
any country and the same is true 32th, Armenia 63rd, Georgia 68th,
Deputy Minister of Agriculture for Armenia.” Armenia will cel- Kazakhstan 69th, Ukraine 75th,
Samvel Avetisyan told reporters ebrate Armenian Day in Beijing on Azerbaijan 82nd, Kyrgyzstan 84th,
that this program will provide state August 11 with President Serge Russia 86 th, Moldova 90th, Uzbekisubsidies of 10 percentage points Sargsian’s participation.
stan 106th, and Tajikistan 118th.
for agro-credits. According to Mediamax, the deputy minister said,
“This means that if the borrower
takes a credit at the interest rate of
24%, the borrower will have to pay
only 14% of annual interest rates,
and the remaining part will be covered from the state budget.”
The government decided to subAdvertise in the Armenian Reporter, on the new
sidize interest rates in those two
provinces because of their remoteUSArmenia Television, and on Armenia TV on
ness. “The governmental program
the Dish Network. For more information, from the
is meant to stimulate economic
activity in those regions and stir
Western U.S. call 818.800.3311 or from the Eastern
up the activity of Armenian banks
U.S. call 201.226.1995.
there,” Mr. Avetisyan said.
Credit loans will be for a maximum of 5 million drams to be paid
Reach over 100,000 Armenians
with your message
19
The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008 Armenia
From Armenia, in brief
Prime minister
discusses nature
protection with
environmental alliance
structed Northern Avenue. According to anti¬government newspapers, between 30 and 50 attackers
mingled with the protestors, swore
at them, pushed and shoved, and
then started beating the protestors,
including older women. Five of the
protestors required emergency care.
Artyom Petrosian, the head of Yerevan’s emergency medical service,
said no one was heavily injured.
There are tons
Protestors claim that the attackmore apricots
ers included the bodyguards of the
where these
heads of two Yerevan districts. Pocame from.
lice who were present at the site of
Photo: Armenian
the attacks did not intervene, and
Reporter.
no arrests were made, according to
the same news reports. The press
from Yerevan, but from the regions Hooligans attack a
office of the Police Department did
as well.
not immediately respond to the
political
promenade
The second and third place winArmenian Reporter’s inquiries as
ners will be offered substantial At around 7 p.m. on July 2, a large to whether a criminal inquiry has
discounts on nose-reduction sur- group of young, muscular men at- been initiated. Nor had the police
tacked supporters of opposition made any announcements as of
geries.
f
politician Levon Ter-Petrossian late July 3. —A.H.
Armenia to produce
who were on a daily “political
promenade” along the newly con100,000 tons of
On July 2, Prime Minister Tigran
Sarkisian met with members
of the Public Ecological Alliance
which comprises NGOs working in
the field of nature protection. The
discussion focused on questions
of sustainable development, the
urban and ecological situation in
Yerevan, the water levels of Lake
Sevan, and the preservation of
Armenia’s biological diversity and
special wildlife reservations.
According to the government
Department of Public Relations
and Information, representatives Mher Mkrtchian, the popular actor
of nongovernmental organizations and proud bearer of a distinctive
pointed out that all these problems Armenian nose.
should be reviewed from the perspective of sustainable develop- to the problems facing Armenia’s
ment and solutions must be sought ecology and his willingness to meet
within the framework of Armenia’s with them.
sustainable development commitThe prime minister promised
ments.
to hold regular meetings with the apricots this year
Armenia established a National council and help define its agenda. Armenian agricultural authorities
forecast that from 9,500 hectares
Sustainable Development Counof apricot orchards, 100,000 tons
cil in 2002 and it was emphasized Over 1,000 claim
of apricot will be gathered by the
that this council should fulfill its biggest Armenian nose
end of July, Armenpress reports.
mandate.
Due to past problems with exNGO representatives presented This year, once again, Kanaker-Zeithe whole spectrum of ecological tun Medical Center in Yerevan is porting apricots, the Ministry of
problems facing Armenia and also holding the biggest Armenian nose Agriculture has set up a hotline to
help producers deal with any diffitouched upon the lack of coopera- competition.
Over 1,000 people are seeking to culties they may encounter. Deputy
tion in the past between government and the NGO sector. They be- win a special prize – a free nose job. Agriculture Minister Samvel AveKaren Danielian, head of the tisian said all problems are being
lieve that some of these problems
could be resolved through system plastic surgery department at swiftly resolved.
Armenia has exported as of this
changes, strengthening the rule of Kanaker-Zeitun Medical Center,
law, and making nature manage- said that that this is the fifth an- week 4,800 tons of apricots, 3,800
ment a priority. The NGOs thanked nual contest, which has attracted tons of which by air.
—M.T.
the prime minister for his attention patients with big noses not only
A woman injured
on Northern
Avenue receives
first aid. Photo:
Photolure.
Some stats from Armenia....
Rates for services rise
were up 1.3 percent, due to the and cleaning substances were up
rise of petrol and diesel prices by in price 0.1–2.5 percent, whereas
6.2 percent and 12.3 percent re- household appliances, artworks,
spectively.
textiles, and jewelry fell in price by
Between January and June, 0.1–2.4 percent.
Nonfoods in Armenia
petrol and diesel rose in prices by
16 percent and 30 percent respec- Food commodities in
rise in price by 1.3
tively.
Armenia fall in price by
percent
Compared to May 2008, medi1.4%
Compared to May 2008, prices cines, kitchen appliances, building
of nonfoods in Armenia for June materials, office products, shoes, Compared with May 2008, food
commodities in Armenia fell in
price by 1.4 percent in June 2008.
Between January and June, food
commodities in Armenia rose in
price by 7.3 percent.
In June, vegetables and potatoes
fell in price by 9.8 percent compared with May 2008, and by 22.7
percent compared with June 2007.
Fruits fell in price by 9.5 percent
compared with May 2008, and by
11.3 percent compared with June
2007.
In June 2008, cereal products in
the republic rose in price by 36.1
percent compared with June 2007,
and by 0.9 percent compared with
Renewable Energy Program
Rural SME Loans
April 2008.
Dairy products fell in price by
Agricultural Loans
Rural Leasing
0.2 percent, alcohol drinks and
tobacco by 0.1 percent, fish products by 12.2 percent. As compared
with May, meat products grew in
price by 0.4 percent. The average price of eggs in Armenia decreased by 3.7 percent compared
with May.
Partnered with World Bank, EBRD and the Children of Armenia Fund.
In June, coffee, tea, and cocoa
grew in price by 2.1 percent compared with May 2008, and by 36.1
percent compared with June 2007.
According to Armenia’s National
Statistical Service, compared with
May 2008, the overall rates for services in Armenia rose by 0.1 percent in June. Rates for personal
and health care services, as well as
services in the sphere of public catering and culture grew by 0.1–2.5
percent. Transport services fell in
price by 0.3 percent, and rates in
the spheres of housing and public
services, education, communication, leisure, legal and banking services remained unchanged.
Specially tailored investments for Armenia's future
www.cascredit.com
seekers was 91.6 thousand people.
The number of official unemployed women by the end of May
was 63.5 thousand (69.3 percent of
the total). Between January and
May 2008 there were an official
4,480 vacancies, 1,000 of them in
May alone.
By the end of May 2008, the
average monthly nominal salary
in Armenia totaled 86,850 AMD,
or $282. This index is 22.9 percent
higher compared to end of May
2007.
The highest salaries were in the
financial sector, ore mining, the
generation and distribution of
electric power, gas, and water, as
well as in the governmental apparatus, transport and communication. The lowest salaries were in
the sphere of health care, social
insurance, trade, and public catering.
Nairit rubber plant
reduces output of
synthetic rubber by
25.8 percent
The National Statistical Service
of Armenia reports that between
January and May 2008, the Nairit
rubber plant reduced the output
of synthetic rubber by 25.8 percent
– to 2,069 tons.
According to the company, Nairit
in 2007 produced over 8 thousand
tons of synthetic rubber as against
5,385 tons in 2006. In 2005 the
plant produced 7,676 tons of rubber
as against and in 2004, produced
Unemployment in
3,692.
Nairit is owned by Rhinoville
Armenia is 6.3 percent
Property Limited, who owns 90%
The National Statistical Service of of its shares and 10% of the shares
Armenia reports that by the end belong to the state. f
—M.T.
of May 2008 the number of job-
20 The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008
Armenia
President does not deny plan to change Speaker
by Armen Hakobyan
Hovik Abrahamian.
was to make possible the election of
On June 6, the Armenian ReMr. Abrahamian’s brother, Hovik porter asked the president’s press
Abrahamian, as a member of par- secretary Samvel Farmanian
YEREVAN – President Serge Sarg- liament, which would, in turn, make whether the president was looksian, the chairperson of the Re- possible his election as Speaker of ing to see a change in the leadpublican Party of Armenia, turned the National Assembly.
ership of the National Assembly.
down an opportunity to endorse
Hovik Abrahamian is the pres- Mr. Farmanian responded on
the continued tenure of the deputy ident’s chief of staff. He led Mr. June 27. He wrote that the Repubchairperson of the party, Tigran Sargsian’s presidential election lican Party of Armenia has “has
Torossian, as Speaker of the Na- campaign. Before that he was dep- seen fit to see Mr. Abrahamian
tional Assembly.
uty prime minister and minister of in parliament and has decided
In early June, member of parlia- territorial administration.
to nominate him. At this point,
ment Henrik Abrahamian anMr. Torossian responded to the nominees have not even been
nounced that he was managing a the rumors by speaking strongly registered; moreover, the election
business and was therefore consti- against any change of Speaker.
hasn’t taken place, the results
tutionally required to relinquish his
Meanwhile, Hovik Abrahamian don’t exist, and so it is premature
seat in parliament. Rumors began was duly nominated for the vacat- to speak about any possible develto circulate immediately that the ed parliamentary seat. An election opment after August 24; we’ll live
f
purpose of this de facto resignation is scheduled for August 24.
and see.” Tigran Torossian.
Foreign Minister: Armenian Genocide issue remains on agenda
by Tatul Hakobyan
YEREVAN – “The issue of the Armenian Genocide remains on our
agenda,” said Armenia’s foreign
minister, Edward Nalbandian,
during a press conference on Friday, June 27. The minister was responding to a question posed by
the Armenian Reporter regarding
concerns raised by remarks delivered earlier the same week in Moscow by President Serge Sargsian.
Referring to a Turkish government
proposal to form a commission of
historians to review the veracity of
the Armenian Genocide, Mr. Sarg-
sian had said, “We are not opposed to then-President Robert Kochar- the ARF Bureau’s Central Hai Tad
to establishing such a commission, ian. Mr. Kocharian also rejected Office, told the Armenian Reporter
but only when the border between the proposal, calling instead for an last week. “We are in the process of
our countries is opened. Otherwise, intergovernmental commission to obtaining, directly from the presiit could be a means to protract the address all bilateral concerns in the dent, explanations and clarificaquestion for years and exploit it.”
context of normalizing relations.
tions regarding his remark.”
The proposal had been made in
Mr. Sargsian’s apparently new apMr. Manoyan said this week that
April 2005 by Abdullah Gül, then proach was attacked immediately by the party had received a clarificathe foreign minister of Turkey, to Arman Musinian, spokesperson tion. “Based on the explanations
Vartan Oskanian, his Armenian for opposition politician Levon Ter- the President has given us,” he
counterpart. Mr. Oskanian had Petrossian. At the same time, the said, the party now believes “that
rejected the proposal, noting, “His- Armenian Revolutionary Federation, what President Sargsian is really in
torians have done their job. It re- part of Mr. Sargsian’s governing co- agreement with is not exactly what
mains for Turkey to come to terms alition, condemned the president’s Turkish prime minister Erdogan
with its past and its neighbors.”
comments in strong terms.
had proposed over two years ago.”
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
“Obviously, President Sargsian
“In one way or another, they have
Erdogan of Turkey repeated the has received very bad advice on this stated that (1) the fact of the Genoproposal in an April 10, 2005, letter issue,” Giro Manoyan, director of cide is undisputable; (2) the study of
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undisputable facts does not mean to
question their veracity; (3) there is
no change of policy; and (4) international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide continues to be on the foreign policy agenda of the Republic
of Armenia,” Mr. Manoyan added.
“It would have been best if no such
announcement had been made by
the president in the first place,” Mr.
Manoyan insisted, however.
Ruben Safrastian, one of Armenia’s leading experts on Turkey,
believed that the president was not
in favor of examining the veracity
of the Genocide; rather, the commission could do further research
f
about the Genocide. 21
The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008 Armenia
Maria Titizian elected VP of Socialist International
Turkish Republican
leader not reelected
YEREVAN – The 23rd Congress of
the Socialist International (SI) on
July 1 elected Maria Titizian of
Armenia’s socialist party, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation,
as one of its vice presidents. The SI
Congress brought together 150 social democratic, socialist, and labor
parties and organizations from 120
countries.
Ms. Titizian is the associate editor of this independent newspaper.
“Our shared humanity should inform our attitude toward all global
issues and fuel our collective ambition,” Ms. Titizian said. Her election, she added, would “serve to
benefit Armenia, providing exposure and contacts with social democratic, socialist, and labor parties
throughout the world, many of
which are in power in their respective countries.”
The congress reelected George
A. Papandreou, president of the
Panhellenic Socialist Movement
(PASOK), as its president. Mr. Papandreou, a native of St. Paul, Min-
Maria Titizian, newly elected vice
president of the Socialist International.
nesota, was foreign minister of
Greece from 1999 to 2004.
In addition to Ms. Titizian, the
vice presidents of the SI include
Iraqi president Jalal Talabani,
Spanish prime minister José Luis
Rodríguez Zapatero (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party), François
Hollande (Socialist Party, France),
Chancellor of Austria Alfred tive in organizing women for social
Gusenbauer (Social Democratic action as founder and head of the
Party of Austria), and Portuguese ARF’s Women’s Committee. Her acprime minister José Sócrates (So- tivism in Canada included managing, successfully, the election camcialist Party, Portugal).
The congress chose not to reelect paigns of two members of parliaas vice president Turkish Repub- ment. She served also as president
lican People’s Party (CHP) leader of the Armenian National CommitDeniz Baykal. The choice was seen tee of Toronto.
Ms. Titizian was not present
as a repudiation of CHP’s policies,
under Mr. Baykal. These include at the congress, which was held
support for the intervention of the in Athens from June 30 through
Turkish military establishment in July 2. The ARF was represented by
civilian affairs and opposition to its Bureau members Mario Nalbandian (Argentina) and Levon
minority rights.
A delegation from the Socialist Mkrtchyan, who was Armenia’s
International’s ethics committee is education minister until recently;
expected to visit Turkey this sum- ARF Central Committee of Greece
mer to assess the CHP’s adherence members Kevork Kolanian, Alice Papazian, Kaspar Garabedito the SI’s principles.
an, Vahan Bzdigian and Ricardo
A progressive activist
Yerganian; ARF Central CommitWithin the Socialist International, tee of Lebanon chairperson Benjo
Ms. Titizian has advocated force- Bdjakdjian; and the editor of the
fully in favor of sustainable devel- Athens newspaper Azad Or, Hripopment. She has served since 2002 sime Harutunian.
as the ARF’s lead representative in
the SI-affiliated organization So- Global solidarity
The Socialist International congress
cialist International Women.
A citizen of Canada, Ms. Titizian focused on four key issues: climate
moved to Armenia from Toronto in change, peace and the resolution
2001. In Armenia, she has been ac- of conflicts, the world economy
and the question of migration. The
overarching theme was global solidarity.
Among the highlights of the congress was a side meeting between
Palestinian president Mahmud
Abbas and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who engaged in a
rare handshake.
Mr. Abbas, speaking at the congress, called on Israel to end its
“siege” of Jerusalem, act on Jewish
settlements, and reduce military
checkpoints that he said “destroy
the lives of thousands of Palestinians,” AFP reported.
“I would like to salute the pragmatism of Mr. Abbas, who wants to
adopt with us a common strategy
to contain terrorism,” Mr. Barak
said after the brief encounter in the
Greek seaside town of Lagonissi.
The SI was founded in 1951. It is
the successor to the Second International (1889–1914), which the
ARF joined in 1907. The ARF in 1996
became an observer party of the
SI. The SI Council in June 2002 decided to grant the ARF full membership; the decision was confirmed at
the 22d Congress, held in São Paulo,
f
Brazil, in 2003. Anti-tobacco advocates work with Lernagog children
Lernagog, Armenia – Following
international “No Tobacco Day” celebrated worldwide on May 31, the
community of Lernagog hosted an
event on the premises of a newly
renovated village school, advocating a tobacco-free environment in
the community and throughout
the region.
Lernagog is one of six villages
included in Comprehensive Rural
Development Program, initiated
and implemented by the Children
of Armenia Fund (COAF) since
early 2006. Other communities
constituting COAF’s Model Cluster
include Argina, Dalarik, Karakert,
Miasnikian, and Shenik.
The event was organized by the
members of the local “Youth Club
on Healthy Lifestyle” in close cooperation with COAF’s health education team. Through the club, which
is part of a chain of more than 30
clubs operating in four villages of
the Model Cluster and neighboring club and a Lernagog school biology
Hushakert, the local youth acquire teacher noted.
knowledge about disease prevenThe second part of the event was
tion, healthy nutrition, physical ac- dedicated to an amateur play, pertivities, and healthy behavior.
formed by the Lernagog schoolchilOther clubs focus on develop- dren, which sought to influence the
ment as agribusiness, civic educa- children not to take up smoking,
tion, ecology, logics and journal- by portraying a Manichean scheme
ism-public relations. The project is divided between a sunny, blossombeing implemented in close part- filled non-smokers’ world, and its
nership with Heifer International.
dreary, malodorous counterpart
The first part of the event cov- for smokers.
ered smoking and non-smoking
For the past two years, apart
issues, accompanied by illustrative from healthy lifestyle classes conslides on the damages caused by ac- ducted in Lernagog and other viltive and passive smoking, and pre- lages of the model cluster, the
senting some statistics on smokers COAF community health education
throughout Armenia.
program has held workshops on
“This event and a number of oth- first aid, prevention of infectious
ers that we are regularly organiz- diseases, management of chronic
ing is always a great tool in raising health problems, prenatal care,
awareness and taking responsibil- child care, cervical and breast canity towards health issues among cer prevention, family planning,
children, youth and adults,” said sexually transmitted diseases, and
f
Karine Tonoyan, head of the youth family violence. Smoke-free children in Lernagog.
Investing in Armenia
Tadeh
Monastery.
Wikimedia.org
Tadeh Monastery submitted to
UNESCO World Heritage List
UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee met in Quebec City, Canada, to inscribe new sites on
UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has
included the St. Thaddeus – or Tadeh – Monastery.
Forty-one state parties have presented properties for inscription
on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Tadeh Monastery was built in
66 C.E. by the apostle Thaddeus
on the site of a pagan temple.
Saint Thaddeus, the first apostle
to spread Christianity in Armenia, is said to be buried at the
site. In the 14th century, Tadeh
was destroyed by an earthquake
and later rebuilt by Archbishop
f
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22 The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008
the armenian
reporter
Editorial
Innovation to keep the community in good shape
Several Armenian organizations – Homenetmen, the Armenian General Benevolent
Union, the Armenian Church Youth Organization, the Armenian Youth Federation,
Western Armenian Athletic Association, and the Armenian Homenmen Sporting Association, among them – offer parents the opportunity to enroll their children in athletic
and scouting activities. Each of these organizations has a long history of endeavoring to
teach children an appreciation for physical activity. Their programs allow participants to
learn discipline, how to function as members of teams, and how to handle the triumphs
and heartbreaks of healthy competition. These are skills that prepare children for the
challenges they are sure to face in their academic lives and future careers. And the organizations offer children the opportunity to make friends with other young Armenians
and forge lifelong relationships.
Parents have always been aware of the need to provide athletic activities and a healthy
social setting for their children. These needs are perhaps becoming more difficult to meet: In
the United States, a land of so much opportunity and so many temptations, the childhood
obesity rate has soared for three decades.
That is why it is gratifying to see that Homenetmen is going strong.
This weekend, tens of thousands have gathered in Southern California to participate in
the 33rd annual Navasartian Games and Festival. More than 8,500 athletes, 300 teams, and
17 Homenetmen chapters from across the Western United States are participating in what
has become not only a Southern California tradition, but an athletic, social, and cultural
event that draws participants, Armenians and non-Armenians, from around the United
States, the homeland, and the world.
The weekend’s events are the culmination of weeks of athletic competition. They go
hand-in-hand with a thriving scouting program, sports teams, individual sporting activities,
dance and ballet classes, public and cultural events, lectures, and seminars. They represent
the efforts of scores of volunteer coaches and teachers, parents who enroll their kids in
programs and taxi them to practices and tournaments, and members who work together to
create local gyms and clubs where young Armenians can train. Places where participants can
hang out after school, enroll in summer camps and after-school programs. Places that offer
educational support activities like tutoring and mentorship programs.
With upward of a half-million Armenians in California, we hope that every child that is
interested can find a way to participate. To enable this, organizations may need to find new
and creative ways to attract, engage and retain participants. Homenetmen is an excellent
example of innovation.
Taking full advantage of their close proximity to the capital of the global entertainment
industry, Homenetmen approached area movie studios to see if one would provide its back
lot for the banquet; and the CBS studio in Studio City was kind enough to oblige. CBS recognized how important these “Armenian Olympic Games” are to a significant portion of the
local cosmopolitan population.
“This photo captures
what the Navasartians are to me,” says
photographer Helena
Gregorian. “It’s competitive. All the athletes are there to be
number one, the best,
yet we all know the
games are also a big
social event. So we
work hard, but with a
fresh manicure.”
Last Saturday night, over 800 Navasartian banquet attendees were the stars of a movieevent on the set of residential America. On arrival, guests experienced the glamour of a
traditional Hollywood red carpet entrance. Soccer moms rubbed elbows with community
leaders and stars like Serj Tankian. The mingled under the stars on the set where thousands
of movies and television shows were made. Their faces beamed from big screens as cameras
rolled, catching the action from every corner of the event.
Steve Artinian, Regional Board Chair, took the podium to theme music from Mission Impossible. It was a fitting metaphor for all that that Homenetmen has accomplished over the
last decade. Through innovation, they have offered something new, something better.
Innovation can help all of our community organizations develop new traditions for attracting members and supporters. The Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry has adopted
the walkathon. The Armenia Fund the telethon. The 21st century offers so many alternatives
and activities for socializing and so many venues for entertainment.
In 1918, Homenetmen cofounder Shavarash Krissian had a dream – to unite Armenian
athletic groups around the globe. Today that dream continues to be realized. Through innovation and hard work, the organization’s 21st century leaders have been able to draw more
members, expand the level of support, and invest in even larger gymnasiums and centers.
We are thankful to the volunteers and donors that help to make Krissian’s dream a reality. We extend our gratitude to Wachovia Bank and the many corporate sponsors that have
embraced the dream. We applaud the leaders for their dedication and their innovation. And
a very big thank you to the parents who drive their kids to practice every week, and to the
volunteer coaches that give so generously of their time.
When you see the smiles on the faces of the kids, the next generation of innovators, it is
f
all worthwhile. Letters
I’ll give to the Armenia
Fund
our funds and then place conditions on them,
so that they are not “blindly transferred” to
Armenia as Mr. Raffi Festekjian said to the
Armenian Reporter. Is this when and how we
decide to do our share of helping Armenia
individually versus collectively?
I am happy to say that I will personally continue contributing to the country where I live
and which I love without any preconditions.
Sir:
Thank you for the informative report on the
Armenia Fund, which you ran in last week’s
issue (“Vahe Aghabegians resigns as head of
Armenia Fund,” p. 20).
When we contribute to the televised Arme- Very truly yours,
nia Fund telethon and, by doing so, support Shakeh Havan Garabedian
the current project presented by the organiz- Yerevan, Armenia
ers, we assume that our contribution gets
to Armenia in a short period of time. I was
very disappointed to find out that this is not
always true. The only reason most of us contribute to the fund is because we believe in
the collective cause and the collective action.
I have a few questions to ask the executive
directors of the fund and its affiliates. Who Sir:
makes the decision when to send the do- I love the “new” Reporter (I loved the “old” Renated funds from the telethon to Armenia? porter, too) and feel there is so much to read
Has anybody calculated the loss of value on in it that is good. I thought the following inthe funds as they sit in U.S. banks, while the formation would be interesting to longtime
dollar devalues against the Armenian dram? readers like myself.
It has been a long time since I’ve read anyIs this a decision of the board or of its directors? Who gave anybody the right to hold thing about Ara Baliozian. I used to review
his books for the Armenian weeklies, but I Armenian, and published in Moscow, Paris,
find that a few of them have stopped print- and Yerevan.
He continues to be active in the world of
ing his essays.
So I called Ara in Kitchener, Ontario, to in- Armenian literature, and we are all better off
quire about his literary activities. He said he is for that.
no longer writing books and that he is now abVery truly yours,
sorbed and active in the world of cyberspace.
Ara said some of his Internet writings have Nazeli Bagdasarian
been translated into French, Russian, and Racine, Wis.
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23
The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008 Commentary
As Arshile Gorky’s prestige grows, his Armenian
experience must not be forgotten
by Florence Avakian
New York – The great Surrealist Andre
Breton once said of Arshile Gorky: “Of all
Surrealist artists, Gorky is the only one who
keeps in direct contact with nature, in placing himself to paint in front of it. With him,
it is no longer a question of taking the expression of that nature for an end, but rather
summoning up from it feelings that can act
as a springboard towards the deepening, in
knowledge as much as in pleasure, of certain
states of mind.”
And critic Anthony Everitt has called
Gorky’s curious vegetable and animal composites, “mental doodling in front of nature.
In Gorky’s eyes, landscape had a symbolic and
sexual content, which stems from memories
of his childhood in rural Armenia.”
These high assessments of Gorky have certainly been vindicated in the ensuing years,
as the artist’s significance in art history has
solidified, and (not coincidentally) the prices garnered for his works have skyrocketed.
And with that professional regard has come
a greater appreciation of Gorky’s role as an
Armenian artist: a figure inspired by, and
often depicting themes, that resonate with
the Armenian experience. Armenians were
reminded of Gorky’s deep “Armenian-ness”
two weeks ago, when New York’s St. Vartan
Cathedral celebrated its 40th anniversary
by displaying what may be his most famous
painting – The Artist and His Mother – as a
special one-day loan from the Whitney Museum of American Art [see the Reporter’s Jun.
21 and 28 editions].
But the significance of Gorky’s experience
as an Armenian – and especially as a Genocide survivor – has not penetrated as deeply
into the general art world as one would expect. At least, that was my surprising experience recently, when I went to view some
of his paintings on display in New York. It
serves as a lesson on the need for vigilance
and persistence in the cause of Genocide acknowledgement – even in the unlikely setting of an art museum.
Three Gorky masterpieces now
on exhibit
Born Vosdanig Manoog Adoian, in 1904 in
historic Armenia, Gorky witnessed the horrors of the Genocide as youngster. He held his
mother in his arms as she died from starvation. At age 16, he came to the United States
with his younger sister, changed his name,
and studied and taught at the Rhode Island
School of Design, and later at the Grand Central School of Art.
Living through many of the major styles
of modern art, he started with Impression-
Arshile Gorky’s The Liver is the Cock’s Comb (1944, oil on canvas): on display
through Sep. 21 at the Jewish Museum in New York. Photo: Albright-Knox
Art Gallery, Buffalo, N.Y., © Artists Rights Society, New York.
The Artist and His Mother
is an exquisite expression of Gorky’s Armenian background – and
of his painful experience of enduring the
Armenian Genocide.
Photo: Whitney Museum of American Art.
ism, but soon graduated to Synthetic Cubism.
The respected New York critic and intellectuSeveral painters became major influences in al Harold Rosenberg, who championed Gorky,
his work, including Picasso, Braque, Gris, commented in 1963: “In the art of our time,
and later Tanguy, Masson, Matta, Miro, and the identity of the artist is a paramount theme.
finally Kandinsky in the early 1940s.
The effect of Surrealism was to ease Gorky’s
Gorky’s real breakthrough came with his communication with his childhood and at the
Garden in Sochi series. One of these seminal same time to loosen his concept of art and the
paintings, dated 1940-1941, is currently on artist so as to bring both closer to himself.”
display (through September 21) at the JewRosenberg called Gorky’s emulation of earish Museum in New York, located at Fifth lier artists an apprenticeship through which
Avenue and 92nd Street. It is exhibited along he converted and transformed European
with two other Gorky masterpieces: The Liver sensibilities into his own American idiom,
is the Cock’s Comb (1944) and Diary of a Se- through his own poetic sensibility and diliducer (1945), in an extensive exhibition titled, gent painting technique.
“Action/Abstraction: Pollock, De Kooning,
Gorky’s Diary of a Seducer was praised by
and Postwar American Art, 1940-1976.”
Rosenberg, who focused on the “co-existence
The title of the monumental work Garden of abstraction and representation,” calling it
in Sochi (1940-1941) references Gorky’s youth “rich in metaphors and visual puns.” The critic
in Sochi on the Black Sea. The organic ab- noted that the painting of grey, black, and
stractions, especially of the female and large white demonstrated Gorky’s special artistic
animal figures, suggest the natural world, qualities of “esthetic illusion, technical virtuand show the influence of Cubist and Sur- osity, and emotional content.”
realist masters Picasso and Miro.
Painted when Gorky was in the prime of Misrepresentation
his most inventive and productive phase, The In description notes next to the Gorky paintLiver is the Cock’s Comb is filled with Surreal- ings, the Jewish Museum has listed Gorky as
ist forms of body organs and sexual imagery. “a refugee from Turkish persecution.” During
The work was included in Gorky’s 1945 exhi- the press preview of this exhibition, I made a
bition at New York’s well-known Julien Levy formal request to the publicity department to
include the word “Genocide” in the descripGallery in New York.
tion. But though my request was submitted
to the relevant officials of the museum, the
wording did not change.
A similar occurrence had taken place a few
years back at the Whitney Museum of American Art, but with a more successful conclusion.
Next to five Gorky paintings on display at
the Whitney, including the iconic The Artist and His Mother, the written description
called the Armenian holocaust, “a TurkishArmenian conflict.” I was amazed at this blurring of the historical facts, and at that time I
personally met with the Whitney’s curator to
dispute the wording. Following our meeting,
the wording in the description was changed
to “Turkish Genocide of the Armenians.”
Each of the major New York museums
has its own Gorky collection, including the
Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney
Museum of American Art, the Museum of
Modern Art, and the Guggenheim Museum.
Among the 13 Gorky masterpieces at the
Metropolitan Museum is one of the artist’s
most famous works, Water of the Flowery Mill
(1944). Replete with brilliant washes of color, soft sensual feminine forms, and sharp
pointed masculine ones, the painting is a
dreamscape of color and line.
Eminent New York critic Clement Greenberg who had called Gorky “one of the greatest artists America had ever produced,” lamented his premature death at age 44 as a
terrible loss for American art. He stated that
Gorky was one of the “very few artists qualified to represent American art in the world.”
A proud distinction, to be sure. But it falls
to those of us who share Gorky’s historical
experience to make sure that the facts of his
Armenian background do not get distorted,
f
or lost, in the bargain. Religious believer, scientist, and patriot
A tribute to Dr. Sarkis
Mesrobian
and he is the parish council chairman of Los
Angeles’ St. James Armenian Church. He is
well known widely, and admired as a benefactor and a patriot for his continuing good
works.
by Fr. Vartan Dulgarian
As a senior deacon and a physician, Sarkis
Mesrobian is very busy and active in Armenian and community circles, and in several
What makes a person truly great among us?
hospitals. He sleeps only four hours, in the
In the modest opinion of this retired priest, arms of Orpheus, awakening early in the
it is neither wealth nor learning, neither morning, returning home, having spent half
philanothropy nor heroic sacrifice, neither the night in his work.
artistry nor eloquence.
He has knowledge in a wide range of topics,
Instead, I would point to the uniquely en- and he speaks with the authority of a spedowed person whose heart and soul beat rich- cialist. He is a fluent lecturer, able to speak
ly and intensely with devotion to God; the without resorting to written text.
Christian man who senses the continual inWhether speaking on religious or techniner presence of God and His fatherly counsel. cal topics, he knows how to make his words
Mortal man can become small in becoming full of wisdom, simple and clear, underinflated; or, armed with faith, he can become standable to his listeners. His words are
grand in modesty.
not inflamed, not rabble-rousing, but mild
I have seen such a man every Sunday, for and modest.
many years, at the church altar, singing and
There is never a word of self-flattery – nor
censing. His name is Dr. Sarkis Mesrobian, any word that fails to fascinate his listeners.
This pupil of Hippocrates approaches his
Archpriest Vartan Dulgarian, a retired priest of the
sick patients and comforts them with prayers
Western Diocese and a longtime contributor to
and compassion, seeking to save their lives
Armenian papers, lives in Los Angeles.
and mitigate their suffering.
Dr. Sarkis Mesrobian.
A gracious deacon, Dr. Sarkis Mesrobian
visited me at my home and remained for
some time. He granted me the special pleasure of hearing his remarks on new developments that were unfamiliar to me. It was
information that I had not heard from any
other intellectual, or read in books. Apart
from my deep attention to his remarks, I was
captivated by his fluent Armenian, his clear
use and correct pronunciation of Armenian
words he had learned through self-study,
without ever having gone to an Armenian
school. Going from topic to topic he showed
his depth of his knowledge, and the minutes
passed by rapidly.
As a parish leader, he is always positive in his
positions. His “yes” has always been his word
in making friends. He conscientiously listens
to the requests and needs of the poor, and
is generous in satisfying their expectations.
During meetings he never allows disagreements to get out of control. He knows how to
resolve them, avoiding a waste of time.
In noting his 50 years, I see a man in the
spring of his life – and I foresee the man of
many years hence, illumined by the glory of
heaven and earth.
For the time in-between, I wish healthy
years for this son of clean-living Armenians,
who makes continuous sacrifices to drive
poverty away from the homeland. As he has
enriched and cultivated his own mind and
soul, he has also succeeded in enriching the
f
world around him. 24 The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008
The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008
The Armenian Reporter | July 5, 2008