CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Avinyan appeared at an evening event in Cambridge’s Sheraton Commander Hotel hosted by the Armenian Business Network (ABN) on July 18 to briefly speak and answer questions from the community.

The event was sponsored by Michael Guleserian and the Sheraton Commander Hotel, which hosted him and all visiting officials from Armenia. Avinyan and Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Ararat Mirzoyan, accompanied by Armenian Ambassador to the US Varuzhan Nersesyan, had a public event on July 19 (see accompanying article).

The visit of the officials, including various advisors, was coordinated locally by a committee composed of Anthony Barsamian, Dr. Ara Nazarian and Arman Manoukian. James Kalustian, president of the Armenian Heritage Foundation, organized a visit to Armenian Heritage Park, while Noubar Afeyan arranged for visits to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a meeting with MIT economist Daron Acemoglu. The officials also visited Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Cambridge and St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Watertown.

Barsamian made introductory remarks at the ABN event. Carolyn Atinizian welcomed Avinyan on behalf of the Armenian business community, while Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, who helped with the logistics of the visit of the Armenian delegation, briefly praised the new Armenian government and the organizers of the event.

Avinyan spoke in fluent English about the changes in the Armenian government over the last year. He said that the popular movement developed in the background of years of negative developments. When Avinyan returned from his studies in London in 2014 and met Nikol Pashinyan, he said they had a short discussion about what to do, and Avinyan told Pashinyan that even if they did nothing, the existing system in Armenia was a “big dinosaur” and history taught that dinosaurs would die eventually.  So the movement of the Velvet Revolution only helped to speed its demise.

In 2018, despite the movements in the street, preventing work and school, and repeated elections, that would seem to indicate economic instability, Avinyan said the gross domestic product of Armenia grew at a rate of 5.2 percent. In the first quarter of 2019, Armenia had a 7.1 percent rate of growth, which is the highest rate of GDP growth in Europe.

In 2019, Avinyan continued, the government collected 150 million dollars more in taxes than expected. Its approach is an inclusive growth mode, which includes infrastructure and human capital. Consequently, this money was spent on growth, including on education. He said in practically every sector new initiatives are flourishing. Engineering labs, he said, already exist in 30 percent of Armenian schools already, and by next year they will be in all schools in the country. This year, health care was also expanded by the government to include all children from birth to 18 years old.

The annual GDP of Armenia is 12 billion dollars. Avinyan said that probably a group of the richest Armenians in the diaspora would have the same amount of resources. He said “We need a deep change in the way we think about our state [and] treat our state. All the Armenians in the world should feel that the Armenian state, the Republic of Armenia, is a part of them, and they are a part of that country. Because the Armenian state, the Republic of Armenia should be the center for all Armenians.” The government, he said, is ready to implement all the drastic and painful reforms that need to be done to make Armenia a strong and resilient country which will be a center for all Armenians.

Avinyan then took questions from the audience, with the assistance of Jack Antounian of the ABN. The questions were wide-ranging in nature, including agricultural reforms, education, barriers to female investors, the effect of Syrian Armenian refugees, and supporting the high-tech sector. Some concerned personal problems or proposals for business in Armenia.

At the end, instead of a question, Afeyan, in the audience, made an appeal for full participation of diasporan Armenians in Armenia, confirming that corruption has been largely rooted out with the Velvet Revolution. All the other issues in Armenia are not excuses, he said, since Armenia will not fix itself before the diaspora engages. He pointed out that the degree of access to the new government was very high—after all, the audience right there was interacting with a deputy prime minister, something which few people can usually do in other countries.

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LOS ANGELES — Independent journalist Peter Musurlian won his third Los Angeles Area Emmy on July 27, at the Academy of Television Arts & Science’s Saban Media Center in North Hollywood.

The 52-minute documentary, “Holocaust Soliloquy,” ran on Los Angeles PBS station KLCS in May 2018, winning the Emmy in the Independent Programming Category.

Earlier this year, Musurlian, who shot, wrote, and edited the entire film, won a First Place Los Angeles Press Club Award for Best Videography, beating out two entries from the powerhouse KCET team.

The documentary can be found on the website: www.peterfischl.com and a link to Musurlian’s Emmy speech has been uploaded to YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WRYgRuKP9E

Musurlian won his first Emmy in 2012, for a 30-minute (solo) documentary, “Burbank’s African Sister City,” which he shot, wrote, narrated, and edited. In 2016, Musurlian, and a team from The Burbank Channel, won Emmys for their various roles in the production of the Mayor’s State-of-the-City video.

Musurlian, who was born in Wisconsin and raised in Torrance, received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California, and master’s degrees from Baylor University, American University, and the University of Redlands. He has had 10 Emmy nominations since 2002 and has won 24 Golden Mikes from the Radio & Television News Association of Southern California.

Growing up, Musurlian attended St. James Armenian Apostolic Church. In 1983, he interned at ABC News in Washington, DC, as part of the Armenian Assembly Intern Program. And, from 2006 to 2009, he sat on the Board of Directors of the Armenian National Committee, Western Region.

Among more than 20 Armenian-themed projects Musurlian has produced over the last 20 years are: The Long Journey from the NFL to Armenia (2006), Historic Armenia (2015), and The 100-Year-Old Survivor (2015), which all ran on KLCS in Los Angeles.

Among certain members of the Armenian Community, Musurlian is perhaps best known for his hard-hitting coverage of Members of Congress Jean Schmidt of Ohio and Steve Cohen of Tennessee, as well as California Assemblyman Mike Gatto, who all, to varying degrees, exhibited hostility toward Armenians and/or Armenian issues.

A former congressional aide, Musurlian has worked at television stations in Montana, Texas, Burbank, and Washington, DC. He also served for eight months as a U.S Army broadcast journalist in Central Europe in the late 1990s, where he met his Hungarian wife, Szilvia.

He is editing his latest documentary, “Genocide March Revisited,” while working and living in Northern Virginia with his wife and teenage daughter, June Petra, the 2017 Los Angeles County Spelling Bee champion.

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By Tina Chakarian

In May 2019, the Republic of Armenia presented “Revolutionary Sensorium” at what is perhaps the most prestigious international art exhibition of our era — La Biennale di Venezia. The Armenian Pavilion was inspired by the 2018 Velvet Revolution, a historical event that quickly became the subject of global media coverage and analyses, with particular attention attributed to its non-violent nature: not a single bullet was ever fired.

What lessons did we learn from the revolution, exactly?

First, it underscored the invaluable role of youth in leading resistance. The protests were almost childlike in nature. Following Serzh Sargsyan’s official resignation, a group of teenagers brought back snow from the country’s mountainous terrain to Republic Square, only to start a snowball fight in front of parliament. Hundreds of young men and women held signs denouncing Sargsyan, comparing him to Cheburashka — a Soviet cartoon character. The use of drones and modern technologies in the revolution were indicative of a movement led by a new generation of Armenians, tired of outdated politics and Soviet-era politicians.

Second, women were at the forefront of the groups involved in the formation of organized, anti-government protest. To quote an article in Open Caucasus Media “on top of consistently being involved in the grassroots-organizing of social movements, they [women] also make up the majority of Armenia’s journalists.” It is women who form the majority of Armenia’s NGOs and media, and who had been leading the resistance through their civil activism, decades before the revolution took place.

Last July, international art curator Ralph Rugoff announced the theme of the 2019 International Art Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia. He named it “May You Live In Interesting Times,” an ode to the ancient Chinese curse. In December, the Economist named Armenia “Country of the Year.” The opening of La Biennale was to take place on May 9, 2019 — just two weeks following the one-year anniversary of the revolution. And so, we created Revolutionary Sensorium, a pavilion meant to recreate the events of April 2018 through video installations, artwork, and live performances.

Following my announcement regarding the theme of this year’s Armenian Pavilion, I was met with a recurring question which I had difficulty answering, “Can art really effectuate change?” Can Revolutionary Sensorium truly honor the decades of work on the part of activists, human rights defenders and journalists who have selflessly fought against the corruption and authoritarianism widespread in Armenia? After all, art cannot monitor free and fair elections. It does not choose who governs and leads nor for how many terms. It will not implement transitional justice, nor will it hold trials to indict individuals responsible for widespread civil and political injustices.

What art can provide is a platform for dialogue. The rise of political art as genre and the incensing number of contemporary artists associating themselves as activists, means the historical distinctions between art and politics have begun to dissolve. National pavilions have a special role in the world of political art. They made their debut appearance at La Biennale di Venezia in 1907, and have since featured the greatest modern art hailing from every corner of the world. At La Biennale, there are no closed borders and territorial disputes. There is one exhibition, nearly one hundred participating countries, and an open space to communicate what message your country wants to send to the world, and to its people. Here, art is a space for full, uncensored discourse, accessible to all. It is a space where artists can make otherwise marginalized cultural narratives visible on a global scale. This is what Revolutionary Sensorium does so brilliantly.

Armenia is a country reborn. The next few years will be vital to its establishment as a democracy. Last December’s elections reflected poorly on that establishment, with few women elected to parliament. Women were an invaluable voice in the revolution, but are now ignored in the decision-making process. Revolutionary Sensorium is an immersive experience, yet its purpose is not solely to rekindle the emotions we felt during the revolution. It is a reminder of solidarity and unity in the midst of uncertainty. It is a reminder that peaceful protest can ignite change and that women and youth are indispensable to this process.

This is not Armenia’s first time participating in the Venice Biennale. In 2015, the Armenian Pavilion presented Armenity, which won the Golden Lion Award for Best National Pavilion. Its theme honored the centennial of the Armenian Genocide and was based on the premise of the formation of nation characterized by a dispersed identity. The artists featured in the pavilion were Armenians of the diaspora, descendants of the 1915 genocide survivors. The pavilion commemorated the darkest hour in Armenia’s history while shedding light on perhaps one of the most beautiful aspects of the Armenian nation — the Diaspora. In its portrayal of the diaspora as blossoming and flourishing in every corner of the world, borrowing from its adopted cultures while staying connected to an Armenian motherland, Armenity sent a message to the world — we are among you.

Armenia will have the chance to represent itself again at La Biennale di Venezia in 2021. It’s a chance for us to support our most talented artists in both the Armenian mainland and the diaspora, allowing them to showcase art inspired by our country’s past, present and future. This is not an easy initiative. To assemble a team of artists, curator, development director, and producers takes months to plan and of course, requires adequate funding and resources. It can be done, but it’s up to our commissioner and sponsors to see that the Armenian Pavilion can create something capable of actually effectuating the change we so often speak of.

(Tina Chakarian is an Armenian installation artist and business development specialist currently based in Yerevan. She is the development director of the Armenian Pavilion at La Biennale di Venezia. For information on the exhibit visit Armenianpavilion2019.com.)

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One of the major factors which precipitated the Velvet Revolution in Armenia was the deep-rooted lawlessness which benefitted the oligarchic system.

People were sick and tired of the uneven application of the law, which often resulted in the loss of investment opportunities.

No investor, even with the best intentions, can have confidence in a country where his or her interests are not protected by the law.

Injustices forced many citizens to leave the country even when they had the work and income to support their families.

The Velvet Revolution came to reverse this state of affairs. Nikol Pashinyan won a tremendous mandate by the voters to bring about reforms and to place society on a course toward true democracy.

Although there is a long way to go, the rewards have already started to emerge. Donald Tusk, the head of the European Council, during his recent visit to Armenia, praised the strides of the country toward establishing democratic norms and assured the prime minister that the “EU welcomes the focus on creating independent, efficient and accountable judicial system. A solid judiciary is an essential element of a mature democracy  and for economic and social development. Also, here the EU will continue to support with expertise and mobilize further resources.”

In addition, Federica Mogherini, vice president of the European Commission and its foreign affairs leader, has pledged $28 million in additional aid in the current year to build up infrastructures in Armenia.

Therefore, judicial reforms not only will enhance living conditions for the citizens but they will also attract resources from Europe.

The executive and legislative branches of the government have undergone dramatic changes, but efforts to reform the judicial system has been hampered by the remnants of the former regime.

Prime Minister Pashinyan believed that he could break the stalemate through methods which he employed to come to power, namely mob action. Therefore, he ordered his supporters to block the entrances to the courts and to keep the judges from exercising their duties. But, he soon realized that resorting to such mob mentality was not a cure all and therefore stopped.

Today, there is a stand-off with the Constitutional Court, particularly with its president, Hrayr Tovmasyan.

In western democracies, when there is a change in an administration, that does not necessarily mean that the top judges in the land have to step down before the end of their terms. For example, in the US Supreme Court, the justices are appointed for life.

The Pashinyan administration has no legal means of unseating Tovmasyan and therefore it has resorted to the tactic of political pressure. Pashinyan’s government and loyal press have been arguing that there is a constitutional crisis in the country and it has to be resolved through political action. Mr. Tovmasyan insists there is no such crisis.

The pro-government news outlets have been mobilized to convince the public that Hrayr Tovmasyan is a left-over relic from the previous regime and he has to go. They forward the argument that Tovmasyan was elected by the previous parliament, a double-edged sword that cuts both ways; if Tovmasyan’s election by the previous parliament is no longer legal, then that shakes the foundations of the legality of the prime minister himself, who was elected by that same body.

Pashinyan has his work cut out for him; he had assured the people that the Velvet Revolution would not lead to vendettas and today he has a hard time keeping his promises because the hatred and rage among the public are so intense against the representatives of the old regime.

At this point, no one is thinking about a truth and reconciliation commission to reduce polarization in the country. South Africa was able to spare further bloodshed and dissension through that action.

If you listen to Pashinyan’s partisans, there is no chance for a compromise. The only solution they see is the resignation of Mr. Tovmasyan.

In a statement to the Azatutyun channel, the prime minster declared that the members of the Supreme Court “have acceded to their current positions through legal manipulations. The Armenia of 2019 deserves a Constitutional Court consistent with the pre-requisites of 2019. This issue is a political one and has to be resolved. I am referring to the seven members of the Constitutional Court, including its president, Hrayr Tovmasyan.”

Answering the prime minister, a former member of the Supreme Court, Kim Balayan, said, “Mr. Pashinyan is not a lawyer and therefore he cannot use legal reasoning. He is a politician and has been making political statements. Before making political statements, we have to take care of the legal aspects of the issue, I think that we are at a dead end.”

While the public is raging, Mr. Tovmasyan has taken further initiatives to complicate the situation and to extend the crisis to the European judicial institutions. He has referred the case of former President Robert Kocharyan to the European Court of Human Rights and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, seeking their legal verdict.

Mr. Kocharyan has been accused of “overthrowing the constitutional order” under Armenia’s criminal code.

There is no question that Armenia direly needs judicial reforms. But after the takeover of the executive and legislative branches of government by Pashinyan’s Social Contract party, fears have been arising that the control of the third branch of the government, namely the judiciary, may pave the way toward authoritarian rule. Some actions by the government further exacerbate those fears, such as the arrest warrant issued for a judge recently. Indeed, the Supreme Judicial Council of Armenia, satisfying a motion filed by the Prosecutor General’s office, has opened a criminal case against David Grigoryan, a judge at Yerevan’s First Instance Court, who had released Kocharyan from pre-trial detention.

Despite the fact that Pashinyan still enjoys unprecedented popularity, seven political parties have taken the risk of airing their fears in a joint statement, which begins: “It is an absolute necessity to preserve the independence and freedom of legislative, executive and judicial branches to forestall the concentration of power in the hands of one party. That is a prelude toward authoritarian rule. Pressure exerted by political authorities on the courts and judges is inadmissible.”

The statement must have jolted the ruling party, which has resorted to massive retaliation, through friendly media outlets. All the commentators reading from the same text are insisting that the parties are insignificant groups.

The public may ask why then such an overwhelming reaction was offered if those parties and their statements are so insignificant. After all, the Velvet Revolution took place to protect the rights of every citizen and political group to speak out without fear of reprisal.

Armenia needs and deserves judicial reform, which is one of the fundamental prerequisites of a democracy. But in today’s polarized atmosphere, it may take longer to carry out those reforms which could be brought in a deliberate atmosphere where fear and political animosity have dissipated or toned down.

The post Challenges to Armenia’s Judicial Reforms appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

By Haykaram Nahapetyan

Mirror-Spectator Video Correspondent

WASHINGTON — Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Representative for Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir was on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on July 25, speaking on the fragile state of media freedom within the OSCE region at an event organized by the U.S. Helsinki Commission. 

Over 400 journalists were killed in OSCE countries in the last 25 years, said Désir. Among them, he mentioned Hrant Dink, the Turkish-Armenian editor of Agos weekly, along with Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. “In the past seven months 121 journalists were arrested in OSCE countries, the majority in Turkey,” Désir continued.

Armenia’s two neighbors, Turkey and Azerbaijan, were highlighted a lot at the hearing. Chairman of the Helsinki Commission Alcee Hastings’s inquiry was about the situation in Azerbaijan. It has become especially worrisome, considering that the Committee to Protect Journalists placed Azerbaijan and Turkey among the most alarming countries in terms of constrictions on the freedom of media.  Désir agreed that the situation is troubling. He considers traveling to Azerbaijan soon.

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FRESNO and YEREVAN — The fifth Portable Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (PVDL) was delivered to Armenia by the Armenian Technology Group, Inc. (ATG). This time the portable laboratory was stationed in Kavar, by Lake Sevan, in Geghargunik region of Armenia.

Garik Degoyan, head of Kavar regional veterinary services was excited to take possession of the latest PVDL. “I have been anxiously waiting to have received this amazing package since I first saw it demonstrated few years ago! We never had such flexibility and efficacy in our hands. This will be very useful to us; we can reach the farmers and provide fast service to their animal health concerns, no matter where they might be located.”

The PVDL and its components were hand carried to Armenia by the president of the ATG Board of Directors, Dr. James P. Reynolds, DVM, MPVM, who had initiated the concept of PVDL and the executive director of the organization, Varoujan Der Simonian.

The Portable Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories enables local veterinarians to provide on farm and on-site veterinary services to domestic, cattle and dairy producing livestock, thereby helping prevent the loss of farm animals and subsequently farm income.

The PVDLs could be used by veterinarians to conduct an on-farm and on-site diagnoses of animals for Complete blood counts, including WBC and RBC; Culturing and incubation of bacteria; Fecal examinations; Staining and microscopy of tissues, fluids, bacteria and parasites; Semen analysis; Serum chemistries and Urinalysis.

“In celebration of our 30th anniversary in serving the people of Armenia, ATG is pleased to have stationed another PVDL in Armenia,” said Reynolds. “We believe these portable laboratories present the opportunity to significantly enhance the veterinary diagnostic capabilities of livestock industry in Armenia.”

The Armenian Technology Group was founded 30 years ago, in 1989, to assist the people of Armenia toward agricultural development. Since 2015 however, ATG has placed five PVDLs at the Regional Centers for Veterinary Services in Yerevan, Vanadzor, Ijevan, Goris and Gavar.

During their trip representatives of the ATG board members met with Berg Tumanyan, DVM, the head of Central Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Armenia and Georgi Avetisyan, director of State Food Safety Services.

Avetisyan also oversees Veterinary Services, which, after restructuring of the government, these services were moved outside of the ministry and placed under direct supervision of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet. They visited with local veterinarians as well, and evaluated previously stationed PVDL sites.

ATG is a California based non-profit organization. Tax-deductible donations could be made on line through the organizations website [atgusa.org] or mailed to Armenian Technology Group, Inc. P.O. BOX 5929 Fresno, CA 93755.

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YEREVAN — Earlier this August, the American University of Armenia (AUA) welcomed a representative delegation from California State Government, Los Angeles County Government and Arizona and Colorado State Legislatures sponsored by the Armenian National Committee (ANC) Western Region.

Led by California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, the delegation included Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Chief of Staff to Supervisor Barger Anna Mouradian, Arizona State Senator Paul Boyer, Arizona State Senator Otoniel Navarrete, Colorado State Senator Dominick Moreno, Colorado State Representative Daneya Esgar, as well as ANC Western Region members Nora Hovsepian, Chair, Sako Berberian and Lina Davidian, and Simon Maghakyan.

AUA President Dr. Karin Markides, Provost Dr. Randall Rhodes, Director of Admissions Arina Zohrabian and Director of Communications Narek Ghazaryan welcomed the delegates.

Rhodes briefed the guests on the history of the University and led them through a tour of the AUA campus with stops at the AGBU Papazian Library, the Large Auditorium, and the Student Union, and classrooms in the Paramaz Avedisian Building. A small reception followed at the Akian Art Gallery during which the group discussed a vision for future collaborations between the University and the states and counties represented.

Joining the delegation at the round table that followed were the Dean of Zaven and Sonia Akian College of Science & Engineering (CSE) Dr. Aram Hajian, dean of the Manoogian Simone College of Business and Economics (CBE) Dr. Vache Gabrielyan, dean of the Gerald and Patricia Turpanjian School of Public Health (SPH) Dr. Varduhi Petrosyan, dean of General Education Dr. Sharistan Melkonian, Director of AUA Acopian Center for the Environment Alen Amirkhanian; and Prof. Gregory Areshian representing the College of Humanities & Social Sciences (CHSS). During the round table, the attendees gave brief presentations on their respective programs and research centers and proposed points of mutual interest and collaborations.

One of the key topics of discussion was marketing AUA and Armenia as a study abroad destination for students in the US. “I hope we can find common goals and see how we can help this country develop further,” said Markides. She highlighted the importance of collaboration between AUA and the U.S. government to encourage students from the US to study at AUA and experience Armenia’s rich culture.

“It’s very fascinating to see what was built here and the idea that so many years ago the University of California was at the table with the US government to help establish this University and to think that you’re doing everything possible to give students the benefits of the American system of education without leaving the country is just awesome,” noted Kounalakis.

Talking about international student mobility opportunities, she added, “I see a lot of interest coming from the diaspora, especially now when this country is exponentially changing and becoming more attractive for tourism.” In her turn, Lina Davidian, ANCA, expressed willingness to help spread awareness and attract more American students to study at AUA.

The visit concluded with the presentation of a state legislative citation to Markides by Kounalaskis stating:

“It gives me immense pleasure to visit the campus of the American University of Armenia, an esteemed institution of higher education which enjoys longstanding and close ties with the public institutions of higher education in the state of California. As a member of the Board of Regents of the University of California and the Board of Trustees of the California State University system, I am particularly mindful of the critical role education plays in the advancement of our common humanity. Progress, prosperity, even civilization itself would not be possible without continual development of the human mind and our unquenchable thirst for more advanced knowledge.”

After reading the citation, the lieutenant governor remarked: “We in California are proud to say that from its earlier days, the  American University of Armenia has enjoyed the close, strong and indispensable support of the University of California. It is my fervent hope that this cooperation will continue, unabated, for the benefit of all those associated with both universities.

The post AUA Hosts Delegation from the United States Sponsored by ANC appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

By Brandi Buchman

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Courthouse News) — Just hours into deliberations on July 23, a jury found a former business partner of convicted ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn guilty of acting as an illegal lobbyist for the Turkish government.

Bijan Kian, 66-year-old Iranian-American businessman who also goes by Bijan Rafiekian, was found guilty of conspiracy and failure to register as a foreign agent.

The charges stemmed from lobbying work done by Kian and Flynn in 2016 aimed at discrediting Fethullah Gulen, a cleric Turkish President Recep Erdogan has blamed for a failed coup against him.

Jurors deliberated for less than six hours at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia. Despite their guilty verdict, US District Judge Anthony Trenga indicated last week he may acquit Kian on both charges due to a lack of evidence.

As vice chairman of Flynn’s Alexandria-based consulting firm Flynn Intel Group, prosecutors claimed Kian helped hide work on a secret lobbying campaign that ran from September to November 2016.

Prosecutors said Kian and Dutch-Turkish businessman Kamil Ekim Alptekin — who was also indicted last year but never appeared in court to face charges – conspired to hide $600,000 in payments given to Flynn Intel Group from the Turkish government for a project aimed at helping Turkey extradite Gulen.

But during the week-long trial, Judge Trenga said the evidence was “very, very circumstantial” and “speculative.” In particular, he took issue with a lack of evidence indicating Turkey was directly involved in the scheme against Gulen. Prosecutors were unable to provide a paper trail of emails or text messages explicitly showing who directly controlled Flynn Intel Group’s actions.

But other evidence presented at trial persuaded jurors to convict Kian, like testimony from Jim Courtovich, managing partner of Sphere Consulting. Courtvich told jurors he met with Flynn, Kian and Alptekin in November 2016 just ahead of the US election. Sphere was hired to produce a documentary smearing Gulen but Alptekin reportedly lost his temper when he learned Sphere’s work on the project would not also include congressional hearings, stories in major news outlets or the launching of federal investigations into Gulen.

“What do I tell Ankara?” Courtovich recalled Alptekin saying angrily at the meeting.

Questions over how Kian recorded payments also appeared to generate suspicion in jurors: he first labeled payments to Alptekin’s company Inovo BV as “outsider adviser” fees, and they were later listed as “refunds.”

Judge Trenga will issue a ruling on whether to acquit Kian on September 5.

Sentencing is currently set for October 18. Kian faces up to 15 years in prison.

The post Former Flynn Associate Convicted of Illegal Lobbying for Turkey appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

PARIS — Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian moved up six spots to 8th on the latest World Chess Federation (FIDE) ratings.

Norwegian GM Magnus Carlsen continues to top the list of 100 strongest chess players of the world.

Three other Armenian chess players Gabriel Sargissian, Hrant Melkumyan and Sergei Movsesian rank 46th, 87th and 98th on the list, respectively.

Meantime, Armenian players Elina Danielian and Lilit Mkrtchian are included in the Top 100 Women August list, taking the 64th and 72nd spots, respectively.

The FIDE ratings of 100 strongest junior players feature three Armenians – Haik Martirosyan sitting 10th, Aram Hakobyan placing 30th and Shant Sargsyan coming 41st on the list.

Armenian chess player Anna Sargsyan ranks 76th on the top100 girls’ list.

The post Armenia’s Aronian Comes 8th on Latest FIDE Ratings appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

BERLIN — Websites and blogs are generally the voice of an individual. This one speaks for a family, three generations, all of them artists of renown. The Galentz Research Center, launched by third generation artist Archi Galentz, is a blog platform — in Armenian, English and Russian — and a meeting place for persons active in the cultural realm. Especially those interested in Armenian visual art and its history are welcome visitors.

Archi Galentz, who launched the website https://galentz-research.org in July, explains that it is based on the history and experience of his own family, from grandparents Harutyun Harmandanyan Kalentz (Galentz) (1910-1967) and his wife, Armine Baronyan-Kalentz (Galentz) (1920-2007), to father Saro Galentz (1946-2017), to himself, Harutyun Archi Galentz, born in 1971.

Educated in Moscow, Yerevan and Berlin, he has been living and working in the German capital for many years. In his atelier, InteriorDAsein, he has hosted exhibitions of his own and other artists’ works. In 2016, he curated a unique exhibition of works by his grandparents. (See https://galentz-research.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Artistic-Journeys-through-National-Destinies-The-Armenian-Mirror-Spectator.pdf)

Last year he opened a new gallery, Wolf & Galentz, together with Andreas Wolf. In addition to organizing exhibitions, the two artists serve as consultants for collectors and estates. Galentz himself has a vast, impressive collection of modern and contemporary works.

His latest initiative is the new site, which offers information on this rich family heritage, in the form of published articles as well as new research. With the help of the site, Galentz hopes to lay the basis for a Galentz Research Center, an independent institute “based on part of Hartutyun Galentz’s house-museum in Yerevan, after its restructuring.” In addition to promoting cultural studies, including art history, the new entity will take part in educational activities.

A Contested Legacy

Galentz’s plan to establish a new research center is an uphill struggle. Following his father Saro’s fatal heart attack in 2017, strife erupted regarding his estate, as there was no last will and testament. Nor had a proper inventory been compiled of the numerous artworks left in his home, works by the deceased, and family members, including Archi’s maternal grandfather, sculptor Nikolai Nikogosyan. In addition, there were artworks done by Archi Galentz himself and others from his private collection.

As Galentz explained in an article published the Armenian Mirror-Spectator, the inheritance battle was more than a personal matter and involved a broader, public dimension. (See https://mirrorspectator.com/2019/04/04/the-debate-about-culture-and-the-culture-of-debate/) This is due to the nature of the legal framework — or lack thereof — in Armenia regarding intellectual property rights of artworks or manuscripts, as well as the legal status of museums and their exhibits. Attempts to compile a notarized list of artworks in the home-museum of the deceased met with difficulties that successive courts had to deal with, all the way up to the Supreme Court.

The issue of the contested legacy occupies a prominent place in Galentz’s new site, and numerous documents (in Armenian) related to the legal battle are available, in addition  to a film clip of a news item from state television in June of this year.

Repatriate Artists

The site also functions as a blog, with discussion of topics that go beyond the Galentz family story. Most welcome to the site is information regarding the works of repatriate artists to the Soviet Union and others; site visitors with knowledge of works or photographs of Petros Kontrajyan, Aramik, Manuk Ghrdian, among others, are invited to contact info@galentz-research.org. Another topic of interest is Armenian surrealism, in the visual arts, cinema and theatre, both in the Soviet Union during the 1970s-80s and in the diaspora. Finally, Galentz places great importance on the cultural dialogue between the Republic of Armenia and the diaspora, aimed at forging unifying strategies.

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WATERTOWN — This summer, the Armenian Mirror-Spectator has had two interns in its offices, Nicholas Zoraian and Suren Mkrtchyan.

Zoraian is currently participating in the Armenian General Benevolent Union Summer Internship Program in Boston, and came to the newspaper through it.

A native of Allendale, NJ, Zoraian, 21, has two siblings. He is a rising senior at High Point University in North Carolina, where he studies sports communications and journalism.

He hopes to one day work for a big sports network such as ESPN as a sports talk show host.

“I am very passionate about journalism, so interning for the Mirror-Spectator has been an amazing and extremely enlightening experience. I have learned a lot here about editing, writing, and so much more. The Mirror-Spectator has really helped me get a better understanding of how the world of journalism works. I am very grateful to the AGBU and to the Mirror-Spectator for giving me this opportunity.”

He recently wrote a feature story about the Armenia-based car hailing service, GG, and is working on a video report.

Aram Arkun, assistant editor (and Tekeyan Cultural Association of the US and Canada executive director), declared: “The Mirror and Tekeyan congratulate the AGBU on the success of its inaugural Boston summer internship program. It is clear that AGBU did a wonderful job in choosing interns, because Nick is both capable and intelligent. With his help, the Mirror website has been expanded to include new back issues and articles, and he is also contributing his own content to the paper and the website.”

“Nicholas has been a great addition to our office. He is willing to help with proofing pages and whatever else we ask him to do. He has a bright future ahead of him,” said editor Alin K. Gregorian.

Mkrtchyan, 16, hails from Armenia. He and his family moved from Yerevan to the US when he was in the seventh grade. He currently is a junior at Weymouth High School.

He graduated from St. James Armenian School, in Watertown, one year ago. He is fluent in English, Armenian, and Russian, and is spending much of this summer as an intern for the Mirror-Spectator. “The Mirror-Spectator helped me a lot to understand journalism and its inner workings. Also, it is helping me to become a better writer with better grammar.”

“Suren has helped us with organizing much of our photographs this summer. We wish him well as he continues his high school journey,” Gregorian said.

Arkun added that Suren is very tech-savvy and helpful both in organizing the Mirror archives and making additions to the Mirror website. “Having industrious interns is always an enriching experience for the Mirror, and we hope that our interns will keep in touch with us and the Armenian community in the future,” he said.

The Mirror offers internships during the year as well as during the summer.

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (PanARMENIAN.Net) — The US Navy has commissioned its newest Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, the future USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), during a ceremony on July 27, at Port Everglades here.

The ship is named in honor of Ignatius, the official with Armenian roots who served in the US Navy during World War II, and later during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration as assistant secretary of defense for installations and logistics from 1964 – 1967, and secretary of the Navy from 1967 – 1969.

Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer, who is also performing the duties of deputy secretary of defense, delivered the commissioning ceremony’s principal address. Ignatius’ wife, Nancy, who passed away earlier this year, is the ship’s sponsor. Dr. Elisa Ignatius, granddaughter of the late Nancy Ignatius, served as the ship sponsor representative. Dr. Ignatius honored naval tradition when she gave the first order to “man our ship and bring her to life!”

“The future USS Paul Ignatius stands as proof of what the teamwork of all our people – civilian, contractor and military – can accomplish together,” said Spencer. “From the start of the acquisition process, to the keel laying and christening, to today’s commissioning and the many missions she will fulfill going forward, this destroyer enhances our capabilities for air, undersea, surface, strike and ballistic missile defense.”

The future USS Paul Ignatius will be the 67th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, and is one of 21 ships currently under contract for the DDG 51 program. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers conduct a variety of missions from peacetime presence and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief to sea control and power projection. Built in the Flight IIA configuration, the ship delivers rapid reaction time, high firepower, and improved electronic warfare capabilities.

Ignatius was born in 1920 in Glendale, the son of Armenian parents who migrated to the United States, Elisa (née Jamgochian) and Hovsep “Joseph” B. Ignatius (original last name – Ignatosian). Ignatius currently resides in Washington, D.C.

He has two sons, one of which, David Ignatius, is a columnist for the Washington Post, as well as a novelist. Another son, Adi Ignatius, is editor in chief of Harvard Business Review.

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BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Grammy Nominee Lexington composer Hayg Boyadjian’s composition Armenian Suite will be performed at a concert Sunday, August 25, at 1:30 p.m. at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church, Binghamton, by violinist Armen Boyajian and pianist Pej Reitz. They will also perform works by Komitas as well as Armenian folk melodies.

The event is to honor Bishop Daniel Findikyan, who was recently elected Primate for the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America.

Reitz and Boyajian are both Binghamton, N.Y. natives and attended Binghamton University. Reitz also studied at Boston University and the New England Conservatory of Music; Boyajian attended the Eastman School of Music.

Reitz has accompanied at concerts in the US, Great Britain, Austria, and South America and is on the faculty at Binghamton University and Ithaca College.

Boyajian is also a jazz pianist and founded Air Apparent in 1979 in Washington, DC, performing at Blues Alley, Carter Barron Amphitheatre, New York City, Baltimore, Augusta, Ga. and Charlotte, NC.

Boyadjian’s Armenian Suite was first written as a commissioned work for trombone and piano. The composer then realized that the work had potential for different versions for different instruments, as the present one for violin and piano, including one for symphonic orchestra which became recorded on CD, “Opus One CD #198”.

The suite uses a set of Armenian folk melodies (songs and dances). Twelve melodies are quoted, either in full, or in part, or with minor changes. All the melodies are single voiced and the composer’s duty was to add harmony to them and work out musical material for transitions from one melody to the next, taking into account the changes in tonality, rhythm and tempo. The melodies range from the religious (spiritual), to the patriotic, to the idyllic (shepherd’s song), to the nostalgic (The Crane), to the happy dance (Tamzara).

Regarding the suite the composer wrote; “Armenian folk music is like most eastern music, often modal (especially the Dorian mode), or in a minor key, sometimes combining two minor keys. These melodies often use complex and uneven meters in their rhythms. My task was to make a coherent whole of this diverse material. Since my musical training as a composer has been in the tradition of western music, I decided, and found interesting to combine the eastern and the western musical traditions in the melodic and harmonic language of this suite.”

The concert is free.

The post Concert to Honor New Diocesan Primate appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

Ingredients:

1 cup medium or coarse bulgur

2 or 3 medium peaches (or nectarines), diced or cut into wedges

1 medium green, red or yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped

1 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

1/2 cup green scallions, white and green portions, chopped

1/2 medium chopped red onion (or 1 small chopped yellow onion)

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese, optional

1/2 cup chopped mint leaves

1/2 cup olive oil and juice of 2 lemons, to taste

1 1/4 cups boiling water

Salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika, and cumin, to taste

1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil

1 head romaine lettuce or Bibb lettuce or Belgian endive, sliced avocado, chopped mint as garnish

Preparation:

Place bulgur in a medium bowl and cover with the boiling water.  Top with a plate or plastic wrap and let sit for 15-20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. If any liquid is leftover, strain it out. Let bulgur cool while you prep the rest of the salad.

In a serving bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika, cumin, and basil.

When bulgur is cooled, add it to the serving bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients and the dressing already in the bowl.

Garnish with lettuce leaves, avocado and mint, and drizzle with olive oil.  Top with paprika, if desired.

*Substitute fresh shallots for red onions in this recipe, and try a pomegranate dressing instead of olive oil and lemon juice.

Pomegranate Dressing

Ingredients:

1/2 cup olive oil, or a little more

4 tablespoons pomegranate molasses

3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup

2-3 tablespoons water

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/4 teaspoon salt, to taste

1/8 teaspoon pepper

Chopped toasted walnuts or pecans as garnish

Arils from 1 pomegranate as garnish

Preparation:

Put all ingredients (except walnuts and pomegranate arils) in a blender; blend on low speed and gradually increase to high. Continue blending for 30-60 seconds until dressing is smooth.  Toss salad with dressing and garnish with walnuts and pomegranate arils.  Serve extra dressing on the side.

Christine’s recipes have been published in the Fresno Bee newspaper, Sunset magazine, Cooking Light magazine, and at http://www.thearmeniankitchen.com/

The post Bulgur, Mint and Peach Salad appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

BOSTON — Many who work and live nearby and beyond visit Armenian Heritage Park on the Greenway often. Many walk the labyrinth daily or enjoy quiet moments on a bench. Most all they marvel at the Abstract Sculpture’s annual configuration, its newest, dramatic sculptural shape and read the inscription on the Reflecting Pool upon which the Abstract Sculpture sits. Visitors are from all over the world, and those who come to Boston to visit the Park.

Summer programs at the park are also engaging all ages, coming together on common ground. Upcoming events include Under the August Moon on Thursday, August 22 at 7:30 p.m. promises to be a highlight again this summer.

Hosted by anoush’ella co-owners, Chef Nina and Raffi Festekjian, also benefactors of the park, this evening under the August moonlight showcases their signature dishes.

“Their use of fresh, authentic ingredients can be detected in every bite of crave-worthy mezze,” states the Boston Globe.

The evening also brings the chance to extend congratulations to the Festekjians for the opening of anoush’ella in two new locations — Time Out Market Boston near Fenway Park and 1205 Market Street in Lynnfield. Their original location at 35 Newton Street, Boston is a South End favorite.

The moonlit evening also features an All-Star Jazz Trio, courtesy of the Berklee College of Music. RSVP is appreciated; email hello@ArmenianHeritagePark.org.

Another summer favorite is Tea & Tranquility on Wednesday, August 14 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Many enjoy the monthly program to meet and greet, enjoy MEM Ice Teas and desserts, walk the labyrinth and get to know one another. RSVP is appreciated;  email, hello@ArmenianHeritagePark.org.

Exciting planning is also underway for Celebrating the Contributions of Our Nation’s Immigrants! a gala benefit on Wednesday, September 18 at the InterContinental Hotel, Boston. Funds raised support the Park’s Endowed Fund for Care & Maintenance to ensure that the park is impeccably cared for and maintained year-round. A distinguished group of philanthropic and corporate and community leaders are attending, the gala honoring Dr. Noubar Afeyan, founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering, The benefit shines a light on the park and Afeyan’s outstanding leadership and philanthropy. At his suggestion, organizations serving immigrants and refugees will be recognized during the evening. Benefactors of the Park from the outset, Anna and Noubar Afeyan have endowed the Park’s Fund for Programs which annually supports the genocide commemoration and the Welcome Reception for New Citizens, Their Families & Friends at the Park following their Naturalization Ceremony at historic Faneuil Hall. Advance reservations are required. To receive an invitation, email hello@ArmenianHeritage.org with your mailing address.

Programs at the Park are planned by an exceptional team, providing key leadership and include Armine Afeyan, Kristin Asadourian, Jason Behrens, Alexis Demirjan, Susan Deranian, Tom Dow, Manneh Ghazarians, Carol Ishkanian, Martha Mensoian, Catherine Minassian, Dr. Armineh Mirzabegian, Tsoleen Sarian, Barbara Tellalian, Chiara Megighian Zenati, Arlette Yegumians, Ann Zacarian, and Zareh Zurabyan with many others joining the team planning specific programs and initiatives. The commitment and dedication of many volunteers involved in implementing these programs add immeasurably to the program’s success as do all who join us.

The post Armenian Heritage Park on the Greenway: Coming Together on Common Ground appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

YEREVAN – Technovation Armenia 2019 held its award ceremony in June. This was the third year of this program organized in Armenia by the Women and Information Society NGO and the National Institute of Education in Armenia. It allows schoolgirls to create mobile applications addressing social issues in their communities. Since 2017, over 122 such apps have been developed by program participants, and over 242 teams from villages, towns and cities from all provinces of Armenia have participated, using the App Inventor program developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The under-representation of women in information and communications technology (ICT), especially in managerial positions and decision-making processes in Armenia is clear. The Woman and Information Society NGO works to change that through education in all of Armenia’s provinces. Its founder and president Narine Abazian declared, “We do not have the right to lose the talent of women in ICT. Women’s empowerment in ICT guarantees women’s financial stability, which serves the prosperity of the country.” Her NGO initiated Technovation Armenia in 2017. Technovation is the world’s largest technology entrepreneurship competition for schoolgirls. Its introduction to Armenia granted girls a chance to reveal their potential using MIT’s online program.

Technovation Armenia produced success stories, even during the first year of the program. In 2017, the One Step Ahead girls’ team from the Vahan Tekeyan School in Karbi village (which is one of the five schools in Armenia and Artsakh supported by the Sponsor a Teacher Program of the Tekeyan Cultural Association of the United States and Canada) received the international grand prize for its Armenian sign language application in the category of education, and was invited to Silicon Valley to participate in the international awards ceremony.

The next year, in 2018, one of the semifinalist teams, Codice Puellis, was nominated as a winner in the Sevan Startup Summit 2018 for the app “1 of U,” which was created for children with autism. Afterwards, the team became the European Youth Award 2018 Finalist.

In Technovation Armenia 2019, 420 schoolgirls and 93 mentors were registered from all over Armenia, forming 91 teams. Of these, 51 teams reached the semi-final phase in Armenia. There were four winning senior teams, sponsored by the company Service Titan, and three junior teams, sponsored by Synopsys Armenia. President of Synopsys Armenia, Technovation Armenia Good Will Ambassador Yervant Zorian and the Director of Synopsys Armenia CJSC and Chair of the Executive Board of the State Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA) Hovik Musayelyan congratulated the teams and handed them financial awards to further develop the mobile applications. All seven teams received participation tickets to the international competition.

The acting Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Armenia Robert Anderson greeted the participants of the ceremony and extended to them US Ambassador to Armenia Lynn M. Tracy’s message and best wishes to the program participants. Furthermore, Executive Director at UEICT (Union of Employers of Information and Communication Technologies) Edward Musayelyan in his greeting speech emphasized and valued highly the hard work performed by the teams and expressed his willingness to support the teams in the future through mentorship and counselling.

Together4Armenia and Raffi Simonian

In 2018, the Women and Information Society NGO received a grant from the European Union funded Bringing Real Impact with Diaspora and Global Engagement (Bridge4CSOs) launched by the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) to implement Technovation Armenia 2018 and became a Together4Armenia beneficiary.

Together4Armenia Armenian-American expert Raffi Simonian, with rich experience in Internet technology both as a programmer and a business management supervisor, has been collaborating with the Woman and Information Society NGO online. The latter’s president and founder, Narine Abazian, said that these discussions have been significant for the NGO. They led to Simonian joining the team of judges for Technovation Armenia 2019. In addition to evaluating the submission packages of the teams for the competition, he shared his experience and expertise with the teams for further development of their mobile applications.

The online discussions also laid the foundation for partnership with a large American company called Service Titan. The company was founded by American-Armenians Vahe Kuzoyan and Ara Mahdesyan and has become the world’s leading all-in-one software for home service businesses.

Partnership with Service Titan

The 2019 prizes were awarded by the head of Service Titan’s Armenia office Ashot Tonoyan. He delivered a message from his company’s co-founder Vahe Kuzoyan to all the participants and highlighted the importance of the Technovation program for Armenia. Kuzoyan in his video message shared his life experiences and encouraged the girls to challenge themselves and open up the magical world of technology. He said women should have their place in the development of their communities.

As Kuzoyan said in one of his interviews, “Our roots are in Armenia and it’s really important for us to not only have a presence here, but to invest in the community. Our intention is to contribute to the education of the labor force and provide opportunities so the best talent doesn’t have to leave the country.”

The Service Titan Armenia office expressed its readiness to mentor the teams by share=ing skills and practice with Technovation Armenia participants to empower and motivate them to pursue their career in the IT sector.

Kuzoyan hopes to create an environment and culture in Armenia that is an extension of Service Titan’s US operation, which provides competitive compensation and several benefits and perks to employees, and the dedication to helping people find long-lasting careers. Another goal is to help develop the Armenian tech workforce so the country does not suffer from a shortage of talent.

Technovation Armenia 2019 supporters

Technovation Armenia 2019 was financed by a grant from the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the US Department of State through the US Embassy in Yerevan and supported by the Service Titan company, Synopsis Armenia Company, Union of Employers of Information and Communication Technologies, the UN Office in Armenia, Unicomp Company, the American University of Armenia, Enterprise Incubator Foundation, Physmath school, Ararat bank, Volterman company and Onex company.

The post Technovation Armenia 2019 Program Concludes with Awards appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

By Deena Prichep

WASHIGTON (Washington Post) — It’s high summer — hamburger season. The char, the fat, the squishy perfection of processed bread sopping up the overflowing juices — doesn’t it somehow seem like Americans’ birthright?

But peel back the oil-spattered pages of history, and you’ll find that the sandwich so closely aligned with the stars and stripes was once also embraced by the hammer and sickle. (Yep, like so much about this current administration, even U.S. President Donald Trump’s beloved hamburgers have ties to Russia.) In the 1930s, when McDonald’s was just a greasy twinkle in Ray Kroc’s eye — he didn’t open his first McDonald’s until 1955 — the Soviet Union was a couple of decades out from its revolution and in the midst of industrialization and urbanization on a staggering scale. Tens of millions left the countryside for the cities as feudal farmers transformed into urban Soviet workers. And these workers needed to be fed.

In the centralized Soviet system, this task fell to the ministry of food — which was struggling. “The ideal was to make everything centralized, everything standardized,” explains University of Helsinki sociologist Jukka Gronow. “They had menus that were centrally planned, down to the very small details — so many grams of potatoes.”

At canteens, factory workers were fed meals that, on paper, sounded tasty. “They all had these three-course meals: zakuski (appetizer), soup, main dish. And even a dessert,” Gronow says. “A French style of dining.”

But we’re not talking soufflés and cheese courses. The soup might be little more than cabbage, the main dish perhaps macaroni. “Workers were complaining about the bad quality,” says Gronow. “So many weekdays without meat.”

The food commissars knew they had to improve their centralized system. And so, in 1936, Anastas Mikoyan, the ministry’s head, took a delegation to America, to learn how Ford’s conveyor-belt approach and emerging technology could streamline food production. According to Irina Glushchenko, a professor at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics University, the three-month tour included “ice cream, soft drinks and beer factories, a factory for freezing ducks, a factory for the production of powdered milk and fruit juices, poultry farms and the famous Chicago slaughterhouses.”

Mikoyan and his delegation loved it all. Dispatches home had the feel of a fairy tale, with poetic descriptions of the order and standardization. They took notes on how to replicate the drumbeat of industrial capitalism, except without the capitalists. And they especially loved hamburgers.

“For Mikoyan, hamburgers obviously became the most powerful shock in his entire trip,” Glushchenko explains, citing the loving mentions of American machine-made burgers in Mikoyan’s memoirs. In the steaming burgers and buns churned out for sale in stadiums and parks, Mikoyan saw a solution to the food needs of the Soviet Union.

“Mikoyan shared Trump’s opinion of fast food. He was a great admirer,” Gronow says, laughing. “If the war hadn’t broken out in 1941 (when the USSR entered the Second World War), we would have a chain of McMikoyan’s.”

In his memoirs, Mikoyan recalls ordering 25 American machines that could produce two million hamburgers per day. Historian Pavel Syutkin notes that by October 1937, the Mikoyan meat-processing plant was already working toward this goal, daily churning out more than 400,000 patties.

But ask anyone from the former Soviet Union about Soviet hamburgers today, and they’ll look confused. Because, for the most part, burger did not meet bun until McDonald’s opened in Moscow in 1990 — about two years before (and perhaps heralding) the end of the Soviet Union.

Yes, Mikoyan cutlets, or kotleti, were churned out en masse. Syutkin notes the original recipe “was a complete analogue of the American hamburger,” featuring minced meat and seasoning. But it quickly took on a distinctly Soviet character. Instead of disk-shaped patties, the Mikoyan factory eventually produced ones that were rounder with tapered ends, like footballs. And most strikingly, they were served sans bun, as bread crumbs were introduced into the patty itself as filler.

“You can say that the Soviet mass-produced cutlet swallowed up the American hamburger and devoured it,” Glushchenko jokes.

The result, whose taste has been likened more to meat loaf than a Big Mac, was served in the stolovaya (Soviet cafeteria), and sold in stores frozen, using the blast-chilling that had so impressed Mikoyan during his American trip. This, in turn, made it a Soviet weeknight staple.

Actress Yelena Shmulenson, who grew up in Soviet Ukraine, says her American husband calls kotleti “Soviet meatball,” and laments that she doesn’t make them for holidays. Others have less fond feelings toward Mikoyan’s creation. Sociologist Asya Tsaturyan, who grew up in Moscow, recalls the “horrendous smell” of her cafeteria kotleti. Twenty years later, she remains best friends with the Grade 2 classmate who volunteered to eat her portion so that Tsaturyan wouldn’t run afoul of her teachers for wasting food.

Author Boris Fishman, who left the USSR as a child in 1988, says that while the distinctions between burgers and kotleti are not huge, the meaning behind them can be.

“Has a single, instantaneous kitchen manoeuvre ever accounted for more distance between two places, two selves?” Fishman wrote in an email. “I’m talking about the patty-flattening that turns a kotleta (humped, sturdy, as Soviet as living with Grandma) into a hamburger (backyards, ball games, ‘Amurka’). Eating a burger (with my hands), I feel diffusely American, a little coarse, faddish. But eating a kotleta (with knife and fork), I feel … like that grandmother’s grandson.”

Fishman isn’t the only one who has come to love the food of his babushka. Russians can now dine in retro canteen-style restaurants serving up Soviet nostalgia — and kotleti. Who knows what Mikoyan would think of that.

The post McDonald’s Might Have Been McMikoyan’s, if Not for a World War appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

YEREVAN — Armenia Tree Project (ATP) and the American University of Armenia (AUA) Acopian Center for the Environment, organizers of an upcoming global forestry conference in Yerevan, Armenia, announced this week the event’s keynote lecturer, Dr. Anthony S. Davis, interim dean and professor at the College of Forestry at Oregon State University. The three-day conference will bring leading minds in forestry to Armenia’s capital for discussion, education, and networking.

Davis will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural Forest Summit: Global Action and Armenia on Tuesday, October 22, and will press participants to consider the opportunities that exist in Armenia and around the world to use science-based practices in advancing forest restoration, conservation, and management for multiple values. His background in working at the local level to develop best practices in seedling production, tree planting, and long-term management builds on a global suite of experiences that can inform management and policy decisions in Armenia’s forest sector.

“It’s with great enthusiasm that I prepare to share my learnings and experience with the attendees of the inaugural Forest Summit,” says Davis, who has been working on forest restoration and tree planting with several organizations in Armenia including ATP. “It’s an honor to be able to share my passion with so many like-minded professionals, and to do it in a country that has made a commitment to double its forest cover by 2050. This conference comes at a critical time for forest health worldwide. More than ever we are cognizant of the wide-ranging values forests provide – as a sink for carbon, a source of renewable materials, and habitat for critical wildlife including the Caucasian Leopard. I look forward to participating in this dialogue.”

Davis serves as the chief executive of the College of Forestry at Oregon State University, which is broadly recognized as one of the world’s leading forestry research, teaching, and extension institutions. Under his leadership, the Corvallis, Oregon-based College of Forestry crafts research projects with various constituencies around the globe to expand forest-driven economies, steward forest resources, and to translate new discoveries into tools and techniques that can be used to advance livelihoods and sustain ecosystems.

With three days of discussion and collaborative dialogue on the conservation and reforestation efforts much needed in Armenia and countries across the world, Forest Summit: Global Action and Armenia will offer field visits to Dilijan National Park and ATP’s reforestation nursery and forest plantings in Margahovit Village, as well as social and networking opportunities.

In addition to hosting the conference in October, Armenia Tree Project will celebrate the planting of its six millionth tree in Armenia this fall. For more information about the conference, AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, or Armenia Tree Project, please visit http://forestsummit.am.

The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, a research center of the American University of Armenia (AUA), promotes the protection and restoration of the natural environment through research, education, and community outreach. The AUA Acopian Center’s focus areas include sustainable natural resource management, biodiversity and conservation, greening the built environment, clean energy, and energy efficiency, as well as information technology and the environment. Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, and affiliated with the University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and the region, offering high-quality graduate and undergraduate studies, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic values.

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SAN FRANCISCO — A group of student startup entrepreneurs from the Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) of the American University of Armenia (AUA) recently returned from a ten-day tour of Silicon Valley. The students were able to experience the global center of technology, innovation, investment, and social media, meet with cutting-edge technology companies, network with other entrepreneurs, and participate in workshops and seminars with world leaders in sectors such as business and the tech ecosystem. This trip, made possible through funding by EPIC benefactor Sara Chitjian, was immensely enlightening and students returned with new ideas and inspiration for their projects and businesses.

During this tour, the group visited high-profile, cutting-edge companies such as Google, Amazon, Facebook, PayPal and Nvidia as well as fast-emerging companies like Doordash, Eat Club, EyeQue, Pinterest, and Parkstash. They also had meetings at Silicon Valley’s leading startup incubators, including UC Berkeley SkyDeck and Draper University. Company visits were complemented by lectures and presentations on personal and professional growth, developing an entrepreneurial mindset, and starting a business. The students were housed at San Jose State University and many of the business presentations also were hosted by the university.

The impact of the trek on AUA students was apparent. “The Silicon Valley trip was truly a life-changing experience,” said AUA 2019 graduate and Breedge co-founder Liana Hakobyan.

“The trek overall was an exceptional experience for all of us,” said Irina Tirosyan (CSE ‘19). “Attending lectures, meeting new startups, and learning more about top companies were especially helpful in shaping our entrepreneurial mindset and exposing us to innovation. Such opportunities come once in a lifetime.”

During a visit to PayPal, the students were introduced to PayPal’s Innovation Incubator and were introduced to the latest FinTech innovation. Participants visited Pinterest where the Senior Vice President of Engineering Jeremy King, who also is the former chief technology officer of Walmart, shared the stages of his journey and how Pinterest came to be. A highlight of the trip included a visit to Google, where the students were introduced to their disruptive technologies, including self-driving cars, the inner workings of Google Search, and how Google uses machine learning in Google Cloud.

There were also visits to Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley. At Berkeley, the students discussed startup ecosystems and the potential within Armenia with Dr. AnnaLee Saxenian, the dean of the School of Information. The group also visited the Amazon fulfillment center, where they witnessed the robot-enabled automated workflow of the center. Perhaps most eye-opening was a discussion and demonstration at Nvidia, where the company’s stunning vision of the future for artificial intelligence, machine learning, gaming, and visual computing – as well as the sophistication displayed by their innovation and technology – reinforced their position as an industry leader.

Another highlight of the trek was networking with the vast Armenian diaspora community within the Silicon Valley high technology and entrepreneurial scene. During company tours, the students were able to meet with numerous Armenian executives, technologists, and employees. HyeTech, an Armenian organization at the center of the San Francisco Bay Area technology community, hosted a reception for our student entrepreneurs to present their EPIC startups. The organization also facilitated discussion and networking at the Armenian-founded Vineti, Inc. office in San Francisco.

“At almost every company we visited, we heard the same advice: ‘think ten times,’ which meant setting targets that are ten times greater than what we believe is achievable. That way, we may not only get further than expected but might also come up with new solutions that we wouldn’t have thought of previously,” said Sona Sharoyan, founder of EPIC startup BeautyBook (BAB ‘19).

Raffi Sahakyan, a recent graduate of AUA’s College of Business and Economics, noted: “The Silicon Valley Industry Trek allowed me to investigate the corporate culture and work environment of companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook, Nvidia, and other industry leaders. During my four years of studies at AUA, we have read more than 100 case studies of these companies. Now, we can draw our conclusions on these cases. The experience gained during the trip has the full potential to be applied in the Armenian business reality.”

Throughout the trek, the students also heard lectures by San Jose State University professors on the differentiating aspects of Silicon Valley and insights on how to enter markets and accelerate the growth of companies. During topical presentations, the students were introduced to cutting edge developments in the fields of blockchain, artificial intelligence, smart mobility, the internet of things, and sharing economy.

“I cannot wait to go to Armenia and implement and share what I’ve learned,” remarked Alisa Chalakhyan (CBE ‘19). “This trip serves as a great motivation and inspiration for me, as well as helps me see my career growth clearer. In many ways it changed my life and my way of thinking. The experience and knowledge will hugely contribute to my personal and professional development.”

Besides business meetings, the students enriched their trip with leisure activities.

The Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) is a platform of the American University of Armenia (AUA) for promoting entrepreneurial education, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and startup venture incubation. EPIC provides an ecosystem for emerging entrepreneurs consisting of first-class facilities and collaborative workspace, programs and events, and a network of mentors, advisors, and investors. EPIC fosters the understanding and application of entrepreneurship in students and faculty at AUA to craft high-impact multidisciplinary ventures.

The post EPIC Entrepreneurs Travel to Silicon Valley appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.

LOS ANGELES (Metropolitan News-Enterprise) — Although the United States has never recognized that the Armenian Genocide occurred, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has found that it did take place, in 1915-23, but yesterday held that two 2010 lawsuits based on confiscation of property by the Ottoman Empire, now Turkey, are time-barred, despite a California statute of limitation setting a 2016 deadline for court actions.

The opinion, by Circuit Judge Andrew D. Hurwitz, affirms the dismissal of suits brought by two sets of descendants of genocide victims against two Turkish national banks, seeking imposition of constructive trusts on real property that was seized and an accounting in connected with looted assets.

Also sued was the Republic of Turkey, but only the dismissal as to the banks was appealed.

That dismissal occurred in 2013, with District Court Judge Dolly Gee of the Central District of California declaring that the question of whether the genocide took place was a non-justiciable “inherently political question.” She did not determine whether the actions were timely.

Attorneys’ React

The decision on August 7 evoked angered responses from attorneys for the plaintiffs.

Kathryn Lee Boyd of the downtown Los Angeles firm of Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht — representing three persons whose ancestors allegedly owned 122.5 acres of land that was confiscated—commented:

“It is a sad day for Armenian Americans when a U.S. court has stripped them of all access to justice, refused to consider or even recognize the extenuating circumstances of the Armenian Genocide, and left them with no remedy against Turkey, which continues to hold and use their stolen property with impunity.”

She said that the Ninth Circuit’s recognition that the holocaust did take place “is of significance” but remarked that the court failed to consider that the official nonrecognition “would be an extenuating circumstance and tolling event under federal and state law.”

Mark Geragos of the firm of Geragos & Geragos, also in downtown Los Angeles—who represents the other set of plaintiffs—asserted:

“The Turkish Lobby has bought and paid for the United States Executive Branch and State Department for decades. Sadly the Judicial branch is left with very few options to remedy the blatant mendacity of the Turkish lobbying machine.”

Turkey insists the genocide did not occur.

Hurwitz’s Opinion

Hurwitz said it did. He wrote:

“From 1915 to 1923. in what is often referred to as the Armenian Genocide, the Ottoman Empire massacred, forcibly expelled, or marched to death 1.5 million of its Armenian citizens, seizing the property of the dead and deported. In 2010, the plaintiffs in these consolidated actions, United States residents descended from victims of The Genocide, sued the Republic of Turkey and two Turkish national banks, seeking compensation for property taken from their ancestors almost a century ago.”

In 2006, the California Legislature enacted S.B. 1524, authored by then-Sen. Jackie Speier (now a member of the U.S. House of Representatives). Codified as Code of Civil Procedure §354.45, it provides:

“Any action, including any pending action brought by an Armenian Genocide victim, or the heir or beneficiary of an Armenian Genocide victim, who resides in this state, seeking payment for, or the return of, deposited assets, or the return of looted assets, shall not be dismissed for failure to comply with the applicable statute of limitation, if the action is filed on or before December 31, 2016.”

The plaintiffs proceeded to sue in 2010 based on that legislation.

2012 Decision

Hurwitz pointed to the Ninth Circuit’s 2012 decision in Movsesian v. Victoria Versicherung AG which invalidated a 2000 statute extending the time for bringing certain insurance claims based on the Armenian Genocide. In an opinion for the court, sitting en banc, Circuit Judge Susan P. Graber said the statute was preempted under the foreign affairs doctrine.

In the opinion filed yesterday, Hurwitz wrote:

“Our decision in Movsesian, issued while this litigation was ongoing, foreordained the ultimate outcome of the plaintiffs’ claims: they are time-barred. A ruling on these complex jurisdictional issues would thus in effect be an advisory opinion, because this case plainly cannot go forward even if there is jurisdiction.”

There was, he proclaimed, no equitable tolling, explaining:

“We have no doubt that The survivors of the Ottoman Empire’s atrocities experienced enormous hardships after The seizure of their property. Indeed, we take as true the allegations in the operative complaints that it “was impossible for Plaintiffs’ predecessors to seek compensation for their stolen property or focus on anything but rebuilding their lives.” But. these suits are brought not by the victims of the Armenian Genocide, but rather by residents of the United States long removed from its carnage, many of whose predecessors relocated to this country decades ago. And the current plaintiffs do not allege any attempts to pursue these claims judicially prior to 2010.”

Hurwitz noted that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (“FSIA”) became law in 1976. It sets forth exceptions to state immunity establishes procedures for suing a foreign government.

He wrote:

“It is possible that the plaintiffs believed that any suit against The Republic of Turkey or its instrumentalities would have been futile until 1976….But, even if we assume that the plaintiffs’ claims were equitably tolled until 1976, the plaintiffs do not explain why they should be tolled a further twenty-four years. Thus, even under the most charitable of assumptions, as the California legislature expressly recognized in passing § 354.45, the plaintiffs’ claims against the Banks are time-barred.”

The case is Bakalian v. Central Bank of Turkey, 13-55804.

Neil Michael Soltman of Mayer Brown LLP, who argued for the banks, did not respond to a request for comment

The post Ninth Circuit: Claims Based on Armenian Genocide Not Revived by Statute appeared first on The Armenian Mirror-Spectator.