1- Commentary
How Not to Run a Government,
And Get Dethroned by the People
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2- Republican Party About-Face Could Mean Victory for Pashinyan
3- Tankian Travels to Yerevan to Support Armenian People, Nikol Pashinyan
5- Kardash Onnig to Discuss 'I & Death’ at Abril May 19
6- 3E Event emphasizes inspiration, empowerment and healing
By Ruth Sowby Rands
7- Holy Cross to Host Armenian Food Fair & Festivalt
8- Armenian American Medical Society Celebrates 33 Years Of Service
9- Marderosian Receives Rave Reviews for West Side Story
10- Scientist Nerses Krikorian, who worked at A-Bomb lab has died
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1 – Commentary
How Not to Run a Government,
And Get Dethroned by the People
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
The recent events in Armenia surprised and impressed both Armenians and non-Armenians worldwide because a leader thought to be irreplaceable by his supporters was replaced by a newcomer without any violence or bloodshed. Furthermore, what is taking place in Armenia is much more than unseating a particular leader. A regime entrenched for two decades was overthrown almost overnight!
To understand what took place in the last few weeks in Armenia we need to go back to 1991, the date of Armenia’s independence from the Soviet Union. Since then, Armenia has had three presidents, none who cared about the people and ruled the nation democratically. Power was concentrated in their hands as well as the military leadership and oligarchic clans.
While a handful of autocrats sat at the top of the pyramid of power, the overwhelming majority of the people were deprived of the basic necessities of survival, such as food, clothing, medicine, and of course, money. In the past quarter of a century, over a million Armenians left the homeland and resettled wherever they could find a job and feed their families. Many of those who could not leave barely survived on funds sent by relatives and friends overseas.
Under these pitiful circumstances, the anger and resentment of the population against the authorities, particularly the head of state, kept on rising. In addition to abject poverty, people suffered because of corruption, fraudulent elections, unfair courts, unemployment, censorship and periodic police brutality. While those who had the means to get a visa and purchase airline tickets emigrated from Armenia, the rest were forced to keep their mouth shut and put up with the difficult conditions.
Every now and then there were public protests either challenging fraudulent elections or unbearable living conditions, but the police were able to quell the unrest by beating and arresting the demonstrators. The most violent incident took place in March 2008 when 10 people were shot and killed for challenging the election of Pres. Serzh Sargsyan.
While Pres. Sargsyan and his predecessor, Pres. Robert Kocharyan, remained oblivious to the deplorable conditions of the public, their dissatisfaction, resentment and anger against the authorities kept growing. These heads of state, surrounded by aides who kept heaping praise on them and reassuring them that everything was marvelous in the country, remained unaware of the public’s miserable situation.
Over the past 27 years, during hundreds of hours I spent privately in meetings with the three successive Presidents of Armenia, I brought to their attention the various problems existing in the country, from corrupt aides and government ministers to unfair court judgments based on bribery, fraudulent elections, etc. These Presidents told me that they were hearing about these issues for the first time. Very few people had the courage to bring them to their attention.
I dared to tell Pres. Kocharyan to his face that Armenia’s population hated him. He disagreed with me, but I insisted, challenging him to stand one night in a street corner disguised in a hat and overcoat and ask passers by what they thought of the President. I warned him that he would hear very abusive comments.
I also recall telling Pres. Sargsyan on the eve of his first election not to ignore the common people and not to appear on TV at weddings of wealthy oligarchs and the ribbon-cutting of their businesses. I suggested that he make a surprise visit once a month to the home of a poor family without his aides and bodyguards, and inquire about the family’s employment, income, and health—to show that he cared about the poor people who were the majority of the country. Unfortunately, he did not once make such a visit.
I also told Pres. Sargsyan that he should appoint an independent group of advisers from wise and experienced individuals who were not government employees. They would be able to give him their honest advice without any fear of getting fired. Regrettably, this suggestion was also ignored.
To make matters worse, the public never forgot or forgave Pres. Sargsyan for the killing by the Police of 10 protesters in 2008—and with each fraudulent election and continuing economic misery, their frustration increased. When the constitution was being modified in 2015, Pres. Sargsyan reassured the people that he had no intention of staying in power in 2018 when his second term of presidency would be over. Most people did not believe him and suspected that he would remain in office, switching from the ceremonial President’s chair to become the all-powerful Prime Minister, under the new constitution. During a private meeting in 2016, I remember asking Pres. Sargsyan if he planned to go home at the end of his term, as he had promised. I was alarmed when he said that he would make a decision based on the results of the 2017 parliamentary elections.
Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of the people, despite their suspicions, were counting the days and hours for the end of Pres. Sargsyan’s term in office. When the Republican Party’s majority in Parliament elected him to become the new Prime Minister last month, the citizens could no longer control their anger. Tens of thousands of people came out in the streets, led by opposition Parliament member Nikol Pashinyan to vent their frustration.
Fortunately, the massive outpouring of anger was kept in check by Pashinyan’s constant exhortation not to commit any violence and to respect the Police forces. A series of blunders by Prime Minister Sargsyan and his Republican Party members in Parliament followed, when Sargsyan met with Pashinyan and walked out after three minutes. In a few hours, despite his Parliamentary immunity, Pashinyan was arrested and kept in an undisclosed location by the Police, turning him into a greater hero. Due to escalating protests, Pashinyan was released from incarceration, and unexpectedly, Prime Minister Sargsyan announced his resignation, confessing: “I was wrong, Nikol was right.”
On May 1, the Parliament met to elect a new Prime Minister. After a lengthy deliberation, the Republican Party majority almost unanimously voted against Pashinyan’s candidacy. On May 2, the crowds blocked all major streets, highways, and paralyzed the trains, subways and the road to and from the Yerevan airport. The following day, the Republican Party officially announced that it will not block Pashinyan’s planned election on May 8 as Prime Minister. At the time of writing this column on May 7, barring any surprising developments, Pashinyan is expected to be elected Prime Minister by the Parliament.
Pashinyan’s election probably would not resolve Armenia’s multiple problems. In the following 15 days, he will select his Cabinet of Ministers and present his government’s agenda to the Parliament for approval. There will be then a lengthy debate on amending the election laws, followed by new Parliamentary elections in several months. Despite the transformation in leadership, Armenia will continue to suffer from blockades by Turkey and Azerbaijan and the military conflict involving Artsakh.
We have to wait and see whom Pashinyan will appoint to key ministerial posts as Foreign and Defense Ministers. What kind of compromises will be made between Pashinyan’s minority members and the Republican Party’s majority in the Parliament while changing the election laws? Only then new parliamentary elections will be held. Assuming the new elections will be fair and properly supervised by the new government, it remains to be seen if Pashinyan’s party and his supporting parties will gain the majority in Parliament. The good news is that all of these developments have been taking place in line with the constitution, under pressure from the newly-awakened Armenian public-at-large.
Finally, the most important issue now is that the thousands of newly empowered young people, who came out to the streets demanding a more democratic state with a great degree of enthusiasm and emotion, should not be disappointed. Armenia cannot afford to lose its youth which are the future of the country!
Everyone in Armenia and the Diaspora should do everything in their power to ensure stability, peace and prosperity in Armenia under its new leadership. **************************************************************************************************
2- Republican Party About-Face Could Mean Victory for Pashinyan
(Combined Sources)—At the time The California Courier went to print on May 7, it was highly anticipated that Nikol Pashinyan would be selected on May 8 as Interim Prime Minister by Armenia’s National Assembly under the new constitution. Our coverage of this story will continue next week.
On May 7, the executive body of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) met to discuss the May 8 prime ministerial elections in the country. This was followed by a meeting of the RPA parliamentary faction. RPA spokesperson, Eduard Sharmazanov announced that the RPA parliamentary faction will supply the votes necessary for Nikol Pashinyan’s election to the post of prime minister on May 8. Pashinyan already has 45 signatures in his support—53 votes are needed for his election.
Parliament’s first attempt to elect a prime minister on May 1 after the resignation of Serzh Sargsyan on April 23, was unsuccessful after the ruling RPA voted against Pashinyan, who was nominated by the Yelk Bloc and supported by the Tsarukyan Alliance and the ARF (with the exception of one member).
According to Armenia’s Constitution, a second attempt to elect a prime minister must take place within 7 days and the MP who has the support of one-third of members becomes an official candidate. Pashinyan was able to secure the necessary signatures. The RPA has said that they will support the person who has one-third support. There have been some signals that the party might allow a ‘free’ vote.
If parliament is not able to elect a PM, then parliament is dissolved and the country must prepare for snap elections no less than 30 and no more than 45 days after the failed vote.
On May 7, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) announced it will not seek any ministerial posts, and that Armenuhi Kyureghyan would replace ousted ARF member and parliamentarian Aghvan Vardanyan. In a press briefing on May 7, ARF parliamentary faction leader and head of the party’s political affairs Armen Rustamyan said that the ARF will, however, help the new government implement its new plan.
“We do not expect to be in Pashinyan’s government, but we also do not want his government to fail,” Rustamyan told journalists. “That is why we will show [the government] our support. We will not leave him [Pashinyan] alone and will do our best to make [his government] succeed, since that would mean the success of the people’s movement.”
Rustamyan then noted that Armenia’s parliamentary system of government should continue to develop and become further decentralized. “The powers of the prime minister should be limited,” Rustamyan said.
Rustamyan also noted that the new government should employ a new personnel policy, so that government posts are given to those most qualified. “There should be no feeling that one group of oligarchs is being replaced by another. Oligarchs have no place in parliament—let alone in government—where there is a direct clash of interests,” Rustamyan added.
When asked about the snap elections, which Pashinyan has said he will call, Rustamyan noted that the election must be called in a timely fashion, but that they should not be viewed as an end in itself.
“Certain steps must be taken to ensure that the [validity of the] elections are not doubted or put into question. First and foremost, the Electoral Code should be changed and monitoring equipment should be put in all polling stations to avoid vote duplication,” he said.
In regards to the future government’s foreign policy, Rustamyan noted that major changes should not be made, since certain policy shifts could end up putting the country in what he called “serious jeopardy.” All foreign affairs decisions, he said, must be in line with commitments Armenia has already undertaken.
During his press conference, Rustamyan also announced that Armenuhi Kyureghyan will take Aghvan Vardanyan’s place as a secretary of the ARF parliamentary faction.
The ARF Supreme Council of Armenia announced on May 4 that former ARF Member of Parliament Aghvan Vardanyan had been dismissed from the party. The announcement came a day after Vardanyan officially resigned from his parliamentary post, following the ARF Supreme Council’s call for his resignation on May 1.
In his address to Armenia’s National Assembly on May 1, Vardanyan said that he would not vote for Pashinyan even though the ARF had announced that it would be supporting the opposition leader’s candidacy.
Vardanyan noted in his address that he was willing to step down from his parliamentary post for rejecting the party line
“The ARF Supreme Council of Armenia announces that ARF parliamentary faction member Aghvan Vardanyan’s decision was a personal one, which is not in line with the ARF’s official stance,” read a part of the announcement released by the Supreme Council shortly after Vardanyan’s remarks. “There has been a gross violation of [party] discipline, which will be investigated. Accordingly, the ARF Supreme Council of Armenia calls for Aghvan Vardanyan to step down from his parliamentary post.”
On May 5, Pashinyan pledged to resign as prime minister if conditions for holding democratic election are created.
“When I see that there are full-fledged conditions for holding truly democratic, legitimate and transparent elections, I will resign,” Pashinyan told reporters.
Pashinyan also noted that there are several options for the composition of the future government, and the choice of options depends on the political situation.
“We will try to form a government of consent,” Pashinyan said.
On May 3, President Armen Sarkissian gave a statement praising the “logical conclusion” of “democratic developments evolving in the country”—indicating the RPA’s agreement to vote for Pashinyan on May 8. Sarkissian also highlighted the international attention the movement has brought the country, and hailed the “decisive role of our bright youth.” Sarkissian did not, however, explicitly recognize Pashinyan and his impending premiership.
On May 2, Pashinyan met with Russian Ambassador Ivan Volinkin, U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills, EU Ambassador Piotr Switalski, and Georgian Ambassador Giorgi Sakanelitse. Pashinyan said that they spoke about a number of agreements that had been reached for the resolution of the country’s political crisis.
Following the resignation of Serzh Sargsyan on April 23, acting Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan held his final session of government where he thanked the cabinet members for their consolidated efforts and advised that they must continue carrying out the functions of their office until a new government was formed.
After the failed first vote, Pashinyan addressed a massive crowd of more than 150,000 people in Republic Square. “What happened today was unprecedented for the movement. There were no open roads in the Republic of Armenia. Since morning the airport was closed completely. In Armenia people think they should trust or mistrust this or that politician. But the result of this movement was that people learned to trust themselves. Believe in yourselves and you will win,” said Pashinyan. ***************************************************************************************************
3 – Tankian Travels to Yerevan to Support Armenian People, Nikol Pashinyan
At the time The California Courier went to print on May 7, it was highly anticipated that Nikol Pashinyan would be selected on May 8 as Interim Prime Minister by Armenia’s National Assembly under the new constitution. Our coverage of this story will continue next week.
On May 7, world-renowned musician Serj Tankian arrived in Armenia in a show of support for the Velvet Revolution that swept across the country throughout the last month. Hundreds were at Zvartnots International Airport to greet him and thousands more lined the streets into Yerevan.
He arrived in Republic Square with opposition leader and candidate for the office of prime minister Nikol Pashinyan.
“My beloved, victorious people of free, independent and happy Armenia, I’m sorry I was late physically but believe me I was with you in spirit and not only me, all of the diaspora. I want to thank you because you were able to create an Armenia that will be the pride of the nation. For years, the world knew us through Genocide, earthquake and war but with this you raised Armenia’s international rating. It was the power of love that overcame all negative forces but first you overcame your own fear and indifference and found your unity and you found your power in that unity,” said Tankian.
“I, too, have been dreaming of this day and am proud to be standing here today. They would often tell me: “Come to Armenia and 100,000 will follow you – but my answer was the same, when the people are ready they will stand up and will not need me or anyone else. I bow before you, I’m here to support you in building the homeland of our dreams. I want to congratulate Nikol and all the young people who were able to turn hopelessness into positive energy. Now we enter a stage of patience, we should continue our work because the road to justice is not paved through a couple of victories.
Nikol Pashinyan also addressed the thousands in Republic Square. “Happiness is the most important thing and from now on there should never be a lack of happiness, pride and power in the Republic of Armenia. Long live the powerful citizen of Armenia and the Armenian nation here and in the Diaspora,” he said.
Pashinyan reminded that he already has official verification that the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, the Yelk Bloc, the Tsarukyan Alliance and a number of deputies from the Republican Party of Armenia will vote for him. He said there is a 95 percent chance that he would become prime minister of Armenia.
“People ask, we have work, classes tomorrow, are we not going on strike? There will be no labor or student strike, I am simply announcing that tomorrow is a non-working day.
This is the hour of victory of the Armenian citizen, the Armenian nation, the hour of national unity, the time of glory for the Republics of Artsakh and Armenia and we will gather here to celebrate this century defining victory,” said Pashinyan.
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4 – Fr. Daniel Findikyan Elected as Primate of the Eastern Diocese
The Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America entered a new era of leadership on Friday, May 4, 2018, when the 116th Diocesan Assembly elected the Very Reverend Fr. Daniel Findikyan as the new Diocesan Primate.
Pending the anticipated confirmation of His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Fr. Findikyan will serve as the 12th Primate of the Diocese, and the first in its 120-year history born in the United States of America.
Ordained as a celibate priest in 1997, and a noted international scholar of liturgics, Fr. Findikyan has served the church as dean of North America’s St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, and (currently) as director of the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center, the Eastern Diocese’s research and scholarship facility. He succeeds Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, at 28 years the longest serving Diocesan Primate.
The delegates of the 116th Diocesan Assembly voted on a slate of three candidates, which included Archbishop Vicken Aykazian (the Diocesan Legate and Ecumenical Director), the Very Reverend Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian (pastor of St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church of Wynnewood, PA), and Fr. Findikyan.
In their respective, brief remarks to the delegates prior to balloting on Friday morning, each of the candidates expressed warm brotherly regard for each other, and humble gratitude to be under consideration for the honor of serving as Primate. The same feelings of mutual respect and graciousness were expressed by all three after the result was announced.
Following the announcement of the election result, all the clergy present entered the assembly chamber in procession, leading the Primate elect—along with the other candidates and incumbent Primate Archbishop Barsamian—to the singing of the hymn “Ourakh Ler” (Be Joyful). In a moving ceremony, the clergy then approached Fr. Findikyan one by one to receive his blessing.
In his first address as Primate-elect, Fr. Findikyan told the delegates he was “enormously humbled and honored that you have chosen me to be your next Primate.”
He addressed warm thanks to Archbishop Aykazian, calling him “a father to me for decades,” from whom “I have learned, and will continue to learn, and I will need your help in the days ahead.”
He thanked Fr. Gulgulian—who served as Fr. Findikyan’s sponsor at his elevation to the rank of vartabed—for years of friendship, wished him many joyful years of his ministry, and asked for “many more years of joy-filled, brotherly counsel.”
Finally he thanked Archbishop Barsamian, who ordained Fr. Findikyan 21 years ago. He said to the outgoing Primate: “You have a large family of spiritual children, and I am honored to be one of those children. My prayer is that God will lead you to where He needs you, with the same fatherly love you’ve shown to this Diocese.”
Archbishop Barsamian in turn congratulated the Primate-elect, expressing his confidence in him “from the bottom of my heart. I will always be ready to help you any time you need me.”
Finally, Fr. Findikyan thanked the delegates, and through them the people of the Diocese. “I have infinite confidence in you,” he said. “Together, with eyes raised to Jesus Christ, and our feet firmly planted in the precious soil of the Armenian Church, we will work together to overcome the challenges before us.”
The Diocesan Assembly immediately issued a letter to His Holiness Karekin II requesting that the Catholicos of All Armenians confirm and bless the election result. With the confirmation of Catholicos Karekin II, Fr. Findikyan would officially advance from Primate-elect to Diocesan Primate.
The 116th Diocesan Assembly convened at the Marriott Renaissance Hotel in West Harrison, New York, hosted by the St. Gregory the Enlightener Church of White Plains, on from Thursday, May 3 to Saturday, May 5.
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5 – Kardash Onnig to Discuss 'I & Death’ at Abril May 19
It’s been 12 years since Kardash Onnig’s last book-signing at Abril Bookstore. That night, after a lively reading and an equally thought-provoking dialogue with the audience, a young actress approached the author with a question.
Her name was Anais. Her mother had dragged her to the reading. But the young woman had very much enjoyed the event, and now wanted to know more about the book. As she finished asking her question, Kardash decided that his son, Voki, who was also present, would be better suited to answer it. So he led Anais to Voki, and left the two to discuss the question.
Today, Anais and Voki have a one-year-old son.
I & Death is a profoundly inspiring, beautifully illustrated work that deals with the defining moments of one’s life journey—and ultimately the wonderful paths which love takes to enrich our lives. Through a series of vivid reminiscences, the author revisits his conversations with various “partings and landings,” the spiritual transferences that occur between loved ones and friends. The stories that Kardash recounts include his childhood impressions at the moment of his grandfather’s departure; the achingly beautiful experience of writing and exchanging poems with his father during the last weeks of his life; the tenderly reflective insights of attending one last time to his mentor, Raoul Hague; and the often frustrating challenge of coming to grips with the meaning of finality. Juxtaposed with photographs of Kardash Onnig’s sculptures—which themselves speak of spiritual transference—I & Death is ultimately a soothing, deeply rewarding work that celebrates life and rebirth.
Kardash Onnig is a sculptor, teacher, toy-maker, and author. He has spent the last four decades implementing artistic projects that aim to build cultural bridges and foster synergy, collaboration, and mutual understanding. His sculptures and installations have been exhibited in the United States and across the globe. His previous books include: The Power of Four; Savage Chic; Transfourmations: a Dialogue Against the Grain; Liberation from Freedom; Leran Vokin; and the untitled work “ .”
The book reading takes place at Abril Bookstore on Saturday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Abril Bookstore is located at 415 E. Broadway, Glendale, CA 91205
Admission is Free. For more information, call (818) 243-4112.
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6 – 3E Event emphasizes inspiration, empowerment and healing
By Ruth Sowby Rands
Liza Boubari had a dream, which was to empower women on “Life’s Journey from Pain to Power.”
To that end, the Glendale resident uses that theme to create an annual, daylong seminar to “evoke, embrace and evolve”—hence, “3E”.
For six years, Boubari has been hosting the “3E event,” this year at Castaway restaurant in Burbank. On Saturday, March 24 almost 100 women and a smattering of men showed up to hear inspirational speakers participate in a healing circle, discover their inner power and watch a demonstration on the healing capabilities of hypnotherapy.
The program began to the beat of a drum. Healing artist and African immigrant Marie Mbouni played the instrument’s vibrational-sound therapy to unlock the creativity in each audience member.
Next, Boubari, a clinical hypnotherapist and owner of HealWithin in Glendale, interviewed Danisha Danielle, who is best known as a real estate expert and host of OWNShow on Oprah.com. She described her rags-to-riches story.
After a healthful buffet lunch of vegetables, pasta and fish, fashion designer and Chinese immigrant Sue Wong was interviewed by Boubari, herself an Armenian immigrant from Iran.
A model showcasing Wong’s creations accompanied the designer. Wong said she believes beauty with a blend of “mind-body-spirit” fuels her designs worthy of the most demanding of red carpets. She entranced her audience with two rags-to-riches stories she’s experienced during her lifetime.
The rest of the day was devoted to guided visualizations to reinforce goals, an exercise to connect participants with each other and an opportunity to take photos with the speakers.
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7- Holy Cross to Host Armenian Food Fair & Festival
MONTEBELLO, Calif.—On Saturday, May 19, the Armenian Food Fair and Festival will return to the grounds of the Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello. Now in its 10th year, the annual event will feature authentic Armenian food, music, entertainment, and activities for all ages.
The Armenian Food Fair & Festival has distinguished itself over the years with its variety of freshly prepared Armenian foods such as kebabs, Armenian pilaf, homemade pirashki and boreg, hye nachos and freshly made tonir bread. In addition to dining at the festival, attendees are welcome to purchase to-go boxes of their favorite foods and homemade Middle Eastern desserts, such as pirogh, gata, nazug, and khadayif. Entertainment will include music by DJ International, live performances, and a dhol drum circle. Attendees will have the opportunity to join in or learn Armenian circle dances and enjoy the performances of poised dancers in traditional Armenian costumes.
The Kid’s Zone will include a petting zoo, video game truck, and other games and activities. The festival will feature vendor booths, a Beer Garden for adults, and the annual backgammon tournament. Church tours will be conducted throughout the day.
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8- Armenian American Medical Society Celebrates 33 Years of Service
LOS ANGELES—On Saturday, April 28, The Armenian American Medical Society, together with hundreds of supporters and members celebrated at the AAMS annual gala the organization’s 33rd anniversary, where two distinguished leaders from the healthcare community were honored. AAMS chose to dedicate this year’s raised funds to advancing the healthcare needs of soldiers who were wounded in the Artsakh war.
“This year’s gala was a true representation of the Armenian American Medical Society’s mission and purpose,” said AAMS President Armond Kotikian, DDS, MD, FACS. “We came together not only to support our soldiers in Artsakh but to also honor the healthcare leaders of our community, in turn encouraging the next generation to continue the good work both in professional practice and global philanthropy. The AAMS is proud to celebrate 33 years of continued service to the global healthcare community.”
AAMS Board Member and Former President Vicken Sepilian MD, FACOG, and Sideways actress Helen Kalognomos served as this year’s master and mistress of ceremonies. Soprano Anna Boyrazyan performed the Armenian and U.S. national anthems. His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian led the invocation and His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian delivered his congratulations.
This year’s honorees were true exemplifiers of the organization’s principal belief: empowering the healthcare community both near and far. The AAMS 2018 President’s Leadership Award co-honorees were Dr. Simon Keushkerian and Dr. Raffi R. Minasian. In addition to serving as an Associate Clinical Professor at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Dr. Keushkerian is also a general and vascular surgeon who volunteers his surgical knowhow to impoverished patients worldwide, including Armenia. Dr. Minasian, who also received the Leadership Award, is a renowned nephrologist. He founded the Kidney Disease Medical Group, one of the largest nephrology groups in Los Angeles County. As a leader in home dialysis treatment, Dr. Minasian served on the Board of Directors of the California Dialysis Council for more than 20 years.
The 2018 AAMS Supportive Impact Award was received by the Former AAMS Ladies Auxiliary. The group, which established itself as the supportive foundation of the AAMS, has successfully worked on promoting health education and charitable activities.
In addition, this year’s gala was dedicated to supporting the injured soldiers of Artsakh by means of the Homeland Defender’s Rehabilitation Center which recently opened at the Heratsi Hospital Complex in Yerevan. The rehabilitation facility provides vital services to soldiers who were injured while defending their country. The wounded warriors, many of whom are under the age of 21, receive physical rehabilitation services as well as emotional and social services.
During the gala, AAMS was able to connect live with soldiers at the center and Dr. Armen A. Muradyan, Rector and Professor at Yerevan State Medical University. “We are indebted to the AAMS and all of its charitable supporters for aiding the Homeland Defender’s Rehabilitation Center,” he said. “This program gives soldiers the opportunity to heal and lead productive, prosperous, and dignified lives, and the AAMS has helped us tremendously in furthering that objective.”
To learn more about AAMS please visit www.aamsc.org.
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9- Marderosian Receives Rave Reviews for West Side Story
(Combined Sources)— Actress, singer and director Ani Marderosian has been starring as Maria in Glendale Centre Theatre’s production of “West Side Story” and the musical has received stellar reviews from Broadway World West and StageScene LA.
“Ani Marderosian and Chanlon Kaufman as Maria and Tony set the stage aglow with their skill, passion and wonderful chemistry together. Marderosian is petite and pretty and has a lovely vocal instrument; Kaufman has a sweet nature and a powerful singing voice. Both are dynamite actors/singers/dancers,” said Broadway World West.
“Chanlon Kaufman and Ani Marderosian make for a captivating pair of starcrossed young lovers, the former’s tenor soaring in ‘Something’s Coming’ and ‘Maria,’ the latter’s acting chops making Maria far more than innocent young thing and never more so than in the character’s final, devastating moments,” said StageScene LA. “This is a highly honed representation for both fans of the stage version and for those first-timers, familiar only with the ten-time Academy Award-winning 1961 film. It puts GCT at an all-time high. Don’t miss it!”
Following her run in “West Side Story,” Ani will be directing the premier of Daniel Botello’s play, “The First and the Last” at this year’s Hollywood Fringe Festival. Find out more about Ani at her website at www.animarderosian.com. “West Side Story” runs at the Glendale Centre Theatre from April 13 through May 26.
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10- Scientist Nerses Krikorian, who worked at A-Bomb lab has died
(Associated Press)—Scientist Nerses “Krik” Krikorian, who escaped Armenia as a boy and later became a legend in the once-secret New Mexico city where the atomic bomb was developed, has died. He was 97.
Officials at Los Alamos National Laboratory confirmed that Krikorian died Wednesday, April 18, at his home in Los Alamos, the mountain town he had called home for more than 70 years.
Krikorian was born on a Turkish roadside in 1921 as his parents were trying to flee their homeland. With nothing but the clothes on their backs, the family moved around until they eventually found their way to the United States.
Krikorian spoke little English when they first arrived but he went on to graduate from college with a chemistry degree and landed a job working in a lab that made highly enriched uranium. It wasn’t until later that Krikorian learned that work was part of the top-secret Manhattan Project.
He later went to work directly for Los Alamos lab. He said in an interview for a lab profile that he had never been west of Detroit and made the long drive to New Mexico in a 1936 Chevy convertible. It was in Los Alamos that he met his wife.
In a career that spanned more than four decades, he worked with uranium and later with Project Rover in the 1950s to develop a nuclear-thermal rocket for space applications. He held six patents and published numerous assessments before becoming head of security for an intelligence unit. He also won numerous accolades for his work.
Lab Director Terry Wallace in a memo to employees this week described Krikorian as “a giant” in the world of national security science and in the Los Alamos community.
“He contributed enormously to the mission of the laboratory, and I can say with confidence it’s a better place because of him,” Wallace said. “As we celebrate our 75 years as a laboratory, few people have been more impactful on our history than Krik. He leaves an enduring legacy that will continue far into the future.”
The Los Alamos Monitor reported that Krikorian also helped found the Los Alamos United Church of Los Alamos, the J. Oppenheimer Memorial Committee and helped with the creation of the original charter for Los Alamos County.
The newspaper reported that he was known for his dedication to making what started out as a place to put a secret laboratory into a real, working community.
“Things have worked out far beyond what I ever imagined. I think of my parents and wonder, ‘How did they ever do it?’ To be born on a roadside in Turkey to this,” Krikorian said in 2017 article in the Los Alamos Monitor about his life. “My parents instilled in me the importance of doing the right thing and giving back to your fellow man. I hope I’ve done that.”
Deb Krikorian said her father’s dedication was a natural outcome of his constant quest for knowledge and his pragmatic outlook on life.
Asked where Krikorian’s thirst for knowledge came from, she said: “Curiosity.”
“He was curious about everything. He loved to just sit down and read. Even when he couldn’t read, he was listening to books on tape and things like that,” she said.
Krikorian had an extensive art collection, loved local theater and often acted in local productions. He also loved to fish.
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