The California Courier Online, December 13, 20181 - Commentary
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Should Call
The Armenian Genocide, a Genocide
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2- Free, Independent, Fair: Nikol Pashinyan Wins Snap
Parliamentary Elections3- Keneally Calls on Australia to Recognize Genocide
4 - American Armenian Rose Float Association Prepares for 2019
Rose Parade5- Iconic Artist Seeroon Yeretzian Honored by Anthony Portantno
6- Literary Lifetime: Abril Bookstore Celebrates 40th Anniversary
7- Kansas Governor Colyer Visits Armenia On 30th Anniversary
of Earthquake******************************************
1 - Commentary
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Should Call
The Armenian Genocide, a Genocide
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
Everyone knows that Ambassadors have to follow the foreign policy
guidelines of their governments and cannot make their own decisions.
Yet it is strange that successive U.S. Ambassadors are not allowed to
call the Armenian Genocide, a genocide. Just imagine the uproar if a
US Ambassador stationed in Israel would refuse to use the term Jewish
Holocaust.Contrary to public misconception even among Armenians, the United
States has repeatedly recognized the Armenian Genocide at the highest
levels of the government.Any U.S. government official who refrains from using the term Armenian
Genocide is distorting the long-standing record of the United States.
As I have repeatedly written, the U.S. government first recognized the
Armenian Genocide in 1951 when it submitted an official report to the
International Court of Justice, known as the World Court. The U.S.
House of Representatives adopted two resolutions in 1975 and 1984
recognizing the Armenian Genocide, and Pres. Ronald Reagan issued a
Presidential Proclamation on April 22, 1981, making a reference to the
Armenian Genocide.Contrast the above U.S. historical record with the evasive statements
made by recent U.S. Presidents and Ambassadors to Armenia, with the
exception of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans who fearlessly
spoke truth to power about the Armenian Genocide, risking his
diplomatic career which was cut short in 2006 by the Administration of
President George W. Bush.On December 4, 2018, the proper acknowledgment of the Armenian
Genocide was discussed once again during the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee’s confirmation hearing, on the nomination of Lynne Tracy as
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia.In her opening statement at the hearing, Tracy avoided using the term
Armenian Genocide: “Mr. Chairman, the horrific events of 1915, the
Meds Yeghern or Great Calamity, when 1.5 million Armenians were
deported, massacred, or marched to their deaths in the final years of
the Ottoman Empire, must never be forgotten. As President Trump stated
on Armenian Remembrance Day this year: ‘As we honor the memory of
those who suffered, we [must] ensure that such atrocities are not
repeated.’ If confirmed, I pledge to do everything in my power to
remember the Meds Yeghern victims and uphold that solemn commitment.
We must also look to the future and the opportunities for Armenia’s
next generation. Progress toward reconciliation with Turkey can help
reduce Armenia’s isolation and bolster its economy. Towards that end,
we encourage Turkey and Armenia to acknowledge and reckon with painful
elements of the past. If confirmed, I will do my best to support
Armenian and Turkish efforts to forge a more peaceful and productive
relationship.”Instead of upholding the U.S. historical record on the acknowledgment
of the Armenian Genocide, Tracy cleverly resorted to the old Armenian
term “Meds Yeghern” to avoid using the correct term Armenian Genocide.
She described “Meds Yeghern” inaccurately as “Great Calamity” which
actually means ‘Great Crime.’After Tracy’s opening statement, Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) asked her:
“It seems unlikely that the Trump Administration will change its
long-standing U.S. policy on how we refer to the Armenian Genocide.
How do you address calls by the Armenian-American community to call
what the 1915 slaughter was, a genocide?”Tracy answered: “The Trump Administration and I personally acknowledge
the historical facts of what took place at the end of the Ottoman
Empire—of the mass killings, the forced deportations and marches that
ended 1.5 million lives and a lot of suffering. And I will, if
confirmed, do everything in my power to acknowledge and respect the
losses and the suffering and commit myself to participating in any
remembrance activities.”Sen. Markey concluded: “It’s time for us just to stand up and call it
what it was. It helps us in the future to have credibility.”Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) then followed up with a series of questions
to ambassadorial nominee Tracy on the Armenian Genocide: “Do you
acknowledge that from 1915 to 1923, nearly 1.5 million Armenian men,
women and children were killed by the Ottoman Empire?”Tracy responded: “Yes, Senator. As I stated, the Administration and I
acknowledge the historical facts that you have mentioned.”Menendez: “Do you acknowledge that on May 24, 1915, the Allied Powers
— England, France, and Russia—jointly issued a statement explicitly
charging for the first time ever another government of committing
‘Crimes Against Humanity and Civilization?’”Tracy: “Senator, I am not aware of that particular event.”
Menendez: “I commanded it to your attention and you give me your
written response after you read it. Do you acknowledge that the U.S.
Holocaust Memorial Council, an independent Federal Agency, unanimously
resolved on April 30th 1981, that the United States Holocaust Memorial
Museum would document the Armenian Genocide in the Museum and has done
through the examination of the public record?”Tracy: “Senator, I will provide a written acknowledgment to you on that.”
Menendez: “Do you acknowledge that Henry Morgenthau, the United States
Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire at the time, said that the Turkish
government’s deportation order for the Armenians was ‘a death warrant
to a whole race,’ and ‘made no particular effort to conceal in their
discussions with him.’”Tracy: “Yes, Senator. I acknowledge the facts of that reporting of
Ambassador Morgenthau.”Menendez: “Would you discipline or otherwise punish an employee of the
U.S. Embassy in Armenia for an honest remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide?”Tracy: “Senator, I would expect that, as with myself, we follow the
policy of the Administration. And, the policy is that we acknowledge
the historical facts of the events of 1915 as a mass atrocity and that
we participate in any remembrance activities. And, I’ll just say, as a
senior leader in the Foreign Service, I am always open to debate on my
team. I don’t punish people for expressing their viewpoints. But, as
members of the Executive Branch, at the end of the day, we support the
President’s policy.”Menendez concluded: “This is the problem with nominees who come before
us, and it’s not you particularly. In fact, we have a historical
reality: 1.5 million people were massacred. That’s a genocide. And
yet, we send an Ambassador to a country and have them go to a memorial
of a holocaust of the Armenian people and yet they won’t be able to
call it a genocide. It’s pretty ironic. If we are not able to
acknowledge the past, we are destined to relive it. So I hope that the
Department [of State], this is not unique to this Department. It’s
been going on for a while. We need to change that reality. I gave you
a series of questions because I try to give you all the other
elements. But the reality is that it seems we cannot have the words
come out of our lips—Armenian Genocide. That’s what took place. That’s
what history shows. That’s what the world recognizes. That’s what our
own Federal Agencies recognize like the Holocaust Museum. So I hope
you can look at all the other questions and give me answers in order
to get to a better place.”The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will consider Tracy’s
nomination at a future hearing after she submits her promised written
answers to the questions asked by Senator Menendez.**************************************************************************************************
2- Free, Independent, Fair: Nikol Pashinyan Wins Snap
Parliamentary Elections(Combined Sources)—On Sunday, December 9, Central Election Commission
(CEC) results showed that Armenia’s acting Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinyan bolstered his authority as his political bloc won early
parliamentary elections—the first national elections since a popular
movement toppled former president Serzh Sargsyan’s regime. Pashinyan
now has a parliamentary majority to push through his program of
tackling corruption and reforming the economy.Pashinyan promised after taking office there would be no major shifts
in Armenian foreign policy and has offered assurances he will not
break with Moscow.Armenia hosts a Russian military base and is a
member of Russia-led military and economic alliances. Pashinyan has
also said he hopes to “step up co-operation with the United States and
European Union.”Pashinyan also suggested he would stick with existing policies on the
long-running issue of Nagorno-Karabakh.At a polling station in the capital, Yerevan, voters said they hoped
Pashinyan would be able to deliver the ambitious changes he had
promised.One woman, who gave her name as Narine Harutyunyan, said she felt
“very optimistic,” adding, “I hope that my vote is going to play a
role so that there will always be a smile in the eyes of Armenians.”With all 2010 precincts reporting, My Step Alliance—which includes
Pashinyan’s Civil Contract Party—won 70.4 percent of the vote (884,456
votes), the CEC said on its website.Trailing far behind was businessman Gagik Tsarukyan’s Prosperous
Armenia Party with 103,824 votes (8.32 percent) and the Bright Armenia
Party, which has close ties to Pashinyan with 80,024 votes (6.37
percent) to round out the parties being represented in the new
parliament.Coming in at fourth place was the former ruling Republican Party of
Armenia with 59,059 votes (4.70 percent), with the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation garnering 48,811 votes (3.89 percent).Among the remaining parties: the Citizen’s Decision Social-Democratic
Party received 8,530 votes (0.68 percent); the Christian-Popular
Renaissance Party received 6,456 votes
(0.51 percent); the National
Progress Party received 4,123 votes (0.33 percent); the We Parties
Alliance received 25,174 votes (2.00 percent); the Country of Law
Party received 12,389 votes (0.99 percent); and the Sasna Tsrer All
Armenian Party received 22,826 votes (1.82 percent).The two moderate opposition parties Prosperous Armenia and Bright
Armenia got enough votes to clear the 5 percent threshold to enter the
101-seat National Assembly. Alliances need seven percent of the votes.Poll turnout was low, at about 49 percent—down from 61 percent
reported in the last parliamentary elections held in April 2017.
Historically, Armenia’s elections have been marred by fraud and
vote-buying. Of the 2,573,779 eligible voters, 48.63 percent or
1,260,840 turned out for the election, according to the CEC. Pashinyan
suggested in a live Facebook transmission that the turnout may have
been lower because voters are no longer being paid or bribed by the
Republican Party. Some say this is an unfair characterization of the
voting populace, and that inclement weather deterred many voters from
what was already perceived as a foregone victory for Pashinyan.The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) welcomed the snap
election results. “The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
congratulates the people of Armenia on a free and fair parliamentary
election, welcoming this landmark achievement as a victory for
democracy and the start of a new era in the U.S.-Armenia strategic
partnership,” said the ANCA in its statement. “We are already working
with key American and Armenian stakeholders to build upon Armenia’s
peaceful, constitutional, and democratic transition, by translating
this progress into short and mid-term deliverables – concrete,
mutually-beneficial initiatives that deepen and broaden our bilateral
political, economic, and military relations. Parallel to our support
for the growth of bilateral ties, we will, with increased vigilance,
forcefully challenge Turkish and Azerbaijani interests in the United
States, the region, and worldwide that seek to take advantage of this
transition to undermine, isolate, or attack Armenia and Artsakh.”Pashinyan came to power in Armenia in May after weeks of mass protests
against corruption and cronyism. The former newspaper editor, who was
jailed for fomenting unrest in 2008, marked a dramatic break from the
cadre of rulers who have run Armenia since the late 1990s.He stepped down in October so parliament could be dissolved ready for
the early election but remained the acting prime minister.“Armenian citizens created a revolutionary majority at the
parliament,” Pashinyan told reporters at his bloc’s headquarters after
first results were published. “If this trend continues, the majority
won’t face any problems in implementing legislative changes.”After a change of power, Pashinyan’s government sought to initiate
changes to the electoral code. But the move was blocked by the former
ruling Republican Party, which dominated the parliament.And some say these election results—giving My Step alliance an
absolute majority in the newly elected parliament, with no substantive
opposition—could create the same political atmosphere that Pashinyan
himself sought to undo.Under Armenia’s constitution, 30 percent of seats in parliament must
go to opposition parties.Senior Republican Party figures have accused Pashinyan of trying to
turn Armenia into 1930s Germany, and of becoming a Hitler figure. His
critics say his “cult of personality” will weaken multi-party
democracy. Armen Ashotyan, vice-president of the Republican Party,
complained before the election that “all political parties were
deprived of time to prepare well.” He added that he expected
“so-called post-revolutionary euphoria” would be reflected at the
ballot box.Just three days before the elections, the leaders of the 11 parties
and blocs running Armenia’s snap parliamentary elections faced off on
December 5 in a televised debate—the first of its kind for
Armenia—marked by bitter verbal exchanges between Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinyan and the Republican Party’s Vigen Sargsian.The ten men and one woman discussed political, economic and security
challenges facing the country for over three hours during the live
debate hosted by Armenian Public Television.Pashinyan and Sargsian repeatedly clashed during the lively
discussion, trading recriminations and interrupting each other. The
mutual accusations escalated into a shouting match at one point.Nevertheless, the two men shook hands at the end of the debate as did
the other participants, including Prosperous Armenia Party leader
Gagik Tsarukyan, Dashnaktsutyun’s Armen Rustamian and two former
Pashinyan allies.Pashinyan again portrayed the upcoming vote as a final chapter of this
spring’s “velvet revolution” that toppled Republican Party Chairman
Serzh Sargsyan’s government and brought him to power. “No vote will be
stolen,” he said. “No vote bribes will be handed out.”In his opening remarks, Pashinyan called his socioeconomic policies a
success, saying that his government has cut some taxes, raised poverty
benefits, and lowered mortgage rates for young families. He also
claimed to have eliminated “systemic corruption.”“I’m sure that more corruption cases will be exposed soon,” said Pashinyan.
Predictably, Sargsian strongly criticized the new government’s track
record and said the Republican Party is the only party seriously
challenging Pashinyan and capable of holding him in check. Armenians,
he said, can decide on Sunday whether country will become a “one-man
dictatorship” or have a “balanced parliament.”The former defense minister blamed the government for the fact that
economic growth in Armenia has slowed since April. He went on to
accuse it of “poisoning” free speech, creating “serious threats” to
Nagorno-Karabakh and damaging Armenia’s relations with Russia.Citing Pashinyan’s leaked phone calls with the head of Armenia’s most
powerful security agency, Sargsian also claimed that local courts are
acting on the premier’s orders.“If this was really the case, 90 percent of your party would be in
jail now,” Pashinyan shot back. He again accused the former government
of having systematically “plundered” the country.“There cannot be a corrupt government in Armenia anymore because the
people know now that it can be sorted out within a week,” he said,
referring to the April-May mass protests.Sargsian, who also faced verbal attacks from several other
participants of the debate, countered that Pashinyan is sticking to
key policy decisions that were made by the Republican Party
government, including Armenia’s accession to the Russian-led Eurasian
Economic Union.“For 10 years you accused authorities of everything,” said Sargsian.
“Now you refute what opposition leader Pashinyan said on a daily
basis.”Pashinyan was then challenged by Rustamian to elaborate on his
position on the Karabakh conflict.The ARF leader seemed unconvinced by the premier’s assurances that no
peace deal with Azerbaijan can be put into practice without popular
approval. He touted his party’s hard line on the unresolved conflict
and, in particular, its opposition to major territorial concessions to
Baku.Meanwhile, Tsarukyan, who refrained from criticizing the current or
former authorities, was unexpectedly attacked by Edmon Marukian, the
leader of the Bright Armenia party that was until recently allied to
Pashinyan.Marukian questioned the tycoon’s involvement in politics and said that
the latter’s Prosperous Armenia Party has accomplished little despite
finishing second in the last three parliamentary elections.“What have you, Mr. Marukian, accomplished until now except talking?”
Tsarukyan asked after defending his entrepreneurial activities and
asserting his desire to be “useful to our country.”“I’m a politician,” replied Marukian. He reaffirmed Bright Armenia’s
stated goal of being the second largest party in the new Armenian
parliament.*********************************************************************************************
3 - Keneally Calls on Australia to Recognize Genocide
CANBERRA—Senator Kristina Keneally rose in the Federal Parliament’s
Upper House on December 4, adding her voice in support of a motion
debated in the House of Representatives last June, acknowledging
Australia’s first major international humanitarian relief effort. The
Senator from New South Wales also called for Australia to recognize
the Armenian Genocide.The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) reported that
Keneally became the seventh speaker in just two days to speak on the
Armenian Genocide in Australia’s Parliament, after a debate on the
70th Anniversary of the UN Genocide Convention that took place on
December 3.“We thank Senator Keneally for her principled and public stance,
calling on Australia’s Parliament to recognize the Armenian Genocide,”
said ANC-AU Executive Director, Haig Kayserian. “The Senator has been
a steadfast supporter of issues raised by Armenian-Australians since
before her election into Federal Parliament and has continued her
advocacy since her election.”Keneally, who is a former Premier of NSW and an outspoken Catholic,
told the Senate that “the Armenian Relief Fund raised the modern-day
equivalent of $1.5 million and sent supplies” to the Armenians, Greeks
and Assyrians suffering under Ottoman rule.“All told, it’s estimated that 1.5 million people perished during this
period,” Keneally said. “Their stories echoed so strongly here at home
because many of our brave Anzacs bore witness to it. Our soldiers were
brought into direct contact with the extraordinary suffering of the
Armenian people while serving our country in the Middle Eastern
theatre of World War I.”She added: “Their accounts inspired the thousands of stories that were
published in Australian newspapers at the time detailing the systemic
attempt to eliminate the Armenian people and their culture. These
newspapers reported ‘atrocities’, ‘massacres’ and ‘decimation’ but
never used the term ‘genocide’, simply because we hadn’t yet invented
a word that could fully encapsulate the myriad cruelties that were
inflicted on the Armenian people.”Keneally noted her inspiration from Pope Francis, when he recognized
the Armenian Genocide.She said: “As a Catholic, I was stirred by the words of Pope Francis
in 2015 when he called on the entire human family to heed the warnings
of this tragedy to ‘protect us from falling into a similar horror’.
Pope Francis called the genocide: … the first of the deplorable series
of catastrophes of the past century, made possible by twisted racial,
ideological or religious aims … And warned that: Concealing or denying
evil is like allowing a wound to keep bleeding without bandaging it.”Keneally added: “As a former member of the New South Wales parliament,
and indeed Premier of the great state of New South Wales, I am proud
that a motion was passed in 1997 that acknowledged the Armenian
genocide and honored its victims. Today, that historic action is still
commemorated with a memorial on the ninth floor of the New South Wales
parliament building.”Keneally, who was a Candidate for the Federal seat of Bennelong at the
December 2017 by-election when she pledged to advocate for Armenian
Genocide recognition, fulfilled that promise with her final words.“If we are to stop the bleeding, we must denounce crimes against
humanity whenever and wherever they occur,” she said. “I join my
colleagues who have spoken in this house and in the other, both past
and present, in calling on the federal parliament to acknowledge our
first humanitarian effort as a country and to recognize the Armenian
Genocide.”***************************************************************************************************
4 - American Armenian Rose Float Association Prepares for 2019
Rose ParadeThe American Armenian Rose Float Association (AARFA) has released the
design for the next Armenian Rose Parade float, which will take part
in the 130th Pasadena Tournament of Roses, on January 1, 2019. This
will be the Armenian rose float’s fifth consecutive participation in
the world-renowned tournament.Carrying the theme “Chanting Stones: Karahunj,” the new Armenian rose
float celebrates the greatness of Armenian culture, echoing the
general theme of the 130th Pasadena Tournament of Roses, which is “The
Melody of Life.”The design of the Armenian rose float was inspired by the stones of
Karahunj, a prehistoric monument consisting of a formation of
megaliths, in Armenia’s Syunik Province, and often referred to as “the
Armenian Stonehenge.” “Karahunj,” which means “speaking stones” or
“chanting stones,” refers to the fact that on windy days, the massive
standing stones of Karahunj make a distinctive whistling sound.
Karahunj predates Stonehenge by 3,500 years.In keeping with the musical theme of the 2019 Tournament of Roses, the
newest Armenian float features a dynamic, exuberant design, with
several Armenian musical and cultural references. The central element
consists of a duo of dancers performing the yarkhushta, a beloved
Armenian folk dance. The two dancing figures were taken from a
painting by the acclaimed artist Meruzhan Khachatryan.The dancers are seen performing atop a formation of rocks adorned with
khazes, the uniquely Armenian notes representing the ancient Armenian
system of musical notation. The inclusion of the khazes here is
particularly significant as it honors the 150th anniversary of the
birth of Komitas, the renowned musicologist who was devoted to the
decipherment of the khaz system.Other elements of the float’s design include a scattering of apricot
trees (the Latin name of the apricot, prunus armeniaca, means
“Armenian plum”); as well as a duduk player and three Armenian
mouflons, an endangered subspecies of wild sheep.The design of the new Armenian rose float was conceived by AARFA Board
member Johnny Kanounji.On New Year’s Day, 2019, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses will be seen
by about 700,000 spectators in Pasadena and a global audience in 145
countries and territories.As in previous years, some 600 community volunteers will work on the
floral assembly of the 2019 Armenian rose float.This article appeared in Pasadena Now on .
*****************************************************************************************************
5- Iconic Armenian Artist Seeroon Yeretzian Honored by Anthony
PortantinoOn November 28, California State Assemblyman Anthony Portantino hosted
the Women in Business Awards luncheon at Castaway Restaurant in
Burbank. Nearly 500 people attend the luncheon each year as Portantino
recognizes the accomplishments of successful businesswomen in the 44th
Assembly District. Among this year’s honorees was artist Seeroon
Yeretzian.Seeroon Yeretzian’s diverse artistic talents include graphic design
and illustration and she is renowned as a practitioner of the ancient
art of Armenian miniature illumination. Yeretzian is known for
exploring enigmatic discourse across art-historical references,
thematic platforms and design. Her inspiration comes from the depths
of Armenian manuscripts and prehistoric cave paintings, as well as the
imagery of the Renaissance masters.Her work has been shown in over 25 exhibits throughout California,
including the UCLA Kerckhoff Gallery, AGBU Young Professionals of Los
Angeles Arvest festival, the J. Paul Getty Museum, AGBU’s Pasadena
Center and the Otis/Parsons Gallery.Yeretzian was born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1951. She received her formal
training at the Beirut University, the University of California at Los
Angeles, and the Otis/Parsons Art Institute. She and her husband,
Harout, co-founded Abril Bookstore in 1978.“To me, art is the magic web of life-death and rebirth. Painting has
become habit-forming drug that I am addicted, and will use every
moment of my life,” Yeretzian noted in her biography.Yeretzian was diagnosed in 2012 with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
(Lou Gehrig’s disease), and has since been wheelchair-bound, and
communicates using a DynaVox EyeMax computer. She used this computer,
that tracks the movement of the eyes to images, to write her new book
Evolution Is My Revolution, an exploration of her life through words,
which she expressed have been her only medium since losing the ability
to paint.**********************************************************************************************************************************************
6- Literary Lifetime: Abril Bookstore Celebrates 40th Anniversary
Abril Bookstore celebrated its 40th Anniversary with an Evening of
Thanks on November 29, at the Glendale Central Library.Abril was founded in 1978 by brothers Noubar and Harout Yeretzian,
along with their wives, Seta and Seeroon. It was the first Armenian
bookstore in Los Angeles which became a cultural hub for the
community, providing a meeting place for many intellectuals. In
addition to books, Abril offered publishing and printing services as
well as a literary and cultural magazine that covered the work of
Armenian authors, both local and from abroad. In 1998, Abril moved to
Glendale. Its role as a cultural center was developed further when
Harout’s son, Arno Yeretzian took over after his father’s passing in
2010. Abril Bookstore is now a thriving center that hosts author
events, film screenings, concerts and art exhibitions. It holds a
unique collection of Armenian books of different eras and from
different corners of the world.“Each of you have helped our pomegranate tree grow. Some have been our
roots, some our branches, our leaves, our fruits and our seeds. We
wouldn’t have been here without the support of all of you,” said Arno
Yeretzian. Some of Abril’s dearest friends shared stories from the
past, including Osheen Koulak Avedikian, Mark Chenian, Osheen
Keshishian, Anahid Aramouni Keshishian, Vatche Mankerian, and Lucy
Varbedian.********************************************************************************************************************************************
7- Kansas Governor Colyer Visits Armenia On 30th Anniversary
of EarthquakeYEREVAN—Last week Armenia welcomed a delegation from the state of
Kansas headed by Governor Jeff Colyer and the Adjutant General of
Kansas, Major General Lee Tafanelli. The delegation traveled to
Armenia to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the devastating Spitak
earthquake and to pay their respects to the Armenian people.During his visit, Governor Colyer presented the Armenian Government
with proclamations designating December 6, 2018, as Kansas-Armenia
Partnership Day and December 7, 2018, as Spitak Remembrance Day in the
state of Kansas. The Governor’s relationship with Armenia dates back
to 1988, when as a White House Fellow with the USAID Office of Foreign
Disaster Assistance, he was part of one of the first U.S. assistance
teams on the ground in Armenia, providing food and supplies to
survivors of the earthquake.The delegation participated in the “Disaster Resistance Day” events in
Gyumri, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Spitak earthquake,
and to place a wreath on the Memorial of the Innocent Citizens.The delegation also traveled to Vanadzor to meet the family of an
Armenian high school student, Emilya Nazinyan, who is currently
studying in the state of Kansas as part of the Embassy’s Future
Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX). The Governor delivered a package to
the family from Nazinyan, and brought a package back to
her—understanding the importance of maintaining that family connection
even from thousands of miles away.Earlier in the week, General Tafanelli accompanied U.S. Embassy Chargé
d’Affaires Rafik Mansour to meet with Armenia’s acting Defense
Minister David Tonoyan. The General also met with officials from the
Ministry of Emergency Situations and observed an earthquake simulation
exercise.General Tafanelli oversees the Kansas Army and Air National Guard,
which celebrated the 15th anniversary of its partnership with Armenia
earlier this year.Since the beginning of the partnership in 2003, the Republic of
Armenia and the state of Kansas have engaged in a number of military,
emergency preparedness, law enforcement, business, medical, public
health, educational and humanitarian exchanges.********************************************************************************************************************************************
California Courier Online provides viewers of the Armenian News News Service
with a few of the articles in this week's issue of The California
Courier. Letters to the editor are encouraged through our e-mail
address, However, authors are
requested to provide their names, addresses, and/or telephone numbers
to verify identity, if any question arises. California Courier
subscribers are requested not to use this service to change, or modify
mailing addresses. Those changes can be made through our e-mail,
, or by phone, (818) 409-0949.