1 - The World Dislikes Trump & his Policies,
According to Pew Research Center
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2- Armenia to hold referendum on Constitutional Court in April
3 - At Sold Out Gala, AEF Celebrates 70 Years of Service and
Accomplishments
4- Presidential Candidate Tom Steyer Appoints Senior
Armenian-American Staff
5- Glendale approves unique building for Armenian-American health center
6- Wilk Announces Scholarship Contests to
Raise Awareness of the Armenian Genocide
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1 - The World Dislikes Trump & his Policies,
According to Pew Research Center
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
A study published by the Pew Research Center revealed that many in the
world do not approve Pres. Donald Trump’s foreign policies. This is
not a surprising discovery, but is in total contrast to what the
President has been claiming regarding his exaggerated accomplishments.
Even before his election, candidate Trump repeatedly stated that Pres.
Barack Obama was not respected by the rest of the world and that he,
as President, will restore respect to the United States by foreign
countries.
Given Pres. Trump’s many exaggerations and outright lies, no one
should be surprised by the untruth of what he claimed. The fact is
that his predecessor, Pres. Barack Obama, was highly respected around
the world, and to the contrary, Pres. Trump has become the laughing
stock of most people, in and out of the United States, except by the
autocratic leaders of Turkey, North Korea, Russia, China and Saudi
Arabia.
Let us look at the actual numbers based on the Pew Research Center. In
the 33 countries surveyed, the median of only 18% of the people stated
they viewed Trump’s foreign policy as positive. Not surprisingly,
Trump’s highest foreign policy rating was among Israelis (55%), while
32% disapproved and 13% said, “no difference.”
The following countries, in descending order, expressed their degree
of Pres. Trump’s approval of foreign policy: Poland (34%), Hungary
(31%), Ukraine (29%), Nigeria (29%), India (27%), Kenya (25%), South
Africa (25%), Slovakia (24%), Australia (24%), Lithuania (22%), Czech
Republic (22%), Philippines (21%), Indonesia (19%), Greece (19%),
Bulgaria (18%), Lebanon (18%), UK (18%), Italy (17%), Japan (17%),
South Korea (16%), Canada (16%), Russia (14%), Netherlands (11%),
Sweden (11%), Argentina (10%), Tunisia (9%), Mexico (9%), Turkey (9%),
France (9%), Brazil (8%), Spain (7%), and Germany (6%). In the United
States, Trump’s approval rating on foreign policy was 37%. It is
concerning that some of the lowest ratings were among the NATO allies,
while the ratings in the neighboring countries of Canada and Mexico
were also very low.
When asked about individual policy issues, the median of the people in
the 33 countries surveyed showed the following ratings:
— U.S. increasing tariffs or fees on imported goods from other
countries: 18% approve; 68% disapprove.
— U.S. withdrawal from international climate change agreements: 14%
approve; 66% disapprove.
— Building a wall on the border between the U.S. and Mexico: 24%
approve; 60% disapprove.
— Allowing fewer immigrants into the U.S.: 34% approve; 55% disapprove.
— U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear weapons agreement: 29%
approve; 52% disapprove.
— U.S. negotiations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un about the
country’s nuclear weapons program: 41% approve; 36% disapprove.
Regarding the respect the current and the two previous U.S. Presidents
— Trump (2017-2019), George W. Bush (2001-2008) and Barack Obama
(2009-2016) — enjoyed around the world, the Pew Research Center
discovered that Obama was ranked much higher than both Bush and Trump
among the people in the 33 countries surveyed. Here are the rankings
of the three Presidents with the lows and highs during the various
years of their presidency:
Canada: Bush (28%-59%); Obama (76%-88%); Trump (22%-28%).
France: Bush (12%-25%); Obama (83%-91%); Trump (9%-20%).
Germany: Bush (14%-51%); Obama (71%-93%); Trump (10%-13%).
Greece: Bush (not available); Obama (27%-41%); Trump (17%-25%).
Italy: Bush (30%-43%); Obama (68%-77%); Trump (25%-32%).
Netherlands: Bush (39%); Obama (92%); Trump (17%-25%).
Spain: Bush (7%-26%); Obama (54%-75%); Trump (7%-21%).
Sweden: Bush (21%); Obama (93%); Trump (10%-18%).
UK: Bush (16%-51%); Obama (72%-86%); Trump (22%-32%).
Bulgaria: Bush (27%); Obama (not available); Trump (26%).
Czech Republic: Bush (36%); Obama (75%-77%); Trump (28%).
Hungary: Bush (not available); Obama (58%); Trump (29%-33%).
Poland: Bush (29-47%); Obama (49%-64%); Trump (23%-51%).
Slovakia: Bush (21%); Obama (not available); Trump (34%).
Russia: Bush (8%-28%); Obama (11%-41%); Trump (20%-53%).
Ukraine: Bush (19%); Obama (11%-41%); Trump (44%).
Australia: Bush (23%-59%); Obama (77%-84%); Trump (29%-35%).
India: Bush (not available); Obama (48%-74%); Trump (40%-56%).
Indonesia: Bush (14%-23%); Obama (53%-71%); Trump (23%-30%).
Japan: Bush (25%-35%); Obama (60%-85%); Trump (24%-36%).
Philippines: Bush (not available); Obama (84%-94%); Trump (69%-78%).
South Korea: Bush (22%-36%); Obama (75%-88%); Trump (17%-46%).
Israel: Bush (57%-83%); Obama (49%-71%); Trump (56%-71%).
Lebanon: Bush (17%-34%); Obama (35%-46%); Trump (15%-23%).
Tunisia: Bush (not available); Obama (24%-28%); Trump (12%-18%).
Turkey: Bush (2%-8%); Obama (12%-45%); Trump (11%).
Kenya: Bush (72%); Obama (78%-95%); Trump (51%-65%).
Nigeria: Bush (not available); Obama (53%-84%); Trump (58%-59%).
South Africa: Bush (32%); Obama (72%-77%); Trump (39%-42%).
Argentina: Bush (5%-7%); Obama (31%-61%); Trump (11%-22%).
Brazil: Bush (not available); Obama (52%-69%); Trump (14%-28%).
Mexico: Bush (16%-28%); Obama (38%-55%); Trump (5%-8%).
Finally, in comparison with other major world leaders, Pres. Trump
ranked at the bottom third of the Pew Research Center survey in 33
countries, losing to French President Emmanuel Macron, German
Chancellor Angela Merkel, and even Russian President Vladimir Putin,
but outscoring Chinese President Xi Jinping by a single point.
The next time Pres. Trump boasts about how he is respected around the
world vs. Pres. Obama, you can smile and tell yourself: one more lie.
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2- Armenia to hold referendum on Constitutional Court in April
YEREVAN (Azatutyun.am)—Armenia’s parliament decided on Thursday,
February 6 to hold a referendum on April 5 on constitutional changes
that would dismiss seven of the nine members of the Constitutional
Court locked in a bitter dispute with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s
government. The bill was signed by President Armen Sarkissian on
February 9.
The move has been seen by political analysts as Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinyan’s attempt to remove judges who have opposed him.
They would be replaced by other judges to be confirmed by the current
132-member National Assembly in which Pashinyan’s My Step bloc holds
88 seats.
The decision was unanimously backed by virtually all My Step deputies.
Lawmakers representing the opposition Bright Armenia Party voted
against it while their colleagues from the other parliamentary
opposition party, Prosperous Armenia, did not vote at all.
My Step’s Vahagn Hovakimyan, who presented the draft amendments during
the parliament debate, said that the Constitutional Court is Armenia’s
least trusted state institution.
Addressing the National Assembly shortly before the vote, Pashinyan
also strongly defended the amendments rejected as unconstitutional by
opposition deputies. He again accused Constitutional Court Chairman
Hrayr Tovmasyan and six other judges installed by former Armenian
governments from 1995-2018 of being linked to the “corrupt former
regime.”
“The Constitutional Court represents the corrupt regime of [former
President] Serzh Sargsyan, rather than the people, and it must go,” he
declared.
Pashinyan also claimed that Armenia’s highest court “limits the
people’s power” and poses a “terrible and direct threat to democracy.”
Its legal powers must therefore be superseded by “sovereign rights of
the people,” he said.
Pashinyan went on to warn his political opponents against attempting
to thwart the constitutional changes through legal or other
mechanisms, saying that they would be declared “anti-state” elements
in that case.
The warning prompted an angry response from Bright Armenia Party
leader Edmon Marukyan, who accused Pashinyan of “blackmail.”
“Is it you who decides who are anti-state forces and who are patriots?
Is this the ‘democracy’ you dream about?” Marukyan asked him on the
parliament floor.
Marukyan reaffirmed his party’s view that the draft amendments run
counter to other articles of the Armenian constitution. He also noted
that the current Constitutional Court consists of judges appointed
under different governments. This is an important safeguard for the
court’s independence, he said.
Another senior Bright Armenia Party figure, Taron Sahakyan, insisted
that under Armenian law the amendments cannot be put on a referendum
without being examined and endorsed by the Constitutional Court.
Parliament majority leaders gave no indications that they will submit
the amendments to the court for approval before setting a referendum
date. They cited articles of the constitution which make no reference
to such a validation.
The Constitutional Court judges and Tovmasyan in particular have for
months been under growing government pressure to resign. The
parliament also passed in December a government bill offering them
financial incentives to retire before the end of their mandate. None
of them has accepted the early retirement offer so far.
Later in December, prosecutors brought criminal charges against
Tovmasyan. The Constitutional Court chairman rejected the accusations
as politically motivated and again ruled out his resignation. He has
said that the authorities want to get rid of him in order to gain
control over the court.
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3 - At Sold Out Gala, AEF Celebrates 70 Years of Service and
Accomplishments
LOS ANGELES—More than 500 community leaders, supporters, and generous
donors attended the Armenian Educational Foundation’s 70th Anniversary
Gala.
The momentous event was held on January 26.at the iconic Beverly Hills
Hotel. The gala opened at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail hour, followed by
dinner at 6:30 p.m.
The evening kicked off with a performance of the American and Armenian
national anthems sung by Talia Avedissian and Araz Arabian, students
from Mesrobian School and Holy Martyrs Ferrahian High School,
respectively. Both schools were co-founded by the AEF as pillars of
education for Armenian students in America.
Opening remarks were made by AEF President Peter Baghdassarian, who
welcomed guests and thanked committee members for making the sold-out
event a big success. Baghdassarian then introduced Armine Haroyan,
AEF’s administrator in Yerevan, who herself was an AEF scholarship
recipient. Haroyan shared with the audience the impact of AEF’s
generosity on her life and the lives of hundreds of other scholarship
recipients in Armenia.
AEF Vice President Dr. Aida Rechdouni then introduced Vahik
Petrossian, the recipient of AEF’s Lifetime Service Award for his
decades of service to the organization. This recognition prompted an
anonymous donation of $50,000 in honor of Petrossian.
Following remarks made by Dr. Rechdouni, Committee Chair Al Cabraloff
introduced AEF’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipients Sam and Sylva
Simonian. The Simonians were honored for their pioneering work in
bringing technical education to Armenia by funding and establishing
TUMO Center for Creative Technologies.
Mr. and Mrs. Simonian were also honored by Catholicos Aram I of the
Great House of Cilicia, as the couple was awarded the prestigious
Mesrob Mashdots Medal, which was presented to them by Western Prelate
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian.
The AEF Gala Banquet is held to help raise funds for AEF’s charitable
programs, including computer engineering labs in village schools,
university scholarship awards, school renovation projects, and other
education related programs.
For more information about AEF, please call the AEF office at
818.242.4154, or visit AEF’s website, www.aefweb.org
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4- Presidential Candidate Tom Steyer Appoints Senior
Armenian-American Staff
LOS ANGELES—The Steyer presidential campaign has announced its
Armenian-American senior and regional staff in California, continuing
its commitment to building a talented team that is representative of
our state’s diverse communities.
“We are excited to have Rostom Sarkissian and Astine Suleimanyan on
TeamTom,” said Katie Vavao, the campaign’s California state director,
who recruited both staffers. “Their years of experience on local and
national campaigns, their leadership in the communities they have
worked in, and their dedication to Armenian-American community make
them welcome additions to our team.”
Rostom Sarkissian is responsible for coordinating the political and
field efforts across the State. Rostom is a Los Angeles-based public
affairs professional with 20 years of experience in political, issue,
and advocacy campaigns in California and across the United States.
Sarkissian worked on behalf of the Democratic presidential nominee in
2004, 2008, and 2012 in Oregon, Colorado, and Florida.
Sarkissian holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Harvard
University’s Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor’s Degree in
Diplomacy and World Affairs from Occidental College.
“I’m proud to work for a candidate who believes in social, economic,
and environmental justice. Tom’s father was a part of the team that
prosecuted the Nazis at Nuremberg, and his dad taught him ‘when you
see something wrong, you fight it.’ That’s the type of leader we need
in Washington,” said Sarkissian.
Astine Suleimanyan will serve as the campaign’s deputy political
director for the Inland Empire and labor liaison across the state. She
has a decade of professional experience managing the diverse and
complicated elements of electoral, legislative, and constituent
campaigns for mission driven-organizations such as the American Civil
Liberties Union, Service Employees International Union, California
School Employees Association, and SEIU-United Long Term Care Workers.
“It is exciting to be part of this campaign. Tom Steyer has been an
early and vocal advocate for addressing climate change and building a
more just economy,” said Suleimanyan. “His justice-based approach to
addressing race, the economy, and the environment speaks to my core as
an activist, and his actual success as businessman will provide the
best contrast to Trump’s failing administration.”
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5- Glendale approves unique building for Armenian-American health center
By Shane Reiner-Roth
On January 21, the City Council of Glendale, California, unanimously
approved the construction of a daringly-designed office building from
the Los Angeles-based architecture firm P-A-T-T-E-R-N-S and Santa
Monica-based Sharif, Lynch: Architecture. When complete, the Janoian
Building will be the new home of All For Health, Health For All, a
local community health center began in 1999 by Dr. Noobar Janoian, and
will include rentable office space, ground-floor retail, and a small
amenity space in the terrace. As approved, Glendale residents can
expect to see a 5-story, 70-foot-tall complex rise on the site.
The five-story building’s shifting character on the corner of Broadway
and Isabel Street is designed to visually connect the urban promenade
of the stylistically-diverse Glendale Civic Center. “Responding to the
brief of providing a commercial office building in a very formal
context,” the architects explained, “the project aims to construct an
authentic dichotomic image: one that can be confused for a strange
civic building, too mute to be publicly engaged, but yet too
eccentrically unusual to be privately used.”
The building’s irregularly-striated brise-soleil system and exterior
voids along Isabel Street contrast the smooth, unbroken glass facade
to break up the structure’s otherwise imposing presence. A series of
exterior soffits and cantilevers unify the building’s envelope while
adding continuous open balconies accessible via the medical office
spaces. The health center will be set back along Isabel Street to make
room for a small pocket park, for which Armenian artist Zadik Zadikian
was commissioned to create a public mural as a backdrop that reflects
the community’s diverse citizenship. Construction on the Janoian
Building will begin this summer and is expected to be completed by
late next year.
This article appeared in The Architect’s Newspaper on February 5, 2020.
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6- Wilk Announces Scholarship Contests to
Raise Awareness of the Armenian Genocide
The California Armenian Legislative Caucus is holding two scholarship
contests for the 2020 commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, Senator
Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita), who represents the state’s 21st Senate
District, announced on February 3.
California high school students in 9th through 12th grades are invited
to participate in an essay contest and/or a visual arts contest to
increase greater awareness of the Armenian Genocide. Students may
enter both contests, but submissions must be entered separately.
In addition to the scholarships, the winners will also receive a trip
to Sacramento for a press conference where they will be acknowledged
by the California Armenian Legislative Caucus during the Caucus’
annual Armenian Advocacy Day on April 27, 2020.
Original artwork will be requested from visual arts finalists, for
display in the California State Capitol.
Criteria for each content can be found at wilk.cssrc.us.
Submission deadline for both contests is Monday, April 6, 2020. The
California Armenian Legislative Caucus will contact winners directly
and announce their names to media on Friday, April 16, 2020.
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