1 - Why Are Aliyev, Erdogan and Putin
Siding With Armenia’s Prime Minister?
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2- Amid Opposition Rallies, Calls Mount for Pashinyan to Resign
3- Armenia continues to fight COVID-19 pandemic
4- Burbank Recognizes Republic of Artsakh,
Rescinds Friendship City Status of Hadrut
5- Jeopardy! in 'Terms from History': I'll Take Anti-Armenian
Bias for $1600
6- ARF Expels, Bans Four US Western Region Former Central
Committee Members
7- COMMENTARY
Pashinyan’s Aim: Strip Armenia Defenseless
By William Bairamian
8- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
9- How a Montebello DJ spent years tracking down
rare Armenian music of the ’70s, ’80s
10- Armenian Lunch Truck Is Cooking with Fire
at Two Spots in San Fernando Valley
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1 - Why Are Aliyev, Erdogan and Putin
Siding With Armenia’s Prime Minister?
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
As the situation in Armenia is getting more chaotic on a daily basis,
baseless accusations are becoming a common practice. It is no longer
possible to distinguish fact from fiction.
Sadly, words like ‘traitor’ and ‘bought by Turks or Azeris’ are being
used by Armenians to accuse fellow Armenians without a shred of
evidence. We have all heard multiple times that the territories around
Artsakh were given up by the former presidents long before the war and
that Armenian traitors helped the enemy by disclosing our military
secrets or urged soldiers to stop fighting during the war. These
accusations have been repeated so often that a lot of Armenians
believe them to be true. Never mind that no evidence has been
presented, tarnishing the reputations of those they disagree with. If
there were so many traitors during the war, how come not one such
traitor has been arrested and convicted for treason? Normally,
traitors during a war are immediately arrested, convicted and shot by
a firing squad.
I do not believe that there are any traitors among us nor are there
Armenians who sold their soul to the enemy for a handful of dollars.
These are made up stories just because we disagree with each other.
Regrettably, most Armenians do not know how to carry out a civilized
conversation without insulting those they disagree with.
In this analysis, I will avoid using such terms as traitor and sold
out, and stick as much as possible to the facts, no matter how
difficult they are to discern.
One issue that keeps coming up is the fact that the presidents of
Azerbaijan, Turkey and Russia seem to prefer Armenia’s Prime Minister
Nikol Pashinyan over the opposition. This does not mean that Pashinyan
is a traitor or is working for the interests of Armenia’s enemies. I
believe that Azerbaijan, Turkey and Russia are siding with Pashinyan
for two main reasons:
1) All three realize that Pashinyan, defeated in the Artsakh war and
having signed a capitulation document, is in no position to go against
the wishes of Azerbaijan and Turkey, and especially Russia. Whereas,
as a former member of the opposition, Pashinyan was totally
anti-Russian, he changed his tune and supported all Russian
initiatives even before the war. After the war, he is completely
beholden to Putin and does not dare to deviate one bit from the
Russian President’s directives. This became even more so after Pres.
Putin repeatedly praised Pashinyan for signing the Nov. 10, 2020
trilateral agreement and abiding by its terms. Azerbaijan and Turkey
are also satisfied that, after their defeat of Armenia, there is a
leader like Pashinyan who is fully going along with the terms of the
agreement.
2) Azerbaijan, Turkey and Russia also realize that should Pashinyan’s
rule topple, his successor may not be as amenable to comply with the
terms of the trilateral agreement. While a defeated country is in no
position to contest these imposed terms, the fact that Pashinyan’s
opponents are expressing their opposition to that agreement means that
Azerbaijan, Turkey and Russia may have to deal with a new Armenian
leader who will question the terms of the agreement that the three
countries consider a fait accompli. So, Aliyev, Erdogan and Putin
naturally prefer to deal with Pashinyan based on their own interests
rather than because Pashinyan is their ‘agent.’ At best, we can say
that Pashinyan is reluctantly going along with these three leaders. At
worst, he truly believes that the ceasefire agreement is in the best
interest of Armenia, paving the way to the lifting of blockaded
transportation routes, thus potentially boosting Armenia’s economy.
We can be on different sides of the above analysis, but one thing is
very clear. Pashinyan should not cross any red lines which are totally
contrary to Armenia’s national interests. It is one thing to be
obligated to go along with your enemies after your defeat, but it is a
whole different thing to enthusiastically comply with their wishes,
mistakenly believing that the enemy’s imposed actions are in Armenia’s
own interest. Aliyev and Erdogan have repeatedly stated that they are
willing to allow Armenia to use their transportation routes under
certain conditions which were: 1) Return Artsakh territories to
Azerbaijan (which has been mostly accomplished through the use of
force), 2) Recognize the existing borders of the Republic of Turkey
(no more territorial demands from Turkey), and 3) Discontinue the
international pursuit of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
More recently, Aliyev added a new demand: signing a peace treaty
between Armenia and Azerbaijan which means that Armenia will give up
claiming Artsakh as an Armenian territory.
In my view, these Azeri and Turkish demands should be rejected by
Armenia’s current leaders. These are red lines that no Armenian
government should cross, depriving future Armenian generations of
their right to pursue the nation’s just demands.
It remains to be seen if Armenia’s next leaders will be able to find a
way to minimize the losses from the war. But one thing is certain:
Pashinyan must resign immediately allowing a new and more competent
leadership trying to manage the catastrophic situation Armenia finds
itself in.
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2- Amid Opposition Rallies, Calls Mount for Pashinyan to Resign
YEREVAN, Armenia (Combined Sources) — Political tensions in Armenia
heightened Monday, with supporters of the embattled prime minister and
the opposition each holding massive rallies at separate sites in the
capital.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has faced opposition demands to resign
since he signed a peace deal in November that ended six weeks of
intense fighting with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The
Russia-brokered agreement saw Azerbaijan reclaim control over large
parts of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas that had been held by
Armenian forces for more than a quarter-century.
Opposition protests seeking Pashinyan’s ouster abated during the
winter but intensified last week amid a rift between him and the
country’s military leaders.
The leadership of the Armed Forces issued a statement on March 1
reaffirming its assessment of the situation, emphasizing that,
regardless of the attempts to involve the Armed Forces in the
political process, it remains steadfast, prudent and determined.
Chief Information Officer at the Ministry of Defense Samvel Asatryan
informs.
“The Armed Forces, composed of the sons of our people and aware of the
threats to national security, consider inadmissible and urge to stop
the baseless accusations against the Armed Forces and certain
officials,” the statement reads.
“The current situation proves that the Armed Forces are guided
exclusively by state interests, they serves only the people, being
guided by the norms of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia,”
the statement concluded.
The spat was sparked by Pashinyan firing a deputy chief of the
military’s General Staff who had laughed off the prime minister’s
claim that only 10 percent of Russia-supplied Iskander missiles that
Armenia used in the conflict exploded on impact.
The General Staff then demanded Pashinyan’s resignation, and he
responded by dismissing the General Staff chief, Col. Gen. Onik
Gasparyan. The dismissal has yet to be approved by Armenia’s largely
ceremonial president, Armen Sarkissian, who sent it back to Pashinyan,
saying the move was unconstitutional.
Pashinyan quickly resubmitted the demand for the general’s ouster, and
the prime minister’s allies warned that the president could be
impeached if he fails to endorse the move.
Sarkissian’s office responded with a strongly worded statement
condemning “inadmissible speculation” about his move and emphasizing
that his decision was “unbiased and driven exclusively by national
interests.”
“The fact that the President of the Republic returned the draft decree
with objections is inadmissibly being manipulated and has received an
inadequate reaction. On this occasion we are once again stressing that
the President of the Republic is executing his functions solely
through the powers vested in him by the Constitution, unbiased and is
making decisions guided exclusively by pan-national and state
interests,” Sarkissian’s Office said in a statement.
It said that the President does not represent the interests of any
political force and any manipulations are inadmissible and
unacceptable.
“The most important mission of the President, as Head of State, is to
ensure that the Constitution is being maintained and to serve the
institute of the President as an arena for negotiations and finding
ways for resolving the situation in the country. The President of the
Republic has numerously offered and is reaffirming his readiness to
bring together political forces around the table of negotiations with
the purpose of settling disagreements and finding mutually acceptable
solutions. The President returned with objections the draft decree on
dismissing from office the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed
Forces Colonel-General Onik Gasparyan by exercising his powers under
clause 2, article 139 of the Constitution.”
The President also cited the Constitutional Court’s decision 1518
dated March 31, 2020, which enshrines that the President has
alternative “discretionary” powers in appointing and dismissing the
high command of the military.
Addressing a rally of thousands of his supporters, Pashinyan on March
1 voiced hope the president would endorse the dismissal of the General
Staff’s chief for meddling in politics.
He blamed the country’s former leader who lost power in the 2018
“velvet revolution” for influencing the military brass and trying to
“set the army against the legitimately elected authorities and the
people.”
The prime minister also suggested calling a constitutional referendum
in October to ask voters about expanding presidential powers to avoid
future crises, although he didn’t spell out specific changes.
“I want to apologize to all of you, all Armenian citizens, to all
Armenians of the diaspora, to all people in Artsakh for our mistakes,”
he was quoted as saying during a rally of his supporters in downtown
Yerevan on Monday. “I pondered a lot where I went wrong. As a prime
minister, as a head of state, I apologize for all the mistakes of the
republic’s authorities. But I don’t want to sound regretful, I want it
to sound a sign of our resolve that we, Armenian citizens, will never
give up in our struggle for free and happy Armenia.”
He admitted that sometimes the choice was between bad and worse. He
stressed that the nation’s future depends on how the current problems,
such as security, foreign and domestic policy challenges, are
resolved. “Strange as it might seem, but a key reason for our mistakes
was our popularity as a government. We were loved so much that we
tried to do everything too ideally. In many cases, the quest for
excellence resulted in idleness,” Pashinyan said.
Pashinyan also touched upon snap elections and said the following: “I
had offered to hold snap parliamentary elections. This was addressed
to parliamentary forces, but they declined the offer. Later, I said if
the parliamentary forces and the opposition decline the offer, there
is no sense in holding snap elections. Now the leader of one of the
parliamentary forces says his political party had made the offer a
long time ago so that elections wouldn’t be held, meaning this was a
formal offer. I officially announce that if the parliamentary forces
accept the offer I had made in December 2020, we will agree to go to
snap parliamentary elections.”
The PM added that the opposition has made all possible efforts to show
in the streets that the people demand his resignation. “They failed to
do that, and I give them another chance, I challenge them, let’s hold
another election and we will see whose resignation the people demand,”
Pashinyan said.
“We need to admit once and for all that the Constitution that was
adopted in 2015 and entered into force in 2018 proved to have many
flaws. I think it’s time to state that we need to work on adopting a
new Constitution or constitutional amendments through a nationwide
referendum in October, and making the transition to a
semi-presidential system of governance needs to be one of the options.
This process needs to be carried out through close cooperation with
the legislature, government, the President, political forces and civil
society. In the course of the next year, we need to modify the
articles of the Constitution that can be modified through voting in
parliament. The major objective is to create constitutional mechanisms
that will guarantee stability and security in Armenia and will exclude
the creation of crises,” Pashinyan said.
Touching upon the issue of captives, Pashinyan said the following: “We
need to solve many issues, and the major issues are the issues related
to our captured brothers and missing servicemen, but I don’t find
discussions on these issues too appropriate. Unfortunately, the fact
is that the current situation has led to certain problems, but I
wouldn’t like to go into details.”
After an hour-long speech, Pashinyan led his supporters on a march
across Yerevan under the heavy escort of police and security officers.
Thousands of opposition supporters rallied at a separate location,
demanding that the prime minister resign, and some later marched to
the president’s residence to support him in the rift with Pashinyan.
The two marches proceeded along separate routes amid tight police
cordons. At one point, scuffles broke out between some from the rival
camps, but police quickly pulled them apart.
Amid the escalating tensions earlier in the day, a group of protesters
broke into a government building in central Yerevan to press for
Pashinyan’s resignation, but they left shortly afterward without
violence.
Ishkhan Saghatelyan, a leading member of the opposition Dashnaktsutyun
party, promised that the protests will continue Tuesday. He also
called for another rally Wednesday, when Pashinyan is expected to
appear in parliament. Saghatelyan urged opposition supporters to
gather in front of parliament that day “to clearly convey our voice.”
The fighting with Azerbaijan that erupted in late September and lasted
44 days has left more than 6,000 people dead. Russia has deployed
about 2,000 peacekeepers to monitor the Nov. 10 peace deal. Armenia
has relied on Moscow’s financial and military support and hosts a
Russian military base — ties that will keep the two nations closely
allied regardless of the outcome of the political infighting.
Last week, the Russian Defense Ministry rebuked the Armenian leader
for criticism of the Iskander missile, a state-of-the-art weapon
touted by the military for its accuracy. The Russian military said it
was “bewildered” to hear Pashinyan’s claim because Armenia hadn’t used
an Iskander missile in the conflict.
In a bid to repair the damage to Armenia’s ties with Moscow, Pashinyan
rescinded his claim Monday, acknowledging that he made the statement
after being misled.
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3 - Armenia continues to fight COVID-19 pandemic
(Combined Sources)— Armenia will roll out the Covid vaccination in
March 2021, Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan told reporters last
week. She said the vaccination will be given on a voluntary basis.
People in risk groups will be vaccinated free of charge, she said,
adding that it’s not yet clear what it will cost for others.
According to Avanesyan, the government will import only the vaccines
that have successfully passed phase 3 of clinical trials.
Three vaccines—AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Sputnik V—have so far been
approved by an expert commission.
“With regard to Pfizer, there are issues pertaining to the required
storage temperature, which need to be solved,” Avanesyan said.
The amount of vaccines to be imported will depend on several factors,
including their cost and how much money the state can allocate for the
purpose.
The European Union and the WHO Regional Office for Europe will work
together in a major effort to support the deployment of COVID-19
vaccines and vaccination in Armenia. The project funded by the
European Union and implemented by WHO will cover all
phases—constituting “end-to-end” support—of COVID-19 vaccine
deployment and vaccination and will serve as a major investment to
strengthen the routine immunisation system.
The project will be implemented by WHO over a three-year period as
part of a €40 million European Union-funded initiative to support six
countries in the WHO European Region in preparing, deploying and
monitoring rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. “Vaccines bring us closer
towards the end of the pandemic. However, we will never beat the
pandemic if the vaccination coverage concentrates only in certain
parts of the world. The EU stands by Armenia also during the process
of vaccination to ensure we soon can meet together without the fear
for lives of ourselves and our close ones. Together, we will beat this
pandemic faster,” said EU Ambassador to Armenia, Andrea Wiktorin.
“COVID-19 knows no borders; it unites and demands united solutions. It
is noteworthy that the solidarity principle made the world stand
together to fight this calamity in unity. The long-lasting cooperation
and the continuity of common projects between the Ministry of Health
of the Republic of Armenia, the European Union and the World Health
Organization is a valid proof for this. During the intensification of
the pandemic and the war, Armenia has always felt the results of the
strong support and cooperation. Even today, our colleagues are
standing strong next to us and are willing to assist in the process of
procuring vaccines. We are full of hope that 'Health and Peace' joint
initiative will help member states endure all the challenges that this
pandemic has posed,” said Avanesyan.
Egor Zaitsev, the WHO Representative and Head of the WHO Country
Office in Armenia, said: “Thanks to this generous support, WHO can
strengthen its collaboration with the Government of Armenia to ensure
that vaccines can reach those who need them most, as soon and as
efficiently as possible.”
The funds will be used initially to support the first phase of
preparedness and deployment, with an emphasis on imminent needs in
strategic programmatic areas such as planning, equipment/supplies,
training of health workers and information campaigns. The project
builds on the European Union’s and WHO’s ongoing support to countries’
response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the joint €35 million EU
Solidarity for Health Initiative, aimed to support the partner
countries in their fight against the virus and address better the
needs of the most vulnerable people.
Armenia in January announced plans to purchase thousands of doses
directly from its main ally, Russia. At the same time, Armenia made
advance payments to COVAX to procure vaccines for 300,000 people. In
the meantime, Armenia continues its containment effort of the
coronavirus extending lockdown measures until July 11.
According to the Ministry of Health, there were 6,837 active
coronavirus cases in Armenia as of March 1. Armenia has recorded
175,016 coronavirus cases and 3,225 deaths; 164,954 have recovered.
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4- Burbank Recognizes Republic of Artsakh,
Rescinds Friendship City Status of Hadrut
The City of Burbank unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing the
Independent Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and rescinding the
friendship city status of the town of Hadrut in Artsakh during its
March 2 city council meeting. The Council requested for the city staff
to write the final text of the resolution to be approved in the next
few weeks.
“Early last month, I spoke with Vic Gerami about the steps taken by
our regional partners (e.g., Los Angeles, Glendale, and West
Hollywood) to formally recognize the Independent Republic of Artsakh.
He encouraged the Burbank City Council to take action and I am
thankful that he brought it to our attention. He was quickly joined by
many members of our community,” said Schultz. “Tonight the Burbank
City Council unanimously requested that city staff bring back a
resolution to finalize this recognition. This step will be incredibly
meaningful to the Armenian members of our community who have been
directly and indirectly impacted by the violence and loss of life
stemming from the military aggression by Azerbaijan in the region. I
look forward to formalizing this recognition of Artsakh in furtherance
of promoting democracy and the right to self-determination.”
Armenians make up more than 10 percent of Burbank’s population. The
total population at the 2010 census was 103,340. Since 1990, the
number of Armenians in Burbank has nearly quintupled, from 2,780 to
13,846, according to the most recent census data. This number is
likely much higher now as it does not reflect the results of the most
recent census conducted in 2020. Approximately 900,000 Armenians live
in California, 700,000 of whom in the greater Los Angeles area,
including West Hollywood, Hollywood, East Hollywood (Little Armenia),
Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, and throughout the San Fernando Valley.
“As an Armenian-American who grew up in Burbank, this is a very
important recognition for me. I am grateful for Councilmember Nick
Schultz for sponsoring the resolution, as well as other Councilmembers
for their vote,” said Vic Gerami, an Armenian-American journalist,
radio host, and activist.
The Burbank City Council also rescinded the Friendship City Status of
the Town of Hadrut in Nagorno-Karabakh. “I am grateful for the many
Armenian members of the Burbank community, including the Armenian
National Committee of America, who wrote and called the City Council
encouraging us to take this crucial first step. This action will be
incredibly meaningful to the Armenian members of our community who
have been directly and indirectly impacted by the violence and loss of
life stemming from the military aggression by Azerbaijan in the
region,” noted Nick Schultz.
“This is a strong message by the city of Burbank to the Azeri
occupiers that the civilized world will not tolerate aggression and
will not stand for the ethnic cleansing,” added Antranig Charshafjian
of the Armenian Cultural Foundation Burbank chapter.
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5- Jeopardy! in 'Terms from History': I'll Take Anti-Armenian
Bias for $1600
By David Taub
(GV Wire)—At the end of the Jeopardy! show he is guest hosting,
executive producer Mike Richards reminds viewers of the wisdom of the
late Alex Trebek — pitch in to make the world “a kindler, gentler
society.”
Some in the Armenian community appear to be questioning the show’s own
adherence to that message after the airing of an episode last week.
A clue focused on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict has some saying
Jeopardy! got it wrong. The show regrets the situation.
“Our clue stated that Armenia ‘has been accused of irredentism, the
reclaiming of old territory.’ We didn’t mean to imply either that
Armenian policy is actually irredentist, or that irredentism is
necessarily something to be condemned,” Jeopardy! replied on Saturday
morning, a day after GV wire posted the story.
“Jeopardy! clues often involve reducing complex situations to a brief
summary, and we always regret it when our clues come across as
oversimplified and even as inaccurate or insulting to any person or
group,” the show said.
On the episode that aired on Thursday, March 4, the $1,600 clue in
“Terms from History” upset Armenians.
“This country has been accused of irredentism, the reclaiming of old
territory, over the Nagorno-Karabakh area in Azerbaijan,” the answer
read.
“What is Armenia?” correctly questioned Jim Cooper, a screenwriter
from Pacific Palisades.
For Armenian advocates, Nagorno-Karabakh is not considered part of
Azerbaijan, but rather an independent land.
“The Armenian-American community is outraged by the blatant
misportrayal of the Artsakh self-determination movement,” Alex
Galitsky, spokesman for the Armenian National Committee of America
Western Region said.
Sevag Tateosian, an Armenian advocate from Fresno and former candidate
for the State Center Community College District, was in disbelief.
“As someone who has watched the program with my family for decades,
I’m disappointed at the lack of research by program staff,” Tateosian
said.
Galisky, the ANCA-WR spokesman, said the Jeopardy! clue had a bias
against Armenians.
”It is profoundly disappointing to see an American cultural staple
like Jeopardy! use its platform to sanitize the genocidal violence
perpetrated against the indigenous Armenians of Artsakh by the
Azerbaijani government – one of the most repressive and authoritarian
regimes in the world today,” Galitsky said.
The Los Angeles-based Azerbaijanian consulate had a completely
different response. They referred GV Wire℠ to a tweet from Consul
General Nasimi Aghayev.
“One of America’s oldest and most watched television shows @Jeopardy
asked this question yesterday. Illegal, @UN-condemned occupation &
ethnic cleansing of #Azerbaijan’s #Qarabagh region by #Armenia was
exposed again. Watched by millions of people. Truth always comes out,”
Aghayev wrote.
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6- ARF Expels, Bans Four US Western Region Former Central
Committee Members
By way of a circular dated March 8, the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation Bureau—the ruling body of the party—presented to its
international bodies and membership internal organizational issues
regarding the ARF Gars Western Region United States Central Committee.
“During the days where our homeland faces incredible challenges, the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western United States – a member of
the vast ARF family – is confronted with internal organizational
turmoil. A group of individuals, who have held organizational
positions for many years, have violated the organization’s bylaws in
pursuit of their own personal ambitions. This group, along with their
misguided supporters have contravened the ARF oath which states in
part, ‘to always remain faithful to Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Program, Bylaws, and decisions.’”
“There is one legitimate Central Committee in the Western United
States, which is the only body authorized to act on behalf of the
ARF,” said the statement. On December 27, the ARF Bureau had appointed
a new ARF Western Region Central Committee comprising: Rostom
Aintablian, chairman; Stepan Boyajian, intraorganizational liaison;
Melkon Melkonian, community liaison; Miganoush Melkoian, Secretary;
Vicken Babikian, Treasurer; Hrayr Garabedian, advisor; Steve Dadaian,
advisor; Vicken Sossikian, advisor; Knar Kitabjian, advisor; Gev
Iskajyan, advisor; and Mkhitar Moradian, advisor.
The ARF Bureau announced that it has taken steps to bring order and
stability to the region in accordance with the ARF Bylaws. As such,
organizational disciplinary measures have been taken which have
already been publicized in the Droshak publication.
The ARF Bureau announced the expulsion and banning of four
individuals: Avedik Izmirlian, Carmen Ohanian, Levon Kirakosian, and
Garo Ispendjian.
“Incidents like this are not unprecedented in the 130-year history of
the ARF. We are confident that, as in the past, the organization will
overcome this challenge, and that the Western United States region
will soon regain its active role in the selfless service to our people
and Homeland,” concluded the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau
statement.
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7- COMMENTARY
Pashinyan’s Aim: Strip Armenia Defenseless
By William Bairamian
Armenia’s democracy necessarily cannot be more important than the army
because without the army no democracy could exist.
Covert Nikol Pashinyan supporters who pretend like they’re not
supporting him but come up with excuses as to why the Homeland
Salvation Movement is unacceptable to them are now flooding the news
stream with explanations as to why elections are necessary and why
democracy is at stake.
Let’s leave aside the truly incredible idea of allowing a government
that lied for 44 days straight and which has lied before and since
then to organize elections that anyone could possibly take seriously.
Nobody explains why either elections or democracy are actually what
Armenia needs. We’re just supposed to think, as we’ve been trained,
that we need them and it’s good to have them. If you don’t agree,
you’re a [fill in pejorative].
It took a few months but the SAME rhetoric that got us where we are
today that the anti-nationalists pushed for 20 years, that democracy
and elections are Armenia’s greatest concerns, not security,
stability, and economic growth, have already resurfaced. We have an
opportunity now, this time, to say no.
Why did democracy and elections become a concern again all of a sudden?
Because Armenia’s army called upon Pashinyan to resign in the interest
of the nation.
This anti-nationalist cult and their idol Pashinyan have seized the
opportunity and turned their sights onto Armenia’s army, the biggest
roadblock to their goal of obliterating Armenia’s institutions,
organizing sham elections, and paving the way for their continued
rule.
They are attacking the army’s decision to call on Pashinyan’s
resignation as anti-democratic, prioritizing the foreign-funded
rhetoric about what needs to be done in Armenia over what is best for
the nation: the resignation of Pashinyan.
The army is the guarantor of Armenia’s existence and independence.
Without the army, it will become a vassal state at best and will
disappear at worst.
The greatest success of the past 30 years–an achievement of Vazgen
Sargsyan, Serzh Sargsyan, Vazgen Manukyan, and Robert Kocharyan, among
others–was reestablishing a standing Armenian army for the first time
in 1000 years.
Pashinyan and supporters are now trying to destroy it.
Do not take Pashinyan’s attack on the army lightly. It is part and
parcel of their obvious plan to destroy every Armenian institution,
which is what they were doing for the past three years. The army is
the only one left and it has now become their target.
This article appeared in The Armenite on March 3, 2021.
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8- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor:
Regarding Harut Sassounian's column of March 4, 2021, Prime Minister
Nikol Pashinyan will not resign voluntarily as he made it very clear.
He knows he will be either executed or put in jail whichever comes
first.
He can only be removed by military force.
The army is the only force that can do that, but I am worried Russians
or even Azeris will come to his defense and crush the Armenian army to
keep Pashinyan in power.
Mike Sarian
Glendale, Calif.
Dear Editor:
In regards to the February 25, 2021 article "'To Live and Not Forget'
Holocaust Memorial in Yerevan Vandalized," nobody bothered to read
what was written on the monument! It just passes as anti-Semitism, as
if there’s isn’t enough anyway!
What is written on the monument isn’t anything Nazi, anti-Holocaust,
or even anything anti-Jewish; instead, it says Lora, Elbit, Harop,
Sandcat, Hermes, Orbiter. These items are Israeli weapons (and an
Israeli arms manufacturer) sold to Azerbaijan that killed last fall.
While such monuments should not be defiled, it is not an _expression_ of
anti-Semitism, but rather an _expression_ of anger at Israeli arms in
the hands of Azerbaijanis that killed Armenians.
David Davidian
Yerevan, Armenia
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9- How a Montebello DJ spent years tracking down
rare Armenian music of the ’70s, ’80s
By Liz Ohanesian
Darone Sassounian gasped when he finally found the record.
For years, Sassounian had been on the hunt for “Sunrise,” a 1979 album
from Armenian musician Avo Haroutiounian. The album was recorded and
released through a local label, Parseghian Records, after
Haroutiounian had settled in Los Angeles.
But when Sassounian, a Montebello-based DJ, stumbled upon it, he was
far from home. At the time, Sassounian was digging through records at
a friend’s shop in Bourj Hammoud, a Lebanese town outside of Beirut
known for its large ethnic Armenian population.
“I’ve never even seen one online,” says Sassounian on a recent phone
call. “I found that record that was made in Los Angeles about 7000
miles east of where it was produced.”
Now Sassounian is sharing one of the songs from that album, the
incomparably funky “Tears on My Eyes,” on the compilation “Silk Road:
Journey of the Armenian Diaspora (1971-1982),” available now digitally
and on vinyl via record label Terrestrial Funk. The album is a labor
of love that brings together music recorded by Armenian diasporan
artists between 1971 and 1982.
It’s an eclectic collection that shows the breadth of Armenian music
from this era. “Ammenaïn Serdov (De Tout Couer) (With All My Heart)”
from the French-Armenian singer Marten Yorgantz is a slice of
electronic funk with a nod to Aram Khachaturian’s “Sabre Dance.”
“Taparoum Enk (We’re Wandering)” is a psychedelic cut from Harout
Pamboukjian, the beloved Armenian singer and longtime Angeleno.
“Silk Road” has already garnered support from tastemakers like German
house producer Motor City Drum Ensemble, Beats In Space DJ Tim Sweeney
and L.A. online radio station Dublab.
A musician since childhood who later turned towards DJing, the
28-year-old Sassounian played regularly at local venues Club Tee Gee
and The Standard pre-pandemic and also runs the music management
company Rocky Hill. His tastes lean towards disco, soul and boogie
from the 1970s and ’80s, along with 1990s house music. Several years
ago, while working at indie label Ubiquity Records, he came across
compilations of disco, funk, psychedelic and related styles that
spotlight a global array of artists. He wondered why he hadn’t seen
any similar collections focusing on Armenian artists.
So Sassounian, who is of Armenian heritage, decided to take on the task himself.
It was a quest. Armenian music from this era is hard to find.
Sassounian says releases often weren’t pressed in large quantities.
Some recordings may have also been lost in the midst of war or
political turmoil. That is the case for a lot of music recorded in
Lebanon during the 1970s and 1980s, he says.
“A lot of the master tapes are destroyed because of the civil war,”
Sassounian explains.
His first find came in 2016 via his father’s collection of cassettes.
The song “Sev Sev Achair (Black Black Eyes)” was from Jozeph Sefian,
an Armenian singer from Iran who recorded, and eventually settled, in
Los Angeles. A month or so later, Sassounian began working on the
project in earnest and booked plane tickets to Beirut and Paris, two
cities with larger Armenian music communities, to dig for records.
He sought out records in the course of his U.S. travels too, finding a
“crazy collection” in Las Vegas. He estimates finding between 100 and
150 records on his searches. The final cut for “Silk Road,” so named
for historic Armenia’s position along the famed trading route,
features seven tracks from six artists.
The digital version includes two edits of songs from the compilation,
one from Sassounian and another from New York DJ duo Fundido.
In all, it took about three years for Sassounian to find and license
the music. In the process, he was able to get to know some of the
artists, or the heirs of the artists, behind the songs. Sassounian
says that he was struck by how the music reflects not just the
artists’ Armenian identity, but the countries in which the music was
made.
“A lot of these records have a fusion of those sounds,” he says.
The fusion points to the history of Armenians, who formed diasporan
communities across the globe in the aftermath of the Armenian
Genocide. The artists featured on “Silk Road” are about two
generations removed from the events of 1915 and reflect the geographic
diversity of Armenians as well. Eddy Jeghelian was based in Australia.
Adiss Harmandian (spelled Harmandyan on “Silk Road” to correspond with
the spelling on the original release) began his career in Beirut but
relocated to Los Angeles, where he lived until death in 2019.
In light of that, the compilation also has a powerful message.
“Because the culture still continues, the music continues, the people
continue,” Sassounian says. “The people continue to live along with
the music.”
Sassounian dedicates the album to diasporan communities, whether
Armenian or of another ethnicity, who have been impacted by “systemic
racism, slaughter and injustice.” In a note on the vinyl edition, he
writes, “the rhythm of all diasporas must continue.”
This article appeared in Daily News on March 7, 2021.
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10- Armenian Lunch Truck Is Cooking with Fire
at Two Spots in San Fernando Valley
By Josh Lurie
Sure, Armenian Lunch Truck’s second location resides in a propane shop
parking lot, but the Kirakosyan family prefers charcoal fire to gas.
It’s a key differentiator from most kebab spots, and it helps propel
the Kirakosyans’ skewers to greatness.
The family relocated from Armenia to L.A. in 2017, and none of its
members had any restaurant experience. Petros, the family’s patriarch,
and younger daughter Lusine were driving for Uber Black and Uber Lux,
for example, but they’ve made it work. The Kirakosyans launched their
concept in late 2019 on high-traffic Sherman Way in front of Royal
Fresh Super Market. Their colorful truck sports colors of the Armenian
flag—red, orange and blue—and the family sets up an adjacent charcoal
grill on the sidewalk. To end 2020, Armenian Lunch Truck occupied a
stainless steel structure with a corrugated metal roof in Propane
Spot’s parking lot on an industrial stretch of San Fernando Road in
Sun Valley.
Both locations showcase their meat in butcher shop-like display cases
featuring marinated, ready-to-grill skewers. North Hollywood has three
exclusive items—chicken and pork shawarma and French fries—but other
than that, the menus match.
“My father was always good at preparing Armenian food,” Lusine says.
“We tried so many different places to eat something, but we didn’t
liked it so we decided to do our own recipes.”
The family jointly decided which dishes to feature from their
homeland, and Petros developed the recipes. To marinate the meats, he
goes simple and savory with salt, red pepper, black pepper, and
onions. Screaming-hot charcoal and careful grilling impart beautiful
sears and smoky notes to the skewers.
The business really is a family affair. Petros purchases and preps all
the meat. His wife Liana and older daughter Arsine execute all the
orders. Lusine is in charge of shawarma, takes orders at the register,
and runs their Instagram page. Petros and Liana’s son—also named
Petros—helps too.
While neighboring Turkey is approximately 98 percent Muslim, Armenia
has an inverse percentage, just 2 percent, so the population is much
more open to eating pork. Armenian Lunch Truck skewers and grills the
animal’s ribs and cubed belly meat. In North Hollywood, they also
spit-roast pork sirloin aboard the truck. Pork shawarma works well in
lavash wraps. The soft, thin flatbread cradles crusty pork shavings
and spicy tomato sauce folded with chopped tomatoes and onions.
Chicken also gets plenty of love. Wings grace the grill and breast
meat powers kebabs and shawarma. Luscious lule—ground beef or
chicken—is also popular.
Plates cost $15 and come with grilled tomato and jalapeño, rice,
lavash, Armenian salad (featuring cucumber, onion, and tomato), tangy
tzatziki (yogurt blended with cucumber), and spicy tomato sauce. Extra
skewers cost $8 and are wise investments, since Armenian Lunch Truck
tends to leave customers wanting more.
Armenian Lunch Truck; 12811 Sherman Way, North Hollywood; and 9365 San
Fernando Rd., Sun Valley, 818-482-7515.
This article appeared in Los Angeles Magazine on March 2, 2021.
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