Author: Ani Basmajian

Jerusalem: Armenians in court over disputed property in the Old City

Ani Basmajian
Italy – Feb 26 2024

The community is appealing to the courts to assert its rights over the 'Garden of Cows' at the centre of an opaque real estate transaction that threatens to distort their historic neighbourhood. The land is held in trust with a waqf fund established 400 years ago. The objective is the annulment of the sale agreement. Pro Terra Sancta" collection: the Custodian calls for "prayer, pilgrimages and sharing of resources" from Christians around the world.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews) – The Armenian community in Jerusalem is appealing to the court to assert its rights over a disputed property in the holy city, officially filing a lawsuit on February 18 aimed at "invalidating" the lease agreement between the patriarchate and Xana Capital.

The lawsuit is based on the assumption that the land is held in trust for the benefit of the Armenian community itself, with a waqf fund – generally real estate alienated as a donation with a restriction on use for certain beneficiaries – established over 400 years ago.

Under its terms, the property could not be rented or sold by the patriarchate unless the transaction directly benefits the Armenian community and is approved by the community, which has expressed its opposition.

The Armenian community in the Holy Land has long been at the centre of a dispute over the sale of land in a disputed area in the Old City, Jerusalem, which has created a deep internal rift. The clash was sparked by the 99-year lease – a de facto transfer – of real estate to an Australian Jewish entrepreneur with an opaque business empire, who operates from behind the scenes.

The 'traitor' priest who mediated and signed the deed is Baret Yeretzian, former administrator of the real estate of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, now in 'exile'. With him were Armenian Orthodox Patriarch Nourhan Manougian, Archbishop Sevan Gharibian and businessman Daniel Rubenstein (known as Danny Rothman), who intends to build a luxury hotel.

The affair has also touched the patriarchal office, with the Armenian primate 'challenged' by the community, some of the faithful calling for his resignation, while Jordan and Palestine have de facto 'frozen' the authority.

The affair exploded last May, but the contract was signed in great secrecy in July 2021 and envisages the lease for almost a century of the land known as the "Garden of the Cows" (Goveroun Bardez), today a car park used to drive to the Wailing Wall. Its use – along with other properties mentioned in the contract – by Jews has provoked the wrath of the Armenians, who have been fighting since 2021 to regain full possession of it.

The dispute also touches on the 'Abrahamic Agreements' themselves, because one of the companies involved is One&Only, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

By taking the matter to court, the Armenian community is seeking the annulment of the alleged agreement and the protection of the land, with a unity of purpose between the community, patriarchate and Diaspora Armenians. In a statement, the Jerusalem Armenians emphasise their "firm conviction" about the "lack of transparency and cooperation" behind the affair, which aims to effectively expropriate the area.

"The community continues the statement – we will fight to the end to ensure that the Armenian quarter remains intact, Armenian and for the benefit of the people. These are precisely the principles that have united the global Armenian world – and our allies who understand the value of the unique mosaic that is the ancient city of Jerusalem – to save the Armenian Quarter'.

The Custos of the Holy Land, Fr Francesco Patton, speaks of the need for "closeness" and "solidarity" on the part of "Christians from all over the world" in his message on the Good Friday "Pro Terra Sancta" Collection, sent to AsiaNews for information. After more than two years of "uncertainty" for the Covid and the illusion of a return to "normality", there was the sudden outbreak of the new conflict following the attack on 7 October that took one by "surprise".

In addition to the thousands of dead, Fr Patton also recalls the new blockade to the flow of pilgrims, the closure of schools and the loss of work "for many Christians in the Holy Land, especially in Bethlehem and Palestine, but also in the old city of Jerusalem and in Israel". Hence the renewed call for closeness not only through prayer, but also through pilgrimages and the "sharing of economic resources".

"The Good Friday Collection serves to cover part of these costs, thanks to the generosity of the faithful around the world, thanks to your generosity. On this occasion, we friars of the Custody of the Holy Land make ourselves beggars and we turn to you so that Good Friday may be a day of universal solidarity, a day in which Christians from all over the world concretely take care of the Mother Church of Jerusalem, which at this moment – the Custos concludes – is in extreme need".

https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Jerusalem:-Armenians-in-court-over-disputed-property-in-the-Old-City-60223.html

Asbarez: Macron Vows to Continue Military Cooperation with Armenia

Ani Basmajian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Main, Latest, News, Top Stories

President Emmanuel Macron of France during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the Elysee Palace on Feb. 21


President Emmanuel Macron of France on Wednesday vowed that his country will continue to develop and expand military cooperation with Armenia, a move that has been criticized by Baku, which has accused Paris of threatening the peace process.

“We will continue to develop cooperation in the field of defense. France has given its consent to the supply of defense equipment and France will continue in the spirit of its commitment in this area, aiming to prevent any escalation,” Macron told reporters on Wednesday during a joint press conference at the Elysee Palace with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who is visiting France.

He added that France also continued its humanitarian commitment to displaced Artsakh Armenians by providing 29 million euros in 2023.

Macron pledged that France will continue to support the development of relations between the European Union and Armenia decisively.

France’s military pledges and the delivery of French weapons to Armenia has further soured relations between Baku and Paris, yet it has not deterred French officials from pledging their country’s support for Armenia.

During the press event on Wednesday, Macron went on to call the attack last week by Azerbaijani forces against Armenian positions in Nerkin Hand, that killed four Armenians soldiers, “disproportionate.”

“France regrets the disproportionate response by Azerbaijan, which resulted in four deaths and injuries on the Armenian side,” Macron said.

He also said that last week’s attack in Syunik proved “that the danger of escalation remains real.”

“France will continue to support efforts aimed at a just and stable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. France is convinced that this can only be achieved if international law, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and inviolability of borders are respected,” Macron added.

“I want to reiterate once again that you can count on France’s support for Armenia, its independence, territorial integrity, democratic process and its aspirations for peace,” Macron said, adding that he and Pashinyan would discuss the ongoing peace talks during their meeting.

The French leader also called on Azerbaijan to implement the decision of the International Court of Justice on November 17, 2023, according to which Azerbaijan must ensure the safe and unimpeded return of those who left Nagorno-Karabakh after September 9, 2023, and wish to return.

“We call for the implementation of the decision of the International Court of Justice on November 17, 2023. According to this decision, Azerbaijan must ensure that those who left Nagorno-Karabakh after September 19, 2023, and wish to return, can do so safely, unimpeded and expeditious manner,” Macron said.

Chidem Inch: The mountain once known as…

Ani Basmajian
 Mark Gavoor Opinion 0

In the Soviet era, Armenia, like other SSRs, had its own coat of arms. The Armenian Coat of Arms had an image of Ararat wreathed in two stalks of wheat with a red star and hammer and sickle above the two peaks. In the 1950s, Turkey complained to the USSR about using ‘its’ mountain on the Armenian SSR Coat of Arms. It was concerned that the USSR might have designs on taking Turkish territory. Per his memoirs, Nikita Khrushchev retorted, “Why do you have a moon depicted on your flag? After all, the moon doesn’t belong to Turkey, not even half the moon. Do you want to take over the whole universe?” I distinctly recall reading, years ago, that Armenian Communist Anastas Mikoyan had a similar exchange with a senior Turkish official, who asked, “Who gave you permission to use our mountain on your Coat of Arms?” Mikoyan supposedly answered, “Who gave you permission to use the moon on yours?” (I say supposedly because I have been unable to verify Mikoyan’s version.)

The Turks have raised the issue of Ararat on official Armenian symbols again this year. They object to the use of Ararat on the current Armenian Coat of Arms and the word ‘enemy’ in the Armenian National Anthem. How they figured out that they themselves are the enemy is beyond me. By chance, as I write this I am wearing an Ara the Rat hoodie with a picture of the two peaks and the words, “Out of bounds, but never out of sight.” This is our circumstance, our vidjag, that the symbol of our nation, the mountain of our hearts and souls, revered in song, poetry and art, lies not in our country but in our enemy’s country.  

Mount Ararat (Photo: Serouj Ourishian, Wikimedia)

Imagine if, because of war and arbitrary borders, Mount Fuji was no longer in Japan. It is unfathomable for any educated person with a basic knowledge of geography and history. Well, with regard to Ararat, the unfathomable is a reality Armenians can see every day. 

At many Armenian cultural events we attend or in articles we read, we see or hear the line, “We are unmovable, like our mountains.” I understand the sentiment and its inspirational intent. But, as it often can be, the truth is much harsher. Our borders can and have been moved; our people can and indeed have been moved from our unmovable mountains.

Who moved the borders? Who eliminated our people from our unmovable mountains? 

At many Armenian cultural events we attend or in articles we read, we see or hear the line, “We are unmovable, like our mountains.” I understand the sentiment and its inspirational intent. But, as it often can be, the truth is much harsher. Our borders can and have been moved; our people can and indeed have been moved from our unmovable mountains.

This was done in 1915 in Western Armenia and again just a few months ago in Artsakh. Might we call these people, oh, I don’t know, enemies? Turkey has an issue with the word enemy in the third verse of our national anthem. Again, for some reason, they believe it may refer to themselves. Sounds like paranoia to me. They ask for this change while simultaneously supplying their latest drones to surrogate Azerbaijan, who keeps threatening to take what it calls ‘Western Azerbaijan.’ This sure sounds like an enemy to me. I would want more than a tricolor to shine against such an enemy – maybe some seriously high-tech weapons of my own. Perhaps we can call it ‘the iron ladle’ drone.

We would not feel any safer by acquiescing to these requests to change our National Anthem or eliminate Ararat from our Coat of Arms. It rings more of subjugation than negotiations for border delineation and security. Yet, the government of the Republic of Armenia is considering these changes. But negotiations tend to go the way of the 800-pound gorilla in the relationship, and clearly, the Republic of Armenia is not the 800-pound gorilla.

Maybe we can borrow from Prince’s playbook and no longer refer to Ararat or Masis but instead ‘the mountain formerly known as…’ We don’t even have to use the words Ararat or Masis. We could conjure up an abstract symbol, again a la Prince, to replace the names Ararat and Masis. I might recommend, and I am just spit-balling here, the Greek letter beta:  β. They might not get that it is just a stylized graphic of Ararat rotated clockwise 90 degrees.

Per the Khrushchev-Mikoyan story, this is nothing new for Turkey. Here is another example. About a dozen years ago, I organized a concert with a singer born and raised in Istanbul. One of the songs we planned for her to sing was ‘Khnjouki Yerk,’ based on the endearing poem by Armenian poet Sarmen. The first two lines of the poem are:

Seghann eh arad,
Timatsn Ararat…

The abundant table
Set under Ararat…

She had learned a version of the song without a reference to Ararat. Even though she attended an Armenian school, they had to comply with state regulations and censorship in this regard. It would be beyond horrible for schools in the Republic of Armenia to ever have to follow the same rules as Armenian schools in Istanbul.

If this were to happen and, sadly, such concessions have been considered, I would surely be in favor of changing Armenia’s National Anthem. But I would also change the first line from:

Mer hayrenik, azad angakh…
Our fatherland, free, independent…

Back to Mikayel Nalbandian’s first line:

Mer hayrenik, tshvar, ander…
Our fatherland, miserable, barren…

  •  Bio
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Mark Gavoor is Associate Professor of Operations Management in the School of Business and Nonprofit Management at North Park University in Chicago. He is an avid blogger and oud player.


Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 13-02-24

Ani Basmajian

 17:06,

YEREVAN, 13 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 13 February, USD exchange rate down by 0.30 drams to 404.23 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.48 drams to 435.48 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 4.43 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 1.44 drams to 512.04 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 127.39 drams to 26190.13 drams. Silver price up by 3.16 drams to 297.81 drams.

Armenian Foreign Minister, OPCW Director General discuss partnership

Ani Basmajian

 12:20, 9 February 2024

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on February 8 in The Hague met with Fernando Arias, the Director General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to discuss partnership.

The Armenian Foreign Minister “emphasized the importance attached by Armenia to the commitments stipulated in the Chemical Weapons Convention, which has been reflected, among others, in the legislative reforms undertaken in the country since Armenia joined the document,” the foreign ministry said in a readout.

Director General Fernando Arias presented the existing challenges facing the organization in the conditions of the latest developments, including in the context of implementing the mandate defined by the convention.

Views were exchanged around the continuous efforts of the OPCW and member states in the direction of disarmament and non-proliferation in the changing world.

Turkish Press: Free elections in Karabakh and the meaning of the Turkic States Organization

Ani Basmajian
Yeni Şafak
Turkey – Feb 10 2024
Free elections in Karabakh and the meaning of the Turkic States Organization
by Ihsan Aktas

After the end of the Cold War, states under the umbrella of Russia's calendar declared their independence one by one. The first place where the fire of independence ignited was Azerbaijan, which declared its independence with great enthusiasm.


Not long after the declaration of independence, a war broke out between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Armenia occupied one-third of Azerbaijani territory. This period of occupation was a great trauma for the Azerbaijani people. Almost a generation experienced this trauma day by day. During the years of occupation, Azerbaijani youth mourned.


People who moved from Karabakh to Baku and other cities lived a nomadic life and did not largely settle down in the hope of returning to Karabakh one day.


From the days of occupation until today, Azerbaijan has developed economically and had the opportunity to sell oil and natural gas. While they were making their cities prosperous on one hand, they also strengthened their armies on the other hand. During the recovery process, Azerbaijan had a chance, with the spiritual support of one of the world's most sophisticated and powerful armies, like Türkiye, by its side.


In a way, Azerbaijan was focusing on completing its own development day and night, 24/7, while also aiming to reclaim the lost territories.


When Armenian forces attacked Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan initiated a ground war, which turned into an opportunity for them. Within 40 days, Azerbaijan fought an important front-line battle and regained its territory.


Azerbaijan's reclaiming of its own territory also marked a turning point in the geopolitics of the Caucasus. Throughout history, Turks have established great empires around the world. Especially between the 14th and 16th centuries, more than half of the empires in the world were under Turkish rule.


After the Cold War, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Azerbaijan, that is, each of the Turkic states, occasionally came together. They held some meetings mostly consisting of cultural content.


Türkiye was largely in a position where it was not vocally advocating its full independence, largely adhering to the NATO concept. It was also not in a position to help newly emerged states from the Cold War climate. The death of Turgut Özal was an important loss for the Turkic states.


In the past 30 years, there have been significant changes in the world's conjuncture. Especially in the last decade, the AK Party governments have gradually turned Türkiye into a regional power.


Türkiye completed its infrastructure, made significant developments in the defense industry. It created an influence in Syria, Libya. At the same time, with its sophisticated support in the Karabakh War, it played an important role in changing the fate of the war for Azerbaijan.


At this very moment, the Turkish States Organization occasionally held meetings under the leadership of Türkiye. Until now, this community, which has been almost a cultural union, has also turned into a community with strategic depth and meaning integrity.


The Karabakh War, in a way, reminded the Turkic states that any Turkic state can solve its problems together with its partners. In interstate relations, of course, cultural proximity, language unity, and national unity are important, but the formation of an economic power also contributes to the deepening and meaningfulness of these relations.


One opportunity presented by the Karabakh War to the Turkic states is the direct connection between Türkiye and the Turkic world with the opening of the Zangezur Corridor. The establishment of a land connection and a cultural and geopolitical line stretching from Istanbul to Tashkent is quite valuable.


We went to Baku as observers for the presidential elections in Azerbaijan. On this occasion, we also visited Fuzuli and Shusha, which were liberated from Armenian occupation in Karabakh.


This seems to be due to the culture of Armenian resentment and anger; not a stone was left unturned in the city of Fuzuli. There is hardly a single house with a roof or chimney left.


Some buildings in Shusha have managed to survive.


Azerbaijan has launched an investment mobilization in all the provinces of Karabakh with its strong economic structure; roads, new buildings, and settlements…


Ilham Aliyev, staying overnight in Hankendi, one of the most important cities of Azerbaijan, which was once used as the "capital" by the separatist Armenian administration, and casting his vote there with his family, was a very political and symbolic image. This situation is a sign that Azerbaijan will forever keep the territories it has liberated from occupation in its own hands.


At first glance, the Karabakh War may seem like Azerbaijan's liberation of its own territories from Armenian occupation, but essentially it has empowered the Turkic States Organization and deepened its meaning, integrity, and unity. The 40-day Azerbaijan-Armenia War may shape the thousand-year future of the Turkic world.

https://www.yenisafak.com/en/columns/ihsan-aktas/free-elections-in-karabakh-and-the-meaning-of-the-turkic-states-organization-3677243

Same old, same old in Azerbaijan’s snap presidential election

Ani Basmajian
eurasianet
Feb 7 2024
Feb 7, 2024

Azerbaijan's presidential election on February 7 is on track to yield an entirely predictable result – incumbent Ilham Aliyev's resounding victory over a set of fake challengers. 

According to exit poll results carried by state TV, Aliyev, who has led the country since 2003, had the support of 92.4 percent of voters.

Also predictable was the widespread evidence of fraud at dozens of polling stations under the same old methods. 

One such method is carousel voting – the same voters being allowed to vote at multiple polling stations. Footage today captured the same people appearing and voting at different polling places in the capital Baku. 

Another method, ballot stuffing, was captured by CCTV. In two pieces of footage, members of precinct electoral commissions are seen stuffing multiple ballots into the ballot boxes. 

Cameras installed at polling stations are meant to allow the public to observe the election on the website of the Central Election Commission (CEC). But they were installed only at about 1,000 of the total 6,300 polling stations across the country. 

Journalists on the ground also reported problems with access to the internet in and around the polling places. 

According to the CEC, nearly 71 percent voter turnout was observed as of 5 pm, which is more than 4.5 million people. It's an improbable figure given that the winner was a foregone conclusion, public engagement was low, and the campaign was arguably the boringest in the country's history. 

What was new in this election is the fact that for the first time ever, Azerbaijan held elections in its newly retaken territories in Karabakh. Some of those areas were regained as a result of the war against Armenia in 2020 and have been partially settled by Azerbaijanis expelled from there in the 1990s (and their descendants). And some were retaken last September as the Azerbaijani military seized the remainder of the region, leading the entire Armenian population to flee. This area includes the abandoned town of Khankandi, where President Aliyev and his family cast their votes. For over three decades the town, known to Armenians as Stepanakert, was the de facto capital of the now-defunct Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. 

In an interview with local TV stations in January, Aliyev said the takeover of Karabakh was one of his reasons for calling a snap election back in December. 

"This political campaign is also historic because it is happening, for the first time in the history of national statehood, after the liberation of Karabakh from occupation," the prominent news agency Report.az said in an editorial. "This is a very important step in terms of statehood. By conducting an important political campaign in the territories freed from occupation, the president once again demonstrated that the Constitution of Azerbaijan has been restored in the region. This is also a message to those who want to provoke Azerbaijan recently. The president also proved that the safety of the residents relocated to the region is ensured."

As of around 9:30 pm local time, the CEC has yet to announce its preliminary results.

Aliyev has already received congratulations from fellow authoritarian rulers Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus and Viktor Orban of Hungary. 

If the exit poll result holds, Aliyev will win re-election by his biggest landslide yet. Up to now, his best result has been 89 percent in 2008.

Armenpress: PM chairs consultation on social-economic inclusion programs, housing issues of people forcibly displaced from Karabakh

Ani Basmajian

 21:50,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS.  Prime Minister Nikol Pashiyan chaired a consultation, during which issues related to the progress of socio-economic inclusion programs and planned measures for people forcibly displaced from Nagorno Karabakh were discussed, the PM's Office said in a readout.

Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan, who coordinates the work of the "Humanitarian Center" of the government, reported that 4.4 billion AMD were allocated through regional administrations for the purpose of food security for the forcibly displaced persons located in regions. 112,000 people benefitted from the one-time support of 100,000 AMD. "Later, we defined the support program for rent and utility expenses, by which we supported those who have an apartment in the amount of 10,000 AMD, and those who do not have an apartment – 40+10 thousand AMD. This messure is for 6 months, of which 3 months have already passed. This will continue until March inclusive," said Tigran Khachatryan.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, 17,000 forcibly displaced students have been admitted to public schools, a scholarship support program is being implemented for 4,000 students in secondary professional or higher educational institutions. This number will increase in the near future.

"We have 69,000 people who are registered in the primary healthcare sector. This is also a channel through which they are able to use hospital services within the framework of the state order. As of today, we have about 7,000 cases in which people also used state-ordered hospital services. We have 20 thousand 656 applications for pensioners or allowance receivers, the pensions of 11 thousand 800 are already being paid. Let me remind you that we have made the payments for all the months following October, simply because the applications are based on registration, the person must be registered and submit an application. This is a process that will continue until everyone is fully integrated into the system. We also have 2408 applicants who applied for allowances, 585 of them actually received their allowances.

In the field of employment, 212 teachers were sent to regions within the framework of our support program, 202 medical workers found work in various institutions. In total, 725 people applied to participate in professional training programs, and we provided an opportunity for legal entities to be re-registered to ensure the continuity of their activities and to be able to smoothly continue their economic activities," said the Deputy Prime Minister. It was also noted that as of the end of December 2023, according to the data of the State Revenue Committee, 10,000 forcibly displaced people were registered as paid workers.

Next, the housing problems of people forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh and the possibilities of their solution were addressed, taking into account the issue of balanced territorial development. In this context, the participants of the consultation exchanged ideas on possible support tools, various observations and recommendations were presented.

Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized the importance of the harmonization of social programs and instructed those responsible to continue discussions on the presented ideas and proposals.

AW: CA Assemblymember Chris Holden and ANCA lead salute to California-Syunik sister-state relationship, speak out for Artsakh justice

Ani Basmajian
 ANCA ANCA News 0

CA Assemblymember Chris Holden is joined by CA legislators and Armenia National Assembly member Arthur Khachatryan in signing the California-Syunik sister-state Agreement

SACRAMENTO, Calif.–Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) National and California leaders joined State Assemblymember Chris Holden, pro-Armenian state legislators and Republic of Armenia National Assembly member Arthur Khachatryan at a State Capitol program this week for the ceremonial signing of the California-Syunik sister-state agreement established through passage of ACR 105.  Legislators also praised the passage of AJR 1, condemning Azerbaijan’s blockade and aggression against Artsakh, demanding the immediate release of Armenian prisoners of war and top Artsakh leaders, reaffirming Artsakh’s right to self-determination and calling out Azerbaijan’s hostile policies against Armenia.

CA Assemblymember Chris Holden, Armenia National Assembly member Arthur Khachatryan and ANCA National Board member Aida Dimejian with ANCA California leaders at the State Capitol program saluting passage of ACR 105 and AJR 1

The program was organized by Assemblymember Holden and the ANCA with the support of the California Legislative Armenian Caucus Foundation.

CA Assemblymember Chris Holden leads the State Capitol program celebrating the California-Syunik sister-state agreement and supporting Artsakh justice

Video highlights from the program are available on the CA Assembly YouTube Channel.

Assemblymember Holden, who was the lead sponsor of ACR 105 and AJR 1, noted, “I am here today with my fellow state representatives to reaffirm our ongoing commitments to the Armenian community. It is crucial to acknowledge that, during political unrest, united people will never fall.”  Assemblymember Holden, reflecting on the profound significance of ACR 105 and AJR 1, noted that “there is power in our solidarity and there is even more when we acknowledge the wrongs committed and urge for justice. We set precedent for the future with our action or inaction, and today, we are creating long-lasting ties to thread forward a better tomorrow.”

Armenia National Assembly member Arthur Khachatryan thanks CA state legislators and ANCA leaders for leading the passage of ACR 105 and AJR 1

Armenia National Assembly member Khachatryan thanked CA Assemblymember Holden for championing the resolutions and shared his appreciation with California legislators and the ANCA for the opportunity to participate in this historic effort to strengthen the bonds between California and Armenia. He stressed that the passage of ACR 105 and AJR 1 “send a very important political message to the world, to Azerbaijan and to its patron, Turkey.” Khachatryan noted that despite Azerbaijan’s aggression, “the page on Artsakh is not closed. The people of Artsakh have the right to decide on their own destiny as any other people in the world.”

Khachatryan also discussed Azerbaijan’s ongoing aggressive and hostile actions against the Republic of Armenia. “There are those who thought that Azerbaijan had quenched its thirst for Armenian blood with the genocidal ethnic cleansing and occupation of Artsakh. But – as we predicted and events on the ground have demonstrated – that is clearly not the case. Moving the goalposts, Baku is now challenging the international borders of Armenia – which it has renamed Western Azerbaijan – threatening to force a corridor through Syunik to get a land connection with Turkey and openly claiming for itself the right to rewrite Armenia’s constitution.”

Armenia National Assembly member Arthur Khachatryan noted that despite Azerbaijan’s genocidal ethnic cleansing “the page on Artsakh is not closed. The people of Artsakh have the right to decide on their own destiny.”

Khachatryan praised the newly-established sister-state relationship with California, noting that it will help develop stronger economic and cultural ties that will help Syunik, which remains at risk in the face of ongoing Azerbaijani military occupation of border villages and threats of renewed attacks by Turkey.

“We continue to press – nationally, regionally and locally – for a fundamental reset of U.S. policy that restores Artsakh for its citizens, secures Armenia for posterity and sanctions Azerbaijan for its crimes,” said ANCA National Board member Aida Dimejian. “We thank Assemblymember Holden and elected officials from across California for their leadership in giving voice to the policy aims and national aspirations of our state’s nearly million-strong Armenian community.”

California state legislators participating in the program included Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, State Senators Anthony Portantino, Bob Archuleta and Maria Elena Durazo, and State Assemblymembers Mike Fong, James Gallagher, Jim Patterson, Cottie Petrie-Norris, Luz Rivas and Rick Chavez Zbur, former State Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian and former CA Assembly speakers John Perez and Bob Hertzberg.

“I want to thank my colleagues for ACR 105 and AJR 01 to make sure that we recognize today’s struggle in Artsakh, that is a struggle for freedom, for dignity and for humanity; and that we need to stand up in solidarity with the Armenian people of Artsakh in this present day struggle for liberation against genocide,” stated Superintendent Thurmond, who is a co-chair of the California State Holocaust and Genocide Commission.

“The thing that I’ve always loved about the Armenian community is their abiding faith, coming through horrors, coming through terror, and coming to this country and becoming such a vibrant part of the California story,” stated Assemblymember Gallagher, who praised the community’s commitment to justice, speaking up for the voiceless and passion for freedom and free enterprise.

“Armenia is still suffering. Armenians across this globe are still suffering. And the Genocide is something that we must never forget,” stated State Senator Archuleta, who represents the Montebello area and pledged to work to declare the Armenian Genocide memorial there a California State Historical Site.

State Assemblymember Patterson noted, “It’s a wonderful thing for us to cement that relationship officially with California and the [Syunik] region in Armenia,” and stressed his warm 30-year relationship with Central California’s Armenian community.

Armenia National Assembly member Arthur Khachatryan and ANCA National Board member Aida Dimejian with ANCA California leaders at the CA State Capitol, marking growing CA-Armenia ties

Among ANCA and community leaders joining ANCA National Board member Aida Dimejian at the program and reception were ANCA San Fernando Valley East chair Dr. Avo Babian, ANCA Crescenta Valley chair Dr. Alice Chalian, ANCA Pasadena’s Rita Abajian, and ANCA Northern California leaders Matt Senekeremian, Ani Yenikomshian, Khatchig Tazian and Henry Aghajanov, as well as St. James Armenian Church pastor Father Yeghishe Ksachikyan. On behalf of the ANCA, Dr. Chalian thanked Assemblymember Holden, state legislators and Armenian National Assembly member Khachatryan for their leadership in strengthening the bonds between California, Armenia and Artsakh.

Following the ceremony at the California State Capitol, Khachatryan traveled to Washington, D.C., at the invitation of the ANCA, for policy discussions with key U.S. Senate and House members.

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The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.