Author: Arbi Tashjian

Unprecedented rainfalls mitigate energy crisis but situation could get worse amid total blockade, warns Nagorno Karabakh

Arbi Tashjian

 12:44,

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 22, ARMENPRESS. The unprecedented volume of June rainfalls in Nagorno Karabakh are somewhat mitigating the energy crisis but can’t compensate for the previous reserves of the Sarsang Reservoir, the main source of electrical energy, a local official told ARMENPRESS.

“Restoring the volume of the reservoir will only be possible when Azerbaijan stops obstructing the restoration of the electrical energy supply from Armenia to Artsakh,” Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures spokesperson Tatevik Khachatryan told ARMENPRESS.

“In that case, we won’t have to use large volumes of the reservoir resources and the previous volume will be restored in about a year,” Khachatryan said, adding that the Artsakh government is trying to accumulate some water reserves in the reservoirs by rationing and savings, in order to be able to withstand next winter.

Artsakh was planning to launch an alternative energy project but authorities are unable to import the required equipment since Azerbaijan blocked Russian peacekeepers from transporting humanitarian goods.

The energy crisis could be worse than expected if the situation continues, Khachatryan warned.

Van Novikov

Where did the Armenian orphans of Georgetown’s Cedarvale Farm go?

Arbi Tashjian
Canada –
With a ceremony honouring the orphans' arrival 100 years ago set for this weekend, HaltonHillsToday is sharing the life stories of some Georgetown Boys
Mansoor Tanweer
Georgetown Boy Sarkis Sarkissian (right) with friend Fred Aitchison.Wellington County Museum and Archives ph20007

Georgetown's Cedarvale Farm was never meant to be a permanent home for the 109 Armenian boys who lived there a century ago – nor for the 39 girls who joined them. It was merely a school for them to become good citizens. 

But after their time there, it's hard to know where a lot of them ended up as the trail went cold… mostly. 

Thanks to the work of Armenian-Canadian author Hrad Poladian, it's possible to follow some of their journeys. His book The Georgetown Boys Stories by their Sons and Daughters gives voice to 11 alumni of Cedarvale Farm – now known as Cedarvale Park.

“It (the Georgetown Boys' experience) is a historic fact. It should be recognized and known to all other Canadians,” Poladian emphasized.

The tales of three of them are at times tragic, colourful and hopeful. Here are their stories.

Krikor “Greg” Kasparian

At 452 Richmond St. in Toronto, one will find the Turco Persian Rug Company. This store has been selling and cleaning rugs for 117 years. One of the owners was a Georgetown Boy named Krikor Kasparian, who was married to Kohar Bedrossian, a Georgetown Girl.

After the owner of the rug company, Socrates Utudjian, died, there was a question of who would get the business.

“There was him and another [potential heir]. There was a coin flip for who would get the company and he won,” said Jessica Kasparian, Krikor’s granddaughter and current owner of the rug shop.

Georgetown Boys reunion in the 1960s. Wellington County Museum and Archives ph20017

The United Church of Canada brought Kasparian in the early 1920s to be a Georgetown Boy. It's not known how old he was – his date of birth is an estimate – but he was likely 17 when he arrived in Toronto. His application was initially rejected because he was too old. But after the church listed him as a teacher, he was accepted.

Details are scarce about his life before coming to Canada – what's known are simple snippets. He was conscripted by the Ottoman army and was injured. Somehow, he was reunited with his mother while still wounded. He lost a brother and both parents. His sisters survived and one of them moved to the United States. 

Kasparian suspects that trauma may be why her grandfather didn’t talk about his experiences much.

“He saw some pretty awful things,” she told HaltonHillsToday. 

“There were some occasions where he talked to my dad, and I know at some point my dad recorded it,” she recalled.

Much of what was on those tapes, however, have been lost as they were inadvertently recorded over.

Greg Kasparian died in 1989.

Sarkis Sarkissian

Sarkis Sarkissian was 10 years old when he arrived in Georgetown. His memories before that were only fragments. The Armenian Genocide started in 1915 when he was a mere two years old. 

His parents were Krikor and Miram. In an interview in the 1980s with his son, he said he doesn't remember anything about his parents. He also admitted that Sarkissian may not be his real last name. He had memories of living in the Turkish city of Adana, where many anti-Armenian pogroms happened. 

He was sent to live with his paternal grandmother. While he wasn't sure why, at some point she had him sent away to a nearby orphanage.

“She was getting old and I guess she couldn’t look after me anymore,” he told his son in the '80s.

He often ran away from the orphanage to go be with his grandmother, but an uncle would inevitably take him back.

He was then shipped off to Cyprus and then Corfu in Greece, his final home before arriving in Canada.

After leaving Cedarvale, he worked on a farm near Guelph. Despite all the boys receiving training as farmers, Sarkissian is probably the only one who chose farming as a career.

He briefly journeyed to Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, to find work with a buddy named Fred Aitchison. It was here that he met his wife, Anne Popiel, the daughter of Ukrainian immigrants.

He spent the rest of his life on an Orangeville farm. He died in 1997. 

Harry Hatch

Born Haroutioun Khatchadourian, he was not supposed to be a Georgetown Boy. His older brother, who was caring for their mother at the time, put him in an orphanage. 

A different boy had originally been chosen to come to Canada. But when he was discovered to have head lice, Hatch was picked instead. 

He arrived in Georgetown at the age of 12, making him one of the older boys. After his time there was over, he worked many farms. 

Harry Hatch with wife Roxanne later in life. Susanne Felkner photohttps://www.haltonhillstoday.ca/local-news/where-did-the-armenian-orphans-of-georgetowns-cedarvale-farm-go-7100185

He often struggled to find work. A friend suggested that he should change his name. Thus, Harry Hatch was born.

He served in the Canadian Army and fought in the Second World War. He was almost part of the ill-fated raid on Dieppe, but a sergeant stopped him from being part of the attack.

“Where do you think you are going, Hatch? You are one of the only drivers we have and we need you here to drive,” the sergeant apparently told him. He worked as a driver during the war years. 

He and his wife, Roxanne, moved to the Mountain in Hamilton. There, he first worked as a cleaner at a jail, while his wife operated a bread and milk shop they opened together. He started working at the shop when the behaviour of the local youth made her uncomfortable. Eventually this shop was turned into a restaurant.

Harry Hatch died in 1974 from a brain tumor. 

July 1 will mark the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the Georgetown Boys. The Sara Corning Centre for Genocide Education will commemorate the occasion with a ceremony at Cedarvale Park on Saturday (June 24). The gathering will begin at 2 p.m. and various government and local dignitaries, including descendants of the Georgetown Boys, will be present.

Vice President of the National Assembly receives Dutch MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen

Arbi Tashjian

 17:54,

YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS.  On June 20, the Vice President of the National Assembly of Armenia Hakob Arshakyan received the Dutch member of the European Parliament Bert-Jan Ruissen, ARMENPRESS was informed from the parliament of Armenia.

The Chair of the National Assembly Standing Committee on European Integration Arman Yeghoyan and member of the Committee Tatevik Gasparyan attended the meeting.

“Your visit to Armenia is welcoming, especially considering the period full of challenges for our country,” Hakob Arshakyan underlined, presenting the current situation in the Lachin Corridor. “The Corridor continues to be blocked and the decision of the UN International Court of Justice and the appeals of the Council of Europe are not implemented by Azerbaijan,” the NA Vice President mentioned. 

Hakob Arshakyan also raised the issue of Armenian prisoners of war and other persons held in Azerbaijan. According to the NA Vice President, Azerbaijan does not stop encroachment on the sovereign territory of Armenia, aggressive rhetoric.

“I would like to thank you for your role in the adoption of resolutions, reports, statements on a number of issues of vital importance for Armenia,” Hakob Arshakyan noted.

Touching upon the RA-EU relations, the NA Vice President stated. “The relations between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union are multi-layered, the range of cooperation is impressive. It includes active political dialogue, implementation of initiatives arising from economic and investment programmes. The EU continues to be the primary partner supporting the reform agenda implemented by the Armenian Government.”

“Despite the challenges facing all of us in recent years, we have managed to ensure the positive dynamics of the RA-EU high-level political dialogue, expand the legal contractual field by signing a number of agreements on aviation, migration and other fields,” Hakob Arshakyan underscored and added that they should be implemented.

The NA Vice President highlighted the decision to deploy the EU observation mission in Armenia and emphasized that it can make a great contribution to the establishment of peace and stability in the region.

According to Hakob Arshakyan, the liberalization of visas between Armenia and the EU can be a stimulating step in terms of deepening cooperation with the EU and increasing the resilience of Armenia’s economy.

The Dutch member of the European Parliament Bert-Jan Ruissen , who is in Armenia for the first time, thanked the Armenian side for the invitation to our country. The guest also attached importance to the expansion of the RA-EU cooperation. Referring to the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, Bert-Jan Ruissen condemned Azerbaijan’s disregard of the decision of the International Court of Justice.

Arman Yeghoyan emphasized the necessity for the EU to impose targeted sanctions on Azerbaijan.

Bert-Jan Ruissen expressed willingness to provide support in various international formats regarding the strengthening of Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Why were the Armenian-Azerbaijani talks postponed? Opinions

Arbi Tashjian
June 9 2023
  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Armenian-Azerbaijani talks postponed

According to an official statement from the Armenian Foreign Ministry, the Armenian-Azerbaijani talks scheduled for June 12 in Washington were postponed “at the request of the Azerbaijani side.” Baku did not comment on the reasons, and the Americans have not yet announced when the next round of negotiations is planned for.

According to Olesya Vardanyan, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group for the South Caucasus, Baku’s request to postpone the talks indicates that Azerbaijan “has not yet made up its mind on a number of key issues” related to the peace treaty.

  • EU mission expands to contain Baku’s provocations – Armenian political scientist
  • Video from Baku with interviews of Armenian prisoners
  • Pashinyan-Aliyev-Michel meeting in extended format: Macron and Scholz did not help?

Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Khachatryan told journalists about this a few hours ago, but did not provide details, and did not answer the question whether the Armenian government received a response from Baku to its latest proposals on the draft peace treaty.

“If at some stage we made a proposal regarding which we still do not know the position of the Azerbaijani side or vice versa, these are all normal processes. There is no need to look for something special behind it. It is important that recently the parties have noticed a convergence of points of view in the course of discussions and negotiations,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

Press Secretary of the Armenian Foreign Ministry Ani Badalyan, announcing the cancellation of the expected meeting at the request of the Azerbaijani side, assured that the date of the next talks would be announced as soon as the terms were agreed.

The press secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Aykhan Hajizade, limited himself to the following statement:

“The meeting is expected soon. As a rule, there is a practice of announcing the exact dates of the meeting by the host country.”

The mediators of the talks also avoided commenting on the reasons for the postponement of the scheduled meeting and on the possible date for a new one.

“We look forward to another round of talks as the parties continue to strive for a peaceful future in the South Caucasus region. Direct dialogue is the key to solving problems, achieving a lasting and dignified peace, ” the US State Department said in a statement.

What is known about the upcoming talks in Chisinau between the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of Azerbaijan, the expectations of Western mediators, as well as the opinion of a political scientist

Armenian experts initially did not pin great hopes on the talks in Washington, emphasizing the fact that the positions of the parties on key issues are very far from each other. In confirmation, quotes were cited from the speech of the President of Azerbaijan, where Aliyev said that the Karabakh Armenians should “throw their fake “state attributes” into the trash can and dissolve the “parliament”, obey the laws of Azerbaijan.

Political observer Hakob Badalyan described these statements as an “ultimatum”. He specifically noted the tough rhetoric coming from Baku, and advised paying attention to the news from Azerbaijan, in which “recently it has been reported about the alleged violations of the ceasefire regime by Armenian forces.”

“This situation allows us to say that on the eve of the Washington talks there were no prerequisites for expecting the effectiveness of these talks, the possibility of progress,” he said.

Olesya Vardanyan, Senior Analyst of the International Crisis Group for the South Caucasus, believes that after negotiations at different levels and in different capitals, discussions have reached a “decisive stage”:

“Important decisions must be made regarding important sections of the future peace agreement, in particular, the future of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh and the process of demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.”

She believes that there is still no certainty in Azerbaijan on these issues, which is why Baku decided to postpone the talks in Washington.

According to acting Director of Programs for Russia and Europe at the US Institute of Peace Heather Ashby, the next round of US-brokered talks will focus on two main issues:

  • “the status of Nagorno-Karabakh within Azerbaijan, the provision of security guarantees to Karabakh Armenians by Baku”,
  • “transport corridor connecting Azerbaijan with Nakhichevan”.

Ashby believes that providing security guarantees to the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh will contribute to “creating confidence in the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan”:

“As for the Azerbaijan-Nakhichevan connection, Russia and Iran have their own interests in this “corridor”. And they will try to influence Armenia and Azerbaijan to make sure that the transport route does not contradict their interests in the region. For Russia, this transport corridor is more important.”

Despite Baku’s demands, the Armenian authorities have repeatedly stated that there can be no question of providing an extraterritorial corridor through their sovereign territory. The Armenian government believes that the unblocking of communications, provided for by the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020, provides for procedures only in accordance with the laws of the countries. That is, each of the countries provides roads through its territory, but not a “corridor”, since this term implies a loss of control in this territory.

Sweden charges man suspected of financing outlawed Kurdish group

Arbi Tashjian

A Turkish citizen is charged in Sweden for gun crimes and raising money for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Media attend a press conference held by the Swedish prosecution authority in Stockholm [File: Maja Suslin/TT News Agency via Reuters]

Published On 9 Jun 2023

Swedish prosecutors have charged a Turkish citizen for gun crimes and raising money for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984.

Friday’s case has come at a sensitive time in Sweden’s relations with Turkey, which is holding up its application for NATO membership, in part because it has said Sweden harbours supporters of armed groups it considers to be “terrorists”.

Sweden’s prosecution authority said it was the first time anyone had been charged in the country with attempting to provide financing to the PKK, designated “a terrorist organisation” by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.

It said the man was suspected of aggravated extortion, serious gun crime and attempting to fund PKK.

“The investigation has given support for suspicions that the man was acting on behalf of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party,” the prosecution authority said in a statement.

According to the indictment, the man was part of an extensive organisation collecting money for the PKK and had contact with another Turkish citizen who was jailed in Germany for being a member of the armed group.

The man’s lawyer, Ilhan Aydin, said his client rejected the accusations of aggravated extortion and attempting to fund, but would accept a weapons charge of a lower grade.

Aydin also said he did not want the geopolitical situation to overshadow his client’s case.

“I hope my client does not become a piece in the game or the negotiations on NATO,” he said.

Sweden, which applied to join NATO last year following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, wants its membership ratified before the alliance’s summit in mid-July in Vilnius.

Only Turkey and Hungary have yet to approve the bid. Finland, which applied alongside Sweden and was initially blocked by Ankara, joined NATO in April.

Sweden said it has fulfilled all the conditions of a three-way pact with Turkey and Finland struck in Madrid in June last year to smooth its path to NATO membership.

But Turkey has said Sweden has not gone far enough to assuage its security concerns.

Talks between the two countries over NATO accession are due to restart next week.

Ajax wants to buy Spertsyan’s transfer from Krasnodar

Arbi Tashjian

 16:45, 8 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS. AFC Ajax wants to buy Armenian midfielder Eduard Spertsyan’s transfer, according to a report by Championat news portal.

Spertsyan is a midfielder at the Armenian national football team and also plays for Russia’s Krasnodar.

The Dutch football club reportedly plans to start negotiations with Krasnodar after the Russian Super Cup final.

Krasnodar is reportedly ready to make a deal for Spertsyan’s transfer for a bit over €10 million plus bonuses.

Spertsyan’s current contract with Krasnodar is signed until 2026. With 40 matches in this season, Spertsyan scored 14 goals and made 14 assists.

Fwd: The California Courier Online, June 8, 2023

Arbi Tashjian

The California
Courier Online, June 8, 2023

 

1-         Advice to
Aliyev: Continue

            Destroying Azerbaijan’s
Reputation

            By Harut
Sassounian

            Publisher,
The California
Courier

           
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

           
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

2-         PM Nikol
Pashinyan Attends Inauguration Ceremony

            of Turkish
President Erdogan

3-         Commentary:

            ‘At Least
They Know’: Memorial Day for America,

            Years of
Mourning for Armenia

4-         Smithsonian
Trustee Amanda Quinn Olivar

            Hosts
Archives of American Art Event

************************************************************************************************************************************************

 

1-         Advice to
Aliyev: Continue

            Destroying Azerbaijan’s
Reputation

            By Harut
Sassounian

            Publisher, The California Courier

           
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

 

Even though Azerbaijan,
with the help of Turkish and Israeli weapons and hired Islamic terrorists, won
the 2020 Artsakh War, Pres. Aliyev has been destroying his country’s international
reputation.

With his barbaric actions during and since the war, Aliyev
has undermined the interests of Azerbaijan.
As a result, he has made himself a hated pariah and the laughing stock of the
entire world. While Russia
is cuddling him for its own political interests, the West is tolerating him to
benefit from Azerbaijan’s
oil and gas.

I am very pleased that Aliyev is doing so many negative
things in the eyes of not only Armenians, but also the entire world.

There are many examples of Aliyev’s misdeeds. Here are some
of them:

During the 2020 war, Azeri soldiers committed barbaric acts
that violate the international law, such as: beheading captured Armenian
soldiers and civilians, mutilating their bodies, torturing them, trying the
captives in court and sentencing them to lengthy jail terms.

In violation of international conventions, Azerbaijan used
banned cluster and phosphorous bombs to kill Armenian soldiers during the 2020
war.

Azerbaijan
systematically destroyed and defaced hundreds of Armenian cultural monuments
and desecrated dozens of Armenian churches in Artsakh in violation of the Hague
Convention on “the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed
Conflict.”

Azerbaijan
continues to violate the ceasefire agreement signed by Pashinyan, Aliyev and
Putin at the end of the 2020 war. Here are some examples: Not releasing many of
the Armenian Prisoners of War, shooting at civilians in Artsakh, occupying
parts of the territory of the Republic
of Armenia, taking new Armenian
hostages, and threatening Armenia
and Artsakh with further attacks if they do not comply with Azerbaijan’s
wishes.

Aliyev has dehumanized and demonized Armenians by describing
them with vile adjectives, such as “leeches” and “wild animals.” In 2005,
during the visit of a German delegation, the Mayor of Baku, Hajibala
Abutalybov, shamelessly told them: “Our goal is the complete elimination of
Armenians. You, Nazis, already eliminated the Jews in the 1930s and 1940s,
right? You should be able to understand us.”

Aliyev dispatched dozens of fake eco-activists to block the
Lachin Corridor during the last six months, depriving 120,000 Artsakhtsis of
food and medicines. These so-called eco-activists were more like
eco-terrorists. Azerbaijan
then placed a checkpoint at the Lachin Corridor further violating the 2020
agreement.

In addition, Azerbaijan
periodically cuts off the Internet and electricity of the Artsakh population,
keeping them isolated, in the dark and without heat in freezing temperatures.

Instead of a simple transit road, Azerbaijan
repeatedly demands a corridor to cross from eastern Azerbaijan
to Nakhichevan, which implies Azeri sovereignty over Armenia’s territory, in violation
of 2020 agreement. By insisting on the Corridor, Aliyev is actually delaying Azerbaijan’s access to Nakhichevan through Armenia.

Aliyev declares that all of the territory of the Republic of Armenia
is ‘Western Azerbaijan.’ This is sheer
nonsense. Whereas Artsakh and Armenia
are thousands of years old, Azerbaijan
did not exist until a century ago.

Aliyev made the ridiculous pledge that Artsakhtsis will live
under Azerbaijani rule just like all of its other citizens who are also
repressed. Artsakhtsis remember well their barbaric mistreatment by Azerbaijan.
Blockading them now shows how much worse they will be treated in the future.

Aliyev repeatedly urges Armenia
to sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan.
Any treaty signed by Azerbaijan
is a meaningless piece of paper as we see from Aliyev’s violations of the 2020
agreement.

To make matters worse, State Dept. spokesman Matthew Miller
welcomed Aliyev’s outrageous statement that he will give amnesty to all Artsakh
officials who resign. Instead, Miller should have condemned Aliyev’s
unacceptable threats to invade Armenia
and Artsakh.

Aliyev dismissed the demands of scores of world leaders and
international organizations as well as the UN Security Council, the World Court and
European Court of Human Rights to release the Armenian POWs and unblock the
Lachin Corridor.

After the 2020 war, Azerbaijan
established a racist Military Trophies Park
in Baku,
displaying wax models of Armenian soldiers with hooked noses and distorted
faces. After complaints and condemnations by the international community, the
exhibit was closed down.

In February 2004, an Azeri soldier, Ramil Safarov, used an
axe to chop the head of a sleeping Armenian soldier in Hungary during
a NATO program. In return for Azerbaijan
loaning Hungary several
billion dollars, Safarov was released prematurely with the understanding that
he will serve the rest of his life sentence in a Baku jail. However, Aliyev welcomed Safarov
as a national hero, pardoned him, promoted him to the rank of major, and gave
him a free apartment and eight years of back pay. This is Azerbaijan’s
compensation to Safarov for committing a cold blooded murder.

As a result of all these war crimes, Aliyev has destroyed
his and Azerbaijan’s
reputation around the world. He should be arrested and tried by the
International Criminal Court as a war criminal.

Despite Aliyev’s reprehensible actions, world powers keep
closing their eyes ignoring his many crimes, blinded by Azerbaijan’s
oil and gas.

   

************************************************************************************************************************************************
2-         PM Nikol Pashinyan Attends
Inauguration Ceremony

            of Turkish
President Erdogan

 

Armenia’s
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the inauguration ceremony of Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday, June 3 in Ankara, the government announced. This is the
first time Armenia’s
top leader has attended an inauguration of a Turkish president. In 2014, Armenia’s then foreign minister, Edward
Nalbandian, represented Armenia
at Erdogan’s first inauguration as president.

Pashinyan was welcomed at the airport by Ambassador Serdar
Kilic, Turkey’s special
envoy for normalization with Armenia.
Later, Pashinyan was welcomed by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu at
the presidential complex.

Pashinyan was photographed warmly embracing Erdogan and
exchanging laughs with Azerbaijan’s
leader Ilham Aliyev.

“The Republic
of Armenia has received
an invitation to take part in Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s
swearing-in ceremony,” said the Armenian government’s press office in advance
of the inauguration. “Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will leave for Ankara on June 3 to take
part in the ceremony.”

The short statement did not specify whether the invitation
was personally addressed to Pashinyan.

The prime minister was accompanied on this trip by Ruben
Rubinyan, Armenia’s
special envoy for normalization.

President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan was among the some 20
leaders from countries around the world who attended the ceremony.

According to government sources a meeting between Pashinyan
and Aliyev did not take place.

Erdogan and Pashinyan met in October in Prague on the margins of a European summit.

 

************************************************************************************************************************************************
3-         Commentary:

            ‘At Least
They Know’: Memorial Day for America,

            Years of
Mourning for Armenia

 

            By Varoujan
Der Simonian

 

“At least they know…” said the caller, tears in her voice
toward the end of our conversation. 

A Fresno
resident called me to share her grief at finding her nephew, David
Hampartsumyans, late Friday afternoon on Memorial Day weekend. David has been a
Prisoner of War (POW) in Baku,
Azerbaijan,
since September 2020. He was seen as a captive on Azeri TV news shortly after.
But since then, his whereabouts remain unknown.

David is one of some 120 POWs held in Azerbaijan since the end of the unprovoked war
on Armenia.
Armed with the latest military drone technologies, and using cluster and
phosphorus bombs, aided by several other nations, including Turkey and ISIS,
Azerbaijan attacked Armenia, causing over 4,000 death and 7,000 severely
wounded (or amputated) service members.

My thoughts over the weekend were with soldiers missing in
action.

On Memorial Day, we honor and mourn military personnel who
have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. We express gratitude
and profound respect for every soldier who fought to protect and sustain our
freedom and way of life. We lower our nation’s flag and place hundreds of
thousands on gravesites at cemeteries nationwide. The flags represent the
spirits of the soldiers who have sacrificed for our country, resurrected for a
day, reminding us that our freedom is their legacy. 

It is a moving scene to observe a mourning person in front
of the gravesite of their loved one, musing or even touching the cold
tombstone—a private and solemn moment connecting the spirits, memories, and
feelings of a living and deceased individual. When all is quiet, the two remain
bonded.

Recently I witnessed such trauma at the Yeraplur Veterans
Cemetery in Armenia.

William Saroyan, Fresno’s
most famous native son, himself a WW II Veteran, once wrote: “I cannot see the
war as historians see it. There is no such thing as a soldier. I see death as a
private event, the destruction of the universe in the brain and the sense of
one man, and I cannot see any man’s death as a contributing factor in the
success or failure of a military campaign.”

“At least they know…” keeps ringing in my ears.

Knowing that your loved one has made the ultimate sacrifice
is one thing, but it is an agonizing grievance if your soldier is a POW and
their whereabouts are unknown. You have no news from them. You do not know if
they are being tortured, alive, or dead. You do not know to mourn or anticipate
that one day they will be set free.

During the past two years, David’s aunt and I had several
conversations. Her efforts with the highest levels of the Armenian Government
have been to no avail. In the fall of 2022, her Representative, Coney Conway
(redistricted to Tom McClintock), wrote a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken
urging the Secretary to interfere with the Azeri authorities. The Department of
State has yet to reply.

Washington, Brussels, and Moscow
holding a peace banner for the region, are catering to the Turkish and Azeri
interests for oil and natural gas flow to Europe.

They are courting the Prime Minister of Armenia to give up
the democratically governed historically Armenian province
of Artsakh, instead, placing it under
the autocratic regime of Azerbaijan,
which since December of last year imposed a total blockade on 120,000 Armenians
of Artsakh—not allowing movement of people in and out of the area. None of them
has raised the fundamental issue of POWs. 

What type of peace are we discussing when the so-called
power centers cannot even get the Azeries to release the POWs held in
captivity, violating international law?

Varoujan Der Simonian is the Director of the Armenian Museum
Museum of Fresno.

.

**********************************************************************************************************************************************

4-         Smithsonian
Trustee Amanda Quinn Olivar

            Hosts
Archives of American Art Event

 

Amanda Quinn Olivar, who serves on the Board of Trustees at
the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art, hosted the research center on May
21 to celebrate the appointment of its new director Anne Helmreich.

The event was held at the home of Amanda’s twin sister
Jennifer Quinn Gowey and brother-in-law Eric Gowey. The Beverly Hills home was featured in David
Hockney’s 1968 painting “American Collectors” (Fred and Marcia Weisman) that is
part of the collection of The Art Institute of Chicago. Approximately 100
people were in attendance, including Amanda and Jennifer’s mother – renowned
art collector and patron Joan Agajanian Quinn – as well as many Los
Angeles-based artists such as Chaz Bojórquez, Woods Davy, Laddie John Dill,
Shepard Fairey, Jim Ganzer, Yolanda Gonzalez, Alex Hedison (the spouse of
actress Jodie Foster and daughter of late Armenian-American performer David
Hedison), George Herms, Charles Hill, Pamela Smith Hudson, Andy Moses, Claudia
Parducci, Astrid Preston, Joey Terrill, and Elyn Zimmerman..

“The Archives of American Art has answers to vital questions
about why art and artists matter,” said Helmreich. “Our collections contain
profound stories that will help future generations understand who we are and
how we got here. As we look to the future, the Archives will continue to
collect to reflect the breadth of the American experience and to develop
innovative programming that connects with new audiences, powering future
creativity.”

“It was a privilege to welcome friends and family into my
sister’s home to introduce our new director Anne Helmreich and to celebrate all
the great work the Archives of American Art does in preserving artist’s stories
in their own voices! I’ve been involved with the Archives for a few years. It
means so much to me and has always been essential for my own research. The
Archives is an outstanding resource, and I can’t wait for everyone to tap into
what we have to offer,” said Olivar.

Helmreich is a widely published art historian,
administrator, and educator. Prior to joining the Smithsonian, she served as
associate director of grants programming at the Getty Foundation, supporting
individuals and institutions committed to advancing the greater understanding
and preservation of visual arts in Los Angles and throughout the world, and
previously as associate director of digital initiatives at the Getty Research
Institute, both part of the J. Paul Getty Trust. Helmereich also brings her
experience as a former dean, director of an interdisciplinary humanities
center, and art history professor to further the mission of the Archives of
American Art.

The Smithsonian Archives of American Art collects,
preserves, and makes available primary sources documenting the history of the
visual arts in the United
States.

The Archives holds the papers of American art luminaries
such as the Leo Castelli Gallery, Roy DeForest, Stanley and Elyse Grinstein,
Frederick Hammersley, Nancy Holt, Rockwell Kent, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, Roy
Lichtenstein, Chiura Obata, Jackson Pollock, Leon Polk Smith, Robert Smithson,
Alma Thomas, and Gloria Vanderbilt Whitney. The Archives of American Art is
based in Washington, D.C.
and has an office in New York, N.Y.
Matthew Simms serves as the Gerald Bente Buck West Coast Collector for the
Archives and is based in Long Beach,
California. The Archives holds
its annual gala in New York,
N.Y. where it presents the
Archives of American Art Medal to an artist and a philanthropist and the
Lawrence A. Fleischman Award for Scholarly Excellence to an art historian. Both
awards recognize individuals who have made transformative contributions in the
field of American art.

 

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Armenian NGOs concerned over U.S. statement on Artsakh

Arbi Tashjian
Panorama
Armenia – June 3 2023

A group of Armenian NGOs have expressed deep concern over the statement made by the U.S. State Department on 30 May following Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s fresh threats agianst Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). Below is the full text of a statement released by the organizations on Friday.

"We, the undersigned civil society organizations from Armenia express our grave concerns over the statement of the US State Department on May 30, 2023 in relation to the remarks delivered by President of Azerbaijan Aliyev on May 28, 2023.

Whereas we support the efforts aimed at achieving a lasting and sustainable settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict based on the effective observance and respect for human rights, however we strongly believe that the recent United States statement will serve as an endorsement for Azerbaijani president to proceed with further use of force and ethnic cleansing policy of Armenians. Lack of adequate reaction serves as a normalization of the practice of the use of force in settlement of disputes which is against the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. The essence of the international legal order post-World War II is to ensure that there is no place for the use of force in settling disputes. With the current state of affairs in our broader region and serious challenges undermining the current order, including the human rights system, it is of paramount importance and its utmost responsibility to prevent autocratic regimes from benefitting from the ongoing crisis and achieving their aims through gross violations of human rights and the use of force.

Silence but more so welcoming statements not interpreted in the context of the rest of the speech of President Aliyev and his previous racist record, validate “the new normal” – the use of force instead of internationally mediated negotiations. Instead of encouraging genuine negotiations for resolution of the conflict, such statements embolden Azerbaijan to continue resorting to the use of force to achieve its goals and allow Azerbaijani president to brag about the support and approval of his conduct by international partners.

This is the context of the offer for ‘amnesty’ in the speech of President Aliyev:

“We are simply being patient. However, everyone knows perfectly well that we have all the opportunities to carry out any operation in that region today. Therefore, the “parliament” should be dissolved, the element calling himself “president” should surrender, all “ministers”, “deputies” and others should give up their positions. Only in that case can a concession be made to them. Only in that case can we talk of an amnesty”. “Either they will bend their necks and come themselves or things will develop differently now. Therefore, they can count on an amnesty only if they voluntarily put aside all their false duties and apply for Azerbaijani citizenship. We will look at that. My word is final, and everyone knows that both in Azerbaijan and the rest of the world, including Armenia. We do what we say. Not a single word of ours, as they say, has been left in the air and never will be in the future either… They have missed many opportunities, a number of opportunities, and each time, as they say, we had to knock them over to bring them to their senses.”

He also referred to Armenia: “They [Armenians] must accept our terms. If they don't want delimitation, there will be no delimitation. The border will be where we say it should be. No one will help them, not the retired French policemen, not anyone else. They must not forget that Armenian villages are visible from here.”

President Aliyev explained his approach still on December 24, 2022: “Nobody can influence us. There may be calls, there may be some statements, but we do not need to pay attention to them. We are answering these calls simply out of political courtesy. But this will not change our position in the slightest.”

President Aliyev’s recent remarks on consideration of ‘amnesty’ welcomed by the State Department are nothing else as another clear threat of the use of force and further violations of human rights not only against the elected leadership of Nagorno Karabakh but the entire population. Moreover, threats of use of force in coming weeks were echoed in social media channels affiliated with Azerbaijani government.

With all the appreciation of the U.S. involvement in conflict resolution, it is obvious that the efforts so far have not discouraged Azerbaijan from its aggressive moves aimed at erasing any Armenian presence in Nagorno-Karabakh. The everyday threat of ethnic cleansing decreases the chances of having a genuine and durable peace in the South Caucasus. The ongoing negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be futile if Nagorno-Karabakh is depopulated of its indigenous Armenians.

Notwithstanding the ongoing peace negotiations, Azerbaijan’s president Ilham Aliyev’s rhetoric is getting more and more belligerent and seriously undermines the trust into the peace process and results in regular military escalations with casualties. At least 40 people on both sides have been killed and wounded since March 2023 making this spring the deadliest since the 2020 war. Peace deal for the sake of a peace deal alone shall not be an end goal itself. Peace would only be lasting and durable if it is based on effective guarantees of non-use of force, genuine respect for human rights and ensuring justice.

Guarantees prescribed under the trilateral ceasefire statement of November 9, 2020, brokered by Russia are currently failing․ The agreement to return the Armenian prisoners of war, resolve humanitarian issues, adhere to the cease-fire and open transport communications have not been observed by Azerbaijan. Instead, we have witnessed a growing asymmetry of powers, increasing hate and combative rhetoric by Azerbaijan, deprivation of Nagorno-Karabakh people of their basic rights and fundamental freedoms. It is in this context that ‘amnesty considerations’ are made.

In a situation when basic human rights of the entire population of Nagorno Karabakh are violated by Azerbaijan, when they are taken hostage, amnesties are not the issue to be discussed.

With the extremely poor human rights record in Azerbaijan and extensive record of inciting hatred towards Armenians documented by the relevant UN and regional human rights organizations, we remain seriously concerned about its capacity and genuine will to respect human rights, especially of Armenians. Emboldening a war-mongering autocracy – Azerbaijan – will result in further bloodshed and will definitely not lead to a dignified and durable peace in the region.

The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh must have a diplomatic and political solution with robust guarantees for the security of the indigenous Armenian population, with effective mechanisms in place to ensure that they live peacefully in their homes and enjoy their fundamental rights and freedoms.

In this respect, we call the Government of the United States:

– To refrain from statements that can embolden the Azerbaijani leadership to further resort to the use of force or the threat to use of force,

– To intensify the efforts aimed at solving humanitarian issues, including immediate and unconditional repatriation of all Armenian POWS and civilians detained by Azerbaijan,

– To put pressure on Azerbaijan to restore the unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo through the Lachin Corridor in both directions, as stated in the decision of ICJ;

– To support the presence of an international peacekeeping mission inside Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as the Lachin corridor to guarantee impartial monitoring of the situation on the ground, regular and public reporting to the international community, and serve as an essential assurance of security for the local people;

– To support the establishment of a rights based international mechanism between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh;

– To support the delimitation and demarcation process in line with human rights principles

– To take measures in line with the US legislation to hold the Azerbaijani political and military leadership accountable for gross violations of human rights and war crimes, including through application of sanctions."

Protection of Rights without Borders NGO

Transparency International Anticorruption Center

Democracy Development Foundation

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor

For Equal Rights NGO

Law Development and Protection Foundation

Peace Dialogue NGO

Journalists’ Club ‘Asparez’

Public Journalism Club

Union of Informed Citizens



Satellite Internet in Armenia

Arbi Tashjian
Spooool
June 1 2023


has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its ability to provide high-speed internet access to remote areas. While it has its advantages, it also has its disadvantages. In this article, we will explore both the advantages and disadvantages of satellite internet in Armenia.

Advantages of

One of the main advantages of satellite internet in Armenia is its ability to provide high-speed internet access to remote areas. This is particularly important in a country like Armenia, where many rural areas do not have access to traditional broadband internet services. Satellite internet can provide these areas with fast and reliable internet access, allowing them to stay connected with the rest of the world.

Another advantage of satellite internet in Armenia is its flexibility. Unlike traditional broadband internet services, which require physical infrastructure to be installed, satellite internet can be set up quickly and easily. This makes it an ideal solution for businesses and individuals who need internet access in a hurry.

Satellite internet in Armenia is also very reliable. Unlike traditional broadband internet services, which can be affected by weather conditions and other factors, satellite internet is not affected by these issues. This means that users can enjoy fast and reliable internet access no matter what the weather is like outside.

Disadvantages of

While satellite internet in Armenia has its advantages, it also has its disadvantages. One of the main disadvantages is its cost. Satellite internet can be more expensive than traditional broadband internet services, particularly for those who require high-speed internet access.

Another disadvantage of satellite internet in Armenia is its latency. Because satellite internet signals have to travel a long distance to reach the satellite and then back down to Earth, there can be a delay in the transmission of data. This can be particularly frustrating for users who require real-time internet access, such as online gamers or video conferencing users.

Satellite internet in Armenia can also be affected by weather conditions. While it is generally more reliable than traditional broadband internet services, heavy rain or snow can cause interference with the satellite signal, resulting in slower internet speeds or even a loss of internet connection.

Conclusion

In conclusion, satellite internet in Armenia has its advantages and disadvantages. While it can provide high-speed internet access to remote areas and is very reliable, it can also be more expensive than traditional broadband internet services and can be affected by latency and weather conditions. Ultimately, the decision to use satellite internet in Armenia will depend on the individual needs and circumstances of each user.