Author: Diana Dabaghian

Southern California Armenian Democrats Endorse Dr. Riddle for California State Assembly District 41

Diana Dabaghian
PASADENA Now
Oct 26 2023
Published on Thursday, October 26, 2023 | 5:41 am



Dr. Phlunté Riddle announced on Wednesday that the Southern California Armenian Democrats have endorsed her campaign for Assembly District 41.

“Our members enthusiastically endorse Dr. Phlunte Riddle for State Assembly. She is an experienced community leader who has spent her life finding solutions to the most important problems we face. On day one, she will roll up her sleeves to tackle our homelessness and housing crisis, fight to reduce crime, and invest in our schools. Our community can count on her to be our advocate in the State Capitol,” said the Board of Directors of the Southern California Armenian Democrats.

Southern California Armenian Democrats are the first and most prominent Armenian-American Democratic Club in California and the U.S., working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout California. SCAD’s goals are to represent the collective Armenian-American viewpoint on matters and policies of the Democratic Party, increase and strengthen the number of Armenian-American Democrats, influence and guide California State policy on matters of interest to the Armenian-American community, and maintain the viability of our free institutions.

Assembly District 41 encompasses several cities and communities in Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties. Riddle spent nearly 30 years serving Pasadena and broke barriers as the first African American female sergeant, lieutenant, and sworn Adjutant to the Chief of Police in the history of the Pasadena Police Department.

“I am honored to have the endorsement of the Southern California Armenian Democrats. Organizations like SCAD are vital to strengthening the civic life of our region. Through their advocacy, they ensure that our neighborhoods are places where everyone can live, work, and raise a family. I look forward to working with them to deliver results for the hard-working people of this community,” stated Dr. Riddle.

https://www.pasadenanow.com/main/southern-california-armenian-democrats-endorse-dr-riddle-for-california-state-assembly-district-41

Ukraine already spent over trillion hryvnias on defense this year — Ukrainian Prime Minister

Diana Dabaghian

 19:10,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS.  Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that more than one trillion hryvnias had already been spent on Ukraine’s defense this year.

"During nine months of 2023, UAH 2 trillion 119 billion has already been spent from the general fund of the state budget. Of these funds, 682 billion was spent on military salaries, 349 billion on support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

This includes the purchase of military equipment, weapons, ammunition, defense products, and personal protective equipment. That is, this year we have already spent more than one trillion hryvnias on our defense," Ukrainian Prime Minister said at a government meeting on Friday, Ukrinform  reports.




More than 95 thousand 200 NK forcibly displaced persons receive one-time sum of 100 thousand AMD

Diana Dabaghian

 20:05,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS. On October 20, another 15,207 forcibly displaced persons (9,447 minors, 5,760 adults) from Nagorno-Karabakh received one-time support of 100,000 AMD.

As the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia informed,  in general, more than 95 thousand 200 people have already received the one-time sum of 100 thousand AMD.

I highly appreciate the commitment of the Armenian government to the peace process: Lithuanian PM

Diana Dabaghian

 19:50,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS. Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė highly values the Armenian government's commitment to the peace process and supports the mediation efforts of the European Union and the United States.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said after the meeting with the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held in Yerevan.

 “These are hard times for your country. I express my sincere condolences to the families of those killed in the Nagorno-Karabakh wars. I am deeply sorry for the suffering of the people who left their homes,” the Prime Minister said.

Šimonytė reminded that the Lithuanian government provided financial and humanitarian material support to Armenia, expressing hope that it will help cover some of their urgent needs.

"I highly appreciate your government's commitment to the peace process and support the mediation efforts of the European Union and the United States. I hope and believe that both sides will fulfill their commitments, respecting each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

I believe that lasting peace can be achieved through dialogue," said the Lithuanian Prime Minister.

Šimonytė added that the path to peace is not easy, but it is the only way to achieve stability and prosperity in Armenia and the entire region.

The parties also discussed the security situation in the region and the world.

Vocalist and Composer Astghik Martirosyan Reflects on Hope and Mutual Care in Debut Album ‘Distance’

Diana Dabaghian
by Contributor

 

 

 

in Arts & Culture, Latest, Music, News, Top Stories

Vocalist and composer Astghik Martirosyan's "Distance" at National Sawdust in New York flyer


Poetry-Inspired Original Compositions and Expressive, Modern Renderings of Armenian Folk Songs, with Vardan Ovsepian (Piano, Coproducer), Darek Oleszkiewicz (Bass), Christian Euman (Drums), Daniel Rotem (Tenor Sax, 5, 6), Maksim Velichkin (Cello, 6, 7)

Vocalist and composer Astghik Martirosyan presents her debut album, “Distance” — an artistic statement born of intense reflection on the relationship between present and past, self and nation, one’s inner emotional life and the call of homeland.

Martirosyan wrote the music in 2020 while experiencing a stark duality: tremendous artistic growth and fulfillment at New England Conservatory in Boston, gut-wrenching news from an Armenia embroiled in a 45-day war with neighboring Azerbaijan over the status of the long-disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. This was during the pandemic as well, giving the title “Distance” another fraught layer of meaning.

“All these emotions were happening,” Martirosyan recalled. “I was experiencing it at a distance, by myself, far from my family and my country, and all of this came out in the music. This was my way of trying to heal, hope and dream, but also to express real sorrow. I lost friends in that war, I have friends who lost their homes. Music was my outlet.”

Astghik Martirosyan

Born and raised in Yerevan, Armenia, where she began her career at 15, Martirosyan went on to earn a master’s degree from NEC, studying with Dominique Eade and Frank Carlberg, among others. She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles. She captures the uniqueness of her journey to brilliant effect on her debut album, “Distance,” which features some of the finest musicians on the LA scene. Pianist Vardan Ovsepian (who coproduced the date with Martirosyan), veteran bassist Darek Oleszkiewicz and top-ranked rising drummer Christian Euman make up the core band, with vital assists from tenor saxophonist Daniel Rotem and cellist Maksim Velichkin on two tracks apiece.

The seven pieces included on “Distance” weave between genres and idioms, blending lyrical influences of Armenian folk songs and Eastern European poetry with the modalities of classical, jazz and improvised music. “Silence,” the leadoff track and the only one on which Martirosyan plays piano, was loosely inspired by a line of Emily Dickinson’s: “I many times thought peace had come when peace was far away.” The title track “Distance” is inspired by Marina Tsvetaeva’s poem “To Boris Pasternak,” while “Song of the Final Meeting” is based on Anna Akhmatova’s poem of that name. The music for the poetry settings is all original.

“Silence” and the haunting “Spring Is On Its Way” feature Martirosyan’s original music and lyrics. The latter she describes as “an intimate letter to my homeland, written during the eerie silence of a temporary ceasefire, in which Azerbaijan claimed ownership of the mountains in the disputed territory.” Martirosyan evokes these sentiments in a musical language that is flowing, harmonically rich, full of melodic and formal invention and a surefooted vocal delivery (with layers of backing vocals heightening the emotional sweep).

“Summer Night” and “I’m Calling You” are Armenian folk songs, sung by Martirosyan in her native tongue. The former is heard in an epic, meter-shifting arrangement by the leader, while “I’m Calling You,” with tenor sax and cello enhancing the ensemble texture, is Ovsepian’s. “It was important to keep these melodies as pure as possible,” says Martirosyan, noting that Armenian music in general is monophonic, with the single melodic line predominant.

“Heartsong” has been recorded several times by its composer, the great Fred Hersch, whose vocal version with singer and lyricist Norma Winstone (a major influence on Martirosyan) can be heard on “Songs & Lullabies” from 2003 (under the alternate title “Song of Life”). “Lyrically the song expresses hope and celebrates life, and I felt it was important to include that perspective,” said Martirosyan. “It’s the bright star on the album.”

“This is not a protest album, but rather a statement about the human side of separation and conflict, and the need to care for one another and our communities. I want to show how there can be hope, and how we can move forward,” Martirosyan said.

U.S. Rep. Eshoo, Former Speaker Pelosi lead bipartisan congressional call to sanction Azerbaijan

Diana Dabaghian

 11:33, 3 October 2023

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 3, ARMENPRESS. 75 U.S. Congressmembers are calling on the Biden Administration to impose sanctions on Azerbaijan and enforce Section 907 restrictions on U.S. military aid to the Aliyev regime, ANCA reports.

In this latest Congressional letter led by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), a bipartisan group of lawmakers condemned Azerbaijan’s “unprovoked military offensive” and “cruel nine-month blockade” of Nagorno-Karabakh, which “left the region’s Armenian population with no option but to flee, fearing for their future under Azerbaijan’s brutal authoritarian rule.” The U.S. Representatives stated, “It is clear that our country’s response to this crisis has not been commensurate with the scale of the devastation. We believe the United States must make clear to Azerbaijan that its unprovoked aggression against Artsakh is unacceptable and will be met with an appropriate response.”

The lawmakers noted that “this preventable humanitarian disaster is unfolding on our watch,” despite efforts of atrocities prevention scholars sounding the alarm about the genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The lawmakers suggested three specific actions the Biden Administration must take “to bring an end to this needless suffering and ensure Azerbaijan faces consequences for engaging in ethnic cleansing.” Those actions include:

1) Enforce Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, a provision of current law that prohibits U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan, and impose targeted sanctions on Azerbaijani officials under the Global Magnitsky Act to make clear to Azerbaijan that its aggression will not be tolerated.

2) Provide robust humanitarian assistance to support Nagorno-Karabakh’s displaced population and rally the international community to do the same by leading the establishment of an international humanitarian relief operation.

3) Take all actions necessary to ensure the safe evacuation of NK population to Armenia, including through the immediate deployment of observers to the Lachin Corridor, as well as direct engagement with Azerbaijani authorities to secure amnesty for NK local leaders.

Joining Rep. Eshoo and Speaker Emerita Pelosi is co-signing the letter to President Biden are Representatives: Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Sean Casten (D-IL), Joaquín Castro (D-TX), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Judy Chu (D-CA), Katherine Clark (D-MA), Lou Correa (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-CA), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Robert Garcia (D-CA), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Brian Higgins (D-NY), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), John Larson (D-CT), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Susie Lee (D-NV), Mike Levin (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Jenn McClellan (D-VA), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Morgan McGarvey (D-KY), James McGovern (D-MA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Katie Porter (D-CA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Dina Titus (D-NV), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Lori Trahan (D-MA), David Trone (D-MD), David Valadao (R-CA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Susan Wild (D-PA), and Nikema Williams (D-GA).

The full text of the Congressional letter is 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1121064.html?fbclid=IwAR1tJufdVsmb0IDEzrabPsT8ioN90wVd-jAfN4Yt8YN2tQm_fwnZjBNYx1U

100,617 forcibly displaced persons have crossed into Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh

Diana Dabaghian

 12:20, 3 October 2023

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 3, ARMENPRESS. The number of forcibly displaced persons who’ve crossed into Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh reached 100,617 as of 12:00, October 3, the prime minister’s spokesperson Nazeli Baghdasaryan said at a press briefing.

Over 50% of the forcibly displaced persons have accepted the state accommodation assistance option and are accommodated in various provinces across the country.

The Armenian government offers accommodation to all arriving forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh. Some of the forcibly displaced persons chose to stay with their relatives or friends in Armenia.

The mass exodus of Armenians from NK began after the September 19-20 Azerbaijani attack which ended after Nagorno-Karabakh authorities agreed to Azerbaijan’s terms in a Russian-brokered ceasefire deal.

100,625 forcibly displaced persons arrived to Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh

Diana Dabaghian

 12:24, 4 October 2023

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS. The number of forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh who’ve arrived to Armenia stood at 100,625 as of 12:00, October 4, the prime minister’s spokesperson Nazeli Baghdasaryan said at a press briefing. The number remained unchanged since October 3.

Over 95% of the forcibly displaced persons have completed the registration process. 29,000 of them are children.

Nagorno-Karabakh refugees seek new life in Armenia

Diana Dabaghian
Lincoln Journal Star
Oct 4 2023

  • DW

Having fled in their tens of thousands, they're now facing an uncertain future: Refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh must contemplate their next moves. DW's Dmitry Ponyavin reports from the northern Armenian town of Dilijan.

Watch the video at https://journalstar.com/news/nation-world/nagorno-karabakh-refugees-seek-new-life-in-armenia/video_ad1449ab-bfcb-558d-9f33-25ddb87d1322.html

Iran ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan resolve their standoff through dialogue, says President Raisi

Diana Dabaghian

 10:42, 5 October 2023

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Any geopolitical change in the South Caucasus would be unacceptable for Iran, President Ebrahim Raisi has said.

Raisi made the remarks during separate meetings in Tehran with Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan and Khalaf Aly Oghlu Khalafov, the special representative of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, IRNA reports.

During talks with Secretary Grigoryan, President Raisi ‘stressed the importance of respecting the territorial integrity of the countries in the Caucasus, and announced Iran’s readiness to cooperate on improving peace and security in that region’, according to IRNA.

Raisi also rejected any geopolitical change in the Caucasus, calling it harmful to the interests of the regional countries.

He stressed the need for protecting the rights of the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, and announced Iran’s readiness to help Armenia and Azerbaijan resolve their standoff through dialogue. The Iranian president made similar comments during talks with Khalaf Aly Oghlu Khalafov, the special representative of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

Raisi said that protecting and improving stability in the Caucasus depends on the cooperation of regional countries which he said are capable of resolving regional issues.

He added that the presence of extra-regional countries under any excuse does not benefit regional nations, and that the region’s geopolitics should remain unchanged.