Author: Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS

Azerbaijan Advocates For Bilateral Peace Talks With Armenia – [Azeri] OpEd

Emil Lazarian
Jan 14 2024
   0 Comments

By Dr. Vasif Huseynov

On January 8, US Senior Adviser on Caucasus Negotiations Louis Bono visited Yerevan, engaging in discussions with local officials regarding the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process. The Armenian side reported that one of the issues discussed during this visit was the organization of a meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers in Washington.

Notably different from his previous visits to the region, this trip omitted a visit to Baku, suggesting that it either wasn’t planned, which is less likely, or that the Azerbaijani side was not open to receiving him. The recent developments between Baku and Yerevan, along with the evolving dynamics of mediator involvement, indicate that Azerbaijan has grown more cautious and skeptical about the role of third parties in the Armenia-Azerbaijan process. As a result, Azerbaijan has advocated for bilateral meetings between the two countries. Baku’s position is primarily related with the potential geopolitical fallout of the upcoming peace deal with Yerevan. 

Azerbaijan is concerned that the peace talks with Armenia are perceived by competing major powers as a tool serving their own strategic interests. Baku, therefore, aims to navigate this process meticulously, avoiding being positioned as a pawn on the geopolitical chessboard. This necessitates prioritizing the interests of the local states and refraining from antagonizing any major power by allying with one side. The confrontational context of the Russia-West relations is a big source of concern for Baku as any deterioration of the relations with either side is at odds with the economic and political interests of Azerbaijan. Hence, Baku seeks a peace treaty that would address only the disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan; not a treaty that would be of a more geopolitical project attempting to change the power balance between the major powers in the South Caucasus.  

Towards this end, Baku pursues two major objectives. First, the peace treaty negotiations are preferred to be conducted at the bilateral level between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On 28 December, the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan announced that Baku proposes to hold a meeting of foreign ministers of the two countries at the border. In the wake of an earlier meeting of the border delimitation commissions of the two countries at the border on 30 November, it would be another step towards normalization if their foreign ministers also meet at the border, followed by a meeting by the political leaders. It is not clear why Armenia has so far refused to hold bilateral talks on peace treaty, while agreed to such talks on the delimitation issue. The next meeting of the border commissions scheduled to take place at the border this month shows that this format works in practice and can be extended to other levels of bilateral talks. The utility of bilateral contacts is also confirmed by the fact that the landmark deal between the two countries concerning the swap of prisoners last month was possible with no involvement of third parties.

As part of this approach, Baku also rejects the calls for the establishment of an institute of guarantors comprising of third countries in the peace treaty. Instead of this, Baku proposes to form a bilateral commission of the two countries to deal with any dispute that may appear in the future. This formula of “guarantees but not guarantors” is meant to ensure that the Armenia-Azerbaijan relations will not be a subject of great power dynamics in the future.

Secondly, Baku remains committed to the trilateral statements signed by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia in 2020-21. One major issue that is now addressed by these statements is the re-opening of regional transportation links. Armenia has recently rejected the trilateral statement of 9 November 2020 that envisages the provision of “unimpeded” access between the western part of mainland Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan exclave as well as the deployment of Russian border guards to this land passage, that is called “Zangezur corridor”. Armenia rejects both proposals; this poses challenges to the peace talks with Baku and provokes further instability in relations with Russia. Hence, Azerbaijan expects Armenia to fulfil its commitments under the trilateral statement without creating a geopolitical crisis over this corridor. 

Against this background, the reluctance on the side of Azerbaijan to re-internationalize the peace talks and Baku’s lack of enthusiasm concerning the new round of talks in Washington is understandable. But this situation is also affected by the policies of the United States vis-à-vis Azerbaijan. The re-introduction of the 907 amendment of the Freedom Support Act which prohibits military aid to Azerbaijan, the inclusion of Azerbaijan to the religious freedom watchlist, and the threatening statements against Baku’s decision to open an alternative via Iran to the Zangezur corridor, among others, have damaged the image of the United States as a neutral mediator between the two South Caucasian republics. Nonetheless, Baku’s insistence on bilateral talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, excluding mediators, reflects a more fundamental intention – to protect the region from the geopolitical rivalries and safeguard regional peace and security.

https://www.eurasiareview.com/14012024-azerbaijan-advocates-for-bilateral-peace-talks-with-armenia-oped/

Three years, thrice displaced: A family flees Nagorno-Karabakh

Emil Lazarian
Doctors Without Borders
Jan 12 2024
12 JAN 2024

Mileta pauses often while speaking about her family's former home in Martakert/Aghdara, Nagorno-Karabakh, and the journey they endured fleeing to Armenia. 

Her family has lost their home due to war three times—first in 2020, then in 2022, and most recently, in 2023. 

Her 13-year-old daughter, Mane, was in school when explosions lit the sky of Karabakh on 19 September. That day, all the students were quickly sent home. Mileta knew they would never come back.  

With no phone or internet connection, Mileta had no idea what to do or where to go to find safety, so she and her family locked themselves inside their home, terrified. A few hours later, a neighbour entered the home and urged them to leave, saying that soldiers were already advancing toward their village. Not knowing what to take with them and what to leave behind, Mileta instinctively went for the family albums.  

“I knew I had to take the photos of my family to cherish the memories, as we have nothing else left anymore,” Mileta says. "We have been stripped of our lives, left with nothing.” 

On 19 September, Azerbaijan launched an attack on various areas in Nagorno-Karabakh, a region that is a self-proclaimed republic internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, but has traditionally been home to many ethnic Armenians. 

After a ceasefire agreement was reached 24 hours later, more than 100,000 people from the region fled to neighbouring Armenia. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams in Armenia have been providing aid, including mental health care, to displaced people like Mileta and her family.

Before the war erupted, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh endured 10 months of blockade by Azerbaijan. During the last three months, it was becoming increasingly difficult to find food in totally isolated Karabakh, and Mileta's family ate only once each day. She says that pretty much every displaced person she met on the road had stomach problems from months of malnutrition.  

Mileta’s family managed to get to the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh from Martakert/Aghdara with the little gasoline they had. On the way, chaos erupted. There were rumors that civilians would be evacuated. Nobody knew whether the Lachin corridor connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh would be open for them to flee.

The rumors turned out to be false. The vast majority of people ended up sleeping wherever they could while waiting for their next move. Mileta and her children slept in their car in Stepanakert/Khankendi, not knowing where to go or what to do. Finally, Azerbaijan opened Lachin corridor on 24 September, and Mileta’s family passed through to Armenia. 


THE TOLL OF DISPLACEMENT

Mileta recalls how hard her family worked to renovate their home in Martakert/Aghdara over the past few years. They dreamed of turning the ground floor into a dental clinic, so that when her son graduated from university, he could come back to their town and work as a dentist.

Her family does not know whether they will stay in Armenia, as they would have to start over from scratch. Stress, insomnia, and uncertainty have set in. Mileta still wonders whether they will ever be able to go back to their homeland.  

“Wherever I am, it is not home for me," says Mileta. "I left my father’s cemetery, the church where I used to pray, and my home, which our family built with our own hands."

MSF teams have seen a high number of psychosomatic issues among displaced people from Nagorno-Karabakh in the villages of Ararat and Kotayk. Many people we see have been displaced three or four times during the past year, and many continuously experience grief, bereavement, and a feeling of disempowerment. Adults predominantly express fear while in children, the accumulated anxiety has resulted in sleeping disorders and enuresis.  

Anxiety about the future is the dominant theme for almost every person that MSF teams have met and spoken to. “I have to start from zero, and my biggest burden is to take care of my kids,” says Anyuta, another displaced person from Nagorno-Karabakh. “The trauma we went through is unfathomable, after months of blockade and food scarcity. But now we have lost our home on top of it."

MSF teams are visiting vulnerable families in the Kotayk and Ararat regions of Armenia— including hotels and apartments where displaced people are temporarily living—to offer mental health support and assess the most critical social needs. Since October 2023, MSF has provided 1,655 mental health consultations and distributed more than 200 non-food item kits.


https://msf.org.au/article/stories-patients-staff/three-years-thrice-displaced-family-flees-nagorno-karabakh

Displaced Karabakh Armenians should be given possibility of returning in safety and dignity – Commissioner Mijatović

Emil Lazarian

 15:31,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. “Armenian and Azerbaijani authorities should ensure focus on human rights protection in their peace talks and establish strong human rights safeguards for all persons affected by the conflict”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, as she published her Observations following her visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh, from 16 to 23 October 2023.

“It was the first time in decades that a human rights mission of this kind was able to visit the Karabakh region,” Mijatović’s office said in a press release.

“The visit was prompted by the mass displacement of over 101,000 Karabakh Armenians who fled to Armenia in the space of only a few days at the end of September. It followed Azerbaijan’s military action on 19 and 20 September, its subsequent full control over the region and the prolonged disruption in the movement of people and access to essential goods, services and energy supplies experienced by Karabakh Armenians as a result of a nine-month blocking of the road along the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan. In Armenia, the Commissioner spoke with Karabakh Armenians who had left and were staying in shelters provided by the authorities," the Commissioner's office said. 

Mijatović also visited Stepanakert, where she "witnessed empty streets, abandoned premises and almost no sign of the presence of civilians."

"On the basis of what she could hear and see, the Commissioner concluded that at the end of September 2023, Karabakh Armenians found themselves abandoned without any reliable security or protection guarantees by any party, and that, for them, leaving home was the only reasonable option available. While welcoming the efforts made by the Armenian authorities to provide all those in need who arrived from the Karabakh region with the first basic assistance, the Commissioner stressed that Karabakh Armenians who fled to Armenia, and in particular those belonging to vulnerable groups, should be guaranteed access to all necessary support in the immediate, medium and long term. “Council of Europe member states should maintain a focus on providing financial support to ensure that the humanitarian needs of displaced persons and their host populations can be fully met”, added the Commissioner. The Commissioner stressed that recently-displaced Karabakh Armenians in Armenia should be given the possibility of returning in safety and dignity – even if it seems hypothetical for most at the moment – including by finding flexible solutions, in particular as concerns their citizenship and legal status. Pending a possible return, ways should be promptly found, including by establishing security guarantees, for Karabakh Armenians to temporarily access their homes or places of habitual residence, and visit graveyards where loved ones are buried. It is incumbent on the Azerbaijani authorities to ensure that property left behind by Karabakh Armenians is protected from looting, theft or being taken over. The few ethnic Armenians who have stayed in the Karabakh region should also benefit from all human rights protection, including by having their freedom of movement secured."

The Commissioner also expressed hope that all internally displaced persons who so wish will be able to return as soon as possible in safety and dignity. "More generally, the Commissioner stressed that all persons displaced by the long-lasting conflict have the right to return to their homes or places of habitual residence voluntarily and under conditions of safety and dignity, regardless of whether they have been displaced internally or across borders,” reads the press release issued by Mijatović's office. 

“All allegations of breaches of international humanitarian law and serious human rights violations reported in relation to the conflict need to be effectively and promptly investigated, the perpetrators brought to justice and if found guilty after a fair, independent and impartial trial, sentenced and punished. This includes allegations relating to the circumstances of the blocking of the Lachin corridor, the mass displacement of Karabakh Armenians and the military operation of 19 to 20 September”, said the Commissioner. She added that this must be done through a victim-centred approach that treats the victims and their families with sensitivity and compassion. A comprehensive approach to dealing with the past and addressing the serious human rights violations committed in the context of the conflict over the Karabakh region should also be put in place. “Other human rights issues addressed in the Commissioner’s Observations include the need to protect people from mines and explosive remnants of war; the situation of persons detained in connection with the conflict, including the conditions of their detention and level of contact with their families; and the importance of clarifying the fate of missing persons throughout the region and to provide answers to their families. Lastly, the Commissioner called on the authorities in both countries to combat hate speech and promote mutual understanding and trust, including by involving civil society in establishing human rights-compliant memorialisation and reconciliation processes,” the Commissioner’s office said in the press release.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 12-01-24

Emil Lazarian

 17:06,

YEREVAN, 12 JANUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 12 January, USD exchange rate up by 0.34 drams to 405.35 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.03 drams to 444.18 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.04 drams to 4.60 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.71 drams to 516.98 drams.

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

Gold price up by 52.78 drams to 26444.50 drams. Silver price up by 1.09 drams to 300.13 drams.

Armenian President, Greek Ambassador discuss South Caucasus regional realities

Emil Lazarian

 17:32,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARMENPRESS: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Greece to Armenia Christos Sofianopoulos presented his credentials to the President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan.

Vahagn Khachaturyan congratulated the newly appointed ambassador on assuming the post and expressed hope that Christos Sofianopoulos will make maximum efforts to further expand and develop the cooperation between the two countries, the Presidential Office said.

President Khachaturyan praised Armenian-Greek relations based on close historical friendship and solidarity, noting that there is a multi-sector bilateral agenda and effective political dialogue between the two countries.

"Greece has always been by our side in difficult moments, and on behalf of myself and the Armenian people, I express gratitude for the support shown by the Greek government and authorities in these difficult times for our country," the President said.

Ambassador Sofianopoulos for his part expressed his gratitude for the reception and underscored his willingness to make efforts to strengthen and develop cooperation between the two countries.

During the meeting, the South Caucasus regional realities and recent developments, as well as the existing security challenges and ways to overcome them were discussed.

President Vahagn Khachaturyan emphasized Armenia's commitment to normalizing relations with the  neighbours and achieving stable, lasting peace within the framework of international legal norms, respecting the territorial integrity of nations and upholding the fundamental principles of sovereignty.

Both sides underscored the significance of resolving issues through peaceful negotiations and the exclusion of military threats.

During the meeting, issues related to multi-layered interaction between Armenia and Greece were also discussed.

The significance of enhancing efforts for fully realization of the potential for expanding economic cooperation between the two countries, especially in the field of high technologies, was emphasized in the course of the meeting.

The President conveyed gratitude to the government and authorities of Greece for the humanitarian support provided by the Greek side to the forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh.

The importance of a high level of political dialogue between Armenia and Greece, as well as the close cooperation within the European Union and other international platforms was emphasized at the meeting.

 Armenia's reforms and principled approaches aimed at fortifying democracy and establishing democratic institutions were also touched upon.

Asbarez: AIWA to Hold Ecumenical Prayer Service for Armenians Held Captive by Azerbaijan

Emil Lazarian
by Contributor

 

 

 

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AIWA’s “One Cause, Many Faiths – Uniting Voices for Armenians in Captivity” special liturgical observance and ecumenical prayer service graphic


LOS ANGELES—The Armenian International Women’s Association is coordinating “One Cause, Many Faiths – Uniting Voices for Armenians in Captivity,” a special liturgical observance and ecumenical prayer service dedicated to the Armenians in captivity in Azerbaijan. This event will take place on Wednesday, January 17 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Downtown Los Angeles, located at 555 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90112.

In the spirit of unity and solidarity, AIWA invites the community of both Armenian and Non-Armenian religious groups to come together for an evening of prayer, reflection, and support for those affected by the ongoing challenges faced by Armenians in captivity in Azerbaijan. The event aims to bridge faiths, cultures, and communities, highlighting the shared humanity that unites us all. 

The liturgical observance will feature speakers by esteemed local politicians and other community leaders who will share their thoughts on the importance of solidarity and collective action; musical interludes with a selection of Armenian Liturgical pieces, enriching the spiritual atmosphere of the event; presentation from the Center for Truth and Justice to provide valuable insights and information regarding the situation of Armenians in captivity in Azerbaijan; and an Armenian ensemble will lend its voices to the occasion, filling the cathedral with the moving and powerful sounds of traditional hymns. 

AIWA encourages all members of the community, regardless of faith or background, to join in this meaningful liturgical observation. Together, we can raise our voices in prayer and support for the Armenians facing challenges in captivity in Azerbaijan. 

The Armenian International Women’s Association is a global organization dedicated to empowering and uniting women of Armenian descent. Through various initiatives, including cultural preservation, education, and advocacy, AIWA strives to make a positive impact on the lives of Armenian women and their communities. 

For more information, please visit the website or follow the AIWA on Instagram, or Facebook.

Azerbaijan Rejects France’s Role in Normalizing Relations with Armenia

Emil Lazarian
WE News, Pakistan
Jan 11 2024

BAKU: Azerbaijan has rejected France’s involvement in the normalization process of its relations with Armenia, said Zaur Mammadov, Adviser to the Academy of Public Administration under the President and Chairman of the Baku Political Scientists Club.

In a recent interview with a local TV channel, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev addressed various issues, including France’s alleged unfair policies and the exposure of a French spy network in Azerbaijan.

President Ilham Aliyev, in his recent address, criticized France for what he deemed as unfair policies and the exposure of a French spy network in Azerbaijan.

He called on the French government to recognize Azerbaijan’s adherence to international law, urging them not to interfere in internal affairs or involve themselves in the Azerbaijani-Armenian dispute.

Aliyev also discussed the Zangezur corridor matter and said that Armenia must guarantee unhindered passage between the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and the main part of Azerbaijan.

He warned of alternative measures less favorable to Armenia if this requirement is not met.

Moreover, Mammadov noted that direct dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia, without external mediation, could have a more significant impact.

https://en.wenews.pk/azerbaijan-rejects-frances-role-in-normalizing-relations-with-armenia/

Asbarez: AUA Benefactor Sonia Akian Passes Away

Emil Lazarian
by Contributor

 

 

 

in Community, Latest, News, Top Stories

Sonia Akian


GLENDALE—The American University of Armenia announced the passing of Sonia Akian, a benefactor and AUA Pillar who supported the University for decades. A passionate and generous woman, Akian was held in high regard and will forever be remembered by all who knew her and especially by the countless students whose lives she impacted as an educator. 

Sonia (née Der Avedisian) Akian was born in Philadelphia in 1945 to Kerope and Amalia Der Avedisian. Her father was a survivor of the Armenian Genocide, during which his parents, sister, and brother were murdered. Thereafter, he served as captain of the cavalry of Armenian freedom fighters under General Sebouh and was also a French legionnaire. Later in life, he settled in Philadelphia, where he was active in the Armenian community and served various organizations. Kerope and Amalia raised three daughters — Armena, Malena, and Sonia — instilling in them a strong sense of heritage and a high regard for education. Influenced by her family environment, Sonia pursued higher education graduating from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in English and, throughout her adult life, she was a strong advocate of universal access to education. 

Sonia Akian as a flower girl at a wedding, 1948 Zaven and Sonia Akian on their wedding day, May 1970

In 1970, Sonia married Zaven P. Akian, and together, their family grew to include their three children: Lori, Lena, and Haig. Perhaps the most significant of the numerous successful endeavors throughout their lives, and one that has left an indelible impression upon thousands of people in both Armenia and the United States, is the philanthropic work they were both involved in and which the Akian family continues to uphold. 

As an AUA Pillar, Sonia, alongside Zaven, was a supporter of the University for many years. Together, their contributions to AUA comprise several namings, including the new AUA Science & Engineering Building to be named the Akian Family Building, and the earlier Zaven P. & Sonia Akian College of Science & Engineering, the Akian BioScience Laboratory, and the Akian Art Gallery. Above all, the student scholarships awarded through the “Zaven P. & Sonia Akian Scholarship” endowment at AUA have enabled over 600 students to date the opportunity to access quality higher education in Armenia. Hundreds more will benefit from this Akian endowment for decades to come.

Sonia and Zaven P. Akian with recipients of the Zaven P. & Sonia Akian Scholarship at AUA, 2016

All scholarship recipients, together with AUA faculty, students, alumni, and the University administration, are forever grateful for her support and the impact she has made on so many lives. The AUA expressed its heartfelt gratitude to Sonia Akian, whose name will live forever at the University.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 25, 2023.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values. AUA’s Office of Development stewards the University’s philanthropic efforts exclusively for educational purposes.

ReflectSpace Gallery to Present ‘Peace is Radical’ by OBEY’s Shepard Fairey

Emil Lazarian
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Shepard Fairey's "Peace is Radical" solo exhibition at ReflectSpace Gallery graphic


Peace is Radical by Shepard Fairey

GLENDALE—Glendale Library, Arts & Culture and ReflectSpace Gallery will present “Peace is Radical” a solo exhibition by renowned street artist and activist, Shepard Fairey.

“Peace is Radical” features works addressing a range of topics, including creative empowerment, the importance of democracy, race and gender equality, environmental justice, and, of course, peace and harmony. Almost all of these art pieces utilize screen printing. This versatile graphic medium can be used to produce high-end art or multitudes of prints that can be disseminated liberally. Fairey uses screen printing in both ways and finds it to be an incredibly empowering and democratic medium. A section in the “Peace is Radical” exhibition will display a series of the screens he has used to print his art.

“I titled this show ‘Peace is Radical,’ because humanity seems to be in a perpetual state of conflict. Peace requires us to pursue harmony with thoughtful vigilance. I’m a pacifist. I believe in solutions to disagreements that avoid violence. We are an intelligent species capable of cooperation and solving problems without violence. When I look at humanity in general, most people want to live in peace,” said Fairey.

“The majority of my art focuses on issues of justice, and an outcome of improved justice is a more equal, fair, and peaceful society. Through my art, I want to remind people of the equal humanity of all people, regardless of their race, religion, nation, or culture. There is no us versus them; there is only us. The goal of the art in “Peace is Radical” is to encourage us to see ourselves in others, and to strive for health and peace for humanity and the planet that sustains us,” added the artist.

“At a time when the world is so deeply engaged in war—from Gaza, to Ukraine, to Armenia, to Ethiopia and many other places—having Shepard Fairey’s exhibit ‘Peace is Radical’ at ReflectSpace is a monumental event. It brings a message of peace and hope and engenders critical conversations about social justice in the world and our communities. Shepard has always used his visibility and platform as an artist to bring important conversations into the public sphere and this fits perfectly into the ReflectSpace gallery mission,” said Ara and Anahid Oshagan, Co-curators of ReflectSpace Gallery. 

Fairey has designed a limited-edition library card for Glendale Library, Arts & Culture that will be available at all Glendale Library branches through the run of the exhibit, while supplies last.

As a contemporary street artist, graphic designer, activist, and founder of OBEY Clothing and creative agency, Fairey gained notoriety with the creation of the “Andre the Giant has a Posse” sticker that later evolved into the OBEY GIANT art campaign. In 2008, his portrait of then-Democratic candidate Barack Obama became an internationally recognized emblem of hope. He is known for the “We the People” campaign debuted during the 2017 Women’s Marches worldwide. Fairey has painted more than 135 public murals, become one of the most sought-after and provocative artists globally, changing the way people converse about art and view the urban landscape.

“Peace is Radical” will be on view from January 20 through April 14 at the ReflectSpace Gallery, inside Glendale Central Library located at 222 East Harvard, Glendale, CA. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, January 20 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.. ReflectSpace and PassageWay Galleries are curated by Ara and Anahid Oshagan.  Free parking with validation is available at the Marketplace parking structure located directly across from the Harvard entrance of Central Library.

Shepard Fairey was born in Charleston, South Carolina. Fairey became passionate about art at an early age and went on to receive his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island. In 1989 he created the “Andre the Giant has a Posse” sticker that transformed into the OBEY GIANT art campaign, with imagery that has changed how people see art and the urban landscape.

Fairey’s stickers, guerilla street art presence, and public murals are recognizable globally. His works are in the permanent collections of the Boston Institute of Contemporary Art, Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and many others.  

Shepard Fairey has painted nearly 135 large-scale murals across six continents worldwide.  More information from his career can be found online.

ReflectSpace is curated by Ara and Anahid Oshagan and is an inclusive exhibition gallery designed to explore and reflect on social justice issues, human rights violations and genocides through the arts. Immersive in conception, ReflectSpace is a hybrid space that is both experiential and informative, employing art, technology, and interactive media to reflect on the past and present of Glendale’s communal fabric and interrogate current-day global human rights issues. ReflectSpace is housed in Glendale Central Library and online. 

Known as the “Jewel City,” Glendale is the fourth largest city of Los Angeles County. With a population of more than 200,000, Glendale is a thriving cosmopolitan city that is rich in history, culturally diverse, and offers nearly 50 public parks, and easy access to a municipal airport. It is the home to a vibrant business community, with major companies in healthcare, entertainment, manufacturing, retail, and banking.  

Founded in 1907, the Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Department includes eight neighborhood libraries including the Brand Library & Art Center, a regional visual arts and music library and performance venue housed in the historic 1904 mansion of Glendale pioneer Leslie C. Brand, and the Central Library, a 93,000 square foot center for individuals and groups to convene, collaborate and create. The department also serves as the chief liaison to the Glendale Arts and Culture Commission which works to continually transform Glendale into an ever-evolving arts destination. Glendale Library Arts & Culture is supported in part through the efforts of the Glendale Library Arts & Culture Trust (GLACT). For more information visit the website, or contact Library, Arts & Culture at 818-548-2021 or via email at [email protected].

RFE/RL Armenian Service – 01/11/2024

Emil Lazarian 
                                        Thursday, 


Government Funds New Plant Moved Away From Azeri Border

        • Nane Sahakian

Armenia - The site of an industrial plant built in Yersakh, June 15, 2023.


Armenia’s government approved on Thursday a concessional loan worth 3.5 billion 
drams ($8.6 million) to a U.S.-Armenian joint venture that relocated, for 
security reasons, a metallurgical plant which it began building on the border 
with Azerbaijan last year.

The construction site in Yeraskh, a border village 55 kilometers south of 
Yerevan, came under fire from nearby Azerbaijani army positions on a virtually 
daily basis in June.

The automatic gunfire, which left two Indian workers seriously wounded, began 
one week after the Azerbaijani government protested against the $70 million 
project. It claimed that building the industrial facility without its permission 
is a violation of international environmental norms. The Armenian Foreign 
Ministry brushed aside Baku’s “false” environmental concerns, saying that they 
are a smokescreen for impeding economic growth and foreign investment in Armenia.

Despite making defiant statements, Armenian and U.S. investors behind the 
project suspended work on the plant and started moving construction and 
industrial equipment from the site later in the summer.

In a statement issued after its weekly meeting in Yerevan, Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian’s cabinet confirmed that the facility is now being constructed just 
outside the town of Ararat, several kilometers from Yeraskh.

It said that the investors wasted 2 billion drams on the construction work in 
Yeraskh and now need additional funding. The low-interest government loan, 
repayable in four years, will be channeled into the project through a state 
investment fund, added the statement.

The plant is to process scrap metal, employ up to 500 people and have an annual 
turnover of at least $200 million. Its owners plan to finish the construction by 
the end of this year.

Areg Kochinian, a political analyst, believes that the plant’s relocation set a 
dangerous precedent for Armenia, meaning that Azerbaijan is in a position to 
disrupt economic activity in Armenian border regions by force.

“This situation could and should have been avoided. It’s a classic example of 
irresponsible administration which we have seen many times,” Kochinian said, 
commenting on the initial site of the plant located just a few hundred meters 
from an Azerbaijani army post.

Armenia’s largest gold mine also located on the border with Azerbaijan was 
likewise targeted by systematic Azerbaijani gunfire last spring. The Russian 
owner of the Sotk gold mine announced in June that it has no choice but to end 
open-pit mining operations there and put many of its 700 workers on unpaid leave.




Breach Of Armenia’s Territorial Integrity ‘Unacceptable’ To Iran

        • Ruzanna Stepanian

Armenia - Iranian Ambassador Mehdi Sobhani speaks to journalists, January 11, 
2024.


The Iranian ambassador in Yerevan, Mehdi Sobhani, on Thursday reaffirmed Iran’s 
strong support for Armenia’s territorial integrity, saying that any violation of 
it is unacceptable to Tehran.

“We have always supported Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and 
anything that causes a violation of Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial 
integrity is not acceptable for us,” Sobhani told reporters.

Asked what concrete action Iran will take in case of such a violation, he said: 
“It won’t be violated.”

The remarks came amid Azerbaijan’s renewed demands for an extraterritorial 
corridor to its Nakhichevan exclave that would pass through Syunik, the sole 
Armenian province bordering Iran. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on 
Wednesday that people and cargo transported to and from Nakhichevan must be 
exempt from Armenian border controls.

Last week, a Turkish government minister said that new roads and railways needed 
for the functioning of that corridor should be built by 2029. The Iranian 
Foreign Ministry responded by repeating its strong opposition to “geopolitical 
changes” in the South Caucasus.

Iran has repeatedly warned against attempts to strip it of the common border and 
transport links with Armenia. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi reportedly told a 
visiting Azerbaijani official last October that the “Zangezur corridor” sought 
by Baku is “resolutely opposed” by the Islamic Republic.

Raisi spoke less than two weeks after Azerbaijan’s recapture of Nagorno-Karabakh 
which raised more fears in Yerevan that Baku will also attack Armenia to open 
the corridor.

Andranik Kocharian, the chairman of the Armenian parliament committee on defense 
and security, did not rule out the possibility of such an attack when he spoke 
to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service on Thursday. He said the Armenian government is 
reinforcing “every day” the county’s capacity to repel it.




Yerevan Keeps Linking Peace Deal With Border Delimitation

        • Shoghik Galstian

Armenia - A soldier at a new Armenian army post on the border with Azerbaijan, 
June 16, 2021.


Armenia continues to believe that its peace treaty with Azerbaijan should spell 
out a mechanism for delimiting the border between the two countries, a senior 
Armenian lawmaker said on Thursday, reacting to Baku’s efforts to delink the two 
issues.

“If this principle is not adopted and implemented, it will be unclear how the 
delimitation process will take place,” Sargis Khandanian, the chairman of the 
Armenian parliament committee on foreign relations, told reporters.

Khandanian also made clear that Yerevan insists on using the most recent Soviet 
military maps printed in the 1970s as a basis for ascertaining the long and 
heavily militarized Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

The leaders of the European Union and its key member states, France and Germany, 
backed this stance in a joint statement with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian 
issued after their meeting in Spain last October.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev reiterated Baku’s rejection of the proposed 
mechanism for border delimitation on Wednesday. He said that it favors the 
Armenian side.

“They [the Armenians] want to put aside maps of the 1960s, 1950s and 1940s and 
refer to the 1970s because our historical lands had been given to them by that 
time,” Aliyev said in a televised interview. “Therefore, we strongly opposed and 
oppose that.”

Echoing statements by other Azerbaijani officials, Aliyev said that the border 
should be delimited after the signing of the peace treaty. He did not cite any 
concrete delimitation mechanism acceptable to Baku.

Armenian analysts and opposition figures believe that Aliyev wants to leave the 
door open to Azerbaijani territorial claims to Armenia. They say this shows that 
Pashinian’s “peace agenda” regularly touted by him and his political allies 
cannot guarantee the country’s territorial integrity even after the September 
2023 fall of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Azerbaijani leader on Wednesday again accused Armenia of occupying “eight 
Azerbaijani villages.” He referred to several small enclaves inside Armenia 
which were controlled by Azerbaijan in Soviet times and occupied by the Armenian 
army in the early 1990s. For its part, the Azerbaijani side seized at the time a 
bigger Armenian enclave.

Aliyev said that the return of those enclaves will top the agenda of an upcoming 
joint session of Armenian and Azerbaijani government commissions on border 
demarcation and delimitation. The office of Deputy Prime Minister Mher 
Grigorian, the chairman of the Armenian commission, declined to comment on 
Aliyev’s claim. Meanwhile, some opposition lawmakers in Yerevan demanded 
explanations from the government.




Armenia To Attend Another ‘Anti-Russian’ Meeting On Ukraine


MALTA – Delegates attend a meeting organised by Ukraine to discuss its peace 
formula for ending the war with Russia in an unnamed hotel in St Julian's, 
October 28, 2023.


Risking further condemnation by Russia, the secretary of Armenia’s Security 
Council will fly to Switzerland this weekend to take part in a new round of 
multilateral peace talks initiated by Ukraine.

Armen Grigorian’s office announced on Thursday his participation in the 
conference that will take place in the Swiss resort town of Davos on January 14.

Grigorian already attended the last such meeting held in Malta in October. 
Security officials from more than 60 countries converged on the island to 
discuss Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s plan to end the war with 
Russia. Grigorian met with Zelenskiy’s chief of staff during what Moscow 
condemned as a “blatantly anti-Russian event.”

Grigorian’s trip to Malta contrasted with Armenian leaders’ boycott of 
high-level meetings of Russian-led groupings of ex-Soviet states and highlighted 
Yerevan’s mounting tensions with Moscow. The Russian Foreign Ministry called the 
trip a “demonstrative anti-Russian gesture” and accused Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian’s administration of systematically “destroying” Russian-Armenian 
relations.

Despite the angry Russian reaction, Armenia kept up diplomatic contacts with 
Ukraine. The foreign ministers of the two states held talks in Brussels on 
December 11 on the sidelines of an annual meeting of the top diplomats of 
European Union member states and ex-Soviet republics involved in the EU’s 
Eastern Partnership program.

Beglium - Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Ukrainian 
counterpart Dmytro Kuleba meet in Brussels, December 11, 2023.

Pashinian did not boycott fresh ex-Soviet summits that were hosted by Russian 
President Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg two weeks later. But his attendance 
did not seem to ease the unprecedented rift between the two longtime allies.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said later in December that Armenia is 
reorienting its foreign policy towards the West at the expense of its alliance 
with Russia. He warned that the South Caucasus country cannot successfully 
confront its grave security challenges with the help of the United States and 
the European Union.

Citing an unnamed “informed source,” Russia’s main official news agency, TASS, 
claimed on Wednesday that Germany is pressing Pashinian’s government to force 
Russian border guards out of Armenia and purge the Armenian state apparatus from 
pro-Russian elements in return for greater economic aid.

There was no official reaction to the claim from Berlin or Yerevan. While 
pledging to “diversify” Armenia’s foreign and security policy, Pashinian has so 
far indicated no plans to demand the withdrawal of Russian border guards or 
troops from Armenia.



Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
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