1- Russia-Ukraine War: This is What Happens
When Compromise is not Achieved
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2- Artsakh Welcomes Putin’s Recognition of Parts of Ukraine as
Independent States
3- Armenian journalist Aprikyan becomes national primetime news anchor in US
4- Letters to the Editor
5- Armenia Continues Fight Against COVID-19
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1- Russia-Ukraine War: This is What Happens
When Compromise is not Achieved
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
What is happening right now in Ukraine is the worst possible scenario
for both sides, in fact all sides.
First of all, this is an enormous tragedy for the people of Ukraine
who have fallen victim to the Russian invasion which should have been
avoided at all costs. No one can justify the destruction of a country
and the killing of innocent people. We should support peace, common
sense and safety of all human beings.
Let us ignore the unrelenting propaganda, misinformation,
disinformation and hypocrisy which have inundated the media before and
during the war. No need to play politics or partisanship with people’s
lives.
Let us now move from emotional statements to the real world which can
only be ignored at our own peril. Since the beginning of the world,
the powerful has always imposed his will on the weak. There is no
escape from this. It has always been this way and will continue to be
this way. All those who believe in truth and justice are sadly
mistaken. They live in a make-believe world.
Russia, as a powerful country, felt that it was being threatened by
Western powers encroaching on its sphere of influence and wanted to
protect its national interests. Whether we agree or disagree with the
Russian view is immaterial. This is how the Russians perceive the
situation. And when you are a powerful country, right or wrong, you
try to impose your will on others, one way or another. The precedent
for this situation is the Russian invasion of the Republic of Georgia
in 2008 when the latter flirted with the idea of joining NATO. Russia
occupies large parts of Georgia to this day.
Those in the West who have been making sanctimonious statements about
big bad Russia attacking an innocent country are conveniently
forgetting how the western countries themselves behaved for decades,
even centuries. The imperial powers of the United Kingdom, France,
Spain, Germany, and Italy went around the world conquering dozens of
smaller, poorer and weaker countries, subjugated them, plundered their
natural resources, killed and wounded hundreds of thousands of
natives, until they rose up and tossed the aggressors out.
The United States, the self-declared paragon of democracy and human
rights, has attacked and occupied several countries in the past
imposing its will around the world. The U.S. government has overthrown
many leaders who have refused to toe its line and submit to America’s
wishes. There are dozens of such examples, the latest of which is
Iraq. Who can forget the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, when the Soviet
Union deployed nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles away from the
United States? The two countries came to the brink of nuclear war on
that occasion. There is also the long-standing U.S. policy of the
Monroe Doctrine which states that any intervention in the political
affairs of the Americas by foreign powers is considered a hostile act
against the United States. How is this different from Putin’s
interpretation of Russia’s sphere of influence in Eastern Europe,
including Ukraine? Finally, Pres. Biden’s actions against Russia are
partially prompted by his intent to raise his record low rating of
37%. The latest Washington Post/ABC News poll showed that only 33% of
Americans approve Biden’s handling of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, while
47% disapprove.
It would have been preferable to engage in direct negotiations between
Russia and Ukraine to find a peaceful solution to the crisis. As it is
often said, “war is diplomacy by other means.” The more outside powers
such as the United States, France and the United Kingdom meddled in
this dispute, the worst it got, since each of these countries,
pretending to defend Ukraine, were in fact pursuing their own
interests. The crux of the issue is the disagreement between Russia
and the West about an alleged pledge made by the West after the
collapse of the Soviet Union that NATO will not expand to Eastern
Europe, threatening Russia’s security. Nevertheless, NATO did expand
to several Eastern European countries, which Russia viewed as a
hostile act.
Russia decided to impose its will on Ukraine, fearing that if it did
not act promptly, Ukraine would join NATO, after which it would be
impossible to neutralize the perceived danger, due to the NATO policy
of “attack on one member country is deemed an attack on all.”
There should have been a compromise found on both sides to avoid war.
Most people thought that there would be no war and that Russia was
amassing troops on Ukraine’s border to pressure it to reach a
compromise solution. Regrettably, the Russian attempt to influence
Ukraine ended in a full scale invasion destroying large parts of the
country’s infrastructure and causing untold casualties. It could be
that Ukraine refused to compromise relying on Western assurances that
it would come to its aid militarily and economically, if it resisted
Russian demands not to join NATO. In addition to providing military
hardware and economic assistance, Western countries tried to block
Russia’s actions by issuing a series of draconian sanctions, which
failed to alter its decision. The hopeful news is that Russian and
Ukrainian delegations held their first direct talks on Monday and
agreed to meet again.
Turning to the effects on Armenia of the war and sanctions on Russia,
Armenia is caught in the middle of its alliance with and reliance on
Russia and its standing with the rest of the world. As they say, when
two elephants jostle, the ant gets stomped on, regardless of which
elephant wins.
The biggest problem that Armenia has is the absence of a competent
leader who would be able to come up with a skillful solution to
extricate itself from this extremely complicated situation. Since the
start of the war, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has not
made an official declaration. Nevertheless, on three separate
occasions, Armenia has taken sides and made statements regarding this
conflict.
The most problematic action Armenia took was last Friday when the
Council of Europe voted to suspend Russia’s membership in the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Committee of
Ministers. Armenia was the only country that voted with Russia against
the measure. Forty two countries voted yes. Turkey shrewdly abstained
and Azerbaijan did not vote at all. Western countries will not look
too kindly at Armenia’s support for Russia. Likewise, Russia will not
look too kindly at Azerbaijan’s and Turkey’s votes. The war in Ukraine
is sure to limit Turkey’s ability to walk on a tightrope between NATO
and Russia. Azerbaijan’s similar tightrope walk will also be curtailed
by not voting with Russia in the Council of Europe, thus undermining
the declaration of “allied cooperation” signed on Feb. 22 by Russia
and Azerbaijan.
Secondly, when Armenia’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Vahan Hunanyan,
was asked if Armenia will join Russia in recognizing the
“independence” of the Ukrainian regions of Donesk and Lugnask, he
replied: “There is no such issue on [Armenia’s] agenda.” Putin will
not be pleased with that answer. He has many ways to pressure
Pashinyan to toe the Russian line in this crisis.
Finally, speaking at a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental
Council in Kazakhstan on February 25, Pashinyan suggested that prompt
measures be taken “to minimize or circumvent” the anti-Russia
sanctions approved by the West following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The anti-Russia sanctions are sure to have a major impact on Armenia’s
frail economy as Russia is Armenia’s largest trading partner. As they
say, when Russia sneezes, Armenia catches a cold. The $861 million
remitted in 2021 by Armenian workers in Russia to their families in
Armenia will be sharply curtailed due to the collapsing ruble and
increased unemployment.
There is also a long-standing controversy between Armenia and Ukraine.
Both sides accuse each other of betraying their trust and siding with
their enemies. In 2014, Armenia, along with nine other countries,
voted with Russia against a UN General Assembly resolution which
declared the pro-Russian Crimean referendum invalid. Armenians respond
by recalling that Ukraine voted in the General Assembly in 2008, for a
resolution demanding the withdrawal of “Armenian forces” from Nagorno
Karabagh. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine announced during the
2020 Artsakh war: “We support Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and
sovereignty just as Azerbaijan always supports our territorial
integrity and sovereignty.” Furthermore, Ukraine sold lethal weapons
to Azerbaijan prior to the 2020 war.
One should not forget that there are around 500,000 Armenians who live
in Ukraine. When other countries shut down their embassies in Ukraine
and withdrew their nationals, the Armenian Embassy continued
functioning and Armenian nationals remained in Ukraine risking their
lives.
With each passing day, more innocent civilians are being killed in
Ukraine, more sanctions are being imposed on Russia and more ominous
threats are being issued. Common sense should prevail before the world
reaches a doomsday scenario.
The only solution is reaching a compromise through peaceful
negotiations. Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth will leave everyone
blind and toothless.
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2- Artsakh Welcomes Putin’s Recognition of Parts of Ukraine as
Independent States
President Arayik Harutyunyan of Artsakh welcomed Russia’s recognition
of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, hailing it as
an imperative for people’s right to self-determination. Artsakh’s
parliament speaker also issued a similarly-worded statement.
During a televised address, President Vladimir Putin of Russia
announced his intention to recognize the independence of the two areas
in the Donbass region of Ukraine, whose leaders have enjoyed Russia’s
backing.
Western leaders, however, were angered by Putin’s move and asserted
that the recognition gave the Russian leader more reason to fulfill
his plan of invading Ukraine.
“The right of nations to self-determination and building one’s own
state is inalienable for every people and is a fundamental principle
of the international law,” President Harutyuyan said in a statement.
“The establishment of an independent state and its international
recognition becomes an imperative especially in the face of
existential dangers, as it is the most effective and civilized means
of preventing bloodshed and humanitarian disaster,” he added.
Harutyunyan pointed out hat the Republic of Artsakh has been fighting
for its freedom, security and state-building for decades, and has been
exposed to many trials and genocidal actions.
“Thus, we hope that the Republic of Artsakh, which has relevant
indisputable historical, political, legal and moral bases, has earned
the international recognition of its sovereign state,” he said.
Yet, having declared its independence more than 30 year ago and over
the years functioning as an independent state, the recognition of
Artsakh was never brought up by Moscow, even during the 44-Day war in
2020.
Artsakh has relations with two other unrecognized states—Abkhazia and
South Ossetia—which declared their independence following Russia’s
military conflict with Georgia.
“We congratulate the people of Donbass on the legal-political
recognition of the self-determination of the two republics,”
Tovmasyan, the Artsakh parliament speaker, said in a statement
Tuesday, February 23.
The European Union, NATO, France and Great Britain reacted to Putin’s
recognition with harsh words, calling it a breach of international law
and an effort to undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty.
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3- Armenian journalist Aprikyan becomes national primetime
news anchor in US
ATLANTA—Tatevik Aprikyan has been named the new host of “The
Why”—Newsy’s primetime news program.
“The Why,” which premiered earlier this month on the nation’s only
free 24/7 broadcast news network, goes beyond the headlines with
hyper-visual explanatory journalism and compelling guest interviews.
Aprikyan has been at the helm of an hour-long deep dive into relevant
social, cultural and political topics.
“This will be unique programming for primetime viewers,” said Eric
Ludgood, head of Newsy. “Tatevik is an experienced journalist with
great storytelling skills and a knack for engaging audiences.”
Aprikyan has been an award-winning broadcast journalist in Seattle
since 2015. Prior to that, she was an anchor and/or reporter in
Providence, Rhode Island; Idaho Falls, Idaho; Seattle and Bellevue,
Washington.
She has been an anchor or reporter for ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC affiliate
stations. Aprikyan has covered some of the country’s biggest stories,
including the trial of the Boston Marathon bomber, the Ebola outbreak,
Affordable Care Act, US-Russia and Middle East relations and health
care (autism, scientific research and children’s health).
Originally from Yerevan, Armenia, her family moved to Seattle when she
was five years old. Aprikyan speaks Armenian, Russian and French. She
is an advocate for children’s health, serving on the board of
directors for non-profits providing humanitarian relief to orphaned
children around the world.
Born in Armenia and raised in Eastlake and Kenmore, Tatevik Aprikyan
started “playing journalist” years before she became one.
Aprikyan remembers her father buying a camcorder as one of his first
American purchases.
“I would grab anything I could — a hairbrush, the blocks we were
playing with — and just go to work,” she recalled in a recent
interview with The Seattle Times. She would narrate whatever was in
view: an airplane in the sky, a bus driving past on the street.
Aprikyan spoke little English but she learned to emulate reporters
when her parents watched local newscasts.
“This is a special opportunity at Newsy,” Aprikyan said. “We are going
to provide viewers with the kind of information that offers insight
into the complex issues of the day. It’s the kind of work that
journalists live for. It’s a chance to make a difference for our
audience.”
Hank Mendheim is the executive producer of “The Why.” An Emmy
Award-winning television executive, Mendheim most recently served as
executive producer of WLS Television’s “Windy City LIVE” in Chicago.
His television producing career spans nearly three decades creating
news and entertainment programming for A&E, Bravo, Discovery Channel,
Nat Geo, Lifetime, Animal Planet, Sundance, Hallmark Channel, Oxygen,
MSNBC and The Weather Channel.
Viewers can watch Newsy over the air using their TVs’ built-in tuners
or digital antennas, on Newsy.com, as well as on streaming devices or
services, including Apple TV, Fire TV, Pluto TV, Roku, Samsung, Sling,
Vizio and Xumo. Newsy is owned by The E.W. Scripps Company, a
diversified media company focused on creating a better-informed world.
Scripps serves communities with quality, objective local journalism
and operates a portfolio of 61 stations in 41 markets.
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4- Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor:
Lori Yeghiayan Friedman’s op-ed article truly resonated with me. Like
her, both my parents were Armenian, and my grandma even came from the
same place, Aintab, as her medzmama. (“Finding in Little Armenia the
roots my parents tried to bury,” The California Courier, February 17)
For children of immigrants who are born in the United States,
attending public schools, socializing and marrying non-immigrant
Americans, while always having that cultural, religious and even moral
tie to our ancestry can be confusing.
As we grow older, we’re more comfortable about how our heritage fits
into our daily lives. We want to learn about it and visit our
homelands.
The ties that bind us to “our people” are very tight; they are a
permanent facet of our identities. But there should be no amot (shame)
to our evolution into our present-day culture.
Gloria Sefton,
Trabuco Canyon, Calif.
Dear Editor:
Friedman sends a very healthy message, not just to us Armenian
Americans, but to all ethnic Americans, especially children of
immigrants — that we each realize and preserve our ethnicities in
different ways and to different degrees, and that’s OK.
Shenorhagalutyoon (thanks), Ms. Friedman.
Susan Injejikian Henry,
Glendale, Calif.
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5- Armenia Continues Fight Against COVID-19
Armenia continues the fight against COVID-19, as the country continues
promoting the vaccination phase. Last week, some 100,620 doses of the
Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 were imported to Armenia in accordance
with a contract signed between the Armenian Ministry of Health and the
Pfizer pharmaceutical company.
The Pfizer vaccine will be distributed to all primary health care
clinics and mobile vaccination sites, the Armenian Ministry of Health
said.
Armenia's Ministry of Health announced on January 11 new restrictions
to curb the fast spreading of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
From January 22, people above 18 must present either a vaccination
certificate or a negative recent test result prior to entering
restaurants, hotels, cinemas and other similar venues.
As of January 30, 842,212 people have been fully inoculated against
COVID-19, or approximately 28-percent of the population. About
64-percent of the population, or 1,883,413 people, has received at
least one dose of the vaccine. The highest rate of inoculation is
among people between the ages of 35-60. Only 18 to 19-percent of
citizens over the age of 65 have received two doses of the vaccine.
The vaccination mandate for employees might be responsible for the age
disparity in vaccination rates.
Since October, employees have been required to provide proof of
vaccination or a negative PCR test every 14 days to their employer.
Employees who choose not to get inoculated against the coronavirus
must take tests at their own expense. A PCR test in Armenia costs
roughly 10,000 drams (about $20).
The MoH also instituted a coronavirus “green pass” in January to enter
cultural and entertainment venues. As of January 22, people can only
enter restaurants, hotels, gyms, libraries, museums, theaters, cinemas
and other cultural sites if they present proof of vaccination, a
negative PCR test from the previous 72 hours or an antibody test from
the previous 24 hours. The mandate, which was announced on January 9,
excludes children under the age of 18, pregnant women, people who
cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons and people who have been
previously infected with the coronavirus.
The Armenian government last month made changes in the COVID-19
response measures, shortening the recommended self-isolation time from
14 days to 7 days for vaccinated people and 10 days for unvaccinated
people starting the day of an administered PCR test. The
self-isolation period for the unvaccinated can be shortened down to 7
days in case of producing a negative PCR test result.
The Armenian government cited the policies of the United States CDC
and a number of European countries. The government changed airport
regulations, allowing visitors to enter the arrival hall by
maintaining safety guidelines. The decision took effect February 1.
Armenian health authorities recorded a peak number of positive
COVID-19 cases on February 2.
The U.S. State Department since July 26, 2021 issued a Level 3 Travel
Health Notice and has warned American citizens to reconsider travel to
Armenia due to the increase in cases of the Covid-19. The State
Department also urged U.S. citizens not to travel to the
Nagorno-Karabakh region due to armed conflict.
Coronavirus cases have been steadily increasing in Armenia since mid-January.
There were 9,694 active COVID-19 cases in Armenia as of March 3.
Armenia has recorded 419,382 coronavirus cases and 9,694 deaths;
401,677 have recovered.
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