Author: Hovsep Chakrian

Armenian community in Jerusalem faces existential crisis over real estate deal

Hovsep Chakrian
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
July 1 2023

The Armenian quarter, the smallest among Jerusalem's Old City quarters, is currently experiencing an existential crisis that threatens the very presence of Armenians in the historic area.

The crisis is allegedly being orchestrated by their own religious leadership, various media outlets reported.

Lawyers working to halt the deal have revealed that a 99-year lease agreement has been signed by the Armenian Patriarchate, which will transfer up to 25 percent of the quarter's land to a commercial entity.

Reports suggest that the intention behind the deal is to construct a luxury hotel on a prime real estate spot, presently a parking lot nestled within the Old City walls.

Long standing history
The Armenian community has a long-standing history in Jerusalem, with their settlement dating back over 1,600 years.

Their presence expanded significantly in the early 20th century as Armenians sought refuge from the Ottoman Empire's genocide. However, over the past century, the Armenian population in the quarter has significantly declined.

This property emerges at a time when Christian Armenians feel increasingly squeezed by Jewish extremists and the ongoing Israeli occupation.

A severe threat
Despite few individuals having access to the actual contract and their reluctance to disclose its worth, lawyers and residents opposing the deal assert that it poses a severe threat to not only homes but also significant Armenian cultural heritage sites, including the Armenian heritage museum and cemetery within the quarter.

The controversy surrounding this real estate deal has resulted in a rift within the Armenian community, with protesters organizing regular demonstrations. Armenian residents and supporters have even formed human chains around the section of the quarter allegedly affected by the deal.

Speculation regarding the lessee led to the discovery of a sign on the parking lot displaying the name "Xana Capital".

Baret Yeretsian, a former priest and Real Estate Manager for the patriarchate, identified Xana Capital and its chairman Danny Rothman as the lessee. Yeretsian claimed that the contract, signed in 2021, aimed to secure future financial stability for the patriarchate.

Photographs provided by Yeretsian reportedly depict the signing ceremony, featuring Rothman, Yeretsian, Patriarch Nourhan Manougian, and the patriarch's deputy, Archbishop Sevan Gharibian.

However, the authenticity and timing of these photos could not be independently verified reported CNN.

Yeretsian, who left Jerusalem for the US under the patriarch's request, faced angry protestors upon his departure, angered by the deal. He maintains that he acted on the patriarch's orders and feels he is being made a scapegoat.

A threat to unity
While some residents express indifference toward the identity of the lessee, the Armenian lawyers investigating the situation emphasize that the issue extends beyond commercial purposes.

They view it as a threat to the unity and indivisibility of the Armenian community within the Old City, urging collective action to prevent the deal's execution.

The fallout from the community has garnered attention from the Palestinian Authority and Jordan, who have withdrawn recognition of the patriarch due to the real estate deal. The absence of the patriarch from the community has fueled further concern among residents.

During a ceremony at St. James' cathedral, the Patriarch's absence was notable, with his deputy, Archbishop Sevan Gharibian, confirming the existence of the deal but claiming efforts are underway to cancel it. Gharibian defended the patriarch's limited response to the matter, stating that not every question or discussion should be addressed publicly to protect ongoing efforts.

Many residents believe that the actions of the patriarchate prioritize financial gain over the preservation of Armenian heritage and community.

Amidst growing attacks by extremist Jewish settlers targeting Christians in Jerusalem, Armenians see this real estate sale as further endangering the Christian presence in the city. The escalating tensions and changes in Israeli policy have emboldened Jewish extremists, altering the city's shape and character.

https://www.jordannews.jo/Section-20/Middle-East/Armenian-community-in-Jerusalem-faces-existential-crisis-over-real-estate-deal-29507

More California Armenians Are Moving Back to Their Parents’ Native Land

Hovsep Chakrian
KQED
Levi Bridges

Hovik Manucharyan got on a plane and flew to a country at war.

It was fall 2020 and he felt drawn back to his home country of Armenia to help.

He’s not alone. Many Armenians who’ve grown up outside the country — often in California — are moving back to their homeland in a kind of reverse migration. They’re seeking a closer connection to their culture, and community, and are using skills they gained in the U.S. to make a difference in a country that many know more from stories than from experience.

This reverse migration is making an impact. Californian transplants have started businesses and nonprofits. Some work in Armenia’s government. Others have helped expand Armenia’s tech sector or work to develop infrastructure in this small country that is still recovering from a 44-day war with Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is populated by ethnic Armenians.

Armenian immigrants in the United States, like Manucharyan, rallied to send aid to Armenia during the war when entire towns fell to Azerbaijan and thousands of Armenians were displaced. The conflict with Azerbaijan was one of many reasons that Manucharyan and his wife, Suzanna, decided to move their family to Armenia.

“It just sort of feels less stressful being here [in Armenia] than far away and hearing about your homeland and not being able to contribute,” Manucharyan said.

‘I just felt like I wasn’t doing enough in LA knowing that people my age, or younger, were being displaced or killed by the war here.’Mikael Matossian, Yerevan, Armenia resident

Both Manucharyan and Suzanna moved to Los Angeles from Armenia when they were younger and spent most of their adult years in California. But they still feel strongly connected to their homeland.

For many Armenians, the 2020 war provided the impetus to leave California behind. The Manucharyans are part of a growing trend of Californians moving to Armenia full-time.

“I just felt like I wasn’t doing enough in L.A. knowing that people my age, or younger, were being displaced or killed by the war here,” said Mikael Matossian, 28, who relocated to Yerevan last year.

There are actually more Armenians living outside the country than there are inside Armenia. Starting in 1915, hundreds of thousands of people fled the Armenian genocide, committed by modern-day Turkey, and wound up all over the world. Another large wave of immigration from Armenia started in the ’90s after the Soviet Union collapsed and Armenia became an independent country.

Los Angeles County has the largest population of Armenians in the world outside Armenia, with the city of Glendale — sometimes called Little Armenia — considered the epicenter of Armenian language and culture in California. Armenian is widely spoken in Los Angeles, with Armenian restaurants and schools scattered around the city. For many, the Armenian diaspora in California provides a grounding community. But for some, it can sometimes feel suffocating.

“I wanted to get out [of the community] because I really needed space to be myself,” said Kyle Khandikian, who grew up in L.A. and went to an Armenian school in Encino.

Khandikian, who identifies as gay, said that when he was growing up, LGBTQ issues were a taboo subject in L.A.’s Armenian community.

“As a kid, I didn’t feel like I could be out and I wasn’t out,” Khandikian said.

When he started college at UCLA, Khandikian tried stepping away from the Armenian community. But being Armenian continued to be an important part of his identity.

“I think that if you asked one of my friends from UCLA, ‘Who is Kyle?’ One of the first things they will say is, ‘Kyle is Armenian,’” Khandikian said.

‘Maybe one of the reasons why I wanted to come here is to let go of some of the baggage that I was given just by way of being born into this place and this people.’Kyle Khandikian, Yerevan, Armenia resident

Once Khandikian got some distance from the Armenian community during college and became comfortable with his sexuality, he felt like his different identities — Armenian and queer — could coexist. That made him want to wholeheartedly embrace his Armenian side in a way he felt like he couldn’t before.

So he moved to Yerevan to immerse himself in Armenian culture.

“Maybe one of the reasons why I wanted to come here is to let go of some of the baggage that I was given just by way of being born into this place and this people,” Khandikian said.

Many Californians got the bug to move here after volunteering in Armenia during college.

‘We had a common purpose and passion for our people, and I think I realized the power of our unity.’Nanor Balabanian, Yerevan, Armenia resident

Nanor Balabanian, 33, visited the country one summer with students from UC Santa Barbara. They set up a computer lab in a remote Armenian village using equipment they bought after fundraising at home.

“We had a common purpose and passion for our people, and I think I realized the power of our unity,” Balabanian said.

Balabanian turned the work she started during that first summer into a full-fledged nonprofit called The Hidden Road Initiative that helps expand access to education and provides leadership opportunities in rural Armenian villages.

Balabanian’s work is an example of a reverse brain drain happening in Armenia. Instead of educated, skilled workers moving away from their home countries for opportunities in the U.S., Armenians from Los Angeles, and elsewhere in the state, are bringing their skills back to Armenia.

‘I think there’s a really important role for diasporans to play here to support the ongoing development of the country.’Mikael Matossian, Yerevan, Armenia resident

Mikael Matossian, a 28-year-old who grew up in the San Fernando Valley, used to work in the renewable energy industry in Los Angeles. Now, he helps Armenia make its energy system less dependent on Russian gas.

“I think there’s a really important role for diasporans to play here to support the ongoing development of the country,” Matossian said.

Even though Matossian had never lived in Armenia full-time before moving to Yerevan last year, he said the country immediately felt like home. Just hearing people talking in Armenian everywhere, the language he spoke with his parents and grandparents back in L.A., gave everything a sense of familiarity.

But moving to Armenia isn’t a seamless transition for many who grew up as part of the diaspora. Matossian — and many other Californians — use a dialect called Western Armenian commonly spoken by the descendants of those who fled parts of the country that were annexed to Turkey during the genocide a century ago.

Many Californians who move here have to master the local dialect, Eastern Armenian, spoken in the capital. Matossian said he felt self-conscious at times when he spoke after arriving in Yerevan.

“I wanted to fit in here, but I’ve since kind of abandoned that idea — I’m comfortable with my dialect,” Matossian said.

Older Californians like Hovik Manucharyan — who moved his family to Yerevan after volunteering during the 2020 war — say they want their children to grow up with a closer connection to Armenian language and culture.

The move was a big change for Manucharyan’s three kids, but they felt welcomed when they arrived at their new Armenian school.

The Manucharyan family seated at their home in Yerevan, Armenia, on February 13, 2023. The family, who formerly lived in Glendale, moved to Yerevan, Armenia two years ago, to be closer to the country they love. (Courtesy of Levi Bridges)

Manurcharyan’s 17-year-old daughter, Vardine, said American students don’t really care when a new kid shows up in class. But in Armenia, students crowded around her on her first day at school introducing themselves and offering to show her around.

“Schools [in Armenia] are more like family,” she said.

Californians living in Yerevan described a closer connection to their ancestral homeland now that they live in Armenia. Their families survived a genocide that tried to extinguish Armenian culture.

But the survivors carried it with them when they fled as if their traditions and language were burning embers that they later rekindled, in places like Glendale, into big roaring bonfires.

Moving nearly halfway around the world makes Armenia more palpable, something you can touch without getting burnt, and carry with you when you go.

Azerbaijani ambassador threatens Members of European Parliament

Hovsep Chakrian

 20:30,

YEREVAN, JUNE 30, ARMENPRESS. EU officials should realize the threat of supporting dictatorial Azerbaijan, ARMENPRESS reports, Artak Beglaryan, adviser to the Minister of State of Artsakh, wrote on his "Twitter" page, referring to the obvious threat addressed to the Members of the European Parliament by the ambassador of Azerbaijan to the EU, Vagif Sadikov.

"The obvious threat to the members of the European Parliament by the Azerbaijani ambassador Vagif Sadikov is only the beginning. Declaring him an undesirable person in this case is the least that can be done," he wrote.

On June 23, Vagif Sadikov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Belgium and Luxembourg and head of the Azerbaijani delegation to the European Union, made a post on "Twitter" in response to the visit of the delegation of MEPs to the border with Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Sadikov posted a photo and description of an Azerbaijani-made sniper rifle and wrote,

"They know what to do to protect themselves. The Azerbaijani-made Istigal IST-14.5 sniper rifle shoots at a range of about 3000 meters. Guys, stay away from the state border of Azerbaijan…"




Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 29-06-23

Hovsep Chakrian

 17:38,

YEREVAN, 29 JUNE, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 29 June, USD exchange rate down by 0.21 drams to 386.32 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.20 drams to 422.17 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.07 drams to 4.44 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 1.58 drams to 488.97 drams.

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

Gold price down by 143.38 drams to 23703.23 drams. Silver price down by 2.95 drams to 280.83 drams.

URGENT: Azerbaijan again opens cross-border gunfire at U.S.-affiliated company’s construction site in Armenian village

Hovsep Chakrian

 14:32,

YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani military opened gunfire at 13:15, June 27 at the steel mill’s construction site in the Armenian village of Yeraskh, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia said in a statement.

Other details weren’t immediately available.

The construction of a steelworks in Yeraskh is carried out by GTB Steel under a joint Armenian-American investment project.

The construction site has been hit by Azerbaijani shelling several times before. During one such cross-border shooting on June 14 two construction workers were wounded.

What is the price of sovereignty?

Hovsep Chakrian
 Stepan Piligian In Sight, Columns 0

During our time on this earth, there are experiences in service to others that are worthy of our commitment. I would define them as our Lord, our family and our nation. The first is defined as establishing a relationship through Jesus Christ that gives meaning to our lives and encourages us to serve others as we prepare for eternity. Our families are the gift God has given us to live our earthly lives. We are brought into this world with parents, we evolve into becoming parents and with His grace become grandparents. Along the way, we are blessed with a multitude of people we call family. It gives us joy, and at times challenges, but always an identity. The last area is the most “earthly” of our service areas. We often refer to a nation as the umbrella for those of a common culture, ethnicity or religion. For stateless people, it can be a global concept; for nations with a diaspora, it takes on a territorial and global existence. In the long and tumultuous history of the Armenians, we have experienced almost every version  of nationhood. Armenia existed for centuries as a nation governed by a monarchy or feudal states. Armenia has also experienced substantial time as a subjugated nation existing within a larger multi-nation state, such as an empire. In recent centuries, democracies have emerged where a representative government elected by its citizens is the public face of the nation. Armenia has had two such experiences in the last 100 years and is now in the 32nd year of the current republic. Whether a monarchy or a democratic republic, they were sovereign states.

For independent and free nations, the term sovereignty is frequently associated with the freedom of a nation state. It generally refers to the ability of a state to self-govern, define its territory and attend to its own matters. Sovereignty is usually earned through military conflicts, such as the United States Revolutionary War that started in 1775, or as a result of the collapse of a previous subjugating power, such as the Soviet Union. It was the latter that enabled the creation of the current Republic of Armenia. In either circumstance, it occurs through the sacrifice of many, and therefore is usually vigorously defended when under threaten. There are circumstances where nations defend their sovereignty because they have lived through the alternative: oppression. Such is the case of Artsakh. I have often felt that because Armenia and Artsakh secured their sovereignty in different manners, their intensity in defending sovereignty differs. Certainly, there are many citizens of Armenia who understand the fragility of sovereignty, but there are also many who are removed from the crisis. Walking through the streets of Yerevan is a significant contrast to Berdzor or Stepanakert.

Given the diversity of our global Armenian nation, it is natural that there are varying perspectives on its impact and the level of commitment to be invested. Some are willing to sacrifice freedom in exchange for stability. I will always remember an incident I experienced in 2011 in Armenia. We were touring the museum in Sardarabad, which is the symbol of sacrifice and sovereignty for Armenians. Sardarabad in 1918 was when Armenians collectively drew a line in the sand and declared their intention to stop the Turkish genocidal advance or perish in the process. They were unwilling to accept subjugation and further atrocities. The Catholicos in Holy Etchmiadzin was encouraged to evacuate given the advance of the Turkish armies from the west and northwest. He refused by stating that if we cannot defend our land, then he will die there. During our tour, we were led by a very articulate woman who took us through the main exhibits and the special exhibits from the revolutionary period of 1915-20. During the course of our conversation, I expressed my joy about the establishment of an independent and sovereign Armenian state. Her response was shocking. She stated that her strong preference was to return to the “old days”… a not-so-subtle reference to the Soviet era. Her reasoning was that stability and employment were more important than sovereignty. She was unwilling to commit to the challenges of the democratization of Armenia and its transition to a market economy. She advocated a perspective where the price of sovereignty was too high. 

The western diaspora generally expresses strong feelings in support of the independence and self-governing of Armenia. I believe we can attribute this to two factors. The obvious one is that we all are usually a product of our environments, and most Armenians in the Americas and Europe were raised in democracies. It is natural for us to champion those principles for the homeland. It is interesting to note that a sovereign nation is not necessarily a democratic one, but in modern times we tend to package them together. A sovereign nation has the freedom of self-governing, while democracy is one system of self governance. In the past, monarchies were sovereign but hardly democratic. The other reason for this approach in the diaspora has to do with the patriotic feeling sustained over the decades that has contributed to our identity. When thousands of Armenians in the diaspora have a picture of Ararat on their walls, it represents the dream of a united and sovereign nation. The fervor over the unpunished crime of genocide is manifested in reparations of territory and financial compensation for the atrocities committed. The question remains, however: What is the level of credibility of the diaspora towards Armenia’s sovereignty? They don’t live there and those with part-time residences are perceived as an Armenian version of “snowbirds” in Florida. There are those who have received Armenian dual citizenship, but the vast majority of the diaspora expresses its views from a distance. Many Armenians in the homeland appreciate the patriotic _expression_ and support from the diaspora but recognize the limitations of their impact. In the thirty-plus years of Armenia’s sovereignty, we have collectively failed to define the integration of all those who care for Armenia – both in the homeland and the diaspora. Within Armenia, one can gain vastly different perspectives from urban dwellers in Yerevan versus the border village residents. When you live on the border facing those who are committed to your destruction, you gain a very fundamental perspective on freedom and sovereignty. It is about the land that generations have lived on. It represents one of the most apolitical forms of patriotism. For these people, the sacrifice index is high because it represents their way of life. Our brethren in Artsakh represent the purest understanding of the price of sovereignty. After the 2020 war, there was no mass migration out of Artsakh.

The vast majority of the approximately 45,000 displaced during the war returned to Artsakh. They are strong, resilient and inspiring. Their perspective on sovereignty is about the quality of their lives. It is not an academic discussion. It is a challenge every day.

Davit Bek, Syunik region, 2020 (Photo: Jonathan Alpeyrie)

Armenia and Artsakh have a crisis of sovereignty today. We all understand the risks to Artsakh, but Armenia’s border security represents an equal risk. In my view, we cannot negotiate for sovereignty. If Armenia exists with a foreign presence, no foreign policy, economic dependency and porous borders, its sovereignty will be lost. It will be a vassal state. Perhaps this is what Armenians want – a big brother protector that will manipulate its future. If Armenia wants sovereignty, it must understand that it cannot be won through appeasement. Sacrificing Artsakh will not quench the thirst of the Turkish alliance with its pan-Turkic revivalism. Yes, we need friends we can count on, but in parallel we need to demonstrate our resolve. Mixed messages from various Armenian quarters does not enable that objective. Bold moves are needed to optimize our resources and prevent confusion.

The Armenian government should declare a national political amnesty and build a unity government. A small nation divided in a dangerous neighborhood must avoid internal conflict. The church, as the most important non-governmental institution, should be visible and vocal to advocate for our people. We need more activities like the reported efforts of Archbishop Bagrat, Primate in Tavush. The “security and rights” plan for Artsakh needs details and must be a red line. Currently it feels like no one is listening. Aliyev’s strategy is simple and predictable. Satisfy the diplomatic community in the West with lies and apply military pressure when he doesn’t get his way. Now he is attempting to collude with Russia over the “Zangezur” violation of Armenian sovereignty. Our recovery starts with a unified Armenia (plenty of room for improvement) and positions that display strength and a defense of our sovereignty. Allowing Aliyev to find a map that adds credence to his incursions into Armenia should be met with firm resistance. 

Before we offer any compromise, remember two things: Aliyev will not change his aggression with concessions, and the West wants a “peace deal” regardless of the impact on Armenia. Their tolerance of the criminal behavior of Aliyev is all you need to know. They are pushing the “deal” ahead of any compromise from Aliyev because their objective is to weaken Russia and not necessarily provide any security for Armenia. This peace process is playing with the sovereignty of Armenia. If the result of this process redefines the border of Armenia with territorial losses, allows a corridor that cuts off Syunik (the real goal of Aliyev) and ignores the rights of our brethren in Artsakh, we have not only failed but have lost our sovereignty. The price for our sovereignty is high. It always has been. Think about the patriots gathered for a blessing at Holy Etchmiadzin before Sardarabad. I think they understood the price. Vartan and Ghevont Yeretz understood the price. Our inspiring people in Artsakh clearly understand it too. My father used to say that nothing of value happens without sacrifice. That sacrifice may not be loss of life, but also financial and other forms of commitment. It may also mean that we subordinate our egos, forgive and stand together. Is that a price we are willing to pay?

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Columnist
Stepan was raised in the Armenian community of Indian Orchard, MA at the St. Gregory Parish. A former member of the AYF Central Executive and the Eastern Prelacy Executive Council, he also served many years as a delegate to the Eastern Diocesan Assembly. Currently , he serves as a member of the board and executive committee of the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR). He also serves on the board of the Armenian Heritage Foundation. Stepan is a retired executive in the computer storage industry and resides in the Boston area with his wife Susan. He has spent many years as a volunteer teacher of Armenian history and contemporary issues to the young generation and adults at schools, camps and churches. His interests include the Armenian diaspora, Armenia, sports and reading.


Russia names new ambassador to Azerbaijan

Hovsep Chakrian

 14:07, 14 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. President of Russia Vladimir Putin has appointed Mikhail Yevdokimov as the new Ambassador of Russia to Azerbaijan.

Yevdokimov is replacing Mikhail Bocharnikov.

The new ambassador has been serving at the Russian foreign ministry since 1981. He was the Director of the First Department of CIS at the Russian Foreign Ministry since 2011.

 

‘Nemesis’ Monument Disrupts Turkish–Armenian Normalization

Hovsep Chakrian
June 14 2023

June 14, 2023 04:49 PM 

The Nemesis Monument (Source: Jam-news.net)

On May 3, Turkey suddenly closed its airspace to Armenian aircraft. Later, former Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu announced that Ankara had indeed closed its airspace due to the opening of the so-called “Nemesis” Monument in Yerevan (Ntv.com.tr, May 3). On April 25, with the participation of Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Tigran Avinyan, who is a member of the ruling party, and other officials, the unveiling ceremony of the monument took place in the Armenian capital (Armenpress, April 25). The memorial itself was unveiled during a period of steady normalization between Turkey and Armenia as well as peace talks between Baku and Yerevan. However, in response, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry and the Turkish Foreign Ministry, successively, strongly condemned the unveiling of an homage to the memory of Operation Nemesis. In both statements, it was made clear that the monument is a provocative step that is incompatible with the spirit of normalization and will in no way contribute to the efforts for establishing sustainable peace and stability in the region (Mfa.gov.az; Mfa.gov.tr, April 26). For its part, Ankara also demanded the removal of the monument and declared it would take additional measures if that did not happen (Ntv.com.tr, May 3). While it is unclear what “additional measures” means in this context, it could have been in reference to the estimated tens of thousands of Armenian citizens who work illegally in Turkey, as tourism and trade is carried out between the two countries via Georgia.

Yet, instead of taking steps to remove the monument, the Armenian authorities have attempted to avoid responsibility for the decision. Although Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the monument and its implementation may have been the wrong decision, he added that “one of the shortcomings of democracy” is that the authorities do not control everything and everyone (Armenpress, May 5). The Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan, who was in Ankara for the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization meeting on the same day, argued that this decision was made by the local government and that he did not want the installation of the monument to be perceived as a display of Yerevan’s foreign policy or an unfriendly step against Turkey and Azerbaijan (Armenpress, May 5).

Some officials, on the other hand, went further and argued that this decision was a domestic issue and the right move. Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan, in declaring the opening of the Nemesis Monument “Armenia’s internal affair,” added that “no one has the right to interfere in this matter” (Aravot-en.am, May 9). Meanwhile, a statement by the Yerevan City Administration on May 9 insisted that the authorities have no intention of removing the memorial (Armenpress, May 9). Former Yerevan Mayor Hrachya Sargsyan, currently an advisor to Pashinyan, also defended the monument’s installation, stressing that Operation Nemesis “is a historical fact” and that Turkey “should not interfere in our internal affairs” (Panorama.am, May 10). Moreover, the Armenian diaspora and more nationalist Armenians have argued that removing the monument would be “treason.”

In September 2021, the Yerevan city government began considering the idea of building a monument to the participants in Operation Nemesis, which organized assassinations against state officials of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) and the Ottoman Empire who Armenia alleged were the perpetrators of what it considers to be a “genocide.” Interestingly, the decision was made only now, almost two years later, at a time when Turkish-Armenian normalization was progressing. Thus, it has created new tensions in those relations that threaten to reverse the process.

“Nemesis” was an operation created during a meeting of the Dashnaktsutyun Party in Yerevan in 1919 (JAM-news, May 9). Participants created a list of 600 individuals from the Ottoman Empire and state officials of the ADR, including Armenians from both countries, and decided to assassinate them. This decision was made on the basis that those targeted were all responsible for the “genocide” of 1915. As a result, many officials of the ADR from 1918 to 1920 and those of the Ottoman Empire from 1920 to 1922 were assassinated. These included former Azerbaijani Prime Minister Fatali Khan Khoyski; former Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament Hasan bey Aghayev; former Minister for Internal Affairs Behbud Khan Javanshir; former Prime Minister Nasib bey Yusifbeyli (Mfa.gov.az, April 26); former Ottoman Minister for Internal Affairs Talaat Pasha; former Prime Minister Said Halim Pasha; founder of the Ottoman intelligence agency, Teshkilati Mahsusa Bahaeddin Shakir; Trabzon Governor Jemal Azmi; and other state officials.

After Azerbaijan liberated its territories during the Second Karabakh War, the normalization process between Turkey and Armenia gained new impetus and hope grew for the opportunity to establish diplomatic relations and open borders between the two neighbors. Both sides appointed special representatives—Armenia on December 22, 2021, and Turkey on January 11, 2022—for the normalization process, and talks were officially initiated. During one meeting in July 2022, the Turkish and Armenian representatives even agreed to open borders for third-country citizens and holders of diplomatic passports (see EDM, November 2, 2022). Moreover, the dramatic earthquakes that took place in Turkey in February 2023 opened the borders between the two countries for humanitarian aid from Armenia. This created a positive atmosphere for continued normalization of relations between the two countries (see EDM, March 20). Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan also announced that the borders would be opened for third-country nationals and diplomatic passport holders during the holiday season (News.am, March 24).

However, based on the recent developments, both Turkey and Azerbaijan are worried that the emergence of the Nemesis Monument will deepen anti-Turkish and anti-Azerbaijani sentiments, as the memorial seemingly supports this mindset. One of the greatest obstacles to the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey and the signing of a peace agreement between Yerevan and Baku is the perpetuation of historical enmity. The Nemesis Monument serves to support the continued influence of this animosity. Such a move also provides an opportunity for third-party powers that do not want to see Armenian relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan normalized, as they believe such a process would undermine their regional influence. Therefore, such a monument serves the geopolitical aims of these powers, rather than the governments and peoples of the region.

Yet, while the Nemesis Monument threatens to disrupt normalization between Turkey and Armenia as well as peace negotiations between Baku and Yerevan, some recent developments give hope that both processes could get back on track. In a speech on May 28, Pashinyan declared that Armenians should enjoy a comfortable life “now rather than in the remote future” and that this safety and well-being will come “only if relations with neighbors [Turkey and Azerbaijan] are settled and there is peace” (Primeminister.am, May 28). Furthermore, on June 3, the Armenian premier attended the inauguration of Turkish President Tayyip Recep Erdogan for the first time in history, seemingly in a gesture of good faith in continuing the normalization process (Armenpress, June 3). Nevertheless, if events such as the opening of the Nemesis Monument continue to take place, both the normalization and peace processes will be further undermined, inhibiting any hope for sustained progress in the future.

https://jamestown.org/program/nemesis-monument-disrupts-turkish-armenian-normalization/

AW: Rep. Barbara Lee leads Congressional call on Biden Administration to end military aid to Azerbaijan

Hovsep Chakrian
June 9, 2023 ANCA ANCA News 0

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) is calling on her Congressional colleagues to pressure the Biden Administration to stop all military aid to Azerbaijan, as the brutal Artsakh blockade enters its sixth month.

WASHINGTON, DC –Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), the powerful Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operation, is urging her Congressional colleagues to call on the Biden Administration to end all US military aid to Azerbaijan, in light of President Aliyev’s ongoing six-month brutal blockade of Artsakh’s 120,000 indigenous Armenian Christian population, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

“The Biden-Harris Administration’s military aid to Azerbaijan pours fuel on the fire – emboldening its Aliyev regime to further escalate its aggression and tighten its blockade of Artsakh,” said ANCA executive director Aram Hamparian. “Take a moment today to call, tweet and write your US Representatives to join with Congresswoman Lee and her colleagues to end all US security and military aid to Baku – then ask your friends and family to do the same.”

Pro-Artsakh advocates can write, tweet and call their US Representatives to co-sign Rep. Lee’s letter by visiting https://anca.org/Lee.

Rep. Lee’s congressional letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, an initiative strongly supported by the ANCA, comes as the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan are scheduled to hold another round of talks in Washington, DC as early as next week. The letter stresses that “Azerbaijan’s prolonged blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh and its continued occupation of Armenian sovereign territory not only threatens to jeopardize tenuous conflict resolution efforts, but gravely endangers the security and welfare of Nagorno-Karabakh’s Armenian population.”

“Dismay” at State Department’s Weak Response to Azerbaijan’s Anti-Armenian Threats

The Congressional letter goes on express “dismay” at the State Department’s reticence to forcefully reject President Aliyev’s recent threats against Artsakh’s authorities. “Either they [Artsakh] will bend their necks and come themselves or things will develop differently now. If I say that amnesty can be an option, they should not miss this opportunity. 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,” stated President Aliyev in remarks on May 28.  Instead of condemning the statement, a State Department spokesman “welcomed” President Aliyev’s remarks.

Calls on Biden Administration to Enforce Section 907 Sanctions on Azerbaijan

Rep. Lee’s congressional letter states, “In the context of this ongoing blockade and President Aliyev’s continuing threats, extending the Presidential waiver of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act would send a dangerous message to Azerbaijan’s government – that there will be no repercussions for its attempts to impose its will on the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh by intimidation, starvation and deadly force.”

The Biden Administration is currently deciding whether to reauthorize of the Presidential waiver of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act.  Enacted in 1992, the law establishes statutory restrictions on US assistance to the Government of Azerbaijan “until the President determines, and so reports to the Congress, that the Government of Azerbaijan is taking demonstrable steps to cease all blockades and other offensive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.” Congress included a Section 907 waiver in the FY2002 Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act.

The Section 907 waiver and subsequent extensions require a number of certifications, including that granting the waiver “will not undermine or hamper ongoing efforts to negotiate a peaceful settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan or be used for offensive purposes against Armenia.” A US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, issued in 2022, revealed that the State Department consistently failed to inform Congress of the impact of over $164 million in assistance to Baku on the military balance between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

US presidents – Republican and Democrat – have waived Section 907 annually since 2001, including President Biden, who, as a candidate, called on the Trump Administration to enforce Azerbaijan sanctions and apply the measure.

Rep. Barbara Lee: A Champion of US Assistance to Artsakh

Rep. Lee’s congressional letter is a continuation of her leadership of sending expanded aid to Artsakh in the face of increasing Azerbaijani aggression.

With strong support from the ANCA, Congresswoman Lee was successful late last year in including language in the Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L.117-103) directing that the US Department of State and US Agency for International Development provide Congress with an “assistance strategy for addressing humanitarian and recovery needs arising from the [Artsakh] conflict” that identifies the US “resources and programs,” available for this purpose. This Artsakh aid provision, now signed into law, was made possible only because of the determined leadership of Congresswoman Lee – who during the 117th Congress – served as the Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, which is responsible for foreign aid. The Artsakh provision included a sixty-day timeline for the Biden Administration to report back to Congress – a deadline that must be met by the end of February of 2023.  In response to public questioning by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Robert Menendez (D-NJ), USAID Administrator Power confirmed that they have conducted the Artsakh needs assessments. The State Department has failed to make the review publicly available. No US humanitarian assistance programs have been implemented in Artsakh since President Biden’s election.

Earlier this year, Congresswoman Lee spoke at a Capitol Hill press conference held in the Press Triangle at the foot of the US Capitol Building and called on the Biden Administration to stop US military aid to Azerbaijan and send emergency aid to Artsakh in response to the devastating humanitarian crisis in Artsakh caused by Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin (Berdzor) Corridor. “I have long been a strong advocate for humanitarian support and recovery needs arising from the Artsakh conflict,” explained Rep. Lee. “As we all know, Artsakh is enduring a major and growing humanitarian crisis caused by Azerbaijan’s illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor, Artsakh’s only humanitarian lifeline to Armenia. So yes, like all of you, I strongly condemn Azerbaijan’s blockade of the vital corridor connecting Armenia and Artsakh and call for the immediate opening.” Rep. Lee applauded the leadership of the Armenian American community for working with her committee to include language in the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus funding bill calling for a comprehensive strategy to address Artsakh’s humanitarian needs. “I’m looking forward to continuing to work with the Administration to get this done,” stated Rep. Lee.

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