Putin signs order drafting reservists

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 10:15,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed an order on drafting reservists to the military, RIA Novosti reported.

According to the order, the citizens from the Russian reserve will be drafted to “pass military training in the Russian Armed Forces and in the state security and federal security service bodies.”

MEDIA PACKAGE: Armenian American Museum Concrete Pouring Ceremony

MEDIA CONTACT:

Arsine Torosyan

Communications Director

(818) 644-2215

[email protected]

ARMENIAN AMERICAN MUSEUM HOSTS CONCRETE POURING CEREMONY


The Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center of California celebrated the first concrete pour of the historic project by hosting a Concrete Pouring Ceremony on Thursday, at the construction site of the landmark center in Glendale Central Park. 

The official press release of the event will be distributed early next week. 


AAMCCC Concrete Pouring Ceremony Photos:

 Photos

AAMCCC Architecture Video:
 AAMCCC Architecture Video.mp4



AAMCCC Concrete Pouring Video:
 AAMCCC First Concrete Pour.mp4



AAMCCC Concrete Pouring Ceremony Videos:

https://we.tl/t-mG7msyNcqD?src=”dnl

1. AAM_Interview_1_FEB_17_Ceremony.mp4
Executive Director Shant Sahakian
2. AAM_Interview_2_FEB_17_Ceremony.mp4
Glendale City Mayor Paula Devine
3. AAM_Interview_3_FEB_17_Ceremony.mp4
Ambassador Armen Baibourtian Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles
4. AAM_Interview_4_FEB_17_Ceremony.mp4

Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian
5. AAM_Interview_5_FEB_17_Ceremony.mp4
Board of Trustees Co-Chairs
6. AAM_Interview_6_FEB_17_Ceremony.mp4
Executive Chairman Berdj Karapetian
7. AAM_onsite_FEB_17_Ceremony.mp4
Time Capsule Burial
AAMCCC Concrete Pouring Ceremony Program:
 AAMCCC Concrete Pouring Ceremony Program.pdf

AAMCCC Project Brochure: 
 AAMCCC Project Brochure.pdf

Kindly,

Arsine Sina Torosyan
Communications Director
Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center of California
116 North Artsakh Avenue, Suite 205, Glendale, CA 91206
Office: (818) 351-3554, Ext. 706
Direct: (818) 644-2215
www.ArmenianAmericanMuseum.org
Confidentiality Notice: This communication and any documents, files, or previous e-mail messages attached to it constitute an electronic communication within the scope of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 ISCA 2510. This communication may contain non-public, confidential, or legally privileged information intended for the sole use of the designated recipient(s). The unlawful interception, use, or disclosure of such information is strictly prohibited under 18 USCA 2511 and any applicable laws.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 14-02-22

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 17:44,

YEREVAN, 14 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 14 February, USD exchange rate down by 0.07 drams to 478.87 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 3.67 drams to 541.60 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.19 drams to 6.19 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 2.06 drams to 647.19 drams.

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

Gold price down by 68.80 drams to 28192.43 drams. Silver price down by 7.14 drams to 352.49 drams. Platinum price down by 63.89 drams to 15750.14 drams.

Azerbaijan Walks Back Plans to Erase Armenian Traces From Churches

Moscow Times


Feb. 8, 2022

Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture has responded to controversy
resulting from its earlier announcement that it intended to erase
Armenian inscriptions from churches located in territories the country
reclaimed as a result of the 2020 war against Armenia.

On February 7, the ministry published a statement addressing what it
called "reports circulated by some biased foreign mass media outlets
over the past few days." It emphasized that "Azerbaijan has always
been respectful of its historical and cultural heritage, regardless of
religious and ethnic origin."

Four days earlier, Minister of Culture Anar Karimov told a press
briefing that it would be forming a working group tasked with removing
“the fictitious traces written by Armenians on Albanian religious
temples.”

That referred to a theory, which has become prominent in Azerbaijan
but is dismissed by mainstream historians, that Armenian inscriptions
in churches on Azerbaijani territory were later additions to churches
built under Caucasian Albania, an ancient Christian kingdom that ruled
the territory that is today Azerbaijan.

The new statement reaffirmed that "a working group has been set up to
study this heritage" and that "[s]hould any falsifications be
identified, they will be documented with the participation of
international experts and presented to the international community."
But it did not mention removing any Armenian traces, as Karimov’s
earlier announcement did.

That news had attracted widespread criticism.

"We are deeply concerned by Azerbaijan's plans to remove Armenian
Apostolic inscriptions from churches. We urge the government to
preserve and protect places of worship and other religious and
cultural sites," the U.S. Commission on International Religious
Freedom tweeted, quoting its chair, Nadine Maenza.

TV Zvezda, a news outlet run by Russia’s Defense Ministry, published a
piece on February 8 in which it pointedly referred to the Dadivank
Monastery, in Azerbaijan’s Kelbajar region, as "one of the greatest
monasteries of medieval Armenia." A 2,000-strong Russian peacekeeping
contingent is currently stationed in Karabakh. In earlier comments,
Karimov had claimed that the monastery was Albanian.

After an initial period of conspicuous silence, Armenia’s Foreign
Ministry issued a statement on February 8 condemning Karimov’s
comments: "It once again demonstrates the fact that the cases of
vandalism and destruction of the Armenian historical, cultural and
religious heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh during the 44-day war and the
following period, are deliberate and pre-planned, and are part of the
policy of annihilating Nagorno-Karabakh’s indigenous Armenian
population."

The announcement occasioned widespread public anger among Armenians.
“It's time to take the government of Azerbaijan at its word when it
says it intends to erase all traces of Armenians beginning with their
churches and ancient heritage sites,” wrote Elyse Semerdjian, a
professor of Middle Eastern history at Whitman College, on Twitter.

In Azerbaijan, meanwhile, there has been near silence around the news.
Pro-government media, which in comparable cases often actively
publicizes plans announced by the government, barely covered the
announcement or responses to criticism of it. Commentators and
activists, pro-government or otherwise, devoted little attention to
it.

A rare exception was Javid Agha, a social media commentator who
researches Caucasian Albanian heritage in Azerbaijan, speculated that
the plan may have been motivated by corruption, which is endemic in
Azerbaijan.

“There is no logic behind it. No tourist will come to see barren
churches, Azerbaijanis won’t care about it, nobody will applaud the
government for it from outside. Just another excuse to write some
checks,” Agha tweeted.


 

Armenian ombudsman: Azerbaijani authorities inciting religious enmity at state level

panorama.am
Armenia – Feb 7 2022

The Azerbaijani authorities are inciting religious enmity at the state level, accusing Armenians of Islamophobia with absolute falsehood, Armenia’s Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan said on Sunday, referring to his new ad hoc report on Azerbaijan’s policy of Armenophobia after the 44-day war in Artsakh.

“How, for example, can they explain the famous Decree of the founder of Islam, Muhammad, which he adopted in 626AD after the visit of the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem Abraham and his 40 delegates? By this he extended his protection to the Holy Thomb of Christ, churches and monasteries in "Jerusalem, Damascus and Arab regions", including the St. Hakobyants Monastery in Jerusalem, educational institutions and property. It was preserved later,” he wrote on Facebook.

In Tatoyan’s words, historical facts prove the respect of the Armenian people, as well as the respect of the Armenian Church for Islam and other religions, starting from the countries with Islam. With many peoples of the Islamic world Armenians have lived as friends for centuries

“This policy of the Azerbaijani authorities incites hostility towards Armenians living in countries where they profess Islam. It incites enmity between nations,” Tatoyan stated.

The ombudsman highlighted that the Upper and Inner Mosques of Shushi, Artsakh remained standing and preserved, the Upper Mosque and the building of the madrasa, a caring school, were completely renovated, and a park was built. There is a functioning mosque in Yerevan, he added.

“Instead, the Azerbaijani armed forces shelled and desecrated the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral and Kanach Zham church in Shushi, destroyed the Zoravor Surb Astvatsatsin Church in Mekhakavan in Artsakh, desecrated the St. Yeghishe Church in Mataghis, destroyed Armenian khachkars in Shush, Hadrut. The St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church in Baku has been desecrated, turned into a library archive, the cross has been removed from the dome, there is no tabernacle, the tombstones that were adjacent to the church have been destroyed,” Tatoyan stressed.

“Currently, everything is being done at the state level to change the affiliation of Armenian churches and monasteries. This policy is already manifested in the new forms of torture of Armenian captives on religious grounds.

“Therefore, the Azerbaijani statements are absolutely false, they have political motives and are very dangerous for peace.

“All these facts are presented in details in the report of the Armenian HRD published two days ago and in this press conference,” he noted.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 04-02-22

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 17:24, 4 February, 2022

YEREVAN, 4 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 4 February, USD exchange rate down by 0.67 drams to 481.63 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 7.91 drams to 552.19 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.04 drams to 6.34 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.38 drams to 653.52 drams.

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

Gold price down by 208.41 drams to 27759.53 drams. Silver price down by 6.99 drams to 346.24 drams. Platinum price down by 192.67 drams to 15887.37 drams.

Police detain drivers protesting in Yerevan’s Republic Square

panorama.am
Armenia – Jan 31 2022

SOCIETY 13:17 31/01/2022 ARMENIA

Armenian police detained a group of drivers protesting against the increase in car insurance premiums in Yerevan on Monday.

The drivers were detained after blocking traffic in the central Republic Square.

Also, their cars were removed from the square with the use of tow trucks.

The rise in car insurance costs will take effect in Armenia starting from February 7. 

Erdogan Triumphs as Putin Stabs His Best Ally in the Back / Activist Post / David Boyajian

Jan 19 2022

JANUARY 19, 2022

Op-Ed by David
Boyajian

President Putin has been making some astonishing demands,
including:

  • NATO mustn’t admit additional countries near Russia, such as Ukraine and Georgia.
  • NATO must cease military activity in non-NATO territories: Georgia, Ukraine, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and parts of eastern Europe.

Yet, incredibly, Putin has himself been enabling a NATO member’s aggression bordering Russia.

In 2020, the Kremlin embraced Turkey’s sending American-designed/equipped
F-16s and Bayraktar drones containing NATO
components
 into Azerbaijan.

Turkey and Azerbaijan (“one nation, two states”) subsequently defeated the Armenian populated Artsakh Republic/Nagorno-Karabagh and Russia’s longtime
ally, Armenia
.  Israel backed Azerbaijan militarily.

The brutal 44-day war ended with a so-called peace
agreement
 on November 9, 2020.

Russia facilitated Turkey’s (and, de facto, NATO’s) participation in Putin’s self-defeating grudge war against Armenians:

  • Putin stood aside as Turkey openly deployed troops, weapons, and thousands of Russian-hating international terrorists into
    Azerbaijan.
  • Turkey and Azerbaijan struck parts of Armenia, not just Artsakh. Yet Russia and the Russian-led CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) patently ignored their defense
    pacts with Armenia.
  • For decades, Russia had stopped battles over Artsakh between Azerbaijan and Armenians at an early stage despite Artsakh’s lacking a defense treaty with Russia. This time, though, Moscow intervened only belatedly (November 2020) as it
    posted Russian “peacekeeping” troops in parts of Artsakh.
  • Moscow welcomed Turkish soldiers to partner with Russians in “monitoring” the peace agreement.
  • Since the war ended, Putin and the CSTO (Azerbaijan isn’t a member) have shamelessly humiliated their Armenian ally. For instance, Russia is permitting Azeri troops — unquestionably at Turkey’s urging — to invade southern
    Armenia, seize highways, kill civilians, and attack Armenia’s diminished military.
  • Russia and the CSTO continue to rebuff Yerevan’s legitimate requests for assistance.

In contrast:

  • In January, Putin promptly dispatched
    CSTO troops into member Kazakhstan to subdue violent protests.
  • NATO never signed a formal agreement barring eastward expansion.  Therefore, despite the Kremlin’s contention, NATO isn’t
    legally required
     to bar Ukraine’s possible membership.  Russia and the CSTO are, however, legally required to adhere to
    their signed, formal defense pacts 
    with Armenia but aren’t doing so.

Elected on an anti-corruption platform in 2018’s democratic “Velvet Revolution,” Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was reelected in 2021.

Russia dislikes democratic leaders.  They’re harder to arm-twist and bribe.  True, Pashinyan has been somewhat friendlier to Western nations than Armenia’s earlier leaders.

Yet, post-independence (1991), Yerevan has maintained excellent political and economic relations with the EU, U.S., and NATO.  In 2005, America built one of its largest embassies in the world under President Robert Kocharyan, a Putin favorite.

Regardless, Putin hated Pashinyan, barely spoke to him, and never gave him a chance.

European–Armenian relations go back thousands of years.  A strong U.S.–Armenian friendship dates to the 19th century.  This is natural for an ancient Christian nation speaking an Indo-European tongue.

Armenia has, nevertheless, allied itself with Russia for historical reasons and as security against genocidal Turkey and
Azerbaijan.  A more reliable Russian ally doesn’t exist.

Yerevan and Pashinyan certainly made mistakes before and during the war.  But Putin’s angry betrayal of Armenians has been undeserved and irrational.

Pashinyan never oriented Yerevan away from Moscow.  He couldn’t.

Russia supplies nearly all its ally’s gas, oil, and weapons, controls much of its energy infrastructure, including the Metsamor nuclear power plant, and has two military bases in Armenia.

The Kremlin’s imperialist attitude towards small allies: ‘You wouldn’t exist if not for Russia, so be eternally grateful.  Otherwise, we’ll punish you even if it severely damages Russia.’

Indeed, due to Putin’s grudge war against Armenians:

  • Turkey and NATO are now embedded deeper than ever in Azerbaijan and the Caucasus — militarily, politically, and economically.
  • Russia’s foremost ally lost.

No wonder the neo-con U.S. State Department’s and NATO’s condemnations of Turkish/Azerbaijani aggression have been generally low-key.

True, Russia may now have more control over Armenia and has deployed 2000 troops in Artsakh.  But Russia could have gotten these without the war.  Instead, the Kremlin chose anger and war over sound judgment.

Ironically, though livid at Pashinyan’s mild Western outreach, Moscow seems fine with Turkey’s Western military, economic, and political memberships: NATO, EU Customs Union, and scores more.

Similarly for Azerbaijan: The UK has invested $100
billion, the EU is a major trade partner,
and American investment is massive.

Western money helped build Azerbaijani energy pipelines which avoided Russia, going instead through Moscow’s adversary, Georgia.  Even Donald Trump attempted to
build a $200 million hotel in Baku.

But no, Moscow prefers to bully and betray its best ally.

Is Armenia really an important ally?

Were Armenia to somehow exit Moscow’s camp, Turkey and NATO would rapidly displace Russia from the Caucasus because:

  • Azerbaijan, a Western source for gas and oil, has long sided with Turkey not Russia.
  • Georgia is supported by the West, links Turkey and Azerbaijan, and is, in effect, a NATO candidate.

The Caspian would become a
NATO/Turkic lake.

Moreover, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Turkey’s pan-Turkic aspirations lie just across the Caspian.

Russia would face a future grimmer than what NATO in Europe poses.

Besides Moscow’s recent treachery, Armenians remember Moscow’s gifting Artsakh, Nakhichevan,
and Western Armenian territory to Azerbaijan and Turkey in the 1920s,

Russia’s growing weakness also makes Armenians question its reliability.

Russia has lost most of eastern Europe to NATO.  Despite territorial gains in Ukraine and Georgia, Moscow may eventually lose them (and Belarus) unless it invades some or all of them, which is possible
but risky.

Central Asia looks shaky due to Turkish, Western, and Chinese inroads.

Without allies in the Black Sea, Russia worries about NATO exercises such as Sea
Breeze 2021
.

Turkey poses other problems for Russia.

Over Putin’s protests,
Turkey sells Bayraktars and other weapons to
Ukraine.  Ankara demands that Crimea be returned to Kyiv.  President Erdogan has threatened Russia with a Muslim uprising and declared that Turkey is ascendant in Central Asia.  Russia still can’t oust Turkey from Syria.

Influenced by Russia’s Eurasianist theorist Aleksandr Dugin, Putin thinks he’s luring Turkey away from NATO.  Erdogan is unlikely to fall for that trap.

Suppose Yerevan could escape the Russian bear’s grip.  Joining NATO would not guarantee its security.  Turkey, which has murderous plans
for Armenia, would vastly outweigh it.

Turkey threatens Greece, Cyprus, and others, invades whatever countries it pleases, and supports ISIS and other international terrorists while the U.S., NATO, and Europe look the other way.

Kowtowing to Turkey for 100+ years has destroyed the West’s credibility.

The Caucasus’s future is hard to predict, but some major things – unlikely as they seem now – could reshape the region in the medium and long terms.

  • To create a permanent Caucasus base, Russia may strong-arm Armenia into the Russian Federation and even, perhaps, make it Russia itself.
  • Russia – enchanted by Eurasianism – could sell Armenia to Turkey and Azerbaijan in pursuit of a Russo-Turko alliance.
  • At great political cost, Russia could shut down the entire NATO/Turkish eastward adventure by invading Georgia and Ukraine.

As for Armenia, it must maneuver between the region’s competing powers as it has for 3000 years.

David Boyajian’s primary foreign policy focus is the Caucasus.  His work can be found at http://www.armeniapedia.org/wiki/David_Boyajian.


Turkish press: Armenia likely to take part in Turkiye’s Antalya Diplomacy Forum: PM

Emre Gürkan Abay   |25.01.2022

YEREVAN, Armenia

The Armenian prime minister said on Monday that his country will most likely attend this year's Antalya Diplomacy Forum in southern Turkiye.

Speaking at a virtual news conference, Nikol Pashinyan mentioned the beginning of talks for normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkiye, saying it would be unreasonable to miss the opportunity for dialogue.

If the process continues, there is a high probability that Armenia will accept the invitation to participate in the event, he said.

The annual forum will be held on March 11-13 with the theme of "Recoding Diplomacy."

Turkiye and Armenia have long been divided by a number of issues, from Armenia's refusal to recognize their shared border to historical incidents with the Ottoman Empire's Armenian population in 1915, during World War I.

Over the past year, Ankara has repeatedly urged Yerevan to check its hostile approach and work for regional peace.

The first meeting of special representatives from both the countries was held on Jan. 14 in the Russian capital Moscow.

According to a statement by Turkiye's Foreign Ministry, the parties exchanged preliminary views on the process “in a positive and constructive atmosphere” and “agreed to continue negotiations without preconditions aiming at full normalization."

Pashinyan also hoped for a peace deal with Azerbaijan, with whom Armenia had a 44-day conflict over Karabakh in late 2020.

By the time a Russian-brokered agreement brought the fighting to an end, Baku had liberated several cities and 300 settlements and villages that were occupied by Armenia for almost 30 years.


Coalition Backs Pallone-Bilirakis Campaign to Block Proposed U.S.-Turkey F-16s Deal

A broad-based coalition of ethnic, faith-based, and civic groups support the Pallone-Bilirakis Congressional letter urging the Biden Administration to reject the US-Turkey F-16 sale.

Greek, Armenian, Hindu, Kurdish, Christian, and Mid-East Groups Support Bipartisan Calls for Biden Administration to Reject Reckless Sale

WASHINGTON—A coalition of ethnic, faith-based, and civic groups representing Americans from across the nation are urging Members of Congress to cosign a bipartisan letter, led by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Hellenic American Caucus Co-Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), calling on the Biden Administration to reject Turkish President Erdogan’s request to purchase next-generation F-16 fighter jets and upgrade kits for their current fleet.

In a “Dear Colleague” letter encouraging fellow members of Congress to cosign the appeal to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Representatives Pallone and Bilirakis argue, “if approved, the sale of F-16s to Turkey will only incentivize President Erdogan to continue his destabilizing actions in the region and ignore his commitments under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Turkish and Turkish-backed forces have repeatedly taken aggressive, deadly actions against U.S. allies and partners in the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East, South Caucasus, and North Africa for years – often utilizing American-made weaponry and components to carry out these incursions and commit war crimes in places like Syria, Iraq, and Nagorno-Karabakh.”

The Congressional letter, set to reach the Biden Administration later this week, emphasizes security concerns surrounding Turkey’s ongoing use of the Russian S-400 missile defense system.  “While this is antithetical to their commitments as a NATO ally and jeopardizes American national security, Erdogan uses this tactic consistently to pit the United States and Russia against each other to achieve his desired goals.”  Members of Congress have until January 28th to support the appeal. To encourage Members of Congress to cosign the letter, visit the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC) action portal.

Coalition members echoed Congressional national security concerns surrounding Turkey’s proposed F-16 purchase.

“Turkey’s acquisition of next-generation F-16 aircraft, while defying NATO through its procurement of Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missiles—the same missile system designed to target American-made F-16s – is deeply troubling, and cannot be allowed as a matter of national security,” said Richard Ghazal, Executive Director of In Defense of Christians.

Endy Zemenides, Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, argued the sale would circumvent the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). “Whoever is entertaining the notion of this F-16 deal with Turkey is ignoring the law (CAATSA) and is ignoring the fact that Turkey is an unreliable ally. They have for the last several months ignored Congress’ enquiries into the matter. Representatives Pallone and Bilirakis make it clear that Congress has to be consulted and will insist that Turkey change its behavior, not merely its ask,” stated Zemenides.

“We join with our coalition partners in thanking the Co-Chairs of the Armenian and Hellenic Caucuses for leading this most recent _expression_ of bilateral Congressional opposition to arming or abetting Turkey’s increasingly hostile and openly anti-American Erdogan regime,” remarked ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

Diliman Abdulkader, co-founder & spokesperson of the American Friends of Kurdistan (AFK), argued that the F-16 sale would embolden an Erdogan crackdown on Turkey’s civil society. “Any upgrades to Turkey’s F-16 fleet directly threaten U.S. national security interests and puts our allies and partners in danger. Now is not the time to give the Erdogan regime leverage which he will certainly use to further crackdown on critical voices. AFK applauds Representative Pallone and Bilirakis on this matter,” stated Abdulkader.

Cliff Smith, Washington Project Director of the Middle East Forum, reminded Congressional stakeholders that, “Turkey was removed from the F-35 program because of their troubling behavior, as well as the incompatibility of sensitive American technology and Russian technology as a result of Turkey’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 missile. The issues of technology compatibility remain with F-16 upgrades, and Turkey’s behavior hasn’t changed for the better. If anything, it has gotten worse. Until Turkey changes its behavior, it shouldn’t even bother to ask for advanced military technology from the US.”

Samir Kalra, Esq., Hindu American Foundation Managing Director for Policy, welcomed Representative Bilirakis’ and Pallone’s leadership, citing Turkey’s disconcerting relationship with Pakistan. “Beyond Turkey’s misuse of American weapons against US allies in Turkey’s neighborhood, there is a growing and dangerous military relationship between Turkey and Pakistan that is a real concern to millions of Americans who support upholding U.S. law and ensuring that sophisticated U.S. military components that are vital to our national security don’t end up in the wrong hands,” stated Kalra.

Since rumors of Turkey’s request to purchase 40 F-16 fighters and 80 F-16 modernization kits surfaced in October 2021, a number of Congressional initiatives have called for clarification of the White House position on the sale and announced efforts to block the effort.  In November, over 40 U.S. House members cosigned a letter led by Representatives Chris Pappas (D-NH), and Congressional Hellenic Caucus Co-Chairs Bilirakis and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), concerned that such a sale would be in violation of CAATSA laws.  “We share your goal of a Turkey that is rooted to the West, but we will not achieve that goal if the Erdogan government escapes accountability for violating U.S. law and the standards of the NATO alliance,” argued the Representatives. The House members requested “a formal notification of any Turkish Letter of Request (LOR), the specifics of such an LOR, the Administration’s position on such an LOR, and responses to our specific objections.”

A separate letter led by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) and cosigned by 10 House colleagues urged President Biden and Secretary Blinken to refuse Turkey’s request. “As long as President Erdogan advances his expansionist project in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey will continue to threaten our national security and the security of our closest allies in the region – Greece, Israel, and Cyprus. We urge you to act in our national interest and for the sake of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean by refusing to reinforce Turkey’s aging arsenal of fighter jets, and we look forward to receiving your response,” stated the Malliotakis letter.