Author: Lara Antonian

A Photographic Journey into the Past

Lara Antonian

January 21,  2020



From the Armenian Weekly

WATERTOWN, Mass.,—The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Archives constitute an invaluable repository of modern Armenian history from the late-19th century to our days. Thousands of reports, letters, telegrams, brochures, diaries, memoirs, photographs and artifacts make up the core of the collection, shedding light on the history of the ARF since its inception in 1890 and, more broadly, the history of the Armenian people in its homeland and in communities around the globe.

After the opening of a reading room, the Archives have hosted a number of researchers in recent years, including Dr. Khatchig Mouradian. The Armenian Weekly asked Dr. Mouradian to curate a collection of photographs for our readers. We present them below, with brief captions. It is worth noting that the ARF Archives are in the process of scanning and cataloguing the entire photography collection, making them more accessible.

Aram Manoukian successfully led the defense of Van against the Ottoman military in 1915, saving tens of thousands of Armenians from imminent murder. He became the temporary governor of Van after the withdrawal of the Turkish forces, and then emerged as the founder of the First Armenian Republic as Tsarist Russia faltered. He died of typhus in Yerevan on January 29, 1919. His funeral in Yerevan was one of the most widely attended the Armenian nation had ever witnessed. In his eulogy, ARF leader and statesman Nikol Aghbalian told the nation: “When the night falls, withdraw into the back chambers of your souls, speak to your conscience, and ask: Have you worked for the Armenian people as Aram has? Have you been as self-sacrificing? Have you dedicated your entire life to the Armenian people as Aram has?”

ARF women’s “Maro” group. Photograph taken in Tabriz in 1903. Caption in the back of photo lists the following names: Satenig Shahnazarian, Isguhi Aghajanian, Satenig Krikorian, Srpuhi (wife of Samson Khan), Heghine Krikorian and Maro Hovhannisian

The ARF Central Committee of America in 1964: Arsen Terlemezian, Harry Khanbegian, Jimmy Mandalian, Varujan Azablar, Tatul Sonentz-Papazian, Setrag Minas, Arthur Giragosian, Yervant Terzian, Murad Piligian, Antranig Varjabedian

Hairenik correspondent Levon Keshishian, President of Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser, and Armenian American philanthropist George Mardikian. Photo taken at a meeting in Heliopolis, Cairo in June 1958

Levon Shant and his family. A novelist and playwright, Shant founded the Hamazkayin Educational and Cultural Society

Photograph from the turn of the 20th century of an Armenian teacher in Dalvorig (Sassoun) with his students

Armenian ruling bloc leader on news about her appointment as Armenia ambassador to US

Lara Antonian
News.am, Armenia
Jan 24 2021
20:29, 24.01.2021

The issue is on the agenda, but it’s still being considered, and there will be an announcement after clarification. This is what leader of the My Step faction of the National Assembly of Armenia Lilit Makunts told RFE/RL, touching upon the news circulating in the presses in regard to her appointment as Ambassador to the United States of America.

Asked if she has the relevant experience as a diplomat, even though she is fluent in English, Makunts said the following: “Like all countries, the appointments of Armenia’s ambassadors are diplomatic and political. There is no restriction for a political appointment. As far as my experience is concerned, I believe it has been public within the circles of parliamentary diplomacy. Experience is extremely important, but it doesn’t play the primary role in certain cases.”

In regard to this, Armenian News-NEWS.am also asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia for a commentary, and the Armenian MFA responded by saying that it doesn’t comment on the appointment and recall of ambassadors, if there is no presidential order by which ambassadors are appointed or recalled.

Former Ambassador of Armenia to the Vatican Mikayel Minasyan had reported the news about the appointment of Lilit Makunts as Ambassador of Armenia to the United States of America.

Implementation of Moscow agreements can change the economic prospects of the region – Pashinyan

Lara Antonian

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 19:48, 11 January, 2021

YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan highlighted the joint statement on the development of the region signed with the leaders of Russia and Azerbaijan in Moscow on January 11.

ARMENPRESS reports  in a briefing following the meeting with the Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan the Armenian PM said that the implementation of the agreements enshrined in the joint statement can change the economic prospect of the region. According to him, the new economic situation can lead to more security guarantees.

‘’We are ready to make constructive efforts in that direction. I think it’s not possible to solve all the issues during one meeting, but I hope we will move forward. At the moment, the humanitarian issues remain priority, particularly, the exchange of war prisoners provided by our November 9 declaration’’, Pashinyan said.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




One meeting couldn’t bring solution to all issues, Pashinyan says after trilateral summit

Lara Antonian
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 11 2021
One meeting couldn't bring solution to all issues, Pashinyan says after trilateral summit
 
 
The trilateral talks of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict ended in Moscow. The leaders of the three countries made press statements following the four-hour long negotiations in which they informed about signing a new statement on Nagorno-Karabakh.  
 
"The statement signed is very important, and I will not hide that it can change the form of economic cooperation in the region, turning economic innovations into a security guarantee," PM Pashinyan said in his remarks.
 
Pashinyan, however, admitted, that not all issues were solved during the talks.
 
"Regretfully, a single meeting couldn't bring a solution to all issues. I hope, we will proceed and want to stress that one of the most important issues pending implementations are those related to the humanitarian aspect, in particular, the exchange of war prisoners, as envisaged by Point 8 of the November 9 trilateral statement," added Pashinyan.
 

Valérie Boyer: My thoughts are with Dadivank and Father Hovhannes

Lara Antonian
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 6 2021
Culture 19:23 06/01/2021NKR

French politician serving as a Senator for Bouches-du-Rhône Valérie Boyer has shared photos on social media from her trip to Dadivank monastery complex in Artsakh and the Abbot of the Monastery Father Hovhannes. 

"On the Armenian Holy Christmas, let us recall the Artsakh Armenians, the victims of the new Genocide. My thoughts are with Father Hovhannes and Dadivank. I am thinking of this heritage site which is endangered, thinking of the murder of the Christians. Let us never forget them. Let us condemn and struggle," Boyer wrote in the accompanying message. 

To note, Dadivank is an Armenian monastery in Artsakh. It was built between the 9th and 13th centuries. The monastery was founded by St. Dadi, a disciple of Thaddeus the Apostle who spread Christianity in Eastern Armenia during the first century AD.

The monastery was handed over to Azerbaijan as part of the November 9 trilateral statement, ending the war in Nagorno-Karabakh. 

 

En ce jour de Noël arménien je pense aux Arméniens de l'Artsakh victimes d'un nouveau génocide. Je pense au Père…


Increased tensions around Nagorno-Karabakh to be on OSCE agenda: Sweden takes over OSCE Chair

Lara Antonian
Public Radio of Armenia

Jan 2 2021

Sweden took over the OSCE Chair on January 1, and will in the coming year focus on defending the European security order, addressing protracted conflicts and enhancing democracy and gender equality.

“Sweden is honoured to take over the Chair of the OSCE at a time when our region needs to come together to focus on our common security, based on the principles and commitments we all have made,” said Ann Linde, Sweden’s Foreign Minister and the new OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

“While conflicts and political crises continue to challenge security, international law, democratic principles and sustainable development, the OSCE can serve as a crucial multilateral platform to tackle these challenges and build stronger societies together,” she added.

“Our priorities as Chair will be to emphasize the fundamental tasks of the OSCE; defending the European security order, upholding the OSCE concept of comprehensive security and to contribute to resolving the conflicts in our region. On 14 January, I will present our programme in detail to the OSCE Permanent Council,” Linde added.

”The ongoing conflicts and crises in the OSCE area, such as the situations we see in Belarus, in and around Ukraine and the increased tensions around Nagorno-Karabakh require the continued, common attention of our organization. This will naturally be on our agenda at the beginning of the year.”

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office noted that enhancing gender equality would be a key priority of the Swedish Chair.

“In line with the organization’s concept of comprehensive security we will stress the inclusion and meaningful participation of women in all phases of the conflict cycle, and move forward the Women, Peace and Security agenda. This is crucial for the prevention and mitigation of conflicts, as well as to consolidate peace.”

Civil society will also be assured their place in discussions, Linde added.

“The participation and inclusion of civil society in relevant OSCE meetings and formats is a unique component of the OSCE as a security organization. To continue to promote the broad participation of civil society representatives in security discussions will be a priority for our time as Chair. Our support for strengthening democratic processes and the right to freedom of opinion and _expression_ will remain steadfast in 2021.”

Linde concluded by adding that the Swedish Chair will work closely with, and support, the newly appointed OSCE Secretary General and the three Heads of Institutions (the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media) in their first year in office.

https://en.armradio.am/2021/01/02/increased-tensions-around-nagorno-karabakh-to-be-on-osce-agenda-sweden-takes-over-osce-chair/

TURKISH press: Turkish personnel arrived in Azerbaijan to monitor cease-fire deal, Defense Minister Akar says

Lara Antonian
 ISTANBUL DIPLOMACY 
DEC 30, 2020 11:28 AM GMT+3
Azerbaijani forces move toward Aghdam in the Aghdam region of Azerbaijan, Nov. 20, 2020. (AP Photo)

The Turkish personnel assigned to work in the joint monitoring center in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh arrived in Azerbaijan, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar announced Tuesday.

"Our staff went to Azerbaijan and stands by there. After the construction of the joint center is completed and it goes operational, one of our generals and 35 military officers will start their duty immediately," Akar said in a virtual year-end evaluation meeting.

Turkey's Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Güler, other military commanders and senior authorities were in attendance at the meeting. Addressing defense and security issues, Akar recalled that Azerbaijan liberated its lands from Armenia's occupation after nearly 30 years.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a Russia-brokered agreement on Nov. 10 to end the fighting and work toward a comprehensive resolution. Turkey and Russia later signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a joint center to monitor the peace deal. It will be established on Azerbaijani territories liberated from Armenia's occupation.

Around 2,000 Russian peacekeepers have been deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh under the terms of the cease-fire deal and are expected to stay in the region for at least five years. The Turkish Parliament also last month overwhelmingly approved the deployment of Turkish peacekeeping troops to Azerbaijan after Turkey and Russia signed the deal on establishing a joint center to monitor the cease-fire in the region.

Earlier in December, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said the center will be established in the Aghdam region. Akar underlined that Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in the region are also clearing mines and improvised explosives. Two Special Mine Detection and Clearance Teams, consisting of 135 mine clearance specialists of the TSK, have been supporting the Azerbaijani troops in regions liberated from Armenia's occupation. The Turkish troops are also training Azerbaijani soldiers in mine detection and clearance techniques and tactics.

"As part of the humanitarian aid activities, we did our best to support our Azerbaijani brothers and sisters, and we will continue to do so. We have supported them in their rightful and honorable struggle, and we will continue to do so," he added.

In another statement, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Tuesday that Turkish and Azerbaijani military personnel conducted joint efforts to detect and destroy mines in the Aghdam region recently liberated from Armenia's occupation.

"A group on the clearance of mines of the Turkish Armed Forces in our country and the units of the Engineering Troops of Azerbaijan fulfill the tasks of engineering support in the liberated Aghdam region," said a ministry statement.

It said that the troops cleared "sowing plots and connecting roads" of mines and unexploded shells. While releasing footage of these operations, the ministry said, "Activities on the detection and disposal of unexploded shells and mines in liberated territories are being continued."

Relations between the former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, internationally recognized as Azerbaijani territory, and seven adjacent regions.

When new clashes erupted on Sept. 27, the Armenian military launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces and violated several humanitarian cease-fire agreements.

During the 44-day conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages from the nearly three-decade-long occupation.

The truce is seen as a victory for Azerbaijan and a defeat for Armenia, whose armed forces have been withdrawing in line with the agreement.

Despite the agreement ending the conflict, the Armenian military has violated the agreement several times, killing a number of Azerbaijani soldiers and a civilian and wounding a few people, according to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

Azerbaijan, Armenia exchange prisoners with Russian peacekeepers’ mediation

Lara Antonian
TASS, Russia
Dec 28 2020
Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan announced on Monday that four Armenian prisoners had returned home with the mediation of Russia and the International Committee of the Red Cross

EREBUNI AIRPORT /Armenia/, December 28. /TASS/. Azerbaijan and Armenia held a new round of a prisoners’ swap, in which two Azerbaijanis were delivered to Baku and four Armenians to Yerevan, Russian Peacekeeping Contingent Commander Lieutenant-General Rustam Muradov announced on Monday.

"Today, for the purposes of implementing the trilateral statement by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia of November 9, 2020, a new swap of prisoners has taken place. As a result of the work done, the Russian peacekeepers under my personal control have delivered two captive Azerbaijanis to Baku and returned four prisoners to Erebuni by a plane of Russia’s Aerospace Force," the commander said.

The Russian peacekeepers "will continue contributing to the strict fulfillment of the trilateral agreement," he stressed.

Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan announced on Monday that four Armenian prisoners had returned home with the mediation of Russia and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

On December 15, 44 prisoners returned to Armenia from Azerbaijan with Russia’s mediation. On the same day, 12 Azerbaijani prisoners returned to their home land.

On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10. The Russian leader said that Azerbaijan and Armenia would maintain the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region. In addition, the Agdam, Kalbajar and Lachin districts were handed over back to Azerbaijan.

According to the statement, parts of the Martuni, Martakert and Askeran districts, the city of Shushi and almost the entire Hadrut district, which used to be part of the Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous region in the Soviet era, were also handed over to Azerbaijan.

Asbarez: Police Brutally Beat Opposition Protesters

Lara Antonian

December 24,  2020



Armenia’s police on Thursday brutally beat, shoved and dragged opposition protesters, who were gathered at Armenia’s government building as they continued to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, blaming him for signing the November 9 agreement that ended the war, but stipulated the surrender of territories in Artsakh and Armenia to Azerbaijan.

Police officers barricaded and formed a human shield in front of the Armenian government building in Yerevan where protesters gathered as the government was in session.

Ministers apparently had entered the building from other entrances, because the protesters kept the main door to the building was closed for more than five hours.

The police then used unprecedented force against the protesters, pushing and shoving, and in some instances beating.

During the confrontation with the police, five women were injured. Police arrested 69 activists, among them the son of Artsakh War Hero Shahen Meghryan, Zinavor, as well as Sako Minoyan an AYF and ARF Shant Student Association activist from Los Angeles who was beaten and sustained injuries to his face and nose.

“Syunik is not as well guarded as this despicable traitor is,” said Armenian Revolutionary Federation leader Gegham Manukyan, referring to Pashinyan, as well as the heavy armed police presence, saying the law enforcement officials “should think about that.”

The ARF is part of a coalition of 16 opposition parties that have banned together to demand Pashinyan’s resignation and have called for snap parliamentary elections, which would be administered by a national accord government. This National Salvation Movement has chosen Armenia’s first prime minister Vazken Manukyan to their candidate for Armenia’s premiership.

Thousands joined the movement on Tuesday during a day-long strike, which saw people from varied walks of life joining in the protest, which was taking place a day after Pashinyan was forced to cut his visit to the Syunik Province short because protesters had blocked the roadway leading to the cities of Kapan, Goris and Meghri. The Mayor of Goris, Arush Arushanyan, one of the organizers of the protest in Syunik was arrested early Monday morning for saying in a social media post that Pashinyan was not welcome in the province after key positions along in Armenia-proper were forced to be surrendered to Azerbaijan as a direct ramification of the November 9 agreement.

The wave of those calling for the prime minister’s resignation grew on Thursday when 130 professors and staff members of Yerevan’s Brusov State University of Languages and Social Sciences issued a statement calling for Pashinyan’s resignation, saying the current government is unable to confront the challenges facing Armenia because of the November 9 agreement.
“We, the representatives of a higher education institution, are responsible for educating the patriotic generation and we cannot be indifferent to the political situation and the moral atmosphere in the country,” the statement added.

Tigran Abrahamyan: Authorities have turned the security of our country into a festival of frivolity

Lara Antonian
Panorama, Armenia

Dec 25 2020

The former Director of Armenia's National Security Service (NSS) has been appointed to a new post, which raises numerous questions," the Head of 'Henaket' analytical center Tigran Abrahamyan wrote on Facebook, commenting on Pashinyan's latest decision to appoint Argishti Karamayn as the Deputy Head of Armenia's Investigative Committee. 

To remind, Karamyan was dismissed as Director of the NSS during the recent Karabakh war. 

"Authorities should come up with explanations why they replaced the head of one of the key structures in the middle of the severe war and what is  now the justification for his new appointment. You have turned the security of the country  into a festival of frivolity  and then justify with a serious face why this or that event ended in a tragedy for our state," Abrahamyan added.