1 - Political Victory over Azerbaijan
Is as Important as the Military Victory
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2- Travel Restrictions Remain as Armenia Maintains Caution with COVID-19
3 - AIWA-LA Announces Hasmig Mgrdichian Scholarship Recipients
4- Back in Time: The Manoogian Family of Detroit
5- Mesrobian High School Launches Distance Robotics Club
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1 - Political Victory over Azerbaijan
Is as Important as the Military Victory
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
While Armenians around the world have been justifiably focusing on the
successes of the Armenian military over Azerbaijan during the
three-day attack last month, the political victory is just as
important.
If you win the war, but lose the peace, then you have not accomplished
much. The best solution is to win the war and then draw a long-term
benefit from that military success.
Fortunately, Pres. Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan has provided the best
opportunity for Armenians to benefit from the recent skirmish on the
border between the two countries.
Aliyev recently fired his long-term Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
for engaging in “meaningless” negotiations with Armenia. This is the
best thing that Aliyev could have said from the Armenian point of
view. If Aliyev is unhappy with the negotiations, Armenians welcome
his statement.
We should remember that the ongoing negotiations between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, under the guidance of the Minsk Group of mediators, are
solely for the benefit of Azerbaijan which expects to extract
concessions from Armenia on the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh) conflict.
Armenians should not expect to gain anything from these negotiations.
They have already accomplished what they want from the conflict with
Azerbaijan by successfully liberating the occupied territories of
Artsakh. It is unrealistic to expect that Azerbaijan would someday
acknowledge that Artsakh is an independent territory or a part of the
Republic of Armenia. Therefore, these negotiations are useless for the
Armenian side. They are only carried out for the sake of giving the
appearance to the international public opinion that Armenians are not
opposed to finding a peaceful, negotiated solution to the conflict.
These negotiations are carried out more for propaganda purposes than
for achieving concrete results.
However, Armenia continues to carry out these negotiations while
Azerbaijan persists on using sharpshooters or periodic attacks on
Artsakh and Armenia proper to kill and injure Armenian soldiers and
civilians or damage Armenian properties.
I have tried to bring this problem to the attention of Armenia’s
leaders in the past. I discussed this issue several years ago with
Armenia’s Defense Minister, Seyran Ohanyan. I explained to him that
Armenia should temporarily suspend the negotiations with Azerbaijan
while the Azeri side was shooting on Armenian soldiers. Armenia should
announce to the world that it believes in peaceful negotiations, but
Azerbaijan continues to fire across the border. One cannot sit at the
negotiating table while the other side is shooting at you. You either
negotiate or fight. You cannot do both at the same time. The Defense
Minister told me that this is a political decision which should be
taken up with President Serzh Sargsyan. Ohanyan said that he was only
involved in military matters.
I then met with President Sargsyan and gave him the same explanation
that I had given to his Defense Minister. I emphasized that I was not
calling for the cancellation of the negotiations with Azerbaijan which
would have left the wrong impression on the international community. I
urged the President to announce that even though Armenia believes in
peaceful negotiations, Azerbaijan continues its warmongering actions.
The world would understand that negotiations cannot be carried out
under such circumstances. One can either negotiate or fight, but not
do both. Therefore, the President of Armenia should announce that if
Azerbaijan, henceforth, shoots on the Armenian side, Armenia would
suspend the negotiations for three months. If the Azeri shootings
persist, Armenia would prolong the suspension of negotiations. Without
any negotiations taking place, Azerbaijan would be the loser, as
negotiations are Azerbaijan’s only chance of getting some concessions
from Armenia. Eventually, as the negotiations become frozen for a
lengthy period, the Minsk Group of negotiators would pressure
Azerbaijan to agree to observe a total ceasefire if it wanted to
continue the negotiations.
Regrettably, I could not convince Pres. Sargsyan to agree to this
peaceful approach. As a result the Azeri shootings continued during
the negotiations while dozens of young Armenian and Azeri soldiers
were killed.
Nevertheless, I was happy to read sometime after my meeting with Pres.
Sargsyan that he had announced on Oct. 24, 2017, during his lecture at
the Armenian National Defense Research University, according to
Mediamax Armenian news agency, that “You either negotiate or shoot,
and we are ready for both cases.” He was also quoted as saying that
the negotiations should be held only in case of mutual trust, built by
adhering to ceasefire regime, while any provocations may block the
process.
Unfortunately, Pres. Sargsyan had announced only partially what I had
suggested. He had left out the warning to Azerbaijan that negotiations
would be suspended the next time they shoot across the border.
Nevertheless, I believe that this is the right time for Armenia’s new
leaders to consider my suggestion, especially since Pres. Aliyev had
stated that he does not believe in “meaningless” negotiations. I was
dismayed that Armenia’s Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan just
announced that Armenia was ready to resume the negotiations with
Azerbaijan, as if the attacks in early July had not taken place. The
only time Azerbaijan would be deterred from carrying out new attacks
on Armenia and Artsakh, if it pays a heavy price both militarily and
diplomatically. Just to carry on as usual, ignoring the attacks, would
be counterproductive. It would simply encourage Azerbaijan to continue
shooting and shelling.
In the meantime, Armenians both in and out of Armenia have to set
aside their internal differences and make all efforts to strengthen
the Armenian military. This is no time to engage in internal
dissensions at a time when our enemies, Azerbaijan and Turkey, are
testing our resolve.
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2- Travel Restrictions Remain as Armenia Maintains Caution with COVID-19
By Raffi Elliott
YEREVAN (The Armenian Weekly)—As of Monday, August 3, Armenia has
recorded a total of 39,102 COVID-19 cases. A total of 29,861 of these
patients have since recovered while 8,479 remain active. The death
toll as a direct result of complications from COVID-19 stands at 762.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has cautioned Armenians to remain
vigilant and adhere to social distancing rules as the country posts a
steady decline in new COVID-19 cases. “Of course the epidemiological
situation’s improvement is still relative,” said the Prime Minister
during an afternoon press briefing on Wednesday, July 29. The average
number of newly recorded cases fell from almost 700 per day in late
June to just over 300 in the end of July—figures last seen in mid-May.
In terms of testing, less than 17 percent of tests conducted on July
28 came back positive, the lowest in months.
The number of daily recoveries has surpassed new infection rates
consistently throughout most of the month of July with the number of
active cases dipping below 10-thousand this week for the first time
since June 14. The subsequent decrease in cases has also been
reflected in hospital occupancy rates. According to Health Minister
Arsen Torosyan, there are now fewer than 500 patients requiring
hospitalization; hospital bed vacancies are growing. After having
scrambled to rapidly expand the medical system’s capability between
March and June to meet demand—reaching its peak on July 7—the Health
Minister announced that at least three medical centers in the
provinces and another three in Yerevan will be reverting back to
treating non-COVID-19 cases. “However, beds will remain on standby in
case of a new spike in cases,” added Torosyan, stating this trend is
set to continue and even pick up pace.
The improving public health situation has been attributed by Health
Ministry spokeswoman Alina Nikoghosyan to widespread respect for
social distancing rules, face coverings and frequent hand washing by
the Armenian population. “We have been more vigilant during the last
few months,” Nikoghosyan told RFE/RL’s Armenian service. “I hope that
this pace continues.” Seemingly in line with that assertion, officials
have also announced a steady decrease in new fines issued to citizens
and businesses, despite ramping up regulatory inspections. This data
suggests increased compliance with guidelines.
Still, the summer season has pushed many to seek cooler weather
outside the Armenian capital, while maintaining social distancing
etiquette. One notable breach of these regulations reportedly occurred
during a massive beach party organized by a parliamentarian affiliated
with the governing “My Step” coalition. Parliamentary deputy Hayk
Sargsyan was fined amidst public uproar after pictures of him at a
weekend gathering made their rounds on social media. The party
organized by Sargsyan at a resort on Lake Sevan reportedly featured
live music and attendees were seen eschewing mask wearing and social
distancing regulations. The White Shorja beach club was shut down for
two weeks despite the lawmaker’s public apology.
Torosyan also echoed the Prime Minister’s call for people to remain
prudent and maintain social distancing protocols. Pashinyan cited
recent reports of new spikes in several other countries which had
hitherto succeeded in containing the virus as examples of how easily
the fragile epidemiological situation could be overturned. For this
reason, Pashinyan also announced that restrictions on movement in and
out of the country will remain in place—with certain
exceptions—throughout the month of August. Recognizing the
significance for the tourism industry (August being the busiest month)
Pashinyan rationalized the decision as necessary to protect the health
of fellow citizens as the COVID-19 situation across the country
fluctuates. Instead, he portrayed the situation as a good opportunity
to promote domestic tourism. “Think of this as a chance for Armenians
to discover their own country,” he said. Indeed, hotels and resorts
across the country have been reporting high occupancy rates.
Still, certain airlines have resumed regular and charter flights to
the Armenian capital, including Air France, Belavia and others.
Iceland Air, which conducted its first charter between Los Angeles and
Yerevan this month, is scheduled to conduct three more such connecting
flights between the two cities in August. Other airlines are expected
to announce new flight schedules in the coming weeks. Deputy Prime
Minister Tigran Avinyan also announced that the government was now in
the midst of establishing new regulations in anticipation of lifting
further restrictions on certain activities which had remained off
limits since the State of Emergency was first announced in March.
Armenia received early praise for its initial virus containment
efforts in late March and early April. However the numbers of new
infections began to rise dramatically following the easing of
restrictions on business activities and individual movement on May 4,
with Armenia recording some of the highest infection rates per million
in the world. The epidemiological situation began to stabilize in late
June before experiencing a steady drop throughout the month of July.
Public health officials estimate that the numbers will fall back below
100 cases per day before the end of August, with the school year
expected to resume in September.
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3 - AIWA-LA Announces Hasmig Mgrdichian Scholarship Recipients
LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Affiliate of the Armenian International
Association has announced the six recipients of the Hasmik Mgrdichian
Scholarship Awards. Each year awards of $5,000 each are presented to
full-time California female students of Armenian descent, both under
graduates and graduates, enrolled in accredited colleges and
universities in the United States and abroad.
The Hasmik Mgrdichian Scholarship Awards was established in 2011
thanks to the continued generosity of Hasmik Mgrdichian, one of the
founders of the Los Angeles Affiliate. The Los Angeles Affiliate of
AIWA takes great pride in her legacy to recognize and assist in the
education of Armenian women.
This year, six Hasmik Mgrdichian Scholarships were awarded.
Ani Hakobyan, who was born in Russia and grew up in the United States,
received a BA from UC Berkeley and will be entering her first year at
the University of Southern California to pursue a Master’s Degree in
Education. Her goal is to hold a position in the Ministry Education in
Armenia.
Helena Nicole Kevorkian is a graduate of the AGBU Manoogian School.
She will be attending the University of Southern California, Los
Angeles, to pursue a degree in Communications/Public Relations.
Mariam Khorenyan was born in Yerevan, and received her undergraduate
degree from the American University of Armenia. She served as a
volunteer in the Peace Corp in Tbilisi, Georgia. She will be attending
New York University, pursuing a Master’s Degree in Global Affairs.
Tamar Nachian is a third year student at the University of California,
Santa Barbara. Her career goal is to pursue a degree in statistics and
data science with an emphasis in Biopsychology.
Lilit Oganessian will be attending the University of California,
Davis. She is a first year student in a Ph.D. program in Veterinary
Medicine. Her goal is to eventually work a government agency whose
focus is on issues associated with human relationship to animals.
Zhanna Ter-Zakaryan, born in Yerevan, received a baccalaureate from Li
Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong and a Bachelors Degree in
Art History from the Art Institute of Chicago. She will be continuing
her education at the Center of Socio-Legal Studies at the University
of Oxford.
“How inspiring it is to look at the dedication of the Los Angeles
Affiliate’s Scholarship Committee, specifically our Scholarship Chair,
Lily Balian. These past months when so many of us are concerned with
the pandemic crisis, she has spent countless hours to communicate with
each of the applicants, collected their transcripts, personal
statements and applications. Lily, your leadership is an inspiration.
My special thanks also to your committee members: Diane Cabraloff,
Diana Hekimian, Hermine Janoyan, Houry Aposhian, Cindy Norian, Jean
Kelegian and Lysa Gregorian,” said AIWA-LA president Nicole Nishanian.
“Each year it is exciting to read about these exceptional women. Their
successes and dreams inspire us. We appreciate their contributions to
our Armenian culture and human race. This is just a glimpse of the
future and it is going to be exciting,” said Lysa Gregorian, a member
of the Scholarship Committee and the granddaughter of Hasmik
Mgrdichian.
In the past, the scholarship recipients were invited to the AIWA-LA
Annual Membership Luncheon to personally extend congratulations to the
scholarship recipients and to offer them the opportunity to say a few
words. During these difficult and uncertain times, and in keeping with
the state and Los Angeles County Guidelines, this major event had to
be postponed. The affiliate hopes to plan and arrange an event when it
is safe and restrictions are lifted.
For more information, call AIWA-LA (213) 479-4526, or email
[email protected].
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4- Back in Time: The Manoogian Family of Detroit
By Dennis Elia
For The California Courier
We honor our heroes and champions with great fanfare and applause
during their moment in the spotlight. But when the curtain comes down,
we stop cheering and move on to the next new thing. We, as Armenians,
are few in number. Therefore, we must publicize the greatness of what
we’ve achieved in all fields of endeavor—science, invention, music,
sports, entertainment and so on. We are a great people. Wrestling is
no exception.
One famous family worthy of recognition is the Manoogian family of
Detroit. First the father, Robert Manoogian known as Robert Monograph…
the tough guy from Motor City, and a wrestling legend in the big
cities of Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and Pittsburgh. He was at the
height of his career in the 1920s and 1930s.
Then, following in his footsteps, came his son, Bobby Managoff
(pictured, right), a world champion who competed against Freddie
Blassie, Mr. Moto, Gorgeous George, Argentina Rocco, and other “made
for TV” types. Professional Wrestling on television drew larger
audiences than pro football or baseball in the late 1940s and early
1950s. This sport was as audacious as anything before or since.
Then amazingly, the Manoogian daughter, Kay Armen (pictured, left),
emerged as a renowned recording artist and composer, with several pop
hits such as The Dreamer #7, How Sweet You Are #10, It’s a Sin To Cry
Over You, and Be Good to Yourself. She was on all the big labels of
her era and had an illustrious 30 year career in television. Among her
noteworthy accomplishments, she was a guest on leading variety shows
such as Ed Sullivan, Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas and The Johnny Carson
Show. She also starred in two TV sitcoms: Love & Marriage, and Ray
Bolger’s Washington Squares. Kay Armen’s voice was of such outstanding
tonal quality, that she was awarded the St. Sahag-St. Mesrob Medal of
Honor and a pontifical encyclical from the Catholicos of All
Armenians. Former President Bill Clinton honored her with the National
Medal Of Honor for the Arts, and she received the coveted Handel
Medallion from New York City.
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5- Mesrobian High School Launches Distance Robotics Club
PICO RIVERA, Calif.—Armenian Mesrobian School is turning the
challenges of distance learning into opportunities to advance its
mission in new and innovative ways. True to Mesrobian’s commitment to
a well-rounded education that includes “STEAM” subjects (science,
technology, engineering, art, and mathematics), Mesrobian High School
launched an online Distance Robotics Club in early May, led by High
School student Andrew Josephbek.
“Andrew has an insatiable intellectual curiosity and has had one from
a very young age,” said Principal David Ghoogasian. “To prepare for
launching the club, he completed an online robotics training
certification program, created lesson plans, delivered the robotics
kits to students, and set up a Google Classroom to guide students
through their lessons.”
Andrew attended Mesrobian School from preschool through middle school,
when he was invited to attend Elon Musk’s Ad Astra School located at
SpaceX in Hawthrone. He has now returned to Mesrobian High School, and
the school is working with Andrew and his family to further realize
his potential.
The Distance Robotics Club was born when Andrew, who has a love for
engineering and building, expressed interest to the school about
teaching robotics to other students. The school saw this as a unique
learning opportunity for both Andrew and his peers.
“Even with the challenges that distance learning presents, I feel that
our club did very well. I’m excited for our club to meet in person so
that the club can work as a team,” said Andrew.
Especially in high school, Mesrobian School encourages students to
pursue their interests and find opportunities for leadership in fields
they want to study. This helps students develop authentic and robust
resumes that stand out to future colleges and employers.
The school uses VEX Robotics kits that, under normal circumstances,
would remain at school, as part of Mesrobian High School’s recently
approved University of California Certified Robotics Curriculum. Now,
Mesrobian is allowing a limited number of middle and high school
students to borrow and take these kits home.
Students were chosen based on their level of interest, success the
student has demonstrated in STEAM classes, anticipated college major,
and other factors.
For example, Mesrobian High School student Karnig Boyadjian, who will
be a Senior in the coming school year, joined the program as a
co-teacher. Karnig was a natural fit for the Distance Robotics Club
because of his interest and experience in engineering as well as
cybersecurity. Karnig won first place in the science fair when he
built a two-wheeled self-balancing robot, which demonstrated a
feedback control loop and applications of micro-controllers and
software code.
In addition, last summer, Karnig represented Mesrobian High School in
a Cybersecurity competition through the Armenian Youth Federation
Juniors (AYF Jrs) Montebello Chapter. “As part of the AYF Jrs
Cybersecurity team, I identified and improved vulnerabilities in three
different operating systems within the competition time box using
various approaches and techniques. This led to the gold tier placement
in the state rounds of the Air Force Association Cyberpariot
Cybersecurity Competition. The team scored higher than Air Force and
Navy teams in the gold tier and almost tied to JROTC teams, allowing
the team to make it to semi-finals,” Karnig explained.
Principal Ghoogasian has done extensive work in the areas of gifted
and highly gifted education. He is a member of the Gifted and Talented
Education (GATE) and Professional Teaching certificate programs at UCI
Division of Continuing Education. He has trained parents, students,
educators, and administrators with backgrounds ranging from early
childhood education through college and university instruction.
Before the Distance Robotics Club was formed, Andrew was featured as a
semi-finalist on the Disney+ Original Series “Shop Class.” Andrew is
also the great-grandson of one of Armenian Mesrobian School’s
founders, Vagarshak Dilanian.
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