Author: Maral Takmazian

Ukraine is ready for negotiations, but considers the ultimatums unacceptable. Embassy of Ukraine in Armenia

Maral Takmazian

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 20:28, 1 March, 2022

YEREVAN, 1 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. Ukraine is ready for real talks with Russia, but considers the ultimatums unacceptable, the representative of Ukraine in Armenia, Chargé d'Affaires Denis Avtonomov told ARMENPRESS, commenting on Kyiv’s expectations from the talks on the settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

According to the Ukrainian diplomat, the talks are always useful and necessary, but the conditions that Russia, in the person of President Vladimir Putin and Russian diplomats, puts forward for the settlement of the issue are unacceptable for the Ukrainian side and are considered an ultimatum.

"Negotiations are always needed, but what the Russian President said to the French President yesterday, what the Russian Ambassador to the UN Nebenzya said, is an ultimatum. We are talking about "demilitarization", "denazification", Ukraine's neutral status, abandonment of plans to join the European Union and the NATO. I did not see any willingness of them to change that position. And our position is to stop the fire and withdraw the troops. After that we are presented with ultimatums, we have no choice but to fight. As a diplomat, I can assure you that the ultimatum – the talks are different things," said the Chargé d'Affaires of Ukraine.

To the question of ARMENPRESS in which case Ukraine will consider itself a winner or what will it consider a victory, Denis Avtonomov answered. "Complete liberation of Ukrainian territories, including Crimea and Donbass."

Today marks 157th birth anniversary of legendary commander Andranik Ozanian

Maral Takmazian
panorama.am
Armenia – Feb 25 2022


Today, February 25, marks the 157th birthday anniversary of Andranik Ozanian (Zoravar Andranik), a legendary Armenian military commander, statesman and key figure of the Armenian national liberation movement.

Andranik Ozanian was born in 1865 in Shabin-Karahisar, Sivas Vilayet, Ottoman Empire (modern Giresun Province of Turkey) to Mariam and Toros Ozanian. His paternal ancestors came from the nearby Ozan village in the early 18th century and settled in Shabin-Karahisar to avoid persecution from the Turks. His ancestors took the surname Ozanian in honor of their hometown.

Andranik became active in the Armenian armed struggle against the Ottoman government and Kurdish irregulars in the late 1880s. He joined the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) party and along other fedayis, he sought to defend the Armenian peasantry living in their ancestral homeland; an area known as Turkish (or Western) Armenia – at the time part of the Ottoman Empire. His revolutionary activities ceased in 1904, when he left the Ottoman Empire. In 1907, Andranik left Dashnaktustyun because he disagreed with its cooperation with the Young Turks, a party which years later perpetrated the Armenian Genocide. In 1912–1913, together with Garegin Nzhdeh, Andranik led Armenian volunteers within the Bulgarian army against the Ottomans during the First Balkan War.

Since the early stages of World War I, Andranik commanded the first Armenian volunteer battalion and led them within the Russian Imperial army against the Ottoman army. After the Revolution of 1917, the Russian army retreated and left the Armenian irregulars outnumbered against the Turks. Andranik led the defense of Erzurum in early 1918, but was forced to retreat eastward. By May 1918, Turkish forces stood near Yerevan—the future Armenian capital. The Dashnak-dominated Armenian National Council declared the independence of Armenia and signed the Treaty of Batum with the Ottoman Empire, by which Armenia gave up its rights to Western Armenia. Andranik never accepted the existence of the First Republic of Armenia because it included only a small part of the area many Armenians hoped to make independent. Andranik, independently from the Republic of Armenia, fought in Zangezur against the Azerbaijani and Turkish armies and helped to keep it within Armenia.

Andranik left Armenia in 1919 and spent his last years of life in Europe and the United States. He settled in Fresno, California in 1922 and died five years later in 1927. Andranik is greatly admired as a national hero by Armenians; numerous statues of him have been erected in several countries. Streets and squares were named after Andranik, and songs, poems and novels have been written about him, making him a legendary figure in Armenian culture.

Andranik was first buried at Ararat Cemetery in Fresno, and his remains were moved to France and buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris on 29 January 1928. In early 2000, the Armenian and French governments arranged the transfer of Andranik's body from Paris to Yerevan. The commander was re-interred at the Yerablur Pantheon in Yerevan on 20 February 2000, next to Vazgen Sargsyan. 

Will Russia Use Azerbaijan to Evade Sanctions?

Maral Takmazian 
1945.com


By Michael Rubin
Feb. 25, 2022

Azerbaijan has long enjoyed a reputation in some American policy
sectors as a secular outpost willing to stand up both to Iran and
Russia. For almost a decade, if not longer, this reputation has been
wholly undeserved. In recent months, Azerbaijan has doubled down on
its business with the Islamic Republic of Iran, giving Iran’s hardline
leadership a financial lifeline. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
has also steadily oriented Azerbaijan closer to Russia whereas a
decade ago, his aides used allegations of Kremlin ties to delegitimize
his opposition in conversations with Americans.

As the United States, European nations and others discuss the
imposition of sanctions on Russia in response to its invasion of
Ukraine, the Kremlin, and its affiliated companies appear to be
preparing to use Azerbaijan to evade those sanctions. Less than a week
ago, Russia’s Lukoil bought a 9.99% stake in Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz
natural gas project from Malaysian oil and gas company Petronas, a
deal worth $1.45 billion. This makes Lukoil a partner of the
Azerbaijani state-owned oil firm SOCAR.

Azerbaijan and Turkey have long described the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan
(BTC) pipeline to Western diplomats as a means to bypass the
stranglehold that Russia otherwise has over gas deliveries to the
West. As Europe (and the Biden administration) again backtracks from
the Nord Stream-2 Pipeline and European countries confront the extent
of their energy dependence on Russia, the BTC pipeline assumes greater
importance. With Russia now expanding its stake to Azerbaijan’s gas
fields, it is crucial that the United States, European Union, and
individual countries not symbolically sanction Russia while allowing
it to benefit from its Azerbaijan investment. In essence, Russian
President Vladimir Putin seeks a win-win outcome: He gets Ukraine and
simply exports gas (at prices inflated by the crisis he created) via
other routes.

If the West is serious about pressuring Putin, it is essential they
close the Azerbaijan loophole. It is time to sanction SOCAR until the
state-owned Azerbaijani company completely divests itself from Russian
oil interests.

EU to sanction head of English-language Russian broadcaster RT Margarita Simonyan

Maral Takmazian
POLITICO
Feb 23 2022

Margarita Simonyan ‘is a central figure of the Government propaganda,’ document says.

Putin presents flowers to editor-in-chief of Russian broadcaster RT Margarita Simonyan | Evgenia Novozhenina/AFP via Getty Images
BY CLOTHILDE GOUJARD AND JACOPO BARIGAZZI
 4:18 pm

The European Union is set to sanction Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of the English-language broadcaster RT, for spreading government propaganda, according to a draft document seen by POLITICO.

Simonyan "is a central figure of the Government propaganda," reads the document, dated February 22.

The document states that Simonyan "promoted a positive attitude to the annexation of Crimea and the actions of separatists in Donbas," and supported actions and policies undermining the sovereignty of Ukraine.

The document lists more than 20 people and entities to be sanctioned by the EU as part of a package expected to be finalized later today.

 

PRESS RELEASE – Carrying the Family Torch in Support of AUA

Maral Takmazian

Benefactors Jack and Zarig Youredjian have been generous supporters of the American University of Armenia (AUA), and in recent years, became AUA Pillars at a time when more students were in dire need of support amidst the global pandemic. Now, their children, Renee and Haig, are continuing the Youredjian tradition of philanthropy becoming the two most recent AUA ChangeMakers. 

As successful entrepreneurs in their own right, the Youredjian siblings have built upon the professional legacy of their father and shaped their own distinctive path of success. Renee Youredjian Arakelian operates LA Medical Wholesale as its President and CEO. She is recognized in Los Angeles County, and also nationally, as a notable woman business owner. “Our parents are our role models and our pillars of strength, and have been so instrumental in bringing change to the children of Armenia. Witnessing their support and everlasting dedication has made me realize the importance of being active in the process of bringing positive change to benefit our culture and our people,” she says. Her younger brother, Haig Youredjian, operates the family business, Western Drug Medical Supply, succeeding his father as President and CEO of the company. He recalls how, from an early age, his parents instilled in them the importance of giving back to their communities. “We were taught that success lies not only within one’s own accomplishments, but also in one’s ability to assist others in their own accomplishments. Today, we carry that standard in our own lives and hope that we can make even the smallest difference in the lives of others and contribute to their successes.”  

Haig dissects the process of creating change, enumerating the instrumental components of the system: individuals who participate in change; those who actively contribute to realizing change; and those who benefit from change. “As contributors, we hope to furnish a better opportunity for those who participate and benefit from the robust opportunities AUA offers,” he posits, with Renee reiterating their strong belief in equal opportunity for all those who are “dedicated, determined, and passionate about furthering their education.” 

Placing emphasis on the responsible role AUA plays in providing that  opportunity for the youth in Armenia, the siblings are eager to see a new generation of innovators and educators rising up to profoundly impact Armenian society and more broadly in the world. “The  programs of the University, along with the AUA Open Centers of Excellence, will provide students and youth with the opportunity to stand at the forefront of growth and change, catapulting the country to achieve advancement and long term success,” Haig adds. 

Their father, Jack, recounts his own academic path that took him from his birthplace Jerusalem to Lebanon, where he attended the School of Pharmacy of the American University of Beirut, then moved to Los Angeles in 1970, where he earned a doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of Southern California. “Throughout those years, I received scholarships from AGBU and the Gulbenkian Foundation, without which I would not have been able to continue my education,” he says, expressing his heartfelt gratitude and emphasizing the importance of helping the children of Armenia to access higher education. 

Trusting in the indomitable warrior strength and historic resilience of the Armenian people, Renee concludes, “I am certain that we will continue to prevail in anything we set our minds to. Excellence is a state of mind and as long as we continue to support one another, there isn’t anything that is impossible to achieve!”

AUA is grateful to have the unwavering backing and sustained support of the new generation of Youredjians and proud to have added their names to the esteemed list of AUA ChangeMakers. 

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.

Kind regards,

Margarit Hovhannisyan | Communications Manager

Մարգարիտ Հովհաննիսյան | Հաղորդակցության մենեջեր

+374 60 612 514,  

mhovhannisyan@  

__________________________________________

Հայաստանի Ամերիկյան Համալսարան

Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն, 0019, Երևան, Մարշալ Բաղրամյան պող. 40

40 Baghramyan Avenue, Yerevan 0019, Republic of Armenia


The Youredjian siblings, Haig and Renee.jpg
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The Youredjian family Renee, Jack, Zarig, Haig.jpg
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Carrying the Family Torch in Support of AUA

Maral Takmazian
by Contributor

 

 February 14, 2022

 

in Armenia, Latest, News, Top Stories

The Youredjian family. From left: Renee, Jack, Zarig, and Haig

Benefactors Jack and Zarig Youredjian have been generous supporters of the American University of Armenia, and in recent years, became AUA Pillars at a time when more students were in dire need of support amidst the global pandemic. Now, their children, Renee and Haig, are continuing the Youredjian tradition of philanthropy by becoming the two most recent AUA ChangeMakers. 

As successful entrepreneurs in their own right, the Youredjian siblings have built upon the professional legacy of their father and shaped their own distinctive path of success.

Renee Youredjian Arakelian operates L.A. Medical Wholesale as its President and CEO. She is recognized in Los Angeles County, and nationally, as a notable woman business owner. “Our parents are our role models and our pillars of strength, and have been so instrumental in bringing change to the children of Armenia,” said Renee. “Witnessing their support and everlasting dedication has made me realize the importance of being active in the process of bringing positive change to benefit our culture and our people.”

The Youredjian siblings, Haig and Renee

Her younger brother, Haig Youredjian, operates the family business, Western Drug Medical Supply, succeeding his father as President and CEO of the company. He recalls how, from an early age, his parents instilled in them the importance of giving back to their communities. “We were taught that success lies not only within one’s own accomplishments, but also in one’s ability to assist others in their own accomplishments,” noted Haig. “Today, we carry that standard in our own lives and hope that we can make even the smallest difference in the lives of others and contribute to their successes.”  

Haig dissects the process of creating change, enumerating the instrumental components of the system: individuals who participate in change; those who actively contribute to realizing change; and those who benefit from change. “As contributors, we hope to furnish a better opportunity for those who participate and benefit from the robust opportunities AUA offers,” he posited, with Renee reiterating their strong belief in equal opportunity for all those who are “dedicated, determined, and passionate about furthering their education.” 

Placing emphasis on the responsible role AUA plays in providing that  opportunity for the youth in Armenia, the siblings are eager to see a new generation of innovators and educators rising up to profoundly impact Armenian society and more broadly in the world. “The  programs of the University, along with the AUA Open Centers of Excellence, will provide students and youth with the opportunity to stand at the forefront of growth and change, catapulting the country to achieve advancement and long term success,” Haig added. 

Their father, Jack, recounted his own academic path that took him from his birthplace Jerusalem to Lebanon, where he attended the School of Pharmacy of the American University of Beirut, then moved to Los Angeles in 1970, where he earned a doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of Southern California. “Throughout those years, I received scholarships from AGBU and the Gulbenkian Foundation, without which I would not have been able to continue my education,” said Jack, expressing his heartfelt gratitude and emphasizing the importance of helping the children of Armenia to access higher education. 

Trusting in the indomitable warrior strength and historic resilience of the Armenian people, Renee concluded, “I am certain that we will continue to prevail in anything we set our minds to. Excellence is a state of mind and as long as we continue to support one another, there isn’t anything that is impossible to achieve!”

AUA is grateful to have the unwavering backing and sustained support of the new generation of Youredjians and proud to have added their names to the esteemed list of AUA ChangeMakers. 

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.

Turkey in tandem with Azerbaijan could take advantage of Ukraine crisis to occupy Armenia`s Syunik – Ashot Melkonyan

Maral Takmazian
ARM INFO
Feb 17 2022
David Stepanyan

ArmInfo.Turkey in tandem with Azerbaijan could take advantage of the crisis over Ukraine with a view of military occupation of Armenia's Syunik region, Ashot  Melkonyan, Director of the Institute of History, RA Academy of  Sciences, told ArmInfo. 

"Nothing can be ruled out amid the geopolitical tension between the  West and Russia. And Turkey is not at all on Russia's side in this  game. I think that should the current tension develop into a  full-scale war, the tandem, primarily Turkey, is sure to take its  chance to finish what it started a hundred years ago. First of all,  in view of the fact that a war in Ukraine will greatly weaken Russia,  and it will not be capable of resisting Turkish military invasion of  Syunik. As a result, Iran will be isolated, which will complicate  Armenia's situation," he said. 

The Armenian scholar hopes that Ankara and Baku will prove rather  sensible and refrain from an overt incursion into Armenia and  infringement on its sovereignty and territorial integrity, primarily  in the context of prospective condemnation by the international  community. Moreover, military incursion into Armenia's territory will  leave the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) with no  alternative but to respond.  Otherwise, the CSTO will cease to exist  even formally. 

With respect to the current problems between Armenia and Azerbaijan,  Mr Melkonyan notes that full- fledged border delimitation and  demarcation will curb the Aliyev-led regime's appetite. Referring to  the Azerbaijani president's statements, he notes that even signing of  a peaceful treaty with Armenia will not force Azerbaijan to give up  its "programmes to defend its vitally important interests." 

"We realize that the 'programmes' imply Aliyev's claims to Syunik. In  other words, Aliyev has reached the limits of his impudence by  stating that even after signing a peace treaty with Armenia he and  his 'elder brother' Erdogan will not give up their plans to invade  Syunik. Thus they are obviously showing us that a peace treaty  between Armenia and Azerbaijan does not at all mean peace along the  Armenian-Turkish border. So we have to draw the following  conclusions: the better we are prepared for another war the remoter  will be its prospect for us," Mr Melkonyan said. 

Asbarez: Prolific Armenian Broadcaster Sarky Mouradian Passes Away

Maral Takmazian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Arts & Culture, Community, Film, Latest, Movie, News, Top Stories

Sarky Mouradian

Sarky Mouradian, a prolific broadcaster credited with establishing Armenian television programs in the Diaspora, passed away in Los Angeles. He was 90.

The news was reported by the Armenian Film Society, which in a statement said that the broadcaster passed away on February 10.

“The passing of Sarky Mouradian is a huge loss, not just for the Armenian community but for the film community at large. Mr. Mouradian was a pioneer in more ways than one and was prolific up until his passing at the age of 90. The Armenian community will remember him for his incredible contributions to film and television,” said the Armenian Film Society as reported by Deadline.

His grandson Tristan said that Sarky Mouradian left “a legacy spanning decades. His influence on Armenian television, music and film in America will never be forgotten.”

In 1978, Mouradian established Armenian Teletime, one of the first Armenian television broadcasts. The programs featured interviews with Armenian community members, elected officials and celebrities. The program that featured Mouradian’s iconic voice became staple of Armenian-American households on weekends.

Prior to that Mouradian tried his hand at filmmaking. He wrote and directed such films as Sons of Sassoun (1973), Tears of Happiness (1975), Promise of Love (1978) and Alicia (2002). Mouradian also adapted Franz Werfel’s 1933 novel The Forty Days of Musa Dagh into a feature film in 1982. This made him a constant target of Turkish government revisionism.

Mouradian was born on November 15, 1931, in Beirut. He began performing music at the age of 16. In 1955, he moved to Boston to continue his education in music then relocated to Los Angeles in 1960 to pursue his passion for film. There he attended the Theater of Arts and began working in the industry.

He was awarded an honor by Armenia’s Culture Ministry in 2016.

Despite the proliferation of Armenian television channels and a changing landscape, Mouradian continued to pursue his passion of preserving Armenian culture. Armenian Teletime continued to be produced and broadcast on YouTube, along with his archive of decades of footage

Armenia’s representative for Eurovision 2022 to be announced in early March

Maral Takmazian

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 10:55,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. It’s still unclear who is going to represent Armenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 as the Public TV is at a discussion stage, Head of Public Relations and Digital Communication at the Public TV, Anna Ohanyan, said.

“We haven’t yet reached the final stage. The name of the participant is not decided yet. We will officially announce his/her name when there is a final decision”, she said.

According to her, there is still time, and the Public TV is using it to reach the working discussions to the final phase.

Anna Ohanyan said Armenia’s representative will be announced in early March.

Earlier some media outlets reported that singer Rosa Linn (Rosa Kostandyan) will represent Armenia at Eurovision 2022.

Turin will host the Eurovision Song Contest 2022. The first semi-final will take place on May 10, the second one on May 12 and the final will be held on May 14.

Armenian, Russian FMs exchange views on the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey

Maral Takmazian

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 18:22,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS.  Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on February 15.

As ARMENPRESS was infomred from the press service of the MFA Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan and Sergey Lavrov referred to the implementation of the agreements reached by the trilateral announcements of November 9, 2020, January 11 and November 26, 2021. The interlocutors highlighted the steps aimed at increasing the level of stability and security on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, and the establishment of mechanisms for demarcation and delimitation.

During the telephone conversation, the Armenian and Russian FMs referred to the cooperation in bilateral, multilateral platforms, as well as to the issues of regional and international agenda.

The sides exchanged views on the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey.