Author: Maral Takmazian

Several streets south of West Hollywood will be closed at various times on Tuesday for the Armenian Genocide March for Justice.

The march will begin at Pan Pacific Park at noon and end in front of the Turkish Consulate at 6300 Wilshire Blvd.

Wilshire from San Vicente Boulevard to Fairfax Avenue will be closed to traffic from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will rolling closures on the following streets during the march:

–Southbound on The Grove Drive to 3rd Street
–Westbound on 3rd Street to Fairfax Ave, and
–Southbound on Fairfax Avenue to Wilshire Boulevard.

The March 4 Justice is held to commemorate and demand justice from Turkey for the Ottoman government’s murder of 1.5 million Armenians, most of whom were living within the Ottoman Empire and its successor state, the Republic of Turkey. The genocide began in 1915 and extended through World War I.

GLENDALE—The Glendale City Council on Tuesday directed City Staff to negotiate the final Ground Lease Agreement for the Armenian American Museum’s Downtown Glendale site with a lease term of up to 95 years at $1 per year and approved the Museum’s Stage 1 Design Plans. The landmark approval marks a major milestone for the historic project and a major victory for Museum supporters.

On the eve of the 103rd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Museum supporters and community members packed into Glendale City Hall to witness the historic vote by the Glendale City Council. Museum representatives presented their vision for a three-story, 59,800 square-foot cultural and educational complex that would be located in the southwest corner of Central Park. The Museum will feature Permanent & Traveling Exhibitions, Performing Arts Theater, Demonstration Kitchen, Learning Center, Archives, Café, and Store. City Staff and urban design firm SWA Group also presented their vision for a redesigned Central Park that would preserve the park’s open space, improve its amenities, and serve the community as “Glendale’s new gathering place” with the Museum as its focal point.

“We are pleased that the Glendale City Council and City of Glendale officials share our vision of building a world class cultural and educational center in the heart of Downtown Glendale that will be the pride of our entire community,” stated Museum Co-Chair Western Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.

“The Armenian American Museum is a historic project that will celebrate culture, education, and empowerment and will serve as a bridge that will connect our diverse community members together in the spirit of humanity,” stated Museum Co-Chair Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian.

In 2014, the Armenian American Museum and City of Glendale agreed to an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement that would have located the Museum on City-owned land near the Glendale Community College. In 2016, the City proposed bringing the project to Downtown Glendale’s Arts and Entertainment District to join the Downtown Central Library and Adult Recreation Center on the Central Park block. City and Museum officials have been performing their due diligence tasks and responsibilities with the goal of securing a final Ground Lease Agreement for the Museum site.

“We join our community members in celebrating this historic milestone that brings us one step closer to building a cultural and educational center that is by the community for the community,” stated Museum Co-Chair Bishop Mikael Mouradian.

“The Armenian American Museum will have a long-lasting and impactful legacy that is an investment in our next generation and the future of our community,” stated Museum Co-Chair Reverend Berdj Djambazian.

Glendale City Council’s approval of the Stage 1 Design Plans is the first major approval for the project leading to the Stage 2 Plans review and the final Ground Lease Agreement consideration anticipated for Summer 2018. The initial term of the Ground Lease Agreement will be 55 years with options to extend the lease term for four 10-year periods totaling 95 years with a ground lease rate of $1 per year.

“We are looking forward to working with our City and community members to help make this historic project a reality and create a positive impact that will ripple through generations to come in our community,” stated Museum Executive Committee Chairman Berdj Karapetian.

Following the landmark approval, the Armenian American Museum plans to launch its capital campaign to raise funds for the construction of the cultural and educational center. The Museum will be hosting a Community-Wide Telethon on September 9, 2018 and holding its inaugural Gala at the Dolby Theater on December 9, 2018.

The Armenian American Museum is a developing project in Glendale, CA with a mission to promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Armenian American experience. When completed, it will serve as a cultural campus that enriches the community, educates the public on the Armenian American story, and empowers individuals to embrace cultural diversity and speak out against prejudice.

The governing board of the Armenian American Museum consists of representatives from the following ten Armenian American institutions and organizations: Armenian Catholic Eparchy, Armenian Cultural Foundation, Armenian Evangelical Union of North America, Armenian General Benevolent Union – Western District, Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenian Relief Society – Western USA, Nor Or Charitable Foundation, Nor Serount Cultural Association, Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, and Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

YEREVAN—A senior member of the Russian Duma on Monday slammed Baku’s territorial claims from Armenia, which have been amplified by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev who, as recently as last week, claimed that all of Armenia is part of “historic Azerbaijan.”

Konstantin Zatulin, the first deputy head of a Russian parliament committee on CIS, Eurasian Integration, who spoke Monday at a joint session of the Armenian parliament committee on foreign affairs and his committee in the Duma that said Aliyev’s statement stand to be criticized both on the historical and political fronts.

Speaking at a pre-election congress of his Yeni Azerbayacan party on February 10 Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev promised to “return Azerbaijanis” to Yerevan, Armenia’s southeastern Syunik province also known as Zangezur, and the area around Lake Sevan describing them as ‘historical Azerbaijani lands.’

“This is our strategic goal and we must gradually move closer to achieving this goal,” he declared. Aliyev reiterated his claims on March 19 when addressing Azerbaijanis on the beginning of Novruz, the New Year holiday.

“Apparently, Aliyev’s statement was made for his fellow countrymen, given the factor of the forthcoming presidential elections. It is not clear how someone can take it seriously,” Zatulin said. At the same time, Zatulin stressed that the Karabakh conflict can be resolved only through negotiations, and stressed the need for a balanced policy of the parties in the course of these negotiations.

At a press conference later on Monday, Zatulin reiterated his position on Aliyev’s statement, this time in a more resolute tone.

“As for [Azerbaijani President Ilham] Aliyev’s statement, I would prefer to be extra correct with this, as I know my statement will appear in the Azerbaijani media tomorrow. The much respected president of Azerbaijan has undermined his position by making statements of the kind. They were probably intended for the domestic audience just in the run-up to the [presidential] polls, but I don’t think it will be taken seriously from the historic, political or any other viewpoint. It isn’t clear at all who may seriously consider those ideas,” Zatulin added.

Zatulin also expressed Russia’s concerns over the ceasefire violations around Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), regretting at the same time that Azerbaijan abused Russia’s trust by launching offensives with Russian-made weapons.

At a news conference in Yerevan, Zatulin said they are also worried that the belligerent rhetoric “aiming to lead the peace process to a deadlock.”

“We understand that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict – like many other conflicts around the globe – should have but one outcome, which is a peaceful resolution. So Russia is as always concerned lest a military settlement should apply to this particular case,” he noted.

Zatulin also reaffirmed Moscow’s commitment to guarantee Armenia’s security and defense as a strategic ally.

He added that they received additional assurances on Sunday after visiting the 102nd Russian military base stationed in the second largest city, Gyumri.

“We understand that after the eruption [of hostilities] – provoked by one of the sides in 2016 – Armenia was discontent with Russia’s move to supply Azerbaijan with weapons. We regret that Azerbaijan found no other way of using the weapons apart from violating the ceasefire along the Line of Contact. We have drawn the necessary conclusions,” the Russian lawmaker noted.

“I would like to also call your attention to the fact that Russia has equipped Armenia with modern defense supplies, which I hope you will see during the [independence] parade,” Zatulin said, adding that he and a number of other Russian parliamentarians act in support of the Russian-Armenian friendship.