Author: Suren Karakhanian

Azerbaijan, Turkey Watching Armenia’s Political Crisis

Suren Karakhanian
Jamestown Foundation
March 3 2021

March 3, 2021 04:24 PM 

Viewed from Baku and Ankara, the political conflict in Armenia pits military and civilian nationalists unreconciled to defeat in the Second Karabakh War (September 27–November 9, 2020) versus the armistice-accepting government of Nikol Pashinian. As the former seek to oust the latter from power (see EDM, February 25, 26, March 1), the governments of Azerbaijan and Turkey view Armenia as facing a choice between relentless hostility toward its Turkic neighbors or cooperating with them to lift Armenia from entrenched poverty.

The latter option, however, is conditioned on Armenia’s compliance with the terms of the November 10, 2020, tripartite declaration that ended the war. Those terms refer to the ceasefire in Karabakh and region-wide transportation projects in the South Caucasus that would include Armenia. Subject to Yerevan’s observance of the armistice terms, Ankara and Baku would lift the blockade they have maintained since 1993 in response to Armenia’s occupation and ethnic cleansing of Azerbaijani territories.

Baku and Ankara would clearly prefer to deal with Pashinian’s government in the interest of normalization of relations and regional cooperation. Simplifying their choice is the fact that Russia acts to consolidate the new status quo (at least for the time being); Moscow also clearly prefers to deal with Pashinian’s government rather than its opponents. While proverbially incompetent at governing, Pashinian complies with the armistice at this stage and does not thirst for revanche (he had provoked the recent war through political blunders rather than nationalist grand designs).

By contrast, the opposition rejects the armistice terms. Most opposition forces are associated with former governments inspired by past-oriented nationalism and territorial ambitions vis-à-vis Azerbaijan and Turkey. Symbolizing that legacy, former prime minister and defense minister Vazgen Manukian leads the 17-party opposition alliance (Fatherland Salvation Movement) while former presidents Robert Kocharian and Serge Sarkissian support the opposition unofficially with their still-considerable media and organizational resources. The opposition groups gathering on a daily basis in Yerevan’s Republic Square mainly represent the former regime’s political personnel, the national-patriotic intelligentsia, and retired military officers and war veterans.

The opposition portrays the armistice as shameful and unacceptable to Armenia, the retrocession of territories to Azerbaijan as an act of state treason, and Pashinian as an enemy of the nation, himself “a Turk.” Those opposition members see Turkey as betting on Pashinian’s government and the latter as playing Ankara’s alleged game. They are, moreover, suspicious of region-wide transportation projects with Azerbaijan and Turkey. The anti-government forces are, in effect, opposing armistice terms agreed upon between Moscow and Baku, supported by Ankara, and accepted by a Russian-approved government in Yerevan. The Armenian Armed Forces’ command has not expressed its views on the November 10, 2020, tripartite declaration, but the generals want the government that accepted those terms to resign from office (News.am, Armenpress, Arminfo, February 24–March 3).

All this can only reinforce Baku’s and Ankara’s choice to bet on Pashinian’s government (albeit on the conditions stated) and hint at that choice publicly, though careful not to offer ammunition to Pashinian’s opponents.

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has made known the authorized interpretation of the ongoing confrontation in Yerevan and the potential for region-wide cooperation from Baku’s perspective. In so doing, he has implicitly signaled Baku’s relative preference for Pashinian (warts and all) over his nationalist and military opponents. Addressing a large visiting group of international journalists, Aliyev offered the following theses (Azertag, February 26–28), with follow-up authorized commentaries echoing the same points (1News.az, Haqqin.az, February 28, March 1, 2).

  • Armenia in its current crisis presents an “embarrassing, tragicomic” picture of mismanagement and disorder, both on the government’s and the opposition’s side. It is reminiscent of Azerbaijan’s own chaos in 1992–1993 under the Popular Front government. (Aliyev had already offered this analogy on the morrow of the November 10 armistice, “for the edification of today’s youth,” equating the Popular Front’s then-leader Abulfaz Elchibey and Pashinian as revolutionary demagogues too incompetent to govern.)
  • Armenia’s former leaders bidding to return to power today—Sege Sarkissian, Robert Kocharian and former defense minister (2008–2016) Seyran Ohanian—“are war criminals” who occupied Azerbaijani territories. The “Kocharian-Sarkissian junta” ruled Armenia for 20 years, “brainwashing it” and “leading it to the precipice.” Under their rule (1998–2018), “Armenia lost the main features of state independence, it came to resemble a colony.” The underlying cause for this was their “occupation policy” directed at Azerbaijan.
  • At the present time, however, the armistice declaration “is being implemented, and it must be implemented [a half-nod to Pashinian].”
  • Armenia has no resources for economic recovery unless it cooperates with Azerbaijan and Turkey; “there is simply no other way.” “Any attempts at non-compliance with the declaration would gravely damage Armenia. This is why I do not particularly worry that a change of government in Yerevan would stop the declaration’s implementation.”
  • The Russian president’s signature on the November 10 declaration should ensure Yerevan’s compliance with its terms. “Armenia’s dependence on Russia is ten times greater than it was before this war. Will Armenia dare to disregard the Russian president’s signature? [The onus is on the Kremlin to discipline its client.]”
  • Demonizing Azerbaijan has been counterproductive to Armenia in the first place. Innocent people in Armenia fell prey to anti-Azerbaijani propaganda. They will need time to understand and heal.
  • Azerbaijan needs a durable peace in order to restore and expand transportation routes and trade. In that case, Armenia will realize the advantages of peace. For this, “I warn, Armenia must fully implement the armistice terms, without attempts at revanchism.”
  • This will be a step-by-step process. If the Armenian government cooperates, “We may at some stage sign a peace treaty.”
  • A threat now exists that “a revanche party may come to power in Armenia and go to war against Azerbaijan… This would be a disaster for them” (Azertag, February 26, 28).

Turkey’s government, for its part, has refrained from commenting on Armenia’s power struggle except on the day when it broke out publicly in Yerevan, February 25. Many international observers initially perceived that event in Yerevan as a military coup. Ankara was no exception to that misunderstanding, but the Turkish government is especially sensitive to military coups, given its own—and the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP)—experience with military interventions and coup attempts in Turkey itself (most recently in 2016).

In that light, and also as a declared general principle, Ankara hastened to condemn the perceived military coup in Yerevan. President Recep Tayyp Erdogğan, his top advisor İbrahim Kalın, spokesperson Fahrettin Altun and Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu issued parallel, closely coordinated statements, condemning the perceived military coup attempt in Yerevan. According to Erdoğan, even if the people of Armenia seek the government’s resignation, overthrowing it would be unacceptable. “Any change of government in Armenia should be up to the people to decide” (Anadolu Agency, Daily Sabah, February 25, 26).

It became apparent within hours, however, that the Armenian generals’ move lacked the features of a military coup attempt (see EDM, February 25).

Other than taking a strong stand on the question of a military coup, the Turkish government has thus far withheld comments on Armenia’s compliance with the armistice terms or the country’s internal political situation.

/

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 03/02/2021

Suren Karakhanian 
                                        Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Armenian President Paves Way For Army Chief’s Sacking


Armenia - President Armen Sarkissian delivers a televised address to the nation, 
November 6, 2020

President Armen Sarkissian signaled on Tuesday his intention to stop blocking 
the sacking of Armenia’s top army general demanded by Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian.

Pashinian petitioned Sarkissian last week to sign a decree relieving General 
Onik Gasparian of his duties shortly after the chief of the Armenian army’s 
General Staff and 40 other high-ranking officers issued a joint statement that 
accused the government of misrule and demanded its resignation. Pashinian 
rejected the demand as a “military coup attempt.”

Sarkissian refused to sign such a decree on Saturday, saying that it appears to 
be unconstitutional and would deepen the “unprecedented” political crisis in the 
country. Pashinian criticized the refusal as “unfounded” and resent his motion 
to Sarkissian in another attempt to have him fire Gasparian.

Under Armenian law, the president can now keep blocking or at least delaying the 
sacking only by asking the Constitutional Court to declare the decree drafted by 
the prime minister unconstitutional. Otherwise, the decree will enter into force 
even if Sarkissian refuses to sign it for a second time.

“The president has decided not to sign the draft decree,” Sarkissian’s office 
said in a statement released on Tuesday.

Significantly, the office announced no decision to challenge its legality in the 
Constitutional Court. This means that Gasparian will automatically lose his post 
if the head of state does not appeal to the court by Thursday morning.

The Homeland Salvation Movement, an opposition alliance campaigning for 
Pashinian’s resignation, was quick to express serious concern over Sarkissian’s 
apparent decision to refrain from such an appeal. Its leaders demanded an urgent 
meeting with him.

The alliance blames Pashinian for Armenia’s defeat in the autumn war with 
Azerbaijan and wants him to resign. Accordingly, it has hailed the unprecedented 
statement issued by the military’s top brass.

Sarkissian already met with opposition leaders as well as pro-government 
lawmakers and Gasparian before making his first decision on the issue at the 
weekend.

Pashinian visited Sarkissian on Monday. Addressing thousands of supporters who 
gathered in Yerevan’s Republic Square later in the day, he urged the president 
to stop objecting to Gasparian’s removal.

On Sunday, a senior lawmaker close to Pashinian suggested that Sarkissian 
himself appears to have violated the Armenian constitution and might be 
impeached because of that. Sarkissian insisted afterwards that he acted 
“impartially” and in strict conformity with the constitution.



Opposition Party Accepts Pashinian’s Election Offer

        • Gayane Saribekian

Armenia - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian (R) meets with Bright Armenia Party 
leader Edmon Marukian, December 29, 2020

One of the two opposition parties represented in Armenia’s parliament on Tuesday 
accepted Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s latest offer to hold snap general 
elections to end the continuing political crisis in the country.

The leader of the Bright Armenia Party (LHK), Edmon Marukian, said he and 
Pashinian spoke by phone in the morning and will meet on Wednesday for further 
discussions on the proposed elections.

Marukian himself called for the conduct of such polls late last week, portraying 
that as a compromise solution to the crisis deepened by the Armenian military’s 
unprecedented demand for the government’s resignation. He said Pashinian should 
stop, for his part, trying to fire the country’s top general, Onik Gasparian.

Pashinian has since continued to push for Gasparian’s removal. At the same time 
he expressed readiness on Monday to organize pre-term elections.

Speaking to journalists, Marukian did not clarify what his party will do if the 
prime minister does get rid of the defiant general.

The Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), the other parliamentary opposition force, 
reacted more ambiguously to Pashinian’s proposal. A senior BHK member, Mikael 
Melkumian, said the party leadership has not discussed it yet.

Unlike Marukian’s LHK, the BHK is part of an alliance of more hardline 
opposition forces that resumed street protests in Yerevan late last month in a 
bid to force Pashinian to resign over his handling of the recent war in 
Nagorno-Karabakh.

Pashinian already expressed readiness in late December to organize fresh 
elections. The opposition dismissed the offer, saying that they be held by an 
interim government after Pashinian’s resignation. The ruling political team 
stated afterwards that it longer sees the need to dissolve the Armenian 
parliament controlled by it.

Under Armenia’s existing constitution, snap polls must be called only if 
Pashinian resigns and the National Assembly twice fails to elect another prime 
minister. His My Step bloc officially controls 83 seats in the 132-member 
parliament and should in theory be able to easily prevent the election of 
another premier nominated by the opposition minority.

Nevertheless, Pashinian demanded in January that the two parliamentary 
opposition parties formally pledge to refrain from such nominations in the event 
of his tactical resignation. Both parties refused to do that.

The LHK now seems ready to sign a pre-election “memorandum” with My Step.

But the BHK sees no need for such a deal. Melkumian argued that the ruling bloc 
controls enough parliament seats to hold elections on its terms.

It was not clear if Pashinian is planning to meet with BHK leader Gagik 
Tsarukian as well.



Armenian Military Rejects Criticism


Armenia -- Colonel-General Onik Gasparian (C), the chief of the Armenian army's 
General Staff, meets with senior Russian military officials, Yerevan, January 
25, 2021.

The Armenian military rejected “baseless accusations” and effectively reiterated 
its demands for the government’s resignation on Monday night after Prime 
Minister Nikol Pashinian lambasted its top general.

Pashinian again accused General Onik Gasparian, the chief of the army’s General 
Staff, of a coup attempt and “treason” as he rallied thousands of supporters in 
Yerevan. He claimed that Gasparian initiated the February 25 statement by the 
military’s top brass at the behest of former President Serzh Sarkisian.

The unprecedented statement said Pashinian and his government must step down 
because they have put Armenia “on the brink of destruction” after the autumn war 
in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“The top brass of the Armed Forces reaffirms its evaluations of the existing 
situation and emphasizes that despite attempts to draw the Armed Forces into 
political processes they remain unwavering, determined and composed,” read 
another statement issued shortly after the pro-government rally.

It demanded an end to “baseless accusations directed at the Armed Forces and 
some officials.” It also insisted that the military is sticking to the Armenian 
constitution and “serving only the people.”

Pashinian and his allies say that Gasparian and other generals have violated a 
constitutional provision upholding civilian control over the armed forces.

Pashinian petitioned President Armen Sarkissian late last week to sack 
Gasparian. Sarkissian refused to sign a relevant decree at the weekend.

Despite the rebuff, the prime minster resent the draft decree to Sarkissian for 
approval. The president had to decide by Wednesday night whether to continue 
blocking Gasparian’s sacking.

The generals’ demands are strongly backed by Armenian opposition forces trying 
to oust Pashinian over his handling of the war with Azerbaijan.


Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2021 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

OAS Secretary General urges immediate release of POWs captured during recent Artsakh war

Suren Karakhanian

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 11:35,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Secretary General of the Organization of American States Luis Almagro urges to immediately release prisoners of war and civilians captured during the recent Nagorno Karabakh war.

He made a post on Twitter about his recent telephone conversation with Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Aivazian. “I spoke with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ara Aivazian on cooperation between that country & OAS and the humanitarian situation in Artsakh. We urge immediate release of prisoners of war and civilians captured during the recent war”, the OAS chief said.

Azerbaijani forces in immediate vicinity of villages of Kapan continue firing shots – Ombudsman

Suren Karakhanian

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YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Kapan city of Syunik region, Nerkin Hand, Shikahogh, Srashen villages were visited by a fact-finding team headed by Armenia’s Human Rights Defender on February 16, 2021. The visit recorded violations or dangers for residents' right to life, property, and other vital rights, Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan said in a statement.

The visit was accompanied by the head of Kapan community Mr. Gorg Parsyan and other competent community representatives. During the visit, detailed discussions were held, including private conversations with the residents. Professional observations were made, and studies of applications and complaints registered were undertaken an individual case by case analysis and assessments.

Based on the information gathered during the course of the Human Rights Defender’s visit to the region, the following are the relevant findings:

1) Azerbaijani armed servicemen in the immediate vicinity of the villages of Kapan community continue to discharge small and large-caliber weapons. The shootings are regular, both during the day and at night. They are clearly and unmistakably heard in the villages, causing anxiety, first of all to the women and children. The Human Rights Defender has already published evidence of Azerbaijani shootings in the vicinity of Kapan community villages.

The next day of our visit, the same information was also communicated to the Syunik regional subdivision of the Defender's Office by the residents of Tsav and Chakaten villages and was subsequently verified.

2) Due to the process of "determining" the borders of the Republic of Armenia with Azerbaijan, as one of the many consequences of the September-November war of 2020, the pastures, the private and community arable lands of the referenced villages of Kapan are being targeted by the Azerbaijani armed forces. This turn of events has made it impossible to make use of the pastures and arable lands.

3) During the visit, the residents of Shikahogh, Srashen and Nerkin Hand villages reported that shots were fired while they were engaged in agricultural work on their lands and in broad daylight. In some cases, they were on their lands with their children and grandchildren.

At the same time, the Azerbaijani servicemen who fired the shots are at such a distance (even less than 1 km) that the lands of the Armenian villagers are visible to the naked eye. In other words, they are clearly observing these civilians and are witnesses the villagers‘ carrying out their daily chores and the agricultural work on their lands.

All of this poses also poses a direct threat to the children. Notably, the Azerbaijani military is located less than one (1) km from the school near the village of Nerkin Hand.

These facts have been verified by the observations of the Human Rights Defender's staff, the alarming concerns raised by community bodies, and by the residents in these regions.

4) The presence of Azerbaijani servicemen (including Azeri flags and signs) on the road from Kapan to Chakaten and other villages in Kapan community of Syunik region have seriously hampered the free movement of civilians and, foremost among them, the residents of the surrounding villages. According to these residents, as it turns out, there are Azerbaijani armed servicemen in these areas to "protect" the signs and/or flags from the residents.

Because of all this, the villagers, even for their vital needs (for example, going to or returning from a medical facility), have to refrain from walking and traveling on those roads in the evening hours, for their own safety, and for the safety of their families.

5) The description once again confirms that the presence of Azerbaijani armed forces (flags and placards) in the immediate vicinity of Armenian villages or on roads connecting communities, or any movement of them, grossly violates the property rights of residents, including their ability to earn a living, and it seriously endangers their life and health, physical and mental inviolability, and other rights of vital importance which are guaranteed internationally and by the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia. These disruptions and infringements on the safety and security of the people also extend to and affect the lives of the children of this region.

All of these transgressions are directly due to the hasty processes of applying mechanical approaches and imposing dire consequences to the population of Armenia. Under Azerbaijani threats of war and use of force, without professional commission work, and at expense of the legitimate interests of the border residents, their internationally guaranteed rights, and consequently the requirements of the rule of law, these trespasses continue to take place.

6) During the February 16, 2021 visit, the staff of the RA Human Rights Defender, with the participation of the head of Kapan community also discussed issues related to the provision of social assistance and socio-economic rights to the villagers. Specifically, issues related to the process of refunding of deposits and/or payments made were discussed in the village of Nerkin Hand.

7) During the visit, the head of Kapan community and a number of community officials provided the Human Rights Defender with detailed information on the referenced issues, as well as the problems related to the social sphere, the living conditions, as well as the security concerns of the villagers in other villages of Kapan.

Accordingly, the findings derived from the visit are being summarized by the Human Rights Defender's Office. Proposals will be submitted to the competent state bodies, and if necessary, clarifications will be sought to address each of these matters.

Putin, Pashinyan discuss implementation of agreements on Karabakh

Suren Karakhanian
TASS, Russia
Feb 17 2021
The Kremlin pointed out that the talks touched upon a range of pressing bilateral issues

MOSCOW, February 17. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan discussed the implementation of agreements on Nagorno-Karabakh, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.

"[They] discussed practical issues of the implementation of the statement of the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan on Nagorno-Karabakh of November 9, 2020, along with the agreements reached at the trilateral summit in Moscow on January 11, 2021," the statement says.

The Kremlin pointed out that the talks touched upon a range of pressing bilateral issues.

"It was agreed to continue contacts at various levels," the Kremlin added.

In the meantime, the Armenian government’s press service said that the leaders touched upon the return of prisoners of war.

"In particular, the need for early repatriation of prisoners of war, hostages and other detainees was stressed on both sides," the Armenian cabinet’s press service said in a statement, adding that the two leaders also focused on bilateral cooperation and further development of allied cooperation.

 

Karabakh agreements

Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up, but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them.

On November 9, 2020 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. Under the deal, Azerbaijan and Armenia maintained the positions that they had held, Baku took control of some of the districts, and Russian peacekeepers were deployed along the contact line and to the Lachin corridor, which links Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia.

After Russian peacemakers had been deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh, the situation stabilized, as just one ceasefire violation has been reported since. Tens of thousands of Karabakh residents, who fled their homes over fighting, have come back assisted by the peacekeeping contingent.

On January 11, Putin, Aliyev and Pashinyan held talks in Moscow, initiated by the Russian leader. After the four-hour summit, they signed a joint statement establishing a working group chaired by deputy prime ministers of the three countries, which should focus on mending the transport and economic ties in the region.

Asbarez: Calif. Lawmakers Call for Release of ‘Illegally Held Armenian Hostages’

Suren Karakhanian

February 15,  2021



Members of the California Armenian Legislative Caucus signed letters to relevant international mediators calling on them to assist in the release of illegally held Armenian hostages currently in Azerbaijan and allow the soldiers to return home to Armenia and Artsakh.

The lawmakers addressed four separate letters to Nazhat Shameen Khan, President of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the three co-chairs of the OSCE Minks Group, Igor Popov of Russia, Stephane Visconte of France and Andres Schofer of the United States.

The California Armenian Legislative Caucus signed by senators Bob Archuleta, Andreas Borgeas, Brian Dahle, Anthony Portantino and Scott Wilk, as well as Assemblymembers Laura Friedman, Luz Rivas, and Adrin Nazarian.

The California Armenian Legislative Caucus said it “is deeply concerned for the well-being and safety of these Armenian individuals and ask you to demand for the release of the Armenian hostages and other detainees as well as the remains of the fatalities.”

Below is the complete text of the letter:

It is with great humanitarian concern that the California Armenian Legislative Caucus strongly urges you to demand and assist in the release of illegally held Armenian hostages currently in Azerbaijan and allow the soldiers to return home to Armenia and Artsakh. Azerbaijan has continued to block the timely return of Armenian captives, with reports of up to 150 soldiers still being held.

On September 27, 2020 Azerbaijan launched an unprovoked attack against the peaceful Republic of Artsakh (also known as Nagorno-Karabakh) by shelling military positions and innocent civilian populations indiscriminately. Turkey played an active role in supporting Azerbaijan’s aggression toward Artsakh by providing arms, logistical and communications support, and even transporting paid Jihadist mercenaries to Azerbaijan from Libya and the Turkish Syrian border. Armenia was forced to make significant concessions at the conclusion of the war. Furthermore, for more than a century, Turkey and Azerbaijan have maintained a violent history toward the Armenian people. Descendants of the Armenian Genocide continue to mourn the loss of 1.5 million ancestors murdered by the Turks and over 5,000 civilians and military personnel were killed in this conflict.

On November 9, 2020, a ceasefire was declared that called upon the mutual release and exchange of prisoners. Azerbaijan has not yet released the prisoners of war and innocent civilians that are being held captive. All persons were to be exchanged. Azerbaijan has a history of gruesome treatment and human rights violations of captives. So far, only 54 Armenians, both civilians and soldiers have been returned from Azerbaijani custody while the number of missing Armenians continues to grow. Even after the ceasefire, Armenian soldiers have been captured and Azerbaijan has failed to acknowledge these soldiers as prisoners of war and want to try them in Azerbaijan on criminal charges. Azerbaijani soldiers are continuing to break the ceasefire and capture innocent Armenian soldiers and hold them as hostages only to unfairly extort political and territorial demands.

We are deeply concerned for the well-being and safety of these Armenian individuals and ask you to demand for the release of the Armenian hostages and other detainees as well as the remains of the fatalities.

The California Armenian Legislative Caucus is a bi-partisan, non-political Caucus that serves as a forum for members from the California Senate and Assembly to identify key issues affecting Armenian Americans and develop and empower the Armenian American community throughout California.

The California Courier Online, February 18, 2021

Suren Karakhanian

1 -        Warning to Armenia’s Leaders:

            Don’t Fall in the Turkish Trap Again

            By Harut Sassounian

            Publisher, The California Courier

            www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

2-         “To Live and Not Forget” Holocaust memorial in Yerevan vandalized

3-         Armenia continues to fight COVID-19 pandemic

4-         Lucy Mirigian, Oldest SF Resident, Dies at 114

5-         Renowned Armenian-American Entertainer Guy Chookoorian Passes Away

6-         Diplomats Babayan, Nersesyan Address Assembly Biennial Meeting

7-         ANCA-WR Meets with Rep. Schiff, Sherman; CA State Senator Wilk

8-         Azerbaijan Holds Lebanese-Armenian woman captive

            as family seeks int'l intervention

9-         Tabibians Donate to Dzovinar Christian Education Project

10-       Head of Army War College Maranian suspended

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1 -        Warning to Armenia’s Leaders:

            Don’t Fall in the Turkish Trap Again

            By Harut Sassounian

            Publisher, The California Courier

            www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

Neither Armenia’s previous nor current leaders have had the adequate
experience to run a country.

This is true in both domestic and foreign policies. In order to
rectify this undesirable situation, some have suggested finding the
pertinent experts who would advise Armenia’s leaders. Regrettably, all
such efforts have failed for the simple reason that before the experts
could be helpful; the leaders have to be willing to listen to their
advice. My long experience in dealing with Armenia’s leaders has shown
that they think they know everything and have no need to learn from
anyone. This is one reason why the Republic of Armenia has been
mismanaged for 30 years. It is understandable that a leader does not
have to be knowledgeable about every issue. That is why he or she has
advisors. But when the advisors know even less than their leader, as
is the case in Armenia, the situation becomes hopeless.

I have written this lengthy introduction to make the point that in
addition to not knowing much and not listening to advice, Armenia’s
leaders refuse to learn from their past mistakes—which is the reason
why they repeat them.

One such example is the current discussion in Armenia and Turkey about
the possible opening of the Armenian-Turkish border, closed by Turkey
since 1993. Last week, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ara Aivazyan told
the members of Parliament: “There is no longer a reason [for Turkey]
to close the border with Armenia. For long years, Turkey blockaded
Armenia’s border, demanding a change in the status quo of the Artsakh
conflict. The status quo has been changed through the use of force.”
The Foreign Minister assured the Parliament that currently no
activities have been initiated in that regard.

The Armenian Foreign Minister’s statement comes on the heels of recent
expressions by the President and Foreign Minister of Turkey of their
willingness to open the border with Armenia, should the latter meet
certain conditions. In the past, Turkey’s reason for closing the
border was Armenia’s refusal to free “Azerbaijan’s occupied
territories.” Therefore, one would think that now that Azerbaijan has
forcefully occupied most of these territories, the problem is solved
and Turkey will open the border. However, let us remember that Turkey
had two additional conditions to open Armenia’s border:

1) Armenia must abandon its pursuit of the international recognition
of the Armenian Genocide;

2) Armenia must recognize Turkey’s current borders and not make any
territorial demands.

We all recall that back in 2009 after Armenia and Turkey signed the
Protocols to open their mutual border, Turkey made the additional
demands from Armenia. When Armenia refused to accept these new
conditions, Turkey decided not to ratify the Armenia-Turkey Protocols,
after coming under intense pressure from Azerbaijan.

At the time, there was a major outcry from the Diaspora and many
within Armenia that the Protocols were not in Armenia’s interests.
Nevertheless, President Serzh Sargsyan persisted in his misguided
approach, until Turkey gave up on the Protocols, inadvertently saving
Armenia’s interests.

The other major harmful effect of the Protocols was that it undermined
the pledge that Pres. Barack Obama had made to acknowledge the
Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2009.

The Protocols were a clever Turkish ploy to derail the acknowledgment
of Armenian Genocide by the President of the United States. The
Turkish leaders, with the collaboration of Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton, repeatedly told Pres. Obama not issue a statement recognizing
the Armenian Genocide at a time when Armenia and Turkey were engaged
in serious negotiations on normalizing their relations. They succeeded
in convincing Pres. Obama that using the term Armenian Genocide would
disrupt these negotiations. As a result, instead of keeping his
campaign pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide, Pres. Obama stated
on April 24, 2009: “I also strongly support the efforts by Turkey and
Armenia to normalize their bilateral relations. Under Swiss auspices,
the two governments have agreed on a framework and roadmap for
normalization. I commend this progress, and urge them to fulfill its
promise.”

It is true that Pres. Obama failed to keep his campaign promise, but
Armenia’s leaders are the ones who gave him the perfect excuse to hide
behind the charade of the Protocols. Consequently, Armenians lost both
the acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide by the President of the
United States and the opening of the border.

Regrettably, the same scenario is about to repeat again this year.
Pres. Joe Biden made a campaign promise to recognize the Armenian
Genocide. It should be much easier for him to take such a step now,
since both the House of Representatives (almost unanimously) and the
U.S. Senate (unanimously) acknowledged the Armenian Genocide in 2019.
While it is not certain that Pres. Biden will keep his promise, we
should not give him the excuse not to do so.

If the past is any indication, this is the exact ploy that Turkey is
plotting now. We know that the Biden Administration has a much harsher
position vis-à-vis Pres. Erdogan and Turkey. There are several
disputes between the United States and Turkey that will be difficult
to overcome. Knowing this well, Pres. Erdogan has started in recent
weeks to take steps to reconcile with Israel, Greece and Saudi Arabia
in order to ingratiate himself to Pres. Biden. Pres. Erdogan’s
suggestion to open the border with Armenia is a part of this overall
Turkish strategy.

In the aftermath of the disastrous Artsakh War, Armenia’s leaders
cannot afford to make more miscalculations. While most of Artsakh and
its surrounding territories are already lost, I hope the Armenian
Government does not make the mistake of providing an excuse for the
Biden Administration not to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. Even
more importantly, Armenia’s leaders should not take the unthinkable
step of pledging not to pursue the international recognition of the
Armenian Genocide and acknowledge the current borders of Turkey. Such
an acceptance would damage Armenia’s interests forever. How could
Armenia agree to such Turkish suggestions in the aftermath of the
vicious role played by Turkey in the recent Artsakh War, which
resulted in the killing and maiming of thousands of Armenian soldiers
and the occupation of Armenian territories? The wounds are too fresh
to contemplate any attempt to normalize relations with Turkey.

Armenia’s inexperienced leaders can find themselves in an untenable
situation if Turkey decides unilaterally to open its border, while
Armenia refuses to do so; giving Turkey accolades and making Armenia
seem obstructionist in the eyes of the international community.
Armenia’s situation will be further complicated should Turkey open its
border, whereas the Armenian Government just banned the import of
Turkish products for six months or longer. Should the border open and
Armenia allow the import of Turkish products, the Armenian market
would be flooded with cheaper Turkish products, adversely affecting
local manufacturers. One possible solution would be for Armenia,
instead of outright banning Turkish imports, to place such an
exorbitant tariff on them, making them practically unsaleable in the
country. By avoiding the ban, Armenia would not look bad in the eyes
of the world, while generating much needed revenue for the Armenian
Government, should anyone import Turkish goods.

In the meantime, Armenia should put its own conditions on Turkey
before agreeing to open its border, such as Turkish recognition of the
Armenian Genocide and compensation for the Armenian losses. Such a
move would contradict the positions of both Pres. Serzh Sargsyan and
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan who have expressed their readiness to
have Armenia ratify the ill-fated Protocols and open the border with
Turkey, without any preconditions!

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2-         “To Live and Not Forget” Holocaust memorial in Yerevan vandalized

(The Jerusalem Post)—The “To Live and Not Forget” Holocaust memorial
in the Armenian city of Yerevan was desecrated on February 12 with
paint sprayed all over the Hebrew writings, according to the Jerusalem
Post.

The memorial was built to honor both the Holocaust and the Armenian
Genocide victims and consists of two primary pillars, with “To Live
and Not Forget: To the Memory of the Victims of the Genocides of the
Armenian and Jewish Peoples” written in Armenian on the right pillar
and Hebrew on the left pillar.

Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan’s spokesperson Hakob Karapetyan strongly
condemned the desecration, noting that such incidents must be ruled
out in Yerevan “where representatives of various nations are living
side by side as Yerevantsis.”

“The desecration of any memorial is extremely unacceptable, moreover
the kind of memorials which are related to the minorities living in
the city. I think this problem should be solved through cooperation
with the law enforcement agencies,” Karapetyan said when asked about
actions for ruling out similar incidents in the future, given the fact
that this is already the second time this particular memorial is
targeted by vandals in the last few months, the Armenian Press website
reported.

Vice Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan from the ruling My Step bloc
strongly condemned the desecration of the Holocaust and Armenian
Genocide memorial in central Yerevan, the Armenian Press website also
reported.

“We strongly condemn the desecration of the memorial of the Genocides
of the Jewish and Armenian Peoples located in the Yerevan Circular
Park,” Simonyan said in a statement.

“This manifestation of vandalism is nothing else but a crime against
universal values, and it should be properly investigated, and those
who committed this crime should be held to account in order to rule
out and prevent the repetition of such incidents in the future,”
Simonyan said.

The World Jewish Congress reacted to the desecration on Twitter,
calling it “vile antisemitic graffiti.”It is horrible to see that the
#Holocaust memorial in Yerevan, Armenia was vandalized with vile
antisemitic graffiti. The vandalism was condemned by the city mayor,”
the WJC tweeted on February 12.

Among the many people who posted pictures on Twitter of the vandalized
memorial, Rabbi Zamir Isayev shared his consternation. “What a
disgrace! A monument to the victims of the Holocaust was once again
desecrated in Yerevan. Moreover, the vandals painted over exactly that
part of the monument, which was dedicated to the victims of the
Holocaust. #StopArmenianVandalism#stopArmenianNazism,” Isayev tweeted
on February 12.

Yerevan Police said an investigation was launched to identify the vandals.

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3 -        Armenia continues to fight COVID-19 pandemic

(Combined Sources)—EU and WHO/Europe join forces to support deployment
of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination in Armenia

The European Union and the WHO Regional Office for Europe will work
together in a major effort to support the deployment of COVID-19
vaccines and vaccination in Armenia. The project funded by the
European Union and implemented by WHO will cover all phases –
constituting “end-to-end” support – of COVID-19 vaccine deployment and
vaccination and will serve as a major investment to strengthen the
routine immunisation system.

The project will be implemented by WHO over a three-year period as
part of a €40 million European Union-funded initiative to support six
countries in the WHO European Region in preparing, deploying and
monitoring rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

“Vaccines bring us closer towards the end of the pandemic. However, we
will never beat the pandemic if the vaccination coverage concentrates
only in certain parts of the world. The European Union stands by
Armenia also during the process of vaccination to ensure we soon can
meet together without the fear for lives of ourselves and our close
ones. Together, we will beat this pandemic faster,” said the
Ambassador of the European Union to Armenia, Andrea Wiktorin.

“COVID-19 knows no borders; it unites and demands united solutions. It
is noteworthy that the solidarity principle made the world stand
together to fight this calamity in unity. The long-lasting cooperation
and the continuity of common projects between the Ministry of Health
of the Republic of Armenia, the European Union and the World Health
Organization is a valid proof for this. Throughout the pandemic, our
country faced yet another challenge. The disastrous war was a serious
ordeal not only for the state but also for the healthcare system.
Despite WHO’s urges to end the war, Armenia was forced to go through a
44-days long hell. Nevertheless, during the intensification of the
pandemic and the war, Armenia has always felt the results of the
strong support and cooperation. Even today, our colleagues are
standing strong next to us and are willing to assist in the process of
procuring vaccines. We are full of hope that “Health and Peace” joint
initiative will help member states endure all the challenges that this
pandemic has posed,” said Anahit Avanesyan, RA Minister of Health.

Egor Zaitsev, the WHO Representative and Head of the WHO Country
Office in Armenia, said: “Vaccines offer hope and protection to those
fighting on the frontlines of this pandemic and to those at highest
risk living in fear of its devastating impact. Thanks to this generous
support, WHO can strengthen its collaboration with the Government of
Armenia to ensure that vaccines can reach those who need them most, as
soon and as efficiently as possible.”

The funds will be used initially to support the first phase of
preparedness and deployment, with an emphasis on imminent needs in
strategic programmatic areas such as planning, equipment/supplies,
training of health workers and information campaigns.

The project builds on the European Union’s and WHO’s ongoing support
to countries’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the joint
€35 million EU Solidarity for Health Initiative, aimed to support the
partner countries in their fight against the virus and address better
the needs of the most vulnerable people.

Armenia in January announced plans to purchase thousands of doses
directly from its main ally, Russia. At the same time, Armenia made
advance payments to COVAX to procure vaccines for 300,000 people,
amounting to about 10 percent of its population.

In the meantime, Armenia continues to lean on its containment effort
to slow spread of the coronavirus. The nation extended on January 11
its lockdown measures for another six months, until July 11.

According to the Ministry of Health, there were 5,003 active
coronavirus cases in Armenia as of February 8. Armenia has recorded
169,255 coronavirus cases and 3,147 deaths; 161,105 have recovered.

**********************************************************************************************************************************************

4-         Lucy Mirigian, Oldest SF Resident, Dies at 114

(San Francisco Chronicle)—Lucy Mirigian, who enjoyed jigsaw puzzles,
good wine, good friends and confounding the U.S. government, has died.

“She wasn’t really sick,” her daughter, Sonia Mirigian-Koujakian,
said. “She died of being 114.”

Mirigian, who lived with her daughter and son-in-law in the same
Balboa Park house she bought in 1950, died Friday, February 12
surrounded by her family. She was believed to be the oldest person in
San Francisco.

She lived a full life, her family said, but didn’t really make news
until the U.S. government decided in 2017, without any apparent proof,
that she was already dead and no longer entitled to receive her
$377-a-month government pension. The government said she had not
responded to letters; Mirigian said she never got them.

It took the efforts of Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, to set things
right, just in time for a vacation to Calistoga that the family had
already booked and needed the money to pay for.

Her health was generally robust until very recently, her family said.

“Her blood pressure this week was 110 over 55,” her son-in-law, Jack
Koujakian, said. “That’s better than mine.”

In 2018, during a visit from Mayor London Breed, the two women chatted
about the various epidemics and pandemics Mirigian had survived —
there was a polio one and a typhoid one, in addition to the Spanish
Flu pandemic of 1918.

But she never got around to getting the COVID-19 vaccination she was
certainly qualified to receive, having exceeded the minimum age
requirement of 65 — by no less than 49 years.

“We just didn’t want to risk the side effects,” Mirigian-Koujakian
said. The pandemic, which restricted her visits from family and
friends, was especially frustrating.

In 1910, as a 4-year-old, Mirigian left her home in Armenia on the
back of a donkey. She crossed the Atlantic on a boat, made her way to
Fresno and attended Fresno State University. In San Francisco, she
raised a family, taught Sunday school, served as a PTA president, and
had a second career making elegant, elaborate sculptures from beads
and wire. Her husband of 40 years, Ashod, died in 1998.

For many years she worked as an assistant at the U.S Mint in San
Francisco. She retired about 60 years ago. That’s the job that the
federal pension was based on. Later on she no longer remembered
exactly what her duties involved.

Surviving are her daughter, Sonia Mirigian-Koujakian; her son-in-law,
Jack Koujakian, of San Francisco: and her son, Garo Mirigian, of
Fremont. She will be buried in the Ararat Armenian Cemetery of Fresno.
A memorial celebration will be held when the pandemic permits.

************************************************************************************************************************************************

5-         Renowned Armenian-American Entertainer Guy Chookoorian Passes Away

Guy (Gaidzog) Chookoorian, musician, actor, comedian and composer,
often referred to as America’s foremost Armenian American entertainer,
passed away on January 31, 2021, at the age of 97. Guy was born to
Roupen and Srpouhi Chookoorian on November 15, 1923, in Kenosha,
Wisconsin. Soon after, his family relocated to Waukegan, Illinois. As
a child, from the time Guy was very little, he was able to play the
harmonica and used to get up at the Armenian functions and play. When
he was 12 years old his family moved west to Fresno, California.
Roupen, an accomplished musician, composer and writer, was a shoe
maker by trade and opened his own shoe repair shop in Fresno. Srpouhi
performed her duties as a homemaker and also worked in the packing
houses and canneries to help with the finances of the household.

Guy and his sister Sue grew up and attended school in Fresno. Guy was
Student Body President of Fresno Technical High School in 1941.
Brother and sister were very active in the drama department. It was
during these years that Guy became interested in acting.

Guy learned to play the oud watching his father, when he played. Also
at a young age, he became familiar with the banjo, mandolin and
ukulele.

Guy’s first venture in the field of entertainment came in his
mid-teens when he and a classmate, Gilbert Abcarian, played cowboy
music and did comedy routines at six o’clock every other morning on a
Fresno radio station. The name of the program was the Valley Rancher,
and the duo went by the name Gil and Guy.

In 1942 after attending Fresno State College for a brief period, Guy
joined the United States Army Air Corps in October of that year.
During the war, he flew 32 bombing missions (25 over Germany and 7 in
France) as a radio operator-gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress. He was
awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 3 oak leaf
clusters, the European Theater of Operations Ribbon with 4 battle
stars; and his unit

received 2 Presidential citations. He is believed to be one of the few
American airmen to shoot down a German Me-163, a rocket-propelled
warplane. He was discharged from the Service in October of 1945. Most
recently, he was awarded The National Order of The Legion of Honor in
the rank of Chevalier (Knight). The medal is the highest honor France
bestows on its citizens and foreign nationals. Also, a video recorded
interview about his experiences in the war is now in the archives of
the Library of Congress.

After the war, Guy moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting.
He performed in numerous stage productions in Hollywood and received
rave reviews by the local theatre critics. At the same time, his band,
the Guy Chookoorian Orchestra, played Armenian and American music for
weddings, parties and special events throughout California.

In 1947 he startled the music community with his recording of his
Armenian translation of “Open the Door, Richard” (“Tooré Pats,
Dikran”). The record was on Guy’s own label, Lightning Records and
popular throughout North America and Lebanon. This was followed by his
Armenian translation of “Mule Train” (“Choriner”), “The Ballad of Davy
Crockett” (“Davit Amoo”), “Come on-a My House” (“Yegoor Eem Doonus”),
“Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette” (“Dzukhé, Dzukhé, Dzukhé”) and
many others.

In 1958 as the bellydance craze began to catch on, Guy started working
the local restaurants and night clubs. His big break came in 1963 when
they needed a Middle Eastern act to work the lounge at the Flamingo
Hotel in Las Vegas. A multi-instrumentalist, Guy played the oud,
bouzouki, guitar, mandolin, banjo, violin and bass throughout his
career. He was recognized as a talented comedian along with being an
exceptional musician.

For over 5 decades, Guy worked in every aspect of the entertainment
business.He appeared and worked in nearly 80 television shows and
motion pictures as a musician, actor, vocalist, comedian, and composer
of ethnic music. His live Middle-Eastern show enjoyed long-running
residencies in Las Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe and Los Angeles.
Additionally, the show toured across the United States and Canada.

Guy’s television and film credits include, Columbo, Fight Club, I Spy,
General Hospital, The Lucy Show, Charlie’s Angels, Ironside, Full
House, Disney’s The Black Cauldron, Baretta, Barefoot in the Park,
Police Woman, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young and the Restless,
The Postman Always Rings Twice, Protocol, Masada, Lou Grant,

Barnaby Jones, The Love Boat, and scores more.

In 1951 Guy married Louise (Bogosian) Paul.

Guy and Louise served as choir director and organist of the Immanuel
Armenian Congregational Church for more than fifty years.

Louise and Guy had two children; son, Arshag and daughter, Araxie,
both of whom performed, recorded and toured with their father.

Arshag is married to Sona Batalian from Boston and they are the
parents of twin boys, Armen and Ara. Araxie is married to Michael
Marderosian, and is active as a singer and vocal coach. Their daughter
Ani, is an active, critically acclaimed, in demand actress, director,
and in Southern California, thus continuing the family’s long history
in the field of theatre and music.

Guy continued entertaining and performing into his late eighties. In
the early 2000s, Chookoorian released three CDs on his Lightning
Record label.

In his final years, Guy loved to reminisce about his life, his family
and his countless experiences in the entertainment field. With all of
his accomplishments, the things he cherished most were his family, his
God, and his country. Guy fulfilled his childhood dream of bringing
happiness to thousands through his music, comedy and performances.

***********************************************************************************************************************************************

6-         Diplomats Babayan, Nersesyan Address Assembly Biennial Meeting

Assembly Co-Chairs Van Krikorian and Anthony Barsamian paid special
attention to the subject of jihadist mercenaries, transported by
Turkey and financed by Azerbaijan, to fight against the Armenian
people in the Artsakh war. These actions by Turkey and Azerbaijan
violate the letter and spirit of U.S. anti-terrorism laws.

Ambassador Nersesyan expressed his gratitude to the Assembly and to
the diaspora, in general, for its productive humanitarian fundraising
efforts, which, he repeated, are “immensely appreciated” by the people
and governments of Armenia and Artsakh, and underlined the importance
of transparency and accountability. He also underscored the unity and
determination demonstrated by the Armenian people.

The Ambassador explained that the priority of the Armenian Embassy is
to strengthen ties with the new Administration, highlighting President
Biden’s commitment to democracy and human rights, and his
long-standing support of Armenian Genocide affirmation.

Despite the current challenges, Ambassador Nersesyan shared that
Armenia and Artsakh are focused on “healing the wounds of the war” and
“restoring our path towards growth and development.” According to the
IMF and World Bank, Armenia was on track for double-digit economic
growth prior to the war’s outbreak.

“I believe in the strength of our people to move forward in this very
difficult situation,” he said. “Armenia’s security is inseparable from
the security of Artsakh, and we cannot see the future of Armenia
without the future of Artsakh.”

Ambassador Nersesyan also emphasized the pressing importance of the
unconditional release of Armenian prisoners of war and civilian
captives currently held by Azerbaijan. He added that the POWs are
being kept as “pawns and hostages” by the Azerbaijani government as it
mislabels them as “criminals and terrorists.” Ambassador Nersesyan
deemed this as “unacceptable behavior.”

In his remarks, Artsakh Foreign Minister Babayan reflected on the
losses caused by the war and especially the loss of innocent lives. He
also encouraged continued close cooperation with the diaspora.

Babayan noted the important issue of extending support to the native
population remaining in Artsakh, as they face enormous challenges and
urgent humanitarian needs.

Upon the conclusion of the briefings, Co-Chair Anthony Barsamian
thanked Foreign Minister Babayan and Ambassador Nersesyan for their
service to Artsakh and Armenia – respectively. Assembly Co-Chair Van
Krikorian emphasized that “now is the time to stand up and rebuild.”
Co-Chair Barsamian strongly concurred and again thanked all of the
Assembly’s supporters, donors and activists.

Echoing their words, Assembly President and Armenia Tree Project
founder, Carolyn Mugar, stressed the importance of remaining committed
to addressing the current challenges. “If there ever was a reason why
we are here, it is now,” she said.

Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny provided an overview of the
Assembly’s 2020 activities and programs – from congressional relations
and grassroots advocacy to public affairs and the Assembly’s
internship programs – as well as coalition-building in both the
Armenian and non-Armenian communities.

Looking ahead, Ardouny announced that the Assembly’s annual National
Advocacy Conference will take place virtually in March 2021. “We are
reaching out to the new Administration, as well as to the new
Congress. Everyone is motivated and committed to helping the people of
Armenia and Artsakh,” Ardouny stated.

Assembly Treasurer Oscar Tatosian reviewed the financial, audit, and
endowment reports. Krikorian emphasized that the Assembly’s Board
“prides ourselves on our transparency” and noted that the Board
requested a full audit from the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund for
donations received during the war, including the Assembly’s $2.1
million contribution to Armenia Fund, Inc.

In closing, Krikorian shared information about Columbia University’s
Institute for the Study of Human Rights, led by David L. Phillips,
which recently launched a website that records the atrocities waged
against Artsakh by Azerbaijan and Turkey.

During the meeting, the Trustees confirmed the election of the
following Board Members to serve a four-year term effective 1/1/2020
through 12/31/2023: Anthony Barsamian, Van Krikorian, Lisa Kalustian,
Ani Yeramyan Speirs, and Talin Yacoubian. The Assembly’s full Board of
Trustees includes Anthony Barsamian, Co-Chairman; Van Krikorian,
Co-Chairman; Carolyn Mugar, President; Robert A. Kaloosdian,
Counselor; Oscar Tatosian, Treasurer; Bianka Kadian-Dodov, Secretary &
Assistant Treasurer; Lisa Kalustian, Assistant Secretary; Aram Gavoor;
Alex Karapetian; Lu Ann Ohanian; Toros Sahakian; Ani Yeramyan Speirs;
Joyce Stein; Annie Simonian Totah; and Talin Yacoubian, along with
Mark Momjian as Solicitor.

************************************************************************************************************************************************

7-         ANCA-WR Meets with Rep. Schiff, Sherman; CA State Senator Wilk

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR)
Board of Directors, regional and national staff, as well as local ANCA
chapter leaders held a productive meeting with Rep. Adam Schiff
(D-CA-28); Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA-30), a member of the Congressional
Armenian Caucus;  and CA State Senator Scott Wilk (R-21).

ANCA-WR briefed Schiff on the latest developments in the region
following the Turkish-Azerbaijani aggression and 44-day war waged
against Artsakh and Armenia with the assistance of terrorist
mercenaries from Syria. Chief among the topics discussed were the
issues relating to the deployment of immediate U.S. humanitarian aid
to Armenia and Artsakh, strict enforcement of Section 907 of the
Freedom Support Act as well as sanctions and other punitive measures
against Turkish and Azerbaijani regimes, and the immediate return of
Armenian POWs still in Azerbaijani captivity.

“Congressman Schiff is one of the most knowledgeable and committed
legislators we have representing our community in the federal
government. He has championed all aspects of the Armenian Cause in
Congress and through the media, and we are grateful to enjoy a close
partnership with him and his office throughout his 20 year
Congressional tenure, especially as he successfully led the passage of
the resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA-WR Chair
Nora Hovsepian.

In October 2020, Schiff called for the formal U.S. recognition of the
Republic of Artsakh, in a statement entered into the official
Congressional Record. He reiterated his position in a recent op-ed
published in the San Francisco Chronicle and co-authored with Rep.
Jackie Speier.

Schiff has consistently received an “A+” rating from the ANCA.

The board also met with Rep. Brad Sherman. “We are grateful for the
many years of friendship that our community and our organization have
enjoyed with the Congressman and look forward to working together to
meet today’s pressing challenges posed by Turkey and Azerbaijan to the
U.S. national interests in the South Caucasus as well as further
developing the U.S.-Armenia strategic partnership,” said Hovsepian.

Year after year, Sherman has consistently received an “A+” rating from
the ANCA and was the 2016 recipient of the ANCA-WR Advocate for
Justice award.

The board also met with Rep. Wilk. Earlier in January, the ANCA-WR
Board had addressed a congratulatory letter to Sen. Wilk on being
unanimously voted in as the new Minority Leader of the California
State Senate Republican Caucus.

“We appreciate Senator Wilk’s leadership in the CA state legislature
on matters of critical importance to our community and look forward to
building on this strong foundation moving into a new legislative
session,” said Hovsepian.

Endorsed by the ANCA-WR for the 2020 and prior elections, Senator Wilk
traveled to Armenia and Artsakh as part of the ANCA-WR’s delegation in
2013. He is also a member of the bipartisan State Senate Select
Committee on California, Armenia and Artsakh Mutual Trade, Art and
Cultural Exchange chaired by Senator Anthony Portantino (D-25), as
well as being a founding member of the California Legislative Caucus
on Armenian Issues.

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8-         Azerbaijan Holds Lebanese-Armenian woman captive

            as family seeks int'l intervention

By Kareem Chehayeb

(Middle East Eye)— Representatives of the International Committee of
the Red Cross on February 12 visited Maral Najarian, who is in
captivity in Azerbaijan, and reported information to Najarian’s
family, Maral’s sister, Ani told News.am.

Ani said the representatives had told her that Maral is fine. She
refuted the news spread on social networks according to which Maral
has been released and urged people to not spread fake news.

Maral Najarian was captured on November 10 in Berdzor. The European
Court of Human Rights had confirmed that Maral was a captive in
Azerbaijan. Maral is a dual citizen of Lebanon and Armenia.

For Maral Najarian, moving to Armenia was supposed to be a dream come true.

The 49-year-old Lebanese-Armenian moved last August from economically
shattered Lebanon, hoping to find a better future and financial
stability in a place she felt an attachment to.

But on arrival to Yerevan, Armenian authorities encouraged her to sign
up to a settlement program in the disputed area of Nagorno-Karabakh,
which soon after she set up home there became embroiled in a ferocious
six-week conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

On November 10, Najarian and family friend Viken Euljekian went
missing on their way out of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Three months later, her siblings both in Beirut and Yerevan suspect
she’s in an Azerbaijani prison and fear for her life—as they accuse
authorities both in Lebanon and Armenia of not doing enough to help
get her released.

Najarian, a hairdresser in Beirut widowed three years ago, had long
had plans to relocate with her family and some of her seven siblings
to Armenia. She lived in Fanar, around 10km away from the port of
Beirut, feeling the impact of the August 4, 2020, explosion there from
her home.

Her sister, Ani Najarian, now based in the Armenian capital Yerevan,
said that they had plans to leave Lebanon well before the blast, due
to the country’s roiling economic crisis.

“We want security. We’ve been living for 30 years in war, humiliation
and filth,” Ani told MEE. “We thought we’d go back to our motherland
and perhaps we would be taken care of.”

Maral and Ani Najarian left on August 25 for Armenia. Najarian’s
family said she had sold the car and left some money for her two adult
children before leaving, as they planned on eventually joining her.

A few weeks after arriving in Armenia, the two sisters were able to
claim Armenian citizenship. It was there that they discovered a
resettlement program in Nagorno-Karabakh for ethnic Armenians.

The Artsakh Republic allocated about $85m to support the resettlement
of Lebanese Armenians there, similar to past initiatives for Armenians
who fled the Syrian conflict years ago.

It was a no-brainer for the Najarians; they applied and received approval.

The sisters weren’t concerned about the tensions in the region—but did
not expect the six-week war that followed.

The sisters had been staying temporarily at a hotel in the Lachin
district. As air strikes and shelling got closer, they decided to go
back to Armenia.

“We went back to Yerevan with a small bag with just a few things, as
we were told it would just take a few days for things to cool down,”
Ani told MEE.

Accompanied by Eujelkian, a fellow Lebanese-Armenian who had
volunteered to fight against Azerbaijani forces for a week, Maral
Najarian headed back to the hotel in Karabakh that same day to gather
the rest of the family’s belongings.

Ani last heard from her sister while they were close to the border, an
hour or so away from the hotel in Lachin.

“The last thing Maral told me was that they were on their way and were
in Goris,” in southern Armenia, she said. “There was no communication
in Karabakh because power and communications were cut off.”

The pair never returned home, and have not been heard from to this day.

Najarian’s family—both in Yerevan and Beirut—say they have been let
down by both Lebanese and Armenian authorities.

In Beirut, Najarian’s sister and brother Sossi and Vartan submitted a
report to the Lebanese Foreign Ministry on November 17, and haven’t
heard back from them since.

Both Lebanon’s head of consular affairs, George Abouzeid—to whom the
Najarians addressed their statement—and Lebanese caretaker Foreign
Minister Charbel Wehbe did not respond to repeated requests for
comment from MEE by the time of publication.

Unlike Armenia, Lebanon has diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan and
an Azerbaijani embassy near the capital.

MEE also contacted the Azerbaijan embassy in Lebanon for a statement
but only got a response after publication.

The Azerbaijani foreign ministry confirmed to MEE that Maral Najarian
was arrested alongside Viken Euljekchian, who is held on multiple
charges, including “terrorism”.

It did not respond to questions about what Najarian was accused of or
charged for, and where she is being held.

“At the same time, Najarian Maralle Ohannes, who has an unofficial
marriage with Viken Euljekchian, is currently detained in the Republic
of Azerbaijan,” the foreign ministry said. “All necessary measures
have been taken to ensure her safety and medical care.”

In Yerevan, Ani reached out to the Lebanese embassy, which recommended
that their Armenian counterparts handle the case, given that Najarian
is bi-national and went missing on Armenian territory.

She also called a handful of Armenian state institutions and
ministries to mobilise for Najarian’s return, to no avail.

“Want to know what the joke is?” an outraged Ani said. “You contact
the Defence Ministry, the Lebanese embassy, or anyone else and they
say, ‘Yes madame, do you have any updates for us?’”

One Armenian MP, Tatevik Hayrapetyan, has called for Najarian’s
release in a tweet. She did not respond to repeated inquiries from MEE
about Armenia’s efforts to secure her release.

The Najarians reached out to human rights lawyer Arman Tatoyan, who
heads Human Rights Defender of Armenia, a governmental commission, who
forwarded the matter to the European Court of Human Rights.

On December 2, Eujelkian, who went missing with Najarian, was charged
by Azerbaijan’s State Security Service of “terrorism”, illegal border
crossing and the transfer of weapons, and for being part of an illicit
armed group. Though Najarian was not a combatant, her family worries
she might face a similar fate, given her dual citizenship.

“We are scared for Maral’s life,” Ani told MEE. “What have they done
to her to not have a doctor examine her and send us the results to
guarantee if she’s okay or not?”

This article appeared in Middle East Eye on February 9, 2021.

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9-         Tabibians Donate to Dzovinar Christian Education Project

Dr. Neshan Tabibian and his son Dr. Hagop Tabibian (of Burbank,
California), Associate Professor at the UCLA Medical School have made
a donation of $35,000 to rehabilitate the Christian Education Building
of Dzovinar in Geghargunik Mars of Armenia for the use of over 100
children who daily come for Christian Education instruction.

Fr. Kevork Ter Parseghyan, the Parish Priest in charge of this
Christian Education Project started teaching the students in a home in
Dzovinar. As the number of students grew the city gave the Project a
building that needed a great deal of repair to make it usable. Over
the years parishioners of St. Paul Armenian church and other parishes
in the United States helped to fund some improvements to the building
and the play yard.

Dr. Neshan Tabibian visited Dzovinar and was very impressed with how
the children were learning under difficult conditions and as a result
he and his son decided to create a modern and safe environment for the
children to learn in every day after school.

With the generous $35,000 contribution that the doctors made in the
past year, the project truly came to reality. The painting and repair
of all floors and walls, windows, electrical, etc. quickly took place.
Once that phase was completed, then desks, chairs, computers,
bookcases and all other furniture needed to make the classrooms and
meeting hall totally usable were placed in the building in their
appropriate rooms. Today, each day after school students from
elementary to high school age gather to use the facilities to learn
more about their Armenian Christian beliefs.

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10-       Head of Army War College Maranian suspended

By Ellen Mitchell

(The Hill)—The Army has suspended the head of the U.S. Army War
College, the service announced Tuesday, February 9 citing a matter it
said was unrelated to his role.

Maj. Gen. Stephen Maranian “has been suspended from his duties as the
Commandant” of the school, Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said in a
statement.

“This matter is under investigation and unrelated to his current
position,” she added.

No further details were given about the investigation or why he was suspended.

Maranian had been at the Carlisle, Pa., institution for less than a
year, after he took over as commandant on July 30. Before that, he was
the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center’s deputy commanding general for
education and the provost of the Army University at Fort Leavenworth
in Kansas.

The Army War College provides graduate-level education to senior
military officers and civilians heading to senior leadership
assignments and responsibilities.

Maj. Gen. David Hill, deputy chief of engineers and deputy commanding
general for the Army Corps of Engineers, will take over as the acting
commandant.

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Russian de-miners cleared nearly 1191,3 hectares of land in Nagorno Karabakh

Suren Karakhanian

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 13:47, 8 February, 2021

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. The specialists of the International Mine Action Center of the Russian defense ministry continue demining works in the territory of Nagorno Karabakh, the Russian defense ministry reports.

The engineering units of the Russian peacekeeping forces have already cleared nearly 1191,3 hectares of land, 352 km long roads. 24,181 explosive devices were found and neutralized.

In the course of demining and clearing the territory of explosive objects in Nagorno Karabakh, Russian peacekeepers use modern robotic systems.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Turkish Press: Armenia says must normalize ties with Turkey to guarantee own security

Suren Karakhanian

Yeni Şafak, Turkey
Feb 11 2021


Armenia says must normalize ties with Turkey to guarantee own security

News Service 14:50 February 11, 2021

Armenia says must normalize ties with Turkey to guarantee own security

Armenia must do everything to guarantee the country’s security, including normalizing ties with Ankara, Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyan said on Wednesday, as the fallout from Yerevan’s humiliating defeat against Azerbaijan in Karabakh continues to send shockwaves across the country.

Ayvazyan, in an address to parliament, also underscored the need to reopen borders with Turkey, noting that keeping them closed “makes no sense anymore,” according to TASS news.

“Keeping Armenia’s borders with Turkey closed serves no purpose,” Ayvazyan said as he called on ties with Turkey to be normalized.

Ayvazyan also reportedly expressed concern over the joint Turkey-Azerbaijan military exercises as the two nations boost military cooperation.

In December 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country could open its borders to Armenia, if Yerevan takes steps toward regional peace.

"We have no grudge against the people of Armenia. The problem is with the Armenian administration. Over 100,000 Armenians live in my country," he said.

Out of solidarity with Azerbaijan, Turkey closed its borders with Armenia in 1993 and has refused to re-establish diplomatic relations since then.

Nationwide demonstrations have been raging in Armenia with protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan who admitted defeat following a conflict with Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

During the 44-day conflict in Karabakh, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages, while at least 2,802 of its soldiers were martyred. There are differing claims about the number of casualties on the Armenian side, which, sources and officials say, could be up to 5,000.

The two countries signed a Russian-brokered agreement on Nov. 10 to end fighting and work toward a comprehensive resolution.

A joint Turkish-Russian center is being established to monitor the truce, and Russian peacekeeping troops have also been deployed in the region.

The cease-fire is seen as a victory for Azerbaijan and a defeat for Armenia, whose armed forces have withdrawn in line with the agreement. Violations, however, have been reported in the past few weeks, with some Armenian soldiers said to have been hiding in the mountainous enclave.

Armenia highlights the need for well-defined objectives that contribute to the prevention of genocide

Suren Karakhanian
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 11 2021

Armenia believes that it’s necessary to set well-defined and measurable objectives that contribute to the prevention of genocide, Armenia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Office at Geneva Andranik Hovhannisyan said at the Intersessional Meeting of the Human Rights Council on the Prevention of Genocide, which was mandated by the HRC resolution 43/29 initiated by Armenia and unanimously adopted in 2020.

The Ambassador said “Never Again” is not just a promise uttered but an action fulfilled for the sake of a world free of the most heinous crimes known to humankind.

“It is not a naïve appeal to reform the conduct of human beings and their morality, rather an effort to ensure that national and international actors abide by the common rules and standards whenever they identify that humanity and morality are degraded to an extent that may lead to crimes against humanity,” he noted.

“The recent violence that unfolded in our region, recalling the horrors of past atrocities, has once again demonstrated the need to identify failures and challenges faced by international mechanisms to effectively counter the odious scourge from its inception. The #HRC resolution 43/29 has identified that justification, biased accounts or denial of past instances of genocide may increase the risk of reoccurrence of violence. It further identified genocide denial as a form of hate speech,” Amb. Hovhannisyan said.

“The primary focus of the consistent international action against the hate speech – and genocide denial as a distinct form of it – should address all instances of genocide denial that is initiated, supported, and induced by a State. Involvement of a State in promulgation of such ideas and theories through textbooks and official, government-sponsored historical societies, absence of a proper reaction by the authorities to hate speech are clear signs and early warning signals of an imminent and looming threat. Such a conduct by a State is a continuous violation of human rights of victims and their descendants. Moreover, that is a clear indication that no meaningful action has been taken to guarantee non-recurrence of the genocidal acts. The descendants of perpetrators do not bear the guilt until they choose to justify it and identify themselves with it. Hence, it is of utmost importance to put an end to impunity as an effective tool for ensuring prevention,” he stated.

He stressed the need to set well-defined and measurable objectives that contribute to the prevention of Genocide. “One of such objectives would be universalization of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. We made it a standing recommendation that Armenia delivers in the framework of the Universal Periodic Review. We believe that with every new State acceding to the Convention one more step is being made towards prevention of genocide.”