Author: Varazdat Torgomian

Armenia fears Azerbaijani invasion ‘within weeks’

Varazdat Torgomian
Brussels Signal
Oct 6 2023

Azerbaijan will follow up the capitulation of Nagorno-Karabakh with an attack on Armenia itself, Tigran Balayan tells Brussels Signal.

Tadhg Pidgeon

The Armenian ambassador-designate to the EU says his country expects Azerbaijan to invade “within weeks.”

Azerbaijan will follow up the capitulation of Nagorno-Karabakh with an attack on Armenia itself, Tigran Balayan says.

In an interview with Brussels Signal, Mr Balayan said that Azerbaijani promises to respect international law are hollow.

“We are now under imminent threat of invasion into Armenia”, he said.

The central problem was that President Ilham Aliyev has not yet met any concrete repercussions for what the Armenian ambassador-designate said were his expansionist plans.

There would be no stopping Azerbaijan if it “will not be confronted with very practical steps taken by the so-called collective West”.

This follows the Azerbaijani attack on Nagorno-Karabakh in mid-September. The region was an enclave of ethnic Armenians within Azerbaijani territory, but was ruled by the Armenia-backed breakaway Republic of Artsakh.

Following what Azerbaijan dubbed a “counter-terrorist operation”, Nagorno-Karabkah capitulated and there followed a mass exodus of the over 100,000 Armenians living there.

Now Armenia claims that President Aliyev intends to come for more. Specifically the Zangezur corridor, which separates Azerbaijan proper from its Nakhchivan enclave.

While the Azerbaijani Ambassador told Brussels Signal that his country has no designs on Armenia’s internationally-recognised territory, Balayan believed this was bluff.

He cited President Aliyev’s previous statements that Azerbaijan would “chase the Armenians like dogs”. Aliyev is also reported by Reuters to have claimed the Zangezur was historical Azerbaijani land in a recent meeting with Turkey’s President Erdoğan.

Balayan told this website that there were very “practical” measures the EU could take to confront Azerbaijan and President Aliyev.

He suggested the EU must give Aliyev a deadline to withdraw his army from the Armenian border region, and to suspend Azerbaijan’s visa-free travel agreement with the EU if he failed to comply. He also said that “individual sanctions can send a clear message.”

This follows a a similar resolution made by the European Parliament on October 5th.

MEPs called on the EU to suspend its current energy and visa agreements with the EU.

The full interview with Ambassador-designate Tigran Balayan will be available on the Brussels Signal website and Youtube channel on Monday October 9.

 



Big leaps to escape Russia’s orbit

Varazdat Torgomian 
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/the-monitors-view/2023/1004/Big-leaps-t__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!tU6aF9EU86RS9o5X7UGYdmJgBFehaIJjmYL_IxaGd_SJRI6jJmVBeHV7twP0wE43LXjkXeXCCTqV7rhUGQ$
 
o-escape-Russia-s-orbit 



Armenia joins the International Criminal Court, the latest move among former
Soviet states to affirm civic principles different from the Kremlin's.

By the Monitor's Editorial Board
October 4, 2023

The Soviet Union, with its 15 states, collapsed more than three decades ago.
Yet for 14 of those states, the struggle to escape Russia's orbit and
autocratic ways continues. The latest example is Armenia. Its parliament
voted Tuesday to join the International Criminal Court, joining 123 other
nations and obligating Armenia to arrest Russian leader Vladimir Putin on
war crime charges if he sets foot in the country.

Like most former Soviet states, Armenia was shocked at last year's invasion
of Ukraine. It also saw how Russia, a treaty ally, failed last month to
prevent Azerbaijan from taking by force an ethnic Armenian enclave within
the recognized Azerbaijani border. Joining the International Criminal Court
is Armenia's way to deal with both events.

"Large parts of Armenian society, particularly young people, feel betrayed
by Moscow and will probably drift out of Russia's sphere of influence,"
writes Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in
Berlin, in the Financial Times.

As former Soviet states keep making moves to distance themselves from
Moscow, Mr. Putin is becoming more isolated. In September, he was forced to
visit the pariah state of North Korea to ask for military aid. "The world is
getting smaller for the autocrat in the Kremlin," said Ursula von der Leyen,
president of the European Commission.

Since the Ukraine invasion, Moldova has beefed up its defenses against
Russian disinformation. In the Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan, many
parents worry that Russian-language schools will teach Kremlin propaganda.
Other countries in that region have sought to broaden ties with the West. In
New York last month, Joe Biden became the first American president to meet
the heads of state of the five Central Asian countries - Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Last year, many of
those states welcomed tens of thousands of young Russian men fleeing the
military draft.

In Kazakhstan, Russia's war in Ukraine "has been jarring for many Kazakhs,
including those whose first language is Russian," sociologist Azamat
Junisbai told The Beet news site. As a result, many Russian speakers in
Kazakhstan are learning the Kazakh language in a sign of civil loyalty.

"The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine showed how values of
democracy and civic engagement can unite people of different backgrounds and
overcome heavy colonial legacies," Botakoz Kassymbekova, a historian at the
University of Basel, told The Beet. "Kazakh Russians play a pivotal role in
post-colonial healing and a decolonized future, just as those who identify
themselves as Kazakhs do."

The responses to Russia's aggression vary in its borderland states. Yet
almost all are affirming an independence within even as they cope with a
threat without.

Festival celebrates Armenian filmmaking

Varazdat Torgomian
Daily Trojan
Sept 12 2023

The Armenian Film Society premiered the Armenian Film Festival last week.

By TINA TER-AKOPYAN

Eight years after the Armenian Genocide of 1915 left more than one million Armenians dead or displaced, Armenia looked toward the power of film to reestablish the country’s culture and heal its wounds. 

The establishment of the Armenian State Committee of Cinema in 1923 heralded a robust era of filmmaking in the nation. While Armenian filmmakers faced restrictions from the Soviet Union, they did not stop sharing stories, which continue to shape Armenian filmmakers today.

Now, a century later, hundreds gathered in Glendale from Sept. 6 to 10 to celebrate the legacy of Armenian cinema as part of the inaugural Armenian Film Festival, launched by the Armenian Film Society, a non-profit organization raising awareness about Armenian filmmakers. 

“[This] film festival is a celebration, but it’s also an opportunity to better highlight Armenia as a country [and] as a culture,” said Armen Karaoghlanian, School of Cinematic Arts alum and co-founder of the Armenian Film Society.

Armen and his wife Mary started AFS in 2015. By hosting Q&A events and posting on social media about Armenian filmmakers in the industry, AFS established its presence across the Armenian diaspora. 

As support for AFS grew, the couple wanted to find more impactful ways to bring the community together and spotlight Armenian artists, leading to the conception of the Armenian Film Festival.

“We decided to do this, mainly because we felt like we were lacking a film festival in L.A. that is for Armenians, by Armenians [and] about Armenians,” Karaoghlanian said. “We’ve been very intentional in the programming in that we want there to be a variety of stories, all windows into who we are as people.”

The festival opened at the historic Alex Theatre with the premiere of Emmy-award winning actor and director Michael Goorjian’s film “Amerikatsi,” providing audiences with a “window” into the Armenian experience. 

“Amerikatsi,” which translates to “The American,” portrays a period of repatriation in Soviet Armenia. Charlie, the titular Amerikatsi played by Goorjian, returns to Armenia but finds himself stuck in prison because of miscommunication. Here, he gazes into the home of an Armenian couple from his prison window and discovers the beauty of his culture. 

“Every Armenian truth from our past to our present [are connected] into one emotional beautiful experience,” said Serj Tankian, System of a Down musician and executive producer on the film, during a post-screening discussion. 

These thematic strains of resilience and community reappeared throughout the festival. Filmmakers Milena Mooradian and Avo John Kambourian cited the strong bond of the Armenian community as inspirations for their short films shown on the festival’s third day. 

“The strength and resilience and community is so innate [among Armenians]. That emphasis really inspired me to bring more people together to talk about things people don’t usually want to talk about.” said Mooradian, a third-generation Armenian American discussing the inspirations behind her short film “Cycles,” a Student Academy Award semifinalist. 

“Cycles” is a surrealist exploration of the menstruation cycle’s innate connection to the natural world. Mooradian wanted to foster more open conversations about womanhood with this film. 

“There’s definitely a macho attitude, not just among Armenian [men] but men in general. I want them to see the film and recognize the power and beauty of what women hold,” Mooradian said.

From a young age, Kambourian, a recent MFA graduate from SCA, was motivated to pursue a career in filmmaking by the Armenian community. 

“I was always inspired by the stories that I would hear from my parents or my friends,” Kambourian said. “Seeing an Armenian name in the credits is [also] very inspiring because it says ‘Oh, I can do that too.’” 

Now, Kambourian finds his name on the silver screen, as he presents his short documentary film, “Echoes of Kef Time” which documents renowned Armenian American musician Richard Hagopian’s journey in passing down the folk music, known as “Kef,” to his grandchildren following his footsteps.

Recipient of Best Documentary Film at the USC Industry Relations Awards, “Echoes of Kef Time” represents a specific Armenian experience that also resonates across cultural boundaries. 

“The message is that we survive by culture,” Kambourian said. “Whether what’s happening in Artsakh right now [or] what happened during the Soviet Union collapse … we’ve always come out of it with a lot of culture and self-reflection.”

The Armenian Film Festival served as an opportunity for self-reflection in the Armenian community. From a book signing with legendary filmmaker Howard Kazanjian to countless  screenings to a closing night conversation with SCA alum and producer Sev Ohanian, the festival highlighted the diversity and creativity of the Armenian diaspora. 

“Hopefully [audiences] can walk away with a better understanding of who Armenians are because they might hear about the struggles we are going through, [but] I can’t think of a better way to really understand the [Armenian] people than through film,” Karaoghlanian said. 


https://dailytrojan.com/2023/09/12/festival-celebrates-armenian-filmmaking/

Armenian, Chinese academies of sciences sign memorandum of cooperation

Varazdat Torgomian

 13:49,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and the Chinese Academy of Sciences on Monday signed a memorandum of cooperation to strengthen partnership.

The academies will develop cooperation in joint research, exchange of researchers, participation in scientific meetings, organizing joint forums and seminars and exchange of information and scientific publications.

The agreement was signed by National Academy of Sciences President Ashot Saghyan and Chinese Academy of Sciences Vice President Yaping Zhang.

Saghyan, noting that he has over 20 years of experience in cooperating with his Chinese colleagues, said that there is great potential to enhance partnership.

“China attaches great importance to cooperation with other countries, particularly Armenia, and we attach importance to the signing of this agreement,” Yaping Zhang said.

Photos by Mkhitar Khachatryan




Digital Turbine, Google Cloud, SADA expand cooperation, Armenian team also involved

Varazdat Torgomian

 15:31,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Digital Turbine, Google Cloud, and SADA announced that they have expanded and extended their partnership for strategic services and solutions on Google Cloud. Another step in the multi-year partnership, the renewal will accelerate Digital Turbine's pace of innovation and scale even further, a press release published on Yahoo Finance says.

Under the renewed contract, the parties will continue to collaborate on several key initiatives that will include leveraging Google Cloud's advancements in Data, AI, and ML to further elevate Digital Turbine's capabilities and modernize the company’s existing platforms, reduce operational complexity, and optimize processes.

The SADA Armenia team of Google Cloud-certified experts was also involved in the work with Digital Turbine. Overall, SADA employs eight Google Certified Fellows, a program that recognizes individuals with deep technical expertise who can translate business requirements into technical solutions using Anthos and Google Cloud.

“SADA is proud to be Digital Turbine's trusted advisor and partner on their cloud transformation journey. We've worked collaboratively with their teams to help take their business to the next level while exceeding their business goals,” said Miles Ward, Chief Technology Officer at SADA.

“Our engineering team in Armenia is delighted to collaborate with Digital Turbine. We are actively operating as a global service center, extending support to organizations worldwide as they adopt Google Cloud," stated Syuzanna Azoyan, Director of Operations at SADA Armenia.

"Google Cloud and SADA have been key partners in our ongoing mission to elevate the mobile ecosystem with new technologies and experiences," said Senthil Kumaran, Chief Technology Officer at Digital Turbine. "I am confident that our collaboration will help elevate capabilities that will enable Android app developers to reach more users – and continue to grow."

SADA is a company founded by Armenians living in the US Hovig and Annie Safoian. In 2021 SADA opened a Global Delivery Center (GDC) in Yerevan which is serving the company’s global customers.

SADA’s Google Cloud ecosystem experts specialise in delivering solutions tailored to unique businesses and industries at any stage of their cloud journey. Regional businesses can use most of the opportunity to migrate to the cloud with the support of SADA Armenia and leverage all the advantages of the Google Cloud to accelerate application development, power productivity, and collaboration, and use data to sharpen their competitive edge.




A 20-year-old girl in Azerbaijan is accused of spying in favor of Armenia

Varazdat Torgomian
Sept 7 2023
  • JAMnews
  • Baku

An eco-activist in Karabakh and an Armenian spy

A young girl has been brought to court in Azerbaijan on charges of high treason. Fidan Aliyeva is accused of espionage in favor of Armenia, transferring information about Azerbaijan through an employee of that country’s special service.

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Aliyeva, 20, has been charged under Article 274 (treason against the homeland) of the Criminal Code. Under this charge, he faces up to 20 years or life imprisonment. However, according to Azerbaijani law, women and men over 65 are not sentenced to life imprisonment.

Fidan Aliyeva was detained by the State Security Service several months ago. Her case is currently being considered by the Baku Court of Grave Crimes.

According to Radio Liberty, Aliyeva was among the participants of the protest that started on December 12, 2022 and lasted 138 days on the section of the Lachin-Khankendi road passing through the territory of Shushi. It is alleged that she sent information, videos and photos to an Armenian intelligence officer whom she met through a Telegram channel. Some of the images are reportedly taken from different parts of Baku.

Experts weigh in on the meaning and possible resolution of the Lachin corridor blockade

However, Fidan Aliyeva refutes the accusations. She claims that the accusations of spying in favor of Armenia are not true. Because she thought that the person she met in Telegram was Russian. According to her, she communicated with this person for personal purposes, not for information transfer.

“At first I didn’t know he was Armenian at all. My goal was to get to know him as an ordinary person. I had no other purpose than to provide information about Azerbaijan.”

As for the photos and videos sent, Aliyeva said that the man with whom she was communicating sometimes asked her to take photos in certain places and send them to him, which she did.

The judicial investigation into Aliyeva’s case is ongoing.

From December 12 last year until April 2023, a group of Azerbaijani citizens calling themselves eco-activists gathered on the Lachin-Khankendi road. The Armenian side accused the Azerbaijani authorities of being behind these actions and blocking the part of Karabakh where Russian peacekeeping forces are temporarily stationed.

On April 23, Azerbaijan set up a checkpoint on the border with Armenia, at the beginning of the Lachin-Khankendi road, and explained this by the illegal transportation of weapons from Armenia into Azerbaijani territory. Armenia does not accept this accusation and considers the establishment of the border checkpoint contrary to the trilateral declaration.

https://jam-news.net/a-20-year-old-girl-in-azerbaijan-is-accused-of-spying-in-favor-of-armenia/




Artsakh needs the leadership of our church

Varazdat Torgomian
September 6, 2023 Stepan Piligian In Sight 0

Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan leads Artsakh soldiers in prayer (Facebook)

There was a time when our beloved church was the face of the liberation struggle for Artsakh. Who has forgotten the image of strength, wisdom and determination displayed by Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, appointed the first Primate of the newly-formed Artsakh diocese in 1989? He was a constant presence throughout the wars in Artsakh from 1991-1994 and in 2020 until his retirement due to health problems in early 2021. Martirosyan represented the two most important attributes for military and diplomatic success – unity and hope. 

Most Armenians in the diaspora had little functional knowledge of Artsakh prior to the liberation movement in the late 1980s. The independence declarations of Artsakh and Armenia occurred within 19 days of each other in 1991, but they were a study in contrast in their aftermaths. Armenia was liberated within the vacuum left by the collapse of the Soviet Union, while Artsakh was attacked by Azerbaijan and forced to defend its rights. While Armenians waited for media reports of the conflict during those fateful years, our perceptions were influenced by the constant presence of Archbishop Martirosyan, whose blend of patriotism and spiritual guidance drew comparisons to Ghevont Yeretz and Karekin Hovseptiantz. His selfless leadership and sacrificial humility brought the church’s role into focus. With no disrespect intended, most Armenians have limited knowledge of his successor. The church has assumed a much lower profile in the last several years, to the detriment of our people. In times of crisis, hope generates motivation, and through our faith, the church can be the bedrock of hope.

The cause for Artsakh has always been about the God-given right to self-_expression_. Military conquests and human rights atrocities can never remove this fundamental truth. The liberation struggle began as a defense of self-determination and human rights and blossomed into a journey of building a nation. It is remarkable what the people of Artsakh have accomplished in isolation and a lack of political recognition. Our world contains many so-called democracies whose citizens would envy the progress of Artsakh. 

The Armenian church has always occupied a unique role in the nation. One of the most iconic pictures taken prior to the miraculous tri-battles of 1918 that enabled life for Armenia as we know it was a gathering of soldiers at Holy Etchmiadzin participating in a blessing service by Catholicos Gevorg V. Before the liberation of Shushi in May 1992, Pargev Surpazan blessed the Armenian troops, then led them to Ghazanchetsots Cathedral for a prayer for the fallen soldiers. It was the first time since 1920 that a prayer had been heard in the Cathedral. That moment was a merging of faith, self-determination and hope, as witnessed at Avarayr and Sardarabad. 

In 2011, I visited Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi and experienced its beauty. When I walked into the cathedral that morning, there were several dozen of our brave Artsakh soldiers praying in the sanctuary before heading to the line of contact for their duty to the nation. They understood the role of the church in our survival. I believe they succeeded largely because of the unity of our souls, for our faith and the nation.

If the church had a vital role in the Artsakh struggle in the past, shouldn’t that role be even more crucial today? People are suffering. The behavior of Azerbaijan has degenerated from despotic and oppressive to genocidal. There is no difference between the horrific crimes of murder and deportation committed by Talaat to the pitiful actions by Aliyev to starve an entire population. As Artsakh faces a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions, the church has a responsibility to provide visible leadership.

The struggle for Artsakh needs an active church willing to go beyond the walls of protocol or tradition. Our church must lead civil protests with the laity. Too often our church limits its work to safe, internal activities. Fundraising for Artsakh is noble, but is not the priority at this time. 

Archbishop Martirosyan possessed what I will call “humble visibility.” His service was loved and respected, because he lived with his people through every day of the struggle. Humility in the service of God and the faithful is the hallmark of faith and nation. I met such a man a few years ago in Armenia. Father Aram, from the Berd region, is a man of the people. We met in the border village of Chambarak that was building a new medical clinic at that time. He was an associate of the late Jack Medzorian and his wife Eva, who have been humanitarian and economic activists in the region for decades. Father Aram is involved in all aspects of the betterment of the lives of the local people, from a spiritual foundation to education and livelihood. He seeks no tribute or praise – only to see his beloved flock prosper. He embodies what Armenians currently seek in their church leadership. Many of you also know of the dedicated work of the late Father Dajad Davidian who, after retiring from his pastoral work in the eastern diocese, spent years in Armenia organizing youth in the church. He gave the church astounding credibility among the first generation after the fall of Soviet rule. 

These examples and others have one major theme in common. Their ministries are not clouded in hierarchy or a lack of public visibility. Their work is with the people within their spheres of influence. The struggle for Artsakh needs an active church willing to go beyond the walls of protocol or tradition. Our church must lead civil protests with the laity. Too often our church limits its work to safe, internal activities. Fundraising for Artsakh is noble, but is not the priority at this time. 

The Armenian church has invested a substantial amount of resources into the World Council of Churches (WCC). Last year, Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia was elected as one of the presidents of the WCC representing the Oriental Orthodox churches. This is a great honor and position of influence for our church. The churches of the WCC have many humanitarian vehicles and often conduct backchannel diplomacy when a nation’s political environment is volatile. It is not unreasonable to expect support from WCC members for Artsakh through active engagement in ending the blockade. 

Perhaps a prerequisite for this approach would be the visible unity of the two Catholicoi. It is common practice for the Catholicoi of Holy Etchmiadzin and Cilicia to unite in times of crisis or need, such as the 1988 earthquake and the 100th commemoration of the Genocide. Visible and sustained public united efforts would trickle down to integrated action on a diocesan level. Our activities today are so decentralized that their impact is minimal. If the mayor of Paris can go to Berdzor, why can’t Aram I and Karekin II, together with 25 bishops? How about a sustained

presence of the church at civil protests and diplomatic influence through sister churches? 

The political environment in Artsakh and Armenia should be an opportunity for the church to provide the kind of leadership that will contribute to ending the blockade and maintaining the strength of our people. The church has been criticized for being self-centered, aloof and passive in times of national crisis. This is an opportunity to alter that perception and contribute to the national struggle. This is not new – it is the tradition of our church.

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Columnist
Stepan was raised in the Armenian community of Indian Orchard, MA at the St. Gregory Parish. A former member of the AYF Central Executive and the Eastern Prelacy Executive Council, he also served many years as a delegate to the Eastern Diocesan Assembly. Currently , he serves as a member of the board and executive committee of the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR). He also serves on the board of the Armenian Heritage Foundation. Stepan is a retired executive in the computer storage industry and resides in the Boston area with his wife Susan. He has spent many years as a volunteer teacher of Armenian history and contemporary issues to the young generation and adults at schools, camps and churches. His interests include the Armenian diaspora, Armenia, sports and reading.


Turkish Press: Azerbaijani authorities warn Armenia over Lachin: Sources

Varazdat Torgomian
Sept 2 2023
World  

2023-09-02 14:27:26 | Son Güncelleme : 2023-09-02 17:41:37

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian allows his country to provoke provocations despite its heavy defeat in the Second Karabakh War in 2020, Azerbaijani National Assembly Speaker Adil Aliyev said.

"Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian is playing with fire, on the one hand declaring that he recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, including Karabakh, and on the other hand delaying the formalization of his words. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly emphasized the importance of Nikol Pashinian's signing the peace agreement," Aliyev added.

"Armenia's refusal to recognize Azerbaijan's territorial integrity is at the root of the current problems. If this does not happen, the demarcation of borders will be protracted. In fact, Armenia should be more concerned about the lack of normalization of relations with its neighboring country,” he stated.

In addition, Aliyev stressed that some international circles still prefer to express the whims of Armenians.

"For 30 years, these groups preferred to keep silent, turning a blind eye to the occupation of Azerbaijani territories and refraining from telling the truth. However, as soon as the occupation of Karabakh ended, they began to openly hide their anti-Azerbaijani policies," he said.

"This was nothing but a double standard. France's policy is obvious. In the past years, this state did not hide its sympathies for the occupying Armenia and at least tried to create a certain image of balance. With the election of Emmanuel Macron as President, they completely forgot about the balance,” Aliyev emphasized.

"France completely sided with Armenia during and after the Second Karabakh War. Macron's unilateral statements, provocative statements by a group of mayors of French cities at the beginning of the Lachin road are steps to promote separatism in Azerbaijan," he added.

Adil Aliyev also drew attention to the food problems of Armenians in Karabakh. He reminded that two trucks carrying 40 tonnes of flour sent to the region by the Azerbaijani Red Crescent were prevented from entering the region via the Agdam-Kankendi road.

“Armenian authorities and separatists demand the opening of the Lachin road. This is impossible. During the occupation, they used the Lachin road as they knew how, transporting weapons, and laying mines on the roads. The Azerbaijani army put an end to this and a border crossing point was established at the beginning of the Lachin road,” Aliyev said.

“Currently, Karabakh Armenians are using this road and are getting used to being controlled by Azerbaijani border guards at the border crossing point. Now Karabakh Armenians have to make a choice. Either they will live according to Azerbaijani laws or they will leave Azerbaijan,” he stressed.

Tensions in the region increased after the Armenian armed forces opened fire from their positions in the village of Zod in the Basarkecher region on August 31-September 4 on the positions of the Azerbaijani army in Kalbajar.

After Azerbaijan responded to the attack, 4 Armenian soldiers were killed and 1 Armenian soldier was wounded. Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defence announced that 3 soldiers were wounded in Armenia's provocation.

Source: Ihlas News Agency

https://www.turkiyenewspaper.com/world/16249

AYF New York “Hyortiks” on Capitol Hill

Varazdat Torgomian
 AYF New York "Hyortik" Chapter Diaspora, Youth 0

Aris Givelekian Andrew Gorgissian

This summer, two active AYF New York “Hyortik” Junior members participated in the Armenian National Committee of America’s (ANCA) Summer Academy. High school students Andrew Gorgissian and Aris Givelekian were eager for the opportunity to learn about Hai Tahd while staying in the nation’s capital. 

“The ANCA Summer Academy opened my eyes to advocacy and Armenian issues. Throughout the week, many of our lectures and group activities were conducted on the topic of Artsakh. My peers and I were able to understand more about the reality and ongoing tragedy that Artsakh is facing during the blockade,” Gorgissian shared. “Toward the end of the week, our group went to Capitol Hill to persuade congressional staffers to co-sponsor H.Res.108, which condemns the atrocities that come with the blockade of the Lachin Corridor.”

Gorgissian explained that the group learned new concepts about government and policy, while also bonding through activities including touring the Wilson House, paddle boating on the tidal basin and playing board games at the Aramian House. He said they formed strong connections with each other, which will help them to strengthen their Armenian community.

“My peers and I were all amazed by the ANCA’s efforts to persuade politicians to support Armenia, and we aspire to support the Armenian cause in any means necessary,” Gorgissian said. “The ANCA Summer Academy motivated me to spread my knowledge of Armenian issues to my fellow peers and my local Armenian community. I truly enjoyed the balance of education and leisure that we experienced throughout the program. I am forever grateful for the accommodations that the ANCA has provided and the people I’ve met throughout the ANCA Summer Academy. I long to use all of the lessons I’ve learned in order to improve myself and benefit others around me.” 

“During my stay at the Aramian House as an ANCA Haroutioun and Elizabeth Kasparian Summer Academy intern, I learned a lot about political advocacy for the Armenian Cause,” Givelekian said. “Each and every day, 16 other interns and I sat through meetings, lectures and discussions regarding the current state of Artsakh and Armenia. Following this, we made our way to Capitol Hill where we went to all 440 congressional offices to inform and discuss the current situation of Artsakh.”

Givelekian also enjoyed the activities planned for the ANCA Summer Academy participants, particularly paddle boating, touring Washington D.C and Georgetown, and getting ice cream. 

“All in all, I had a very memorable experience, and I encourage everyone who seeks to join ANCA as a future intern or volunteer to take this opportunity,” Givelekian said.

The AYF “Hyortik” Chapter looks forward to seeing what Andrew and Aris bring back to the chapter and the New York community. We encourage other members to participate in this program after learning about Andrew and Aris’s positive experiences.

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The AYF-YOARF New York “Hyortik” Chapter existed even before the AYF was founded in 1933 and works to unite Armenian youth and organize activities in Queens and Long Island. The chapter has a Senior and Junior chapter. The New York “Hyortik” Chapter sets out to achieve its goals and objectives throughout the year with events such as commemorating the Armenian Genocide every April 24th in NYC; fundraising for our homeland; hosting a fall festival and Christmas dinner with juniors; annual Super Bowl parties; and ski trips. The AYF-YOARF’s five pillars (athletic, cultural, educational, political, social) guide this chapter and help to keep its membership active and at the forefront of the Armenian cause at all times.


Azerbaijan falsely accuses Nagorno-Karabakh of jamming aircraft GPS

Varazdat Torgomian

 13:44,

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan has falsely accused Nagorno-Karabakh’s military of jamming the GPS system of a civilian aircraft flying from Fizuli to Baku.

In a statement released Monday, Nagorno-Karabakh authorities said the Azeri accusations are fake and ‘have nothing to do with reality’. Furthermore, the Fizuli-Baku airway is outside of Nagorno-Karabakh airspace.

“As noted previously, the aircraft flying in the abovementioned airway doesn’t cross the air borders of the Republic of Artsakh. By spreading such false statements Azerbaijan seeks to divert the international community’s attention from the daily deteriorating humanitarian disaster resulting from the illegal blockade of Lachin Corridor,” the Ministry of Defense of Nagorno-Karabakh said.

It added that Azerbaijan itself has been consistently targeting civilian infrastructure in Nagorno-Karabakh during and after the 2020 war, by blocking the Lachin Corridor, disrupting gas and electricity supplies and jamming internet and mobile phone connection.