Author: Zhanna Nahapetian

Armenian genocide bill: Mike Pence’s brother, Ilhan Omar among lawmakers who withheld support

Zhanna Nahapetian
Newsweek Magazine
Oct 30 2019
By David Brennan On 10/30/19 at 12:51 PM EDT

The House of Representatives enraged the Turkish government on Tuesday, voting overwhelmingly to pass a bill recognizing the early 20th century Ottoman genocide of the Armenian population living in the empire.

The bill was carried by 405 to 11 votes. Though it is not legally binding, the move is a significant rebuke of the Turkish government which has long denied that the genocide happened.

Another vote—which passed 403 to 16—presented a second challenge to Ankara, calling for sanctions on Turkish government officials and its armed forces in response to Turkey's invasion of northwestern Syria to attack the Kurdish-led U.S. allies holding the region.

The operation—termed "Peace Spring" by the Turkish government—has thrown a wrench in the works of U.S.-Turkish relations. President Donald Trump has vacillated between condemning the Turks and thanking them for the latest developments, though Congress has been more resolute in its opposition.

But among the dissenters on the Armenian genocide vote were notable holdouts from both parties. As well as the 11 who voted no, another three representatives voted present and 13 were not present to register their vote.

The 11 who voted no are all Republicans: Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, Rep. Greg Pence of Indiana, Rep. James Baird of Indiana, Rep. Susan Brooks of Indiana, Rep. Larry Buschon of Indiana, Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, Rep, Virginia Fox of North Carolina, Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, and Rep. Mac Thornberry of Texas, and Kevin Brady of Texas.

Pence's name in the no column is notable given the position of his brother—Vice President Mike Pence. The vice president flew to Ankara earlier this month to agree a ceasefire deal with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as U.S. troops were retreating from their positions in northern Syria.

Pence explained, "I have a lot of confidence in the president and the administration knowing what to do in Turkey, and I didn't want to interfere."

Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar was the only Republican representative to vote present, while two Democrats—Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar and Texas Rep. Eddie Johnson joined him. Omar, known for her strong human rights stance, came under fire for her decision.

Omar responded saying she did not wish a vote on recognizing genocide to be used as a political "cudgel." She added that any recognition of historic human rights abuses and genocides should include the transatlantic slave trade and the slaughter of Native Americans by settlers in America.

The Turkish foreign ministry said the vote was "shameful" and described it as a "meaningless political step" designed to appeal to the "Armenian lobby and anti Turkey groups."

The Turkish government still denies the genocide, which occurred during the final years of the collapsing Ottoman Empire. From roughly 1915 to 1923, more than 1 million Armenians are believed to have been killed. Turkey disputes this, and claims hundreds of thousands of Armenians died fighting against Ottoman forces.

The Ottoman government forcibly relocated hundreds of thousands of Armenians to the deserts of Syria and elsewhere during this period. Victims were either killed or died from starvation and exhaustion.


https://www.newsweek.com/armenian-genocide-bill-mike-pence-brother-greg-pence-ilhan-omar-lawmakers-withheld-support-turkey-1468728?fbclid=IwAR2mt_7aT339yUxv1y90HGfNem80QegEUEjuApqsA_Ci7iibREzlmgWWOro


Armenian genocide must be focus of White House

Zhanna Nahapetian
Southgate News Herald
Oct 13 2019
Armenian genocide must be focus of White House

  • By Mitch Kehetian


When Nazi Germany invaded Poland in the launching of World War II some 80 years ago, more than 6 million civilians were killed on Hitler's orders — Polish and Jewish.

Modern democratic Germany has not brushed its past aside though it was the crime of the Nazi regime and its fanatic leaders. And has repeatedly repudiated its past world crimes as a lesson for humankind.

In a somber observance of the start of the war, the president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeir, spoke from the heart when he stressed "this was a German crime."

The crimes were initiated on Hitler's orders. Some years ago, British statesman Winston Churchill said when a nation forgets its past, it has no future.

While in Warsaw for the 80th observance, the Associated Press said the German president then shared his own personal look at the past when he said: "I bow in mourning to the suffering of the victims and ask for forgiveness for Germany's historical debt. I affirm our lasting responsibility."

Yet during the political spat over building a wall on our southern border with Mexico, a member of the anti-Trump leftist squad bearing the Democrat banner referred to the detention camps as concentration camps. There's only one _expression_ for that sickening gaffe — wash your mouth.

Plus, the camps were built on orders of President Obama to protect children and their mothers from sexual traffickers.

The German apology is a lesson for many, especially modern day Turkish President Erdogan who still denies the Armenian genocide that led to the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians and thousands sent to their deaths while forced to march into the steaming hot Der Zor desert in Syria.

A book entitled "Resistance: A Diary of the Armenian Genocide 1915-1922" published in London, Ontario, Canada, brought back memories to me of the genocide during my trek in 1969 through Turkey's occupied portion of historical Western Armenia.

In the diary, author Misak Seferian concentrated on the battle for Erzurum as the Turkish army fought a force of Armenian volunteers, sacking the historic Armenian city where my mother was born and raised through her teen years before the family escaped the Turkish hunt for her father, a tailor by day and militant fighter at night.

In Seferian's vivid descriptions of Erzurum, I relived the several days I spent in the old city unable to find any surviving Armenians.

While in western-occupied Armenia, now barren of its original inhabitants dating back to the birth of Jesus Christ, I also walked the paths of Keghi and Moush, the birthplaces of my father and my wife's parents.

Through the years, the question of the Armenian genocide is openly debated and discussed, especially so on April 24 when it was launched by government edict. Turkish leaders say the Armenians were not loyal members of the Ottoman Empire and that the so-called genocide, if true, took place in the Ottoman Era, not the modern Republic of Turkey.

When Polish-Jewish lawyer intellectual Raphael Lemkin was assigned by the United Nations in 1946 to draft the intent of government executed genocide, Lemkin cited the 1915-1922 Armenian massacre as a genocide. Thus the birth of the terminology of genocide, a government execution of a race of people.

In a Sept. 20 statement released by Joe Biden, the former vice president said it was time for the United States to recognize that the massacres of over a million Armenians were victims of a genocide. I believe Turkey's Erdogan needs to talk to Biden and the president of Germany, especially in stressing: "I ask for forgiveness and affirm our lasting responsibility."

In a presidential race, candidates address the Armenian genocide but once in the White House, they suffer a memory lapse — both Democrats and Republicans. But Armenians have no other choice and must not back off in getting the United States to make it officially recognized.

As Lemkin said, it was genocide.

Allen Park resident Mitch Kehetian is a retired editor of The Macomb Daily, a sister publication of The News-Herald, and a former board trustee at Central Michigan University.



Asbarez: Armenian Deputy Minister Calls Forest Summit ‘A Constructive Step’

Zhanna Nahapetian
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“Forest Summit: Global Action and Armenia” will tackle a number of issues presented by the Paris Agreement, including Armenia’s commitment to increase its forest cover to 20 percent by 2050

YEREVAN—As anticipation builds for October’s Forest Summit: Global Action and Armenia, forestry professionals and political leaders alike are emphasizing the importance of the conference, and the significance of its timing and location.

The event brings education, dialogue, and networking among the leading minds in forestry to Yerevan from Sunday, October 20 through Wednesday, October 23. The keynote address at the inaugural summit will be delivered by Dr. Anthony S. Davis, dean and professor at the College of Forestry at Oregon State University which is recognized as one of the world’s leading forestry research, teaching, and extension institutions.

Joining Dr. Davis will be Dr. Glenn Bush, an environmental economist at Woods Hole Research Center, Dr. Omri Bonneh, Chief Forester at KKL-JNF, Israel’s largest afforestation organization; David Mathenge from the Green Belt Movement – an organization whose founder won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for the group’s activism and reforestation work in Kenya; Dr. Maya Nehme, Executive Director of the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative; and Carmen Argüello of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

“We welcome the initiative of American University of Armenia’s Acopian Center for the Environment and Armenia Tree Project to host the inaugural Forest Summit this month. From what we’ve seen so far, the list of speakers is impressive, from local and international organizations,” said Vardan Melikyan, Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Environment. “We have an ambitious national goal to double Armenia’s forest cover by 2050, so this event is a constructive step for bringing the various stakeholders together to collaborate on our forestry issues.”

Scientists, political leaders, and citizens of all nations have come to recognize climate change as one of the most pressing issues of the 21st century, and the expansion of forests has been identified as one of the leading courses of action to help mitigate this disaster. Forests help to sequester carbon dioxide which contributes to climate change, and provides other valuable ecosystem services including water purification and habitat for birds and animals.

Armenia has seen a re-emergence of the Caucasian Leopard in the Khosrov Forest Reserve, which is widely considered to be a conservation success story. At the same time, the country has pledged to double its forest cover by 2050 as part of its commitment to the Bonn Challenge and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. This Forest Summit will address many of these issues.

In addition to the insights and addresses from these talented speakers and panelists, the conference will provide field visits to tree planting sites in Armenia and to the beautiful Dilijan National Forest. At its core, the conference will foster discussion and collaborative dialogue on the conservation and reforestation efforts much needed in Armenia and countries across the world.

For more information about the conference, AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, or Armenia Tree Project, please visit the website.

The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, a research center of the American University of Armenia, promotes the protection and restoration of the natural environment through research, education, and community outreach. The AUA Acopian Center’s focus areas include sustainable natural resource management, biodiversity and conservation, greening the built environment, clean energy, and energy efficiency, as well as information technology and the environment. Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, and affiliated with the University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and the region, offering high-quality graduate and undergraduate studies, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic values. For more see information, visit AUA’s website.

Armenia Tree Project, a non-profit program based in Massachusetts and Yerevan, conducts vitally important environmental projects in Armenia’s cities and villages. Since 1994, ATP has made enormous strides in combating desertification in the biologically diverse but threatened Caucasus region. More than 5,700,000 trees have been planted and restored, and hundreds of jobs have been created for Armenians in seasonal tree-related programs. ATP works to further Armenia’s economic and social development by mobilizing resources to fund reforestation. These vital new trees provide food, wood, environmental benefits, and opportunities for economic growth. ATP has a full time staff of over 80 in Armenia. The Yerevan office manages four state-of-the-art tree nurseries and two environmental education centers, partners with villagers to create tree-based micro-enterprise opportunities, creates urban green belts for public use, restores degraded forest lands, and employs hundreds of part-time workers to plant new forests. For more information, visit ATP’s website.




ACNIS reView #33, 2019_Analysis_EAEU Yerevan Summit: what is happening in the world?

Zhanna Nahapetian
Analysis

04 OCTOBER 2019  

EAEU Yerevan Summit: what is happening in the world?

The Summit of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in Yerevan on October 1 sparked an impetuous response in Armenia and in the member states of the event. And if the presence of the Singapore Prime Minister and the Iranian President at the summit was of interest outside of Armenia, then, inside Armenia, as expected, there was a stir among Russian President Vladimir Putin. The last time the Russian president visited Armenia was almost three years ago. And since the change of power following the Velvet Revolution, all Pashinyan's bilateral meetings with Putin have taken place either in Moscow or at international meetings.

During that time in Armenia the debate over the nature of the Armenian-Russian relations did not stop. Many believed that the policies of the new authorities worsened those relations. Such sentiments kept some Russian figures and mass media drumming on the theme of "Armenia's move to the West." Since the appearance of information on the preparation of the Summit of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Yerevan, the only topic of conversation has been the topic of the arrival of the President of Russia in Yerevan. For some reason, the prevailing opinion was that V. Putin would not come, as he was “offended” by N. Pashinyan. The very problems of the EAEU summit were of little interest to anyone. But that’s what happened.

Putin really looked extremely gloomy at the first meeting of the heads of state. Apparently, on the territory of the state — often perceived as a "vassal of Russia" — it is not easy to feel in the role of one of the many leaders of states. Having a meeting at the airport according to the protocol, being accepted by the head of the Armenian government on an equal basis with everyone is not very customary. It is more habitual to visit Armenia at their own discretion, as it was years earlier. One can recall how years ago his plane generally landed not in the capital of Armenia, but in Gyumri, where the Russian military base is located. And the Armenian president was then forced to go and meet him there.  

But times are changing. Global trends are forcing everyone to adjust their ideas about relationships with partners – even those who have never been considered a partner. Russia, driven into a corner by Western countries, can no longer Russia can no longer rely on Eurasian Union.  There was an imperative to enter a wider space and into the sphere of relations between leading countries. And here you have to change your attitude towards your traditional partners. The club under the name of the EAEU has now become only a mechanism for deploying a new network of global relations.

For the first time, this trend manifested itself during the international economic forum in St. Petersburg on June 6-8, 2019. It is about an unprecedented bid by Russia and China to forge a comprehensive partnership to strengthen global strategic stability. The pompous reception given by the Russian leadership to President of China Xi Jinping, who arrived in this country, as well as statements of an epoch-making nature, leave no doubt about the far-reaching intentions of both countries. Against the backdrop of a tough trade war between China and the United States, such intentions of Russia and China look fateful for the whole world.

At that time, the circumstance proved that on the eve and during the international economic forum in St. Petersburg, both superpowers demonstrated the most important gestures in relation to Armenia. On the eve of the forum, the press secretary of the Russian president then emphasized that, in addition to the chairman of the PRC, the Prime Minister of Armenia was expected. Earlier, the head of China, Xi Jinping, stated that Armenia is an important partner of China in its "civilizational" policy. After that, the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PRC to Armenia took place and an agreement on a visa-free regime between the two countries was signed.  

And as shown by the demonstrative acts of "politeness" to the Prime Minister of Armenia already in the days of the forum, questions asked to him with the aim of "testing for strength" in all directions, Armenia was not in vain waited in St. Petersburg. Transparently enough, the fact that in the bid of Russia and China for the formation of a comprehensive partnership, Armenia was invited to take a special place. It is noteworthy that the Prime Minister of Armenia Pashinyan in his speeches did not hide that Armenia has something to offer in the emerging international configuration. The readiness was expressed to turn Armenia into a transport corridor from Iran to the Eurasian space and Europe. Pashinyan stated that membership in the EAEU cannot be an obstacle to the formation of relations between Armenia and China, the European Union, etc. It is also noteworthy that in these discussions there were no familiar important persons from other post-Soviet states. Apparently, little is associated with them in a new perspective.  

If today we look at the EAEU summit in Yerevan, we can clearly see the continuation of the trends that have manifested themselves at the St. Petersburg summit. Through the efforts of the Armenian government, Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who participated in the work of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, arrived in Yerevan in advance. During this year Armenian Prime Minister N. Pashinyan paid official visits to both of these countries, where these agreements were reached. And already in Yerevan, an Agreement was signed between Singapore and the EAEU on a free trade zone. A separate meeting was held between the presidents of Russia and Iran.  

By evening it became clear that the ice in the relationship between Vladimir Putin and Nikol Pashinyan had melted. At their meeting, the Russian president in high spirits announced that the results of the summit are "really good," including "in terms of developing ties with our partners from third countries … There is not a single glitch – on the contrary, all agreements have been reached in within the framework of the organization between the countries participating in this union. You are the person who has made every effort for such effective work. I, as the EAEU Chairman, want to congratulate you on the results of the summit in Yerevan."

On the eve of the summit, the Russian press did not hesitate to write that "the summit in Yerevan will go down in history," referring to the participation in it of the Prime Minister of Singapore and the Iranian President. Undoubtedly, this aspect is of key importance for Russia. And the curtsies made in Yerevan towards India, China, Egypt and other countries, only confirm the opinion that the "Yerevan Initiative" is assessed as the foundation for the implementation of new global initiatives. How these initiatives can fit into Western political and economic concepts – time will tell.

 

Manvel Sargsyan


  


Youredjian Family Charitable Foundation Offers Major Support for Gyumri’s "Domik" Families

Zhanna Nahapetian

PRESS RELEASE

The Paros Foundation

2217 5th Street

Berkeley, CA  94710

Contact:  Peter Abajian, Executive Director

Tel:  310-400-9061

E-mail:  [email protected]

web: www.parosfoundation.org


Los Angeles, CA—Since the beginning of the year, Jack Youredjian and the Youredjian Family Charitable Foundation has offered major support to The Paros Foundation allocated to the move of seven families from their domiks to modern apartments in Gyumri, Armenia.  Most of these people have spent their entire lives in domiks-first as children following the earthquake, and later as adults with no other economic opportunities.

 

“My mother, Marguerite Youredjian, spent years following the 1988 Spitak Earthquake in Gyumri helping hundreds of families who lost their homes and family members,” said Philanthropist Jack Youredjian, “my heart breaks when I see children living in these horrible conditions, and I want to do my part to try and help.”

 

The Paros Foundation’s Purchase a Home project has moved a total of 20 families to date, from inadequate wagons, containers and temporary shelters into clean, modern and safe apartments in Gyumri.  Whenever possible, families are also given needed appliances, furniture and additional humanitarian support.  Many of the families’ children also attend, or are invited to attend, the afterschool programs at the Debi Arach Children’s Center, which was launched by and is supported through The Paros Foundation.

 

“The housing crisis continues to effect more than 2,000 families in Gyumri. I commend Jack Youredjian and his family for their commitment to help children living in terrible conditions,” said Peter Abajian, Paros Foundation Executive Director.  “Our program goals in Gyumri are two-fold, to help move as many families from domiks into apartments as possible; and secondly to work diligently through our programs at Debi Arach to empower many of these children to break their families’ cycle of poverty through academic success, career planning and vocational training. “

 

The Paros Foundation was launched in 2006 and has implemented more than $6.6 million worth of projects in Armenia through its unique model of philanthropy and community partnership.  These projects are located throughout the country-with the majority of work focused in Gyumri and in the Tavush Region, along the border with Azerbaijan.  Thanks to the generous support of Paros Founder and Chairman, Roger Strauch, all administrative expenses are underwritten, allowing 100% of donor contributions to be allocated in their entirety to the projects. To support this and other projects of The Paros Foundation, please visit www.parosfoundation.org.  

 

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Valery Osipyan appointed chief advisor to PM

Zhanna Nahapetian

Valery Osipyan appointed chief advisor to PM

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 17:44,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a decision according to which Valery Osipyan was appointed chief advisor to the PM.

The decision is posted on e-gov.am

Earlier today President Armen Sarkissian signed a decree on dismissing Valery Osipyan as Police Chief of Armenia. The President signed the respective decree based on the PM’s proposal.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Armenian FM, Deputy PM of Latvia discuss cooperation prospects

Zhanna Nahapetian

Armenian FM, Deputy PM of Latvia discuss cooperation prospects

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 18:47,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met with minister of defence and deputy prime minister of Latvia Artis Pabriks, ARMENPRESS reports Anna Naghdalyan, the spokesperson of the FM, wrote on her Facebook page.

“The official visit of FM Zohrab Mnatsakanyan kicked off by the meeting with deputy prime minister and defense minister Artis Pabriks. The sides discussed cooperation prospects and regional security issues”, Anna Naghdalyan wrote.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




252 meter long bridge to be constructed on Hrazdan River

Zhanna Nahapetian

252 meter long bridge to be constructed on Hrazdan River

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 17:59,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The construction of the new road Argavand-Shirak has kicked off in Yerevan.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of Yerevan Municipality, the memorandum heralding the launch of the construction of the 2.7 km road was signed by Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan and Levantina Incheierea Constantino company's authorized representative Luis Lopez Moloni.

The new road the construction of which is funded by the Asian Development Bank will have 4-6  lines with an average total width of а 24-28 meters.

The new road includes a 252 meter long and 28 meter wide bridge on Hrazdan River.

''The new road has a strategic importance for Yerevan and Armenia in general. Today we have 4 bridges in Yerevan and the one to be constructed in the sidekines of this project will be the 5th. This road will significantly reduce traffic in Yerevan'', Hayk Marutyan said.

The construction will last 21 months.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




Ministers of 20 countries confirm their participation to Ministerial Roundtable at WCIT 2019 Yerevan

Zhanna Nahapetian

Ministers of 20 countries confirm their participation to Ministerial Roundtable at WCIT 2019 Yerevan

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 14:09, 6 September, 2019

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS. Ministers of 20 countries confirmed their participation to the Ministerial Roundtable during the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT 2019) in Yerevan, Armenia’s Minister of High Technological Industry Hakob Arshakyan said on Facebook.

“Ministers from 20 countries responsible for high technologies will arrive in Armenia on October 6-9 to take part in the WCIT 2019 Yerevan Ministerial Roundtable.

Don’t miss this chance, participate in this world event!”, the minister said.

WCIT 2019 will be held in Yerevan on October 6-9, 2019. The Congress is hosted by Armenia with the support and under the high patronage of the Government of the Republic of Armenia. The World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) was established by the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA). Its main organizing body is the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE).

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




A1+: Some data presented were not accurate – Erik Grigoryan (video)

Zhanna Nahapetian

September 4, 2019

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's government held a consultation today on the situation with the Amulsar project.

Minister of Nature Protesction Erik Grigoryan summarized the general situation.

There were exchanges of views on the issues related to Amulsar Project Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures, legal aspects of the problem, emergence of new environmental factors, etc.

Summing up the discussion, the Prime Minister instructed all interested departments and institutions to work in a coordinated manner to provide comprehensive analysis and complete data for the investigation.e