Category: 2018

STEPANAKERT—The Republic of Artsakh welcomed a resolution proposed by Congressman Frank Pallone, which urges the Congress to break down artificial barriers to unrestricted travel and open communication between the United States and Artsakh.

“We welcome the resolution proposed by Congressman Frank Pallone titled ‘U.S. – Artsakh Travel and Communication’ aimed at establishing contacts between Artsakh and the United States and breaking down artificial barriers to visiting Artsakh by the U.S. officials,”spokesperson for the Artsakh Foreign Ministry Ani Sargsyan told News.am.

“We are convinced that the mutual visits of official representatives of the two states, as well as an open and direct dialogue between our countries will contribute to the solution of the existing problems in the region. International cooperation, based on the principle of inclusion and not exclusion is also an important factor for reducing tension in the region,” she said.

“We expect that Congressman Pallone’s initiative will get strong support at the U.S. Congress and will give a new impetus to the development of relations between Artsakh and the United States,” she added.

Paylan Calls on Parliament to Investigate Dink Murder

ISTANBUL—Large crowds flocked to the former address of Turkish-Armenian weekly newspaper Agos in Istanbul on Friday to commemorate the late journalist Hrant Dink on the 11th anniversary of his assassination, reported the Hurriyet Daily Newspaper.

Dink was shot dead with three bullets on Jan. 19, 2007, at around 3 p.m. in front Agos’ then-headquarters.

On Thursday, Garo Paylan, an Armenian member of the Turkish Parliament representing the opposition People’s Democratic Party (HDP,) submitted a written proposal to the Turkish parliament calling for an investigating of the developments following Dink’s murder and preventing similar such acts.

He stressed that Hrant Dink was making efforts toward Turkey’s democratization as well as peoples’ solidarity and peace, according to information published on the HDP’s official website.

Every year since the assassination, mourners have attended a commemoration ceremony for him, laying carnations at the spot where he was killed. This year placards reading “Justice for Hrant” were attached to the former newspaper building.

Before the commemoration ceremony kicked off, police closed off the Haskargazi Street and side streets linking to it to traffic.

Police officers allowed people wishing to join the ceremony to enter through barricades, subjecting them to brief security searches.

Despite 11 years having passed, little progress has been made regarding Dink’s case.

Ogün Samast, who was aged 17 at the time of the shooting, was jailed for 23 years in 2011 for the killing. But speculation about the involvement of other groups inside and outside the state apparatus has persisted, and a number of slow-moving investigations are still ongoing.

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—The opposition Yelk alliance rallied hundreds of supporters in Yerevan on Friday to protest against recent increases in the prices of fuel and some foodstuffs which it blames on government policies.

The price rises were caused, in part, by new tax legislation mandating higher excise duties on fuel, tobacco and alcohol. The cost of gasoline, diesel fuel and liquefied natural gas used by most vehicles in Armenia rose by over 10 percent immediately after it went into force on January 1.

Yelk leaders demanded that the authorities reverse the higher taxes when they addressed the crowd before it marched through downtown Yerevan, chanting “Reduction!”They said that the price hikes are increasing poverty in the country.

“We are saying no to price hikes and demand a reduction of the tax rates that led to the higher prices of basic products,” said one of them, Nikol Pashinian. “We are demanding price and tax cuts.”

Pashinian repeatedly urged Armenians to take to the streets in larger numbers and heighten the pressure on the authorities. But speaking to reporters, he downplayed the relatively poor attendance at the protest and said the Yelk campaign will gradually gain momentum. The outspoken oppositionist claimed that Yelk will soon hold “the biggest and most decisive rally in Armenia’s history.”

Another Yelk leader, Aram Sarkisian, insisted in a speech that the opposition bloc will pull larger crowds in March and April after many Armenians feel the impact of the higher prices more acutely. The next Yelk rally is scheduled for February 5.

Prime Minister Karen Karapetian downplayed that impact when he answered questions from Yelk leaders on the parliament floor on Wednesday. He insisted that consumer price inflation in Armenia remains low. Karapetian also defended the increased tax rates, saying that the government needs more revenue to boost its expenditures and repay foreign loans.

For his part, President Serzh Sarkisian held on January 10 an emergency meeting with senior state officials to discuss ways of mitigating socioeconomic consequences of the price hikes. Sarkisian also initiated parliamentary hearings on the issue which will be held on Tuesday.

Other, more radical opposition groups refused to join Friday’s protest, saying that Yelk is not campaigning for regime change. Pashinian rejected that criticism. He said that the opposition cannot seriously threaten the authorities’ hold on power without forcing them to scrap the rate hikes first.

BY DICKRAN KHODANIAN AND VERGINIE TOULOUMIAN

PICTURE THIS: Armenian youth across the U.S. have gathered at the Hairenik Hall in Boston on a Friday night in June of 1934. Legendary statesman and military strategist Karekin Njdeh and former Justice Minister of the First Republic of Armenia and, at the time, the editor of the Hairenik Daily Newspaper Rupen Tarpinian deliver remarks after the singing of “Harach Nahadag” concludes. In the midst of the gathering, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Central Committee of America gifts the youth in attendance a tricolor flag in a time where no independent republic existed.

This is the first Convention of the Armenian Youth Federation (formerly known as Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s Tzeghagrons until 1941). This gathering democratically set the foundation of the organization by adopting an initial name, anthem, programs, aims of the organization and also elected the first AYF Central Executive body (Hamparsoum Gelanian, John Der Hovanessian, Hagop Hagopian, Arthur Giragosian and K. Merton Bozoian).

As the AYF enters its 85th year, it is important to take a step back in order to genuinely understand the climate during its foundation. In the 1930s, young Armenians were galvanizing under the leadership of Njdeh to address the challenges of their communities as well as their homeland abroad. The Armenian community in the United States was a few decades old yet cultural assimilation was a central topic of discussion. The First Republic of Armenia had succumbed to the Soviet Union and was nowhere near its independence and Kemalist Turkey was in full force, yet the treatment of Armenians in the empire remained the same.

When the concept of the AYF came into being, the memories of the Armenian Genocide were still haunting its survivors who had witnessed the horrific events. As a people, we were traumatized, disheartened, and discouraged, given the fact that we had survived a genocide and declared an independent republic only to later have it become part of the Soviet Union while Ataturk’s Turkey played no mercy on the remaining Armenians left in Turkey.

Then, with the Immigration Act of 1924 placing strict limits on the number of immigrants, including Armenians, that could arrive to America, followed by the Great Depression of 1929 that affected the world, Armenians were in no easy position to rise up and unite to fight for the Armenian Cause. Many were struggling to adjust to their new life on foreign soil. Therefore, it was an absolute necessity for the diaspora in America to cultivate an identity and mobilize. It was also imperative that the youth came together to garner the support and strength that was needed to pursue the path of justice for the Armenian Cause. Hence, that mission was given to one noble man, who was a proven leader in Armenia and abroad. It was General Njdeh who was assigned this responsibility and it was Njdeh who defied all odds and became the central architect.
Now flackback, April, 1933, just three months after the decision of the ARF Central Committee of America to create a national youth organization, Njdeh arrives in Boston as a fieldworker as announced in the Hairenik Daily.

His arrival is followed by a cross country tour to preach to the masses and encourage the youth to mobilize. He was tasked to revive spirits of those who were trying to preserve Armenian traditions and were trying to strengthen their loyalties to the free world. Shortly thereafter, we see headlines in the Hairenik Daily of new chapters of Tzeghagrons being created in their respective cities. Simultaneously, Njdeh’s writings, published in a series from 1933-1934, were aimed at addressing the upcoming generation of Armenian youth in America.

In the year and a half he was in America, close to 40 chapters had already been formed from coast to coast (see table for chapters and membership numbers). Njdeh’s charisma and bold demeanor inspired throngs of youth to take action and set a legacy for generations to follow.

The first Convention essentially set the foundation of the AYF that generations of youth would follow and still continue to follow today. The article of Convention describes the hall decorated with Armenian colors and the photographs of Kristapor Mikaelian, Simon Zavarian, and Stepan “Rosdom” Zorian. In addition to Njdeh and Tarpinian, representatives of the Armenian Relief Society and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation were present to deliver their remarks. Songs were sung, poetry was recited, and live Armenian music was played.

Njdeh began his remarks by defining Tzeghagronutyun, which he explained was putting Armenianness above all since he believed that it was the unifying factor for Armenians everywhere. “In America, the Tzeghagron movement has officially found its path,” he concluded. In his turn, Tarpinian announced that the work of this new generation revolves around three factors; keeping the future generations Armenian, fighting for our nationalistic goals and values, and developing the Tzeghagron movement.

What started with couple of chapters in the United States, the Armenian Youth Federation in no time became a prominent international youth organization functioning in all countries that have a diasporan community. The ranks of the Armenian Youth Federation are living examples of devotion and commitment to our national goals. And although each region has its own set of programs and actions, the love for the homeland, the unique camaraderie, and the AYF mission unites these youth groups under one noble mission. In a June 7th, 1934 article M. Vrouyr ends by stating how a 12-year old Anahid Chaderdjian said how she wishes that future conventions are held in the homeland. Unfortunately, many AYF ungers did not see the revival of the Armenian statehood, like they had worked for during their lifetime. However, their successors, have been able to live in an era where aside from making Armenia a location for Youth Organizational meetings, programs are carried out to give an opportunity for diasporan Armenians to interact with local youth, a place where several members and alumni have repatriated to, and a homeland where the Youth can make a direct impact to. To the AYF member, the homeland is not just an unrealistic dream or the “land of our forefathers,” instead today they too consider themselves strong pillars in the agenda of Armenia’s nation-building process.

There is no better way to sum up the founding years of the organization than how it was coined in a Hairenik Weekly article on June 7th, “History Making Youth Movement.” Today, the youth movement has achieved 85 years of record breaking accomplishments and continues with the same vigor and renewed energy to continue its community involvement and grassroots activism. And with every challenge that it tackles, every idea that it develops, every project that it strategizes, or vision it works toward, the Armenian Youth Federation continues to serve its community and homeland and remains steadfast towards the ideals of a free, independent, and a united Armenia.

According to the first Convention records, 24 chapters of Tzeghagrons, 4 Chapters of Hiortiks and 1 Chapter of Aprilian Sanner participated in the Convention directly, while 14 other Chapters of the Middlewest and California were presented by their proxies.

Detroit District (Del Rey, Melvindale, and Highland Park, Michigan) – 300 Members
New York and New Jersey – 120 Members
Providence – 100 Members
Philadelphia – 76 members
Worcester – 75 members
New Britain (Connecticut) – 29 Members
Lowell (Mass) – 15 Members
Waukegen (Illinois) – 34 Members
Hartford (Connecticut) – 13 members
Chicago – 40 Members
Whitinsville (Mass) – 30 Members
Cleveland (Ohio) – 13 Members
Troy (Watervliet) – 30 Members
Pawtucket (Rhode Island) – 22 members
Lynn (Mass) – 14 Members
Haverhill (Mass) – 26 Members
Watertown (Mass) – 42 Members
E. St. Louis – 20 members
Granite City – 14 Members

The chapters that were present by proxies were Pontiac, Dearborn (Mich.), Milwaukee, So. Milwaukee, Kenosha, Racine (Wis.), Indiana Harbor, West Pullman (Ill.) Masina (N.Y.), Springfield (Mass.), Fresno, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Fowler (Calif.) The total membership of the ARF Tzeghagrons was over 1,500.

BY GAREN YEGPARIAN

With the battles to eradicate the irremediable vermin known as Daesh/ISIS winding down in Iraq and Syria, other conflicts, subsumed and overshadowed by that effort are now coming to the fore. Here, I’ll try to summarize what’s going on with the Kurds in Syria, largely by way of the huge role of outside powers in this situation.

The sources of this information are non-U.S., hence they might be biased in a direction that is not every-day, customary, for most readers of this piece.

Let’s cover this country by country, although some overlap is unavoidable. Please see the accompanying map for additional clarity.

Starting with the USA is most helpful because there is quite a hue and cry over its latest actions and pronouncements. A “new” plan touting a “security corridor” in northern Syria is being touted. These Kurdish parts of Syria are currently run by the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces). The U.S. is now training what is intended to become a 30,000 strong military force, 15,000 of which will be new recruits and the remainder will come from current SDF forces. Of course there is Washington’s longstanding desire to overthrow President Assad in another manifestation of its idiotic “regime change” shenanigans. Otherwise, the U.S. presence in Syria is somewhat opaque and its actions and intents similarly opaque.

Syria naturally and understandably doesn’t want any foreign presence, American, Turkish, or anyone else, on its territory unless it has demanded as much. Lebanon’s Hezballah, Russian military, and Iranian troops have Damascus’ seal of approval. Turkey and the U.S. are unwelcome but present. And, of course there are various rebel groupings, including the SDF, which control parts of Syria’s territory (see map). With Daesh largely defeated (as a territorial threat), attention will naturally focus on other parts of the country. It is my assumption that the Kurdish controlled areas will be last to face Damascene wrath.

Turkey meanwhile invaded Syria and is establishing bases there, specifically in Idlib province (which puts them in close proximity to our important Armenian community in Haleb/Aleppo). Ankara announced last fall it would build eight of them. As usual, what’s driving Turkish policy is absolute dread of Kurds. The SDF has been labeled as “terrorist” by Turkey, and is seen as nothing more than an extension of the PKK, whom the Turks loathe and fear. As a result, Erdoğan has gone on another one of his brutish, chest thumping, binges, swearing to wipe out the SDF. Damascus has responded, telling Turkey it has no business on Syrian territory and threatened to shoot down any Turkish planes that violate its air space. Meanwhile, news reports already have Turkey shooting across the border.

Russia is displeased with U.S. actions and wants the latter out of Syria. But, I get the impression Moscow doesn’t quite have a handle on exactly what the U.S. is doing now, or plans to do, in and against, Syria. While Russian presence has been reduced, there is still the big naval base in Latakia, along with some forces remaining elsewhere.

Iran is still present with in Syria and has assisted greatly in the progress the Syrian army has made in recovering and reestablishing control over areas that had fallen under rebel control.

Lebanon, besides hosting hundreds of thousands of Syrian refuges is also home to Hezballah, a political party and paramilitary group that is credited with driving Israel out of Southern Lebanon and is now a key component in Damascus’ fight against various rebel groups.

Israel is reported to have conducted some forays into Syrian territory and is said to be treating injured fighters from anti-government groups, even Daesh. Some of this seems hard to believe, but remember, politics (and war) makes for strange bedfellows.

By way of conclusions, clearly, Syria wants to reassert control over all its territory, including areas currently controlled by the Kurds/SDF. Iran fully supports Syria. Russia largely supports Syria, though it’s not clear to me where they stand regarding the Kurdish north. Turkey wants to play games and become a regional hegemon, deposing Assad as Syria’s president if at all (though lately that intention seems to have been toned down), and eradicating any trace of military might among the Kurds located anywhere (a few days ago, for the first time in nine years Turkey once again invaded Iraq to attack Kurdish [PKK] forces). Israel is opportunistically doing what it can to keep its enemies weak and supposedly cooperating with Saudi Arabia. Lebanon is taking a slight beating in all this. And, finally the U.S. is acting, but given the incompetence of President Trump, it’s not at all clear to me that there is cohesive policy driving those actions.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what, if anything, Armenians should be doing in this mess? After all, we do live in the areas impacted and the countries involved there.