Friday, April 24, marks the annual commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, the systematic murder of 1.5 million Armenians by the forces of the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923. In tribute, UCLA’s Armenian Student Association is partnering with its University of Southern California branch to host a remembrance program and vigil at the Fowler Museum at UCLA Courtyard to mark the 111th anniversary of the killings.
In addition, the Promise Armenian Institute at UCLA and its partners are sponsoring a series of virtual and in-person discussions and performances over the coming days to recognize and explore that historical tragedy and to celebrate Armenian heritage.
Established in 2019, the Promise Armenian Institute serves as a focal point for advanced scholarship on Armenian society, culture and history — including the genocide, particularly through its Armenian Genocide Research Program — and for public programs and outreach aimed at strengthening Armenian communities in Los Angeles, the worldwide diaspora and Armenia itself. As part of these efforts, the institute supports a variety of ongoing projects in the social sciences, arts, health care, genetics and engineering.
All commemorative events are free and open to the public:
Tuesday, April 21, 7 p.m. | Bruin Plaza stage
Folk Armenian dance workshop
Join UCLA’s Armenian Student Association for a folk-dance workshop taught by Lernazang, a Western Armenian dance and cultural preservation organization. Founded in 2017, Lernazang provides weekly community dance classes to youth and adults, offers dance and music workshops, and performs throughout Los Angeles in the traditional Armenian azgagrakan style.
RSVP is requested.
Thursday, April 23, 7 p.m. | Schoenberg Hall
Concert: Celebrating 100 years of Khachatur Avetisyan
Join the UCLA Armenian Music Program for an evening of special guest musicians from Armenia and the Los Angeles Armenian community in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of renowned composer Khachatur Avetisyan. The LA-based Haikian Chamber Choir, accompanied by a folk-instrument orchestra and other guest solo artists, will perform Avetisyan’s concertos for folk instruments and works dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide. This event is co-sponsored by the UCLA Promise Armenian Institute.
Friday, April 24, 6 p.m. | The Elizabeth and W. Thomas Davis Courtyard at the Fowler Museum at UCLA
Armenian Genocide Remembrance Program and Vigil
The Armenian Student Associations at UCLA and the University of Southern California are hosting an evening of diverse programming to observe the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. All are welcome to attend a reception, followed by a speaking program and a candlelight vigil. Speakers include representatives from the UCLA Undergraduate Student Association Council, the Promise Armenian Institute at UCLA, the Armenian Students Association Board and several Armenian Genocide historians.
Saturday, April 25, 11 a.m. | Online
Lecture: A Biographical Approach to Genocidal Ruination
Scholar Nazan Maksudyan (Centre Marc Bloch Berlin) will deliver the fifth Raymond H. Kévorkian Armenian Genocide Remembrance Lecture, examining the Armenian genocide through the life of educator, naturalist and scientist Johannes Jakob Manissadjian and exploring how genocide imperiled lives, communities and knowledge. Commentary will be provided by Melissa Bilal, holder of The Promise Chair in Armenian Music, Arts, and Culture at UCLA. This event is co-sponsored by the Promise Armenian Institute at UCLA.
Register here for Zoom link.
Thursday, April 30, 6 p.m. | Glendale Central Library
Author talk with Peter Balakian
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Peter Balakian will be reading excerpts from his latest book, “New York Trilogy,” which follows one man’s journey as he moves through a series of experiences centered in New York City and the surrounding New Jersey Palisades. The protagonist’s life is impacted by historical events, including the Armenian Genocide, the bombing of Hiroshima, the Vietnam War, the AIDS epidemic, the attacks of Sept. 11th, the U.S. war in Iraq and the climate crisis.
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Armenian International Women’s Association Celebrates 35 Years of Empowerment
Group continues to strengthen the Armenian women’s community worldwide.
Women supporting and empowering women remains a powerful and enduring mission — one that transcends political, religious, and educational boundaries. At its heart, the advancement of Armenian women worldwide is not simply inspiring but essential.
Founded in Boston in 1990, the Armenian International Women’s Association (AIWA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing women’s issues and fostering leadership and opportunity. With affiliates in Los Angeles, New England, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Yerevan, Armenia, AIWA has built a global network committed to uplifting women across various communities.
A significant milestone is marked in 2026 as AIWA celebrates its 35th anniversary, alongside its Los Angeles affiliate’s 30th anniversary. The Pearl Anniversary Gala will take place on Saturday, May 2, at 6:30 p.m. at Reflections Venue in Glendale.
The gala’s master of ceremonies is Jacqueline Sarkissian, KTLA reporter. The keynote speaker is Silva Harapetian, an Emmy-nominated journalist, documentary producer, and Amazon best-selling author with over 20 years of experience reporting for major networks, including CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX. Musical performances will be by Greg Hosharian and the Armenian Pops Ensemble.
AIWA’s origins are rooted in a time of crisis and resilience following Armenia’s independence and the devastating earthquake on December 7, 1988. Although the journey to recovery was slow, the Armenian diaspora mobilized to provide aid and support. From this spirit of solidarity emerged AIWA’s commitment to supporting women in Armenia as they rebuilt their lives and communities.
Over the years, the organization has evolved through various phases, continually expanding its impact.
Over the past 25 years, AIWA has organized nine international conferences, highlighting the stories of Armenian women around the world. In 2010, AIWA took a decisive step in addressing violence against women by establishing the Women’s Support Center (WSC) in Yerevan — a shelter providing safety and resources for abused women and children.
AIWA International continues to lead several impactful initiatives, including EmpowerPath Armenia, which offers skills development for women from Artsakh, and EmpowerPath Lebanon, created in partnership with the Jinishian Memorial Association. Additional programs include elder care and childcare training, scholarships, and financial support for university students worldwide.
For three decades, the Los Angeles affiliate has been at the forefront of these efforts, cultivating a legacy of service and empowerment. Its work includes supporting women in higher education, promoting equity in STEM fields, and expanding access to vocational training that leads to sustainable careers. The affiliate remains deeply committed to gender equity and social responsibility.
At the annual International Women’s Day luncheon on March 6 in Glendale, AIWA President Silva Katchiguian emphasized the organization’s mission.
“We empower women from Artsakh, Armenia, and Lebanon to gain skills that lead to self-sufficiency,” Katchiguian said. “We have pioneered a women’s entrepreneurship program in collaboration with the American University of Armenia, helping transform vision into viable ventures.”
As AIWA Los Angeles marks this Anniversary milestone, their contributions stand out as the backbone of the organization’s success. The affiliate has raised substantial funds for key initiatives, including funds for The Women’s Support Center and the Women’s Entrepreneurship Program in Armenia, as well as given hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to students at community colleges, the Armenian University of Armenia, and prestigious California universities through the Hasmik Jasmine Mgrdichian Foundation Scholarship Fund. AIWA Los Angeles has also organized numerous mini-conferences featuring expert speakers on topics such as women’s health, business, social justice, and government.
The affiliate has additionally raised funds and organized luncheons to honor prominent Los Angeles women recipients of the prestigious Ellis Island Award. In the past five years, they have also celebrated International Women’s Day in cooperation and association with the Consulate of Armenia in Los Angeles.
As the organization looks to the future, its mission remains steadfast: to empower women, strengthen communities, and inspire the next generation of Armenian leaders.
DEETS
- 2026 AIWA 35th Anniversary “Cultivating a Legacy” and Pearl Anniversary Gala
- Saturday, May 2, at 6:30 p.m.
- Reflections Venue in Glendale, 109 East Harvard Street, Glendale, California.
- Tickets
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Tacori turns Armenian family legacy into a global jewelry brand
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Turkish Press: Prosecutor seeks sentence for bianet journalist Tuğçe Yılmaz ov
The second hearing of the case against bianet editor Tuğçe Yılmaz was held today at the İstanbul 2. Penal Court of First Instance in Çağlayan.
Yılmaz faces charges of “insulting the Turkish nation and the state of the Republic of Turkey” under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code regarding an interview she conducted with Armenian youth in Turkey.
Yılmaz attended the hearing alongside bianet’s lawyer Deniz Yazgan and Hazal Sürmeli from the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA). Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Turkey representative Erol Önderoğlu and Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Turkey representative Özgür Öğret also monitored the proceedings.
Both the judge and the prosecutor had changed before the hearing.
Following Yılmaz’s defense against the indictment in the first session, the prosecution submitted its final opinion, requesting a conviction in line with the indictment.
Yılmaz and Yazgan requested additional time to prepare their defense against the prosecution’s opinion. The court adjourned the case until Oct 20.
The lawsuit was initiated following a report filed by an individual through the Presidency Communications Center (CİMER). (HA/VK)
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Ruben Vardanyan: Detention situation prompts appeal to Armenia Human Rights De
Ruben Vardanyan has made a statement regarding his current detention, addressing Armenia’s Human Rights Defender, Anahit Manasyan. In a message conveyed during a telephone conversation with his family, Vardanyan cited circumstances that he believes warrant the attention of Armenian authorities. The content of his appeal, shared publicly, indicates growing concerns about the conditions or legal context of his detention. Details regarding the specific circumstances referenced by Vardanyan have not been fully disclosed at this time.
Details are being clarified.
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Palu Cafe opens in Southfield with Armenian coffee and baked goods Portrait of
Southfield — A new neighborhood cafe and bakery is open now, specializing in Armenian coffee and flatbreads.
Palu Cafe owner Khatchig Kafafian named the cafe in honor of his late wife, May Kafafian. A prominent member of the Armenian community, her family roots trace back to the town of Palu. The cafe is open now, and a grand opening ceremony is set for Sunday afternoon.
The cuisine offers savory flatbreads like the traditional Armenian lahmajune, plus flatbreads featuring vegetables, za’atar, cheese and a mix of those. Kafafian also bakes a variety of other pastries, such as muffin-shaped croissants that are buttery and flaky and traditional Armenian sweets filled with dates and nuts.
Order at the counter and take your coffee and baked goods to go, or enjoy them in the clean and new cafe that has a few dozen seats in a well-lit space with big floor-to-ceiling windows.
Located in a shopping plaza with an Ace Hardware, Palu Cafe is at 29225 Greenfield in Southfield. The ribbon-cutting event is 3-6 p.m. Sunday.
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Trump must call the Armenian genocide by its name
It’s a credibility test amid the Iran conflict
OPINION:
With Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day on Friday, President Trump faces a decision that transcends mere historical housekeeping.
In the shadow of the escalating conflict in Iran and instability in the Middle East, the administration’s annual statement on the Armenian genocide — traditionally a moment of rote commemoration — has been transformed into a high-stakes test of American moral leadership and strategic credibility.
For decades, the Armenian American community has sought a simple action from the White House: Officially recognize the 1915 systematic annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as a genocide.
It is an event that the Turkish government continues to deny. Although Congress moved to recognize the genocide in 2019 and a formal presidential acknowledgment was made in 2021, the current administration has spent the past year retreating into the linguistic fogginess of “great calamity” and “historical tragedy” to describe this dark chapter in world history.
This rhetorical departure is no longer just a localized disappointment for a diaspora. Rather, it has become a liability for a nation currently engaged in a volatile and unpopular war.
The administration’s conduct in the Iran war is under intense global scrutiny. With debates over the proportionality of strikes, including the attack on an Iranian school that killed more than 100 children, the United States is fighting a two-front war. One is on the physical battlefield, and the other is for the moral high ground.
Our leaders frequently invoke international norms and human rights to justify military actions, but those invocations ring hollow when those same officials refuse to apply the standards to the clear, documented facts of history.
More important, the president’s choice this Friday will determine whether his administration is serious about orchestrating a lasting and sustainable peace in the South Caucasus. The region has become a key sound bite for Mr. Trump’s foreign policy accomplishments.
A durable peace in the region cannot be built on a foundation of historical denial or strategic silence. By refusing to use the word genocide, the U.S. inadvertently signals to aggressive regional actors that historical revisionism is an acceptable tool of modern diplomacy. It emboldens those who view Armenian sovereignty as a negotiable commodity rather than a red line.
We have seen how silence about 1915 creates a vacuum that aggressive regional powers are all too happy to fill with modern-day threats against Armenian sovereignty. It is one of the reasons Azerbaijan was able to ethnically cleanse more than 120,000 Armenians from their ancestral homeland of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023, making it the largest forced displacement of Armenians since the Armenian genocide.
If Mr. Trump wants to be the architect of a new deal for regional stability, then he must first recognize the fundamental crime that continues to haunt the region’s underpinnings.
Recognition is the currency of credibility. If the president expects the international community to trust the American narrative regarding justice and stability in a postwar Middle East, then he cannot simultaneously cave to foreign pressure regarding the crimes of the past.
Despite his “America First” rhetoric and his reputation as a disruptive dealmaker who defies the Washington establishment, Mr. Trump has become the latest leader to allow foreign capitals to effectively ghostwrite American human rights policy while contradicting the sovereignty-first doctrine he champions.
As a grandson to survivors of the Armenian genocide, I know that for my family, this isn’t about an abstract vocabulary choice. It’s about whether the United States still possesses the moral clarity and fortitude to call evil by its proper name.
Mr. Trump has a chance to close that credibility gap. By using the word genocide, he can prove that his administration’s commitment to international order is not a matter of convenience but rather a matter of conviction.
• Stephan Pechdimaldji is a communications strategist living in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is a first-generation Armenian American and the grandson of survivors of the Armenian genocide. His work has been featured in Newsweek and Foreign Policy. You can follow him on X: @spechdimaldji
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/apr/20/trump-must-call-armenian-genocide-name/
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Malkhas Amoyan Wins Gold at European Weightlifting Championship
Malkhas Amoyan
Olympic bronze medalist and multiple world and European champion Malkhas Amoyan claimed his fifth European Championship gold medal. In the 77 kg final at the European Championship in Tirana, Amoyan faced Georgia’s Ramaz Zoidze. The bout ended 1:1, with victory awarded to Amoyan for scoring the first point. Malkhas Amoyan has become a five-time European champion, Armenpress reported.
Armenian weightlifter Gor Sahakyan placed silver in the European Championship. Competing in the 71 kg category, the two-time European champion lifted 146 kg and 150 kg in the snatch, securing a gold medal in that discipline. In the clean and jerk, Sahakyan lifted 180 kg, finishing third. With a combined total of 330 kg, he was crowned vice-champion of the tournament.
Armenia’s Alexandra Grigoryan won a silver medal at the 2026 European Weightlifting Championships in Batumi. Competing in the 58 kg weight category, Grigoryan lifted 88 kg and 91 kg in the snatch. In the clean and jerk, she lifted 115 kg and 119 kg, finishing third in that discipline.
With a total of 210 kg, Grigoryan secured the silver medal, becoming a European vice-champion for the second time in her career. The gold medal was won by Ukraine’s Kamila Konopov with a total of 221 kg.
Armenia’s Garnik Cholakyan who competed in the men’s 60 kg category and delivered a strong performance across both disciplines. In the snatch, Cholakyan successfully lifted 120 kg and 124 kg, securing the silver medal in the exercise. In the clean and jerk, he lifted 145 kg and 150 kg, earning the bronze medal.
With a total of 274 kg in the combined event, Cholakyan became the silver medalist of the European Championships.The European title in the total went to Bulgaria’s Angel Rusev, who finished first with a combined lift of 275 kg.
Armenian Greco-Roman wrestling team member Karen Aslanyan, 63 kg, became the bronze medalist of the European Championship. According to Armenpress, “in the Greco-Roman wrestling competition of the European Championship in the 63 kg weight category, which is underway in the capital of Albania, Tirana, Aslanyan competed with Mairbek Salimov, representing Poland. The Armenian wrestler quickly achieved success, winning with a score of 11:0.”
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Ahead of April 24 Political Parties Urge ‘Unity of Purpose’
On the occasion of the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Social Democratic Hunchakian Party, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (Ramgavar Azadagan Party) reaffirm their commitment to remembrance and the pursuit of justice.
The Armenian Genocide remains a crime that has not yet been acknowledged by its perpetrator Turkey, the consequences of which continue today through the genocidal policy pursued by Turkey and its partner Azerbaijan against Artsakh.
To this end, the Armenian Genocide remains the issue that unites us as Armenians. We continue our coordinated efforts to achieve a just solution for the rights of the Armenian people through reparations.
We reaffirm our commitment to unity in service of our common goal, and in that spirit, we have come together this year to commemorate the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, not only to remember the tragic events, but also to elevate the resilience and unwavering will of our people.
We encourage purposeful and coordinated action to advance the Armenian Cause.
We are confident that through united efforts, we will revitalize our community, engage and empower our youth as future standard bearers for the collective aspirations of our nation.
We demand that the President of the United States, in light of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by both Houses of Congress, use the word “genocide” in his annual message.
We once again call on our community to unite around the structures of our nation, to protect our rights, values, and demands, starting April 24. Our Martyrs demand it.
Social Democratic Hunchakian Party Western U.S. Executive Committee
Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western U.S. Central Committee
Armenian Democrat Liberal Party (ADLP) U.S. Western Regional Committee
Asbarez: EU Foreign Ministers Approve New 2-Year Mission to Armenia
EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas meets with Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Brussels on Apr. 14
The foreign ministers of the European Union on Tuesday approved the establishment of a new “Partnership Mission” to Armenia, which the bloc said “is a further contribution in the efforts to enhance Armenia’s democratic resilience and its ability to manage crises.”
Armenia’s Foreign Ministry was quick to welcome the announcement. The assistance from the EU was requested from Yerevan to counter what it termed as “hybrid threats” prior and during Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary election on June 7. The Armenian government implicitly alleged that Russia was interfering in the election process.
”The decision on the deployment of the civilian mission, adopted upon the request of the Republic of Armenia, ahead of the first Armenia-EU Summit scheduled for May 5, is one of the joint initiatives stemming from the strategic agenda of Armenia-EU partnership,” the foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
The EU already decided last month to send a separate “hybrid rapid response team” to Yerevan for the upcoming elections.
The mission approved on Tuesday will have an initial mandate of two years and will be separate from the so-called “hybrid rapid response team” and the current EU Monitoring Mission in Armenia, which has been in place since 2022.
According to a statement from the EU, the mission will support Armenia facing multi-layered threats such as foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), cyber-attacks and illicit financial flows. EUPM Armenia will provide strategic advice and capacity building to various ministries and national institutions on the development of policies to address threats faced by society and national institutions, and support the development of a horizontal, whole-of-government approach.
The mission will also provide operational advice and feature a project cell responsible for identifying and implementing concrete actions in the areas covered by the mandate of the mission, in close coordination with like-minded partners, according to the EU statement.
“Armenians are facing massive disinformation campaigns and cyber-attacks. Over the next years, a new EU civilian mission will provide expert advice, capacity building for government departments and a team monitoring areas for urgent action. When Armenians go to the polls in June, they alone should choose their country’s future. The EU helps to protect Armenia’s resilience,” said Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief said in a statement.
The mission will be part of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy and will be led the Managing Director of the Civilian Operations Headquarters within the European External Action Service – Stefano Tomat – who will be the Civilian Operation Commander.
“He will exercise command and control of EUPM Armenia at the strategic level under the political control and strategic direction of the Council’s Political and Security Committee, and the overall authority of the High Representative,” the EU statement said.
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