Month: February 2020

BY MATTHEW KARANIAN

Editor’s Note: Adapted from “The Armenian Highland,” the world’s first historical guide to the ancient Armenian homeland, by Matthew Karanian (Stone Garden Press, 2019). Available from booksellers and online.

I dreamt of Ani last night.

I was walking along a street in Yerevan when I stopped a child and asked her for directions. “Vonce guhnam Ani?” – “How do you get to Ani?”

She stretched her arm northward. “It’s that way,” she said, responding in English to a question I had put to her in Armenian.

The girl’s response sent me walking on a journey of one hundred miles. When I stopped, I was on the bank of the Akhurian River, in the shadow of the ancient Armenian capital.

If I had been awake, this hike might have taken a couple of days. But I was dreaming. The hike took just a moment.

I waded waist deep through the shallow waters of the river and when I had reached the other side I looked up and saw Ani’s thousand-and-one churches sprawled out before me. I climbed the stairs that had been carved into the steep hillside, past the Monastery of the Virgins, through a stone archway.

Dozens of donkeys and horses and people and priests jostled me as I made my way through the city. Merchants called out to me from both sides of the road and offered spools of silk and jars of spice.

I exchanged a coin for a cup of sev soorj, thick Armenian coffee, as the crowd parted and went silent. A procession of Armenian clergy passed, their black robes adorned only with the volcanic dust that coated the city.

I struggled to hear the hymn that they were singing—nay—whispering. And as I did, they disappeared into the Cathedral of Ani.

I stood alone on the path. I drank my soorj. I walked back to the river.

On a sandy outcrop nearby, a group of women washed clothes and laughed. I took a photograph. And then another. But the women didn’t appear in my pictures.

All I captured was the empty river and the silent cliffs.

I splashed about. The sun went behind a hill. Ani returned to its slumber.

And while Ani slept, I waded to the other side of the river and I walked back to Yerevan, Armenia’s other capital.

LOS ANGELES—The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region’s Education Committee announced that it will be recognizing seven educators, from various public schools and universities in the Western U.S., who have uniquely provided instruction and education about the Armenian Genocide in public schools of the Western Region.

The following extraordinary educators will be recognized at the 4th Annual ANCA-WR Armenian Genocide Education Luncheon. This year, the luncheon will take place on March 7 at 11 a.m., at De Luxe Banquet Hall, located at 237 E Olive Ave, Burbank, CA 91502.

The following seven educators will be honored at the luncheon:

• Dr. Richard G. Hovannisian, Professor Emeritus, University of California, Los Angeles, will receive the Armenian Genocide Education Legacy Award;
• Dr. Maria Armoudian, University of Auckland, New Zealand, will receive the Armenian Genocide Higher Education Award;
• Jennifer Davis, Anderson W. Clark Magnet High School, Glendale Unified School District, will receive the Armenian Genocide Education Award;
• Dr. Michelle Herczog, Los Angeles County of Education, will receive the Armenian Genocide Education Award;
• Susan Quintana, Pojoaque Valley High School, Jaconita, New Mexico, will receive the Armenian Genocide Education Award;
• Saakanoush Markarian, R.D. White Elementary School, Glendale Unified School District, will receive the Zaruhy “Sara” Chitjian Armenian Heritage Award;
• Nancy Nazarian, Curtiss Magnet Middle School, Los Angeles Unified School District, will receive the Zaruhy “Sara” Chitjian Armenian Heritage Award.

“The Armenian Genocide Education Award Luncheon continuously reminds us of the important value that history has in our everyday lives. It allows the opportunity to acknowledge educators who have gone beyond the minimum requirements to provide opportunities for students to recognize the impacts of hate, intolerance, and violence. We truly appreciate the nominations of these educators and look forward to this event,” remarked Alice Petrossian, ANCA-WR Education Committee Chair.

This year, the Luncheon will feature a special keynote by Ani Hovannisian-Kevorkian, daughter of Dr. Richard G. Hovannisian. Hovannisian-Kevorkian has produced and directed hundreds of inspiring true stories for television and other international audiences. Her most recent project, “The Hidden Map” captures her journey with a solitary Scottish explorer, as they dig deep beneath the surface of modern-day Turkey, discovering the lonely relics, silenced voices and stories of an ominous past… unearthing buried secrets and the hidden map. Hovannisian-Kevorkian along with members of the ANCA-WR Education Committee will lead the program of the day to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions of these esteemed educators for the next generation.

The Armenian Genocide Education Awards Luncheon is open to all who want to show their appreciation and honor educators for their dedication to teaching about the Armenian Genocide. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available online.

For additional information, visit the website or call 818.500.1918.

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region is the largest and most influential nonpartisan Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues in pursuit of the Armenian Cause.

Shushi, Armenia’s historic capital perched high on the hills of Artsakh, played host to a celebration on Tuesday evening marking the 130th anniversary of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.

A capacity crowd that included Artsakh government officials, the Primate of the Artsakh Diocese Archbishop Parkev Martirosyan, ARF Bureau members and leaders, gathered at the Shushi Cultural House to celebrate the founding the ARF.

ARF Bureau Chairman Hagop Der Khachadourian, Archbishop Martirosyan and ARF Artsakh Central Committee chairman and the party’s candidate for the upcoming presidential election Davit Ishkhanyan spoke during the event. Each speaker touched upon the ARF’s role in advancing the Armenian Cause and serving the people, as well as the party’s decisive actions in the establishment of Armenia’s Independence and the Artsakh Liberation Movement.

A cultural program included performances by the “We are Our Mountains” song and dance ensemble and other local performers. A video chronicling the ARF’s 130-year history was also screened at the celebration.

The celebration coincided with the convention of an international ARF Hai-Tahd conference, which kicked off in Yerevan in Monday and continued in Stepanakert on Tuesday, with the organization’s central Hai-Tahd committee being awarded the Artsakh Medal of Gratitude by President Bako Sahakian.

CANBERRA, Australia—The peak advocacy bodies of Australia’s Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek communities have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch the “Joint Justice Initiative” at a Cultural Cocktail event. The event was held on Tuesday, February 25 at the Australian Parliament House’s Mural Hall.

Around 100 Federal Australian parliamentarians, diplomats, departmental officials, political staffers, academics, media, and community leaders were treated to cultural performances, food, wine and brandy, as well as the historic signing which affirmed that the public affairs representatives of the three communities were jointly committed to seeing Australia recognize the Turkish-committed Genocide against the Armenian, Greek, and Assyrian citizens of the Ottoman Empire during World War I.

The Joint Justice Initiative’s Memorandum of Understanding stipulates that the Armenian National Committee of Australia, the Assyrian Universal Alliance – Australia Chapter and the Australian Hellenic Council “shall continue and expand their cooperation and joint advocacy for the international affirmation and justice for the Genocides of the indigenous Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek populations of the Ottoman Empire perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkish government.”

Further, the document confirms the communities participating in the Joint Justice Initiative “shall jointly advocate against any attempt by the Turkish Government to use the sacred ANZAC graves in Gallipoli (and access by Australians to those graves and memorials) as ‘hostages’ or bargaining chips in coercing or persuading the Australian Government in being complicit in the Turkish State’s denial campaign with respect to the Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek Genocides.”

Haig Kayserian of the Armenian National Committee of Australia spoke on behalf of the Joint Justice Initiative, stating that the three communities – who are made up of descendants of survivors of the Ottoman Turkish Genocide of Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks during WWI – consider this a significant step towards the realization of their collective goals.

“The launch of the Joint Justice Initiative and our signing of this Memorandum of Understanding signals our commitment to redouble our joint efforts to ensure Australia is a party of truth and justice when it comes to the Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek Genocide,” he said.

“In recent years, Australia’s Parliament has seen dozens of speakers declare support for Federal recognition of the Genocide committed against our ancestors, and we believe it is past time that Canberra gives up the word games it plays on this issue in the name of a false diplomacy against a bullying foreign dictatorship.”

The Assyrian Universal Alliance – Australia Chapter’s Deputy Secretary General Hermiz Shahen declared: “Denial is the continuation of genocide, and Australia’s inaction in recognizing and condemning means we are failing the very values our country was built on.”

“It was Australians who came to the aid of Armenian, Assyrian and Greek victims of the genocide over 100 years ago, while our ANZACs witnessed the barbarity suffered by the Christian minorities deliberately targeted by the Ottoman government, and it should be in the spirit of those Australians that our political leaders stand up for what is right,” Shahen added.

The Australian Hellenic Council’s George Vellis declared: “It is time Australia stands up for human rights, truth and justice, and the Armenian-Australian, Assyrian-Australian, and Greek-Australian communities have today declared that this is an absolute priority for the country’s lawmakers and government.”

The Joint Justice Initiative invited Members of Parliament and Senators to sign a pledge that declares their support for Australia’s recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides, and event hosts Members of Parliament Trent Zimmerman and Joel Fitzgibbon addressed the audience as co-conveners of the Armenia-Australia Interparliamentary Union stressing their backing.

Professor Peter Stanley, who is the former Director of the Australian War Memorial and co-author of Australia, Armenia & the Great War, spoke to press the importance of Australia’s recognition of the Genocide committed against the Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks of the Ottoman Empire.

The Joint Justice Initiative’s Memorandum of Understanding text in full is available below.

JOINT JUSTICE INITIATIVE – MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

ON COOPERATION BETWEEN THE ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF AUSTRALIA, THE ASSYRIAN UNIVERSAL ALLIANCE, AND THE AUSTRALIAN HELLENIC COUNCIL

The Armenian National Committee of Australia, Assyrian Universal Alliance and the Australian Hellenic Council, hereafter the “Parties”:

A. Recognizing the historical and friendly relations between the Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic (Greek) Nations;

B. Attaching paramount importance to the friendly relations, mutual understanding, strong solidarity, and continued close cooperation between the Armenian-Australian, Assyrian-Australian and Hellenic-Australian Communities;

C. Convinced that the cooperation and mutual ties between the three Communities should further deepen and strengthen;

D. Committed to ensuring comprehensive cooperation aimed at the further development of inter-communal ties, exchange of experience, joint deliberations and consultations in areas of mutual interest, and exchange of information on issues of mutual interest;

E. Concerned about the aggressive rhetoric and activities of the Turkish government and its allies in Australia, aimed at deliberately misleading the Australian public and government and spreading disinformation regarding the Genocide of the indigenous Armenian, Assyrian and Greek populations of the Ottoman Empire perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkish government.

DO HEREBY AGREE ON THE FOLLOWING:

1. The Parties shall undertake joint advocacy and public education initiatives promoting human rights, peace and the rule of law;
2. The Parties shall continue and expand their co-operation and joint advocacy for the international affirmation and justice for the Genocides of the indigenous Armenian, Assyrian and Greek, and Assyrian populations of the Ottoman Empire perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkish government;
3. The Parties shall continue and expand their joint efforts in countering historical revisionism and/or denial of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocide by Turkey and its proxies;
4. The Parties shall undertake work in ensuring that the Genocide perpetrated against the indigenous Armenian, Assyrian and Greek populations of the Ottoman Empire is properly taught in public and private schools and universities in Australia;
5. The Parties shall collaborate closely on any Turkish Government bond divestment initiatives as well as any other punitive mechanisms for as long as the Turkish Government continues to deny the truth and bar justice for the Genocide perpetrated against the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek peoples;
6. The Parties shall advocate in Australia – in particular to the Australian Government, for the protection of the fundamental human rights, including the religious, cultural and educational freedoms of the surviving Christian Communities in Turkey, including the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Communities;
7. The Parties shall support the internationally recognized status of the Ecumenical Patriarch and for the reopening of the illegally closed Halki Monastery;
8. The Parties shall support efforts aimed at precluding Turkish Government’s interference in the activities and governance of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople;
9. The Parties shall coordinate and support efforts aimed at reparation, restitution, and retribution by the Turkish Government as a result of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides, including the return to the respective Communities of all religious, national, and private property stolen or otherwise confiscated as part of the Genocides;
10. The Parties shall continue to educate the Australian people about the deteriorating human rights situation and the ongoing repressions and discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities and civil society activists in Turkey;
11. The Parties shall jointly advocate against any attempt by the Turkish Government to use the sacred ANZAC graves in Gallipoli (and access by Australians to those graves and memorials) as “hostages” or bargaining chips in coercing or persuading the Australian Government in being complicit in the Turkish State’s denial campaign with respect to the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides;
12. The Parties shall coordinate and support all efforts aimed at increasing awareness of Australia’s first major, international humanitarian efforts to help save the survivors of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides, in particular the orphans.

Armenia remains fully committed to the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the internationally mandated format of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmanship and underlines the priority of security and status for Nagorno-Karabakh, said Armenia’s Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan when he addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Wednesday.

“The people of Nagorno-Karabakh have the right to freely determine their political status without limitations, and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development by virtue of the right to self-determination. This is at the core of the peaceful resolution,” said Mnatsakanyan in his remarks.

Below is the text of Mnatsakanyan’s statement provided by the Foreign Ministry’s press service.
“Thank you, Madam President,

I am delighted to be back in the Human Rights Council to represent a country that is now a full-fledged member of this august body.

As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations we strongly believe that its mission should be reemphasized and strengthened. The three pillars of the United Nations are important and mutually reinforcing. We recognize the centrality of human rights exactly in the context of its powers to release talent and capacity of the human being for the individual and common good in any society, which values freedom and unrestricted civil participation. We also share the concern of Secretary General Antonio Guterres, that human rights are under assault. Reflecting on his wake up call globally, Armenia extends its full support to the Call for Action and the seven target areas as defined by the Secretary General.

Madam President,
Our accession to the HRC accompanied the important progress Armenia has been making since the victory of the non-violent, peaceful Velvet Revolution in April and May 2018. Our reforms are widespread, they are based on staunch support and massive mandate of the Armenian people, and the strong political will of the Government to advance democratic transformation with tangible deliverables to the principal beneficiary of the reforms, the citizen of Armenia. Our reforms embrace every aspect of securing fair and solid institutions to sustain democracy, the rule of law and human rights. Achieving a genuine independent and impartial judiciary is a cornerstone of our present reform agenda. The Constitutional referendum to be held on 5 April is aimed exactly at advancing the reform of the judiciary with the direct participation of the citizenry of Armenia.

Armenia’s progress has been duly reflected in several international rankings and indexes. According to Corruption Perception Index of the Transparency International, in 2019 Armenia has improved its ranking by 28 points. In the World Press Freedom index of the Reporters without borders Armenia made an improvement of 19 notches within just one year. Last year Armenia recorded significant progress on freedom of internet and ranked among the top 10 free countries.

Armenia’s accession to the HRC coincides with the third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review that we have undergone this January. We are grateful and most encouraged by the broad recognition of Armenia’s reform efforts, as reflected in many interventions during the UPR. I would also wish to emphasize the centrality of the national level of responsibility for human rights, as our responsibilities are first of all before our people. Of course, we recognize the UPR as a “jewel of the crown” in the HRC framework and will do our best to further consolidate it.

Armenia’s transformation firmly relies on strong involvement and active political participation of women and youth. This is also an important premise in our international cooperation. Armenia is presently chairing the 64th and 65th Sessions of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. We will continue to consistently work towards building international consensus for the empowerment of women.

The Human Rights Council remains a critical platform within the United Nations for the strengthening of international capacities to prevent mass atrocities and genocide, a subject that Armenia has been championing for many years. We intend to table an updated draft resolution on the “Prevention of Genocide” for consideration at this session of the Council. We are looking forward to open, engaging and constructive informal consultations with States and other stakeholders. We are convinced that this Council, its special procedures, as well as the Office of the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide should sustain their leadership in promoting and strengthening the prevention of massive violations of human rights, genocide and mass atrocities.

Madam President,
The people of Nagorno-Karabakh continue to face a threat of force and coercion from Azerbaijan, whose persistent obstruction of human rights, intolerance, hatred, discrimination and outright aggression against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh are the root causes of the conflict. Massacres, ethnic cleansing and forced expulsion of the Armenian minority population from Baku, Sumgait, Kirovabad and other towns and villages of Azerbaijan, the war and aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh in 1990s, glorification of murderers of Armenians represent such consistent aggressive policies of Azerbaijan. They constitute an existential physical security threat to the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. We were reminded about this threat in an attempted renewed aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh in April 2016.

Armenia remains fully committed to the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the internationally mandated format of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmanship and underlines the priority of security and status for Nagorno-Karabakh. The people of Nagorno-Karabakh have the right to freely determine their political status without limitations, and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development by virtue of the right to self-determination. This is at the core of the peaceful resolution. Armenia also underlines the importance of denouncing hatred and intolerance and investing serious effort in promoting human contacts. Equally, the threat of force is firmly ruled out. Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh are committed to building further on the modest results achieved in 2019.

Promotion and support to full enjoyment of human rights for people residing in conflict areas must represent a collective objective for the international community. Human rights and those who exercise them cannot be defined as a problem. They are the solution. I recall yesterday’s powerful message of the Secretary General, “Every measure to uphold human rights helps ease tensions, deliver sustainable development and sustain peace”. On 31 March the people of Nagorno-Karabakh will cast their votes at presidential and parliamentary elections in fulfilling their legitimate right of organizing their lives in a democratic manner. The commitment of Nagorno-Karabakh and its people who endured war, siege and aggression, who continue to face the threat of war, to sustain a strong democratic society and institutions for the protection of human rights deserve full international support. Human rights and fundamental freedoms should be respected, protected and promoted without distinction of any kind, including “the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs.

In conclusion, Madame President, Armenia reiterates unwavering commitment and support to the United Nations human rights machinery, as it represents an essential platform for international cooperation. At the same time, the primary responsibility firmly rests with member states. The efficiency of the human rights system is addressed and tested exactly on such grounds.

Thank you very much”.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation of Artsakh kicked off its election campaign for president and parliament on Wednesday near the border village of Marzili in the Hadrut Province with candidates, headed by the party’s presidential hopeful, paying respects to memory of Artsakh freedom fighters.

Marzili is the site where Artsakh freedom fighter Monte Melkoian (Avo) was killed by Azerbaijani troops. At memorial in his memory, the ARF candidates pledged their allegiance to all those who gave their lives in the name of Artsakh’s Liberation Movement.

Artsakh’s presidential and legislative elections will take place on March 31.

Under the slogan of “We have won, will not concede and will advance TOGETHER,” the Artsakh ARF kicked of the election campaign with a platform that pledges to advance socio-economic justice for the people of Artsakh as well as fight to preserve Artsakh’s territorial integrity during the Karabakh conflict resolution process. Below are the points on which the ARF candidates are campaigning.

• Preserving and reestablishing the territorial integrity of the Republic of Artsakh in the Karabakh conflict settlement process;
• Signing of the Armenia-Artsakh Strategic Cooperation Agreement to preserve Artsakh’s national security and clarify Artsakh’s legal status;
• Preserving the national unity based on equality and rule of law by advancing social justice and defending human rights
• By waging an unimpeded struggle against corruption and monopolies guarantee the citizen’s complete equality.
• By adopting Artsakh new Constitution, balance the government structures to strengthen and advance democracy.
• Advancing a structured, large-scale and long-term re-population program.
• Creating opportunities for the complete advancement of the young citizens.
• Optimizing the productive use of Artsakh’s natural resources—its National Wealth.
• Advancing Artsakh’s defense structures based on the concept of “Nation-Army.”

The ARF of Artsakh made the decision to participate in the elections was made during a special convention held at the end of January.

Ishkhanyan, who is the current chairman of the Artsakh ARF Central Committee, was chosen as the party’s presidential candidate. In an interview with Yerkir.am, Ishkhanyan outlined some of his and the ARF’s priorities, including instituting reforms to the Artsakh constitution, adopted in 2017, that concentrates power with the office of the president. Ishkhanyan advocated for a distinct separation of power after explaining the party’s belief that the current concentration of power is not a practical system of government. The separation of powers would allow the legislature and local government structures to operate as independent elected entities.

Ishkhanyan further prioritized the strengthening of the Armenia-Artsakh Strategic Cooperation agreement while also promoting the notion of the “Nation-Army” concept which he says has been discussed by the party since the 1990s, although concrete steps to strengthen that dynamic have not been initiated.

In addition to chairing the Artsakh Central Committee (CC), Ishkhanyan is also a member of parliament where he has headed the ARF legislative bloc from 2015 to 2017 and serves as a member of the permanent commission on finance, budget and economy.

Ishkhanyan was born on December 27, 1968 in the Ashan village of Artsakh’s Martuni province. After receiving his primary and secondary education in Ashan, Ishkhanyan attended the Stepanakert Pedagogy Institute’s history and social studies department, served as principal of the Ashan Secondary School and was head of the Ashan community.

Ishkhanyan has had a storied role in the Artsakh Liberation Movement beginning with the volunteer movement and as an active member of the student detachment. He was commander of the 28th battalion of the Nargorno-Karabakh (NKR) Defense Army, earned the Martakan Khach (Military Cross) first degree medal and was awarded the coveted Mkhitar Gosh medal by the president of Artsakh in 2018.

A member of the ARF since 1989, Ishkhanyan’s political career began in 1991 when he was elected to the first and later the sixth convocation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh. He is married with three children.

In addition to Ishkhanyan’s candidacy for president, Artsakh ARF’s top candidates for parliament include Arthur Mosyan, Vahram Balayan and Armine Harutyunyan.
Like Ishkhanyan, Mosyan has distinguished himself in the Artsakh Defense Army from soldier to deputy district commander and has been awarded the Martakan Khach first degree and Mkhitar Gosh medals. Mosyan was born on January 15, 1975 in Martuni and has been a member of the ARF since 1990. He was the deputy head of Martuni district administration, Minister of Justice, chairman of the Control Chamber of Artsakh and prosecutor general of Artsakh. Mosyan was also elected a deputy of the third convocation of the Artsakh National Assembly.

Candidate Balayan was born on August 22, 1962 in the village of Gishi in the Martuni region. A member of the ARF since 1991, Balayan is a professor and doctor of historical sciences and author of 124 scientific works. For many years he was head of the history department at Artsakh State University, as well as serving as vice-rector. Balayan was a member of the third, fifth and sixth convocations of the National Assembly and has served as vice president since 2015. In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded the Mesrop Mashtots and Yerakhtakitutyun (Gratitude) medal.

Rounding out the candidates is Harutyunyan who was born on September 4, 1972 in Gyargaryar village in the Stepanavan region. Since 2011 she has been a member of the Armenian Relief Society and currently serves as chair of the Artsakh region. Harutyunyan was a teacher and organizer at Shushi Secondary School, a chemistry lecturer at the Agricultural College and held responsible positions in various departments of the NKR executive. She is currently the head of the letters division at the government affairs secretariat of the presidential administration.