Month: February 2021

YEREVAN — In the framework of the EU funded “Emergency Aid for Displaced Families from Nagorno Karabakh” RRM action implemented by the Children of Armenia Fund 150 displaced families will receive support.

Through the 60,000 Euro Action, 150 displaced families currently residing in COAF beneficiary villages of the Aragatsotn, Armavir, Lori, Shirak, and Tavush regions will be provided with aid packages (including food, winter clothes, hygiene and health supplies) and 450 children will receive stationary.

Thanks to the contribution of the Lithuanian Embassy in Armenia intended for the population affected by the conflict, 35 children will receive tablets, and 70 children will receive school bags and stationary. In addition, 150 families will benefit from the psycho-social, health, and speech therapy services, upon need. The distribution of the aid packages will be completed by the end of February 2021.

On February 11, EU Ambassador to Armenia Andrea Wiktorin and the Ambassador of Lithuania in Armenia Inga Stanytė-Toločkienė visited the COAF Yerevan office, where the parcels for displaced families were being prepared for distribution.

“COAF highly values this special partnership with the EU Delegation in Armenia. It is not the first project we are implementing together to react to a crisis. After our successful partnership in supporting rural families to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, we now stand by the displaced families from Nagorno Karabakh who found shelter in our beneficiary communities,” highlighted COAF Managing Director Korioun Khatchadourian.

“This is the European Union’s second cooperation with COAF under the Rapid Response Mechanism. I hope that together we are managing to ease the difficult situation of many people who lost their homes or were otherwise affected by the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh. As usual, it is our pleasure to cooperate with help those who need it the most,” mentioned EU Ambassador to Armenia Andrea Wiktorin.

The ultimate objectives of the Action include covering the immediate needs of the displaced families, as well as providing policy recommendations to the RA Government-level decision makers to address the future needs of the displaced families.

The Action is implemented in partnership with the Armenia’s Labor and Social Affairs Ministry and is coordinated with the regional administration offices and local municipalities to identify the families from Nagorno Karabakh in the target villages and exclude the possibility of duplication of the aid provided to the same family.

The Member States of the European Union have decided to link together their know-how, resources and destinies. Together, they have built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development whilst maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms. The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders.

The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that employs community-led approaches aimed at improving the quality of life in rural Armenia, with a particular focus on children and youth. COAF’s target development areas are education, healthcare, social and economic development. COAF launched its programs in 2004, starting in one village and expanding to 64 villages in Armavir, Aragatsotn, Lori, Gegharkunik, Shirak, and Tavush regions, impacting more than 107,000 beneficiaries.

Since 2015, COAF has been implementing the SMART Initiative. COAF SMART is designed to advance a generation across the rural world through education that will benefit individuals, societies, and the environment. As an exemplary model, COAF SMART will be replicated in other regions and communities throughout Armenia. The first COAF SMART Center was inaugurated on May 27, 2018, near the village of Debet, Lori Region.

Any shots fired by Azerbaijani forces near the vicinity of villages in Armenia’s Syunik Province is a threat to Armenia fraught with dangers to the civilian population in the area, said Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan, who also published a report following a fact finding mission to the region.

Last week, Tatoyan warned that Azerbaijani forces, using small and large weapons, were firing shots in the direction of villages in the Syunik Province from as close as one kilometer away. Some officials opted to minimize the incidents by saying Azerbaijani were merely discharging their weapons in the air.

Tatoyan on Friday took issue with the semantics being used to rationalize the Azerbaijanis violations, asserting that any shots—whether sporadic or continuous—must be regarded as a rights violation.

“In recent days, there have been reports that the shots fired by the Azerbaijani military near the border villages of Syunik province are sporadic or that they are simply firing in the air. This leaves the impression that the dangers and risks to life associated with such shootings are, therefore, minimized,” said Tatoyan who countered by saying that even a single shot fired disturbs the peace and tranquility of the villagers, endangers their and their children’s life and deprives them of the right to work in their fields or use their property.

“The presumption should be that any shots fired the Azerbaijani military should be seen as a regular shooting and thus, must officially be recorded as shots fired at the village,” explained Tatotyan.

“The presence of Azerbaijani armed servicemen in general, and particularly in the immediate vicinity of the villages of Syunik province or on the roads connecting the communities of the province, and any movement by them violates Armenia’s Constitution, internationally guaranteed rights of the peaceful inhabitants of Syunik, and is a threat to their peace and tranquility,” Tatoyan said.

Tatoyan led a fact finding mission to Syunik Province on Tuesday, visiting the city of Kapan and the Nerkin Hand, Shikahogh, Srashen villages. The team observed violations and threats to life property and right of the residents.

Kapan Mayor Gevorg Parsyan and other area officials accompanied Tatoyan’s team, which held detailed discussions, including private conversations with the residents. The team made professional observations, and assessments were made of registered complaints on a case by case basis.

Tatoyan made the following statement based on the fact finding mission:

Azerbaijani armed forces in the immediate vicinity of the villages of Kapan continue to discharge small and large caliber weapons. The shootings are regular, both during the day and at night. They are clearly and unmistakably heard in the villages, causing anxiety, first of all to the women and children. The Human Rights Defender has already published evidence of Azerbaijani shootings in the vicinity of Kapan community villages.

The same information was also communicated to the Syunik regional subdivision of the Defender’s Office by the residents of Tsav and Chakaten villages and was subsequently verified.

2. Due to the process of “determining” the borders of Armenia with Azerbaijan, as one of the many consequences of the September November war of 2020, the pastures, the private and community arable lands of the referenced villages of Kapan are being targeted by Azerbaijani armed forces. This turn of events has made it impossible to make use of those fields.

3. During the visit, the residents of Shikahogh, Srashen and Nerkin Hand villages reported that shots were fired while they were engaged in agricultural work on their lands and in broad daylight. In some cases, they were on their lands with their children and grandchildren.

At the same time, the Azerbaijani servicemen who fired the shots are at such a distance (even less than 1 km) that the lands of the Armenian villagers are visible to the naked eye. In other words, they are clearly observing these civilians and are witnessing the villagers carrying out their daily chores and the agricultural work on their lands.

All of this also poses a direct threat to children. Notably, the Azerbaijani military is located less than one kilometer from a school near the village of Nerkin Hand.

These facts have been verified by the observations of the Human Rights Defender’s staff through alarming concerns raised by community bodies and by the residents in these regions.

4. The presence of Azerbaijani servicemen (including Azeri flags and signs) on the road from Kapan to Chakaten and other villages in Kapan, which is in the Syunik Province, have seriously hampered the free movement of civilians and especially the residents of the surrounding villages. According to these residents, as it turns out, there are Azerbaijani armed servicemen in these areas to “protect” the signs and/or flags from the residents.

Because of all this, the villagers have to refrain from walking and traveling on those roads in the evening hours, for their own safety, and for the safety of their families, even for vital needs (for example traveling to and from a medical facility).

5. The description once again confirms that the presence of Azerbaijani armed forces (flags and signs) in the immediate vicinity of Armenian villages or on roads connecting communities, or any movement of them, grossly violates the property rights of residents, including their ability to earn a living, and it seriously endangers their life and health, physical and mental well being, and other rights of vital importance which are guaranteed internationally and by the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia. These disruptions and infringements on the safety and security of the people also extend to and affect the lives of the children of this region.

All of these transgressions are directly due to the hasty process of applying mechanical approaches and imposing dire consequences on the population of Armenia. Under Azerbaijani threats of war and use of force, and at expense of the legitimate interests of the border residents, their internationally guaranteed rights, and consequently the requirements of the rule of law, these violations continue to take place.

6. During the February 16, 2021 visit, the staff of Armenia’s Human Rights Defender, with the participation of the head of the Kapan community also discussed issues related to the provision of social assistance and socio economic rights to the villagers. Specifically, issues related to the process of refunding of deposits and/or payments made were discussed in the village of Nerkin Hand.

7. During the visit, the head of the Kapan community and a number of community officials provided the Human Rights Defender with detailed information on the referenced issues, as well as the problems related to living conditions, as well as the security concerns of the villagers in other villages of Kapan.

Tatoyan said that based on the team’s findings, proposals will be submitted to the relevant state bodies, “and if necessary, clarifications will be sought to address each of these matters.”

In a “Dear Colleague” letter, leaders of the California Armenian Legislative Caucus on Friday urged their fellow lawmakers to “not spread misinformation” emanating from Azerbaijani propaganda material circulated to legislative offices about a fabricated “Khojaly Massacre.”

The letter, signed by Assemblymembers Laura Friedman and Adrin Nazarian, as well as Senators Anthony Portantino, and Senator Scott Wilk on behalf of the California Armenian Legislative Caucus, said “the request [by the propaganda authors] is a falsification of history and truth.”

The Armenian Caucus urged fellow lawmakers “to stand with the California Armenian Americans… and not spread misinformation.”

Below is the text of the letter.

Dear Colleague,

The California Armenian Legislative Caucus strongly urges you to stand with California Armenian Americans. Your office may have received a propaganda request regarding a fabricated Azerbaijani Khojaly Massacre. We urge you to stand with us and not spread misinformation.

The request is a falsification of the history and truth. In 1992, the Azeri’s shelled Armenian civilian targets using rockets in the Republic of Artsakh (also known as Nagorno-Karabakh). As a result of Azeri attacks, Armenians suffered civilian casualties as well as hundreds of Armenians being kidnapped. With the help of Turkey, Azerbaijan blockaded all delivery of goods into Armenia: food, fuel, and medical supplies. Armenian forces had to neutralize Azeri fire in Khojaly and terminate the blockade. The Azeri’s goal of attacking and killing the Armenian people was very clearly deliberate.

Using loudspeakers for ten days, the Armenian forces announced to Khojaly inhabitants and Azeri forces that an attack was imminent. The announcements also informed Azeris that Armenians had dedicated a corridor for the safe passage of civilians to Azeri held areas. The Azeri authorities did nothing to facilitate the evacuation of their people. On February 25, 1992, the Armenian self-defense forces attacked Khojaly. Several Azeri civilians tried to flee through the corridor; however, Azeri forces fired at the column, killing an unknown number. Although the Armenians were successful in neutralizing the Azeri fire- power, Khojaly remained in Azeri hands for many months. Soon after the attack, Azeri authorities claimed that Armenians had committed genocide. There is no evidence for their allegation.

The request that your office received has turned the incident into an anti-Armenian campaign. This anti-Armenian stance is a fresh wound for Armenians as they have very recently been attacked by the Azeri’s, just as they were in 1992.

On September 27, 2020 Azerbaijan launched an unprovoked attack against the peaceful Republic of Artsakh by shelling military positions and innocent civilian populations indiscriminately. Turkey played an active role in supporting Azerbaijan’s aggression toward Artsakh by providing arms, logistical and communications support, and even transporting paid Jihadist mercenaries to Azerbaijan from Libya and the Turkish Syrian border. Armenia was forced to make significant concessions at the conclusion of the war.

On November 9, 2020, a ceasefire was declared that called upon the mutual release and exchange of prisoners. Azerbaijan has not yet released the prisoners of war and innocent civilians that are being held captive. All persons were to be exchanged. Azerbaijan has a history of gruesome treatment and human rights violations of captives. So far, only 54 Armenians, both civilians and soldiers have been returned from Azerbaijani custody while the number of missing Armenians continues to grow. Even after the ceasefire, Armenian soldiers have been captured and Azerbaijan has failed to acknowledge these soldiers as prisoners of war and want to try them in Azerbaijan on criminal charges. Azerbaijani soldiers are continuing to break the ceasefire and capture innocent Armenian soldiers and hold them as hostages only to unfairly extort political and territorial demands.

Furthermore, for more than a century, Turkey and Azerbaijan have maintained a violent history toward the Armenian people. Descendants of the Armenian Genocide continue to mourn the loss of 1.5 million ancestors murdered by the Turks and over 5,000 civilians and military personnel were killed in this conflict.

The California Armenian Legislative Caucus is a bi-partisan, non-political Caucus that encourages California Armenian Americans to advocate and participate in cultural, educational, governmental, and community efforts in California. Through advocacy, the Caucus strives to ensure that California Armenian Americans’ voices are heard and given a platform. The Caucus serves as a forum for members from the California Senate and Assembly to identify key issues affecting Armenian Americans and develop and empower the Armenian American community throughout California.

Armenian-Americans have been crucial to the contributions in the history of the United States and California since the major wave of Armenian settlers came here in the late 1890s. Today, California is home to more Armenians than anywhere in the United States. The contributions of Armenians to California culture and history have been remarkable. Armenians have brought their intellect and work ethic to bear in a variety of fields including agriculture, energy, medicine, technology, the arts, government, and more. The Caucus strives to educate Californians on Armenian American issues and celebrate the achievements of Armenian Americans in California.

Sincerely,