Month: June 2022

The Continued Need to Fight for our Independence

Hagop Kamalian
June 1, 2022 Guest Contributor Opinion 2

By ARF Boston Sardarabad Gomideh

Armenians worldwide joined in celebrating the 104th anniversary of Armenia’s independence on May 28, 1918, an independence garnered under the most challenging of circumstances and led by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF). Announced by Aram Manukian, the founding father of modern Armenia, the nation’s declaration of independence was the result of three strategic battles. These battles, fought and won to prevent the complete annihilation of the Armenian population by Turkey, were waged in three directions: Bash Abaran, Karakilisa and Sardarabad.

Led by Generals Drastamat Kanaian (Dro) and Movses Silikian, approximately 1,000 Armenian riflemen met the 3rd Regiment of the 11th Caucasian Division, who had moved down from Hamamlu on May 21. Three days of fierce fighting by the Armenian forces resulted in halting the Turkish offensive and the launch of an Armenian counter-offensive on May 29. Within four days, the Turkish forces lost the battle and retreated back to Hamamlu. 

On other fronts, Turkish forces were advancing towards Yerevan, having captured a number of cities and villages on their way, including Alexandropol (Gyumri). The Turkish force of approximately 10,000 soldiers, 70 pieces of artillery and 40 machine guns reached Karakilisa, as the population was evacuating the city.  Garegin Njdeh and his forces rallied and amassed a force of 6,000 soldiers, 70 pieces of artillery and 20 machine guns to stop the enemy’s advance. A bloody battle ensued from May 25 to May 28, with significant losses suffered by both sides. Turkish forces occupied Karakilisa, massacring all inhabitants; however, they could no longer move forward, as they had exhausted their resources and manpower. Mehmed Wehib Pasha, the Ottoman Army General leading the Turkish forces, sent the following message to headquarters, following the stalemate at Karakilisa. 

“We do not have the strength to defeat the Armenians. The three-day battle in Karakilisa shows that as long as their existence is in danger, they will prefer to die fighting. We must not bring on a battle with the force that 1,200,000 Armenians can raise. If the Georgians join in the hostilities, it will be impossible to advance… In short, we must come to terms with the Armenians and Georgians.”

Perhaps the most monumental of all three battles, the Battle of Sardarabad took place 25 miles outside of Yerevan, where it halted the Turkish advances into Armenia and prevented the wholesale annihilation and destruction of the Armenian people and the nation, respectively. Christopher Walker, a British historian, asserted that “it is perfectly possible that the word Armenia would have henceforth denoted only an antique geographical term.”

Led by Tovmas Nazarbekian (commander of the Armenian Army Corps), Movses Silikian (commander of the Yerevan detachment), Daniel Bek-Pirumian, Poghos Bek-Pirumian, Christophor Araratov and Manukian, the battle pitted a 9,000-strong Armenian force against Turkish forces numbering more than 10,000. At this point and following the fall of Gyumri, only a small portion of the Armenian territories were unoccupied by the Turks, where hundreds of thousands of Armenians were taking refuge. The Yerevan City Council and the mayor advocated evacuating the city and handing it over to the Turks. However, these plans were strongly opposed by Manukian and Catholicos George V, who encouraged resisting the Turkish advances. Armenians from all walks of life, peasants, poets, blacksmiths and even the clergymen joined in the efforts to organize units and see to the logistical needs of the battle. Again, Manukian played a decisive role in organizing all aspects of the Armenian response and bringing order and stability to the situation. 

He ordered to stop the retreat of the Armenian forces and protect Yerevan at all costs. Lasting eight days, the battle started by resisting Turkish advances and ensuring that key roads and railroads connecting to Yerevan and Tbilisi were protected at all costs. Turkish forces mounted an offensive on May 24 but were thwarted by Armenian forces and artillery units. The battle went on with the Armenian forces making multiple attempts to surround the Turkish forces with mixed results. However, the continued battle turned the tide in favor of the Armenian forces, and following the decisive battles waged on May 27, the Turkish forces were completely defeated. 

With this hard-fought victory, a singular moment of significance was born in the long and tumultuous history of the Armenian nation. Marshal Baghramian, who also fought at the battle of Sardarabad, reflected on the significance of this battle in his later years.

“The significance of the battle of Sardarabad is great… If they [the Armenian forces] did not defeat the Ottomans there, they would have proceeded to Etchmiadzin and Yerevan—nothing would have remained of Armenia, nothing would have been saved… The Armenians won and, thanks to them, our people preserved their physical existence within the current borders of Armenia.”

Equally importantly, this battle demonstrated the capacity of the Armenian nation when it comes together under a unified goal with dedicated and competent leadership. The battle was won not because some people decided to not participate or were indifferent to their fate and to that of their kin. The battle was won because everyone did their part, men, women, children, the elderly, the clergy, the intellectual…

The reality of 1918 was not so different from ours today. In some respects, they had clarity on which direction the enemy came from and in what uniform. Today, the same enemy has infiltrated our nation, where a collaborator government with no national values or interests, other than a purported call for an elusive peace, is working from within to orchestrate the fall of Artsakh, Syunik and Yerevan eventually.

Today, the decisive battle is fought not on battlefields but in our souls and on the streets of Yerevan.

So, while we put images of Sardarabad on our social media and congratulate one another on our Independence Day, our inaction in resisting the collaborator government in Armenia is negating every gain made during the battles of Bash Abaran, Karakilisa and Sardarabad. Today, the decisive battle is fought not on battlefields but in our souls and on the streets of Yerevan. Do we watch from a distance and lend credence to this collaborator government through our inaction? Or do we join our fellow Armenians on the streets to fight for a chance to fulfill our destiny? 

It is clear who the current collaborator government represents, and it is not the Armenian nation. A representative government does not hide behind walls of thugs dressed as law enforcement; it does not weld the doors of the National Assembly shut; it does not summarily arrest and imprison opposition politicians and civilians; it does not fail to uphold the nation’s interests at every diplomatic turn; it does not fail to secure the release of our POWs; it does not fail to protect the sovereignty of the nation on a daily basis; it does not desecrate the memory of our heroes; it does not fake COVID infection to avoid joining in the April 24 commemoration and Army Day events; and it does not block access to Sardarabad to the general public, as it is too afraid to visit the monument shoulder to shoulder with its citizens.




Tolerance is a nice word

Nyrie Kalashian
June 2, 2022 Harut Akopyan Opinion 0

(Photo: Alek Surenian)

There is a presupposed idea that tolerance, or at the very least, a laissez-faire “live and let live” mantra lives in tandem with American culture. Although culture can be used as a multifaceted term, I’m generally speaking about a dominant culture in juxtaposition with a “minority culture.” Some may accuse me of being contentious, but this is merely an observation from an Armenian American who has lived most of his life in a huge urban hub where many different people coexist. 

As an immigrant growing up in the US, you become hyper aware of the differences between American culture and the one from your small community and home, be it racial, ethnic or otherwise. As a child trying to blend in, you work on taming the little idiosyncrasies of your “other” culture for fear of not fitting in or offending anyone. You think that overt displays of ethnic pride are cheap acts of panhandling a need to be seen. The consequence of this realization is that you either assimilate completely and all but denounce ethnic pride or quietly celebrate it so as to not be seen “too much.” There are also some who choose the complete opposite and refuse to adopt anything from the dominant culture as a “Hail Mary” approach at not losing something deemed sacred to so many.

American culture, and by extension, most American people, tend to look down on ethnic pride (I’m aware this is a generalization and may be a controversial statement to some). We know from this country’s history that a culmination of a collective “melting pot” of immigrants, including their customs and beliefs, has morphed into an assimilated and repackaged version of what is modern American culture today. However, the United States is a very large and diverse place. While it may bring some universal things to mind when we talk of “American culture,” it may mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. 

To be clear, I am not making some moral distinction between cultures. It is and has been a natural process that a dominant culture eventually soaks in or alters the less dominant one into its whole. But the word “tolerance,” as I see it being used today, implies an almost libertarian-like “hands off” approach. It suggests a hashing out of differences that isn’t confrontational (in a good way, I suppose). The problem, as I see it, is that it purports to value equality of differences without having to do the work to weed out, or appreciate at best, what those differences really are. It is an antithesis of friendship and brotherhood in the truest sense. I don’t mean blind allegiance. Rather, an equal give and take and more importantly, an honest mutual interest of each other’s cultures. I am fully aware that this goes both ways, and in that regard, I’m speaking to both cultures (dominant and let’s call it recessive, ethnic or immigrant, if you will). Personally, I’d rather see a modicum of interest rather than the overly-politicized and emphasized word which lacks depth and is actually a cover for any serious discussion.

Ethnic pride is something I’ve only recently appreciated in its fullest sense; specifically when it is the only thing keeping a people united, sane, and literally alive while an existential threat looms over their brethren back home. 

A reinforcement of the need to be seen and our friends to hear our story versus the indifference of the dominant force which negates this need is experienced by many Armenian-Americans today. It is something you learn to live with and repress; sort of like being in a relationship when one partner loves the other much more and cohabitation has already settled in. until solidarity is called for. When war broke out in Artsakh, many of us were expecting or at the very least hoping for solidarity from our friends. We were simultaneously shocked and disillusioned at the complete lack of a simple, “Hey what’s going on?” That being said, those few and far between who were watching and listening did not go unnoticed because their eyes and ears felt more than all the tolerance in the world.

It’s ironic that ethnic pride may seem tribal or backwards to the very same people who preach tolerance. They would say that ethnic pride suffers from bad optics and could potentially be exclusive of others. And that’s fine. I know culture has never been a static thing, and I actually agree with them in many ways. I’m just saying I much prefer an honest friendship over the faux tolerance that resembles (in spirit at least) the modern-day corporate advertisement that is at the forefront of every social progress movement.  

I rest my frustrations surrounding this topic here, but I suspect there are many quietly experiencing what I’ve described. I know this may seem a bit harsh but I don’t think I’m asking for too much if I’m calling for an honest approach in solidarity. If we are really honest, we may have to confront the fact that if those within the dominant culture who deem themselves tolerant were to come upon this writing in happenstance; it would surprise us if we were to learn they read past the words “ethnic pride.”

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Harut Akopyan was born in Yerevan and now lives in Los Angeles, California. In college, he studied filmmaking and screenwriting. Having played the game from a young age, Akopyan is also an accomplished chess player.


Four Suggested Priorities for the New Primate

Lara Chatinian
June 1, 2022 Stepan Piligian In Sight, Columns 1

One of the most important roles of participants in our Armenian diaspora communities is to have an opinion on critical issues that is hopefully based on direct experience and facts. Our problem is not that we are lacking in opinions. There is an element of truth in the saying that with four Armenians in a room, you will have five viewpoints. Having a perspective ensures you are engaged and feel a sense of responsibility. The alternative is a community of ambivalence. Of course, a multitude of opinions is helpful only if there is a commitment to a consensus that will allow us to move forward. Subordinating our egos is the key variable in that case. We’ll save that challenge for a future column. When it comes to our leaders, particularly in the church, it is essential to engage directly. Opinions are best formed from experience, not rumors. This requires outreach on our part to meet and share perspectives with our leaders. Only then will they become the beneficiaries of support through dialogue, and we will develop a stronger bond. As we discussed last week, the walls that keep the relationships formal or indirect need to be taken down. The church is the Body of Christ made up of the faithful. No one primate or prelate is going to move the mountain of success without the “pull” of the laity.

Feast of Holy Ascension at the Armenian Church of the Holy Ascension, Trumbull, CT, May 26, 2022

Last week, I attended a beautiful badarak on the Feast of the Ascension at the Church of the Holy Ascension in Trumbull, CT. I have many friends there as my sister and her family have been active for many years. The parish and their pastor, Der Untzag, will always hold a special place in my heart because it is where my mother spent the last years of her life in the warmth of that community. The service was attended by over a dozen members of the clergy including the former Primate Bishop Daniel and the newly elected Primate Hayr Mesrop. I was looking forward to meeting Hayr Soorp to offer my congratulations and begin the individual commitment of supporting his leadership. To my delight, I found him to be very outgoing, humble in his approach and quite refreshing in his discussion on issues of the church. I must add that the presence of Bishop Findikyan was a class act and most worthy of our admiration. We understand the clergy are all Christian brothers but they are also subject to the emotions of human beings. My understanding is that Bishop Daniel accepted the invitation prior to the primate election. He could have found any number of excuses not to attend and avoid all those awkward questions. Let us not underestimate the humility and love required to minister at that level. I know that God has a plan for him to continue his important service to the church.

I am certain that the new primate has and will receive an incredible amount of input in the form of complaints, opinions and ideas. Processing that information into usable content will be a challenge. In a perfect state, our primate should initially focus on listening, and once he has an understanding of the needs of the diocese, he will share his vision and the programs that support it. I would like to take this opportunity to offer some essentials for the primate to consider in the interest of our beloved church.

Our nation suffers when the center of our community is wounded.

Articulate a Unifying Vision

Too often our leaders go about their role by simply managing the institution. This is particularly true with the church where the work continues regardless of leadership changes. A new leader has a window to paint a picture of a vibrant growing church that nourishes the needs of the faithful with energy and inclusion. It is very important for leaders to visibly lead. Our people want to follow, but they need leaders with ideas that will attract their support. They need to be inspired. For the church to have a future in America, the vision must be bold and bring people to the loving sanctuary of our church. Our people need to be unified within a landscape of our Christian faith according to the incredible depth of the Apostolic Church. New ideas must be encouraged to implement outreach to gather the wandering flock of the diaspora and to rebuild the spiritual base in the Armenian home which was always the core. Our nation suffers when the center of our community is wounded.

Rebuild our Sunday Schools

We are missing a major point today. Our tolerance for the decline of our Sunday School programs is embarrassing. In this increasingly secular world, it is no guarantee, but a solid home life and a strong youth education increase the probability. We have experienced decline on both fronts. Our approach with education seems to be that while the Sunday Schools decline, we will focus on teenage programs such ACYOA, St. Nersess, Datev Institute and camps. They are excellent, but it assumes we have strong feeder programs such as Sunday Schools. Education begins with pre-school building values on communal education and familiarity with attending worship. The rebirth of our Sunday Schools must consider alternative methods to reach an increasingly geographically diverse demographic and children where one of the spouses may not be Armenian. Animation streaming programming and other internet-based learning must be a part of increasing family support and re-igniting the strength of our schools. We cannot expect a bright future if we do not expose thousands of our children to the teaching of the church early in their lives. Addressing our Sunday Schools will advance our impact in the area of outreach.

Build an Advisor Group that Understands our Challenges

The primate or prelate rarely has a shortage of individuals advising him. They may be elected such as the diocesan council, individuals who are financial benefactors or those seeking to influence the direction. All are an important part of the amazing complexity of the primate’s role. It is, however, critical that the primate have an advisory group that truly understands what we are up against and have ideas on how to navigate the challenges. I have great empathy for the primate. He is surrounded by a plethora of individuals who may be well intended, but don’t always help him do his job. This may be because they are focused on symptoms and not root causes. For example, most of our deliberations are dominated by financial discussions: not enough income, new sources of revenue or the simple implementation of fundraising ideas. Money issues are a symptom, not a cause. When I was a young board of trustees member in Indian Orchard, we had a few lean years financially. I was told by one of the elder members something I have never forgotten. He told me that if we are doing the work of God and His church, that the money will come. As we became more focused on serving the needs of the faithful and the church, the financial issues vanished. There is a direct relationship. I believe our parishes and the diocese will become healthier financially as we focus primarily on the mission of the church. Our primate needs advisors who understand this challenge and can help address youth initiatives, intermarriage integration and family spirituality to grow the church. Less focus on money and more on the mission will lead to improved finances. What parent or grandparent will not be happy to give to a church building a future for their children?

Perception is Reality | Leadership In America

There are times when we choose to avoid topics that should be aired. There are more than a few in the Eastern Diocese who will need time to reconcile with the election results. I encourage all of them to move on (as would Bishop Daniel) and embrace the leadership of the new primate. Some will say, “Why are you bringing this up?” Simply because there is no forum for this does not mean it is being considered. Some of the diocesan faithful are fearful that the Holy See may have more direct influence and perhaps reversing some of the principles of this 123-year-old American diocese. I believe that Hayr Soorp is an intelligent and thoughtful man. He is quite well aware of this perception. If he is successful in articulating a unifying vision, that risk will fade quickly as the diocese will rally around the mission, not the personalities. The Hayr Soorp has stated that often we focus on one individual for results rather than looking at our mission as a team. A team has a leader and individuals with roles that together accomplish more than the mere sum of the parts. I think he wants to build a team, and our response will be critical to whether he is successful. I pray that the Catholicos understands this dynamic in the Eastern Diocese in America and empowers the primate to create a new reality. We all have a role in building this team: the primate, the Catholicos, other clergy and the laity. Let’s all focus on this sacred mission.

We have devoted several columns to this most important topic. The most universal institution in our community is at a critical juncture in the diaspora and has a new leader in one of its dioceses. Encouraging discussion with a pure heart during the earliest days of his tenure can offer critical support to build momentum. I am hopeful that Hayr Soorp will develop a strong primate to prelate relationship with Archbishop Anoushavan to exchange ideas and to ease the pain of our divided people. When I see our spiritual fathers together, it renews my hope. Our church has too many challenges to be burdened by any division. While we wait (impatiently) for the Catholicoi to resolve their issues, important progress has been made between the Prelacy and the Diocese at the parish level. The brotherly respect of the clergy is now quite common with worship services and sacraments. It is vital to maintain these gains as new clergy rotate in the geography. During these early months of his tenure and prior to his expected elevation to bishop, take a moment to offer your prayers and support for Hayr Soorp. For those whose paths may not cross, we have social media and email to communicate. Leaders can do little without followers. I hope that we all use this window to listen, to learn and develop a vision for our church that re-establishes our growth and prosperity for the glory of God and our beloved Armenian church.

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Stepan was raised in the Armenian community of Indian Orchard, MA at the St. Gregory Parish. A former member of the AYF Central Executive and the Eastern Prelacy Executive Council, he also served many years as a delegate to the Eastern Diocesan Assembly. Currently , he serves as a member of the board and executive committee of the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR). He also serves on the board of the Armenian Heritage Foundation. Stepan is a retired executive in the computer storage industry and resides in the Boston area with his wife Susan. He has spent many years as a volunteer teacher of Armenian history and contemporary issues to the young generation and adults at schools, camps and churches. His interests include the Armenian diaspora, Armenia, sports and reading.


Who do we consider to be Armenian?

Liana Toganian
June 2, 2022 George Aghjayan Opinion 8

ARF-ER CC Chairman George Aghjayan (Photo: Knar Bedian)

How many Armenians are there in the world?

I have often heard or seen mentioned that there are 10 million Armenians worldwide. Recently, a few social media posts got me thinking about this figure and realistically who we can consider to be Armenian. To do so, I think it is easier to first state unequivocally those who cannot be practically considered Armenian.

The most obvious are those claiming to be Armenian but not Christian. Our nation has been defined as Christian almost from the beginning, and everyone knows Armenia was the first nation to declare Christianity as its national religion. Over the last 1,000 years of subjugation, if an Armenian converted from the Christian faith, then they were no longer considered Armenian. So, those who are Muslim, Jewish or do not believe in a God cannot possible be considered Armenian. We cannot be sure how many of these so-called non-Christian Armenians there are, but most likely they number in the millions.

But really this is not specific enough. The core of our nation has always been the Armenian Apostolic church. So, those who are Catholic, Protestant, Mormon or members of any of the many other Christian sects cannot be considered Armenian. Again, I am not sure how many such people there are, but I would guess over one million worldwide.

I think we must also consider those who were not born to two fully Armenian parents. While someone who has full Armenian parentage is clearly Armenian (assuming they meet the other criteria we have or will lay out), their non-Armenian spouse, no matter how sympathetic he or she might be to the Armenian people, clearly cannot be Armenian. After all, we are not in the business of assimilating others into our nation. Neither can the children from a mixed marriage be considered Armenian.

So now we have gotten to a core of those who can reasonably be considered Armenian – the full-blooded Armenian Apostolic. But is that enough? Isn’t more required than simply birth and religion? For example, if one does not speak pure Armenian (not corrupted by foreign words from Russian, Turkish, Persian, Arabic, etc.), can they really be considered Armenian? Even if they speak Armenian, what is the extent of their engagement in the Armenian community? Shouldn’t we expect an Armenian to participate in Armenian community life, and if they don’t, can they reasonably be considered Armenian? To be considered Armenian, you must fully embrace the language, food, culture and also contribute to the betterment of the Armenian people through the various community organizations. Again, those failing on any of these points must number in the millions.

Sometimes I sense Armenians treat their Armenianness as some sort of membership in an exclusive country club.

It seems to me that those who know nothing of our rich history or geography really cannot be considered Armenian. After all, aren’t these equally as important as language and culture?

The last criteria I would use to consider someone Armenian is that they should be living in Armenia. The so-called hyphenated Armenian is a fictitious construct to which we should not succumb.

At this point, I think we can acknowledge that really there are not even one million Armenians in the world. Based on the criteria above, I am not one of them, and I am sure by now you have gotten my point.

Sometimes I sense Armenians treat their Armenianness as some sort of membership in an exclusive country club. Such pride itself is not bad, but when this pride in Armenianness leads to exclusivity, then it becomes destructive.

This past weekend, I was fortunate to attend the 50th anniversary of the AYF Junior Seminar where over 300 of our ARMENIAN youth from all backgrounds were embracing their Armenianness. No one in this world has a right to tell them they do not measure up!

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George Aghjayan is the Director of the Armenian Historical Archives and the chair of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Central Committee of the Eastern United States. Aghjayan graduated with honors from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Actuarial Mathematics. He achieved Fellowship in the Society of Actuaries in 1996. After a career in both insurance and structured finance, Aghjayan retired in 2014 to concentrate on Armenian related research and projects. His primary area of focus is the demographics and geography of western Armenia as well as a keen interest in the hidden Armenians living there today. Other topics he has written and lectured on include Armenian genealogy and genocide denial. He is a board member of the National Association of Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), a frequent contributor to the Armenian Weekly and Houshamadyan.org, and the creator and curator westernarmenia.weebly.com, a website dedicated to the preservation of Armenian culture in Western Armenia.


Hamazkayin Lebanon’s Seminar for Armenian Youth on Culture and Identity

Garik Boshkezenian
June 2, 2022 Yeghia Tashjian Tashjian's Take, Columns 0

 

Organizers and participants of the Hamazkayin Lebanon seminar, “Post-Genocide Creative Vision: Memory, Art and Demand for Restitution” pictured outside Armenian Genocide Orphans Aram Bezikian Museum May 21, 2022,

Background

On Saturday, May 21, 2022, the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society in Lebanon under the patronage of the Catholicosate of Cilicia and with the financial support of the Armenian communities department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation hosted a youth seminar on “Post-Genocide Creative Vision: Memory, Art and Demand for Restitution,” dedicated to the 107th commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. The one-day seminar brought together more than 130 young Lebanese-Armenians at the Bird’s Nest Orphanage in Byblos/Jbeil. 

Organizers noted the importance of this timely seminar, that “the feelings of alienation and destruction that resulted from this trauma had to be explained, new traditions had to be built, and new discourses about the ‘self’ and ‘identity’ had to be constructed. Armenians had to rebuild themselves as a nation. The collective experience – the Genocide – became one of the most significant building blocks. However, rebuilding an identity was and still is a struggle amidst global political dynamics, constant immigration waves, and ongoing threats to Armenia’s security and sovereignty that continue shaping the already multifaceted Armenian Diaspora in a more complex manner. This struggle is visible not only at the intellectual level but also through the more direct interactions of Armenians with their heritage and culture.”

For this reason, Hamazkayin’s Lebanese Regional Committee, in preparation for the commemorative programs for the 107th anniversary of the Genocide in 2022, decided to provide a critical and analytical approach to explain the evolution of the post-genocide diasporic Armenian identity and heritage. Just over a dozen speakers from different professional backgrounds were invited from Lebanon, the United States, the Czech Republic, Kuwait and Syria. Participants were representatives from various Armenian youth and student associations, schools and universities.

Opening remarks were made by Hamazkayin’s Lebanese Regional Office. Shaghig Hovsepian-Haroutiunian said that this youth seminar aims to raise awareness of the Lebanese-Armenian youth and encourage their critical thinking. In his welcoming remarks on behalf of the organizing committee, Father Barouyr Shernezian stated that the power of the Diaspora becomes significant when we succeed in organizing, consolidating, valuing and encouraging that power. Hence, the more we succeed in re-evaluating and understanding what we have done and continue to do, the more those values will be a stimulus for us to be strengthened in our unique line of Armenian identity. The opening speech of the event was made by Dr. Ara Sanjian who reflected on the first public Armenian Genocide commemorations, press releases and memorials around the world. The seminar also featured guest lecturer, Lebanese author, composer, poet, producer and orchestra leader Ghady Rahbani. Rahbani spoke in Arabic about the contribution of Armenian artists to the formation of Lebanese cultural identity. He highlighted the names of Lebanese Armenian artists who have contributed to the formation of the contemporary Lebanese cultural identity and the field of art. 

The Program 

The program was divided into four main topics: “Language and Literature”; “Music”; “Stage and Screen”; and “Diasporic Institutions and Community Life.” Each topic included a panel discussion and a short Q & A session.

“Language and Literature” was presented by lecturers Armen Urneshlian, Arda Jebejian and Anita Moutchoyan. The session was chaired by Christ Kheroian. The session began with a lecture on “Literature and Trauma” by Haigazian University lecturer and principal of the Armenian Evangelical College, Dr. Armen Urneshlian. Dr. Urneshlian briefly touched upon the expressions and ideas of the post-genocide psyche of Armenian writers and poets. He analyzed the expressions of intellectuals such as Tekeyan, Vahian, Oshakan, Tsarukian, Hamastegh and others.

The second lecture was delivered in English by Anita Moutchoyan and titled “A Comparison between First and Third Generation Diasporic Literature: From Assimilation Post-Memorial Documentation and Demand for Justice.” Moutchoyan is a lecturer at Haigazian University and the founding director of the HU Writing Center. Moutchoyan chose William Saroyan from the first generation and Peter Balakian from the third generation. Her talk primarily focused on tracing both first-generation and third-generation diasporic literary works, written in or translated to English, to highlight the role she had argued that post-memorial artistic witnessing plays in the continuous demand for justice for the Armenian cause.

The last presentation of the session was dedicated to the role of Western Armenian in the life of the Armenian community. The presentation “Western Armenian as a Symbol of Survival and Endurance” by Dr. Arda Jebejian, assistant professor at the American University of the Middle East addressed the consequences of deportation, the characteristics of the “victim Diaspora” and the attempts of the Armenians to preserve the Armenian language in their communities. 

Lecturers for the “Music” session included Dr. Sylvia Angelique Alajaji, Haig Utidjian and Zakar Keshishian. The moderator of the session was Garen Yosoulkanian.

Dr. Alajaji, who is associate professor and chair of music at Franklin & Marshall College, titled her presentation in English: “Exile on a Cassette. Notes on Music, Memory, and Refusal from the Post-Genocide Armenian Diaspora.” Dr. Alajaji discussed how in the wake of the Armenian Genocide, music opened up broader questions about how to define what it meant to be Armenian. She traced the Armenian musical cultures that emerged over a century from New York to Beirut to California. For Alajaji, these acts of preservation, creation, erasure and recovery all are part of what music means to the Armenian Diaspora.

The second lecturer on the topic was Dr. Utidjian, a conductor and musicologist. He delivered a lecture on “Armenian Sacred Music in the Aftermath of the Genocide,” where he highlighted not only our spiritual and cultural losses during the deportation and post-genocide period, but also the efforts to save the culture thereafter from the experiences of prominent individuals.

Keshishian’s lecture, “Exiled Musical Life: The Experience of Classical and Choir Music,” touched upon the role of music in the life of Diaspora Armenians on a professional and artistic level, showing its contribution not only in terms of preservation of the Armenian identity, but also as a post-genocide experience. 

The third session was dedicated to “Stage and Screen.” The lecturers of this session were Movses Hergelian, Vatche Adrouni and Hrach Tokatlian. The session was moderated by Kayane Madzounian. 

In his presentation titled “Commemoration through Colors and Shapes,” Dr. Hergelian referred to the Turkish massacres in the pre-genocide period from Ivan Aivazovsky’s experience to the post-genocide period, recalling the role of artists and the names of those whose art, according to Hergelian, could not be analyzed without considering the Genocide. Dr. Hergelian added that those artists sang with deep sorrow and expressed their rebellion and revolt through their deeds.

Adrouni, a lecturer at Haigazian University and the Northern Institute of Armenology and the founder of Shrchun Theater Group and Geghard Theater Center, titled his lecture “The Topic of Genocide on Stage.” He referred to the theatrical censorship created after the Hamidian massacres, when Armenians dominated the so-called “Turkish theater,” as well as the prohibition of Armenian-speaking performances and a number of words, and the unbridled ways of performing plays adopted by the Armenians. According to Adrouni, theater related to the Genocide has been of a political nature.

Tokatlian, a photographer and lecturer at the University of Saint Joseph in Lebanon, titled his presentation “Queries about Films Portraying the Armenian Genocide.” He presented the challenges and approaches adopted in making documentary or feature films related to the Genocide, as well as the digital picture of the works done so far.

The final session was dedicated to “Diasporic Institutions and Community Life.” The lecturers were Levon Sharoyan, Shaghig Kandaharian-Khutaverdian and Hrag Avedanian. The panel was moderated by Krikor Alozian.

Sharoyan, a lecturer at the Hamazkayin Institute of Armenology in Aleppo and a visiting lecturer at the Armenological Institute of the Great House of Cilicia, talked about  “Post-Genocide Reflections in Diasporic Printed Media.” He quoted excerpts from his analysis of the Mekhitarists’ Bazmavep and the Azadamart newspaper in Constantinople and linked the publications to certain periods of Armenian history and the Turkish nationalist movement. 

In her lecture “Post-Genocide Educational Institutions and the Development of National Identity,” Kandaharian-Khutaverdian, a lecturer at Haigazian University, discussed the role of the Armenian school in language preservation and national identity formation. She concluded that the Armenian school was not only a center of education and training, but also a guarantee of the existence of the Armenian people.

Avedanian, a researcher who is currently enrolled at the Media and Digital Literacy Academy of Beirut, titled his presentation “Constructing a Homeland: The Armenian Experience in Lebanon.” Avedanian presented the vibrant and flourishing cultural movement in post-genocide Lebanon, led by compatriot unions, churches, political parties and schools. Avedanian noted that the Diaspora, being far from the homeland, always kept its eyes on its homeland and, being inspired by it, kept its identity and flourished in a cultural homeland outside its ancestral land.

In order to enhance critical thinking and facilitate debate and discussion on post-Genocide Armenian identity, the seminar included a free discussion space called “Cultural Homeland” aiming to clarify and crystallize the series of lectures and encourage the young participants to provide a reflection and their perspective of post-Genocide Armenian identity. The facilitator of this discussion was Armen Abdalian, a political scientist and political commentator at Radio Voice of Van.

Later, the audience visited the Armenian Genocide Orphans Aram Bezikian Museum for a performance by the Hamazkayin’s Kousan Choir male ensemble led by Krikor Alozian.

At the end of the seminar, the organizers, speakers and participants had a friendly gathering where they exchanged ideas and opinions. 

Reflection

Experts representing a broad spectrum of artistic and literary disciplines discussed the creative response to the Armenian Genocide as a way of processing the pain and trauma experienced by survivors and their descendants throughout the past century. 

The Lebanese-Armenian youth learned that literature, paintings, music, plays and films not only act as catalysts for communication, but are also evidence of the long-lasting trauma affecting the psychological well-being of more than three generations of Diasporan Armenians. Decades of artistic work, cultural _expression_ and inspiration have helped shape contemporary Armenian identity and create a saturated and sometimes stringent understanding of what it means to be Armenian, often bringing a prescribed set of perspectives to bear. 

Such events are important to help the youth and students to explore how collective memory became one of the most crucial factors for identity formation in the Diaspora.

  •  Bio
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Yeghia Tashjian is a regional analyst and researcher. He has graduated from the American University of Beirut in Public Policy and International Affairs. He pursued his BA at Haigazian University in political science in 2013. In 2010, he founded the New Eastern Politics forum/blog. He was a research assistant at the Armenian Diaspora Research Center at Haigazian University. Currently, he is the regional officer of Women in War, a gender-based think tank. He has participated in international conferences in Frankfurt, Vienna, Uppsala, New Delhi and Yerevan. He has presented various topics from minority rights to regional security issues. His thesis topic was on China’s geopolitical and energy security interests in Iran and the Persian Gulf. He is a contributor to various local and regional newspapers and a presenter of the “Turkey Today” program for Radio Voice of Van. Recently he has been appointed as associate fellow at the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut and Middle East-South Caucasus expert in the European Geopolitical Forum.


AAHPO celebrates renewal of activities

Jane Topchian
June 2, 2022 Guest Contributor Nonprofit News 0

EDGEWATER, N.J. – On May 1, known traditionally as “May Day,” members of the Armenian American Health Professionals Organization (AAHPO) celebrated spring and the renewal of activities that serve AAHPO’s mission.

A highlight of the event, held at The Yacht Club in Edgewater, was the presentation of the AAHPO-Najarian Family Scholarship to Arin Balalian, MD, MPH, and a newly-minted PhD at Columbia University.

AAHPO President Lawrence V. Najarian, MD (right) presents the AAHPO-Najarian Family Scholarship to Arin Balalian, MD, MPH, PhD.

“It really is amazing all we have accomplished in 25 years, and I predict, the best is yet to come,” said AAHPO president Lawrence V. Najarian, MD.

AAHPO vice president Garbis Baydar, MD, shared how through the past two years dominated by COVID, AAHPO members have assisted individuals and families with healthcare needs ranging from obtaining prescriptions to gaining access to medical specialists. For example, an Armenian, whose visit to the US was extended by the onset of the COVID pandemic, was provided a sleep apnea machine by the AAHPO.

AAHPO treasurer Joyce Kurdian, DMD addressed fundraising and updates to the AAHPO website with a directory of healthcare professionals who are AAHPO members. This will make it easy for Armenian Americans to locate and connect with Armenian healthcare professionals.

AAHPO recording secretary Debra Ferman, MD reported on a remarkable effort to get more than one ton of medical and surgical supplies to Armenia during the pandemic and the Artsakh War. Dr. Ferman noted that many individuals and institutions donated supplies, equipment and their time to collect, pack and send all that had been collected. She thanked Rita Asoyan and Knights of Vartan members Mike Halebian, Jr., Saro Hartounian, Seta Bairamian, Alvart Spenjian and Lucine Kinoian. She noted that when the supplies arrived in Yerevan, Dr. Hambardzum Simonyan, director of AAHPO’s CME program in Armenia, ensured the items reached their intended destinations. 

Dr. Najarian invited any health care providers traveling to Armenia this year to contact AAHPO, as providers would be welcome to share their skill sets with Armenian doctors and nurses. 

AAHPO corresponding secretary Lynn Cetin, MD reported on another AAHPO fundraising effort, the sale of luxury candles through Next Stop Candles. Two candles have been created specifically for the Armenian community, one candle to celebrate Yerevan, and another candle to celebrate Artsakh. A third candle may be in development. The net profits from the candle sales benefit the AAHPO CME program in Armenia.

Dr. Najarian then turned to the presentation of the AAHPO-Najarian Family Scholarship. Eligible candidates must be matriculated in a graduate healthcare program and be recipients of an Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) academic scholarship. “We recognize that graduate healthcare programs are very costly, and our goal is to provide as much assistance as possible to a deserving, individual student,” Dr. Najarian said.

Dr. Balalian has impressive credentials which include a medical degree earned in Yerevan and a Masters in Public Health earned at an American University of Armenia program that AAHPO Board Member Kim Hekimian, PhD, helped establish. Dr. Balalian has now earned a PhD in epidemiology at Columbia University.

Dr. Najarian noted that Dr. Balalian has given his time to AAHPO and other Armenian causes.

“Your support inspires me to give back even more,” said Dr. Balalian, who attended the brunch with his wife Ruzan, a social worker. “Just as AAHPO and AGBU are helping me, I want to help our Armenian community in whatever ways I can.”

This is the second time the scholarship has been presented to a student in a graduate healthcare program. The first recipient was Paul Asadourian, now a fourth-year medical student at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University.

Dr. Najarian closed the event with reminders of upcoming AAHPO events in June, July and October: “We are back and we are welcoming all of you to come join with us, as we are stronger together.”

AAHPO Officers and Board Members who spoke at the event are (from left) Lawrence V. Najarian, MD, Lynn Cetin, MD, Joyce Kurdian, DMD, Debra Ferman, MD and Garbis Baydar, MD.

AW: Dr. Sharon Chekijian collaborates with AUA to develop Armenia’s emergency response systems

Arbi Tashjian
June 2, 2022 Guest Contributor Non-Profit 0

Dr. Sharon Chekijian

Dr. Sharon Anoush Chekijian is an esteemed medical doctor, director and assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Yale School of Medicine who recently joined the exclusive group of ChangeMakers of the American University of Armenia (AUA). With a strong belief in the power of education to take Armenia towards a brighter future, she is committed to extending her personal and professional expertise to the next generation of forward-thinkers and leaders.  

Dr. Chekijian has partnered with AUA in the past, contributing to the growth of the university and student success in different ways. Her philanthropic comportment was imparted to her by her family — her father Yervant Chekijian and late uncle Samuel Chekijian, both AUA Pillars. “Our family has always believed in the power of education to change lives, countries and destinies. I believe that is because we have experienced the power of education firsthand,” said Dr. Chekijian.

Born to an Armenian family from Jerusalem with ancestral roots in Zeytoun and Marash, Dr. Chekijian was raised in the Boston area of Massachusetts and currently resides in Connecticut. The granddaughter of genocide survivors Mary (née Zümrüt Norashkharian) and Youhanna Chekijian, she reflects on how this heritage has colored her worldview, strengthening her desire to work hard and aspire to success in honor of the invincible will and strength of her grandparents. “As children and grandchildren of genocide survivors, we know everything can be taken away from you, but not your education. We also know that the future of a brilliant and prosperous Armenia lies in the education of those who will continue to grow and transform the country.”

Dr. Chekijian remembers her first trip to Armenia during the First Artsakh War. She spent the summer with a special educational exemption through the AGBU/University of Michigan summer language program — a trip that preceded a critical time for the nation and served as a catalyst for her dedication to the Armenian cause. “On our return flight on Aeroflot via Paris, we learned that the Soviet Union had collapsed while we were in the air. This heralded a lifelong fascination with the birth and subsequent shaping of the newly independent Republic of Armenia,” she says.  

Though AUA was founded soon after her return home, she was first introduced to the university while in medical school. Upon applying for funding to work on a project titled, “Legal, Professional, Public and Policy Barriers to the Development of Organ Donation and Transplantation Programs in the Republic of Armenia” — which later served as the basis of her thesis — she met Dr. Varduhi Petrosyan, current dean of the AUA Turpanjian College of Health Sciences (CHS). 

“Dr. Petrosyan was one of the researchers in this project at the start of my career. The work I did that summer introduced me to people who have become lifelong collaborators. Since then, AUA has been a home away from home for all of my work and projects in Armenia that focus on emergency medical systems, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, traffic safety, and stroke care,” she explains, adding that she is currently working on a grant that combines many of these areas of interest.

In 2020, Dr. Chekijian became a Fulbright Scholar, continuing her work with CHS. “AUA was a natural partner and home for me, and the Fulbright Program allows me to advance my work in emergency care program development in Armenia.” Dr. Chekijian is working to optimize emergency systems and establish a novel emergency medicine residency program in cooperation with the Armenian Ministry of Health’s National Institute of Health. She is collaborating with colleagues at AUA on the research component of this initiative.

Dr. Chekijian emphasizes the value of developing emergency systems and disaster preparedness, something she thinks has been grossly undervalued, both in Armenia and globally. She had submitted her proposal right before March 2020, after which Armenia was drawn into the ravages of both COVID-19 and the 2020 Artsakh War, overwhelming the nation and its healthcare system. The timing of the Fulbright grant she was awarded perfectly lined up with her intent. 

Further underlining the importance of a functional emergency care system, she cites global statistics that suggest Armenian citizens are at an unusually high risk for disaster in multiple ways, 2020 standing as an unfortunate example of being caught unaware and unprepared for the danger that ensued. She explains, “Emergency response relies on a functional emergency care system. The global burden of disease has recently shifted toward trauma and non-communicable diseases. The World Bank estimates that, in low- and middle-income countries, more than 50-percent of deaths and 40-percent of the disease burden could be alleviated with adequate emergency medical care.” She elaborated that the silver lining in all this is that we recognize the amplified value that emergency response systems would bring and are aware of the work we have to do in Armenia to strengthen these systems.

Through the AUA Open Centers of Excellence, such as the Open Center for Transformative Health Solutions, students and faculty are able to collaborate with private and public stakeholders to develop processes that will address areas lacking within the national framework. “The development of emergency care systems can multiply the functioning of the health system overall and improve outcomes for all other disease processes,” Dr. Chekijian notes. “Weak delivery systems are especially dangerous when pushed to their limit, potentially due to a pandemic, a foreign attack, or a natural disaster resulting in mass casualties. Some cite cost as a reason not to strengthen emergency care and response, but globally, the development of emergency systems has proven to be an extremely efficient way to provide care across many different conditions. Surprisingly, emergency care is among the most cost-effective public health interventions.” 

As an AUA ChangeMaker, Dr. Chekijian is happy to see that AUA students have already been introduced to these concepts, resulting in heightened interest in the subjects. “Our current students will lead the charge to right these wrongs and shore up our safety in the future. It’s my hope that AUA will become a regional center of excellence in the areas of disaster preparedness and injury prevention across the region and especially across Central Asia, where very few people are working in this field,” she urges.

In conclusion, she paraphrases Luke 12:48: “To whom much is given, much will be required.” AUA is grateful for the longtime support of the Chekijian family and highly values the commitment of Dr. Chekijian as a ChangeMaker for the University.




RFE/RL Armenian Report -06/02/2022

Elizabeth Jabejian 
                                        Thursday, June 2, 2022


More Armenian Opposition Supporters Prosecuted

        • Artak Khulian

Armenia - Police arrest an opposition supporter during a protest outside a 
government building in Yerevan, May 30, 2022


Law-enforcement authorities are pressing criminal charges against eight more 
participants of anti-government rallies organized by the Armenian opposition for 
the past month.

They were among more than a hundred protesters detained on Monday while clashing 
with riot police outside a government building in Yerevan.

The clashes broke out after the police did not allow opposition lawmakers 
leading hundreds of supporters to enter the building to raise their concerns 
with government ministries.

Several protesters claimed to have been beaten up by police officers after being 
dragged away and forced into the sprawling building. No policeman has been 
prosecuted or suspended in connection with that.

Armenia’s Investigative Committee has indicted instead the eight men, who have 
not been released from custody unlike the other detainees. They are accused of 
assaulting police officers and refusing to obey their orders.

The arrested suspects include a nephew of former President Serzh Sarkisian and a 
son of Surik Khachatrian, a fugitive former governor of Syunik province. They 
both deny any wrongdoing.

Opposition leaders likewise reject as politically motivated charges leveled 
against these and more than a dozen other supporters arrested since the start on 
May 1 of the daily street protests in Yerevan aimed forcing Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian to resign.

The opposition as well as the country’s human rights ombudswoman, Kristine 
Grigorian, and some civic activists have accused the police of using 
disproportionate force against protesters throughout the month-long 
demonstrations.

Armenia - Riot police clash with opposition supporters in Yerevan, May 30, 2022.

Grigorian said on Thursday that her office documented several cases of police 
brutality during Monday’s clashes and petitioned the leadership of the national 
police service to take appropriate action.

The police claim to have launched internal inquiries into some officers. None of 
them has been prosecuted so far.

Justice Minister Karen Andreasian insisted that this fact does not testify to a 
cover-up of unlawful police actions. He argued that internal police inquiries 
typically last for months.

Andreasian also claimed that barring “several unacceptable incidents” security 
forces’ handling of the continuing anti-government protests has been “brilliant 
and professional.”

The U.S. ambassador to Armenia, Lynne Tracy, assured reporters on May 20 that 
the Armenian government is “taking heed of the need to investigate” the 
disproportionate use of force against protesters. She said the protests should 
be peaceful and not create “chaos” in the streets.



Armenian Opposition Vows To Continue Anti-Government Protests

        • Gayane Saribekian

Armenia - Opposition supporters march through the center of Yerevan, May 28, 
2022.


The Armenian opposition will not end or suspend its month-long street protests 
despite failing so far to oust Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, one of its 
leaders said on Thursday.

Ishkhan Saghatelian, the main speaker at the anti-government protests, insisted 
that they are not dying down and are on the contrary gaining momentum.

Armenia’s main opposition groups represented in the parliament have rallied 
thousands of supporters on a virtually daily basis since setting up a tent camp 
in a central Yerevan square on May 1. They accuse Pashinian of renouncing 
Armenian control of Nagorno-Karabakh and making other concessions to Azerbaijan 
that will jeopardize the very existence of Armenia.

Pashinian and his political allies dismiss the demands for his resignation. They 
say that the opposition has failed to attract popular support for its “civil 
disobedience” campaign.

“The main question preoccupying our fellow citizens is how we are going to 
achieve regime change,” Saghatelian told reporters. “There is only way to 
achieve this … The disobedience actions, the protests must reach a scale that 
will make it impossible for the current authorities to cling to power through 
the use of brute police force.”

Armenia - Opposition leader Ishkhan Saghatelian appeals to protesters outside 
the presidential palace in Yerevan, May 25, 2022.

“It’s now time to increase the number of tents,” he said. “A deep disappointment 
awaits all those who have prepared texts to play the blame game in case the 
movement doesn’t succeed.”

As part of their campaign, the opposition Hayastan and Pativ Unem blocs drafted 
last week a parliamentary resolution rejecting any peace accord that would 
restore Azerbaijan’s control over Nagorno-Karabakh.

The pro-government majority in the Armenian parliament mas made clear that it 
will boycott and thus thwart an emergency debate on the draft resolution slated 
for Friday afternoon. It has accused the opposition of exploiting the Karabakh 
conflict for political purposes.

Armenia -- A police officer detains a participant in an anti-government protest 
in Yerevan, May 18, 2022.

Saghatelian said that he and other opposition lawmakers will go to the National 
Assembly on Friday despite the announced boycott.

In a Facebook post, Saghatelian urged opposition supporters to gather at 
Yerevan’s France Square, the site of the protest camp, in time for the scheduled 
parliament session. He said the protest leaders “will decide our next actions 
depending on processes that will take place in the parliament.”

“Dear compatriots, this is a battle of nerves,” he wrote. “We are now obliged to 
stay strong and continue the process of dismantling these authorities.”



Iranian President Discusses Armenia-Azerbaijan Talks With Pashinian


Iran - President Ebrahim Raisi.


Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said Tehran remains opposed to any change in the 
“geopolitics of the region” when he discussed Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks 
with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian by phone late on Wednesday.

According to an Armenian government statement, Pashinian briefed Raisi on his 
May 22 meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev hosted by the European 
Union’s top official, Charles Michel.

“The interlocutors exchanged views on the opening of regional communications, 
the start of delimitation of the state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, 
the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and prospects for the 
normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” read the statement.

Raisi was quoted by his office was welcoming “progress” made during the Brussels 
summit. He expressed hope that Yerevan and Baku will sort out “the remaining 
issues” through mutual respect of each other’s “sovereignty and territorial 
integrity.”

“Preserving the geopolitics of the region, including international borders, and 
respecting the national sovereignty of countries is emphasized by the Islamic 
Republic of Iran,” he said, according to the office.

Aliyev has repeatedly demanded that Armenia open an exterritorial land corridor 
that will connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave through Syunik, the sole 
Armenian province bordering Iran. Yerevan has rejected these demands. It 
maintains that the two sides have only been discussing opening conventional 
transport links.

Last October, an influential Iranian cleric accused Aliyev of trying to “cut 
Iran’s access to Armenia.” More than 160 members of Iran’s parliament issued 
around the same time a joint statement warning against “any geopolitical change 
and alteration of the borders of neighboring countries.”

Raisi likewise told Pashinian in January that Tehran supports Armenian 
sovereignty over all roads passing through Armenia.

Tajikistan - Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (R) and Armenian Prime Minister 
Nikol Pashinian meet in Dushanbe, September 17, 2021.

The two leaders also discussed Armenian-Iranian relations during their latest 
phone conversation initiated by Pashinian. The Armenian readout of the call said 
they specifically touched upon the implementation of joint energy and transport 
projects.

“This cooperation will strengthen peace, stability and economic and trade 
prosperity in the region,” Raisi was reported to say.

The Iranian president was also quoted by his office as warning against Israel’s 
“influence in the region.” Regional countries should exercise “caution” in their 
dealings with the Jewish state, he said.

It was not clear whether Raisi referred to Armenia’s recent decision to send its 
ambassador back to Israel. Pashinian’s government was criticized by senior 
Iranian officials after deciding in 2019 to open an Armenian embassy in Tel Aviv.

Yerevan recalled its ambassador to Israel during the 2020 war in 
Nagorno-Karabakh. It thus protested against continuing Israeli arms supplies to 
Azerbaijan.


Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2022 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Armenpress: About 60-100 Ukrainian servicemen killed, 500 injured daily — Zelensky

Jirair Kafian

About 60-100 Ukrainian servicemen killed, 500 injured daily — Zelensky

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 09:56, 1 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 1, ARMENPRESS. The daily casualties of the Ukrainian armed forces amount to about 60-100 servicemen killed and around 500 injured, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said in an interview to the Newsmax television, reports TASS.

“The situation is very difficult; we're losing 60-100 soldiers per day as killed in action and something around 500 people as wounded in action”, he said, as quoted by TASS.

Zelensky claimed the Ukrainian armed forces were “holding our defensive perimeters” in the east of Ukraine and “counter-attacking and pressing” in the Kharkov region.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a special military operation in response to a request for help from the heads of the Donbass republics.

EU’s Michel stresses importance of ensuring stability, security along state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Arsine Chaltikian

EU's Michel stresses importance of ensuring stability, security along state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan

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 10:22, 1 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 1, ARMENPRESS. In the context of the recent tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, President of the European Council Charles Michel reiterated the European Union’s commitment to deepen its cooperation with both countries to promote a South Caucasus that is secure, stable, peaceful and prosperous for the benefit of all people living in the region, Barend Leyts, the spokesperson of the President of the European Council, said in a statement.

“In the context of the past days' tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, President Michel reiterated the EU’s commitment to deepen its cooperation with both countries to promote a South Caucasus that is secure, stable, peaceful and prosperous for the benefit of all people living in the region.

He welcomed the first historic meeting of both countries' Border Commissions on 24 May and stressed the paramount importance of ensuring stability and security along the state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan as delimitation will be pursued.

More broadly, President Michel stressed that for a sustainable normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, it is important to address all outstanding issues at hand, including advancing discussions on the future peace treaty and addressing the root causes of conflict. In President Michel's opinion, all core issues that had led to the first Nagorno-Karabakh war as well as to the renewed hostilities in 2020 will need to be addressed by all stakeholders to create conditions for lasting and equitable peace.

As with any legacy of conflict – terminology is particularly sensitive in this context. President Michel's statement on outcomes of the leaders meeting on 22 May should not be interpreted as favouring a pre-determined outcome of discussions either way. What ultimately matters most is that all issues are comprehensively addressed; this includes rights and security of all populations.

Connectivity was specifically discussed in Brussels on 22 May to advance opportunities for unblocking the region. In this context, both parties confirmed there were no extraterritorial claims with regard to future transport infrastructure. Speculation to the contrary is regrettable.

Finally, President Michel stressed the need to prepare populations for peace and the paramount role public rhetoric plays in this regard. He welcomed Yerevan and Baku's leadership and stated intentions to engage in good faith in ensuring a conducive atmosphere for the continuation of the talks and expressed the EU's readiness to step up its support to confidence building measures.

EU Special Representative Klaar will be traveling to the region in the next days to follow up on all aspects under discussion”, the statement reads.