Author: Antonian Lara

Fresh atrocities remind Fresno Armenian American of genocide’s lingering pain

Antonian Lara

BY SEVAG TATEOSIAN 

APRIL 23, 2021 05:00 AM
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev walks through a display of helmets of Armenian soldiers during the inauguration the Military Trophy Park in Baku. Armenia and Azerbaijan fought for disputed territory last year. Russia negotiated a cease fire after Azeri forces, aided by Turkey, took back land previously under Armenian

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I remember the evening clearly. I was outside watching my kids as they were riding their bikes. As they were having fun and getting their much needed exercise, I decided to open my Twitter page and glanced at tweets.

I was surprised to find that Fresno radio host John Gerardi of Power Talk 96.7 FM had retweeted an image critical of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev walking among the hanging helmets of dead Armenian soldiers. Having not seen this image before, I began to investigate its origin, and appreciated Gerardi’s post sharing this evil news. A few seconds later, the retweets started rolling in. Not only did I realize the picture was real, but, the helmets of the dead soldiers were a part of a much larger park dedicated to the defeat and death of Armenians.

The park also includes wax figures of what appear to be Armenian soldiers in defeat mode, some portrayed as dead and others missing limbs. I am not sure how this park passes the Geneva Convention, but when it comes to Turkey and Azerbaijan, the world has a way of ignoring their disturbing actions.

As brutal of a dictator as I have read Aliyev to be, I didn’t realize that he would be flaunting at the expense of families of murdered 18-and-19-year-old soldiers. I’m sad for the people of Azerbaijan. This Armenia-phobia is and has been carried out for decades by their government with lies about their own history and the history of the region. I’m surprised that more people don’t question that Aliyev has named his wife as vice president and that their family has multimillion-dollar properties around the world. I guess the country’s oil money is that good to silence the majority. 

As heartbreaking as these images and this “Trophy Park” is, unfortunately, the same thing happened during the Armenian Genocide. The Ottoman Turkish soldiers, who are distant relatives to the Azerbaijanis, were known for their brutal treatment toward Armenians as well as other religious minorities. Burning families in churches, terrorizing woman and children — nothing was off-limits. Sadly, Aliyev walking among those helmets of dead Armenian soldiers reminded me of when Armenians were rounded up and beheaded during the genocide; their heads too were left on stakes for those in the Ottoman Empire to see and admire. 

Over 100 years have passed and the hatred towards Armenians by the governments of Turkey and Azerbaijan continues to be astonishing. Azeri kids will visit the park and the propaganda and hatred towards Armenians will continue. What they won’t realize is that for decades, Azerbaijani attempts to attack Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) were unsuccessful and left the Azerbaijani Army humiliated. It wasn’t until Turkey, for their own genocidal intent, began supplying them equipment and aircraft that their luck changed. 

The month of April is a tough one for Armenian Americans. I’ve written about this countless times because the pain and the wound is still fresh. During the Armenian Genocide, the world was on notice. Newspapers all over were publishing detailed stories of the plight of the Armenians, and only a very few tried to help. 

More than 100 years later, social media was screaming to help the Armenians in Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), and no other country came to help. No wonder Aliyev has the guts to make a mockery of dead teenagers; his idols in the Turkish government still haven’t answered to their crimes and it’s been 106 years. 

Sevag Tateosian of Fresno is a volunteer with the Armenian National Committee of America fighting for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide in honor of his great-grandparents and grandparents, who were forced to flee their historic homeland.
Sevag Tateosian FRESNO BEE FILE

Biden under pressure to recognise Armenian massacre as genocide

Antonian Lara
Middle East Monitor
at 2:20 pm 
US President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the national economy and the need for his administration’s proposed $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief legislation in the State Dining Room at the White House on 5 February 2021 in Washington, DC. [Stefani Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images]
at 2:20 pm

    Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill are pressing President Biden to become the first US president to acknowledge the 1915 mass killing of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as a “genocide” on 24 April when annual commemorations are held around the world, the LA Times reports.

    Armenian Americans, including the large diaspora in Southern California, have fought for decades to get the federal government to identify the years-long slaughter during the fall of the Ottoman Empire as a genocide.

    Biden is likely going to use the word “genocide” during his speech, the report says.

    White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters yesterday the White House would likely have “more to say” about the issue on Saturday, but declined to elaborate.

    Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said this week that “statements that have no legal binding will have no benefit, but they will harm ties… If the United States wants to worsen ties, the decision is theirs.”

    President Sarkissian offers condolences over death of Hirair Hovnanian

    Antonian Lara

    President Sarkissian offers condolences over death of Hirair Hovnanian

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     17:52, 9 April, 2021

    YEREVAN, APRIL 9, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian sent a condolence telegram over the death of Hirair Hovnanian, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the President’s Office.

    ”Armenia and the Armenian people lost one of their best offsprings. Famous American-Armenian philanthropist, public figure, businessman Hirair Hovnanian has passed away. He was an example of patriotism.

    He was a person for whom Armenia was not a motherland of simple emotions, but an end goal of sincere devotion and loyalty, to which he served until the end of his life, served in the broadest meaning of that word.

    Hirair Hovnanian had his contribution to various programs aimed at the development of Armenia and Artsakh, both as an individual and member of the Board of Trustees of ”Hayastan All-Armenian Fund”, and of course, as one of the founders of the Armenian Assembly of America and a long co-chair of the Board of Trustees, later honorable President.

    I have had the fortune to personally know Hirair Hovnanian and his family. One should be able speak and think about Armenia like him, invest capacities for the benefit of Armenia and Artsakh like him.

    He was loyal to his nationality and origin, memories about historical motherland and programs about the future of the motherland. He was loyal by nature, with deeds and life. He was loyal with his family and children…

    I offer my sincere condolences and words of sympathy to the Hovnanians”, reads the telegram.

    Sports: Interview: Armenia coach Joaquin Caparros on a unique experience

    Antonian Lara
    Sport, Spain
    April 8 2021
    Interview: Armenia coach Joaquin Caparros on a unique experience

    Joaquin Caparros (Utrera, 1955), said that when he sat down with Armenia to talk about taking over their national team he felt good things. There was a lot of work to do but a good sporting structure, and a group of players who leave everything out there on the pitch. But nobody could have told him he would live through a war – Armenia and Azerbaijan, for the Alto Karabaj region, with dozens of dead. Nor that the experience he has stored could save him from the emotional impact of war.

    Luckily Armenian football has enjoyed better times. They are in Group B of the Nations League and ahead of Germany in World Cup 2022 qualifying. Three wins from three games and all without star man Mkhitaryan. SPORT interviewed the Spaniard.

    A few days have passed since the media spotlight was directly on Armenia. How are you feeling?

    We are very happy, because it was unthinkable to be in the situation we are in now (leaders of their group). Although we were on a good streak and had been promoted to League B of the Nations League, nobody expected this. Even so, there is still a lot more to do. And more so in a group where there are teams like Germany, Iceland or Romania. There’s a long way to go, but we are very happy with the work so far, of course.

    I suppose this would not have happened without a good structure behind it … What are the keys to success?

    Well, this is everyone’s job, from the president who takes charge of the Federation and put Ginés Meléndez in the position of sporting director, through to the coaching staff. We do great teamwork, everyone does their bit so that Armenian football takes one more step forward. Then there is a great squad, who are all very committed. They are guys who feel their nation, their national team, who feel their jersey. 

    Did you ever hesitate to accept the challenge?

    Not at all. When Ginés told me about it and I met with the president in Madrid, there were no doubts. They gave me very good feelings. I accepted it, delighted, (but) knowing that it was going to be difficult. And it is complicated. All teams have a lot of players to choose from, less for us. We are getting young people with potential, but they are still guys who have just recently debuted with the national team. The results are positive and that makes people believe in them more.

    With the group how it stands, is the World Cup the goal?

    You don’t have to be cautious, you have to be very cautious. We must keep our feet on the ground. But it is true that now there is no one who will take people’s joy away, especially after what the country has gone through. There is a lot of the group left to go and we know the quality of the opponents. We are going to go game by game.

    Joy in the middle of a war with Azerbaijan, where even your captain went to the front lines… does this give more value to everything you have achieved?

    Sure, much more value. It not only has sporting value, but also emotional value for an entire country that was very sad for everything that had happened. Many people have died, young boys of 19-20 years. It’s been a very punished country. The grief that Armenia is experiencing has served to motivate us. We wanted to give people a little happiness. This is the greatness of sport and football.

    From what you say, it was almost an obligation to compete as you are doing.

    Yes. We are the focus of many people. I have never experienced anything like this emotionally in my entire career. We are talking about a heavily punished country. Sport has brought them joy and a smile after some very tough months.

    It’s a success even without Mkhitaryan, your great star…

    In our national team, the group must always prevail. We are a team, no one can stand out. Everyone has to put their will and their ability at the service of the team. And the truth is that it has been so. If there is something to highlight in the team, it is that we are that, a team. We have been a great team in capital letters. If we want to take another step on our way, it has to be from the base of being collectively strong.

    Your first experience of international football is not going badly…

    The national team ‘can’ had not been opened yet and this team may be a little different because of everything that surrounds it. The war, the fact that up to four languages are spoken in the dressing room … We had to empathize with all that. The whole dressing room is united. In the end, non-verbal language speaks louder than verbal in our team.

    Are you thinking of staying in Armenia or an immediate return?

    Well we have a contract until Nov 21 of this year, until the last group game is played. But I won’t look beyond that. What I think is enjoying each game because experience tells me that’s how I have to go. I want to enjoy what we’re enjoying. As I said, there’s a good atmosphere between players and the technical team, as much from what we’ve brought as what there already was in Armenia. Time will tell.

    Taner Akcam’s new book on Armenian Genocide coming soon

    Antonian Lara
    Panorama, Armenia
    April 7 2021
    Society 15:31 07/04/2021World

    Turkish historian and expert on genocide Taner Akcam has written a new book in Turkish on the Armenian Genocide, he said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

    “My forthcoming Turkish book – “A Short History of Armenian Genocide”. I will translate the text at the back of the cover later.

    “It is a great feeling, like a newborn child…” the historian wrote.

    Taner Akcam is one of the first Turkish scholars to openly acknowledge and discuss the Armenian Genocide.

     

    My forthcoming Turkish book. A Short History of Armenian Genocide. I will translate the text at the back of the cover…

    Two more bodies found in search operations for war casualties in Artsakh

    Antonian Lara
    Panorama, Armenia
    April 3 2021

    Two more bodies of killed in the Nagorno-Karabakh war were found on April 3, during search operations held in the Azerbaijani-held areas of Artsakh, the State Service of Emergency Situations said on Saturday.

    The identity of the killed will be established after the forensic medical examination.  

    To note, since the start of the ceasefire, a total of 1,529 bodies of fallen troops and civilians have been recovered from the former combat zones.

    Russia calls on Armenian politicians to “search reasonable compromise”

    Antonian Lara
    MediaMax, Armenia
    April 2 2021

    Yerevan /Mediamax/. Deputy FM of Russia Andrey Rudenko has called on Armenia’s political forces to “search reasonable compromise”.

    “We consider the processes in the domestic political field of the republic to be the domestic issue of a sovereign state. We call on all political forces of the republic to exercise restraint, search reasonable compromise for uniting Armenian society. We hope that during the pre-election period, everything will pass peacefully and in compliance with the constitution and will serve as the starting point for reaching long-term stability in Armenia,” Rudenko said in the interview to “Novoye Vremya” newspaper, published on the Russian MFA’s website.

    According to the diplomat, Russia disagrees that the bilateral relations have lost their typical trust, dynamic and depth.

    “Our bilateral relations, traditionally based on fraternity, friendship, and mutual trust, are developing dynamically, at various levels and in various vectors, regardless of any given external or domestic situation,” added Rudenko.

    Swiss MPs urge government to put pressure on Turkey, highlight recruitment of mercenaries for Azerbaijan

    Antonian Lara

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     13:29, 2 April, 2021

    BERN, APRIL 2, ARMENPRESS. 33 MPs of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland have called for pressure on Turkey in a letter which highlights human rights violations committed by Turkey in its own country and in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Armenia, ANF reported.

    The lawmakers urged the Swiss government to postpone ratification of the country’s new free trade agreement with Ankara until Turkey implements the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights.

    Mentioning Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s “warlike” foreign policy, the Swiss lawmakers said in the letter that “[Erdogan] has encouraged Azerbaijan to resort to force to settle a territorial conflict with Armenia”. The MPs also noted that Turkey recruited and sent mercenaries to Azerbaijan in total violation of international law.

    Turkey sent thousands of Syrian mercenaries to Azerbaijan to attack Artsakh in the 2020 war. Several of these mercenaries were detained by Armenian forces and testified how they were recruited in Turkey.

    Editing by Stepan Kocharyan

    11,000 Armenian soldiers were wounded and got sick during repulsion of Azerbaijani aggression

    Antonian Lara
    News.am, Armenia
    14:14, 28.03.2021

    The total number of wounded and sick in the power structures from the Armenian side during the repulsion of the aggression of Azerbaijan in September-November 2020 was 11,000, Colonel Gegham Pashikyan, deputy head of the military medical department of the Ministry of Defense noted on Sunday.

    55% are minor injuries. 36% are moderately injured. 2% were extremely severely injured and 7% were seriously injured.

    During the hostilities, 664 reanimation flights were made, 440 helicopter flights were evacuating the wounded and sick, and over 5,000 surgical interventions were performed, including more than 500 under general anesthesia.

    Politik.am: George Soros, his money are behind case of imprisoning Armenia ex-President Kocharyan

    Antonian Lara
    News.am, Armenia
    16:13, 27.03.2021

    The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia (RA) on Friday published the decision on whether Article 300.1 of the Criminal Code was in compliance with the Constitution of the country, Politik.am writes.

    “The RA Constitutional Court, examining the applications, decided to recognize Article 300.1 of the RA Criminal Code as conflicting with Articles 78-79 of the Constitution and invalid. According to the 2nd part of the 170th [article of the] Constitution, this decision is final and enters into force from the moment of its publication,” President of the Constitutional Court, Arman Dilanyan, said presenting the decision.

    As per Politik.am, the announcement of the decision, as expected, caused a great stir. It was first and foremost expected for tens of thousands of citizens who had fought for ex-President Robert Kocharyan’s freedom at various times and in various formats, and were confident that what happened in 2008 was not an overthrow of the constitutional order.

    According to Politik.am, yesterday’s decision was a “cold shower” for the authorities, and in a sense it was unexpected that the pro-government MPs had prudence for the first time and did not try to target the Constitutional Court. In fact, they also admit that the truth will not be defeated and do not try to unnecessarily provoke the public.

    As per Politik.am,  decision of the Constitutional Court also made it possible to find out who were actually behind the idea of keeping President Kocharyan in prison. Following the announcement of the decision, the “Sorosians” went on the Internet and their media platforms, who were accusing of failing to form a Constitutional Court that is obedient to the authorities, and which, according to them, enabled President Kocharyan to record another victory. What happened was an interesting lustration. According to Politik.am, in fact, the “Sorosians” admitted that they were the ones who ordered this case, and now they are unhappy that the order was not fully fulfilled. Some of them continue to show the authorities new ways which, according to them, should enable the president who liberated Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) to be imprisoned again.

    As per Politik.am,  it is important for the grant-eaters receiving millions of dollars from the Soros Foundation—that is, the Open Society Foundations—that there will not even be a theoretical possibility to bring Artsakh back, whereas Kocharyan’s being in freedom may thwart their plan. And this attitude of theirs shows once again that American billionaire George Soros, who is close with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, was not spending millions of dollars in Armenia for humanitarian or human rights purposes. The money was being spent so that Armenia would have a government that would very easily hand over Artsakh to Azerbaijan, and when the handover process begins, the hands of statesmen and military personnel capable of preventing it would be tied. The March 1, 2008 case attests to this.