1- Erdogan Exploits Ukraine War to Push for
Turkey’s Membership in European Union
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2- Mirzoyan, Çavuşoglu Meet, Agree to Advance Normalization of Ties
3- Canary Books to Publish
‘Zabelle Panosian – I Am Servant of Your Voice’ book & CD
4- ARF World Congress concludes, elects new Bureau
5- Armenia Continues Fight Against COVID-19
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1- Erdogan Exploits Ukraine War to Push for
Turkey’s Membership in European Union
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
In the midst of the Ukraine-Russia War, a few leaders have made
questionable statements to take advantage of the chaotic situation and
push for their selfish agendas.
As soon as Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdogan learned that the Ukrainian
government had asked for “immediate accession” to the European Union
(EU), he made the same request for Turkey.
Erdogan hypocritically said: “We appreciate the efforts to get Ukraine
EU membership. But I ask the EU members, why does Turkey’s membership
in the EU worry you?” He called on the EU to show the Turkish request
the “same sensitivity” as that of Ukraine and arrogantly slammed EU
member states for being “not sincere.” Erdogan flippantly asked: “Will
you put Turkey on your agenda when someone attacks (us) too?” He then
complained: “Why don’t you give the military equipment needed by
Turkey?”
What for? To attack and kill more people and occupy more countries?
Turkey applied to join the EU back in 1987 and was officially
recognized as a candidate for membership in 1999, but its accession
talks, which started in 2005, were stalled due to objections from the
Cypriot government due to Turkey’s occupation of Northern Cyprus in
1974. Germany and France also opposed Turkey’s EU membership.
Even in the case of Ukraine, despite the current sympathy for that
country, it would take a long time to complete the negotiations with
the EU and make the necessary economic and political improvements to
fulfill the criteria for joining the EU.
Turkey’s EU membership, on the other hand, is further away, if ever.
Turkey does not comply with most EU criteria for membership. It has
had several military coup d’états and attempted coups, in addition to
its anti-democratic regime which in fact is a dictatorship. Turkey has
violated just about every human rights law, including the wholesale
jailing of journalists, shutting down the free press, supporting
Islamist terrorists, massacring Kurds, desecrating Christian churches,
occupying Northern Cyprus, intervening militarily in Syria, Northern
Iraq and Libya, aiding Azerbaijan to occupy Artsakh, and refusing to
carry out the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights.
To qualify for EU membership, Turkey first has to: overhaul its entire
constitution and laws to become a democratic country; release tens of
thousands of jailed innocent citizens; stop supporting terrorists;
adopt and implement European standards for human rights; restore
minority rights; withdraw from Northern Cyprus; and acknowledge the
Armenian Genocide, as well as make restitution for Armenian losses.
When Erdogan sheepishly asked if Turkey would also be considered for
EU membership “when someone attacks us too,” in reality no one has
attacked Turkey, but Turkey has attacked plenty of other countries.
Regrettably, the tragic suffering of the Ukrainian people during the
Russian war is not a unique phenomenon. There have been countless such
brutal wars and mass murders throughout history. One should not forget
the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire 1915-23,
resulting in the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians; the invasion and
occupation of Northern Cyprus by Turkey in 1974 which is still
continuing; the Turkish incursion into Northern Syria; and the war on
Artsakh by Azerbaijan and Turkey in 2020, committing barbaric war
crimes during which the world remained silent when hospitals, schools,
civilian apartments were bombed, children and women butchered, There
were no sanctions against Turkey or Azerbaijan, no around the clock
media coverage of the atrocities, and no military or economic
assistance to Armenia and Artsakh.
Let us now move to two unexpected statements by Turkish political
leaders. Mustafa Destici, head of the Turkish nationalist Great Unity
Party and an ally of Erdogan’s government, warned that after Ukraine,
Russia will target Kars and Ardahan, two cities in Western Armenia
occupied by Turkey. “If you see Russia on our borders later, do not be
surprised,” said the Turkish party leader.
Similarly, the Chair of the opposition Turkish IYI Party Meral
Akshener chimed in: “Who can claim that Turkey is safe? Who can say
that the missing pieces in Putin’s mind are not Kars, Ardahan and
Erzurum [Garin]?”
These are obviously bombastic statements. Russia has no such
intentions. On the contrary, Russia is trying to woo Turkey away from
NATO. Nevertheless, these two statements have one important benefit to
the Armenian side: They remind the Turkish population that Kars,
Ardahan and Erzurum (Garin) are contested cities that do not belong to
Turkey. They are a part of Western Armenia.
Finally, here is an interesting statement Russia’s Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov made to the UN Human Rights Council earlier this month:
“The principle of respect for territorial integrity applies only to
states whose governments represent the entire people living on their
territory.”
Even though Lavrov was referring to the 1970 UN declaration to justify
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he must have forgotten that the
principle he quoted applies to Armenians of Artsakh. Lavrov claimed
that the Ukrainian government does not represent all of the people
living on the territory of the Ukrainian state. If that’s what Lavrov
believes, Russia must acknowledge that the government of Azerbaijan
does not represent Armenians living on the territory of Artsakh.
Therefore, Russia should declare that it supports the
self-determination of the Republic of Artsakh!
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2- Mirzoyan, Çavuşoglu Meet, Agree to Advance Normalization of Ties
The foreign ministers of Armenia and Turkey, Ararat Mirzoyan and
Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu met Saturday, March 12 on the margins of the a
diplomatic forum in Antalya, Turkey. The two highlighted that
normalization of relations between Ankara and Yerevan is a necessity
for the entire region.
This was the first meeting of foreign ministers of the two countries
since the signing of the Turkey-Armenia Protocols in 2009. That
process failed largely due to Ankara’s preconditions imposed on
Yerevan. While Armenia and Turkey have agreed to move forward to
normalize relations “without preconditions,” similar demands have been
voiced by Turkish leaders.
Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Mirzoyan said that he and
Çavuşoğlu reaffirmed their readiness to continue the normalization
process “without preconditions.”
Mirzoyan and Çavuşoğlu voiced support for the efforts of the special
envoys Serdar Kilic and Ruben Rubinyan, who have been appointed to
advance the process.
“I think the invitation was quite a positive message, and I consider
it necessary to respond to that message in the same positive way,”
Mirzoyan told reporters of Çavuşoğlu’s invitation to attend the
Antalya meeting. “During our meeting, we reaffirmed the readiness of
both sides to continue the normalization process in order to establish
relations and open the borders without any preconditions.”
“I am glad to see that all the people of the region, all the states
are trying to build peace and stability in our region,” said Mirzoyan.
“I want to say that there is that readiness on the part of Armenia to
have a peaceful and stable region.”
Çavuşoğlu described the meeting as “very constructive and effective,”
reported the Anadolu news agency.
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3- Canary Books to Publish
‘Zabelle Panosian – I Am Servant of Your Voice’ book & CD
Among the most significant Armenian singers in the early twentieth
century, Zabelle Panosian made a small group of recordings in New York
City in 1917-’18. Unaccountably, she was then largely neglected as an
artist for more than half a century. This volume by three dedicated
researchers is the first effort to reconstruct the life and work of a
woman who had an exceptional and cultivated voice — who toured the
world as a performer and made a significant contribution to the
cultural lives of the Armenian diaspora, the elevation of Armenian art
song, and the relief of survivors of the Armenian genocide.
Panosian’s music is derived from a syncretic experience of the Western
Armenian village near the Sea of Marmara where she was born and a
passion for the coloratura sopranos she encountered in Boston. As an
immigrant carrying the traumas of dislocation and the loss of her
home, she transformed her grief into action, dedicated her life to an
_expression_ of the greatest art she could imagine, both from her former
life and her new life in America, and she created a path in her wake
for her daughter to become a renowned dancer.
Tracing her story from the Ottoman Empire to New England, from the
concert halls of Italy, Egypt, and France to California, Florida, and
South America through two World Wars, the story of Zabelle Panosian is
that of a serious talent recognized and celebrated, dismissed and
forgotten, year by year, waiting only to be known and loved again.
A dedicated team created ‘Zabelle Panosian – I am Servant of Your
Voice’; Ian Nagoski was responsible for the text, Harry Kezelian
provided translations and Harout Arakelian worked on providing
research and photographs.
Zabelle Panosian – I Am Servant of Your Voice book & CD to be
published April 7, 2022 by Canary Books & Records, Baltimore MD. 80
pages. 21 tracks. Over 50 images.
By Harout Arakelian, Harry Kezelian, and Ian Nagoski; designed by John
Hubbard, and printed by die Keure.
“A carefully crafted and detailed, yet succinct biography. Many of us
were introduced to Armenian-American singer Zabelle Panosian’s
soul-jolting rendition of ‘Groung’ via the 2011 release of To What
Strange Place, but here, in Zabelle Panosian: I Am Your Servant, for
the first time, we travel with Panosian from her birthplace in
Bardizag to her home in New York We are there in the studio with her
at Columbia Records for her historic recordings in lower Manhattan,
and we stand with her in the radio studios of WEAF. We become readers
of reviews of Panosian’s concerts both celebrated and scathing. We
accompany her on performances, minuscule and grand from Waterford to
Providence and San Francisco to Fresno, eventually recrossing the
Atlantic with her to sing in France, Italy, and Egypt,” says Richard
Breaux, Associate Professor of Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies,
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. “More than a singer or performer,
we learn of Zabelle, the estranged sister, the loving aunt, and the
mother who passes the baton to her daughter, Adrina Otero, completing
what will be the starting point for future historians or
ethnomusicologists wishing to explore Zabelle Panosian and her
legacy.”
“Having heard the beautiful and haunting recordings of Zabelle
Panosian, it’s wonderful to learn more about her life and musical
career, grounded in the history of music and the history of
immigration, told here so well,” said librarian Heather Hughes.
For more information, visit:
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4- ARF World Congress concludes, elects new Bureau
The 34th World Congress of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF)
convened in Armenia on February 28, 2022 and concluded its work on
March 8.
The ARF’s political direction and strategy for the next four years
were defined, and decisions were made on the Armenian Cause, foreign
and domestic activities, advocacy and economic policy. The meeting
examined and evaluated the three-year operation of the ARF Bureau, its
internal organizational issues and future work. After discussing all
the agenda items, the World Congress elected the party’s highest
body—the Bureau.
At its initial meeting, the ARF Bureau elected Hagop Der Khachadourian
as its chairman.
The newly-elected ARF Bureau also includes the following members:
Hovsep Der Kevorkian (Europe); Raffi Donabedian (Canada); Arsen
Hambartsumyan (Armenia); David Ishkhanian (Artsakh); Giro Manoyan
(Armenia); Khajag Mgrdichian (USA); Mgrdich Mgrdichian (Lebanon);
Viken Paghumian (Iran); Mourad Papazian (Europe); and Armen Rusdamian
(Armenia).
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5- Armenia Continues Fight Against COVID-19
Armenia continues the fight against COVID-19, as the country continues
promoting the vaccination phase.
As of January 30, 842,212 people have been fully inoculated against
COVID-19, or approximately 28 percent of the population. About 64
percent of the population, or 1,883,413 people, has received at least
one dose of the vaccine. The highest rate of inoculation is among
people between the ages of 35-60. Only 18 to 19-percent of citizens
over the age of 65 have received two doses of the vaccine. The
vaccination mandate for employees might be responsible for the age
disparity in vaccination rates.
The MoH also instituted a coronavirus “green pass” in January to enter
cultural and entertainment venues. As of January 22, people can only
enter restaurants, hotels, gyms, libraries, museums, theaters, cinemas
and other cultural sites if they present proof of vaccination, a
negative PCR test from the previous 72 hours or an antibody test from
the previous 24 hours. The mandate, which was announced on January 9,
excludes children under the age of 18, pregnant women, people who
cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons and people who have been
previously infected with the coronavirus.
The government changed airport regulations on February 1, allowing
visitors to enter the arrival hall by maintaining safety guidelines.
On February 7, 2022, the State Department issued a Level 4: Do Not
Travel Notice, warning American citizens indicating a very high level
of COVID-19 in the country. The State Department also urged U.S.
citizens not to travel to the Nagorno-Karabakh region due to armed
conflict.
Coronavirus cases have been steadily increasing in Armenia since mid-January.
There were 4,883 active COVID-19 cases in Armenia as of March 14.
Armenia has recorded 422,021 coronavirus cases and 8,576 deaths;
408,562 have recovered.
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