Rudolph W. Giuliani, whose actions as President Trump’s personal lawyer have helped set in motion an impeachment inquiry, abruptly canceled his scheduled paid appearance at a Kremlin-backed conference in Armenia next week.
Giuliani, who confirmed to The Washington Post on Friday morning that he would attend the event, reversed himself that evening after The Post reported on his participation in the meeting, which Russian President Vladimir Putin and other top Russian officials are expected to attend.
The two-day conference is sponsored by Russia and the Moscow-based Eurasian Economic Union, a trade alliance launched by Putin in 2014 as a counterweight to the European Union.
According to an agenda for the event posted online, Giuliani was set to participate in a panel led by Sergey Glazyev, a longtime Putin adviser who has been under U.S. sanctions since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine five years ago.
Giuliani said Friday evening that he was no longer planning to attend the meeting. “I didn’t know Putin was going,” he said in a brief interview, adding in a text: “Discretion is the better part of valor.”
Giuliani’s decision to take part in the conference astounded national security experts. His appearance would have come days after the release of a whistleblower complaint accusing Trump and Giuliani of pressuring Ukrainian officials for damaging information about Democrats.
Trump this summer withheld military aid from Ukraine, which counts on U.S. support to help fend off pro-Moscow separatists in the country’s eastern provinces. As part of his efforts in Ukraine, Giuliani has said the focus on Russia’s interference in the 2016 election has overlooked what he claims was meddling by Kiev.
The agenda for the Eurasian conference showed Giuliani was the only American scheduled to speak at the gathering.
In an interview Friday before canceling his plans, Giuliani angrily rejected questions about whether it would be appropriate for him to attend the event at which he also appeared last year.
“I will try to not knowingly talk to a Russian until this is all over,” he retorted.
The former New York mayor confirmed in the interview that he intended to accept payment for his appearance but declined to say how much he would have received or which group or person was going to pay him.
“It goes to my company,” Giuliani said.
The White House and State Department declined to comment.
Current and former White House aides said there is internal exasperation with Giuliani’s behavior and the fact that he does not clear his media appearances or paid speeches with the administration. Giuliani has said he works for the president in a personal capacity and does not take a salary from the government or the president.
A spokesman for the Eurasian conference declined to comment on Giuliani but said Putin, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong are set to attend the conference in the Armenian capital of Yerevan on Tuesday.
The conference is a regular summit of the Eurasian Economic Union, an economic trading union whose members are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.
It is the brainchild of Putin and was created in response to democratic upheavals taking place at the time in former Soviet countries. Putin has aimed to use the group to establish Russia as a bulwark against Europe and a center of gravity in the former Soviet region, describing the EEU as “a new supranational union that could become one of the poles of the modern world.”
In 2012, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the group part of an effort to “re-Sovietize the region.”
National security experts said Giuliani’s presence at the event could have bolstered the E.U. rival.
David Kramer, a former State Department official responsible for Russia and Ukraine during the George W. Bush administration, called it “terrible judgment” for Giuliani to have agreed to attend, saying his participation would have lent “credibility to an organization Putin set up as an alternative to the European Union.”
Michael McFaul, who served as U.S. ambassador to Russia in the Obama administration, said he was surprised Giuliani would agree to attend the Eurasian conference, particularly since the organization was a flash point in Russian-Ukrainian tensions. He noted it was created by Putin at a time when Ukraine was considering joining the European Union.
“I can’t remember anything like this,” McFaul said. He said Giuliani, as a private citizen, has a right to speak to any organization but called the conference an “odd” choice.
An agenda of the two-day summit says it is focused on transit in the region. The agenda, which was posted online in English, states clearly that Putin is set to take part in the official closing ceremony on Tuesday with Rouhani and leaders of the EEU’s other member countries.
Giuliani said Friday evening that “I’ve never seen the website,” adding: “I thought I was speaking at an Armenian security conference.”
In a text, he added that the event “wasn’t that important.”
“I don’t need to give the Swamp press more distractions,” he added.
Giuliani had been scheduled to appear on a panel titled “Digital financial technologies — new opportunities for integrating payment systems of the Eurasian continent in transport logistics.”
The moderator listed on the agenda is Glazyev, an economist who served as one of Putin’s top advisers until this August and who is viewed in Moscow’s diplomatic circles as a possible successor to him. Next week, he is expected to be appointed to a top post at the commission that oversees the EEU.
Glazyev was one of a number of senior Russian government officials sanctioned by the Obama administration in 2014 as punishment for Russia’s incursion into Crimea.
Last year, Giuliani was also listed as a participant in a panel moderated by Glazyev. In a photo posted online by the group, Giuliani can be seen standing at a lectern to the left of a group of seated men that include Glazyev.
Giuliani told The Post on Thursday that he did not realize Glazyev would be present at last year’s meeting before attending.
“When we found out he was on the panel, the head of my security detail said [to the organizers], ‘The mayor is just going to be giving a speech and leaving, and if you don’t like that, screw you,’ ” Giuliani said.
Giuliani said he could not remember whether he and Glazyev spoke at the event.
“I was discussing Russian collusion,” he said, sarcastically. “He helped me tank the case. Do you know what an idiot you sound like right now?”
“What does it matter what I did at the conference?” Giuliani added.
Before backing out of the event, Giuliani said that he was unaware his panel at next week’s conference was again scheduled to feature Glazyev.
In interviews this week, Giuliani has rejected any scrutiny of his conduct, saying attention instead should be put on his claims about former vice president Joe Biden and the Democrats.
“I’m not an idiot. I know you all are going after me. I know what you guys are doing with this,” he said.
Ferris-Rotman reported from Moscow. Carol Morello contributed to this report.
Pashinyan’s spox comments on appointment of former police chief as chief advisor to PM
Pashinyan’s spox comments on appointment of former police chief as chief advisor to PM
15:55,
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. Spokesperson of the Armenian prime minister Vladimir Karapetyan commented on the appointment of former police chief Valery Osipyan as chief advisor to the PM.
Asked what advises Mr. Osipyan is going to give to the PM, in case when the PM was dissatisfied from his work.
“Ask this question to Mr. Osipyan when you meet him as it concerns to him. If there are certain issues on one direction, one functions, it doesn’t mean that the member of the team or the official who is trusted by the leadership, cannot be useful in another direction and carry out a proper activity”, the PM’s spokesman said.
In response to the question are there any other officials, ministers over whom the PM has doubts and wants to dismiss, the spokesperson said: “If they continue to hold office, what doubt the talk is about? It means they have the PM’s trust”.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Gevorg Petrosyan regards the initiative of "My step" to terminate the powers of Hrayr Tovmasyan as pressure on the court
ArmInfo. “The head of the Constitutional Court of Armenia Hrayr Tovmasyan is not the light of my eyes, but this does not prevent me from telling the truth,” such an opinion at a briefing at the National RA Prosperous Armenia faction member Gevorg Petrosyan expressed the RA meeting /.
Answering the question of how the faction relates to the initiative of the My Step parliamentary faction to terminate the powers of the head of the Constitutional Court and whether the PAP will join this proposal, Petrosyan explained that according to the Constitutional Law on the Constitutional Court, there are exhaustively listed reasons sufficient to so that the COP decides to terminate the authority of its member. “And if the faction of power decided to start the initiative, then it can hold it in the National Assembly, but the Constitutional Court itself must decide the issue of dismissal,” he explained.
According to the deputy, the PAP is not a political force that will mechanically join this or that initiative without understanding its tasks. “Now all those who come forward with such initiatives, according to the current legislation of the Republic of Armenia, are obliged 3/5 of the total number of deputies to present this initiative, what decision the COP will take, we do not have the right to express a biased opinion. I regard these opinions more as pressure on court. Let the court decide>, said Petrosyan.
He noted that at the moment the PAP does not see such a task, and in the Constitutional Court there is no such situation that would be uncontrollable.
Recall, on September 4, the Constitutional Court of Armenia granted the defense claim of Robert Kocharian – Article 35 of the RA Criminal Code is recognized as unconstitutional, since it does not provide for the functional inviolability of officials who are specially protected by the Constitution, including circumstances that exclude criminal proceedings or criminal prosecution. “This article is found to be contrary to clause 4 of part 1 of article 27, part 1 of article 61, part 1 of article 63, articles 75 of the Constitution,” the Constitutional Court said. On the second appeal of Kocharyan’s defense on the review of compliance with the Constitution of Part 2 of Article 135 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia, the Constitutional Court recognized it as complying with the country’s main law. Thus, the Constitutional Court ruled that the verdicts adopted today, in accordance with part 2 of Article 179 of the Constitution, are final and come into force from the moment they are published. It should be noted that Robert Kocharian was arrested on charges of overthrowing the constitutional order.
Asbarez: Ardy Kassakhian Announces Campaign for Glendale City Council
Ardashes “Ardy” Kassakhian
GLENDALE—This week, longtime Glendale City Clerk Ardashes “Ardy” Kassakhian announced his campaign for Glendale City Council. Kassakhian, who was elected as City Clerk in 2005, made his announcement through an email to his supporters and friends. The email is available below.
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
When my wife and I became parents five years ago, we quickly learned that being a parent and raising a child is both the hardest and simultaneously most important job we will ever have. It’s been a great blessing to raise our son in the city of Glendale – the same city I grew up in. As a parent and your elected city clerk, I ask myself everyday, “What can I do to leave a brighter future for my child and to coming generations?”
Like many of you, I have watched our nation divide itself along political lines, and I cannot sit back and watch the impact it is having both nationally and locally, without rolling up my sleeves to bring common sense solutions to the challenges we face. Many of you have encouraged, urged and asked that I run for city council and I took all of your calls, emails, and comments to heart.
It is for this reason that I’m writing to let you, my closest supporters, know that I have decided to run for the vacant seat on the Glendale City Council in the upcoming election in March of 2020.
Over the last 14 years, I’ve been fortunate enough to follow and be engaged with all matters and affairs concerning our Jewel City. I’ve witnessed what Glendale was, what it is, and what it is becoming. But most importantly, I know what it can be if we work together. Given my breadth of experience in City Hall, I know our city’s strengths, and I definitely know where it needs change and improvement. Despite all progress and everything we have accomplished, we have work to do.
In the coming weeks and months, you will hear more from my campaign about where I stand and why, but I wanted you to be the first to know about this important step I am taking. In these trying times, the national stage deserves our attention, but let’s not forget that change starts here, at home. Nowhere do our actions matter more than at the local level. I have devoted myself to the City of Glendale, and now humbly ask for your support as I seek to continue serving our Jewel City by joining the City Council.
The Glendale City Council elections will be held on March 3, 2020.
The issue of extending the period of operation of the second power unit of the National Nuclear Power Plant was discussed in Yerevan
- 13.09.2019
- Armenia:
- arm
- rus
Under the leadership of Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Suren Papikyan, the meeting of the management board of the projects implemented at the expense of credit and grant funds provided to the system of the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures by foreign countries and international lending organizations was held.
With the participation of the managers of a number of companies of the system and the sectoral officials of the Ministry, issues related to the measures and tender processes provided for by the extension and modernization program of the second power unit of the NPP were discussed.
As a result of the meeting, the Management Board approved the results of the selection of the organizations providing the equipment modernization and supply service within the framework of the project, as well as the drafts of additional agreements.
A number of organizational issues were also addressed, in relation to which appropriate instructions were given.
Middle East’s Armenians in retreat
The Middle East’s history has been one of ethnic and cultural diversity. As the birthplace of civilization in the Fertile Crescent, and then of the three Abrahamic religions, it has naturally seen the ebb and flow of a vast number of distinct peoples and communities. Yet these days, that legacy’s continued status appears more in jeopardy than ever. With decades of war, instability and religious extremism worsening conditions, another of the region’s ancient communities is increasingly flowing outwards: the Armenians.
Armenians have been long present in the Levant and elsewhere in the region. With a rich history of mercantilism, small-scale migrations from their mountainous homeland in eastern Anatolia established the first communities in the region long ago. Most contemporary Middle Eastern Armenians, however, came to the region as a result of the 1915 Armenian genocide that saw Ottoman troops disperse them from their territories into the rest of the empire and beyond.
The communities established a century ago have since been whittled down, by a process that has drastically accelerated in the past 10 years and then even more so in the last 12 months. The long-term survival of Armenians as a distinct community across the region now is more in question than at any time before.
Of the three largest communities, the most severely reduced is that in Syria. Home to perhaps 80,000 Armenians before the war, the Syrian Armenians had the distinct misfortune of being concentrated in Aleppo, which suffered massively as the center of a four-year struggle between government and opposition forces. Even more shocking was the 2014 sacking of Kesab, an exclusively Armenian village in the country’s northwest, that transfixed Armenians across the world as anti-government jihadists ransacked the town. Their homes destroyed, more than 20,000 Syrian Armenians repatriated to Armenia with the help of that country’s government, while more went elsewhere. Some accounts place the number of Armenians remaining in Syria to be as low as 15,000.
Iran and Lebanon, the other two centers, have each shed many of their own Armenians in the past few years. Lebanon’s Armenian population, once perhaps a quarter of a million strong, saw its share of emigration during the 1975-1990 civil war there. More have left recently for more mundane reasons: economic stagnation and unemployment. This same factor has also played a key role in outflows from Iran, whose Armenian population dates back to a 17th-century resettlement program by the then-shah.
The ‘Velvet Revolution,’ as commentators have dubbed the peaceful uprising that toppled the Republic of Armenia’s authoritarian government last spring, has delivered an air of hope to the country
While these two countries have seen severe economic difficulties, the homeland has become much more attractive. The “Velvet Revolution,” as commentators have dubbed the peaceful uprising that toppled the Republic of Armenia’s authoritarian government last spring, has delivered an air of hope to the country. While it was once viewed in dour terms by the diaspora, this perception has been turned on its head, with immigration numbers (most of which are of ethnic Armenians) reaching their highest point in more than a decade.
Exact statistics are hard to come by, but repatriation organizations active in the republic note that the largest increase has been from Lebanon and Iran. Should successful economic and political reforms follow, further Armenian migration from these two countries would almost certainly ensue.
Another region-wide trend has played a major role: Christian persecution. Across the Middle East, Christian communities have suffered killings and other attacks with increasing regularity. Perhaps the two most severely affected have been Iraq, where anti-Christian violence since 2003 peaked with the rise of ISIS, and Egypt, whose Coptic Christians have suffered immensely. Both countries also play host to Armenian communities, the vast majority of whom, however, have since fled. Even in Israel, home to a few thousand Armenians, notably in Jerusalem’s 2,000-year old Armenian quarter, discrimination against the community has occurred on a sustained, if much less violent, level.
The trend has played out on a massive scale: whereas Christians were estimated to form more than 13% of the Middle East’s population in 1910, that number is expected to fall to barely 3% by 2025. A seismic shift in the region’s demographics is occurring, one in which the Armenians are caught up.
Unlike Arab Christians, however, Armenians do have a homeland state, one where the population shares their language, faith and customs. The mere existence of the Republic of Armenia is thus a major blessing for many Middle Eastern Armenians.
But there are still many challenges. Armenia is a developing country, with an average monthly wage of only US$300. Unlike locals, who mostly live in houses and apartments long owned by their families, repatriates must spend half their salary or more on rent alone. Two centuries of Russian and then Soviet domination have naturally affected local culture and mindsets as well, creating difficult-to-bridge cultural and linguistic gaps. Still, they are lucky to have this refuge.
The Armenian retreat stretches from Alexandria to Aleppo to Esfahan, and shows few signs of stopping. Most of the smaller communities, like those in Iraq, are already nearly gone. Those in Iran and Lebanon are likely to survive, albeit in truncated form, and possibly even thrive: Forming their own enclaves in each country, they are large enough to be self-sustaining, and also enjoy special privileges afforded to them under the respective national governments. The United Arab Emirates has also remained a rare hub, its financial opportunities and stability encouraging a still-vibrant Armenian presence.
The second half of the 20th century saw the vanishing of the Middle East’s Jews from the lands where they had lived for centuries; the first half of the 21st is witnessing the phenomenon repeated among Christians. For the Armenians, driven there by force a century ago, their fate now, again, seems to lie elsewhere.
This article was provided to Asia Times by Syndication Bureau, which holds copyright.
Export grows in Armenia by 3% January-July 2019
Export grows in Armenia by 3% January-July 2019
16:11, 6 September, 2019
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS. In January-July 2019, compared to January-July 2018, Armenia’s external trade turnover grew by 2.3%. The export increased by 3% and the import by 1.9%, according to the report released by the Statistical Committee.
In July, compared to June, the export from Armenia grew by 6.8%, and the import by 6.5%.
The export growth rates have also accelerated. In particular, if in June 2019, compared to June 2018, the export grew by 1.2%, in July 2019, compared to July 2018, the export increased by 19.5%.
The biggest share in Armenia’s external trade turnover as of January-July 2019 belonged to the CIS states – 30.9%, of which 27.5% belongs to Russia. The trade turnover with the EU states comprises 21.8% of the entire external trade turnover. China and Switzerland have a big share – 11.9% and 6.4% respectively.
The volumes of goods exported to the CIS states in January-July 2019 increased by 10%, and that to the EU states decreased by 22.7%. The volumes of goods exported to other countries increased by 17.9%. The volume of goods exported to Russia grew by 9.4%.
As for the EU states, in January-July the volumes of goods exported to Italy and the Netherlands increased by 23.2% and 40.3% respectively, however, the export to Belgium, Bulgaria and Germany has declined.
The export to China, as well as to Switzerland and Iraq has drastically increased – 72.6%, 25.3% and 25.5% respectively. The export volumes have declined to the USA, UAE and Iran.
In the aforementioned period the export volumes of precious and semi-precious stones, metals have increased by 38.8%. 10.3% increase has been registered in the export volumes of ready-made food products.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
PRODUCTION: Armenian/Bulgarian/German Feature Film and TV Series in Production
- Remission by Hovhannes Galstyan credit: Parallels Filmproduction
SOFIA: The Bulgarian company Jelfilm is currently in production with a TV series-melodrama Remission, set to premiere in November 2019 on the Armenian Public TV. The main subject of the series will serve for a 120 minute drama Metamorphosis. Both projects are directed by Hovhannes Galstyan and are Armenian/Bulgarian/German coproductions.
The projects revolve around the artist’s vulnerability, his dependence on the influence of the capital, the bureaucratic intrigues, the envy and hostility of his colleagues. According to Jelfilm representatives, “the story is inspired by true events and shows the cruel battle of an artist who’s fighting to finish his creation”.
The main characters are played by Khoren Levonyan and Lilit Hakobyan, from the Hanover State Ballet Theatre, who is also the choreographer of the ballet Metamorphosis, around which the projects unfold.
Both projects are coproductions between Armenia’s Parallels Film Production, Public Television and One Man Studio production, Bulgaria’s Jelfilm and Germany’s Clever Production. The producers are: Hovhannes Galstyan, Margarita Grigoryan, Migran Stepanyan, Laura Clever and Vasili & Vitali Sharkevich.
The budgets are 250,000 EUR for the TV series and 650,000 EUR for the feature film, representatives of Jelfilm told FNE. The projects are supported by the Public Television of Armenia as well as private sponsors including Ardshinbank, one of the largest banks in Armenia.
The shooting of the sixteen 40-minute episodes is expected to wrap in October 2019, while the feature film will be shot after the premiere of the TV series and released in the summer of 2020. Shooting takes place in Armenia and part of the postproduction for the feature film will be done in Bulgaria and Germany.
Production Information:
Producer:
Parallels Filmproduction (Armenia)Coproducers:
Public Television of Armenia (Armenia)
One Man Studio production (Armenia)
Jelfilm (Bulgaria)
Clever Production (Germany)Credits:
Director: Hovhannes Galstyan
Scriptwriters: Hovhannes Galstyan, Marine Zalaryan
DoP: Mihran Stepanyan
Cast: Lilit Hakobyan, Khoren Levonyan, Vivien Bastajyan, Frida York, Sos Janibekyanhttps://www.filmneweurope.com/news/bulgaria-news/item/118679-production-armenian-bulgarian-german-feature-film-and-tv-series-in-production
Sports: Yura Movsisyan proud of Armenia national team footballers
Armenia national team lost the game 1:3 with only 10 players participating in the second half.
“We fought hard today in Yerevan against Italy, mostly with 10 men… proud of our boys!
See you all this Sunday,” Movsisyan wrote.
The Armenian team will compete against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday again. Bosnia has 7 points in Group J, and Armenia-6 points.
Australian Friends of Artsakh Expands with High-Profile Additions
Senators Eric Abetz, Richard Di Natale, and Archbishop Glenn Davies have joined the Australian Friends of Artsakh
CANBERRA, Australia—Senator Eric Abetz – Chair of the Australian Senate’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee, Senator Richard Di Natale – the Leader of the Australian Greens, and Glenn Davies – the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, lead a group of seven high-profile additions to the growing distinguished membership of the Australian Friends of Artsakh.
The Armenian National Committee of Australia report that Senators Abetz and Di Natale, as well as Archbishop Davies, have joined as new members of the group, together with the President of New South Wales Legislative Council John Ajaka, the New South Wales Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello, City of Willoughby Councilor Stuart Coppock, and City of Ryde Councilor Trenton Brown.
The Australian Friends of Artsakh was launched last month by the ANC-AU, with an announcement dubbed #MOVINGMOUNTAINS during the visit by a high-profile delegation from the Republic of Artsakh, led by Foreign Minister Masis Mayilyan.
Among the inaugural 40 signatories were Federal Ministers and Parliamentarians, a State Premier and fellow State Parliamentarians, a Mayor and Councilors, academics, thought leaders, and heads of several religious and community institutions—all pledging solidarity to the rights to self-determination of the Armenians of the Republic of Artsakh.
The new additions mean the group now has 47 prominent Australians as signatories.
“Senator Abetz, Senator Di Natale, Archbishop Davies, Mr. Ajaka, Mr. Dominello, Mr. Coppock and Mr. Brown are all welcome additions to the Australian Friends of Artsakh,” stated ANC-AU Executive Director Haig Kayserian.
The 40 Australian signatories
“The petro-dictatorship of Azerbaijan, who denies the indigenous Armenians of Artsakh their basic human right to self-determination and independence on their ancestral lands, resorted to propaganda and bullying tactics to try and prevent our leaders from joining in solidarity with this issue,” added Kayserian, referring to official complaints from Baku to Canberra trying to bring Australian leaders into line with the Department of Foreign Affairs’ pro-Azerbaijani position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Kayserian said: “This high-profile expansion of the Australian Friends of Artsakh shows that the currency of truth and justice wins over the unwelcome interference by a foreign dictatorship into the internal affairs of Australia’s sovereign democracy.”
Senators Abetz and Di Natale join a strong Federal Parliamentary contingent of signatories to the Australian Friends of Artsakh, which includes Australia’s Communications Minister and Member of Parliament Paul Fletcher, Assistant Treasurer and Member of Parliament Michael Sukkar, Shadow Home Affairs Minister Senator Kristina Keneally and Shadow Agriculture & Resources Minister and Member of Parliament Joel Fitzgibbon.
Fitzgibbon is the co-convener of the Armenia-Australia Inter-Parliamentary Union along with the Chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Health, Aged Care & Sport and Member of Parliament Trent Zimmerman, who also joined the Australian Friends of Artsakh, along with fellow Chairs of Federal Parliamentary Committees including John Alexander, Julian Leeser, Jason Falinski and Tim Wilson, who is the only Member of Australia’s Federal Parliament with Armenian heritage. Newly elected Federal Parliamentarian Josh Burns is also a friend of Artsakh.
From l to r: Senators Eric Abetz and Richard Di Natale, Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Glenn Davies
President of the Legislative Council John Ajaka and Minister for Customer Service and Member of Parliament Victor Dominello join Member of Parliament Gladys Berejiklian—the Premier of Australia’s largest state of New South Wales on the list of State Parliamentarians among the Australian Friends of Artsakh, which also includes Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly Jonathan O’Dea Member of Parliament and his fellow convener of the NSW Armenia-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group, Shadow Treasurer Walt Secord, Member of Legislative Council.
Member of Parliament Dr. Hugh McDermott and Member of Legislative Council Rev. Fred Nile are also among the current NSW parliamentarians in the group, along with former state political representatives, including Marie Ficarra and Amanda Fazio.
Councilors Coppock and Brown join fellow Local Government representatives who were among the inaugural signatories to the Australian Friends of Artsakh, including Mayor Jerome Laxale, Councilors Sarkis Yedelian and Jordan Lane – from the City of Ryde, and Councilors Hugh Eriksson, Brendan Zhu, Angelo Rozos and Lynne Saville – from the City of Willoughby.
A number of academics and civil society leaders also signed on to support Artsakh, including Professor Peter Stanley, Dr. Sev Ozdowski, Dr. Panayiotis Diamadis, Dr. Brian Owler and Chris Crewther.
Archbishop Glenn Davies joins a series of leaders of communities and churches to join the Australian Friends of Artsakh as signatories.