1- Biden Wants to Sell Arms to Turkey
While Ankara is Undermining NATO
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2- Art dealer Larry Gagosian buys Warhol’s
iconic Marilyn Monroe for $195 Million
3- Armenian flag disallowed at NZ Ataturk memorial
4- COMMENTARY
Not ‘All in a System of a Down’ These Days
By Jenny Yettem
5- Armenia Continues Fight Against COVID-19
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1- Biden Wants to Sell Arms to Turkey
While Ankara is Undermining NATO
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
With each passing day, the Armenian-American community is getting
increasingly disappointed with Pres. Joe Biden’s anti-Armenian
actions. He has done more harm than good to Armenia’s interests.
Last year, 24 hours before acknowledging the Armenian Genocide, Pres.
Biden waived Section 907 of the U.S. Freedom Support Act, thus
allowing the United States to provide various types of aid to
Azerbaijan, including ‘security’ assistance.
The U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) reported that from 2002 to
2020 the Departments of State, Defense, and Energy, and the U.S.
Agency for International Development provided to Azerbaijan $808
million in U.S. aid, of which $164 million (20%) was for ‘security’
assistance. On March 31, 2022, the American Ambassador to Baku proudly
tweeted that the U.S. Department of Defense just donated $30 million
of ‘equipment’ to Azerbaijan. It makes no sense whatsoever, to provide
assistance to oil-rich Azerbaijan which is plush with billions of
petrodollars. This is a complete waste of U.S. taxpayers’ money.
During a recent hearing, when Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, questioned Secretary of State
Antony Blinken why the State Department failed to report to Congress
the impact of the assistance to Baku on the military balance between
Azerbaijan and Armenia, Blinken gave an evasive answer by promising to
look into it.
Even though previous presidents had also waived Section 907, thus
providing assistance to filthy rich Azerbaijan, Joe Biden, during his
2020 presidential campaign, boldly criticized Pres. Donald Trump for
waiving Section 907. Yet, within three months of becoming President,
he did the same thing as Trump.
What is the point of acknowledging the Armenian Genocide and then
providing weapons to Azerbaijan to continue killing Armenians, as was
the case in the 2020 war? What is needed is action, not empty words.
Another blunder of the Biden administration is not enforcing the ban
on the transfer of U.S. weapons to third countries. The prime example
of this violation is the use of U.S. F-16 military jets by Turkey in
Azerbaijan during the 2020 Artsakh war. In addition, the U.S. did not
ban the sale of U.S. parts in the Bayraktar Turkish drones which
played a key role in the 2020 war.
The Biden administration reduced aid to Armenia to $24 Million and
allocated a pitiful amount of humanitarian assistance to thousands of
displaced Armenians from Artsakh, while acknowledging that they are in
an “acute humanitarian crisis.”
Other shortcomings of the Biden administration are:
1) Did not pressure Azerbaijan to release immediately the Armenian
prisoners from Baku jails, after the end of the 2020 war.
2) Did not condemn Turkey’s recruitment and transfer of Islamist
terrorists to participate in the 2020 Artsakh war on behalf of
Azerbaijan.
3) Did not criticize the incursion of Azeri troops into Armenia’s
territory since May 12, 2021.
4) Failed to take action regarding the massive human rights violations
by Azerbaijan and Turkey, while Pres. Biden hypocritically talks about
human rights being a core tenet of U.S. foreign policy.
Instead, we hear repeated U.S. calls in support of “Armenia-Turkey
reconciliation” and “peace agreement with Azerbaijan,” which are
contrary to Armenia’s national interests.
Amazingly, the Biden administration just informed Congress that it
supports the sale to Turkey of missiles, radar, and electronics for
its existing fleet of F-16 fighter jets. In addition, Turkey has asked
for the purchase of 40 new F-16 jets.
The Biden administration is wrong that the proposed arms sale to
Turkey “serves NATO’s interests.” In fact, this sale faces an uphill
battle in Congress as 60 Members of Congress have expressed their
vehement opposition.
Contrary to the Biden administration’s assertion, the proposed arms
sale to Turkey will undermine U.S. and NATO interests for the
following reasons:
1) The F-16 jets will be used by Turkey in Syria and Iraq to bomb
Kurdish fighters who are U.S. allies in the fight against ISIS
terrorists, whom Turkey supports.
2) Turkey will use the F-16’s to continue its illegal intrusions into
the territorial waters of Greece, a NATO member.
3) Turkey will use the F-16 jets to threaten the territorial integrity
of Armenia.
4) Turkey continues to occupy Northern Cyprus ever since 1974 and
refuses to leave despite scores of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
5) The United States sanctioned Turkey and blocked the sale of F-35
U.S. advanced fighter jets for purchasing S-400 Russian missiles,
contrary to NATO’s interests.
Finally, at a time when NATO countries, including the United States,
are confronting Russia in Ukraine, the governments of Finland and
Sweden have asked to join NATO. Except for Turkey, all other NATO
members are in favor of the expedited memberships of Finland and
Sweden. Pres. Erdogan announced that his country will veto the
membership applications of these two countries, using the ridiculous
argument that Finland and Sweden are “home to many terrorist
organizations,” meaning Kurdish refugees. This is highly ironic coming
from a country like Turkey which for years supported ISIS terrorists
in Syria and Iraq.
By opposing Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO memberships, Turkey hopes to
achieve the following aims:
1) To cater to Russia with which it has important military and
commercial ties. Turkey is the only NATO member that has refused to
sanction Russia and close its airspace to Russian planes. Turkey is
Russia’s mole inside NATO.
2) To extract concessions from the United States to purchase arms and
gain political support in return for allowing the applications of
Finland and Sweden to join NATO.
It is clear that Turkey, Russia’s ally, does not belong in NATO.
Before Pres. Biden decides to sell F-16 jets to Turkey, I suggest that
he read The Washington Post editorial published on April 29, 2022,
titled: “Turkey reaches a new low of despotism.”
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2- Art dealer Larry Gagosian buys Warhol’s
iconic Marilyn Monroe for $195 Million
By Low De Wei
(Bloomberg)—The sale of a vividly-colored Marilyn Monroe portrait by
Andy Warhol for a record $195 million has drawn attention to Larry
Gagosian, the winning bidder and art world mega-dealer. It is the most
expensive work by an American artist sold at auction.
The owner of one of the largest art galleries in the world, Gagosian
is often described as the world’s most important art dealer. The
77-year-old manages an art empire with 19 exhibition spaces spanning
the world, from New York’s Madison Avenue to the heart of Hong Kong’s
financial district.
Gagosian’s “mega gallery” business model has been a major force
driving the art market’s worldwide expansion for the past two decades.
His galleries have often put up major shows rivaling those of major
museums, including a 2017 exhibition in London featuring Pablo
Picasso’s works.
The grandson of Armenian immigrants, he studied English literature and
swam competitively at UCLA.
He then rose from selling posters in a parking lot in Los Angeles in
the 1970s to becoming one of the art world’s most powerful figures.
“I didn’t have family in the business. I never worked for another
gallery,” he told Bloomberg News in a 2020 profile. “So by nature,
I’ve been a survivor and a scrappy businessman.”
He has represented Warhol, and sold the silk-screen Monroe image to
Swiss art collector Thomas Ammann in 1986. Gagosian’s stable of
artists has also included Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami,
Richard Prince and Cy Twombly, many of them poached from rivals.
Art collectors who are customers of dealers like Gagosian often prefer
anonymity. Still, he is known for acquiring artwork for the rich and
famous including hedge fund manager Steve Cohen, entertainment
industry mogul David Geffen and Blackstone Inc. chief executive
officer Steve Schwarzman.
He has declined to comment on the sale of Warhol’s Shot Sage Blue
Marilyn, after beating out bidders at Christie’s in New York. While
Gagosian has not revealed details of his business or wealth, he is
estimated to clear $1 billion in sales annually.
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3- Armenian flag disallowed at NZ Ataturk memorial
By Hamish Cardwell
A Wellington man who claims police threatened to trespass him from an
Anzac Day memorial if he displayed an Armenian flag in memory of
genocide victims says it is “shameful”.
He said the exclusion kowtowed to an authoritarian Turkish regime,
while a lawyer said it trampled on fundamental human rights.
Meanwhile, the Christchurch City Council has shot down a proposal for
a flag pole, citing international relations implications for flying
certain contentious flags.
The genocide of a million Armenians by the rulers of the Ottoman
empire is one of the terrible chapters of human history. Turkey
disputes the number killed and the label genocide, but most scholars
on the topic and many countries recognize the events as a genocide.
For a few years, without incident, Richard Noble has gone to
Wellington’s Ataturk memorial on Anzac day to silently protest the New
Zealand government’s lack of formal recognition of the extermination.
This year he introduced himself to a police officer on site letting
him know he was going to hold his Armenian flag, but he was told doing
so would be offensive to Turkish officials.
Noble said the officer told him he had been authorised by the
Wellington City Council to trespass anyone with an Armenian flag—on
the request of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Turkish
Embassy—something they both deny.
“It was a shameful and expedient move by council to circumvent my
freedom of _expression_ guaranteed under … [the] Bill of Rights in
order to protect the sensibilities of an authoritarian and repressive
regime,” Noble told a council meeting yesterday.
Noble said he left the council owned area that day, but stood out on
the public road with his flag.
He said he was an RSA member and his grandfather fought and was
wounded at Gallipoli—and his action was in no way to disparage the
solemnity of the event.
Richard Noble protesting for recognition of the Armenian genocide, at
the Ataturk Memorial in 2017.
Wellington City Council said it supported the rights of people to
protest, and that it delegated trespass authority to Police on Anzac
Day.
It denied ever being asked to stop or dissuade those protesting against Turkey.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry and Turkey’s Embassy also denied making
any request—and MFAT said no such request was made to it by the
Turkish Embassy.
The police said “they were made aware a flag the man intended to
display could be offensive to people of Turkish heritage attending the
service”.
It said a senior officer told Noble he would be asked to leave if he
displayed the flag, and he could be arrested for trespass if he did
not comply, but he was welcome to stay if he kept the flag away.
“The man then left the service without incident. He was not arrested
or issued with a trespass notice.”
Human rights lawyer Douglas Ewen said the officer’s actions were
totally inappropriate.
He said it was hard to find rights in the Bill of Rights that were not
being impinged upon.
“I find it remarkable to say the least that the police officer thought
this was a good idea—that police officer needs some re-training.”
Ewen said it would not hold water in court, and the fact Noble’s
protest was at an Anzac event changed nothing.
He said it was a terrible idea for the council to devolve power in this way.
University of Auckland senior politics lecturer Maria Armoudian said a
large number of her family was wiped out in the genocide and the
incident on Anzac day was traumatising.
“It is devastating for us… deeply disturbed by this. Your wounds
can’t heal without some kind of acknowledgement that what happened in
the past was wrong. We just want our history acknowledged and
everything that was taken from us, and taken in the most brutal and
violating ways—that’s not that much to ask for.”
Armoudian wants an apology from police.
New Zealand has to strike a difficult balance while sticking up for
human rights in the face of mass arrests and other human rights abuses
by Turkey’s leader President Tayyip Erdogan.
There was a serious falling out between the countries when the New
Zealand’s ambassador last year joined nine international diplomats
calling for the release of a jailed Turkish businessman and
philanthropist.
It has raised the specter of New Zealand being denied access to the
Gallipoli peninsula for official Anzac celebrations.
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4- COMMENTARY
Not ‘All in a System of a Down’ These Days
By Jenny Yettem
(Combined Sources)—Where on stage they may arouse rage against
so-called machines, in reality three of the members of System of a
Down are at political ends—with two calling for the resignation of
Nikol Pashinyan, and one remaining tacitly in support of his political
ally.
Last week, bassist Shavo Odadjian and drummer John Dolmayan, welcomed
the “Resistance” movement in Armenia, calling for the resignation of
Pashinyan and his government. According to Oragark, Odadjian and
Dolmayan have both reportedly posted information about the movement on
their Instagram accounts.
On April 24, vocalist Serj Tankian penned an op-ed for Asbarez
newspaper asking, “Would Israel Normalize Relations with Germany
Without Germany’s Recognition of the Holocaust?”
Tankian opines, “Armenians around the world are in a state of trauma
having to accept normalization of relations with a genocidal state
that continues its denial of our genocide. Not a single Armenian
thinks that normalization without reconciliation is a good idea. Would
Israel have accepted such terms at its inception as a homeland for all
Jews around the world if there were no Nuremberg trials, and if
Germany had denied its role in the Holocaust?”
He continues, “The need for normalization between the people of Turkey
and Armenia is important right now as a step in building confidence to
deal with the difficult issues of genocide acceptance and the just
steps which follow. After all, normalization and reconciliation are
not the same thing, though one can lead to the other. The dictator of
Turkey, Erdogan, and his government will never realistically take that
step, so it’s important to note that a true democratic conversion of
Turkey is necessary to ultimately lead to reconciliation with
Armenia.”
Tankian concludes, “If normalization with Turkey prevails, Armenia
will have to be smart in legislating economic protections so that
larger Turkish companies do not compromise its economy or national
security. The opening of trade routes and access to Europe, currently
only through Georgia, will lead to increased economic gain for
Armenia. It is inconceivable that we are talking about normalizing
relations with a genocidal neighbor who just attacked us 18 months
ago, but geopolitical reality necessitates peace for Armenia at this
time.”
In this op-ed, Tankian does not once mention the name Nikol Pashinyan
let alone that the current geopolitical reality was a direct result of
Pashinyan unilaterally signing a tripartite agreement in November 2020
in order to jerry-rig peace towards this lopsided normalization
agreement. Tankian has repeatedly rebuffed calls for him to withdraw
what was his ardent support of Pashinyan—for whom he flew to Armenia
in 2018, to rally on behalf of the arguably populist Pashinyan and
extend his support of the My Step movement, donning a hat bearing the
party’s slogan “Dukhov” that means “with gusto” in Russian.
It isn’t the first time that the bandmates disagree. In 2020, it
became widely known through Instagram that Tankian was a staunch
supporter of Joe Biden, while Dolmayan loaned his support to former
president Donald Trump. The two made light of their political
division, saying that it didn’t impact their personal
relationship—Tankian and Dolmayan are also brothers-in-law by marriage
to sisters, Angela Madatyan Tankian and Diana Madatyan Dolmayan.
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5- Armenia Continues Fight Against COVID-19
Armenia continues the fight against COVID-19. The government continues
to promote vaccinations. There were 2,223 active COVID-19 cases in
Armenia as of May 16. Armenia has recorded 422,917 coronavirus cases.
Armenia has recorded 8,623 deaths; this marks the second week where no
new deaths were recorded. 412,071 have recovered.
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