1- The More Things Change in Armenia,
The More They Stay the Same
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2- Free and Finally Home: Hampig Sassounian arrives in Armenia
3- Pope Francis awards Armenian President
with Grand Collar of Papal Order of Pius IX
4- Former NYT columnist Nicholas Kristof to run for Oregon Governor
5- Armenia Continues Fight Against COVID-19
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1- The More Things Change in Armenia,
The More They Stay the Same
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
The title is derived from a French _expression_ which I have used to
describe the situation in Armenia.
After 30 years of independence, one would expect substantial changes
in the conditions in Armenia. Regrettably, that is not the case.
In the initial years of independence, whenever someone would point out
the flaws in the leaders’ decisions, they would respond: “We are still
a young Republic.” They continued giving the same excuse without
having the slightest interest in listening to any advice and wanting
to make any changes. Three decades later, Armenia is no longer a young
Republic, but the same mistakes are being repeated by Armenia’s
current leaders.
In 2018, a neophyte with no experience in governing came to power as a
backlash against the despised former leaders. The new Prime Minister,
Nikol Pashinyan, cleverly capitalized on the public’s resentment of
the previous presidents, and gained the people’s trust by making
numerous promises for a better future. Armenians everywhere, desperate
for a change, believed what they were told and blindly followed the
new “Savior.”
Regrettably, in the last 3.5 years, nothing substantial has changed in
the country. In fact, the situation has gone from bad to worse,
culminating in the devastating defeat Armenia suffered during last
year’s war. The lavish promises offered by the new leader did not
materialize. Pashinyan, the self-described democrat, shockingly
campaigned during the June 20 parliamentary elections, while holding a
hammer in his hand, pledging to smash the heads of his political
opponents. Even though he came to power as the man of the people, he
quickly turned his government into a one-man rule, ignoring not only
the public, but also the advice of his own cabinet members, resulting
in the resignations of two successive Foreign Ministers.
Not surprisingly, Pashinyan also mishandled Armenia’s relations with
the Diaspora. He began by closing down the Diaspora Ministry without
consulting with any of the Diasporan leaders or organizations. When
some of them cautioned him not to take such a misguided decision, they
were completely ignored.
Pashinyan’s excuse was that the Diaspora Ministry had not been
effective. Instead of shutting it down, wouldn’t it have been
preferable to restructure it with better leadership? With the same
faulty logic, he could also eliminate the Defense Ministry, if he
thought that it was not operating properly!
After disbanding the Diaspora Ministry, the Prime Minister appointed
Zareh Sinanyan, one of his devotees from Glendale, California, as the
“High Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs.” In the 2.5 years since
becoming “High Commissioner,” Sinanyan does not have much to show for
his efforts. He has repeatedly engaged in partisan politics,
disparaging the regime’s critics in the Diaspora, which is not his
job. Incredibly, he suggested that Armenia attract Arab migrants to
boost the country’s dwindling population, forgetting that immigration
is not a part of his duties. His job is to improve relations with
Diaspora Armenians, not other nationalities.
On October 21, Sinanyan announced the government’s new plan to appoint
“Diaspora Commissioners” in various Armenian communities around the
world. These Commissioners are to be appointed by Prime Minister
Pashinyan at the recommendation of Sinanyan. Their purpose “is to
develop the Armenia-Diaspora partnership and increase the efficiency
of both sides. It also seeks to ensure sustainable relations between
the Armenian communities, involve the entire potential of the
Diaspora, as well as support the preservation of the Armenian
identity, repatriation and the organization of events aimed at the
integration of Diaspora Armenians in Armenia.”
This is the modified version of an idea copied from the former
Diaspora Ministry which had appointed a Board of Directors to
represent the Ministry in various countries. I served on that Board
for 10 years. In addition, the Diaspora Ministry in conjunction with
the Foreign Ministry appointed staff in Armenian Embassies and
Consulates to serve as a liaison between the government of Armenia and
the local communities.
It remains to be seen whom Pashinyan and Sinanyan will appoint as
their representatives in Diasporan communities. But given the blatant
partisan politics of the current government, no one should be
surprised if they appoint their own unqualified supporters whose real
task would be to engage in pro-regime propaganda.
Interestingly, it was reported that Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan
had objected to seeking the approval of foreign governments before
appointing local commissioners. He pointed out correctly that such
approvals are only needed to appoint diplomats, such as Ambassadors,
in foreign countries. Therefore, the plan was amended eliminating the
need for such approvals. Nevertheless, Sinanyan surprisingly announced
that the Armenian Parliament had to adopt a law before appointing
local Diaspora Commissioners. It is not clear why the government has
to pass such a law. These individuals are to serve in an advisory
capacity with no official powers and without pay.
Given the serious split among Armenians both in Armenia and the
Diaspora, no matter whom the government appoints he or she will be
criticized for belonging to this or that organization, church or
political party. There will be endless complaints about these
appointees.
There was no need to reinvent the wheel. The proper way to select a
Diaspora representative is to have each Diasporan community elect its
own representative by popular vote. Only then, it can be said that the
elected individual is the true representative of his or her community.
No one, including the government of Armenia, has the right to appoint
such a representative. Ironically, the Prime Minister and Sinanyan
were personally informed of this formula and yet chose to ignore it.
The representatives elected by their communities will then constitute
the future Diaspora Armenian Parliament.
Once again, the Pashinyan government is taking decisions without
consulting with anyone. It is time for the government to consult with
the people in Armenia on internal matters and with elected Diasporan
representatives on Pan-Armenian issues.
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2- Free and Finally Home: Hampig Sassounian arrives in Armenia
In a message to the Armenian people, Hampig Sassounian announced on
Friday, October 29 that he is in Armenia, Asbarez reported.
“With the utmost happiness I am writing to you from Armenia. After
almost 40 years, I have the honor to be on Armenia’s soil, drink
Armenia’s water, breathe its air and feel in a familial environment,”
he said.
“The support you have shown throughout the years has always encouraged
me and has had a positive impact during my most difficult days.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to all those who wrote to me,
visited me and have always kept me in their hearts. Finally, I am
home,” reads the message.
Sassounian, born January 1, 1963 in Beirut—a member of the Justice
Commandos of the Armenian Genocide (JCAG) organization—has been
serving a life sentence when he was convicted in 1984 for the 1982
murder of Turkish Consul General to Los Angeles Kemal Arikan.
On February 28, 1982, at 9:40 am, 19-year-old Sassounian, together
with his partner, shot and killed the Turkish consul Kemal Arikan in
his car when he stopped at a red light at the intersection of Wilshire
Boulevard and Comstock Street in Los Angeles, motivating his act with
revenge on the Turkish regime for the Armenian Genocide in 1915-1923.
Eyewitnesses identified Sassounian as one of those who shot at the
Consul General, his partner was not found. In 1984, Sassounian was
sentenced by an American court to life in prison.
In 2002 a federal appeals court overturned a special circumstances
finding in his sentence, making Sassounian eligible for parole after
serving a minimum of 25 years.
On December 27, 2019, the Board of Parole Hearings found Sassounian
suitable for release on parole. However, on May 25, 2020, Governor
Newsom rejected the Board’s decision based on the prisoner’s crime,
“outsized political import,” and that his insight was “relatively
new.”
The Los Angeles County Superior Court on February 24 reversed a
decision by Governor Newson who rejected the parole eligibility and
application of Hampig Sassounian. LA County Superior Court Judge
William C. Ryan vacated Newsom’s decision to reject Sassounian’s
parole and reinstated the California Parole Board’s decision to grant
Sassounian parole.
In a message to the Armenian people, Hampig Sassounian announced on
Friday, October 29 that he is in Armenia. Here is what he wrote:
Dear Compatriots,
With the utmost happiness I am writing to you from Armenia.
After almost 40 years, I have the honor to be on Armenia’s soil, drink
Armenia’s water, breathe its air and feel in a familial environment.
The support you have shown throughout the years has always encouraged
me and has had a positive impact during my most difficult days.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to all those who wrote to me,
visited me and have always kept me in their hearts.
Finally, I am home.
With Love,
Hampig Sassounian
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday, October 30 condemned the United
States for allowing an Armenian-American assassin behind the murder of
the Turkish consul in 1982 to leave the country.
“We consider this decision regarding the aforementioned terrorist as a
grave mistake and a concession to terrorism and we once again condemn
it,” Tanju Bilgiç, the spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry,
said in the written statement.
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3- Pope Francis awards Armenian President
with Grand Collar of Papal Order of Pius IX
YEREVAN (Armenpress)—Pope Francis awarded President of Armenia Armen
Sarkissian with the Grand Collar of the Papal Order of Pius IX for his
contributions to the development of the relations between the Holy See
and Armenia, as well as for being the first Ambassador of Armenia to
the Vatican, the Armenian Presidential Office reported on October 29.
“The Pope instructed me to hand over to you the highest order of
Vatican. This is a testimony to the unique relations existing between
our countries. By opening an Apostolic Nunciature in Yerevan, we want
to establish high-level relations and show to the world the importance
of the first Christian nation in the history for us”, Substitute for
General Affairs of the Secretariat of State at the Holy See Archbishop
Edgar Peña Parra, who has recently visited Armenia, said.
He informed that President Sarkissian is the first both in Armenia and
the region who receives such an order.
“I accept it as an appreciation of my modest work and also as a
recognition of the fact that I have been Armenia’s first Ambassador to
the Holy See. I have always worked for the close relations between
Armenia and Vatican. Therefore, I accept this, promising to do more”,
the Armenian President said, adding that it’s a great honor for
receiving such an award.
The President proposed to mark the 30-year-old diplomatic ties between
Armenia and the Holy See with a new exhibition, aimed at once again
highlighting the rich historical and cultural heritage.
“That would be one more way of telling about the relations between our
states and an occasion to talk about the future,” Armen Sarkissian
said.
Knight with the Collar: who wear a gold chain around their shoulders
which is decorated with the papal tiara and two doves, and on the
breast a large badge. It is the highest active papal decoration, and
is reserved for heads of state.
Other recipients have included Marco Fidel Suárez, former President of
Colombia; Konstantinos Stephanopoulos, former President of Greece;
Jacques Chirac, former President of France; and Carlos Menem, former
President of Argentina.
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4- Former NYT columnist Nicholas Kristof to run for Oregon Governor
By John Tierney & Laural Porter
YAMHILL, Ore — Former New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof
(father Armenian) announced he will run for governor of Oregon as a
Democrat.
“I am confident we can do better as a state. I do think that’s going
to require vision and leadership and sending a different kind of
leader to Salem.” Kristof said. “I can provide that kind of
leadership.”
Kristof grew up in Oregon and made his name working as a reporter and
opinion columnist for the New York Times for 37 years. He left that
job earlier this month as he explored the run for governor.
He and his wife Sheryl WuDunn released a book in 2020 called Tightrope
that explored how many working class Americans struggle with poverty,
lack of jobs and drug addiction. The book featured stories about many
of his classmates from Yamhill Carlton High School and Kristof talked
about how writing that book influenced his decision to run for
governor.
Kristof and WuDunn have coauthored several other books together
including A Path Appears and Half the Sky. Together they were awarded
a Pulitzer Prize in 1990 for their coverage of China and in 2009, the
Dayton Literary Peace Prize for Lifetime Achievement.
Kristof plans to run on a platform of bridging the wide political gulf
between rural and urban Oregon.
Kristof has never held any political office and has worked in
journalism for decades. He said if elected he would prioritize three
topics as governor: homelessness and housing, education, and jobs. Ten
Democratic candidates total have either filed or announced their
candidates for governor, including Kristof.
On the Republican side, at least twelve candidates have either filed
or declared their candidacy.
Kristof will likely face challenges to his candidacy from opponents
who claim he doesn’t meet residency requirements spelled out in the
Oregon constitution. The constitution states that any candidate for
governor must have been an Oregon resident for three years prior to
the election.
Kristof and his attorneys released a legal memo in August arguing that
he meets the constitutional requirements to run for governor, although
no court has considered the merits of that argument.
“I have been an Oregonian since I was picking strawberries and beans,
since way back when,” he said. “I owned property here. I have a home
here. I pay taxes here. I am an Oregonian, period.”
Oregon primaries will be held May 17, 2022.
The general election is still over a year away on November 8, 2022.
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5- Armenia Continues Fight Against COVID-19
Armenia is continuing the fight against COVID-19, as the country
continues promoting the vaccination phase (See page 8.)
The U.S. State Department on July 26 warned American citizens to
reconsider travel to Armenia due to the increase in cases of the
Covid-19.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a
Level 3 Travel Health Notice for Armenia due to COVID-19, indicating a
high level of COVID-19 in the country,” said the State Department.
The State Department also urged U.S. citizens not to travel to the
Nagorno-Karabakh region due to armed conflict.
“The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S.
citizens in Nagorno-Karabakh as U.S. government employees are
restricted from traveling there,” the State Department added.
WHO, with funding from the European Union, in September supplied X-ray
equipment to 7 COVID-19 frontline hospitals – 1 in the capital Yerevan
and in 6 other cities in Armenia.
A new law came into effect on October 1, which mandates that all
employees in Armenia have a COVID-19 vaccine. But the mandate has been
met with widespread criticism
As of early October, only 5 percent of the country’s population had
been vaccinated.
There were 32,277 active cases in Armenia as of November 1. Armenia
has recorded 309,397 coronavirus cases and 6,379 deaths; 270,741 have
recovered. ************************************************************************************************************************************************
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