Author: Christine Harutyunian

Pashinyan congratulates Slovakia’s PM on appointment

Christine Harutyunian

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 13:51, 8 April, 2021

YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has sent a congratulatory letter to Eduard Heger on his appointment as Prime Minister of Slovakia, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.

The letter reads:

“On behalf of the government of Armenia and myself personally, please, accept my warm congratulations and wishes on your appointment as Prime Minister of Slovakia.

Armenia highly values the constant development of the relations with friendly Slovakia in all spheres of bilateral interest.

I am sure that the relations between Armenia and Slovakia, which are based on the friendship and mutual sympathy between the two peoples, will continue deepening and strengthening both at the bilateral and multilateral levels for the benefit of our peoples.

By using this chance I wish you achievements, and to the good people of Slovakia – welfare and peace”.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenian police completely turned into ‘pack of jackals’, says former deputy police chief

Christine Harutyunian
Panorama, Armenia
April 7 2021

Gagik Hambardzumyan, a former deputy chief of Armenia’s police, condemned the use of force by police against women activists protesting outside the Armenian government building.

“As a police general, I did not expect such an attitude,” he told reporters after police officers used force to detain women protesters of the opposition movement VETO.

According to him, the incident shows that police have completely turned into a “pack of jackals”.

“This can no longer be called a fulfillment of duties, as the enthusiasm and cruelty that they show while detaining mothers and women is simply inexplicable. Their actions cannot be justified by the fact of carrying out an order,” the ex-police official said.

According to him, the current authorities have adopted intimidation tactics, but they have already crossed all lines.

Italy’s San Vito dei Normanni recognizes independence of Artsakh

Christine Harutyunian

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 12:19, 5 April, 2021

YEREVAN, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS. The Italian town of San Vito dei Normanni has unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing the independence of Artsakh, the Armenian Embassy in Italy reports.

“We would like to thank the members of the community council of San Vito dei Normanni for unanimously adopting the resolution on the independence of Artsakh submitted by council member Vincenzo Calabretti. In the resolution the community council expresses solidarity to the people of the Republic of Artsakh, condemns the Azerbaijani aggression and urges the authorities of Italy to recognize the Republic of Artsakh”, the Embassy said in a statement.

In his turn author of the resolution Vincenzo Calabretti also thanked the Mayor of San Vito dei Normanni and the council members for adopting the resolution.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

65th session of UN commission held under Armenia’s chairmanship concludes with adoption of outcome document urging equality for women

Christine Harutyunian
Panorama, Armenia
March 29 2021

On 26 March, the 65th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) held under the chairmanship of Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations Mher Margaryan drew to a close with the unanimous adoption of the Agreed Conclusions on “Women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”.

Addressing the delegates in the UN General Assembly hall before the adoption of the document, Mher Margaryan emphasized the importance of achieving an agreed outcome under the challenging circumstances posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He expressed appreciation for the efforts of the delegations involved in the extensive negotiations that lasted several weeks, stressing the importance of the adopted document for the promotion of full and effective participation of women and girls in all aspects of public life and elimination of violence against them, Armenia’s Permanent Mission to the UN reported. 

The Agreed Conclusions set recommendations on the measures for full and equal participation of women in all areas of public life, including in the government and public sector. The document calls for legislative changes to eliminate discrimination against women, development of innovative measures, respective targets and timelines to ensure equal participation of women in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. The document also reaffirms the importance of engaging women in peace processes and outlines recommendations for the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls.

One of the most substantive deliberative events of the the UN calendar, the session of the Commission on the Status of Women featured statements by high-ranking officials from more than 100 countries, with thousands of representatives of more than 800 civil society organizations from various countries following the session. The session also featured multiple virtual side events on various aspects of gender equality and women empowerment.

Armenia, Russia should draft roadmap of cooperation, president says

Christine Harutyunian
TASS, Russia
March 30 2021

As the Armenian president stressed, it is necessary to have “a pragmatic agenda consisting of two basic components: trust between partners and predictability

YEREVAN, March 30. /TASS/. Armenia and Russia should build pragmatic relations based on a roadmap, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian said in an interview with the newspaper Aravot on Tuesday.

“We lived in one state for about 200 years, first in the Russian Empire and then in the Soviet Union … However, in developing relations between the two countries, we should push aside this feeling to form the agenda of our relations through a very cold, pragmatic and comprehensive analysis, through a dialogue. In other words, we should have a roadmap of our relations with Russia based on mutual interests,” Sarkissian noted.

As the Armenian president stressed, it is necessary to have “a pragmatic agenda consisting of two basic components: trust between partners and predictability. “We should not avoid strategic, long-term partnership with Russia because this is natural for Armenia and many of our partners in the West understand this well,” Sarkissian said.

As the Armenian president noted, “there is no contradiction in preserving “deep and warm relations with the West” while having “special relations with Russia.”.

Asbarez: Swiss Lawmakers Urge Government to Pressure Turkey on Rights Violations

Christine Harutyunian

April 2, 2021



The Federal Assembly of Switzerland

In an urgent appeal to the Federal Assembly of Switzerland, 33 members of the Council of States and National Council have called for pressure on Turkey over human rights violations and urged the 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, reported ANF News.

Swiss lawmakers highlighted their commitment to human rights values, asking Swiss authorities to put pressure on Turkey.

In the letter, the 33 legislators stressed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has led the country down an increasingly authoritarian path. “He has systematically marginalized the various forms of opposition in the country, silenced or co-opted critical media, dismissed independent judges and replaced them with his partisans, and imprisoned many journalists and other activists.”

Reference was also made to the 2020 democracy index by the Freedom House, which lists Turkey as an “unfree country.” “The U.S. State Department’s 2019 Human Rights Practices Report further notes that the government has curtailed fundamental freedoms and eroded the rule of law under broad anti-terrorism legislation,” it added.

Erdoğan’s “bellicose foreign policy”
Erdoğan’s foreign policy has also become increasingly “warlike” over time, the Swiss MPs note: “In recent years, he has attacked the Kurds fighting the jihadist group ‘Islamic State’ in Syria and is carrying out military interventions in northern Iraq in total violation of the country’s sovereignty. He has encouraged Azerbaijan to resort to force to settle a territorial conflict with Armenia. In the conflicts between Azerbaijan and Armenia and in Libya, the Turkish state has recruited and sent mercenaries to these countries in total violation of international law.

President Erdogan has also sought to pressure a number of countries, including Switzerland, to extradite Turkish nationals he blames for the failed 2016 coup.”

Call for support for the HDP and Istanbul Convention
The letter goes on to say, “In this context, we believe that Switzerland has a key role to play. We call on you to urge President Erdogan and his government to immediately end the crackdown on dissenters at home and abroad, to release political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, and to reverse the authoritarian course the country has taken. We demand that President Erdogan halt the ban on the HDP and reverse the decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention.

Reminding Turkey of its obligations
It also seems reasonable to us that Switzerland reminds Turkey of the obligations it entered into by ratifying the European Convention on Human Rights. Therefore, we call on the Federal Assembly to postpone the ratification of the new free trade agreement between Switzerland and Turkey as long as Turkey does not implement the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights. We deeply believe in the continuation of Switzerland’s humanitarian tradition and the values that the Confederation defends, and we are convinced that this urgent appeal will be heard.”

Funeral Notice: Vazken Madenlian

Christine Harutyunian


Vazken Madenlian

VAZKEN MADENLIAN
Born on September 18, 1946, Beirut, Lebanon

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and relative Vazken Madenlian, who passed away on Saturday, March 13, 2021.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 22, 10 a.m. at Forest Lawn Glendale Mortuary Park, next to the Church of The Recessional, 1712 S. Glendale Ave, Glendale.
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, condolences will only be accepted after the funeral.

He is survived by his:
Wife, Seta Madenlian
Daughter, Maral & Nino Tavitian, daughters, Sevana and Areni
Daughter, Lorig & Armen Srourian, daughter, Nova
Brother, Ara & Sona Madenlian
Sister, Vergine Madenlian
Niece, Tamar & Peter Ashjian and family
Cousin, Razmig Madenlian
Cousin’s wife, Makrouhie Madenlian
Mother-in-law, Anissa Hamalian
Brother-in-law, Hagop Hamalian
Sister-in-law, Rita Kodjian
Sister-in-law, Elizabeth Hamalian
Niece, Hourig Kodjian and family
Nephew, Haig Kodjian and family
Nephew, Sarkis and Kristine Hamalian
Nephew, Aram & Nayiri Madenlian and family
Niece, Arpi Madenlian and family
Niece, Shushan & Ivica Zupic
Nephew, Garo Madenlian and family
In-laws, Setrak & Betty Tavitian and family
In-laws, Nichan & Salpi Srourian and family

And the entire Madenlian, Hamalian, Kodjian, Tavitian, Srourian and Ashjian families relatives and friends

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: Chamlian Armenian School or Armenian Cultural Foundation (ACF Western USA Inc.)

Bright Armenia party accepts President’s call for joint meeting

Christine Harutyunian

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 12:08, 11 March, 2021

YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. The parliamentary Bright Armenia opposition faction is accepting President Armen Sarkissian’s invitation to a discussion over the domestic political crisis, the party’s leader, lawmaker Edmon Marukyan announced.

On March 10, President Sarkissian said he is inviting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the leaders of all three parliamentary factions, as well as the heads of the Homeland Salvation Movement (which is staging numerous protests against Pashinyan in the streets) to a meeting to find mutually accepted solutions to the crisis.

“We accept the invitation and we are ready to participate in any discussion where it will be possible to restore civil solidarity and find ways to save the country from the deep crisis,” Marukyan said.

The other parliamentary factions, the Homeland Salvation Movement and the PM are yet to respond to the President’s call.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Please View the Panel Discussion on The Artsakh War & COVID: Lessons Learned in Healthcare

Christine Harutyunian
Dear compatriots and friends, 
Dear Friends and Compatriots,
 
The ARPA Institute invites you to view the Panel Discussion By Dr. Armen Hagopjanian, Dr. Vicken Sepilian and Dr. Shant Shekherdimian, Moderated by Dr. Ani Shabazian in the following link: 
The Artsakh War & COVID: Lessons Learned in Healthcare
Prior ARPA Lectures (Just click on the title):
1. The Environmental SecurityRisks of Armenia and its Impact, by Dr. Irina Ghaplanyan
2. Daniel Varoujan at theUniversity of Ghent, 1905-1909 , By Simon Payaslian
3. What Are the TechnologicalNeeds for a Strong Post War Armenia , By Yervant Zoryan & Raffi Kassarjian
4. Consequences of the War inArtsakh and its Implications , Eric Hacopian 
 
DONATE TO ARPA: http://www.arpainstitute.org 
 
Please also see how you can help ARPA Institute raise more funds. 

Here is how it works: You can help us by searching on Goodsearch yourself. Just make  your default search engine and do a few searches a day for ARPA Institute (select ARPA Institute as your cause).

Rep. Pallone commemorates the 33rd anniversary of Sumgayit pogroms

Christine Harutyunian
Public Radio of Armenia
March 2 2021

His full statement in the Congressional Record below.

On February 27, 1988, hundreds of Armenian civilians living in the city of Sumgait in Azerbaijan were indiscriminately killed, raped, maimed, and even burned alive because of their ethnicity. Hostile, anti-Armenian rhetoric from Azerbaijani citizens and officials instigated this tragedy.

Similarly, on January 12, 1990, a seven-day pogrom broke out against the Armenian population in Baku during which Armenians were beaten, murdered, and expelled from the city. Over 90 Armenian civilians were killed, over 700 were injured, and countless others were permanently displaced by the ethnic violence that ensued.

For over three decades, Azerbaijan has taken steps to cover up these crimes against humanity and dismiss the atrocities at Sumgait and Baku.

Even more disturbing, the Azeri government lauded the perpetrators of this event and similar violent attacks.

Tragically, the Azerbaijani government’s approach toward Armenians has changed little since the Sumgait and Baku pogroms. We saw similar rhetoric right before Azerbaijan’s attacks on Artsakh last fall. Azeri forces, Turkish drones, and Turkish-backed mercenaries conducted an indiscriminate bombing campaign against large population centers that killed thousands of Armenians and displaced tens of thousands more civilians. It also included appalling war crimes against Armenians at the hands of Azerbaijani forces and foreign mercenaries that included beheadings, torture, and other abhorrent acts of violence.

I continue to stand with the Armenian people in condemning the horrific pogroms and in mourning the loss of those who were senselessly killed in the recent Artsakh attacks. It is critical for the United States to recognize and denounce violent assaults against any civilians. If we do not condemn or punish crimes against humanity and ethnic violence, we become passive bystanders, failing to live up to the lessons of the 20th Century and the rights of all human to live free from violence and persecution based on race, ethnicity, or religion. These lessons are especially important as we prepare to commemorate the 106th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in April.

I will continue to work with my colleagues on the Congressional Armenian Issues Caucus to honor the victims of the Baku and Sumgait pogroms and the recent victims of Azerbaijani aggressions in Artsakh. I will continue to condemn all acts of violence against people who are targeted simply because of who they are. I hope my colleagues will join me in rejecting violent rhetoric and intimidation. In doing so, we renew our commitment to achieving a lasting peace in the Caucasus.