Author: David Nargizian

While the Cat’s Away: EU Advances South Caucasus Peace

David Nargizian
June 7 2022

Locked in a bloody conflict less than two years ago, Armenia and Azerbaijan are seeking to agree on a peace deal under the auspices of the European Union (EU). Meanwhile, Turkey and Armenia — also long at odds — have also made progress towards a rapprochement.

Russia — which has troops in both countries — can take no credit for these developments, and is likely to be concerned about the progress made by what it sees as its arch-foe (Ukraine’s troubles really began in 2013 when it was poised to sign an EU association agreement with the bloc.) It is a depressing reality of early 21st century geopolitics that long-term dispute resolution and Russia are widely regarded as antithetical.

On May 22, Armenian and Azerbaijani politicians met in Brussels to discuss the peace process, an event facilitated by European Council President Charles Michel. The rapid implementation of some of the items agreed upon by Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at their meeting suggests that substantial progress is being made.

First, after extensive negotiations, the two nations agreed on transit lines, including the Zangezur corridor, which would connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan enclave through Armenian territory. They also decided to delineate boundaries and organize an international committee to deal with the issue. The commission on the state boundary between Armenia and Azerbaijan met the next day (May 24) and started work.

This marks substantial progress, but just as significant is the involvement of the EU in the South Caucasus. Ever since the end of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, a consensus has been prevalent that the West was distancing itself from the region. Russia was the dominant power not only militarily, but politically too. It largely dictated the diplomatic game between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and was accused by some of a determination to block real progress since a continuing dispute served its needs.

This has changed. The representatives of the two South Caucasian countries have met through the EU’s mediation since the beginning of this year, while the only Russia-mediated meeting – that of the foreign ministers on May 12 – took place on the sidelines of another major event and produced nothing new. Russian politicians have angrily noted the EU involvement, while the foreign ministry spokesperson even accused the EU of interference in the peace process.

While Russia still retains a powerful position in the region, it does so mainly through military tools. Few if any truly believe that the Kremlin is seriously intent on helping the peace process since a deal would dilute its influence. Diversification of outside influence means a diminution of Russian power — its troops would no longer be needed. Hardly surprising then that Armenia and Azerbaijan see the EU as a more honest broker.

To this should be added sentiment in Armenia and Azerbaijan. It has become clear to many in Armenia that a deal needs to be signed with Azerbaijan, which ideally would end two decades of war and armed confrontation. A new tone in the rhetoric from the Armenian government indicates a shift in thinking. Many observers, including this author, believe that it might now accept that Nagorno-Karabakh exists within the borders of Azerbaijan in exchange for guarantees of cultural rights for the Armenian population there. This is what stirred protests in Armenia that complicate the situation for Pashinyan’s government. But it is also likely that he will weather the storm — large parts of the Armenian public are unwilling to see the return of the old guard.

Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine and its grinding progress in Donbas is both a danger and an opportunity for the South Caucasus and Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. It is a danger because of potential military escalation; an opportunity because Russia is not entirely interested in being an honest peacemaker. And this is where the EU has made significant progress through the summits it has convened.

Russia may now seek to stir things up militarily to advance its interests, but its overall position in the South Caucasus is unenviable. The Kremlin has military options, but few other means of influence. And it is a weak tool, since imperial over-reach and economic disaster suggest a country more fragile than it might appear. However many military bases Russia has in the states beyond its borders, they cannot change the tide of history.

Emil Avdaliani is a professor at European University and the Director of Middle East Studies at Georgian think-tank, Geocase.



RFE/RL Armenian Report – 06/08/2022

David Nargizian 
                                        Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Hospitalized Protester ‘Ignored By Investigators’
June 08, 2022
        • Astghik Bedevian
Armenia - An opposition supporter is injured in clashes between protesters and 
riot police, Yerevan, June 3, 2022.
An Armenian opposition supporter severely injured by riot police said on 
Wednesday that he has not been questioned by law-enforcement authorities 
supposedly investigating the use of force against protesters demanding Prime 
Minister Nikol Pashinian’s resignation.
The 33-year-old Edmond Nargizian was struck by a stun grenade when security 
forces clashed with protesters last Friday after not allowing them to approach 
the parliament building in Yerevan. He was rushed to a hospital and underwent 
surgery there.
“I was lucky. Thank God, I stayed alive,” Nargizian told RFE/RL’s Armenian 
Service as he continued to recover from his head injury in the hospital.
The clashes, which left dozens of protesters and police officers injured, broke 
out on the 34th day of nonstop anti-government protests organized by Armenia’s 
leading opposition groups. The police fired stun grenades as some opposition 
supporters tried to break through a police cordon.
Opposition leaders condemned the police actions. They said that policemen 
mishandled the stun grenades and wounded many other officers.
The police denied that, saying that the “special means” were fired in the air 
and did not put people’s lives at risk. Nargizian countered that one of the 
grenades struck him on the head.
The hospitalized man also said that law-enforcement officials have still not 
visited and spoken to him. He said they instead confiscated his mobile phone 
when he was being operated on.
“They won’t give back my phone. I don’t know why,” added Nargizian.
Armenia - Riot police clash with opposition protesters in Yerevan, June 3, 2022.
Armenia’s Office of the Prosecutor-General said on Monday that it has ordered an 
inquiry into the use of the stun grenades and other instances of police 
brutality alleged by the opposition.
The Anti-Corruption Committee, which is supposed to conduct the inquiry, 
confirmed on Wednesday that it has not indicted any police officers. It has not 
even opened a formal criminal case with regard to the legality of the police 
actions.
Meanwhile, another law-enforcement agency, the Investigative Committee, is 
pressing assault charges against 15 participants of Friday’s opposition 
demonstrations. Ten of them are under arrest pending investigation.
Opposition leaders reject the accusations as politically motivated. They say the 
authorities have not presented any video evidence corroborating police claims 
that some protesters threw stones and other objects.
Videos of the clashes publicized by opposition activists showed several 
policemen punching protesters as the latter were dragged away and arrested by 
other officers.
Opposition Lawmakers Barred From Conference On Judicial Reforms
June 08, 2022
        • Artak Khulian
Armenia - Venice Commission President Claire Bazy Malaurie addresses a 
conference on judicial reforms in Yerevan, June 8, 2022.
Opposition parliamentarians were not allowed to attend on Wednesday an 
international conference in Yerevan organized by Armenia’s Constitutional Court 
and the Council of Europe.
The conference brought together Armenian government officials, senior judges, 
representatives of Western-funded nongovernmental organizations as well as 
European diplomats and the head of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, 
Claire Bazy Malaurie. They discussed ways of reforming the Armenian judiciary 
and making it a “guarantor of democracy.”
Several opposition members of Armenia’s parliament also tried to participate in 
the forum but were barred from entering a conference hall of a Yerevan hotel 
where it was held. They expressed outrage at the ban.
Organizers also seriously restricted media access to the conference. Only two 
media outlets, the government-funded Armenian Public Television and Armenpress 
news agency, were allowed to cover it.
“They talk about the judicial branch and its independence. How can this [event] 
be so closed?” one of the lawmakers, Aram Vartevanian, told reporters outside 
the hotel.
Armenia - Opposition leader Aram Vartevanian addresses supporters demonstrating 
outside the EU Delegation office in Yerevan, June 7, 2022.
Another deputy, Hayk Mamijanian, said the two opposition blocs represented in 
the parliament will likely lodge a complaint to the Council of Europe leadership 
in Strasbourg. He accused European officials of discrediting “European values” 
promoted by them in Armenia.
The opposition parliamentarians were similarly barred from taking part on May 20 
in a “forum for democracy” attended by senior Armenian officials and the 
Yerevan-based ambassadors of the European Union and the United States.
The Hayastan and Pativ Unem blocs have repeatedly accused the West of turning a 
blind eye to human rights abuses and other undemocratic practices in Armenia 
since launching on May 1 sustained street protests aimed at forcing Prime 
Minister Nikol Pashinian to resign.
Opposition leaders had earlier echoed claims by some Armenian judges and lawyers 
that Pashinian’s government is trying to increase its influence on courts under 
the guise of judicial reforms backed by the EU and the U.S. The government 
maintains that the reforms are aimed at increasing judicial independence.
Armenia - Andrea Wiktorin, head of the EU Delegation in Armenia, speaks at a 
conference on judicial reforms in Yerevan, June 8, 2022.
The head of the EU Delegation in Yerevan, Andrea Wiktorin, commented on ongoing 
political developments in Armenia when she addressed Wednesday’s conference. 
Armenpress quoted her as urging all political factions to “reduce tensions” and 
saying that police should refrain from the excessive use of force against 
anti-government protesters.
Wiktorin said that the authorities are already properly investigating some of 
the violent incidents that happened during the protests. “This is how democracy 
works,” she said, pointing to unspecified decisions made by Armenian courts.
It was not clear whether the diplomat referred to decisions allowing the 
pre-trial arrests of over two dozen opposition activists accused of assaulting 
police officers or government supporters. The opposition rejects the accusations 
as politically motivated.
Vartevanian accused Wiktorin of encouraging “police brutality” against 
protesters when he led an opposition demonstration outside the EU mission in 
Yerevan on Tuesday.
Ukraine War Boosts Armenian Currency
June 08, 2022
        • Robert Zargarian
Armenia -- A statue symbolizing the national currency, the dram, outside the 
Central Bank building in Yerevan.
Mirroring exchange rate fluctuations in Russia, Armenia’s national currency, the 
dram, has strengthened significantly during the continuing war in Ukraine.
The dram weakened against the U.S. dollar and the euro by more than five percent 
in the first weeks following the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. That 
was a clear consequence of the West’s crippling economic sanctions against 
Russia, Armenia’s number one trading partner and main source of cash remittances.
The Russian ruble lost around half of its nominal value in late February and 
early March. But it rallied strongly in the following weeks, boosted by a fall 
in imports, interest rate hikes and unprecedented capital controls imposed by 
the Russian authorities.
The ruble also benefited from by Moscow’s decision to require European Union 
consumers to pay for Russian natural gas in rubles. The Russian currency is now 
stronger than it was before the war.
The dram has similarly strengthened against the dollar by almost 20 percent 
since the middle of March.
Analysts regard the stronger ruble as the key factor behind the steady 
appreciation of the dram which continued this week.
The Armenian currency may have also been boosted by thousands of Russians who 
moved to Armenia and/or opened bank accounts there after the war broke out on 
February 24.
According to Armenian authorities, about 27,000 foreigners, most of them Russian 
citizens, opened Armenian bank accounts from February 24 through the end of 
March. Also, some Russian tech companies reportedly relocated their personnel to 
the South Caucasus country to evade the Western sanctions.
RUSSIA -- A man walks past a currency exchange office in central Moscow on 
February 28, 2022.
The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) has so far not commented on the dram’s 
appreciation which has prompted concern from some local exporters.
Over the past month, the Russian authorities have eased their capital controls 
and significantly cut interest rates, causing a slight weakening of the ruble. 
By contrast, the CBA has refrained from lowering its benchmark refinancing rate 
raised in mid-March.
Narek Karapetian, a Yerevan-based economist, suggested that the stronger dram 
will help to curb rising inflation in Armenia.
“This is a major development that will definitely have an impact on consumer 
prices,” Karapetian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.
The Armenian government’s Statistical Committee recorded an annual inflation 
rate of 8.4 percent in April, up from 7.4 percent in March. According to the 
committee, food prices in the country rose by an average of 12.1 percent in the 
first quarter of this year.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2022 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Viva-MTS: A house built from scratch for a family that had to live in a metal wagon

David Nargizian
Panorama
Armenia – May 31 2022

SOCIETY 13:25 31/05/2022 ARMENIA

A house sold to save the lives of two family members, a sad reality of living in a metal wagon, efforts towards building a house that proved futile, and a son who came back from the 44-day war with injuries to the head and spine. The life of the Nersisyan family was not an easy one; however, everything is now in the past. The wish of completing the house construction that started years ago has become a reality owing to the joint housing project implemented by Viva-MTS and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia, Viva-MTS said in a press release on Tuesday.

Last time, the heads of the partner organizations met the Nersisyans months ago, at the construction site. Despite the large volume of work, the family who has been engaged actively in the house construction from scratch was struggling to get rid of the container rather sooner than later. The major part of the house was built by the family father, craftsman Vahan. Now, when his house construction is completed, he works to finish the construction of his compatriots’ houses. Now there will be a garden in the place where the metal wagon once lent from the son’s friend once stood.

“We have gone through a large number of hardships and have solved problems that seemed insurmountable then; however, yet, every hardship that we have gone through has made us stronger. It was an ultimate goal and dream to see my children and grandchildren living under their own roof. I still can’t believe that this is a reality,” said Vahan.

The heads of partner organizations visited the town of Ashtarak in Aragatsotn; the purpose of the visit this time was to share the joy of the result together with the homeowners rather than to monitor the construction process.

“This program shapes a fundamental system of values in those who implement it, and those of our compatriots who become homeowners, and that refers happens regardless one’s profession or social position. Those who lend a supportive hand and those reach for it, get a clearer picture of how development happens and start appreciating those achievements. At the core of the system of values is the unity, the understanding that problems have to be solved jointly, and the readiness to be useful with no reward in mind. All these throwing deep roots in one’s conscience the steps taken later get more efficient. And that’s how a country strives,” Viva-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian said.

”After having gone through many hardships, this family can eventually enjoy the jubilance of living in their own decent home. We are glad that children in the family will not have to live with the burden of homelessness and will enjoy carefree childhood and will have a perspective for a happy future,” said the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia President, Ashot Yeghiazaryan.

In the near future, the partners of ten years, Viva-MTS and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia, will resume the volunteering which was interrupted due to the pandemic restrictions. It’s important not only in terms of helping the families but also in terms of spreading the idea of solving problems hand in hand.

AraratBank bonds listed on the Armenia Securities Exchange

David Nargizian
June 2 2022

02.06.2022 17:14

YEREVAN, June 2, /ARKA/. As reported by АraratBank, the bonds (AMARBKB2MER3) have a nominal value of USD 25, a coupon of 4.75% and a maturity of 27 months.

Coupons will be paid out every quarter. It is interesting to note that this is the 22nd current and the 14th US dollar-denominated issue of the Bank listed on AMX.

“АraratBank completed placement of its 22nd issue bonds ahead of schedule, within only 8 days. Both individuals and legal entities participated in the bond placement, which manifests the high level of credibility that the Bank has gained among its customers and investors, as well as the strong position taken by the Bank in the RA securities market. АraratBank bonds were listed on the Bbond list of Armenia Securities Exchange,” – said Anahit Shakaryan, Head of Investment Banking Department of AraratBank.

“The collaboration of the Armenia Securities Exchange and the Central Depository with АraratBank dates back to 2007. Due to the cooperation with the Central Depository, the Bank has become a link between the citizens and the Depository, mediating the registry keeping and custody services, including registration and retention of the ownership right towards securities. 

The strong collaboration between АraratBank and the Securities Exchange has been gaining momentum and the results of the annual awards ceremony are its clear confirmation,” – the Bank reports. -0-

New Ambassador of Syria presents copy of credentials to Armenian FM

David Nargizian

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 16:53, 2 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, ARMENPRESS. Newly-appointed Ambassador of Syria to Armenia Nora Arisian presented the copy of her credentials today to Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, the foreign ministry reports.

Minister Mirzoyan congratulated Nora Arisian on appointment and expressed confidence that she will serve her diplomatic activities for the constant development and expansion of the Armenian-Syrian relations and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The sides highlighted the traditional, friendly ties between the two peoples based on mutual sympathy and trust. In this respect they highlighted the role played by the Syrian-Armenian community.

In the context of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Syria which marks this year, the sides touched upon the prospects of strengthening the Armenian-Syrian cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats.

Varant Melkonian Named ‘Exemplary Homenetmen Member’ Ahead of Navasartian Games

David Nargizian
 by Contributor

 

 June 2, 2022

 

in Community, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories
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Varant Melkonian

The Homenetmen Western U.S. Regional Executive announced that this year it has named veteran Homenetmen member, community activists and benefactor Varant Melkonian the “Exemplary Homenetmen Member.”

Varant Melkonain and his wife, Hoori, were the Honorary Presidents of the 40th Homenetmen Navasartian Games in 2015.

At a young age, Varant Frank Melkonian joined Homenetmen, where he spent much of his free time. Growing up in Baghdad, he received his elementary education at an Armenian Catholic school and his secondary education at the local public school. In 12th grade, he took the baccalaureate exam, ranking Number One in his whole school and second in all of Iraq. He started attending the University of Technology of Baghdad, studying Mechanical Engineering, just before relocating to the United States in 1977. He is the proud son of Melkon and Angel Melkonian. One of seven children, Varant was born in the middle, and grew up surrounded by the love of his family.

In 1979, Melkonian joined the Homenetmen Los Angeles Chapter and participated in its social committee. Melkonian also served on the chapter’s Executive Committee, as well as several Regional Committees. Since that time, he has supported not only the local chapters, but also established a permanent presence within the organization, investing in many regional activities to enrich the future of our youth.  Melkonian considers it imperative to lend his support to the community and believes that it should be the purpose of every philanthropist to help improve the welfare of people.

A successful entrepreneur, Melkonian is the Chairman and CEO of Home Organizers, Inc. – which owns and operates nine different companies in four industries, including its wholly owned subsidiaries Closet World, Closets by Design, Closet Dimensions, Garage Envy, Blinds World, Organize.com and Brio Water Technologies. Closets by Design is a national franchise network throughout the USA and Canada with 65 manufacturing facilities.

Varant met and married his wife Hoori Melkonian in 1989 and started a family soon after. They have three children: Arman, Arlene, and Aren.

As benefactors and major community supporters, Varant and Hoori Melkonian dedicate themselves to serving hundreds of organizations and projects. They passionately contribute to events and activities that positively impact communities, going above and beyond for the people and causes they believe in each year.

What makes the Melkonians unique as philanthropists is their ability to enlist and motivate so many others to join their efforts to improve the lives of those they serve. When they see a meaningful project, a cause or an organization that needs support, they step up not just financially but by reaching out to their huge circle of friends, to encourage greater participation and community engagement. They do not simply put their good name on causes that are important to them. They put their hearts and minds into everything they do, giving their time and energy to make a difference. The impact of their work cannot be measured by numbers or headlines promoted in articles. The core of their success is the work done behind the scenes which they so graciously volunteer, all in the spirit of building a better life for those we as a community call family.

Blessed with success, the Melkonians do not take anything for granted. Through their philanthropy across the past 25 years, they have touched millions of lives, positively impacting thousands of projects and activities throughout the world including Armenia, Artsakh, Lebanon and Iraq.

Honored with over 50 awards and commendations and recognized as one of the most prolific philanthropists in the Armenian community, Melkonian continues his work, maintaining his commitment to public service. He stays true to his roots and remains humble, setting an example of excellence that will inspire generations to come.  

In 2005, Melkonian was bestowed with the very prestigious “Knight of Cilicia” Medal from His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia. In 2006, Melkonian was honored as Man of the Year by the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry. In 2010, he was honored by the Armenian Cultural Foundation for his ongoing support and contributions. In 2012, ANCA-WR honored Varant Melkonian with the Legacy Award. Additionally, he has received awards and commendations from the State of California, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, California State Assembly, California State Board of Equalization, California Department of Insurance, Los Angeles County Sheriffs and the City of Los Angeles. 

One of his most cherished honors came in 2015, when Varant and his wife Hoori served as the Honorary Presidents of Homenetmen’s 40th Navasartian Games. In 2016, Varant Melkonian was bestowed with the most prestigious “Prince of Cilicia” Medal from His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia. In 2017, Varant Melkonian was awarded the most prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor during an official ceremony at the beautiful, iconic and historic gateway for millions of people who were welcomed into the United States with open arms.

Throughout the years Varant Melkonian has served on various committees including the Boards of the USC Leadership Council, the Institute of Armenian Studies and the Armenian Bone Marrow Registry.

To this day, he continues to serve his community both financially and morally, supporting causes that are dear to his heart, as well as those that are crucial for the advancement Armenians everywhere. He serves on several advisory boards all with a mission to improve and grow ongoing efforts to help mankind. 

He lives his life with integrity, leading by example with honor, respect and humility. These are the qualities that make Varant Melkonian most worthy of the 2022 Homenetmen Exemplary Member Award.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 31-05-22

David Nargizian

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 17:17,

YEREVAN, 31 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 31 May, USD exchange rate down by 1.57 drams to 447.99 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 5.50 drams to 478.90 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 7.33 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 4.22 drams to 564.11 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 48.10 drams to 26717.24 drams. Silver price down by 4.59 drams to 317.37 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.

Azerbaijani press: Hopes remain high as Baku, Yerevan get into practicability of biting issues to make peace

David Nargizian
 25 May 2022 17:00 (UTC+04:00)


Azerbaijani and Armenian Deputy Prime Ministers Shahin Mustafayev and Mher Grigoryan respectively, who are also chairs of the border commissions simultaneously set up on 23 May following the third Brussels meeting between the two leaders, held their first meeting on 24 May to chart a course of action toward a future peace deal, Azernews reports.

Experts familiar with the nearly 30-year-long conflict viewed the move as a solid step toward a future peace deal.

Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev and his Armenian counterpart Mher Grigoryan held their first meeting in this format without the involvement of foreign intermediaries, raising hopes for the signing of a future peace treaty between the two countries after 30 years of conflict.

“The parties reaffirmed their readiness to work within the framework of the commission on delimitation and other issues. Organizational and procedural issues of joint activities of the commission were discussed,” the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said.

In addition to meetings at the interstate border, the sides agreed to convene further commission meetings in a variety of locations, including the second one in Moscow and the third one in Brussels.

On May 25, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko confirmed that the second meeting of the Azerbaijani-Armenian border delimitation commissions will be held in Moscow, the TASS agency reported.

“We hope that it will be held next week,” Rudenko said.

This arrangement of the forthcoming round of talks in Moscow and Brussels is viewed as a balancing act between the two leading intermediaries with whom these two South Caucasus nations want to preserve good relations.

EU Council President Charles Michel, who is actively involved in the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace negotiations, praised the first meeting of the border commissions, describing it as “tangible progress” following the leaders’ third Brussels summit.

“Warmly welcome first meeting of Border Commissions held today on Armenia-Azerbaijan border to advance discussions on delimitation of the inter-state border and how best to ensure stable situation. Tangible progress following the trilateral meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan,” Michel tweeted.

On the other hand, France, as co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, indicated support for the European Union-mediated peace negotiations in Brussels on May 22 between the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders, the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“France reaffirms its support for the dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan under the auspices of the EU and will contribute to this dialogue,” the ministry added.

Furthermore, in a telephone conversation with Pashinyan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken offered assistance with border delimitation and demarcation efforts, Azernews reports, citing the US Department of State.

Mentioning the positive momentum toward peace in the South Caucasus, Blinken encouraged the progress to develop regional transportation and communication links.

He emphasized the significance of continuing bilateral communication to address difficulties in the South Caucasus and underlined the United States’ support for talks between President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan through the mediation of the EU.

Blinken underlined his country’s willingness to assist Armenia and Azerbaijan in finding a long-term comprehensive peace by engaging bilaterally and with like-minded allies, including via the United States’ mission as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair. Blinken emphasized the need for normalizing Armenian-Turkish ties in securing peace, stability, and development in the region.

PRESS RELEASE – Dr. Sharon Chekijian Collaborates with AUA to Develop Armenia’s Emergency Response Systems

David Nargizian
PRESS RELEASE

Dr. Sharon Anoush Chekijian is an esteemed medical doctor, Director, and Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Yale School of Medicine who recently joined the exclusive group of ChangeMakers of the American University of Armenia (AUA). With a strong belief in the power of education to take Armenia towards a brighter future, she is committed to extending her personal and professional expertise to the next generation of forward-thinkers and leaders.  

Dr. Chekijian has partnered with AUA in the past, contributing to the growth of the University and student success in different ways. No doubt, her philanthropic comportment was imparted to her by her family — her father, Yervant Chekijian, and late uncle, Samuel Chekijian, are both AUA Pillars. She comments how fortunate they have felt to be able to support AUA’s mission and vision, which they also shared, adding, “Our family has always believed in the power of education to change lives, countries, and destinies. I believe that is because we have experienced the power of education firsthand.”

Born to an Armenian family from Jerusalem with ancestral roots in Zeytoun and Marash, Dr. Chekijian was raised in the Boston area of Massachusetts and currently resides in Connecticut. The granddaughter of genocide survivors Mary (née Zümrüt Norashkharian) and Youhanna Chekijian, she reflects on how this heritage has colored her worldview, strengthening her desire to work hard and aspire to success in honor of the invincible will and strength of her grandparents. “As children and grandchildren of genocide survivors, we know everything can be taken away from you, but not your education. We also know that the future of a brilliant and prosperous Armenia lies in the education of those who will continue to grow and transform the country.”

Dr. Chekijian remembers her first trip to Armenia during the First Artsakh War. She spent the summer with a special educational exemption through the AGBU/University of Michigan summer language program — a trip that preceded a critical time for the nation and served as a catalyst for her dedication to the Armenian cause. “On our return flight on Aeroflot via Paris, we learned that the Soviet Union had collapsed while we were in the air. This heralded a lifelong fascination with the birth and subsequent shaping of the newly independent Republic of Armenia,” she says.  

Though AUA was founded soon after her return home, she was first introduced to the University while in medical school. Upon applying for funding to work on a project titled, “Legal, Professional, Public and Policy Barriers to the Development of Organ Donation and Transplantation Programs in the Republic of Armenia” — which later served as the basis of her thesis — she met Dr. Varduhi Petrosyan, current dean of the AUA Turpanjian College of Health Sciences (CHS). 

“Dr. Petrosyan was one of the researchers in this project at the start of my career. The work I did that summer introduced me to people who have become lifelong collaborators. Since then, AUA has been a home away from home for all of my work and projects in Armenia that focus on emergency medical systems, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, traffic safety, and stroke care,” she explains, adding that she is currently working on a grant that combines many of these areas of interest.

In 2020, Dr. Chekijian became a Fulbright Scholar, continuing her work with CHS. “AUA was a natural partner and home for me, and the Fulbright Program allows me to advance my work in emergency care program development in Armenia.” Dr. Chekijian is working to optimize emergency systems and establish a novel emergency medicine residency program in cooperation with the Armenian Ministry of Health’s National Institute of Health. She is collaborating with colleagues at AUA on the research component of this initiative.

Dr. Chekijian emphasizes the value of developing emergency systems and disaster preparedness, something she thinks has been grossly undervalued, both in Armenia and globally. She had submitted her proposal right before March 2020, after which Armenia was drawn into the ravages of both COVID-19 and the 2020 Artsakh War, overwhelming the nation and its healthcare system. The timing of the Fulbright grant she was awarded perfectly lined up with her intent. 

Further underlining the importance of a functional emergency care system, she cites global statistics that suggest Armenian citizens are at an unusually high risk for disaster in multiple ways, 2020 standing as an unfortunate example of being caught unaware and unprepared for the danger that ensued. She explains, “Emergency response relies on a functional emergency care system. The global burden of disease has recently shifted toward trauma and non-communicable diseases. The World Bank estimates that, in low- and middle-income countries, more than 50% of deaths and 40% of the disease burden could be alleviated with adequate emergency medical care.” She continues to remark that the silver lining in all this is that we recognize the amplified value that emergency response systems would bring and are aware of the work we have to do in Armenia to strengthen these systems.

Through the AUA Open Centers of Excellence, such as the Open Center for Transformative Health Solutions, students and faculty are able to collaborate with private and public stakeholders to develop processes that will address areas lacking within the national framework. “The development of emergency care systems can multiply the functioning of the health system overall and improve outcomes for all other disease processes,” Dr. Chekijian notes. “Weak delivery systems are especially dangerous when pushed to their limit, potentially due to a pandemic, a foreign attack, or a natural disaster resulting in mass casualties. Some cite cost as a reason not to strengthen emergency care and response, but globally, the development of emergency systems has proven to be an extremely efficient way to provide care across many different conditions. Surprisingly, emergency care is among the most cost-effective public health interventions.” 

As an AUA ChangeMaker, Dr. Chekijian is happy to see that AUA students have already been introduced to these concepts, resulting in heightened interest in the subjects. “Our current students will lead the charge to right these wrongs and shore up our safety in the future. It’s my hope that AUA will become a regional center of excellence in the areas of disaster preparedness and injury prevention across the region and especially across Central Asia, where very few people are working in this field,” she urges.

In conclusion, she paraphrases Luke 12:48: “To whom much is given, much will be required.” AUA is grateful for the longtime support of the Chekijian family and highly values the commitment of Dr. Chekijian as a ChangeMaker for the University. 

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values. 

Kind regards,

Margarit Hovhannisyan | Communications Manager

Margarit Hovhannisyan|: Communication manager

+374 60 612 514,  

mhovhannisyan@  

__________________________________________

American University of Armenia

Republic of Armenia, 0019, Yerevan, Marshal Baghramyan Ave. 40:00

40 Baghramyan Avenue, Yerevan 0019, Republic of Armenia


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Home Is Better: The Hungary-Ukraine border shows it makes more sense to care for refugees in their own region

David Nargizian
 Center for Immigration Studies

By Mark Krikorian on

When I visited the Hungary-Ukraine border last week, it was much quieter than during the first weeks after the Russian invasion, when thousands of people a day poured out of train cars into the small Hungarian border town of Zahony. But there were still some lessons to be learned.

More than 700,000 Ukrainians have entered Hungary since the February 24 start of the war, of whom some 200,000 remain, according to an embassy source I spoke with this week. Many, of course, moved on to other countries in the European Union. But, as I learned last week, many others have returned to Ukraine.

On the four-hour train ride from Budapest to Zahony, I was seated near a Russian-speaking Ukrainian woman with two obstreperous youngsters and two enormous suitcases. My college Russian has mostly abandoned me, but I was able to ask where she was going and she told me home, to Kiev. With Russian troops having withdrawn from around the capital, and the war focused mainly in the eastern part of the Ukraine, the city is no longer under immediate threat. But when I told her it didn’t seem safe, and she simply said “home is better”.

When we arrived at the station I saw there were many others headed back as well, more than the number arriving from the east. (Poland, which received the largest number of Ukrainians, is seeing the same return flow.) A Red Cross volunteer in Zahony told me about a Chinese student studying in Kiev who returned recently, saying he couldn’t wait any longer because he had final exams to take. And the volunteer said that someone had recently come through who was actually on his way back to Donetsk, the major city in the disputed eastern part of the country. He told the volunteer that while there was still fighting in the villages in the region, the city, firmly under the control of the Russian-backed separatist government, was safe enough for him to return.

An Armenian friend told me that the same kind of thing happened several years ago with Armenians who’d fled Aleppo, the main area of Armenian settlement in Syria, during that country’s civil war. Many spent several months in Yerevan, capital of the Armenian republic, where they’d fled for refuge, but went back even though the war was still raging. As he wrote me, “People want to live in their homes…Even though conditions in Syria were bad, they were returning to their homes. They didn’t need to pay rent at the very least.”

The lesson for U.S. policymakers is that caring for refugees in the region where they’ve found initial refuge is almost always preferable to resettlement thousands of miles away. The Ukrainian woman in Hungary who decided to return to Kiev had only to pack up and buy a train ticket. Her counterparts who have flown to Mexico, crossed the U.S. border, and gone to join relatives in Sacramento, on the other hand, are unlikely ever to return, and even if they wanted to, it would be a long and expensive ordeal.

As the Center’s research has shown, resettling a single refugee in the United States burns through money that could have supported a dozen people in their own region. Whatever funds we spend on refugee protection should be focused almost exclusively on helping people where they are, not assisting them to move permanently across the ocean. Doing so is both less expensive – allowing many more to be helped – and makes it easier for people to return when the emergency is over.

Other observations. The Tisza River marks this section of Hungary’s post-World War II border with Ukraine. Although it’s not especially wide, it’s more “grand” than many stretches of the Rio Grande that I’ve visited. And it can be dangerous – a local journalist told me that a number of people have drowned trying to swim across it to Hungary. That’s not because Hungary prevents the entry of Ukrainians; they’ve long had visa-free access to the EU for up to 90 days, even before the war. Rather, the victims were military-age men, who are barred from leaving by Ukrainian authorities in case the need arises to press them into service. That underlines one of the most noticeable differences between the recent Ukrainian refugee flow and the 2015 crisis – seven years ago, the vast majority of Syrians (and “Syrians”) pouring into Europe were military-age men, while virtually all the Ukrainians are women and children.

On a lighter note, right near the river was a farm with some of the famous Hungarian Mangalitsa pigs – that have fur. They’re also delicious.Since the flow is now mainly back into Ukraine, I asked an Italian aid worker in Zahony whether the humanitarian infrastructure there was really still needed. There was a former school converted into a shelter, that sat empty. The tent dining hall, operated by World Central Kitchen (a project of Spanish-born U.S. celebrity chef Jose Andres), was likewise virtually empty at lunchtime. The Jewish Agency setup in the train station had few takers. The Hungarian Red Cross, and the volunteers from the Spanish Red Cross, had little to do. And in general there seemed to be more aid workers than there were Ukrainians to give aid to. But the Italian aid worker told me that, while the number of volunteers has dropped off, they were keeping the infrastructure in place for now, because the war could still flare up and move west, creating new flows of people leaving.