Author: Emil Karabekian

Bipartisan Armenian Genocide Resolution Garners Support of Over 70 Members on the Day It’s Introduced

Emil Karabekian
Targeted News Service
April 8, 2019 Monday 8:12 AM EST
Bipartisan Armenian Genocide Resolution Garners Support of Over 70 Members on the Day It’s Introduced
 
 WASHINGTON
 
The Armenian Assembly of America issued the following news:
 
A bipartisan congressional resolution commemorating the Armenian Genocide was introduced today, with over 70 Members of Congress joining as co-sponsors. This resolution encourages education and greater public awareness of the Armenian Genocide, including America’s unprecedented overseas humanitarian relief at the time, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
 
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Vice Chair Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Co-Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) spearheaded the resolution, and were joined by the other leaders of the Caucus, Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Peter King (R-NY), and Jackie Speier (D-CA) in underscoring their support for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
 
“Over 100 years ago, the Ottoman Empire undertook a brutal campaign of murder, rape, and displacement against the Armenian people that took the lives of 1.5 million men, women, and children in the first genocide of the 20th century,” Rep. Schiff stated. “Genocide is not a relic of the past, but an ever present threat. Its denial is not only a continuing injury to the survivors, but makes its repetition against another people more likely. It is therefore all the more pressing that the Congress recognize the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide and make clear that we will never be an accomplice to denial.”
 
“Genocide must not be denied. It must be acknowledged for what it is – a scourge on humanity. Official recognition of the Armenian Genocide would represent a courageous new chapter in American foreign policy. With the bold leadership of the current Administration, it is time for the United States to take a stand against Turkish genocide denial,” said Rep. Bilirakis.
 
The Armenian Genocide resolution expresses the sense of the House to: “commemorate the Armenian Genocide through official recognition and remembrance; reject efforts to enlist, engage, or otherwise associate the United States Government with denial of the Armenian Genocide or any other genocide; and encourage education and public understanding of the facts of the Armenian Genocide, including the United States role in the humanitarian relief effort, and the relevance of the Armenian Genocide to modern-day crimes against humanity.”
 
Click here to read the full resolution (https://armenian-assembly.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Armenian-Genocide-Resolution-116th-Congress.pdf).
 
“The facts of the genocide were recorded contemporaneously by American diplomats, including the Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire Henry Morgenthau, who transmitted a flood of cables and reports describing the wholesale slaughter of the Armenians,” Rep. Schiff and Rep. Bilirakis wrote in a letter to their colleagues.
 
“Congress passed first of its kind legislation to establish the Near East Relief effort which provided millions of dollars in food and aid to survivors, including tens of thousands of orphans,” Congressmen Schiff and Bilirakis stated to their colleagues as only one example of U.S. efforts to help the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
 
Last year, the Armenian National Institute (ANI) launched a digital exhibit displaying the role of the YMCA and American relief work during the first republic of Armenia, and just last week ANI released a groundbreaking new exhibit titled: “The United States Military in the First Republic of Armenia 1919-1920.” To learn more about examples of U.S. humanitarian relief in response to the Armenian Genocide, visit www.armenian-genocide.org.
 
In 1981, President Reagan squarely acknowledged the Armenian Genocide, stating that “Like the genocide of the Armenians before it, and the genocide of the Cambodians which followed it – and like too many other such persecutions of too many other peoples – the lessons of the Holocaust must never be forgotten.” This accurately reflects America’s values and history of speaking out against genocide. To date, virtually every state in the U.S. has issued a proclamation or resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide, honoring the lives lost as well as survivors.
 
“The Assembly has prioritized U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide especially as vulnerable minority communities continue to be persecuted and targeted across the Middle East and other parts of the world,” stated Armenian Assembly Board Co-Chairs Anthony Barsamian and Van Krikorian. “The United States’ record of providing humanitarian relief and helping save the survivors of the Armenian Genocide is a testament to America’s values and serves as a basis for the strong and enduring bonds between the Armenian and American people,” the Co-Chairs added.
 
“We commend the Armenian Caucus leadership and also applaud the dedication and tenacity of the resolution’s co-sponsors, including Congresswomen Jackie Speier and Anna Eshoo for their commitment to protect minority communities targeted by hatred. We encourage all Members to co-sponsor the bipartisan resolution as it makes its way to the House floor,” the Co-Chairs added.
 
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

Asbarez: AYF Stages ‘Die-In’ Demonstration Outside Staples Center

Emil Karabekian
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AYF activists staged a “die-in” demonstration in front of Staples Center on Sunday

LOS ANGELES—After the 113 to 109 Los Angeles Lakers victory over the Utah Jazz on April 7, fans exited the Staples Center to find a group of Armenian Youth Federation activists staging a “die-in” demonstration to raise awareness of the Armenian Genocide.

AYF members were silently sitting or lying on the ground just outside the Staples Center as thousands of attendees witnessed and held signs that brought attention to the issue of the Armenian Genocide. “We are here to educate the community of the atrocities perpetrated by Turkey during the first genocide of the 20th century, and to inform the public that proper justice, in form of restitution and reparation, has not been restored for the Armenian people,” stated Hakop Hajibekyan, co-chairperson of the AYF’s Hye Tad Committee.

Lakers fans were met with AYF’s “die-in” demonstration at Staples Center

Along with raising awareness, demanding restitution, and calling for reparations, the AYF has been working to advocate for the divestment of over $70 million of University of California (UC) funds from the government of Turkey. Since the movement’s inception, the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region also began working to divest over $500 million of California State funds from the government of Turkey, to ensure that taxpayer funds are no longer used to propagate Turkey’s denialist propaganda. The movement regained momentum last week after a meeting was held within the State Assembly over the new Divestment bill, AB1320.

A scene from the AYF’s “die-in” demonstration

The AYF’s next show of activism will be at the annual March for Justice, which will take place on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. outside the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles (6300 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048). The March for Justice is hosted by the Armenian Genocide Committee (AGC), which is made up of representatives of over 20 Armenian organizations and includes over 40 coalition partners that fight for justice and against the denial of the Armenian Genocide. The AGC calls on all community members to unite in show of solidarity and collective strength at the 2019 March for Justice.

Founded in 1933 with organizational structures in over 17 regions around the world and a legacy of over eighty years of community involvement, the Armenian Youth Federation is the largest and most influential Armenian-American youth organization in the world, working to advance the social, political, educational, and cultural awareness of Armenian youth.

Armenia to respond to war threat by imposing peace agenda: Armenia’s PM

Emil Karabekian
Aysor, Armenia
April 7 2019

Armenia will respond to the war threat with peace agenda, in case of necessity by imposing peace agenda, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated at the 12th extraordinary congress of the Yerkrapah Volunteer Union.

“You cannot threat other people. One does not speak with peoples in a language of threat. You should not speak with us in that language. In general, one should not threaten us with war. We will respond to the war threat with peace agenda, in case of necessity by imposing the peace agenda,” the Prime Minister said.

He stressed that each option of Karabakh conflict settlement must be acceptable for peoples of Armenia, Artsakh and Azerbaijan.

“Establishing peace and stability in the region cannot be the commitment of one or two out of the three parties of the Karabakh conflict. This is a responsibility that must be equally shared among all the three parties of the conflict. It is a general responsibility, it needs joint work and this is the very idea I have put on the table of negotiations with Azerbaijan,” Pashinyan stressed.

Deputy Minister of Healthcare was caught red-handed in bribery, NSS chief comments on arrest

Emil Karabekian

Deputy Minister of Healthcare was caught red-handed in bribery, NSS chief comments on arrest

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15:39, 4 April, 2019

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, ARMENPRESS. The Deputy Minister of Healthcare has been arrested for bribery in the act of committing the crime, the rest will be determined during the investigation, National Security Service Director Artur Vanetsyan told reporters after the Cabinet meeting today.

He said the person who gave the bribe has not been arrested but is banned from leaving the country amid the investigation. The suspect has been charged.

According to the National Security Service, a director of a medical facility gave “a particular large amount of money” as a bribe on March 30 to the Deputy Minister of Healthcare. The National Security Service said the process happened under surveillance.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Court of Appeal cancels examination of complaint against prolonging Robert Kocharyan’s pre-trial detention by 2 months

Emil Karabekian

Court of Appeal cancels examination of complaint against prolonging Robert Kocharyan’s pre- trial detention by 2 months

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18:20, 4 April, 2019

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, ARMENPRESS. The Court of Appeal has cancelled the examination of the complaint filed by Robert Kocharyan’s lawyers against the decision of the court of first instance to prolong Kocharyan’s pre-trial detention by another 2 months, ARMENPRESS reports Kocharyan’s lawyer Hayk Alumyan told the reporters.

He added that tomorrow they will present their objections.

On February 15 the court of 1st instance satisfied the motion of the Special Investigation Service to extend Kocharyan’s detention for another two months.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




When will the differentiated approach for Armenian airlines at Russian airports disappear?

Emil Karabekian
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The Armenian “Taron-Avia” airline appealed to the RA State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition months ago, complaining about the differentiated pricing policy of Russian airports.


The RA State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition informs that according to the complaint, although Armenia and Russia are EAEU member states, the Russian airports consider Armenian carriers as foreign and apply higher prices to them for maintenance and other services than to local air carriers. This situation does not allow the Armenian airline to compete with the Russian ones with its price policy.


“Taron Avia” informed the Commission that the price policy applied to them by the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviation), which provides air navigation services, is also problematic. There are also differentiated approaches here, in particular, non-local companies in Russia are charged 95.2 dollars for air navigation service for every 100 km, while local, that is, Russian airlines pay about 3 times cheaper for the same service – 35 dollars for 100 km.


According to the Commission, the creation of unequal conditions at the airports for the airlines of member countries in the EAEU territory contradicts the principles and rules of healthy competition in the EAEU. As a result of such an approach, Russian airlines are able to gain a serious competitive advantage over Armenian airlines.


The created situation leads to the fact that, in the case of Taron Avia, the business operator who submitted a specific complaint, the destinations to various Russian cities considered as targets become uncompetitive for the company.


The latter incurs additional costs, which significantly affects the price of the air ticket. 

The commission discussed the issue for a long time with EAEU partners, involving them in the process, in order to achieve a quick and complete settlement of the issue. As a result of the work done, a schedule was recently set to remove the existing differential tariffs at all Russian airports within the next 2 years and review them. In other words, a unified decision on the equalization of tariffs was adopted in the territory of all member countries. It should also be noted that practical steps are already being taken and two airports operating in the territory of the Russian Federation have reviewed their tariff policies and differentiated approaches for Armenian airlines. are not available.


The Ministry of Transport and Communications adds that in our country there is no such difference in the prices of service and air navigation services for both Armenian and foreign companies, which means that air carriers of all countries have the opportunity to compete equally.

Armenian PM’s press secretary welcomes announcement of Johannes Hahn

Emil Karabekian

Armenian PM’s press secretary welcomes announcement of Johannes Hahn 

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19:17, 6 March, 2019

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, ARMENPRESS. Vladimir Karapetyan, the press secretary of the Armenian PM, has commented on the announcement of European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn and the manipulations over that announcement.

“We welcome the announcement of European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn, according to which the negotiations over Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement should go on under the format of the existing OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs’ format.

Prime Minister Pashinyan has noted numerous times that for having effective negotiations it’s important to ensure the involvement of the representatives of Nagorno Karabakh in the talks.

It’s not something new for us that Azerbaijan regularly makes assessments distorting the facts. We call on some analysts not to submit to manipulations”, ARMENPRESS reports Karapetyan wrote on his Facebook page.

In a joint press conference in Brussels a journalist, addressing Nikol Pashinyan and Johannes Hahn, gave the following question, “Mr. Prime Minister, in the recent period you have met with your Azerbaijani colleagues a number of times. We would like to know if there are any new emphasis that could be publicized. If possible, we would like to hear the comments of Mr. Hahn on how the EU can add assistance for accelerating the peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict”.

PM Nikol Pashinyan emphasize din his answer that the position of Armenia has not changed and for a comprehensive settlement of NK conflict it’s necessary first of all to create an effective format, the aim of which is ensuring the participation of Nagorno Karabakh in the negotiations.

Johannes Hahn said in his turn, “As refers to the assistance, I think we should preserve the existing format where discussions and negotiations take place. We should not create something new. We have to assist, but only at the request and demand of the sides, because the sides know what to do, how to work with each other and we should just be ready to support, if the sides request it”.

It’s apparent that Johannes Hahn was talking about the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs’ format of negotiations and the possibility of the EU involvement in that. Unfortunately, some domestic analysts have submitted to Azerbaijani manipulative comments and made comments distorting the facts.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan




The Canterbury Khachkar: A Historic Day in the Heart of the Anglican Church

Emil Karabekian
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Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, lays wreath on the Khachkar

BY NORA VOSBIGIAN

LONDON—The Armenian community of Great Britain participated in the unveiling of a khachkar at Canterbury Cathedral on 2 March. The khachkar was placed in the cathedral’s memorial Garden to mark the end of WWI, remember the Armenian Genocide of 1915, and recall the memory of Randall Davidson (Archbishop of Canterbury 1903-1928), who worked tirelessly to save Armenians at that time.

The two meter khachkar was crafted in Canterbury from tufa stone especially imported from Armenia. It bears the year 301 in Armenian letters (YA), when Armenia officially II converted to Christianity, and the inscription “And I go towards the source of light”) from Taniel Varoujan’s poem, “The Light”.

The Canterbury Khachkar project was initiated by master craftsmen Brigadier John Meardon and Vartan Moskofian. It then took off with the timely support of AGBU (London) and other individuals and donors. From the outset, Resight Film, began recording each step for a full-length documentary. And, as the date for the dedication approached, the primate of the Armenian Apostolic church in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, prepared a special ceremony for the occasion.

On the day of dedication, a beautiful vespers service was held in the main cathedral, presided by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, with the participation of Bishop Hovakim Manukyan. The ceremony was attended by dignitaries, as well as several hundred Armenians and their friends from across the United Kingdom. The presence of so many people added more colour and dignity to the event. The church service was followed by the consecration of the khachkar with holy miuron from Echmiadzin, accompanied by a special Armenian service led by Bishop Manukyan and supporting clergymen.

After the consecration, the procession moved to the cloisters where Bishop Manukyan and Archbishop Welby lay flowers and prayed at the grave of Randall Davidson. There then followed a reception at Chapter House for several hundred guests, including music and poetry, as well as words from Brigadier John Meardon, Ara Sarafian (historian), Bishop Manukyan, and the new Armenian ambassador to the United Kingdom, Dr. Arman Kirakossian.

The speakers reflected on the horrors of WWI, the importance of remembering the Armenian Genocide, and the need for truth, reconciliation and just resolution of the Armenian issue.

Farmers Movement is against closure of ministry of agriculture

Emil Karabekian
ARKA, Armenia
March 1 2019

YEREVAN, March 1. /ARKA/. Sarkis Sedrakyan, the head of the Farmers Movement NGO, accused today government officials of being indifferent to agricultural problems, raised by farmers during meetings with government representatives.

Speaking at a news conference Sedrakyan recalled that when Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the Ararat region, local farmers asked for help to fight potato moths that cause huge damage to vegetable crops. However, this problem was not resolved.

He said farmers are still unaware whether the government is going to help them this year by subsidizing the prices of fuel, seeds and fertilizers. In his words, if previous regional governors and other officials were corrupt; the current ones are incompetent.

According to him, agriculture in Armenia has all the possibilities for development, but to ensure it, the agriculture must be handled by professionals. According to Sedrakyan, the proposed closure of the Ministry of Agriculture is wrong.

According to Armenian media stories, under a government plan of restructuring the government, the Ministry of Agriculture is to be merged with the Ministry of Economy.

“All the countries have the Ministry of Agriculture, because it ensures not only the food security of a nation, but also the production of food,” he said.

He said according to official data, 1/3 of the arable land is not cultivated, but in fact, more than half of the arable land is not used. -0-