Author: Garo Vardanian

The British Embassy in Yerevan has issued the following statement regarding the 2 April parliamentary elections in Armenia:

The UK shares the assessment of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Election Observation Mission that these elections were well-administered and fundamental rights were generally respected but that they were “tainted by credible information about vote-buying” and pressure on some voters.

The UK welcomed the inclusive process pursued by government, opposition parties and civil society in shaping the new electoral code. Along with other international partners – EU, Germany, US and UN – and the Government of Armenia, the UK supported the introduction of a new voter authentication system. We welcome OSCE/ODIHR’s assessment that this technology reduced the scope for voting irregularities. We note, however, the complaints and allegations relating to the overall electoral process and encourage the relevant authorities to deal with them efficiently and effectively.

The UK will continue to support all in government, parliament and civil society committed to strengthening democracy, prosperity and stability in Armenia for the benefit of its people.

System Of A Down frontman Serj Tankian, Canadian Armenian film director Atom Egoyan, actress Arsine Khanjyan and American Armenian film director Erik Nazaruan have arrived in Armenia to observe the parliamentary elections of April 2.

“It’s an honor to be here and participate in the elections as monitors,” Serj Tankian told a press conference in Yerevan today.

“We started the initiative “Justice within Armenia” last year because we were afraid of what might happen in Armenia given the Sasna Tsrer situation and given the escalation of tension within the country after years of injustice and years of apathy. We wanted to participate in the election to help create justice within Armenia,” he said.

Born in Armenia, but raised in the US from the age of four, Erik Nazaruan said he feels more and more ‘exiled’ in Armenia.

“We want to understand the mechanism of this voting, to reveal the shortcomings and opportunities. We don’t want to feel like tourists in our country,” he said.

The director added he wants the attitude towards Diaspora Armenians to change. “One does not need to live in Armenia to be an Armenian. Ayvazovsky had never seen Ararat, when he painted it. Kirk Kirkoryan never lived here, but did a lot for Armenia,” he noted.

“We are here for the future. We are here for the time when brilliant young leaders will change the democratic system in Armenia,” Atom Egoyan said.

“We must develop our democratic muscle around our strong old bones. We must not fall victim to tyranny, and most profoundly, self-tyranny and apathy. We are here to observe a prosperous and sustainable future,” Atom Egoyan said. He said that “the decision not to vote in the Sunday election is self-tyranny.

Arsine Khanjyan said 300 observers from the Diaspora will travel to regions of Armenia throughout the day, and visit polling stations in different cities and villages of the country and return to Yerevan in the evening.

Serj Tankian said they do not support any of the political forces running in the elections. “The will of the people is the most important to us in these elections,” he said.

“We are not professional monitors. Our mission as artists is to encourage you to go and vote,” Tankian added.

President Serzh Sargsyan has arrived today to the Republic of Malta on a working visit to participate together with the Heads of state and government of the EU and Eastern Partnership countries, whose parties are also members to the European People’s Party (EPP), at the meetings and the Summit of the EPP.

Before the beginning of the first plenary meeting, the President of Armenia from the Valletta International Airport departed to Hastings Park where he was greeted by the Mayor of Valletta Alexiei Dingli, parliamentarians, and representatives of the Armenian community of Malta.

The President of Armenia laid a wreath at the Armenian cross-stone installed in the park. It was installed on December 22, 2009 at the initiative of the Armenian community of Malta as a token of gratitude to Malta which harbored on this island the Armenians who arrived here in 1375 from the Cilician Armenia and in 1915 Armenians who fled the Armenian Genocide.

Together with Mayor Dingli and representatives of the Armenian community, President Serzh Sargsyan paid tribute at the cross-stone.

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Syria Edward Nalbandian and Walid al Muallem have exchanged messages on the 25^th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Edward Nalbandian notes in the message that “the friendly relations between two ancient nations – Armenians and Syrians – have passed the test of time and are based on a solid foundation of respect and trust.” He adds the Armenian people will never forget the great humanism shown to survivors of the Armenian Genocide.”

“From the first day of the crisis Armenia has been raising its voice on many international platforms to stress the need to establish peace and stability in Syria and condemn terrorism,” Edward Nalbandian notes, adding that “Armenia is trying to provide humanitarian assistance to Syria within the limits of its capacity.”

Minister Nalbandian is confident that the parties will manage to further expand and deepen the bilateral cooperation to the benefit of the two friendly peoples.

Walid al Muallem notes in the message that “the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Syria reflects the historic ties between the Syrian and Armenian peoples and expresses the will to develop relations in political, economic, social and cultural fields.”

Minister Muallem underlines that “the government and people of Syria are grateful for Armenia’s stance on terrorism against Syria.” He notes that “one of the parties committing aggression against the Syrian people is the same party that committed the genocide against the Armenian people, “the party, whose policy is anchored on void dreams of autocracy and sultanate, something doomed to failure and fraught with worst consequences for the aggressor.”

Walid al Muallem adds that “Syria, which has started to triumph over terrorists, is confident that the friends who supported the country during aggression will help eliminate the consequences of destruction.” “This is a unique opportunity to develop cooperation between the two countries,” he says.

A group of Armenians from Turkey wrote a letter addressed to Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, before the meeting that will be held in Etchmiadzin on February 23 to discuss the patriarchal election.

In the letter, Armenians of Turkey demanded that Karekin II advises the resignation of General Vicar of the Patriarch Aram Ateşyan.

The text of the letter is below : 

“His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II,

The seat of the patriarch of Armenians of Turkey has been vacant since 8 years.

The church and some leaders of our society postponed the election on the excuse of the state.

We informed you about this matter with a letter signed by over 5.000 people.

Unfortunately, we haven’t received any response from Mayr Ator.

In these 8 years, there has been many adverse situations. His Eminence Aram Ateşyan, who was assigned by the state against our traditions, has been using the authority that he doesn’t deserve. Unfortunately, His Eminence Aram Ateşyan, deprived of qualities of leadership, ignored what we lost in 1915 and gashed the souls of those who carry this pain in their hearts and express this truth whenever possible. Our sole consolation is the fact that April 24 commemoration ceremonies are still held in many cities of Turkey despite this submissive attitude.

The patriarchate became the very source of problems, though it is the seat that is supposed to solve the problems. Clerics couldn’t have stood up against the pressure and some of them became accomplices to sins. In the end, Armenian society’s ties with the church got weaker. People ran out of patience and came to protest in front of the patriarchate.

His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II,

After several crises, now we got the chance to elect our patriarch.

We know that some people will try to prevent the election, but we are determined to hold this election more than ever.

We should remember that the elected patriarch will not only be the head of the church, but also he will represent Armenians of Turkey before the state.

We are pleased to see that you step in, even though we expected you to do it earlier.

We, Armenians of Turkey, are determined to solve our problems on our own.

What we are asking from you is this: please advise His Eminence Aram Ateşyan to get rid of his personal ambitions and resign from vicarship, and to advise our clerics to chose an impartial değabah (trustee).

Let us remind once again, we will elect a cleric who will protect the members of the church, but equally importantly, he will also be a “leader” who will represent the entire Armenian society before the state and law both in and outside of the country.

His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II,

The fact that you are concerned with us and trying to solve our problems keeps us going.

This letter is written with the purpose of expressing the feelings of the majority of Armenians of Turkey.”

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian had a phone conversation with Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission.

The parties discussed the preparations for the Armenian President’s upcoming visit to Brussels.

Edward Nalbandian and Federica Mogherini referred to the negotiations a new Armenia-EU Framework Agreement and voiced hope that the talks would be completed in the near future.

Asbarez – The Sonoma State University (SSU) Holocaust and Genocide Lecture Series sponsored by the Armenian Genocide Memorial Lecture Fund, Center for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide at SSU, and the Alliance for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide at SSU will present the Bay Area Premiere of the Women of 1915 documentary for the annual Armenian Genocide Memorial Lecture on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 4pm to 5:50pm at Warren Auditorium in Ives Hall on the SSU campus. This event which is part of the 34th Annual Holocaust and Genocide guest lecture series is free and open to the public.

Produced by filmmaker Bared Maronian from the Armenoid Team, the Women of 1915 is the first documentary to unveil the role of the Armenian women of the era and the horrors they lived through the first massive genocide of the 20th century. The documentary highlights the integral role the Armenian women played in their respective communities and the heroic, humanitarian women advocates who came to their aid from around the world, and some who even died at the war-ravaged Ottoman Empire to empower the Armenian women as pillars of war-torn, post-Genocide societies.

Bared Maronian’s opening sequence of the Women of 1915 has been nominated by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) 40th Annual Suncoast Regional Emmy® Awards among its Craft Achievement Nominees for directing. Already a four-time Emmy award winner, this is Maronian’s first Emmy nomination as a director.

The documentary has already been awarded the Armin T. Wegner Humanitarian Award and won the following awards at the Canadian Pomegranate Film Festival:

• Best Documentary Award 2016
• Audience Choice Award 2016
• Golden Pom Achievement Award 2016

As the founder of the Armenoid Team, Bared Maronian specializes in producing thematically Armenian documentaries, and has produced three Armenian films. Maronian is a graduate of Haigazian University with a major in Political Science, and has attended Palm Beach State College of Florida and the Broadcast Career Institute of Palm Beach, Florida.

The United States has warned Azerbaijan against the attempts to force the closure of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

“We are very concerned by the situation regarding the OSCE Office in Yerevan,” US Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Kate M. Byrnes told the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna.

“This office, like all OSCE field missions and institutions, is an important element of the work done by this organization to assist participating states with the implementation of their OSCE commitments,” she said.

“Should the Office in Yerevan be forced to close, this will reflect poorly on Azerbaijan and its government’s commitment to the OSCE,” Byrnes warned.

She urged the government of Azerbaijan “to constructively engage in finding a compromise solution as soon as possible that will allow the office in Yerevan to remain open.”

The Dutch club Willem II is reportedly interested in signing Armenia international Aras Ozbilis,  reports.

The former Ajax striker is currently playing for Turkish Besiktas, and was loaned to Spanish Rayo Vallecano last summer.

Willem II currently sits 11^th in the Dutch league.