Author: Hagop Kamalian

Asbarez: Governor Newsom Launches Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education

Hagop Kamalian
by Ara Khachatourian

 

 October 7, 2021

 

in Community, Featured Main, Latest, News, Top Stories, Videos

Governor Gavin Newsom is flanked by leaders and advocated who were on hand when he announced the launch of Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education on Oct. 6 (Photo by Ara Khachatourian)

BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN

“The very city of Shushi, from where my grandparents were forced to flee because of Ottoman attacks was attacked just last year [by Turkey] in concert with the Republic of Azerbaijan. So, when we say ‘never again,’ we take a hard stop and mean what it means.”

These were the words spoken by Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian on Wednesday during an event at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, where Governor Gavin Newsom announced the launch of the Governor’s Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education.

By referencing Azerbaijan’s aggressive attack—aided by Turkey—on Artsakh last year, Nazarian illustrated the importance of education in abetting the end to the cycle of violence, which has gripped the world, as well as emphasizing that unchecked acts of genocide historically have been repeated.

The newly created Council will be tasked with identifying instructional resources and will teach students about the lessons of genocide, and will support students, teachers and families when acts of anti-Semitism or bigotry occur on school campuses.

“We find ourselves in a moment of history where hate pervades the public discourse,” said Newsom. “National surveys have indicated a shocking decline in awareness among young people about the Holocaust and other acts of genocide. But in California, we are offering an antidote to the cynicism that this is how things are, and responding to that hate the best way we know how – with education and empathy.”

The creation of the council stemmed from an initiative by State Senator Henry Stern, who marshaled a bill through the California legislature addressing the need for education on the matter. The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region worked closely with Stern and other lawmakers on the passage of the measure.

“The ANCA-WR has worked tirelessly to ensure that the Armenian Genocide is properly taught in public schools, and we have closely collaborated with Senator Henry Stern and his colleagues to find ways to accomplish this goal. As the congressional resolutions specifically stated, it is US policy to encourage public instruction on this issue,” said ANCA-WR Board chair Nora Hovsepian, Esq.

“Governor Gavin Newsom has put words into action and we look forward to playing an integral role on his Council to bring Armenian Genocide curricula to California students. We are grateful to Governor Newsom, Senator Stern and all those who are committed to the principle that such painful lessons of history must never be forgotten,” added Hovsepian.

In his remarks on Wednesday, Stern made a poignant observation, saying that his daughter might not have been born, if his grandparents did not survive the Holocaust, adding that while he and many others grew up with stories of survival, many people lack the first-hand stories that inform them about the horrors of genocide.

“I applaud Senator Stern for his leadership to create this important educational opportunity,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.  “Education has the power to be a great equalizer and to help us grow, understand, and find a pathway to healing. It is the way to build inclusive and welcoming school environments. This is why, at the California Department of Education, I have created the Education to End Hate Initiative and why I am so proud to co-sponsor Senator Stern’s bill; now we look forward to partnering in the implementation of the $10 million that has been allocated for the Anti Bias Education Grant program in the state budget.”

In his remarks, Thurmond also thanked the ANCA-WR for its efforts to advance genocide education in the state. The ANCA-WR has worked closely with Thurmond who, along with the California Board of Education, has categorized Armenian Genocide education as both a critical and necessary part of the history curriculum. The California State Social Studies Framework will be the key to making certain that the Armenian Genocide is taught.

Newsom has long made the eradication of discrimination and hate a priority, governor’s office said. Newsom has also allocated $110 million for a multi-year grant program, of which $10 million will fund the Anti-Bias Education Grant Program to prevent and address racism and bias in all California public schools and promote inclusivity; and $5 million will support a peer social media network project for children and youth, with an emphasis on K-12 students who have experienced bullying, or who are at risk of bullying based on race, ethnicity, language, or country of origin, or perception of such

Governor Gavin Newsom with ANCA-WR Board Chair Nora Hovsepian (right) and ANCA-WR Executive Director Armen Sahakyan (Photo by Ara Khachatourian)

The Council will be responsible for developing a volunteer speaker’s bureau of individuals that can engage teachers and students in conversation about the lessons of genocide, providing best practices and resources to support schools throughout the state that are dealing with acts of bigotry or discrimination, and hosting educational events and seminars for educators, students and other interested parties, Newsom’s office said.

Stern and Thurmond will be joined by Attorney General Rob Bonta as Co-Chairs of the Council. Also serving on the Council as members are Nazarian, Assemblymembers Jose Medina, James Ramos and Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, and Senators Scott Wiener, Connie Leyva, and Susan Rubio. Based on community feedback, the Council will also include academics, advocates and community organizations reflecting the wide diversity of communities impacted by genocide throughout history, according to the governor’s office.

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Remains of four servicemen found in Karabakh conflict zone

Hagop Kamalian
Caucasian Knot, EU
Sept 30 2021

Rescuers have found remains of four soldiers, thus bringing the total number of bodies and remains of Armenian military servicemen found in the conflict zone up to 1677, the Emergency Service of Nagorno-Karabakh has informed.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on September 28, in the city of Shusha (the Armenian name is Shushi, – note of the “Caucasian Knot”), the Azerbaijani party handed remains of three soldiers over to Karabakh rescuers.

On September 29, during the searching operations conducted in Djrakan (the Azerbaijani name is Djebrail, – note of the “Caucasian Knot”), Karabakh rescuers found remains of four Armenian soldiers, the Nagorno-Karabakh Emergency Service reported on its Facebook page.

As reported, a forensic medical examination was appointed to identify the remains. According to the Emergency Service, the total number of bodies and remains of Armenian militaries found has reached 1677.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on at 08:30 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

See earlier reports:

Azerbaijan hands remains of three Armenian militaries over to Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan hands over remains of person killed in Nagorno-Karabakh, Remains of military serviceman found in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Author: The Caucasian Knot;

Source: 
© Caucasian Knot

Turkish Press: Why is Iran deploying troops on its border with Azerbaijan?

Hagop Kamalian
TRT World, Turkey
Sept 30 2021
  • MURAT SOFUOGLU

When countries do military exercises close to another country’s border like Iran is doing now near the Azerbaijani border, it’s often perceived as an alarming sign, a warning shot to the neighbour that things aren’t going well between them. 

So what’s Tehran’s message to Baku with its non-stop military drills? The tense border situation has caused war mongering amongst the Iranian population, as they take occasional videos and pictures of their military trucks and tanks moving toward the country’s border with Azerbaijan. 

The Iranian government gave a vague explanation, saying the drills aim to ensure Tehran’s ‘sovereignty’. Its foreign ministry spokesman said that “Iran will not tolerate the presence of the Zionist regime near our borders”, referring to Israel. But Israel has no borders with both Iran and Azerbaijan. While Baku shares a working relationship with Tel Aviv, it has no official policy to support Israel against Iran. 

As a result, it appears that there are other unofficial reasons for Iran’s continuing military exercises near the Azerbaijani border. 

Experts see three main elements on why Iran is deploying forces along the border with Azerbaijan, ranging from the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict to developing a response to the recent joint Turkey-Azerbaijan-Pakistan drills in the region to sending messages to the large Azerbaijani population inside Iran. 

Supply route

First, Iran was not happy about the way the Forty-Four Day War between Baku and Yerevan on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict ended last year with Baku’s victory, gaining much of the disputed region from Armenian occupiers. From the very beginning until now, Tehran has silently backed Armenians against Azerbaijanis while Azerbaijan has a Shia majority like Iran.  

There were a number of reasons for Tehran’s support to Yerevan, but one of them is related to Iran’s trade route across West Asia. Through formerly Armenian-occupied Karabakh, Iran was able to reach Russia and West Asia mostly without paying any customs for its trucks and other transportation means, according to Fatima Karimkhan, a Tehran-based journalist. 

Following the war, Azerbaijan, gaining much of Karabakh territory, has put “pressure on Iran’s access to West Asia” by restricting and charging Iranian transportation across Karabakh to reach Armenia, Karimkhan tells TRT World. 

But for Baku, that policy is quite normal because Karabakh is part of Azerbaijani sovereignty and any transportation related to trade activities across that region should be subject to customs. Also, Azerbaijani authorities have been concerned that Iranian trucks might also carry military equipment, which could end up at the hands of Armenians, their long adversary. 

During an interview with Turkey’s Anadolu Agency, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was clear about the issue. “We have already had knowledge that Iranian trucks illegally entered the Karabakh region many times during and prior to the war,” Aliyev said. 

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev speaks to Turkey’s Anadolu Agency during an extensive interview On September 27, 2021, the first anniversary of the Forty-Four Day War over the disputed Karabakh region, which ended with Baku’s victory over Yerevan. (AA)

After taking control of much of Karabakh, Baku began showing its uneasiness toward Iranian trucks. “Step by step, we began controlling the road across our Azerbaijani territory [going to Karabakh] and the number of [Iranian] trucks eventually diminished to zero,” the president said. 

He also protested Iranian drills near the Azerbaijani border. “Why now, and why on our border? Why is this being done after we liberated these lands after 30 years of [Armenian] occupation?” Aliyev asked. He also said that he was “very surprised” by Iranian military drills. 

Apparently, Aliyev’s recent remarks made Tehran angry. “What Aliyev recently said was very much offensive from the perspective of Iran’s public opinion,” says Karimkhan. Stopping Iranian trucks by Azerbaijan is something Iran finds unacceptable, threatening Tehran’s trade security across West Asia, according to Karimkhan. 

“Iran with this military exercise is showing its seriousness about the road connection to Armenia and West Asia,” she adds. 

Internal tensions

Second, Iran has also been concerned about its large Turkic population, most of which is Azerbaijanis. Some believe that Iran’s Turkic-origin population, which includes Turkmen, Qashgais and other Turkish-speaking groups, might amount to nearly 40 percent. 

Many Azeris call Iran’s north southern Azerbaijan, where nearly 20 million Azerbaijanis live according to different estimates. Some Azeri nationalists and intellectuals have long defined both northern and southern parts as culturally and socially identical, arguing that they should be joined under a political union. 

All these also make Tehran nervous. The Shia-majority country’s nervousness was increased by recent trilateral Turkey-Pakistan-Azerbaijan drills, which could encourage its ethnic Azerbaijani population to show more opposition to Tehran to Iranian thinking, says Matthew Bryza, the former US ambassador to Azerbaijan and a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.

Trilateral military exercises called “Three Brothers – 2021”, being conducted by Turkey, Azerbaijan and Pakistan, began in Baku on September 12, 2021. (AA)

“Iran is deploying its military along its border with Azerbaijan in response to trilateral military exercises being conducted by Azerbaijan, Turkey and Pakistan,” Bryza tells TRT World. The joint drills began in Baku on September 12. While Iran is not trying to be “hostile”, it is still showing the three countries its uneasiness over their joint drill, according to the former US diplomat. 

“It is also signalling to its ethnic Azerbaijani community, which predominates northern Iran that it should not look at military drills as some sort of opportunity to foment unrest. There is a great interest by the ethnic Azerbaijani population of northern Iran in Azerbaijani operations in the recent Forty-Four Day War against Armenia,” Bryza views. 

Bryza draws attention to the fact that during the Azerbaijan-Armenia War, there were large pro-Azerbaijan demonstrations in northern Iran, underlining how Azeri communities in Iran and Azerbaijan have been unified against the Armenian occupation of the Karabakh region.  

The leadership in Tehran might increasingly worry about the prospects of ethnic Azerbaijani separatism after Baku’s victory over Yerevan, according to Bryza. “Mostly, Iranian military deployment along the Azerbaijani border is an internal signal [to Iranian Azerbaijanis],” Bryza says. 

Karimkhan, the Iranian journalist, also thinks that there is an internal dimension regarding Tehran’s recent military drills. A lot of Iranians, who share videos and pictures of Iran’s military vehicles moving into the country’s northwestern border, “are excited” that military exercises show the country’s determination to defend its “territorial integrity”, she says.  

While she thinks the idea of unification of two different parts of Azerbaijan is “just propaganda”, most people in Iran “don’t look at this in this way”, she says. “They think these unification voices could go further, so they very much support military exercises along Iran’s border with Azerbaijan right now,” she adds. 

“In Iran, due to the enormous Turkish population, there has historically been a political fear that two Azerbaijans, Baku [the capital of northern Azerbaijan] and Tabriz [the capital of southern Azerbaijan] might join at some point,” said Esref Yalinkilicli, a Moscow-based Eurasia political analyst, in a previous TRT World interview. 

“On the other hand, in Azerbaijani political memory and foreign policy, the idea of Greater Azerbaijan has always been an important factor,” Yalinkilicli added. 

For Iran, the political argument of Greater Azerbaijan is a threat to the Iranian establishment, which has used its support of Armenia as a counter-measure to minimise Azerbaijani aspirations in Iran and across the region, according to Yalinkilicli. 

Turkish press: 1 year passes since eruption of clashes leading to 2nd Karabakh war

Hagop Kamalian
Jeyhun Aliyev   |27.09.2021


ANKARA

Monday marks a year since the latest large-scale clashes erupted in the Karabakh region last fall on Sept. 27, 2020, when the Armenian army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces, violating several humanitarian cease-fire agreements.

The spark of last year’s conflict — known as the second Karabakh war, or the patriotic war — reshaped the geopolitical image of the Caucasus and was the last straw that ended Azerbaijan’s tolerance in the region.

Relations between the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Upper Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions — Lachin, Kalbajar, Aghdam, Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Qubadli, and Zangilan.

In July last year, Armenian cease-fire violations killed 12 Azerbaijani troops — including high-ranking officers — and wounded four others, further angering Azerbaijan, which was by now at the end of its patience. One elderly Azerbaijani civilian had also been killed.

On Sept. 21, 2020, clashes in the same region flared up again when a soldier of the Azerbaijani army was killed and another wounded.

By that time, there were four UN Security Council and two UN General Assembly resolutions as well as decisions by many international organizations referring to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and demanding the withdrawal of the occupational Armenian forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven other occupied regions.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group — co-chaired by France, Russia, and the US — was formed on March 24, 1992, to find a peaceful solution to the conflict, but to no avail. The co-chairs of the Minsk Group, who visited both countries periodically and met with the authorities, did nothing more than warning the parties to abide by the cease-fire each time.

Referring to the Armenian army’s large-scale military provocations on the frontline early on the morning of Sept. 27 last year, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev clearly stated that those trying to intimidate Azerbaijan “will regret it.”

Aliyev called the provocations “another manifestation of Armenian fascism.”

He emphasized that Armenia’s military provocations against Azerbaijan had recently become regular.

Azerbaijani officials blamed the world for its silence over the Armenian attacks, noting that Armenia continued its attacks because there was no world reaction to its aggression.

But, Ankara from the early hours of the conflict strongly condemned Armenia’s attacks and reiterated its full support to Baku.

‘Implementing UN resolutions on its own’

In fact, according to Azerbaijani officials, Azerbaijan, which patiently waited for justice for three decades, was now “on its own” implementing the relevant UN resolutions to drive the occupying forces from its lands.

On the afternoon of the first day of clashes, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced the news the nation had been waiting for nearly three decades — the country’s army had liberated the first six border villages from Armenian occupation.

The ministry also pledged that if Armenian forces surrendered, prisoners of war and civilian hostages would be treated in line with the Geneva Convention and other international legal norms.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated that Turkey fully stands by Azerbaijan and lamented the international community’s “double standards” by not condemning Armenian aggression.

He said Armenia’s latest violations along the border with Azerbaijan had shown that it is the “biggest threat to regional peace.”

“Turkey will always stand by Azerbaijani Turks by all means in their struggle to protect their territorial integrity,” Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told his Azerbaijani counterpart Zakir Hasanov during a phone call.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara “stands with Azerbaijan on the field and at the negotiation table.”

Pakistan also threw its weight behind Azerbaijan following Armenia’s border violations and attacks in the region.

“Pakistan stands with the brotherly nation of Azerbaijan and supports its right of self-defense,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“We support Azerbaijan’s position on Nagorno-Karabakh, which is in line with several unanimously adopted UN Security Council resolutions,” it added.

Both Turkey and Pakistan repeatedly denied the presence of their armies in Azerbaijan fighting against Armenia.

World reactions pour in

The world, which could not manage to end the illegal occupation of Azerbaijani lands for some 30 years, started demanding an end to the armed clashes. Calls to end the hostilities were pouring in from around the world and various international institutions.

On Sept 27, 2020, Russia’s Foreign Ministry called on the neighboring countries “to immediately cease fire and start negotiations in order to stabilize the situation.”

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in a statement called for an “immediate cessation of hostilities, de-escalation and for strict observance of the cease-fire” between Yerevan and Baku.

“The parties should immediately end clashes,” James Appathurai, the NATO secretary general’s special representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, said in a statement.

Condemning the use of force and civilian deaths, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the parties to immediately stop fighting, de-escalate tensions and return to “meaningful” negotiations without delay.

The UN Security Council also threw its weight behind Guterres’ call to end the fighting.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration in the US seemed not to be very willing to stop the violence in the Caucasus.

“We will see if we can stop it,” President Donald Trump told reporters at a White House press conference, adding that the US has “a lot of good relationships in that area.”

On Sept. 28 last year, French President Emmanuel Macron phoned Azerbaijani President Aliyev and expressed his concern over the clashes on the Armenia-Azerbaijan frontline, saying the problem should be resolved through negotiations.

Aliyev told Macron that the Armenian administration deliberately disrupted the negotiation process and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that “Nagorno-Karabakh is Armenia” had dealt a serious blow to the process.

Later, Macron voiced solidarity with Armenia in its conflict with Azerbaijan, saying: “It was determined that the attacks … came from Azerbaijan.”

Terrorist groups in Karabakh

Azerbaijani officials claimed that Armenia brought and weaponized terrorist groups to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, including the PKK and the so-called Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia, or ASALA.

The PKK is responsible for some 40,000 deaths — including women, children, and infants — in its decades-long terror campaign, while ASALA is responsible for the murder of dozens of Turkish diplomats in targeted terrorist assassinations.

Mercenaries of Armenian origin from Syria have been identified among Armenia’s casualties in Karabakh, Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry has said, adding that the Armenian side concealed this from both the local and international community.

Azerbaijan has found support for its position in Ankara, with the Turkish defense minister saying: “Armenia must stop its attacks immediately and send back the mercenaries and terrorists they brought from abroad.”

According to sources that have requested anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media, Armenia struck a covert deal with the YPG/PKK terror group at the end of July 2020 before it started attacking civilian Azerbaijani settlements.

Over the past few months prior to the escalation of clashes, Armenia brought some 300 YPG/PKK terrorists from Middle Eastern countries to Nagorno-Karabakh to train Armenian militias, said the sources.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU, with the YPG being its Syrian offshoot.

Cease-fire

The first armistice between Baku and Yerevan reached on Oct. 10, 2020, was violated within 24 hours as Armenian missile attacks on the Azerbaijani city of Ganja claimed civilian lives.

Another truce on Oct. 17, 2020, was also violated by Armenia troops.

A US-brokered temporary humanitarian cease-fire between Azerbaijan and Armenia — to exchange prisoners and bodies — went into effect on Oct. 26. However, it was also short-lived, as Armenian forces once again violated the truce only a few minutes after it went into effect.

Besides other towns and villages, Baku’s liberation of the strategic city of Shusha on Nov. 8 signaled that victory was imminent. Shusha, also known as the pearl of Karabakh, had been occupied by Armenian forces on May 8, 1992.

On Nov. 10 last year, the two countries signed a Russian-brokered agreement to end the fighting and start work towards a comprehensive resolution of the dispute.

During the six weeks of fighting, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and some 300 settlements and villages after nearly three decades of occupation.

The cease-fire is seen as a victory for Azerbaijan and a defeat for Armenia. In line with the agreement, Armenian forces withdrew from Azerbaijani territory and Russian peacekeeping forces were deployed in the region.

On Jan. 11, the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia signed a pact to develop economic ties and infrastructure to benefit the entire region. It included the establishment of a trilateral working group on Karabakh.

A joint Turkish and Russian center to monitor a cease-fire deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia has since become operational in Karabakh on Jan. 30.

Despite the Nov. 10 deal ending the conflict, the Armenian army violated this agreement several times, as well, killing several Azerbaijani soldiers, according to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

President Armen Sarkissian addresses message on anniversary of 44-Day Artsakh War

Hagop Kamalian

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 11:33,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian addressed a message today, on September 27, on the anniversary of the 44-Day Artsakh War, his Office said.

The message reads:

“A year ago, on this day, the most brutal war in our modern history – the second Artsakh War, started. A war that claimed young lives and fates.

I bow before the memory of all victims, before their families and relatives…

A year after the war, in addition to the thousands of the victims and wounded, we still have sons in captivity and missing in action.

Today more than ever we must invest our efforts for the return of the captives, the recovery of the injured and for the discovery of the missing.

For the sake of strong Armenia and Artsakh…

We must be able to get out of this situation with our heads held high, albeit slowly, but move forward…”

September 27 marks the 1st anniversary of the 44-Day War unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh. Despite the statement on the ceasefire signed on November 9, Azerbaijan still refuses to return all Armenian captives.

 

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Defense Minister visits Yerablur to pay tribute to memory of 2020 Artsakh War victims

Hagop Kamalian

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 14:10,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Defense Minister of Armenia Arshak Karapetyan visited today the Yerablur Military Pantheon to pay tribute to the memory of the servicemen fallen at the 2020 Artsakh War.

“I bow before the tombs of all soldiers. We have both fallen friends, soldiers here, as well as my servicemen are here. We will do everything for this place to be a pantheon, not to look like a cemetery”, the minister told reporters.

He stated that these servicemen have been killed in action, but have not died.

September 27 marks the anniversary of the 44-Day War unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh. Despite the statement on the ceasefire signed on November 9, Azerbaijan still refuses to return all Armenian captives.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Georgian Prime Minister offers “Tbilisi platform” for Armenia-Azerbaijan talks

Hagop Kamalian

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 16:33,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili announced that he has offered Armenia and Azerbaijan what he described as the “Tbilisi platform” for negotiations. 

“We are offering a platform which we plan to create in Tbilisi,” the Georgian PM said at a press briefing, according to Vzglyad newspaper.

He reminded that it was his country’s mediation which made possible the return of 15 Armenian POWs from Azerbaijan in exchange of Yerevan giving mine field maps to Baku. “This was an unprecedented case of successful mediation,” Garibashvili said.

Prime Minister Garibashvili said Georgia plans to continue efforts in this direction, so that such initiatives get “permanent nature and form.”

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

BREAKING: House Passes Decisive Amendments to the NDAA (H.R. 4350)

Hagop Kamalian
Washington, D.C. – Five decisive human rights and accountability amendments were adopted en bloc as part of the overall National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022, known as bill H.R. 4350, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
In the aftermath of last Fall’s 44-day war launched by Azerbaijan with the full support of Turkey against the Armenian people of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), the Assembly strongly advocated for and welcomed passage of the following amendments:
  • Amendment #21 sponsored by Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), and cosponsored by Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Andy Levin (D-MI), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), David Valadao (R-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Katie Porter (D-CA), Young Kim (R-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), and Dina Titus (D-NV): This amendment “creates a report on Azerbaijan’s activities in Nagorno Karabakh in 2020 to be submitted to the relevant congressional committees by the Secretary of Defense in consultation with the Secretary of State. Also expresses the Sense of Congress that the government of Azerbaijan should immediately return all Armenian prisoners of war and captured civilians. Urges the Administration to engage with Azerbaijani authorities, including through the OSCE Minsk Group, to make clear the importance of adhering to their obligations under the November 9 statement and international law to immediately release all prisoners of war and captured civilians.”
  • Amendment #278 sponsored by House Rules Committee Chairman James McGovern (D-MA), and cosponsored by Reps. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Norma Torres (D-CA), and Don Beyer (D-VA): This amendment “modifies the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (Subtitle F of title XXI of PL 114-328) to authorize sanctions for serious human rights abuse, any violation of internationally recognized human rights, or corruption; adds two new reports to Congress; and repeals the sunset.”
  • Amendment #325 sponsored by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and cosponsored by Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), David Valadao (R-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA): This amendment “requires a report from the Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with the Secretary of State, addressing allegations that some units of foreign countries that have participated in security cooperation programs under section 333 of title 10, U.S.C. may have also committed gross violations of internationally recognized human rights before or while receiving U.S. security assistance. This report also includes recommendations to improve human rights training and additional measures that can be adopted to prevent these types of violations.”
  • Amendment #431 sponsored by Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), and cosponsored by Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Young Kim (R-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), and Anna Eshoo (D-CA): This amendment “requires a report by the Secretary of State on the activities of the Grey Wolves organization (AKA Bozkurtlar & Ülkü Ocaklari) undertaken against U.S. interests, allies, and international partners, including a review of the criteria met for designation as a foreign terrorist organization.”
  • Amendment #449 sponsored by Rep. David Valadao (R-CA), and cosponsored by Reps. Brad Sherman (D-CA), Susan Wild (D-PA), Andy Levin (D-MI), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Young Kim (R-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Katie Porter (D-CA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), David Schweikert (R-AZ), David Trone (D-MD), and Don Beyer (D-VA): This amendment “requires a report within 180 days of all US humanitarian and developmental assistance programs in Nagorno Karabakh, including an analysis of the effectiveness of such programs and any plans for future assistance.”
Speaking in support of his amendment (#325), Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) stated on the House floor that countries that violate human rights, such as Azerbaijan, which received over $100 million dollars in Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019, along with “equipment and training from the U.S. military,” and launched “a deadly attack against Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh on September 27 that led to the death of thousands and the displacement of so many more,” should not receive U.S. funding.
 
“Passage of this amendment sends a clear signal that the U.S. takes seriously its democratic norms and commitment to peace by ensuring oversight of our security assistance,” said Rep. Pallone, noting that in the future there will be “restraint from aiding and tolerating similar regimes, especially when their actions are aimed at destabilizing a fellow democracy.”
 
Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny stated: “Taken together, these amendments represent a significant step forward in upholding human rights and demanding accountability for violations thereof. We also continue to call for the full enforcement of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act in the face of Azerbaijan’s ongoing aggression against the Armenian people.”
 
Ardouny added: “We welcome in particular the language calling for the immediate release of Armenian prisoners of war being held by Azerbaijan as well as the new reporting requirements, including future funding plans to help the people of Artsakh.”
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.

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NR# 2021-81

Armenia interested in unblocking of regional communications: PM Pashinyan receives Russian Deputy PM

Hagop Kamalian
Public Radio of Armenia
Sept 20 2021


, 14:54

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Armenia is interested in the unblocking of regional communications, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a meeting with Russian Deputy prime Minister Alexey Overchuk.

According to him, Armenia sees it as an opportunity to overcome the blockade of the past 25 years. “We hope that concrete decisions will be taken during the joint work,” he added.

PM Pashinyan expressed gratitude to Mr. Overchuk for organizing the meetings of the trilateral working group co-chaired by the Deputy Prime Ministers of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan at the highest level.

“It is very possible for us to finally get a railway connection with Russia, which will open new opportunities for the development of our economy and our integration into the Eurasian Economic Union. This will make our membership in the Eurasian Economic Union even more effective,” he said.

Alexey Overchuk, in turn, hailed the organization of the Armenian-Russian Business Forum in Yerevan, which provides an opportunity to deepen the existing ties and established new ones.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 13-09-21

Hagop Kamalian

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 17:44, 13 September, 2021

YEREVAN, 13 SEPTEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 13 September, USD exchange rate down by 0.97 drams to 491.88 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 3.41 drams to 579.98 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.03 drams to 6.74 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 3.75 drams to 679.93 drams.

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

Gold price up by 44.66 drams to 28380.36 drams. Silver price down by 2.65 drams to 379.94 drams. Platinum price down by 141.39 drams to 15450.58 drams.