Author: Kalantarian Kevo

I am sorry, Armenia

Kalantarian Kevo

 Varak Ghazarian Opinion 5

Varak Ghazarian in Hadrut, 2018

, that it took 30 years for us to appreciate and care for you. That it took losing such a large portion of who you were throughout history. That it took 30 years to realize a vital part of you was at the brink of collapse. Maybe we were not deserving of you. We never truly appreciated you, and it was made clear. For the past 100 years, we have opened the floodgates and fled your beauty, willingly or unwillingly. I do not fault anyone for this as my family fled due to the Armenian Genocide. The strife for a better life (or just even a life) is something all should aspire to. Yet, now we all sit in the comfort of our first-world countries, able to attain all of which we aspire to. I am at a loss because my aspirations can be sought out here in Armenia. Armenia needs many to come back and populate to its maximum capacity so that it can have all the strengths of a country and spring a new life. 

There is always a caveat as to why we cannot come and live here in Armenia as a diaspora. “Oh, let me go become a professional, and I will come back.” “Oh, let me go make X amount of money, and I will come back.” How many people have come and stayed out of all those making such claims? A handful, relative to the amount that needs to come. We pride ourselves upon these Western institutions we were raised in and believe are the cure-all. It is time to push them to one side and build up some Armenian institutions so the world can take note of our beautiful nation that is ready to blossom. Let us open the floodgates into the country, and build it up the proper way. 

One government to the next, it has always been the same shenanigans. Corruption and bureaucratic absurdities that will drive people thousands and thousands of kilometers away just to live a decent life away from all the nonsense. 

Let us instill some hope not only to Yerevan, but to the whole country. Let Stepanakert be full of Armenians from South America. Let Gyumri become a beautiful fusion of Gyumri and Glendale. Let Vanadzor have a Parisian Armenian community. Let Kapan flourish to become the next Moscow. Let them not be each their own centers, but rather a beautiful interconnected network working to advance Armenia in a multifaceted and unique way. One that the world can talk about and be a hopeful example to all. Because there still is hope for Armenia and for the world. 

We as Armenians and citizens of the world do not have a duty to flood into Armenia and project hope onto the world, but rather a sense of being. A sense of understanding and purpose which could be provided in Armenia. One that will not be received elsewhere or will be hard to come by. To find fulfillment in oneself by being part of nation and nation building. Let us not wait another 30 years for us to lose a larger chunk of land or receive another slap in the face. The time was yesterday. We did not take advantage, so let us instead start today. No more talking. Let’s take concrete steps to save whatever we have left in Armenia and this world. Look inward and find that purpose, for your clock is ticking and time is ephemeral.

– A Concerned Armenian

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Varak Ghazarian is an Armenian-American from Los Angeles who attended a Armenian school his entire life. Upon his graduation from UC Berkeley, he volunteered in Armenia for year with Birthright Armenia. He spent time in Artsakh for a month, where he mentored teenagers in border villages about fundamental topics of health. He currently lives in Armenia, which has opened up a door of imagination that was closed off elsewhere.


Azerbaijan confirms participation in Yerevan EWF European Weightlifting Championships 2023

Kalantarian Kevo

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 14:54, 31 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan has officially confirmed participation in the EWF European Weightlifting Championships 2023 due in Yerevan.

Azerbaijan will be represented by five athletes at the event.

Referee Arayik Alaverdyan told ARMENPRESS that the Azerbaijani authorities requested security assurances for their athletes.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Karen Giloyan had earlier said that the security of all athletes will be ensured.

The EWF European Weightlifting Championships 2023 is scheduled to take place 15-23 April in Yerevan, Armenia.

Pashinyan slams Baku’s statements about arms transfer to Karabakh ‘propaganda lie’

Kalantarian Kevo
 TASS 
Russia –
When commenting on the Azerbaijani side’s statement that units of that country’s armed forces have taken control of a number of heights and territories in the Lachin region on the border with Armenia, the Armenian PM said that there was a change in the route from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh

YEREVAN, March 30. /TASS/. Azerbaijan’s statement that Armenia is transferring arms to Nagorno-Karabakh is a propaganda lie to prepare for escalation, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a government meeting on Thursday.

“Information about military shipments from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh is a propaganda lie, the purpose of which is to set up grounds for another aggression,” he said.

When commenting on the Azerbaijani side’s statement that units of that country’s armed forces have taken control of a number of heights and territories in the Lachin region on the border with Armenia, Pashinyan said that there was a change in the route from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh.

“In August 2022, the authorities of Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh agreed to change the route of the Lachin corridor by opening a new road. However, since the road connecting the Lachin corridor with Armenia was not fully ready, a temporary route was launched. According to the agreement, this route should operate until April 1 of this year. Yesterday we informed the Azerbaijani side that the Armenian side opened the new road and our border guards would protect it. As a result of all this, there have been no changes in the Armenian positions,” he explained.

100 Days: The International, Legal and Philosophical Implications of the Artsakh Blockade

Kalantarian Kevo
 Melody Seraydarian Hye Key, Columns 1

Stepanakert marks 100 days of the Artsakh blockade, (Photo: Vahagn Khachatrian)

It is hard to believe that the blockade of Artsakh has reached this point, but it has now entered its 100th day. That means 100 days of severe shortages of food, medicine and other essential supplies; 100 days of land and air routes being blocked off; 100 days of eco-activists brainwashed by a ruthless leader; 100 hundred days of concession after concession by a spineless Armenian government. In sum, it has been 100 days of one of the cruelest humanitarian crises the world has ever seen and an emotional rollercoaster for Armenians all around the globe. Needless to say, the genocidal blockade in Artsakh has far-reaching international ramifications that extend beyond its immediate humanitarian consequences, as it raises fundamental questions about the nature of conflict and the role of the international community in resolving it.

The blockade has raised several questions about the role of the international community in resolving conflicts and preventing humanitarian crises. The failure of the international community to prevent the blockade and alleviate the suffering of the people in Artsakh highlights the limitations of law and institutions in dealing with complex conflicts. It also underscores the urgent need for greater international cooperation to address humanitarian crises and prevent their escalation into full-blown conflicts, such as this one. Although the international community, specifically the court, has not explicitly allowed the blockade in Artsakh, their inaction and failure to hold those responsible accountable for the blockade have contributed to its continuation. The legal and academic discourse around the blockade in Artsakh involves a set of principles and political considerations.

Under international law, the blockade in Artsakh can be seen as a violation of several legal principles, including the right to self-determination, the right to freedom of movement and the right to access humanitarian aid. The blockade also violates the Geneva Conventions, which require parties to an armed conflict to ensure that essential supplies reach civilian populations. Unfortunately, the legal framework for enforcing these principles is limited. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has jurisdiction over war crimes, including blockades, but its jurisdiction is limited to states that have ratified the Rome Statute. Neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan are signatories to the Rome Statute, and as such, the ICC has no jurisdiction over the parties involved in the conflict. Political considerations also play a significant role in the international community’s response to the blockade. The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Artsakh is a highly sensitive issue with consequential regional and geopolitical implications. Time and time again, as is the case now, countries with close ties to either Armenia or Azerbaijan may hesitate to take a strong stance on the blockade for fear of damaging these relationships.

At its core, the blockade is a symptom of the ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the region, as well as the low-profile pan-Turkic ideology. The blockade represents a continuation of the conflict through other means, with Azerbaijan seeking to use economic pressure to achieve its political goals, which concurrently, is Turkey’s goal. This approach reflects a broader trend in modern conflict, where economic sanctions and blockades are increasingly being used as a means of exerting influence and achieving strategic objectives. We can point to Azerbaijan’s close ties with Turkey, a key proponent of pan-Turkism, and the historical and cultural links between Turkic-speaking peoples in the region. The role of pan-Turkism in the Artsakh blockade is not a direct legal issue. However, the potential implications of pan-Turkism for the region should be sounding alarms in the international community. The promotion of pan-Turkic ideology may contribute to tensions between Turkic and non-Turkic peoples in the region, as well as to human rights abuses against ethnic minorities, which include Armenians, but also impact Kurds, Rum Orthodox Christians, the Romani people and others. Therefore, it is important for international political actors to consider the impact of pan-Turkism, as the promotion of a narrow ethno-nationalistic agenda based on language, ethnic origin and religion is contrary to the principles of equality and non-discrimination enshrined in international human rights law. Ignoring this vital fact would be detrimental.

Furthermore, the development of pan-Turkism may contribute to the violation of other legal norms, including the right to self-determination of peoples. The people of Artsakh have the right to determine their own political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. The promotion of pan-Turkism may undermine these rights by advocating for the unification of Turkic peoples under a single political entity, regardless of the wishes and aspirations of the people of Artsakh, which as we have seen, directly oppose it.

Ultimately, the blockade highlights the urgent need for greater international coordination in addressing compounded conflicts. The failure of the international community to prevent the blockade and alleviate the suffering of the people in Artsakh reflects the limitations of unilateral approaches to conflict resolution. It underscores the importance of multilateral cooperation. The blockade has profound philosophical implications that extend far beyond its immediate humanitarian consequences. It raises fundamental questions about the nature of conflict, the role of the international community in resolving it, and the relationship between conflict and human suffering.

My heart breaks for my people, who have yet again found themselves in the eye of a hurricane caused by an agenda that we take no part in. The international community and our own government have turned a blind eye to our plight, allowing Azerbaijan to continue its illegal blockade of our region and denying us access to critical humanitarian aid. On the 100th day of the Artsakh blockade, I pray that one day we may know peace.

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Melody Seraydarian is a writer from Los Angeles, California. She is an active member of the AYF Hollywood “Musa Ler” Chapter. Melody also interns for the Armenian Bar Association and volunteers for various political causes and campaigns, while working on other writing and design projects.


AW: Local watch party for Armenia/Turkey game to be held in Watertown

Kalantarian Kevo
 Guest Contributor Sports, Announcements 0


WATERTOWN, Mass. — Members of the local Armenian community are invited to a watch party fundraiser to support the Armenian national football team as it faces Turkey in its opening match of the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers.

The highly-anticipated matchup will be taking place at Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Yerevan on Saturday, March 25. 

The official watch party, which is being hosted by Armenian Sports News and the Armenian Para-Athletic Federation, starts at noon at Donohue’s Bar and Grill in Watertown. Tickets are $30.

“I’m excited to help bring the Armenian community in Massachusetts together for this high-stakes match between two rival countries and help support an incredible cause,” said Andre Khatchaturian, founder of Armenian Sports News. 

Armenia’s match against Turkey marks the beginning of the UEFA Euro 2024 qualification tournament. In addition to Armenia and Turkey, Group D includes Wales, Croatia and Latvia. Every nation will play a home-and-away series against each other in Group D for a total of 10 matches. The nations with the two best records in the tournament will automatically advance to the European championship, which will take place next summer in Germany. 

Armenia has never qualified for a European championship, though they enter the qualification tournament with a fresh look and high hopes. Armenia’s match against Turkey will usher in a new era under head coach Oleksandr Petrakov. It will also be the first qualification tournament without former star Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Armenia will look to newcomers like Lucas Zelarayan and Grant Ranos and young stars like Eduard Spertsyan to help them qualify for their first major tournament.

Khatchaturian was inspired to host the watch party after attending various countries’ watch parties in Boston during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

“During the World Cup, I noticed nearly every country in Boston had a home bar to watch their games,” Khatchaturian said. “It really brought the people of each respective country together and created a raucous atmosphere, so it made me think, why can’t Armenians have this? And why can’t we use the opportunity to raise money for a good cause?”

Proceeds from the fundraiser will support the Armenian Para-Athletic Federation in its mission to train wounded veterans from the 2020 Artsakh War to become athletes in a variety of sporting disciplines, including mountain skiing, cross-country skiing, weightlifting and cart racing.

Stas Nazaryan, who lost both of his legs during the Spitak earthquake in 1988 and went on to represent Armenia in six different Paralympics in sailing, wheelchair racing and alpine skiing, is now on the board of the Armenian Para-Athletics Federation and is heavily involved in recruiting and coaching the veterans in Armenia. 

“I try to keep the men involved in sports so they find a new purpose in life and so they don’t feel limited or defined by their disabilities,” Nazaryan said. “Our young Armenian men … it’s not their fault that they are disabled or lost limbs during the war. But the rest of us have a big responsibility. I consider it my responsibility to be able to help those men because I’ve had a disability for 30 years and I’ve been involved in sports for 25 years and due to that, I have plenty of athletic experience. It would be wrong to not share my experiences with the boys.”

Nazaryan’s goal is to help send wounded veterans from the Artsakh War to the 2026 Paralympics in Paris and continue his legacy in para-athletics.

“The number of disabled men in Armenia has unfortunately grown, and a lot of those men are young men. I have plenty to do and a lot to share with the men. It’s a huge joy for me, and I get very motivated when I work with them and coach them.”




PM Pashinyan describes relations with Russia to be “very frank”

Kalantarian Kevo

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 17:14,

YEREVAN, MARCH 14, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said there is no crisis in Armenia’s relations with Russia. He described the relations between Yerevan and Moscow to be very frank.

“Our relations with Russia are very frank, I don’t see a crisis,” Pashinyan said at a press conference. “We speak, discuss, and we record that there are problems, a part of which are objective. These problems aren’t subjective to have a crisis impact on the relations. Our relations are in a normal state, which doesn’t mean that there are no mutual concerns,” the Prime Minister said.

ICRC facilitates transfer of patients from blockaded Nagorno Karabakh

Kalantarian Kevo

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 11:28,

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, ARMENPRESS. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the transfer of another 16 patients from blockaded Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) to Armenia for treatment, the Healthcare Ministry of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) announced Friday.

Another 13 patient, along with their attendants, returned to Nagorno Karabakh after receiving treatment.

“Due to the blocking by Azerbaijan of the only road connecting Artsakh with Armenia, 16 patients from the Republican Medical Center the Republic of Artsakh with serious diseases of the oncology and cardiovascular system as well as pathologies requiring emergency surgical interventions have been transported today, on March 10, to specialized medical institutions of the Republic of Armenia with the mediation and escort of the International Committee of the Red Cross. 13 patients, who had been transferred to Armenia for medical treatment, returned to Artsakh together with an accompanying persons. Scheduled surgeries continue to be suspended in the medical centers of the Republic of Artsakh. 2 children remain in the neonatal and intensive care unit of the Arevik medical centre. 8 patients remain in the intensive care unit of the Republican Medical Centre, 4 of them in critical condition. A total of 169 patients have been transported so far from Artsakh to Armenia with the mediation and support of the International Committee of the Red Cross,” reads the statement released by the Ministry of Healthcare.

Armenia – Azerbaijan: EU deplores fatal incident on Karabakh line of contact

Kalantarian Kevo
March 7 2023

The EU deplores the outbreak of violence on the Karabakh Line of Contact, which led to at least five deaths on 5 March.

The circumstances of the fatal incident should be fully investigated, said Peter Stano, the EU’s lead spokesman for foreign affairs and security policy, in a statement.

“We urge all stakeholders to show restraint in order to prevent any further actions which could further undermine regional stability and threaten the peace process,” says Peter Stano.

Find out more

Press release

Russia guided by “do no harm” principle in South Caucasus – FM Lavrov

Kalantarian Kevo

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 15:19,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Russia is guided by the “do no harm” principle in the South Caucasus, but not all players in the region share this approach, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

“We are guided by the principle that can be described as “do no harm”, and above all the principle of contributing to resolving all emerging problems, which will first of all be based on the principled agreements of the three leaders within the framework of their four statements,” TASS quoted Lavrov as saying at a joint press conference with his Azeri counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov.

The other principle, according to Lavrov, is to ensure mutually beneficial cooperation between countries of the region based on mutual respect. “Not all players are guided by the same principles, especially those who are far from South Caucasus,” the Russian foreign minister said.

Lavrov also commented on the EU civilian mission in Armenia. According to him, the mission “raises many questions in terms of legitimacy.”

“We see how the EU is explicitly abusing its relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan, including by advancing its so-called mission in the territory of Armenia, which raises serious doubts in terms of legitimacy,” Lavrov said.

The mission “raises numerous questions”, according to the Russian FM, including “in terms of its functions, mandate and the added value that it can bring to the efforts aimed at the normalization of the relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.”

“But it is the sovereign choice of the parties with whom to cooperate and with whom not,” FM Lavrov added.

Armenian National Committee of America Endorses Portantino For Congress

Kalantarian Kevo
PASADENA NOW
Feb 21 2023
STAFF REPORT

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) today announced its endorsement of Senator Anthony Portantino for the 30th Congressional District of California.

California’s 30th Congressional District is home to the largest concentration of Armenian-American constituents anywhere in the United State. The district includes part of Pasadena and the communities of Glendale, Burbank, the Foothills, and Little Armenia.

“Senator Portantino’s commitment to the Armenian-American Community is manifest in his unrelenting advocacy for Armenian issues,” said ANCA-WR Board Chair Nora Hovsepian, Esq.

“Senator Portantino has worked closely with the ANCA-WR for many years both as a State Assemblymember and then as State Senator, and we look forward to continuing our close partnership with him in Congress. We are confident that he will be the leading voice for Armenian-Americans in the United States Congress as he follows in the footsteps and example set by Congressman Adam Schiff. While we typically do not issue endorsements this early in a campaign, we make exceptions for candidates who have proven themselves to be champions of our Cause and leaders on our issues, as Senator Portantino most certainly has over a period of many years. We are therefore proud to stand with him from this early stage of the campaign.”

The ANCA – Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian-American community on a broad range of issues.

In 2018, Portantino and other state and local leaders visited Armenia as part of an ANCA-WR-led delegation focused on deepening economic ties between California and Armenia.

As the chair of the senate appropriations committee, Portantino has supported various Armenian-American institutions like the Armenian Relief Society and the Armenian-American Museum, which was allocated $10 million in Governor Newsom’s budget.

During his time as chair of the senate budget subcommittee on Education from 2018-2019, Senator Portantino successfully allocated $500,000 to California’s state budget to fund curricula on the Armenian Genocide.

In 2021, the Senator introduced legislation ensuring that California taxpayers no longer fund the Turkish Government and its continued denial of the Armenian Genocide.

Senate Bill 457, introduced by Senators Anthony Portantino and Scott Wilk, allowed local agencies to divest from Turkey. The bill passed in the California Senate with overwhelming support.

More recently, Portantino and 21 other legislators from California’s Senate and Assembly authored a letter to President Biden regarding Azerbaijan’s ongoing blockade of Artsakh. The letter calls upon the Biden Administration:
• To condemn and call for the unconditional lifting of the blockade by Azerbaijan;
• To allocate humanitarian assistance to Artsakh;
• To halt all U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan under Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act;
• To sanction the Aliyev regime under the Global Magnitsky Act for violating International Humanitarian Law; and
• To introduce a resolution in the United Nations to establish a mission in Artsakh to ensure regional peace and security.

“I am extremely honored to receive the endorsement of the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region. I have many long-standing friendships with ANCA members and grassroots activists, and I have been proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with my friends for human rights, Genocide recognition, condemning the violent Azeri attacks on Arstakh and supporting increased trade and cooperation between California and Armenia. I can think of no better way to begin my campaign to succeed Adam Schiff than with the support of the ANCA.

From my youth, I remember my mother speaking about Armenian orphans in the wake of the Genocide, and I was pleased to have developed friendships in California where I can utilize my mother’s lessons to make a positive difference for a vibrant community. I have been to Armenia and Artsakh four times, and I look forward to my continued support of Armenian American causes and greater community in Congress,” said Portantino.