Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ANCA-WR Endorses L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman for Re-Election in CD4

Kalantarian Kevo
by Contributor

 

 November 8, 2023

 

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

Representatives of the ANCA-WR with L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman


Armenian Organizations Gather for Roundtable Addressing Urgent Community Needs

LOS ANGELES– The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region announced its endorsement of incumbent Councilmember Nithya Raman for re-election to Los Angeles City Council District 4 for the 2024 primary election.

Councilmember Raman has served District 4 since she was first elected in 2020 when she unseated then-incumbent Councilmember David Ryu, marking at that point the first time in 17 years that a challenger had ousted a sitting Los Angeles City Councilmember.

Following her election, Councilmember Raman has taken the initiative to educate herself about issues that are important to her Armenian-American constituents and has participated in many events in our community, including a long-planned roundtable discussion with dozens of Armenian organizational leaders on November 7.

In response to Azerbaijan’s multiple attacks on Armenia and Artsakh since her election, Raman has been vocal with her support of the Armenian people in strongly condemning Azerbaijan’s unprovoked military aggression and genocidal acts of ethnic cleansing and calling on the Biden Administration to sanction the Aliyev regime.

ANCA-WR Board Chair Nora Hovsepian Esq. praised Raman for her strong and unwavering support for the Armenian community and for her commitment to human rights and justice.

L.A. Citycouncilmember Nithya Raman with ANCA-WR Board and staff members

“Councilmember Raman has consistently spoken out against Azerbaijan’s aggression and has worked to raise awareness of the plight of the Armenian people. On a local level, she has worked closely with us to amplify our issues and to safeguard and ensure the successful completion of the Armenian Cultural Foundation’s conversion of the firehouse in Encino to a much needed Armenian community center, a decade after the project was first initiated by Councilmember Paul Krekorian and former Councilmembers Eric Garcetti and Paul Koretz. We are proud to endorse her for re-election and look forward to continuing to work with her to advance our shared priorities,” Hovsepian explained.

“I am deeply honored to receive the endorsement of the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region. Across the vibrant landscape of Council District 4, I take great pride in representing a vital portion of the Armenian American community in the southern San Fernando Valley, Los Feliz and portions of Hollywood, and their thriving institutions at Los Angeles City Hall,” said Councilmember Raman.

“I look forward to continuing to work closely with ANCA-WR and the many inspiring local leaders who are fighting to ensure that Armenian Americans have the support they need here in Los Angeles to sustain and support their community. Especially during this time of unfathomable tragedy in Artsakh, I remain committed to using my voice and platform to uplift the issues facing Armenians and to push for the strongest possible federal response against Azerbaijani aggression,” Raman added.

Los Angeles City Council District 4 ranges from parts of Silver Lake and Los Feliz to the Hollywood Hills, Sherman Oaks to Encino, and parts of Studio City, Van Nuys, and Reseda. The district is home to a large portion of San Fernando Valley’s Armenian-American population, situated in the neighborhoods of Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Encino, and Reseda. District 4 is home to several Armenian-American community institutions, such as Holy Martyrs Armenian Apostolic Church, Holy Martyrs Ferrahian High School, and the planned ACF community center in Encino.

A roundtable with Councilmember Raman allowed local community organizations to address issue of importance

Most recently, on November 7, the ANCA-WR, several of its local chapters, and dozens of leaders from major Armenian community organizations all participated in a roundtable discussion organized by ANCA-WR San Fernando Valley West with  Councilmember Raman.

The meeting offered a platform to delve into pressing issues faced by the local Armenian-American community, including exploring avenues through which the City of Los Angeles can tangibly support the 100,000 Artsakh refugees displaced by the humanitarian crisis caused by Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of the region, ensuring Armenian-American community representation in CD4’s staffing and outreach efforts, and ways to counter growing Armenophobia and anti-Armenian sentiment which have emerged as a public safety concern for our community.

Raman expressed her unequivocal support and solidarity with the Armenian people and reaffirmed her commitment to continue to champion Armenian issues within the Los Angeles City Council.

On local issues, Raman also spoke with participating community representatives about pressing issues including homelessness, the rise in violence and property crimes, pathways for community organizations to pursue public grant opportunities, and other urgent public safety concerns.

Most significantly, Raman reiterated and reassured her ongoing support for the Armenian Cultural Foundation’s ongoing Firehouse construction project which upon completion will serve as a vitally important and much-needed Armenian community center in the Valley. Since her election, she has been instrumental in securing permits and funding for the project and is committed as a friend and ally to the Armenian-American community to continuing her efforts in this regard.

Raman began her political career as a Neighborhood Council member, tapping into her professional background as a Harvard and MIT-educated urban planner working to address the growing homeless population within her community. Galvanizing grassroots support, she demonstrated her commitment to making government systems work for the communities they are charged with serving.

To that end, as a member of Los Angeles City Council, Raman has more than tripled available housing programs in Council District 4 for the homeless, and offered plans to make housing more affordable for residents of CD4, including zoning reforms for more multi-family housing units that are more accessible to public transit and major roads, in order to make communities more affordable, accessible, and less congested.

ANCA WR local chapter leader Garo Kamarian expressed gratitude to Raman for her leadership on matters crucial to the Armenian-American community. The roundtable discussion concluded with an engaging question and answer session, during which Councilmember Raman addressed a variety of questions from attendees.

Participating organizations included representatives from the ANCA-WR, ANCA-San Fernando Valley West, ANCA-North Valley, ANCA-Pasadena, Armenian Youth Federation Sardarabad Chapter, Homenetmen Massis Chapter, the ARF Rosdom and Arshavir Shiragian Gomideh, Hamazkayin Cultural Association Barouyr Sevag Chapter, Holy Martyrs Armenian Church, Holy Martyrs Ferrahian School Board and Administration, Armenian Relief Society, and Armenian Relief Society Anahid Chapter.

Primary elections will take place on March 5th, 2024. The general election will be held on November 5th, 2024. Visit hyevotes.org for more voter information.

Armenia to offer refugee status to displaced Karabakhis

Kalantarian Kevo
eurasianet.org
Oct 30 2023
Lilit Shahverdyan Oct 30, 2023

In a cabinet session on October 26, the Armenian government approved the creation of a "temporary protected status" for displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh. 

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that the new status would facilitate the protection of their rights in the local and international arenas. 

The law automatically applies to the over 100,000 ethnic Armenians of Karabakh who fled to Armenia following Azerbaijan's forceful seizure of the territory on 19-20 September. That offensive – which came after a 9-month blockade that had caused severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine, and other essential supplies – resulted in the disbanding of the local army, the Artsakh Defense Force, on September 21. A few days later, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic itself, which had governed the region for three decades, began the process of formal dissolution. 

The Armenian government is only now beginning to grapple with the issue of the displaced persons' status.

Those eligible for the new temporary protected status are persons registered as residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, persons living in Armenia or abroad whose last registered address was in Nagorno-Karabakh, and persons who were not registered in Nagorno-Karabakh but lived there and were registered by the Armenian Migration and Citizenship Service as entering the country after September 19. 

Those who hold citizenship of a country other than Armenia are not eligible, as their protection is deemed to be under the jurisdiction of the relevant country.

It's not clear whether the new law applies to the roughly 20,000 displaced persons who resettled in Armenia after Azerbaijan captured territories in the 2020 Second Karabakh War that had previously been administered by the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Refugees from Hadrout, Shusha, and other regions have long sought a legal status defining their position but were not granted any after their displacement three years ago.

The other option former Karabakh residents have, Prime Minister Pashinyan said, is to seek Armenian citizenship. 

This remark triggered surprise and offense among many Karabakhis, who thought they already were citizens, since they have been issued Armenian passports since 1999. 

Artyom Sujyan, an advisor to the minister of justice, told CivilNet that the passports were issued under an agreement between the ministers of internal affairs of the Republic of Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic as international travel documents.

"The government has asserted its position in numerous cases, even presented this position in the European Court, that the fact that the people of Nagorno-Karabakh have passports of RA does not mean that they are considered RA citizens," said Sujyan. 

Indeed, Karabakh Armenians' passports bear the special code "070," and they have never enjoyed the political rights of citizens of Armenia such as the vote. 

The new law allows them to apply to become full-fledged Armenian citizens and gain political rights and social entitlements such as a state pension. But doing so will render them ineligible for the social assistance provided to those registered as refugees. 

The new protected status has a term of one year and can be extended through a new decision. The refugee certificates will be issued in January. 

According to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951, which Armenia is a signatory to, all persons recognized as refugees in Armenia will be regarded as such in all other signatory countries as well. 

Artyom Sujyan, the advisor to the justice minister, said that refugee status holders get certain benefits and stronger guarantees in other countries and cannot be expelled or deported from states where they seek refuge.

Meanwhile, the Armenian government has allocated one-off financial assistance of 100,000 AMD ($250) to all displaced persons (including children) from Nagorno-Karabakh and 50,000 AMD (about $125) to cover rental prices and utilities. For November and December, a separate program was approved providing additional monthly payments of 40,000 AMD ($100) to all the refugees. 

Lilit Shahverdyan is a journalist based in Stepanakert. 

https://eurasianet.org/armenia-to-offer-refugee-status-to-displaced-karabakhis

Delegation led by Nikol Pashinyan arrived in Strasbourg

Kalantarian Kevo

 20:57,

YEREVAN, 16 OCTOBER, ARMENPRESS.  The delegation led by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has arrived in Strasbourg.

As "Armenpress" correspondent informs from Strasbourg, meetings are scheduled with the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola , the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić , European People's Party leader Manfred Weber.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will make a speech in the European Parliament.

Harvard professor calls for prevention of cultural genocide in NK after ‘annihilation of millennia of Armenian life’

Kalantarian Kevo

 13:47,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. A Harvard University Professor has called on the world to prevent the “cultural genocide” in Nagorno-Karabakh and to protect “what Armenian culture remains” there.

Christina Maranci, Mashtots Professor of Armenian Studies in the Department of Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations and the Department of the History of Art and Architecture at Harvard University, in an article published in Time magazine, warned that ethnic cleansing tends to be followed by all kinds of cultural destruction, from vandalism to complete effacement from the landscape. Maranci warned that the Azeri authorities would carry out falsifications to erase the Armenian heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Below is the full article published in Time magazine.

“September 2023 saw the tumultuous and traumatic departure of over 100,000 Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. This mass exodus of an indigenous people from their homeland followed nine months of starvation-by-blockade, which culminated in a murderous military assault on Sept. 19.

“These men, women, and children, terrified for their lives, left behind entire worlds: their schools and shops; their fields, flocks, and vineyards; the cemeteries of their ancestors. They also left behind the churches, large and small, ancient and more modern, magnificent and modest, where they had for centuries gathered together and prayed. They also left behind bridges, fortifications, early modern mansions, and Soviet-era monuments, such as the beloved “We are Our Mountains” statues. What will happen now to those places? There is no question, actually.

“We know well what happened in Julfa, in Nakhichevan: a spectacular landscape of 16th-century Armenian tombstones was erased from the face the earth by Azerbaijan over a period of years. We know what happened to the Church of the Mother of God in Jebrayil and the Armenian cemetery in the village of Mets Tagher (or Böyük Taglar)—both were completely scrubbed from the landscape using earthmoving equipment like bulldozers. And we know what happened to the Cathedral of Ghazanchetsots in Shushi, which was, in turn, shelled, vandalized with graffiti, “restored” without its Armenian cupola, and now rebranded as a “Christian” temple. The brazenness of these actions, as journalist Joshua Kucera wrote in May 2021, “suggests a growing confidence that [Baku] can remake their newly retaken territories in whatever image they want.”

“The annihilation of millennia of Armenian life in Arstakh was enabled by the inaction and seeming indifference of those who might have prevented it. The United States and the European Union speak loftily of universal human rights, but did nothing for nine months while the people of Arstakh were denied food, medicine, fuel, and other vital supplies. They did nothing to enforce the order of the International Court of Justice demanding back in February 2023 that Azerbaijan end its blockade. That inaction clearly emboldened Azerbaijan to attack—just as it will encourage others to do the same elsewhere.

“It’s important to understand the stakes of this kind of cultural erasure: These monuments and stones testify to the generations of Armenians who worshipped in and cared about them. To destroy them, is to erase not only a culture, but a people. As art historian Barry Flood observed in 2016 about the destruction of cultural heritage by the so-called Islamic state since 2014, “the physical destruction of communal connective tissues—the archives, artifacts, and monuments in which complex micro-histories were instantiated—means that there are now things about these pasts that cannot and never will be known.” The Julfa cemetery is a tragic example of such loss. If history is any indication, ethnic cleansing tends to be followed by all kinds of cultural destruction, from vandalism to complete effacement from the landscape. The latter tactic will be used with smaller, lesser-known churches. It will be a sinister way to remove less famous Armenian monuments, which will serve the narrative that there were no Armenians there in the early modern period to begin with.

“Falsification will also occur, in which Armenian monuments are provided with newly created histories and contexts. The 13th-century monasteries of Dadivank (in the Kalbajar district) and Gandzasar (in the Martakert province), both magnificent and characteristic examples of medieval Armenian architecture, have already been rebranded as “ancient Caucasian Albanian temples.” Expect these and other sites to become venues for conferences and workshops to highlight “ancient Caucasian Albanian culture.” As for the countless Armenian inscriptions on these buildings, khachkars, and tombstones: these, as President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev announced in February 2021, are Armenian forgeries, and will be “restored” to their “original appearance” (presumably through gouging, sandblasting, or removing of Armenian inscribed stones, as was done in the 1980s).

“Finally, there will be a celebration of the “multiculturalism” of Azerbaijan. “Come to Karabakh, home of ancient Christians,” people will say. “Please ignore the gouged-out letters on that stone wall, for it is not an Armenian inscription. There were never Armenians here!" Except for soldiers and invaders, like the ones depicted in a reprehensible museum in Baku, featuring waxen figures of dead Armenian soldiers—a sight so dehumanizing that an international human rights organizations, including Azerbaijani activists, cried out for its closure.

“This is how cultural genocide plays out. A little more than 100 years ago was the Armenian Genocide waged by the Ottoman Empire, followed by largescale looting, vandalization, and destruction of Armenian sites across what is now modern-day Turkey. The prospect of a second cultural genocide is now on the table. Except now, Armenians will watch the spectacle unfold online, enduring the trauma site by site and monument by monument.

In 2020, Armenian activists called for international monitoring of vulnerable sites in Nagorno-Karabakh by UNESCO and other heritage organizations. Nothing happened. Now is the time for the world to protect what Armenian culture remains in Nagorno-Karabakh. If we don’t, what culture will be next to go?”

EU could review Azerbaijan ties if NK crisis worsens – Reuters

Kalantarian Kevo

 12:43, 4 October 2023

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS. The European Union could review ties, including financial aid, with Azerbaijan and sanction individuals if the situation worsens following Baku's military takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh, Reuters reported citing an EU diplomatic service paper.

According to Reuters, the paper said the EU could reconsider political engagement, financial assistance and sectoral cooperation, without being more specific. It does not mention Azerbaijan's energy sector.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and many leaders of the 27-nation bloc condemned the operation. But diplomats say there are disagreements among EU countries over whether to take firmer diplomatic or political action. The EU's search for a response is complicated by its moves to rely more on Azerbaijani oil and gas as it has moved away from Russian energy due to Moscow's war in Ukraine.

The paper, prepared by the European External Action Service and seen by Reuters, outlines further possible reaction but is cautious in tone.

It says that if the situation deteriorates, the EU could consider a review of its relations with Azerbaijan "on the basis of a gradual approach".

"In case serious human rights violations are committed, restrictive measures against individuals responsible for such violations could be envisaged," the paper said.

A diplomat from a country favouring a tougher stance toward Azerbaijan, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the document "reflects a balance of different positions of member states: We want more, but others do not want anything at all."

Diplomats say France, Germany and the Netherlands are among those pushing for strong signals of disapproval toward Baku while others such as Austria and Hungary are at the opposite end of the spectrum.

A second diplomat said the EU may not end up doing much more than condemning Azerbaijan's action and instead focus on supporting Armenia, economically and possibly with military aid.

The paper suggested the EU consider "political and economic actions to further support the democratically elected authorities of Armenia, including in the area of security and resilience, and the continuation of the democratic reforms".

France to discuss defense needs with Armenia for arms supplies – FM Colonna

Kalantarian Kevo

 10:47, 6 October 2023

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 6, ARMENPRESS. France will start dialogue with Armenia to identify its defense needs, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has said.

“Dialogue will begin with Armenia to see their needs,” Colonna said in an interview with France 2 channel when asked on possible arms supplies to Armenia.

Colonna French arms supplies to Armenia during her Yerevan visit earlier this week.

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1121349.html?fbclid=IwAR11DK8VR48mT_2bz-iG5xOSG9nXdUG9NDBiiGdRDDw3ReLB8bLCPUw-lb8

U.S. ‘notes’ Azerbaijan pulling out of peace talks with Armenia in Spain

Kalantarian Kevo

 11:31, 5 October 2023

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. The United States Department of State has said it has taken note of Azeri leader Ilham Aliyev refusing to participate in the EU-mediated peace talks with Armenia in Granada, Spain.

“We note that President Aliyev will not participate in the proposed meeting in Granada.  And we’ve consistently been clear though that dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan is essential to resolving this longstanding conflict.  This is something that the Secretary and others here continue to be deeply engaged on and we will continue to work on this,” U.S. State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said at a press briefing.

Asked whether or not Washington could deliver arms to Armenia after France recently signaled arms supplies to Yerevan, Patel said: “I have no change in posture to announce.  Again, we continue to believe that dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan continues to be incredibly important to finding a dignified and durable peace for the South Caucasus.  It’s why the Secretary has engaged on this so personally, continuing to speak with counterparts and interlocutors in both countries.”

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev cancelled on October 4 a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan which was due to take place on Thursday in the Spanish city of Granada. The talks were to be held on the sidelines of an EU summit. European Council President Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz were to take part in the meeting.

After Aliyev opted out, PM Pashinyan expressed regret that the meeting wouldn’t take place but said he would nevertheless visit Granada to have other meetings.

‘Modern-day saviors’ protest arrest of Armenian leader

Kalantarian Kevo
Aleteia
Sept 30 2023

John Burger – published on 09/30/23

AChristian enclave in the Caucasus is about to come to an end, as thousands of Armenians flee Nagorno-Karabakh. The self-declared Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) was annexed last week by the country that surrounds it, Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has taken control of the territory where Armenians have lived for more than a millennium. 

As an exodus of refugees floods into Armenia, that nation’s Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, said that in the end he does not expect any Armenians to be left in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Pashinyan claimed that forces of mainly Muslim Azerbaijan have engaged in ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh’s 120,000 ethnic Armenians. About half of them have fled the country so far. 

“Although they are promising to protect the Armenian population, no one believes them,” Dr. Tom Catena, medical director of Mother of Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan, told Aleteia.

Dr. Catena has followed events in the region since he won the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity in 2017. The prize was initiated in 2015 on behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide. 

A US native, Dr. Catena was one of the Aurora laureates and others who signed a September 29 letter condemning Azerbaijan’s arrest on Wednesday of Ruben Vardanyan, who headed the separatist government of Artsakh from November 2022 until February. Vardanyan, a co-founder of the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, has been charged with financing terrorism.

“I’ve gotten to know Ruben over the past six years and can attest to his fine character and multitude of good deeds,” Catena told Aleteia. “Azerbaijan starts teaching hatred of Armenians from primary school, so they are putting out plenty of nonsense about Ruben.”

Western governments have urged Azerbaijan to allow international observers into Nagorno-Karabakh to monitor its treatment of the local population, but access has not yet been given, according to Vatican News. 

Vatican News also reported that the Azeri assault on the enclave resulted in destruction or damage to residential homes and a school. 

“They were bombing us hard. Children ran into the school,” said a witness. “The Azerbaijan then attacked the school using a mortar gun. Our children were injured there.”

Noticeably absent from the scene was Russia. The New York Times pointed out that Russia, Armenia’s traditional protector and ally since 1992 in a Moscow-led collective security organization, sent peacekeepers to the area in 2020 and promised to keep open the only road linking the enclave to Armenia.

“But Moscow, distracted by its war in Ukraine and eager for closer economic and political ties with Azerbaijan and its ally Turkey, did not intervene this year when Azerbaijan closed that route, cutting off supplies of food, fuel, and medicine,” The Times said. “The Kremlin ordered its peacekeepers to stand aside during last week’s lightning assault on Artsakh’s thin defenses.”

The letter signed by Aurora laureates, who include former presidents Oscar Arias of Costa Rica, Mary Robinson of Ireland, and Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico, called the arrest of Vardanyan “both outrageous and politically motivated.”

The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative seeks to empower modern-day saviors to offer life and hope to those in urgent need of humanitarian aid and to continue the cycle of giving internationally.

“Ruben Vardanyan is being held captive because of his support for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and their right to a democratic way of life,” said the letter. “The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative to which Ruben has given so much, has for the past eight years honored and supported the work of those who fight for basic human rights, often at the risk of their own lives, all around the world. The irony is that Ruben now finds himself a victim of the same persecution as those he has sought to help as a human rights defender.”

Armenia to send bus convoy to help forcibly displaced NK residents with transportation

Kalantarian Kevo

 12:28,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government has mobilized 35 large buses in Goris to help those leaving Nagorno-Karabakh who don’t have a car.

Deputy PM Tigran Khachatryan said on September 28 that Nagorno-Karabakh colleagues reported that there are multiple people who don’t have a car to travel to Armenia. “We have an agreement that we will support these people by providing buses. We have an agreement with Russian peacekeepers that they will accompany the buses,” he said, adding that the buses are now on stand-by waiting for the heavy traffic jam on the road to decrease and head to Stepanakert.

The Goris-Stepanakert road is heavily congested because all lines of the road are full of vehicles with forcibly displaced residents of NK traveling from Stepanakert to Kornidzor.