Author: Kevo Kalantarian

On 106th anniversary of Armenian genocide, a Bay Area-born film producer fights to spread the truth

Kevo Kalantarian
SanFrancisco Chronicle
Alex Arabian
Director Terry George (left), producer Eric Esrailian, and actors Oscar Isaac and Christian Bale on the set of the 2016 film “The Promise.”Photo: Courtesy Eric Esrailian

Between church in Potrero Hill and Armenian Saturday school in Ocean View, Eric Esrailian frequently watched movies at the Kabuki Theater in Japantown while growing up in San Francisco. Religion, education and the arts have played major roles in the physician, Emmy-nominated film producer and activist’s life.

“I love storytelling,” the UC Berkeley alumnus told The Chronicle in a recent video interview from his home in Los Angeles.

The fourth pillar of his development is his family’s story. Like many first-generation Armenian Americans in the Bay Area, the trauma of a long-denied history bears a heavy influence on Esrailian, whose great-grandparents escaped the Armenian genocide.

Saturday, April 24, marks the 106th anniversary of its start. An estimated 1.5 million Armenians died from 1915 to 1918 under the Ottoman Empire, which became the modern republic of Turkey. The Turkish government continues to deny that a genocide took place.

The genocide was officially recognized by the Library of Congress in 2020. President Biden is expected to become the first sitting U.S. president to declare the events a genocide on Saturday, according to the New York Times.

Last year, Armenia’s neighbor Azerbaijan attacked Artsakh (a breakaway state also known as the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh). Artsakh’s predominantly Armenian population has periodically defended itself against Turkic-Azerbaijani ethnic cleansing in the region since 1921.

Supporters of the Armenian people view this as an extension of the Armenian genocide.

Film producer Eric Esrailian Photo: Courtesy Eric Esrailian

“Turkey and Azerbaijan have said forever that they’re one people, two countries, and we’re just in the way,” Esrailian said.

Esrailian is on the front lines of combating denial to prevent future genocides. His weapons of choice are film and mass media, which have the power to reach non-Armenians. After all, there are only 50,000 diasporic Armenians in the Bay Area, 486,000 in the U.S., and 11 million remaining in the world.

“Armenians know our story, and we’ve been told our story many times with a sledgehammer to the point that it’s in our soul,” Esrailian said. “But what we don’t have is the random person in Peoria, Ill., or in Lyon, France, or in Kiev or in Jerusalem knowing our story.”

Armenians are familiar with the heroic resistance at Musa Dagh. For 53 days in 1915, Ottoman soldiers shelled Armenian civilians for refusing deportation until they were saved by French Allied forces.

It wasn’t until 2016, at the Toronto International Film Festival, that these events were depicted onscreen in a U.S. feature film.

Esrailian’s first movie, “The Promise,” stars Christian Bale, Oscar Isaac, Charlotte Le Bon and Angela Sarafyan and was directed by Terry George (“Hotel Rwanda”). The film follows a love triangle involving a medical student (Isaac), a dance instructor (Le Bon) and her boyfriend (Bale), an American photojournalist, interrupted by the onset of the Armenian genocide.

Christian Bale and Charlotte Le Bon in “The Promise.”Photo: Jose Haro, Open Road Films

Esrailian’s late mentor, the philanthropist Kirk Kerkorian, ignited his interest in making “The Promise” in 2015.

“He really lit a fire for me,” Esrailian said. “I’ll be eternally grateful.”

Kerkorian, former owner of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, independently funded the film with a $100 million budget. His artistic vision came with a bold political strategy.

“We approached this as a project to get the genocide recognized by the United States government,” Esrailian said. “Everything else was secondary.”

The cast and crew were fully on board, including director George, who grew up in Belfast during the Troubles, a violent conflict between Catholics and Protestants.

“It’s inherited anguish and inherited trauma from over a period of a century, and if you don’t acknowledge (the genocide), then that festers,” George told The Chronicle by phone.

Oscar Isaac (center) in “The Promise.” The actor advocated for the recognition of the Armenian genocide after the movie came out. Photo: Jose Haro, Open Road Films

After the film’s release, Isaac, who was proud to play an Armenian, became an advocate for the genocide’s recognition.

“It’s one thing to have this as part of your history, but another to have it be completely denied by a large part of the world,” Isaac told the Independent in 2017.

A companion documentary, “Intent to Destroy” (2017), directed by Joe Berlinger, explores the ramifications of genocide denial. “Both films are really meant to be seen together,” Esrailian said.

The documentary argues that the genocide’s denial inspired the Holocaust. At the end of Hitler’s Obersalzberg Speech in 1939, he shouted, “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”

“A genocide denied is a genocide repeated,” said Gev Iskajyan, a board member of the Armenian National Committee of America, Western Region.

“Intent to Destroy” was scored by Serj Tankian, frontman of the metal band System of a Down. Tankian began using music as activism when he realized the U.S. had withheld acknowledgment of the genocide to preserve relations with Turkey.

System of a Down vocalist Serj Tankian scored “Intent to Destroy,” the companion documentary to “The Promise.”Photo: Francesco Castaldo, Mondadori Portfolio 2017

“It made me realize that there are so many more truths buried for nefarious reasons,” Tankian told The Chronicle via email.

After 15 years without releasing new music, System of a Down dropped two songs last year to provide relief for Artsakh. “Protect the Land” and “Genocidal Humanoidz” confront the Azerbaijani attacks, Turkey’s policies, and misinformation and denial perpetuated by the governments’ public relations firms.

As “Intent to Destory” discusses, PR firms have blocked the portrayal of the genocide in U.S. entertainment and academia for decades.

For instance, Ahmet Ertegun, the founder of Atlantic Records, donated $3.5 million to Princeton University in 1994 to ensure that the genocide was denied in the curriculum of its Near Eastern Studies department, according to “The Last Sultan,” (2011) an Ertegun biography by Robert Greenfield. “Intent to Destroy” explains that Ahmet’s father, Mehmet, former Turkish ambassador to the U.S., stopped MGM from adapting Franz Werfel’s novel “The Forty Days of Musa Dagh” into a film in the 1930s. It was also blocked in 1968 as well as in 2006, when Sylvester Stallone tried.

When “The Promise” and “Intent to Destroy” were theatrically released in 2017, a Turkish-backed studio released “The Ottoman Lieutenant,” which starred Ben Kingsley and Josh Hartnett and denied the genocide.

“At the time that we were releasing, there was a huge campaign by Turkey to undermine the film,” George said.

But “The Promise” trumped “The Ottoman Lieutenant” in international box office performance, grossing $12.4 million versus the latter film’s $240,978.

An ANCA-organized screening in 2017 added pressure on Congress to formally acknowledge the genocide through the passing of House Resolution 296 in 2019.

“Everyone has a part to play,” Iskajyan said. “From the artists who tell our stories to the grassroots activists who have been tirelessly pursuing justice for the Armenian genocide for generations.”

Esrailian used all of the proceeds from “The Promise” to set up two nonprofits, both at UCLA: the Promise Institute for Human Rights and the Promise Armenian Institute, whose latest endeavor, Operation Armenia, provides relief to Artsakh.

Esrailian recently partnered with Discovery to release a new slate of documentaries on its streaming service Discovery+, beginning with last month’s “Francesco,” which includes Pope Francis’ efforts to spread genocide awareness.

Esrailian co-produced the Pope Francis documentary “Francesco,” which includes the pope’s efforts to spread awareness of the Armenian genocide. Photo: Discovery+

Discovery Education has also created documentaries about dark periods in world history, using “The Promise” as their introduction to the Armenian genocide for U.S. high school curricula.

Bay Area Armenians are not immune to the conflict overseas. Last year, Esrailian’s childhood church, St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic, was burned down, and his Saturday school, KZV Armenian School, was vandalized with Azerbaijani threats in graffiti.

Last year, the House introduced Resolution 1203, demanding the U.S. recognize Artsakh and its right to self-determination, and Resolution 1165, a call to sanction Azerbaijan for war crimes.

In a February letter, 100 members of Congress from both parties, supported by the ANCA and Esrailian, called on the Biden administration to acknowledge the Armenian genocide, recognize and provide relief for Artsakh, sanction Azerbaijian, and stop providing military aid to the country.

Biden’s acknowledgment Saturday would make the other demands easier. Although only an estimated 29 countries have recognized the genocide, this is a monumental step toward global recognition.

“For my part, I’ll try to do whatever I can … to draw attention to (the genocide),” Esrailian said. “(You) can’t just complain. You have to do something. And that’s the code that I live by.”

“The Promise”: Available to stream on Netflix. 

“Intent to Destroy”: Available to rent on various services, including Amazon Video. 

“Protect the Land” and “Genocidal Humanoidz”: Check out System of a Down’s music videos on YouTube. Donation link to the Aid for Artsakh Campaign inside.

Artsakh reports 6 new cases of COVID-19 in one day

Kevo Kalantarian

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 12:05,

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS. 6 new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in the Republic of Artsakh in the past 24 hours.

131 coronavirus tests have been carried out on April 20, the ministry of healthcare of Artsakh said.

Currently, 32 infected patients receive treatment in hospitals.

On April 19 the vaccinations against COVID-19 have launched in Artsakh.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Situation gets tense near Armenia PM’s governmental mansion, police and citizens clash

Kevo Kalantarian
News.am, Armenia
Situation gets tense near Armenia PM's governmental mansion, police and citizens clash
22:12, 21.04.2021

The situation near the governmental mansion got tense when police officers and demonstrators clashed after the demonstrators threw eggs at the governmental mansion.

Police quickly went into the crowd to apprehend those who had thrown the eggs, but the demonstrators tried not to let them apprehend the people, after which they got into a clash. Nevertheless, the red beret police officers sat people down in the police car. The demonstrators surrounded the police car and demanded that the police release them, but the police drove away.

During the clash, drivers passing by the area expressed support to the citizens by honking.

Today citizens gathered near the governmental mansion and held a demonstration in support of the residents of Syunik Province whom Pashinyan had threatened to punish.

Alumna’s Book Shines Light on Forgotten History of Armenian Genocide

Kevo Kalantarian
Daily Bruin, California
April 16 2021

Alumna Kay Mouradian wrote a novel and released a documentary describing her mother’s experiences during the Armenian Genocide, both titled “My Mother’s Voice.” (Courtesy of Kay Mouradian)

Kay Mouradian’s mother survived the Armenian genocide at the age of 14.

However, while Mouradian heard stories of her mother’s experiences as a child, the alumna wouldn’t really learn about the details of the horrific event until she began writing a book on the subject called “My Mother’s Voice” in her 50s.

The novel and accompanying documentary focus on her mother’s life during the Armenian genocide, which Mouradian researched for 10 years in libraries, book shops and other countries. Mouradian won the Armenian Genocide Awareness Legacy Award at the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region’s annual awards banquet on Feb. 24 for spreading awareness of the topic and said she hopes a personal focus on the Armenian genocide will help people, especially teachers, remember a part of history that is often forgotten.

Mouradian said the idea for the book first came from her mother, who was suffering from severe dementia. As her condition got worse, she told Mouradian to write a book about her life and the Armenian genocide. However, Mouradian was teaching throughout Los Angeles and had plans to go to Beijing to teach overseas at the time.

But her plans changed – Mouradian never went to Beijing and ended up writing the novel instead. Mouradian said she wanted to help the Armenian genocide retain its place in history, and as a former teacher, she wanted to give other educators a more accessible way of understanding the genocide.

The Armenian genocide began in 1915, during which the Ottoman Empire – which includes modern-day Turkey – committed genocide of more than 1.5 million Armenians residing in the empire. However, Mouradian said people sometimes are unaware of the mass killings since Turkey refuses to acknowledge the genocide, and the word “genocide” did not exist until 30 years after the Armenian genocide.

“I thought to myself, ‘How do I make it easy for teachers to get a grasp of what happened in 1915 to make their job easier and to get their interest involved?’” Mouradian said.

Mouradian researched the genocide using a variety of sources including the history and memoir sections in used bookstores and international trips. At the bookstores, Mouradian would open books to the table of contents and buy them if she saw the word “Constantinople” in it. She also went to UCLA libraries for books on World War I and got in touch with the Library of Congress manuscript division for 10 microreels.

During three trips to Turkey and two to Syria, she searched for her mother’s rescuers, whose descendants remembered her mother decades after the end of the genocide, she said. She also traveled the routes her mother took from her village to Aleppo and through the Syrian desert.

However, Mouradian added to the complexity of “My Mother’s Voice” when she decided to create a documentary with the same name and focus as the novel. Mouradian said she wanted to create the documentary to help students understand the Armenian genocide via a more accessible medium.

Mark Friedman, a sound designer for Moriah Films, helped Mouradian make the documentary after meeting her through mutual friends. The documentary features Mouradian’s voice over archive footage and photographs, as well as live footage of Mouradian herself. Friedman said the focus on Mouradian’s mother’s life created an opportunity for viewers to personally connect with the story.

“When you tell (people) that a million and a half people were murdered (in the Armenian genocide) … that number is so large that they can’t identify with it,” Friedman said. “But when you follow somebody’s life specifically, I think it has a lot of meaning and really affects people in the way we wanted them to be affected.”

Mary Mason, the director of teaching and learning in Glendale, met Mouradian while working with her on the Genocide Education Project training committee for district teachers. Mason said she thinks the documentary is a useful educational tool because it is personal and appropriate for kids to watch and talk about but does not oversimplify the topic.

“It puts a very real face on something that happened 100 years ago, and I think that’s important in the bigger context,” Mason said.

“My Mother’s Voice” is currently pending approval of the curriculum review committee of Glendale, which would result in the distribution of class sets for middle schools. Mouradian said integrating her work into educational systems is the most important aspect of her work because it ensures future generations will learn about events that are currently left out of textbooks.

“The Armenian genocide does deserve its rightful place in history,” Mouradian said.

https://dailybruin.com/2018/03/08/alumnas-book-shines-light-on-forgotten-history-of-armenian-genocide 
And reprinted in

Arabic Language Armenian Genocide Source Materials Now Available On Armenian National Institute Website

Kevo Kalantarian
Daily Journal

  • Apr 17, 2021

WASHINGTON, /PRNewswire/ — The Armenian National Institute (ANI) announced the launch of an Arabic version of its widely consulted website on the Armenian Genocide, which will continue to be expanded over the coming months. The site can be accessed at arabic.armenian-genocide.org or through the main ANI site at https://www.armenian-genocide.org/.

The ANI website contains extensive records on the history and affirmation of the World War I-era Armenian Genocide, when 1.5 million Armenians fell victim to the Young Turk government's policy of mass deportation and annihilation. The initial release of the Arabic language site includes the Chronology of the Genocide, FAQs, original documentation, archival material, references on international affirmation, and contemporaneous photo evidence, as well as links to the online Armenian Genocide Museum of America, legal documents, focused exhibits, teaching resources and more.

"These resources have not been available to Arabic speakers in the past, yet the role many Arab states played in mitigating the effects of the Armenian Genocide and the dangers posed by the Turkish government's efforts to deny and rewrite that history are as alive as ever. We know the consequences of Turkey's censorship on its own history and are pleased to provide these resources to Arabic reading scholars, teachers, and the public," stated ANI Chairman Van Krikorian. "During the Genocide, of course the Ottoman Turkish government used Arabic script, including to record the government's own post-war trials where Turkish leaders were convicted of planning and executing the extermination of the Armenian race. We will be adding original Arabic script documents in time as well. Most of all, we thank all those who contributed to this project's development and look forward to its expansion," Krikorian noted.

Large diaspora communities formed across the Arab world after the Armenian Genocide. In contrast to the destruction of ancient Armenian centers across Ottoman Turkey, newly-formed Middle East communities created by survivors and refugees recovered and flourished over the following decades, and substantial Armenian communities continue to exist across the region. Countries like Lebanon and Syria are also among the list of 30 countries that have formally recognized the Armenian Genocide.

Among the earliest critics of the Young Turk policy of genocide was the Sharif of Mecca, Al-Husayn ibn 'Ali, who called upon fellow Muslims to protect, help, and defend the deported Armenians. This remarkable pronouncement by the guardian of the Holy Places of Islam was largely heeded and stood in sharp contrast to the proclamation of jihad by the religious leadership in the Ottoman capital of Istanbul.

The ANI site also includes links to memorials around the world, including to the "Armenian Genocide Memorial Church" in Der Zor, Syria which was intentionally destroyed by terrorist forces coordinating with the Erdogan regime in Turkey in 2014.

Once again, a first-rate team of supporters and volunteers helped ANI's professional staff realize the production of the Arabic language version of the ANI website. Genny Chekerjian took on the task of translating substantial portions of the large quantity of information posted on the site. Hagop Vartivarian provided editorial support, while Vatche Sarkissian closely collaborated with Chekerjian to provide as accurate a rendition of vital records as possible, and coordinated with longtime ANI webmaster Mark Malkasian to upload the site in the Arabic script.

"The continuous expansion of the ANI website and its translations have been the collaborative project of numerous supporters across the Armenian diaspora and our non-Armenian friends who appreciate the importance of making the critical records on Armenian Genocide affirmation easily accessible," stated ANI Director Dr. Rouben Adalian. "From across the continents they have shared their time, talent, and encouragement. The Arabic version is a work in progress, and we welcome constructive comments from scholars and the community of concerned individuals working to defend human rights and protect human life everywhere in the world."

ANI maintains a broad range of online resources about the Armenian Genocide. The online museum is an interactive site allowing visitors to proceed at their own pace and includes a very popular introductory video. Several digital exhibits released by ANI since the centennial of the Armenian Genocide cover many aspects of the experience of the Armenian people starting in 1915. The ANI digital exhibits are based on photographic collections from U.S. archival repositories and document the extensive humanitarian intervention of American volunteers, who arrived in Armenia and across the Middle East in the immediate aftermath of the genocide.

The leading institutional website on the Armenian Genocide since its inception 24 years ago, the ANI website annually registers millions of hits. Widely consulted by educators and students, the site is also a major source of information in preparation of April 24 commemorative activities utilized by journalists, government officials, and the public. The creation of the Arabic language ANI site follows the earlier successful launch of the Turkish and Spanish language versions of the site. More information on the Armenian Genocide can also be ascertained via the ANI Twitter handle.

Founded in 1997, the Armenian National Institute (ANI) is a 501(c)(3) educational charity based in Washington, D.C., and is dedicated to the study, research, and affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.

NR# 2021-01

View original content: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arabic-language-armenian-genocide-source-materials-now-available-on-armenian-national-institute-website-301270951.html

SOURCE Armenian Assembly of America

Armenia ex-defense minister tells army generals and officers to get ready to be ‘sentenced’

Kevo Kalantarian
News.am, Armenia

Armenia ex-defense minister tells army generals and officers to get ready to be 'sentenced'

Armenia ex-defense minister tells army generals and officers to get ready to be 'sentenced'

11:55, 18.04.2021

Former Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia Artak Zakaryan posted the following on his Facebook page:

“Back on November 12, 2020, I warned Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia Onik Gasparyan that after a while Nikol [Nikol Pashinyan] will throw the whole blame for the war on him. At the time, Gasparyan didn’t accept this, better yet, he didn’t believe me and said he and the other army generals are ready to be awarded and be brought to justice.

Yesterday Nikol, through former Secretary of the Security Council of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Samvel Babayan, accused the army’s command and General Staff on Armenian Public Television. Moreover, he blamed them for everything.

The same day, Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan sharply refuted the facts and said Nikol wasn’t the Commander-in-Chief during the war.

According to Nikol, he isn’t to blame for anything and is a saint and that everyone else is to blame. These are the fruits of populism.

Get ready to be ‘sentenced’, army generals and officers. As a result of all this, it will turn out that you and all former army generals and ministers are the only ones to blame for the incited war and embarrassing defeat.

Many people who have a glorious past in the military and are dedicated to homeland defense have been criticized for the past three years. Now it turns out that they are traitors and saboteurs and must be brought to justice. What is ridiculous is that all this is due to the whim of one person.

P.S.: One may ask what I was doing in the office of the chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. At Mr. Gasparyan’s invitation (I think Nikol knew about it), we were discussing the situation that had been created and the ways to get out of it. I had proposed to have Nikol, who was hiding in bunkers, to personally hold a meeting with the representatives of all political parties, answer everyone’s questions and immediately resign.”

Deputy PM rules out ‘Zangezur corridor’ discussion at trilateral task force

Kevo Kalantarian

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 17:02,

YEREVAN, APRIL 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan has ruled out any discussion on a “Zangezur corridor” at the trilateral working group on the unblocking of economic and transport communications – one of the terms of the Karabakh armistice.

“The word ‘corridor’ is commonly used as in transportation route, but I am stressing in this regard that no such issue will be discussed even as a transportation route,” Grigoryan told reporters in response to observations that Azerbaijan is making statements on a “Zangezur corridor”.

He said that the trilateral working group is discussing options of unblocking transport communication, the legal regulations of which will be carried out exclusively upon the CIS legal framework, treaties and conventions which are in force and to which Armenia is a signatory of. “I don’t have a discussion in any other format in that platform.”

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Turkish press: Turkey’s FM urges Canada to review defense industry restrictions

Kevo Kalantarian
 ISTANBUL DEFENSE 
APR 12, 2021 6:43 PM GMT+3
In this photo taken with a drone, smoke rises from houses burnt by Armenian residents as they leave the Armenian-occupied region of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Nov. 14, 2020. (AP Photo)

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu called on his Canadian counterpart to review Ottawa’s defense industry restrictions against Turkey, diplomatic sources said Monday.

In a phone call, Çavuşoğlu and his Canadian counterpart Marc Garneau spoke about bilateral relations, with Turkey voicing its "discomfort" over the embargo, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

"He conveyed concerns about Canada's stance on defense industry restrictions imposed on Turkey and requested their review," the sources said.

The parts under embargo include camera systems for Baykar armed drones. Export licenses were suspended in 2019 during Turkish military activities in Syria. Restrictions were then eased but reimposed during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Canadian arms control group Project Ploughshares said airstrike video released by Baku at the time indicated drones were equipped with imaging and targeting systems made by L3Harris Wescam, a Canada-based unit of L3Harris Technologies Inc.

Turkey's foreign ministry at the time described it as a double standard and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said it was not in line with the spirit of their alliance.

Turkey's military exports to its ally Azerbaijan jumped six-fold last year. Sales of drones and other military equipment rose to $77 million in September alone before fighting broke out in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, data showed.

Last October, Canada suspended exports of some defense products to Turkey over allegations that its technology was being used in the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

In 1991, the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, internationally recognized as Azerbaijani territory, and seven adjacent regions.

When new clashes erupted on Sept. 27, 2020, the Armenian army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces and violated humanitarian cease-fire agreements.

During a six-week conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages, while at least 2,802 of its soldiers were killed.

On Nov. 10, 2020, the two countries signed a Russian-brokered agreement to end the fighting and work toward a comprehensive resolution.

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 Nagorno-Karabakh.

The cease-fire is seen as a victory for Azerbaijan and a defeat for Armenia, whose armed forces withdrew in line with the agreement.




Russia records 9,150 daily coronavirus cases

Kevo Kalantarian

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 14:25, 9 April, 2021

YEREVAN, APRIL 9, ARMENPRESS. Russia’s coronavirus cases rose by 9,150 to 4,623,984 in the past 24 hours, TASS reports citing the anti-coronavirus crisis center.

According to data from the crisis center, the coronavirus growth rate is 0.2%.

In particular, 703 coronavirus cases were recorded in St. Petersburg in the past day, 594 in the Moscow region, 249 in the Nizhny Novgorod region, 242 in the Rostov region and 200 in the Samara region.

There are currently 273,037 active coronavirus cases in Russia.


Sports: Interview: Armenia coach Joaquin Caparros on a unique experience

Kevo Kalantarian
Sport, Spain
April 8 2021
Interview: Armenia coach Joaquin Caparros on a unique experience

Joaquin Caparros (Utrera, 1955), said that when he sat down with Armenia to talk about taking over their national team he felt good things. There was a lot of work to do but a good sporting structure, and a group of players who leave everything out there on the pitch. But nobody could have told him he would live through a war – Armenia and Azerbaijan, for the Alto Karabaj region, with dozens of dead. Nor that the experience he has stored could save him from the emotional impact of war.

Luckily Armenian football has enjoyed better times. They are in Group B of the Nations League and ahead of Germany in World Cup 2022 qualifying. Three wins from three games and all without star man Mkhitaryan. SPORT interviewed the Spaniard.

A few days have passed since the media spotlight was directly on Armenia. How are you feeling?

We are very happy, because it was unthinkable to be in the situation we are in now (leaders of their group). Although we were on a good streak and had been promoted to League B of the Nations League, nobody expected this. Even so, there is still a lot more to do. And more so in a group where there are teams like Germany, Iceland or Romania. There’s a long way to go, but we are very happy with the work so far, of course.

I suppose this would not have happened without a good structure behind it … What are the keys to success?

Well, this is everyone's job, from the president who takes charge of the Federation and put Ginés Meléndez in the position of sporting director, through to the coaching staff. We do great teamwork, everyone does their bit so that Armenian football takes one more step forward. Then there is a great squad, who are all very committed. They are guys who feel their nation, their national team, who feel their jersey. 

Did you ever hesitate to accept the challenge?

Not at all. When Ginés told me about it and I met with the president in Madrid, there were no doubts. They gave me very good feelings. I accepted it, delighted, (but) knowing that it was going to be difficult. And it is complicated. All teams have a lot of players to choose from, less for us. We are getting young people with potential, but they are still guys who have just recently debuted with the national team. The results are positive and that makes people believe in them more.

With the group how it stands, is the World Cup the goal?

You don't have to be cautious, you have to be very cautious. We must keep our feet on the ground. But it is true that now there is no one who will take people's joy away, especially after what the country has gone through. There is a lot of the group left to go and we know the quality of the opponents. We are going to go game by game.

Joy in the middle of a war with Azerbaijan, where even your captain went to the front lines… does this give more value to everything you have achieved?

Sure, much more value. It not only has sporting value, but also emotional value for an entire country that was very sad for everything that had happened. Many people have died, young boys of 19-20 years. It’s been a very punished country. The grief that Armenia is experiencing has served to motivate us. We wanted to give people a little happiness. This is the greatness of sport and football.

From what you say, it was almost an obligation to compete as you are doing.

Yes. We are the focus of many people. I have never experienced anything like this emotionally in my entire career. We are talking about a heavily punished country. Sport has brought them joy and a smile after some very tough months.

It’s a success even without Mkhitaryan, your great star…

In our national team, the group must always prevail. We are a team, no one can stand out. Everyone has to put their will and their ability at the service of the team. And the truth is that it has been so. If there is something to highlight in the team, it is that we are that, a team. We have been a great team in capital letters. If we want to take another step on our way, it has to be from the base of being collectively strong.

Your first experience of international football is not going badly…

The national team ‘can’ had not been opened yet and this team may be a little different because of everything that surrounds it. The war, the fact that up to four languages are spoken in the dressing room … We had to empathize with all that. The whole dressing room is united. In the end, non-verbal language speaks louder than verbal in our team.

Are you thinking of staying in Armenia or an immediate return?

Well we have a contract until Nov 21 of this year, until the last group game is played. But I won’t look beyond that. What I think is enjoying each game because experience tells me that’s how I have to go. I want to enjoy what we’re enjoying. As I said, there’s a good atmosphere between players and the technical team, as much from what we’ve brought as what there already was in Armenia. Time will tell.