Author: Khoyetsian Rose

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Friday traded jabs and sparred over Karekin Njdeh during a summit of CIS leaders in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan where Pashinyan told Aliyev to become acquainted with history after the Azeri leader accused Armenia of “glorifying fascists” in reference to Njdeh, whom he claimed to be a Nazi collaborator.

Aliyev sparked the verbal altercation during the CIS summit taking issue with Njdeh statue and citing it as an example of Armenia’s glorification of fascists. Pashinyan was quick to declare that Aliyev was distorting history of Armenia and urged him to study it more carefully.

“Ilham Heydarovich’s speech leaves one with a sense that [Adolf] Hitler played a secondary role and that the Nazi movement was led by Karekin Njdeh,” Pashinyan said, according to Azatutyun.am. “Yet the truth is that KareKin Njdeh fought against Turkish occupation of Armenia, against the genocide of Armenians and … also commanded, together with many Russian officers, a very important section of the frontline during the Armenian-Turkish war in 1918.”

In his remarks, Pashinyan portrayed Njdeh as a victim of Stalin’s political repressions. “Njdeh died in the Vladimir prison [in 1955,]” he said. “Many prominent Soviet figures died in the Vladimir prison and [writer Aleksandr] Solzhenitsyn was in the Gulag. Do we consider everyone imprisoned from 1937 through the 1950s political prisoners?”

“I think it’s inappropriate to use this [CIS] format for distorting history and adding some tension to the atmosphere of this important meeting,” added Pashinyan.

This spat didn’t deter the two leaders from holding a two-hour discussion later at a dinner hosted by Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov for the summit participants.

Pashinyan’s spokesman, Vladimir Karapetian, told the Armenpress news agency that the two men discussed the Karabakh conflict and, in particular, “possibilities of reducing tensions” and “upcoming steps” in the negotiating process mediated by the United States, Russia and France. The conversation lasted for about two hours, said Karapetyan.

WASHINGTON (Associated Press)— The White House said Sunday that U.S. forces in northeast Syria will move aside and clear the way for an expected Turkish assault, essentially abandoning Kurdish fighters who fought alongside American forces in the yearslong battle to defeat Islamic State militants.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened for months to launch the military operation across the border. He views the Kurdish forces as a threat to his country. Republicans and Democrats have warned that allowing the Turkish attack could lead to a massacre of the Kurds and send a troubling message to American allies across the globe.

U.S. troops “will not support or be involved in the operation” and “will no longer be in the immediate area,” in northern Syria, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in an unusual late-Sunday statement that was silent on the fate of the Kurds. There are about 1,000 U.S. troops in northern Syria, and a senior U.S. official said they will pull back from the area — and potentially depart the country entirely should widespread fighting break out between Turkish and Kurdish forces.

The announcement followed a call between President Donald Trump and Erdogan, the White House said.

The decision is a stark illustration of Trump’s focus on ending American overseas entanglements — one of his key campaign promises. But his goal of swift withdrawals in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan have been stymied by concerns from U.S. officials and American allies about the dangerous voids that would remain. As he faces an impeachment inquiry at home, Trump has appeared more focused on making good on his political pledges, even at the risk of sending a troubling signal to American allies abroad.

Key Republican leaders in Congress appeared taken aback by the move.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Monday in an appearance on “Fox & Friends” that he had not spoken with Trump about the decision and had concerns.

“I want to make sure we keep our word for those who fight with us and help us,” he said, adding that, “If you make a commitment and somebody is fighting with you. America should keep their word.”

One of the show’s hosts, Brian Kilmeade, asked McCarthy to try to intervene and “call the president before it’s too late.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., one of Trump’s most vocal backers, also weighed in via tweet, saying that, “If press reports are accurate this is a disaster in the making.”

Trump, meanwhile, tweeted a lengthy defense Monday morning, writing in all-caps that, “WE WILL FIGHT WHERE IT IS TO OUR BENEFIT, AND ONLY FIGHT TO WIN.”

In December, Trump announced he was withdrawing American troops from Syria but was met with widespread condemnation for abandoning Kurdish allies to the Turkish assault. The announcement prompted the resignation in protest of then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, and a coordinated effort by then-national security adviser John Bolton to try to protect the Kurds.

Since January, U.S. officials have tried to broker the creation of a “safe zone” in northern Syria to provide a security buffer between the Turkish military and Kurdish forces, but Turkey has repeatedly objected to its slow implementation.

The White House announcement Sunday came a day after Erdogan offered the strongest warning yet of a unilateral military operation into northeastern Syria, as the Turkish military has been dispatching units and defense equipment to its border with the area.

LOS ANGELES—Over 45 volunteers participated in the Homenetmen “Hrashq’s” 2nd Coaches’ Training Seminar. The session took place on Sunday, September 15, at the Homenetmen Western Region’s Kevork Andonian Hall.

Following breakfast and registration, Homenetmen “Hrashq” member Nanor Kabakian gave an overview of the program since its inception in 2018, as well as an update on where Homenetmen “Hrashq” is headed for the 2019 to 2020 season. Kabakian reported that there are currently about 45 athletes enrolled, and emphasized how the program has evolved since its athletic director Dave Beard assumed his position in May – thanks to his vast experience in the field. She added that, this year, the program will focus on incorporating inclusion by having middle school and high school volunteers participate in the practices, alongside their special needs peers.

The Kaham game competitions will also follow the inclusion model by allowing a few of the “Hrashq” athletes to compete with their neurotypical peers from Armenian schools, as well as by holding the “Hrashq” competition event at the same time as the other Armenian schools.

Pierre Manoukian, a past Homenetmen Western Region’s Executive Committee member, gave a brief overview of Homenetmen’s Goals and Mission.

Subsequently, Coach Beard gave an informative presentation on how to best support Special Needs athletes’ during practices. He highlighted Homenetmen “Hrashq’s” Mission, reviewed the characteristics of individuals with various diagnoses including autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and others. He both described and demonstrated the specific skills he plans to teach the athletes this year in basketball, soccer, and track & field.

Coach Beard introduced a skills assessment protocol, which will be used to track each athlete’s progress during the season. His presentation included a simulation of the challenges athletes with various disabilities face, including those with gross motor challenges and vision impairment. Volunteers had the opportunity to experience these challenges by being blindfolded, having their arms or legs tied, and then being asked to complete certain tasks.

Following this segment, six Homenetmen “Hrashq” athletes joined the seminar and participated in the hands on training portion of the program, to teach the attendees the skills assessment protocol. The program concluded by reviewing the results of the skills assessments.

Prospective volunteers or athletes may contact the Homenetmen Western Region’s office by calling 323.344.4300 or by emailing Nanor Kabakian at [email protected].

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Baku is angry at Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s comment that “Artsakh is Armenia” with the head of the Foreign Relations Department of the Azerbaijani President strongly condemning the statement, which was made on Monday during a rally in Stepanakert.

“Nagorno-Karabakh is Azerbaijan. It is our historic and inseparable land,” said Hikmet Hajiyev, according to the Azerbaijani news agency Turan.

Hajiyev called Pashinyan’s comments “provocative,” adding that with such rhetoric Armenia’s leadership brings the region to the brink of a “serious crisis.”

“Let no one doubt that Azerbaijan will restore its territorial integrity. Responsibility for the consequences lies with the Armenian side,” said Hajiyev.

Pashinyan spoke at a rally in Stepanakert’s Revival Square Monday ahead of the opening ceremonies of the 7th Pan-Armenian Games, which took place Tuesday in the Artsakh capital attended by thousands of Armenians from around the world.

During his remarks on Monday, Pashinyan also said “only Armenians can determine their own fate,” alluding to the potential of the Armenian nation in Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora.

During his remarks, Pashinyan also referred to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution, saying that the goal of the talks was to “defend the achievements of the liberation struggle waged for the sovereignty and security of the people of Artsakh.”

“Any solution reached as a result of negotiations that will be considered acceptable for the governments of Armenia and Artsakh can only go into effect if the people of Armenia and Artsakh endorse it,” said Pashinyan.

Referring to Hajiyev’s comments, Artsakh Presidential spokesperson Davit Babayan told news.am that Baku is distorting Pashinyan’s statement in order to further its dishonest goals.

“When the Prime Minister of Armenia was talking about the idea of unification, he was referring to the ideals of the nation and that which all Armenians of the world are aspiring to achieve,” said Babayan.

“This doesn’t imply dismantling Artsakh’s statehood. We, Armenians, want reunification, and we are not hiding it. However, we also need to take into consideration global, regional and geopolitical factors. From that perspective, the two Armenian states are strengthening their positions, and this allows us to resist many challenges effectively,” explained Babayan.