Author: Lilit Nahapetian

Terrorist Organization, Grey Wolves, Announce School Opening in Nagorno-Karabakh

Lilit Nahapetian
Jan 27 2021

01/27/2021 Washington D.C. (International Christian Concern) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Turkish President Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Aliyev approved the building of a Grey Wolf School in the captured Nagorno-Karabakh city of Shushi. On , they will begin to lay the school’s foundation.

The leader of Turkey’s Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Devlet Bahceli gave this announcement during a Parliamentary address on January 16th. He stated, , “I said that ‘If our President Recep Tayyip Erdogan grants permission, and if the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, finds it appropriate, it is our goal to build a school of nine classrooms in Shusha by the Ulku Ocaklari Education and Culture Foundation on my personal instructions. I said that the name of this school will be the late Üzeyir Hajibeyli, born in Shusha and composer of the Azerbaijani National Anthem and that it will be founded on .’With the mutual agreement and approval of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, our project to build a school in Shusha was approved.”

The Ulku Ocaklari Education and Culture Foundation is an official name of the Grey Wolves, which the international community recognizes as a terrorist organization. It is often described as Turkey’s MHP’s paramilitary wing and acknowledged their presence during the forty-four-day war in Nagorno-Karabakh (Armenian: Artsakh). ICC documented their role in the conflict in the recently released report entitled The Anatomy of Genocide: Karabakh’s Forty-Four Day War.

The report recommends that the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom name the Grey Wolves as an Entity of Particular Concern. It explains that the Grey Wolves have “became known as a death squad and were involved in many religious freedom violations.” It further argues that religious freedom abuses during the Nagorno-Karabakh war “were often done using the cloaked language familiar to those associated with the Grey Wolves… Both Turkey and Azerbaijan once had a vibrant, diverse society. Today freedom of conscience and identity does not exist there. This is what is at stake in Nagorno-Karabakh.”

The city of Shushi belonged to the Armenian Christian territory of Nagorno-Karabakh until the Turkish-Azeri invasion in November 2020. During the invasion, Turkey targeted, dismantled, and/or destroyed Armenian Christian sites. The Armenian name of Shushi changed to Shusha as part of the forced demographic change. The city is important as it overlooks Nagorno-Karabakh’s capital of Stepanakert and is militarily considered a linchpin.

Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “The opening of a Grey Wolf school in Shushi further proves that this war has had strong ideological foundations from its start. Turkey has adopted a so-called peacekeeper position following the war, and we are disappointed in their approval of a school by a group that is internationally known for its extremism. It is no coincidence that some of the worst religious freedom incidents in Turkey’s history were at the hands of the Grey Wolves. This decision is completely incompatible with Turkish-Azeri promises to protect religious diversity. Unfortunately, similar decisions may be forthcoming if the international community continues to look the other way on Nagorno-Karabakh.”

Film: Armenia’s ‘Songs of Solomon’ to compete for International Feature Film Oscar

Lilit Nahapetian
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 29 2021

Arman Nshanian’s feature film debut “Songs of Solomon” is included in the 93rd Academy Awards in the international feature film category, The Variety reports. 

“Songs of Solomon,” written by Audrey Gevorkian and based on “The Past Unsung” by Sirvart Kavoukjian, explores the life of the composer Archbishop Solomon, also known as  Komitas, who had a profound impact on ethnomusicology. It centers on a childhood friendship, torn apart by the Hamidian massacres in the 1890s as a brave Turkish woman at a time of dire prejudice risks her own life and the life of her family to save her best friend, who is hunted down for her religious beliefs.  The film spans the period from 1881 to 1915, which marks both the Armenian Genocide and Komitas’ final concert.

“Songs of Solomon” stars Samvel Tadevossian, Arevik Gevorgyan, Tatev Hovakimyan, Sos Janibekyan, Arman Nshanian, Artashes Aleksanyan and Jean-Pier Nshanian along with child actors Slava Seyranyan, Iren Ayvazyan and Mery Hovsepyan.

The film, released on Nov. 26 in Armenia, is produced by Nick Vallelonga of Vallelonga Productions, Asko Akopyan of Oscar Gold Productions and Nshanian under his People of Ar Production Company in association with AnEva Productions in Armenia. Karo Kavoukjian serves as Executive Producer. Vallelonga won Academy Awards for best picture and and best original screenplay for 2018’s “Green Book.” “Songs of Solomon” will be opening in the U.S. in 2021.

Russian-Turkish center to monitor Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire opens in Azerbaijan

Lilit Nahapetian
TASS, Russia
Jan 30 2021
The control will be carried out through the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and by means of evaluating data received from other sources

KIYAMADDINLI /Azerbaijan/. A joint Russian-Turkish center to monitor the ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone has opened near the Kiyamanddinli populated locality in Azerbaijan’s Aghdam district.

“The center will collect, summarize and verify information on the observance of the ceasefire and actions that violate the agreements reached by the parties. The control will be carried out through the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and by means of evaluating data received from other sources,” the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters on Saturday.

Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin and Turkish Deputy Defense Minister Yunus Emre Karaosmanoglu took part in the opening ceremony.

On November 9, 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10. The Russian leader said the Azerbaijani and Armenian forces would maintain the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region. A memorandum on setting up a joint Russian-Turkish center to monitor the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh was signed on November 11 following talks between Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar.

More bodies of fallen servicemen found during search operations, Artsakh authorities say

Lilit Nahapetian

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 10:05,

STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 29, ARMENPRESS. The rescuers of Artsakh have found 8 more bodies of fallen servicemen during the search operations in the battle zones on January 28, the State Emergency Service told Armenpress.

“The bodies have not been identified, forensic examination will be carried out.

So far, a total of 1329 bodies have been found as a result of the search operations, 15 of which are civilians according to preliminary data.

Today the search operations continue in Martuni, Hadrut and Jrakan (Jabrayil) sections”, the statement said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Political solution on NK status essential for securing regional peace – US Ambassador to Armenia

Lilit Nahapetian

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 12:24,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Lynne M. Tracy, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia  has published an article titled “Democracy is Precious” where she says that the United States “renews its commitment to partnering with the Armenian people, Government, civil society, media, and the private sector to support the aspirations of the Armenian people who voiced their choice for meaningful, tangible reforms to strengthen the institutions of Armenia’s democratic institutions and for a more prosperous future”.

Armenpress presents the Ambassador’s article:

“On January 20, 2021 just before 12:00pm in Washington, D.C., President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. took the oath of office to become the 46th President of the United States. His Vice President, Kamala Harris, was also sworn in, becoming not only the first woman, but also the first Black and Indian American to hold the office.

In his inaugural address, President Biden said of the moment, “We’ve learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.” As we have seen over the last few weeks, and as President Biden emphasized, democracy cannot be taken for granted, even after nearly two and a half centuries in the United States.

Since Armenia’s independence, the United States has supported Armenia in its fight for democracy – not because we have perfected it ourselves, but because we know how much work it takes to protect and defend. Critical to this task are building and maintaining strong democratic institutions and advancing the rule of law, providing economic opportunity for all, and broadening access to education. It is a process that demands unity, resolve and perseverance, often in the face of enormous challenges.

As the United States begins a new chapter in our own country’s history, we renew our commitment to partnering with the Armenian people, Government, civil society, media, and the private sector to support the aspirations of the Armenian people who voiced their choice for meaningful, tangible reforms to strengthen the institutions of Armenia’s democratic institutions and for a more prosperous future.

Democracy and the rule of law are cornerstones of the U.S.-Armenia relationship, but we have an even broader common positive agenda. Supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth, expanding trade and investment, promoting energy security, managing environmental resources responsibly, fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and investing in people through educational opportunities reflect a deep and wide U.S.-Armenia partnership that I am confident will continue to strengthen.

Above all, we recognize the urgent work to be done in moving forward following the devastating conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. The U.S. government has responded to Armenia’s critical needs by providing clothes, food, child-friendly safe-spaces, and shelter to displaced peoples. The United States continues to call for the swift and safe return of the remaining detainees. We condemn the acts of atrocities connected with the conflict. Those responsible must be held to account. And, while the fighting has stopped, the need for an enduring political solution on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh is essential for securing regional peace and stability.

As I look ahead to the upcoming year, I acknowledge the many challenges we still face. But I am confident that, together, we are up to the task. We will continue to support Armenia as it rebuilds in the years to come. As President Biden said on Wednesday – “We have never ever, ever failed in America when we have acted together.” That emphasis on togetherness transcends our borders – together with our Armenian friends and partners, we will tackle the challenges before us, uphold our shared values, and ensure that democracy and the rule of law prevail, leading to a brighter future for us all”.

TURKISH press: The future of Karabakh: An Azerbaijani perspective

Lilit Nahapetian
 OP-ED 
JAN 11, 2021 12:05 AM GMT+3
Azerbaijan’s military trucks roll along a highway, near Kalbajar, Azerbaijan, Dec. 2, 2020. (AP Photo)

Azerbaijan and Armenia have just finished the second Karabakh war in the last 30 years. Due to its military and economic superiority, Azerbaijan was able to liberate its internationally recognized territory from the Armenian occupation and restore its sovereignty over these areas, for the first time since 1993.

More than 800,000 Azerbaijani internally displaced persons (IDPs) will have a chance to return to their homes. At the same time, some 60,000 Armenian people remain in some regions of Karabakh. The cease-fire regime is protected by the newly arrived Russian peacekeepers, who have a mandate to operate in the area for the next five years.

While many people in Azerbaijan proudly celebrate this historic victory and rejoice in the chance to see their native lands again, experts, politicians and opiners have already started to brainstorm and design the future of Karabakh.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has publicly stated that a new era is starting in the region, which will be full of restoration, reconstruction and development.

Indeed, the liberated areas have been greatly destroyed and looted as a result of the decadeslong occupation. Most of the infrastructure is ruined and needs to be rebuilt from scratch.

The government of Azerbaijan has started road construction to Shusha, the feasibility study for railway construction and a multibillion investment proposal for the agriculture, construction and tourism sectors in the region. However, demining and the gradual return of Azerbaijani IDPs will be the priority task.

Meanwhile, some analysts and pundits claim that the physical reconstruction of the area, no matter how expensive, will be a much easier task than the peace-building initiatives between the two communities.

Aliyev envisions the future of the region as the peaceful coexistence of both communities within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. The region has never been recognized as an independent area by any country nor by any international organization.

All nations in the world recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Thus, a proper model and format need to be developed to integrate ethnic Armenians into Azerbaijan’s statehood.

Azerbaijan is a multiethnic country. There are close to 70 ethnic and religious minorities in the country, all enjoying constitutional rights and privileges.

Interethnic and interreligious harmony and dialogue have been a priority state policy in the country, and the majority of Azerbaijanis regard the ethnic diversity of the country as a national treasure. Armenians are offered to be part of this cultural diversity and live side by side with Azerbaijanis and other ethnic groups.

Armenians and Azerbaijanis have had times of war but also many years of peaceful coexistence. During Soviet times, some 200,000 Armenians lived in Baku and other cities of Azerbaijan and enjoyed high-ranking positions in the government, education and economy.

Similarly, 300,000 ethnic Azerbaijanis lived in Armenia and also felt peaceful and stable for most of the time. In Karabakh, representatives of both ethnic groups learned each other’s languages, attended weddings and funerals and arranged common celebrations and cultural events.

The future of the region can be optimistic and prosperous if both sides put aside their historical traumas and grievances.

Armenia is surrounded by Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey, and the only way to build sustainable economic development for Armenia is to live in peace with neighbors and refuse traditional territorial claims.

The Azerbaijani government is seemingly eager to invest oil revenues in the development of the region. The nations of the South Caucasus are tired of wars and want to focus on future opportunities.

Khankendi, the capital of Karabakh, is closer to Azerbaijani cities than to the Armenian capital Yerevan. Opening transport routes and corridors can make South Caucasus a transit hub for greater Eurasia.

A regional cooperation framework with the involvement of Turkey, Russia and Iran can guard the region against future wars and instabilities.

Confidence-building initiatives are important at this stage. The exchange of war prisoners is a good start. Humanitarian aid, relief activities, demining and the provision of basic postwar necessities can be also shared activities.

Mutual visits by public figures, students, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and intelligentsia can help to build trust and find common ground for cooperation. Such visits have been rare in the past due to the occupation. Yet, in the coming years, human bridges will be pivotal for building sustainable peace.

It is also important for both communities to discuss openly and directly issues that concern them. This can be done in a civil manner without guns and wars. Security concerns can become a priority in this dialogue.

Other issues might include cultural rights, religious sites, educational opportunities and shared history. Focusing on common cultural elements will narrow the gap between the former adversaries.

In the not-so-distant future, joint educational programs, site visits and NGO projects can be organized and funded by both local and foreign governments. A specific focus can be given to the region’s ecology, nature and sustainability.

Educational programs for youth and children, aimed at eradicating ethnic hatred and an extreme form of nationalism, can also be helpful.

An important role in this process belongs to international organizations and foreign countries that have vested interest in this region and can help both with the reconstruction process as well as building permanent peace and trust between Azerbaijanis and Armenians.

Financing projects that are aimed at strengthening peace and mutual understanding will be vital in this context. Financing separatism and extremism will open old wounds and lay the foundation for inevitable future wars.

Aliyev has said that the Karabakh conflict is finished. The region has finally obtained a chance to build a long-awaited durable peace. Much will depend on politicians and their immediate actions in the postwar period.

Building trust and interdependence between both communities will help to prevent future wars and bloodshed. Developing a prosperous local economy will empower both communities and shift their focus from historical animosity toward an optimistic common future.

*Executive vice-rector at ADA University in Baku




Pashinyan, Aliyev, Putin Sign ‘Karabakh Development’ Agreement

Lilit Nahapetian

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, (Left) with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his Russian counterpart Vladmir Putin in Moscow on Jan. 11

Russian President Vladimir Putin called the talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the observance of agreements on resolving the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh important and useful.

“I consider today’s meeting extremely important and useful, since we were able to come to an agreement and signed a joint statement on the development of the situation in the region,” the Russian leader said following the  talks on Monday. He clarified that he meant concrete steps to develop economic ties and infrastructure projects.

The President of the Russian Federation added that for this purpose “a working group will be created, which will be headed by the vice-prime ministers of three governments – Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia.” Putin specified that in the near future the deputy prime ministers of the governments will create working subgroups, present concrete plans for the development of the transport infrastructure and the economy of the region. “I am sure that the implementation of these agreements will benefit both the Azerbaijani and Armenian peoples, without any doubt it will benefit the region as a whole, and therefore the interests of the Russian Federation,” the head of the Russian state stressed.

“Special emphasis is required for the opening of economic, trade and transport links in the region,” said Putin in opening remarks at the Kremlins on Monday.

Putin also expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing implementation of the provisions of the November 9 agreement.

“For Russia it is vital to have allied and good neighborly relations, which bond our countries and people together. That is why we were sincerely concerned and worried for the fate of the people and were following the military conflict that erupted in the region,” said Putin.

“The Large-scale military operations, sadly, resulted in significant loss of life, exacerbated the already difficult situation in the Caucasus and increased the risk of spreading terrorism,” added Putin.

“We were in constant contact, we were looking for a compromise solutions together, after which a trilateral statement was agreed upon on November 9, which we signed together. “Today we can emphasize with satisfaction that the trilateral agreement is being implemented,” Putin said.

“Today, it will be important to outline the next steps in the key directions of the settlement outlined in last year’s joint statement of November 9,” Putin said. ‘I am talking about issues connected to the activities of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, clarification of demarcation lines, solving humanitarian problems, protection of cultural heritage sites.’

 

Putin said Russia continue to discuss its efforts with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs.

“In order to maintain the ceasefire, Russian peacekeepers have been deployed at the request of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Now the situation in the region is calm. Through Russian mediation, exchanged of captives and remains are taking place,” said Putin.

“Of course, Armenia is interested in the possibility of transporting Armenian cargo through the territory of Azerbaijan to the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran and vice versa. We are interested in the possibility of the transfer of the Armenian cargo through road and railway transportation to the Russian Federation, whereas to the Islamic Republic of Iran—especially through railway transportation. In this context, Armenia, naturally, is ready to ensure transportation between the eastern part of Azerbaijan and the Nakhichivan Autonomous Republic,” said Pashinyan’s spokesperson Mane Gevorgyan on Thursday when reports on Monday’s meeting would neither be confirmed or denied [ends]

Azerbaijan openly politicizes issue of POWs, Armenian Ombudsman says

Lilit Nahapetian

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 14:22, 12 January, 2021

YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan says politicizing humanitarian and human rights-related issues in the post-war stage is impermissible, which, according to him, is a gross violation.

“Azerbaijan is openly politicizing the issue of prisoners of war. According to the international standards, the prisoners of war or civilian captives must be immediately released and returned to their home countries after the end of the military operations. Initiating criminal proceedings against them is banned, their detention, arrest is viewed as a punishment and is also banned. Moreover, the artificial delay of these issues is also banned, and this, in fact, is also a war crime”, the Ombudsman said at a press conference.

He added that all these are enshrined by international conventions, the demands of which are also spread on Azerbaijan.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Authorities took no action to stop the war – Vazgen Manukyan

Lilit Nahapetian
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 15 2021

“We were not protected during the war, as we had failed to purchase proper armament,” Vazgen Manukyan, the candidate for PM’s post from the opposition Homeland Salvation Movement stated on Friday during the meeting with citizens in Gyumri. 

Manukyan, along with other representatives of the Movement, tours the Armenian provinces to mobilize the population demanding the resignation of PM Pashinyan. 

“Days after the war started, the military leadership came to conclusion that it should be stopped, and negotiations should start. That was done during the April war in 2016, when Azerbaijan retreated and stopped the war at the demand of Moscow,” Manukyan said, adding no action was taken by authorities to stop the war. “If the war were stopped we wouldn’t have thousands of victims and loss of significant territories. Was that because of a treason or stupidity? That was either a stupidity, lack of state vision, or the result of a treason. You may choose any version,” said Manukyan.  

The opposition figure added that the situation continues worsening as the borders of the country are being narrowed, Armenians are ignored by all, amid numerous losses, including material and an internal anxiety and despair prevailing in the public. “We have lost 100 thousand hectares of arable land, 315 thousand of meadowland, 15 major mines, $1 billion worth of weapons, self-confidence. The questions arises whether this was inevitable” said Manukyan. 

Rose Shelengian, a World War II Rosie the Riveter and proud Armenian American, dies at 95

Lilit Nahapetian
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Jan 13 2021
 
Rosie the Riveter and proud Armenian American, dies at 95
 
by Gary Miles,
 
Rose Shelengian, 95, of Broomall, a Rosie the Riveter factory worker during World War II, a determined mother of three, and a proud Armenian American, died Sunday, Dec. 27, of COVID-19 and other complications at Wellington at Hershey’s Mill.
 
Born to parents whose own parents suffered in the Armenian genocide, Mrs. Shelengian celebrated her heritage and embraced family and work life with persistent exuberance. Even over these last few years, she got dressed, made the bed every day, and found something constructive to achieve.
 
“She did all that she could do in a day so that a minute was never wasted,” her family wrote in a tribute.
 
Even as she grew older, Mrs. Shelengian did not slow down. When it snowed, she shoveled the driveway. When she fell ill, she set her own recovery goals and charted a course back to health.
 
“She was always pushing forward,” said her grandson, Paul Vartan Sookiasian. “She always kept on going. And to get to 95 is not an easy road.”
 
“Rose’s life was one of overcoming obstacles, and immeasurable perseverance,” her family wrote.
 
Mrs. Shelengian was born in Bridgewater, Mass., in December 1924. Her parents had arrived from Turkey a year before with her older sister, Madeline. Her mother was a survivor of the genocide, and her father was a veteran of war in Turkey.
 
When the Depression closed the factory in which her father worked, the family moved to Philadelphia in 1935 to be close to relatives. Mrs. Shelengian, pushing forward in her new world, became active at St. Gregory’s Armenian Church, and found fellowship at the local Armenian Youth Federation.
 
Her plan was to go to college and become a teacher. But her mother died when she was 13, so Mrs. Shelengian redirected her energy to helping her sister run the household so their father could work in his tailor shop.
 
 

 
She graduated from West Philadelphia High School in 1942, and, when the United States entered World War II, took a job at a defense plant in Westinghouse’s turbine division. She became one of the iconic Rosie the Riveter women who worked in factories and shipyards during the war while men served in the military.
 
Mrs. Shelengian later became involved in Rosie the Riveter recognition programs, and in 2017 was honored by Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney for her work both during and after the war. She was also proud to have had her story shared on a radio podcast that aired on Memorial Day 2019.
 
“She didn’t seek the limelight but knew deep down the unified work the Rosies did filled a huge need,” wrote Anne Frazier-Montague of the American Rosie Movement. “I am blessed to know her and the story of her life.”
 
After the war, Mrs. Shelengian, then Miss Basmajian, met Martin Vartan Shelengian, a veteran who served in the Pacific theater, at a social event. They married in 1947, and had three children: Armine, Richard, and Karen. They were married for 64 years until his death in 2011.
  
The family moved to Broomall in 1958, and Mrs. Shelengian returned to work in 1960 when her husband temporarily lost his job. She went on to work for 35 years, rising to executive secretary at the Ultra Sonic Seal Company. She retired at 70 only because “she figured it was time,” her family said.
Mrs. Shelengian was a talented cook, and she delighted in whipping up Armenian specialties, like choreg, sweet bread. She liked to garden, read, and pass on family stories. She was a member of St. Gregory’s Ladies Guild. Family came first, and her grandson remembers that his first word was “Tide” because she always kept him close as she tended to the laundry.
 
“Her indomitable spirit was an inspiration and example to us all,” the family wrote.
 
In addition to her children and grandson, Mrs. Shelengian is survived by four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and other relatives. A service was held last month.