Author: Manouk Vasilian

Armenia: EU-funded contest on human rights announces its winners

Manouk Vasilian

An awards ceremony has been held for the ‘Social Innovation to Restart Human Rights’ contest, organised as part of the EU-funded project on accountable Institutions and human rights protection in Armenia.

The contest aimed to raise awareness about human rights through innovative ideas, solving problems in the field. Out of 38 applications, six teams were selected and went through the mentoring stage with specialists in the fields of human rights, marketing and communication.

All participants received certificates. The winners also received the following awards:

● 1st place: Safe Childhood – 1,000,000 AMD;

● 2nd place: Kanani Podcast – 650,000 AMD;

● 3rd place: Diana Apcar AR Visualization – 300,000 AMD.

The contest was organised within the framework of the EU-funded ‘Accountable Institutions and Human Rights Protection in Armenia’ project, implemented by UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, and OSCE.

Find out more

Press release

US Department of State refers to the atrocities of the Azerbaijani armed forces during the aggression against Armenia

Manouk Vasilian

Save

Share

 17:35, 21 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 21, ARMENPRESS. The US Department of State published a report on the human rights situation in Armenia, in which it also referred in detail to the atrocities committed by Azerbaijani servicemen during the September aggression against Armenia.

The report mentions that there are credible reports that during the September conflict, Azerbaijani forces committed unlawful killings involving summary executions of Armenian soldiers in Azerbaijani custody.

It is noted that the International Committee of the Red Cross studied the cases of missing persons as a result of the conflict with Azerbaijan. It is noted that after the 2020 war, 203 people (including 20 civilians) are considered missing, and 3 military personnel are considered missing as a result of the September 13-14 conflict.

The US State Department also addresses the illegal execution of 7 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijani servicemen, which, according to the Human Rights Watch NGO and investigative journalists of Belingat, was filmed in mid-September 2022.

The report also mentions the cases of inhumane treatment of the bodies of Armenian female servicemen during the September conflict, attacks on civilian infrastructure by Azerbaijani forces, targeting of emergency vehicles.

The report also presents cases of violations of human rights in Armenia, including the use of force by the security forces, bad conditions in prisons, arbitrary arrests, and restrictions on freedom of speech.

You can read the full report here”.

Can football help normalise relations between Armenia and Turkey?

Manouk Vasilian
By Stephane Hamalian

With Armenia and Turkey facing off Saturday at the EURO 2024 qualifiers, Euronews is taking a look at the troubled history between the two nations. More than a century after the 1915 massacre of more than 600,000 Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire, the neighbours still don’t maintain diplomatic relations.

However, football had already served as a bridge between Yerevan and Ankara. That was between 2008 and 2009, with two matches, one in the Armenian capital Yerevan, and the other in the Turkish city of Bursa.

The famous “football diplomacy” paved the way for the signing of the 2009 Zurich Protocols, aimed at improving diplomatic relations.

Despite the pleasant exchanges, these protocols have come to nothing, and this status quo is likely to continue according to journalist Tigrane Yegavin, who stresses that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan “relies too much on his electoral base to be reappointed president”.

The Turkish president “relies heavily on an ultranationalist electorate” for his domestic policy, he says. “And you have the geopolitical factor with the alliance with Azerbaijan,” Yegavin continues.

It’s a relationship that can be summarised by a slogan regularly used by the governments of Ankara and Baku, which consider themselves to belong to “two states and one nation”.

In the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh, “Turkey provided drones to Baku that were decisive”

Ahmet Insel 
Economist and Political scientist

In solidarity with Azerbaijan, “the Republic of Turkey unilaterally suspended its relations with Armenia in 1993,” after Yerevan’s victory in the first Nagorno-Karabakh war, notes political scientist Ahmet Insel. Since then, Baku has become a central player in the Armenian-Turkish issue and has been demanding that Yerevan recognise its sovereignty over the disputed territory populated by Armenians.

Ankara aligns itself on the Azerbaijani demands in keeping the Armenian border closed. “The cost of Armenian-Turkish normalisation is too high for the Turkish president,” analyses Tigrane Yegavian.

In the second war in 2020, “Turkey supplied drones to Baku, which were decisive” in the Armenian retreat, says Ahmet Insel – a defeat experienced as a national humiliation in Yerevan.

Already at the time of the Zurich protocols in 2009, “the Azerbaijanis were up in arms against this process,” says Tigrane Yegavian, adding: “But Turkey is not at all opposed to the opening of the borders if the Armenians manage to put aside the Karabakh question, and above all respond to the demands of the Azeris, i.e. territorial concessions, a corridor in the south of Armenia (editor’s note: towards the exclave of Nakhichevan) because the Turks see this country as an important communication route to link them to Azerbaijan.”

These concessions requested by Azerbaijan are categorically rejected by Armenia, which it believes invokes its sovereignty. The corridor is also seen as a threat by Iran, which does not want its access to Armenia to be impeded.

If there is a change of government and a change of majority, we should not expect rapid and significant changes in this area

Ahmet Insel 
Economist and Political scientist

Can the Turkish presidential election of 14 May move the lines and allow for a rapprochement between Yerevan and Ankara?

“If there is a change of government and majority, we should not expect rapid and significant changes in this area,” said Ahmet Insel, as the coalition formed around the candidate Kemal Kiliçdaroglu, composed in particular of nationalist parties, including the IYI Party.

This political group “comes from the far-right nationalist Grey Wolves party and would be very reluctant to overrule the will of Azerbaijan”, he says.

“On the other hand, what can change is perhaps adapting a less aggressive and threatening attitude towards neighbouring countries than the attitude deployed lately by President Erdogan’s diplomacy,” he said, listing the cases of Greece, Libya, Syria and Iraq.

In the event of a victory for the opposition, “we can perhaps expect to have a little calm, a little peaceful relations and, perhaps, prepare the ground for discreet diplomacy to be able to establish relations between Armenia and Turkey at the appropriate time,” he says, stressing that positive signals give cause for hope.

Turkish public opinion did not expect such a show of solidarity from Armenia during the earthquake

Tigrane Yegavian 
Journalist, Author of “Geopolitics of Armenia”

“There was an exceptional opening of the Armenian-Turkish border on 7 February, when Armenia sent aid to help the victims of the 6 February earthquake” in southern Turkey, he says.

“Turkish public opinion did not expect such a show of solidarity from the completely fantasised neighbour Armenia,” explains Tigrane Yegavian. “In Turkey, there is a whole narrative that is extremely hostile to Armenians, who are still perceived as internal enemies, as traitors or as external enemies who aim to tarnish Turkey’s image, because they do not recognise this massacre,” he says.

There is a rapprochement and football can add to this dynamic,” says Ahmet Insel, who hopes that a dialogue is possible between the two peoples.

“Normalisation and reconciliation are two different things,” he says, but “with the establishment of diplomatic relations, exchanges between civil societies will allow much more understanding by the majority of Turks who ignore or refuse to recognise the killings, and this will pave the way for recognition, but it may still take many years” he concedes.

If the current government in Yerevan says it is ready to establish relations with Turkey to get out of its geographical isolation and its ultra-dependence on Russia, it seems that the Azerbaijani obstacle prevents, for the moment, the development of Armenian-Turkish relations.

Watch the report at the link below

Trade with Russia in rubles: new risks for Armenian companies

Manouk Vasilian
  • Armine Martirosyan
  • Yerevan

Trade with Russia in rubles

Armenia and Russia have completely stopped mutual settlements in dollars and euros, as announced by the Minister of Economy of Armenia Vahan Kerobyan. The choice of currency for payment has become a major problem for trading partners in the current environment, as the Russian ruble is currently too unstable against the dollar and the euro to conclude long-term contracts. The Armenian dram is preferable in settlements, but its potential for use in bilateral trade is limited.

Exports from Armenia to Russia increased dramatically due to the withdrawal of Western companies from the Russian market, which has allowed Armenian suppliers to expand their business in Russia. Western sanctions are also expanding, however, but according to experts these sanctions will not affect Armenian exports.

Due to the rejection of mutual settlements in dollars and euros, Armenian exporters face new risks that will be difficult to overcome.

  • Mirzoyan-Lavrov meeting in Moscow
  • Volodin’s statement: what is behind it? Comment
  • Stagnant economic ties in the South Caucasus: Three stories

“The refusal to settle in dollars or euros in trade with Russia may not affect the Armenian economy. It’s all about the flexibility of our exporters.

Armenian enterprises carry out their expenses not in rubles. When switching to ruble settlements with Russia, they need to convert proceeds either into drams or dollars in order to make settlements with suppliers and employees. And any changes in the market situation during this period, for example if the ruble depreciates against the dram or vice versa, create certain risks that will be difficult to avoid. This can lead to losses for the companies themselves due to settlement losses.

But flexibility can make a difference and balance those risks. For example, if an enterprise carries out a certain kind of activity in dollars, respectively, receiving revenue in this currency, then it can balance the risks associated with currency fluctuations by making its costs also in dollars. In this case, regardless of the dollar exchange rate, potential losses will already be balanced by potential profits.

Russian IT specialists are convinced that their relocation can contribute to real economic growth. Stories of Russians who moved their business to Yerevan

This is a mirror operation, and dollar volatility doesn’t matter. The same is true with any currency, including the ruble.

But the problem is that entrepreneurs working with Russia do not have mirror operations where they can balance the potential loss or increase in value. For example, if they received components from Russia, manufactured products in Armenia and sold them to Russia, they would be able to balance these losses thanks to mutual settlements with suppliers, which would need to be made in rubles.

But when a business carries out its activities in drams, receives components for example from China and makes payments in dollars, and sells its products to Russia for rubles, it will be very difficult to manage such risks.

A change in the exchange rate in this situation will greatly affect revenue, because it will be necessary to carry out a three-fold operation — to convert rubles into drams and drams into dollars, in order to settle accounts with the Chinese.

If you are dealing with a currency that is prone to sharp fluctuations, this creates a certain risk. You can both lose a lot and gain. Therefore entrepreneurs do not risk entering into long-term contracts, because no one knows what value the Russian ruble will have in five years.”

The only road connecting Armenia with Russia through the Upper Lars checkpoint has once again become a problem for Armenia’s importers and exporters

“Despite these risks, it is unlikely that our businesses will abandon the Russian market. This can only stimulate the search for Russian companies from which it will be possible to buy raw materials, as well as companies ready to buy finished products from these raw materials. For example, if you produce furniture, then you can buy wood in Russia and sell finished products to Russia too. Thus all calculations will be made in rubles, and fluctuations in the ruble exchange rate will not affect revenue in any way.

But this is not easy either. Russia itself does not have such potential, at least in the short term it does not have this potential.

It is theoretically possible to replace the Russian market with another one with diligent and long-term work, but it is hardly advisable. Even with a strong desire, technically it is very difficult. This will mean additional costs, primarily for our consumers.”

Personae non gratae in Armenia – On the banning of Margarita Simonyan and Aram Gabrielyanov, Russian journalists of Armenian origin

“If Russia’s share in Armenian exports is more than 40%, and the trend is to increase this share, then of course it will be very difficult to get rid of such a market.

One should take into account the fact that our companies have been establishing foreign trade relations for decades. It will be very difficult to replace these connections with new ones.

For example, for our exporters entry into the European or Asian markets is associated with a number of barriers in comparison with the Russian market. This is a language barrier, plus bureaucracy.

Russian companies have much in common with our entrepreneurs. In addition, Armenia is in a single economic union with Russia, the EAEU. Russian consumers are already familiar with Armenian products, there is no need to work on product recognition. Russian regulation also plays an important role. It is not very tough compared to Europe. In Russia many aspects can be bypassed, including licenses, etc.

The Russian market is a rational choice of our manufacturers in terms of economic feasibility.”

According to economist Narek Karapetyan, three factors have contributed to this — economic recovery, relocation of people and organizations from Russia, and making under the table work official

“The imposition of sanctions on Russia in relation to certain goods is a political decision. If they decide to put pressure on Armenia, then Armenian exports may fall under sanctions. But I don’t think it will come to that, because Western sanctions concern the oil and gas sector, and there is no relationship between Armenia and Russia in this area.

The volume of exports from Armenia to Russia has increased by more than twelve times. Basically these are automotive exports, various kinds of machines, electronics, Western food brands, etc. These are the products whose manufacturers have withdrawn their business from Russia, but these goods have not been subject to any sanctions. And nothing prevents Armenian entrepreneurs from re-exporting from Europe to Armenia, and from Armenia to Russia.

These goods are not of military importance; they are produced for general consumption and there should be no sanctions on them.”

Blinken says there’s ‘moment of opportunity’ for peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Manouk Vasilian

Save

Share

 10:07,

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Armenia and Azerbaijan may soon reach a peace agreement.

“I’ve been very engaged on seeing what we can do to help Armenia and Azerbaijan come to a peace agreement that normalizes the relationship between them, as well as deal with obviously the rights and protections for the Armenian ethnics in Nagorno Karabakh, dealing with border delimitation, etcetera. And I think there’s an opportunity, I don’t want to exaggerate it, but an opportunity actually to bring a peace agreement to fruition. I had Prime Minister Pashinyan and President Aliyev together in Munich at the Security Conference, I had the Foreign Ministers here in Washington, I expect that they’ll come back, we worked on a text and this is not something that we are imposing on Armenia, we are answering the strong desire expressed by Armenia to see if we can help them reach an agreement which would end, at least in many ways, thirty plus years of conflict,” Secretary Blinken said at the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearings in response to question from the committee chairman Bob Menendez.

Blinken added that he’s been “pressing” Azerbaijan to re-open the Lachin Corridor.

“I am pressing on Azerbaijan, including as recently as this week, to re-open that corridor. We are working on that,” the US Secretary of State said, referring to the “real problems in Lachin Corridor”.

“I do think there is without exaggeration a moment of opportunity that would profoundly be in the interests of the people of Armenia, as well as Azerbaijan,” Blinken concluded.

Ex-NATO head visits Armenia, calling for Western military aid

Manouk Vasilian
March 15 2023
Joshua Kucera Mar 15, 2023

At a time of deep geopolitical tumult in Armenia, the former secretary general of NATO visited the country and proposed providing Armenians with Western weaponry and security guarantees.

But the former official, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, was visiting as a private consultant, making it unclear whose interests and point of view he was representing.

On the two-day visit Rasmussen met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, as well as the minister of defense and chair of the national security council. He also posed for a photo at the Lachin Corridor, the road connecting Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh that has been blocked by Azerbaijan for more than three months as Baku tries to strong-arm Armenia into signing a comprehensive peace agreement.

“The EU must push Azerbaijan to lift the blockade,” he wrote in a tweet. “If not, we risk a humanitarian catastrophe.”

While in Yerevan he also met with journalists and laid out a vision for the resolution of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian-populated territory in Azerbaijan that has been the core of the decades-long conflict between the two sides.

He envisaged Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan but with a “special status” protected by an armed international peacekeeping mission with a “robust mandate,” according to an account of the meeting by news website CivilNet. The territory would also be surrounded by a demilitarized zone. Ideally, he said, the peacekeeping mission would be mandated by the United Nations with Russian consent and with American participation.

“With all respect for the European Union, when it comes to hard security, there’s only one power on Earth we can trust, and that is the United States,” he said.

He also proposed the European Union providing military aid to Armenia to buy Western weapons.

“The European Union has a special fund called the European Peace Facility, which primarily until now has been used for Ukraine for many good reasons. But we could also consider helping Armenia within the framework of that fund. That could be [to] help to purchase Western armament, weapons, and military equipment,” he said.

Much of Rasmussen’s vision for the resolution of Karabakh’s status has echoed Yerevan’s; Armen Grigoryan, the chair of the national security council, just days earlier proposed a special status with an international peacekeeping mandate and demilitarized zone.

The element of European and American military support, though, was relatively novel, and came amid a deepening crisis between Armenia and its traditional security partner, Russia.

Just days before Rasmussen’s visit, Armenia announced that it was further reducing its participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Russia-led political-military alliance. That took place against the backdrop of a broader Armenian disillusionment with Russia’s inability or unwillingness to push back against Azerbaijani incursions in Armenia or the blockade in Karabakh.

Meanwhile, the European Union has been taking a larger role, most notably by deploying a civilian monitoring mission to Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan.

Where all of this is leading is unclear, as is Rasmussen’s role in it.

He came in his capacity as the head of Rasmussen Global, a consulting firm that has lately been closely working with Ukraine on a plan for Western security guarantees there. He said he came on the invitation of the Armenian government, but did not elaborate.

The firm’s communications director did not respond to queries from Eurasianet about how his involvement in Armenia came about, who is paying him, and if he is playing any role in the formal EU or any other mediation of the conflict.

In his discussion with the journalists, Rasmussen said he saw no reason that CSTO membership would have to be an obstacle for the Western-led vision he laid out. “Obviously it’s at least a challenge communicating this to a Western audience, that Armenia is still a member of CSTO, but we have seen cooperation between Armenia and NATO, for instance, in the past,” he said. “So CSTO membership is not an obstacle in itself. It can go in parallel.”

Rasmussen’s interlocutors in Yerevan made little comment on his proposals for Western military partnership. Pashinyan’s office said merely that the two “exchanged ideas on regional developments and security challenges.”

At a press conference later, Pashinyan did not touch on Rasmussen’s visit or relations with the West, but reiterated his criticism of the CSTO.

“My assessment is that the CSTO, willingly or unwillingly, is leaving the Republic of Armenia,” he said. And this worries us.” Still, he insisted that he “didn’t see a crisis” in relations with Russia in spite of “some mutual concerns.”

Note: This piece has been updated to credit Civilnet for its account of the meeting between Rasmussen and journalists.

Joshua Kucera, a senior correspondent, is Eurasianet’s former Turkey/Caucasus editor and has written for the site since 2007.

Azerbaijan president continues threatening Armenia, Armenians

Manouk Vasilian
News.am
Armenia –
17:48, 18.03.2023

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev continues to issue threats, present ultimatums, and make insults against Armenia and Armenians.

“Today we [Azerbaijanis] are on the land of native Karabakh, on the land of native Zangazur [(Zangezur)], and we will be here forever. The Azerbaijani people rightfully live with a sense of pride,” Aliyev said, addressing the Azerbaijani people from Talish village on Saturday, on the occasion of Nowruz.

Also, Aliyev did not forget to present ultimatums and make insults against Armenians, frequently repeating expressions about the “masters” and “backers” of Armenians.

“Today, Armenia, which had declared that ‘Karabakh is Armenia and that’s it,’ which was threatening us with a new war, is in search of a new master. There will be no benefit from that,” he said.

Continuing the topic of the unknown “backers” of Armenians, Aliyev spoke about the countries that “support Armenia’s invasive policy and have declared an information war against us,” but did not specify which countries he means.

“For Armenia to live peacefully on the territory of [its] 29,000 square kilometers, there is one condition: they need to accept our conditions, officially recognize Karabakh as the territory of Azerbaijan, carry out delimitation work based on our conditions,” said Aliyev.

“Realities related to occupation, war, post-Soviet realities should and will find their reflection in peace negotiations. Otherwise, there will be no peace treaty,” continued the president of Azerbaijan.

“Some conferences, symposiums related to the internal affairs of Azerbaijan are being organized in some countries,” Aliyev said.

“Some pro-Armenian countries recognize the ‘independence of Nagorno-Karabakh,’ which does not exist on the world map, does not exist in the territory of Azerbaijan. What does this mean. This means that during the occupation, the only goal of all those forces was to make the occupation eternal, not to resolve that conflict, but to freeze it,” he added.

Armenian American Museum Elevate Gala Is Sold Out

Manouk Vasilian

Press
Contact:

Shant
Sahakian, Executive Director

Armenian
American Museum and Cultural Center of California

(818)
644-2214

[email protected]

 

FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

ARMENIAN AMERICAN MUSEUM
ELEVATE GALA IS SOLD OUT

 

Glendale, CA (March 9,
2023) – The Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center of California has announced
that the highly anticipated Elevate Gala on Sunday, March 19, 2023 is
officially sold out. The signature event of the year is anticipated to welcome
a capacity audience at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

 

The Elevate Gala will
celebrate the completion of the first phase of construction featuring the
museum parking garage and building foundation and mark the next exciting
chapter for the Armenian American Museum as the landmark center is elevated to
the horizon as a destination for education, enrichment, and inspiration for
generations to come.

 

Internationally
acclaimed and award-winning entertainer Kev Orkian will serve as the Master of
Ceremonies for the evening. Kev Orkian is a notable actor, musician, and
comedian who has earned a reputation as one of the United Kingdom’s finest
entertainers.

 

Pacific Western Bank Vice
President Relationship Manager and Armenian American Museum Board of Governors
Member Diana Timuryan is serving as the Elevate Gala Chair. The Elevate Gala
Committee includes Mayda Altounian, Alvard Barseghian, Angela Bedoyan, Ani
Bekarian, Araxie Boyamian, Garine Depoyan, Hilda Fidanian, Aida Gharakhani,
Marie Jeanne Harmandayan, Natalie Hariri, Christine Hovnanian, Tanya
Kalaydjian, Maro Kasparian, Dr. Alexia Kevonian, Erika Toriz-Kurkjian, Carmen
Libaridian, Margaret Mgrublian, Narine Mouradian, Aleen Orucakciel, Dzovig
Zetlian, and Elizabeth Zoryan.

 

Major Sponsors include Donnell
& Rima Cameron, Armen & Gloria Hampar Family Foundation, Avadis &
Nancy Tevanian, Jack & Zarig Youredjian, Ayvazian Family Foundation, The
GASKA Alliance Foundation, Anonymous, Dr. Vicken & Sossy Aharonian, Ron
& Kourtni Arakelian, Bank of America, Gregory & Gina Felikian, Steve
& Sandi Hampar, Nabil & Hanan Karabetian, Berdj & Mary Karapetian, Matthew
& Audrey Matoesian, William McMorrow, Nora Tertzag Hampar Charitable Trust
Ara & Nina Ohanian, Sarkis & Nune Sepetjian, and Isaac & Frieda
Vartanian.

 

The Armenian American
Museum is a world-class educational and cultural institution that is currently
under construction on the museum campus at Glendale Central Park. The museum
will offer a wide range of public programming through the Permanent Exhibition,
Temporary Exhibitions, Auditorium, Learning Center, Demonstration Kitchen,
Archives Center, and more.

 

For more information on how
to contribute to the Armenian American Museum and the Elevate Gala, contact
Major Gifts Director Mary Khayat at (818) 644-2073.

 

Learn more about the Elevate
Gala at https://www.ArmenianAmericanMuseum.org/Gala.

 

###



Kindly,

Arsine Sina Torosyan
Communications Director
Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center of California
116 North Artsakh Avenue, Suite 205, Glendale, CA 91206
Office: (818) 351-3554, Ext. 706
Direct: (818) 644-2215
www.ArmenianAmericanMuseum.org
Confidentiality Notice: This communication and any documents, files, or previous e-mail messages attached to it constitute an electronic communication within the scope of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 ISCA 2510. This communication may contain non-public, confidential, or legally privileged information intended for the sole use of the designated recipient(s). The unlawful interception, use, or disclosure of such information is strictly prohibited under 18 USCA 2511 and any applicable laws.




Elevate Gala Sold Out Flyer.jpg
JPEG image

CivilNet: Aliyev cornered and lashing out in Artsakh

Manouk Vasilian
CIVILNET.AM

09 Mar, 2023 08:03

In the latest episode of Insights with Eric Hacopian, Eric discusses Azerbaijan’s attack last Sunday that left three Armenian police officers dead in Nagorno-Karabakh. Eric explains why Azerbaijan is resorting once again to violence, despite a number of positive developments in the negotiation process, and which other actors are to blame for the continued violence in Karabakh.


Fwd: The California Courier Online, March 9, 2023

Manouk Vasilian

The California
Courier Online, March 9, 2023

 

1-         Israel’s
Massive Supply of

            Sophisticated
Weapons to Azerbaijan

            By Harut
Sassounian

            Publisher,
The California
Courier

           
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

2-         Irvine City
Council unanimously approves

            Armenian
Genocide Memorial at Great
Park

3-         Family Moves
to Pasadena for Armenian
Academy at Blair High School

4-         ‘Princess of
December’: George Kirazian Releases

            New Fantasy
Novel for Young Adults

************************************************************************************************************************************************

 

1-         Israel’s
Massive Supply of

            Sophisticated
Weapons to Azerbaijan

            By Harut
Sassounian

            Publisher,
The California
Courier

           
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

 

The Israeli Haaretz newspaper published on March 5, an astounding
article titled: “92 Flights from Israeli Base Reveal Arms Exports to Azerbaijan.”

The article reported that on March 2, Azerbaijan’s Silk Way Airlines’ cargo plane
landed in Israel’s Ovda
military airport, and two hours later returned to Baku
via Turkey and the Georgian Republic. In the last seven years, this
is the 92nd cargo flight from Baku to Ovda, the
only airfield in Israel
that is allowed to export explosives. These military shipments increased
substantially during Azerbaijan’s
attacks on Armenia/Artsakh in 2016, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Pres. Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan has described Israel’s covert relations with Azerbaijan as
being like an iceberg, nine-tenths of it is below the surface.

Israel
supplies almost 70% of Azerbaijan’s
weapons and in return receives about half of its imported oil. Haaretz quoted
foreign media sources disclosing that: “Azerbaijan has allowed the Mossad
[Israel’s intelligence agency] to set up a forward branch [in Azerbaijan] to
monitor what is happening in Iran, Azerbaijan’s neighbor to the south, and has
even prepared an airfield intended to aid Israel in case it decides to attack
Iranian nuclear sites. Reports from two years ago stated that the Mossad agents
who stole the Iranian nuclear archive smuggled it to Israel
via Azerbaijan.
According to official reports from Azerbaijan,
over the years Israel
has sold it the most advanced weapons systems, including ballistic missiles,
air defense and electronic warfare systems, kamikaze drones and more.”

Haaretz revealed that Azerbaijan’s
Silk Way Airlines “operates three weekly flights between Baku
and [Israel’s] Ben-Gurion International Airport
with Boeing 747 cargo freighters.” In addition, some Eastern European countries
circumvent the ban on the sale of weapons to Azerbaijan
by shipping them via Israel.

The restriction of the sale of weapons by Europe and the United States to Armenia
and Azerbaijan created an
opportunity for Israel to
earn billions of dollars in weapons’ sales to Azerbaijan.

Haaretz reported that “Israel has exported a very wide range
of weapons to the country [Azerbaijan]—starting with Tavor assault rifles all
the way to the most sophisticated systems such as radar, air defense, antitank
missiles, ballistic missiles, ships and a wide range of drones, both for
intelligence and attack purposes. Israeli companies have also supplied advanced
spy tech, such as communications monitoring systems from Verint and the Pegasus
spyware from the NSO Group—tools that were used against journalists, the LGBT
community and human rights activists in Azerbaijan, too.”

The Stockholm International Peace Institute wrote: “Israel’s defense exports to Azerbaijan
began in 2005 with the sale of the Lynx multiple launch rocket systems by
Israel Military Industries (IMI Systems), which has a range of 150 kilometers
(92 miles). IMI, which was acquired by Elbit Systems in 2018, also supplied
LAR-160 light artillery rockets with a range of 45 kilometers, which, according
to a report from Human Rights Watch, were used by Azerbaijan to fire banned
cluster munitions at residential areas in Nagorno-Karabakh,” even though Israel
and 123 other countries have banned the use of cluster bombs.

Haaretz reported that “In 2007, Azerbaijan signed a contract to buy
four intelligence-gathering drones from Aeronautics Defense Systems. It was the
first deal of many. In 2008 it purchased 10 Hermes 450 drones from Elbit
Systems and 100 Spike antitank missiles produced by Rafael Advanced Defense
Systems and in 2010 it bought another 10 intelligence-gathering drones. Soltam
Systems, owned by Elbit, sold it ATMOS self-propelled guns and 120-millimeter
Cardom mortars, and in 2017 Azerbaijan’s
arsenal was supplemented with the more advanced Hanit mortars. According to the
telegram leaked in Wikileaks, a sale of advanced communications equipment from
Tadiran was also signed in 2008.”

According to Haaretz, “Israel
and Azerbaijan
took their relationship up a level in 2011 with a huge $1.6 billion deal that
included a battery of Barak missiles for intercepting aircraft and missiles, as
well as Searcher and Heron drones from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It
was reported that near the end of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020, a
Barak battery shot down an Iskander ballistic missile launched by Armenia.
Aeronautics Defense Systems also began cooperating with the local arms industry
in Azerbaijan, where some of the 100 Orbiter kamikaze (loitering munitions)
drones were produced—drones that Azerbaijan’s defense minister called ‘a
nightmare for the Armenian army.’”

In 2021, “an indictment was filed against [Israel’s]
Aeronautics Defense Systems for violating the law regulating defense exports in
its dealing with one of its most prominent clients. A court-imposed gag order
prevents the publication of further details. A project to modernize the
Azerbaijani army’s tanks began in the early 2010s. Elbit Systems upgraded and
equipped the old Soviet T-72 models with new protective gear to enhance the
tanks’ and their crews’ survivability, as well as fast and precise target acquisition
and fire control systems. The upgraded tanks, known as Aslan (Lion), starred in
the 2013 military parade. Azerbaijan’s navy was reinforced in 2013 with six
patrol ships based on the Israel Navy’s Sa’ar 4.5-class missile boats, produced
by Israel Shipyards and carrying the naval version of the Spike missiles, along
with six Shaldag MK V patrol boats with Rafael’s Typhoon gun mounts and Spike
missile systems. Azerbaijan’s
navy also bought 100 Lahat antitank guided missiles.”

In 2014, “Azerbaijan
ordered the first 100 Harop kamikaze drones from IAI, which were a critical
tool in later rounds of fighting. Azerbaijan also purchased two
advanced radar systems for aerial warning and defense from IAI subsidiary Elta
that same year…. Two years later, Azerbaijan bought another 250
SkyStriker kamikaze drones from Elbit Systems. Many videos from the areas of
fighting showed Israeli drones attacking Armenian forces…. In 2016, during
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Baku, Aliyev revealed that contracts had
already been signed between the two countries for the purchase of some $5
billion in ‘defensive equipment.’ In 2017, Azerbaijan purchased advanced
Hermes 900 drones from Elbit Systems and LORA ballistic missiles from IAI, with
a range 430 kilometers. In 2018, Aliyev inaugurated the base where the LORA
missiles are deployed, at a distance of about 430 kilometers from Yerevan, Armenia’s
capital. During the war in 2020, at least one LORA missile was launched, and
according to reports it hit a bridge that Armenia used to supply arms and
equipment to its forces in Nagorno-Karabakh. More advanced Spike missiles were
sent in 2019 and 2020.”

It is appalling that the descendants of the Holocaust are
supplying such massive lethal weapons to Azerbaijan to kill the descendants
of the Armenian Genocide.

 

************************************************************************************************************************************************
2-         Irvine City Council unanimously
approves

            Armenian
Genocide Memorial at Great
Park

 

YEREVAN (Armenpress)—The
Irvine City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday, February 28 to proceed with
dedicating an Armenian Genocide Memorial at the Great
Park in Irvine
(Orange County, California).

Kev Abazajian, a professor at UC Irvine, gave testimony in
support of the initiative during the City Council meeting, as an Irvine resident and as a
descendant of Genocide survivors.

************************************************************************************************************************************************
3-         Family Moves to Pasadena for Armenian
Academy at Blair High School

 

By Scott Phelps

 

(ColoradoBoulevard.net)—Sousse
and Mike Hanhan from Fontana
wanted their daughter, Solange, to be immersed in the Armenian culture. They’d
sought an Armenian school for many years, but distance and cost were an
obstacle. One day, Sousse (who is Armenian from Lebanon) saw an ad on Facebook for the Armenian Academy
at Blair High
School, and brought it up to Mike, who is Palestinian from Jordan.

She contacted Maro Yacoubian, Founder of the Armenian Academy and Chair of the AA Advisory
Board, who explained the program in detail. Sousse’s excitement grew and she arranged an
orientation with Yacoubian and teacher Norayr Daduryan.

The Hanhans were granted an interdistrict permit, and
Solange transferred from the Etiwanda
School District to
Pasadena Unified.

For the 2021-2022 school year when Solange was in 7th grade,
Solange would wake up by 5:30 a.m. to make the 2-hour commute from Fontana to Pasadena
with her mother. She would often sleep on the way to school and on the way
home. It was a challenging year, because she was involved in extracurricular
activities such as Armenian dance and choir, and also played on the water polo
team. Despite the long commute, she would study when she got home and earned
straight A’s in her honors classes. Sousse
and Mike admired their daughter’s tenacity.

She excelled especially in math, which has been her favorite
subject. The family credits Mr. Glenn for his patience and ability to make math
enjoyable. Solange made it; she passed her tests and did her projects. Mr.
Glenn’s lessons were also supplemented by the school’s tutoring program called
Paper, which is provided by PUSD.

Solange also enjoyed Armenian language because it was a
challenge for her to read and write it, in addition to mastering conversation.

“When I came to Blair, my mind opened up. The International Baccalaureate School
has given me a high bar to reach, and I appreciate that opportunity,” said
Solange.

 Sousse
and Mike wanted to ensure that Solange could remain at Blair throughout high
school, so they sold their home and moved closer to Pasadena. Her counselor asked her what she
wanted to do in the summer. She said she wanted to eventually go into business
like her Dad and real estate like her cousin. So the counselor put her in a PCC
summer class at John Muir, Business 101, and she got an A+.

Sousse
can’t say enough about how her daughter has developed and evolved, in one year.
Right before school started this past August, the Armenian Academy
had a “meet and greet” in the park. The Academy had been a new environment, and
her daughter had been scared, as she didn’t speak much Armenian. But Solange
blossomed and wanted to be in every club or educational opportunity the school
offered.

Solange is now in 8th grade, taking Math, Science, History
Honors, English Honors, Armenian 2 and PE. She is looking forward to taking
another PCC class this coming summer. She may try an art class, too, in
addition to business.

She has solidified her friendships from Armenian dance and
choir. She’s also made friends in the mainstream part of Blair High School,
who she keeps in touch with by phone. “I highly recommend this program to all
my friends, and any student who wants to broaden their cultural experience and
get a great education,” said Solange.

 

**********************************************************************************************************************************************
4-         ‘Princess of December’: George
Kirazian Releases

            New Fantasy
Novel for Young Adults

 

Author, teacher and composer George Kirazian’s new book,
“The Princess of December,” has been released by Laurel Publications and is
available on Amazon.com in print and Kindle formats.

A fantasy adventure for young readers aged 8-13, “The
Princess of December” follows the adventures of the young protagonist
Yvette, who helps Lyanna, the titular protagonist The Princess of December,
against evil forces of The Ice Shadow.

Kirazian completed undergraduate and graduate studies at New York University,
and for over 30 years taught Writing, Literature, and Music Appreciation
courses at Grossmont College and San Diego State
University. In addition
to his novella, “A Time for Fathers,” Kirazian has written and published
extensively in poetry and fiction. He also wrote the children’s books, “The
Sleeping Violet,” “Perry the Peacock,” “Beyond the Koala Kingdom,” “Leo and the
Mulberry Flute,” and “The Princess of December.” He also published “Easy
Writing,” a book on writing improvement for adults.

Kirazian’s work as a composer have been performed by choral
groups in the San Diego area and includes various art songs, hymns, and a new
version of Armenian Apostolic Church Divine Liturgy. His latest composition,
“The Book of Ruth: A Ballet,” is premiering in a production with Mojalet Dance
Collective in San Diego
in April.

 

***********************************************************************************************************************************************
************************************************************************************************************************************************

California Courier Online provides readers of the Armenian News News Service with a
few of the articles in this week’s issue of The California Courier. Letters to
the editor are encouraged through our e-mail address, .
Letters are published with the author’s name and location; authors are required
to disclose their identity to the editorial staff (name, address, and/or
telephone numbers for verification purposes).
California Courier subscribers can change or modify mailing addresses by
emailing .