Author: Mary Lazarian

International Court of Justice orders Azerbaijan to end blockade hurting Armenian Christians

Mary Lazarian
THE CHRISTIAN POST
Feb 27 2023
By Anugrah Kumar, Christian Post Contributor

Days after the International Court of Justice ordered Azerbaijan to end the more than two-month blockade of the Lachin Corrido connecting Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, authorities say the roadblock persists preventing food, medicine and other essentials from being delivered to over 120,000 people.

Under last Thursday’s binding order of the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, Azerbaijan must take all measures within its power to ensure the unimpeded movement of people, vehicles and cargo in both directions along the Lachin Corridor under its obligations to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

“The Court observes that, since 12 December 2022, the connection between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia via the Lachin Corridor has been disrupted. The Court notes that a number of consequences have resulted from this situation and that the impact on those affected persists to this date,” an official summary of the order states.

“The information available to the Court indicates that the disruption on the Lachin Corridor has impeded the transfer of persons of Armenian national or ethnic origin hospitalized in Nagorno-Karabakh to medical facilities in Armenia for urgent medical care. The evidence also indicates that there have been hindrances to the importation into Nagorno-Karabakh of essential goods, causing shortages of food, medicine and other life-saving medical supplies.”

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a long-standing dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The region is recognized internationally as part of Muslim-majority Azerbaijan even though it has a majority Armenian population and is controlled by ethnic Armenians as the unrecognized Republic of Artsakh, a de facto independent state not recognized by the United Nations.

Armenian Christians living in Nagorno-Karabakh (known to Armenians as Artsakh) are facing dire conditions due to the blockade that’s preventing much-needed food, medicine, and other resources from reaching the region.

The blockade has been in place for more than two months, with Azerbaijani protestors blocking the only road into the landlocked territory.

Despite the ruling, an independent news blog that reports on military developments in the region, Nagorno Karabakh Observer, tweeted Sunday that the blockade was still in place.

“#NagornoKarabakh authorities refute news on social media that #Azerbaijan’s roadblock has been lifted,” The Observer wrote.

The state-run Artsakh InfoCenter also wrote on Facebook that “The information circulating in social networks, according to which the only road connecting Artsakh with Armenia has been opened, is false.”

“The only way connecting Artsakh to Armenia has been blocked by Azerbaijan for 78 days,” the Artsakh InfoCenter stated in a post Monday. 

Baroness Caroline Cox, a prominent member of the U.K.’s House of Lords, expressed her concern over the situation last week.

“The situation is now very, very serious. Indeed, it has been said by people, it may indeed be an impending genocide,” she told CBN News.

With Armenians suffering from a shortage of food and medicine, patients in urgent need of medical attention are being hampered.

“The shortage of medicines is very, very serious, especially medicines like insulin for people with diabetes, and the transfer of patients from Karabakh into Armenia needing urgent medical treatment, that has been very, very much stymied,” Cox stated. “One has already died, so it is a very dire situation indeed.”

The potential destruction of Christian churches, historic landmarks and entire cultures is also a concern.

“This could be another stage of genocide, destruction of Christian people, destruction of Christian heritage. And we need to pray,” she said. 

Gayane Beglarian, whose 4-year-old daughter suffers from liver cancer, recently told CBN News that the family was frightened and worried about her child missing life-saving treatment.

But after weeks of anxiously waiting, the Red Cross helped the family exit. Gayane emphasized that other ailing residents also need help.

“We have no necessary equipment; we have no doctors who can come there and have necessary treatment,” she said. 

In a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden last month, John Eibner, the president of Christian Solidarity International, and Baroness Cox urged the United States to take action.

The letter called for a resolution at the United Nations Security Council that would authorize a humanitarian airlift into the region if Azerbaijan does not comply.

“You are the first American president to recognize the Armenian Genocide,” Eibner and Baroness Cox wrote. “We urge you not to allow another Armenian Genocide to occur on your watch.”

CSI, a Christian human rights organization that promotes religious liberty and human dignity, said it’s all part of an “ongoing” genocide.

“A process of genocide has been underway since the Ottoman massacres of Armenians in the late 19th century,” Eibner told The Christian Post at the time.

“What is generally called the Armenian Genocide (1915-’18) was, in fact, a broader genocide of Christians, including the Syriacs/Assyrians/Aramaeans. It was the high point of a process that continues in waves until the present day,” the CSI president said.

“It continued in the Caucasus after the end of the First World War and was only suspended by the imposition of Soviet rule. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the process resumed in the first Karabakh war, again two years ago in the second Karabakh war and now in the strangulation of Karabakh by means of blockade.”

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has its roots in the early 20th century when the region, which has a majority Armenian population, was part of the Russian Empire and later, the Soviet Union.

In the 1920s, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin established the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast within Soviet Azerbaijan. As the Soviet Union began to collapse in the late 1980s, ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh voted to secede from Azerbaijan and join Armenia. This led to a war between the two countries that lasted from 1988 to 1994, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of people and the displacement of over 1 million. A ceasefire was signed in 1994, but sporadic violence continued in the region.

In 2016, a four-day war broke out between Armenia and Azerbaijan, resulting in hundreds of deaths. In September 2020, the fighting broke out again, escalated rapidly and resulted in a large-scale military operation by Azerbaijan, with the support of Turkey, to retake the regions of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding areas under Armenian control.

A ceasefire was signed again in November 2020, but tensions remain high, with both sides accusing each other of ceasefire violations and the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh remaining tense.

https://www.christianpost.com/news/court-orders-azerbaijan-to-end-blockade-of-armenian-christians.html

Former San Diego track star Allison Halverson officially eligible to represent Armenia

Mary Lazarian

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 14:48,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Former San Diego track star Allison Halverson is now officially eligible to represent Armenia, according to the Armenian Athletic Federation.

Armenian Athletic Federation General Secretary Narine Shahbazyan told ARMENPRESS that Halverson, 31, was granted Armenian citizenship back in 2019 but under rules of World Athletics she had to wait after changing national affiliation to represent the given country.

Halverson had to wait two years because she was a member of the United States national team in the past.

“Halverson herself requested [federation president]Robert Emmiyan to represent Armenia. A few years ago she wanted to participate in the Tokyo Olympics. There is no clarity yet regarding which track competitions she will compete at,” Shahbazyan said.

Earlier in 2021, the Times of San Diego reported that if Halverson didn’t have to wait she’d likely had been on Team Armenia headed for Tokyo — perhaps as a wildcard entrant in the 100-meter dash.

Limited spots available for ANCA “Rising Leaders” career and civic engagement seminar in March

Mary Lazarian
 ANCA ANCA News 0

WASHINGTON, DC – Armenian American university students have until February 22nd to apply for the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)’s “Rising Leaders: Career Development and Civic Education” Program, which will introduce young Armenians to Washington, DC’s advocacy, policy, politics and media opportunities through a unique three-day immersion program. The program is a collaboration between the ANCA and Armenian Youth Federation Eastern and Western United states.

Two participation options are available for university students – March 12th to 14th, 2023, and March 26th to 28th, 2023 – to coincide with the two major Spring Break timelines at most universities. The top 25 applicants, based on academic excellence and proven community youth leadership, will be chosen for each session. Students who are chosen for the program have two participation options – one that offers housing for the 3-day program ($100) and the other which includes program fees alone ($25). Students are responsible for travel to and from Washington, DC. Financial aid will be provided based on need and availability.

For more information, email [email protected] or simply apply today by visiting anca.org/risingleaders.

Alumni of the 2022 ANCA Rising Leaders sessions discussed the impact of the program – both in terms of career development and community activism.

Leana Hacopian of the AYF New Jersey Arsen Chapter explains, “The ANCA Rising Leaders Program was one of the most inspiring programs that I have been a part of. No matter the background of the student, the skills that we all learned are applicable to every aspect of daily life. Most importantly, the program inspired us to take action and become effective advocates for a better and safer Armenia and Artsakh.”

Aram Parnagian of the AYF Manhattan “Moush” chapter noted, “The ANCA rising leaders program provided me with experiences that taught me about the details of American democracy and how to advance the Armenian Cause through that system.”

Aram Apanian of the AYF Hollywood “Musa Ler” chapter noted, “The ANCA Rising Leaders program was a unique opportunity to learn about civic activism and how to promote Pro-Armenia and Artsakh issues within our nation’s capital. The high caliber of speakers I learned from gave me insight into key topics such as lobbying, professional development, and public speaking. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in this program which reaffirmed my belief in the importance of the ANCA’s work.”

Nyrah Balabanian of the AYF New Jersey “Arsen” chapter stated, “The ANCA Rising Leaders program gave me the opportunity to expand my knowledge of Armenian-American policy priorities and practice using my rights as a citizen to learn how to answer the call to action. I definitely recommend this program to anyone who is interested in sharpening their skills and gaining valuable information about the ins and outs of Washington DC.”

Lar Tabakian of the AYF Pasadena “Nigol Touman” chapter concurred, noting, “The ANCA Rising Leaders program opened my eyes to the array of possibilities on Capitol Hill. It ignited the fire within me to utilize my position as a constituent to advance the Armenian Cause on American soil. After the program, I became truly inspired by the work of the ANCA and participated in its Leo Sarkisian Internship this past summer.”

The 2023 sessions will begin Sunday with a full day of interactive presentations by the ANCA Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program Advisory Committee (CGPAC) focusing on career search fundamentals, from resume preparation and networking 101 to an overview of the Washington, DC internship and job market. Monday activities will include meetings with policy, political, and media professionals, including current and former federal agency and Congressional staff, to discuss careers in the nation’s capital. Those will be followed by an extended session with ANCA team members on advancing community priorities on the federal, state, and local levels. The seminar will be capped off with the Lucine Kouchakdjian Capitol Hill Day, a full day of Capitol Hill discussions with Members of Congress and staff on strengthening U.S.-Armenia ties, supporting Artsakh freedom, and securing justice for the Armenian Genocide.

Throughout the program, ample opportunities will be provided to explore Washington, DC, and make new friends.

The program is made possible, in large part, through a generous contribution by longtime ANCA supporter Dean Shahinian is again the major sponsor of this unique youth development program along with the family and friends of Lucine Kouchakdjian.

Dean Shahinian served in the federal government in various capacities for over 30 years, including 16 years at the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, where he worked with Committee Chairs on numerous bills and laws, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Dodd-Frank Act. In the Armenian community, he has served on the boards of St. Nersess Seminary and the Armenian Students Association. He has also served multiple terms on the Diocesan Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America.

For dozens of years, living in the Washington, DC area – in addition to her cultural, education, and charitable work with a broad range of community organizations – Lucine Zadoian Kouchakdjian organized highly effective ANCA campaigns to foster a forward-leaning spirit of civic responsibility among Armenian Americans across the nation’s capital. The Rising Leaders Capitol Hill day was named in memory of her lifetime of service to the Armenian Cause following her passing earlier this year.

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The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.


RFE/RL Armenian Report – 02/17/2023

Mary Lazarian 
                                        Friday, 
Opposition Leader Unimpressed By Turkish-Armenian Dialogue
        • Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenia -- Opposition leader Gegham Manukian at a news conference in Yerevan, 
December 20, 2021.
A senior member of the main opposition Hayastan alliance downplayed on Friday 
the significance of the latest Turkish-Armenian negotiations, saying that Ankara 
is sticking to its preconditions for normalizing relations with Yerevan.
Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan visited Turkey on Wednesday as the Armenian 
government sent more humanitarian aid to residents of a Turkish city ravaged by 
last week’s catastrophic earthquake. Mirzoyan said on Thursday that he and his 
Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu agreed to speed up efforts to normalize 
bilateral ties which began a year ago.
Parliament speaker Alen Simonian claimed on Friday that the two neighboring 
states are now “quite close” to establishing diplomatic relations and opening 
their border.
“If the Turkish side demonstrates sufficient will and resolve, I think that we 
will solve that issue,” Simonian told reporters.
Gegham Manukian, a lawmaker representing Hayastan, insisted, however, that 
Ankara only made “symbolic gestures” to Yerevan.
“The Armenian authorities are trying to present those gestures to their citizens 
as historic developments,” he said. “But as the joint news conference of 
Cavusoglu and Mirzoyan showed, Turkey is continuing to condition its relations 
with Armenia by negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia and to speak in the 
same language of preconditions.”
Manukian also dismissed Mirzoyan’s announcement that the Turkish-Armenian border 
could be opened to citizens of third countries before this summer. He argued 
that Turkish regions bordering Armenia are sparsely populated and attract few 
foreign tourists.
“Who is going to cross the entire territory of Turkey to reach Gyumri through 
the Margara bridge and then go to, say, Georgia, with their third-country 
passport?” he asked at a news conference.
Cavusoglu said after his talks with Mirzoyan that the assistance provided by 
Armenia could facilitate the normalization process. But he appeared to link that 
process to the outcome of Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks.
Chief Of New Armenian Police Force Sacked
        • Narine Ghalechian
Armenia - Officers and vehicles of the newly established Patrol Service, 
Yerevan, July 8, 2021.
The chief of a Western-funded major division of the Armenian police has been 
sacked following an extraordinary traffic incident at Yerevan’s main square 
which sparked accusations of incompetence directed at its officers.
Colonel Artur Umrshatian has headed the Patrol Service since it was set up in 
2021 with financial and technical assistance provided by the United States and 
the European Union.
The new police force was meant to introduce Western standards in road policing, 
street patrol and crowd control in Armenia. Armenian and Western officials have 
described its creation as a key element of police reforms announced by Prime 
Minister Nikol Pashinian’s administration.
The Armenian Interior Ministry gave no reasons for Umrshatian’s sacking 
announced on Thursday. The ministry’s press service refused to comment on it 
afterwards.
The development came six days after a car raced chaotically through Yerevan’s 
central Republic Square, driving on its sidewalks and nearly running over 
pedestrians. On-duty Patrol Service officers reportedly took more than 20 
minutes to stop the large SUV despite firing gunshots at its wheels. Its 
apparently intoxicated driver managed to flee the scene but was arrested a few 
hours later.
The incident was caught on mobile phone cameras and widely circulated on social 
media, prompting a wave of criticism and ridicule from many users. Critics of 
the government claimed that it exposed a lack of professionalism within the 
Patrol Service whose officers reportedly have much higher wages than other 
security personnel in Armenia.
Armenia - Colonel Artur Umrshatian.
The Armenian police did not respond to the criticism. Still, two Patrol Service 
officers were fired earlier this week. One of them, Roman Mirzakhanian, was hit 
and injured by the car during the February 10 incident.
Daniel Ioannisian, a civic activist monitoring the police, deplored the ensuing 
sacking of Umrshatian. Ioannisian said that the latter was at the forefront of 
police reforms and prevented nepotism and other corrupt practices within the 
Patrol Service.
“There is resistance [to reforms] because Patrol Service officers treat officers 
of other security bodies and ordinary citizens equally on the streets of 
Yerevan,” he said. “Just recently, for example, a National Security Service 
lieutenant-colonel was stripped of his driving license.”
Ioannisian also claimed that for the same reason the Patrol Service personnel 
are subjected to disciplinary action more frequently than officers of other 
police divisions.
Ioannisian’s Union of Informed Citizens (UIC) and two other non-governmental 
organizations strongly criticized last month Pashinian’s decision to appoint 
Vahe Ghazarian, the national police chief and his reputed childhood friend, as 
interior minister. They pulled out of a government body coordinating police 
reforms in protest.
Over the past year, the Patrol Service has also faced allegations of 
ill-treatment of citizens. In particular, its officers clashed last November 
with several residents of Vanadzor after accusing them of interfering with 
Pashinian’s motorcade. One of those residents was hospitalized as a result.
Armenian Speaker Lauds Council Of Europe After Russian Criticism
Armenia - Parliament speaker Alen Simonian (right) meets Council of Europe 
Parliamentary Assembly co-rapporters, Yerevan, .
Just days after Russia spoke out against European involvement in efforts to 
resolve the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, parliament speaker Alen Simonian 
praised Council of Europe officials on Friday for seeking an end to Azerbaijan’s 
blockade of the Lachin corridor.
Simonian met with Kimmo Kiljunen and Boriana Aberg, co-rapporteurs of the 
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), at the start of their 
fact-finding visit to Armenia. They are tasked with monitoring Armenia’s 
compliance with its membership commitments to the Strasbourg-based organization.
The PACE did not specify the purpose of the visit in a statement issued earlier 
this week. It said only that Kiljunen and Aberg will meet with senior officials 
in Yerevan and visit three Armenian towns close to the Azerbaijani border.
The press service of the Armenian parliament said the PACE representatives 
arrived in Armenia to “familiarize themselves with the situation created as a 
result of the illegal blockade” of Karabakh’s land link with Armenia.
“We highly appreciate the work and involvement of the Assembly and you as 
co-rapporteurs,” it quoted Simonian as telling them.
Simonian praised the co-rapporteurs for urging an immediate end to the blockade 
just days after Azerbaijani government-backed protesters halted traffic through 
the corridor on December 12. He also noted with satisfaction that a PACE 
committee will release on soon a report on “humanitarian consequences” of the 
blockade.
Russia - Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin meets Armenian 
parliament speaker Alen Simonian in Moscow, October 10, 2022
Simonian’s Russian counterpart, Vyacheslav Volodin attacked the PACE and the 
European Parliament on Monday, saying that these and other Western bodies can 
only fan tensions in the South Caucasus.
“And those who make statements in the direction of European institutions may 
simply lose the country,” Volodin, who is a close ally of Russian President 
Vladimir Putin, said in what appeared to be a stern warning to Yerevan.
The European Parliament urged Azerbaijan to “immediately reopen” the Lachin 
corridor in a January 19 resolution hailed by Armenian officials. The resolution 
also condemned the “inaction” of Russian peacekeeping forces in Karabakh and 
called for their “replacement with OSCE international peacekeepers.”
The European Union also irked Moscow last month when it agreed to deploy more 
than 100 monitors on Armenia’s volatile border with Azerbaijan. The Russian 
Foreign Ministry accused the EU of seeking to “push back Russia's mediation 
efforts at any cost.”
Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2023 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Armenia sends more humanitarian aid to Turkey through land border

Mary Lazarian

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 10:05,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenia sent more humanitarian aid to quake-hit Turkey through the land border, the Armenian foreign ministry spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan tweeted.

“Armenia continues sending humanitarian aid to earthquake-affected regions. Late last night, trucks loaded with the second batch of humanitarian aid crossed the Armenian-Turkish border through the Margara bridge,” Hunanyan tweeted.

Turkey briefly opened its land border with Armenia, which is closed for over 30 years, on February 11 to receive humanitarian aid sent by Armenia following the devastating earthquake. An Armenian search-and-rescue team is also deployed in Adiyaman.

On February 15, the Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan will travel to Turkey to meet with Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. FM Mirzoyan is also scheduled to meet the Armenian rescuers.

PM Pashinyan sends congratulatory message on the occasion of Independence Day of Cyprus

Mary Lazarian

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 15:47, 1 October 2022

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory message to the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, on the occasion of Independence Day. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister, the message reads as follows,

"Your Excellency,

I convey my warmest congratulations and best wishes on the Independence Day of the Republic of Cyprus. I wish prosperity, progress and peace to always accompany the fraternal people of Cyprus.

The Armenian-Cypriot interstate relations, anchored on strong traditional ties, historical, cultural and value system commonalities, are distinguished by their allied nature and willingness to show solidarity and support to each other.

I am confident that the fruitful and ever-developing cooperation between Armenia and Cyprus will continue to be strengthened and expanded at both bilateral and multilateral levels, including in the context of Armenia-EU cooperation and within the framework of the Armenia-Greece-Cyprus trilateral format."

Armenia former ruling party official: Brussels photo series is telling again

Mary Lazarian
NEWS.am
Armenia – Aug 31 2022
16:38, 31.08.2022

The opening photo series of the trilateral meeting that started in Brussels is again telling. Armen Ashotyan, vice-chairman of the former ruling Republican Party of Armenia, wrote this on Facebook—and with respect to the ongoing meeting in Brussels between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia, President Charles Michel of the European Council, and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan.

“I say again that the being who became the cause and symbol of [the Armenian side’s] defeat [in the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) war in the fall of 2020] has no right to continue negotiations.

Here again, everything is clear already from the photos.

The body language just screams about it.

Let’s wait for another defeatist statement [for the Armenian side] in the evening,” Ashotyan added.

ANCA Summer Internship: Pro-Artsakh Policy and Purpose in the Nation’s Capital

Mary Lazarian
 ANCA ANCA News 0

A portion of the 2022 ANCA summer interns on Capitol Hill with ANCA Programs Director Alex Manoukian

WASHINGTON, DC – Amid ongoing Azerbaijani attacks and Turkish hostility against Artsakh and Armenia, 14 Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Leo Sarkisian, Maral Melkonian Avetisyan and Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program interns and fellows spent their summer in Washington, DC – speaking truth to power in the halls of Congress and mobilizing the growing national grassroots movement of Armenian Americans and diverse ethnic, religious and cultural coalition partners committed to the survival of the Armenian people upon their indigenous homeland.

These university students, high schoolers and recent graduates – each bringing their unique backgrounds from states across the US, and interests as diverse as politics and economics, math and sciences – matured personally and professionally as they charted their career paths and maximized their support for the Armenian cause.

Over the course of six weeks in the nation’s capital, ANCA Leo Sarkisian interns Gregory Codilian, Aram Gevorgian, Alex Guldjian, Ani Jamgotchian, Natalia Matossian, Lar Tabakian, Tara Tazian, Victoria Topalian and Christian Yerelekian joined ANCA Maral Melkonian Avetisyan Summer Fellow and Armenian Weekly columnist Melody Seraydarian and Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program interns Sune Hamparian, Zabelle Hamparian, Aram Hess and Stephen Pidedjian in over 150 Congressional meetings and visited every single Congressional office to advance pro-Artsakh priorities – to zero-out US military aid to Azerbaijan, increase aid to Artsakh and demand decisive US action to secure Azerbaijan’s release of Armenian POWs. They participated in multinational conferences, including the International Religious Freedom Forum – discussing the destruction of Armenian Christian holy sites in Azerbaijan-occupied Artsakh and Turkey-occupied Western Armenia.

ANCA interns at the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, DC

Interns and fellows worked closely with ANCA executive director Aram Hamparian and Government Affairs director Tereza Yerimyan to learn the finer points of effective Hai Tahd advocacy. ANCA IT director Nerses Semerjian and the summer team focused on the intricacies of political data collection and the effective use of technology – including the ANCA’s proprietary March to Justice system – to inspire broader community participation in pro-Artsakh and Armenian advocacy and civic discourse.

ANCA interns with Government Affairs Director Tereza Yerimyan, during a break from meetings on Capitol Hill

ANCA Programs director Alex Manoukian designed and ran the program, including a deep dive into Artsakh foreign policy with Artsakh representative to the US Robert Avetisyan and effective ways to combat Turkish and Azerbaijani disinformation with Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Eastern Region chair George Aghjayan. Library of Congress Armenian and Georgian specialist Dr. Khatchig Mouradian shared the historic Armenian books and artifacts in the Library’s 50,000-plus and growing Armenian collection. ANCA chairman emeritus Garo Armenian offered his annual full-day seminar on Armenian geopolitics – once again a favorite of the ANCA fellows. Sam Tatevosyan, director of government affairs of McDonald’s, shared his insights on careers on Capitol Hill and corporate lobbying success, while Prof. Greg Aftandilian discussed foreign policy and careers in both the State Department and Congress. Throughout it all, friendships emerged that are sure to last a lifetime after a memorable summer of activities, during which the 14 ANCA fellows and interns were inseparable.

Library of Congress Armenian and Georgian Specialist Dr. Khatchig Mouradian sharing some of the over 50,000 Armenian items preserved at the Library.

“The ANCA summer internship – inspired by Leo Sarkisian, Maral Melkonian Avetisyan and Hovig Apo Saghdejian – is the cornerstone of our year-round youth empowerment programs – helping generations of Armenian Americans take their rightful place in the ever-expanding world of pro-Artsakh/Armenia advocacy,” said Manoukian. “Their devotion, smarts and can-do attitude, coupled with the ANCA’s targeted legislative agenda and grassroots development program strengthen the second army of the Armenian nation as we battle to ensure security, freedom, and justice for our homeland.”

The 2022 ANCA Summer interns on the last day of the program in a moment of levity and appreciation for Director Alex Manoukian.

ANCA summer interns and fellows shared their impressions of the program and its impetus to expand Hai Tahd advocacy while contributing to their personal and professional growth.

“To say that I had a transformative experience interning at the ANCA in Washington, DC, over these past six weeks is an understatement,” explained Tazian. “The most rewarding moment was when the US House adopted four ANCA-backed pro-Armenian amendments because we had been working on that for weeks calling Congressmen and speaking to staffers at the Capitol.”

Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) with ANCA Exec. Director Aram Hamparian and interns Melody Seraydarian, Natalia Matossian, Tara Tazian, and Lar Tabakian, during one of the many Capitol Hill advocacy days

Yerelekian commented, “My time at LSI has been both eye-opening and inspiring. Throughout the entire process, I have seen my passion for foreign affairs and national defense grow exponentially through the opportunities that the internship offered.”

“I have felt the power and reach of the Hai Tahd on all fronts, through legislative advocacy and beyond,” noted Tabakian. “Thanks to the internship, the Armenian youth have a solid footing because of the work put in, and the rewards we reap.”

“Working at the ANCA has been nothing but productive and insightful given the opportunities made available such as Garo Armenian’s talk on Armenian geopolitics, visiting Sam Tatevosyan at the McDonald’s corporate building, and resume and cover letter resources,” explained Guldjian. “From touring Capitol Hill, presenting Armenian-American priorities in congressional meetings and working alongside such highly-educated and passionate interns, the internship program fostered many ways that we could advocate for the Hai Tahd on all different levels in our communities.”

The ANCA summer interns held over 150 meetings – on Capitol Hill and via Zoom – in support of pro-Artsakh/Armenia amendments to the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act

Jamgotchian explained, “The skills I learned and the friendships I made will serve me well into my future activism and career and for that, I will forever be grateful to the ANCA.”

“What I realized this summer is the importance of our beautiful Armenian community for advancing the Armenian cause. As Armenians we have a beautiful culture that needs to be preserved and I learned that the power of our community is what will help us achieve our goals,” noted Hess.

“It has been such a pleasure working with the ANCA this summer and living with like-minded young Armenians,” noted Gevorgian. “We worked to further Hai Tahd within our own skill sets and received many opportunities to develop ourselves. We received esteemed lecturers, participated in activities in Armenian communities and strengthened our Armenian identity.”

ANCA summer program participants are selected through a highly competitive application process, with acceptance based on academic excellence and demonstrated capacity for community leadership. While in Washington, DC, summer interns stay at the Aramian House — an eight-bedroom former bed and breakfast located in Washington, DC’s historic Dupont Circle neighborhood, just a short walk from the ANCA headquarters.

During the summer program, interns stay at the ANCA Aramian House, seen here as they head to the ANCA offices on the first day of the program.

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The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.


Analysts assess alignment of forces before meeting of Aliev and Pashinyan in Brussels

Mary Lazarian
Caucasian Knot
Aug 30 2022
The Ilham Aliev’s position in the upcoming negotiations is stronger against the backdrop of the transfer to Azerbaijan of Lachin and two villages, Azerbaijani analysts Togrul Djuvarly and Mekhman Aliev point out.

On August 31, through the mediation of the President of the Council of the European Union Charles Michel, the Belgian capital is to host a meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

According to Togrul Djuvarly, a member of the Azerbaijan National Public Committee for European Integration, Baku is entering into negotiations with the stronger positions. “During the interval between the previous meeting of Ilham Aliev and Nikol Pashinyan, which took place in May, and the current one, important events took place in the region. These events further change the balance of power and strengthen the diplomatic and military-strategic positions of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan carried out the ‘Retaliation’ counteroperation, as a result of which its forces took a number of strategic heights along the Lachin Corridor and along the perimeter of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region. After that, the Armenian side stopped resisting the return of the city of Lachin (Armenian name is Berdzor, – note of the ‘Caucasian Knot’) and the villages of Zabukh (Armenian name is Akhavno, – note of the ‘Caucasian Knot’) and Sous to Azerbaijan, and on August 26, it was announced that the Azerbaijani forces would enter the mentioned settlements,” Togrul Djuvarly told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

Mekhman Aliev, the director of the “Turan” news agency, believes that “serious progress in negotiations on a final peaceful settlement of the conflict” can be achieved in Brussels.

According to Mekhman Aliev, a decision can be made in Brussels to set up working groups to negotiate a peace agreement. A permanent negotiating mechanism is likely to start working soon, and working groups will start working on the text of a peace agreement somewhere in a third country, for example, in Georgia, where the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia already once met directly without intermediaries. At the same time, Mekhman Aliev believes that negotiations will go faster concerning the Zangezur Corridor and the delimitation of the state border.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on at 02:07 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

See earlier reports:
Azeri politicians criticize Armenia’s proposal on routes to Nakhichevan, Launch of a new road from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia scheduled for August 30, Azerbaijani analysts explain new tasks of peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Author: Faik Medjid, Tigran Petrosyan, Nakhim Shelomanov Source: CK correspondents
Source:

© Caucasian Knot

Evolution Of Stars: Polish artists to accompany audience to mysterious stage during STARMUS VI in Armenia

Mary Lazarian

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 13:24,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS. Polish artists are here in Yerevan for the upcoming STARMUS VI International Festival.

The members of the Instytut B61, an international art and science collective, are going to make a symbolic, scientific performance in Armenia on the sidelines of the Festival. The performance will last 1 hour 20 minutes and will be held in a place which will open its doors before the audience for the first time in history.

Speaking to ARMENPRESS, founder of the group, astronomer Jan Świerkowski and curator Aleksandra Bednarz said they are visiting Armenia for the first time as they received an invitation for the participation in the STARMUS VI by festival founders Garik Israelian and Brian May. They say they are very impressed by Yerevan, calling Armenians very hospitable people. Jan Świerkowski and Aleksandra Bednarz said they especially liked the fact that Armenians are proud of their culture and language and preserve what belongs to them.

Instytut B61 was founded in Torun, Poland by an artist, astronomer and art curator Jan Świerkowski, with an ambitious goal to push the boundaries of understanding of the Universe through art and science storytelling. The group consists of scientists and artists, who create immersive, site-specific performances combining art, science and technology. Since 2009 the group has launched 15 premieres presented in Poland and abroad, including Portugal, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and India. Now it’s Armenia’s turn.

Evolution Of Stars: a mysterious performance on an unusual stage in Armenia

The Evolution Of Stars show will be staged in Yerevan. The actors and the audience will gather in the Republic Square from where they will travel to an unknown direction, to the site of the performance by a mysterious yellow bus. The performance will involve artists both from Poland and Armenia. A music band from the Indian city of Mumbai will also arrive in Armenia for joining the performance. The Armenian audience has a chance to watch the performance for three days, on September 7-10, 3-4 times a day. No tickets will be sold. Those interested can register online and attend the performance.

It will not be a classical theatrical performance. The audience will walk and touch by becoming the witness of the evolution of stars.

The performance will be held under the auspices of the Ambassador of Poland to Armenia Paweł Cieplak.

While in Yerevan, Jan Świerkowski and Aleksandra Bednarz already visited the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies. They reached an agreement with the Center to again visit Armenia but already with an educational program.

According to them, Artsakh’s Zhingyalov hats( a type of flatbread stuffed with finely diced herbs and green vegetables), is the most delicious food, and the best way to wake up is the coffee prepared in an Armenian way. Vegetarian Aleksandra Bednarz even can’t stay indifferent to the Armenian dolma. The Polish artists, who never had much love for coffee, now can’t wake up without it.

Armenia will host this year  festival on September 5-10.