Author: Tambiyan Samvel

Over the past two months, Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region’s Professional Network hosted several virtual events to raise funds for Artsakh, as part of its “Strength in Numbers” Initiative. The events drew in young professionals who participated in these events, while simultaneously assisting those organizations that are doing humanitarian work in Artsakh.

“The ANCA Professional Network has directed its focus on the humanitarian crisis that has unfolded in the homeland,” remarked Alina Sarkissian, Co-Chair of the ANCA-PN. “By contributing to long-lasting relief for the families displaced by the war, we aim to showcase effective ways for professionals in the United States to create a positive impact on those who have suffered the heaviest consequences of this war,” she continued.

The first event, an Online Virtual Concert, took place on December 10, featuring up-and-coming musical talents, Yeva and Vazgen Barsegian. The repertoire included modern renditions of Armenian classics and folk music, which filled the hearts of the attendees. During the event, Dickran Khodanian, previous ANCA-WR Communications Director also reported his experiences from the homeland. ANCA-PN donated $1,500 from this event to Armenian Relief Society’s Amanor Program, aimed at providing Christmas toys to children from Artsakh during the holiday season.

A week later, the ANCA-PN organized a Trivia Night. The competition pitted 10 groups against each other and revealed the participants’ depth of knowledge. The night quickly turned to a lively contest, where groups were competing to answer a series of questions about Artsakh’s history and culture. By the end of the night, a group ascended to the top, claiming their rightful place as the champions of the trivia night. ANCA-PN donated $1,650 from this event to Project Hope Armenia for its ongoing projects in Artsakh.

After a short Christmas Break, ANCA-PN launched a 3-week event series that focused on wellness and mindfulness. The series titled “Mindfulness Saturdays,” featured a yoga session with Mary-Rita Sarkissian, a fitness work-out session with Lara Bedrossian, and meditation and sound bath with Seta Avedissian and Torkom Ji. A total of $825 from these events was donated to the Armenian Wounded Heroes Fund to assist with the rehabilitation and physical recovery needs of wounded soldiers.

To stay up to date with ANCA-PN’s upcoming events, you can follow their facebook or instagram pages.

The foreign ministries of Armenia and Artsakh on Friday separately welcomed the European Parliament’s condemnation of Azerbaijan for war crimes and Turkey for its role in aiding Baku in its aggression against Artsakh by, among other things, deploying Islamic jihadists to the war zone.

The two offices also welcomed the European Parliaments commitment to address the humanitarian crisis that has developed because of the war, including its insistence that POWs be returned to Armenia.

“There are a number of important provisions enshrined in the report-resolutions adopted by the European Parliament, which are related to the Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh and Turkey’s involvement in it, the committed war crimes, as well as the steps to be undertaken to eliminate the consequences of the aggression, especially to address humanitarian issues,” said Anna Naghdalyan, the spokesperson of Armenia’s Foreign Ministry on Friday in response to a reporter’s question.

“We particularly emphasize that the European Parliament not only condemned the war crimes, including the targeting of civilian population and infrastructure, places of worship, but also stressed that these crimes should not remain unpunished. We agree with the European Parliament’s call for Turkey to refrain from any intervention in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, including offering military support to Azerbaijan, and to desist from its destabilizing actions. In this context, it is especially important that the European Parliament has also condemned the fact that Turkey transferred foreign terrorist fighters from Syria and elsewhere to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone,” added Naghdalyan.

The spokesperson hailed the European Parliament’s efforts to advance humanitarian assistance, emphasize the need to return POWs and protect Armenian cultural sites from destruction.

“We would like to stress the importance of the efforts of international community, in the form of such resolutions, to contribute to the elimination of the causes and consequences of the war, which in accordance to the resolution, supposes the lasting settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the determination of the future legal status of Artsakh on the basis of the Basic Principles proposed by the Co-Chairs. As it was once again emphasized by this respective international body, right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination and security lies at the basis of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” added Naghdalyan.

The Artsakh Foreign Ministry issued a statement, in which it highlighted the European Parliament’s commitment to ensuring the security of the people of Artsakh and providing due condemnation of Azerbaijan’s war crimes, including the use of cluster bombs against civilian targets and deploying poisonous gas in its attacks.

“We share the assessments of the European Parliament related to the events caused by the use of military force by Azerbaijan, as well as the ways out of this situation. In particular, we consider it important to stress the viewpoint of the European Parliament on the need to ensure the security of the Armenian population in Nagorno Karabakh, to preserve the Armenian cultural heritage, to ensure the safe return of internally displaced persons and refugees to their former places of residence, and to exchange the prisoners of war and the bodies of the deceased without delay,” said the Artsakh Foreign Ministry.

“We acknowledge the importance of duly investigating all the alleged war crimes and bringing those responsible to justice. It is noteworthy that the European Parliament also specifically called for an international investigation into the alleged presence of foreign fighters, terrorists and the use of cluster munitions and phosphorus bombs,” said the foreign ministry announcement. “We welcome the European Parliament’s support for the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen for a comprehensive settlement of the conflict founded on the Basic Principles proposed by the international mediators.”

“We join the European Parliament’s condemnation of the destabilizing role of Turkey, which seeks to undermine the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group for the sake of its ambitions of playing a more decisive role in the conflict settlement process,” added Stepanakert.

“We share the view of the European Parliament that a lasting settlement has not been found yet We are convinced that a comprehensive and just settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict can be achieved on the basis of the recognition of the right to self-determination realized by the people of Artsakh and the de-occupation of the territories of the Republic of Artsakh,” said the Artsakh Foreign Ministry.