Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

Former ICC prosecutor warns of Azerbaijan’s continued ‘genocide’ against Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh

Tatoyan Vazgen
Aug 10 2023
by ATHENS BUREAU

A leading expert in international law and former prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) warned that Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh constitutes genocide.

Luis Moreno Ocampo accused Azerbaijan of genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh as the humanitarian situation in the besieged region continues to worsen.

‘Starvation is the invisible Genocide weapon. Without immediate dramatic change, this group of Armenians will be destroyed in a few weeks, Ocampo wrote in a 28-page report on the Lachin corridor blockade published on 7 August.

‘Starvation as a method to destroy people was neglected by the entire international community when it was used against Armenians in 1915, Jews and Poles in 1939, Russians in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) in 1941, and Cambodians in 1975/1976’, wrote Ocampo. ‘Starvation was also neglected when used in Srebrenica in the winter of 1993/1994’.

Ocampo suggested that Azerbaijani dictator Ilham Aliyev should be investigated by the ICC, explaining that that could only take place were the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution regarding the blockade of the Lachin corridor and refer it to the court.

In the report, he stated that there was ‘reasonable basis’ to believe that President Aliyev had genocidal intentions, having blocked the delivery of essential goods to Nagorno-Karabakh, disobeyed the orders of the International Court of Justice to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles, and cargo along the Lachin Corridor, and having ignored calls regarding the ‘real and imminent risk’ to the region’s Armenian population created by the blockade.

‘President Aliyev’s public statements affirming that the blockade was the consequence of people smuggling minerals and iPhones through the Lachin Corridor is a diversion. Smuggling activities should be properly investigated but they are not an excuse to disobey a binding order of the International Court of Justice or a justification to commit a Genocide’, wrote Ocampo.

He added that obtaining a UN Security Council resolution to provide ICC jurisdiction was ‘feasible’.

‘Under the Genocide Convention, state parties have an obligation to prevent and punish Genocide, and 14 of the current 15 members of the UN Security Council are also parties of that Convention, providing an overwhelming majority’, he added.

The statement also calls for cooperation between Russia, which oversees peacekeeping in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the United States and EU Member States. All are parties to the Genocide Convention, with Ocampo stating that they are in the ‘privileged position’ to prevent the genocide.

‘Their intense confrontation due to the Ukrainian conflict should not transform the Armenians into collateral victims’, wrote Ocampo.

Hikmet Hajiyev, assistant to Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev, called the report ‘biased’ and ‘anti-Azerbaijani’.

Azerbaijan denies blockade

Despite the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh continuing to deepen, with neither peacekeepers nor Red Cross able to transport basic goods and humanitarian aid into the region, Azerbaijan’s government in Baku has maintained its denial that any blockade is taking place.

In response to a call on Monday by UN Human Rights Experts to lift the blockade and open the Lachin corridor, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry gaslit by dismissing the accusations as ‘political manipulations’ by UN experts.

The statement added that ‘the usage […] of expressions such as ‘Nagorno-Karabakh’ in clear disrespect of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, the interference in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan, as well as the double standards against it […] are unacceptable’.

In recent days, authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh have released reports describing the worsening humanitarian situation in the region, noting that mortality rates were significantly higher than average.

The region’s Ministry of Health reported on Tuesday that mortality due to cardiovascular disease had more than doubled, with rates in July 2.6 times higher than the same month of the previous year.

‘This includes a 66% increase in mortality from acute and chronic heart failure, a 20.8% increase in mortality from acute myocardial infarction, and an 8.8% increase in mortality from brain paralysis’, it wrote.

Provision of medical supplies to the region has been suspended since mid-June, when Azerbaijan blocked the transport of humanitarian aid into the region. Transport of patients to Armenian hospitals is also taking place at minimal rates, with Red Cross transport of severely ill patients resuming after Azerbaijan blocked the organisation’s access to the region.

On 29 July, Azerbaijani border guards arrested a 68-year-old resident of the region as he was being evacuated to Armenia by the Red Cross for heart surgery, accusing him of genocide.

Shortages of food and other essential supplies have worsened in the months since the Azerbaijan blocked deliveries of humanitarian aid.

https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/08/11/former-icc-prosecutor-azerbaijan/#google_vignette

Armenian Cabinet member visits China’s Datong for Shanxi-Nairit Board of Directors, shareholder meeting

Tatoyan Vazgen

 16:10, 8 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Gnel Sanosyan has visited the Chinese city of Datong to participate in the 6th plenary session of the Board of Directors and general shareholder assembly of the Shanxi-Nairit Armenian-Chinese joint enterprise.

The officials discussed the current state, issues and prospects of development of the joint enterprise’s activities, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures said in a press release.

The project on amending the enterprise’s charter was discussed.

Minister Sanosyan attached importance to a swift resolution to issues related to the company and ensuring its profitability. The issue of adding positions in the company under Armenian quota was also discussed.

People, money and the economy: an analysis of the situation in Armenia

Tatoyan Vazgen

Aug 6 2023


  • Gayane Asryan
  • Yerevan

Socio-economic situation in Armenia

In recent months, there has been a drop in prices in the food market of Armenia. This is noticeable in comparison with a sharp increase in prices for goods, services and rental housing in 2022. Experts believe that inflation and related factors were equally stressful for both the economy and the people of the country.

  • “Armenia’s economic growth potential is not infinite.” Opinion
  • Modernization of old buildings in Armenia: energy savings and modern design
  • Stagnant economic ties in the South Caucasus: Three stories

In the first months of 2023, the Central Bank of Armenia took steps to contain the inflation rate against the backdrop of rising prices around the world.

It has become even more difficult for the elderly and people with disabilities to provide for their most minimal needs. There was an urgent need to increase pensions and benefits.

The average monthly and minimum pensions were increased, as were benefits for old age and disability.

According to the government program, state pensions will be regularly increased until 2026. The minimum and average pension will be equated to the cost of food and consumer baskets.

Since the 2020 war, Armenians are increasingly concerned about security issues and constant tension on the border. Against this background, social and economic problems recede into the background.

However, a small increase in pensions and benefits has become an occasion for people to speak out on this issue, to recall the obligations of the state and their expectations.

Vardush and Aramais calculate all their possible expenses in advance – within the limits of the pension paid to both of them. The wife is 67 years old, the husband is 70. Since July 1, 2023, the total budget of their family in the form of a pension has increased by about 8 thousand drams ($20). Together they receive 110,000 drams ($286). This amount is used to buy food, clothes, pay utility bills and other expenses.

When they first started receiving pensions, they could not live on the amount, and Aramais had to drive a taxi.

“In order to spend less on food, we bought a freezer to freeze fruit and vegetables during the summer months. The children helped to change the windows, changed all the lamps in the house to energy-saving ones, and insulated the walls of the apartment. Now we significantly save on food, electricity and gas,” Vardush shares his “secrets of survival”.

He says that although their income is small, they manage to hold out until the end of the month. This year they even managed to save money for a week in Kobuleti. Children are asked for help only when there are health problems. They have enough for other expenses, they do not complain.

“8 thousand drams is not a big amount, but not a small one. We can buy, for example, a couple of kilograms of meat. It is important that such increases occur every year or two, and not every five or more years. And the state should monitor the prices of goods. Over the past two years, everything has risen in price, even matches, the price of which has never changed,” says the pensioner.

The Central Bank predicts economic growth of 6.9% in 2023. They announce that the influence on price growth from the outside has significantly weakened, and the Central Bank continues measures to curb inflation and strengthen the local currency – the dram. However, with strong demand and expectations of inflation, prices in services and some goods are adjusting more slowly.

An employee at a fruit and vegetable stall says that compared to previous years, people are buying fewer products because they are more expensive.

“At the beginning of the season, when the first shipments of eggplants, tomatoes and beans hit the market, everything was very expensive. People didn’t buy much. Now, we can say that the situation is changing, vegetables are gradually becoming more accessible. It’s good that prices are regulated, people can at least prepare canned food for the winter,” says Gohar.

That is, judging by the forecast of the Central Bank, a certain economic growth is observed in the country. However, it is not inclusive and does not affect the prices and standard of living of the majority of residents. Experts consider this a problem for the Armenian economy: only a few areas provide growth – and “the money goes to a few.”

Because of the war in Ukraine, many Russians moved to Armenia. For some, the country has become a transit country, some decided to stay here.

The influx of tens of thousands of people was a shock to the Armenian economy, primarily because a large amount of foreign currency entered the country. The dollar and the euro have devalued, the prices for renting apartments, tariffs for services have soared, food and clothing have risen in price. Due to Western sanctions against Russia, Armenia has become a transit for goods and cash flows.

All this has become stressful for the economy. It took about a year for relative stabilization.

According to the statistics committee, in June this year, the price of a food basket compared to the same month last year decreased by half a percent. This was due to a 5.5% decrease in prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages. For other components of the basket: alcohol and tobacco, clothes and shoes, restaurants and hotels – prices are higher than last year.

Thus, vegetables fell in price by 22.3%, vegetable oil by 17.3%. The price of wheat decreased by 21.4%, lentils 18.4%. Bread became cheaper by about 1.5%, and cheese by about 2%.

At the same time, some food prices went up, for example pork by about 3.5%, sugar by 1.6%.

Meanwhile, in the international market, in contrast to Armenia, deflation is more noticeable. According to data published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, as early as March 2023, a 22% drop in prices was recorded in the food market compared to March of the previous year.

Ordinary residents of Armenia do not yet feel the price reduction.

JAMnews talked about the reasons with Narek Karapetyan, an economist and expert at the Amberd Research Center.

The economist believes that first you need to understand what changes in the quality of life can be considered tangible.

“In general, there is such a phenomenon: we do not feel the course of changes that occur gradually. We can see them when looking at the longer term. From this angle, deflation, especially food deflation, cannot but be felt,” he says.

At the same time, Karapetyan emphasizes that deflation occurred on the basis of last year’s high prices, therefore, prices continue to remain at a high level.

The expert believes that there is a problem of disproportionate distribution of income in the economy. This has become more pronounced in recent years against the backdrop of economic growth registered under the influence of the influx of people and capital from Russia. Income growth does not affect everyone equally.

As for the increase in pensions and benefits, their meaning, according to the economist, is not to stimulate the economy, but to mitigate social tensions and the consequences of rising prices for a long time.

“By absolute standards, these increases are, of course, small, but I think they are adequate to our capabilities at the moment. If we want significant changes in our social policy, then we need to build a stronger and more efficient economy.”

Economic activity in the second quarter of 2023 is supported by strong growth in construction and services.

Last year and in the first half of this year, the fastest growing sectors were information technology, transport, hotel and restaurant business and construction.

However, this growth is not inclusive, as part of the effectively developing areas is geographically concentrated in Yerevan. These financial flows do not reach the regions.

According to the economist, the decline in dynamics is obvious in such areas as agriculture, mining, and healthcare. And these areas just provide significant employment in the regions.

Karapetyan says that the Armenian economy was able to withstand the consequences of the coronavirus and the 2020 Karabakh war. He emphasizes that there are many challenges at the moment, but in general, stability is observed in the country’s economy.

https://jam-news.net/socio-economic-situation-in-armenia/

Georgian Civil Society Organizations Express Concern Over Crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh

Tatoyan Vazgen
CIVIL GEORGIA
July 31 2023

On July 28, Georgian civil society organizations issued a statement on the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh. The statement expressed the concern of Georgian civil society about the escalation of tensions resulting from the total blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan.

The statement reads: “We, the civil society organizations of Georgia, extend our solidarity to all those affected by the conflict”. The organizations emphasize the profound and irreversible hardships endured by the civilian population over 30 years of unresolved conflicts, including loss of lives, compromised health, daily insecurity, and an uncertain future.

“As advocates for peace and human rights,” they stress the urgent need to safeguard and support the well-being of civilians. They believe it’s crucial for the conflicting parties and international community to prioritize humanitarian concerns and the protection of human rights during negotiations and are convinced that safeguarding conflict-affected people is essential for building confidence and normalizing relations between the parties.

The statement highlights that in the current geopolitical crisis, all three South Caucasus countries share a common interest of establishing peaceful coexistence and creating precedents of trust, mutual assistance, and cooperation, which aims to ensure the peace, development, and prosperity of all the people in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

The civil society representatives conclude that all sides must show restraint and avoid actions that may escalate the situation or further complicate negotiations in the fragile conditions. “It is crucial to safeguard the dignity, rights, and security of those impacted by the conflicts,” – notes the statement and adds that the Azerbaijani authorities hold a specific responsibility in ensuring the safety and rights of the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh, as their actions will significantly influence inter-ethnic relations and the overall peace in the South Caucasus region.

The statement highlights the dire situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, where 120,000 people have been living in severe socio-economic and humanitarian crisis for nearly seven months. Their movement has been restricted, leading to total isolation. The International Committee of the Red Cross, previously instrumental in providing aid, expressed its inability to do so despite several attempts. Furthermore, Russian peacekeepers have stopped supplying essential supplies like food and medicine for about a month.

The organizations emphasize that a severe shortage of food, medical supplies, and essential goods in Nagorno-Karabakh, is leading to an increase in health problems among women and children. Elderly, disabled individuals, and chronically ill people have limited access to health services. Women face complex challenges both legally and from a humanitarian perspective. The statement further notes that around 27,000 students are unable to attend school due to limited heating and electricity, and some 1,100 people, including 270 children, are unable to return home due to movement restrictions.

On December 28, 2022, Armenia filed a request with the International Court of Justice for temporary measures to address the freedom of movement restrictions in the Lachin Corridor. In response, on February 22, 2023, the Court ordered Azerbaijan to ensure the unimpeded movement of both cargo and people within the corridor. The Court’s decision was based on the need to protect the rights of the ethnic Armenian population under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), including freedom of movement and protection from discrimination. The European Court of Human Rights also issued a judgement on December 22, 2022, requiring Azerbaijan to take necessary measures for individuals with limited access to essential services, including healthcare facilities. On July 26, 2023, the European Union described the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh as critical.

Ataturk, the Turkish series that Disney+ canceled due to pressure from Armenians

Tatoyan Vazgen
Aug 5 2023

To commemorate the centenary of the Republic of Turkey, Disney+ planned to launch the series Atatürkwhich originally announced Emma Watson as part of its lineup.

According to an IMDB review, the series “tells the life story of the great leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk”. However, it was recently revealed that the six-part production will be released on October 29, 2023. will be a film that will be released on November 3 only in Turkey.

This change was due to the American Armenian National Council (ANCA) campaign against the production, which they believe “glorifies Mustafa Kemal, Turkish dictator and genocidal assassin”.

“We are asking Disney Plus to cancel a series that glorifies Mustafa Kemal. AtatirkTurkish genocidal dictator and murderer, on whose hands is the blood of millions of Greek, Armenian, Assyrian, Chaldean, Syrian, Aramaic, Maronite and other Christian martyrs,” the ANCA said in a statement.

“It’s a shame that the American television and film platform succumbed to pressure from the Armenian lobby and canceled the series about Ataturk without airing it. This attitude of the platform in question is a disrespect for the values of the Republic of Turkey and our people.”Ömer Celik, Vice President of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party, tweeted.

During World War I, Atatürk served as a major in the Ottoman army and worked closely with Talaat and Enver Pasha, the main organizers of the Armenian Genocide.

An estimated 1.5 to 2 million Armenian civilians were persecuted and killed by the Young Turkish government in the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923. The Turkish government still does not admit that it was a genocide, so relations between the two countries remain tense.

Atatürk continued his anti-Armenian policy by publishing a book in 1927 entitled Nutuk (“speech”), which he himself acknowledged in publication for the purpose of writing (or rewriting) the official modern history of Turkey.

In it, he wrote that the British invented the idea of the Armenian Genocide to provide a pretext for their invasion of Istanbul in 1920. He further added that the Armenians are pursuing a policy of “extermination” against the Muslims of the Republic of Turkey.

Disney Plus launched in Turkey in June 2022 as part of an expansion plan that included new markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

RFE/RL Armenian Service – 07/31/2023

Tatoyan Vazgen 
                                        Monday, 
Turkey Backs Azeri Blockade Of Karabakh
Turkey - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan meets his Azerbaijani counterpart 
Jeyhun Bayramov in Ankara, .
Turkey on Monday dismissed calls for the reopening of the Lachin corridor and 
reiterated that the normalization of its relations with Armenia is conditional 
on an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace accord acceptable to Azerbaijan.
“The Lachin road is Azerbaijani territory and Azerbaijan can carry out any 
action there,” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was reported to say after 
talks with his visiting Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov.
Fidan said that international criticism of the continuing blockage of the only 
road connecting Karabakh to Armenia is therefore “unfair.”
The United States, the European Union, Russia as well as various international 
organizations have repeatedly urged Azerbaijan to unblock the vital road. U.S. 
Secretary of State Antony again did so in a weekend phone call with Azerbaijani 
President Ilham Aliyev. Baku continues to dismiss such appeals.
Fidan also said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will agree to 
normalize Turkish-Armenian relations only after Baku negotiates a desired peace 
deal with Yerevan.
Meeting with Bayramov on Monday, Erdogan stressed the importance of an 
Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty and the “immediate opening” of a “corridor” 
that would connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave via Armenia’s Syunik 
province, which also borders Iran.
Armenian leaders have ruled out any extraterritorial land links for Nakhichevan. 
Tehran is also strongly opposed to such a corridor, having repeatedly warned 
against attempts to strip the Islamic Republic of the common border and 
transport links with Armenia. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 
emphasized this stance when he met with Erdogan last year.
“Iran’s approach to this issue disappoints us and Azerbaijan,” Erdogan said in 
June this year. “I want us to overcome that problem soon.”
Talks With Karabakh ‘Cancelled By Baku’
        • Nane Sahakian
A view of an Azerbaijani checkpoint blocking traffic through Nagorno-Karabakh's 
sole land link with Armenia, July 28, 2023.
Azerbaijan has cancelled Western-mediated talks with representatives of 
Nagorno-Karabakh scheduled for Tuesday, an official in Stepanakert claimed on 
Monday.
“A meeting between representatives of Artsakh and Azerbaijan was supposed to 
take place in [Slovakia’s capital] Bratislava tomorrow, but Azerbaijan abandoned 
that meeting the day before yesterday without an explanation,” said Tigran 
Petrosian.
Petrosian said that the Azerbaijani side wants such talks to be held in Baku or 
another Azerbaijani city, something which is unacceptable to Karabakh’s 
leadership. Western mediators will visit Yerevan in the coming days to discuss 
the issue with Karabakh officials, he added without elaborating. Baku did not 
immediately react to the claims.
Other sources in Stepanakert told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service earlier that such a 
meeting was originally planned in Bulgarian for the beginning of July and that 
it did not take place because the sides did not agree on its agenda.
The authorities in Stepanakert maintain that the agenda must include Karabakh’s 
right to self-determination. Arayik Harutiunian, the Karabakh president, 
complained in late June that Baku is only willing to discuss the 
Armenian-populated region’s “integration” into Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev warned in late May that the Karabakh 
Armenians must accept Azerbaijani rule or risk fresh military action. In 
mid-June, Baku completely blocked relief supplies to Karabakh carried out by 
Russian peacekeepers and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The 
tightening of the Azerbaijani blockade of the Lachin corridor aggravated severe 
shortages of food, medicine and other essential items in Karabakh.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken again called for an end to the blockade 
in a weekend phone call with Aliyev.
“I spoke to Azerbaijani President Aliyev yesterday to express our deep concern 
for the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Nagorno-Karabakh,” Blinken 
tweeted on Sunday. ”The United States urges all sides to continue dialogue to 
reach a durable peace agreement.” 
Ex-Diplomat, Top Conductor Arrested Over ‘Large-Scale Fraud’
        • Naira Bulghadarian
Armenia - Armen Smbatian (left) and Sergei Smbatian.
A former diplomat and his son running Armenia’s leading classical music 
orchestra were arrested at the weekend on fraud charges denied by them.
The accusations stem from the privatization in 2012 of a 300-square-meter plot 
of land in downtown Yerevan by a company allegedly controlled by Armen Smbatian, 
a former Armenian ambassador to Israel and Russia, and Sergei Smbatian, the 
artistic director and chief conductor of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra.
According to the Office of the Prosecutor-General, the company bought the land 
for 170 million drams (now equivalent to $435,000) in return for a pledge to 
build a cultural center there as well as a new concert hall and central heating 
system for an adjacent music school. It constructed a 17-story office building 
instead, causing the state almost 1 billion drams ($2.6 million) in “damage,” 
the law-enforcement agency claimed in a statement.
A court in Yerevan promptly agreed to remand both men in pre-trial custody. 
Their lawyer, Yervand Varosian, dismissed the “absurd” charges on Monday, 
likening them to an “artistic work transcending all bounds of imagination.” 
Varosian also argued that the Armenian statute of limitations for the crime 
allegedly committed by the Smbatians has expired.
The prosecutors also implicated Hasmik Poghosian, a fugitive former culture 
minister, in the alleged fraud. They said that Poghosian, who served as minister 
from 2006-2016, gave the green light to the privatization deal despite being 
aware of the Smbatians’ real intentions.
Poghosian has been on the run since being charged in late 2020 with abusing her 
position to privatize a historic Yerevan building in a complex fraud scheme 
allegedly facilitated by Armen Smbatian. The latter posted bail and avoided 
arrest at the time.
A musician by education, Smbatian Sr. was the rector of Yerevan’s Komitas State 
Conservatory from 1995-2002. He served as ambassador to Russia in the following 
years.
Karabakh Captive’s Daughter Fears For His Life
        • Susan Badalian
Armenia - Vera Khachatrian speaks to journalists outside the UN office in 
Yerevan, July 31, ,2023.
A daughter of a seriously ill Nagorno-Karabakh resident arrested by Azerbaijani 
authorities during his aborted evacuation to Armenia demanded his immediate 
release on Monday, saying that she fears for his life.
“We have no information about his condition, we don’t known if he is alive or 
not,” Vera Khachatrian told reporters as she picketed the Yerevan offices of the 
United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Vagif Khachatrian, a 68-year-old resident of the Karabakh village of Patara, was 
in the latest group of patients who were being escorted by the ICRC to Armenian 
hospitals for treatment on Saturday. He was detained at an Azerbaijani 
checkpoint in the Lachin corridor in what Karabakh’s leadership and the Armenian 
government condemned as a gross violation of international law.
Azerbaijani authorities said Khachatrian was taken to Baku to stand trial on 
charges of killing and deporting Karabakh’s ethnic Azerbaijani residents in 
December 1991, at the start of the first Armenian-Azerbaijani war. Karabakh 
officials strongly deny the accusations.
The ICRC said on Sunday that its representatives in Baku visited Khachatrian in 
Azerbaijani custody and enabled him to communicate with his family.
“My father has still not contacted us, that is false information. We have no 
news except that he is in Baku,” countered Vera Khachatrian, who fled to Armenia 
during the 2020 war with Azerbaijan.
A spokeswoman for the ICRC office in Stepanakert suggested that the Red Cross 
statement referred to an “oral message” sent by the Karabakh man to his loved 
ones. “In this particular case, there was indeed no direct communication, but 
something was passed on to the family,” said Eteri Musayelian.
Karen Grigorian, the chief cardiologist at a Stepanakert hospital who treated 
Vagif Khachatrian, confirmed that the latter suffered from a serious heart 
disease and needed urgent surgery in Yerevan. “He periodically had blackouts,” 
Grigorian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.
Khachatrian is the first Karabakh patient arrested by the Azerbaijani 
authorities during medical evacuations by the ICRC which began after Baku halted 
last December commercial traffic through the only road connecting Karabakh to 
Armenia. It is not yet clear whether the Red Cross will resume the evacuations 
after his arrest.
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.

Preserving threatened languages and cultures among top priorities for new Armenian studies institute leader

Tatoyan Vazgen
July 28 2023
As Shushan Karapetian takes the reigns at the USC Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies, she hopes to answer a question many Americans with immigrant roots fear to ask: How do I pass down a language and culture I only half know?

Meredith McGroarty July 28, 2023

In the early 20th century, as World War I ravaged much of the world, the Ottoman Empire began systematically persecuting and killing Armenian subjects. The Armenian genocide witnessed the deaths of as many as 1.5 million Armenians, and those who fled to find refuge formed diaspora communities all over the world.

The largest of these diasporas — more than 200,000 people — now calls Los Angeles home. And for the past two decades, the Institute of Armenian Studies at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences has been fostering research and collaboration that examines the social, cultural, educational and political issues facing the community.

With L.A. being home to the most Armenians outside of Armenia, there are many first-, second- and third-generation immigrants seeking to establish or maintain ties to their heritage, says Shushan Karapetian, the institute’s new director.

Southern California lays claim to some of the most vital spaces for the preservation and cultivation of Armenian culture in the diaspora: the event halls of La Cañada Flintridge in the San Gabriel Valley, the comedy clubs of North Hollywood, and the auditoriums of Glendale and Burbank, says Karapetian.

Shushan Karapetian hosts the Language Theory With Dr. K podcast series.

“Humor is very, very important for culture. The children of immigrants may not actively engage with Armenian in any other format, but they love comedy in Armenian,” she explains. “And they can connect with it because it’s a reflection of their bilingual, bicultural lives, from language to religion to dance and food.”

How Armenian culture is transmitted through language — via comedy, literature and other means — is at the heart of Karapetian’s research and is one of the cornerstones of her course “The Armenian Heritage: History, Arts, and Culture” (MDA 330), which looks at how narratives about the Armenian experience are transmitted.

“On the first day of class, I tell students this is not a history course; it is not a genocide course; it is not a culture course or an arts course,” she says. “We look at the defining narratives in the Armenian experience and the ones we make ourselves. The students really enjoy seeing the trajectory of a people across several millennia through this type of interdisciplinary framing.”

Although the course touches on traditional elements of Armenian culture, such as dance, film and literature, and is popular among students with Armenian heritage, it has also resonated with those from other backgrounds, Karapetian says.

“I had a Colombian American student tell me the class helped him come to terms with his own internalized racism and complexes about his hyphenated identity. I had a Black student write a paper on colorism in the Armenian community. That’s the beauty of working at an academic institution in L.A. — there’s such a wealth of diversity here, which allows for cross-cultural impact and transformation,” she says.

“The students really enjoy seeing the trajectory of a people across several millennia.”

Karapetian was born in Armenia’s capital — Yerevan, perhaps not coincidentally, is a Los Angeles sister city — during the twilight of the Soviet Union, which included Armenia as a constituent Republic. When she was 10, after the Soviet Union’s collapse, she and her parents moved to California, where she has lived ever since.

Krapetian earned her PhD in Near Eastern languages and cultures from UCLA in 2014 and went on to spend several years there as a faculty member. In 2019, she moved to USC Dornsife to steer the institute’s academic work. Earlier this year, she was appointed institute director.

In 2020, she created the popular podcast series Language Theory With Dr. K, which “looks at language in all kinds of social contexts — immigrant bilingualism, artificial intelligence, religion, music and dance, translation and interpretation, diaspora guilt, and more — with an Armenian twist,” she says.

Language, Karapetian explains, is one of the most important guarantors of cultural transmission that ties diasporic Armenians together and reinforces their links to Armenia itself. She points to an episode of her podcast during which she interviewed comedian Mary Basmadjian — whom she calls “boundary-defying” — about how important humor is to creating and solidifying those ties.

The two discussed the role of comedy not only as a means for holding a mirror to society, but also as a tool for healing. “Comedy does this on two fronts, by providing a safe framing for sensitive subjects along with a linguistic register that is accessible to heritage speakers,” Karapetian says.

“I’ve talked to many kids who didn’t grow up listening to Armenian music, who don’t watch Armenian TV. They don’t engage with Armenian culture anywhere except comedy. They not only love comedy, they actively seek it out. And in comedy, language is the tool. This is why humor, language — these are so important for maintaining Armenian heritage throughout the generations,” she says.

“That’s the beauty of working at an academic institution in L.A. — there’s such a wealth of diversity here.”

 As institute director, she plans to continue the podcast and launch other projects to explore facets of language in Southern California’s ever-expanding Armenian community.

“The epicenter of the Armenian diasporic experience is now L.A. It was the Middle East a couple of decades ago. There’s no question that those communities are being emptied, and most of them are redirecting here,” she explains.

The institute, she says, will continue to capture their narratives and experiences through such projects as My Armenian Story, which has sent staff members into local communities via a repurposed food truck to record Armenians’ oral histories. And earlier this year, the institute embarked on a mission to collect testimonies of diasporans for its California History through Armenian Experiences — a project made possible by funding from the State of California and championed by former State Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian.

In addition to having the institute sponsor more research projects on Armenian language and culture, Karapetian also hopes to launch an Armenian language program and an Armenian studies minor at USC Dornsife.

Armenians have been a diasporic people for millennia, she says. But Armenian culture has survived countless dispersions, and the communities have retained their sense of heritage. She cites two high school students, born and raised in L.A., who came to her to discuss using their life savings to start a microloan program in a village in Armenia.

“Why would two American kids who have never been to Armenia spend their entire life savings on this? What are the narratives that drive this kind of activity? This is powerful,” she says.

https://dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/preserving-threatened-languages-and-cultures-armenian-studies-institute/

Canada is committed to supporting the peaceful resolution of NK conflict. Mirzoyan highly appreciates Canada’s presence

Tatoyan Vazgen

 21:47,

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS. Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly stated that Canada is committed to supporting a peaceful political solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan praised Canada’s decision to become part of the EU civilian mission in Armenia.

ARMENPRESS reports, Mélanie Joly wrote on her Twitter page: “Canada is committed to supporting a peaceful political solution to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and ensuring stability in the region. That is why we have increased our footprint in the region.

Now we are announcing that Canada will participate in the EU mission in Armenia.”

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan also commented on this post on his Twitter page.

“We really appreciate Canada’s contribution and presence in Armenia for the sake of peace and stability in our region, as well as for enhancing bilateral relations based on shared commitment to democratic principles,” Mirzoyan noted.

AW: Cheers to another successful weekend retreat with Hamazkayin ArtLinks!

Tatoyan Vazgen
 Guest Contributor Diaspora, Culture 0

Hamazkayin ArtLinks, June 2023

By Liana Bdewi, ArtLinks participant 2019-2023

This year’s Hamazkayin ArtLinks retreat was held in June at Camp Arev in sunny California, located in Frazier Park about an hour north of downtown Los Angeles. We had many attendees from the greater Los Angeles area, from the east coast of the U.S. and a few Canadians sprinkled in for good measure. There were quite a few returning members (including myself), but many new participants joined us this year from across North America.

Artist Masha Keryan (right) during her workshop

Our first workshop of the weekend was led by Masha Keryan, an artist from Yerevan who lives in Boston. Her workshop focused on how each person experiences art differently based on their state of being, lived experiences and perception. At the end of the lecture, we all received drawing pads, pencils and sharpeners and were instructed to go outside and fill every page of our 25-page drawing pads. Keryan encouraged us not only to use our pencils as drawing tools but also to find organic drawing materials in nature like clay, dirt or grass. This was a therapeutic exercise in perception, free artistic _expression_ and non-judgemental creativity. Later that evening, we gathered around the fire, and everyone showed off their work with detailed explanations behind each drawing.

As the evening progressed, we made our way back to the recreation room at the camp, where we played games and activities to get to know each other and did some karaoke and dancing. And just like that, we all became instant friends.

Filmmaker Eric Nazarian

On day two, we started the day with an information-packed lecture by Eric Nazarian, award-winning filmmaker, writer and photographer based in Los Angeles. Nazarian spoke about the history of photography and cinema in relation to Armenian narratives. He seamlessly moved from one point in history to another, and we were wholeheartedly captivated for the entire two-hour lecture. Discussion points included early photographs of Armenians, Hollywood’s involvement in the tragic story of Aurora Mardiganian, and how we can use film as a storytelling medium to showcase new narratives around Armenian identity.

After lunch, we attended Dr. Hagop Gulludjian’s workshop about the Armenian language. Following the lecture, we took turns reading various Armenian haikus written by Gulludjian’s students. For the last hour, he challenged each of us to write up to 10 haikus in Armenian. His one request was that we avoid using themes around the Genocide, war or victimhood. We arranged the chairs in the room in a circle and took turns reading our haikus to one another. The pieces were profound and heartfelt and addressed nature, love and the Armenian language.

Our final workshop leader was Natalie Kamajian, a doctoral student in culture and performance at the World Arts and Cultures/Dance department at UCLA. She is also the co-founder and dance director at Lernazang, a non-profit cultural collective and performance ensemble whose mission is to strengthen Armenian cultural heritage in Los Angeles. She discussed her research around decolonizing Armenian dance and aesthetics by comparing formal Armenian dance (as seen on stage) to more traditional dances that differ from village to village across Armenia. After the lecture, we went outside and learned a handful of traditional shurchbar dances. We laughed, sweat and danced until dinner time!

Before we knew it, the weekend concluded and we all went back to our respective cities. Despite only meeting for 72 hours, the participants formed bonds over this retreat that will undoubtedly last a lifetime. What I love most about ArtLinks, and what keeps me coming back, is the extremely welcoming and forward-thinking environment. Attendees are encouraged to explore their Armenian identity in a non-judgmental space, which leads to provocative conversations, relatability and immediate friendships. If you’re interested in joining the Hamazkayin ArtLinks family for next summer’s retreat, follow along on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date and connected.




Armenia Wine Company Takes Part in Yerevan Wine Days, a Celebration of Armenian Winemaking & Culture

Tatoyan Vazgen
India – July 12 2023
PRESS RELEASES
By The Madras Tribune On Jul 12, 2023

The beloved event took place from June 2-4 and featured exclusive novelties and leading bands.

YEREVAN, ARMENIA, July 12, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ — Armenia Wine Company, one of Armenia’s leading winemakers, was proud to take part in the annual “Yerevan Wine Days” festival, one of the most exciting and beloved events in Yerevan. The festival, which took place from June 2-4 on Saryan Street, brought together large and family winemaking companies to celebrate the ancient traditions of winemaking and promote tourism in Armenia.

Throughout the three-day festival, the Armenia Wine Company delighted festival attendees with a separate stage hosting an outstanding musical program featuring the best bands, a luxury pavilion, award-winning wines, and exclusive novelties. To add to the excitement, the company’s pavilion featured unique wine-based cocktails crafted by renowned bartenders.

Guests visiting the Armenia Wine Pavilion were treated to more surprises. Jean Baptiste-Soula, the French main consultant of Armenia Wine, held an exclusive master class on biodynamic viticulture, providing valuable insights into this innovative winemaking approach. Additionally, festival participants had the unique opportunity to explore the winemaking culture in a separate pavilion at the Wine History Museum of Armenia, which recently opened within the Armenia Wine Company premises. The museum showcased the development of viticulture and winemaking in the Armenian Highlands through artifacts, interpretation, and interactive solutions, offering visitors a comprehensive understanding of Armenia’s rich winemaking heritage.

The museum’s main exhibition hall, located underground at a depth of 8 meters amidst basalt rocks, provided detailed insights into the chronological stages of wine development in Armenia, as well as its connection to various aspects of Armenian history and culture. Hayk Gyulamiryan, the museum’s director, emphasized the museum’s mission to popularize wine history through innovative solutions, adding, “This year, we call for the preservation and restoration of history: our guests will see original exhibits in the pavilion, as well as witness the restoration process taking place on-site.”

Speaking about the company’s participation in the festival, Kristine Vardanyan, the commercial director of Armenia Wine, expressed the company’s pride in showcasing Armenian winemaking traditions and culture to guests and participants. She revealed some exclusive novelties, stating, “This year, we are delighted to present our new ultra-premium wines, ‘Tariri Karasum’ and ‘Tariri Reserve,’ which pay homage to the 6000-year-old Armenian winemaking tradition and have already garnered high praise on prestigious international platforms. We also have exciting news in the field of organic winemaking, as our first organic wine, ‘BioNe,’ has received the US certificate from ‘EcoCert’ and will be presented at our pavilion.”

In preparation for the Yerevan Wine Days festival, the Armenia Wine Company embraced a compelling approach to the pavilion’s design, incorporating the red tuff color scheme that reflects the entire “Armenia Wine” winery complex. The pavilion featured separate sections dedicated to the company’s three most iconic wine lines: Takar, Tariri, and Bione.

The devotion of the Armenia Wine Company to Yerevan, Armenian culture, and national traditions shone through during the festival. Their unwavering commitment to serving the best to Armenian wine lovers and city guests, along with their hard work and honest goals, garnered immense appreciation. The founding of “Armenia Wine” can be traced back to the deep love the Vardanyan and Mkrtchyan families have for their homeland, nature, and culture.

Since its establishment, the company has embraced a combination of Armenia’s 6000-year winemaking heritage, wine culture, and modern international practices. It has an annual production capacity of up to 14 million bottles, 135 hectares of its own vineyards and 83 hectares of organic vineyards, collaborations with over 600 winegrowers from four winemaking regions, regular export to more than 50 countries, and partnerships with esteemed international experts and winemakers.

To learn more about Armenia Wine Company, visit https://armeniawine.am/.

Lilit Safaryan
Armenia Wine Company
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https://madrastribune.com/2023/07/12/armenia-wine-company-takes-part-in-yerevan-wine-days-a-celebration-of-armenian-winemaking-culture/