Category: 2017

WASHINGTON – In light of continued human rights abuses by the Azerbaijani regime, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) along with lead Democrat co-Sponsor Jim McGovern (D-MA), introduced H. Res. 537 on September 26, which promotes the rule of law and respect for human rights in Azerbaijan.

“The Azerbaijani regime continues to use torture, politically-motivated criminal charges, harassment, international kidnapping and other forms of intimidation to silence human rights defenders, independent journalists and religious leaders,” said Smith, who chairs the House panel on global human rights. “It is evident that there are important security and economic ties between our countries, however these violations cannot be ignored.”

Among other key provisions, H. Res. 537 calls on the United States Government to prioritize the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people in Azerbaijan when dealing with their government and urges the application of provisions of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (P.L. 114-328) to punish Azerbaijani officials who violate internationally recognized human rights. Further, the legislation calls on the government of Azerbaijan to immediately release all political prisoners and prisoner of conscience and to cease targeting those who advocate for government based on accountability and democratic values.

“The Global Magnitsky Act has paved the way for a new era of U.S. leadership in defending universal human rights,” said Smith, who authored the House version of P.L. 114-328. “The U.S. must use this toolkit, consisting of visa bans and asset freezes, to punish the perpetrators of human rights abuses. These penalties would shatter the impunity that rights violators in the government of Azerbaijan enjoy.”

Meanwhile, the ANCA has welcomed the work of the two representatives. “We commend Representatives Smith and McGovern for leveraging the power of the Global Magnitsky Act to impose real-world costs on Azerbaijan for its escalating repression,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian

Smith has held two hearings on Azerbaijan’s human rights abuses. The most recent was entitled “Azerbaijan’s Persecution of RFE/RL Reporter Khadija Ismayilova.”

BY HOVSEP DAGHDIGIAN

We left Shushi in Artsakh, passing Tigranakert, the remains of one of Armenian King Tigran II’s regional capitals. King Tigran ruled from 95-55 BC. I’d have loved to have revisited the site but other places were on our agenda that day.

Last year when visiting here we stopped at the intersection just before Tigranakert. We bought some fruit at the fruit and melon stand there and also got directions and a bit of insight from the vendor, Vahan. Vahan is originally from Vanatsor in northern Armenia. He volunteered to fight in the war for Artsakh’s liberation; he stayed in Artsakh, got married, and has 3 children and 14 grandchildren. While standing at our car’s driver’s window, he talked eloquently and with determination about protecting Armenia and its land. Walking over to the passenger side window where I was seated, he stuck his head in the window and asked “You’re not from Armenia, are you?” “No”, I answered. Much to my embarrassment he said “Thank you for all your support for Artsakh, and when you return, please thank the Diaspora.” My embarrassment stems from the fact that during one day of battle he has probably helped Artsakh more than I have during a lifetime. He, and unnamed individuals like him, should be thanked.

This year, passing Vahan’s fruit stand again, we stopped to say hello and to buy some tomatoes and cucumbers to eat during our travels. Vahan remembered us. Once again he had volunteered, this time fighting in the April conflict last year.  Then he suffered some medical problems and is no longer able to till his fields. He now sells fruit and vegetables grown by another villager. He did not want to charge us for the produce we bought, but that was out of the question. He has a family to support. It was great seeing Vahan again, though of course we were saddened to hear of his health problems. He remains an inspiration. How many more are there like him? I hope and pray for his health and the well-being of those like him.

The next stop was Mokhratagh, a good size village near Martakert – a highly militarized city in Artsakh. In Mokhratagh’s village center are memorials to the village’s WWII and Artsakh martyrs. The WWII memorial was sculptured by Ara Sargsyan. Sargsyan was born near Constantinople, studied art in Europe, and became a noted sculptor. All the while he was a clandestine Nemesis operative helping track down the Turkish criminals responsible for the Armenian Genocide. He subsequently moved to Soviet Armenia, keeping his past ARF and Nemesis activities secret from the KGB. Here, in Armenia, he made enormous contributions to Armenia’s artistic development. He sculptured a number of war memorials, the most notable perhaps being the WWII memorial in Janfida village, a village which suffered extraordinarily high casualties during that war. Sargsyan’s most familiar works are probably the Tumanyan and Spandiaryan statues in front of Yerevan’s Opera House. Sargsyan was hospitalized for a non-life-threatening leg injury. The day before his scheduled release he died. An autopsy revealed no obvious cause of death. KGB involvement is suspected as the KGB probably found out about Sargsyan’s ARF and Nemesis activities. The subsequent honors Sargsyan received in Soviet Armenia were now an embarrassment for the KGB. See https://armenianweekly.com/2017/06/07/unseen-armenia-janfida/ .

Our next stops were to be the churches of Yerits Mankats, in Martakert province west of the Sarsang Reservoir, and Yeghishe Arakyal, west of the village of Mataghis. I doubted if we could visit both sites in a single day, but we’d try. Heading towards Yerits Mankats we encountered a soldier at the Sarsang Reservoir. At first he directed us towards Mataghis, confusing the two churches we wanted to visit. Mistakenly he directed us towards Yeghishe Arakyal. When I pointed out the mistake, the soldier realized the mistake as well. He added that to get to Yerits Mankants, we’d have to hike through 6 km of forest; there is no road.

Visiting Yeghishe Arakyal would be fine. We headed towards Mataghis, the last stretch of which was down a long, dry, unpaved and dusty road. Mataghis is heavily armed; it is near Talish where Azerbaijan made incursions into Armenia in April last year. Had we continued, the road to Yeghishe Arakyal would have passed right through the military base there and ended well before our destination which was on a forested hill. So I guess both churches were out of the question. Disappointing!

Exiting Madaghis on the same dry, dusty road we stopped for a rest. I stepped outside the car to eat one of the tomatoes we bought from Vahan, the fruit vendor. It had been a disappointing day, two of the sites we wished to visit weren’t accessible. From Madaghis a car with closed windows (it obviously had air conditioning – it was a hot day) came speeding towards me. The car stopped in a cloud of its own dust. There were 3-4 men in the car. The rear passenger side window opened. An arm extended out the window and handed me a loaf of dense, recently baked bread. The man connected to the arm asked “Do you want some water?” “We’re fine”, I replied, “we have water.” The car sped off leaving a trail of dust.

Where but in Armenia could this have happened? I guess it wasn’t such a disappointing day after all!

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Earlier today, the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) announced its endorsement of Dr. Kathie Allen for United States Congress.  The endorsement comes in the course of Utah’s 3rd district’s special election to replace Rep. Jason Chaffetz who officially resigned from his seat in May. Dr. Allen will face Republican John Curtis and a collection of third-party candidates in the general election on November 7, 2017.

“The ANCA-Western Region is proud to endorse the candidacy of Dr. Kathie Allen for US Congress. As a dedicated Armenian-American and granddaughter of Genocide survivors who cares deeply about issues important to all of us, we are confident that Dr. Kathie will continue to serve as a strong advocate for our Cause in the halls of government,” stated ANCA-WR Chair Nora Hovsepian.

“I am grateful and honored to receive ANCA’s endorsement and look forward to working with them during my campaign and when in Congress on issues of importance to the Armenian-American community,” stated Allen. “It is crucial that Turkey and the US formally recognize the Armenian genocide, and I will push for that in Congress along with improving bilateral relations between Armenia and the US. I also believe that Artsakh is entitled to self-determination and that de-mining efforts must continue to make this region safe. My grandparents fled Turkey in 1905 to begin a new life in the United States, and these are all important and personal foreign policy issues for me,” she added.

The organization’s decision came after a thorough endorsement process and meeting this past Saturday when Dr. Allen was visiting Los Angeles, and is based on her deep roots and understanding of issues important to the Armenian-American community.  In addition to the proper recognition and resolution of the Armenian Genocide and Artsakh’s right for self-determination and independence, discussion topics during the meeting included health care, President Trump’s immigration ban, and education, among others.

Several Armenian-Americans have also already agreed to support Dr. Kathie Allen by hosting meet-and-greet fundraisers.  The first is planned for October 12, 2017, at Cedars of Lebanon Restaurant in Salt Lake City, Utah, hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Raffi and Marlene Daghlian, while the second is planned for October 15 in Glendale, CA by Mr. Mike Sarian.  Individuals interested in attending these events or donating to Dr. Allen’s campaign may contact Elen Asatryan of The Stark Group at 818.672.6260 or email [email protected].

As a family doctor, Dr. Kathie Allen spent thirty years caring for her patients—analyzing their symptoms, diagnosing their problems, and helping them get well. With health care as her top campaign priority, she wants to do the same thing for Utah’s 3rd Congressional District.

Just two days ago, her opponent was caught sponsoring inflammatory, anti-immigrant ads on Facebook, which encouraged his supporters to sign petitions to “build the wall” and end sanctuary cities. His subsequent “explanation” made it clear that he will be another rubber stamp in Congress for the Trump agenda. Dr. Allen, in contrast, supports compassionate immigration policy that allows families to stay together. She is a passionate supporter of DACA and the Dreamers. She has said previously, “Immigrants are the bedrock of our nation. Dreamers are the topsoil.”

Dr. Allen’s main opponent, Provo Mayor John Curtis, is currently polling 20 points below the previous Republican to run for this seat. Additionally, third party candidate Jim Bennett, son of popular former US Senator Bob Bennett, has qualified to participate in the Utah Debate Commission’s official debate on October 18th. He is poised to further erode John Curtis’s vote share.

Dr. Allen won the Democratic Party’s nomination with 77 percent of the convention vote. Unlike her opponent, she did not face primary challengers. Additionally, she has raised more money for than any Democratic candidate in the history of this Congressional seat. She has currently secured the endorsement of 314 Action, a group dedicated to supporting candidates with scientific backgrounds, as well as numerous individuals both within her district and across the country, with more expected to come soon.

Born and raised in California, Dr. Allen finished college while writing radio ads for Shirley N. Pettis’s congressional campaign. After Mrs. Pettis’s victory, Kathie stayed on as a congressional aide for three years. She then worked for a community housing program in San Bernardino, where she saw firsthand how impoverished Americans have to live.

After graduating from Loma Linda University’s medical school in 1984 in the top third of her class, Dr. Allen moved to Salt Lake City to complete her residency. She has lived in Utah ever since. She practiced family medicine in Kearns and West Valley City, and operated a self-owned clinic for 23 years—while earning a new credential for sports medicine. Unlike many other doctors, Dr. Allen has continuously maintained her certification since 1987.

Dr. Allen has been very active in the Utah Medical Association, holding the offices of Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice-Speaker of the House of Delegates. She not only learned parliamentary procedure during this time but also worked with the Utah State Legislature to pass insurance reform. She currently practices medicine at the Utah Transit Authority’s clinic in Salt Lake City.

In early 2017, she founded the Fair Redistricting Caucus of Utah as a Facebook Group.  It now has over 1400 members and a Steering Committee addressing ways to combat gerrymandering in Utah.  Dr. Allen represents the FRCU on the Utah Redistricting Coalition and participates in a legal advisory group as well.

Her original family name was Poladian. This Armenian family lived in Istanbul in the 1800s, then migrated to Harput, Turkey, and changed their name to Ghourighian. Her Poladian grandparents came to America to escape the Armenian genocide. They arrived in New York City on January 8, 1905, with only $20. They settled in Brookshire, Texas, and started a grocery store business. Her grandfather’s cousin was the scion of a large family of Armenians who had success in Texas oil fields and politics. Dr. Allen’s maternal grandmother died when her mother was only three years old, and her grandfather sent to Turkey for a new bride. Neither he nor his bride disclosed that they each already had a child, which made for interesting family dynamics when she arrived in Texas! After learning this family history, her lifelong love of Balkan folk music began to make sense.

Dr. Allen has been married for 27 years to Craig Fineshriber, retired Principal Percussionist of the Utah Symphony Orchestra. She has three stepchildren and two grandchildren. In her spare time, she directs the Darena Balkan Womens’ Choir, which performed during the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games.

The winner of the general election on November 7, 2017, will complete Chaffetz’s term and be up for reelection in 2018.  In order to vote, you must be registered.  To register to vote online, visit https://secure.utah.gov/voterreg/index.html.  If you have moved since you last registered to vote, you must re-register, and may do so at the above link.  Voters have an option to vote from home by mail or on Election Day, November 7, between 7 am and 8 pm. Community members who have already registered to vote should expect to receive their ballots in the mail week of October 16. To learn more about the election, visit vote.utah.gov.

Utah’s 3rd congressional district includes portions of Salt Lake and Utah Counties, as well as all of Wasatch, Carbon, Grand, Emery, and San Juan Counties.

To learn more about Dr. Allen or to volunteer, please visit www.drkathieallenforcongress.com.

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