Category: 2018

BY FLORA ADAMIAN
Special to Asbarez

Last month, the Glendale Unified school board named Lisa Kaprielian as Richardson D. White Elementary School’s new principal. With more than 20 years of experience in education, Kaprielian started out as an elementary school physical education teacher and substitute, spending the last three years as R.D. White’s assistant principal before earning her current position — an achievement she describes as a dream come true.

“The last three months have honestly been so emotional and so exciting, the love that I have felt from everyone, I’m honored to take on this position,” Kaprielian said. “You know, sometimes you dream about it: ‘Oh, it would be awesome to be the principal of R.D. White.’ And then it happens. And it still sometimes feels like a dream.”

In her new role, Kaprielian hopes to build upon the knowledge and relationships she’s acquired over the last three years at R.D. White.

“Of course, my role is going to be different, but my purpose is still the same,” Kaprielian said. “My purpose is making sure that our students are reaching their full potential, that our staff is happy. I’ve built some strong relationships during the last three years and my goal right now is — in that first year — to strengthen those relationships all centered on trust.”

Linda Junge, Kaprielian’s former supervisor at John Muir Elementary School, noted that Kaprielian is the perfect fit to be R.D. White’s new principal, and that she could not be more pleased with the announcement. While serving as John Muir’s principal, Junge directly supervised Kaprielian for four years, promoting her from sixth-grade teacher to a teacher specialist. Together, Junge and Kaprielian established John Muir’s dual-language immersion academy.

“During those three years, [Kaprielian] served in quasi-administrative roles and grew from a respected teacher to a powerfully effective instructional leader,” Junge said. “Her support of teachers was such that in 2012 she was voted Teacher of the Year by the Muir faculty.”

Although a Northridge native, having attended Ferrahian Armenian School in the San Fernando Valley, Kaprielian finds her current placement in Glendale a meaningful opportunity to give back to the local Armenian community.

“I came from a private Armenian school and a part of me wants to give back to that, but I service a lot of the Armenian students and families being here in Glendale. So that somewhat gives me some peace of mind,” she said.

Kaprielian appreciates the city’s large Armenian presence, but finds a distinct beauty in the district’s diversity as well.

“I think it’s beautiful to be here in Glendale, with such a large Armenian community,” Kaprielian said. “And, you know, I picked up some words in Farsi and being able to sing a song in Farsi or say a few words in Arabic or in Spanish, even — we’re just such a melting pot. We have such a variety of different cultures and languages here in Glendale; it’s nice to see all of that.”

Glendale’s cultural diversity, Kaprielian said, allows students to learn from each other, to empathize with and grow from one another’s differences.

“They’re in a classroom learning from each other,” Kaprielian said. “Kids, oftentimes, share everything. Whether it’s something that they ate, something that their grandmother said — they’re constantly sharing.”

Despite having acquired decades of experience in the education sector, Kaprielian hadn’t always imagined herself in her current field.

“My senior year in high school, I thought I was going to be a physical therapist, so I attended Cal State Northridge, majoring in physical therapy, because I was an athlete throughout my whole life — I played basketball, ran cross country — and I loved helping people. So, I took two of my passions in life — athletics and helping people — and I thought, you know, I’m going to be a physical therapist and help those heal from their sports-related injuries.”

Coaching basketball and working with kids on a daily basis, Kaprielian thought she was set on her path to physical therapy. A relative, however, suggested that she instead consider education.

Surprised that she had never before thought about teaching, Kaprielian immediately switched her major from physical therapy to education, a decision she says she has never regretted.

“The field of education is — words can’t describe what a great profession it is,” Kaprielian said. “There are definitely challenges, but it’s super rewarding. And if anyone wants to get into education, I would just say to go for it, get their feet wet.”

Even after moving up the administrative ladder, Kaprielian still makes it a priority to create individual bonds between herself and her students.

“Now, it’s just a different relationship that I’ve built with the students,” she said.

It’s important for students to know that they can rely not only on their teachers, but other adults at the school as well, according to Kaprielian. She enjoys being out on the yard at recess time to be visible and observe interactions among students.

“Oftentimes, if parents have questions about or concerns about students not getting along or having difficulties, I’m able to say, well, I saw them at recess time or at lunch time playing and they were walking arm-in-arm — they’re totally doing fine. So, it’s knowing the outside. The teachers know what’s going on in the classroom, but sometimes they don’t see the dynamics on the playground — that’s when I get to step in. It’s almost like the teachers and I work together — I’m their eyes when they’re not there,” Kaprielian said.

Kaprielian uses her Armenian background as an asset to help her communicate with new Armenian immigrants, helping them transition into American culture and society.

“We have many families that come from Armenia or from Iraq — they don’t know the language. Being able to communicate in Armenian just eases some of their anxiety,” she said.

“When there’s a parent who only speaks Armenian, and every time she has a question about her child’s homework or the Thursday folder or upcoming activity, she would come to me,” Kaprielian said. “She felt comfortable, she knew I would answer her questions. We spoke the same language, and I think they transitioned a lot easier because of that.”

Armenian students, too, find it easier to connect with Kaprielian given the fact that she is able to understand them on a cultural level.

“When the kids hear me speak Armenian, they go crazy,” Kaprielian said. “And I don’t go out and tell them — they might know it from my last name, they might ask me. But it’s always fun to throw out of some the Armenian words when they least expect it and the look on their faces of just pure shock, ‘You speak Armenian? You are Armenian?’ And that’s how you connect with people, it’s similarities that bring you together. Whether it’s language, whether it’s where you live, it’s those similarities that bring people together. So, if their language, their culture, is something that is similar with someone else, they’re happy about that.”

Although her Armenian identity often complements her work as an administrator in Glendale, Kaprielian explained that difficulties still exist with regard to prejudice. However, she strives to work past these obstacles and, instead, uses her Armenian identity as a way to understand the differences that exist in society, bridging gaps along the way.

“Sometimes there are challenges just as with any type of culture or race, there’s always some type of discrimination, but I think that’s just the world in which we live in and I just try to focus on the beauty of each individual and the strength of each individual and to get to know who they are and, kind of, eliminate some of those barriers that are between us,” she said.

Looking to the future, Kaprielian hopes to make the most of her new position by creating meaningful relationships and serving her community.

“I act with integrity, I’m honest, I’m open, I follow through with what I say, and, you know, that’s an area that builds trust. I just want our staff, our parents to know that I am there for the benefit of their students, for the best of their kids. So, my first goal is just to make sure that our teachers are happy, that our students are happy, and I want our kids coming to school loving the school, waiting to come back,” Kaprielian said.

Junge confirms these character traits. Kaprielian, Junge said, is a strong leader who inspires respect, loyalty and commitment.

“Mrs. Kaprielian has a deep understanding of what students need from their elementary experience in order to thrive and succeed in middle and high school,” Junge said. “GUSD and R.D. White could not have done better. She has a heart for students, and will help her school rise to ever-greater outcomes.”

BY ALEX BASTIAN AND VANNA KITSINIAN

We traveled to a place that was majestic and breathtakingly beautiful where few have been fortunate enough to visit. You cannot go there by plane because the neighboring country has threatened to shoot down all civilian aircraft that fly there. To make matters even more interesting, if you tried to navigate your way in a car using Google Maps, the app will essentially tell you that this mystical place does not exist.

What we saw and experienced was surreal. Stunning green rolling hills and mountainous landscapes that rival those of Switzerland and happy people who are making the most of their humble life circumstances. It’s a place where $1,000 lost in cash is returned to its rightful owner without a second thought, where a female-majority Supreme Court is constantly looking to the West to improve their decision-making processes, and where the Human Rights Defender protects the rights of not only the people in his country, but those of all humanity, including enemy combatants. We are not talking about a fictitious utopia, but rather a real place – The Republic of Artsakh – a country we visited in May with the Armenian Bar Association for its Annual Meeting. We travelled there with a delegation of nearly 50 people, including judges, lawyers, human rights advocates, journalists, doctors, and students.

If you have not heard of Artsakh, you’re likely not alone. Artsakh is a highly contested, landlocked region just north of Iran, east of the Republic of Armenia and west of Azerbaijan. Less than 100 years ago, Artsakh was a part of Armenia (and had been for millennia). Nonetheless, Artsakh was arbitrarily carved out of Armenia in 1921 by the Soviet Union and given to Azerbaijan as an autonomous province, as part of the Soviet divide and conquer strategy. After the fall of the Soviet Union, in December 1991, Artsakh held an independence referendum in which 82% of all voters participated and 99% voted for independence. In response, Azerbaijan launched an all-out war against the Republic. A cease fire agreement took hold in 1994, which is still currently in place.

Due to political reasons, no UN member states have recognized the nation. Despite this fact, Artsakh has thrived as a forward thinking, progressive, democratic state that celebrates the rule of law. Since declaring independence in 1991, Artsakh has successfully declared more than ten parliamentary and presidential elections – all of which have been praised by international observers as free, fair, and transparent. For about a quarter century now, Artsakh has been governing its own affairs and establishing democratic values and institutions. Recently the late Anthony Bourdain visited Artsakh as part of CNN’s “Parts Unknown” and exposed the treasures of Artsakh’s authentic Armenian cuisine, history, and hospitality to worldwide viewership. It’s a place where many other tourists from around the world would also visit, however there is one major fact that poses a special hindrance: the absence of air travel to and from Artsakh.

The Republic has an airport near the capital city of Stepanakert, which was reconstructed in 2009 and is currently operational. Artsakh authorities announced that they planned to launch commercial flights in 2011. However, due to threats by Azerbaijan to shoot down any civilian aircraft, the airport has remained closed since 1994. Undeniably, the reality of air travel provides tremendous social benefits to people, including providing humanitarian aid and access for families to reunite and visit loved ones. More than that however, air transport is a fundamental pillar of our global society, and civilians living or visiting Artsakh should have that basic right as well.

United Nations’ Article 13 has specifically declared travel as a human right. Article 13 of the UNs’ 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights states the following: “Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of the state. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.” A policy imposed by a neighboring country that essentially blocks, threatens or in any way prevents people from traveling to and from a territory is not just a violation of a global UN agreement, but is an offense to the moral imperatives of our globalized world. Although the Republic of Artsakh is not recognized by UN member states, the human rights of the people of Artsakh still need to be protected.

The lack of an operating airport struck us more than any other observation during our time there. Given the windy and mountainous terrain, traveling by car from neighboring Armenia can be difficult and time-consuming (upwards of 6 hours). Travel by air would give people who otherwise would be unable to travel by car the ability to get to Artsakh in less than 35 minutes. Air travel also facilitates the exchange of ideas, culture, art and cuisine and fosters the development of infrastructure and commerce.

We write this article knowing full well the threat of being placed on Azerbaijan’s “PNG” list which identifies people as personas non grata, for simply having travelled to part of one’s ancestral homeland. According to Azerbaijan, traveling to Artsakh without Baku’s permission is considered a criminal offense and the country has compiled a list of some 700 government officials, journalists, activists, and celebrities (as was done to Bourdain) who have been outlawed. Unfortunately, many freedoms and rights are not respected by Azerbaijan’s government.

We believe the rest of the world would agree that all human beings deserve the right to access civilian air travel free from threats from a neighboring country to shoot down and murder civilians. It is time for Azerbaijan to enter the 21st century and publicly acknowledge that basic human right.

Alex Bastian is Deputy Chief of Staff of San Francisco District Attorney’s Office. Vanna Kitsinian is a Los Angeles based civil litigation attorney and an Armenian Bar Association Board Member

BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN

For many decades, the Turkish government has had an inflated image of the Armenian Diaspora, describing it as a giant worldwide force. In recent years, Azerbaijan has been infected with the same fear of the global Armenian Diaspora. Pres. Ilham Aliyev has described the ‘Armenian lobby’ as the greatest enemy of Azerbaijan. Consequently, the Azeri leaders have started pouring massive resources into the formation of their own diaspora in various countries as a counterpart to the “powerful Armenian lobby.”

Ironically, while the Armenian government is making plans for the repatriation of Armenians from overseas, Azerbaijan is trying to do the exact opposite by encouraging Azeris to move to formerly Soviet countries, Europe and the United States in order to enlarge its Diaspora!

Nazim Ibrahimov, Chairman of Azerbaijan’s State Committee for Work with the Diaspora, recently announced that “the establishment of coordination centers for world Azerbaijanis continues and that this affair is one of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s priorities…. The state of Azerbaijan has created massive financial conditions for this. Upon the president’s orders, we offer support to our diaspora organizations around the world. On account of this activity, the Azerbaijani diaspora not only responds to the Armenian lobby decently, but also overpowers them at times.”

Last year, Sergey Rumantsev, a graduate of Baku State University, wrote an article in the OpenDemocracy.net website, titled: “Long Live the Azerbaijani Diaspora,” stating that “Baku is going to great lengths to mobilize, or even create, an international Azerbaijani diaspora.” The main purpose of the Azeri Diaspora is to counter Armenians in the Karabagh (Artsakh) conflict. Azeri leaders view the Armenian Diaspora “as immensely influential and strongly united in solidarity,” hence, “for Azerbaijan’s ruling Aliyev regime, a diaspora is synonymous with an overseas political lobby.”

Azeris have such an exaggerated view of the Armenian Diaspora that when the Russian Supreme Court decided to annul the registration of the All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress last year, “many [Azeri] commentators rushed to conclusions about Armenian plots and intrigues,” Rumantsev wrote. The truth is that the Azeri organization had violated Russian laws. Armenians had nothing to do with its closing.

Azeri authorities were so impressed by the Armenian Diaspora’s political clout that since the early 2000s they “have invested large sums of financial and symbolic capital into this project. They’ve tried to conjure up a diaspora to their liking as quickly as possible.”

It all started when Heydar Aliyev, the father of the current president, was the leader of Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1970’s-80s. He arranged for the education of many Azeri students in universities throughout the Soviet Union and encouraged the relocation of Azeris to various Soviet Republics!

Prior to the Second World Congress of Azerbaijanis, held on March 16, 2016, “the state committee for working with Azerbaijanis abroad produced a documentary film with the telling title, ‘we’re a nation of 50 million,’ ” Rumantsev wrote. The committee stated that 10 million Azerbaijanis were living in about 70 countries.

Rumantsev asserted that Azeris living overseas are not a coherent group; there is a considerable difference among Azeri immigrants: “Azeri Diaspora activism is generally limited to quite a small circle of ethnic Azerbaijani businessmen and their family members.”

Rumantsev described the origins of the organizational efforts for Azeris abroad: “In November 2001, Baku held the inaugural World Congress of Azerbaijanis at the initiative of Heydar Aliyev. The following year saw the foundation of the state committee for working with Azerbaijanis abroad — Nazim Ibrahimov was appointed its permanent leader. Its first convention led to the creation of yet another body, the ‘Coordinating Council of World Azerbaijanis’, led by, of course, pan-Azerbaijani president Heydar Aliyev. The success of diaspora-building henceforth came to be measured in how many organizations existed, and how to unify them into one structure.”

The World Congress of Azerbaijanis consists of local/regional bodies, followed by Azeri organizations in various countries and finally by the World Congress which takes its orders directly from the Azeri government.

President Ilham Aliyev proudly told attendees of a recent conference of World Congress of Azerbaijanis: “if we had 336 diaspora organizations five years ago, now we have 416.” At the Fourth World Congress in 2015, “delegates stated that there are now 462 such organizations.”

The few activities Azeris participate in worldwide are represented by Azerbaijan’s official media in an exaggerated fashion, as if a large number of Azeris in Europe or the U.S. are involved in pro-Azerbaijan activities, in support of the Aliyev regime. For example, when Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan visited Berlin in 2016, a small number of Azeris held a protest, and sent the following message to Pres. Aliyev: “Mr. President — you have the support of Azerbaijanis across the world!”

Rumantsev concluded his article by stating that the Azerbaijani Diaspora cannot be compared to the classical Diasporas of Armenians, Jews or Greeks. Most Azeri organizations overseas “exist only on paper.”

YEREVAN—The Homenetmen family, which has been celebrating the organization’s centennial in Armenia with various events, including a scouting jamboree and a parade of athletes and scouts at Republic Square, held a celebration event on Tuesday at the Alexander Spendaryan Opera and Ballet Theater with a capacity crowd in attendance that included Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Armen Sarkissian.

In his remarks at the celebration, Pashinyan congratulated the athletic and scouting organization and hailed the fact that centennial jubilee was being held in Armenia after the dramatic events, which ushered in a new era for Armenian around the world.

“Allow me to say that the recent peaceful, velvet, democratic revolution in Armenia in fact brought to life Homenetmen’s motto of ‘elevate yourself and elevate other with you,” said Pashinyan referencing the organization traditional maxim.

“What happened in the Republic of Armenia?” asked Pashinyan. “The poor citizens rose up and elevated their homeland, their name and their status in their own homeland,” added Pashinyan, who was greeted with fervent applause and cheers by the participants of the event.

“This is a very important achievement: but this is not all we want to achieve. We should continue… elevating our our homeland. We hope the citizens of Armenia will continue their path, will develop it, will take flight toward our national aspirations and dreams,” said Pashinyan.

“Today we are calling on everyone to come and collectively elevate [our homeland]. We are inviting our Diaspora businessmen to the Republic of Armenia to rise with their civic consciousness, the consciousness of their duty before the law and rise in terms of their personal and business achievements,” explained Pashinyan.

He stated that the Homenetmen has played a critical role in the history of the Armenian people and continues to do so.

“It’s symbolic that the 100th anniversary of the Homenetmen, founded in Istanbul, is being celebrated in Yerevan, the capital of independent and free Armenia. This also symbolizes our vision toward the future,” expressed.

“This is the mission that unites us, and we should definitely emerge victorious in this mission. Long live freedom, long live the Republic of Armenia, long live our children who live and will live in free and happy Armenia,” concluded Pashinyan.

Asbarez will provide detailed coverage of the Homenetmen Centennial events in Armenia in its future editions.