Category: 2018

BY GAREN YEGPARIAN

In case the ongoing, periodic, massacres of Armenians in and/or by the Ottoman Empire and its willing and eager collaborators weren’t enough proof of Turkish racism;

In case the 1905 massacres of Armenians by “Tatars” (which were reciprocated), as Azerbaijanis were referred to back then, weren’t enough proof of Turkish racism;

In case the Armenian Genocide wasn’t enough proof of Turkish racism;

In case the simultaneous genocide of Assyrians and Greeks wasn’t enough proof of Turkish racism;

In case the 1918 Baku massacres by locals and Enver Pasha’s “Army of Islam” weren’t enough proof of Turkish racism;

In case the 1920 sacking of Shushi, a vibrant Armenian cultural center, and its accompanying massacres weren’t enough proof of Turkish racism;

In case the 1937 massacres of Alevi Kurds, (or the Zazas, a term that no longer seems to be in use) weren’t enough proof of Turkish racism;

In case the depopulation/expulsion of Armenians from Nakhichevan during the Soviet era by Azerbaijani authorities wasn’t enough proof of Turkish racism;

In case discriminatory practices in Azerbaijani controlled Artsakh during the Soviet era wasn’t enough proof of Turkish racism;

In case the discriminatory Varlik Vergisi (a tax invented by Ankara in 1942 to impoverish and drive out Armenians, Greeks, and Jews) wasn’t enough proof of Turkish racism;

In case the 1955 (premeditated and “fake-news” instigated) pogroms of Greeks (with some spillover on to Armenians) in Constantinople weren’t enough proof of Turkish racism;

In case the mutilation of Greeks during Turkey’s 1974 invasion of Cyprus wasn’t enough proof of Turkish racism;

In case the 1989 February and later pogroms in Baku, Gandsak (Ganja as Turkified), Sumgait, and elsewhere weren’t enough proof of Turkish racism;

Then let’s look to this century for… more of the same!

How about Victor Bedoian’s septennial sojourn in Van as he tried to open “Hotel Vartan” and was blocked at every turn from the vali (governor) who boasted that no Armenian would start a business in Van on his watch to the Turkish Supreme court that shut down his final appeal?

How about Hrant Dink’s 2007 murder?

How about Turkey’s sealing of its border with Syria at Kobane, blocking assistance and escape for the Kurds of that area in their life-and-death struggle against Daesh/ISIS?

How about the mutilation of civilians and beheadings by Azerbaijan’s forces during the April 2016 Four Day War??

How about Erdoğan feigning outrage at being called an Armenian (which is a really bad slur in Turkey, it turns out)?

How about the hatred spewed against Jews from all corners of Turkey’s polity?

How about the episodic appearance of hate graffiti on Armenian institutions in Turkey?

How about the ongoing desecration of Armenian cemeteries and churches in Turkey?

How about the recent video from Azerbaijan with children expressing their hatred of Armenians?

How about the comment that “Raping Kurdish women is a moral obligation. No one should abstain” by a leader of a Turkish group in Holland?

How about the Estonian citizen who was Armenian being denied entry into Azerbaijan, just days ago, because of her ancestry, despite having travelled to Baku with a properly issued visa?

It’s not only unfortunate, but utterly tragic, that current Turkish identity (including Azerbaijan, less its persecuted minority populations- Avars, Jews, Lesghis, Tats, Talysh) is unimaginable without this all-encompassing racism, The only glimmer of light in that darkness is the small portion of the population which constitutes civil society and its efforts to defend human rights, in the broadest sense of the term.

This reality must permeate the halls of (at least) Western governments so their foreign policy for Azerbaijan and Turkey is more rational and effective. The above can serve as talking points during any encounter with our elected representatives. Use them.

And just in case anyone you’re speaking with has doubt as to whether there exists a significant difference between Ankara’s and Baku’s ethos, ideals, and morals, here’s a joke to help convey this reality:

“What’s the difference between an Azeri and a Turk?”
“Nothing.”

On 20 March the unique program aiming to empower Syrian-Armenian youth who escaped the ongoing conflict in Syria and settled in Armenia was launched in Yerevan. Through training, capacity building and joint activities, the project aims to deepen the relations between Syrian and local Armenian youth.

“Better future for Syrian-Armenian Youth” is new joint project of World Council of Churches Armenian Round Table Foundation (ART) and “Aleppo” Compatriotic Charitable Organization (Aleppo-NGO).

“There have been many Syrian-Armenian youth projects implemented over the years in Armenia,” said Sarkis Balkhian, executive director of Aleppo-NGO, during his opening remarks. “But this one is unique because the youth has an opportunity to choose the specific training programs, seminars, conferences, and activities they are most interested in and have the need for.”

During the opening session of the project more than 60 Syrian-Armenian high school and university students as well as young professionals were able to choose the top five activities and training programs they wish to partake in.

Rubina Devrikyan, a representative of WCC Armenian Round Table Foundation, explained that the project will not only include trainings and seminars but also small scholarships, pilgrimages and camps for Syrian-Armenian students, fellows, and interns in need. Moreover, they will also have an opportunity to have joint activities with local Armenian youth to facilitate integration.

The WCC Armenia Inter-Church Charitable Round Table Foundation (ART) is an ecumenical organization working in close collaboration with churches and non-governmental organizations for the active involvement of the church in social work, including poverty eradication, sustainable community development, and overall development of civil society in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Founded in 1996, the ART has evolved its activities in diverse areas, including development, capacity building, education, peace and reconciliation and humanitarian aid. The ecumenical Armenia Round Table program was set up on the initiative of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the WCC, with the participation of the Armenian Catholic and Armenian Evangelical churches.

YEREVAN–Armenia will continue purchasing Russian-made weapons despite possible sanctions from the West against Russia, Deputy Defense Minister David Pakhchanyan said at a news conference Wednesday.

“Of course, sanctions are a problem, but the issue of security is a top priority for us, and we’ll be guided by our interests first,” added Pakhchanyan.

“Armenian and Russian cooperation in this field is very productive. We have received weapons worth $200 million under the first contract signed between the two countries. We have agreed on starting the second stage worth $100 million,” explained the deputy minister.

He added that Armenia cooperates with other countries, as well. Pakhchanyan said Armenia has established good ties with countries with well-developed military industry, such as Serbia, China and Poland.
Pakhchanyan noted that the supply of Russian weapons to Azerbaijan cannot but worry Armenia and welcomed the recent statements by Russian officials that the volume of those supplies have been reduced since the April 2016 War.

On the same note, Russian news agency Tass reported Thursday that Moscow will start supplying weapons to Armenia under the new $100 million loan in 2018, according to Russia’s Deputy Head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Vladimir Drozhzhov.

“They [supplies] are envisioned for 2018,” Drozhzhov told reporters at the ArmHiTec exhibition.

The agreement on the loan for Armenia to buy Russian weapons was signed on October 24. The loan was provided with a three percent annual interest rate over a period of 15 years. Under the agreement, Yerevan should use the funds from 2018 to 2022.

In June 2015, Russia signed an agreement with Armenia on a state export loan worth $200 million to finance deliveries of Russian weapons. The loan maturity was 13 years with a three-year grace period and a three percent annual interest rate.

YEREVAN—An international exhibition featuring the latest in defense technology and arms opened Thursday in Armenia with high-level government officials, among them the president and defense minister in attendance.

Known as the ArmHiTec -2018 international exhibition of armaments and defense technology, the event will through Saturday in Yerevan.

A brief cultural program and official opening ceremony were followed by a demonstration by the a special detachment of the Armenian Armed Forces.

ArmHiTec -2018 seeks to become an effective platform for dialogue between the military, scientific and business circles of participating countries. Armenian and foreign organizations from Russia, India, Germany, Italy, France, China and other countries are participating in the exhibition with their own stands.

While touring the exhibition, President Serzh Sarkisian familiarized himself with the achievements of Armenian organizations in the field of armaments and defense technology, as well as with the products showcased by international organizations.

A practical scientific program will be held on the sidelines of ArmHiTec -2018 international exhibition, involving delegations from more than 10 countries and representatives of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, commonly known as the CSTO.

The development of defense industry is one of the priority directions of progress of the Armenian economy, Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan said during the opening of the ArmHiTec 2018.

“High tech and innovative developments in the defense industry had a unique place in recent years in the development of Armenia’s science and industry. Modern samples of military significance production were development in a short period of time and commissioned in the armed forces, a part of which you can see at this exhibition,” Sargsyan said.

The minister also discussed the seven-year military modernization program, the main purpose of which is launching production of high tech arms and entering foreign markets.

The minister also announced that 34 Armenian and more than 30 foreign companies from 14 countries are featured in the exhibit.

“State delegations from Russia, Greece, India, Belarus, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Serbia and Egypt have arrived in Armenia to participate in the exhibition,” he said, adding that the CSTO delegation is also in attendance.