Category: 2019

And what is Armenia’s government going to do about it?

BY GARO R. MADENLIAN

We all understand the limitless promise of our young republic and especially the creative power of our youth–irrespective of ruling parties or coalitions, elections, debates and never-ending power-struggles.

We also see the grinding poverty still facing our ancient nation as it continues to improve, survive and thrive in the face of imminent danger and ongoing blockade by its neighbors to the east and west, where large portions of our historical Armenian homeland remains occupied.

Amidst this difficult geopolitical environment, we collectively acknowledge our greatest asset, and best hope, for a prosperous country is our youth. Because of this, we know that cultivating our next generation is one of our very top priorities. Developing and directing the vast energy and potential of our youth is the key to the well-educated and highly-skilled workforce that will take Armenia to the next level.

We desperately need investments in cutting-edge, world-beating education – the type of instruction and inspiration that arms our boys and girls with the skills to compete in tomorrow’s high-stakes marketplace. If we aspire to an Armenia that’s more than a museum – a tourist destination – we need major infusions of resources to drive Armenia’s progress as an incubator of innovation, a global IT hub for our vast and growing Diasporan economic network, and an international center for commerce and cooperation.

Armenia was – until very recently – powerfully positioned for a major Millennium Challenge Corporation grant for IT education, in the hundreds of millions of dollars, a potentially game-changing allocation of direct U.S. funding for instruction in information technology in schools across Armenia. MCC is an independent U.S. foreign assistance agency created by Congress in 2004 with strong bipartisan support that is helping lead the fight against global poverty. It provides time-limited grants (not loans) promoting economic growth, reducing poverty, and strengthening institutions including education. Learn more here.

MCC has projects throughout the world and in various sectors such as agriculture, education, energy, health, land and property rights, road and transportation, and sanitation and irrigation (https://www.mcc.gov/sectors), all of which are very important.  For Armenia’s future, an education sector grant – like the $140 million STEM grant given to the Republic of Georgia in 2013 would be truly game changing. As proof of concept, we can look at the successes of similar grants in Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mongolia, Morrocco, and El Salvador which fundamentally transformed their educational systems, giving their students advantages and providing huge benefits to their respective economies. Learn more here.

Why then hasn’t Armenia received a similar grant to catapult her schools into the future? It’s not because Armenia’s undeserving, or that there’s no need, or that Armenia lacks support.

On the contrary, Armenia meets and exceeds nearly every good governance standard set by the MCC, whose stated aim is to alleviate poverty. There is, sadly, far too much poverty in Armenia. Armenia is also blessed to have a strong Diaspora in America – where prominent groups like the Armenian National Committee of America and their many friends in Congress have strongly backed securing an education-based MCC grant for Armenia dating back to 2016.

The real reason Armenia has not received a major MCC grant for education purposes is that the World Bank (whose main goal is also reducing poverty) suddenly reclassified Armenia as barely meeting its threshold for an “upper middle-income country,” making it ineligible for MCC funding.  They grouped Armenia with far wealthier countries like Brazil, Lebanon, Russia, and Turkey. By this standard, Armenia is now just one level below “high income” nations, like Denmark, Germany, and the United States.

This reclassification is absolutely ridiculous!

The government of Armenia must step up its game, leveraging its status as a member of the World Bank to correct this error and right the wrong to secure this grant for its own future.

Armenia can, for example, challenge the World Bank determination of its income status, formally request the World Bank change its income status, officially ask for the raw data World Bank economists used to make this unfair determination, use its own data and economists to present accurate numbers.  Or, Armenia could, on a more human level, simply invite the President of the World Bank to visit actual villages in Armenia.

With the future of our kids at stake, we should demand nothing less than honesty and transparency from the World Bank, and for the Armenian government to take the initiative and act on behalf of its youth and our common future by aggressively fighting for a major infusion of funds for Armenia’s public schools.

The Republic of Georgia’s STEM focused MCC compact valued at $140 million in grant funding began on July 26, 2013 and closed on July 1, 2019.  According to the MCC these U.S. funds were successfully used to “fully rehabilitate 91 public schools, benefiting more than 37,000 Georgian schoolchildren. In addition, 15,000 secondary STEM and English teachers, 1,800 principals and 1,400 school-based professional development facilitators received training to improve their instructional skills and management capacity. The compact also equipped more than 1.7 million Georgians with better education and training, increasing workforce capacity in fields critical for economic growth, with a particular focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields,” according to the MCC.

Armenia’s public school students and educators especially those mired in poverty deserve the same boost that America gave to public school students and educators in Georgia and many other countries.

Let’s work together and get this done!

New Record Set for Gyumri Fundraising Efforts 

LOS ANGELES—Armenia Fund, in partnership with ARTN TV of Los Angeles, on July 14 hosted a special television program, dubbed the “Gyumri Celebration” and fund-raised a record-breaking $1,437,400.00 in pledges.

It culminated a month-long fundraising phone-a-thon campaign in the United States, as well as the prominent participation of the Fund’s partners and supporters around the world, most notably from the Armenian community in France – through Fonds Armenien de France.

Proceeds from the Gyumri Celebration television program will benefit the reconstruction of a building in Gyumri. Upon completion of the building, 40 families will be moved from decaying metal containers that they currently live in. The building will feature a new kindergarten, furnished apartments complete with appliances and furniture, and small-and-medium businesses. As part of the Fund’s ongoing program of focusing on renewable energies, the building will include solar panels.

“For the past 5 years, the Fund has lead fundraising efforts to help eliminate the scar of the earthquake once and for all. Today we reached new heights, thanks to our team and friends from all over the world. The Fund continues to grow and elevate to new heights not only in fundraising but also setting the trend and high standards for new projects”, said Maria Mehranian, President/Chairman of Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region.

“Our new project in Gyumri is completely based on the Fund’s new, optimized strategy: a cornerstone of completeness, comprehensive and lasting program implementation, of which the result will be an improvement in the quality of life for the beneficiaries for not only receiving an apartment, but also the opportunity to work, to create, and to thrive. This fundraising campaign truly had an Pan-Armenian character. It will continue in the coming months through crowdfunding and online mediums.”, said Haykak Arshamyan, the executive director of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund.

The Gyumri Celebration program featured before-and-after human stories of Gyumri residents, entertainment, and live guests. Video appeals from the President of Armenia, Armen Sarkissian and Karekin II, Catholicos of All-Armenians were shown during the show. Fundraising for the Our Gyumri project continues. Donors can visit armeniafund.org/donate to make a secure online donation or call 1-800-888-8897.

Armenia Fund, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, independent, non-governmental corporation headquartered in Glendale, California. Hayastan All-Armenian Fund in Yerevan is Armenia Fund’s implementing partner.

A gathering of foreign ministers from around the world in Washington this week is a great opportunity to collectively identify effective ways and partnerships for better protection and promotion of the freedom of religion or belief, according to Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan who is attending what is known as the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom organized by the In Defense of Christians.

During the conference, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke on behalf of the United States, and Vice President Mike Pence delivered a keynote address on Thursday.

Mnatsakanyan explained that Armenia has twice participated in the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom hosted by the U.S. Department of State. He said that as a strong proponent of universal human rights, Armenia promotes adherence to international human rights conventions and strong commitments to ensuring freedom of religion within the framework of the overall democratization of the society.

The non-violent Velvet revolution that took place in Armenia in last year once again demonstrated the power of tolerance, non-discrimination and respect for human rights and their importance in the Armenian society.

“Religion represents an institution of identity and the protection of the identity. Our history is a telling story about that. Tolerance and respect for all religions is based on our national experience, Christian heritage and long history of living together and sharing with other faiths. Freedom of religion and belief is an absolute human right which cannot be abolished or curtailed under any circumstances including in conflict situations. Protecting religious minorities played a crucial role in establishing modern systems of human rights which clearly established that grave and massive violations of human rights cannot be considered as a domestic affair but should be of legitimate concern of all members of the international community,” said Mnatsakanyan.

He added that protection of religious groups has been well-defined in international agreements such as the Universal Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

“Preventing mass atrocities against members of religious groups is an absolute priority for Armenia. We know what it means to be a persecuted religious group within the oppressive framework. It is a duty for us to pledge support to all those who are persecuted, including on the basis of their religion and belief today,” said Mnatsakanyan.

“Armenia became a safe haven for a number of vulnerable religious minorities particularly Yezidis and Assyrians. Today Yezidis are the strongest minority group in Armenia, and we are very proud that the biggest temple of this ancient people very soon will open in their Armenian homeland. Together with the most ancient Christian churches of the world and magnificent Blue Mosque of Yerevan it will symbolize beauty of faith and tolerance,” explained Armenia’s Foreign Minister.

“Unfortunately, we have been witnessing recurrence of mass atrocities including acts of genocide against Yezidis and Christians in the Middle East. These persecutions occur in the name of religion, as religion is often misused and abused by those who perpetrate violence or justify it,” added Mnatsakanyan.

Armenia’s top diplomat explained that attempts to equate victims and perpetrators by referring to their religious differences is misleading for a simple reason: perpetrators unlike the victims do not represent any religion and attempts to justify grave crimes including genocide by summoning religious solidarity or hiding behind religion is an insult to any religion.

“The rehabilitation of persecuted communities, the return and restitution of the places of worship, educational and other property are essential components of protection of the freedom of religion. Today we have received more than 20 thousand refugees from the Middle East and provided assistance to them on the ground,” said Mnatsakanyan.

“Armenia stands ready to cooperate with all interested parties to recover ancestral presence of Christians in the Middle East by rebuilding their lives, communities and churches. The Armenian people historically have been significant contributors to diversity, harmony and prosperity of the countries and societies of the Middle East.  This conference provides an excellent platform to initiate partnerships to this end,” added the minister.

The Premier of Australia’s New South Wales Gladys Berejiklian is on a personal visit to Armenia, where on Thursday she met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Armen Sarkissian.

While in Yerevan, she sat down with Norayr Soghikyan of Armenpress and discussed efforts to strengthen relations between Armenia and Australia, as well as her country’s efforts to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Below is the interview.

 

NORAYR SOGHIKYAN: Mrs. Berejiklian, as a result of elections held in New South Wales on March 23, 2019, you become the first female and Armenian Premier of NSW. NSW exceeds Armenia with its size and number of population for several times, as well as exceeds a number of leading countries with its economy. What cooperation prospects do you see with Armenia? Are there any mutual partnership programs which you already discussed with the Armenian President or the PM?

GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN: The programs are very broad, but I hope we will be able to establish strong ties at the official level in the future, because at a non-official level our hearts are very close. The Armenian community of New South Wales is very powerful. The members of the community always want not only to visit Armenia, but also be useful for the country. We have thoroughly discussed the issue of deepening the relations at an officials level both with the PM and the President, and I hope that we will be able to give an official status to our relations in the future.

N.S.: You visited Armenia also in 2013 with the delegation of Austrian politicians. Six years have passed since that visit, what change do you see in Armenia and what are your impressions today?

G.B.: This is the first time I am visiting Armenia as a prime minister, but, in general, this is my fourth visit. I have relatives here and always try to visit Armenia. I saw a lot of changes in Armenia. I think the people here are more optimistic, full of hope about the future, construction is developing, but there are some issues which need to be solved in the future. But I am optimistic about Armenia and feel that the Diaspora-Armenians always stand together with Armenia.

N.S.: What has impressed you most in Armenia? And what can attract NSW tourists to visit Armenia?

G.B.: I think Armenia’s history, beautiful sites can be attractive. Armenia should show its wealth in a better way, especially the monuments with a historical value. For instance, if the western world is informed that there are churches here dating back to the 4th-5th centuries, they will be interested in visiting here.

N.S.: Last time you also visited Artsakh. Are you planning a similar visit this time?

G.B.: Unfortunately no. This time the visit is very shot, I came here for a week to attend a wedding. But I will visit Artsakh in the future, I have been there for two times and always urge my friends to visit there. Another group of Australian lawmakers will visit Armenia in the near future, and I hope they will visit Artsakh as well.

N.S.: You proudly state that you are the granddaughter of a family who survived the 1915 Armenian Genocide. During your activities you repeatedly called on the Australian authorities to recognize the Armenian Genocide. What do you think when Australia will recognize the Armenian Genocide, what are the possibilities for that and what actions do you take on this direction?

G.B.: It’s already 20 years New South Wales has recognized the Armenian Genocide and is recognizing the independence of Artsakh. We hope that Australia will also recognize, if Germany and some countries can recognize, and I always raise this issue among my parliamentarian friends. I hope Australia will recognize the Armenian Genocide in the near future.

N.S.: What will be your advice to Armenians living in Diaspora who are just starting their activities in politics?

G.B.: Two things have always helped me, the belief and diligence. If you work hard, you can do everything. I’m always asked what is the secret, I say there is no secret. You need to work day and night and should always be optimistic, these two things are very important.

N.S.: Do you have any plans and goals to occupy higher positions in the future?

G.B.: No, my position as PM is enough. But 17 years ago when I was elected as member of parliament, I didn’t imagine that one day I will become a premier. But gradually when you are recording one success, you understand that you can achieve another as well. Thus, I achieved this position in that way.

NEW YORK (Nature World News)—Letters referring to a decision to “annihilate” all Armenians are the authentic work of Bahaettin Shakir, one of the architects of the Armenian Genocide, according to signature analysis carried out by a leading Turkish historian, published in the Journal of Genocide Research.

Professor Taner Akçam of Clark University, Massachusetts, who has studied the genocide for decades, says the signatures on the two letters, dated March 3 and April 7 of 1915, match those of Shakir on other documents. Professor Akçam also says he has unearthed new documents from the Ottoman Archives which show initial decisions to exterminate groups of Armenians were taken by a local branch of para-military organization Teskilat-i Mahsusa (Special Organization) led by provincial governors on December 1, 1914.

The Armenian Genocide, the Ottoman government’s systematic extermination of 1.5 million Armenians, was carried out during, and after, World War I. While present-day Turkey accepts that many Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire were killed in clashes with Ottoman forces during the war, it continues to contest the 1.5 million figure and denies that the killings were systematically orchestrated and constitute a genocide. This denial—which continues despite the UN demanding in a recent Joint Allegation Letter that the Turkish government investigates the treatment of Armenians from 1915 to 1923, establish the truth and make reparations—has hinged on the patchy archival record.

The first letter studied by Professor Akçam states that the Committee of Union and Progress “has decided to annihilate all of Armenians living within Turkey, not to allow a single one to remain, and has given the government broad authority in this regard.” The second letter reiterates this message. Previously, the letters’ authenticity was questioned, but, according to Professor Akçam, the signature comparison indicates they were authored by Shakir who, as head of the para-military Special Organization, helped to plan and carry out the genocide.

“These letters indicate there was an actual, conscious decision taken to annihilate the empire’s Armenian population and that it was taken before 3 March 1915,” stated Professor Akçam. “Moreover, there were other related decisions which preceded this final one, as a series of documents we discovered in the Ottoman Archives shows.”

These documents suggest that initial decisions to eliminate groups of Armenians were not taken by the Central Committee of the CUP and/or by the central government, but by governors in the provinces of Van and Bitlis.

“In their communications—both with Istanbul and with one another—the governors did not see the need to use vague language or euphemisms in referring to the annihilation of the Armenians, but spoke of it openly, even offering a number of tangible ideas regarding how such an extermination could or should be carried out,” stated Professor Akçam.

Policy decisions regarding the elimination of Armenians, while initially made at the regional level, would eventually serve to pressure the central government in Istanbul to adopt a more radical overall policy, he concludes.

WASHINGTON—The Speaker of Armenia’s National Assembly Ararat Mirzoyan had meetings with representatives of the Armenian National Committee of America and the Armenian Assembly of America in Washington during his working visit.

During the meetings Ararat Mirzoyan highlighted the role of the two organizations in the Armenian-American relations and presented to his counterparts the agenda of reforms going on in Armenia.

A number of programs aimed at the development of U.S.-Armenia relations were discussed and Mirzoyan said the ANCA and the Assembly can have a role in their implementation.