Category: 2019

GLENDALE—The Divest Turkey movement, originally founded in 2014 by the Armenian Youth Federation-Western US and the All Armenian Students Association on university campuses statewide, and partnered on the political front by the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region, has been renewed with the recent introduction of AB1320 by California State Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, along with co-sponsors Assemblymembers Laura Friedman, Jesse Gabriel, Phillip Chen and Senator Scott Wilk.

On April 3, 2019, in Sacramento, the State Assembly’s Committee on Public Employment and Retirement will consider the bill which calls for the divestment of California public funds from Turkish government controlled financial instruments, ensuring taxpayer funds are no longer used in a manner to aid and abet Turkey’s century-long obstruction of justice for the Armenian Genocide.

“We welcome the re-introduction of this bill by Assemblymember Nazarian following last year’s unanimous passage in both State houses and Governor Brown’s last minute veto as yet another stepping stone towards the end goal of the Divest Turkey movement,” remarked ANCA-WR Chair Nora Hovsepian, Esq.

“This is a multifaceted issue and we are constantly evaluating all possibilities to ensure that the State of California and other stakeholders do not indirectly embolden or fund the Turkish government’s human rights abuses or the denial of the Armenian Genocide. We will continue to use all resources at our disposal, including mobilizing grassroots support and educating legislators and other stakeholders to ensure passage of this bill,” added Hovsepian.

The Divest Turkey movement found its origins on University of California campuses statewide, where the AYF-WUS and All-ASA diligently worked to secure unanimous passage of resolutions calling for divestment of $74 million invested by the UC Regents in Turkish government issued bonds.

As one outcome of this movement, at the moment all nine undergraduate student governments of the UC system have passed resolutions calling on the UC Board of Regents to divest from the Turkish government. After months of preparation of financial documents to justify the fiduciary needs to divest alongside the ample ethical, moral, and political reasons to do so, all nine UC schools, including Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz voted overwhelmingly to divest by December 2016, representing the will of a combined 238,000 UC students.

“Collaborating with the ANCA-WR has allowed us to further strengthen and amplify our voice, especially in the political realm,” said the AYF-WUS Executive Director Rafi Orphali. “There is still a lot of work ahead in ensuring that no public funds are invested in the denialist, repressive Turkish government, and we are determined more than ever to see this mission through in a united and coordinated fashion.”

More recently, a joint ANCA-WR and AYF-WUS delegation traveled to Sacramanto to meet with state officials to discuss current divestment efforts.

In 2018, then AB1597 gained momentum when it passed in Senate Appropriations and the Senate Public Employment & Retirement Committee in early August and Senate Judiciary Committee in June. In September of the same year, the bill passed by a unanimous vote in both the California State Assembly and Senate, only to be vetoed at the eleventh hour by then-governor Jerry Brown.

Prior to the passage in these various committees, the ANCA-WR worked with the AYF to present the measure as well as the Divest Turkey initiative to the University of California Board of Regents during the session of the Investments Subcommittee. The Divest Turkey measure was placed on the agenda of this Investments Subcommittee following a hearing in February of the Senate Select Committee on California, Armenia and Artsakh Mutual Trade, Art and Cultural Exchange chaired by Senator Anthony Portantino where testimony was provided by members of the AYF and Jagdeep Bachher, Chief Investment Officer, UC Vice President of Investments.

BURBANK—Hundreds gathered for the third annual Armenian Genocide Education Awards Luncheon at the De Luxe Banquet Hall in Burbank on March 23 to honor and celebrate seven remarkable educators for their commitment and dedication to teaching the Armenian Genocide.

The luncheon, organized by the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region’s Education Committee, hosted close to 250 guests including elected officials, superintendents, dignitaries, educators from all across the state, the outstanding honorees with their friends and family, and the 2018 National Teacher of the Year Mandy Manning as the keynote speaker.

This event celebrates educators who have creatively taught the subject of the Armenian Genocide within their school communities, across different courses such as social science, English language, arts, music, art, theater, and film. This year for the first time, two university-level educators were also honored.

“The ANCA-WR Board of Directors is so proud of our amazing Education Committee, which organized its third annual Armenian Genocide Education Awards Luncheon this year. This has become one of our signature annual events and is so important toward promoting Armenian Genocide education in public schools, recognizing and thanking teachers who take the time to teach about the lessons to be learned from this dark chapter in history and encouraging others to do the same,” said ANCA-WR Chair Nora Hovsepian, Esq.

This year’s honorees were:

Rubina Peroomian, Ph.D., UCLA
Armenian Genocide Education Legacy Award

Jack Fong, Ph.D., California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Armenian Genocide Higher Education Award

Beth Hudson, Austin Independent School District
Armenian Genocide Education Award

Jose Lara, Dale Junior High School, Anaheim Union High School District
Armenian Genocide Education Award

Levon Marashlian, Ph.D., Glendale Community College
Armenian Genocide Higher Education Award

Naira Panasyan, Northridge Academy High School, LAUSD
Zaruhy “Sara” Chitjian Armenian Genocide Education Award

Vahe Tcharkhoutian, Eleanor J. Toll Middle School, GUSD
Zaruhy “Sara” Chitjian Armenian Genocide Education Award

2018 National Teacher of the Year Mandy Manning captivated the attendees with her moving remarks as she highlighted her special moments in Armenia as a Peace Corps volunteer — where she taught English at a school in Alaverdi — and expressed her support for genocide education.

“I’m not here because of what I did in Armenia. I’m here because of what I’ve learned and how I’ve taken those lessons with me throughout my 20 years career in education, to my classroom and my community,” said Manning. “I’m not Armenian, but I definitely feel like Armenia is in my roots.” Manning then continued to explain her experiences in Armenia from getting her first haircut, to riding the bus to work, and most importantly her host family.  “My host family welcomed me with open arms, gave me grace in adapting to life in Armenia, took my hand and helped me out in my new environment,” added Manning. “I carry their example with me in my work as an educator every day a new student walks into my classroom.”

Manning concluded by expressing her gratitude to Armenia and highlighting the significant progress made by the Armenian people, from turning pain into action and becoming strong advocates at the forefront of genocide prevention globally.

Watch her full remarks here.

“The third annual Armenian Genocide Education Awards Luncheon was truly a success. This year, a new recognition for professors from colleges and universities who teach a unit on the Armenian Genocide was added and it was a rewarding decision. The most moving presentation was that of National Teacher of the Year Mandy Manning, the Peace Corps volunteer who had served in Alaverdi, Armenia, for two years and is now the national spokesperson for all public education in the United States. Her love for Armenia and her praise for all things Armenian brought the audience to a lengthy standing ovation,” said ANCA-WR Education Committee Chair Alice Petrossian.

All the honorees expressed their appreciation for the award and pledged their continued support to advance genocide education in their respective schools. Dr. Rubina Peroomian, recipient of the Armenian Genocide Education Legacy Award for her decades-long work in advancing Armenian Genocide education, explained her upbringing and shared the story of how she became involved in this line of work. Dr. Peroomian also added that her work was simply fulfilling her familial obligation to the ANCA.

Thanking his student Kareen Shatikian for the nomination, Dr. Jack Fong, one of the first  higher education honorees, presented his plans to further teach the Armenian Genocide to all his college students. “In my role as a professor, I will make sure the Armenian epic is made physical in my relative courses that examine geopolitics, genocide, and issues related to human rights,” stated Dr. Fong, adding that it’s the least he can do to honor the Armenian people.

The program also included a special presentation by researcher and photographer Matthew Karanian about his new book “The Armenian Highland: Western Armenia and The First Armenian Republic of 1918.” In his book, Karanian celebrates the history of this First Armenian Republic and shows, through stunning photography, the hidden Armenia that he has discovered during his research in Ani, Kars, and Western Armenia—all lands that are today outside the borders of the Republic of Armenia. During his presentation, Karanian presented various photos from his book of his travels and emphasized the genocidal policies that are still pursued by Turkey today.

Members of the Armenian Heritage Curriculum Development Committee — a group of dedicated individuals working day in and day out to put together a comprehensive curriculum focused on Armenian culture and history — were also recognized during the Awards Luncheon. Members of this committee include Amy Bazikian, Anna Khachatryan, Anna Yeghiantz, Arpineh Kourounian, Mary Mekikian, Laura Gaboudian, Lucy Martirosyan, Sarine Boyadjian, Psy. D, LMFT, Sandra Edith Garcia, and Sedda Antakelian.

“The best part about the Armenian Genocide Education Awards luncheon, for me, is the uplifting energy that fills the hall. It is such a profound experience when you are filled in a room with like minded, powerful and inspiring individuals who have united together for the same purpose: to honor the memory of Armenian Genocide victims and survivors by recognizing the importance of their legacy in education,” stated ANCA-WR Education Committee Member and Luncheon Committee Chair Sedda Antekelian.

The program consisted of several performances emphasizing Armenian life, culture, and resilience for all guests to enjoy. In a special musical performance, Davit Mikayelyan and David Arutunyan played the duduk and duhol. Through dance, the Areni Dance Group performed the traditional Armenian “Areni” dance, which represents the celebration of the bountiful grape harvest.

Michael Aram’s limited-edition Apricot Tree of Life Sculpture was also featured at the luncheon. As a reminder, Michael Aram recently announced that he is generously donating proceeds from sales of this sculpture to the ANCA-WR. In order for proceeds to go directly to the ANCA-WR, orders must be placed either by visiting the store at 157 N Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90048 or by calling 424.527.0060.

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.

‘As long as the Karabakh conflict is not resolved, the Nation must be prepared for anything’ the prime minister said.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, on Tuesday, joined by his cabinet members and other high ranking officials visited the Yerablur National Cemetery to commemorate the third anniversary of the April 2016 War.

After laying flowers at the grave markers of fallen soldiers, as well as one at the tomb of the unknown soldier, he spoke to reporters saying that as long as the Karabakh conflict is not resolved, the people of Armenia and the entire Nation must be prepared for anything.

“The negotiations should continue, but we also should understand that as long as the conflict is not resolved, we, as a state and people, must be ready for any development,” Pashinyan said.

He also commented on remarks made by Armenia’s Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan, who last week told a gathering of the Armenian community in New York that Armenia the ongoing mantra of exchanging territories for peace has been replaced by the more resolute approach of advancing new territories in the event of a new war or military provocations.

“He [Defense Minister Tonoyan] stated that if war breaks out, our aspiration will be to win in the war,” said Pashinyan. “This in no way impacts the peaceful resolution process; on the contrary, it highlights the importance of the peaceful resolution process.”

Pashinyan also joked that if the defense minister has not made that statement, he would have dismissed him from his position.

YEREVAN—On the occasion of the third anniversary of the April 2016 War the Armenia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning Azerbaijan’s aggression against the people of Artsakh and called for Artsakh’s participation in the Karabakh conflict negotiations.

Below is the text of the foreign ministry statement.

Three years ago on April 2, 2016 Azerbaijani armed forces resorted to large scale military offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan flagrantly violated the ceasefire and its commitment of non-use of force undertaken within Nagorno-Karabakh peace process under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

The use of force was accompanied by atrocities perpetrated by Azerbaijani armed forces against both militaries and civilians in the most horrible manner. They replicated the massacres and ethnic cleansing committed by Azerbaijan against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh in the beginning of 1990s.

This time the eminent threat of larger scale of atrocities against civilian population was prevented by the effective defense of the Nagorno-Karabakh army. The sacrifice of militaries and voluntaries became a part of continued heroic struggle of the people of Artsakh to live free and in dignity in their ancestral homeland.

The April war demonstrated once again that the right of people of Artsakh to self- determination cannot be suppressed by the use of force. The status and security of Nagorno-Karabakh stand as indispensable issues of substance in any result oriented negotiations that should guarantee the peaceful life of the people of Artsakh.

The non-use or threat of use of force, strict adherence to the ceasefire, introduction of the risk reduction and confidence building measures are essential for the creation of an environment conducive to peace.

The stalemate created by the April aggression showed that there is no alternative to the peaceful and negotiated resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.