Category: 2020

MONTEBELLO—The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region has endorsed Lisa Calderon for California Assembly District 57.

The endorsement followed a meeting between Lisa Calderon and Representatives of the ANCA Western Region and ANCA San Gabriel Valley Board of Directors.

“During the meeting, Mrs. Calderon demonstrated a readiness to work with us on a wide range of issues concerning the Armenian community,” remarked ANCA-San Gabriel Valley Chairman Viken Pakradouni, Esq. “We look forward to working closely with Ms. Calderon after the election and in the years to come.” Pakradouni noted that other members of the Calderon family have represented the 57th Assembly District in the past and expressed confidence that the close relationship built up with her predecessors would continue.

The 57th Assembly District covers areas of Southeast Los Angeles County and southern parts of the San Gabriel Valley, including the cities of Whittier and Norwalk.

“I am honored to have the ANCA-WR’s support and the thousands of Armenian-Americans it represents,” remarked Lisa Calderon. “The Armenian Community is one of Los Angeles County’s most vibrant and engaged communities working at many levels to enhance the fabric of our society. If elected, I look forward to advocating for the issues that are important to Armenian Americans across the state and be a strong voice for them in Sacramento.” Lisa Calderon has been involved in Democratic politics and State government for 30 years, serving as a legislative aide in Sacramento and Los Angeles. Most recently, she has worked in governmental affairs for a major local public utility. She has garnered strong support from unions and been endorsed by the California Latino Legislative Caucus.

During the meeting, representatives of the ANCA Western Region and San Gabriel Valley spoke about the lack of proportionate representation of Armenian – Americans in California commissions. The parties also spoke about the efforts by ANCA-WR to ensure that there is representation of Armenian-Americans in the ethnic studies curriculum – mandated through Assembly Bill 2016 – which would acknowledge the significant contributions Armenians have made to the State of California. In response, Calderon acknowledged the current inadequacy on both of those issues, and expressed her support to work with the Armenian community to fully address them.

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region is the largest and most influential nonpartisan 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 in pursuit of the Armenian Cause.

LOS ANGELES—Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles Ambassador Armen Baibourtian was a keynote speaker at a West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce event on February 5. The event was dedicated to expanding Armenia-Los Angeles commercial relations and tapping into the Chamber’s potential for advancing those ties.

Ambassador Baibourtian first described the strategic location of Armenia at the crossroads between Europe and Asia. He presented opportunities for investing in Armenia, as well as relevant sectors of its economy. The Consul General also outlined in detail the benefits of trading with Armenia, listing a wide range of Armenian products. He also spoke about Armenia as an attractive tourist destination.

The Consul General addressed another dimension of cooperation with Los Angeles – the advantage of having a large Armenian community in the Greater Los Angeles area. An agreement was reached to organize another event focusing on presentation of Armenian wines in the Southern California market.

The West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1945. Since 1993, it has expanded its operations to include several other agencies, making it the largest in the field by size and influence in one of the richest areas of Los Angeles. The West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce has now a membership of more than 2150 business organizations from Western Los Angeles and surrounding areas. The organization is expanding now its operation to meet the needs of large communities of Los Angeles also having Armenia among others in its plans.

The Parliament of Syria on Thursday voted unanimously to recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide.

The resolution was introduced by the Syria-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Commission.

Parliament Speaker Rami Saleh said that while the parliament had previously commemorated the victims of the Armenian Genocide, the resolution needed to be adopted.

Turkey was quick to condemn Thursday’s vote, calling it “hypocrisy.”

“This is a picture of hypocrisy on the part of a regime which has for years committed any kind of massacre on its own people… which has displaced millions and which is well known for its use of chemical weapons,” the foreign ministry says in a statement.

Syria’s Ambassador to Armenia Mohammad Haj Ibrahim attached importance to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, saying that the successors of those who committed the Genocide are committing the same crime today against the Syrian people through terrorists.

“Recognition is important, because only Lebanon from Arab countries has recognized the Armenian Genocide so far.” he said.

“Today’s terrorist organizations, who are committing horrifying acts against the Syrian people, are the grandchildren of those who committed genocide against the Armenians and others in the past,” said Ibrahim during a press conference in Yerevan on Thursday.

“When during the Armenian Genocide the Armenians reached Syria, they became an integral part of the Syrian society, they safely resumed their life in Syria – preserving their identity, religion, studying in Armenian schools. There are numerous churches which are eternalizing the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, most importantly the Armenian Genocide Memorial Church in Deir ez-Zor, the Forty Martyrs’ Church in Aleppo, as well as the Holy Martyrs of Armenian Genocide square in Damascus,” added Ibrahim.

Speaking about the Syrian parliament’s unanimous adoption of the Armenian Genocide resolution, the Ambassador said that Syria has always commemorated the memory of the victims of the massacres against the Armenians.

“This issue has been studied long time ago, and the Syrian Government has treated with utmost respect the Syrians who have Armenian roots. They have always been an integral part of the Syrian society. The Armenian pogroms have always been commemorated in Syria, through the events held in the Armenian-populated regions,” explained Ibrahim.

Chair of the Syrian Parliament’s Arab and Foreign Affairs Committee Boutros Morjana emphasized that the Armenian Genocide is a historical fact, which was followed by the massacres of Assyrians and Arameans in northern Syria.

“It is time to recognize and condemn these inhumane actions and prevent their repetition, especially that many countries have recognized the Armenian Genocide,” said Morjana.

The adoption of the resolution recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide by the People’s Council of Syria is clear evidence of the centuries-old friendship between the Armenian and Syrian peoples. It’s an important contribution to the restoration of historical justice and prevention of genocides, said a statement issued by Armenia’s Foreign Ministry.

Below is the text of the ministry’s announcement.

We highly appreciate the adoption of the resolution recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire by the People’s Council of the Syrian Arab Republic.

The genocide unleashed by the government of the Young Turks a major part of which was carried out in the territory of Syria that was under the Ottoman rule at that time, is a part of the shared memories of the Armenian and Syrian peoples.

The Syrian people, witnessing the calamity facing the Armenian people, were one of the 1st to extend a helping hand to the genocide survivors. Thousands of survivors re-found their new motherland in Syria, establishing one of the most flourishing Armenian communities and had their contribution to the development of Syria.

This resolution is a brilliant evidence of the centuries-old friendship and reciprocal sympathy between the Armenian and Syrian peoples. It’s an important contribution to the restoration of historical justice and prevention of genocides.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Supreme Council of Armenia, in an statement issued on Thursday, is urging voters to ignore the Constitutional Court referendum slated to take place on April 5.

Below is the translated text of the announcement.

It is with great regret that we verify that the current political leadership, by ignoring numerous pleas and warnings, is pulling the country into reckless risk.

By exploiting and distorting one of the important tents of a democracy—the referendum—the authorities, in veiled effort, are advancing their singular goal to establish an autocracy and their inability to neutralize the threats facing the country.

By condemning the political leadership’s approach of creating artificial plans through demagogic methods, we are sounding an alarm for this unconstitutional approach. The ARF Supreme Council of Armenia announces that the leadership’s approach of addressing issues through unlawful means is unacceptable.

As such,

We call on the citizens of the Republic of Armenia to not become participant to the authorities’ routine unlawfulness and ignore the April 5 referendum, thus sending a clear message to the authorities that the people are tired of the populism and contriving plans, the destructive policy of dividing the society into “whites” and “blacks,” and the continued upheavals which, as we have seen, have not benfitted the welfare of the people and true democracy.

We call on political forces, civil society—our compatriots—urging them to put their efforts together to prevent a “Yes” vote and thwart this anti-state process and finally start implementing real reforms. The ARF will use all necessary means to this end.

YEREVAN (Armenpress)—Cuisine is perhaps one of the best ways of reflecting the hospitality and culture of any nation, and Armenia boasts some of the finest traditional cooking in the world.

Derian, a cozy Syrian-Armenian restaurant located in Downtown Yerevan, hosted two very special patrons on February 10. President Armen Sarkissian and King Abdullah II of Jordan dined at the restaurant on the first day of the King’s first-ever visit to Armenia.

In an interview with Armenpress’ Norayr Shoghikyan, Hakob Azelyan, the Syrian-Armenian owner of Derian, reflected on how it felt to host King Abdullah II, and revealed what was on the menu.

“We were informed that the President will be hosting a guest at our restaurant, but we didn’t know who that guest would be. It was kept a secret due to security reasons,” Azelyan said. Hakob and his wife Mirey run the restaurant as a family. On the day of King Abdullah II and President Sarkissian’s visit, the entire Azelyan family took part in the special occasion.

“We were quite anxious in the beginning, but King Abdullah II was warm and welcoming. President Sarkissian introduced us to King Abdullah II, explaining that our family migrated from Syria. After shaking hands with the king, our anxiousness subsided. He created a warm atmosphere,” remarked Mirey.

When asked about the menu, Hakob noted that there was nothing extraordinary served. The dinner comprised of Armenian and Arabic cuisine.

“We served our entire menu. There was nothing unusual. The menu consisted of veal and chicken barbeque, ghaurma, ishli kofte, manti, Armenian cheeses, strained matzoon, olives, tabbouleh, dolma, hummus, and mutabal. We served caramel cake, a fruit assortment, and Arabic kanafeh for dessert,” he said.

Mirey Hamalyan said King Abdullah II thoroughly enjoyed the food and thanked the staff for their hospitality.

The owners of Derian were pleased with their high-profile guests, which also included celebrities Elton John and Michael Caine, as well as government officials.