Category: 2021

AW: My Dialogue with Gohar

Ani Tigranian
 Talin Abadian Op-Eds 3

Image provided by the author, courtesy of the Armenian Rug Society

“I, Gohar, full of sin and weak of soul, with my newly learned hands wove this rug. Whosoever reads this, say a word of mercy to God for me. In the year 1149.” (Inscription in wool rug circa 1699)

Sometime between the years 1699 and 1700 in the mountains of the Caucasus, an Armenian woman by the name of Gohar wove a message for the future into the threads of a rug. The rug was to be donated to an Armenian church, and it was common practice for weavers to leave inscriptions in offerings including dates and names of weavers or patrons. These inscriptions often appear alongside motifs of animals, plants and geometrical shapes on the margins of carpets and tapestries. Amongst the diverse ethnicities of the Caucasus, it is indeed through these woven inscriptions that the ethnic and geographic origins of rugs are now being identified by carpet experts. These specialists also decode the woven chronograms that often point to the date carpets were made. In Weavers, Merchants, and Kings: The Inscribed Rugs of Armenia, Lucy Der Manuelian calculates the chronogram on the Gohar Carpet to the year 1700 in Gregorian calendar (42-43). In general, a chronogram is an inscription or sentence in which letters of a given alphabet are arranged in a way that translate to a specific date. Many Armenian historic carpets carry chronograms, which demand time, effort, expertise and dedication to decipher. It is indeed a deeper engagement that an Armenian carpet requests its viewer.

The Gohar Carpet is known to have been used occasionally for ceremonial purposes at the church it resided before taken by Turks in early 19th century. It only resurfaced in London in 1899 at the Victoria and Albert Museum before disappearing again from public sight until it was sold at auction in London in 1977. Throughout the years after its creation, the Gohar Carpet has transformed in function performing in different roles: from an _expression_ of devotion to an object of religious significance to an artifact. While it has incited curiosity, fascination and awe, it has also conjured nostalgia, respect and admiration, as well as trauma and grief in those who share its history. During the time when the carpet’s whereabouts was unknown, it continued to elicit comments from art historians due to its unique and complicated design and colors as photographs from the first exhibition remained in circulation.

Three hundred years ago, Gohar, the young woman who wove perhaps her very first carpet, initiated an affective dialogue through time and space by her plea and her demand: “Whosoever reads this, say a word of mercy to God for me.” This is an imperative sentence. It asks us to do something. The carpet has been positioned as Gohar: “I, Gohar, full of sin and weak of soul, with my newly learned hands wove this rug.” Gohar is now the carpet and the carpet is speaking to us through its threads. The communication is clear and straightforward. She has done her work, and now it’s our turn to respond. Gohar the weaver and Gohar the carpet have become one, not a material object in an archive but a site for dialogue and engagement.

I came across the image of Gohar on a Facebook post at the height of the Artsakh War. Through the screen of my computer, I heard Gohar’s demand for a prayer. It was alive and speaking, and I could hear her. I then researched her origins, where last exhibited, where she might be now, what the motifs and inscriptions indicate and how the chronograms are deciphered. The image of her initiated in me a drive to search and learn. Gohar has since left a lasting impression on me. She has become a part of me. The moment of contact with Gohar was a moment of recognition and reorientation. A diasporic body is constantly directing itself between the homeland and the second home, a constant fluctuation between alienation and belonging. To be disoriented is inherent to the very experience of living in the diaspora. Yet, it is in such brief moments of recognition, of recognizing a plea and a call for engagement that bodies reorient. The Gohar Carpet is then a site for momentary reorientation toward our common Armenianness. It is through such recognition that the Gohar Carpet also heals as it reminds and re-establishes the wholeness interrupted by war, loss of land and division. Gohar sent out her plea 300 years ago, and it is now upon us to respond.

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Talin Abadian is a translator and playwright, currently pursuing a Ph.D. in drama and theatre studies at the University of California, Irvine. Her research centers around public assembly, protest and activism. She has published on theatre in Iranian newspapers and journals as well as translations of plays, a playwrighting textbook and a collection of essays.



Deputy PM highlights US role as OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair in a meeting with Ambassador Tracy

Ophelia Vardapetian

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YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Suren Papikyan received US Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy on September 28.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister, greeting the Ambassador, the Deputy Prime Minister praised the active and effective cooperation of the previous period. In parallel with the development of Armenian-US relations, Suren Papikyan also highlighted the US role within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. He highlighted the importance of pushing the economic agenda in bilateral relations, emphasizing the usefulness of US involvement in various areas, including infrastructure development, water management, energy, particularly green energy production. The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that the efforts of the United States in the development of the mentioned spheres are commendable and expressed hope that the support will be continuous.

US Ambassador Lynne Tracey congratulated Suren Papikyan on assuming the post of the Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia, expressing confidence that in the new position the effective cooperation will continue and expand.

The parties discussed the reforms in the field of justice, the establishment of the patrol service, the prospects for the development of the justice system and infrastructure. The Deputy Prime Minister presented the results of his visit to Nubarashen penitentiary yesterday, highlighting the issue of improving the infrastructure of penitentiaries and the conditions of detention of convicts.

The sides touched upon the coronavirus pandemic and issues of overcoming its consequences. Given the impact of the latter on both human life and public health, as well as the economies of states, the importance of vaccine accessibility and vaccination in the context of opening borders and easing travel restrictions was emphasized. It was stressed that joint efforts in this direction will yield only positive results.

The parties also touched upon the process of administrative-territorial reforms in Armenia, in connection with which Deputy Prime Minister Suren Papikyan thanked for the support provided within the framework of the USAID, expressing hope that the assistance will get new quality, as it contributes to the socio-economic development of communities.

During the conversation, the ways to ensure a healthy environment for international investments in Armenia, anti-corruption reforms, ensuring a fair economic and competitive field were discussed. The problems facing the mining industry were addressed, with the emphasis on environmental risk management, socio-economic development of the surrounding communities and investment guarantees.

The situation over the Goris-Kapan road was also discussed. The Deputy Prime Minister spoke about the steps currently being taken to build alternative roads. According to him, in the coming days it is planned to complete the asphalting of the 44 km new road, which will be followed by the laying of a new layer of asphalt on the 17 km section.

Suren Papikyan also informed about the construction of a new 18 km road in the Tatev-Aghvan section, referring to the construction of bypass roads in the direction of 4 villages, which are planned to be finalized in the spring of 2022. The Deputy Prime Minister said that the construction works of the Sisian-Kajaran road section of the North-South highway have already kicked off.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 09/28/2021

Dabaghian Diana 
                                        Tuesday, 
Baku, Tehran Trade Barbs After Iran-Armenia Trade Disruption
IRAN -- Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces hold a military exercise involving 
ballistic missiles and drones in the country's central desert, January 15, 2021
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has criticized Iran for holding military 
exercises near Azerbaijan’s borders after Baku began taxing Iranian trucks 
transporting goods to and from Armenia.
Azerbaijani police and customs set up on September 12 a checkpoint on the main 
highway connecting Armenia with Iran. A 21-kilometer section of the highway 
passes through Armenian-Azerbaijani border areas along Armenia’s southeastern 
Syunik province also bordering Iran. The Armenian government controversially 
ceded it to Azerbaijan following last year’s war in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Azerbaijani roadblock caused significant disruptions in Iran’s cargo traffic 
with Armenia, with many Iranian drivers refusing or unable to pay a hefty “road 
tax” demanded by Azerbaijani officers. Two of them were arrested by Azerbaijani 
authorities two weeks ago for allegedly travelling to Nagorno-Karabakh without 
Baku’s permission.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry called for the immediate release of the drivers. 
Meanwhile, the Iranian military reportedly massed troops along the Azerbaijani 
border and began large-scale military exercises there last week.
Aliyev described the exercises as “very surprising” in an interview with the 
Turkish Anatolia news agency published on Monday.
“Every country can carry out any military drill on its own territory. It's their 
sovereign right … But why now and why on our border?” he said.
“Why weren't the drills held when the Armenians were in the Jabrail, Fizuli and 
Zangelan districts? Why is this being done after we liberated these lands after 
30 years of occupation?” he asked.
Aliyev expressed hope that Tehran will end its “emotional reactions to our 
legitimate steps.” He said that Baku set up the roadblock after Tehran ignored 
repeated warnings to stop Iranian trucks from shipping cargo to Karabakh. That 
was “disrespectful to the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,” he said.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh, reacted to Aliyev’s 
remarks on Tuesday, saying that they are “surprising” given the “good relations” 
between the two states.
Khatibzadeh insisted that Iran has always respected Azerbaijan’s territorial 
integrity and that its war games are aimed at “protecting regional security.” 
The Islamic Republic “will not tolerate the Israeli regime’s presence near its 
borders,” he added, clearly alluding to Azerbaijan’s military ties with Israel.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian discussed the road crisis with 
his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts during separate meetings held in New 
York last week. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Amir-Abdollahian told 
Azerbaijan’s Jeyhun Bayramov that “some third parties should not be allowed to 
affect” Azerbaijani-Iranian relations.
The friction between Azerbaijan and Iran was also highlighted by bitter verbal 
exchanges reported between members of their parliaments.
The Iranian ISNA news agency reported late last week that some Azerbaijani 
lawmakers have threatened to “remove Iran from the world map” and “raise Turkish 
flags in all parts of Iran.” It said Iranian parliamentarian have responded by 
“warning Baku of the dangers” of picking a fight with the Islamic Republic.
Ruling Party, Opposition Disagree On Karabakh War Probe
        • Gayane Saribekian
Armenia - A woman visits one of the graves of Armenian soldiers killed in the 
2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh and buried in the Yerablur Military Pantheon in 
Yerevan, .
Parliamentary leaders of the ruling Civil Contract party and Armenia’s two 
leading opposition blocs have reached no agreement so far on practical 
modalities of investigating the causes and outcome of last year’s war in 
Nagorno-Karabakh.
They both have pledged to launch parliamentary inquiries focusing on the 
Armenian government’s handling of the six-week war that resulted in sweeping 
Armenian territorial losses and at least 3,900 deaths.
Civil Contract’s Andranik Kocharian signaled the impending creation of a 
relevant parliament commission as the newly elected National Assembly began its 
work in early August. The commission has still not been set up.
Kocharian, who heads the parliament’s standing committee on defense and national 
security, on Tuesday declined to give any reasons for the apparent delay. “We 
are moving forward,” he said vaguely.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian stated later in August that the ad hoc commission 
should comprise not only representatives of the parliamentary forces but also 
political parties that failed to win any seats in the current legislature as 
well as representatives of the families of Armenian soldiers killed or missing 
in action. He held a series of meetings with the leaders of several such parties 
this month.
The parliament statutes stipulate that only serving lawmakers can join such 
commissions. Reports in the Armenian press have said that the ruling party wants 
to amend the statutes accordingly.
Kocharian said that the authorities are now discussing “legal issues” relating 
to the work of the commission. He did not elaborate.
The idea of expanding the commission is rejected by the main opposition Hayastan 
alliance. One of its senior lawmakers, Artsvik Minasian, claimed on Tuesday that 
Pashinian simply wants to involve more of his political allies in the planned 
parliamentary inquiry to ensure that it covers up his mishandling of the war.
“They have said ... that the commission should be expanded, including through 
the involvement of representatives of extra-parliamentary political forces 
sympathetic to the authorities,” Minasian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.
“It is evident that they are not interested in solving apparent crimes committed 
on their watch. They are interested in the opposite: to cover up, to withhold 
and not to solve,” he said.
Hayastan and other major opposition groups blame Pashinian for Armenia’s defeat 
in the war with Azerbaijan.
Minasian said that Hayastan will also press for the creation of a separate 
“fact-finding” body tasked with looking into the causes of the defeat. He said 
it should consist of an equal number of pro-government and opposition members as 
well as independent experts.
Another opposition party, Bright Armenia, already called for the creation of 
such body early this year. Pashinian’s political team rejected the idea.
U.S. Watchdog Deplores ‘Degradation Of Democratic Norms In Armenia’
Armenia - Former Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and senior members of his Civil 
Contract Party celebrate their election victory at a rally in Yerevan, June 21, 
2021.
U.S. democracy watchdog Freedom House criticized Armenian authorities on Tuesday 
for seeking to prosecute a person who allegedly insulted Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian on social media.
It urged the authorities to stop enforcing recently enacted amendments that 
criminalized defamation of government officials.
The amendments to the Armenian Criminal Code were passed by the country’s former 
parliament dominated by Pashinian’s loyalists during its final session held in 
late July.
They stipulate that “grave insults” directed at individuals because of their 
“public activities” will now be crimes punishable by fines ranging from 1 
million to 3 million drams ($2,000-$6,000) and a prison sentence of up to three 
months. Those individuals include state officials, politicians and other public 
figures.
The Armenian police reportedly opened last week the first criminal case under 
the new articles of the Criminal Code. A police spokesman said that they are now 
trying to identify the social media user who made an offensive comment under a 
photograph of Pashinian posted on the prime minister’s Facebook page. It is not 
clear whether investigators have already tracked down charged that person.
Freedom House expressed concern at the investigation. “This comes only two 
months after the Parliament passed amendments criminalizing ‘serious insults’ 
against government officials, and signifies a clear degradation of democratic 
norms in Armenia, including freedom of expression,” the Washington-based group 
said in a statement.
“We call on the Armenian authorities to immediately cease enforcement of this 
unconstitutional legislation criminalizing defamation,” added the statement.
The controversial amendments have also been condemned by the Armenian 
opposition. Opposition leaders claim that Pashinian himself has relied heavily 
on slander and “hate speech” since coming to power in 2018.
All forms of defamation had been decriminalized in Armenia in 2010 during then 
President Serzh Sarkisian’s rule.
Government officials and pro-government lawmakers have denied trying to restrict 
freedom of expression. One of them said in July that penalties for defamation 
must be toughened now because verbal abuse in the country has become widespread, 
especially on social media.
Pashinian’s political team already sparked controversy in March this year when 
it pushed through the National Assembly a bill tripling maximum legal fines for 
defamation. Armenia’s leading media associations criticized the move, saying 
that it could be exploited by government officials and politicians to stifle 
press freedom.
Consequently, President Armen Sarkissian refused to sign the bill into law and 
asked the Constitutional Court to assess its conformity with the Armenian 
constitution.
PACE Urges Azerbaijan To Free Armenian Prisoners
FRANCE – A session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in 
Strasbourg, April 25, 2017
The Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) has called on Azerbaijan 
to set free “without further delay” all Armenian soldiers and civilians held by 
it one year after the outbreak of a war in Nagorno-Karabakh.
In a resolution on “humanitarian consequences” of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict 
adopted late on Monday, the PACE also urged Armenia to provide Azerbaijan with 
more information about minefields in districts around Karabakh recaptured by 
Azerbaijani forces.
The wide-ranging resolution, opposed by virtually all Azerbaijani and Turkish 
members of the Strasbourg-based assembly, further says that both sides should 
investigate allegations of war crimes committed by them the during the six-week 
hostilities stopped by a Russian-brokered ceasefire accord last November.
The deal calls, among other things, for the unconditional release of all 
prisoners of war and civilian captives held by the parties. Dozens of Armenians 
remain in Azerbaijani captivity.
They include 48 soldiers taken prisoner when Azerbaijani troops seized in 
December the last Armenian-controlled portions of Karabakh’s southern Hadrut 
district. Baku says that they are not covered by the truce accord, a claim 
rejected by Yerevan.
The PACE expressed serious concern about their detention conditions as well as 
the fate of about 30 other Armenians “allegedly seen, filmed or photographed in 
captivity, with no indication as to their current whereabouts.”
“The Assembly is alarmed at allegations made by Armenia that these persons have 
been subjected to enforced disappearances and possibly killed,” it said, adding 
that the Azerbaijani authorities must shed light on their whereabouts and 
“release all remaining captives and return them to Armenia without further 
delay.”
Baku repatriated 30 other Armenian prisoners this summer in exchange for 
Armenian maps of about 200,000 landmines laid around Karabakh. The PACE 
resolution urges Yerevan to release “all mine maps in its possession.”
“The Assembly is concerned about the many allegations of crimes, war crimes and 
other wrongful acts leveled against both Armenia and Azerbaijan during the 
6-week war,” reads the resolution.
It points to a “substantial number of consistent allegations of inhuman and 
degrading treatment and torture of Armenian prisoners of war by Azerbaijanis, as 
well as a number of allegations of similar treatment of Azerbaijani prisoners of 
war by Armenians.” The two sides, it says, must “fully investigate the 
allegations and bring to justice anyone, including at command level, found to be 
responsible for crimes, war crimes or other wrongful acts.”
The PACE also stressed the need to help tens of thousands of Karabakh Armenian 
civilians displaced by the war, protect religious and historical monuments in 
the conflict zone and de-escalate tensions along the Armenian-Azerbaijani 
border. It called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to start demarcating the border and 
“examine the possibility of creating a demilitarized zone with the presence of a 
peacekeeping or military monitoring force.”
The head of the Armenian delegation at the PACE, Ruben Rubinian, was quick to 
welcome the resolution passed by 80 votes to 18, with 3 abstentions. In a long 
Facebook post, Rubinian listed its provisions, notably the call for the release 
of the Armenian prisoners, reflecting the Armenian authorities’ position.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2021 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Turkish press: Turkey expects Russia to take responsibility in Idlib deal: Minister

Kalashian Nyrie
 ANKARA DIPLOMACY 
SEP 28, 2021 12:04 PM GMT+3

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar speaks during a videoconference with military officials, Sept. 27, 2021 (AA Photo)

Turkey expects Russia to uphold its responsibilities in the Idlib deal, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Tuesday, underlining that Turkey has been abiding by the principles of the agreement.

“We hope that with the meeting our president will have with Mr. Putin, a return to peace will be possible as at the beginning of the memorandum of understanding,” he said as attacks on the last opposition bastion continue to increase.

Speaking to journalists, Akar commented on the attacks on Idlib saying: “They (Russia) say that they carry out these attacks against ‘terrorist groups there.’ However, among those that lost their lives or run from these attacks are no terrorists. We have been trying to explain this for months.”

He added that he might hold talks with his Russian counterpart.

Akar underlined that communication channels between Turkey and Russia are open and that Turkish soldiers in the field can hold meetings with Russian generals.

He also noted that the participation of all groups who have a say in the future of Syria in the constitution-making process under the coordination of the U.N. and holding elections with the participation of all actors are some of the main things that Turkey has been stressing since the beginning.

He also spoke on attempts by the PKK terrorist group’s Syrian wing, the YPG, to infiltrate despite an agreement with Russia in the Operation Peace Spring area.

“We had agreed that the terrorists there must withdraw however, their presence there continues. This is an issue in which we are right,” Akar said, indicating that Turkey is in talks with the U.S. and Russia in this regard, while Ankara also takes its own precautions and hinders terrorist attacks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will discuss the issue of Idlib in their upcoming meeting Wednesday in Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi.

Russia is the main ally of the Syrian regime, while Turkey supports groups that have fought to unseat Bashar Assad. However, Russian and Turkish troops have cooperated in Idlib, the final holdout of opposition forces, and in seeking a political solution in the war-torn country.

Despite backing opposing sides in both the Syrian and Libyan conflicts, Turkey and Russia have forged close cooperation in the defense, energy and tourism sectors.

NATO member Turkey has bought Russian S-400 air defenses – leading to U.S. sanctions on Turkish defense industries – and has been in talks with Russia over possibly buying a second batch.

Ankara and Moscow were rivals in Nagorno-Karabakh during fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenian forces last year. Russia eventually brokered a cease-fire between Turkey-backed Azerbaijan and Armenia, and is working with Ankara to monitor it.

Russia joined Syria’s now 10-year conflict in September 2015, when the regime military appeared close to collapse. Moscow has since helped in tipping the balance of power in favor of Assad, whose forces now control much of the country. Hundreds of Russian troops are deployed across Syria, and they also have a military air base along Syria’s Mediterranean coast.

During the past few years, Russian warplanes targeted the areas under the control of the Syrian opposition, initially launching attacks from Hmeimim Air Base in the west of the country.

Human rights organizations have published several reports accusing Russia of the death of tens of thousands of civilians in Syria since its intervention in 2015, while the international community has taken some actions against the Russia-backed Assad regime’s war crimes.

Furthermore, Putin and Assad recently met in Moscow to discuss the cooperation between their armies and how to continue operations to gain control of the last opposition-held areas in Syria. Putin blasted the presence of “foreign forces” in parts of Syria – an apparent reference to hundreds of U.S. troops who are in eastern Syria working with YPG/PKK terrorists, as well as Turkish troops in northern Syria. Putin said the presence of the foreigners is illegal because they have no approval by the U.N. or the Assad regime.

The Idlib region is home to nearly 3 million people, two-thirds of them displaced from other parts of the country.

Nearly 75% of the total population in the opposition-held Idlib region depends on humanitarian aid to meet their basic needs as 1.6 million people continue to live in camps or informal settlements, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

For years, the Assad regime has ignored the needs and safety of the Syrian people, only eyeing further gains of territory and crushing the opposition. With this aim, the regime has for years bombed civilian facilities such as schools, hospitals and residential areas, causing the displacement of almost half of the country’s population.

The situation of the people in Idlib worsened when the Assad regime, backed by Russia, launched an offensive on the province, causing the largest one-time displacement in the history of the Syrian civil war and a huge humanitarian tragedy, according to the U.N.

Asbarez: ARS’ Humanitarian Assistance in Artsakh and Armenia

Emil Lazarian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Community, Latest, News, Top Stories

Today marks one year since the Azerbaijani government, along with its allies and hired guns, launched a war against the people of Artsakh. The Armenian Relief Society stands in solidarity with all the soldiers who fought valiantly to defend their land, with all those who gave their lives and their families who are still coping with their loss. The organization actively supports soldiers who were injured while protecting Artsakh and Armenia’s borders and those who lost their homes during the 44-day war.

Last year brought extreme grief to the Armenian Nation and that grief continues till this day, as the current government signs agreements with Azeri aggressors, who continue to threaten the existence of the Armenian people.

The ARS, true to its objectives – “to make special appropriations for food, medicine, and clothing in the event of war, epidemics, or natural disaster, and to aid the disabled, the ill, the needy, prisoners of war and the deported” – has provided aid since the beginning of the war, by arranging immediate relief efforts and assisting the civilian population affected by the 44-day war.

VIEW GALLERY: The ARS continues to provide assistance for families displaced by the 44-day war

The ARS has kept an active presence in Armenia and Artsakh for 30 years, with projects realized in a number of fields, proving the Society’s devoted commitment to the welfare and progress of the Homeland. Today, faced with sad realities, despite all the post-war trauma, and both emotional and physical pitfalls, the ARS continues to run its relief efforts in Artsakh. During the 44-day war and in its immediate aftermath, the organization has always stood by the Armenian servicemen and volunteers, their children and families, and all who, suddenly deprived of their ancestral lands and homes, needed immediate assistance.   

The ARS distributed gifts to children in Artsakh and Armenia

With the collective and constant efforts of the ARS Central Executive Board, Regional Executive Boards, the Executives of Entities and Chapters, as well as worldwide donors and supporters, it became possible to reach and help wounded soldiers, families of fallen heroes, children, and the families who lost their homes and were displaced. Alongside programs realized over the past months, today, the ARS is planning a new program to assist the families of Armenian prisoners of war and those missing in action. The humanitarian efforts organized by the ARS in Armenia and Artsakh since September 27, 2020 are as follows:

  •  With the joint efforts of ARS-Canada, ARS-Eastern and Western USA, CBA-France, ARS-Belgium, ABC-Greece, and their Armenian Communities, nearly $7,000 worth of items were shipped to Armenia and Artsakh, to be distributed among displaced families and individuals who had taken refuge in Armenia and cities of unoccupied Artsakh. Items included medications, coats, clothes, footwear, bedding items, food, medical equipment, sleeping bags, utility shoulder bags, wheelchairs and walkers, baby food, powder milk and other everyday necessities.
  •  Expanding its annual Yuletide (Amanor) Program, the ARS Executive Board launched the “Special Amanor” program which aimed at bringing some holiday cheer to the children of displaced residents of Artsakh. The local ARS entities distributed the gifts to 4,034 children both in Armenia and Artsakh. Children received coats, toys, educational games, and stationary.
  • Considering the status of the displaced families as a result of the 44 day war, the CEB initiated the “Stand with an Artsakh Family” relief project. The goal of this project was to provide financial assistance to one thousand displaced families from Artsakh. Each family received a total of $1,000 over the course of four months. With the kind donations of ARS supporters and entities, in total, $1,000,000 ($381,500 in Armenia and $618,500 in Artsakh) was distributed during the four phases of the project.
  • With the outbreak of the war, the teachers, principals, and staff members of the ARS “Sose” kindergartens fled to various cities of Armenia, many leaving behind their sons and husbands. Considering the uncertainty of the war and the high cost of living in Armenia, the ARS decided to provide a single allocation of $300 to all. In total, $24,596 was allotted to this purpose.
  • ARS-Armenia allocated $5,123 for provision of meals for one month to a shelter in Zvartnots hosting 165 refugees. 
  • The ARS has been a great supporter of the Military Disability Rehabilitation Center at the Heratsi Hospital, securing specialized equipment to provide professional treatment to the wounded. With the efforts of ARS entities, to date we have secured an anesthesia machine, an orthopedic surgical table, Arthrex arthroscopy tower and a ventilator․ A total of $184,000 has been donated to the Center by the ARS for equipment and other needs. 
  • During the early days of the Artsakh war, a total of $52,400 was provided to 74 families of fallen and wounded soldiers.
  • The ARS has been sponsoring young children in Armenia and Artsakh since 1992. Immediately after the breakout of the war, the CEB revamped its Orphan’s sponsorship program and renamed the program “Children of Fallen Heroes” to financially assist the children of fallen soldiers, both in Armenia and Artsakh. For $330 a year, sponsors can make an impact by transforming the life of a child whose father sacrificed his life while defending the Homeland. Donors must agree to sponsor children until the age of 18.
  • It is within the broad scope of the ARS objectives to assist the families of prisoners of war and of those missing in action. Planning ahead, the ARS is putting their efforts toward helping those families by providing them with care packages and other everyday necessities.

VIEW GALLERY: The ARS’ “Children of Fallen Heroes” program provides financial support for the children and families of fallen soldiers

The moral support and material contributions made by the ARS’ supporters, donors, and all ARS entities help the organization achieve organizational goals, especially those of the ARS Emergency Assistance Programs in Armenia and Artsakh.

True to their motto, “With the People, for the People,” the ARS’ activities continue with the same zeal and commitment. To become a supporter of the ARS’ humanitarian assistance programs, invest your tax-free donations to the ARS Artsakh Assistance Fund.

AW: In Memory of Lucy Der Manuelian

Frangulian Shushan
 Weekly Staff Obituaries 0

Dr. Lucy Der Manuelian (1928-2021)

The following obituary was written by Christina Maranci, Tufts University Arthur H. Dadian and Ara T. Oztemel Professor of Armenian Art.

Lucy Der Manuelian, Arthur H. Dadian and Ara T. Oztemel Professor of Armenian Art in the Department of the History of Art and Architecture at Tufts, passed away on September 20, 2021 at her home in Belmont, Massachusetts at the age of 93. Dr. Der Manuelian (fondly referred to by many of us as “Lucy”) was the founder and first occupant of the Arthur H. Dadian and Ara T. Oztemel Chair of Armenian Art in the Department of the History of Art and Architecture at Tufts. The Tufts chair is the first and only endowed professorship of Armenian art outside the Republic of Armenia. It was launched in 1984 as a rotating lectureship at Tufts in conjunction with Harvard, McGill, Boston and Northeastern, so that courses in Armenian art could be taught at each institution in succession. In 1989, the lectureship became an endowed position with a permanent home at Tufts. This owes entirely to Lucy’s energies, and the financial support of New Deal attorney Arthur H. Dadian and import/export magnate Ara T. Oztemel, the latter known for bringing Coca-Cola to the Soviet Union. Lucy retired in 2006.

Lucy was educated at Harvard (Radcliffe), and after a 20 year hiatus from academia in which she raised two children, received her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1980. Her dissertation was supported by a fellowship at the Bunting (now the Harvard-Radcliffe) Institute (1971-1973) and an International Research and Exchange Board (IREX) grant in 1977 for travel to the Soviet Union. The project, supervised by noted scholar of Islamic art, Oleg Grabar, concerned the medieval sculptural program of Geghard and was the first serious English-language monograph on that site. Lucy’s project was innovative in its comparative approach to the monument, considering the sculptural program of Geghard in relation not only to Armenian iconography, but also to the artistic traditions of Byzantium and Islam. Her dissertation is also widely considered to be the first American dissertation dedicated to Armenian art.

Lucy lent her expertise in Armenian art and architecture to a range of scholarly projects, authoring articles on major Armenian monuments and artistic themes for Dictionary of the Middle Ages (1982-1989) and Grove Dictionary of Art (now Oxford Art Online). She was an author and researcher for the massive microfiche work known as Armenian Architecture (Zug: Inter Documentation, c. 1980-c.1990). She contributed articles to several important Armenological volumes, including Medieval Armenian Culture (Thomas Samuelian, ed., Chico: Scholars Press, 1984). In addition to work on Armenian architecture and sculpture, Lucy published widely on a variety of topics within Armenian art. Among her most noted projects are her publications on carpets, including the exhibition catalogue, Weavers, Merchants, and Kings: The Inscribed Rugs of Armenia- Kimbell Art Museum (Fort Worth, Kimbell Art Museum 1984) which provided a crucial English-language scholarly foundation for the history of Armenian rug weaving. Lucy’s interests also extended to the study of important Armenian-Americans, including Moses Gulesian. In addition to contributing to conventional academic projects, she was remarkably prescient about technology, making use of film and the internet (as early as the 1990s) in her pedagogy and research.

Lucy is best known in the Armenian community as a tireless advocate for Armenian art, lecturing to audiences around the world and educating Armenians in the US about their rich medieval cultural heritage. Almost everyone in the community has a “Lucy story” about the first time they heard her lecture. She was an activist for Armenian cultural heritage long before that concept became familiar to us all.

Lucy was fearless, physically and psychologically. Before the era of drones, she hung out of helicopters to take good aerial shots of monasteries and churches. At the height of the Soviet period, the KGB suspected that she was a spy because of all her travel and photography. One night they visited her in Yerevan, and, to avoid handing over the film, Lucy hid it inside her dress, daring them to manhandle her. Art history won, and we have the photographs.

Dr. Lucy Der Manuelian (1928 – 2021)

As everyone who knew her can attest, Lucy was unconventional and indomitable. An avid tennis player, she had boundless energy. She believed in using every minute: she kept a stack of books in the car and read at every stoplight (often to the consternation of drivers behind her). She kept apples and packets of cheese and crackers in her pockets to eat on the go, but was also a very fine chef, such that Julia Child came to her house for dinner and enjoyed Lucy’s chicken cooked with cherries. Lucy sometimes held office hours in her car if she couldn’t find a parking spot.

Along with her family and friends, the entire Armenian community, the Tufts community, her students and her colleagues, I am intensely sad to know that Lucy is no longer with us. She was a life force for Armenian art. I was so fortunate to learn from and be mentored by her. I think she was happiest standing in front of an audience, sharing her knowledge about Armenian art. I remember her telling me that before beginning a presentation, you should pause and smile at your audience (she had a thousand-watt smile). I hope she is doing that now, giving her “helicopter lecture” (as we affectionately called it) and teaching a whole new audience about Armenian art.

The Armenian Weekly Editorial Board extends its sincere condolences to Dr. Der Manuelian’s family, along with the many others who have expressed sadness on the news of her passing. 

From the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR): In addition to her pioneering role at Tufts she was a longtime trustee of the Armenian Museum of America and an Honorary Lifetime Member of NAASR. Lucy’s many years of almost unfailing attendance at NAASR programs held in Belmont, her kindness and warmth, and her support for Armenian Studies will be missed and will always be remembered. The NAASR Board of Directors and Staff extends its condolences to her family and friends.

From the Society for Armenian Studies (SAS): SAS is sorry to hear the sad news of the passing of the prominent Armenian Studies scholar and SAS member, Prof. Lucy Der Manuelian. Der Manuelian was the leading Armenian Art scholar in the United States and the first holder of the Arthur H. Dadian and Ara Oztemel Professor of Armenian Art at Tufts University. She was an expert of Medieval Armenian architecture, sculpture and illuminated manuscripts. Our hearts go out to her family and beloved ones.

From the Armenian Museum of America: It is with deep sorrow that we announce that Museum Trustee Dr. Lucy Der Manuelian passed away peacefully on September 20 at her home in Belmont. Lucy was the sister of our founder and late Chairman Haig, and John Vigen Manuelian. 

A short memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 23, at 2:00 pm in Story Chapel, Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge. Memorial gifts may be made to the Armenian Museum of America, 65 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472.




Yemenidjian Family Donates $10 Million for ‘TUMO Armenia’ Campaign

Antranik Varosian
by Contributor

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Latest, News, Top Stories

TUMO director Marie Lou Papazian announces new campaign

YEREVAN—Marking TUMO’s 10 year anniversary and the inauguration of the new TUMO Gyumri building, the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies last week announced a five year, $50 million initiative to make its leading edge educational program available to all teenagers throughout Armenia and Artsakh. With 110 satellite facilities called TUMO Boxes connected to 16 fully equipped TUMO Hubs in regional centers, the program will serve 80 thousand students and reach all young Armenians even in the most remote villages.

A $10 million seed fund donated by the Yemenidjian family will launch and support hubs in Vanadzor, Kapan and Koghb, along with TUMO Boxes that feed into these and three existing hubs. To raise the remaining $40 million, TUMO is kicking off an international fundraising campaign. The Armenian General Benevolent Union and Elie & Elzbieta Akilian have each pledged to match up to $10 million of funds raised in the first 2 years of the campaign. With $10 million in seed funding, a $20 million fundraising goal, and an additional $20 million in matching contributions, the deployment initiative is already underway.

The announcement was made during the anniversary celebration of the official opening of the new TUMO center in Gyumri in the presence of government representatives, partners and friends. TUMO founders Sam and Sylva Simonian joined via live video and gave opening remarks.

“Our vision has always been to empower all young Armenians to achieve their full potential,” said Sam Simonian. “And now we are setting out to fulfill that vision throughout Armenia and Artsakh.”

Also attending were Armen Yemenidjian, representing the Yemenidjian family, Vasken Yacoubian and Vera Setrakian on behalf of AGBU, Elie Akilian, on behalf of Elie & Elzbieta Akilian, via video feed, and TUMO CEO Marie Lou Papazian.

“My family is extremely excited and proud to be a part of this vital initiative to arm the next generation of Armenians with the tools necessary to compete in the global technology marketplace, no matter where they live in Armenia,” said Armen Yemenidjian. “We hope this initiative encourages our Armenian brothers and sisters in the diaspora to invest in the future leaders of our country and economy.”

“AGBU has supported the incredible mission and vision of TUMO since its expansion in Armenia and Artsakh, and this gift will solidify a partnership to benefit Armenian children for generations to come. It is an honor to be able to strengthen the relationship between TUMO, AGBU, and students and their families. I also wanted to thank the other generous donors who will be joining this important campaign,” said Dr. Eric Esrailian on behalf of the AGBU Council of Trustees and Central Board of Directors.

Donations in the United States are tax deductible, and can be made in the form of one time or recurring contributions to the general project or earmarked to specific hubs or boxes. 

TUMO Center for Creative Technologies is a free-of-charge education platform that puts teenagers in charge of their own learning. The TUMO program is made up of self-learning activities, workshops and project labs that cover a wide range of focus areas at the intersection of technology and design, including computer programming, animation, game development, music, robotics, 3D modeling, writing, filmmaking, graphic design and more. Over 20 thousand students currently attend TUMO centers in Armenia on a regular basis. In recent years, TUMO centers have also opened in Paris, Moscow, Tirana, Berlin and Beirut, with additional centers expected to open in Lyon, Los Angeles, Lisbon, Milan, Tashkent and Seoul. Licensing revenues from international locations contribute to the long term sustainability of TUMO in Armenia and Artsakh.

Metro Detroit Armenians remember fallen heroes on first anniversary of 2020 Artsakh War

Emil Lazarian
 Georgi-Ann Bargamian Oshagan Community News, Community 0

Candles lit in memory of the heroes of the Second Artsakh War surround the base of Detroit’s Artsakh memorial

DEARBORN, Mich.—Against the backdrop of a setting sun, Armenians of all ages gathered in Dearborn, Michigan on Monday to remember the martyrs of the Second Artsakh War.

The remembrance was held a year after the launch of Azerbaijan’s unprovoked attacks on Artsakh’s towns and villages which resulted in the loss of an estimated 5,000 Armenian soldiers and civilians.

The memorial service was organized by the ARF Azadamard Gomideh, ANC of Michigan, AYF-YOARF Kopernik Tandourjian Chapter and Homenetmen of Detroit. It was held at the memorial to the fallen heroes of the First Artsakh War located on the campus of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Community Center and St. Sarkis Senior Citizens Tower.

“It is a very difficult day for all of us,” said ANC of Michigan chair Dzovinar Hatsakordzian in her opening remarks. “A year ago, our brothers and sisters in Artsakh woke up to a barrage of bombs falling from every direction. For 44 days, Azerbaijan and Turkey, with the help of jihadist mercenaries, attacked Artsakh, abusing and violating every human right with no accountability to anyone while the world was watching silently.”

AYF members and Homenetmen Scouts each holding a photo of a fallen Artsakh soldier

As Hatsakordzian shared the ANC of Michigan’s recent work to garner support from Michigan’s senators and members of Congress to push for a just resolution for the people of Artsakh, AYF members and Homenetmen Scouts solemnly stood in a line for the duration of the program, each holding the photo of a fallen soldier who had been a member of the ARF Youth Organization of Armenia or Homenetmen.

“This is a somber day,” said ARF Azadamard Gomideh Chair Raffi Ourlian. “Five thousand lives were lost in a 44-day battle. These 5,000 were heroes, and we have to do everything we can in their memory. This community has been directly impacted, and the Detroit community has always stood by Armenia and Artsakh. This is far from over.”

Pictured left to right: Raffi Ourlian, Dzovinar Hatsakordzian, Mari Manoogian, Rev. Hrant Kevorkian, Ahmad Alkaabi, ARF Central Committee member Sebouh Hatsakordzian and former ARF Bureau member Hayg Oshagan

Ahmad Alkaabi represented Congresswoman Debbie Dingell who was unable to leave Washington, D.C. to attend the event. Also in attendance was Michigan State House Rep. Mari Manoogian, who recalled Michigan Senate and House support for the people of Artsakh through a House resolution passed in the wake of the Second Artsakh War and a Senate resolution passed in 2017 recognizing Artsakh’s right to self-determination and independence.

“It’s good to know we have allies standing side by side with us,” said Manoogian. “We gather together to remember our losses, but we also gather to be resilient together as we always have done.”

Hatsakordzian reflected on losses close to home, naming those with a Michigan connection who died defending freedom and security for Artsakh’s people.

“The pain was unbearable when many of our community members lost their loved ones as a result of the Azerbaijani attacks,” said Hatsakordzian. “We remember today Kevork Hadjian who visited Michigan on many occasions and sang at our different events, gracing us with his amazing voice. He was a close friend to many of us here and he is greatly missed.

“The Gulian family lost their relative Garo Hovagimian who was only 20 years old,” Hatsakordzian continued. “He died bravely trying to push back the enemy in Hadrout. The Arslanian family lost their beloved nephew and cousin last year, Sarkis Avetisyan. He died while saving the lives of his wounded friends in the Martuni region.”

Manoush Movsesyan and Tamar Soghomonian, sisters of martyred Artsakh war hero Goruyn Soghomonian holding a photo of their brother

Holding a photo of her fallen brother Goruyn Soghomonian, Manoush Movsesyan joined Hatsakordzian at the microphone to share the story of her brother, a hero of the 2016 Four-Day Artsakh War and captain of an Artsakh military special unit in the Second Artsakh War who was promoted to the rank of major the day he died.

“Goruyn was an inspiration not only for his family,” Movsesyan said. “He was also an inspiration for the Armenian nation. Blessed be the memory of Goruyn and all of our heroes.”

Memorial service for the fallen heroes of the Second Artsakh War

Before beginning the memorial service for the fallen soldiers, Rev. Hrant Kevorkian acknowledged the weight of the day and the “hope that Artsakh and all of our lands will be returned to us.”

The following soldiers were remembered during the memorial service: Benyamin Nalbandian, Ardag Darbinian, Gim Katchadrian, Viken Mouradian, Kevork Hadjian, Kegham Mousheghian, Mher Haroutiunian, Kristapor Artin, Arshag Melikian, Ardag Ishkhanian, Hayg Teriglian, Erig Kalsdian, Krikor Ghazarian, Armen Arousdamian, Ardag Mardirosian, Artur Aghasian, Mossik Seklemian, Hagop Astardjian, Harout Panoyan, Garo Hovagimian, Sarkis Avetisyan and Goruyn Soghomonian.

“We will continue our struggle,” he added. “Their blood will not be in vain.”

Community members placing a candle at the base of the memorial to the heroes of the First Artsakh War

The program ended with attendees placing a lit candle at the base of the Artsakh memorial and planting a white flag in memory of a fallen soldier on the lawn of St. Sarkis Church facing highly travelled Ford Road where nearly 5,000 flags in memory of the fallen were already fluttering in the light evening breeze.

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Chairman Menendez questions US Ambassador to Turkey nominee Jeff Flake over record of opposition to Armenian Genocide resolutions

Ara Felekian
 ANCA ANCA News 0

WASHINGTON, DC – Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez called on US Ambassador to Turkey nominee, former US Senator Jeff Flake, to clarify his decades-long record of opposing Armenian Genocide resolutions, during confirmation hearings on Tuesday characterized by intense scrutiny of President Erdogan’s escalating aggression abroad and abuse at home, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

“Senator Flake, for many decades the Armenian Genocide has been denied by the descendants of those who perpetrated it. In 2019, the Senate recognized the Armenian Genocide for the first time. In April of this year, on Armenian Remembrance Day, President Biden joined us in acknowledging this truth,” stated Sen. Menendez. “In the past, you’ve voted against resolutions which recognize the genocide. Will you join this body and administration in reaffirming the Armenian Genocide?” Former Senator Flake offered a one-word answer —“Yes.”

Sen. Menendez followed up, “If you are confirmed, will you reiterate that commitment on April 24th which is Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day?” Former Senator Flake responded, “I will.”

While US Ambassador to Turkey nominee Flake did not reference the Armenian Genocide in his prepared testimony, he did note “if confirmed, I will encourage Turkey to support efforts to find a sustainable long-term solution to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan…” More broadly, while citing “very real challenges in US-Turkish relations,” former Senator Flake described Turkey as an “indispensable ally, anchored in NATO and acting as both a bridge and a buffer to a region in constant flux. Our national interest is served when the United States and Turkey work together to confront the very real threats to global peace and security that emanate from Russia, Iran, and elsewhere in the wider region.”

“Today’s hearing only adds to our concerns – rooted in his four consecutive Congressional votes against Armenian Genocide recognition – regarding Senator Flake’s suitability to serve as our ambassador to Turkey” said ANCA executive director Aram Hamparian. “Today, more than ever, we need an ambassador who will confidently assert US interests, courageously stands up for our American values, and, as needed, directly confront the increasingly hostile and openly anti-American Erdogan government.”

Throughout the hearing on Tuesday, Senators made multiple references to the Armenian Genocide and, more broadly, Turkey’s aggression against Armenia. “You’re going to have a difficult balancing act,” said Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE). “There’s a lot of issues on which to hold Turkey accountable, from Cyprus to repression of religious minorities, to the ongoing tense relations with Greece, to Armenian Genocide recognition – there’s lots of other things in addition to the S-400 and their human rights violations.”

“President Erdogan has taken Turkey way off track, and in the wrong direction – both with respect to NATO commitments overall as well as other malign actions in the region, and undermining human rights at home,” stated Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). “We also have seen him aiding and abetting the attacks against Armenia,” continued Sen. Van Hollen.

Following the Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry tweeted the diplomatic definition of “Agreman” (Agreement), in a veiled threat that Ankara may reject US Ambassador-designate Flake, based on his testimony, which included his commitment to follow President Biden’s policy and properly characterize the Armenian Genocide.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee members have until Wednesday, September 29th to submit additional questions to former Senator Flake. Once responses are received, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will consider the nomination, and, if approved, the nomination will head to the full Senate for a vote.

AW: Cardiologist Dr. Ani Nalbandian named Fellow of the Year

Emil Lazarian
 Guest Contributor Announcements 0

Ani Nalbandian, MD

NEW YORK CITY, NY—Ani Nalbandian, MD, has been named Columbia University Division of Cardiology’s Fellow of the Year for 2020-2021. 

Dr. Nalbandian is a medical school graduate of Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons in New York City. She completed her internal medicine residency at Columbia University Irving Medical Center-New York Presbyterian Hospital, where she is now also completing her cardiology fellowship. 

The award recognizes her outstanding contributions to the cardiology fellowship program, clinical care and professionalism. It is awarded to one fellow each year who is deemed most deserving. 

Dr. Nalbandian is the daughter of Rev. Fr. Untzag and Yn. Setta Nalbandian. She grew up in the Armenian Church of the Holy Ascension community in Trumbull, CT. Prior to medical school, she volunteered at Sts. Tarkmanchatz Armenian School in the Armenian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem and was awarded an Intramural Research Training Award at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD.