Category: 2021

The first meeting of the 3+3 platform to ensure permanent peace and stability in the South Caucasus region suggested by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will take place in Moscow on Friday, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

Delegations from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran and Armenia will attend the meeting of the platform, established to enhance regional cooperation in the South Caucasus.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Önal will lead the Turkish delegation at the meeting, the ministry said.

The ministry statement did not elaborate on the details of Georgian delegation at the meeting.

Last year, Erdoğan talked about the idea of the six-country regional cooperation platform including Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, Georgia and Armenia during his visit to Azerbaijan where he attended the ceremony of the Victory Parade in the capital Baku upon invitation of Aliyev.

Turkey believes that permanent peace is possible through mutual security-based cooperation among the states and people of the South Caucasus region.

Relations between the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

When new clashes erupted on Sept. 27 last year, the Armenian Army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces, violating several humanitarian cease-fire agreements during the subsequent clashes.

During the 44-day conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages.

On Nov. 10, 2020, the two countries signed a Russia-brokered agreement to end the fighting and work toward a comprehensive resolution.

The cease-fire is seen as a victory for Azerbaijan and a defeat for Armenia, whose armed forces withdrew in line with the agreement.

• Russian peacekeepers will complete work to ensure the return of all remaining Armenian POWs, says General Muradov.
• Former police chief Vladimir Gasparyan has been charged by the newly set up anti-corruption committee.
• Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov hold phone talks.

Credits: Ruptly

Public officials, community leaders and stakeholders break ground on the new Armenian community center

BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN

An almost a decade-long effort by community activists, local officials and other stakeholders came to fruition on December 4 at a groundbreaking ceremony on the site of the long-awaited Armenian community center in the West San Fernando Valley.

Local and state officials, including LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, attended the event

In 2013, as a result of hard work and commitment to the Armenian community, Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Koretz, along with his colleagues, the current L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and Councilmember Paul Krekorian were able to pass a motion granting the old firehouse on 5001 Balboa Boulevard to the Armenian Cultural Foundation for a 30-year lease to build an Armenian community center on the 5,000 square-foot property.

• Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti
• LA City Councilmember Paul Koretz
• LA City Councilmember Paul Krekorian
• Assmeblymember Jesse Gabriel
• LA County Assessor Jeff Prang
• Tony Royster, the General Manager of the LA Department of General Services

What was aptly called a “saga” by one official on Saturday, that spanned almost a decade, became a reality on December 2, when the lease agreement was finally signed by L.A. city officials and the West San Fernando Valley chapter of the Armenian Cultural Foundation.

Many of those involved and engaged in the process were on hand Saturday for an official groundbreaking event—a celebration—for the Armenian center, which will bring much-needed space for the Armenian community and the neighborhood to congregate.

• ARF Western U.S. Central Committee Chair Dr. Carmen Ohanian
• ACF Western U.S. President Avedik Izmirlian
• ACF West San Fernando Valley Chair Garo Kamarian

Mayor Garcetti, who while serving on the L.A. City Council fought for the process, was joined by councilmembers Koretz and Krekorian to welcome and celebrate the results of their hard work on behalf of the Armenian community. Also attending the event and speaking were Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, L.A. County Assessor Jeff Prang and Tony Royster, the General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of General Services. Also attending the event was California State Senator Henry Stern.

Representing Congressman Brad Sherman was his district director, Scott Abrams, who presented an American flag flown above the U.S. Capitol as token from Sherman. In accepting the gift, ACF San Fernando Valley chapter president Garo Kamarian pledged that the flag will fly over the center, as soon as the flag poll are installed on the property.

The event began with a flag ceremony led by the Homenetmen marching band and the San Fernando Valley Massis Chapter scouts.

Rep. Brad Sherman’s district director Scott Abrams presents American flag that has flown over the U.S. Capitol

Master of Ceremonies, Greg Martayan, who is Councilmember Koretz’s Director of Public Safety & Special Assignments, invited the Very Reverend Muron Aznikian and Holy Martyrs Church parish priest, Archpriest Razmig Khatchadourian to perform the benediction and the blessing of the grounds. Very Rev. Aznikian was representing Western Prelate Bishop Torkom Donoyan, who was traveling abroad on that day.

Present at the event were representatives of all affiliate organizations—Homenemtmen, Hamazkayin, Armenian Relief Society and the Armenian Youth Federation—as well as the principals of the Holy Martyrs Ferrahian High School, Sossi Shanlian and the Holy Martyrs Cabayan Elementary School, John Kossakian, as well as the Director of the Holy Martyrs ARS Ashkhen Pilavjian Preschool, Vehik Gabrielian. Also present was chairman of the Ferrahian Board Vahe Benilian and and veteran community leader Khachig Yeretsian.

• Blessing of the Ground
• Master of Ceremonies Greg Martayan

Welcoming the initiative and congratulating the San Fernando Valley community was Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western U.S. Central Committee chair Dr. Carmen Ohanian, who, in her remarks, thanked the vision held by the city officials for making the center a reality.

Speaking on behalf of the ACF was the organization’s chairman Avedik Izmirlian, who underscored that the mission of the ACF has been to support the opening and operation of Armenian centers around the community, with the aim of serving the future generations of Armenians.

Kamarian, the West San Fernando Valley ACF chair, also emphasized the important role the center will play in educating and advancing the youth of the community. He especially thanked all the staff members at various city departments and council offices who worked tirelessly on making the center a reality.

The event culminated in the elected officials, the clergy, leaders and representatives of organizations all coming together and picking up their shovels to break ground on the new center.

The event was captured by the entire Los Angeles broadcast press corps and was livestreamed on Asbarez’s Facebook page.

Following the ceremony, the attendees were invited to a reception at the Ferrahian school grounds, where community member George Kalpjian made a $5,000 donation toward the renovation effort.

Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Ghevodyan and the ministry’s secretary general Boris Sahakyan visit Dzidzernagapert on Dec. 9

Accountability and reparations for past crimes of genocide became a rallying call on Thursday, December 9, as the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide was observed.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres honored the memory of the victims of genocide and other atrocity crimes in a message, adding, “we rededicate ourselves to preventing these horrendous acts.”

“The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide has given us a better understanding of early warning signs and risk factors. Yet, today, genocide remains a very real threat. The international community has repeatedly failed to respond collaboratively, swiftly and decisively to prevent genocide and related atrocity crimes,” added Guterres.

“Today, we face the highest number of violent conflicts since 1945. They are lasting longer and are increasingly complex. Impunity is rife and human rights and the rule of law are regularly ignored. Identity-based hate speech, incitement and discrimination continue to spread and are increasingly being used for political manipulation and gain. These are all alarming warning signs that should prompt action,” the UN chief stated.

“We know what is needed. We must eliminate identity-based discrimination and recognize diversity as a strength. We must respect human rights and the rule of law. We must ensure accountability and reparations for past atrocity crimes. And we must reconcile and restore broken communities,” said Guterres.

“States have the primary responsibility for preventing genocide, but this cannot be achieved without the participation of society as a whole. Young people, religious and community leaders, the private sector and the media – especially social media platforms — all have a responsibility to become champions of prevention, he concluded.

Armenia, which in 2015 spearheaded the movement with the U.N. to dedicate December 9 as an international day of commemoration for the victims of genocides marked the occasion, with the foreign ministry issuing a statement voicing Yerevan’s commitment to international efforts for genocide prevention.

One of the specific aspects of this Convention is the imposition of a legal obligation on the states parties to the Convention to not only punish but also prevent genocide. This is very crucial in terms of universal protection of national, ethnic and religious groups.

“Despite the enormous work that has been carried out, the international community still needs to make further efforts for adequate and timely response, including for condemnation of gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, as well as for holding accountable the states guilty of genocide,” said the Armenian foreign ministry.

“Today, there are different methods and toolkits for committing the crime of genocide, as modern weapons of mass destruction are being used. However, those who justify genocide have not changed their aspiration to achieve geopolitical goals through mass atrocities,” explained the foreign ministry.

“Historical memory, education and the dissemination of accurate information concerning previous genocides are essential to prevent a recurrence of mass atrocities,” the statement said. “The deliberate destruction of cultural heritage should also be condemned as it is a vital element for the preservation of national identity.”

To mark December 9, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Ghevodyan, the ministry’s secretary general Boris Sahakyan and other representatives visited Dzidzernagapert Memorial to pay tribute to the memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust and the Assyrian, Yazidi genocides.

A plane carrying 10 Armenian captives landed in Yerevan on Dec. 5

Armenia’s Investigative Committee on Thursday filed criminal charges against five of the 10 Armenian prisoners of war who were captured during the November 16 attempt by Azerbaijan to invade Armenia and were released on Saturday.

The five soldiers have been charged with violating the rules for on-duty combat service that resulted in severe consequences, the Investigative Committee spokesperson Vardan Tadevosian told News.am.

The spokesperson also informed that the Investigative Committee is currently considering the motions for arrest, and the court hearings are in progress.

On December 4, through Russia’s mediation, Azerbaijan transferred to Armenia 10 Armenian soldiers who were captured during the fighting on Armenia’s southeastern border on November 16, two days after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan fired defense minister Artak Gabrielyan following another botched attempt by Azerbaijan to invade Armenia.

The soldiers were transferred to Yerevan via a plane by former commander of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Artsakh, Deputy Commander of the Southern Military Okrug of the Russian Armed Forces, General Rustam Muradov.

On November 23, during an online press conference, Pashinyan announced that there would be criminal cases launched, stressing the need to clarify the circumstances of the capture of each soldier.

Pashinyan was criticized for publicly criticizing the capabilities of Armenia’s combat soldiers. Around the same time, Armenia’s Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan was caught on tape criticizing Armenian soldiers during a gathering with Armenian community representatives in Paris.

The Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia’s strategic ally, Russia, has refrained from addressing Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s most recent threat of war against Armenia, when he said earlier this week that his country will force the opening of the so-called “Zangezur Corridor.”

“Moscow’s principled position is that we proceed from the need to refrain from making statements and taking actions that may handicap the implementation of the trilateral agreements at the highest level and, of course, statements and actions that may lead to escalation of the conflict,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told a press briefing on Wednesday.

“I believe it would be better to stick to the issue, not political statements,” added Zakharova.

“As a mediator, Russia is doing everything it can to stabilize the situation…You know our principled approaches…We are doing everything we can to make sure the agreements are implemented, and the situation…it can never be guaranteed since we are dealing with an old conflict, but, either way, we are doing everything we can to make sure the situation in the region doesn’t worsen,” she added.

“We consider the continuation of constant contacts between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan important. We hope the heads of both states reaffirm their commitment to implementing all the trilateral agreements following the meeting scheduled to take place on Dec. 15 in Brussels. We hope the support to the efforts of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group is reaffirmed…In this stage, the activities of the Co-Chairs are focused on the solutions to the priority humanitarian issues,” Zakharova explained.

Zakharova also didn’t address the killing last week of an Artsakh resident by Azerbaijani forces. Seyran Sargsyan, 65, had wandered into territory currently under control of Azerbaijan near the Tchartar village in Artsakh Martuni district while shepherding his cattle. He was caught by Azerbaijani forces who beat and killed him.