Category: 2021

Italian MP calls on international community to be vigilant to avoid new violence in NK and on Armenian border

Arsine Chaltikian

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 20:28, 9 December, 2021

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. One year after the trilateral declaration, the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, on the borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, remains tense due to the latter's continuing violations of the ceasefire. The international community must be vigilant to avoid any further violence or breach of agreement, ARMENPRESS reports, citing AGI agency, Member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament, Coraggio Italia party member Giorgio Silli said.

“There is a real desire of Armenia to cooperate, it is right to support it by all means, so that this region also can be stabilized in the conditions of peace”, he said.

PM Pashinyan participates in the opening of the "Summit For Democracy"

Mary Lazarian

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 21:07, 9 December, 2021

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan participated in the opening of the virtual "Summit For Democracy". The Summit is initiated by US President Joe Biden. The two-day event is attended by leaders and representatives of over a hundred countries, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

Joe Biden delivered remarks at the opening of the Summit, after which the panel discussions started.

Representatives of non-governmental organizations and the private sector are also taking part in the Summit.

Issues related to countering threats to democracy, fighting corruption and protecting human rights are on the agenda of the two-day debates.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's speech at the "Summit For Democracy" is scheduled on December 10.

Turkish press: Logistics is everything: Turkey’s defense industry gears up for more

Tatoyan Vazgen
 ANKARA DEC 08, 2021 – 1:25 PM GMT+3

Visitors receive information from local defense firm Kalekalıp on their products at the DLSS, Ankara, Turkey, Dec. 7, 2021. (AA Photo)

Military logistics has always been a principal issue, since it must be addressed properly or it disrupts the movement, supply and maintenance of military forces as well as the ability to sustain operations in times of its absence. Although the term has a simple reference and ample explanations from earlier times as it was defined in Antoine-Henri Jomini's "Summary of the Art of War," as “the practical art of moving armies,” logistics, together with military support and sustainability, have become a lot more complicated in modern times. Turkey’s defense industry, which sees it as inextricable from its numerous projects, must advance forward.

For the equation of producing and maintaining a product in the defense industry, it is important to develop the after-sales support of a product and to plan all logistics activities, said Uğur Coşkun, vice chairperson of the board of Defense and Aerospace Industry Manufacturers (SASAD).

“Turkey’s defense industry companies have internalized the issue of logistics systems and it has become an integral part of defense industry projects,” he said on Tuesday.

Coşkun was speaking at the Defense Logistics and Support Summit (DLSS) held in the capital Ankara for the first time this year, bringing together sector officials, military personnel, defense industry researchers as well as industry and logistics firms.

The summit, Coşkun said, is the first in the country and also one of the rare such events organized worldwide.

The local defense industry has products superior to its peers whose competencies and capacity are increasing day by day, Coşkun said, which is why “the sector needs to give more weight to logistics systems."

"After exporting a product, supporting and maintaining it, and ensuring customer satisfaction, it will help pave the way for the defense industry,” he said while also emphasizing the sustainability of the product and the need to introduce new ones to the market.

“DLSS will make a very meaningful contribution to the development of the industry,” he said.

DLSS Organizing Committee Chairperson Sami Atalan who is also a military doctrine and operations compliance analyst at local defense firm Mildata, said at the opening of the event that “operational logistics is an integral part of support and security strategies.”

He said: “the need for logistics will change over the next 10 years, under the influence of modernization and the nature of warfare, such as robotic systems, automation, predictive logistics and maintenance,” and added that, “according to the developing international service sector trends, defense industry and logistics capabilities will play an important role in the exports of countries.”

“Today, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) benefits from the development of the private sector to provide the logistical support it needs. The DLSS also serves this purpose,” Atalan said.

The sector official highlighted that “strategy is inseparable from logistics and the operational logistics capabilities stand out as an element of superiority."

For example, he said, “fortification is a subject that is rarely talked about, but is one of the most important line support needs, which ensures the continuity of maneuver and movement of forces.”

Atalan, who quoted NATO’s definition of the concept of logistics as, “The science of planning, conducting and sustaining the movements of the armed forces,” added, “if war is an art, logistics is a science.”

Cem Eken, product support unit manager at the Turkish land vehicles manufacturer FNSS, which exports products worldwide, also participated in the summit as a speaker, commenting on his company’s services in terms of logistics.

Eken said that they currently have a logistics support service deal with Turkey’s Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) that includes one of their latest services, namely the remote maintenance service.

The agreement, which covers tracked and wheeled weapon carrier vehicles whose deliveries are ongoing, foresees “using the existing capabilities of the Land Forces Command to the maximum extent, ensuring that the vehicles are at a high level throughout their life cycle, with material, technical support and repair services during the warranty period and after the warranty period.”

Its main aims are the maximum use of available abilities, use of original spare parts, continuous and fast technical support access, malfunction analysis and an uninterrupted user-manufacturer-subcontractor relationship.

The additional services also include cross-border repair services, maintenance and on-the-spot repair services, among others.

The augmented reality-supported remote maintenance service, meanwhile, is set to provide the same services as on the spot remotely, ensuring instant data sharing while providing data security with its server-based system. It aims to significantly reduce the risks occurring during military operations in high-risk areas.

Pars 4×4 vehicle seen in this photo provided on Aug. 21, 2021. (Courtesy of FNSS)

During the two-day summit, a cooperation protocol was also signed between Turkish defense industry stakeholders.

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBITAK)'s Defense Industries Research and Development Institute (SAGE) and DASAL Aviation Technologies, a joint affiliate of local defense giant Aselsan and Altınay Defense, signed a deal for the collaboration of the Togan weapon system integration into the DASAL aviation platforms, namely their drones.

Gürcan Okumuş, Director of TÜBITAK SAGE, said that in the agreement, “Togan is a whole weapon system developed as the weight equivalent of 81 mm mortars with increased efficiency with multiple means of transport and release possibilities. The Togan Weapon System, which we produced as TÜBITAK SAGE, has now been integrated into different classes of UAVs thanks to this cooperation with DASAL Aviation. We see that efficient and effective systems emerge with the combination of our products.”

Mehmet Emin Ilkmen, chairperson of DASAL Aviation Technologies, for his part, stated the cooperation includes the integration of the weapon system on three different UAV platforms with three different carrying capacities: 15, 75 and 150 kilogram-capacity (33, 165 and 330 pound-capacity) drones.

The Heavy+ class UAVs which can carry eight to 12 pieces of Togan ammunition, can advance at a speed of 100 kph (62.14 mph) and has a range of 40 kilometers (24.86 miles).

The other two platforms can effectively use six and two pieces of Togan ammunition at a range of 20 kilometers and 10 kilometers, respectively.

“All of these platforms are designed to increase their efficiency in the field by using them with suitable land vehicles. Thanks to this important cooperation, a cost- and logistics-efficient tool was developed. Operations can be carried out at low costs,” Ilkmen said.

Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO) Chairperson Nurettin Özdebir speaking at the opening said, “defense expenditures also have an impact on the growth of the economy.”

“According to analyses,” he said, “in the developing country group, which includes Turkey, defense expenditures positively affect investments in other fields.”

He said that the turnover volume of Turkey’s defense industry, which was $1.3 billion in 2002, has now reached $11 billion. The sector has reached an export volume exceeding $3 billion from its earlier export capacity of $248 million. The localization rate of the sector increased from 20% to over 70%.

Defense industry projects financed by public resources have reached 1,100 in the last three years. The 2020 budget of currently ongoing defense projects has exceeded $55 billion. With an annual research and development (R&D) expenditure of $1.7 billion, it has become the sector that makes the most R&D investments in Turkey.

Meanwhile, in 2017, under the SSB, a platform for the life cycle management for the Turkish defense industry was established, which addresses the delivery period together with the period in which the products used and the logistical support period, aiming to produce solutions tailored for Turkey in life cycle management, product support and related issues in programs and projects to be carried out in the field of defense and security.

Turkish press: Multirotor mini UAV by Turkish company ready for export to India

Edgar Tavakalian
 ISTANBUL DEC 10, 2021 – 2:20 PM GMT+3

Mini multi-rotor UAV platform ZCQM is in a flight test on unknown date and location. (AA Photo)

Amultirotor mini-UAV model developed by Ankara-based Zyrone Dynamics is ready to be exported after the company attracted international investment.

According to report by Anadolu Agency (AA), Zyrone Dynamics, which offers unique UAV solutions with its advanced technologies, is preparing for the first product delivery to India. Thirty percent of the company was sold to India-based DCM Shriram Industries for $3.5 million with the agreement made at the 15th International Defense Industry Fair in August.

Zyrone Dynamics will carry out the first export of the mini multi-rotor UAV platform ZCQM before the end of the year, and will continue to deliver in batches in 2022. The company is expected to deliver nearly 100 vehicles next year.

The company will also make demo flights for the defense tenders in India in March 2022, and is making plans to expand to Far East countries via India.

Zyrone Dynamics has completed the international military certification processes for the ZCQM platform, which was tested in different weather conditions such as desert, sandstorm, arctic cold, heavy showers and snowstorms etc., and met the requirements of international military certification (MIL-STD-810G).

After the weathers tests are completed, flight tests will be conducted with the ZCQM in different environments. Zyrone Dynamics will continue development tests in different areas.

The ZCQM has increased its flight time by 10 minutes to 80 minutes by breaking its own record by reaching an altitude of 1.2 kilometers (.7 miles) above the ground.

The growing interest in domestic UCAVs is a boost for the Turkish government as it tries to increase exports and underline the growing importance of armed drones in modern warfare.

The Turkish military used drones last year in Syria as well as in Libya where Ankara backed the Tripoli-based government against eastern forces supported by Russia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt.

In Nagorno-Karabakh, the drones helped Turkey's ally Azerbaijan defeat Armenia-backed occupying forces.

Turkish press: ANALYSIS – India’s balancing act between Russia, US

Emil Lazarian
Iftikhar Gilani   |01.12.2021


The author is a senior journalist at Anadolu Agency.

ANKARA

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi on Dec. 6, which also marks the arrival of the first batch of the S-400 Triumf long-range air defense system, will test India’s diplomatic skills in balancing ties between its old Cold War ally and new strategic partner the US.

India may have taken a strategic tilt towards the US in the last decade, but according to the leading think tank the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russia continues to be its biggest supplier of defense equipment, accounting for 58% of arms imports.

Soon after Putin’s visit, India’s foreign and defense ministers will travel to Washington to meet with their counterparts in the 2+2 format in an attempt to resolve the issue.

While US officials have repeatedly warned that the 2017 Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) will apply to India in the wake of the arrival and operation of the S-400 missile system, sources in India are hopeful that President Joe Biden will waive sanctions for India.

Last month, visiting US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman described the S-400 deal as “dangerous” but expressed hope that the two sides could “solve” the issue. India signed a deal to purchase five batteries of S-400 systems worth around $5.5 billion in 2018.

In 2019, the US suspended Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program over its decision to buy a similar air defense system from Moscow. Turkey has been a key member of NATO since it joined the alliance in 1952. It has the second-largest army in NATO after the US and has been protecting the alliance’s southeastern flank for decades

Acknowledging that balancing relations between Russia and the US would be a hard decision for the Indian establishment, Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, the director of the Centre for Security, Strategy, and Technology, said India does not want to give up on the Russian relationship – despite Moscow’s ties with Beijing – but it also does not want to push the US too hard.

“These competing imperatives suggest on both sides that Washington and New Delhi will do their best to find a compromise solution that will allow Biden to avoid imposing CAATSA sanctions on India,” she said.

Russia still major arms supplier

Indian diplomats say that while they have increased defense purchases from the US, Russian equipment makes up about 70% of the country’s current arsenal, pointing out that it is difficult to reduce Russian purchases beyond a point.

The CAATSA, pushed by the Democrats during former President Donald Trump’s tenure, mandates the US government to impose financial sanctions and travel bans on any country or officials involved in transacting significant defense or intelligence deals with Russia, Iran, or North Korea.

According to Section 231 and 235 of the Act, the US president must impose actions that include stopping credit lines from the US; canceling or blocking sales of licensed goods and technology; banning banks, manufacturers and suppliers and property transactions from the sanctioned country, making it difficult to do trade; and financial and visa sanctions on specific officials.

While India has officially maintained that it accepts only those sanctions imposed by the UN, it did toe the US line by canceling its oil supplies from Iran and Venezuela in 2019. Although the US did waive sanctions to allow India to develop Iran’s Chabahar port as an alternate gateway for Afghanistan, in the wake of other sanctions on Iranian companies and oil entities, New Delhi was forced to reduce its investments.

Rajagopalan said it would be difficult for the US to impose CAATSA sanctions on any fellow members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), including India, Australia, and Japan.

She said a recent amendment proposal – the Circumspectly Reducing Unintended Consequences Impairing Alliances and Leadership (CRUCIAL) Act of 2021 – may come to India’s rescue as it makes a strong case for not applying CAATSA sanctions on QUAD members.

She added that the sanctions would adversely affect the security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region.

'Coercion will not work'

According to former Indian diplomat Pinak Chakravarty, coercion through sanctions will not work against New Delhi. Suggesting that the sanctions ball is in the American court, he said the CAATSA, if applied, will bolster and serve China’s interests and to an extent, those of Russia, with both for different reasons seeking to undermine the growing India-US ties.

“Today, China is seeking global hegemony. It has made it clear that it seeks to replace the US as the global hegemon. The geostrategic landscape has changed irrevocably, and India will play a pivotal role in the coming decades to maintain the strategic balance in Asia,” he wrote in a research paper published by the Observer Research Foundation, a New Delhi-based think tank.

China has already deployed two squadrons of S-400s at Ngari Gar Gunsa and Nyingchi airbase in Tibet, across Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, respectively, according to Indian officials who requested anonymity as they are not authorized to talk to the media.

Concerned that a waiver to India may be protested by other countries and encourage other nations like Saudi Arabia to also go ahead and sign defense deals with Russia, multiple sources in India expect that at the moment, the Biden administration may just delay the sanctions but continue to keep the threat of CAATSA alive.

According to Intelligence Online, which publishes information about the intelligence world, Russia, during Putin's visit, will try to sell its new anti-air S-550 missile defense system batteries to India. The publication claimed that Russia informally entrusted Dmitry Shugaev, the director of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, with the strategic mission of selling its new anti-air defense system to the Indian army.

Negotiating S-550

Speaking to reporters at the Dubai Airshow, Sergey Chemezov, the chief executive officer of Russian defense giant Rostec Corporation, said the S-550 would be designed to detect and intercept intercontinental ballistic missiles at a greater distance than the S-500 and that the physical components have already been created.

Soon after signing the deal to purchase the S-400 from Russia in 2018, India had also approved a $1-billion import from the US of Raytheon’s National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System-2 (NASAMS-2) for the air force to fortify the country’s missile defense shield over New Delhi.

Quoting a senior military officer, news website TheWire.in said that by clearing the purchase of NASAMS, India was offering the US a deal to avoid CAATSA. But it added that so far, it does not appear to have worked.

Experts in India maintain that in the days of cyber and electronic warfare, they would need both the NASAMS-2 and S-400 with different encryption systems to counter emerging threats.

Noted defense expert Pravin Sawhney argued that using the expensive S-400 against an incoming aircraft or unmanned object like a drone was not a good idea, as it was meant to protect against ballistic missiles.

“The S-400 is best used to protect major cities and high-value targets against ballistic missiles, which leave the atmosphere and then re-enter to high target,” he said.

The NASAMS, on the other hand, has a limited range designed to kill offensive aircraft and other aerial vehicles, including low-flying cruise missiles.

*Opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of the Anadolu Agency.

‘We will continue the struggle for return of occupied territories’ – President of Artsakh

Kajoyan Gevork

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 10:19,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. President of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan issued a statement on the 30th anniversary of the holding of referendum for independence in Artsakh.

Armenpress presents the full text of the statement:

“Dear compatriots,

30 years ago, on this very day of 1991, amidst hostilities and artillery shelling of peaceful settlements, our people organized a high-level Referendum on Independence marking the way for us to achieve our goals. With the Constitution of the Republic of Artsakh adopted in 2006 we reaffirmed our commitment to those values and ideas that formed the basis of our newly-independent statehood. Nevertheless, no matter how difficult and bloody this thirty-year-long march was, we managed to build and strengthen our statehood through national efforts, continuing to be dedicated to the values of the Artsakh national-liberation movement.

Despite the mediation efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group aimed at peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict, Azerbaijan, bypassing one of the three principles presented to the conflicting parties – the non-use of force, as well as other well-known principles of the international law, launched several military aggressions against the Republic of Artsakh and its civilian population among which the 2020 war has become the hardest challenge for our statehood and people. Regardless of the great human, territorial, material and moral-psychological consequences of this aggression, the Republic of Artsakh has been standing, the will and endurance of our people on the chosen path towards independence are unshakable. Among the bright indicators of this very fact are that within this short period of time the population has reached about 120,000 people, a high-level security environment has been ensured, the fully functioning state institutions have been carrying out numerous development projects restoring economic infrastructure. It is noteworthy that not only the state bodies fulfill their vital functions on the basis of the Constitution and legislation of the Republic of Artsakh, but it is also symbolic that on this very day local self-governing bodies’ elections are held in two large communities, which itself is a small but important manifestation of our state-building determination.

Touching upon the post-war situation and our plans for the future, I would like to highlight several key points:

  1. Security. Today we can state that despite the targeted provocations undertaken by Azerbaijan, due to the efforts of the Russian peacekeeping troops and the Defense Army, relative stability is maintained in Artsakh, which gives an opportunity to have a vision for the future and make active efforts in that direction. In this regard, I would like to express my deep gratitude to all the servicemen defending the Motherland, as well as the entire personnel of the Russian peacekeeping troops and personally to Russian President Vladimir Putin, due to whose immediate efforts the aspirations of the Turkish world have been thwarted and peace has been established in the region.

Given the extremely destructive and aggressive position of the Azerbaijani side, the uncertainty of the prospects and timing of the final and just settlement of the conflict, the Artsakh authorities and people believe that the presence of Russian peacekeepers in Artsakh should be guaranteed and indefinite as long as it is necessary. Within this context the needs and opinions of the people of Artsakh should be key factors, as we are the main beneficiaries of the peacekeeping mission.

Another pivotal direction to ensure the proper security is the consistent development of capabilities and fortifications of the Defense Army considering the existing challenges and peculiarities of the situation. In the past year, tangible work has been carried out and with time we will improve the efficiency of our security mechanisms.

  1. Foreign policy. We will continue the struggle for the unconditional recognition of the realization of our people's right to self-determination and the return of the occupied territories. We are in favor of a peaceful settlement of the conflict, where the international recognition of the independence of the Republic of Artsakh on the basis of the right to self-determination is our main and uncompromising goal, which will pave the way for the realization of the ultimate goal of the Artsakh movement. In this regard, we expect the unconditional and long-lasting support of the whole Armenian nation, without doubt and hesitation towards the path we have chosen.
  2. Demographics. One of the main guarantees of keeping Artsakh Armenian and settling the conflict in favor of nation is the existence of the Armenian people in their native soil. In this regard, the post-war demographics are quite promising, but serious efforts and resources are needed to achieve the desired results.

Within this context, the satisfaction of housing needs is the main issue, which we started to solve immediately after the war. In particular, we have initiated large-scale constructions in different parts of Artsakh, within three years we plan to build about 5,000 apartments for the displaced and other vulnerable groups. Of course, this does not mean that we are retracting from our lost homeland, but on the other hand, we are well aware that the negotiation process in this regard can take a long time, thus, during this whole period leaving the displaced families to the whims of fate or the infamous experience of keeping them in tent settlements is unacceptable for us.

As a continuation of the topic, I would like to emphasize that the housing issue in Artsakh must be resolved comprehensively. Hence, in conformity with my pre-election promise, each family will have its own apartment, but some patience to eliminate the sharp consequences of the war is needed here. In parallel with this process, we will gradually launch new housing programs to support all families in need.

We have already launched or planning to launch a number of other programs to promote natural and mechanical demographic growth in Artsakh. This is one of the main directions where Pan-Armenian consolidation, large-scale and continuous participation is needed, taking into consideration the amount of resources required.

  1. Socio-economic development.

The bulk of our economic potential has been lost in the aftermath of the war, which has made socioeconomic problems very acute. Of course, thanks to the Government of the Republic of Armenia, the “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund and other charitable organizations, humanitarian assistance of the Russian Government and the ICRC we have been able to solve many problems. But, for achieving institutional solutions, the volume of state budget of the Republic of Artsakh for the coming years is very important.

I am glad to note that due to the support of the Republic of Armenia, in 2022 the expenditure part of the state budget of the Republic of Artsakh will make about 215 billion drams. For comparison, let me state that in 2020 the state budget was about 122 billion drams. This will definitely provide an opportunity to address the potential challenges, but much greater resources, including economic investments, are needed to continue improving socioeconomic and demographic situation. Therefore, I expect that all capable Pan-Armenian circles will have their direct participation in this important direction.

Naturally, in parallel, the full introduction of free and qualitative healthcare and education systems is of utmost importance for us. The process was launched before the war, is in progress now and will include new programs in the coming year.

  1. Domestic policy.

As before the war, so more after it, I opened the doors for cooperation with all political forces, believing that only through joint efforts it is possible to face these difficult challenges. In this regard, we have many visible results, which are also largely the derivatives of this co-operational environment.

However, I am not satisfied with the degree of involvement and participation of all public and political forces in state-building process and in solving different problems in Artsakh and plan to launch a new stage of consultations with all circles to discuss the possibilities of forming more efficient formats and mechanisms. We will continue to implement reforms in the public administration system to increase the level of efficiency, transparency and public accountability.

This is the vision I and my government have. The disappointment, mourning, loss of the most of the Homeland, have caused a decline of mood, uncertainties to all of us, but my call and my urge is to quickly rediscover ourselves. I believe that as 120,000 Armenians now live and create in the native cradle, so will we overcome all the problems shoulder to shoulder, will successfully resist all the challenges and carve new victories together.

At the end, I once again turn to all the parliamentary and non-parliamentary political forces, all local and Pan-Armenian organizations and individuals, to leave aside all the disagreements. The door of cooperation is open to all of you. For the sake of Artsakh, bright future of our people and the sacred blood of our martyrs let us build the homeland of our dreams hand in hand. After all, the authorities come and go, only the values for which we live and struggle remain permanent…”

Recognition of inalienable right to self-determination is only way to end Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict – Stepanakert

Babken Chilingarian

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 10:25,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh released a statement on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the independence referendum.

“30 years ago, on December 10, 1991, a nationwide referendum on the political future of Artsakh was held in the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabagh Republic), as a result of which the overwhelming majority of the voters (99.89%) voted for independence,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

“The referendum was held in full compliance with the then-national legislation in force, democratic procedures and norms of international law. All the necessary conditions were created for holding a referendum on the entire territory of the Republic. Eighty two percent of the citizens eligible to vote took part in the voting.

The preparation and holding of the referendum took place against the background of a purposefully pursued policy of Azerbaijan to escalate tensions, which became explosive and subsequently turned into a full-scale war against Artsakh and its people.

The referendum on independence in Artsakh was another attempt by the Artsakh side to prevent the impending war and to transfer the resolution of the Azerbaijan-Karabagh conflict to the legal and political plane. However, Azerbaijan ignored the steps taken by Artsakh to resolve the conflict by peaceful and democratic means and on the election day subjected Stepanakert, the capital of the Republic, tօ massive artillery shelling, as a result of which dozens of civilians were killed and injured.

The people of Artsakh have repeatedly reaffirmed their determination to strengthen and develop the sovereign statehood at subsequent constitutional referenda. On December 10, 2006, the first Constitution of the country was adopted in Artsakh at a national referendum. On February 20, 2017, the people of Artsakh voted for the new Constitution at a regular referendum, thus confirming their previous decisions and will, to continue the path of building an independent state.

Unfortunately, the expressions of the will of the people of Artsakh and their democratic aspirations became a missed opportunity for the international community, which, if recognized, could have prevented the wars unleashed by Azerbaijan against our country and saved thousands of innocent lives.

Azerbaijan was the initiator of three wars unleashed with the aim of destroying Artsakh in 1991-94, 2016 and 2020. In the interwar years it deliberately and consistently undermined the peacekeeping efforts of international mediators by taking an extremely uncompromising and destructive position on all issues during the negotiations. The continuation of this aggressive policy has been Baku’s refusal to conduct substantive negotiations after the 44-day war in 2020 in order to exclude the possibility of achieving a comprehensive settlement of the conflict. The evolution of the proposals of the international mediators demonstrates their understanding of the impossibility of Artsakh’s being part of Azerbaijan and recognition of the key role of the people of Artsakh in determining their political status. In particular, by refusing to negotiate, Baku, contrary to the efforts and proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, is trying to impose the results of the illegal use of force as a fait accompli.

We emphasize once again that recognition of the inalienable right to self-determination realized by the people of Artsakh is the only way to put an end to the Azerbaijan-Karabagh conflict and to create conditions for eliminating its consequences, including liberation of all the occupied territories, and finding a long-term, fair and sustainable solution to the problem of refugees and other remaining issues.

The referendum on independence is a solid legal basis for the statehood of Artsakh, created with the aim of saving the people of Artsakh from the threat of complete annihilation, which emanated and continues to emanate from the militant policy of Azerbaijan, where the hatred against Armenians and genocidal ideology are the basis of state-building.

Strengthening the state of Artsakh and achieving its international recognition are an absolute priority for the authorities and people of Artsakh, since having a national state with a status of an international legal subject is the key condition and means of preserving and developing the people. The struggle of the people of Artsakh for their independent statehood is a struggle for freedom, fundamental rights and peace, as well as a safe and dignified future.”



Armenia, A New Wine Country That Is Actually Very Old, Illustrated With Two Wines

Paul Hambardsumian
Forbes
Dec 11 2021


Per and Britt Karlsson

Contributor

Lifestyle


Per and Britt Karlsson

Contributor

Lifestyle

Armenia is a small wine country but definitely not a new one. Here, in the region around present-day Armenia and Georgia, wine was made for the first time around 8000 years ago. At least, that is what archaeological finds tell us. From here, the art of making wine spread south to Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq), to Jordan, Israel, Egypt, Cyprus, Greece and the other countries around the Mediterranean and beyond.

Armenian wines have been totally unknown for most of us until very recently. This is mainly because the country was a Soviet republic between 1922 and 1990. Each of the Soviet republics had its own speciality, and for Armenia, it was brandy production. But now the country’s wines are again being appreciated around the world. The volumes are relatively small, and we are not talking about low-priced wines. The producers are focusing on quality wines with character.


A back-label on a bottle of Armenian wine in the[+]

BKWINE PHOTOGRAPHY

Armenia is sandwiched between Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Iran. The country has only 3 million inhabitants, but there is a large diaspora of Armenians worldwide. The mighty Caucasus Mountains make their mark on the landscape, and many vineyards are located at high altitudes, 3300-5000 feet above sea level. The climate is continental, with hot and dry summers and winters with temperatures that can drop to 5 degrees F and even lower in some regions.

Armenia has four main wine-growing regions. The most famous is Vayots Dzor in the southern part of the country. This is where one of the world’s oldest wineries was discovered, 6000 years old.


Trinity Eh Areni noir 2017, Aghavnadzor, Vayots[+]

BKWINE PHOTOGRAPHY

We have recently tasted two red Armenian wines from Vayots Dzor, made from the local grape Areni Noir.

Armenia has plenty of local grapes, which the producers now want to bring forward. One of the most cultivated is Areni Noir, a hardy grape that can withstand chilly nights at high altitudes and periods of drought. It has thick skin, some tannins but can feel quite smooth on the palate, with aromas of red fruit and spices. The winemaker’s decisions play a significant role in the character, not least whether the wine is oak-aged or not.


Old Bridge Reserve 2017, Areni Noir, Arpa Valley,[+]

BKWINE PHOTOGRAPHY

Trinity Eh Areni noir 2017, Aghavnadzor, Vayots Dzor, Trinity Canyon Vineyards, Armenia

Bright in colour and light in style with high and refreshing acidity and lovely fruit aromas. I like its easy-drinking, refreshing style. The wine has been aged in oak barrels for 18 months, but the oak is well hidden behind the fruit, which is good. This wine benefits from having the fruit aromas as the centrepiece. Trinity Canyon Vineyards was founded in 2009. (~35 USD)

Old Bridge Reserve 2017, Areni Noir, Arpa Valley, Armenia

A balanced wine with complex and well-developed aromas, quite soft but with a fresh acidity that gives structure. Delicious. The property was founded in 1998 by the Khalatyan family. The old bridge is close to the estate, and Marco Polo crossed it in the 13th century. (~35 USD)

History, whether it was 8000 years ago or just 800, is always present in Armenia.

Try these two wines, or any others you can find from Armenia, to discover a new wine country.

 

3 Prominent Armenian Leaders Join Acclaimed Producers of ‘Motherland’ Documentary Feature Film about Artsakh & Armenia

Adrine Hakobian


The Blunt Post Media

 

 

For Immediate Release

Friday, December 10, 2021

 

Media Contact: Vic Gerami

310.880.8563

[email protected]

 

 

Entrepreneur
Couple – Creators of BuyArmenian.com – Join

Washington
D.C. Attorney & Genocide-Prevention Advocate as Newest Members of Motherland
Production Team

 

 Lilit Dolkarian Odabashian, Dr. Nishan
Odabashian and Jacob Bournazian,
Esq.,
member of the Knights
of Vartan genocide-education and
prevention organization, now on board with Motherland’s
select group of filmmakers and human rights leaders that includes Mark
Geragos and
Sam Kbushyan

 

 

‘Because there’s painfully little
coverage of last year’s events in Artsakh and the current situation facing the
Armenian people, helping to produce a rare and globally important documentary
film such as Motherland
is more than a privilege—for myself and my husband, Nishan, it is a moral
imperative.’

 

—
Lilit Dolkarian Odabashian

 

 

LOS
ANGELES—Three prominent leaders
in the Armenian American community, Lilit Dolkarian Odabashian, Dr. Nishan
Odabashian, and Attorney Jacob Bournazian, have teamed up with the acclaimed
producers of Motherland,
a much-anticipated, feature-length documentary film
that’s expected to blow the lid off of Azerbaijan’s concerted campaign of
violence, deception and burgeoning genocide against the Armenian civilians of Artsakh.

 

Lilit Dolkarian Odabashian and Dr. Nishan
Odabashian, who in addition to their new roles as film producers, are founders
of the popular marketplace, BuyArmenian.com,
are supporting the production of filmmaker-journalist and Los Angeles-based
national radio host, Vic Gerami’s penetrating investigation into the global
community’s impotent response to war crimes being committed on a daily basis by
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s military as enabled and augmented by a
cadre of regional allies led by Turkish forces under the control of Pres. Recep
Tayyip Erdoğan.

 

Attorney Jacob Bournazian will assume the
role of contributing producer for the film. Mr. Bournazian’s work with Knights
of Vartan as an indefatigable defender of human rights and communities under
threat of genocide make him a uniquely qualified and energetic new member of
the Motherland
team.

 

“Motherland
is now in post-production, and without giving away our story, I can confidently
say this film is turning out to be a chilling, visual human drama that pierces
an opaque and terrifying situation in Artsakh,” says director and executive
producer, Vic Gerami.

 

“The additions of Lilit
and Dr. Odabashian as executive producers plus Jacob Bournazian also joining
our stellar group of film producers, I’m more confident than ever that we’ll be
releasing an important work of documentary journalism that could change lives
by helping to grow the number of ordinary people around the world who
understand that genocide is happening today in Artsakh.”

 

Following Azerbaijan’s and Turkey’s attack
on the independent Republic of Artsakh during the COVID-19 pandemic and the
onset of profoundly negative impacts to the economies of Artsakh and Armenia,
the Odabashians set out to help their motherland by creating an online
marketplace for goods made in Armenia. Among the unique, quality-made wares
available at the couple’s buyarmenian.com
marketplace are gorgeous Armenian-made wearable fashions, striking works of
art, irresistible and authentic Armenian foods, home goods, and much more. The
couple’s primary aim is to help improve the local economy by opening new
markets for Armenian products—while also creating jobs in Armenia and enriching
economic activity in importing countries, such as the U.S.

 

“At the same time, we’re giving the world
a taste of authentic Armenian culture,” says Dr. Odabashian. “The result is a
vast and comprehensive online department store which has over one-thousand
Armenian vendors and close to ten-thousand unique products from various
industries. When my wife and business partner, Lilit and I learned that, in a
similar spirit to what prompted us to establish buyarmenian.com, there was a
film project underway to help shine a light on and to alleviate the existential
challenges facing Armenian families in Artsakh and Armenia, we knew we wanted
to be a part of Motherland,
the film.”

 

Lilit Odabashian
added that it’s “important and noteworthy” that Motherland has the
support of many prominent elected officials, dignitaries, and organizations in
the U.S. and beyond.

 

The couple explains that far from being a
hard decision to make, joining the team producing a film to which none other
than the city of Los Angeles has seen fit to grant support felt
intuitively right. Likewise, multiple leading members of Congress have granted
interviews that will feature prominently in Motherland.

 

Lilit and Dr. Nishan Odabashian say
they’re privileged and blessed to have the opportunity and resources to be part
of making this important film.

 

According to Motherland’s
producers, front-and-center and even more compellingly than the film’s list of
high-profile supporters, participants and willing interviewees – among them
Congressman Adam Schiff (D–California) and Sen. Bob Mendez (D–New Jersey) – the
real attraction that draws to it passionate support is the desperate need for
sunlight to reveal the scale and the savagery of murders being committed in
Artsakh by oil- and gas-wealthy Azerbaijan, as well as ever-present Turkey and
both countries' regional and strategic allies.

 

Lilit and Dr. Odabashian share positive
feelings about doing their part to help the current situation in Artsakh. Newly
minted Motherland contributing producer, Jacob Bournazian, is similarly
enthused about the cinematic human rights effort.

 

“This film contributes to America’s awareness of
the ongoing genocidal government actions by Turkey and Azerbaijan in their
October, 2020 war against the Armenians in Artsakh,” Bournazian says. “The
facts need to be reported to the American public and this film provides the
facts Americans need to know. 

 

Motherland, he says, will turn on floodlights to reveal a
terrifying new technological innovation for those who see genocide as a
legitimate foreign policy.

 

“For the
first time in human history we saw the massacre of humans by machines. Genocide
by machines, if left unchecked, is a growing threat facing humanity today. We
need to break the silence and cover-up of Azerbaijan’s October 2020 war against
Artsakh if we hope to end the crime of genocide in the 21st century. We are fortunate to have a courageous
and dedicated film producer like Vic Gerami to document these war crimes so
that Americans know what has already happened and speak out to end the ongoing
genocide against the indigenous population in Artsakh.”

 

A Southern California ‘Who’s Who’
List of Filmmakers Goes National with New Producers

Adding national visibility, genocide
education and prevention champion, Jacob Bournazian, an attorney in Washington
D.C. along with the entrepreneurial Odabashians are now in league with renowned
criminal-defense attorney, Mark Geragos
and California State Commissioner Sam Kbushyan as Motherland
producers. 

 

Previously, Los Angeles City Councilman
Mitch O’Farrell, who
secured a symbolically important grant from the City of Los Angeles for the
film, congratulated Gerami, Geragos, and Motherland’s entire production
team on recruiting Commissioner Kbushyan.

 

“With the addition of Sam, this team
continues to impress,’ said Councilman O'Farrell. ‘This
film will help give much-needed attention to the injustices in Artsakh.”

 

#
# #

 

 

About ‘Motherland’

 

Produced and directed by Los Angeles-based
Armenian American journalist and activist, Vic
Gerami, 'Motherland' is
a new documentary, feature-length film about the genocidal assault and the
violent ethnic cleansing that was unleashed September 27, 2020 by
Azerbaijan and Turkey. The 90-minute documentary film focuses unwavering
attention on the coordinated, systematic and wholly unprovoked genocidal attack and
ethnic cleansing against the Armenians of Artsakh, also known as
Nagorno-Karabakh.

 
Gerami is founder and editor of The Blunt Post and
host of the national radio show that focuses on politics titled, THE BLUNT POST with VIC on KPFK 90.7 FM,
part of Pacifica Network.

 

‘We are racing against time to bring
much-needed attention to this humanitarian catastrophe and the imminent threat
it poses to millions of innocent people,’ says Gerami.

 

‘Armenian and Artsakh people have a
combined population of about three million; but Azerbaijan and Turkey have
ninety million,’ he continues. ‘It’s a genuine David versus Goliath nightmare.’

 

21st Century Armenian Genocide in the
Making

 

‘We are trying to prevent another Armenian
Genocide,’ Gerami explains.

 

It took 106 years before the United States
formally recognized the
Armenian Genocide of 1915, which was committed by Ottoman Turks.

 

On April 24, 2021, President Joe Biden became
the first US president to recognize the Armenian genocide, officially — and to
recommit America to its promise to prevent such an atrocity against humanity
ever occurring again.

 

Yet tragically, history is repeating
itself. Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s ongoing genocidal attack and ethnic cleansing
against Armenians, as we’ve witnessed recently in Artsakh, is unrelenting.

 

Motherland tells
the story of this ongoing and tragic chapter of human history as it was
recently witnessed in Armenia and surrounding areas when Producer-Director Vic
Gerami and his film crew capped a yearlong reporting and advocacy project by taking
cameras on riveting location shoots near the scenes of what many are calling
war crimes.

 

New Chapter in Regional Warfare

 

Azerbaijan, with declared assistance from
Turkey, has launched a large-scale offensive against
Artsakh. Employing thousands of Turkish-paid jihadist mercenaries airlifted
from terrorist camps in Syria, Libya, and Pakistan, Azerbaijan’s war effort has
been empowered by Erdogan to magnify the violence already being perpetrated by
the Azerbaijani Army against innocent children, women and men who, previously,
had lived peacefully for generations in Artsakh.

 

The 2020 invasion opened a new chapter in
the history of regional warfare. The travesty has been marked by unmatched
suffering anywhere on the planet today, which Artsakh’s civilian population
currently endures on a daily basis. For 44 days, the world stood by, largely in
silence, as more than 4,000 Armenians were massacred.

 

Motherland, currently
entering post-production, has received broad support from some of America’s leading
elected officials, including influential United States Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ).
A part of Sen. Menendez’s interview with Gerami is featured in the Motherland’s ‘sizzle,’
also known as a preview trailer.

 

In that segment of the film, Sen. Menendez
tells Gerami, ‘The [Trump] Administration turned a blind eye to what was
happening.’

 

Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) granted
Gerami an on-camera interview for the film. A part of Rep. Schiff’s interview
is featured in the sizzle. In it he explains, ‘Turkey’s role in importing
mercenaries from Syria, and terrorists to join the mayhem demonstrate how
Turkey’s actions are incompatible with being a NATO ally.’

 

For more information, please visit the
film’s website, MotherlandDoc.com.
High-resolution photos and headshots can be found here.

 

Vic Gerami is available for interviews.
You can contact him at 310.880.8563 or [email protected]. 

 

 

About Lilit Dolkarian Odabashian

 

Lilit Dolkarian Odabashian was born in
Aleppo, Syria. She immigrated to Los Angeles in 2002 before the war in Syria
broke out. Her background is in computers and online network marketing. She
started a Facebook group called Buy Armenian, which later developed an online
marketplace. In less than a year, the marketplace has grown to showcase more
than a 1000 local small and medium sized vendors in Armenia and the diaspora.
On can find over 8000 unique items and number keeps growing.  This past month, Lilit was recognized as
Ambassador for Armenian Women Entrepreneurs along with select others from among
more than a 100 highly qualified women entrepreneurs from around the world.
More Recently, the Buy Armenian model was chosen to be presented at the United
Nations Economic Commission for Europe as a platform model to help small and
medium sized businesses around the world. She is married to Nishan Odabashian
and has three children, Galia, Serge and Noah. Her favorite pastime is spending
time with her family.

 

About Dr. Nishan Odabashian

 

Dr. Nishan Odabashian was born in
Damascus, Syria. He immigrated to the US in 1977. He did his undergraduate
training at UCLA, received his DMD degree from Tufts University and an MS
degree in endodontics from Loma Linda University. Dr. Odabashian lectures
locally, nationally and internationally in his field of specialty in
Endodontics. During the 44 day war, his wife Lilit asked him to join her to
manage the fast growing Facebook group Buy Armenian. Dr. Odabashian soon found
himself spending as much time advancing and developing Buy Armenian with his
wife Lilit as he was in practicing endodontics. Nishan enjoys playing bridge
and watching his son Serge play goalkeeper for Glendale FC. He loves spending
time with his family and friends.

 

About BuyArmenian.com

 

The most recent war in Artsakh inspired
and prompted our founders Lilit and Nishan Odabashian to create the Facebook
page BUY ARMENIAN which propelled into a strong community of 40k members within
a short period of time. Subsequently, that very same page inspired this online
marketplace. The notion of helping and supporting our motherland, Armenia, in
any way possible is not something new for the Odabashian couple. However, it
became a priority agenda when they grasped the dire current economic situation in
Armenia due to the war and the Covid pandemic. They focused all their time,
energy and resources in creating the project and making it into a reality. It
may have been the unfortunate war that started this venture, but the
Odabashians, along with their Buy Armenian Marketplace team, firmly believe
that it is an absolute necessity for the diaspora and the motherland to work
hand in hand to secure the survival and prosperity of Armenia.

 

About
Jacob Bournazian

 

Jacob
Bournazian – Attorney and human rights activist in Washington D.C. He is known
for his civic participation on genocide education and civil rights issues in
the District of Columbia. Jake wrote the 2019 resolution passed by the city
council that recognized the Armenian Genocide of 1915.  He organized the Community United For
Education and Equality concert at Freedom Plaza in Washington DC in June, 2019
which featured hip hop singers that performed music focusing on issues of
social equality and racism in America. 
Jake has over 35 years of experience as a civil litigation attorney and
is licensed in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. He is admitted
to practice in several federal courts including the Supreme Court. His
litigation practice involves civil rights and Freedom of Information Act
requests. He is a strong advocate and member of United Nations Association of
the USA, Human Rights Watch, and Native American Legal Defense Fund. He has
sponsored several economic development projects over the past three years in
the border regions of the Martuni province of Artsakh and led several
re-construction projects this year after the war in Artsakh.

 

About Vic Gerami


Vic Gerami is
an award-winning journalist, columnist, media commentator, and the host of his
prime-time headline news + politics radio program THE BLUNT POST with VIC (TBPV)
on Independent + Progressive Radio KPFK 90.7
FM (Pacifica Network).
Vic is also the editor + publisher of The Blunt Post. 

 

Today reaching national, international
audiences, Gerami first built a foundation of knowledge and skills by learning
the media industry during his years at Frontiers Magazine, followed by
positions at LA Weekly and Voice Media Group. 

 

Gerami’s
radio program, TBPV covers national, regional, and local headline news,
politics, and current events, and Gerami offers analysis and commentary. He
also interviews a high-profile member of Congress or other high-profile public
figures on each show. His recent guests include Congressman Adam Schiff, Senator Bob Menendez, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Governor Howard Dean, Congresswoman Katie Porter, Congressman Brad Sherman, Congressman Mike Levin, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and Congresswoman Judy
Chu, LA District Attorney George Gascon,
among many others. You can listen to all the interviews here. 

 

Gerami is also a contributor for some of
the most prominent publications in the nation, including Windy City Times, Bay
Area Reporter, Armenian Mirror-Spectator, The Advocate, The Immigrant Magazine,
GoWeHo, Destination Luxury, OUT Traveler, The Fight, and among others.

 

Gerami founded the Truth
And Accountability League (TAAL), a 501©3
non-profit organization that advocates for Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and
Armenia. TAAL monitors & addresses Armenophobia, extremism & bigotry
around the globe on the level of media, including social media, public policy,
academia, and intelligentsia. 

 

The Wall Street Journal featured
Gerami as a “leading gay activist”
in its landmark 2008 coverage of opposition to Proposition 8, the ballot
measure that for years denied same-sex couples in California the freedom to
marry. In addition to his years of volunteer work as a leading advocate for
marriage equality, Gerami served as a Planning Committee member for the
historic Resist March in 2017. 

 

In 2015, Gerami was referenced in the
landmark Supreme Court civil rights case, Obergefell
v. Hodges, in which the Court held
in a 5–4 decision that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex
couples by both the Due Process and the Equal Protection Clauses of the
Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

 

Please click here
for more information about Vic Gerami.

 

Instagram: @vicgerami

 

Facebook: facebook.com/vic.gerami

 

Twitter: @vicgerami


 
 Vic Gerami
 Editor & Publisher
 The Blunt Post

 Host & Producer
 THE BLUNT POST with VIC 
 KPFK 90.7 FM

 310.880.8563
 [email protected]
 Facebook.com/thebluntpost
 @thebluntpost

           
  

SERJ TANKIAN Tells JIMMY PAGE Man Who Signed LED ZEPPELIN Gave His Philanthropic Support To Denial Of Armenian Genocide

Toneyan Mark

Dec 11 2021


SYSTEM OF A DOWN singer Serj Tankian has called out the members of LED ZEPPELIN for commemorating the 14th anniversary of their concert for a charity formed by Atlantic Records founder and CEO Ahmet Ertegun, a man Serj says gave his philanthropic support to Turkey's denial of the Armenian Genocide.

After ZEPPELIN guitarist Jimmy Page took to his Instagram on Friday (December 10) to share a few photos of the 2007 performance, Serj regrammed the post and added the following message: "Dear Mr. @jimmypage. Its very admirable that @ledzeppelin played a tribute show in 2007 for Ahmed Ertegun as the man who signed your band to Atlantic records. What you likely don't know is that man spent millions of dollars on think tanks and chairs at various US universities all with the goal of denying the #ArmenianGenocide. There is absolutely no honor in that I'm sure you'll agree."

Earlier this year, Tankian, an Armenian-American vocalist whose grandparents were survivors of the Armenian Genocide, spoke to RT's "Going Underground" about his meeting with Ertegun, who was the son of a Turkish ambassador. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I had a band that we had signed to my imprint, to my label, and there were a number of record companies interested in doing a distribution deal. So we met up with Universal Records, Atlantic Records at the time, and a few others in New York with the band. And after the meeting, I remember the CEO of Atlantic saying, 'Hey, do you wanna meet the old man? He's still here. His office is right next door.' And I'm, like, 'Ertegun?' I'm, like, 'Yeah, I'd love to.' He signed Ray Charles and LED ZEPPELIN and all these bands. So I went in and sat down with him and had a nice 10-minute chat.

"I can't tell you anything else, but I got an inkling that he had some defensive aspect of me being Armenian," he continued. "When I said, 'Listen, just so you know, I'm Armenian. I grew up in Los Angeles,' and this and that, and he kind of got defensive. And it didn't really affect me much. So I got on Google and I typed 'Ahmet Ertegun' and I typed 'Genocide' after, and I realized that he had been responsible for funding foreign policy institutes and chairs at universities who hired authors and writers that denied the Genocide. And that was an awakening for me."

Tankian went on to say that he reconnected with Ertegun at a later date. "He called me, and he said, 'I think the Armenian Genocide should be recognized,'" Serj recalled. "And I said, 'Okay. Great. Why don't you write it on a letterhead and send it to me? And I won't publicize it unless my back is against the wall with my community.' And he said, 'I can't do that, because I have homes in Turkey. I don't know what would happen to that.' And I'm, like, 'Then don't do it. I wouldn't want any violence enacted upon you or your family or anyone else.' But it was very clear that that was an incendiary issue. And even though he was very close, he said, to the prime minister and the government officials there, he didn't wanna take that step."

Shortly after Ertegun's 2006 death, Armenian-American writer Harut Sassounian revealed that he had met with Ahmet a couple of years earlier to discuss Armenian-Turkish issues. He also said that Ertegun was considering the possibility of issuing a public statement on the Armenian Genocide prior to his passing.

In 2019, both the U.S. House and Senate passed a bill declaring that the killing of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks was, in fact, a genocide.