19:38, 7 July 2022
YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS. On July 7, around 4:15 p.m., the units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces opened fire in the direction of the Armenian military positions located in the western part of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, in particular, in the Yelpin village of the Vayots Dzor region, as well as in the direction of the road leading to the village, as a result of which a civilian car was damaged, ARMENPRESS was informed about this by the RA Ministry of Defense.
“Made in Armenia” NGO will contribute to the economic development of Armenia by strengthening SMEs
20:21, 7 July 2022
YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS. Founded at the end of 2021, “Made in Armenia” NGO has set itself the task of supporting and promoting the sale of Armenian products both in the country and abroad, strengthening small and medium enterprises to contribute to the economic development of Armenia. ARMENPRESS reports on July 7, the presentation of the Small and Medium Enterprise Support Program of Made in Armenia NGO was held, which brought together representatives of the state, private and public sectors on one platform to discuss the state of SMEs in the country, problems with export, sales expansion opportunities, investment and other issues related to economic development.
"During the short period of activity, we have started to provide expert support to small and medium-sized enterprises, we have supported the creation of connections with companies providing services in various fields. We are confident that by strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises, we will contribute to the economic development of Armenia," said Ashot Grigoryan, president of Made in Armenia NGO.
Companies engaged in online sales of Armenian products in Armenia and abroad, providing logistics and marketing services help Made in Armenia NGO realize its goals, enabling Armenian manufacturers to undertake comprehensive support in the directions listed above. "We already have quite a successful experience in creating business connections between companies providing services to small and medium manufacturers in various sectors. I hope that by uniting around the ideology of comprehensively supporting the development of Armenian production, making Armenian products preferable, we will be able to jointly contribute to the development of our country's economy," said Grigoryan.
According to the Action Plan of the Government, the state has adopted a policy to increase the role of SMEs in the added value up to 50 percent. Deputy Minister of Economy Rafayel Gevorgyan believes that the comprehensive measures behind all this will create an opportunity to approach that target. He mentioned the government support and subsidy programs as an example.
St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School, New England’s only Armenian Elementary school, announced Thursday that Principal Houry Boyamian M.Ed., is planning to retire from her position. Boyamian has served in the role since the school was established 34 years ago.
Boyamian’s accomplishments as founding principal include:
“We are profoundly grateful to Houry for her years of dedication to the importance and the mission of Armenian education,” said Archpriest Antranig Baljian, pastor, St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church of Greater Boston, sponsor of SSAES. “I know I speak on behalf of the entire community when I say we cannot thank her enough. She built a solid foundation for our school and community that ensures that future generations can benefit from a superior bilingual Armenian and American education.”
Michael Guzelian, chair of the board of directors of SSAES, echoed Der Antranig Baljian: “Houry’s service to the community is immeasurable. Her commitment to the school over the years has been second to none.”
“I feel blessed having been part of a wonderful school community,” said Boyamian. “I cherish my years at St. Stephen’s; they have been the most fulfilling and rewarding years of my life.”
You can read Boyamian’s letter to the community here.
Houry Boyamian with St. Stephen’s Armenian School faculty and students
A search committee, chaired by Guzelian, has been formed to help SSAES find its next leader, with recruitment beginning immediately. Boyamian will stay in her current role until a successor is found and she will provide support during a transition period.
Established in 1984, St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School is dedicated to educational excellence in an environment rich in Armenian culture. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, it is the only Armenian Elementary school in New England, and is accredited by the Association of Independent Schools in New England. Accreditation by AISNE provides quality assurance that a school is meeting rigorous standards in all aspects of its operations and that it is operating in alignment with its mission.
Below is Boyamian’s letter to the St. Stephen’s Armenian School community.
Dear SSAES Teachers, Parents, Friends, and Supporters,
After 34 amazing years as Head of St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School (SSAES), I am writing to inform you that I am planning to retire. I feel blessed having been part of a wonderful school community. I cherish my years at St. Stephen’s; they have been the most fulfilling and rewarding years of my life, challenges and all. Serving St. Stephen’s was not just a job, it was a mission. As a fierce advocate of the importance of Armenian education, coupled with my years of service to the School, the decision to retire was not easy. But I feel this is the right time for a new leader to the take the School to the next level.
One of the most satisfying benefits of being at the School has been watching our students: the development of their sense of identity, their growth, advancement and success at SSAES and beyond. Their involvement, active participation, and leadership roles in the Armenian community, here in the US, as well as in Armenia, has been a great source of pride for me.
Over the years I have been fortunate enough to work with wonderful colleagues who shared the same goals with me, and as a result I developed strong bonds with them. I have worked with various school boards and committees, dedicated teaching and administrative staff, as well as an incredible group of loyal volunteers, all for the betterment of our school. I am extremely proud of all the achievements we have accomplished together, such as the accreditation of the school by the Association of Independent Schools in New England in 2003; the introduction of the STEM Initiative in 2011; the three consecutive expansions of our physical plant between 1998 and 2012; and 18 Graduating Class Trips to Armenia, with an additional one this July, to name just a few.
I have shared my decision with the School Board of Directors. A search committee, led by Michael Guzelian, chair of the School Board, is being formed to help SSAES find its next leader. Recruitment will begin immediately; I will stay in my current role until a successor is found and provide support during a transition period.
It is with much love and fond memories that I leave my job. I wish the next Head of School much success. SSAES is a magical place; I will treasure it forever. My wish is to see our community and the community at large cherish, protect and contribute to the advancement of this beacon of light and hope for many years to come.
Sincerely,
Houry Boyamian, M.Ed.
Principal
Gov. Gavin Newsom signs budget
GLENDALE—California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed the 2022-2023 State Budget with $10 million in new funding for the Armenian American Museum currently under construction in the City of Glendale. The new funding brings the State of California’s total investment in the cultural and educational center to $19.8 million.
Governor Newsom first proposed the new funding for the museum in the May Revised Budget proposal for the State of California. Last week, the Governor made the additional funding official with the signing of the state budget.
“We extend our sincere gratitude to Governor Gavin Newsom for his strong leadership and unwavering support of the Armenian American Museum,” stated Executive Chairman Berdj Karapetian on the heels of the major announcement. “We also extend our special thanks to Senator Anthony Portantino for his long standing advocacy in support of the project.”
Senator Anthony Portantino, a longtime champion of the museum, has been collaborating with the Governor’s office to educate state officials and colleagues on the historic significance of the project.
State Senator Anthony Portantino speaks at the Armenian American Museum groundbreaking in July 2021
“I am deeply appreciative to Governor Newsom for proposing and signing $10 million in new state funding to support the Armenian American Museum,” stated Senator Anthony Portantino. “The Governor recognizes the major impact the institution is going to have on all Californians and once again has proven his commitment with this critical and timely investment.”
The Armenian American Museum is a world class cultural and educational institution that is currently under construction in the museum campus at Glendale Central Park. The museum will offer a wide range of public programming through the Permanent Exhibition, Temporary Exhibitions, Auditorium, Learning Center, Demonstration Kitchen, Archives Center, and more.
The museum celebrated its historic groundbreaking and commenced construction on the project in Summer 2021. The Phase I construction of the semi-subterranean parking garage and foundation is on schedule to be completed in Summer 2022. The next major phase of the project will be the Phase II construction of the two-level 50,820-square-foot museum complex.
Armenian China-Eurasia Council and Renmin University of China logos
A memorandum of understanding was signed between China-Eurasia Council for Political and Strategic Research and the School of International Studies of Renmin University of China. The cooperation of the Parties within the framework of this Memorandum of Understanding will include the following directions: conducting joint conferences, seminars, courses, expert meetings and consultations, implementation of joint research projects and preparation of publications, exchange of academic information and publications.
During the last few years, China-Eurasia Council for Political and Strategic Research and School of International Studies of Renmin University of China have already established cooperation. Starting from 2019, researchers of both sides have attended academic conferences, courses, and seminars, such as: “Eurasian Research on Modern China and Eurasia,” “RUC Area Studies Forum,” “Rethinking China’s Rise under the Governance of the CPC: Achievements, Initiatives and Prospects,” “Rethinking China’s Foreign Policy,” as well as a book presentation, organized by each side.
It is also worth to mention that on April 8, both sides jointly organized “First Armenia and China Forum” dedicated to the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations. Researchers of both sides are among co-authors of “China and Eurasia: Rethinking Cooperation and Contradictions in the Era of Changing World Order,” a book published by Routledge in 2021.
The Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the organizations was signed by Dr. Mher Sahakyan, the founding head of the China-Eurasia Council for Political and Strategic Research and Professor Yang Guangbin, the dean of Director of School of International Studies.
Dr. Mher Sahakyan emphasized the importance of this partnership, saying that the agreement will provide an added impetus to bust further cooperation and implementation of academic diplomacy between both institutions. He thanked Dr. Yuntian Zheng and Professor Yang Guangbin for their cooperation and support.
“Congratulations on the Memorandum of Understanding between China-Eurasia Council for Political and Strategic Research and School of International Studies in Renmin University of China,” said Professor Yang Guangbin. “Renmin University of China, which has been fostering a large number of outstanding talents, is the first-class research base on international issues and political sciences in China. We genuinely hope to expand the academic and cultural communication between China and Armenia and enhance the relative research on this base to promote the relationship between the two countries.”
Dr. Yuntian Zheng mentioned that, the Memorandum of Understanding, which is signed under the background of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Armenian diplomatic relations, truly represents the friendship between Chinese and Armenian people. In this changing era, Belt and Road Initiative is becoming more significant in Eurasia. The scholars should be responsible for contributing to promote the relative studies. As one of the best schools in area studies, School of International Studies in Renmin University of China will make more efforts on cooperating with Armenian think tanks and universities in the future.
BOSTON, Mass. – The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world drastically over the past few years, especially in the areas of healthcare and life sciences. It comes as no surprise that we, too, are shifting the way we approach healthcare. More and more, people are taking their health into their own hands through use of wearable technology and apps on their mobile device. Within the last year alone, according to the latest forecast from Gartner, worldwide end-user spending on wearable devices increased 18.1 percent from 2020. People are embracing technology for health and wellness more than ever.
From leading successful healthcare ventures to being a sought-after speaker on innovative concepts and trends, Harry Glorikian understands the revolutionary potential artificial intelligence and data can have on healthcare and life sciences. Leveraging his three decades of experience, Glorikian has advised some of the largest health corporations in the world, including Global 500 and Fortune 500 companies.
In his new book, The Future You: How Artificial Intelligence Can Help You Get Healthier, Stress Less, and Live Longer (Brick Tower Press, Oct. 2021), Glorikian shares life-altering observations on the effect digitalization and innovative technology has had on health. He outlines a roadmap to maximize readers’ personalized health and wellness, along with clearing the misconceptions people often have about health technology. Filled with practical tools and illustrative stories from experts, Glorikian’s mission is to help everyone reach their best self and educate readers on the effectiveness of revitalized technology.
“AI is transforming healthcare and changing how doctors can monitor, diagnose, and treat disease,” says Glorikian. “The Future You explores just how AI is improving healthcare on a personal level, and shares what everyday people need to know to navigate the new medical paradigm and improve your health in monumental ways— starting today.”
In The Future You, readers will learn:
Harry Glorikian
Harry Glorikian is a successful venture-builder, healthcare entrepreneur and author of The Future You: How Artificial Intelligence Can Help You Get Healthier, Stress Less, and Live Longer (Brick Tower Press, Oct. 2021). With over three decades of experience building prosperous ventures all over the world, Glorikian is well-known for his achievements in fundamental industries like healthcare, diagnostics, life sciences and the intersection of these industries. As co-founder of Scientia Advisors and general partner of Scientia Ventures, Glorikian has served some of the most innovative global technology and healthcare companies in the world, many of which are on the Global 500. As the host of The Harry Glorikian Show, Glorikian has been able to share his expertise and talk to key healthcare leaders and innovators about the evolving data-driven industry.
The Future You: How Artificial Intelligence Can Help You Get Healthier, Stress Less, and Live Longer is available on Amazon Kindle and .
https://armenianweekly.com/2021/11/17/how-artificial-intelligence-can-help-you-get-healthier-stress-less-and-live-longer/
The book several months ago was on the top ten list of Amazon.com best-sellers and comes highly recommended. For example, New York Times bestselling author of 14 books on nutrition and health, and a television medical correspondent, Bob Arnot, M.D., in his brief introduction in the book recommends it be turned into the centerpiece of your coffee table. He exhorts, “It can make all the difference in the quality of your life.”
It is 272 pages long, including 52 pages of references to articles, which are mostly accessible online, but in its core sections, it is a fast-moving and lively work intended for a broad audience. Artificial intelligence is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, or in other words the ability of a device to teach itself to learn and think. Glorikian examines its use along with “big data” and predictive analytics in healthcare and proclaims at the start of his book “There’s not a person among us who isn’t going to feel the effects of this AI revolution, and it’s going to utterly transform the healthcare system as we know it today.”
Glorikian’s Expertise
At the start of the book, Glorikian relates how he came into this field. His story began in 1984, when as a 19-year-old, he worked for a man in the computer education business who also invented a type of computer to help him predict winning bets on roulette and other games of chance. This was his first insight into the benefits of predictive analytics and throughout most of his career, he wrote, he would “peer down the pike and tell my employer, fellow executives, or investors which products or business model will be the next best thing in healthcare” (p. 13).
Harry Glorikian
Flashing forward to 1999, Glorikian ends up working for Applied Biosystems, where scientists worked on the mapping of the human genome, combining the use of biology and information technology. Meanwhile, when his sister-in-law and husband are visiting and he is touring them around the Boston area, he came up with the idea of using GPS data to provide information on touristic sites or restaurants in the vicinity of travelers but was not able to break into what then was the telecom industry.
Thursday, July 7, 2022
Iran Again Warns Against ‘Geopolitical Changes’ In South Caucasus
Armenia - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian greets Ali Shamkhani, secretary of
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Yerevan, July 7, 2022.
A senior Iranian security official reaffirmed Tehran’s opposition to
“geopolitical changes” in the South Caucasus and support for Armenian
sovereignty over transit roads passing through Armenia when he visited Yerevan
on Thursday.
Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security
Council, met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and his Armenian opposite
number for talks that focused on regional security and Armenian-Iranian economic
cooperation.
“Ali Shamkhani emphasized that Iran considers any attempt to change the
geopolitical situation in the region unacceptable and noted that his country
also supports the process of unblocking [transport] infrastructures within the
framework of preserving the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states,”
Pashinian’s press office said in a statement on the talks.
Other Iranian officials, notably President Ebrahim Raisi, have made similar
statements in recent months amid Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations on restoring
transport links between the two South Caucasus states.
Such links are envisaged by the Russian-brokered ceasefire that stopped the 2020
war in Nagorno-Karabakh. The deal specifically commits Yerevan to opening rail
and road links between Azerbaijan and its Nakhichevan exclave.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has claimed that it calls for an
exterritorial land corridor that would pass through Syunik, the sole Armenian
province bordering Iran. Armenian leaders deny this, saying that Azerbaijani
citizens and cargo cannot be exempt from Armenian border controls.
“Statements made about transport corridors are unacceptable to us,” the Iranian
ambassador in Yerevan, Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri, reportedly said during a visit
to Syunik in late April.
Armenia - An Armenian flag is hoisted at a military base on the border with
Iran, October 7, 2021.
According to the Armenian government statement, Shamkhani told Pashinian that
Iran is ready to deepen ties with Armenia “in all spheres.” The two men stressed
in that regard the importance of increasing bilateral trade and implementing
joint energy and transport projects.
The official Iranian news agency IRNA quoted Shamkhani as telling Armen
Grigorian, the secretary of Armenia’s Security Council, that Tehran sees “no
limitations for expanding bilateral ties as the Iranian and Armenian nations
have over the past decades backed each other in difficult times at the regional
and international levels.”
Grigorian’s office said the two officials stressed the importance of Chabahar,
an Iranian cargo port in the Gulf of Oman, “in the context of Armenian-Iranian
relations and especially the development of Syunik.”
India has built two terminals at Chabahar to bypass Pakistan in cargo traffic
with Iran, Afghanistan and central Asian countries.
Meeting in Yerevan last October, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Indian
counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar called for establishing an Armenian-Indian
transport link passing through Chabahar. Mirzoyan said the Iranian port could be
used for cargo shipments to not only Armenia but also neighboring Georgia,
Russia and even Europe.
An Indian-Armenian intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation held its
latest session in Yerevan earlier this week.
Pashinian Wants Quick Implementation Of Border Deal With Turkey
• Sargis Harutyunyan
Turkey - The Church of Tigran Honents at the ruins of Ani, the capital of a
medieval Armenian kingdom, on the Turkey-Armenia border, 11Sep2008
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian told Armenian government agencies on Thursday to
closely cooperate with their Turkish counterparts for implementing “as soon as
possible” an agreement to open the Turkish-Armenian border to citizens of third
countries.
Special envoys of Armenia and Turkey reached the agreement in Vienna last week
during a fourth round of negotiations on normalizing relations between the two
neighboring states.
The Turkish and Armenian foreign ministries said after the talks that
“third-country citizens visiting Armenia and Turkey” will be allowed to cross
the land border “at the earliest date possible.” They said the two sides also
agreed to launch “direct air cargo trade between Armenia and Turkey.”
“It is now very important that our agencies work with relevant Turkish agencies
because the implementation of the political agreements depends on that work,”
Pashinian said at a weekly cabinet meeting in Yerevan. “So my order is that we
work in a coordinated way so that we implement the agreements reached as soon as
possible.”
Turkey -- Turkish soldiers stand guard on a road near Kars leading to a closed
border crossing with Armenia, 15Apr2009
Pashinian did not give any time frames for what would be the first step towards
the opening of the border which Turkey has for decades kept closed. Nor did he
specify administrative and logistical measures that need to be taken for that
purpose.
The Armenian Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures, which
deals with transport-related issues, did not immediately comment on those steps.
Armenia and Turkey do not have diplomatic ties.
Ankara has long made the normalization of relations with Yerevan conditional on
a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict acceptable to Azerbaijan. Turkish
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has repeatedly said that his government
coordinates the Turkish-Armenian dialogue with Baku.
Armenian leaders have said, for their part, that they want an unconditional
normalization of Turkish-Armenian ties. Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan
complained in late May that Ankara is “synchronizing” the Turkish-Armenian
normalization process with Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks.
Armenia -- President Armen Sarkissian (second from right) visits a
Russian-Armenian border guard post on Armenia's border with Turkey, July 4, 2020.
Pashinian and members of his political team regularly stress the economic
significance of cross-border commerce with Turkey as well as Azerbaijan. Economy
Minister Vahan Kerobian insisted on Thursday that it will have “very big
economic effects” on Armenia. But he did not back up his optimism with concrete
economic projections.
Most Armenian opposition politicians as well as some economists and
businesspeople are far more skeptical about the likely impact of an open border
with Turkey. They say that it would primarily lower the cost of importing
Turkish goods to Armenia and thus hurt local manufacturers and farmers.
Turkish imports accounted for the bulk of Turkish-Armenian trade which stood,
according to Armenian government data, at 73.5 billion drams ($180 million) last
year.
Armenian Inflation Hits Double Digits
• Robert Zargarian
Armenia - A supermarket in Yerevan, April 29, 2021.
Inflation in Armenia continued to rise in June, reaching an annual rate of 10.3
percent, government data shows.
According to the Armenian government’s Statistical Committee, soaring food
prices remained the key factor behind the increased cost of living. They were up
by an average of 17 percent year on year.
The Statistical Committee reported an almost 46 percent surge in the average
cost of vegetables mostly grown in the country. It said the prices of bread and
beef were up by about 20 percent from June 2021.
Economy Minister Vahan Kerobian admitted on Thursday that the much
higher-than-projected inflation rate could increase poverty in Armenia, which
already grew in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. But he said that the
impact of the rising consumer prices should be offset by robust economic growth
recorded in the first five months of this year. The growth is translating into
new jobs and higher wages, he told journalists.
Kerobian also pointed to the government’s decision last week to raise the
national minimum wage by 10 percent, to 75,000 drams ($182). The measure will
take effect in January 2023.
Government officials have said that pensions will also rise next year. But they
have not yet specified the extent of the promised increase.
Inflation hit the double-digit rate last month despite a sharp appreciation of
the Armenian currency, the dram, which began in mid-March amid an influx of
thousands of Russians who left their country following the Russian invasion of
Ukraine. The dram’s exchange rate has also been affected by a significant
strengthening of the Russian ruble.
Armenia’s Central Bank has made clear that it will not cut interest rates or
intervene in the domestic currency market to reverse the dram’s appreciation
which is hitting hard some Armenian exporters. The bank’s governor, Martin
Galstian, insisted last month that the stronger dram is somewhat easing external
inflationary pressures on the Armenian economy.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2022 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
ANCA supports Pallone-led Congressional letter to block F-16 sale; Pappas/Bilirakis NDAA Amendments
WASHINGTON—Bipartisan Congressional opposition to President Biden’s recent green-lighting of the controversial sale of U.S. F-16 fighter jets and upgrade kits to Turkey is mounting with the Congressional Armenian Caucus and Hellenic Caucus leading the charge, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Hellenic American Caucus Co-Chairs Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) were joined by Greek-American Representatives Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Dina Titus (D-NV) this week in calling on their Congressional colleagues to co-sign a letter to President Biden sharing their deep concern about the support he expressed for an F-16 sale to Turkey during the recent NATO summit in Madrid, Spain.
The Congressional letter notes, “Turkish and Turkish-backed forces have utilized American-made weaponry and components during these incursions to commit war crimes, including purposefully bombing civilian targets like hospitals and schools in Iraq, Syria, and Nagorno Karabakh. They have also been used repeatedly to violate the sovereign territory of NATO allies and partners like Greece and Cyprus. These are hardly the actions of a committed ally to the United States and Europe.” The letter concludes by stating, “precedent shows that Erdogan will not change his behavior if we continue to reward his efforts to undermine the NATO alliance. The United States must not provide any further support to Turkey’s military until tangible steps are taken to halt his destabilizing actions and violations of international law at home and abroad.”
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian welcomed this most recent Congressional effort to block the F-16 sale. “We join with our Hellenic allies and all our coalition partners in supporting Congressman Pallone’s call on President Biden to block Turkey’s purchase of F-16s – an advanced weapons system that Ankara will surely use to target, intimidate, and attack Greeks, Cypriots, Kurds, and Armenians,” stated Hamparian. “A strong show of support for this bipartisan letter – backed up by a sustained Congressional, coalition, and community drive to impose statutory restrictions on this reckless sale – is needed to avert a foreign policy disaster – the arming of Ankara, an openly anti-American power seeking to displace U.S. leadership across a region vital to global security.”
The ANCA is working with Armenian Americans across the U.S. to secure support for the Pallone letter. Over the past month, ANCA Leo Sarkisian, Maral Melkonian Avetisyan, and Hovig Apo Saghdejian Capital Gateway Program summer interns and fellows have been joined ANCA Government Affairs Director Tereza Yerimyan and Hamparian in meetings with over 100 Congressional offices sharing concerns about the pending F-16 sale to Turkey, as part of advancing broader pro-Artsakh / Armenian community priorities.
In addition to Representatives Pallone, Bilirakis, Maloney, Pappas, and Titus, current co-signers of this most recent Congressional letter include Representatives Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), James McGovern (D-MA), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), and David Valadao (R-CA). Additional co-signers are expected in the upcoming days.
The ANCA is also supporting two amendments – #208 and #478 – to the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA – H.R.7900) which would effectively prohibit President Biden from selling or transferring F-16s or F-16 modernization kits to Turkey. Led by Representatives Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), current co-sponsors of both measures include Representatives David Cicilline (D-RI), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Grace Meng (D-NY), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Brad Schneider (D-IL), and Dina Titus (D-NV). The House Rules Committee will determine as early as July 12th whether the amendments are “in order,” allowing a full House vote on the measures.
Earlier in the week, Representatives Carolyn Maloney, Bilirakis and Pappas issued strong statements opposing the Biden Administration’s apparent plans to sell sensitive F-16 modernization kits to Turkey.
“I am deeply disappointed with the apparent plan to move forward with modernizing Turkey’s F-16s.” said Rep. Maloney “We must not forget that Turkey uses their current air fleet to violate the sovereignty of a reliable NATO member and ally, Greece, and that such a modernized force could be used to support their illegal occupation of Northern Cyprus. Furthermore, Turkey still possesses Russian S-400 anti-air systems, which led to their ejection from the F-35 program and the imposition of CAATSA sanctions We must continue to hold Erdogan accountable for violations of U.S. law, human rights, and the security of our ally Greece – not reward him.”
Rep. Bilirakis concurred, noting, “Turkey has consistently demonstrated a complete disregard for following international law. Erdogan repeatedly acts contrary to American interests, with his dangerous behavior contributing to the instability of the region. For all these reasons, we absolutely must not sell Turkey F-16s or F-16 modernization kits.”
Rep. Pappas shared, “I’m deeply concerned about Assistant Secretary Wallander’s comments in support of modernizing Turkish F-16s and strongly oppose the sale of advanced weapons and equipment to upgrade Turkey’s F-16 fleet. Turkey has failed to address the issues that led to its ejection from the F-35 program and the imposition of CAATSA sanctions. Turkey’s increasingly belligerent rhetoric and behavior towards Greece, a reliable democratic NATO ally, also cannot be ignored. Turkish F-16s have flown over Greek islands and violated its airspace hundreds of times in recent weeks, and Turkey has launched a baseless campaign disputing Greece’s sovereignty over its eastern Aegean islands. We cannot allow the Erdogan government to escape accountability for violating U.S. law and the standards of the NATO alliance.”
In a joint statement, Representatives Bilirakis and Malliotakis remarked, “As members of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, we remain strongly opposed to any sale of U.S. military equipment to Turkey and will continue to express our concerns to our colleagues on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The bond between Greece and the United States has only been strengthened over the last two centuries, and it’s incumbent upon Congress to stand together against aggression whether it comes from an adversary like Russia or a NATO ally like Turkey that continues to violate international law.”
Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) led a statement along with Reps. Chris Pappas, Charlie Crist (D-FL), Carolyn Maloney, Frank Pallone, and John Sarbanes outlining Turkey’s ongoing aggression against fellow NATO member, Greece. “Since the beginning of 2022 Turkey has violated the airspace of fellow NATO ally Greece over 2,377 times, including 120 overflights over Greek territory. Turkey’s antagonistic actions in the Aegean Sea, as well as their hostile stance towards the Greek government, make it clear that they do not intend to suspend these aggressive and destabilizing actions soon,” noted Rep. Titus and her colleagues.
In addition to the ANCA, the following U.S. civil society organizations are on the record opposing the sale of F-16s to Turkey: American Friends of Kurdistan, American Jewish Committee, Hellenic American Leadership Council, In Defense of Christians, Middle East Forum, and PSEKA – International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus.