15:07,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 31, ARMENPRESS. The meeting of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, President of the European Council Charles Michel and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev launched in Brussels.
This is the fourth meeting of Pashinyan, Michel and Aliyev in this format.
The first meeting was held on December 14, 2021, the second one on April 6 and the third one on May 23, 2022.
15:14,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 31, ARMENPRESS. The National Security Service conducted anti-terrorist training drills on August 31 at the Sasuntsi Davit metro station and adjacent areas in Yerevan, as well as on board the Yerevan-Tbilisi passenger train.
“The results of the training exercises were assessed as positive, all necessary objectives were completed,” the NSS added.
“We call on everyone to treat the law enforcement agencies’ activities with understanding and provide possible assistance and use exclusively official news. At the same time, display vigilance and pay attention to unattended items in public areas and vehicles and notify law enforcement agencies,” the NSS said.
GLENDALE—The Glendale Unified Board of Education unanimously voted to extend the contract for Superintendent Dr. Vivian Ekchian for another four years at their meeting Tuesday evening. Her new contract, effective immediately, will extend through August 2026.
Dr. Ekchian has served as Glendale Unified Superintendent of Schools since July 2019. During her tenure, she has led the district in implementing the Board of Education’s priorities to maximize achievement for all students, foster a positive culture of learning on every campus, and protect the health and safety of students and employees. She has been instrumental in building partnerships with outside organizations to close the digital divide, provide dual college enrollment and internship opportunities for students, open health and wellness centers at every middle and high school, and expand the district’s before- and after-school child care program.
Under Dr. Ekchian’s leadership, Glendale Unified was recognized as a countywide model for successfully navigating the COVID-19 pandemic by offering child care in technology learning pods, developing essential practices for distance and hybrid instruction, implementing multiple layers of protection for campus health and safety, hosting 38 vaccination clinics, and offering on-site COVID-19 testing every school day at every school site.
“Dr. Ekchian is a lifelong educator, visionary leader, and champion for equity with a relentless focus on accelerating student outcomes,” said Board of Education President Nayiri Nahabedian. “We are thrilled to renew Dr. Ekchian’s contract and continue moving our district forward with her at the helm.”
“I am deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve this amazing community for another four years,” said Dr. Ekchian. “As we continue our commitment to equity and excellence, I remain focused on elevating student voices, supporting our educators and staff, and partnering with our families and community to offer dynamic learning opportunities for every child.”
For further information, please contact Kristine Nam at (818) 241-3111 x1218 or [email protected].
15:47,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 31, ARMENPRESS. The entire meaning behind the bill on banning fireworks is aimed at prohibiting the use of the kind of fireworks at private events which disturb the residents nearby, Civil Contract Party Board Member Tigran Avinyan said at a discussion organized by lawmaker Sisak Gabrielyan, the chairman of the parliamentary commission on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sport Affairs.
“I haven’t seen fireworks being used every day at private events in restaurants in any civilized city around the world,” Avinyan said.
Avinyan said that the authority to ban fireworks at any given event must be vested in the mayor of the given town or city.
“Regarding the responsibility part, we are heading for a strict licensing process. Presumably the licensed companies won’t be that many and the imported product will be registered. If fireworks get used in a restaurant it would mean that the licensed companies have sold the fireworks to someone they shouldn’t have or have smuggled the fireworks,” Avinyan said.
Avinyan said the problem will be 90% solved as soon as the restriction is enforced.
Aghavno residents gather their belongings to leave the village in Artsakh's Berdzor region (Armenpress photo by Tatev Duryan)
In a report submitted to the OSCE Minks Group Co-Chairs, Artsakh’s Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan detailed more rights violations by Azerbaijan in August 2022. The report was also sent to organizations with a primary mandate of human rights protection and other human rights institutions.
The first section of the report presents details on the systematic and continuous crimes committed by Azerbaijan against the people of Artsakh after the November 9, 2020 Statement. After the establishment of the ceasefire, Azerbaijan committed more than 112 crimes that caused human casualties and significant material damage. As a result of those crimes 3 civilians and 15 military servicemen were killed, 126 persons were subjected to attempted murders (48 civilians, 78 military personnel), and 65 people (14 civilians, 51 military personnel) were wounded in various degrees. The section also made a reference to the Azerbaijani aggression launched against the people of Artsakh in August 2022 and its consequences.
The second section provides details on the existential importance of the Corridor connecting the Republic of Artsakh to the Republic of Armenia (Lachin Corridor) for the people of Artsakh, the inadmissibility of changing its legal regime, and Azerbaijan’s illegal demand of changing the route of the Corridor much earlier than was agreed under the November 9, 2020 Statement. It has been stated in the section that to advance its illegal demands, Azerbaijan continuously uses or threats to use force, grossly violating international law.
The third section introduces details on the depopulation of Berdzor, Aghavno, and Nerkin Sus communities of the Kashatagh region of Artsakh, resulting in gross violations of fundamental human rights, also referring to the European Court of Human Rights’ interim measures issued on August 19, 2022, and expanded on November 3 of the same year, which call on the parties “to refrain from such actions that could lead to a violation of the rights of civilians protected by the Convention.”
The fourth section provides some proof of the drastic increase in hate speech and other manifestations of Armenophobia by the state officials and public figures of Azerbaijan, parallel to the August escalation. It has been stated that Azerbaijan is clearly violating the order of the International Court of Justice issued on December 7, 2021, particularly paragraph 2, according to which Azerbaijan must “refrain from engaging in or tolerating hate speech against Armenians… punishing all acts of racial discrimination, both public and private, against Armenians, including those taken by public officials.”
The fifth section makes a reference to the necessity of clarifying the mandate of the Russian peacekeeping mission, which will provide effective mechanisms for properly countering the ceasefire violations and for ensuring stable and lasting peace.
The report was prepared on the basis of studies conducted by the Human Rights Defender’s Office, on the visits to various communities, citizens’ houses, on private conversations with citizens, and information received from state-authorized bodies. The aim is to document the cases of violation of the rights of the people of Artsakh by Azerbaijan and their various manifestations and to draw the attention of international institutions and human rights organizations to the situation in Artsakh.
Read the complete report.
16:19,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 31, ARMENPRESS. Investigators filed a motion to the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction on remanding into custody Lt. General Mikayel Arzumanyan, the former commander of the Defense Army of Artsakh.
The Investigative Committee spokesperson Vardan Tadevosyan said that Arzumanyan was arrested and subsequently released as the maximum arrest period expired.
Arzumanyan’s lawyer Yerem Sargsyan said that the court will examine the motion on remanding his client at 19:00, August 31.
Arzumanyan is charged with military negligence. Investigators said that during the war, in conditions of martial law, from October 30 to November 9 of 2020, Arzumanyan displayed negligent attitude for his duties during organizing the defense of the town of Shushi and nearby regions and failed to fulfill or improperly fulfilled his duties which led to severe consequences: enemy forces captured Shushi and nearby areas and the Armenian forces suffered casualties.
Christine Serdjenian Yearwood, after voting last fall, pictured with her children Ani, Antonio and Arpineh next to the Armenian words for “good morning” (բարի լույս), which were on the wall alongside many other languages at a public school in Astoria
When Christine Serdjenian Yearwood learned that the New York City Department of Education (DOE) was gathering input and feedback from citizens for the new culturally responsive curriculum it plans to implement next year, she jumped into action. As a former NYC public school teacher, she felt compelled to get involved, merging her passion for education with her history of advocacy to make a difference for Armenian-Americans like her three children in America’s largest school system. As the founder and leader of UP-STAND, Serdjenian is an advocate for improving accessibility and inclusivity for pregnant women and their families. Having served on the board of Birthright Armenia and GOALS, her ties to Armenia and its issues are just as strong. With this potential opportunity to introduce Armenian cultural literacy into the school district’s curriculum, the coming months will be crucial for the community to make its voice heard by decision-makers.
The DOE’s project, known as Mosaic, is focused on teaching English and math in a way that reflects the city’s diversity, helping students to build understanding and appreciation for their own culture and others. This aspiration resonated with Serdjenian immediately. “As a public school parent here in NYC, I want my children to see themselves reflected and affirmed in the curriculum, as every child should be,” she said. “It is so important for our children to see themselves in the curriculum and for others to see them, too. This could be that chance for Armenian-American children here.”
Serdjenian’s lifelong desire to have her own culture and those of others recognized and included within our education system is one familiar to many Armenian-Americans. “For much of my life, I’ve had to explain to people where Armenia is, about Armenian issues, what it is like to be Armenian and/or SWANA in the United States, what we go through both past and present. In high school, I taught my peers about Armenian history; in college, I gathered students for Armenian film screenings. I want it to be different for the next generation, including for my own kids. I want our culture, our history, our suffering, our contributions and our triumphs to be known here. Knowledge is power,” stressed Serdjenian.
Serdjenian has received support from other ethnic interest groups, as this is a struggle which isn’t unique to Armenian-Americans. For example, she first learned about Mosaic from the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families, which she says has been very affirming and supportive of including Southwest Asians and Armenians in their educational advocacy. She’s also connected with Make Us Visible, the Asian American Education Project, the United Federation of Teachers’ Asian Heritage Committee, APALA, and Congresswoman Meng‘s office (D-NY). She also reached out to like-minded Armenian supporters she recognized from articles about them in the diasporan press. These include Sophia Armen, Suzie Abajian and Thomas Simsarian Dolan, the last of whom she learned about from his 2020 article in the Weekly about Artsakh and Ethnic Studies. They used their experience with an earlier Armenian-inclusion curriculum campaign in California through the Armenian-American Action Network to create one for New York. Together, they strategized, drafted letters, formed alliances with other organizations and built a campaign landing page. “I think it’s so emblematic of the Armenian community that they have spent their time and efforts in collaboration with me, when I reached out as a total stranger,” said Serdjenian. “I can’t say enough about how much time and effort they’ve dedicated to this cause and how grateful I am on behalf of my family and all of New York.”
Mosaic is an important opportunity because, in Serdjenian’s experience with advocacy, “we so often have to try to change things retroactively, which is really hard and slow work. I saw the Mosaic info/input sessions advertised and have been hopeful that we can proactively raise enough awareness to be included initially by the curriculum developers.” Despite a lack of information and response from the NYC Department of Education (DOE) regarding the campaign at this time, there has been some positive movement recently with legislation regarding Asian American and Armenian studies in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts and New Jersey. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY-12th district, Serdjenian’s own) recently introduced the Armenian Genocide Education Act to provide funding for Library of Congress educational programs about the Armenian Genocide. In New York State, legislation S6359A and A7260, still in committee, seek to include the teaching of Asian American history and civic impact in NY public schools. She also points to The Hidden Voices Project, which is going to be tested in spring 2024 and will include seven lesson plans on Asian Americans. Serdjenian hopes all of these factors help facilitate the DOE’s inclusion of Armenian-Americans among the many groups that make up the vibrant fabric of New York City.
In the coming months, the Mosaic curriculum will be rolled out to classrooms. But it’s not too late to weigh in. To show support for the inclusion of Armenians within this framework, the Armenian-American Action Network has a pre-filled letter that readers can send directly to the Department of Education with a few clicks. Organizations can also fill out a form to add their name to a letter alongside elected officials that will be delivered separately to some of the DOE’s highest officials for Armenian inclusion.
Christine Serdjenian Yearwood and her sister Tracy Serdjenian in Times Square on April 24, 2022
16:36,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 31, ARMENPRESS. According to preliminary data, around 40,000 first graders will start school in Armenia on September 1, the ministry of education, science, culture and sport said.
The ministry added that the final number of the 1st graders will be known on September 10 as the schools will complete the entry of the data into the electronic system.
By Kohar Bargamian Teague (Kohar Mardig)
101st ARS of Eastern USA Convention Reporter
On the first day of the 101st ARS of Eastern USA Convention, delegates arrived in the hotel lobby to a warm welcome from members of the ARS North Carolina “Nayiri” Chapter: Judy Hagopian Edwards, Lusya Shmavonian Schnelli and Anita Mangasarian Bolz. By the time the opening session in the evening had begun, all knew the legendary story of the newly-established chapter. The chapter’s start was very William Saroyanesque – “See if the race will not live again when two of them meet.” Shmavonian Schnelli explained, “It was our family’s fascination with the pineapple and my son’s taking a picture of Ungerouhi Judy’s Pineapple Realtor sign while on a bike trip that was the catalyst. The pineapple and that picture connected us. My son came back from his biking trip with the picture and noticed that the realtor’s last name on the sign had an -ian at the end of the name. I reached out to Judy with a simple telephone call, and the rest is history.”
When the 2020 Artsakh War began, Shmavonian Schnelli, Hagopian Edwards and Mangasarian Bolz knew that they needed to organize humanitarian efforts. With the administrative assistance of ARS-EUSA executive director Vartouhie Chiloyan and the ARS-EUSA executive board, they formed North Carolina’s first ARS chapter. Like the founding members of the ARS over a century ago, Shmavonian Schnelli knew that there was no such thing as “sitting on the sidelines;” Artsakh’s soldiers and citizens alike needed aid. The fledgling chapter and its members have already made a profound impact—to rise up, organize and serve the noble cause of providing humanitarian and educational aid for all Armenians in the diaspora and homeland. We are sure to see many more great things come from this vibrant chapter.
The ARS North Carolina “Nayiri” Chapter was not the only “hot” act at the convention. First-time delegates not only excelled in their duties, but they also went above and beyond and filled the roles of tivan, secretaries and committee members. After the reading of the English meeting minutes of the first session, the convention cheered and clapped hands for a job well done. Both English meeting minute scribers, Areni Margosian and Ani Aroyan, quickly explained, “This is not our first go around with writing minutes; the AYF has trained us well with taking minutes for AYF chapter meetings and conventions.”
Equally impressive was the resolutions committee; three ARS members—Artvine Nekrourian, Hagopian Edwards and Sossy Shahinian Sagherian—deftly crafted resolutions and made the language clear for the new ARS-ER Board to understand and execute. Hagopian Edwards described her participation on the committee as “total immersion!” Fascinated by the process, Nekrourian admitted, “There is a fine line and balance between what the committee received as a resolution and ‘the needed cleaning up of the language’ so that the intent of the author is maintained.” Shahinian Sagherian took it all in stride knowing diligence in listening was the key in designing a resolution that matched the convention’s wishes. She found that her role on the committee was a valuable experience.
The 101st ARS of Eastern USA Convention delegates were not shy to share their thoughts. On the contrary, every delegate needed to share their thoughts on everything from the smallest of issues (order of agenda, breaks, lunch, etc.) to the topics at hand (funding sources, leadership and strategy). Delegates were grateful to convention chairpersons Shakeh Basmajian and MaryAnne Bonjuklian and all the committee members. For many, this convention was their first time—in a long time—attending an in-person meeting—a welcome break from the Zoom meetings of the pandemic.
‘Singing with the stars’ at the 101st ARS-EUSA Convention
On Friday night, the convention delegates and guests (who did not have convention/committee duties to complete) organically commandeered the entire hotel outdoor pool patio and gave new meaning to “singing with the stars,” as Armenian revolutionary and love songs echoed in the summer evening air. The ARS-ER Convention’s lead singing stars were Yn. Maggie Kouyoumdjian, Silva Kouyoumdjian, Marina Yakoubian.
On Sunday morning August 21, the tone of the convention was unified. With the new Board elected, the ARS-EUSA Board and delegates were energized to return to their chapters and members and carry out the established programs of the ARS-EUSA and help plan the strategic growth of funding and membership resources, as well as maintain vigilance in providing humanitarian aid to Armenians in crisis zones.
Many ARS members shared their heartfelt gratitude for the inspiring gathering. Heather Krafian and Maral Nakashian wished the new Board success as they stepped down upon completing their terms. Angele Manoogian presented the new Board with a generous donation. The convention cheered and thanked her for her unwavering commitment and generosity to the ARS Eastern USA. The ARS-EUSA Board was able to present the North Carolina chapter with seed money to fund their projects through funds collected from the Saturday night gala raffle and the convention’s Sergeant at Arms.
The chapters that voted and sent delegates to the 2022 convention should be commended. Each delegate contributed their very best as they listened, learned and mentored. One should always strive to “leave it better than you found it,” reminded Krafian. Congratulations to all the delegates. You made a difference.
16:54,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 31, ARMENPRESS. Concluding observations of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination include cases of gross human rights violations committed by Azerbaijan during the aggression against Artsakh in 2020 and beyond, the Ombudsman of Artsakh said in a statement.
“We note with satisfaction that the Concluding observations of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on the fulfillment of the obligations undertaken by Azerbaijan under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination include cases of gross human rights violations committed by Azerbaijan during the aggression against Artsakh in 2020 and beyond.
Concerns voiced by the Committee regarding the incitement of racial hatred and propagation of racist stereotypes against persons of Armenian national or ethnic origin, including by Azerbaijani government officials, as well as the lack of proper investigation, are the best evidence that discriminatory policies in Azerbaijan are implemented at the state level.
All the other cases pointed out by the Committee, such as grave human rights violations committed by the Azerbaijani military forces against prisoners of war and civilians, including extrajudicial killings, torture, ill-treatment, and arbitrary detentions, as well as the destruction of Armenian cultural and religious heritage are carried out in accordance with and in furtherance of the discriminatory state policy of Azerbaijan.
The observations presented by the Committee are part of the systematic and large-scale discriminatory policy of Azerbaijan against the people of Artsakh pursued for decades. The implementation of the discriminatory policy of Azerbaijan at the state level indicates that the path chosen by the people of Artsakh and the independent state-building have no alternative. We believe that the international recognition of Artsakh has matured as manifestation of fulfillment of the international community’s obligation to take effective measures to prevent gross human rights violations”, the statement says.
Great article on the power of individual citizens & advocacy groups to make their voices heard & join together to implement positive change in bringing about true inclusive education.