Category: 2022

Holden Meets with Pasadena ANCA, ARS, and Hamazkayin Chapters

Chmshkian Vicken
by Contributor

 

 

 

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Assemblymember Chris Holden with representatives of the Pasadena Chapters of the ANCA, ARS, and Hamazkayin


PASADENA—The Pasadena Chapter of the Armenian National Committee of America held a joint meeting on May 6 with Assemblymember Chris Holden, representing the 41st Assembly District, and the Pasadena chapters of the Armenian Cultural Foundation, the Armenian Relief Society, and Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society.

Assemblymember Holden presented the legislative milestones his office has reached including ACR 105 – Sister state relationship with the Province of Syunik; AB 2617 – Pupil instruction: dual enrollment programs: competitive grants: College and Career Access Pathways partnerships: best practices: communication and marketing strategy; and AB 1919 – Youth Transit Pass Pilot Program: free youth transit passes.

The Assemblymember gave an in-depth account of his office’s recent initiatives concerning Armenians and Armenian Americans, including the establishment of the California-Syunik Sister-State relationship, and advocating – in writing – for the State of California to withdraw from all existing California government investments held by Turkey.

“It’s incredible to see advocacy across the generations of the Armenian Diaspora here in my district with the ANCA – Pasadena Chapter,” said Assemblymember Chris Holden. “I enjoyed learning about the actions the community has taken on during the pandemic and how organizations like Armenian Relief Society continue to serve all people in the community that knock on their door for help.”

ANCA – Pasadena Chapter Chairperson Donig L. Donabedian emphasized the importance of meeting with Assemblymember Holden, with whom the ANCA – Pasadena Chapter and sister-organizations have long history.

“We must continue our constructive dialogue on issues of concern for the Armenian-American community, and we have always been able to rely upon Assemblymember Holden’s openness toward the Pasadena Chapter of the ANCA and its sister-organizations, his willingness to collaborate, and his readiness to facilitate assistance through the resources of his office,” said Donabedian.

Former treasurer and current adviser to the ANCA – Pasadena Chapter David Gevorkyan presented a brief history of the longtime relationship between Assemblymember Holden and the Armenian American community he has represented for decades. “The Armenian American community has prevailed in selecting Chris Holden as its State Assembly representative – not just within the century-old Armenian community in Pasadena, but beyond the district throughout the State of California,” said Gevorkyan.

Gevorkyan also inquired about opportunities for young professionals to compete for State Fellowships and work for the State Capitol.

ANCA – Pasadena Chapter Board Secretary Garen Kirakosian, Esq. emphasized the importance of the work undertaken by the ANCA and Assemblymember Holden on various, critical issues impacting the residents and businesses of Pasadena and the surrounding areas.

Boardmember Stephanie Khatchikian inquired about ways to increase youth engagement in the district’s community affairs and the Assemblymember’s office.

Also in attendance at the meeting were: Armenian Cultural Foundation representative Vicken Harboyan, Armenian Relief Society Chairperson Tamar Orichian, Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society representative Nayiri Moumdjian, and Assemblymember Chris Holden’s Communications Director Stephanie Mkhlian.

The Armenian National Committee of America – Pasadena Chapter is the oldest, largest, and most influential Armenian-American grassroots organization of its kind within the City of Pasadena. Founded in 1979, the Pasadena ANCA advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and political rights of the city’s thriving Armenian-American community and promotes increased civic service and participation at the grassroots and public policy levels.

Joseph Bohigian, Kevork Mourad’s Syrian-Armenian Project ‘Rerooted’ to Premiere in June

Frangulian Shushan
by Contributor

 

 

 

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A screen capture of “Rerooted,” premiering on June 4


Armenian-American composer Joseph Bohigian announced the premier of a new piece, titled “Rerooted,” which features the recorded testimonies of Syrian-Armenians who have resettled in the Republic of Armenia since the beginning of the Syrian Civil War.

The composition will receive a virtual premiere on Saturday June 4 at 11:00 a.m. PST. The piece will feature an original video by artist Kevork Mourad, born in Qamishli, Syria, and performed by the Argus Quartet.

“Rerooted” traces the journeys of over a dozen Armenian families through interviews conducted by the Rerooted Archive, from their expulsion from the homeland during the genocide in the early 20th century to the rebuilding of their lives and community in Syria, their displacement during the civil war in their adopted home, and their resettlement in the Republic of Armenia.

The piece explores the complicated process of “rerooting” a community that is defined by exile and the realities of being displaced over and over again.

According to Bohigian, his idea for the piece came from the increasing Syrian presence he saw in Armenia over the course of his trips there since 2012, whose Western Armenian culture reminded him of home when the “homeland” felt foreign. This grew into a collaboration with the Rerooted Archive, who shared audio from their over 200 interviews with Syrian-Armenians documented since 2017.

The virtual premiere of Rerooted with music by Joseph Bohigian and video by Kevork Mourad will be held on Saturday June 4 at 11:00 a.m. PST.

For more information on the Rerooted Archive, please visit the website, or contact Joseph Bohigian at [email protected].

Asbarez: Warsaw Stock Exchange to Acquire 65% Stake in Armenia’s Securities Exchange. What Does it Mean?

Arpi Talalian
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The Warsaw Stock Exchange wants to acquire majority stake in Armenia’s Securities Exchange


BY ARA KHANJIAN

The Central Bank of Armenia, which controls 90.05 percent of the Armenian Securities Exchange on Tuesday agreed to sell a 65.05 percent stake to the Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW).

The AMX is the only securities—mainly bonds—market in Armenia. After the proposed acquisition by the GPW, the CBA will control only 25.02 percent of AMX shares, while the remaining 9.95 percent will continue to be controlled by the AMX.

The CBA said that the partial sale of the AMX to the GPW will contribute to the development of bond and stock markets in Armenia because GPW’s proposed development program intends to improve the infrastructure of these markets, such as development of the trading system and the introduction of the most recent technological mechanisms.

The CBA also said that the investment of GPW in AMX will contribute to the integration of the Polish and Armenian capital markets, which could create new opportunities for both Armenian and Polish investors and companies.

Most of AMX transactions involve bonds, which are issued mostly by the government and the banking sector. A relatively small fraction of the bonds that are traded on the AMX are issued by companies. This implies that at this stage the Armenian Securities Exchange, functions more as a bond market than as a bond and stock market. In other words, the AMX raises capital for corporations and governments mainly through the trade of bonds. A bond is a financial instrument that a corporation or a government sells to individuals and institutions.

When Corporations and governments issue new bonds and sell them, basically, they are borrowing money from individuals or institutions with the promise of paying back in the future, for example in six months, two years, or 10 years, plus interest. Through stock and bond markets, corporations and governments generate funding directly from individuals and institutions for their investments, growth and expenditures. This implies that for the economy of a country to grow, it is essential to generate a developed stock and bond markets, besides a well-developed banking sector.

For example, if an entrepreneur starts a successful business or if a group of individuals create a successful cooperative and if they need additional funding to build a new factory and buy new machines, they will need large amount of new funds. If in that country there is a developed bond market, then they could sell new bonds there and borrow money for their investment, contributing to the economic development of the country.

According to the CEO of the Armenian Stock Exchange, Hayk Yeganyan, one reason that the stock market in Armenia is not developed is lack of trust. The prospective stock buyer in Armenia has doubts about whether investment will be safe and profitable. For this reason, most of them buy government-issued bonds, because there is a lower probability that Armenia’s government will go bankrupt than a private Armenian company. Also, in general, stocks are riskier than bonds because when a company goes bankrupt, first bond holders are paid and then stock owners. According to Yeganyan, for the development of the stock market it is essential for the country to adopt the necessary laws and to create the necessary regulations and a regulatory agency, which could increase transparency and could invest boost confidence to buy stocks, indirectly contributing to the development of a stock market.

AW: Coalition of American civil society groups issues joint statement on Turkey’s threats of invading northeast Syria

Arbi Tashjian
 ANCA ANCA News 0

WASHINGTON, DC — Considering the Turkish government’s renewed threats of unprovoked military action against northeast Syria, we condemn Turkey’s illegal and dangerous posturing as a coalition of concerned Americans. We pledge to pursue sanctions against Turkey should it undertake this unprovoked cross-border attack.

Since 2016, Turkey has launched a sustained series of unprovoked military campaigns into northern Syria in violation of the Geneva Conventions. They have done so under the false pretext of combatting terrorism.

Following the territorial defeat of ISIS, a democratic project has succeeded in northeast Syria. This democratic society was built by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and safeguarded by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), America’s closest and most reliable ally in the fight against ISIS for nearly a decade.

Under the AANES, northeast Syria is home to Arabs, Kurds and Christians and values ethno-religious pluralism and gender equality.

Turkey seeks to destroy this budding, yet fragile democratic project.

Contrary to Turkish claims, northeast Syria poses no security threat to Turkey. The AANES and SDF consistently serve to prevent the reconstitution of ISIS.

Turkey’s further military action into northeast Syria will embolden ISIS and other jihadist groups, as observed following each successive Turkish invasion since 2016. It has been confirmed by multiple sources that, in addition to conventional Turkish forces, Turkey’s military campaigns in northeast Syria have leveraged ISIS fighters and jihadist militias.

If Turkey wishes to combat terror by creating a so-called safe zone, it may do so within its borders without violating the territorial integrity of its neighbor. Turkey cannot be allowed to use a “safe-zone” as a pretext to land grab as it has been doing in other parts of northern Syria, such as Afrin. Turkish President Erdogan aims to stoke tension and solidify his nationalist base as his domestic popularity continues to suffer and presidential elections draw near. Turkey’s threats of military action against northeast Syria only prolong the Syrian civil war and put American service members at continued risk.

We call on the Biden administration to prevent Turkey from launching another illegal Turkish invasion of northeast Syria and expanding its occupation. We call on Congress to ensure any military action is met with swift and forceful economic and military sanctions on Turkey.

American Friends of Kurdistan president Diliman Abdulkader states, “Turkey must be held accountable for its continued threats against the Kurds and other minorities in the region. Erdogan’s goal is to invade, occupy, and Turkify land outside the Turkish border. The Biden administration and Congress have an opportunity to stop Erdogan before he moves forward on yet another unjustified invasion. The Erdogan regime has become a significant security concern for the people of northeast Syria, who is simply trying to recover from the civil war.”

According to Richard Ghazal, executive director of In Defense of Christians, “Turkey has demonstrated its commitment to destroy the budding democracy in northeast Syria and eradicate the final remaining Aramaic-speaking Christian towns through daily bombing campaigns. This is unconscionable. Erdogan’s game is not merely reckless; it’s a methodical and deliberate test of U.S. and NATO resolve.”

“Ankara must be held accountable for its rising tide of regional aggression, most recently in the form of Erdogan’s threat to launch cross-border attacks against America’s battle-tested Arab, Kurdish, Syriac-Assyrian, and other allies,” said executive director of The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), Aram Hamparian. “That needs to start with an immediate ban on arms sales and should also include strong sanctions against Erdogan and his inner circle.”

“Turkey’s most recent actions in northeast Syria further demonstrate Erdogan’s pattern of aggression and efforts to destabilize regions around the world, including South Asia, where he supports terrorists in Indian Kashmir and has an increasingly dangerous relationship with the Pakistani military, contrary to U.S. interests,” said Hindu American Foundation managing director Samir Kalra. “It would be reckless to sell any arms to Turkey until they change their behavior in Syria, Pakistan and elsewhere.”

Endy Zemenides, executive director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council said, “The West finally stood up to revisionist powers after Russia’s invasion to Ukraine. Turkey’s planned invasion of northern Syria threatens the very principles being fought for in Ukraine. It is time for the US and EU to prove that commitments to territorial sovereignty, human rights and the rule of law are not subject to double standards. All revisionist powers – whether Russia or Turkey – should be subject to international condemnation and sanction.”

Cliff Smith, the Middle East Forum’s Washington Project director added, “For too long, the US government turned a blind eye, and at times even enabled, Turkish aggression against the Kurds in Turkey and Syria and Iraq. Kurdish forces have been a key partner in our fight against ISIS and deserve American support. The US government should let Erdogan know there will be a price to pay for his aggression.”

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The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.


RFE/RL Armenian Report – 05/26/2022

Chakhmakhchian Vatche 
                                        Thursday, 
Pashinian Accused Of Understating Number Of Armenian POWs
        • Karlen Aslanian
        • Susan Badalian
Armenia - Lawyer Siranush Sahakian.
An Armenian human rights lawyer on Thursday accused Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian of grossly understating the number of Armenian prisoners of war and 
other captives still held by Azerbaijan.
Pashinian put the “confirmed” total number of captives at 39 when he spoke on 
Wednesday about the Armenian government’s efforts to secure their release.
Siranush Sahakian, a lawyer representing Armenian POWs in the European Court of 
Human Rights, said he is taking at face value the number of Armenian prisoners 
acknowledged by Baku.
“Data and evidence possessed by our organization show that apart from these 39 
prisoners the Azerbaijani armed forces also captured 80 other individuals who 
now have a status of the forcibly disappeared,” she told RFE/RL’s Armenian 
Service.
Sahakian charged that the Armenian government is effectively washing its hands 
of the 80 detainees and reducing chances of their quick repatriation.
The evidence cited by the lawyer includes videos that were posted on social 
media by Azerbaijani servicemen during the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh. They 
showed Armenian POWs who are not on Baku’s current list of captives.
Many of those POWs have been recognized by their family members. Among them is 
Lyuba Mkrtchian, whose husband Yuri Poghosian went missing in Karabakh in 
October 2020.
“I’m sure that my husband is in an Azerbaijani prison … I hope he comes back,” 
Mkrtchian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.
Speaking in the parliament, Pashinian said that the fate of the 39 other 
prisoners was high on the agenda of his latest meeting with Azerbaijani 
President Ilham Aliyev held in Brussels on Sunday. He complained that Aliyev 
keeps setting “additional conditions” for their release.
“Humanitarian issues must not be linked to political issues,” said Pashinian.
Baku released only one Armenian POW, Eduard Martirosov, as a result of the 
Brussels summit. The 19-year-old conscript, who accidentally crossed the 
Armenian-Azerbaijani border last month, was handed over to Russian peacekeepers 
in Karabakh on Thursday.
Most of the 38 other Armenian prisoners have received lengthy prison sentences 
in Azerbaijani trials condemned by Armenia as a travesty of justice. Yerevan 
maintains that they are held in breach of a Russian-brokered agreement that 
stopped the six-week war. Baku says the ceasefire agreement does not cover them 
because they were captured after it took effect in November 2020.
Opposition Wants Parliament Declaration On Karabakh
        • Astghik Bedevian
Armenia - Karabakh flags on empty seats of opposition lawmakers boycotting a 
session of the Armenian parliament, Yerevan, .
The two opposition blocs represented in Armenia’s parliament have demanded that 
it officially speak out against any peace accord that would restore Azerbaijan’s 
control over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Leaders of the Hayastan and Pativ Unem blocs announced late on Wednesday plans 
to push a relevant resolution through the National Assembly as they continued 
daily demonstrations in Yerevan demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s 
resignation.
Hayastan’s Artsvik Minasian said on Thursday that they will try to force an 
emergency session of the parliament for that purpose on June 3.
“The purpose of this statement is to clarify whether we are going to protect our 
interests or serve the interests of the Turkish-Azerbaijani duo,” said Armen 
Rustamian, another senior Hayastan parliamentarian. “If they [the parliament’s 
pro-government majority] don’t accept this resolution it will mean that they 
serve the interests of the Turkish-Azerbaijani duo.”
Lawmakers representing Pashinian’s Civil Contract party would not say whether 
the parliamentary majority will back the resolution or at least agree to discuss 
it on the parliament floor.
“Let them come [to the parliament] and we’ll figure out,” one of them, Artur 
Hovannisian, told reporters.
Opposition lawmakers have been boycotting regular sessions of the National 
Assembly since the start of the anti-government protests in Yerevan on May 1.
The protests began two weeks after Pashinian signaled his readiness to “lower 
the bar” on Karabakh’s status acceptable to Armenia. Critics claim that he 
pledged to recognize Azerbaijani sovereignty over the Armenian-populated 
territory in ongoing peace talks mediated by the European Union.
Pashinian’s political allies deny such claims. But they have not publicly 
clarified whether Yerevan will insist on the Karabakh Armenians’ right to 
self-determination in planned negotiations on a peace treaty with Baku.
First Armenian Satellite Launched Into Space
        • Sargis Harutyunyan
Armenia - A handout photo of Armenia's first satellite released by the Armenian 
government on .
A first-ever Armenian satellite has been launched into space, Prime Minister 
Nikol Pashinian announced on Thursday.
Pashinian said that the apparently small satellite was carried into space by a 
SpaceX rocket that blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida 
on Wednesday.
“Photographs to be taken by the satellite will be used in Armenia for border 
control, prevention and management of emergencies, environmental protection, 
including climate change monitoring, urban development, road construction, 
geology, and other purposes,” he told a weekly cabinet meeting in Yerevan.
Pashinian said the satellite launch was the result of “cooperation” between the 
state-run Armenian company Geocosmos and Satlantis, a Spanish firm that 
specializes in the production of small satellites and cameras for them.
He did not reveal financial terms of the deal or technical parameters of the 
satellite, photographs of which were released by the Armenian government’s press 
office.
Armenia had first announced plans to launch its first commercial satellite after 
holding talks with Russia’s Federal Space Agency in 2012. A year later, a senior 
official from the country’s former government said Yerevan hopes to attract 
private investments in the project worth as much as $250 million. The project 
never materialized.
Pashinian did not explain why his administration opted for a different, more 
small-scale space project and contracted Western, rather than Russian, companies 
to implement it.
Armenia’s arch-foe Azerbaijan launched its first communication and observation 
satellite into space in 2013. The Azerbaijani army reportedly used satellite 
images for its offensive military operations carried out during the 2020 war in 
Nagorno-Karabakh.
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.

Armenian soldier, who crossed to Azerbaijani side on April 23, handed over to Armenia

Jagharian Tania
Public Radio of Armenia
, 14:37

 Less than a minute

Armenian soldier Eduard Martirosov, a conscript who had crossed the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on April 23, 2022, has been handed over to the Armenian side, with the mediation of the commander of the Russian military contingent in Artsakh, Major General Andrey Volkov, the Ministry of Defense reports.

The agreement on the handover was reached during the trilateral meeting in Brussels on May 22.

https://en.armradio.am/2022/05/26/armenian-soldier-who-crossed-to-azerbaijani-side-on-april-23-handed-over-to-armenia/

President of Montenegro visits Armenian Genocide Memorial

Jane Topchian
Public Radio of Armenia
, 16:26

 

The President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović, who has arrived in Armenia for an official visit, visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial accompanied by Yerevan Mayor Hrachya Sargsyan and Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan.

The guests were greeted by Lusine Abrahamyan, Deputy Director for Museum Works of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, who presented the history of the memorial.

Milo Đukanović laid a wreath at the memorial to the victims of the Armenian Genocide, then the guests laid flowers at the eternal flame and observed a moment of silence in memory of the consecrated martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.

Accompanied by Lusine Abrahamyan, they toured the Armenian Genocide Museum, got acquainted with the permanent temporary exhibitions, after which the President of Montenegro made a note in the Book of Honorary Guests.

Expressing gratitude for the visit, Lusine Abrahamyan presented books on the Armenian Genocide to the honored guest. At the end of the visit, President Milo Đukanović planted a silver fir tree in the Memory Park.

Kazakh Senate ratifies deal on duty-free supply of oil products to Armenia

Dabaghian Diana
Public Radio of Armenia
, 16:16

The Senate (upper house) of the Parliament of Kazakhstan on Thursday ratified an intergovernmental agreement with Armenia on trade and economic cooperation in the field of supplies of oil products to the country. The agreement with Armenia was signed in Nur-Sultan in July 2020.

“The agreement provides for: non-collection of export customs duties on goods supplied from Kazakhstan to Armenia for domestic consumption in the volumes provided for by indicative balances; a ban on the supply of specified goods that are not approved by the list, as well as not provided for by indicative balances,” the committee on economic politics, innovative development and entrepreneurship of the Senate said.

At the same time, the specified goods supplied from Kazakhstan to Armenia are not subject to export to third countries and the countries of the EAEU. If facts of violation of this obligation are revealed, the Kazakh side reserves the right to prohibit or suspend duty-free supplies of these goods.

After ratification by the Senate, the agreement on cooperation in the field of supplying oil products to Armenia will go to the signature of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Unimpeded involvement of UNESCO in Artsakh important, Armenian PM tells ALIPH Director

Emil Karabekian
Public Radio of Armenia
, 18:21

 

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received Valéry Freland, Executive Director of the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH).

The Prime Minister hailed the activities of ALIF in the field of protection of historical and cultural heritage and expressed readiness for cooperation on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

Nikol Pashinyan noted that one of Armenia’s priorities is to protect the Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the territories under the control of Azerbaijan after the 44-day war from destruction and attached importance to the unhindered involvement of UNESCO to preserve the Armenian monuments in Nagorno Karabakh and prevent the reoccurring cases of vandalism.

The interlocutors also discussed issues of cooperation in the preservation and restoration of historical and cultural monuments in Armenia. They exchanged views on strengthening, digitization, development of necessary infrastructure, exchange of experience, training opportunities for specialists.

Pashinyan: Armenia, Azerbaijan failed to agree on Karabakh wording

Karapet Navasardian
PanARMENIAN
– 11:46 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that no agreement was reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the formulations on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during an EU- mediated meeting on May 22.

Pashinyan, President of the European Council Charles Michel and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held their third meeting since December in Brussels on May 22 and focused on the situation in the South Caucasus and the development of EU relations with both countries as well as the broader region. According to a statement from the EU, Michel told the two leaders that it was necessary that the rights and security of the ethnic Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) be addressed.

And because of a lack of agreement, Pashinyan said, Michel decided to make comments that, in his opinion, would express as many elements as possible about the positions of both sides over formulations

Pashinyan made the remarks during a Q&A session in parliament, in response to a question from Civil Contract Party member Arman Yeghoyan, who said that Michel’s remarks created the impression that “Artsakh’s right to self-determination remains out of the agenda”.

“A very serious discussion on the Karabakh issue took place in Brussels, and as a result of that discussion, the differences between the positions of Armenia and Azerbaijan were registered,” the Prime Minister as saying.

He emphasized that those differences are expressed publicly. Azerbaijan considers that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved, Armenia considers that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not resolved.

“And in the possible context of the peace talks, you know that Azerbaijan has presented its 5 principles, and we have presented our observations and agenda in this regard. We have said that talks should be held on that basis. With the principles we have brought forward, the security and rights of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh and the clarification of the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh are recorded,” Pashinyan said.