Category: 2023

The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet in Washington next week, Russian news agencies cited Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as saying on Thursday.

Washington, Moscow and the European Union are all trying separately to help ensure permanent peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which have fought two wars in the last 30 years and regularly clash over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave.

In 2020, Azerbaijan seized control of areas controlled by ethnic Armenians in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. The enclave is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but populated mainly by ethnic Armenians.

Both sides routinely accuse the other of breaking a ceasefire agreed in 2020.

LONDON, June 21 (Reuters) – Azerbaijan's foreign minister has rejected a demand from Armenia to provide special security guarantees for some 120,000 ethnic Armenians living in the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave ahead of a new round of peace talks, saying they are sufficiently protected.

Nagorno-Karabakh, internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, has been a source of conflict between the two Caucasus neighbours since the years leading up to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, and between ethnic Armenians and Turkic Azeris for well over a century.

After heavy fighting and a Russian-brokered ceasefire, Azerbaijan in 2020 took over areas that had been controlled by ethnic Armenians in and around the mountain enclave.

The two sides have since been discussing a peace deal in which they would agree on borders, settle differences over the enclave, and unfreeze relations.

In what looked like a breakthrough, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was quoted last month as saying Armenia did recognise that Karabakh was part of Azerbaijan, but wanted Baku to provide the guarantees for its ethnic Armenian population.

In an interview with Reuters, however, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said such a guarantee was unnecessary, and the demand amounted to interference in Azerbaijan's affairs.

"We don't accept such a precondition … for a number of reasons," he said.

"The most fundamental is the following: this is an internal, sovereign issue. The Azerbaijan constitution and a number of international conventions to which Azerbaijan is party provide all the necessary conditions in order to guarantee the rights of this population."

He said ethnic Armenians could still use and be educated in their own language and preserve their culture if they integrated into Azeri society and state structures like other ethnic and religious minorities.

Bayramov said there had been "some progress" in peace talks, and that Baku was keen to strike a deal, but also made comments that show how wide the gulf remains before he meets his Armenian counterpart for more talks in Washington next week:

"We believe it was the first time when an Armenian prime minister actually publicly stated this. Why did it take the prime minister two-and-a-half years (since the war ended) to say he actually recognised the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan?"

Bayramov, who was in London to attend a conference about Ukraine's recovery, complained too about the continued presence of thousands of Armenian troops on Azeri territory.

Moscow – which has peacekeepers on the ground – and Washington and the European Union are all trying separately to help ensure lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which have fought two wars since the early 1990s and still have sporadic firefights.

Pashinyan is under pressure at home to protect the rights of the ethnic Armenians living in the enclave as Baku pushes for ethnic Armenian government and military structures to be dissolved and the population to accept Azerbaijani passports.

Tensions have been raised by Baku installing a checkpoint on the Lachin Corridor - the only road that connects the enclave with Armenia – following months of disruption caused by people who called themselves Azerbaijani environmental activists.

Baku says the checkpoint is necessary to prevent the smuggling of military supplies into the enclave and illegally-mined materials out. It denies Armenian allegations that it has imposed a blockade that makes life miserable for Karabakh's inhabitants.

Ruben Vardanyan, a billionaire banker who was a top official in Karabakh's separatist government until February, on Thursday accused Baku of trying to "ethnically cleanse" the enclave by imposing what he called a goods and energy blockade – allegations that Azerbaijan denies.

Bayramov said a peace deal was within reach if Armenia was ready to take certain steps.

"If there is a will not only to make statements but do some practical steps, I think that potentially it's possible to reach an agreement even earlier than the end of the year," he said.

"But if there's no real readiness … then it might be later."

With energy shortages worsening and store shelves going bare, concern grows over a deepening humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan blocked aid convoys to the breakaway region.

"Our road of life has been closed, we have no electricity," Liana Atayan, a 47-year-old resident of the region's main city, Stepanakert, told AFP.

Yerevan, Armenia – June 21, 2023 – U.S. Embassy Yerevan welcomes Governor of Kansas Laura Kelly to Armenia June 22-23, 2023.  The Governor’s visit will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Kansas-Armenia State Partnership, and strengthen ties between the State of Kansas and Armenia.  

Governor Kelly is joined by U.S. Brigadier General Michael Venerdi on his first visit to Yerevan since being appointed as Adjutant General for the State of Kansas. 

Governor Kelly and Brigadier General Venerdi will meet with the Prime Minister and senior officials from the Armenian government, including the Minister of Defense, Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister for Education, and Minister of Economy.  They will also visit the 12th Peacekeeping Brigade, the Military Hospital, the National Defense Research University, Military University, and the Armenia National Agrarian University.

In 2003, the Republic of Armenia signed an agreement with the State of Kansas and the U.S. Department of Defense to establish the Kansas-Armenia State Partnership Program.  Under the program, the Kansas National Guard has worked closely with the Armenian Ministry of Defense, and other governmental agencies on joint initiatives including military training, emergency preparedness, law enforcement, business, medical, public health, educational and humanitarian exchanges.

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has published this week new monitoring reports on Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The Commission outlines areas of progress, outstanding issues and provides recommendations for improving the situation. 

In Armenia, ECRI says, over the past seven years, progress has been made and good practices developed in the field of inclusive education, migrant integration, and anti-discrimination legislation. However, some issues still cause concern, such as the absence of a full equality mandate given to the Human Rights Defender institution, insufficient action against hate speech and discrimination and bullying at schools, as well as delays with the adoption of the Equality Law and the fact that it does not cover all discrimination grounds.

Over the past seven years, Azerbaijan has developed good practices in education and migrant integration, but more needs to be done in the fields of legislation and tackling inflammatory rhetoric and hate speech, including at the highest political level, says the Council of Europe anti-racism body.

Despite some progress at legislative and policy levels in Georgia since 2015, racism and intolerance against some ethnic and religious groups and, in particular, against LGBTI persons remains a problem, ECRI notes. Teaching of Georgian to historical ethnic minorities is still vastly insufficient, and government officials and politicians undermined the reputation of the Public Defender (Ombudsman), which includes the function of national equality body.

For each country, ECRI has provided several recommendations on addressing the outstanding issues. It has requested the authorities of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to implement two of these recommendations as a matter of priority and will examine the follow-up given to these two recommendations by each country within two-years’ time.

VOORHEES TOWNSHIP, NJ, UNITED STATES, June 21, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ — On Saturday June 24th at 11AM, business leaders, community advocates and regional rainmakers will gather at Woodbury University and share trials, triumphs and life lessons in the university’s first-ever Diverse Voices Rising symposium. The event will take place in the Fletcher Jones Auditorium of the Business Building.

Moderated by Fox11’s Emmy-Award Winning Anchor of “Good Day LA,” Araksya Karaptyan, the event promises uplifting success stories from impactful Armenian leaders who have proven to be a positive force in their communities. The dialogue will also surround the topic of higher education and the importance of continuing to develop intellectually, as well as resources available to do so. Panelists will share their journeys and how education has played a significant role. The list of panelists includes:

• Arthur Sarkissian, Film Producer “Rush Hour”
• Roubik Golanian, City Manager, City of Glendale
• Mariam Kuregyan, Esquire, Founder and CEO of the Davana Law Firm
• Arthur Zenian, Founder and CEO enBio, Corp.
• Mariya Palanjian, Founder and CEO of Globafly and Roma Leaf
• Robert William- Police Captain at City of Glendale, CA
• Emil Davtyan- Founder and Managing Attorney at Davtyan Law Firm
• Teni Panosian- Beauty Creator and Founder of Monday Born
• Arpi Khachatryan- Founder and Designer of Luli Bebé
• Lilit Caradanian- Founder and Developer of Elcie Cosmetics

Thank you to our esteemed sponsors of this extraordinary event:
Davana Law Firm, Cele Café, enBio, Davtyan Law Firm, Dr. Sabolic, Roma Leaf, Globafly, J’Adore Les Fleurs (JLF), Photojene, Madavi Aesthetics, Glenvista Pharmacy, Canada Dental, Liana Makes, Option One Lending and the Woodbury School of Business.

We’re also thrilled to announce that the following non-profit organizations will be present at our event:
Armenian American Chamber of Commerce, Armenian International Women's Association (AIWA), Armenian Professional Society (APS), Armenian-American Engineers and Scientists Association (AAESA), Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region, (ANCA Western Region), Armenian Assembly of America (AAA), All-ASA, COAF, American Armenian Rose Float Association, Armenian Relief Society (ARS), Burbank Armenian Association (BAA), Center for Truth and Justice, Homenetmen Shant Chapter.

About Woodbury University
For more than 135 years, Woodbury University has helped students of diverse genders, races, ethnicities, and economic classes achieve their dreams through a unique educational experience that is personal, communal and practice based. Every major requires an internship, giving students work experience and a competitive advantage after graduation. We’re also located in one of the most exciting and vibrant communities in the world–in the heart of Southern California’s creative economy.
Woodbury University School of Business
7500 Glenoaks Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91504

Mindie Barnett
MB and Associates Public Relations
+1 6099231639
email us here

https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/640759611/woodbury-university-school-of-business-commemorates-armenian-success-in-first-annual-diverse-voices-rising-celebration

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jun 21, 2023 / 16:15 pm

The ongoing war between Azerbaijan and Armenia threatens the existence of Christian communities in the near east, former ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom Sam Brownback and other Christian leaders warned in a Tuesday press briefing.

Brownback’s statements were delivered just days after he returned from a fact-finding trip to Armenia with the Christian human rights group Philos Project. 

Brownback, who is a Catholic, called Islamic Azerbaijan’s invasion of Armenia and its ongoing blockade of the Nagorno-Karabakh region the latest attempt at “religious cleansing” of the Christian nation.

“Azerbaijan, with Turkey’s backing, is really slowly strangling Nagorno-Karabakh,” Brownback said. “They’re working to make it unlivable so that the region’s Armenian-Christian population is forced to leave, that’s what’s happening on the ground.”

This article is part of Hyperallergic’s Pride Month series, featuring an interview with a different transgender or nonbinary emerging or mid-career artist every weekday throughout the month of June.

Based in Detroit, Michigan, nonbinary Armenian-American artist Levon Kafafian is a weaver of words, threads, and worlds. Kafafian investigates pre-Christian and Ottoman Armenian cultures and livelihoods, examining archaeological objects and material archives to inform a world that exists in the “Armenian diasporic imaginary.” Kafafian specified that they are not transcribing this built realm, but rather channeling it through their multidisciplinary practice of thread and garments, language and text, and spiritually imbued objects. Amid Azerbaijan’s ongoing destruction of ancient and culturally significant sites, Kafafian breathes a new, queer life into lost customs and traditions, giving them a space to grow with the diaspora.

In the interview below, the artist expresses their desire for a “queer Armenian future,” acknowledging the staunch colonialist and imperialist binary that enforces traditional gender roles. Kafafian’s current exhibition at the Stamps Gallery on the University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus consists of elegantly constructed garments and accessories, powerful amulets, and physical renditions of the in-between portal that connects the artist to this futuristic scape derived from the past. “Cloth is vers,” Kafafian says. “Cloth communicates. Weaving uses a binary system to produce non-binary objects that are greater than the sum of their parts.”

Hyperallergic: What is the current focus of your artistic practice?

Levon Kafafian: Thread by thread, I am currently building a story world called Azadistan for an eventual graphic novel titled Portal Fire. This world emerges from the diasporic imaginary of Southwest Asia and is set in a distant future after a digital collapse. As of now, I’m focusing on its cosmology — the spirit beings who protect the people of the land and allow them to practice fire magic. To that end I dive into research on Armenian spiritual traditions, practices, and objects through time, blending this with my lived experiences and desires for the future. As I synthesize these into woven fabrics, costumes, and artifacts, I learn about the character of this world and the beings who inhabit it, generating the written lore and narrative that inform future works.

H: In what ways — if any — does your gender identity play a role in your experience as an artist?

LK: My journey with gender is a reflection of the many spaces of in-betweenness I’ve grown up in and come to terms with — leading me to engage my work with an attentiveness to hybridity, blurred boundaries, and ultimately new possibilities outside of “established canon.” I blend disciplines and interweave my practices: Handcrafting costumes and artifacts helps me intuitively synthesize archival research, familial histories, and personal experience, which in turn helps me generate poetry, short stories, and performance work often centered around play in the _expression_ of gender.

H: Which artists inspire your work today? What are your other sources of inspiration?

LK: I’m always a bit disarmed by the question of which artists inspire me as I’m influenced by an endless parade of creative practitioners. Notably, though, I am inspired by my ancestors, both blood-related and beyond; all my collaborators: Nick Szydlo, Ash Arder, Kamelya Omayma Youssef, Kamee Abrahamian, Augusta Morrison, Lara Sarkissian, among others; and by the copious amounts of sci-fi and fantasy media (graphic and animated, live-action, video games, board games, novels) I engage with; and lastly, the nature, science, language, or history documentaries and YouTube shorts I watch before bed.

H: What are your hopes for the LGBTQIA+ community at the current moment?

LK: At this moment, my hope is that in all the places we are suppressed and under attack, we continue to boldly claim space, showing those around us that different ways of being are possible, beautiful, and intrinsically valuable; that we cannot and will not be erased or silenced; and that we continue to experience abundant joy, rest, and love amidst this struggle.

https://hyperallergic.com/829189/levon-kafafian-weaves-a-queer-armenian-future/