The California
Courier Online, February 1, 2024
1- Parliamentary
Assembly of Council of
Europe
Voted 76-10 to Kick Azerbaijan
Out
By Harut
Sassounian
Publisher, California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2- Armenian
activist Hagop Djernazian physically assaulted in Jerusalem
3- Ardy
Kassakhian runs for Glendale City Council Reelection
4- 'The Dignity
of Being American' Explores lives of Displaced Persons after WWII
************************************************************************************************************************************************
1- Parliamentary
Assembly of Council of
Europe
Voted 76-10 to Kick Azerbaijan
Out
By Harut
Sassounian
Publisher, California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
With each passing day, the noose is tightening around Pres.
Ilham Aliyev's neck. The European Union’s Chief of Foreign Policy Josep Borrell
warned Azerbaijan on January
22 that there would be ‘severe consequences’ if Armenia’s territory were to be
violated. The French Senate adopted a resolution by a vote of 336 to 1 on
January 17 supporting Armenia's
territorial integrity and calling for sanctions against Azerbaijan. On
January 18, Russia’s Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov publicly contradicted Aliyev’s repeated demands that Armenia provide Azerbaijan a ‘Corridor’ through
‘Zangezur.’ Lavrov said that there is no mention of ‘Zangezur Corridor’ in the
Nov. 10, 2020 agreement signed by the leaders of Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Russia.
The latest blow to Azerbaijan
was delivered last week by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) which voted overwhelmingly to reject the credentials of Azerbaijan’s delegates, thus ejecting Baku’s participation in
its meetings for at least one year. By a vote of 76 to 10, with four
abstentions, PACE delegates decided to expel Azerbaijan on January 24, 2024.
The resolution adopted by PACE stated: “Very serious
concerns remain as to [Azerbaijan’s] ability to conduct free and fair elections,
the separation of powers, the weakness of its legislature vis-à-vis the
executive, the independence of the judiciary and respect for human rights, as
illustrated by numerous judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and
opinions of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice
Commission).” PACE recalled its previous resolutions which had referred to
multiple problems with Azerbaijan, including the functioning of democratic
institutions, organized crime, corruption, and money laundering, political
prisoners, restrictions on NGO activities, violations of the rights of LGBTI
people, non-implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights,
transnational repression as a growing threat to the rule of law and human
rights, Pegasus and similar spyware and secret state surveillance, and the
cases of at least 18 Azeri journalists and media actors who are currently in
detention. PACE concluded that “more than 20 years after joining the Council of
Europe, Azerbaijan
has not fulfilled [its] major commitments.”
Referring to Artsakh, PACE mentioned its 2023 report which
had specified that Azerbaijan
“did not acknowledge the very serious humanitarian and human rights
consequences stemming from … the absence of free and safe access through the
Lachin Corridor … which lasted for nearly 10 months.” PACE also condemned “the Azerbaijan army’s military operations of
September 2023, which led to the flight of the entire Armenian population of
Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia
and to allegations of ‘ethnic cleansing.’”
PACE expressed its concern about Azerbaijan’s lack of cooperation
with the “rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee [who] were not allowed to
meet with persons detained allegedly on politically motivated charges.” PACE
was also not invited “to observe the forthcoming presidential election despite Azerbaijan’s
obligation to send such an invitation as the country is under monitoring
procedure.” Furthermore, Azerbaijan
had refused three times the visit of a PACE rapporteur.
Ignoring Azerbaijan’s
multiple violations of its commitments to the Council of Europe, Azerbaijan’s
Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov condemned PACE’s decision. However, he
acknowledged that Azerbaijan
was ejected because of its invasion of Artsakh, which he described as “restoration
by Azerbaijan
of its sovereignty.”
Even though Azerbaijan
had dismissed all of its violations of international law, including the
numerous judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and rulings of the
International Court of Justice, this time around, Baku reacted extremely negatively. The Azeri
delegation in PACE announced that their country has decided to “cease its
engagement with and presence at PACE until further notice.” Some have compared Azerbaijan’s withdrawal from PACE after its ejection
to Nazi Germany leaving the League of Nations
in 1933.
PACE’s vote was overwhelmingly against Azerbaijan because only nine Turkish delegates
and one Albanian delegate voted in favor of Azerbaijan. One of the Turkish
delegates even voted against Azerbaijan.
Meanwhile, 76 delegates from 28 countries, including all four Armenian
delegates, voted to eject Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan’s
loss at PACE is Armenia’s
gain:
1) Azerbaijan’s
reputation was further tarnished after its ejection from PACE, exposing its numerous
human rights violations and flagrant disregard for European values.
2) Baku is now deprived of
the opportunity to raise its issues in Europe
through PACE.
3) Azerbaijan
will no longer be able to criticize Armenia during PACE meetings.
4) Azerbaijan
will be unable to vote in favor of its interests and against those of Armenia at PACE
meetings.
For far too long, Azerbaijan
has been spoiled by the international community, particularly Western
countries, blinded by Baku’s
vast oil and gas supplies. After its ejection from PACE, Azerbaijan should now be expelled
from the Council of Europe.
************************************************************************************************************************************************
2- Armenian activist Hagop
Djernazian physically assaulted in Jerusalem
On January 23, following an attack by the mercenaries of
Xana Capital on the members of the Armenian community of Jerusalem, one of the aggressors—with clear
intent—approached Hagop Djernazian, co-founder of Save The ArQ (movement for
the defense and preservation of the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem) and punched
him in the face in front of the Israeli Police.
The local authorities immediately arrested the assailant and
sent him to the “Moscobieh” prison pending a court hearing. The following day,
the Israeli Police issued a 15-day restraining order against the aggressor from
the Old City of Jerusalem, as well as a 30-day restraining order from the Cows’
Garden property located in the Armenian Quarter.
After emergency consultations with global lead counsel for
the SavetheArQ movement, Karnig Kerkonian of Kerkonian Dajani LLP, it was
decided to direct the ArQ’s criminal lawyer in Jerusalem, Assaf Golan, to prepare a court
filing and legal package in the coming days aimed at ensuring the safety and
security of the community from further attacks.
Since November 5, 2023, Danny Rothman and George Warwar,
representatives of Xana Capital, have continued their intimidation tactics
against the community via bulldozers, Israeli settlers, and thugs. This marks
the 10th such attack.
************************************************************************************************************************************************
3- Ardy Kassakhian runs for
Glendale City Council Reelection
GLENDALE—Glendale
Councilmember and former Mayor Ardy Kassakhian announced a list of important
endorsements today in his bid for reelection to the Glendale City Council.
Kassakhian announced the endorsement of US Senator Alex Padilla and
California State Treasurer Fiona Ma as well as the endorsements from the
Glendale Environmental Coalition, Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters,
and Democrats for Neighborhood Action.
US
Senator Alex Padilla has expressed his support, stating “I’m pleased to endorse
Ardy Kassakhian for re-election to the Glendale City Council. Ardy has
demonstrated his commitment to serve the families of Glendale, leading efforts to improve public
safety, housing affordability, and investing in culture and arts programs. He’s
earned the opportunity to serve for four more years”
“I am honored to have the support of Senator Padilla. His
trust in my abilities to serve the people of Glendale means a lot,” Kassakhian said in
response to the endorsement. “I worked with the Senator when he was our
Secretary of State to help find ways to get more citizens registered to vote
and get more voters out to vote. I was
honored to serve on the language accessibility task force he created and
appreciate the great work he does to represent California
and Glendale’s
interest in the United States Senate.”
**********************************************************************************************************************************************
4- 'The Dignity
of Being American' Explores lives of Displaced Persons after WWII
FRESNO—A book signing event
for a recently published book, The Dignity of Being American took place on
Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at the Armenian
Museum of Fresno
located at the University of California Center in Fresno, California.
Co-authored by Varoujan Der Simonian and Sophia Mekhitarian,
the book records never before published stories of fourteen Displaced Persons
and their families who settled in Fresno
after World War II, tracing the paths and the trials these Displaced Persons
endured.
The book highlights the extensive involvement of George
Mardikian, the founder of ANCHA (American National Committee to Aid Homeless
Armenians), Brigadier General Haig Shekerjian and attorney Suren Saroyan.
“It’s been our mission to focus on the accomplishments of
our ANCHA leaders and affiliates for their magnanimous undertaking and to
preserve our history for future generations. Heroes they were, and so shall
remain.” Said Sophia Mekhitarian, the co-author of the book, who herself was
once labeled as a displaced person.
Extensive coverage of the role of the Unsung Heroes,
including Dr. Artasches Abeghian, Generals Drastamat Kanaian (Dro) and Garegin
Nejdeh, Arsen Taplatsian, Misak Torlakian, Vahan Papazian, Garo Kevorkian and
others, who saved thousands of POWs and untold number of Armenians—to some
estimation 600,000 Armenians under Nazi-controlled Europe during World War II,
are presented in the book.
“This is a significant part of our history that often has
been overlooked,” commented Varoujan Der Simonian, of the Armenian
Museum of Fresno and the co-author of the book. “It is
our duty to recognize the role that these men and women played before, during
and following WWII in saving thousands of Armenian lives. I wonder where we
would be now if it weren’t for unsung heroes’ patriotism, dedication, and
commitment—their call to serve their own people, who were far away from their
homeland,” added Der Simonian.
The 260-page book includes over 300 photos highlighting the
life of the Armenians at Funkerkaserne DP Camp near Stuttgart, Germany.
It covers the ANCHA Monument in Fresno,
all six panels placed on the monument’s pedestal, that was appropriately placed
next to the Sunday School Building
entrance at the Holy Trinity Church
in Fresno.
It also covers an oral history interview with George
Mardikian; and, an essay by Mr. Mardikian titled: Three Meals for the
Chief—providing detailed explanations of what, and how he would prepare three
meals—breakfast, lunch and dinner, for his friend, President Herbert Hoover.
The essay is being published for the first-time courtesy of Herbert Hoover
Presidential Library and Museum
A photographic exhibition titled: The Saga and the Triumph
of the Displaced Persons complementing the content of the book is currently on
display at the Armenian Museum of Fresno.
Copies may be purchased or ordered from the Armenian Museum
of Fresno at
$60, pending availability.
***********************************************************************************************************************************************
************************************************************************************************************************************************
California Courier Online provides readers of the Armenian News News Service with a
few of the articles in this week's issue of The California Courier. Letters to
the editor are encouraged through our e-mail address, .
Letters are published with the author’s name and location; authors are required
to disclose their identity to the editorial staff (name, address, and/or
telephone numbers for verification purposes).
California Courier subscribers can change or modify mailing addresses by
emailing .