Senator Cassidy, Markey, Colleagues introduce resolution demanding answers on Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Record

Hambik Zargarian
Senator Bill Cassedy
Feb 2 2024
Press Release

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Edward Markey (D-MA), and six Senate colleagues introduced a resolution to require that the U.S. Secretary of State provide a report on Azerbaijan’s human rights practices, including concerning allegations of human rights violations committed against ethnic Armenians, such as unlawful killings, torture, restrictions on freedom of movement, the illegal detention of political prisoners, and ethnic cleansing.

“Azerbaijan has already been bulldozing holy sites and starving Armenian communities. This is the type of country the Biden administration wants supplying LNG to Europe instead of Louisiana natural gas?” said Dr. Cassidy.

“The need to hold Azerbaijan’s government accountable and forge a peaceful path forward is long overdue,” said Senator Markey. “Military action has never been the solution to peace and stability in Nagorno-Karabakh. This resolution puts pressure on Azerbaijan’s government to uphold human rights and stop committing crimes against ethnic Armenians in the region. We must protect the will, the rights, and the bedrock freedoms of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.”  

Since Azerbaijan’s large-scale military offensive on September 19, 2023, against the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians have fled to Armenia in fear of further persecution. Before the attack, Azerbaijani forces blockaded the Lachin corridor, the sole road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia and the outside world, to prevent imports of essential goods, humanitarian convoys, and all passages of food, fuel, and medicine from the Red Cross to the ethnic Armenians that lived in the territory.  

Cassidy and Markey were joined by U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Peter Welch (D-VT), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Gary Peters (D-MI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

The resolution would require the State Department to produce a report that includes: 

  • A description of all steps the State Department has taken to promote the protection of human rights by the Azerbaijan government, including any steps taken to discourage practices that are inimical to the protection of human rights and to publicly or privately call attention or disassociate the U.S. and its security assistance to any Azerbaijani violations of human rights;
  • An assessment of whether any extraordinary measures exist that necessitate the continuation of security assistance to Azerbaijan and, if such circumstances do exist, the extent to which assistance should be continued;
  • An assessment on the likelihood that U.S assistance has or will be used in support of Azerbaijani aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh, the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, or in relation to the conflict with Armenia;
  • A description of U.S. government efforts to adhere to section 620M of the Foreign Assistance Act, which prevents U.S. assistance to any security unit against credible allegations of human rights violations; and
  • A determination of whether Azerbaijani officials found responsible in human rights abuses have met the criteria for sanctions and a description of any action the U.S. government is taking to implement sanctions under the Globa Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. 


The resolution is endorsed by Freedom House, Human Rights Foundation (HRF), the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), National Council of Churches (NCC), the Arms Control Association (ACA), Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), Center for International Policy (CIP), Peace Action, Common Defense, Action Corps, Foreign Policy for America (FP4A), Center for Victims of Torture (CVT), Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), National Iranian American Council (NIAC) Action, Women for Weapons Trade Transparency, Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding & Policy, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), In Defense of Christians (IDC), American Friends of Kurdistan (AFK), and the Anglican Office for Government & International Affairs. 

“This resolution marks an important step toward Congress reclaiming its long-neglected civilian protection oversight responsibilities when it comes to U.S. arms transfers and military aid.  In Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin Corridor and subsequent armed attacks brought about a humanitarian crisis for tens of thousands of civilians as well as mass displacement. Congress is right to invoke Section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act to ask serious questions about Azerbaijan’s human rights and civilian protection record and the impact of US arms transfers,” said Annie Shiel at U.S. Advocacy Director of Center for Civilians in Conflict. 

“Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of Artsakh’s entire indigenous Armenian population last year was a modern-day genocide the U.S. had every opportunity to prevent – but instead enabled through the reckless provision of military assistance to Baku’s authoritarian regime. The ANCA joins with coalition partners in welcoming Senator Markey’s leadership in restoring much-needed Congressional oversight of U.S. military assistance through the enforcement of Section 502B(c) – an underutilized statute that can help reassert human rights to its rightful place at the center of U.S. foreign policy,” said Aram Hamparian at Executive Director of Armenian National Committee of America. 

“The Human Rights Foundation supports the U.S. Senate resolution requesting the U.S. Secretary of State to produce a comprehensive report scrutinizing the dictatorial regime of Azerbaijan’s dismal human rights record.  For three decades, the Aliyev dynastic dictatorship has systematically rigged elections and committed gross human rights violations, including the persecution and wrongful imprisonment of opposition figures and journalists, as well as the torture and extrajudicial killing of Armenian POWs and civilian detainees in the context of the armed conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. It’s long overdue that the United States reassess its military assistance to the Aliyev regime,” said Javier El-Hage at Chief Legal and Policy Officer of Human Rights Foundation. 

“CIP applauds Senator Markey and his colleagues for seeking accountability for U.S. arms sales to Azerbaijan, whose government has an abysmal record of human right violations, including a military campaign resulting in the forced displacement of civilians in Nagorno-Karabakh. The U.S. government must take the enforcement of its own arms laws and our security partners’ obligations under international humanitarian law seriously in order to achieve President Biden’s own stated goal of upholding human rights and a rules-based order in our foreign policy,” said Nancy Okail at President and CEO of Center for International Policy. 

“Women for Weapons Trade Transparency urges Congress to invoke section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act via this resolution in light of Azerbaijan’s dismal record of human rights violations and war crimes. Congress must utilize their oversight powers to prevent U.S. assistance from being used in such violations and to ensure that U.S. weapons and funding are not hindering freedom of _expression_, threatening the operations of independent media, or aiding in arbitrary arrests and politically motivated prosecution,” said Lillian Mauldin at Board Member of Women for Weapons Trade Transparency. 

“This resolution is an important effort to uphold U.S. laws requiring an end to military aid to abusive governments like Azerbaijan. It’s imperative that our government consistently and comprehensively enforce its own laws to all recipients of U.S. military aid,” said Sarah Leah Whitson at Executive Director of Democracy for the Arab World Now.        

Armenia can no longer rely on Russia for military and defence needs – PM Pashinyan says

Emil Lazarian
MSN
Feb 2 2024

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Armenia can no longer rely on Russia as its main defence and military partner because Moscow has repeatedly let it down so Yerevan must think about forging closer ties with the United States and France, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.

Armenia, a tiny former Soviet republic bordered by Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey, has long relied on Russia as a big power ally, though Pashinyan has angered the Kremlin by questioning the foundations of the alliance.

"We need to understand who we can really maintain military-technical and defense relations with," Pashinyan told Armenian Public Radio when asked about reform of Armenia's armed forces.

"Previously, this problem was simple because there was no such question and there was no difficulty in creating a concept. Previously, 95-97% of our defense relations were with the Russian Federation. Now this cannot be for both objective and subjective reasons," he said.

Pashinyan said Armenia should think about what security ties it should build with the United States, France, India and Georgia.

Since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union, Russia has faced competition from the United States for dominance of what were once Soviet republics and before that parts of the Russian empire.

Pashinyan says Russia failed Armenia when Azerbaijan launched a lightning-fast military operation that took back control over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, triggering an outflow of ethnic Armenians living there.

Russia says that Pashinyan's own failure to navigate the complex rivalries of the South Caucasus was to blame for the 2023 defeat of ethnic Armenian fighters in Karabakh.

Azerbaijan has accused France of sowing the seeds of a new war by supplying arms to Armenia, which is also being courted by the United States.

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Andrew Osborn)

 

Turkish Press: Turkey’s last Armenian village stands strong with its women after earthquakes

Kanayan Tamar
Turkey – Feb 2 2024
"As a cooperative, one month after the earthquake, on Women's Day, we immersed ourselves in work with the orders that came to us, trying to forget this period. But when they say 'it's being forgotten,' it really isn't being forgotten."

Last year’s earthquakes on February 6 and 20 undoubtedly changed the routines of intra-city travel in Hatay.

Most of the city's roads are in ruins not only because of the earthquakes but also due to the heavy machinery and trucks involved in debris removal. If you are driving from Antakya to Samandağ, you need to be careful along the way. The road, usually two lanes, can suddenly narrow down to one, and construction machinery and trucks can appear any time.

Vakıflı is a small village, approximately 5 kilometers from Samandağ and 25 kilometers from Antakya districts. Nestled at the foot of Mount Musa, overlooking the Mediterranean, it is surrounded by orange, tangerine, lemon, and grapefruit trees, emanating the fragrance of citrus. It is the last Armenian village in Turkey.

Vakıflı is located in southern Hatay. (Wikimedia Commons)

Journalist and author Serdar Korucu, in his 2021 book "Sancak Düştü" (The Sanjak Falls), writes about the Armenians of Mount Musa, once part of the "İskenderun Sanjak" during the Ottoman era:

"Out of the six villages on Mount Musa – Hıdır Bek/Hıdırbey, Yoğunoluk, Kebusiye (now known as Kapısuyu), Hacıhabibli (Eriklikuyu), Bityas (Batıayaz), Vakıf (Vakıflı) – many Armenians 'preferred' leaving Hatay. The ones who stayed gathered in Vakıflı, affectionately termed by the media as Turkey's 'only Armenian village' (actually the 'last Armenian village'). These migrations were not limited to Mount Musa. In 1936, the Armenian population, constituting 11% of the Sanjak's population, dwindled to a symbolic number."

While the earthquakes on February 6 did not cause destruction in the village of about 35 households and 135 residents, the earthquakes centered around Defne and Samandağ in the Hatay-centered quake on February 20 resulted in nearly half of the church and houses being either damaged or collapsed. The heavy rainfall the day before filled small potholes on the damaged village roads with water, making our journey to Vakıflı a bit challenging.

Vakıflı is a special case for women. The women's cooperative, established long before February 6, re-engaged in regional production activities shortly after the earthquake. We visited Vakıflı to see the women's production workshops and discuss the period before and after February 6.

After the collapse of its bell tower and damage in its walls, Surp Asdvadzadzin Church will undergo restoration.

We call Kuhar Kartun when we arrive at the Vakıfköy Patriarch Mesrob II Cultural Center. A minute later, she greets us from a short distance: "Come, come, we are downstairs, in the production workshop."

The lower floor of the cultural center, located just behind the Surp Asdvadzadzin Church, is the Mihran Ulikyan Production and Food Workshop. The center consists of two separate three-story buildings, including a guesthouse, lodge, and museum.

Kuhar Kartun is from the Vakıfköy Women's Cooperative management and has been living in Vakıflı for about 30 years.

"Unfortunately, Vakıfköy has been the last Armenian village in Turkey since 1938. I say 'unfortunately' because we are the only village left from thousands of villages in these lands," says Kartun. 

They make a living through agriculture, with citrus being the most important product, she says. "At a time when agriculture and production were declared over, we said, 'No giving up.' We came together in 2005 under the name 'Vakıfköy Women's Club.' In December 2021, we formed a cooperative. The goal is for every woman to earn an equal share. We said this village belongs to all of us. There were about 30 women. We, the women, united, sold whatever we could produce, and supported our family budgets. We educated our children."

When we ask her about the February 6 quake,. She says, "I have very, very bad memories of those days." Her mother, living in İskenderun, lost her life under the rubble. She mentions being in İstanbul at that time, with her husband and son in the village.

After the earthquake, the village tea garden became a refuge for all families. Men and women, old and young, everyone lived there for a while, all together. She says, "I couldn't see those here, but I knew what they were going through, what they felt, that they couldn't enter their homes because of their fears. I returned from Istanbul in March. After coming back, I felt relief."

The tea garden became a shelter for the village people after the earthquake. Nowadays, it is a 'spare time' area for the village men; playing backgammon, watching others play… The owner Garbis says they are economically in a difficult situation, mentioning that either the mandarins stay on the trees or they can be sold for next to nothing.

During those days, they received orders upon orders for solidarity purposes, and they quickly consumed the products they could save from the earthquake. Kuhar, who tells us that they rolled up their sleeves afterward, says, "Working became therapy for us."

However, many women had to leave the village after the earthquake. "Why? For the education of their children," says Kuhar Kartun. "Some sent their children to another city, and those whose children were young had to leave themselves. Because transportation to schools from here is difficult; no vehicles, no services, nothing."

Still, hopeful Kuhar says, "I'm sure they will all come back." A short moment of silence. Then, with a confident _expression_ on her face, she says:

"Hatay will rise again. Antakya, Samandağ will rise again. Any place touched by a woman's hand will recover, I'm sure. Just let's unite."

Orange peels carefully arranged are gently placed into two large pots where the sherbet is boiling. A pleasant aroma fills the entire workshop. Elena Çapar, one of the most diligent members of the Vakıfköy Women's Cooperative, slowly stirs the orange peels with a large ladle.

Elena, who was in the village during the earthquakes on February 6 and 20, had her house destroyed, and they had to live in a tent for a long time. Nowadays, they stay as a family in a container provided by the patriarchate and installed by the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality. "My three sons, my husband, and my 92-year-old father-in-law. We're all together."

Her "workday" begins at home early in the morning, then she deals with cooperative tasks. If she's not cooking, she's at her desk, taking notes on orders with her phone in hand. At the end of the day, she returns "home," and the work cycle continues.

"As Vakıfköy women, we all participate in the production processes. Some of us use our hands, some our eyes, some our noses; everyone has a different role," says Elena.

"For example, today, the syrup for orange jam is boiling. Tomorrow is the day to fill the jars with jams. Orange jam is one of our main products. Walnut jam, orange jam, pomegranate molasses, concentrated syrups, olives, laurel soap. 

“These are our other main products. We make all of these with what we obtain from our own lands. We also have an agricultural cooperative in our village. We process the products we receive from them here."

"They say, 'It's being forgotten,' but it's not forgotten," says Elena. "As long as we live, this fear, this pain will live with us."

Nilgün Aşkar, co-chair of the Health and Social Service Workers Union (SES) Hatay Branch and a psychologist, believes that the solidarity networks established and the cooperatives formed since February 6 have been positive for earthquake-affected women. However, she thinks that these efforts are not sufficient.

Meeting with Aşkar in the park area next to the Zeynelabidin Tomb in Armutlu Neighborhood, where the SES Hatay Branch container is located, Aşkar emphasizes that both women's organizations and labor-professional and democratic mass organizations sensitive to women have been trying to support women through solidarity networks and meet their needs since the beginning of the earthquake.

Psychologist Nilgün Aşkar, noting that earthquake-affected women have dealt with many problems over the past year, says, "Having to deal with so much deprivation, lack, and workload, taking care of household responsibilities such as children, disabled individuals, and the elderly in large families have greatly exhausted women."

Aşkar says that they have formed psychosocial support groups as SES, and women's organizations have carried out similar activities. "Yes, these are breath-giving activities, but they do not reduce this burden. A year has passed, but there has been no change in terms of women's workload, and perhaps paid work has been added, along with financial difficulties."

Aşkar points out that some of the civil society activities for women in Hatay have evolved into the process of cooperativization by the end of the year:

"In these cooperatives, work is being done on the production of local products and their marketing. Of course, these are positive and valuable developments. Unfortunately, they are not enough."

Aşkar, despite these supportive activities, emphasizes that a heavy labor process continues for women in tents, containers, and homes, saying:

"Yet, what is needed here is the rapid opening of care centers and nurseries, the implementation of supportive activities for people with disabilities, and making schools as serviceable as possible. And these can be done by the state. 

“Unfortunately, it is not possible to meet all these needs through palliative methods, projects, and various organizational efforts."

—————-

On February 6, 2023, earthquakes with epicenters in the Pazarcık and Elbistan districts of Maraş, registering magnitudes of 7.8 and 7.5, respectively, resulted in destruction in 11 provinces in Turey’s eastern Mediterranean, Southeastern Anatolia, and Eastern Anatolia. The earthquake also caused significant damage and losses of life in Syria and the tremors were felt in almost the entire Turkey, as well as in various parts of the Middle East and Europe.

Maraş, Hatay and Adıyaman suffered the heaviest destruction. In addition to these cities, a three-month state of emergency was declared in Adana, Antep, Elazığ, Diyarbakır, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Urfa.

According to official data in Turkey, 50,783 people lost their lives, more than 100,000 people were injured, and 7,248 buildings, including public buildings, collapsed during the earthquake. Approximately 14 million people were affected by the disaster. After the disaster, more than 2 million people faced housing problems, and at least 5 million people migrated to different regions.

Hatay was hit by two more earthquakes, measuring 6.4 and 5.8 magnitudes, on February 20, 2023, with the epicenters in the Defne and Samandağ districts. Some buildings heavily damaged on February 6 collapsed due to these earthquakes.

———————-

https://bianet.org/haber/turkey-s-last-armenian-village-stands-strong-with-its-women-after-earthquakes-291348

Armenian Community in Georgia Worries Over Fate of Historic Church Amidst Construction Controversy

Chmshkian Vicken
Feb 2 2024

Tbilisi, Georgia – The once tallest church in Tbilisi, Shamkhoretsots Surb Astvatsatsin (Karmir Avetaran), finds itself at the heart of a heated controversy, as the Armenian community in Georgia expresses grave concern over its deteriorating condition. The construction of a high-rise hotel just 5 meters from the church in 2016 has ignited widespread alarm among locals.

What was initially greeted with community protests has now become a source of distress, as the hotel’s construction inflicted significant damage upon the church’s foundation and compromised its remarkable architectural value. The proximity of the hotel has raised questions regarding the preservation of this iconic religious and historical landmark.

To make matters worse, recent developments including the installation of a security booth and a parking lot have further escalated concerns about the church’s integrity and the possibility of irreparable harm being done. The Armenian community fears that if immediate action is not taken, Shamkhoretsots Surb Astvatsatsin could be left in ruins.

In a plea to the Georgian government, the Armenian community implores authorities to prioritize the preservation of historical and cultural treasures. The church is not merely a place of worship for the Armenian community but also a symbol of shared heritage and identity.

“Shamkhoretsots Surb Astvatsatsin holds immense historical and cultural significance for our community. Its deterioration would represent a significant loss not only for us but also for the rich tapestry of Tbilisi’s architectural heritage,” expresses Aram Sarkisian, a prominent member of the Armenian community.

Efforts by the Armenian community to draw attention to the plight of the church have intensified. They have called for the Georgian government’s urgent intervention to prevent any further damage and to ensure the long-term preservation of this revered site.

The controversy surrounding the church has sparked conversations about the need for increased regulations and sensitivity towards protecting cultural and historical monuments in Georgia. The incident serves as a reminder to balance development and progress with the preservation of precious heritage.

As the discussions continue, all eyes are on the Georgian government to take immediate steps to safeguard this important piece of history from potential destruction. Time is of the essence, and the Armenian community passionately awaits a resolution that will protect Shamkhoretsots Surb Astvatsatsin, allowing future generations to appreciate its beauty and significance for years to come.

https://greekcitytimes.com/2024/02/03/armenian-community-in-georgia-worries-over-fate-of-historic-church-amidst-construction-controversy/

St. Vartan Cathedral Hosts NYC’s Annual Prayer for Christian Unity

David Nargizian
PRESS OFFICE

Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)

630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016

Contact: Chris Zakian

Tel: (212) 686-0710

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.armenianchurch.us

 

February 3, 2024

___________________

ATTENTION EDITOR: Photo attached with caption below. Please credit Harout Barsoumian, Bars Images. Find additional photos at the following link:

https://easterndiocese.smugmug.com/St-Vartan-Armenian-Cathedral/Prayer-for-Christian-Unity-at-SVC-Jan-25-2024

 

 

HEADLINE:

 

Distinguished church leaders from throughout New York City gathered at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral on Thursday evening, January 25, for the city’s annual “Prayer Service for Christian Unity.”

 

The Eastern Diocese hosted this year’s gathering as part of its celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America. Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan welcomed guests from more than a dozen Christian traditions—Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox—to the Diocese’s mother cathedral, which was enveloped in scaffolding as it undergoes an exterior restoration.

 

Inside, a spirit of warm collegiality prevailed among the clergy and faithful of various churches—many of them longtime friends of the Armenian cathedral, others visiting for the first time.

 

Bishop Irinej of the Serbian Orthodox Church delivered a powerful homily based on the theme for this year’s Unity service, drawn from the Gospel of Luke: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul; with all your strength, and all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself” (Lk 10:27).

 

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York, offered closing remarks and an uplifting benediction.

 

Among the other dignitaries in attendance were Archbishop Demetrios (Greek Orthodox Church), Archbishop Mor Dionysius John Kawak (Syriac Orthodox Church), Bishop David (Coptic Orthodox Church), Bishop Paul Egensteiner (Evangelical Lutheran Church), Fr. Chad Hatfield (representing Metropolitan Tikhon), Fr. Sahag Yemishian (representing Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian), Rev. Julie Hoplamazian (representing Bishop Matthew Heyd), Rev. Nicolas Kazarian (representing Archbishop Elpidophoros)—and other brothers and sisters from the broad range of Christian traditions in the metropolitan area.

 

Bishop Mesrop set a tone of harmony and hope in his welcoming words. “On top of the cathedral—hidden from view now, but still pulsing with power—is the Cross: the great symbol of our Unity as Christians, and of God’s love,” he said. “Grounded in the earth, but reaching up to Heaven; extending its arms out to each side, as if to join hands with our neighbors. The Cross is the very image of the beautiful Gospel verse that is our theme for tonight…. Needless to say, our quest for true Unity is more urgent than ever. Because Christian unity is the foundation for—and indeed the road to—the unity of all mankind. Without the one, we cannot even hope for the other.”

 

A reception in Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium followed the service. The event was part of the annual “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,” which has been a feature of New York’s religious life since 1908.

 

Click the following links to:

·       WATCH a recording of the entire service on the cathedral’s Facebook page.

·       VIEW a gallery of photos by photographer Harout Barsoumian.

 

Find the list of church dignitaries below:

 

Cardinal Timothy Dolan

(Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York)

 

Archbishop Demetrios

(Greek Orthodox Church)

 

Archbishop Mor Dionysius John Kawak

(Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern U.S.A.)

 

Bishop David

(Coptic Orthodox Bishop of New York and New England)

 

Bishop Irinej

(Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America)

 

Bishop Paul Egensteiner

(Metropolitan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)

 

Bishop James Massa

(Rector of St. Joseph’s Catholic Seminary )

 

***

 

Very Reverend Fr. Chad Hatfield

(Representing Metropolitan Tikhon)

 

Reverend Julie Hoplamazian

(Representative of the Episcopal Bishop of New York, Bishop Matthew Heyd)

 

Reverend Protopresbyter Nicolas Kazarian

(Representing Archbishop Elpidophoros of America)

 

Pastor Gilford Monrose

(Office of the Mayor of New York, Executive Director of Faith-Based Partnerships)

 

Fr. Faustino Quintanilla

(Representing Archbishop Yeldho Titus)

 

Reverend Margaret Rose

(Representing Presiding Episcopal Bishop Michael Curry)

 

Very Reverend Fr. Brian Terry

(Minister General of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement)

 

Very Reverend Fr. Amde Tsion-Durden

(Representing of Archbishop Abune Petros / Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church)

 

Very Reverend Fr. Sahag Yemishian

(Representing Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian)

 

Very Reverend Fr. Thomas Zain

(Representing Metropolitan Saba)

 

***

 

The Members of the Religious Community of the Crossing at St. John the Divine Cathedral

 

The Members of the Chemin Neuf Community

 

Representatives of the Focolare Movement

 

The Members of the Community of Saint Egidio

 

—2/1/24

 

***

 

PHOTO CAPTION:

Distinguished church leaders from throughout New York City gathered at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral on Thursday evening, January 25, for the city’s annual “Prayer Service for Christian Unity.” The Eastern Diocese hosted this year’s gathering as part of its celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Diocese. Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan welcomed guests from more than a dozen Christian traditions—Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox—to the Diocese’s mother cathedral. Pictured here (l-r) in the tahlij of the Diocesan Center: Bishop Irinej (Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America); Bishop Paul Egensteiner (Metropolitan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America); Archbishop Demetrios (Greek Orthodox Church); Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan(Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America); Cardinal Timothy Dolan (Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York); Bishop James Massa (St. Joseph’s Catholic Seminary); Archbishop Mor Dionysius John Kawak(Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern U.S.A.); and Bishop David (Coptic Orthodox Bishop of New York and New England).

 

***

 

LINKS:

 

Photo Gallery (credit Harout Barsoumian, Bars Images):

https://easterndiocese.smugmug.com/St-Vartan-Armenian-Cathedral/Prayer-for-Christian-Unity-at-SVC-Jan-25-2024

 

Video Recording:

https://www.facebook.com/stvartancathedral/videos/321133560922661

 

# # #



Asbarez: Archbishop Derderian Pledges Continued Support on ABMDR’s 25th Anniversary

Hovhannisian John
by Contributor

 

 February 1, 2024

 

in Community, Latest, News, Top Stories

Western Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian and Fr. Njdeh Keshishyan with the ABMDR delegation, at the Western Diocese. Photo courtesy of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry


Western Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian on January 31 received a delegation from the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry.

During the meeting, which was held at the Diocese in Burbank, California, Archbishop Derderian extended his warm congratulations to the delegation on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the founding of ABMDR.

As members of the delegation thanked the Primate for his support, they informed him that ABMDR aims to recruit a minimum of 2,500 potential stem cell donors this year, not only in honor of the organization’s 25th anniversary, but also in order to bolster donor ranks following the devastating loss of ABMDR donors who lived in Artsakh.

Arch. Derderian pledged his continued assistance to ABMDR, as a pan-Armenian organization dedicated to helping patients across the globe. Specifically, the Primate said, he will facilitate several donor recruitments in the course of 2024, both in the United States and Armenia.

Western Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian with ABMDR Board members Armond Mehdikhani and Dr. Frieda Jordan. Photo courtesy of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry

Archbishop Derderian also informed the delegation that on March 17, prayers will be offered at the Diocese’s Saint Leon Cathedral for ABMDR patients and families.

“We are deeply appreciative of Archbishop Derderian’s leadership in facilitating our outreach and recruitment efforts, and for helping raise public awareness of our life-saving mission,” said ABMDR president Dr. Frieda Jordan. “As we discussed with the Primate during our meeting, one of our major goals at present is to inspire Armenian communities throughout the world with renewed hope and solidarity, in the wake of last year’s horrific losses.”

Established in 1999, ABMDR, a nonprofit organization, helps Armenians and non-Armenians worldwide survive life-threatening blood-related illnesses by recruiting and matching donors to those requiring bone marrow stem cell transplants. To date, the registry has recruited over 33,500 donors in 44 countries across four continents, identified over 9,000 patients, and facilitated 41 bone marrow transplants. For more information, call (323) 663-3609 or visit the website.

AW: Stepanyan & Beglaryan represent the Artsakh people’s interests and aspirations on Capitol Hill

Eduard Nalbandian
February 1, 2024 ANCA ANCA News 0

Without international support for the safe return of Artsakh Armenians and justice for the crimes committed against them, a sustainable regional peace will be elusive, argued Artsakh Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan and former State Minister Artak Beglaryan.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Gegham Stepanyan and former State Minister Artak Beglaryan represented the Artsakh people’s inalienable rights, national interests and democratic aspirations at a Capitol Hill briefing featuring powerful remarks by Representatives Brad Sherman (D-CA) and James Costa (D-CA), and organized by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) urged the Biden administration to provide U.S. defensive weapons to Armenia in response to Azerbaijan’s escalating war rhetoric at a Capitol Hill briefing with Artsakh representatives Gegham Stepanyan and Artak Beglaryan.

“We are here to demand the right of safe return of Artsakh’s refugees to their homes, homes that in many cases have been occupied by their families for hundreds and hundreds of years,” stated Rep. Sherman, who urged the enforcement of Section 907 restrictions on U.S. aid to Azerbaijan, sanctioning the Aliyev regime for the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh. Citing President Aliyev’s escalating rhetoric claiming Armenia’s capital Yerevan is Azerbaijani territory, Rep. Sherman urged the Biden administration to provide defensive military weapons to Armenia, “to avoid the next tragedy which is being planned in Baku.”  Rep. Sherman concluded his remarks with a message to President Aliyev, who claims that his main enemies are the Armenians of the world. “Well, I have news for you, Mr. Aliyev. Your main enemies are every person in the world who believes in democracy, who believes in human rights and who believes in justice.”

“We must hold the Azerbaijan government responsible for not only the ethnic cleansing but the cultural genocide,” stated Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) at a Capitol Hill briefing with Artsakh representatives Gegham Stepanyan and Artak Beglaryan.

Condemning Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of Artsakh, Rep. Costa noted, “We must do more” to provide U.S. humanitarian assistance to Artsakh’s forcibly displaced population through the foreign aid supplemental currently under consideration. “We must hold the Azerbaijan government responsible for not only the ethnic cleansing but the cultural genocide that they continue to attempt to implement as part of a systematic effort that has long been the history of Azerbaijan and their attitude toward the Armenian people and the culture and the religion.  The threats that Azerbaijan is now making toward Armenia, I believe, are serious and real, and therefore should be treated as such,” stated Rep. Costa.  He also called for concrete U.S. action to secure the return of Artsakh leaders and Armenian POWs illegally held hostage by Azerbaijan.

“Artsakh’s rights were center stage this week in Washington, D.C., as two of the Republic’s most eloquent voices – Artak Beglaryan and Gegham Stepanyan – made the case to U.S. legislators and international religious freedom leaders for the safe return of indigenous Armenians to their ancient homeland,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “Today’s congressional briefing was a great opportunity for legislators to hear first-hand about the Artsakh genocide and also for them to consult among themselves about the concrete U.S. steps needed to restore this integral part of the Armenian homeland.”

Artsakh Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan and former State Minister Artak Beglaryan share an eyewitness account of Azerbaijan’s genocide against Artsakh Armenians and offer policy recommendations for justice and lasting peace.

During the briefing, Stepanyan and Beglaryan offered eyewitness accounts of the brutal realities of Azerbaijan’s ten-month blockade of Artsakh, which culminated in the September 2023 genocidal attack that forcibly emptied Artsakh of its indigenous Armenian population.  The Artsakh leaders shared the history of Azerbaijan’s premeditated attacks against Artsakh’s Armenians, which laid the foundation for the 2023 genocide.

Beglaryan and Stepanyan called for bold U.S. and international leadership to hold Azerbaijan accountable for the Artsakh genocide, including via:

— Sanctions on Azerbaijan, building on Senate passage of S.3000, which enforce Section 907 restriction on U.S. military and security aid to Azerbaijan.  They also encouraged the application of Magnitsky sanctions on Aliyev government officials for war crimes and ethnic cleansing committed during the 2020 Azerbaijan-Turkey war against Armenia and Artsakh and subsequent genocidal aggression.

— U.S. aid for Artsakh’s forcibly displaced Armenian community, including housing and job placement assistance, until a secure mechanism can be put in place through international oversight and mediation with Artsakh authorities to guarantee the safe return of forcibly displaced Armenians to their Artsakh homes.

— Expanded U.S. and international efforts to help secure the immediate release of Artsakh leaders captured in September 2023 and POWs illegally held by Azerbaijan since the 2020 Azerbaijan/Turkey attacks.

— Preservation of Artsakh’s Armenian cultural and religious heritage already under threat of destruction by Azerbaijan.

Stepanyan and Beglaryan stressed that without international efforts to address the Artsakh people’s right to safe return and justice for the crimes committed, it will be impossible to establish sustainable peace in the region. They also emphasized that the systemic anti-Armenian hatred fomented by the Azerbaijani government must be eradicated to ensure an enduring settlement of the conflict and regional stability.

The speakers underscored that enforcement of Section 907, via enactment of S. 3000, would represent a meaningful contribution to regional peace. They also touched on related initiatives, among them ANCA-backed resolutions pending in the U.S. House, H.R. 5686 and H.R.5683. These measures would hold Azerbaijan accountable for ethnic cleansing against Artsakh’s indigenous Armenians and help deter further military aggression against Armenia by providing foreign military financing (FMF) aid to Armenia. They also raised H.Res.735, requesting a report on Azerbaijan’s human rights practices under Section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act, and H.Res.861, a bipartisan resolution introduced by Rep. Schiff calling on the United States to ensure the immediate release of Armenian POWs and other detained persons illegally held by Azerbaijan.

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), Artsakh Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan, former State Minister Artak Beglaryan and ANCA Government Affairs Director Tereza Yerimyan discuss U.S. policy options to support Artsakh’s forcibly displaced Armenian population.

The ANCA is accompanying Beglaryan and Stepanyan as they represent Artsakh interests during two weeks of Washington, D.C. meetings with elected officials, policymakers and religious freedom advocates, as part of a 120,0000 Reasons coalition effort supported by the Tufenkian Foundation and the Philos Project.

Earlier this week, Stepanyan offered powerful remarks on Capitol Hill at an International Religious Freedom Summit-related forum calling for U.S. government and non-governmental organization leadership to provide for the secure return of Artsakh Armenians, protection of Artsakh’s Christian heritage and sanctions against the Azerbaijani government.  Throughout the IRF Summit, they discussed the broad range of challenges and opportunities for international action to assist forcibly displaced Artsakh refugees.

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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.


Senators Markey and Cassidy introduce resolution asserting Congressional oversight over U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan

Hambardsumian Paul
February 1, 2024 ANCA ANCA News 0

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senators Ed Markey (D-MA) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) have introduced a bipartisan resolution requesting a report on Azerbaijan’s human rights practices pursuant to Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act. The resolution requests information from the State Department on Azerbaijan’s human rights abuses both within the country, as well as during its sustained military assault against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) that last year resulted in the ethnic cleansing of its entire indigenous Armenian population. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Peter Welch (D-VT) have joined as original cosponsors.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has launched a nationwide action campaign urging senators to cosponsor and work toward passage of the Markey-Cassidy 502B legislation. Take action here.

“The need to hold Azerbaijan’s government accountable and forge a peaceful path forward is long overdue,” said Senator Markey. “Military action has never been the solution to peace and stability in Nagorno-Karabakh. This resolution puts pressure on Azerbaijan’s government to uphold human rights and stop committing crimes against ethnic Armenians in the region. We must protect the will, the rights and the bedrock freedoms of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.”

“Azerbaijan has already been bulldozing holy sites and starving Armenian communities. This is the type of country the Biden administration wants supplying LNG to Europe instead of Louisiana natural gas?” said Dr. Cassidy.

A House version of the 502B(c) request on Azerbaijan – H.Res.735 – was introduced by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) during Azerbaijan’s blockade of Artsakh last year.

“The administration’s continuing support for the Aliyev regime, which regularly commits atrocities and human rights violations, simply isn’t in line with our values as Americans. Given Azerbaijan’s egregious military action against Artsakh on September 19, it is imperative that President Biden and Secretary Blinken reconsider our aid policies,” said Representative Schiff. “This resolution aims to gather information on human rights abuses and war crimes being committed by Azerbaijan and to halt future aid. As a country that champions human rights, we must ensure our foreign aid reflects our commitment to core values and does not contribute to further violence against the Armenian people in Artsakh. This resolution is a step towards aligning our international aid with the ethical standards and interests of the United States.”

ANCA National Board members Ani Tchaghlasian and Dzovinar Hamakordzian, ANCA Programs Director Alex Galitsky and ANC Artsakh’s Gev Iskajyan thank Sen. Markey for leading 502(B) legislation which calls for a report of Azerbaijan’s gross human rights violations, which can trigger a block of all U.S. security aid to the Aliyev regime.

“Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of Artsakh’s entire indigenous Armenian population last year was a modern-day genocide the U.S. had every opportunity to prevent – but instead enabled through the reckless provision of effectively unconditioned military assistance to Baku’s authoritarian regime,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “The ANCA joins with coalition partners in welcoming the leadership of Senators Markey and Cassidy in restoring much-needed congressional oversight of U.S. military assistance through the enforcement of Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act – an underutilized statute that can help reassert human rights to its rightful place at the center of U.S. foreign policy.”

The Markey-Cassidy resolution will require the Department of State to provide a detailed description of widely documented human rights abuses perpetrated by Azerbaijan, including unlawful or arbitrary killings, torture of detainees, the displacement of ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, and the destruction of religious and cultural sites – in addition to violations of internationally recognized human rights including freedom of speech, assembly, political participation, and religious freedom.

The introduction of the Markey-Cassidy resolution comes just months after Azerbaijan launched a military assault on Artsakh that resulted in the ethnic cleansing of the region’s entire Armenian population of 150,000 people. This mass displacement of civilians followed a 10-month humanitarian blockade imposed by Azerbaijan along the Lachin Corridor – the only humanitarian lifeline connecting Artsakh’s Armenian-majority population with the Republic of Armenia – that deprived the region of food, fuel, medicine and humanitarian access, and had devastating implications on water and energy security.

The Markey-Cassidy 502B(c) resolution on Azerbaijan will build on ongoing efforts to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its human rights violations, including the recent unanimous passage of S.3000, led by Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), which would prohibit the executive branch from exercising its waiver authority over existing restrictions on military assistance to Azerbaijan pursuant to Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act.

Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act is a longstanding yet underutilized statute that prohibits U.S. security assistance to “any country the government of which engages in a consistent pattern of gross violation of internationally recognized human rights.”  If the Markey-Cassidy resolution passes, it will mark the first time that Congress has requested a report under Section 502B(c) since 1976.

Section 502B(c) is a potent tool to reassert long-overdue congressional oversight and human rights standards on U.S. military assistance. As a privileged measure, senators have the ability to discharge a 502B(c) report and force a vote on the Senate floor. Upon passage of the resolution, the State Department must provide a report within 30 days detailing a country’s human rights practices and the steps taken by the United States to prevent these abuses – or security assistance will automatically be suspended until such a statement is transmitted. Following the provision of the requested report by the State Department, Congress may then vote to terminate or restrict security assistance through a joint resolution of disapproval.

A coalition of over 25 civil society organizations are calling for passage of the Markey-Cassidy 502B(c) resolution on Azerbaijan.

Over 25 civil society organizations have welcomed Senator Markey and Cassidy’s introduction of a 502B(c) request in Azerbaijan’s human rights practices, including: Amnesty International USA, Freedom House, Human Rights Foundation (HRF), the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), National Council of Churches (NCC), the Arms Control Association (ACA), Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), Center for International Policy (CIP), Peace Action, Common Defense, Action Corps, Foreign Policy for America (FP4A), Center for Victims of Torture (CVT), Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), National Iranian American Council (NIAC) Action, Women for Weapons Trade Transparency, Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding & Policy, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), In Defense of Christians (IDC), American Friends of Kurdistan (AFK) and the Anglican Office for Government & International Affairs.

“The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) supports the U.S. Senate resolution requesting the U.S. Secretary of State to produce a comprehensive report scrutinizing the dictatorial regime of Azerbaijan’s dismal human rights record… For three decades, the Aliyev dynastic dictatorship, which current tyrant Ilham Aliyev effectively inherited 20 years ago from his late father and former soviet Azerbaijani KGB head Heydar Aliyev, has systematically rigged elections and committed gross human rights violations, including the persecution and wrongful imprisonment of opposition figures and journalists, as well as the torture and extrajudicial killing of Armenian POWs and civilian detainees in the context of the armed conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. It’s long overdue that the United States reassess its military assistance to the Aliyev regime, as this is likely to aid it in the commission of gross human rights violations.” – Javier El-Hage, Chief Legal and Policy Officer, Human Rights Foundation

“Amnesty International USA welcomes Senator Markey’s introduction of a resolution requesting information on Azerbaijan’s human rights practices pursuant to Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act. Section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act is one of the most powerful tools Congress has to exercise human rights oversight on the executive, including through mandating annual country reports on human rights practices. We appreciate the Senator is calling for information from the State Department on Azerbaijan’s human rights record that would allow elected representatives in Congress to have access to the best information available to consider whether U.S. taxpayers are funding violations of international law. We hope more senators join as co-sponsors and vote yes when it moves to the floor.” – Amanda Klasing, National Director of Government Relations and Advocacy, Amnesty International USA

“This resolution marks an important step toward Congress reclaiming its long-neglected civilian protection oversight responsibilities when it comes to U.S. arms transfers and military aid. In too many conflicts around the world, U.S. arms transfers have both contributed to and facilitated devastating civilian harm. In Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin Corridor and subsequent armed attacks brought about a humanitarian crisis for tens of thousands of civilians as well as mass displacement. Congress is right to invoke Section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act to ask serious questions about Azerbaijan’s human rights and civilian protection record and the impact of U.S. arms transfers.” — Annie Shiel, U.S. Advocacy Director, Center for Civilians in Conflict

“CIP applauds Senator Markey and his colleagues for seeking accountability for U.S. arms sales to Azerbaijan, whose government has an abysmal record of human right violations, including a military campaign resulting in the forced displacement of civilians in Nagorno-Karabakh. The U.S. government must take the enforcement of its own arms laws and our security partners’ obligations under international humanitarian law seriously in order to achieve President Biden’s own stated goal of upholding human rights and a rules-based order in our foreign policy.” – Nancy Okail, President and CEO, Center for International Policy

“This resolution is an important effort to uphold U.S. laws requiring an end to military aid to abusive governments like Azerbaijan. It’s imperative that our government consistently and comprehensively enforce its own laws to all recipients of U.S. military aid.” — Sarah Leah Whitson, Executive Director, Democracy for the Arab World Now

“Women for Weapons Trade Transparency urges Congress to invoke section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act in light of Azerbaijan’s dismal record of human rights violations and war crimes. Congress must utilize its oversight powers to prevent U.S. assistance from being used in such violations and to ensure that U.S. weapons and funding are not hindering freedom of _expression_, threatening the operations of independent media, or aiding in arbitrary arrests and politically motivated prosecution.” – Lillian Mauldin, Board Member, Women for Weapons Trade Transparency.

* The signatories have various mandates that may not cover the full scope of the resolution’s provisions.

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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.


AW: Two translators and a writer receive International Armenian Literary Alliance grants

David Nargizian
February 1, 2024 International Armenian Literary Alliance Diaspora, Announcements 0

The International Armenian Literary Alliance (IALA) has awarded $2,500 grants to poet Alexa Luborsky for her work-in-progress, Deportation Route, and to translators Thomas Toghramadjian and Margarit Ordukhanyan for Yeghishe Charents’ Land of Nayiri (Yerkir Nairi) and Ruben Filyan’s Your Country’s Ambassador (Ambassador of your country), respectively.

Alexa Luborsky is a writer of Western Armenian and Eastern European Jewish descent. She is an MFA candidate in poetry, an H. Kruger Kaprielian Scholar and a Rachel Winer Manin Jewish Studies Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellow at the University of Virginia. Her poems have appeared or are forthcoming in AGNI, Bennington Review, Black Warrior Review, Guernica, Hayden’s Ferry Review, Indiana Review, LIT Magazine, Michigan Quarterly Review, Ninth Letter, the Offing, Pleiades, The Journal and West Branch, among others. She is the interviews editor for Poetry Northwest and reads for Meridian. Born in Toronto and raised in Rhode Island, she currently resides in Charlottesville, VA where she is working on her first collection of poetry about genocidal aftermaths and diaspora. You can find out more at www.lexaluborsky.com. 

Thomas Toghramadjian is a deacon of the Armenian Church, a teacher and a student of Armenian literature. Born and raised in the United States, he received his bachelor’s degree from Boston College in political science, English and Russian studies before repatriating to Armenia in 2019. Between 2019 and 2021 he completed a two-year fellowship with Teach For Armenia, living and teaching English in the village of Debed in Lori Province. Thomas is currently pursuing a master’s degree in modern Armenian literature at Yerevan State University, writing his thesis on Yeghishe Charents and the Symbolist movement. Read Toghramadjian’s recent translation piece here.

Margarit Ordukhanyan, Ph.D. is a New York-based scholar and translator of poetry and prose from her native Armenian and Russian into English. In addition to contributing translations to collections and anthologies both in the United States and abroad, she also studies literary bilingualism, translation theory and the role of translation pedagogy in language and humanities curricula. Among others, she focuses on the works of exophonic Armenian women writers, including Goar Markosyan-Kasper, whose Russian-language novel Пенелопа (Penelope) she is currently translating into English. Narine Abgaryan’s To Go On Living, co-translated by Ordukhanyan and Zara Torlone, is forthcoming from Plough Publishers. Ordukhanyan was the Fall 2022 Translator-in-Residence at the University of Iowa’s Translation Workshop and a 2023 National Endowment of the Arts Translation Fellow. She is currently a fellow at the Vartan Gregorian Center for Research in the Humanities at the New York Public Library. 

The International Armenian Literary Alliance’s Creative Writing Grant awards $2,500 annually to one Armenian writer whose work-in-progress shows exceptional literary and creative ability. In 2023, the grant, judged by Gregory Djanikian and Raffi Wartanian, was awarded for a collection of poetry, and in the coming years, to works of creative nonfiction and fiction, as well as other mixed genre forms.

The Israelyan English Translation Grant from the International Armenian Literary Alliance was made possible by a generous donation from Souren A. Israelyan, whose funding will ensure more Armenian literature is translated into English. IALA’s 2023 Israelyan English Translation Grant, judged by Dr. Myrna Douzjian, Nairi Hakhverdi and Tatevik Ayvazyan, was open for any work of literature (in any form) written in Eastern Armenian and published any time after 1900.

In 2023, the International Armenian Literary Alliance also offered the Israelyan Armenian Translation Grant – made possible by a generous donation from Souren A. Israelyan as well. However, from the submissions received, judges Anna Davtyan, Armen Ohanyan and Zaven Boyajyan were unable to award a translation that met IALA’s requirements. Instead, the grant will be reserved for 2024.

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The International Armenian Literary Alliance is a nonprofit organization launched in 2021 that supports and celebrates writers by fostering the development and distribution of Armenian literature in the English language. A network of Armenian writers and their champions, IALA gives Armenian writers a voice in the literary world through creative, professional, and scholarly advocacy.


RFE/RL Armenian Service – 02/01/2024

Boris Nahapetian 
                                        Thursday, February 1, 2024


Pashinian Again Criticizes Armenia’s Independence Declaration


Armenia - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian speaks during a news conference in 
Yerevan, July 25, 2023.


Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has reiterated his criticism of a 1990 
declaration of Armenia’s independence resented by Azerbaijan as he defended his 
plans to try to enact a new Armenian constitution.

The declaration made reference to a 1989 unification act adopted by the 
legislative bodies of Soviet Armenia and the then Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous 
Oblast. It also called for international recognition of the 1915 genocide of 
Armenians “in Ottoman Turkey and Western Armenia.” The declaration is cited in a 
preamble to the current Armenian constitution adopted in 1995.

In an interview with Armenian Public Radio broadcast on Thursday, Pashinian gave 
more indications that he wants to exclude this reference from the new 
constitution.

“We really need to settle our relations with the declaration today,” he said. 
“The question is whether our state policy should be referenced to it and whether 
our state policies should be guided by that message and based on the decision of 
the National Council of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Supreme Council of Armenia on 
the reunification of Karabakh and Armenia.”

“If so, it means we will never have peace. Furthermore, it means that we will 
now have war,” claimed Pashinian.

Pashinian did not deny Armenian opposition claims that he wants to change the 
constitution under pressure from Azerbaijan. He said at the same time that Baku 
is publicly demanding such a change in a bid to discredit the constitutional 
reform and eventually “weaken” Armenia.

He also admitted that the new constitution envisaged by him would not 
necessarily prevent Azerbaijani aggression.

Pashinian’s political opponents and other critics say that his continuing 
unilateral concessions to Baku only increase the risk of another war.




Aliyev Demands Constitutional Change In Armenia

        • Astghik Bedevian

AZERBAIJAN - Electoral officials stick up a poster of Azerbaijani President 
Ilham Aliyev in Baku on January 15, 2024, on the first day of the official 
campaigning for the February 7 presidential election.


Armenia must change its constitution in order to make peace with Azerbaijan, 
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Thursday, stoking Armenian opposition 
claims that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has already agreed to make such a 
concession to Baku.

“In case of changing Armenia’s constitution and other documents, peace could be 
achieved,” Aliyev said. “Armenia’s Declaration of Independence contains direct 
call for uniting Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region to Armenia and infringing on 
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. Armenia’s constitution cites that document.”

Pashinian stated on January 18 that Armenia must adopt a new constitution 
reflecting the “new geopolitical environment” in the region. Critics believe he 
first and foremost wants to get rid of the current constitution’s preamble that 
makes reference to the declaration cited by Aliyev.

The declaration adopted in 1990 in turn cites a 1989 unification act by the 
legislative bodies of Soviet Armenia and the then Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous 
Oblast. It also calls for international recognition of the 1915 genocide of 
Armenians “in Ottoman Turkey and Western Armenia.”

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan acknowledged last week that Azerbaijan has 
objected to this constitutional introduction during talks on a peace treaty with 
Armenia. But both he and Pashinian allies claimed that the Armenian leadership 
is not seeking to change the constitution because of that.

Armenian opposition leaders portrayed Aliyev’s latest statement as further proof 
of their claims that Pashinian is planning to enact a new constitution at the 
behest of Baku as well as Ankara. One of them, Artsvik Minasian, said the two 
Turkic allies want to force the Armenians to “renounce their historical past and 
rights.”

“If you do what your enemy wants, it means you obey its rules of the game,” 
Minasian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.

Vladimir Vartanian, a senior pro-government lawmaker, stuck to the official line 
that Pashinian’s administration is not forced to embark on the constitutional 
reform. “No constitution can be adopted under pressure because if we adopt a 
constitution under pressure it means that we have a problem with our 
sovereignty,” he said.

Pashinian called for the new constitution just days after complaining that 
Aliyev has toughened its position on the Armenian-Armenian peace treaty and 
openly laid claim to Armenian territory. He went on to offer more security 
“guarantees” to Baku. Pashinian’s political opponents say this appeasement 
policy will not lead to a lasting peace between the two South Caucasus nations.




Armenian Minister Defends Arrested Deputy

        • Artak Khulian

Armenia - Economy Minister Vahan Kerobian attends a conference in Yerevan, 
February 1, 2024.


Economy Minister Vahan Kerobian on Thursday effectively denied corruption 
accusations brought against one of his deputies and other subordinates arrested 
on Wednesday.

Armenia’s Investigative Committee raided the Ministry of Economy building in 
Yerevan and conducted searches there together with the National Security Service 
(NSS). In a statement issued afterwards, the committee said that seven 
individuals were taken into custody in two criminal investigations conducted by 
both law-enforcement agencies.

In particular, the statement said, unnamed ministry officials illegally 
disqualified a private entity from a procurement tender to make sure that it is 
won by another bidder that charged a much higher sum. Ani Ispirian, who was 
sacked as deputy economy minister the night before her arrest, is understood to 
have been indicted in this criminal case.

The other case involves a ministry official, also not identified by the 
Investigative Committee, who allegedly abused his or her position to help other 
individuals receive government funding for an agribusiness project in violation 
of rules set by the ministry.

Speaking to reporters, Kerobian pointed out that the investigators have not 
accused the suspects of taking bribes or embezzling public funds.

“Therefore, I need an additional clarification of what they mean by abuse [of 
power,]” he said. “The biding process was constantly under the control of 
lawyers, other partners, including the Ministry of Finance, and we are more than 
sure that both the court and the investigation will conclude that there was no 
violation of procurement and related laws.”

It was still not clear whether Ispirian and other arrested ministry officials 
also deny the accusations.

It emerged, meanwhile, that other suspects in the case include Ashot Hovanesian, 
the founder of the software development company Synergy International Systems 
which is registered in the United States but mainly operates from Armenia. A 
Yerevan court on Thursday formally remanded Hovanesian in pre-trial custody.

Another arrested suspect, Ani Gevorgian, is the wife of Armenian parliament 
speaker Alen Simonian’s brother Karlen. Simonian is a key political ally of 
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.




Armenia Formally Joins International Criminal Court


France - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian meets Karim Khan, the 
International Criminal Court prosecutor who issued arrest warrant for Russian 
President Vladimir Putin, Paris, November 10, 2023.


Armenia formally joined the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday four 
months after its parliament ratified the court’s founding treaty despite stern 
warnings from Russia.

Armenia’s Constitutional Court gave the green light for the ratification last 
March one week after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President 
Vladimir Putin over war crimes allegedly committed during Russia’s invasion of 
Ukraine. Moscow vehemently denies the accusations and claims that The Hague 
tribunal executes orders issued by Western governments.

The Armenian government pushed the treaty, also known as the Rome Statute, 
through the National Assembly on October 3, adding to its unprecedented tensions 
with Moscow. Russian officials said the “unfriendly” move will cause serious 
damage to Russian-Armenian relations. They dismissed Yerevan’s assurances that 
the ratification does not commit it to arresting Putin and handing him over to 
the ICC in the event of his visit to Armenia.

Still, Putin seemed to downplay the development afterwards, saying that he will 
visit the South Caucasus country again in the future. Accordingly, Putin’s press 
secretary, Dmitry Peskov, reacted cautiously to the country’s formal accession 
to the ICC confirmed by Armenian officials.

“This is generally the sovereign right of Armenia,” Russian news agencies quoted 
Peskov as saying. “But on the other hand, it is important for us that such 
decisions do not affect both de jure and de facto our bilateral relations, which 
we value and hope to further develop.”

The Pashinian government’s stated rationale for accepting the ICC’s jurisdiction 
is to take more legal action against Azerbaijan and prevent further Azerbaijani 
attacks on Armenia.

Armenian opposition politicians counter that Azerbaijan is not a party to the 
Rome Statute and would therefore ignore any pro-Armenian ruling by The Hague 
court. They say the real purpose of ratifying the treaty is to drive another 
wedge between Russia and Armenia and score points in the West.

The United States and the European Union swiftly praised Yerevan for ratifying 
the Rome Statute. Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the EU’s executive body, 
said that the extension of the ICC’s jurisdiction to Armenia applies to Putin.

“The world is getting smaller for the autocrat in the Kremlin,” von der Leyen 
said in October.



Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
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