ANCA Calls on Trump Administration to Demand Turkey Waive Diplomatic Immunity for Erdogan Bodyguards Involved In D.C. Attacks

WASHINGTON—According to a New York Times report, U.S. law enforcement are set to charge a dozen of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s security detail on June 15, in connection with the May 16 brutal attack on peaceful protesters in front of the Turkish Ambassador’s residence in Washington, D.C.  Two arrests of Turkish Americans Eyup Yildirim, an owner of a construction company in New Jersey, and Sinan Narin, a Virginia resident have already been made by law enforcement.  Two Canadians of Turkish origin were also charged in the incident.

A screenshot from a video of the attack, captured by Voice of America’s Turkish service (Photo: Voice of America)

“American law enforcement is doing its job,” said Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian.  “Now it’s time for the Trump Administration to demand that Turkey lift all claims to diplomatic immunity for those involved in this crime so that justice can be served.”

According to Nick Fandos of The New York Times who broke the story, “The Washington police have been investigating the May 16 incident along with the State Department and the Secret Service. The police planned to announce the charges at a news conference on Thursday morning, according to the two officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the charges before they were made public.”

The ANCA’s Hamparian was videotaping live at the scene of the May 16 attack, which took place in front of the Turkish Ambassador’s residence where President Erdogan was scheduled to have a closed-door meeting with representatives of The Atlantic Council, a leading think tank in Washington, which receives funding from Turkey. Hamparian’s video showed pro-Erdogan forces crossing a police line and beating peaceful protesters—elderly men and several women – who were on the ground bleeding during most of the attack.

Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Peter Newsham will be offering updates on the arrests and additional charges at a press conference, which can be viewed live via mayor.dc.gov/live at 11:45 a.m. on June 15.

Some days ago, I read Hagop Gulludjian’s article “Atabdatzman Yev Eendecrman Oogheenerov” in Armenian.  I marveled at how well this tongue-in-cheek piece presented one aspect of the problems challenging our continued use of Armenian, and I felt compelled to translate it.  I asked for and received the author’s permission.   Of course, any errors in translation are naught but my own.

‘If you can’t stomach any more after the first few paragraphs, please skip to the end for a few closing comments.’

Given its nature, following the train of thought will likely be difficult in the English version, and impossible if a reader is not fairly well versed in Armenian.  The way it is structured, any time the original used a foreign, usually Latin-based but borrowed via Russian, word, I represent that in Armenian words, transliterated.  To convey the additional frustration felt by Western Armenians when reading this type of vile text (or hearing such speech) emanating from our homeland, I have used Western Armenian (my native dialect) pronunciation as the convention to render Armenian and foreign-borrowed words in Latin letters.  In addition, I have retained, untranslated, the worst, most egregious, and far too common transgressors—nouns carrying the Russian “tzia” (and its tzial, tzoom, etc. Armenianized forms) ending which corresponds to “tion” in English (and French, whence they were usually borrowed).  I also opted for one inconsistency in this system—referring to Saint Mesrob as Sangd (again, Russian borrowed) Mesrob, since it comes out so deliciously, hilariously, absurd.

It may end up that many will understand little of what follows, but everyone should perceive the ridiculous state of affairs suffusing everyday communications emanating from Yerevan.  If you can’t stomach any more after the first few paragraphs, please skip to the end for a few closing comments.

***

On the Paths of Adabdatzoom and Meroom*

I came across a very tragan website recently in the Armenian nooks of the internet.  “Diaspora Research Division” (diasporastudies.am) (it doesn’t say of which hasdadootiun or assotzeeyatzia) seems to have been very cordzoonia in recent years.  Its first project is titled “Paths to Solving the Problems of Atabdatzoom and Meroom of Repatriating Syrian Armenians”.

Under the title “Language Undefined” appears, which caused me great consternation since the language used is a very beautiful Armenian, despite being adabdatzvadz and mervadz with our clopaleezatzial world’s eeshkhogh language.  It was amazing that the title refrained from using clean Armenian to say “paths to solving the broplemneruh”.  The dictionary quickly helped me understand what “problem” meant.

It seems dzrakreen aim is to constitute a golegtzia to develop “portsaragan research” based “merveloo tzever” for “Armenian caghtaganner to be accepted in their azcayeen homeland”.

Among the dzrakeers, notable are “Meegratzian and the Armenian Diaspora” (in Armenian- Spiurkuh), “Dzrakeer for the Study of the Azcacragan-Ungerayeen Study of Moscow’s and Krasnodar’s Armenians”, and other khnteerneroo nationally beneficial studies.  Here too I found the retreat of proper Armenian frustrating since “economic” was used instead of “dndesakan”; instead of “dzrakeer” – plan; instead of “garooytz” – structure; instead of “khorhrtagan” – consultant; instead of “baymanacrayeen” – contractual; and numerous others examples of dated and dradeetzional yezrapanootian.

I hertsaynetzee Sangd Mesrob who was resting peacefully in Oshagan to learn how I too could adabdatzveel and merveel with this clean cordzadzootiun of Armenian. (Note that adabdatzveel is the transitive gravoragan of adabdatznel, while adabdveel is gravoragan antzoghagan of adabdel, and I’m not certain which of these is more adabdagan.)

Sangd Mesrob set aside the English translation of Nareg he was reading and answered, “My son, tartsvadzkayeen meroomuh is a khnteer of dbavorootiunner. The world is a darraloodzaran where it is necessary to portsargel the eksbantzia of language through parepokhoomneroo cordzuntatzner.  It seems there is a rising hagoom in our press, reading which even I gain some havelial vocabulary.  The heemnagan teematrootiun that our Armenian reporters are demonstrating against linguistic amlootiun is wonderful.

Addressing the gaykayeen nertnoghner who are enriching the language, Sangd Mesrob deemed their hagaragortneruh eeratzional people who hold an anjeesht position and have big yeser.  In the final analysis, these are people who have a nonsensical pararan, whose yentagayaganootiunuh, yentatragan teglaratzianeruh and caytagghayeen outbursts strive to deprive Armenian of jgoonootian opportunities.  “In opposing for the sake of contrarianism, they convert their anti-evolootzion unteemootiun into a sharoonagvogh taderagan haydakeer.”

“These people’s zhoghovrtacrcrootiunuh has reached its cacatnaged,” noted the great sangd, adding, however, that their role is “loosantzayeen, and their attempts to establish a cordznagan hamarzhekootiun between their pathetic endeavors and real Armenian’s ooghghootiun are condemned to becoming tiutzaznercagan scale apsdragtzianer.  Hancsdanalov a little on the tombstone in Oshagan, sangdliest Mesrob continued, almost angrily.  “These so-called Armenian mdavoranneruh have no desire to goordinatznel khmpaynoren with independent Armenia’s tghtageetzneruh,” and, he exclaimed, “Der eem, they are unthanrabess opposed to even teemahartaragan linguistic garnishments.  They feel themselves ardonacrvadz to send badkamner about dratitzional tzeveroo gonservatzman.  They even accuse our guys of vaghemee-style looting.”

Finishing his almost menakhosagan badkam, Mesrob heaved a deep sigh.  “The only way to solve these khnteerner is to make a brezendatzia to the khorhrtaran.  Now, I’m going to read some more of Nareg’s panasdeghdzootiun, since later, on the hamatzantz there’s the patzoom of “Hsganeroo Echkuh.”  You see, now we have the lavacooyn selegtzia to watch and read in Armenian, which will finally improve the dbavorootiun about our language.

* The terms belonging to “Modern Armenian” along with whole sentences were taken from blognews.am’s publications during the month of May.  The remainder came from Yerevan State University’s English-Armenian dictionary (author- N. R. Paratian) published in 2011, a few other websites, and a couple, perforce, through inspiration.

***

No doubt you found reading this “translation” (or any portion of it) a bit disorienting or dizzying.  That’s the way I and many others feel when we try to read, listen, and just generally communicate with those of our compatriots who, more than a quarter of a century after the fall of the USSR, persist in conversing using extraordinarily Russian-laced Armenian.

Foreign language influences are not new, not to Armenian nor any other language.  Borrowing has been going on for centuries and millennia.  But when this process of enrichment becomes overbearing, overwhelming, and downright destructive of the host language, especially in the homeland and not the Diaspora where we are far more susceptible to such influences, it’s time to holler “STOP” – and very loudly at that.

Let’s, all of us, whether we speak the language or not, do our best to encourage the use of Armenian words when they exist or can easily be generated.

D.C. Police Release the Names of Charged Individuals; ANCA Urges Trump Administration to Take Action and Demand that Turkey Lift Claims to Diplomatic Immunity for those Involved in Crime

WASHINGTON (A.W.)—During a press conference on June 15, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham announced that arrest warrants have been issued for the arrest of 12 members of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s security detail and Turkish police officers in connection with the May 16 attack on peaceful protesters in front of the Turkish Ambassador’s residence in Washington, D.C.

A screenshot from a video of the attack by Turkish security forces, captured by Voice of America’s Turkish service (Photo: Voice of America)

Yesterday, it was reported that United States Marshals had arrested two Turkish men living in the U.S., for their role in beating peaceful protesters on May 16. Two arrests of Turkish-Americans Eyup Yildirim—an owner of a construction company in New Jersey—and Sinan Narin—a Virginia resident—were made by law enforcement officials. Yildirim was charged with felony Assault with Significant Bodily Injury, felony Aggravated Assault, and misdemeanor Assault or Threatened Assault in a Menacing Manner, while Narin was charged with felony Aggravated Assault and misdemeanor Assault or Threatened Assault in a Menacing Manner.

According to a Washington D.C. Police Department press release, a total of 18 individuals have been charged or are facing charges. Photographs of the 14 individuals, including Turkish security officers, who have outstanding warrants for their arrests, were also released by D.C. Police.

Photographs of the 14 individuals, including Turkish security officers, who have outstanding warrants for their arrests, were also released by D.C. Police.

According to the D.C. Police, 14 individuals have outstanding warrants for their arrests and are identified below:

• Turgut Akar, a Turkish security official, charged with misdemeanor Assault or Threatened Assault in a Menacing Manner
• Ismail Dalkiran, a Turkish security official, charged with misdemeanor Assault or Threatened Assault in a Menacing Manner
• Servet Erkan, a Turkish security official, charged with felony Assault with Significant Bodily Injury and misdemeanor Assault or Threatened Assault in a Menacing Manner
• Tugay Erkan, a Turkish security official, charged with felony Assault with Significant Bodily Injury and misdemeanor Assault or Threatened Assault in a Menacing Manner
• Ahmet Karabay, a Turkish security official, charged with misdemeanor Assault or Threatened Assault in a Menacing Manner
• Feride Kayasan, a Turkish security official, charged with misdemeanor Assault or Threatened Assault in a Menacing Manner
• Lutfu Kutluca, a Turkish security official, charged with misdemeanor Assault or Threatened Assault in a Menacing Manner
• Mustafa Murat Sumercan, a Turkish security official, charged with felony Assault with Significant Bodily Injury and misdemeanor Assault or Threatened Assault in a Menacing Manner
• Gokhan Yildirim, a Turkish security official, charged with felony Assault with Significant Bodily Injury
• Ismail Ergunduz, a Turkish security official, charged with felony Assault with Significant Bodily Injury and misdemeanor Assault or Threatened Assault in a Menacing Manner
• Mehmet Sarman, a Turkish security official, charged with felony Aggravated Assault and misdemeanor Assault or Threatened Assault in a Menacing Manner
• Hamza Yurteri, a Turkish security official, charged with felony Aggravated Assault and misdemeanor Assault or Threatened Assault in a Menacing Manner
• Mahmut Sami Ellialti, charged with felony Aggravated Assault and felony Assault with Significant Bodily Injury
• Ahmet Cengizham Dereci, charged with felony Assault with Significant Bodily Injury and misdemeanor Assault or Threatened Assault in a Menacing Manner

In response to a question from the Armenian Weekly, D.C. Police Chief Newsham acknowledged that investigators are looking into the role of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the May 16 attack, but indicated that, despite the available video and other evidence, there is not yet sufficient probable cause to seek his arrest.

D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham speaking at the June 15 press conference (Photo: ANCA)

“As I’ve said before, I condemn this attack. It was an affront to our values as Washingtonians and as Americans and was a clear assault on the First Amendment. As Americans, the First Amendment grants us the right to assemble and protest peacefully, and here in D.C., we are committed to safeguarding and protecting that right,” Mayor Bowser said during the press conference. She then thanked the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. State Department, and the D.C. U.S. Attorney for their cooperation with the Washington D.C. Police Department.

Below is video of the press conference via ABC News Politics.

“I just want to be perfectly clear that we take our position in the United States as the nation’s capital very seriously. We host demonstrations month-to-month. We host millions of people who come to the seat of their government to protest peacefully. We support them, we make sure that they are safe, but we also make sure that they follow our laws. Certainly anyone travelling to the United States will be held to that same standard. We will defend the First Amendment and we will make sure that our laws are being enforced,” the Mayor added.

Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) commended the Washington D.C. Police Department and applauded the decision to follow up with the filing of criminal charges. “This sends an important message that while violence and repression have become the norm in Erdogan’s Turkey, they remain unacceptable here. Bringing these thugs to justice will ultimately require the State Department to prioritize this issue with Turkey, and I will be urging them to ensure that those charged today face justice,” Schiff said in a statement.

Commenting on the matter, Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian said that the attacks on the peaceful protesters  were not only a brutal assault on American citizens but on “fundamental First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.”

“We [the ANCA] commend the efforts of Mayor Bowser, Chief Newsham, and all the law enforcement agencies involved in bringing the perpetrators to justice, and look forward to continuing to work with them to identify all involved.  Law enforcement is doing its part; now it’s time for the Trump Administration to take action and demand that Turkey lift any claims to diplomatic immunity for those involved in this crime, so that criminal proceedings can move forward and justice can be served,” Hamparian said following the June 15 announcement.

Hamparian was videotaping live at the scene of the May 16 attack, which took place in front of the Turkish Ambassador’s residence where President Erdogan was scheduled to have a closed-door meeting with representatives of The Atlantic Council, a leading think tank in Washington, D.C., which receives funding from Turkey. Hamparian’s video showed pro-Erdogan forces crossing a police line and beating peaceful protesters—elderly men and several women—who were on the ground bleeding during most of the attack.

Hamparian testified before a May 25th Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing on this matter. Joining him at the hearing were Ms. Lusik Usoyan, Founder and President of the Ezidi Relief Fund; Mr. Murat Yusa, a local businessman and protest organizer; and Ms. Ruth Wedgwood, Edward B. Burling Professor of International Law and Diplomacy, at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Usoyan and Yusa were victims of the May 16 assault.

On June 6, with a vote of 397 to 0, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously condemned Turkey in response to the attacks, taking a powerful stand against Ankara’s attempts to export its violence and intolerance to America’s shores.  H.Res.354, spearheaded by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.), Ranking Democrat Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), has received the public backing of House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).  A companion measure has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.).

The House vote followed broad-based Congressional outrage expressed by over 100 Senate and House members through public statements, social media, and a series of Congressional letters.

Senate and House members also raised concerns about an announced $1.2 million sale of semi-automatic guns slated for use by Turkish President Erdognan’s security detail.  Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Democrat Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and House Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ed Royce have objected to the sale. Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Dave Trott (R-Mich.) and Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) have also urged colleagues to co-sign a letter to Secretary Tillerson to block the gun sale to Turkey.

The Armenian Weekly is following the story closely and will provide updates as they become available. 

ANCA’s Hamparian: ‘Erdogan’s Doubling Down on Denial… He’s Targeting our Values, Telling us When We Can and Cannot Speak out as U.S. Citizens’

ANKARA (A.W.)—The United States Ambassador in Ankara John Bass was summoned by Undersecretary of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, Ambassador Ümit Yalçın, shorty after arrest warrants for a group of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s security personnel were issued earlier today. The charges stem from an unprovoked attack on peaceful protesters by members of Erdogan’s security detail in Washington on May 16.

The statement released by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims that the May 16 attack would not have occurred if the U.S. authorities “had taken the usual measures they take in similar high level visits,” and claims that Turkish citizens cannot be held responsible for the incident that took place.

Ambassador John Bass (Photo: Daily Sabah)

“It has been conveyed to the Ambassador that this decision taken by U.S. authorities is wrong, biased, and lacks legal basis; that the brawl in front of the Turkish Ambassador’s Residence was caused by the failure of local security authorities to take necessary measures; that this incident would not have occurred if the U.S. authorities had taken the usual measures they take in similar high level visits and therefore that Turkish citizens cannot be held responsible for the incident that took place,” read a part of the statement.

According to the Ministry, the U.S. Ambassador has also been informed that the tolerance of the U.S. authorities towards the protesters to approach the Turkish Residence “with flags and symbols of terrorist organization and their assault to innocent citizens,” as well as the lack of any action taken against the U.S. security personnel “who assaulted Turkish security guards,” run counter to any “understanding of justice.”

“It has been emphasized that the decision, which clearly was not taken as a result of an impartial and independent investigation, is unacceptable,” concluded the Ministry’s statement.

“Erdogan’s doubling down on denial,” Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian told the Armenian Weekly. “Drawing on the same playbook Ankara has used in Washington since the time of the Armenian Genocide, he is—against all evidence—blaming the victim and trying to bully everyone else into silence. This time, in a fit of unprecedented anger and arrogance, Erdogan’s openly insulting U.S. law enforcement and unapologetically assuming for himself the right to deny Americans our inalienable rights and Constitutional freedoms.”

According to Hamparian, the move to condemn the decision to charge the members of the security detail is an attack on American values. “Having intimidated U.S. leaders into silence on the Armenian Genocide, basically enforcing a foreign gag-rule on what we can say about our own American history, he’s [Erdogan] now targeting our values, telling us when we can and cannot speak out as U.S. citizens,” Hamparian said.

During a press conference on June 15, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham announced that arrest warrants have been issued for the arrest of 12 members of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s security detail and Turkish police officers in connection with the May 16 attack on peaceful protesters in front of the Turkish Ambassador’s residence in Washington, D.C.

According to a Washington D.C. Police Department press release, a total of 18 individuals have been charged or are facing charges. Photographs of the 14 individuals, including Turkish security officers, who have outstanding warrants for their arrests, were also released by D.C. Police.

Erdogan Doubles Down on Denial as D.C. Police Issue Arrest Warrants for Turkish Government Security Detail

WASHINGTON—The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) welcomed, as a meaningful step toward justice, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s and Police Chief Peter Newsham’s in-depth investigation that led to 18 arrest warrants—including a dozen against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s bodyguards—in connection to the May 16 attacks on peaceful protesters outside the Turkish Ambassador’s residence.

‘It’s time for the Trump Administration to take action and demand that Turkey lift any claims to diplomatic immunity for those involved in this crime,’ said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

“We commend the efforts of Mayor Bowser, Chief Newsham and all the law enforcement agencies involved in taking this step toward bringing the perpetrators to justice, and look forward to continuing to work with the relevant authorities to identify all involved,” said ANCA Exective Director Aram Hamparian.  “Law enforcement is doing its part; now it’s time for the Trump Administration to take action and demand that Turkey lift any claims to diplomatic immunity for those involved in this crime, so that criminal proceedings can move forward and justice can be served.”

During a June 15 press conference, Mayor Bowser stated “I condemn this attack.  It was an affront to our values as Washingtonians and as Americans and it was a clear assault on the first amendment.”

D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham announced the names of the dozen members of Turkish President Erdogan’s security detail who have been charged with the attacks. Two Turkish-Americans have already been arrested for assault, and two Turkish Canadians have also been charged.

In response to a question from the Armenian Weekly, Chief Newsham acknowledged that investigators are looking into the role of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the May 16 attack, but indicated that, despite the available video and other evidence, there is not yet sufficient probable cause to seek his arrest.

“We have dignitaries that are in and out of this city on a daily basis.  Rarely have I seen, in my almost 28 years of policing, the type of thing that I saw on Sheridan Circle on that particular day,” said Chief Newsham.  “You had peaceful demonstrators that were physically assaulted and the message to folks who are going to come to our city either from another state or from another country is that’s not going to be tolerated in Washington, D.C.”

The complete press conference can be viewed below (via the ANCA YouTube channel).

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.) commended D.C. police on issuing the arrest warrants, and called on the State Department to “double down on efforts to help bring these individuals to justice.”

House Intelligence Committee Ranking Democrat Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) applauded the D.C. Police decision to follow up with the filing of criminal charges. “This sends an important message that while violence and repression have become the norm in Erdogan’s Turkey, they remain unacceptable here. Bringing these thugs to justice will ultimately require the State Department to prioritize this issue with Turkey, and I will be urging them to ensure that those charged today face justice,” Schiff said in a statement.”

House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) tweeted that he is “encouraged that Turkish security who violated the rights of peaceful protesters in D.C. will face justice.”

According to the Associated Press, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the charges “send a clear message that the United States does not tolerate individuals who use intimidation and violence to stifle freedom of speech and legitimate political expression.”  Secretary Tillerson did not specify what further action the Trump Administration would take in the matter.  The US could seek extradition of Erdogan’s security detail or bar their return to the United States.

D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham speaking at the June 15 press conference (Photo: ANCA)

Hours after the arrest warrants were issued, the Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. Ambassador to Turkey John Bass and, according to a press statement, “emphasized that the decision, which clearly was not taken as a result of an impartial and independent investigation, is unacceptable.”

President Erdogan later reacted to the news, asking, “What kind of a law is this? … If they [bodyguards] are not going to protect me, why would I bring them with me to America?”  Erdogan vowed to fight the charges leveled against his bodyguards.

“Erdogan is doubling down on denial,” said the ANCA’s Hamparian. “Drawing on the same playbook Ankara has used in Washington since the time of the Armenian Genocide, he is—against all evidence—blaming the victim and trying to bully everyone else into silence.”

“This time, in a fit of unprecedented anger and arrogance, Erdogan’s openly insulting U.S. law enforcement and unapologetically assuming for himself the right to deny Americans our inalienable rights and Constitutional freedoms,” continued Hamparian. “Having intimidated U.S. leaders into silence on the Armenian Genocide, basically enforcing a foreign gag-rule on what we can say about our own American history, he’s now targeting our values, telling us when we can and cannot speak out as U.S. citizens.”

Hamparian was videotaping live at the scene of the May 16 attack, which took place in front of the Turkish Ambassador’s residence where President Erdogan was scheduled to have a closed-door meeting with representatives of The Atlantic Council, a leading think tank in Washington, D.C., which receives funding from Turkey. Hamparian’s video showed pro-Erdogan forces crossing a police line and beating peaceful protesters–elderly men and several women–who were on the ground bleeding during most of the attack.

Hamparian testified before a Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing on this matter on May 25. Joining him at the hearing were Ms. Lusik Usoyan, Founder and President of the Ezidi Relief Fund; Mr. Murat Yusa, a local businessman and protest organizer; and Ms. Ruth Wedgwood, Edward B. Burling Professor of International Law and Diplomacy, at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Usoyan and Yusa were victims of the brutal assault on May 16 by President Erdogan’s bodyguards.

On June 6, with a vote of 397 to 0, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously condemned Turkey in response to the attacks, taking a powerful stand against Ankara’s attempts to export its violence and intolerance to America’s shores.  H.Res.354, spearheaded by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.), Ranking Democrat Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), has received the public backing of House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).  A companion measure has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.).

The House vote follows broad-based Congressional outrage expressed by over 100 Senate and House members through public statements, social media, and a series of Congressional letters.

Senate and House members have also raised concerns about the recently announced $1.2 million sale of semi-automatic guns slated for use by Turkish President Erdogan’s security detail, many of whom participated in the May 16 attacks.  Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Democrat Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and House Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ed Royce have already objected to the sale.

Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Dave Trott (R-Mich.) and Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) are urging colleagues to co-sign a letter to Secretary Tillerson to block the gun sale to Turkey.  The ANCA has also started on online campaign, urging citizens to contact legislators to cosign the letter.

ANCA live footage of the attack served as source video for CNN, AP, The Washington Post, The Daily Caller and other major media, transforming the violent incident into a global spotlight on Erdogan’s attempt to export his intolerance and aggression to American shores.

The Sunday, June 4 edition of The New York Times featured a two-page center-spread investigative report on the May 16th attack, with online version of the coverage translated to Turkish and shared widely on social media. The ANCA is cited by The New York Times as a source for this report.

The May 16 protest in front of the Turkish Ambassador’s residence was a continuation of a demonstration held earlier in the day in front of the White House, co-hosted by the ANCA. As President Trump met with President Erdogan. Human rights and religious rights groups were joined by representatives of the Kurdish, Yezidi and Armenian communities to call attention to the Erdogan regime’s escalating repression against free press, the Kurdish and other ethnic communities, as well as Turkey’s ongoing obstruction of justice for the Armenian Genocide.

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—California State Assembly member Laura Friedman announced that the 2017-2018 California State Budget, which was passed by both the State Assembly and Senate on June 15, includes $3 million in funding for the Armenian American Museum planned for Glendale.

Laura Friedman

Funding for the museum will be granted over a three-year period.  In addition, a $5 million fund has been created to update current public school curricula and train teachers on the history of the Armenian Genocide.

“For months I’ve fought for funding in the budget for the museum,” said Friedman. “And I’m thrilled that the funding has come through for the museum, which will serve as a beacon of hope and understanding for the local Armenian community, and countless visitors from around the world.”

Plans for the Armenian American Museum in Glendale have been under discussion for several years. Assembly member Friedman has been a strong supporter of the proposed museum since her tenure as a member of the Glendale City Council. She is also a co-author of the Divestment from Turkey bill, AB 1597, which recently passed the Assembly Floor and is now in the Senate.

“Glendale is the perfect place for the museum, which will embrace the rich diversity of the Armenian community, and educate and empower all who step through its doors,” said Friedman.

The 2016-2017 State Budget had originally allocated $1 million for the Armenian American Museum. When Governor Brown released his initial 2017-18 budget proposal in January, the promised $1 million was removed. Assembly member Friedman successfully pushed legislative leaders to include the funding for the museum in the final budget package.

Armenians started to emigrate to California in the early 1870s. Southern California, especially the city of Glendale, is home to the largest Armenian community outside of Armenia.  Building the museum in Glendale and the implementation new curricula about the Armenian Genocide for public schools will be vital steps towards deepening understanding of Armenian culture and history.

“The Armenian Genocide is a topic that has not been properly taught in our classrooms.” said Armenian Youth Federation Western United States chairperson, Rafi Orphali. “For students to become educated on the Genocide from instructors that have undergone specialized training will ensure that our students know our history and learn the truth.”

The State of California, along with 45 other states, has recognized the Armenian Genocide.

YEREVAN—This year’s Commencement ceremonies celebrated a number of firsts for the American University of Armenia (AUA), including the inaugural AUA Presidential  Commendation award, bestowed to Edward Avedisian. The award was given to the AUA Trustee and major benefactor of the University “In recognition of extraordinary achievements and distinguished service in the advancement of education in Armenia,” as stated on the Commendation.

Edward Avedisian receiving the inaugural AUA Presidential  Commendation award (Photo: AUA)

Prior to embarking on a long list of philanthropic works, Avedisian established himself with a notable professional career as a musician, taught at a university, and became a successful investor. He served as a clarinetist in the Boston Pops and the Boston Ballet Orchestra for 30 years and 43 seasons respectively. His musical talent has spanned much of the East Coast as he held posts in the Atlanta & North Carolina Symphonies, Boston Opera Co., Boston Lyric Opera and Harvard Chamber Orchestra, as well as the Boston Symphony and the Metropolitan Opera. In Armenia, Avedisian has also appeared as soloist with the Armenian State Philharmonic, the Armenian Radio and TV Orchestra, and the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia.

Later in his career, Avedisian began combining his musical talents with teaching. He served as Adjunct Professor of Music at Boston University in the 1970s as well as a lecturer at Endicott College. Later, he was a panelist for the National Foundation for Advancement of the Arts for two years. His service as an educator and musician were recognized in 2008 when he received the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award from Boston University’s College of Fine Arts. From 1977, he served as Artistic Administrator of the Harvard Chamber Orchestra for fifteen years.  While serving as orchestra committee chairman with both the Lake George Opera Festival and the Boston Ballet Orchestras, Avedisian wrote and successfully negotiated the first union contracts for both organizations.

As a private investor, Avedisian has reinvested his success by establishing endowments and award grants to a number of nonprofit organizations. At AUA in particular, he fully funded the Center for Health Studies & Research and the Center for Business Research & Development.  Beginning in 2005, he served as the principal benefactor and Chair of the construction committee of the new 100,000 sq. ft. Paramaz Avedisian Building (PAB). The PAB, named after Avedisian’s late brother, now holds most of the AUA’s academic facilities including schools, colleges, and research centers and has added enormous value and space to the University.

Both in 2008 and 2014, he was awarded the Movses Khorenatsi Medal by Armenia’s President Serge Sarkisian for Contributions to Education, Culture Literature and the Arts. In 2016, he was awarded the distinguished Ellis Island Medal of Honor and was one of the few recipients invited to deliver personal remarks at the ceremony. Presently, he remains a Trustee of AUA, the National Association of Armenian Studies and Research, and the Armenian Missionary Association of America.

During the 2017 AUA Commencement exercises, Avedisian was called on to be recognized for his extraordinary service to the University. “The award honors an individual who has made extraordinary contributions in advancing education and scholarships with a special impact on Armenia. I am therefore very pleased to announce that this year’s recipient is Edward Avedisian,” Dr. Der Kiureghian said.

Avedisian addressed the graduates, adding, “I was fortunate to get through school on a number of scholarships. But that is a very small accomplishment when I think of what I can do for others, and I encourage all of you to do the same.”

GLENDALE, Calif.–The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region (ANCA-WR) praised California Legislators for their efforts in securing funding for the Armenian American Museum and statewide genocide education, in a statement issued on June 15.

On June 15, the California State Legislature adopted a budget with considerable attention given to the Armenian-American community.

On June 15, the California State Legislature adopted a budget with considerable attention given to the Armenian-American community, including significant funding of $10 million for the implementation of the genocide education curriculum framework and a total of $4 million for the Armenian American Museum.

“The Armenian National Committee of America Western Region (ANCA-WR) is very grateful to each and every California State Assembly member and Senator who worked so hard to negotiate and to pass today’s State budget,” read a part of the statement.

In its statement, the ANCA-WR said that it was especially thankful to Assembly member Adrin Nazarian for initiating the process and remaining committed to it for more than two years, to Senator Anthony Portantino for continuing it to fruition since his recent election, and to Senate Pro Tem Kevin de Leon and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon for their leadership and genuine consideration of the needs of the vast Armenian-American constituency in California.

“Legislation of this magnitude requires long term planning and implementation by legislators and an engaged citizenry. The ANCA-WR has been at the forefront of these issues, and more, by tirelessly advocating to pass initiatives important to the Armenian American community. This has truly been a collective effort between the public and private sectors. Our grassroots heeded our Action Alerts over the last two years, our Board and Staff had frequent meetings in Sacramento with our elected officials, and our Chief Legislative Consultant Haig Baghdassarian testified multiple times in committee hearings, all of which culminated in this important budget commitment from the State,” read part of the statement.

Servicemen Arayik Matinyan, Vigen Petrosyan, and Vardan Sargsyan Were All Born in 1997

STEPANAKERT, Artsakh (A.W.)—Three Armenian servicemen were killed by Azerbaijani fire on June 16. According to a statement released by the Artsakh Defense Ministry, Artsakh Defense Army servicemen Arayik Matinyan (b. 1997), Vigen Petrosyan (b. 1997), and Vardan Sargsyan (b. 1997) were fatally wounded.

Servicemen Arayik Matinyan, Vigen Petrosyan, and Vardan Sargsyan were all born in 1997.

The deaths came after Azerbaijani forces violated the ceasefire regime at around 6:05 p.m. on June 16, using AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers in the direction of an Artsakh Army military unit.

The statement said that an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of the incident. The Artsakh Defense Ministry also said that it shares the grief of the loss and extends its condolences to the soldiers’ family members, friends, and fellow servicemen.

An Interview with AYF Australia Central Executive Chairperson Aram Tufenkjian

Special for the Armenian Weekly

WATERTOWN, Mass. (A.W.)—The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) is an 84-year-old organization that has spread its roots across the globe, establishing a presence in over ten regions where active young Armenians reside. Although it was founded in 1933 in Boston under the initiative of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Central Committee of America and the inspirational teachings of General Karekin Nejdeh, the AYF eventually expanded into countries including Canada, Lebanon, France, Brazil, Iran, Armenia, and even Australia.

The AYF in Australia was established in 1979.

All these different chapters and regions were formed throughout the course of the 20th century with the mobilization and organization of its youth. In Australia’s case, the AYF there began almost half a century after its founding in the U.S.

Armenian migration to Australia began in the 1850s, with Armenian merchants and traders arriving in small numbers from India and the Far East. The next phase came from the survivors of the Armenian Genocide, however, compared to other countries that took in refugees, the numbers were not so significant. The final and most recent wave came following World War II and the 1960s, where most Armenians chose Australia as their new destination, forming today’s Australian-Armenian community.

The Armenian community in Australia is primarily concentrated in Sydney, which is where the AYF in Australia was established in 1979. ARF Bureau member Papken Papazian from Lebanon visited Australia a year earlier and encouraged young Armenians to form an AYF group. Papazian essentially placed the foundation for the AYF and provided the necessary support for one to be formed. From then on, the already established ARF Tro gomideyutiun immediately went to work and appointed regional bodies and chapters within Australia. Almost 40 years later, the AYF has expanded into three chapters, both senior and junior.

A group of ARF members in the first years of the party’s activity in Australia

Last week, the Armenian Weekly had the opportunity to catch up with AYF Australia “Nigol Touman” member and chairperson of the Central Executive of AYF Australia Aram Tufenkjian to discuss his organization’s recent growth in activism. Tufenkjian was in Boston attending the biennial AYF Tri-Regional Seminar, which took place at AYF Camp Haiastan in Franklin and was hosted by the AYF-YOARF Eastern U.S.

According to Tufenkjian, the first AYF chapter in Australia was formed in Northern Sydney. The organization later expanded to Western Sydney. Recently a chapter was also formed in Melbourne. Aram explained that the main concentration of Armenians today is in these three cities as well as Adelaide, which is in South Australia. Adelaide has a small Armenian community that was formed due to the migration of Syrian-Armenian refugees as a result of the Syrian Civil War.

AYF Australia members in 1993, with former Foreign Affairs Minister of Armenia Raffi Hovannisian

“Over the years, AYF Australia has worked on a wide range of programs and events addressing all the pillars of the AYF: social, political, and cultural,” Tufenkjian explained. “April 24 protests, ‘die-ins’, as well as social fundraisers and banquets are just some examples of the work we do these days,” he added.

The AYF chapters in Australia include Northern Sydney “Nigol Touman,” Western Sydney “Pegor,” and Melbourne “Arapo.” The AYF junior chapters include Northern Sydney “Kale,” Western Sydney “Khanasor,” and Melbourne “Karekin Njteh.” The AYF Central Executive in the region was formed six years ago when there was a need in the region based on the number of members.  Northern Sydney and Western Sydney are a lot closer to each other and have the ability to cooperate more often than with Melbourne.

AYF members participating in a camp in the 1980s

“Most recently, AYF Australia organized its own AYF Youth Corps program, which took place in the summer of 2016 in Nor Nork, just outside of Yerevan,” said Tufenkjian. AYF Youth Corps is a program that was founded in 1994 by the AYF Western U.S. following the ceasefire in Artsakh, with the goal of sending young Armenian diasporans to Artsakh to help rebuilt villages. In 2008, the program took another direction when it changed into a day camp for underprivileged youth in Armenia and Artsakh. Today, AYF regions around the world host their own version of Youth Corps in villages throughout Armenia, Artsakh, and Javakhk.

AYF members participate in a hunger strike against the blockade in Artsakh in the last days of the Soviet Union

Aram explained that AYF Australia’s Youth Corps resulted directly from transnational cooperation with another AYF region, in this case the AYF Western U.S. “Many members in Australia see the great programs that AYFs do worldwide like Youth Corps and it convinces us to participate while motivating us to undertake similar initiatives,” explained Tufenkjian.

In 2015, five AYF Australia members participated in AYF Western U.S.’s Youth Corps program. “After learning more about the program and working with the AYF Western U.S. on logistics and the overall operation, we were able to host our own the following year with 26 counselor.”

A scene from a 2016 ‘die-in,’ organized by AYF Australia members

Nor Nork’s youth center’s renovation was funded by ARF Australia and its affiliate organizations and has become a sister center to the youth center in Sydney. AYF Australia’s first year of Youth Corps was held there. The region plans to make is a biennial program.

Aram explained that he expects to see further cooperation with other regions because it would be beneficial for all AYF members to learn from one another and exchange ideas. He continued to express his excitement in participating in this year’s AYF Tri-Regional Seminar. Members from the host AYF Eastern U.S, the AYF Western U.S. and AYF Canada were joined by Aram and another member from Australia— Koko Karakozian.

Most recently, AYF Australia organized its own AYF Youth Corps program, which took place in the summer of 2016 in Nor Nork, just outside of Yerevan.

The two members from Australia also had the opportunity to visit and meet the staff of the Hairenik in Watertown as well as some of the community’s other historic institutions.

In this age of technology, with social media making communication easy and convenient, Aram insisted that cross-country exchanges need to be a regular occurrence.

“There are chapters everywhere from Greece and Jerusalem to Lebanon and South America. We really don’t do a good job of communicating with each other,” said Tufenkjian. “As the younger generation, we should be forming more relations, especially since we have access to so much technology.”

A scene from the AYF Australia Youth Corps in Nor Nork

Aram stressed that regardless of where an AYF member may be from, when ungers meet, they immediately form a bond. “The shared ideology and set of beliefs is what sets your relationship apart from anything else. Seminars, like Tri-Regionals, which bring several regions together, are extremely helpful in accelerating and continuing the work of the AYF,” he said.

When asked about some of the challenges the organization in Australia faces, Aram told the Armenian Weekly that unfortunately there is still a negative stigma associated with the AYF and the ARF, which pushes certain community members away. Many community members, according to Tufenkjian, attach a negative view of the ARF based on certain events in its history. As a result, groups have tended to shy away from participating in AYF related events.

Tufenkjian also explained that although Melbourne is a new chapter, it is geographically far from the other two chapters and hosting joint events becomes difficult.

AYF members participating in the region’s Youth Corp program visiting Artsakh

Geographic isolation is a problem for Australia in general. AYF Australia is relatively far from other regions and had not previously participated in a Tri-Regional type event. The isolation has also made it difficult for other regions to visit and meet with its membership. However, Aram was hopeful that this should motivate the region to host multi-regional events and invite others to Australia.

During his short visit to the Armenian Weekly, Aram made it clear that the AYF in Australia is consistently improving and headed towards a successful future.

A scene from the 2017 March for Justice, organized by AYF Australia members on the 102nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

“I definitely see our community moving forward along with our numbers increasing,” said Tufenkjian. “The AYF is changing perspectives in the community and the youth in Australia is becoming more active. Just look at the case of the Western Sydney chapter. It had formed in the early days of the organization but it dissolved shortly after due to inactivity. In the last decade, it has restarted and is prospering at a steady rate.”

Regarding some upcoming initiatives, Aram discussed a march that the AYF is planning in honor of the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of the Crime. He said that this march would be organized with other groups of people in Australia that have experienced similar struggles and atrocities including the native people of Australia, and the Sudanese, Greek, Assyrian communities.

AYF Australia members Koko Karakozian (L) and Aram Tufenkjian (R) updating AYF Tri-Regional Seminar participants on AYF Australia’s activities (Photo: Knar Bedian)

Tufenkjian also hinted of the possibility of the AYF Australia hosting an international seminar with other regions on the 40^th anniversary of the region and the 85^th anniversary of the AYF.

Tufenkjian hopes that AYF Tri-Regional Seminar would have long-term effects for the AYF globally. “By developing the necessary tools and relations, we will surely do wonders for the Armenian Cause.”

STEPANAKERT, Artsakh (A.W.)—Armenian serviceman Narek Gasparyan (b. 1997) was killed by Azerbaijani fire on June 17, becoming the fourth Artsakh Defense Army soldier to be killed as a result of Azerbaijani aggression in two days.

Armenian serviceman Narek Gasparyan (b. 1997) was killed by Azerbaijani fire on June 17.

A day earlier, on June 16, Artsakh Defense Army servicemen Arayik Matinyan (b. 1997), Vigen Petrosyan (b. 1997), and Vardan Sargsyan (b. 1997) were fatally wounded.

According to several reports, the 20-year-old Gasparyan was a participant of the 2016 April War serving in Talish. According to family members, Gasparyan was to be discharged from the Artsakh Armed Forces in a month.  Gasparyan’s brother also served last year and was recently discharged.

In a statement, the Artsakh Defense Ministry extended its condolences to the soldier’s family members, friends, and fellow servicemen and said that Azerbaijan’s latest aggression was inspired by the untargeted statements of international organizations, which do not put the blame of the escalation of violence on Azerbaijan. The Ministry also promised that Artsakh Defense Forces will retaliate.

Meanwhile, serviceman Myasnik Hovhannisyan, who was severely wounded on June 16, underwent successful surgery in Yerevan over the weekend. According to several reports, both of Hovhannisyan’s eyes sustained injuries as a result of Azerbaijani fire.

President Sahakyan: ‘We Respond to Barbarism with our Unity’

Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan visited the Talish village on June 16 to attend the opening of the “Revived Talish” monument, in honor of the lives lost in the village during the 2016 April War.

Sahakyan at the opening of the Talish monument (Photo: Office of the Artsakh President)

The village of Talish was the site of mass Azerbaijani aggression last April.

Sahakyan expressed his gratitude and noted that the monument reflected Artsakh’s firm will and determination to restore the village and to “make it prosperous again.”

In his address, Sahakyan stressed that the restoration of Talish is a top priority for his administration. “Such a monument is a message to the world that our will is unbending, faith towards our own strength is steadfast, and optimism is inexhaustible. We respond to barbarism with our unity,” said Sahakyan.

YEREVAN (A.W.)— On June 19, wounded serviceman Yuri Zakaryan (b. 1997) was transported from Stepanakert to the Ministry of Defense Central Clinical Military Hospital in Yerevan, according to the head of the hospital’s intensive care unit Gayane Hovhannisyan.

Gayane Hovhannisyan (Photo: Aysor.am)

Speaking to reporters, Hovhannisyan noted that Zakaryan received a head injury on June 17 and his status is considered to be life threatening.

“He currently is unconscious and is connected to a breathing apparatus,” said Hovhannisyan.

Zakaryan already had surgery in Stepanakert but was transported to Yerevan with a helicopter after his condition worsened.

Hovhannisyan noted that two other wounded soldiers who were transported to Yerevan on June 17 are in stable condition.

On June 17, Armenian serviceman Narek Gasparyan became the fourth Artsakh Defense Army soldier killed as a result of Azerbaijani aggression in the span of two days.

PARIS, France (A.W.)—Four ethnic Armenians—Danielle Cazarian, Nadia Essayan, Guillaume Kasbarian, and Jacques Marilossian—were elected to France’s National Assembly on June 18. All four Members of Parliament (MP) represent newly elected President Emmanuel Macron’s La République en Marche (LREM), which won 308 seats with 43 percent of the vote.

(L to R) Guillaume Kasbarian, Danielle Cazarian, Nadia Essayan, and Jacques Marilossian

According to preliminary results, the LREM and its centrist ally MoDem will control at least 355 of the 577 seats in the French National Assembly. Three-quarters of the Parliament are new members and a record 223 of the 577 MPs are women.

Pascal Chamassian, A fifth French-Armenian candidate (LREM) was defeated by the pro-Armenian Valérie Boyer of the Republicans. On Dec. 2011, the National Assembly of France adopted a bill presented by Valérie Boyer, penalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide.

Patrick Devedjian, the 72-year old veteran member of the Republicans and the only ethnic Armenian in the outgoing Parliament, did not run for reelection.

Around half a million ethnic Armenian live in France—one of the largest Armenian Diasporas in the world. Ahead of the May Presidential elections, Macron and other front-runners appealed to the Armenian community for their support.

The Coordination Council of Armenian Organization in France (CCAF) officially endorsed Macron on April 27, ahead of his run-off election against Marine Le Pen of the French National Front (FN) party. On April 24, Macron visited Paris’ Armenian Genocide memorial to 102nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and told reporters that the memory of the victims “must be fully recognized.”

YEREVAN (A.W.)—According to Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau member and director of its Central Hai Tad office Giro Manoyan, countries that signed an Association Agreement with the European Union (EU) without joining the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) will not gain the same advantages that Armenia will gain through signing a revised partnership deal with EU.

Giro Manoyan (Photo: The Armenian Weekly)

“The fact that Armenia will soon sign a new cooperation agreement with the EU, outlining, to an extent, trade and economic relations, demonstrates that our membership in the EEU does not hamper our plans to establish closer relations with the EU,” Manoyan said in an interview with Yerevan-based Tert.am on June 18.

Following two years of negotiations, the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed in Yerevan in March.

According to Manoyan, the Association Agreement, which the country did not conclude after the political decision to join the Russia-led bloc, could have become a reality if the EU had demonstrated the necessary willingness. “If the EU hadn’t adopted a rejectionist policy, behaving like an offended side, the negotiations would have developed. The EU cited Armenia’s EEU membership as an obstacle to signing the agreement. The more the West rejects us, the more Armenia will be under the Russian influence,” he added.

Manoyan continued to explain that the current deal is economically more advantageous for Armenia compared to the Association Agreement. He added that recently, foreign trade with the EEU member states has seen growth and the country’s time as a EEU member proved to be more beneficial compared to those countries that developed partnerships with the EU earlier.

Even this period of our EEU membership offered as more gains compared to the countries [which develop partnership] with the European Union. Apart from the visa regime, however, the negotiations with Armenia will eventually get under way,” he added.

BAKU, Azerbaijan (A.W.)—The Co-Chairs of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group expressed deep concern over the recent violations of the Artsakh ceasefire, resulting in casualties on the Line of Contact (LoC), after meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on June 19.

OSCE Minsk Group meeting with Azerbaijan President Aliyev (Photo: Office of the President of Azerbaijan)

In a statement released by Ambassadors Igor Popov of Russia, Stephane Visconti of France, and Richard Hoagland of the U.S. following their visit to the region, the co-chairs appealed to the leadership of Azerbaijan to avoid further escalation and sent the “same message to the leadership of Armenia and de facto authorities of Nagorno-Karabagh,” encouraging the sides to consider measures that would reduce tensions on the LoC and the international border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The statement did not single out one side for being responsible for the recent escalation of violence.

Popov, Visconti, and Hoagland, together with the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, traveled to the region in June to discuss the position of the sides towards the next steps in the Artsakh peace process after the trilateral ministerial meeting in Moscow on April 28, as well as the overall situation in the conflict zone.

The Co-Chairs met with Armenian President Serge Sarkisian in Yerevan on June 10, and with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on June 19.  In both capitals, they also held consultations with the Foreign and Defense Ministers.

The Co-Chairs also traveled to Artsakh to meet with what they called the “de facto authorities,” and visited the Kovsakan (Zangelan), Vorotan (Kubatly), Berdzor (Lachin), and Karvajar (Kelbajar) districts.

A scene from the meeting with Armenian President Serge Sarkisian (Photo: Press Office of the President of Armenia)

According to the statement, the Co—Chairs also met with the “Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabagh” in Baku.

“In both capitals, the Co-Chairs called upon the parties to re-engage in negotiations on substance, in good faith and with political will. They underscored that this is the only way to bring a lasting peace to the people of the region, who expect and deserve progress in the settlement of the conflict. The Presidents expressed their intention to resume political dialogue in an attempt to find a compromise solution for the most controversial issues of the settlement,” read a part of the statement.

The Co-Chairs will travel to Vienna to brief the members of the Minsk Group on July 3. They also plan to meet again soon with the Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers.

GYUMRI, Armenia—The construction for the future TUMO Gyumri center, located at the city’s historic first theater, was launched earlier this month in a special ceremony.

A rendering of the TUMO Gyumri center (Photo: TUMO)

Present at the event were the city’s Deputy Mayor, other government officials, and members of the community. During the event, TUMO founder Sam Simonian and CEO Marie Lou Papazian spoke on the importance of the program and the renovation of both the invaluable cultural center and the adjacent park.

The government of the Republic of Armenia allocated both the building and the adjacent park for the use of the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies.

TUMO founder Sam Simonian speaking at the launch event (Photo: TUMO)

The TUMO Gyumri center, opened in partnership with AGBU and at the initiative of Shant TV, already has had over 2,000 active students in just two years. Each year, over 500 workshops and learning labs take place at the center.

TUMO CEO Marie Lou Papazian speaking at the launch event (Photo: TUMO)

After renovating the theater, the center will expand and allow for a capacity of over 3,000 students. The designs for the building, drawn up by world-renowned architect Bernard Khoury, creates numerous special opportunities for both the center’s students and the city’s residents.

The center will have workshop rooms, a recording studio, an open-air terrace for outdoor events and a cinema to be used for both student projects and public screenings. The cinema can also be converted into a stage, symbolizing the cultural rebirth of the historic theater.

A scene from the performance at the launch event (Photo: TUMO)

After the presentation, a concert was held across from the theater with a performance by TUMO band TmbaTa, led by their workshop leader and member of the noted band Bambir, Arik Grigoryan. Students from TUMO Gyumri joined the performance as well.

Thank you to Joseph and Julie Rosendo. Shad shnorakal enk. To think I saw the film The Promise and the Rosendo’s Tracelscope Part I and II within a week has sent me into shish kebab heaven.

Rosendo at Noravank in Armenia (Photo: travelscope.net)

Imagine my excitement while surfing late night TV channels and discovering on Detroit Public Television that the Rosendos have traveled to Armenia. Yes, Armenia—the often neglected country not visited by travel filmmakers and “fair and balanced” news shows.

Armenia, the thousands-of-years-old country of our ancestors, which in 1991 became an independent republic for the second time, finally ridding itself of the Soviet yoke.

One cannot get effusive enough in appreciation but accolades to Joseph and Julie Rosendothe husband and wife team—and their filming entourage for their production on Armenia. Let’s hope this exposure will generate more tourism for that struggling country’s economy.

I was sitting in my gisheranots (nightgown) watching Joseph Rosendo bravely sipping that potent Armenian spirit called oghi and doing the circle dance in Yerevan on a sunny day. Mr. Rosendo in particular looked like a pro, moving his body and head to the rhythmic infectious beat of Armenian village music played by a group of men.

While Joseph produces, writes, and narrates the show, wife Julie assists as co-producer, photographer, and in public relations. They have an able staff who make it all come to fruition.

Mrs. Rosendo responded to my phone message about my elated happiness about their Armenian film presentation saying, “We truly loved Armenia, wish we could back. I’m saving your message for Joseph to hear.”

With future broadcast repeat information in hand, I quickly spread the news, including to the Manoogian Day School, for them to see that Armenia is finally getting recognition.

I remember when I was a youth I would eagerly scan the credits of a film or TV show for an –ian name only to be disappointed.

I watched the 10:30 p.m. and 4:30 a.m. rebroadcasts to breathe it all in and to take notes. The photography was beautiful; the narration by Joseph was well researched and presented. He and his crew provide excellent travelogues on all their presentations such as Rwanda (including information about the country’s wildlife and the 1994 genocide), South Africa, and Australia, etc.

The focus always includes a country’s history, customs, archeological sites, and interaction with locals, especially in their marketplaces and bazaars, with additional focus on artisanal crafts and special celebrations.

Many important Armenian sites were featured, including the beautiful, majestic Mount Ararat, which will always be identified with Armenia regardless of its so called present boundary with Turkey.

Archeological sites and digs were visited in Erebuni. Rosendo walked through the remains of the royal palace from 780 B.C.

Yerevan changed hands many times with the invasion of the Mongols, Persians, Byzantines, but their sacrifice made the Armenians resilient.

Without an ounce of fear, Rosendo said it loud and clear: “The Ottoman Turks committed a genocide against the Armenians 1915-1922, killing more than 1,500,000 Christian Armenians. In 1923 it meant you were dead or in exile. They began to continue the killing of Armenians they began in the 1890s.” I stiffened with admiration for Rosendo for that most important historic fact he declared bravely for all to hear.

He made a solemn visit to the eternal flame memorial to the Armenian martyrs. How beautiful it was to hear the Armenian woman singing “Ter Voghormya” just as it is sung every Sunday in the Badarak (Armenian Holy Mass).

He described Armenia as a country of rocks: “One-half of Armenia is mountains.” He visited Aragats. The Armenian art form of Khachkars (cross stones) in a cemetery became the focus, it was to assure entry into Heaven. The carved wheel on a Khachkar was a symbol of eternity.

He showed Lake Sevan and the St. Asdvadazin 11^th century Armenian Apostolic Church, stating Armenia had hundreds of churches and monasteries, many in very remote locations. He also visited Medzamor.

The centuries -old Haghpat monastery was shown with a baptism taking place proving religious worship has returned to the nation that in 301 A.D. became the first nation to accept Christianity.

The camera showed the amazing beauty of Armenia—its mountains, distant churches, villages, and its people located on the old silk road.

Viewers were told that evidence of civilization existed in Armenia as early as the Stone and Bronze ages. The now famous old leather shoe was shown from thousands of years ago.

“Voila!”  Exclaimed Rosendo as Armenian women rolled out traditional lavash (bread), slapping it against the hot tonir (oven) to bake within seconds.

He toured a bustling Yerevan market place of goods and culture showing a booth full of pomegranate shaped items. They had a cultural connection, Armenia is a pomegranate state, reflecting marriage and fertility. Displayed too were obsidian volcanic glass beads and necklaces. He said, “Markets are to meet people.”

Rosendo visited a private home in a village where oriental rugs are still made on a wooden loom, not like the present day machine made rugs. The 4×6 rug that was being woven would wholesale for $1,000. “Armenian rug designs live on as a craft long identified with Armenian culture,” he said.

The travelogue included the thorough cleaning and washing of a sacrificed lamb, but thankfully not the actual slaying of the animal. The meat was for madagh shared by everyone. All parts of the lamb is used, even hats are made from it. When Rosendo asked about the custom, he was told, “We believe in sanctity.”

a traditional Armenian scene? A table full of Armenian men and joseph eating, laughing, drinking oghi, known as Armenian vodka.

He said, “Present day Yerevan belies its turbulent history. The Rosendos gave us a two-part glimpse of our homeland.

As a result of the genocide, those exiles are found all around the world… But all our eyes remain turned toward Ararat and Armenia.

I wish to thank the Rosendos and their crew for visiting Armenia and putting her on public television. Also shown was a fountain that if you threw a coin into it, meant you would return to Armenia. How proud you made the Armenians—“this small nation that no one can destroy.”

Part I and II of the show’s DVDs are available at $19.95 each or $45.85 for both (includes shipping and handling). The episodes can also be streamed on Amazon.

Mail to: Travelscope, P.O. box 519, Topanga, Calif. 90290   
phone: 888- 876-3399

BRUSSELS, Belgium— The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) strongly condemned Azerbaijan for its latest escalation of violence on the Artsakh-Azerbaijan Line of Contact (LoC), and expressed its condolences to the families of Armenian soldiers killed while on duty, in a statement released on June 19.

Azerbaijani Armed Forces (Photo: Vestnik Kavkaza)

On June 16-17, four Armenian servicemen were killed by the Azerbaijani armed forces, who utilized anti-tank grenade launchers against Armenian positions. The EAFJ called it the worst violation of the ceasefire regime since the 2016 April War.

President of EAFJD Kaspar Karampetian said that the Azerbaijani authorities have recently come under pressure in Europe regarding their gross violations of human rights and democracy in their own country, as well as the failure of “caviar diplomacy” and the legal cases against some of Azerbaijan’s disgraced lobbyists abroad. As a result, according to the EAFJD, Azerbaijan is trying to shift the attention to Artsakh.

“On a day when Johannes Hahn, EU Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations visits Baku to discuss the new EU-Azerbaijan agreement, Azerbaijan provokes its neighbors and kills three servicemen. [This] proves the Aliyev regime’s true face,” said Karampetian. “Europe’s energy diversification will not be achieved by emboldening a doubtful dictator in Baku who threatens regional peace,” concluded Kaspar Karampetian.

Armenian serviceman Narek Gasparyan (b. 1997) was killed by Azerbaijani fire on June 17, becoming the fourth Artsakh Defense Army soldier to be killed as a result of Azerbaijani aggression over a span of nearly 24 hours. A day earlier, on June 16, Artsakh Defense Army servicemen Arayik Matinyan (b. 1997), Vigen Petrosyan (b. 1997), and Vardan Sargsyan (b. 1997) were fatally wounded.

The Co-Chairs of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group expressed deep concern over the recent violations of the Artsakh ceasefire, resulting in casualties on the Line of Contact (LoC), after meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on June 19.

YEREVAN (A.W.)—An extraordinary Cabinet meeting was held in Yerevan on June 19, during which a new government program (2017-2022) was introduced and approved.

A scene from the June 19 Cabinet meeting (Photo: Press Office of the Government of Armenia)

According to a press statement released by Armenian Prime Minsiter Karen Karapetyan’s office, the program will soon be submitted to the National Assembly (Parliament).

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for International Economic Integration and Reforms Vache Gabrielyan introduced the program, which features “large-scale reforms” aimed at ensuring Armenia’s sustainable development.

Gabrielyan noted that the program is based on the President’s message, the principles and programs of the pre-election coalition agreement signed by the Republican Party of Armenia and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), as well as a “wide variety of progressive ideas circulating in society.”

According to the statement, the new government program is based on the vision of building a safe, fair, free, and intelligent Armenia.

According to Gabrielyan, each section of the program addresses the problems identified over the past nine months while the government tried to diagnose the existing challenges and find practical solutions to them. The program seeks to build on those initiatives implemented during the past nine months, as well as outline the complex of those long-term development objectives that the government is going to implement over the next five years.

The program states the government’s goals and the vision in terms of foreign policy and security, and specifically points to building a closer relationship between Armenia and Artsakh, and to ensure Armenia’s security as a prerequisite for economic development.

The program consists of four main sections: public governance and legal system, foreign policy and defense, economic progress, and social issues, and each section contains a list of reforms and timelines as proposed by individual agencies, to ensure the long term development of Armenia.

“We have clearly formulated what we want to achieve in the economy in the fields of unemployment, minimum wage, and exports, as well as in terms of the taxes-GDP ratio. Besides, we have specified those reforms, actions, and steps that need to be implemented to achieve that goal,” Karapetyan pointed out.

YEREVAN (A.W.)— Armenia’s Minister of Nature Protection Artsvik Minasyan said that the new government program introduced on June 19 will mean significant improvements in the country’s environmental protection sector.

Artsvik Minasyan (Photo: Panorama.am)

Among some of the issues that the program will address include the regulations of the Ararat Valley groundwater basin and the treatment and regulation of Lake Sevan.

According to Minasyan, who is a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), the restoration and conservation of Lake Sevan and activities aimed at preventing its water loss and cleanliness are included in the program initiatives.

“For forest management, we have created an effective method to combat illegal logging using modern technology,” said Minasyan, in an interview with Yerevan-based Armenpress. “We will also be working on unifying forest management systems, since working towards the preservation of our resources has become a priority,” he added.

Minasyan explained that all these changes are part of an effort to prevent the consequences of the mining industry and to improve Armenia’s environment and ecosystem. He added that educational programs and lectures on the environment and ecology will also be organized to bring awareness to the issues the country faces.

The Minister stressed that this new government program will play a significant role in combatting corruption and help change Armenia’s system of governance. He also stressed that within this new framework, the system for permits and licenses will dramatically change and will be done electronically.

“All these initiatives require the necessary financial resources to make them a reality. Instead of adding on the state budget, we intend to take advantage of available grants,” said Minasyan.