DID THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY VIOLATE THE VENICE COMMISSION ?

Vahe H. Apelian

In the latest online issue of Asbarez Daily I read that “Gianni Buquicchio, the president of the European Commission for Democracy through Law, known as the Venice Commission, expressed his “regret” in a letter addressed to Hrayr Tovmasyan, now the outgoing chairman of Armenia’s Constitutional Court”. The title of the article is “EU Body Chair Urges Armenia to ‘Respect Constitution’).  

Naturally the report is concerning given that the Venice Commission is the third-party that was mentioned for amending the Constitution of Armenia in line with European Standards.

The Venice Commission  adopted its recommendation on June  19, 2020 and published it on June 22, 2020. The headline of the Venice Commission’s opinion is attached. It reads:(Opinion No. 988/2020, regarding ARMENIA -  OPINION: ON THREE LEGAL QUESTIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF DRAFT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDEMENT CONCERNING THE MANDATE OF THE JUDGES OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT). The full text may be read online.

The three legal questions the Opinion expanded about are the following:

1.    In the current situation, which is the best way to fully bring to life the new model of the Constitutional Court, prescribed by the Constitution (amended in 2015)? .

2.   In terms of Best European standards would it be deemed acceptable defining the scope and relatively short deadline for the Court’s ex-ante constitutional revew to the extent of compliance of the amendments and non-amendable articles of the Constitution.?

3.   Shouldn’t the Parliament have the power to abandon the earlier appointed referendum which was suspended due to emergency situation caused by the pandemics?

The Venice Commission’s  opinion is an 18 pages long document. I will refrain from quoting from the commission’s discussion in forming their opinion lest such quotes would be out of context and hence may appear biased. Nonetheless, it’s important that I quote the following passage from the Venice Commission’s Opinion: “It should also be observed that the purpose of the current majority is not to alter these high democratic standards by reversing and stepping back from the achievement of the 2015 reform….This is a legitimate aim. …  therefore, good arguments in favor of the new approach proposed  by the Armenian authorities”.

It’s worthwhile that I quote the chronology of the events in Armenia that brought amending the Constitution to the attention of the Venice Commission,  to refresh our memories. I quote:

- “The events of the spring of 2018 which are referred to in Armenia as the “velvet revolution” led to a peaceful overturn of the previous  government and the appointment of the former opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan as Prime Minister in May 2018. As a result of the legistlavite elections on 9 December 2018, “My Step” Alliance supporting Mr. Pashinyan obtained 88 out of 132 seats in the National Assembly (which is constitutional majority), while the former Republican Party did not receive seats”.

-“Before the “velvet revolution”, on 5 March 2018, the former Chairperson of the Constitutional Court, Mr. Gagi Harutnyan, resigned, three weeks before the entry into force of the 2015 constitutional amendments and shortly before reaching the retirement age of seventy.”

-“Mr. Hrayr Tovmassian was elected as the Chairperson by the Parliament on 21 March 2018 under the provisions of the 2005 Constitution, until the retirement age of sixty-five. Mr. Tovmayan, who was a minister of Justice between December 2010 and September 2013, was a member of the National Assembly from the Republican Party since April 2017, until shortly before his election as the Chairperson of the Constitutional Court”

- “Currently, among the nine judges of the Constitutional Court, two judges have been elected according to the 2015 provisions: Mr. Arman Dilanyan was elected on 13 September 2018; Mr. Vahe Grigoryan was elected on 18 June 2019, after the parliamentary elections of December 2018.  The remaining seven judges were elected prior to 9 April 2018, according to the 1995 and 2005 provisions.”

- “In early February 2020, the ruling majority proposed constitutional amendments to transition Article 213 according to which the office of the Chairperson and judges of the Constitutional Court who were appointed prior to the entry into force of Chapter 7 of 2015 Constitution shall cease (seven judges including the Chairperson). An explanatory note attached to those initial draft amendments states in particular that “with the current composition of the Constitutional Court there is a substantial difference between the terms of office of judges appointed under provisions of Chapter 7 of the 2015 version of the Constitution and the terms of office of previously appointed judges. While the newly appointed judges serve for 12 years, the previously appointed members under the provisions of the 19915 version of the Constitution (2 judges) will serve until the age of 70, and those appointed under the provisions of the 2005 version of the Constitution (5 judges) until the age of 65.” According to the explanatory note the purpose of this amendment is to ensure the constitutionality of the composition of the Constitutional Court under Chapter 7 of 2015 Constitution and to remedy to the lack of confidence by both public and other branches of power in the current formation of the Constitutional Court”

- “The introduction of a limited term office for constitutional judges, as previously stated, is also perfectly in line with European standards and in that it achieves a greater balance in representation with the Court”

The Venice Commission opinion regarding the two main issues pertaining to the Armenian authorities’ quest for amending the provisions for  Constitutional Court are the following: 

1.    Regarding the tenure of the judges on the Constitutional Court, Venice Commission recommended:

“ One of the possible options could be to enact the amended Constitution in regard to the Members of the Constitutional Court elected before the new Constitution. Particularly, those Members of the Court who have been served for 12 years before the moment of entry into force of the 7th Chapter (Courts and the Supreme Judicial Council) of the new Constitution (April 9, 2018) will end their term and those who have not expired the 12-years term will continue respectively until the end of their 12-years term. “

2.   Regarding the Position of the Chair of the Constitutional Court. The Venice Commission recommended:

“As far as the position of the Chairperson of the Constitutional Court is concerned, the explanations in the request for the present opinion suggest that the mandate of the current Chairperson who was elected on 21 March 2018 under the provisions of the 2005 version of the Constitution and whose term of office as judge and as chair ends normally in 2035 should cease and the new Chairperson should be elected by his peers for a 6-years single term according to the procedure prescribed by the Constitution currently in force (Article 166(2)). “

Surely, the Armenian National Assembly’s ruling is in line with the Venice Commission recommendations on both accounts:  

Regarding the tenure of the judges on the Constitutional Court, the Armenian National Assembly ruled:

. Three of those seven judges whose tenure was more 12 years were suspended from serving longer and the other four judges whose tenure did not extend beyond the 12 years mandate of the 2015, will continue to serve on the Constitutional Court.

Regarding the Position of the Chair of the Constitutional Court, the Armenian National Assembly ruled:

The tenure of the Constitutional Court Chair was changed to  6 years pursuant to the election by its peers and hence removed  Hrayr Tovmassian from the post and replaced him him in interim with the eldest judge of the Constitutional Court, Alvina Gyulumyan.  

The Constitutional Court, in compliance of the 2015 Constitution, will consist of 4 judges appointed during the presidential form of governance and 5 judges appointed during the current parliamentarian form of governance. All will serve for 12 years.

To put things in perspective, the debate for upholding the Constitution of the Armenia should not entail questioning whether the National Assembly of Armenia upheld Venice Commission’s recommendation  or not. They were adopted. Nor should its aim be questioned, as noted by the Opinion paper of the Venice Commission.  However, on June 22, the day, the day the Venice Commission published its Opinion,  the Armenian National Assembly adopted the Venice Commission recommended changes instead of first amending the Constitution, which was what the Venice Commission naturally had in mind. The  Opinion noted at the end that the “The Commission regrets that a proposal for constitutional amendments introduced in the Armenian Parliament on the day  the adoption of the Venice Commission of this Opinion, which proposal is not in line with the recommendations of this Opinion”.

Hence comes the displeasure of Gianni Buquicchio, the president of the Venice Commission, which concluded its Opinion noting that it: “ remains at the disposal of the Armenian authorities for further assistance in the matter.”, 

 

The source:

https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-AD(2020)016-e

 

Rev. Hovhannes Sarmazian: An Unconventional Path.

Vahe H. Apelian

Rev. Hovhannes Sarmazian

Much like all Kessabtsi, I knew of  Yesai and Hovhannes Sarmazian brothers.  Even though Yesai was the younger brother, it appeared that at the time he was more known than his elder brother because of his calling. He was to be a Badveli, a postor. In fact, I recall the occasion when I first met Rev. Yesai. It was in Keurkune and it was in Kourken Bedirian’s parent’s house. I singled Kourken among his brothers and sisters because, it turned out, that Kourken and Yesai were friends. Both had ventured out of Kessab in pursuit of their own callings. Kourken became an internationally acclaimed scientist in his field and Yesai became known for his vibrant pastorate. Both, Kourken and Yesai, immigrated to Canada. I do not recall the occasion that brought them together over an extended family lunch that day.

I met Hovhannes Sarmazian in person in very early 1970’s when we both taught in the Beirut Kessab Educational Association evening school. All the teachers were students. Rev. Hovhannes attended and lived in the Near East School of Theology (NEST) dormitory which was a just a block or two from the Khanamirian School where the evening classes were held. It was obvious for us that he was a decade senior to us but we struck a personal friendship that continued to the very end. When he was ordained in Anjar, my mother and I attended the ceremony. It was his younger brother Rev. Yesai who extended the hand fellowship into their fold as ordained pastors. 

I immigrated to the U.S. in 1976. After he and his family immigrated to Canada our ties resumed although we seldom met each other in person. He customarily gifted me a copy of the books he wrote. A few years ago, I happened to be  Los Angeles staying with my mother when he called me to let me know that he will be landing in LAX airport. He was invited to be speaker at the yearly Mousa Daghtsi yearly festival in Fresno. I picked him up and together we visited a few of the former evening school staff in L.A. That was the last time I met him in person.

Some two weeks before his death I called him to follow on the status of his last book. He had told me that his last book was ready for printing. From the description he had given me, the book entailed a collection of 52 sermons, one for each Sunday with accompanying hymn. He said that he had prepared the book as an aid to lay preachers or to small congregations who may not have a pastor on board. I had found the idea fascinating and the book very useful for use in the Diaspora as well as in Armenia. I called him to find out about the upcoming publication. To my surprise his daughter Zela answered and let me know that her father is being hospitalized in intensive care. Not long after I heard the sad news of his passing away on June 3, 2020.

He was indeed a gentle soul, a humble and a dedicated servant of God.

I took the liberty of sharing Rev. John Khanjian’s reflections about  Rev. Hovhannes Sarmazian’s depicting his unconventional but determined path towards his calling, (Jan-Feb-March 2018 issue of AMAA News).  

“REV. HOVHANES SARMAZIAN

By Rev. John Khanjian, Ph.D.

Rev. Hovhanes M. Sarmazian was born in June 1934 to Minas and Marie Sarmazian of the beautiful Baghjaghaz Village, located at the foot of Mount Sildran in Kessab, Syria. He attended the village elementary school but for intermediate education, he had to walk 14 km to get to school in Kessab!

His roadmap to Christian ministry did not follow the traditional path of high school, college and seminary. Being the eldest son, he had to interrupt his education and join his father in cultivating the land. In 1951, he was asked to teach at his village elementary school, which he undertook with great love and joy for three years. Then the order came to join the Syrian Army as a conscript. Upon the completion of his military service, he was offered a teaching position at the Armenian Evangelical Elementary School in Damascus, Syria where he served from 1959-62. During this sojourn, which he refers to as “his Damascus Road Experience,” his future vision for the Christian Ministry was solidified and he began the process of applying for full-time ministry.

However, there was still one more hurdle to overcome ̶ a high school diploma. In 1962, I met him as a student at the Armenian Evangelical College of Beirut, Lebanon where he sat in class with teenagers and became a successful student. Now the road map was clear, he became a full-time college and seminary student. With diligence, he completed his studies and received from Haigazian College, a B.A. in Psychology in 1967, and B.D. from the Near East School of Theology in 1969.

During his seminary days, he served in Sunday Schools, Youth Work, and preached from pulpits of churches at various locations. Prior to his graduation, because of a vacancy in the Armenian Evangelical Church of Anjar, Hovhanes was appointed to serve the Church on an interim basis, which later became a permanent position. He began his work after a stormy period in the Church’s life, but with his calm and loving approach, he brought peace and stability to the situation and served the Church for 22 years.

In 1972, he married Marie Janbazian who was a member of the Hilfsbund Mission that was serving the Anjar School and its Boarding Department, as well as Muslims in the surrounding villages. Marie was educated in Germany and served as a nurse, translator, and social worker, and became Pastor Sarmazian’s right arm in his ministry. On July 1, 1973, he was ordained by the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches of the Near East as the Pastor of the Armenian Evangelical Church of Anjar.

When the Hilfsbund Mission transferred its work in Anjar and the surrounding area to the Armenian Evangelical Union of the Near East in 1976, Rev. Sarmazian’s responsibilities grew exponentially. It included the Directorship of the K-12 School, which included a large boarding population, teaching Armenian and religion courses, Presidency of the School Board of Majdal, whose students were Muslims, and overseeing and helping the Armenian refugees who escaped from Beirut during the 16 year long Civil War.

In December 1990, Rev. Sarmazian, his wife, two sons and a daughter moved to Canada to serve the Armenian Evangelical Church of Cambridge, Ontario. In November 2002, the family lost their mother and great supporter to illness. After 50 years of faithful service, Rev. Sarmazian officially retired from this Church as of January 2018, but continues to serve when called upon. He enjoys the company of his children and four grandchildren. He has written many short stories, sermons and articles on various topics. He has published three books:. A Play on Mousa Dagh Events of 1915, A Guide Book for the Christian Armenian Family, and Short Stories About Life in a Kessab Village.

The boy who walked 14 km to school continues his journey in the service of His Lord and his people.”

Rev. Hovhannes Sarmazian interment took place on Wednesday June 17, 2020. The service was held in the Toronto Armenian Evangecal Church. It had been Badveli’s wish that his burial services be attended by the immediate family members. Given the times it was an appropriate request.

Donations in his memory in lieu of flowers may be made in support of Armenians in Lebanon, in Anjar or in Kessab and may be posted electronically at aec.cambridge@gmail.com or the checks mailed to the following address.
Armenian Evangelical Church of Cambridge
1620 Franklin Blvd
Cambridge, ON
N3C 1P2
Canada

 

Some pictures:

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2020/01/our-house-in-canada.html

 

Like father, like son: Levon and Sebouh Apkarian

Vahe H. Apelian

Google-ի Հայերէն թարգմանութիւնը կցուած է ներքեւը

On October 20, 2014, Levon Sharoyan of Aleppo posted about Levon Apkarian where he noted the following.

“Give another year, half a century would have passed since Levon Apkarian’s death, He was the Armenian scout master “Baden Powell”. The new generation may not know of him or even heard his name. But the older generation, as onetime students in Armenians schools, and orphanages in Syria, Lebanon and Cyprus, knew this legendary person. They could never forget the athletic events he organized, the Swedish exercises he taught and scouting troupes he led wearing his hat, carrying a whistle around his neck and the emblems he wore on his formal scout dress.

Levon Apkarian hailed from Sassoun. His life would have made a captivating novel if one had been able to do the impossible task of narrating it. In the immediate aftermath of the genocide, his life was marked by his efforts of salvaging Armenian orphans from the Syrian cities of Deir Elor, Ras al-Ain, Arab Punar and entrusting them to the care of Armenian organizations.

After the war he devoted himself completely to athleticism and scouting. The Syrian Arab community bestowed upon him the honorific title as the “Chief of the Scouts.

After his death, the Armenian community did not have a scoutmaster of his caliber. There has not been another Levon Apkarian. Along with the genocide martyred founder of the Armenian Athletic organization and scouting, Shavarsh Krisian, Levon Apkarian remains a towering figure in the history of Armenian athleticism and scouting."

Levon Apkarian, was also the father of the legendary artistic director and conductor of the Kohar Symphony Orchestra, Sebouh Apkarian.

Sebouh Apkarian

On August 5, 2014, Asbarez Daily also reported the passing away of the legendary artistic director and conductor of the Kohar Symphony Orchestra, Sebouh Apkarian. Many, if not most of us, remember him with his long white hair flowing down his back shoulder, his graceful, and undulating body as he conducted the Orchestra.

The following communiqué was carried in the Armenian press:  “Sebouh Apkarian was born in Cyprus. He was a composer, conductor, painter and educator. He founded the Armenian Radio Program at the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, where he served for 46 years.

He graduated from the Melkonian Educational Institute, where he later taught music and conducted the school choir, following the steps of his music teacher and mentor, Vahan Bedelian.

After graduating from the Melkonian he continued his studies in Paris.

As an opera singer, he performed in Nicosia, Athens, Beirut, Aleppo, Cairo, and Paris.

He composed many songs, choral works, chamber music, oratorios, cantatas, symphonic suites and musical caricatures. Many of these compositions have been performed in Tokyo, Paris, Cyprus, Beirut and the US.

His work and performances with Kohar Symphony Orchestra and Choir were characterized by many as the most significant contribution towards the promotion of Armenian culture during the last decade.”

Google-ի Հայերէն թարգմանութիւնը՝

2014 թվականի հոկտեմբերի 20-ին Հալեպից Լևոն Շառոյանը գրառում է կատարել Լևոն Ափկարյանի մասին, որտեղ նշել է հետևյալը.

« Տվեք ևս մեկ տարի, կես դար կանցներ Լևոն Ափկարյանի մահից, նա հայ սկաուտ վարպետ «Բադեն Փաուելն» էր։ Նոր սերունդը կարող է չիմանալ նրա մասին կամ նույնիսկ լսել նրա անունը: Բայց ավագ սերունդը, որպես ժամանակին աշակերտ Սիրիայի, Լիբանանի և Կիպրոսի հայկական դպրոցներում և որբանոցներում, ճանաչում էր այս լեգենդար մարդուն։ Նրանք երբեք չէին կարող մոռանալ նրա կազմակերպած մարզական միջոցառումները, նրա ուսուցանած շվեդական վարժությունները և սկաուտական ​​խմբերը, որոնք նա ղեկավարում էր գլխարկով, սուլիչ պարանոցին կրելով և խորհրդանշանները, որոնք նա կրում էր իր պաշտոնական սկաուտական ​​զգեստի վրա:

Լևոն Ափկարյանը ծագումով Սասունից է։ Նրա կյանքը գրավիչ վեպ կդարձներ, եթե մեկը կարողանար կատարել այն պատմելու անհնարին խնդիրը: Ցեղասպանությունից անմիջապես հետո նրա կյանքը նշանավորվեց սիրիական Դեյր Էլոր, Ռաս ալ-Այն, Արաբ Պունար քաղաքներից հայ որբերին փրկելու և հայկական կազմակերպությունների խնամքին վստահելու նրա ջանքերով:

Պատերազմից հետո ամբողջությամբ նվիրվել է աթլետիկիզմին և սկաուտությանը։ Սիրիայի արաբական համայնքը նրան շնորհել է «Սկաուտների գլխավոր .

Նրա մահից հետո հայ համայնքը իր տրամաչափի հետախույզ չի ունեցել։ Ուրիշ Լեւոն Ափկարյան չի եղել. Հայ մարմնամարզական կազմակերպության և սկաուտության ցեղասպանված նահատակ հիմնադիր Շավարշ Քրիսյանի հետ միասին Լևոն Ափքարյանը շարունակում է մնալ հայ մարմնամարզության և սկաուտության պատմության գագաթնակետը։ «

Լևոն Ափկարյանը նաև «Գոհար» սիմֆոնիկ նվագախմբի լեգենդար գեղարվեստական ​​ղեկավար և դիրիժոր Սեպուհ Ափկարյանի հայրն էր։

Սեպուհ Ափկարեան

5 Օգոստոս 2014-ին «Ասպարէզ» օրաթերթը հաղորդեց նաեւ «Կոհար» սիմֆոնիք նուագախումբի լեգենդար գեղարուեստական ​​ղեկավար եւ խմբավար Սեպուհ Ափկարեանի մահուան մասին։ Շատերը, եթե ոչ մեզանից շատերը, հիշում են նրան իր երկար սպիտակ մազերով, որոնք հոսում էին հետևի ուսով, իր նազելի և ալիքավոր մարմնով, երբ նա ղեկավարում էր նվագախումբը:

Հայկական մամուլում հրապարակվել է հետևյալ հաղորդագրությունը.   « Սեպուհ Ափկարյանը  ծնվել է Կիպրոսում։ Եղել է կոմպոզիտոր, դիրիժոր, նկարիչ և մանկավարժ։ Կիպրոսի հեռարձակման կորպորացիայում հիմնել է Հայկական ռադիո ծրագիրը, որտեղ ծառայել է 46 տարի։

Ավարտել է Մելքոնյան կրթական ինստիտուտը, որտեղ հետագայում դասավանդել է երաժշտություն և ղեկավարել դպրոցի երգչախումբը՝ հետևելով իր երաժշտության ուսուցչի և դաստիարակ Վահան Պետելյանի քայլերին։

Մելքոնյան դպրոցն ավարտելուց հետո ուսումը շարունակել է Փարիզում։

Որպես օպերային երգիչ հանդես է եկել Նիկոսիայում, Աթենքում, Բեյրութում, Հալեպում, Կահիրեում, Փարիզում։

Հեղինակել է բազմաթիվ երգեր, խմբերգային ստեղծագործություններ, կամերային երաժշտություն, օրատորիաներ, կանտատներ, սիմֆոնիկ սյուիտներ և երաժշտական ​​ծաղրանկարներ։ Այս ստեղծագործություններից շատերը հնչել են Տոկիոյում, Փարիզում, Կիպրոսում, Բեյրութում և ԱՄՆ-ում։

Նրա աշխատանքը և ելույթները «Կոհար» սիմֆոնիկ նվագախմբի և երգչախմբի հետ շատերի կողմից բնութագրվել են որպես վերջին տասնամյակի ընթացքում հայկական մշակույթի առաջխաղացման ամենանշանակալի ներդրումը»:

The Threat is REAL - AN ALARMING SPIKE

Vahe H. Apelian

This is an update of the article I posted on June 4, 2020, citing the Covid-19 confirmed cases in Worcester County, MA where I reside and in Armenia. The past 11 days Armenia has registered an ALARMING SPIKE in its Covid-19 confirmed cases, while Worcester County MA is reported to be on a downward trend along with the State of Massachusetts.

I remain mindful of the posting that recently Raffi Doudaklian posted on his page. It pertains to a simmering perception in Armenia regarding the Covid-19 pandemics. The posting has appeared on PM Pachinyans’s page claiming that the  Covid-19 is a hoax and is being used by the PM Pachinyan’s government as a political pretext. The posting read: “In Armenia there is no Corona pandemics. It is a fake, media-fabricated pandemics, whose main aim is to spread inordinate fear among people and through fear, the intent is to break down the spirit of the people and to disarm its collective psychology. As to what purpose  is he doing that? Contemplate about it yourself. Surely it’s  not for good nor in favor of the Armenians.”  One hundred and ninety-nine readers had responded to the posting, by clicking of what is now familiar buttons to us, as “like”, “anger”, and “haha”.

It is inevitable that response to this pandemic will be politicized. But reasonable people of all political persuasions would be expected to shed light on the reality of the pandemics that transcends politics.  Surely the PM had uncalled for bravado at the very onset of the pandemics. However, his government soon resorted  responding and addressing the matter appropriately. The onus is now on the citizens of Armenia.

I live in Boylston, MA.  It is one of the smaller towns in the Worcester county. Boylston is some seven miles from the City of  Worcester, which is the epicenter of the Armenian American community (“Worcester is America” by Dr. Hagop Martin Deranian). The first Armenian churches were built in Worcester. Khrimian Hayrig established the Armenian Apostolic Church in this city.  The following is the official statistics of the Covid-19 ravage in the Worcester County, MA. 

The population of Worcester County is 822,280 persons. It has 11,975 confirmed cases, (11,465 on June 4).  The number of deaths is 870, (804 on June 4).  The percent of the Worcester County, MA infected with the virus has risen to 1.45% (1.39% on June 4). But the  overall Covid-19 infection in Worcester County, MA is on a downward trend.

 During the same time frame, the confirmed cases in Armenia has reached 17,064 (11,221 on June 4) and the number of deaths has climbed to 285 (176 on June 4). It is obvious that within that time frame ARMENIA HAS REGISTERED AN ALARMING SPIKE in the number of confirmed cases while, as noted,  the Covid-19 infection in the Worcester County, MA is reported to be on a downward trend. So is the trend in the state of Massachusetts.

I am not in position to speculate on causes for the spiking of the infection in Armenia. However, I can attest the following. Whenever my wife and I, together or by ourselves, venture out for shopping, we wear gloves and mask. We have yet to encounter a single shopper without mask in the stores we shop. All the shoppers are also very conscious of social distancing and stores have made accommodation to facilitate social distancing. Having stated that, I can state the following. It is an exercise in futility to politicize the Covid-19 infection. The infection has not been a political issue in the State of Massachusetts, I know of. That surely is not the case in Armenia.

Does the Covid-19 present a serious threat to a country, be it sparsely populated Armenia?

 It sure does.

For all those interested I invite them to read or watch Jared Diamond’s documentaries on Youtube. Jared Mason Diamond (born September 10, 1937) is an American geographer, historian, anthropologist who is best known for his popular science book, titled: “Guns, Germs, and Steel” (1997).In his book he makes a compelling case that not only guns and steel brought down and decimated civilizations, germs did as well. Age old civilizations in North America, in South America, in Hawaii were decimated no less by germs for which the “conquistadors” had immunity but the natives did not. The latter's only revenge was introducing syphilis to the powers to be of the day, to which the natives had immunity but the conquerors did not.

Covid-19 appears to spare no one. There are no “conquistadors” in the world who appear to be immune to it, be Americans, Armenians, Arabs, Chinese or Indians or any other countrymen.

Yes, Covid-19 is a serious threat and may lead to social collapse. It behooves us to remain cognizant of that reality and support the ongoing efforts to contain it.

.

The Threat is REAL

Vahe H. Apelian

Retitled, previously "Boghos, Soros, Toros and Virus"

There are aspects in life that do not lend themselves to statistics. After all, of what use or comfort statistics may bring to the persons who lost a loved one as the only casualty in a war? Statistics may also dehumanize events. It is attributed to  the “man of steel”, Stalin, for  allegedly and ill reputedly having stated that the death of one person is tragic but the death of thousands is a mere statistic. However, using statistics surely serve a purpose to draw a comparison, to make some sense of figures, to understand the dimensions of the event and its impact on the living. It is with such an intent that I resort to the following statistics, for all its worth.

I was drawn to resort to it from a posting that recently Raffi Doudaklian posted on his page. It pertains to a simmering perception in Armenia regarding the Covid-19 pandemics. The posting has appeared on PM Pachinyans’s page claiming that the  Covid-19 is a hoax and is being used by the PM Pachinyan’s government as a political pretext. The posting read: “In Armenia there is no Corona pandemics. It is a fake, media-fabricated pandemics, whose main aim is to spread inordinate fear among people and through fear, the intent is to break down the spirit of the people and to disarm its collective psychology. As to what purpose  is he doing that? Contemplate about it yourself. Surely it’s  not for good nor in favor of the Armenians.”  One hundred and ninety-nine readers had responded to the posting, by clicking of what is now familiar buttons to us, as “like”, “anger”, and “haha”.

It is inevitable that response to this pandemic will be politicized. But reasonable people of all political persuasions would be expected to shed light on the reality of the pandemics that transcends politics. Has the Pachinyan government bungled its response to the pandemics? Surely the PM had uncalled for bravado at the very onset of the pandemics. However, his government soon resorted  responding and addressing the matter appropriately. Could the pandemics have been under more control had the PM government taken a much aggressive stand early on?  I resort to the following statistics to formulate my response.

I live in Boylston, MA.  It is one of the smaller towns in the Worcester county. Boylston is some seven miles from the City of  Worcester, which is the epicenter of the Armenian American community (“Worcester is America” by Dr. Hagop Martin Deranian). The first Armenian churches were built in Worcester. Khrimian Hayrig established the Armenian Apostolic Church in this city where the Diocese functioned  until its move to the New York City. The oldest Armenian church, the Armenian Evangelical Church of the Martyrs erected on December 1, 1901 is still in use in Worcester. The church is named after the martyrs of the Hamidian massacre.  The following is the official statistics of the Covid-19 ravage in the Worcester County, MA. 

Reiterating the statistics posted above: the population of Worcester County is 822,280 persons. It has 11,465 confirmed cases, of which 27 were added yesterday. Thus far the county has registered 804 deaths, 14 of which happened yesterday. In all, 1.394% of the Worcester County population, where I reside, has been infected by the Covid-19 virus. That is an inordinate high percentage and number of deaths, especially when we take into consideration that Worcester is some 35 miles north west of Boston, which boasts reputable hospitals in the U.S. and the state is known for its advanced medical research and is a hub for medical research and is medically very conscious and very responsive.

How does Armenia fare in comparison to the Worcester County? The statistics are attached above. I estimate the population of  Armenia to be  3 times that of population of Worcester County, approximately 2.5 million. The confirmed cases in Armenia is 11,221, similar to the reported in the Worcester County (11465). Surprisingly far fewer people have been reported to have died in Armenia (176 deaths),  compared to the deaths in the Worcester County (804 deaths).

Is Armenia doing better than Worcester County?

I cannot bring myself to conclude that because the course of this pandemics is not worn out yet. Worcester County appears to be much better prepared as it has 97% available beds. The available beds are not mentioned in Armenia but I doubt it can match Worcester County's.  Having stated that, I conclude the following: it is an exercise in futility to ascribe the pandemics to the doings of Boghos or the infamous, all present, all conniving, all  omnipresent Soros. As to who the Boghos are in Armenia?  It appears in Armenia that is how they deprecatorily call their average,  everyday political opponents, turned their nemesis. Should you be not a political supporter of the PM Pachinyan coming to power,  Boghos are those who supported him;  but for those who supported PM Pachinyan coming to power through the velvet revolution, Boghos are those who did not support the movement.  It matters not who Boghos or Soros are in Armenia,  Covid-19 will run its course and the only person  who and the entity that can help contain it, is not the government with its imposed restrictions that it cannot possibly strictly enforce; but it is the average, law abiding, observant citizen of Armenia whom I named Toros. 

Does the Covid-19 present a serious threat to a country, be it sparsely populated Armenia?

 It sure does.

For all those interested I invite them to read or watch Jared Diamond’s documentaries on Youtube. Jared Mason Diamond (born September 10, 1937) is an American geographer, historian, anthropologist who is best known for his popular science book, titled: “Guns, Germs, and Steel” (1997).In his book he makes a compelling case that not only guns and steel brought down and decimated civilizations, germs did as well. Age old civilizations in North America, in South America, in Hawaii were decimated no less by germs for which the “conquistadors” had immunity but the natives did not. The latter's only revenge was introducing syphilis to the powers to be of the day, to which the natives had immunity but the conquerors did not.

Covid-19 appears to spare no one. There are no “conquistadors” in the world who appear to be immune to it, be Americans, Armenians, Arabs, Chinese or Indians or any other countrymen.

Yes, Covid-19 is a serious threat and may lead to social collapse. It behooves us to remain cognizant of that reality and support the ongoing efforts to contain it.