Nagorno-Karabakh / Artsakh: 1988-2023

Today, Tatul Hakobyan, on ANI Armenian Research Center website, presented the history of Nagorno-Karabakh / Artsakh during the last 35 years, 1988-2023, in 10 chronolgical episodes. They are, read below. 

Episode one

In February 1988, the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region of Soviet Azerbaijan appealed to Yerevan, Baku, and Moscow to withdraw the region from Soviet Azerbaijan and join Soviet Armenia. Baku and Moscow considered this unacceptable.

Episode two

In response to the Karabakh movement, Azerbaijan carried out Armenian pogroms in the city of Sumgait in the last days of February. In January 1990, Armenian pogroms were also organized in Baku. In the territory of Azerbaijan, the presence of Armenians for all practical purposes ended. More than 300 thousand Armenians were driven out or left that country within two years. All Azerbaijanis, about 180 thousand people, left or were driven out of Armenia.

Episode three

Armenians and Azerbaijanis who gained independence after the collapse of the USSR entered the war phase, which lasted from the end of 1991 to May 1994. The Armenian army established control over an area of 11,500 square kilometers, of which Artsakh itself, Nagorno-Karabakh - 4,400 square kilometers, and more than 7,000 square kilometers - 7 regions of Azerbaijan. About half a million Azerbaijanis were displaced. The Armenian side gave more than 6.5 thousand victims, the Azerbaijani side - 12 thousand.

Episode four:

In the fall of 1997, Levon Ter-Petrosyan tried to find a solution in stages. Nagorno-Karabakh and the entire Lachin region would remain under Armenian control without status, 6 regions were to be returned to Azerbaijan.

Episode five

At the beginning of 1998, a military coup took place in Armenia. Under the pretext of a more favorable solution to the Karabakh issue, Vazgen Sargsyan, Robert Kocharian, Serzh Sargsyan and several other figures removed from power the first president Ter-Petrosyan, during whose presidency the Armenian army stood on almost 42 thousand square kilometers.

Episode six

On October 27, 1999, 8 high-ranking officials and deputies, including Vazgen Sargsyan and Karen Demirchyan, became victims of the terrorist attack in the Armenian Parliament. After the overthrow of this power base, the second president, Robert Kocharyan, strengthened his position. He and his supporters showed no interest in settling the conflict, declaring that the Karabakh issue had been resolved.

Episode seven

In April 2016, a four-day war took place. Since May 1994, Azerbaijan had managed to change the status quo, albeit slightly, by occupying about 800 hectares of territory. It became obvious that Azerbaijan is preparing to resolve the conflict by military means.

Episode eight

On September 27, 2020, Azerbaijan started a war and within 44 days occupied the entire land strip along Araxe river, Hadrut region, Shushi and other areas. The Armenian side gave about 4 thousand martyrs. With the tripartite declaration of November 9 and signed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the military operations ceazed. The Armenian Army withdrew from all regions outside the former Nagorno-Karabakh on schedule.

Episode nine

On September 18 and 19, 2023, after more than nine months of continuous blockade, Azerbaijan launched a new war against Artsakh. Armenia declared that it would not intervene, Russia and the Russian peacekeepers did nothing either. A few days later, the ethnic cleansing and forced displacement of Armenians began. More than 100 thousand Armenians were uprooted from their homeland. Artsakh, where 150 thousand Armenians and 40 thousand Azerbaijanis lived in 1988, was depopulated.

Episode ten

On September 28, 2023, Artsakh President Samvel Shahramanyan signed a decree by which Nagorno Karabakh ceases to exist from January 1, 2024. A few days later, he was transferred to Armenia, and the three former presidents of Artsakh, as well as other state and military figures, were arrested/kidnapped and taken to prisons in Baku.

Բնագիրը

 

Ներկայացնում ենք Արցախի վերջին 35 տարիների՝ 1988-2023թթ պատմությունը 10 դրվագներով:

 

Դրվագ առաջին

 

1988 թվականի փետրվարին Խորհրդային Ադրբեջանի Լեռնային Ղարաբաղի Ինքնավար Մարզը դիմեց Երևանին, Բաքվին և Մոսկվային՝ մարզը Խորհրդային Ադրբեջանից հանելու և Խորհրդային Հայաստանին միացնելու խնդրանքով: Բաքուն և Մոսկվան դա համարեցին անընդունելի:

 

Դրվագ երկրորդ

 

Ի պատասխան Ղարաբաղյան շարժման՝ Ադրբեջանը փետրվարի վերջին օրերին Սումգայիթ քաղաքում իրականացրեց հայկական ջարդեր: 1990թ հունվարին հայկական ջարդեր կազմակերպվեցին Բաքվում: Ադրբեջանի տարածքում, փաստացի ավարտվեց հայության ներկայությունը, այդ երկրից երկու տարվա ընթացքում դուրս քշվեցին կամ հեռացան ավելի քան 300 հազար հայեր: Հայաստանից հեռացան կամ դուրս քշվեցին բոլոր ադրբեջանցիները՝ մոտ 180 հազար հոգի:

 

Դրվագ երրորդ

 

ԽՍՀՄ փլուզումով անկախություն ստացած հայերն ու ադրբեջանցիները մտան պատերազմական փուլ, որը ձգվեց 1991թ վերջերից մինչև 1994թ մայիս: Հայկական բանակը վերահսկողություն հաստատեց 11,5 հազար քառակուսի կիլոմետր տարածքի վրա, որից բուն Արցախը՝ ԼՂԻՄ-ը՝ 4,4 հազար քառակուսի կիլոմետր, իսկ ավելի քան 7 հազար քառակուսի կիլոմետրը՝ ադրբեջանական 7 շրջաններ: Մոտ կես միլիոն ադրբեջանցիներ տեղահանվեցին: Հայկական կողմը տվեց ավելի քան 6.5 հազար, ադրբեջանական կողմը՝ 12 հազար զոհ:

 

Դրվագ չորրորդ

 

1997 թվականի աշնանը Լևոն Տեր-Պետրոսյանը փորձեց լուծում գտնել փուլային տարբերակով՝ ԼՂԻՄ-ն ու Լաչինի ամբողջ շրջանը մնում էր հայկական վերահսկողության տակ՝ առանց կարգավիճակի, Ադրբեջանին վերադարձվում էին 6 շրջանները:

 

Դրվագ հինգերորդ

 

1998 թվականի սկզբին Հայաստանում տեղի ունեցավ ռազմապետական հեղաշրջում: Ղարաբաղի հարցի ավելի նպաստավոր լուծման պատրվակով Վազգեն Սարգսյանը, Ռոբերտ Քոչարյանը, Սերժ Սարգսյանը և մի քանի այլ գործիչներ իշխանությունից հեռացրեցին առաջին նախագահ Տեր-Պետրոսյանին, որի նախագահության ժամանակ Հայկական բանակը կանգնել էր գրեթե 42 հազար քառակուսի կիլոմետրի վրա:

 

Դրվագ վեցերորդ

 

1999 թվականի հոկտեմբերի 27-ին Հայաստանի խորհրդարանում իրականացված ահաբեկչության զոհ դարձան 8 բարձրաստիճան պաշտոնյաներ և պատգամավորներ, այդ թվում՝ Վազգեն Սարգսյանն ու Կարեն Դեմիրճյանը: Իշխանություն մեկ բևեռի գլխատումից հետո երկրորդ նախագահ Ռոբերտ Քոչարյանը ամրապնդեց դիրքերը: Նա և նրա համախոհները հետաքրքրություն չցուցաբերեցին կարգավորելու հակամարտությունը՝ հայտարարելով, որ Ղարաբաղի հարցը լուծվել է:

 

Դրվագ յոթերորդ

 

2016թ ապրիլին տեղի ունեցավ քառօրյա պատերազմ: 1994 թվականի մայիսից ի վեր Ադրբեջանը կարողացավ, թեև աննշան, բայց փոփոխության ենթարկել ստատուս-քվոն՝ գրավելով մոտ 800 հեկտար տարածք: Ակնհայտ դարձավ, որ Ադրբեջանը պատրաստվում է ռազմական ճանապարհով լուծել հակամարտությունը:

 

Դրվագ ութերորդ

 

2020թ սեպտեմբերի 27-ին Ադրբեջանը պատերազմ սկսեց և 44 օրերի ընթացքում գրավեց ամբողջ մերձար աքսյա հողաշերտը, Հադրութի շրջանը, Շուշին և այլ տարածքներ: Հայկական կողմը տվեց շուրջ 4 հազար զոհ: Նոյեմբերի 9-ի եռակողմ հայտարարությամբ և Հայաստանի վարչապետ Նիկոլ Փաշինյանի ստորագրությամբ ռազմական գործողությունները դադարեցվեցին, Հայկական բանակը ժամանակացույցով դուրս եկավ նախկին ԼՂԻՄ-ից դուրս բոլոր շրջաններից:

 

Դրվագ իններորդ

 

2023 թվականի սեպտեմբերի 18-ին և 19-ին՝ ավելի քան ինը ամիս շարուկանվող շրջափակումից հետո, Ադրբեջանը նոր պատերազմ սկսեց Արցախի դեմ: Հայաստանը հայտարարեց, որ չի միջամտելու, Ռուսաստանն ու ռուս խաղաղապահները ևս ոչինչ չարեցին: Մի քանի օր անց սկսվեց հայերի էթնիկ զտումն ու բռնի տեղահանումը: Ավելի քան 100 հազար հայեր արմատախիլ արվեցին բնօրրանից: Արցախը, որտեղ 1988թ բնակվում էին շուրջ 150 հազար հայեր և 40 հազար ադրբեջանցիներ, հայաթափվեց:

 

Դրվագ տասներորդ

 

2023թ սեպտեմբերի 28-ին Արցախի նախագահ Սամվել Շահրամանյանը ստորագրեց հրամանագիր, որով 2024թ հունվարի 1-ից Լեռնային Ղարաբաղը դադարում է գոյություն ունենալ: Մի քանի օր անց նա տեղափոխվեց Հայաստան, իսկ Արցախի նախկին երեք նախագահները, ինչպես նաև պետական ու ռազմական այլ գործիչներ ձերբակալվեցին/առևանգվեցին և տեղափոխվեցին Բաքվի բանտեր:

 

Թաթուլ Հակոբյան

 

ԱՆԻ կենտրոն, 6 հոկտեմբեր, 2023թ 

Armenian Evangelical College (AEC): Founding Principal Bedros Karzayr – 1

Vahe H. Apelian 

First and foremost, I would like to note that I opted to transliterate Պետրոս Քարծայր as Bedros Karzayr. Google transliterates the Armenian name in Eastern Armenian as K’arçayr, and in Western Armenian as Kʿardzayr. The latter - Kardzayr - seems to be adopted by his family. I will elaborate on my choice of the transliteration at the conclusion of the text.

I do not remember when I first heard the name Bedros Karzayr. He is the founding principal of the Armenian Evangelical College. The centennial of the the school he founded in 1923, in Beirut was celebrated this year in Beirut (May 5) and in Los Angeles (September 30) and may be celebrated in Yerevan as well in November.

But Bedros Karzayr’s name was etched in my memory when I read that he was Dr. Antranig Manougian’s father. It must have been a decade ago, and probably was when I read the eminent doctor’s obituary. The records indicate that Dr. Antranig Manougian died on March 10, 2023. I quote: D. Antranig Manougian “was the representative the Evangelical Community of Lebanon in the Lebanese Parliament for twenty years. He headed the National Mental Hospital of Lebanon for long years–was Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at the American University of Beirut–and a member of many Lebanese and World Medical & Health Associations–was on the Board of Managers of Haigazian University–the Board of the Near East School of Theology–the Board of Centers for Armenian Handicapped in Lebanon–was a founding member and longtime president of the Armenian Evangelical Youth Association–and a long time member and chairman of the Armenian Evangelical Community Council of Lebanon These are but a few of Doctor Manugian’s contributions to community life.” (“Asbarez” Daily, March 12, 2003). Antranig Manougian, MD was also among the first graduating class - class of 1927 -  of the school his father founded.

I distinctly remember that it sounded odd to me that father and son have different family names. I attributed Karzayr, being Dr. Antranig Manougian’s father’s pen name or his established moniker and that he was known by his assumed name rather than his baptismal name. After all, who among us remembers Taniel Varoujan’s family name and would know him by his baptismal name Taniel Tchboukkiarian, or Aram Haigaz by his baptismal name Aram Chekenian.

It was this year, at the school's centennial, that I found that Dr. Antranig Manougian was in fact Bedros Karzayr’s adopted son and that Karzayr is the Armenian Evangelical College founding principal’s actual family name.

The following book-“Abrogh Echer Anzyalen – Living pages form the past – Ապրող էջեր Անցեալէն” – by Dr. Zaven Messerkian; and the following two booklets were issued as part of the centennial celebration: “Armenian Evangelical College –  Հայ Աւետարանական Գոլէճ” – by Housig Donabedian; and “Bedros Karzayr – Պետրոս Քարծայր”, edited by  Dr. Armen Urneshlian. I quote from the latter booklet. 

Bedros Karzayer was born in 1890 in Hadjin. His father died prematurely leaving behind five orphaned children. His older brother and his sisters started working from their early years to get by, while Bedros continued his education in Hadjin local Armenian school. After graduation he attended Jenanyan College in Konya during the principalship of Prof. Armenag Haygazian, after whom the only Armenian University in the Diaspora is named, the Haigazian University (see the note blow).

Bureaucratic hurdles prevented him to further his education in the United States, and he remained in Constantinople during the first world war years, after which he taught for two years in his alma mater, the Jenanyan College, until the persecution by the Kemalists, during which he found shelter with a local family and subsequently refuge in Lebanon, along with other orphans. 

In Lebanon he was put in charge of grown-up orphans in the Armenian orphanage in Antelias. He married Mrs. Nvart Ayjian (Նուարդ Այճեան), who was a genocide widow. They had two children of their own and were the parents of Nvart’s three children Antranig, Samuel and Tzovag. Their father, Dr. Antranig Manougian's biological father Rev. Samuel Manougian,  was among the first martyrs of Kharpert.

Upon Near East Relief disbanding the orphanages under its jurisdiction, Bedros Karzayr founded his school with the assistance of the Armenian Evangelical church. 

According to his contemporary Rev. Yeghia Kassouny’s testimonial, Bedros Karzayr elevated the school from elementary to high school. Being a graduate of the Jenanyan College, Bedros Karzayr had succeeded assuring a one thousand dollars budget from the Jeranyan Foundaation, during the formative years of the school he founded (see the picture below)

Bedros Karzayr passed away on September 8, 1929, at young age. He was 39 years old. 

It is thought that Karzayr family name he adopted is after the namesake mountain located north of Zeytoun. There is also a testimonial that their patriarchal house was built next to a large rock and hence their family was referred to as Karzayrs, the family at the rock's edge. Karzayr being a compound name is made of two words, քար - kar (rock) and ծայր -zayr (at the edge.)

***

Note: Rev. Dr. Armenag Haigazian (1870-1921) - “A man of deep Christian faith with a generous heart, distinguished integrity and deep intelligence. A most prominent educator in the Near East, Dr. Armenag Haigazian was born 150 years ago on September 22, 1870, in Hadjin. He was an innovative academic, and at the age of 31 became President of Jenanyan College in Konya, Turkey. A person of principles and high moral standards, his life served as an example for others to follow. Dr. Haigazian’s commitment and strong sense of duty continued until his martyrdom during the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.” (Haigazian University)

 

 

Armenian Evangelical College (AEC): A United Nations Security Council Session - 2/2

At the request of Dr. Armen Ourneshlian, the current principal of the Armenian Evangelical College, Dr. Zaven Messerlian penned his memories about the AEC he attended as a student, then served as a teacher and subsequently as its principal. He titled the book “Living Pages from the Past” – “Ապրող Էջեր Անցեալէն»։  In the book, on pages 44 and 45, he described the UN Security Council mock session about the Cyprus issue, he had the students present on stage. Attached is my translation of that segment of the book. I also had the event memorialized in a previous blog (see below). I also reproduced the original text from the book and posted below. Vahe H. Apelian

 

THE TELEGRAPH OF THE PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS ARCHBISHOP MAKARIOS

" I was the history teacher of the students in the higher classes. With their close collaboration, I decided to present the UN Security Council session about the Cyprus issue that took place on March 4, 1964, dedicated to the Cyprus issue, as it was, remaining faithful to the real session as much as possible.

I put the students to work. I sent a few students to the embassies of Cyprus and Greece to have the copy of the speeches made and the minutes of the meeting. The Embassy of Cyprus provided many materials.

Artashes Khanlian, who had a very beautiful penmanship, prepared two leaflets. One was addressed to the President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios; and the other to King Constantine of Greece. Then I edited the letters, had them typed by the school secretary, and mailed one to Nicosia and the other to Athens. Arch Makarios, acknowledged the letter by telegram.

The day of the staging was March 23, 1964. The telegram of Archbishop Makarios was read emphasizing that it is real. However, many did not believe. Even the reporter who wrote about the activities at the school in Sipan did not mention the telegram, probably thinking that it was part of the play. That telegram was printed in Sipan, 53 years later.

The boys and girls always took their roles and actings very seriously. In the beginning, nobody wanted the play the role of the Turkish ambassador, in the end, Sarkis Nargizian, whose father was a priest, accepted the role

The stage was set in a semicircular fashion. The UN flag was placed in the center of the stage. On the semicircular table the hand-made flags of the 14 countries were placed. A student in a military uniform assumed the role of a guard."

*****

Բնագիրը՝

ԿԻՊՐՈՍԻ ՆԱԽԱԳԱՀ ՄԱԿԱՐԻՈՍ ԱՐՔ.-Ի ՀԵՌԱԳԻՐԸ

 

Դպրոցի բարձրագոյն դասարաններուն ընդհ. Պատմութեան ուսուցիչն էի. աշարկերտներուն սերտ գործունէութեանբ որոշեցի Կիպրոսի հարցին նուիրուած ՄԱԿ-ի ապահովութեան խորհուրդի 4 Մարտ 1964-ի նիստը նոյնութեամբ ներկայացնել կարելի եղածին չափ հաւատարիմ մնալով իրականութեան։

Գործի լծեցի աշակերտները. Քանի մը հոգի Կիպրոսի եւ Յունաստանի դեսպանատունները ղրկեցի ելոյթներուն պատճէնը եւ նիստին ատենագրութիւնը ունենալու։ Կիպրոսի դեսպանատունը բազմաթիւ նիւթեր տրամադրեց։

Արտաշէս Խանլեան շատ գեղեցիկ գրչագիր կը գրէր. Երկու պիտղոսաթերթ պատրաստեց. Մին Կիպրոսի նախագահ Մակարիոս արքեպիսկոպոսին, իսկ միւսը Յունաստանի  Կոստանդին թագաւորին անոււներով։ Ապա նամակները խմբագրեցի, դպրոցի քարտուղարութեան մեքենագրել տալէ ետք ղրկեցի Նիկոսիա եւ Աթէնք։ Մակարիոս արք. Հեռագրով պատասխանեց։

Ձեռնարկին օրն էր։ 23 Մարտ 1964։ Մակարիոս արք.-ի հեռագիրը կարդացուեցաւ շեշտելով որ իրական է։ Սակայն շատեր չհաւատացին. Նոյնիսկ՝ Սիփան-ի մէջ ատենամարզանգներու տեղեկագիրը գրողը չէր նշած հեռագիրը, հաւանաբար կարծելով որ բեմադրութեան մաս կը կազմէ։ Այդ հեռագիրը տպուեցաւ Սիփանի մէջ, 53տարի ետք։

Տղաքն ու աղջիկները շատ լուրջ առած էին իրենց դերերը եւ պաշտօնները։ Սկիզբը ոչ ոք ուզեց Թուրքիոյ պատուիրակին դերը, ի վերջոյ Սարգիս Նարկիզեան, որ քահանայի մը զաւակն էր, ընդունեց։ 

Բեմը կիսաբոլորաձեւ էր, խորքին ՄԱԿ-ի դրօշը, իսկ սեղանին վրայ, 14  երկիրներու ձեռքով պատրաստուած դրօշակները կային։ Աշակերտ մըն ալ զինուորական տարազով պահակի դեր ստանձնած էր։

Note:

 AEC: A United Nations Security Council Session - 1/2

  http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2023/09/h_23.html

“Will it reach the people in need?”

Vahe H. Apelian

Garo and Maral Apelian
(Garo's Facebook profile) 

I title my blogs first.

Titling a blog first helps me sort out my frame of mind. Henceforth putting the body of the text under the title becomes relatively easy and, believe it or not, not as time consuming as the framing the title. 

I first thought titling this blog, “Maral Apelian, caught in the whirlwinds of the times.” She remains in my mind. But I soon realized that title is constraining my thoughts even though young Maral Apelian and her family remain the focus of my thoughts. They are one of the thousands of the families, if not the whole nation, caught in the whirlwinds of the times.

Whirlwinds are strong winds that can quickly change things, such as damage trees, buildings and also sweep people that happen to be on their path, like tornadoes do. That is what happened to young Maral and her family. But I opted to title this blog instead with an actual quote from a question his father Garo posted on my Facebook page in response to my blog about the U.S. humanitarian aid. 

His question was:

 “Will it reach the people in need?”

Garo, his brother Serop and sister Maral, were the young children of Soghomon and Azadouhie Apelian, when their parents left Syria with them to carve a life for their own in the United States, as many Armenians from Lebanon and Syria did. But two decades ago Garo, a young man left the United States wanting to settle in his ancestral village Keurkune, where they had their ancestral lands and Syria was a booming country and Kessab had become a touristic mecca boosting astronomically the prices of the lands Kessabtsi families owned for generations. 

My blood relations with Garo are closer from my mother’s side – nee՛ Zvart Chelebian – than from my father’s side. Garo’s paternal grandmother Marie Chelebian Apelian – is my mother’s paternal aunt. That is to say, Garo’s paternal grandmother is my mother’s father’s - my maternal grandfather Khatcher's - sister, who was married to an Apelian family patriarch Hapel.  In fact, it was they, Hapel and Marie (Chelebian) Apelian, who had made arrangements that my genocide orphaned maternal grandmother Karoun Apelian, the daughter of Hovhannes Apelian, marry Khatcher Chelebian, Marie’s brother. Their wedding had taken place in their make shift camp in Deir Attiyeh, Syria, on their way back to their ancestral village Kessab, having survived the genocide. 

In Syria, my paternal cousin Stepan Apelian and his wife Ani, took Garo under their wings. Garo completed his Syrian military service, worked in Stepan and Ani’s famed Kessab soap factory. Stepan had a 4-storey building erected on Garo’s family’s grounds, with financial assistance from Garo’s mother in the U.S. Garo moved in one of the apartments, married Sevan Manjikian from the village of Kaladouran. Their wedding took place in the Armenian Evangelical Church of Keurkune. Stepan and Ani Apelian became the godparents at their wedding. And it is there in Keurkune that a daughter was born to the young Garo and Sevan (Manjikian) Apelian family whom they named Maral, who from very on, Keurkunetsis vouch, became noted for her unusual bright mind.

Then came upon Kessab March 21, 2014, when Muslim extremists, in the early hours of that dreaded Friday, attacked Kessab from Turkey, marking the third exodus of the Kessabtsis in a century. Much is written about that tragic event to dwell upon it here. As an outcome of the devastation and the decimation Kessab economy had sustained, Stepan and Ani Apelian with their young son Hovag came to the United States, where their son Dr. Tsolag had settled. 

Garo and Sevan Apelian with their young daughter Maral repatriated and settled in Armenia. Sevan officiated her nursing care certifications in Armenia. Driven by their patriotic zeal, and likely by their love of the village life, they moved to Artsakh and were settled in Medz Shen. Young Maral was in Yerevan having undergone her eye sight corrective surgery when the Lachin Corridor was blockaded and she remained separated from her family until the family found a way to be united again in Artsakh. In fact, young Maral who is articulate in English having learned from her father, became a young spokesperson of the blockade. We all know what happened during the ensuing nine months that culminated in the September 20, 2023 capitulation of the Republic of Artsakh. Throughout those nine months, Garo and Sevan were in touch with Stepan and Ani, as best as they could, given the siutation.  On September 26, 2023, Tatul Hakobyan reported that “Metz Shen of Shushi region was also forcefully evacuated and deported. This is the village that was massacred by the Turks in 1918. Throughout history, this was the most important Armenian village connecting Goris to Shushi,” Tatul wrote. From there on the communication with the family stopped, until the family resurfaced again.

Garo, Sevan and Maral Apelian are now in Armenia, refugees over again. Young Maral has been caught in the whirlwinds of the times. Stepan and Ani remain the main contact for the Apelian family to reach out to them.  As stated the title of the blog is a comment Garo made to my blog I posted on my Facebook page, where he  asked: 

 “Will it (the aid) reach the people in need?”

I will single out what Aram Suren Hamparian posted on Facebook, on behalf of ANCA, regarding the U.S. humanitarian aid. Aram posted a clip that addressed Samantha Power in Armenia on her mission, and said: “Sanction Azerbaijan or go back to your country”. A few months ago, in another unfathomable posturing, Aram Suren Hamparian commented on the same social medium from his office that that his supporters pay to maintain, saying:  “Yerevan is in cahoots with Ankara, against the interest of Armenia”. Today, a few hours ago, in a misplaced analogy but with poignantly evident implication, given ANCA’s track record against the government the citizens of Armenia elected in a transparent, orderly, democratic election, he commented the following:

“Captain of Exxon Valdez: Drunk, steering ship into rocks.

Crew member #1: Quick, take the helm. Save our ship.

Crew member #2: But he’s, our captain.”

It’s up to the readers whether they liken themselves to Aram Suren Hamparian’s figurative crew member # 1, or crew member #2. Although both analogies are wrong, because the readers of the comment are mostly in the United States and hence on a USS (United States Ship), or on the ground in the West, not confronting an imminent danger or hunger. While Garo Apelian and his family are on the ground in Armenia and are rightfully concerned for their safety and their hunger.

“Will it (the aid) reach the people in need?”

I am reminded of the Armenian saying, “The satiated does not understand the state of the hungry” (կուշտը` անօթիին վիճակը չի հասկնար). I quoted the Armenians saying not only as a statement of fact, that the satiated person obviously does not experience and relate to hunger pains, the hungry experiences. I also quoted the saying as a figure of speech for politicized patriotic posturing from a far distance.

Note:

1. U.S. Humanitarian Aid

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2023/09/us-humanitarian-aid-to-armenia.html

2. Maral Apelian, a teenage voice from Artsakh

http://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2023/04/maral-apelian-let-my-people-go.html

Vae Victis !

I was also a recipient of an email from “We Are Our Mountains” organization affiliation with Ruben Vardanyan. The messenger was from his wife. I also was the recipient of another email from the “Future Armenia” organization. Ruben Vardanyan is one of its founders. The messages are attached. I read that the Azeris have concocted charges against which are preposterous but very concerning. The Azeris are charging him with financing terrorism. Vahe H Apelian

Ruben Vardanyan's wife, Veronika Zonabend, made a statement:

"My husband, Ruben Vardanyan, the philanthropist, businessman, and former Minister of State of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) was arrested and detained by the Azerbaijani authorities at the border this morning as he tried to leave with thousands of Armenians.

Ruben has stood with the Artsakh people during the 10-month blockade and has suffered with them in their struggle for survival.

I ask for your prayers and support for my husband's safe release".

*****

Dear compatriots,

It has been confirmed that the co-founder of the FUTURE ARMENIAN initiative Ruben Vardanyan has been held captive by the Azerbaijani authorities while trying to leave Artsakh. Ruben Vardanyan's wife Veronika Zonabend reported:

“My husband, Ruben Vardanyan, the philanthropist, businessman and former Minister of State of Artsakh, has been arrested and held captive by the Azerbaijani authorities at the border as he attempted to leave this morning, along with thousands of Armenians escaping Azerbaijani occupation. Ruben stood with the Artsakh people during the 10-month blockade and suffered along with them in the struggle for survival. I ask for your prayers and support to ensure my husband’s safe release”.

We urge you to make your voice of justice heard in defense of Ruben Vardanyan.

Best regards, 

The FUTURE ARMENIAN Development Foundation

*****

Ռուբեն Վարդանյանի կինը՝ Վերոնիկա Զոնաբենդը հանդես է եկել հայտարարությամբ՝

“Ամուսինս՝ Ռուբեն Վարդանյանը, բարերար, գործարար և Արցախ (Լեռնային Ղարաբաղի) նախկին պետնախարար այսօր ձերփակալվել է ադրբեջանական իշխանությունների կողմից երբ փորձում էր անցնել սահմանը հազարավոր հայերանակիցների հետ միասին։ 

Ռուբենը Արցախի ժողովրդին հետ անցել է 10-ամսյա շրջափակման միջով, տառապել նրա հետ ու պաքարել դիմակայելու համար։ 

Խնդրում եմ ձեր աղոթքներով ու աջակցությամբ ապահովել ամուսնուս ապահով ազատ արձակումը”։

*****

Հարգելի հայրենակիցներ,

Քիչ առաջ հաստատվեց, որ Արցախից դուրս գալու ժամանակ ադրբեջանական իշխանությունները գերևարել են «ԱՊԱԳԱ ՀԱՅԿԱԿԱՆԸ» նախաձեռնության համահիմնադիր Ռուբեն Վարդանյանին: Այս մասին հայտնել է Ռուբեն Վարդանյանի կինը՝ Վերոնիկա Զոնաբենդը: Նրա հայտարարությունը ներկայացնում ենք ստորև՝

«Այսօր առավոտյան ամուսինս՝ բարերար, գործարար և Արցախի նախկին պետնախարար Ռուբեն Վարդանյանը, ձերբակալվել ու գերեվարվել է Ադրբեջանի իշխանությունների կողմից, երբ փորձել է հեռանալ Արցախից՝ ադրբեջանական բռնազավթումից մազապուրծ եղած հազարավոր հայերի հետ։ Ռուբենը արցախցիների կողքին էր շրջափակման 10 ամիսներին և նրանց հետ միասին էլ զրկանքներ է կրել գոյության համար այդ պայքարում։ Ես խնդրում եմ ձեր աղոթքներն ու աջակցությունը՝ ամուսնուս անվտանգ ազատ արձակումն ապահովելու համար»: 

Կոչ ենք անում լսելի դարձնել արդարության ձեր ձայնը՝ ի պաշտպանություն Ռուբեն Վարդանյանի:

Հարգանքով,

ԱՊԱԳԱ ՀԱՅԿԱԿԱՆԸ զարգացման հիմնադրամ

Vae Victis - woe to the vanquished!

Vae Victis - վայ պարտվածներին:

 

 

 

U.S. Humanitarian Aid to Armenia

 “Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act of 1992 generally prohibits assistance, other than specified support for nonproliferation and disarmament, to the government of Azerbaijan. Subsequent legislation has exempted other types of aid, such as democracy and humanitarian assistance.” (Wikepedia)

I do not know if waiving section 907 entailed assisting Azerbaijan militarily or if so, it would make a difference in the military readiness of Azerbaijan, given that in plain view Azerbaijan has for long being armed by Russia, Turkey, Israel. While we should pursue implementing section 907 and more to assure the safety and security of Armenia, we should not makei it a yardstick to measure the U.S. Government’s relations with Armenia. 

In spite of the fact that section 907 waiver remains in place, I am very appreciative of Samantha Power’s visit to Armenia and for the press conference she had there and the willingness she expressed on behalf of the United States Government to render humanitarian aid to Armenia.

The United States Government has also extended humanitarian aid to Armenia when the newly established Republic of Armenia was in desperate need for humanitarian aid.

I have attached the press conference Samantha Power held in Yerevan on September 25, 2023.

I also  posted my translation of Garo Armenia’s take on the humanitarian aid the United States rendered to Armenia in 1919 when the fledgeling newly established republic confronted famine, including the First Republic’s last prime minister Simon Vratsian’s appreciation of the U.S. humanitarian aid, his commendation and charge to the nation.

SAMANTHA POWER’S CONFERENCE IN YEREVAN ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

 

*****

REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA’S ECONOMIC STATUS IN THE BEGINNING OF 1919 and THE U.S. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

Prime Minister Hovhannes Kachaznouni and
 the U.S. Food Administration Director and later President Herbert Hoover

The Republic Of Armenia was confronted with a widespread famine during the beginning of 1919. The government’s efforts to secure aid from outside had not resulted in any appreciative quantity of help. The Caucasus was under the occupation of the British forces. It was natural that the government of the Republic of Armenia would have expected that the British would be the first to extend help to ameliorate the dire conditions. The British response was rather passive and largely inadequate. The meager assistance the British provided from their reserves was not enough to make a dent in the prevailing condition.

It was under such circumstances that the government decided to immediately dispatch a delegation to the United States of America headed by the Prime Minister Kachaznouni. But for a long time the British occupying forces hindered the departure of the Armenian delegation. After a long delay, on April 16, the delegation received permission from the British forces to depart. Accompanying the Prime Minister were the Minister of Finance Ardashes Enfeyadjian, economist Haroutiun Pilarian and military officer Souren Melikian.

I quote Simon Vratsian’s testimony

1. “The government’s delegation, the appeals by the government and the support of the Diaspora eventually were heard and aid was quickly dispatched. This time around it was the United States of America, the director of the U.S. Food Administration, Hoover, the one who salvaged Europe after the war, who became the real savior of the people of Armenia. Whatever happens, however we regard America’s role in the Armenian Question, we do not forget nor should we forget the U.S. humanitarian assistance to Armenia and the provisions they provided.   

The first American boat arrived to Batumi on March 21 carrying 125,000 sacks of flour. A week later another shipment of 600,000 sacks of flour arrived. To transport the provision, the American government requested from the Armenian Government 579 train wagons and 14 locomotives at a time when all that the Armenian Government had was 16 locomotives and 520 train wagons. The intervention of the American and the British governments was needed. For four days human traffic over the Armenian rail lines was halted and all facilities were appropriated for the transpiration of the flour only.

With the arrival of the American flour, the famine slowly started receding. The country started to embark on its normal course. The people and the government started to devote themselves towards reconstruction and structuring of the governance.” (Republic of Armenia, 2^ndedition, Lebanon).

This episode of the American humanitarian assistance reveals the precarious state of land locked Armenia. By the current standards of accepted norms for international relations, preventing a government’s delegation seeking humanitarian assistance would be incomprehensible, especially when the delegation’s mission has to do with an ongoing dire humanitarian crisis. Of course the indifference of the British occupying forces towards the prevailing famine in Armenia is totally unacceptable. It is up to the present day historians to shed light on the prevailing real underlying issues.

Garo Armenian 

Note: https://vhapelian.blogspot.com/2019/02/republic-of-armenias-economic-status-in.html

Pashinyan says Armenians should stay in Karabakh

Chronology of events:

August 7, 2023 Davit Ishkhanian elected Artsakh parliament speaker

September 1, 2023, Arayik Harutyunyan resigned.

September 10, 2023, Samvel Shahramanyan elected president. 

September 19, 2023, Ceasefire agreed 

September 20, 2023, Artsakh capitulated

Artsakh Armenians resisted blockade for nine months.

Was the ousting of the populary elected president Arayik Harutyunyan orchestrated for capitulation?

Did the Artsakh officials prepare the population for the imminent capitulation?

Did the Artsakh officials capitulate at the last moment and in haste?

Did the Armenians in Artsakh leave Artsakh in haste and in panic?'

Were they forced out on the threat of genocide, contrary to the PM's claim?

The sudden capitulation and the dismantling of the Artsakh Army will most likely be discussed in the years to come.

 

I copied the attached text from Eurasianet's free weekly newsletter.

Pashinyan says Armenians should stay in Karabakh

The Armenian prime minister said that, while Armenia was prepared to accommodate those leaving Karabakh, they would not be under direct threat if they stayed put, under Azerbaijani rule. 

Fin DePencier Sep 22, 2023 

With the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh falling apart, and no deal between local leaders and the central government in Azerbaijan, the future of Armenians in the region remains precarious. 

While the vast majority of Armenian society, the Armenian foreign minister, as well as international observers are gravely concerned for their security, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says otherwise. 

"At this moment, our assessment is that there is no direct threat to the civilian population of Nagorno-Karabakh," Pashinyan said in a live address on September 21. 

In a complete contradiction, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan told a UN Security Council meeting on the same day that "Azerbaijan's intention is to complete the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh." 

Since March 2021, access to Armenian-administered Nagorno-Karabakh has been tightly controlled by the Russian peacekeepers, making information difficult to verify. But three days after the beginning of Azerbaijan's 2023 offensive, credible reports are starting to emerge of civilian casualties and war crimes. The prime minister's statement triggered widespread outrage and led his critics to repeat their accusations of treason. 

"I believe the PM was talking to the domestic audience and trying to avoid panic in Armenian society, while fighting against Russian state attempts to weaponize the suffering of the Armenians of Artsakh to bring down democratic governance in Armenia. He failed in doing so and even angered many of his own supporters," analyst Eric Hacopian told Eurasianet. 

The timing of the statement, right before the UN Security Council meeting, couldn't have come at a worse time, according to human rights attorney Sheila Paylan. "The statement is puzzling, and also obviously untrue." 

"Perhaps in trying to calm people down, the prime minister thought he needed to make that statement," she told Eurasianet, noting the angry protests on the streets of Yerevan.

As of September 20, the de facto Karabakh authorities were counting 200 people killed and over 400 wounded. The streets of Stepanakert are filled with "displaced people, hungry, scared, and in uncertainty," said Karabakh Human Rights Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan.

According to Stepanyan, his office has received more than 600 cases of people missing in the region, as of September 22nd. 

"Lack of communication made it almost impossible to find them or find out whether they were killed or not. Residential areas are cut off from each other, people's fates are unknown," former Armenian human rights defender Arman Tatoyan said. There have been reports of a bounty of $500 being placed on the head of a particular Karabakhi Armenian woman on an Azerbaijani Telegram channel. She is to be given to a man named "Murad'' as a birthday present, the alleged Telegram post reads. 

Some Armenians on social media recalled video evidence of atrocities by Azerbaijani troops against female Armenian soldiers during Baku's incursions into Armenian territory in September 2022.

Against this backdrop, many found the prime minister's comment about Armenians not being under threat in Karabakh inexplicably tone-deaf.

He did say in the same remarks, however, that his government was prepared to handle an influx of 40,000 families from Karabakh (which should roughly cover the region's entire population that Armenian sources estimate at 120,000).

So far there has been no sign of Karabakh Armenians leaving through the Lachin corridor, the only route connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. Azerbaijan has been tightly restricting and at times completely closing the corridor in one form or another for the past nine months, resulting in acute shortages of food and supplies.  

"It's not opening anytime soon," said journalist Shant Khatcherian, who is standing by on the Armenian side of the border alongside other journalists, NGO representatives and Armenians who have relatives in Karabakh. 

Meanwhile in Armenia, today marks the fourth straight day of protests. Roads have been blocked and dozens of people have been arrested. While the anger against Russia, the European Union, and other international institutions has been palpable, many Armenians are looking closer to home for someone to blame. 

Fin DePencier is a journalist based in Yerevan

Fin DePencier is a Canadian freelance journalist and photographer based in Yerevan.

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