Leaderboard

MEDYA News Nov 20 2024 COP29 host Azerbaijan ‘greenwashes genocidal acts against Armenians’ As Azerbaijan hosts the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) summit in Baku this November, the nation faces global scrutiny for its human rights record, in particular regarding treatment of Indigenous Armenians, amid allegations of suppressing activists and silencing dissent. The controversy raises questions on the credibility of climate leadership. The 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, held from 11-22 November, has sparked controversy as activists, politicians, and human rights organisations denounce the host nation’s alleged rights violations. While the conference aims to tackle the global climate crisis, critics argue that Azerbaijan is using the platform to greenwash its human rights record, specifically regarding violations against Armenians in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), and silence dissent. The summit, which brings together world leaders, activists, and climate experts, has been overshadowed by Azerbaijan’s reported human rights abuses, including the detention of over 300 political prisoners, suppression of civil society, and destruction of the indigenous Armenian cultural heritage. The International Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have both raised concerns about the worsening situation for activists, journalists, and academics in Azerbaijan since the country was announced as the COP29 host in November 2022. According to Natalia Nozadze of Amnesty International, the Azerbaijani government has intensified its crackdown on dissent in the lead-up to the summit. Prominent figures such as Gubad Ibadoglu, a 53-year-old academic researching the country’s environmental issues, remain under house arrest more than a year after being detained on disputed fraud charges. Anar Mammadli, a leading advocate for reducing fossil fuel emissions, was jailed on smuggling charges in April, while environmentalist Nazim Beydemirli received an eight-year prison sentence for protesting mining activities near his village. The situation has drawn international condemnation, with the European Parliament criticising Azerbaijan’s “repressive” policies as incompatible with its role as COP29 host. Activists have also called for urgent reforms to ensure future climate summits are not hosted by nations with poor human rights records. Armenian activists have also voiced strong criticism of Azerbaijan’s role as host, staging protests in cities such as Berlin on 10 November. One activist, who spoke to Medya News on condition of anonymity, condemned the summit as an attempt to whitewash Azerbaijan’s treatment of Armenians in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). “Hosting a climate conference in a dictatorship heavily dependent on revenues from fossil fuel exports is problematic in itself. However, the worst thing is that the host country is using the conference as a platform to greenwash the genocidal acts it has committed against Indigenous Armenians in Artsakh,” the activist said. “This is both disgusting and a compromise of the integrity of climate negotiations. Meanwhile, all other parties remain silent about our indigenous rights, passively complying with the rules imposed by the dictator.” Armenian protesters are demanding justice for forcibly displaced Armenians, the release of 23 confirmed Armenian hostages, and sanctions against Azerbaijan. Their calls also extend to broader demands for justice, including an end to colonialist policies and prioritising Indigenous peoples’ rights globally. Activists have specifically urged governments to divest from Azerbaijan’s state oil company, SOCAR, which they accuse of financing both fossil fuel dependence and state repression. Meanwhile, regional tensions have further complicated the summit. Reports revealed that Ankara denied Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s aircraft access to Turkish airspace en route to the COP29 summit, prompting the cancellation of his visit. While the president’s office cited “security considerations,” Azerbaijani and Turkish sources confirmed the airspace denial. This incident highlights the tense regional dynamics, particularly as Turkey severed diplomatic ties with Israel following the October war in Gaza. The controversy surrounding COP29 has cast a shadow over the summit’s core objectives. Despite Azerbaijan’s attempts to position itself as a leader in climate action, critics argue that its reliance on fossil fuel exports and lack of substantial reforms undermine its credibility. Azerbaijan’s hosting of COP29 has raised broader questions about the UN’s criteria for selecting summit venues. Activists and organisations have called for stricter guidelines, ensuring that host nations uphold human rights and address internal abuses. This debate highlights the tension between global climate diplomacy and local accountability, as well as the challenges of ensuring inclusivity in tackling climate change. As COP29 concludes, its legacy may be defined less by climate agreements and more by the growing calls for justice, accountability, and meaningful action. Activists continue to emphasise that the fight against climate change cannot be separated from the fight for human rights. https://medyanews.net/cop29-host-azerbaijan-greenwashes-genocidal-acts-against-armenians/

eurasianet Nov 19 2024 Freedom House report: Azerbaijan engaged in “ethnic cleansing” of Karabakh Armenians The findings “constitute war crimes.” Ani Avetisyan Nov 19, 2024 A recently released report by the rights watchdog Freedom House concludes that the forced migration of an estimated 100,000 Armenians from Nagorno Karabakh in September 2023 amounted to “ethnic cleansing” by Azerbaijani forces during their complete takeover of the territory. “Azerbaijani authorities waged a deliberate campaign to empty Nagorno Karabakh of its ethnic Armenian population,” according to a Freedom House statement. The report’s conclusions were based on a fact-finding mission conducted by Freedom House representatives, along with researchers from six other partner organizations. “The documented evidence aligns with the definition of ethnic cleansing put forward by a UN commission of experts in the context of the former Yugoslavia,” the report reads. “The acts documented in Nagorno-Karabakh constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity”. The report’s release was timed to coincide with the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29), the annual UN forum on climate change, held this year in the Azerbaijani capital Baku. The Armenian population of Karabakh fled the breakaway region in late September last year following a nine-month blockade and a lightning military offensive by Azerbaijani troops. Since then, the Azerbaijani government has moved to rebuild Karabakh: Armenians say reconstruction efforts in the territory have featured the destruction of buildings and monuments of significant Armenian cultural value. The Freedom House report is the first instance of a watchdog group or international body formally classifying the events in September 2023 in Karabakh as ethnic cleansing. A UN report based on a mission undertaken in late 2023 did not find sufficient evidence of the use of violence or intimidation during the Armenian population’s mass exodus from Karabakh. “The mission was struck by the sudden manner in which the local population left their homes and the suffering the experience must have caused,” the UN report noted. “The mission did not come across any reports – neither from the local population interviewed nor from the interlocutors – of incidences of violence against civilians following the latest ceasefire.” Azerbaijani officials have dismissed the accusations of ethnic cleansing, claiming that the displacement in Karabakh was “voluntary” and that the Karabakh Armenians were given a choice to stay and live under Azerbaijani rule. The Armenian and Azerbaijani governments have both filed suits in the International Court of Justice relating to the Karabakh conflict and alleged war crimes. Armenia is demanding that the UN Court hold Azerbaijan responsible for misdeeds committed against the Armenian population during the Second Karabakh War. Azerbaijan, in a counter lawsuit, has dismissed allegations of cleansing, while accusing Armenia of criminal actions in forcing Azerbaijani citizens off their land during the First Karabakh War in the late 1980s-early ‘90s. While it may take years to resolve the suits, the court has issued several interim judgments, including upholding displaced Armenians’ right of return to Karabakh. https://eurasianet.org/freedom-house-report-azerbaijan-engaged-in-ethnic-cleansing-of-karabakh-armenians

ArmenianWeekly.com Unveiling the Komitas statue in Watertown November 13, 2024 Pauline Getzoyan Community News, Diaspora 0 Guests assembled at the ACEC for the unveiling of the Komitas statue (Photo: Arev Kaligian) The Armenian Cultural and Educational Center (ACEC) in Watertown, Massachusetts hosted a special event on Saturday, November 9 — the unveiling of a statue of Komitas prominently placed in front of the building. The program began indoors to a full house of guests eager to view the statue, which was visible through the windows covered in a black cloth until the official unveiling. Displays dedicated to Komitas provided historical context and honored the legacy of the celebrated ethnomusicologist, courtesy of the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR). ACEC Trustee Josh Tevekelian addressing guests (Photo: Ken Martin) ACEC Trustee Josh Tevekelian offered the background behind the statue’s donation by its sculptor Dr. Megerditch Tarakdjian, a process which began with a phone call from Dr. Tarakdjian during the pandemic in 2020 and finally came to fruition this fall. “Dr. Tarakdjian, on behalf of our community here in Boston and the ACEC, I want to thank you many times over for this tremendous gift and generous consideration bestowed upon our community,” Tevekelian said. Dr. Tarakdjian is based in Montreal, Canada, and has honed his sculpting artistry over the last 25 years. His works can be found in private collections and on public display around the world. To name just a few: a monument to the iconic Armenian-Canadian photographer Yousef Karsh stands in Ottawa; the first ambassador of Armenia to the United States Armen Garo in front of the Armenian embassy in Washington, D.C.; and a statue of Paruyr Sevak in Zangakatun, Armenia, the poet’s birthplace. Tevekelian also offered thanks to Toros Vosbikian, who sponsored the beautification of the area where the statue is located as well as the expense of its installation in honor of his father Hampartsoum Vosbikian, a friend of Dr. Tarakdjian. ACEC Board Chair Dr. Vatche Seraderian (Photo: Arev Kaligian) Komitas and his legacy are well-known throughout the world, and in honor of the occasion, ACEC Board chair Dr. Vatche Seraderian highlighted his life and his contributions to the Armenian community and beyond. “Komitas is often called the father of Armenian music,” Dr. Seraderian said. “His contributions go far beyond music, touching the soul of Armenian culture and identity. He was an ethnomusicologist, a composer, a singer, a musicologist and a priest. But above all, he was a visionary.” Throughout his difficult childhood and later tragedies, Komitas’ talent was evident to those around him. “Komitas was a cultural pioneer who gave Armenia a musical voice. His efforts to preserve Armenian folk music ensured that Armenian culture would endure despite hardships and adversity. His music remains a bridge that connects Armenians to their roots and serves as a reminder to the strength and beauty of Armenian culture,” Seraderian concluded. Sculptor Dr. Megerditch Tarakdjian (Photo: Arev Kaligian) Following heartfelt remarks by Dr. Tarakdjian about the significance of the statue and his desire to donate it to the ACEC, pastor of St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church Very Rev. Fr. Hrant Tahanian addressed guests. Very Rev. Fr. Tahanian explained the change in how the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide are remembered since the two Catholicoi canonized them in 2015 during the centennial, an “unprecedented event, because never before had such a large group of individuals been sanctified and canonized all at once.” Now, we pray to the sainted martyrs for intercession and they are celebrated, which included the composition of new hymns, he explained. One of the acolytes of Komitas, Archbishop Zareh Aznavorian of blessed memory, wrote a “masterpiece dedicated to our martyrs” in 1990, 25 years before canonization, in anticipation of the monumental occasion. St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church pastor Very Rev. Fr. Hrant Tahanian addresses attendees (Photo: Arev Kaligian) “Sadly, we did not have enough time to get accustomed to this new approach, because a few years later the Artsakh War started in 2020 and ended with the full exodus of the Artsakh population,” Very Rev. Fr. Tahanian said. He noted that on the eve of COP29 being held in Baku, November 10 had been designated by both Catholicos Karekin II and Catholicos Aram I as an international day of prayer. “As the Azerbaijani government continues to try to whitewash its crimes, we do not give up,” he said. Unveiling the Komitas statue (Photo: Arev Kaligian) Very Rev. Fr. Tahanian then invited everyone outside for a brief prayer service and blessing with honored clergy Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian, Rev. Fr. Arakel Aljalian from St. James Armenian Apostolic Church, Very Rev. Fr. Ghazar Bedrossian of Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church and Rev. Avedis Boynerian and the ceremonial unveiling of the Komitas bust. “This is a significant gift because it adds value to the fabric of the institution for which it was gifted,” Tevekelian told the Weekly. “It allows us to remember that although we move forward with diverse programming and events which benefit our entire community, our beginnings are important, our history shapes that programming, and our allegiance to our past is important. We must strive to be the change we want to see in our community but remember that our past will always be our guiding light.” Maestro Arthur Veranian directing the Boston Hamazkayin ArtNova Choir (Photo: Arev Kaligian) The afternoon concluded with musical performances from Komitas’s repertoire featuring Very Rev. Fr. Bedrossian, accompanied on piano by Azadouhi Markarian, and the Boston Hamazkayin ArtNova Choir, led by music director Maestro Arthur Veranian. The reception was courtesy of anoush’ella and owners Raffi and Nina Festekjian, along with the local Armenian Relief Society chapter members who generously provided desserts. Bio Latest Posts Pauline Getzoyan Editor Pauline Getzoyan is editor of the Armenian Weekly and an active member of the Rhode Island Armenian community. A longtime member of the Providence ARF and ARS, she also is a former member of the ARS Central Executive Board. An advocate for genocide education, Pauline is the chair of the RI Holocaust & Genocide Education Commission and co-chair of the RI branch of The Genocide Education Project. In addition, she has been an adjunct instructor of developmental reading and writing in the English department at the Community College of Rhode Island since 2005. https://armenianweekly.com/2024/11/13/unveiling-the-komitas-statue-in-watertown/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGiUBNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHbvGLkZC3RAi9uLZjaLjr33Q0wsNkGYiL69fz2hS0xZkPYLUTSYGDTpvvA_aem_LGlKNJDapdle2XYAqWgVlw

I found a previous discussion in this sub-forum that is quite relevant to this thread : Armenian Children Songs - Music - HyeForum. It is a fascinating repository of information, and some users mention Ara Kekedjian, which demonstrates his relevance as a major source of Armenian children's music prior to Taline in the 1990s and 2000s. I apologize for having duplicated the title, but my mission is to develop translations to make this music more accessible for today's Armenian youth and their parents. Perhaps the title of my thread can be modified to reflect this intention?

Playlist : https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAivTzliTd60QhJRhVIwGps8tdcHuF-7F&si=0l8-3QUnu_dhRKLD The first 6 tracks are Komitas singing. The remainder feature Artur Shahnazarian (as mentioned above by MosJan), with Komitas apparently playing the piano in the background. Shahnazarian was Komitas' student.

Ձիւնը եկաւ Ձիւնը եկաւ շատ առատ Աշխարհն առաւ իրա տակ Մենք էլ սահնակներն առած Սարի գլխից իջանք ցած․ Մենք էլ սահնակներն առած Սարի գլխից իջանք ցած․ Չմուշկներով* սահեցինք Սղղացինք ու խաղացինք Ջան ինչ լաւ ես դու ձմեռ Ջան ինչ լաւ է խաղը մեր․ Ջան ինչ լաւ ես դու ձմեռ Ջան ինչ լաւ է խաղը մեր․ Ձիւնը եկաւ շատ առատ Աշխարհն առաւ իրա տակ Մենք էլ սահնակներն առած Սարի գլխից իջանք ցած․ Մենք էլ սահնակներն առած Սարի գլխից իջանք ցած․ Tsooyne yegav Tsooyne yegav shad arad Ashkharn arav ira dag Menk el sahnagnern aradz Sari klkhits ichank tsadz. Menk el sahnagnern aradz Sari klkhits ichank tsadz. Chmooshgnerov* sahetsink Sghatsink oo khaghatsink Jan* inch lav es too tsmer Jan inch lav e khaghe mer. Jan inch lav es too tsmer Jan inch lav e khaghe mer. Tsooyne yegav shad arad Ashkharn arav ira dag Menk el sahnagnern aradz Sari klkhits ichank tsadz. Menk el sahnagnern aradz Sari klkhits ichank tsadz The snow came The snow came very abundantly It took the world underneath it And we with our sledges From the top of the mountain slid down. And we with our sledges From the top of the mountain slid down. We slid with [its] skates We skidded and we played My dear winter, how great you are My dear, how great our game is. My dear winter, how great you are My dear, how great our game is. The snow came very abundantly It took the world underneath it And we with our sledges From the top of the mountain slid down. And we with our sledges From the top of the mountain slid down.

The Blaze Nov 3 2024 Why a vote for Trump is good for Armenia — and the future of the West Garen Christopher Kaloustian November 03, 2024 The small, landlocked country of my ancestry could be the key to stability in the Middle East. After years of liberal lockstep, Armenian-Americans seem to be breaking for Donald Trump. This is good news, not just for ethnic Armenians but for all Americans. Let me explain. The first big break with the status quo came from Armenian Weekly columnist Armen Morian, who recently urged his readership to vote for Trump. But just take a look at a map, and the significance of Armenia’s role as it relates to Western hegemony becomes clear. Traditionally, Democrat candidates have pushed for Armenian causes, such as recognition of Armenian genocide. This has generally been enough for Armenians, like many other minority American groups, to nod their heads and go along with the empty promises of the liberal platform. Establishment stooges Morian acknowledges this habit as he makes a solidly persuasive case for why Armenian-Americans should vote for Trump. The Biden administration is simply the latest iteration of the fundamentally anti-human “Establishment” ideology: For Morian, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's government is but an extension of this liberal establishment, with Pashinyan and his cronies doing the globalist work of trying to normalize relations between the republic and Turkey, harassing the Armenian Apostolic Church, and sowing division between Armenians of the mainland and of the diaspora, among other things. Donald Trump himself seemed to vindicate Morian's claims a few days later, when he made a post on Truth Social blaming Kamala Harris and the rest of the Biden administration for doing nothing as Islamic Azerbaijan ethnically cleansed 120,000 Armenians from their historic homeland in Artsakh, which was, up until 2023, a disputed enclave within the boundaries of Azerbaijan. I surmise that advisers like Vivek Ramaswamy and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have had something to do with raising his awareness of the crisis in that part of the world. As an ethnic Armenian myself, these developments are all fine and dandy. If the Armenian-American community can wake up from its liberal slumber and manage to find its conservative spine, I can call that progress. Why you should care But why should you care? Why should you care about the political goings-on of the Republic of Armenia and about the Armenians in general? After all, Armenians make up a tiny minority in America. Their vote most likely won’t make a dent in the election. Likewise, the Western perception of Armenia and Armenians is barely existent, if it even exists at all. What does this tiny nation located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East have to do with you? Well, allow me to appeal to your sense of geopolitics. On the surface, Armenia comes off as a backwater post-Soviet country tucked away from the rest of Europe under the Caucasus mountain range. It doesn’t contribute much in terms of GDP, as its 1991 statehood came with significant disadvantages: It's completely landlocked on all sides and neighbored by two bloodthirsty enemies — Turkey and Azerbaijan. But just take a look at a map, and the significance of Armenia’s role as it relates to Western hegemony becomes clear. Armenia is the lone obstacle standing in the way of Turkey’s pursuit of establishing a pan-Turanic land and sea bridge that would span Europe and Asia. Contrary to public perception, the bonds these nations share are less based on Islam than they are on ethnicity. The pan-Turanic menace The nations highlighted in the graphic are all demographically composed of ethnically Turkic peoples. And if they were to establish that pan-Turanic land and sea bridge, you can bet your bottom dollar they would throw the power of that newfound Turanic empire around. Some scenarios you can expect with the rise of the pan-Turanic empire: Turkey abuses its position in NATO even more, extracting any and all demands it may have due to its new status as a trading world power. The European states stand to pay even more for the oil they get from Azerbaijan, risking a position of total indentured dependence. Even more immigrants from Central Asia flood Europe. The U.S. is forced to comply with Turkish demands, norms, and cultural exports, so as not to lose out on major trade routes and markets. The eventual Islamified Turkification of all icons, symbols, and cultural artifacts the West holds dear and sacred. And if you think this isn’t coming down the pipeline, just look at both Greece and Armenia as your prime examples of what happens when Turks become the power brokers. The Hagia Sophia is no longer a church. Every major Armenian church and historical site has either been destroyed or retroactively cast as an ancient Turkish site. The ruthless predation of the Turkic world has remained only regional for Christians up until now, but it can very easily become international, very soon. What stands in the way is Armenia. That’s it. Very stable genius That is why the Azeris just cleaned out 120,000 Armenians from their ancestral homeland with military force. It’s why the traitorous, globalist Armenian government is pushing to “normalize” relations between itself and Turkey and Azerbaijan. And yes, it’s even why Iran considers Armenia’s territorial integrity a “red line” that it would not tolerate Azerbaijan breaching. It’s also why I want you, the reader, to be aware of this pressing issue. If Donald Trump becomes president, especially with advisers like Vivek Ramaswamy and RFK Jr. on his team, there will be a real opportunity to ward off this threat. What I’m pushing for is not more taxpayer-funded aid to yet another region of the world. Instead, I'd like us to siphon the power, influence, and money away from antagonists like Turkey and Azerbaijan, whom we help out a lot. The Middle East can be very stable, if we want it to be. That it happens to be occupied and governed by non-Christians is an anomaly — for much of history, Christians were in charge. A restoration of a Christian Middle East must be on the table as an agenda item for the next administration. Garen Christopher Kaloustian Garen Christopher Kaloustian is just your average Bible-believing Christian who likes to share his opinions on X every now and then. He is a native of Philadelphia. https://www.theblaze.com/align/why-a-vote-for-trump-is-good-for-armenia-and-the-future-of-the-west

Armenpress.am Politics18:06, 5 October 2024 Deterioration of Human Rights in Azerbaijan discussed at PACE autumn session Read the article in: Հայերեն YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Members of the Armenian National Assembly participated in the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, led by Ruben Rubinyan, head of the Armenian delegation to the organization, the press service of the Parliament said in a statement. "The members of the Assembly expressed concern over the ongoing war in the Middle East and the daily expansion of its hotspots. The discussions also focused on the sharp deterioration of the human rights situation in Azerbaijan," the statement reads. Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1201614?fbclid=IwY2xjawFu0y9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHU9lTjydfyQeA0XK0vIGJvp_hCewY9ONFPFH9wrfnHWsQ1gNQGmLxTJPQA_aem_7gEVttOQnXDDFKt7hLGf3Q