Gagrule.net

Gagrule.net News, Views, Interviews worldwide

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan Speech at UN and columbia University Video

By

Peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is of key importance for the stability and security of the region. The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, noted about this as he addressed the general debate of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, on Wednesday in New York.

He said that from the very first day of his tenure, he has taken steps in this very context. He said, to this end, he had issued a statement stating that any resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be acceptable to the peoples of Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan.

Pashinyan said it is noteworthy that he was the first Armenian leader to express such a position on the conflict settlement. The PM said he was strongly criticized in his country for a resolution that equates the three sides to the conflict. He added, however, that he believes this is the key to a peaceful resolution of the conflict, as it implies an opportunity for compromise, mutual respect, and balance.

He said he submitted this resolution not only to the public, but also within the framework of the negotiations being held under the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group. He added that to move forward, he was expecting a similar statement from Azerbaijan, too. However, as per Pashinyan, the highest authorities of Azerbaijan remained in their position, seeking a solution to the Karabakh problem that would be acceptable only to the people of Azerbaijan.

The Armenian PM said this means that the Azerbaijani authorities have no intention of resolving this conflict, instead, they want to defeat the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, and they do not want to compromise at all.

Pashinyan said Azerbaijan’s objective is revenge for its failed attempt of aggression against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh in the 1990s and in 2016, and that is why it is stirring up anti-Armenian sentiments among its people, spending huge resources on armaments, and Armenophobia has already become the official policy of Azerbaijan.

The PM said that, in fact, Armenians’ adversaries want to bring back Nagorno-Karabakh’s status in Soviet times. But, as per Pashinyan, this is a futile endeavor, as the people of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region in the Soviet period declared their independence and exercised self-determination just as Azerbaijan did by leaving the Soviet Union, and therefore this position of Azerbaijan is tantamount to the idea of restoring the Soviet Union.

Pashinyan said the Azerbaijani government presents the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but Armenians do not agree at all with such an interpretation of the conflict. The PM stated that this is not a dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and this dispute is not about territorial claims, but about people, men, women, and their right to live in their homeland, just as their ancestors have lived throughout the centuries.

As per Pashinyan, sadly, the Azerbaijani authorities do not want to speak to these people and negotiate with them because they want to have territories, but not people; to be more precise: territories without people.

The Armenian PM said he finds it important to explain why he is referring to this topic. As per Pashinyan, it may seem that he wants to contribute to increasing tension in the region. In his words, however, of course not, on the contrary, he would like to say that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a very complicated and painful matter for the peoples of the region, and it cannot be resolved without hard and consistent work, compromise, mutual respect, and a balanced approach.

So, the Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan urged Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev to adopt the resolution to create conditions for progress in the peace process. As per Pashinyan, any solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be acceptable to the people of Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Azerbaijan, and they must work together to make this resolution a reality.

Every Wednesday at 7:00 PM on GagruleLive: Harut Sassounian and Wally Sarkeesian discussion on Armenian foreign and domestic affairs Video

By

GagruleLive, Wednesday 7:00 PM Harut Sassounian and Wally Sarkeesian discussion on newly created Pan Armenian Council of Western USA, and on a separate track work in progress for new Diaspora parliament, also we covered how PM Pashinyan manage day to day business in Armenia

Watch on YouTube
Support gagrule.net Click to Donate
Watch on Facebook

Writer Harut Sassounian on ‘Pan Armenian Council of Western USA’ Or Council of Armenian Organizations? video

By

A coalition of 20 Armenian-American organizations announced the formation of a “Pan Armenian Council of Western USA” on August 15, 2019.

The coalition members are:Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North AmericaWestern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of AmericaArmenian Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg of North AmericaArmenian Evangelical Union of North AmericaArmenian Revolutionary Federation of Western USAArmenian Democratic Liberal Party Western DistrictArmenian Relief Society of Western USAArmenian General Benevolent Union, Western DistrictArmenian Missionary Association of America Homenetmen Western USA Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society of the Western USAArmenian Youth Federation of Western USA Unified Young Armenians Armenian National Committee of America Western RegionArmenian Assembly of America Western Region OfficeArmenian Bar AssociationOrganization of Istanbul ArmeniansArmenian Youth Association of CaliforniaArmenian Society of Los AngelesIraki Armenian Family Association of Los Angeles

These are respectable organizations that have carried out admirable work in the Armenian-American community. 

The Council announced that “other community organizations which desire to be part of this collective effort and have a minimum of 300 active members are hereby invited to become members of the Council.”

Furthermore, the Council explained that “the advisory nature of this Council and its decisions are not binding on any of its member organizations. Thus, the Council’s existence does not confer upon the Council any authority over the activities of its member organizations.”

The Council stated that its mission is:

 • “To implement and realize projects of a pan-community nature.

 • To encourage and assist projects which advance the collective interests and the rights of Armenian communities across the Western United States.

 • To undertake steps to resist actions and efforts which are contrary to the collective interests and rights of Armenians.

 • To gather and apply the Armenian Community’s resources for the benefit of the Community’s interests as well as the welfare of the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh.

 • To always be mindful of the collective welfare and security of the Armenian Community.”

These are all worthwhile goals for the benefit of the local community as well as the interests of Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora. Anytime Armenians of all walks of life join hands, it is a good thing. As we all know, unity is strength. The more Armenians get organized and speak in one voice, the more powerful they become as a global nation.

The member organizations of the Pan Armenian Council met on August 16, 2019, at the Western Diocese in Burbank, California, and signed a joint statement. Even though the event was publicized as a press conference, no opportunity was provided to the attending journalists to ask questions and clarify certain important issues.

Here are some of the questions I would have liked to raise at that conference:

1) What prompted these organizations to establish such a Council at this time?

2) Prior to the creation or recreation of such a Council, a similar coalition with almost identical membership existed from 2013 to 2015, under the banner of “the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee – Western USA.” Why was the latter disbanded in 2015 and reconstituted now, losing the opportunity for four years of collaborative efforts? As one of the co-chairmen of the Centennial Committee I had repeatedly urged the group not to disband it after the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide in 2015. Furthermore, as I reported in my October 8, 2015 editorial, during the Sept. 26, 2015 worldwide conference of the Armenian Genocide Centennial State Committee in Yerevan, Armenia, with the participation of representatives of Armenian Genocide Committees in 40 countries, a resolution was adopted to form a “Pan Armenian Council” which would supersede the Centennial Committee. An organizing committee was appointed composed of high-ranking Armenian government officials and major Diaspora organizations. Unfortunately, the envisaged Pan Armenian Council did not materialize and the 40 chapters of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee were disbanded.

3) If the purpose of the newly formed Pan Armenian Council is to establish a coalition of Armenian organizations in Western USA, the community already has had such a coalition for a decade, functioning under the banner of “United Armenian Council of Los Angeles” composed of 39 Armenian organizations.

4) The name of the new Pan Armenian Council should have been something like “Coalition of Armenian Organizations of Western USA.” Pan Armenian means that all Armenians in Western USA are members of this Council, whereas only members of certain organizations are represented in it. The great majority of Armenians, who are not members of any organization, are not represented in this Council.

5) Even though two of the three traditional Armenian political parties are in the Council, the third one, the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party, for some unknown reason, is not represented in the Council. There are other major Armenian organizations that are not members of the Council, such as the Armenian Professional Society, and Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America. More importantly, the huge community of immigrants from Armenia is not adequately represented in the Council.

Finally, the true Pan Armenian Council or an entity with a similar name should be elected by the votes of all Armenians in the Western USA or throughout the Diaspora, not just by members of several organizations. Only such a democratic entity can claim to represent all Armenians and speak in their name.

Divine Liturgy and Blessing of Grapes, at Orange County California. Forty Martyrs Armenian Apostolic Church.

By

By Wally Sarkeesian

Orange County: The feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God was celebrated at Forty Martyrs Armenian Apostolic Church with special services including Divine Liturgy and the blessing of grapes. on Sunday, August 18, in which clergy members participated.

Also see Wally Sarkeesian full interview with Rev. Karekin Bedourian, Paster

Watch on YouTube:

Armenian Church doctrine teaches that the Blessed Mother Mary has a primary place of honor because it was ‘of’ her and ‘by’ the Holy Spirit that God became incarnate (took human flesh).  She is seen as the image of humanity fully obedient to God and ultimately sanctified by doing God’s will.  Therefore on the feast remembering her Dormition (falling asleep in Christ) and Assumption (ascending to heaven), we celebrate the Blessing of Grapes.

Watch on Facebook

During the Divine Liturgy Rev. Karekin Bedourian, Paster reflected on the message of the feast and the image of the Holy Mother, which is the utmost example of virtue and purity, modesty and sacrifice; for families, Armenian women and for all Armenian Christians.“On this Feast Day of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin, the Church also celebrates the dedication and sacrificial lives of all mothers. Inspired by St Mary the Holy Mother of God, you have taken upon yourselves the duty and responsibility to teach, educate and discipline your children and grandchildren the Word of God,”

#ANCA-WR pass on the torch to the new Generation, name Armen Sahakyan to Executive director position Watch interview on GagruleLive Video

By

Armen Sahakyan ANCA-WR Executive Director interviewed by Wally Sarkeesian

Armen Sahakyan holds a Master of Arts degree in International Relations and International Economics from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Political Economy (summa cum laude, class valedictorian) from Bloomfield College.

Watch on YouTube

Sahakyan has taught Government Studies at his alma mater Bloomfield College as an adjunct professor. Additionally, he has worked at the World Bank Group, the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations, as well as the European Institute.

Watch on Facebook

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region is the largest and most influential nonpartisan Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues in pursuit of the Armenian Cause.

Watch Harut Sassounian, Live on Gagrule.net Live Explained U.S. Appeals Court Wrong Decision Video

By

By Wally Sarkeesian

U.S. Appeals Court Makes a Wrong Decision on Armenian Demands

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit made a decision on August 8, 2019 to deny the appeal of two lawsuits brought by several Armenian-Americans demanding compensation from the Republic of Turkey and two of its banks for confiscating their properties shortly after the Armenian Genocide.

On YouTube

The first lawsuit was filed in December 2010 by Alex Bakalian, Anais Haroutunian, and Rita Mahdessian seeking $65 million from the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, and Ziraat Bankasi. The second lawsuit was filed by David Davoyan (administrator of the Estate of Garbis Tavit Davoyan) and Hrayr Turabian against the Republic of Turkey, the Central Bank of Turkey, and Ziraat Bankasi.

Watch On Facebook

U.S. Appeals Court Makes a Wrong Decision on Armenian Demands

Meet Journalist Peter Musurlian, Three-time Los Angeles Area Emmy® Award-winning Interviewed, by Wally Sarkeesian, Video

By

by Wally Sarkeesian,

Three-time Los Angeles Area Emmy® Award-winning journalist Peter Musurlian does it all: produces, shoots, reports, writes, narrates, and edits his own short-form and long-form stories, videos, and documentaries.

Buttressed by a USC J-School bachelor’s degree, three master’s degrees, nine months of [post-Bosnian War] U.S. Army overseas reporting experience, and over 30 years of plying-his-trade in more than 20 states & 17 countries, Musurlian has garnered [since 2002] 10 Los Angeles Area Emmy® nominations, as well as 24 Golden Mikes, awarded by the Radio & Television News Association of Southern California. (rtna.org).

Video on YouTube

Musurlian has also been nominated 10 times, for his documentary work, by the Los Angeles Press Club, which recognizes journalistic excellence in the second largest media market in the USA. (lapressclub.org).

Most recently Musurlian won his third Los Angeles Area Emmy on July 27, 2019, at the Academy of Television Arts & Science’s Saban Media Center in North Hollywood.

His 52-minute documentary, Holocaust Soliloquy, ran on Los Angeles PBS station KLCS in May 2018, winning the Emmy in the Independent Programming Category.

Earlier this year, Musurlian, who shot, wrote, and edited the entire film, won a First Place Los Angeles Press Club Award for Best Videography, beating out two entries from the powerhouse KCET team.

The documentary can be found on the website: www.peterfischl.com and a link to Musurlian’s Emmy speech has been uploaded to YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WRYgRuKP9E

Musurlian won his first Emmy in 2012, for a 30-minute (solo) documentary, Burbank’s African Sister City, which he shot, wrote, narrated, and edited. In 2016, Musurlian, and a team from The Burbank Channel, won Emmys for their various roles in the production of the Mayor’s State-of-the-City video.

Musurlian, who grew up in Torrance and received his bachelor’s degree from USC, and master’s degrees from Baylor University, American University, and the University of Redlands, has had 10 Emmy nominations since 2002 and has garnered 24 Golden Mikes from the Radio & Television News Association of Southern California.

Growing up, Musurlian attended St. James Armenian Church. In 1983, he interned at ABC News in Washington, DC, as part of the Armenian Assembly Intern Program. And, for several years this decade, he sat on the Board of Directors of the Armenian National Committee, Western Region.

Among more than 20 Armenian-themed projects Musurlian has produced over the last 20 years are: The Long Journey from the NFL to Armenia (2006), Historic Armenia (2015), and The 100-Year-Old Survivor (2015), which all ran on KLCS in Los Angeles. You can see them all at: www.globalistfilms.com.

Among certain members of the Armenian Community, Musurlian is perhaps best known for his hard-hitting coverage of Members of Congress Jean Schmidt of Ohio, Steve Cohen of Tennessee, and California Assemblyman Mike Gatto, who all, to varying degrees, exhibited hostility toward Armenians and/or Armenian issues. 

A former congressional aide, Musurlian has worked at television stations in Montana, Texas, Burbank, and Washington, DC. He also served for eight months as a U.S Army broadcast journalist in Central Europe in the late 1990s, where he met his Hungarian wife, Szilvia. They couple just moved to Falls Church, Virginia, where they only child, June, will begin high school in September.

——————————————————

Holywood: Meet Young Assyrian woman Savina Dawood emotional speech at American Assyrian event “Remember The Fallen” Videos. more to come

By

By Wally Sarkeesian

Holywood: Wednesday August 7, 2019. 7:00 pm Assyrian Commemorated Memorial Day, August 7 is one of Assyrians most important occasions where they honor and remember those brave Assyrian souls who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that the Assyrian nation may still exist (Genocide of 1915, Simeleh of 1933, and more). Moreover, they recognize to perseverance as a people that has been through so much but still stands tall, proud and resilient.

YouTube Video

Hundreds of fellow Assyrian and Many Los angeles community leaders politicians from Armenian, and Greek organizations where presence,

Hon. Paul Krekorian Speech at the event and an Interview by Wally Sarkeesian

Indeed — They Remember The Fallen and they Aim To Empower The Future.

Wednesday August 7, 2019. 7pm – 5901 Cahuenga Blvd, N. Hollywood

Reception included Art and Informational Exhibit

More Videos to come…

Culture is the heart of the nation, Watch how an amazing Armenian women Vergine Alaverdyan maintaining traditional Armenian costumes and project her talent on the live stage

By

Vergine Alaverdyan Photo by Gagrule.net, Yerevan, Armenia
Watch on Facebook

Watch on YouTube

By Wally Sarkeesian

Հայաստան աշխարհը փոքր, բայց բազմաթիվ ավանդույթներով ու յուրահատկություններով երկիր է: Հայ ժողովրդի մեջ տաղանդավոր ու շնորհալի մարդկանց շատ կհանդիպես,հատկապես՝ մշակույթի ու արվեստի ոլորտում:

«Մշակույթն ազգի սիրտն է, եթե չբաբախի,ազգը կմահանա»,-Gagrule.net-ի հետ զրույցում ասաց «Վերադարձ արմատներին» նախագծի հեղինակ, տիկնիկագործ, տարազագործ,դիզայներ-մոդելավորող Վերգինե Ալավերդյանը:

Վերգինե Ալավերդյանը ավելի քան 500 տիկնիկների, հազարից ավելի բեմական հագուստների, երեք տասնյակի հասնող ազգային տարազների, զարդերի հեղինակ է:

Վերգինե Ալավերդյանը ազգի իսկական նվիրյալ է: Նա առանց որևէ հովանավորի ազգային մշակութային արժեք ներկայացնող հավաքածուներ է ստեղծել՝ անշահախնդիր կերպով իր ժամանակը տրամադրելով այս աշխատանքներին:

Վերգինե Ալավերդյանը ոչ միայն ստեղծում է այս արժեքները, այլև իր ստեղծագործական տաղանդը հրաշագործ ձեռքերով փոխանցում է մատաղ սերնդին՝ նպաստելով ազգային արժեքների պահպանմանն ու տարածմանը:

Անդրադառնալով «Վերադարձ արմատներին» նախագծին՝ Վերգինե Ալավերդյանը նշեց, որ ծրագրի լեզուն երգն ու պարն է, որի միջոցով տեղի է ունենում ցուցադրություն՝ ներկայացնելով պատմական Հայաստանի տարբեր տարածաշրջանների տարազներ՝ Սասունի, Արցախի, Զանգեզուրի, Լոռու, Ալաշկերտի, Ջավախքի, Ախլցխայի, Կարնո և այլ տարազները:

«Բազմաթիվ հրավերներ ունենք աշխարհի տարբեր անկյուններից, բայց իմ առաջ նպատակ եմ դրել նախ Հայաստանում իրագործել այն ինչ ծրագրել եմ, հետո այն ներկայացնել նաև աշխարհի մյուս անկյուններին: Մենք մեծ սիրով մեր համերգ-ցուցադրություններով կմասնակցենք տարբեր միջոցառումների, փառատոնների,միայն թե դրանք պետք է չհակասեն մեր սկզբունքներին, իսկ մեզ համար այն է՝վերադարձ արմատներին»,-ասաց Վ. Ալավերդյանը:

Armenia is a small country but with many traditions and peculiarities. The talented and gifted people in the Armenian people will be very much appreciated, especially in the field of culture and art.

“Culture is the heart of the nation, if it does not strike, the nation will die,” said Vergine Alaverdyan, the author of the “Return to the Roots” project, a puppet-maker, a costume designer and designer, in an interview with Gagrule.net

Vergine Alaverdyan is the author of more than 500 dolls, more than a thousand costumes, over thirty national costumes, ornaments.

Vergine Alaverdyan is a real devotee of the nation. She has created collections of national cultural values ​​without any sponsor, giving her unselfish time to these works.

Vergine Alaverdyan not only creates these values, but also transmits her creative talent with her hands to the younger generation, promoting the preservation and dissemination of national values.

Referring to the “Return to the Roots” project, Vergine Alaverdyan mentioned that the program is a song and dance show which presents a collection of costumes of different regions of Armenia, Sasun, Artsakh, Zangezur, Lori, Alashkert, Javakhk, Akhltskha, Karno and other costumes.

“We have many invitations from different corners of the world, but I have set a goal to accomplish what I have planned and then present it to other corners of the world. We will be very glad to take part in different events, festivals with our concerts and demonstrations, but they should not contradict our principles, and for us it is the return to the roots, “said V. Sargsyan. Alaverdyan.

Breaking News: Glendale CA. Today Armenian and Assyrian advocacy organizations #ANCA-WR and #AAASC Sign a historic Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation, Video

By

Nora Hovsepian, Esq. Chairperson of ANCA-WR and Ramond Takhsh, Esq. President of AAASC

By Wally Sarkeesian

GLENDALE, CA – The Assyrian American Association of Southern California (AAASC) and the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) sign a historic Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation in an effort to further deepen and institutionalize relations between the two advocacy organizations. at ANCA-WR Headquarters (104 N Belmont St, Suite 200, Glendale, CA 91206)

YouTube version

Following the signing ceremony, leaders of both organizations offered short remarks and hold a press conference for media representatives.

Nora Hovsepian, Esq. Chairperson of ANCA-WR and Ramond Takhsh, Esq. President of AAASC