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ANCA Outlines 2018 Advocacy Priorities Video

January 11, 2018 By administrator

WASHINGTON—The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) shared its 2018 Armenian American policy priorities in an in-depth video presentation featuring “asks” of the U.S. government regarding a secure Artsakh Republic, a just resolution of the Armenian Genocide, and stronger U.S.-Armenia economic, political and military ties.

In a 50-minute presentation broadcast live on the ANCA’s Facebook page and now available on a broad array of social media platforms, ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian opened with a call-to-action urging friends of Armenia to send letters to their U.S. legislators by visiting anca.org/2018, and then walked viewers through each aspect of the Armenian American advocacy agenda.

“Coming off a political transition year, and heading into a hotly contested election season, we are well positioned to make progress in each of our priority policy areas,” said Hamparian. “Our team in Washington, our regional offices, local chapters, grassroots advocates, and coalition partners look forward to engaging with elected officials—at every level of government—to advance our shared concerns and realize our common aspirations for Artsakh and Armenia. A great way to start is by asking friends, relatives, and colleagues to visit www.anca.org/1918 and take action today.”

Included in the 2018 ANCA policy “asks” are:

 

Artsakh | Peace | Security | Aid

The key to reaching a durable and democratic settlement regarding the status and security of Artsakh—a longstanding U.S. foreign policy priority—is strengthening the 1994 cease-fire.  The government and citizens of Artsakh are committed to strengthening their partnership with the U.S. government and deepening their ties to the American people.

ANCA Asks:

a) The Administration should renew U.S. pressure upon Azerbaijan to stop obstructing the implementation of the Royce-Engel peace proposals for Artsakh, life-saving, common sense cease-fire strengthening measures that have been endorsed by the State Department, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Armenia and Artsakh:

  • An agreement from all sides not to deploy snipers, heavy arms, or new weaponry
  • The placement of OSCE-monitored gunfire-locator systems to determine the source of attacks
  • The deployment of additional OSCE observers to monitor cease-fire violations
  • For its part, Congress should appropriate at least $20 million in FY19 to support implementation of the Royce-Engel peace proposals

b) The U.S. should suspend military aid to Baku and strengthen Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act.

c) The President should request and the Congress should appropriate at least $8 million in aid to Artsakh, focusing on:

  • The completion of HALO Trust’s de-mining work
  • Rehabilitation services for infants, children and adults with disabilities.

d) The Administration and Congress should eliminate outdated and obsolete barriers to travel, contacts, and communication between U.S. and Artsakh government officials, political leaders, and other civil society stakeholders.

e) The U.S. government should publicly mark the 30th anniversary of the Artsakh liberation movement and the anti-Armenian massacres in Azerbaijan. These historic developments helped spark a democratic wave that helped bring down the Soviet Empire.

 

Armenian Genocide | Justice

The U.S. cannot credibly speak out against present day atrocities—including those against religious minorities across the Middle East—while remaining silent on Turkey’s genocide of millions of Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Arameans, and other Christians.

The U.S. government should override Turkey’s veto over honest American remembrance of the Armenian Genocide and stop outsourcing U.S. genocide policy to foreign regimes.

ANCA Asks:

a) President Trump—who ran on a platform of rejecting foreign influence over the U.S. government—should, in his April 24 statement, announce that America will no longer enforce Turkey’s gag-rule against honest U.S. remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.

b) The U.S. Congress—which is led by leaders, in both houses and from both parties, who have records of supporting proper Armenian Genocide remembrance—should pass bipartisan resolutions regarding the Armenian Genocide:

  • Res.220, a U.S. House genocide prevention measure drawing upon the lessons of the Armenian Genocide.
  • Res.136, a U.S. Senate resolution seeking to ensure that U.S. foreign policy “reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity” of this crime.

c) Members of the U.S. Senate and House are invited to participate this April in the annual Capitol Hill Armenian Genocide commemoration, a solemn remembrance that pays tribute to the millions of Christian victims of this atrocity.

d) Congressional intelligence panels should launch investigations into Turkey’s manipulation of American policy. These investigations should look into Ankara’s campaign to obstruct justice for the Armenian Genocide, with a special focus on the potential collusion of U.S officials.

 

Erdogan | Justice | Extradition

The Turkish government remains entirely unapologetic and arrogantly unrepentant regarding the May 16, 2017 attacks by President Erdogan’s bodyguards on peaceful American protesters outside the Turkish Ambassador’s residence in Washington, DC.

ANCA Ask:

The Administration should formally request that Turkey extradite members of Turkish President Erdogan’s security detail who have been criminally charged with attacking peaceful American protesters.

 

U.S. – Armenia | Partnership

The 100th anniversary the first Republic of Armenia marks a major milestone in the U.S.-Armenia partnership, an alliance characterized by the steady expansion of bilateral ties and continued cooperation on a broad array of multilateral, regional and international challenges.  Armenia participates in NATO’s Partnership for Peace and has provided troops for U.S led peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, Lebanon, and Mali.

U.S. can play a vital role in helping Armenia complete its aid-to-trade transition, moving toward a bilateral relationship defined by mutually-beneficial commercial ties, strong cultural and political connections, and broad-based cooperation on international security concerns.

ANCA Asks:

a) The Administration should take up Armenia’s calls for a new Tax Treaty to eliminate the threat of double taxation, a major but unnecessary barrier to the growth of bilateral trade and investment.

b) The Administration and Congress should take administrative and regulatory actions needed to support the launch of commercially-viable non-stop Los Angeles to Yerevan passenger and cargo flights.

c) The President should request and the Congress should appropriate at least $40 million in FY19 assistance for Armenia, with a focus on expanding the U.S.-Armenia economic ties and expanding military relations (NATO interoperability and participation in peacekeeping).

d) The President should request and the Congress should appropriate at least $40 million in FY19 to support Armenia’s commendable efforts to serve as a regional safe-haven for at-risk Middle East refugees.

e) The Millennium Challenge Corporation should approve a new compact with Armenia to support Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education in Armenia’s public schools.

f) Members of the U.S. House should co-sign the annual Armenian Caucus letter to the leadership of the State-Foreign Operations Subcommittee, covering the full range of U.S. foreign aid priorities related to Armenia and Artsakh.

 

Regional Security | Turkey | Azerbaijan

The President and Congress need to keep U.S. arms and technology out of the hands of foreign regimes that will use them for offensive purposes, including, potentially, against the United States and our allies.

ANCA Asks:

a) The Administration should place a freeze on all proposed arms sales to Turkey, ranging from firearms to Turkish President Erdogan’s security detail all the way up to F-35s for the Turkish military.

b) The Administration should—in the interest of regional security, nuclear safety, and non-proliferation—seriously reevaluate the stationing of U.S. nuclear arms at Turkey’s Incirlik airbase.

c) The Administration should oppose any direct sale of U.S. offensive or dual-use defense articles to Azerbaijan, and block any third-party licenses for the transfer of advanced U.S. weapons, parts and technology to Baku, including for the Iron Dome system.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: 2018, ANCA, Washington

Dubai breaks world record for largest laser light show 2018 New Year VIDEO

January 1, 2018 By administrator

On New Year’s Eve, Dubai broke the world record for the largest laser light show, and tens of thousands of spectators assembled to watch this spectacle at Burj Khalifa, the tallest structure in the world, reported RIA Novosti news agency of Russia.

Also, the “Light Up 2018” show for the first time took the place of the traditional New Year’s fireworks at Burj Khalifa.

This laser show clinched the Guinness World Records title for the “largest light and sound show on a single building.”

The “Light Up 2018” spanned a surface area of 109,252 square meters—more than double that of the earlier record set in Hong Kong in 2013 on the ICC Building.

Filed Under: Articles, Events Tagged With: 2018, dubai, laser light

Armenia to hold 3 major events in 2018

December 14, 2017 By administrator

Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan

YEREVAN. – Three major events will take place in Armenia in 2018, and therefore Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan on Thursday gave relevant instructions at the Cabinet meeting of the government.

“Centennial of the heroic battles in May, events of the 2800th anniversary of the foundation of [capital city] Yerevan, as well as the La Francophonie summit in October,” said the PM, and noted that the respective organizational work is already in progress.

Considering that a greater number tourist visits are expected in Armenia in this connection, Karapetyan instructed the relevant government departments and officials to take joint measures toward regulating the architectural solutions of the roads leading to and from Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor, and the other provincial capital cities of the country, and toward upgrading their surroundings.

“The road sections leading from Zvartnots [International Airport] to Yerevan and from Shirak [International Airport] to Gyumri need to be underscored, in particular,” added the PM.

Also, he instructed to submit the results to the government staff.

Filed Under: Articles, Events Tagged With: 2018, Armenia, Events

2018 Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity Ceremony and 3rd Annual Aurora Dialogues Dates Announced

July 13, 2017 By administrator

The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative today announced that the 2018 Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity ceremony, Aurora Dialogues and weekend of inspirational events, will take place June 8-10, 2018 in Armenia.As the press release of the Aurora Prize website reported,  pre-eminent humanitarians, academics, philanthropists, human rights defenders, government officials, journalists and business leaders from around the world will gather for the purpose of galvanizing action to address today’s most pressing humanitarian challenges and to celebrate the best of humanity. The weekend will culminate with the presentation of the third annual $1.1 million Aurora Prize, a global humanitarian award given to an individual for the exceptional impact their actions have had on preserving human life and advancing humanitarian causes. The laureate is invited to share $1million with organizations which inspire their work.

To remind, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative was founded in memory of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in honor of their saviors by descendants of the survivors who wish to demonstrate their gratitude by action.

“We are gratified to be able to do this in their memory, and raise public consciousness about the humanitarian atrocities occurring around the world by rewarding those who are working to tackle those struggles in a substantial manner and at great personal risk,” said Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Co-Founder Ruben Vardanyan. “As a country that has prospered despite the atrocities suffered in the past, Armenia is emerging as a global hub for humanitarian thought, discussion and action. In hosting this important weekend of events again next year, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative seeks to continue to express Gratitude in Action by helping those who are most vulnerable today.”

The 2018 Aurora weekend of events will feature the Aurora Dialogues, an international platform for academics and practitioners who explore and debate humanitarian challenges. The conference will seek to better understand the issues, analyze lessons learned from the past, and encourage innovative action in the present to foster a better future. A schedule of events and additional information about the 2018 Aurora Dialogues and Aurora Prize weekend will be available in the coming months at www.auroraprize.org.

Nominations are now open for the 2018 Aurora Prize. Public nominations will be accepted through September 8, 2017 at https://auroraprize.com/en/prize/detail/nominatenow.

Singer and songwriter Charles Aznavour announced the 2017 Aurora Prize Laureate – Dr. Tom Catena – during the May 28 ceremony in Yerevan, Armenia.  As the second Aurora Prize Laureate, Dr. Catena was awarded $100,000 in gratitude for his dedicated service as the sole surgeon operating in the war and famine-ravaged Nuba region of Sudan. In addition to the $100,000 prize awarded to Dr. Catena for his selfless efforts, $1,000,000 was designated to organizations of his choosing, which included the African Missionary Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB), and Aktion Canchanabury. These organizations, in turn, will continue to offer help to vulnerable and victimized populations, thus continuing the cycle of giving.

The Aurora Prize Selection Committee includes Nobel Laureates Oscar Arias, Shirin Ebadi and Leymah Gbowee; former president of Ireland Mary Robinson; human rights activist Hina Jilani; former foreign minister of Australia and President Emeritus of the International Crisis Group Gareth Evans; former president of Mexico Ernesto Zedillo; President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York Vartan Gregorian; and Academy Award-winning actor and humanitarian George Clooney. The late Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Elie Wiesel served as the Selection Committee’s inaugural co-chair.

 

Source Panorama.am

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: 2018, aurora-prize

Armenia to solemnly mark First Republic anniversary in 2018 – National Archives’ director

June 5, 2017 By administrator

First Republic anniversary in 2018Armenia will host solemn celebrations in 2018 to mark the 100th anniversary of the First Republic and the glorious victories held in battles for the country’s liberation.

It is planned particularly to hold an exhibition in Sardarapat to display all the historic records (as well as personal items) associated with the heroic battle, Amatuni Virabyan, the director of the National Archives of Armenia, told reporters on Monday.
“We need to bring as many documents as possible apart from the items we have in our archives. In a televised speech in Beirut just a few days ago, I emphasized the fact that our archives are very much alike our people, who are scattered across the globe. In the neighboring Georgia, it is practically possible to find more records on the Armenia of 1920,” he said.

Amatuni also unveiled plans for publishing an edition comprising known records on the First Republic’s history. The National Archive has compiled the documents (in Armenian, Russian, French and Turkish) over the past years to put them into circulation on the remarkable anniversary.

A separate collection will be dedicated to the great heroes who contributed to the May victories. Most of them were exiled or killed during the 1937 reprisals.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: 2018, First Republic

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