Turkey’s Kurdish presidential candidate Demirtas forced to campaign from prison

June 18, 2018 By administrator

Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas is running in the Turkish presidential election — from prison. He may have a huge following in the country, but he has received little coverage in Turkey’s mainstream press.

Selahattin Demirtas, the 45-year-old human rights attorney and former co-leader of the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP), is the first presidential candidate in the history of the modern Turkey to organize his election campaign from behind bars. He has been held in pretrial detention for more than a year-and-a-half on terrorism-related charges.

Demirtas has been coordinating his campaign from a prison cell in Edirne in western Turkey, and despite the adverse conditions, he seems headed for a respectable result. An opinion survey by Turkish pollster Sonar in early June gave Demirtas just shy of 8 percent of the vote, ranking him fourth among the presidential candidates.

Campaigning via Twitter

HDP lawmaker Ziya Pir is not surprised by Demirtas’ popularity. “With his candidature, Mr. Demirtas is taking a stand on peace, freedom and democracy — our values,” he said, noting the difficulty of running a campaign from prison.”They won’t let him out, just like thousands of other jailed members of our party,” Pir added. “The government doesn’t want our people to be able to run a campaign.”

Stuck behind bars, Demirtas has turned to social media — mainly Twitter — to communicate with his supporters, dictating 280-character tweets to his lawyers every day. He has nearly 1.7 million followers on the platform, and uses the hashtag #AskDemirtas to respond to questions.

Mainstream media ignore Demirtas

While the campaign is thriving on social media, it doesn’t exist in most traditional Turkish press. Frustrated, Pir said the main problem is that Turkey’s mainstream media for the most part ignore Demirtas: “Last week, [HDP] co-leader Pervin Buldan was interviewed on Fox TV, but other than that, we only exist in niche media, where we can’t reach the masses — so we go from door to door.”

A glimpse at the actual broadcast time allotted to the candidates shows Demirtas’ great disadvantage. CNN Turk and NTV dedicated 70 hours and 13 minutes to incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his AKP party during the first two weeks of May alone. Demirtas only appeared on Turkish state TV for the first time on Sunday, in a 10-minute speech allotted to all candidates.

The Kurdish conflict

Demirtas has thrown his hat in the ring for the country’s top office before. In 2014, he garnered almost 10 percent of the vote running against Erdogan, finishing third. Back then, both Erdogan and Demirtas campaigned in Germany, and Demirtas’ greatest problem was already evident — the HDP’s perceived links to the the Kurdistan Workers’ Party(PKK), a group regarded by the Turkish government and the European Union as a terrorist organization. The armed conflict between PKK and the Turkish state has cost tens of thousands of lives since the early 1980s. Demirtas has repeatedly visited convicted PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan in prison.

The PKK and HDP both advocate for greater rights for Turkey’s Kurds and share a similar political base, but Pir stressed that the organizations are independent of one another. “As a party, we have no links to the PKK,” he said. “But for historic reasons, many of our voters show sympathies for the PKK.”

The Kurdish conflict is the reason the HDP isn’t in an alliance with other parties. Nationalist candidate Meral Aksener has clearly ruled out any cooperation with the HDP, for example. As a result, Demirtas has little chance of making it to a runoff with against Erdogan. Should the incumbent not win the presidency outright in the June 24 vote, he will presumably face Aksener or the candidate from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Muharrem Ince, in a runoff on July 8.

It remains to be seen how and even whether Demirtas will be able to continue his political career after the election. If convicted of terrorism-related offenses, he faces up to 142 years in prison.

New cancer campaign in Armenia to help promote early detection and accurate diagnosis

February 12, 2018 By administrator

New cancer campaign in Armenia

Armenia is hosting a new campaign aimed at early detection of cancer and its accurate diagnosis. The campaign is conducted by Europe Donna Armenia – member of the European Breast Cancer Coalition under the slogan “Early and Accurate”. The Representative of the organization Nvard Kocharyan told at a press conference every year more women are diagnosed with cancer in the republic with majority of the cases – at later stages.

“Early detection is the best protection against cancer as studies show that those detected early have high cure and life rates, why not – more affordable cost for treatment,” Kocharyan said.

As to the accurate diagnosis, the speaker pointed to number of recorded cases with inaccurate diagnosis that lead to other range of complexities.

Kocharyan informed that the campaign includes a range of events including but not limited to breast screenings, public awareness events both in Yerevan and marzes, medical ultrasound, consultations, etc.

As Kocharyan informed around 1200 new cases of the disease are revealed in Armenia with 30 % of them in the third or fourth stages of the disease.

Israelis fume over Netanyahu’s retraction of Hungary’s anti-Soros campaign criticism

July 11, 2017 By administrator

Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu came under fire after retracting criticism of an anti-George Soros campaign. The Jewish-American billionaire said he is ‘distressed’ by the imagery used against him.

Israelis from both sides of the political aisle are fuming over Hungary’s controversial poster campaign targeting the Jewish-American billionaire George Soros, though who is at fault – the Hungarian government, the Israeli government or Soros himself – remains in the eye of the beholder.

The Israeli ambassador to Hungary, Yosef Amrani, condemned a Hungarian poster campaign attacking Soros, saying it encouraged anti-Semitism. “Let’s not let Soros have the last laugh,” the billboards spread across Budapest read (above).

But a day later, Israel retracted the criticism, with the foreign ministry saying that Soros “continuously undermines Israel’s democratically elected governments by funding organizations that defame the Jewish state.”

Following Israel’s shift of stance, many Israeli politicians and activists now claim that the current government, led by Netanyahu’s conservative Likud party, prefers bluntly anti-Semitic views over what is perceived as “left-wing” opinions.

“I could not believe it, but today Netanyahu has reached a new low, when he officially supported an anti-Semitic campaign by Hungary’s prime minister against a Jewish, Holocaust survivor, businessman,” Stav Shaffir, a Knesset Member (MK) from Israel’s left-leaning Zionist Union posted to Facebook.

“Some of these posters were glued to the floor in trains for Hungarians to step on them,” she said. “Soros donates to human right organizations all over the world, has established a renown (sic) university, and Orban is trying to shut it down because it’s too critical of the government. But guess who decided to support him and go against the Jewish community? That’s right, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”

Soros himself reacted to the campaign, saying that “I am distressed by the current Hungarian regime’s use of anti-Semitic imagery as part of its deliberate disinformation campaign. Equally,” he added, “I am heartened that together with countless fellow citizens the leadership of the Hungarian Jewish community has spoken out against the campaign.”

In Hungary, Soros has enraged Prime Minister Viktor Orban with his support for more open immigration. But the financier and philanthropist is also highly unpopular among the Israeli right, as he supports human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch that frequently criticize Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians.

Soros’s spokesperson Michael Vachon told DW in a statement said that “the Fidesz-led government [of Orban] launched a nationwide campaign reminiscent of Europe’s darkest hours” and that “the government has spent $12.9 million (5.7 billion HUF) on the campaign so far.”

Cross-party criticism

Despite the accusations of an anti-Semitic tone pervading the poster campaign, several Israeli right-wing activists have taken to social media to express a discontent that lies not with Hungarian government or with Israel’s retraction of criticism, but rather with Soros himself.

“The Foreign Ministry has condemned the Hungarian government for acting against the anti-Semite billionaire,” Yoav Eliassi, an Israeli rapper and right-wing activist operating under the name “The Shadow,” wrote on his Facebook page.

“But the left-wing clerks in the ministry didn’t even ask Netanyahu (before issuing the condemnation), who then forced them to publish a clarification.”

“Let us all see what kind of a despicable creature this Jewish, billionaire, anti-Semite, Soros really is,” Eliassi continued, also posting an article which claims Soros supports “radical left organizations responsible for thousands of migrants entering Europe.”

However, many Israelis still failed to understand how a campaign which forces commuters to step on Soros’s face while boarding trains and singled him as the enemy of the state can be anything but anti-Semitic.

And indeed, since the launch of the campaign, several Hungarian media outlets have reported on anti-Semitic incidents in the country. “Some of the posters have been defaced with hateful graffiti such as ‘stinking Jew’ scrawled across Soros’ face,” Vachon added in the statement.

Sensitive timing

Netanyahu is due to meet Orban in Budapest on July 18 – the first visit of an Israeli prime minister to Hungary in 30 years. And on July 19, both Netanyahu and Orban are scheduled to meet with the premiers of Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

The timing of the campaign is therefore particularly sensitive, and some critics claim that Netanyahu abandoned his own values in favor of those of other world leaders.

“Bibi [Netanyahu] is so in love with the idea of meeting with heads of state, that he’s even willing to legitimize their anti-Semitic campaigns,” said Niv Lilien, an Israeli senior journalist and activist.

Others have commented on Shaffir’s or Eliassi’s posts, such as Riki Kovacs Goldshteyn, who called Netanyahu’s retraction “very disturbing.”

“I’m trying to understand what was going through Netanyahu’s mind when he acted like that. We Jews live here peacefully,” said Goldshteyn, an Israeli who has been living in Hungary for 15 years.

However, Israel insists that it “deplores any expression of anti-Semitism in any country and stands with Jewish communities everywhere in confronting this hatred.” Soros’ spokesperson added that “the Hungarian regime’s xenophobia and demonization of refugees are anti-European. The claim that Soros is promoting a scheme to import illegal immigrants into Europe is Victor Orban’s fantasy.”

Campaign Contribution… Or Legal Bribery?

September 27, 2016 By administrator

BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN harut-sassounian-740-new

This column is mostly intended for readers outside the United States who may not be familiar with U.S. campaign contribution laws. Interestingly, even Americans are often confused about the complex regulations regarding limits of political contributions that are different in local, state and federal elections.

Let’s take a closer look at contributions for federal elections, including, presidential elections. The contribution limit per person to a presidential candidate is $2,700 per election. While most Americans donate much smaller amounts, some legally contribute tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands, and sometimes millions of dollars!

An individual can contribute $10,000 per year to a State, District or Local Political Party Committee, and $33,400 per year to a National Party Committee. However, an individual may contribute $100,200 per year, for each type of election-related expenses. There are also “PACs” (Political Action Committees) and “super PACs” that can make unlimited contributions.

Both Democratic and Republican presidential candidates engage in a variety of perfectly legal, yet questionable practices, to exceed by far the $2,700 campaign contribution per person. To illustrate this point, let me quote from a recent email I received from the Hillary Clinton campaign.

Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was to visit Beverly Hills, California, on Sept. 13, to participate in two exclusive events that would have raised millions of dollars for her campaign. Unfortunately, due to her unexpected illness, her trip was postponed.

The first event was scheduled for the afternoon of Sept. 13 at the home of Seth MacFarlane with a special performance by Lionel Richie. The email announced that anyone who contributed $33,400 was entitled to have “lunch, preferred seating, and photo” with Hillary Clinton. Those contributing $10,000 could only have “lunch and preferred seating,” but no photo with the presidential candidate. Those contributing $5,000 could have just lunch, no preferred seating and no picture with the former First Lady.

Later that evening, a more exclusive, therefore, more expensive fundraising event was scheduled. Those who could afford to contribute $100,000 per couple had the privilege of participating in a “conversation and dinner with Hillary Rodham Clinton at the home of Diane von Furstenberg and Barry Diller.” The event was chaired by “Diane von Furstenberg and Barry Diller, Jane and Michael Eisner, Karen and Russell Goldsmith, and Edgar Sargsyan.”

A week after Hillary Clinton’s scheduled fundraising events, her running mate, Vice Presidential candidate Tim Kaine, had two appearances in Southern California. On Sept. 19, a luncheon hosted by Jay Sures in Beverly Hills was billed as “Conversation with Tim Kaine.” Only those contributing $27,000 could attend the reception with the candidate. Those donating $10,000 could have only a photo with the Vice Presidential candidate (no reception), while those contributing $2,700 could just have lunch (no reception and no photo)!

Later that evening, a much more expensive event, billed as “Latinos for Hillary, Dinner with Tim Kaine,” was held at the Los Angeles home of Eva Longoria. Those paying $100,000 were entitled to attend the reception, have dinner and a photo with Vice Presidential candidate Tim Kaine. For $33,400, the donor could only have dinner and a photo, while those who could only afford $10,000 just had dinner!

While some make large campaign contributions to rub shoulders with politicians and celebrities that attend such fundraising events, others expect personal or business favors from a candidate that may end up being President of the United States. These contributions are perfectly legal because the candidate discloses the donor’s name and provides a receipt. In many countries, money handed to political candidates is called bribery.

Some American politicians brag that they do not accept campaign contributions from PACs or corporations so that they would not be indebted to major donors after the election! In a recent email, Cong. John Sarbanes (Democrat-Maryland) stated that he does not take PAC money because “I don’t want to get pushed around.” He stressed that he believes in “government of, by and for the people!”

With Our Soldiers’ Campaign Helps Families of Fallen Heroes in Armenia’s Tavush and Lori Provinces

August 19, 2016 By administrator

with-our-soldiers LORI, TAVUSH, Armenia—The Armenian Youth Federation’s ‘With Our Soldiers’ campaign is continuing to report on its work to deliver funds to the families of servicemen and volunteers who were killed in action during the Four Day War. As of August 15, 2016, the campaign has reached out to 82 families, distributing a total of $96,750 in assistance. The WOS task force has also periodically featured the stories of fallen heroes in its press releases, and today the biographies of servicemen from Tavush and Lori, who were killed in action in April, are presented, along with the breakdown of the monetary aid provided to their families.

As in the past, the ‘With Our Soldiers’ campaign allocated $1,000 to the family of each fallen soldier, with an extra $250 payment for each child. A total of $7,250 was distributed to six families of fallen soldiers in Tavush and Lori, including the families of two servicemen (Nodarik Margaryan and Karen Davtyan) who had children and dependents. The ‘With Our Soldiers task force is once again providing a detailed report on the families that have been served through the program, including receipts signed by the family members who have received the financial assistance.

Nodarik Margaryan (b. 1963) from the village of Gugark (Meghrut) had a difficult life: he lost his father at a young age, his wife passed away recently, and his youngest son was born with a disability. As the war broke out, the 52-year old Nodardik – who had settled in Mataghis (Artsakh) with his family and served as a driver in the local military unit – sent his children to Armenia and went to defend the frontline. He was killed in action during the first hours of the Four Day War. The friends and the villagers describe Nodarik as a hardworking, patriotic man who loved his family and his neighbors. Nodarik left behind daughter, Lusine (30 y.o.), who is divorced and has an 8-year old kid, two sons, Zorik and Narek, and his 81-year old mother. Narek, who is 24, has a disability that prevents him from working. Zorik lives in Russia on a permanent basis, and after Nodarik’s passing, is the sole provider for the family. Given the unique circumstances of this family, the With Our Soldiers campaign provided $1,750 to Nodarik’s daughter, Lusine, who is taking care of the remaining family members. To learn more about Nodarik’s family, a video is available below.

Read more: http://asbarez.com/154091/with-our-soldiers-campaign-helps-families-of-fallen-heroes-in-armenias-tavush-and-lori-provinces/

ANCA Launches Campaign Prioritizing Artsakh Freedom, Rejecting Undemocratic ‘Madrid Principles’

August 4, 2016 By administrator

ANCA grassroots campaign – anca.org/madrid – calls for a rejection of the flawed “Madrid Principles” and outlines key policy priorities for Karabakh peace and freedom.

Supporters of Artsakh Peace Can Visit www.anca.org/madrid to Contact their Legislators

WASHINGTON—The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has launched a renewed drive to educate U.S. legislators and senior policymakers regarding the dangers that the proposed “Madrid Principles” present to international efforts to check Azerbaijani aggression and peacefully negotiate a sustainable and democratic resolution of status and security issues related to the independent Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh).

“The peace we all seek, if it is to be sustainable, must rest upon democratic foundations – the right of all to live in liberty, free from foreign rule,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “And today, more than ever, it’s clear that reaching a real and lasting resolution requires that the OSCE abandon its deeply flawed Madrid Principles and rethink its approach to this peace process based upon the universal value of democratic self-determination, our shared commitment to fundamental human rights, and the right of the citizens of Artsakh to security against foreign aggression.”

First discussed in 2007 with the specifics largely kept secret until recently, the “Madrid Principles” set forth a proposed formula which purportedly calls for Artsakh’s up-front surrender of 7 regions of its sovereign territory in return for only a vague promise that Azerbaijan will allow a future “expression of will” that would determine its status, setting the stage for continued conflict and increased regional instability. “A phased agreement that envisions Azerbaijan honoring its future commitments is simply not a sound basis for peace, particularly when we consider that Baku’s track record of constantly and flagrantly violating its own signature on the cease-fire agreement it signed in 1994,” explains the letter to Congressional leaders.

The letter goes on to urge legislators to support a range of policy priorities for Karabakh peace and freedom, including:

— Supporting a Balanced and Sustainable Approach to Peace: The OSCE should come back with a more balanced and sustainable approach than the deeply flawed Madrid Principles, which are little more than a recklessly asymmetrical attempt to force Nagorno-Karabakh to make strategic security concessions in return for only vague Azerbaijani promises regarding its future status.

— Saving Lives and Averting Renewed War: The Obama Administration should openly pressure Azerbaijan to accept the Royce-Engel peace proposals (which have already agreed to by both Armenia and Artsakh), to 1) withdraw all snipers and heavy arms, 2) add international observers, and 3) deploy gunfire locators along the line of contact.

— Challenging Azerbaijan’s Aggression: The United States and the OSCE should openly challenge Azerbaijan’s aggression, ending a pattern of silence in the face of aggression that has only emboldened Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

— Returning Karabakh to the peace talks: The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic should be restored to the negotiating table as a full participant in all OSCE talks regarding its future security and status. The exclusion of Artsakh from talks about its own future is both highly immoral and ultimately counterproductive.

— Continuing aid to Nagorno-Karabakh: The United States should increase direct aid to Nagorno-Karabakh, providing at least $5 million annually for a humanitarian assistance program (including rehabilitation programs for children and adults with disabilities) that has been in place since 1998.

— Cutting military aid to Azerbaijan: Congress should cut off all military aid to Azerbaijan until it ceases all threats and acts of aggression and commits to a peaceful resolution, and the Administration should cease issuing waivers of the Section 907 restriction on direct aid to the Azerbaijani government.

Supporters of a peaceful and democratic Artsakh can visit anca.org/madrid to contact their legislators and share with them the dangers of the “Madrid Principles.”

Hillary Taps Wall Street Crony, Anti-Bernie Pro-TPP, Former DNC Head as VP

July 23, 2016 By administrator

The Hillary Clinton campaign surprised nobody in the political establishment by defying all logic going for the most heinously crooked and boring sidekick this side of Mike Pence.

“Let’s be really clear: It should be disqualifying for any potential Democratic vice presidential candidate to be part of the lobbyist-driven effort to help banks dodge consumer protection standards and regulations designed to prevent banks from destroying our economy,” Democracy for America executive director Charles Chamberlain said in a statement Thursday.

“Our presidential ticket cannot beat the bigot by simply being not-Donald Trump,” reminded Chamberlain whose group propelled Bernie Sanders in the primary. “To win in November, our ticket need to have an unquestionably strong record in the fight against income inequality, one of the defining issues of the 2016 election.”

Hillary Clinton, by contrast, has calculated that her campaign does not need the support of the Bernie voters to dispatch Donald Trump in November instead positioning herself to capture some of the Republicans who are dismayed with their nominee’s uncouth temperament, harsh words, and proclivity to walk the line of racism all too often.

In Kaine, Hillary is choosing the US Senator from Virginia who has a long history of executive experience as that state’s former Governor with a personality that is unlikely to steal the show from the Democratic nominee. Kaine is also the epitome of a Beltway establishment politician, however, which won’t play well with the Bernie Sanders crowd.

Kaine notably voted to provide President Obama fast-track negotiating authority for the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership deal that would fetter away American sovereignty to an unelected cabal that can force US taxpayers to compensate companies whose products violate the country’s health and safety standards. The secretive deal, many worry, would also lead to more outsourcing of US jobs and a further crackdown on American workplace protections. Kaine’s spokeswoman confirmed that the US Senator is a proponent of TPP saying that he was “obviously favorably inclined” to the deal.

His policy on regulating Wall Street may be far worse even than his position trade. Maine state Rep. Dianne Russell explained that “Kaine, in what many consider a signal to Wall Street, signed two letters this week to banking regulators and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau urging them to loosen regulations of the financial industry. That sentiment flies in the face of the majority of democratic voters who supported both Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders.”

The Virginia Senator has also called for greater NATO presence to combat the threat of Russian “aggression” in Crimea and serving as a resounding critic of Moscow’s efforts to stabilize Syria arguing that President Putin only looks to prop up Assad rather than combat Daesh.

AYF’s ‘With Our Soldiers’ Campaign Reports to Community on Progress

July 7, 2016 By administrator

Armenia map color GLENDALE—For the past two months, the AYF’s ‘With Our Soldiers’ campaign has been actively fundraising and distributing financial assistance to the families of fallen soldiers in Armenia and Artsakh. In the spirit of accountability, the campaign has provided periodic updates to the community on its fundraising efforts and the work done on the ground in Armenia.

The task force, appointed by the AYF Central Executive to administer the campaign, has published a report on its progress during the past two months. According to the information provided by the WOS initiative, as of June 30, 2016, the task force has raised over $105,000 and provided assistance to the families of 63 fallen soldiers in Armenia and Artsakh. As a reminder, the campaign allocates a $1,000 payment to each family and an additional $250 for each child of a fallen serviceman.

The breakdown of the numbers of families reached in each region of Armenia and Artsakh is included below:

In Armenia, a total of 39 families of fallen soldiers were assisted, with the following breakdown: Armavir (7 families), Yerevan (7), Gegharkunik (6), Kotayk (6), Ararat (5), Shirak (4), Lori (3), and Aragastotn (1)
In Artsakh, a total of 24 families of fallen soldiers were assisted, with the following breakdown: Hadrut (9), Stepanakert (6), Martuni (3), Martakert (2), Shushi (2), Kashatagh (1), Askeran (1)
A total of $76,500 has been distributed in aid as of June 30, 2016, with $33,000 allocated to families in Artsakh and the remaining $43,500 in Armenia.

As of July 4th, funds were being allocated to another 13 families in the Syunik province of Armenia. A total of $14,500 has been earmarked for the families of soldiers and volunteers from this region, who were killed during the Four Day War.

In addition to the monetary assistance provided to the families of fallen soldiers, the AYF’s ‘With Our Soldiers’ initiative has also coordinated the shipment of $480,000 worth of supplies and medication for the wounded soldiers and servicemen protecting Artsakh. The breakdown of those items is provided below:

Medication – $160,000

Wheelchairs/Mobility-related items – $100,000

Sleeping bags – $80,000 (totaling 2,000 sleeping bags made in the US)

First Aid Materials – $30,000

Other Supplies – $80,000

In addition, a $30,000 donation was secured through the Carolan Foundation, which was directed toward securing 2,000 more sleeping bags manufactured by Desi LLC located in Echmiadzin (Vagharshapat), Armenia.

The ‘With Our Soldiers’ campaign expresses its gratitude to all of our donors and sponsors for their contributions and commitment to our brave servicemen defending Artsakh and the families of our fallen heroes. Special thanks go to Global USA Shipping Company, Universal Service Exchange Inc, the owner of Olympic Pharmacy Hakob Basmajyan and San Francisco-based businessman Erik Marutian for the key role they played in making the delivery of vital supplies to Armenia and Artsakh a reality.

Additionally, the task force is appealing to Armenian-Americans urging them to make monetary contributions and donations of goods to the campaign (see flyer below for details). Donations can be made online, at www.withoursoldiers.com, or by check, payable to the Armenian Youth Federation (mail to 104 N. Belmont St. #313, Glendale, CA 91204). We remain confident that with continuous support from our friends and our community, we will be able to reach out to the remaining families of our fallen soldiers and provide the necessary aid to our wounded servicemen.

The AYF’s ‘With Our Soldiers’ campaign, originally launched in 2012, was restarted in the aftermath of the Four Day War with the aim of providing assistance to the families of the fallen soldiers. To learn more about the campaign or to make a donation today, you can visit www.withoursoldiers.com.

Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation is the largest and most influential Armenian American youth organization in the world, working to advance the social, political, educational and cultural awareness of Armenian youth.

Keith Nahigian hired as adviser by Donald Trump campaign

June 22, 2016 By administrator

Keith Nahigian has been hired as a senior adviser by Donald Trump campaign, Horizonweekly reported.

Keith and his brother Ken run Nahigian Strategies, a respected Washington, DC-based public relations and advocacy firm. He has been active in the leadership of many state and national campaigns, including those of Congressman Robert J. Dold, the Co-Chairman of the Armenian Caucus.

In the widely-read 2012 POLITICO campaign chronicle “Inside the Circus: Romney, Santorum and the GOP Race,” authors Mike Allen and Evan Thomas described him as “a veteran advance man sometimes called the ‘Armenian Fellini’ for his creative touch.”

Germany’s Genocide resolution to boost worldwide recognition campaign – debate

June 4, 2016 By administrator

The German Bundestag’s recently adopted resolution, acknowledging the Ottoman-era killings of Armenians as genocide, essentially broadens the worldwide campaign towards Genocide recognition, according to an expert.
Commenting on the resolution’s wording at a news conference today, Vladimir Hakobyan, who specializes in international law, highlighted particularly the legal aspect of the decision.
“The recognition of a crime and its appropriate labeling are extremely important,” he said, meantime ruling out possible legal consequences for Turkey.
Ruben Melkonyan, a deputy dean at the Yerevan State University’s Department of Oriental Studies, highlighted the complicity factor, noting that Germany, as a major European state, is known also for its multi-vector cooperation with Turkey.
“Unfortunately, they run counter also to the Armenian interests. It is important to remember that Germany gave home to Talaat, Enver and Cemal Pashas; hence the euphoria we see in Armenia is absolutely pointless,” he added.
Questioning the possibility of legal consequences, Melkonyan also called attention to the decision’s timing.
“What we need to consider further is why they recognized [the Genocide] especially now. With the German-Turkish relations being considerably entangled today, Europe really needs certain restraint mechanisms,” he added.
Melkonyan noted that the 11 Turkish parliament members, who backed the resolution, now face persecution by the Turkish authorities.
But he agreed that the fact is of cornerstone importance in the context of the international recognition campaign.

“What’s more important for me is the step which is to come next. Hence it is now time to bring them to light as evidence of a true happening and a tool to further reinforce the factual bases of the Armenian Genocide,” Melkonyan added.