Wie #Aserbaidschan Stimmen von Abgeordneten gekauft haben soll: Champagner in Baku und Briefumschläge voller Geld. Von Claudia von Salzen @claudi https://t.co/KHtBta5Ohe via @Tagesspiegel
— Notes from Georgia/South Caucasus (Hälbig, Ralph) (@SouthCaucasus) January 31, 2024
Month: January 2024
Categories
The Region in Brief
Artsakh
A court in Baku has extended the detention of military-political leaders of Artsakh by an additional four months, following their initial four-month detention. These high-ranking officials, including former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, Major General David Manukyan, Speaker of the National Assembly and member of the ARF Bureau Davit Ishkhanyan and others, were unlawfully detained by Azerbaijan during the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh, facing charges tied to their affiliation with Artsakh.
Azerbaijan
During a visit to Baku on January 29, Hulusi Akar, chairman of Turkey’s Parliamentary Committee on National Defense and former Defense Minister, insisted that Armenia promptly accept Azerbaijan’s proposals for a peace agreement. “It should accept the hand of peace extended by Azerbaijan, otherwise it will suffer serious damages just like in the 2020 war,” Akar said. Akar also emphasized the enduring partnership between Azerbaijan and Turkey and their commitment to collaboration following the 2020 Artsakh War.
Georgia
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has announced his resignation. Pro-government Georgian media has indicated that Garibashvili will be replaced by Irakli Kobakhidze, chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, while Garibahsvili will take over Kobakhidze’s role as party chair. The announcement comes a month after Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder of Georgian Dream, became the party’s honorary chair and the party amended its charter to allow the honorary chair to approve prime ministerial candidates.
Meanwhile, Garibashvili has declared the formalization of a memorandum outlining a strategic partnership between Georgia and Armenia. Garibashvili emphasized the enduring nature of the bilateral friendship and collaboration, stating that the memorandum serves to codify and enhance existing relations across diverse domains. He highlighted the historically entrenched alliance and profound connections between the two nations, portraying their relationship as transcending mere geographical proximity, characterized by a deep and enduring friendship.
Turkey
Canada and Turkey have reportedly reached an agreement to resume the export of Canadian drone parts to Turkey. The deal is expected to be effective after Ankara completes the ratification of Sweden’s NATO bid. Turkey swiftly endorsed Sweden’s NATO membership this week after a 20-month delay. Turkey is anticipated to send the final documents to Washington soon, enabling Canada to lift the export controls imposed in 2020. Canada suspended technology sales to Turkey after it concluded that Azerbaijan used Canadian optical equipment attached to Turkish-made drones during the 2020 Artsakh War.
Author information
Hoory Minoyan
Hoory Minoyan was an active member of the Armenian community in Los Angeles until she moved to Armenia prior to the 44-day war. She graduated with a master’s in International Affairs from Boston University, where she was also the recipient of the William R. Keylor Travel Grant. The research and interviews she conducted while in Armenia later became the foundation of her Master’s thesis, “Shaping Identity Through Conflict: The Armenian Experience.” Hoory continues to follow her passion for research and writing by contributing to the Armenian Weekly.
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Juliette Ezgilioglu hiking with her fellow AYF interns last summer
My goals were crystal clear at the ripe age of 10 years old, as I sat in the mess hall of Camp Haiastan on lecture night. The AYF Internship Program and Camp Javakhk were my aspirations. Having been a part of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) growing up, I already envisioned how I would structure my summers—first as a camp counselor at Camp Haiastan followed by participation in Camp Javakhk and the AYF Internship. Of course, I would have to patiently wait almost 10 years to fulfill my dreams of participating in these AYF programs.
Juliette Ezgilioglu with her fellow AYF interns last summer
When I applied to the AYF Internship in early 2023, I not only had to persuade my parents to let me apply but also mentally prepare myself to handle any obstacles that might arise in the upcoming summer. The next step involved booking a flight to Zvartnots Airport in Yerevan. Little did I expect that I would have the best summer of my life. I knew this experience would be a lifelong story. It marked my second time in Armenia, without my safety net—my family. However, the friendships that blossomed during the summer allowed me to claim a new family with my fellow interns. Our director, sometimes called “mom,” Alex Avaneszadeh, not only shared insights from his own AYF internship but also helped and guided us through the uncertainties of the journey. There were a total of seven interns—six girls and one boy. Kira, Sanan, Areni, Sara, Araz, Chris and I spent our entire summer with one another in close quarters. I knew four out of the seven interns from childhood, Camp Haiastan and my local community. I had never met my roommate for the summer, Sara Kurkechian. I was excited and eager to meet her, and who would’ve thought she would become my new best friend! These girls and I have created so many memories, and our bond with one another will last a lifetime.
My daily routine over the summer included a pleasant 9:00 a.m. wake-up call, followed by arriving at the office of the marketing agency Closr, with an amazing view of the Vazgen Sargsyan Stadium and Mount Ararat. With open arms, they welcomed me into their work family, ensuring I felt comfortable asking questions and becoming part of their tight-knit bond. My favorite work day was when one of my supervisors invited me to a shoot for one of their clients. I was so excited to tag along and see what behind-the-scenes looked like. It really opened my mind to how much work goes into a shoot.
Along with the incredible work experience, I had the best excursions with outstanding tour guides. Did I imagine driving around multiple mountains, encountering sheep and goats blocking our road? Certainly not, but these memorable experiences were made possible by our skilled driver Gegham, whose driving powers could impress any F1 racer. He cared for us not only as passengers but as if we were his kids, sharing and teaching us multiple things, even at times with a language barrier, making his intentions clear that he was there to protect us.
Spending my summer in Armenia through the AYF Internship was an unparalleled experience that I will cherish forever. It provided an amazing opportunity to forge deep connections with my roots, cultivate lifelong friendships and create countless memories.
I wholeheartedly recommend the AYF internship to fellow young Armenians eager to deepen their connection to our homeland and heritage. Whether navigating the rapids of Lori, soaring over Ijevan or swimming in Lake Sevan, each experience fueled our pride and passion for our Armenian identity.
Author information
Juliette Ezgilioglu
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