Political Changes in Armenia and Significant Diaspora Events
The United States has announced that Russia has "turned its back" on Armenia. Washington is now trying to take steps to reduce Armenia's dependence on Russia. According to U.S. officials, this is necessary to strengthen Armenia's sovereignty in the region.
Parallel to these statements, Russia has already officially completed the withdrawal of its border guards from Yerevan's "Zvartnots" International Airport. Armenian authorities had demanded that Russian forces leave the airport months ago, and on Wednesday, that process was finally completed.
On the international stage, European Commission President Charles Michel has called on Yerevan and Baku to stop "playing games" and finalize the peace treaty. At the same time, the special representatives of Armenia and Turkey met and discussed the possibilities of restoring the railway connection, which could be an important step on the path to normalizing relations between the two countries.
The Artsakh issue also remains in the spotlight. The Human Rights Union of Nagorno-Karabakh has sent letters to the Pope and UNESCO, asking for help with the safe return of Artsakh Armenians and to protect Armenian cultural heritage. On the other hand, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has strictly criticized the Biden administration, noting that their policy has failed regarding the Artsakh issue.
An important event has taken place in cultural life in California. The Armenian American Museum presented the world premiere of the "Hope Rising" project. This program is dedicated to Armenian dance and music, aiming to present the rich Armenian culture to the Armenian-American community.
The words of 13-year-old Maral Melkonian have become a source of inspiration for the younger generation of activists. The lines she wrote back in 1996, "I stood up, I am ready to fight for Armenia," have today become a slogan for the new generation who want to be useful to the homeland.
Finally, we report sad community news. Beloved mother and sister Hasmik Kolanjian has passed away. We also inform you that the 40-day memorial service for Valentin Sarafian will take place on August 4 at the Holy Martyrs Church.