AYF Hires New Executive Director

The AYF Western Region announced today that Stepan Keshishian will serve as its newly hired Executive Director (ED). Keshishian is a long-time AYF leader and activist who recently relocated to Los Angeles from Boston, MA.

“I am very excited and honored to serve as the new AYF Executive Director,” stated Keshishian. “I am wholeheartedly dedicated to advancing the mission of the organization and sincerely believe that the AYF enables our youth to emerge as strong leaders, and to bring a positive change to the world around them.”

Among other duties, the new ED will be responsible for carrying out various strategic operations of the AYF and planning long-term projects in the region. The position is also tasked with collecting relevant statistical data, coordinating ARF youth related activities in the Western US, and strengthening AYF activism through outreach and advisory assistance.

“I couldn’t think of a better qualified person to take over this important position,” said Serouj Aprahamian, the outgoing AYF Executive Director who served in the position for the last three years. “I’m very confident that Unger Stepan will build on the achievements of the past and help advance the magnitude of the AYF’s work even further in the future.”

Keshishian has long been an active member of the AYF Eastern Region, having served on the ER Central Executive, the Greater Boston “Njdeh” Executive, and as chairperson of the PR Central Council. He also served as Coordinator of the AYF Internship in Armenia during 2012, where his efforts led to a tremendous growth in volunteers and publicity.

Within the Greater Boston Armenian community, Keshishian has been involved in various activities, including the ANCA 5th Annual Regional Banquet, the Boston Kermesse, and as Co-Editor of The Armenian Weekly’s Youth Page. He is also a two-time AYF Youth Corps alumnus, through which he has met and developed strong relationships with many western region AYF members.

Aprahamian is currently orientating and training Keshishian in various aspects of the position to ensure a seamless transition for the new ED.

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

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AYF Concludes Convention, Sets New Priorities

On the weekend of September 14-16, over 50 Armenian Youth Federation delegates representing fourteen chapters from across the western United States convened at AYF Camp Big Pines for the organization’s annual three day conference in order to set the goals and direction for the upcoming fiscal year.

“The AYF Annual Convention is an opportunity for delegates from across California, Arizona and Texas to come together and deliberate the critical issues facing our local communities, our people and our homeland,” said Tro Krikorian one of the co-chairs elected to run the meeting. ‘The discussions that took place this weekend reiterated the important role we play as Armenian-American youth within our own communities and set the direction and agenda for our upcoming fiscal year.”

During the course of the convention, delegates evaluated and expanded the organization’s ongoing programs and initiatives, such as the AYF Youth Corps program, Haytoug Magazine and the With Our Soldiers Campaign, a year-long effort to raise money to assist the medical needs of injured veterans of the Artsakh war. Delegates also assessed and engaged in critical discussions about the state of the AYF, the importance of enhancing community activism and developed innovative recommendations about strengthening the organization’s presence in the homeland.

Additionally, the Convention set aside special agenda items to discuss the developments and solutions surrounding the crisis of Armenians in Syria, as well as the fast-approaching 100th commemoratory year of the Armenian Genocide. The meeting came to the agreement that the AYF will put immediate priority on doing everything in its power to partner with its sister organizations in raising monetary efforts and public awareness about the detrimental situation facing the Syrian Armenian community today.

Joining the delegates were invited guests and representatives from the AYF Juniors Central Council, the AYF Camp Management Board, the ARF Youth Board and select ARF Executive members. The AYF Executive Director Serouj Aprahamian, and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Western Region Central Committee representative Shant Baboujian also attended the meeting.

The Convention concluded with the election of the organization’s new Central Executive. This year’s body will consist of seven members from across California, whose function is to govern the administrative and organizational aspects of the AYF.

The regional administrative body will consist of the following elected members; Chairperson Avo Shanlian, Secretary Verginie Touloumian, Treasurer Tamar Sadorian, and Advisors Aleena Sivazlian, Carina Khanjian, Levon Abrahamian and Raffi Senekeremian.

This seven-person team looks forward to setting in motion the course for the 2012-2013 fiscal year outlined by the Convention and effectively combat the critical issues faces the community and the homeland.

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

 

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Over 1,000 Attend Protest Against Safarov Release and Pardon

BY GAIANEH AVANESSIAN

The international wave of protests reached Los Angeles on Thursday September 6 as 1,500 community members—mostly youth—gathered in front of the building housing both the Hungarian and Azeri Consulates to demand justice for slain Armenian soldier Gurgen Margaryan.

Margaryan was brutally murdered by Ramil Safarov in Hungary in 2004. Convicted of his crime, Safarov was expected to serve a life sentence in Hungary, however, was extradited to Azerbaijan where he was immediately pardoned by the Azeri government. Upon returning to Azerbaijan, Safarov has been treated as a national hero, causing fury in the international Armenian community. The Republic of Armenia has suspended diplomatic relations with Hungary. The United States has expressed “deep concern” over the matter, and has requested Hungary provide its reasons for extraditing Safarov. All across the globe Armenians are joining forces and protesting this immoral act.

The protest was a collaboration between the Armenian Youth Federation, Unified Young Armenians, ARF Shant Student Association, All-Armenian Student Associations, and SDHP Gaidz Youth, all of whom accepted the task of organizing a large demonstration on such short notice.

Los Angeles Councilmember Paul Krekorian gave the keynote speech saying “By pardoning Safarov, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev has once more demonstrated to the world his devotion to intolerance, hate and division, not peace and understanding. By providing Safarov a hero’s welcome in Baku, and promoting his military rank, Mr. Aliyev and his government have sent a clear and despicable message to the country’s population and to the international community: in Azerbaijan, the murder of Armenians is not only tolerated, it is encouraged, celebrated and rewarded.”

After his speech, Councilmember Krekorian along with the chairpersons of the AYF and UYA attempted to deliver a letter written by the organizing committee to the Consul Generals of Hungary and Azerbaijan, but were denied entry. Security would even refuse to allow images and videos to be taken of the scene in front of the door. Subsequently, Krekorian read the letter aloud to the crowd, communicating the outrage felt by the Armenian community, and outlining it’s demands. “We, the undersigned organizations condemn these actions of both the Government of Hungary and the corrupt regime in Baku. We urge the international community to join us in demanding an apology from the Hungarian Government and asking for the rescission of their immoral decision on extradition. From the Azeri Government, we demand a reversal of the pardon and an immediate imprisonment of Ramil Safarov.”

The protesters ranged in age from a baby in his mother’s arm holding a sign saying “I am Gurgen,” to the elderly, who despite the heat, traveled to the Consulate to ensure that their anger for the Hungarian and Azerbaijani governments was expressed. Five veterans of the Artsakh War were also in attendance. Marching and chanting in unison, the protestors demanded justice be delivered. One of the phrases being repeated was “Safarov’s pardon was a bargain,” referring to the three and a half billion dollar loan Azerbaijan granted Hungary just before Safarov’s extradition.

Aroutiun Aroutiunyan, chairperson of the UYA, echoed those sentiments in his speech delivered in English noting the immoral nature of Hungary’s actions. However, he also emphasized the relentless spirit of the Armenian people who continue to fight for Genocide recognition and the recognition of the Republic of Artsakh.

Chairperson of AYF, David Arakelyan, delivered a poignant speech in Armenian saying “we are here today to tell the world that the Armenian Nation will not tolerate this kind of treatment and that we stand behind Artsakh and stand behind the heroic people who fought for its liberation.”

“As repentance, Hungary must recognize Karabakh’s independence. By doing that we can say that Budapest was not an accomplice to Azerbaijan’s criminal behavior,” adaded Arakelyan.

As tensions rise between Armenia and the governments of Azerbaijan and Hungary, the fight for a free, independent, and united Armenia carries on.

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Armenian Youth Organizations Demand Justice for Slain Soldier

Protest Against Azeri and Hungarian Consulates in Los Angeles Scheduled for September 6

A number of community youth organizations, including the Armenian Youth Federation, the Unified Young Armenians, the SDHP Gaidz Youth Organization, the All-ASA and the ARF Shant Student Association have joined forces to protest against the extradition and pardon of an Azerbaijani soldier responsible for brutally murdering an Armenian military officer 8 years ago during NATO military exercises in Hungary. The protest will take place on Thursday, September 6th at 3 PM at the Azerbaijani and Hungarian Consulates – both located at 11766 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 410, Los Angeles, California 90025.

You can join the event on Facebook by clicking here.

Below is the official statement released by the organizing committee regarding the issue:

We, the undersigned organizations, express our outrage with the immoral and irresponsible decision of the Hungarian Government to extradite a cold-blooded murderer, Ramil Safarov, responsible for the axing of an Armenian Army lieutenant, Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest on February 19, 2004 during the Partnership for Peace NATO Conference.  We strongly condemn the hate-driven actions of the Azeri Government, which not only pardoned this criminal but also gave him a hero’s welcome.

In 2006, the Hungarian court found Safarov guilty of murdering Lt. Margaryan and sentenced him to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.  His release, justified by the Hungarian Government by references to the 1983 Strasbourg Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, has allowed the murderer to escape just punishment and instead be treated as a national hero inAzerbaijan.

Officials in Budapest could not have been unaware of the fact that the above mentioned Convention contains a clause which allows the receiving country to issue pardons to transferred prisoners. Given the circumstances, it becomes obvious that the Hungarian Government has chosen to disregard morality and justice in exchange for Azeri petrodollars and the friendly disposition of the corrupt Aliyev regime.

This decision is even more deplorable due to the fact that despite the assurances from Azerbaijan that Safarov’s sentence would not be commuted, the brutal criminal was immediately pardoned by President Aliyev and was greeted as a national hero upon his return to Baku.  Once again, we have witnessed the lionization of those who preach hatred towards Armenians, which is consistent with the antagonistic and xenophobic policies of the Government of Azerbaijan.

We condemn these actions of both the Government of Hungary and the corrupt regime in Baku.  We urge the international community to join us in demanding an apology from the Hungarian Government and asking for the rescission of their immoral decision on extradition.  From the Azeri Government, we demand a reversal of the pardon and an immediate imprisonment of Ramil Safarov.  We call upon theSouthern California community and especially Armenian Americans to join us in expressing our anger and demanding justice by participating in a protest in front of the Azeri and Hungarian Consulates in Los Angeles (11766 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90025) on Thursday, September 6th at 3PM.

Armenian Youth Federation

Unified Young Armenians

SDHP Gaidz Youth Organization

The All-ASA

ARF Shant Student Association

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AYF Demands Justice for Slain Soldier

Protest Against Azeri and Hungarian Consulates in Los Angeles Scheduled for September 6

The Armenian Youth Federation will protest against the extradition and pardoning of an Azerbaijani soldier responsible for brutally murdering an Armenian military officer 8 years ago during NATO military exercises in Hungary. The protest will take place on Thursday, September 6th at 3PM at the Azerbaijani and Hungarian Consulates–both located at 11766 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 410, Los Angeles, California 90025. You can join the event on Facebook by clicking here.

Below is the official statement released by the AYF regarding the issue:

The Armenian Youth Federation, Western Region expresses its outrage with the immoral and irresponsible decision of the Hungarian Government to extradite a cold-blooded murderer, Ramil Safarov, responsible for the axing of an Armenian Army lieutenant, Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest on February 19, 2004. We strongly condemn the hate-driven actions of the Azeri Government, which not only pardoned this criminal but also gave him a hero’s welcome.

In 2006, the Hungarian court found Safarov guilty of murdering Lt. Margaryan and sentenced him to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. His immediate release, justified by the Hungarian Government by references to the 1983 Strasbourg Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, has allowed the murderer to escape just punishment and instead be treated as a national hero in Azerbaijan.

Officials in Budapest could not have been unaware of the fact that the above mentioned Convention contains a clause which allows the receiving country to issue pardons to transferred prisoners. Given the circumstances, it becomes obvious that the Hungarian Government has chosen to disregard morality and justice in exchange for Azeri petrodollars and the friendly disposition of the corrupt regime in Baku.

This decision is even more deplorable due to the fact that despite the assurances from Azerbaijan that Safarov’s sentence would not be commuted, the brutal criminal was immediately pardoned by President Ilham Aliyev and was greeted as a national hero upon his return to Baku. Once again, we witnessed the lionization of those who preach hatred towards Armenians by the Azeri society, which is consistent with the antagonistic and xenophobic policies of the Government of Azerbaijan.

We condemn these actions of both the Government of Hungary and the corrupt regime in Baku. We demand an apology from the Hungarian Government and ask for the rescission of their immoral decision on extradition. From the Azeri Government, we demand a reversal of the pardon and an immediate imprisonment of Ramil Safarov. We call upon the Armenian community of Southern California to join us in expressing our anger and demanding justice by participating in a protest in front of the Azeri and Hungarian Consulates in Los Angeles (11766 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90025) on Thursday, September 6th at 3PM.

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