Fresno Armenians have mixed reactions after trilateral meeting in DC

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – President Donald Trump mediated a bid woody betwixt Armenia and Azerbaijan connected Aug. 8. The trilateral gathering received mixed reactions locally, including from Fresno State prof Barlow Der Mugrdechian.

He’s good known astatine Fresno State for moving and being the Berberian coordinator of the Armenian studies program. For the past fewer days, he’s been contemplating the caller statement signed betwixt Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“It's revolving astir opening what they assertion to beryllium these proscription links, opening up caller corridors oregon proscription links, and moving towards peace,” Der Mugrdechian said.

Armenia and Azerbaijan person been done aggregate wars against each different implicit the past 35 years.

“I don't deliberation there's anyone that would beryllium against a bid statement that is to person bid betwixt Azerbaijan and Armenia,” Der Mugrdechian said.

Although Der Mugrdechian welcomes a measurement towards peace, helium tells YourCentralValley.com he can’t spot Azerbaijan's leader.

“He's talked astir Armenia arsenic being, you know, portion of Western Azerbaijan, wherever determination are inactive governmental prisoners successful Azerbaijan,” Der Mugrdechian said.

It’s a feeling felt crossed the Armenian assemblage successful Fresno. Varoujan Der Simonian is the manager of the Armenian Heritage Museum, and helium says he's not convinced by the treaty.

“There is nary notation of Artsakh, there’s nary notation of 150,000 people, taste cleansing took spot conscionable nether 2 years ago. That was the halfway of the struggle betwixt Armenia and Azerbaijan,” Der Simonian said.

Der Simonian personally knows radical who are prisoners of warfare successful Azerbaijan. He said this statement doesn’t warrant their release.

“I person a representation with the erstwhile president of Artsakh who visited Fresno successful the 1990s. He’s successful situation close present successful Baku. That contented has not been raised,” Der Simonian said.

However, the Honorary Consulate of Armenia successful Fresno welcomes the bid treaty, mediated by the United States.

“I deliberation the top gratitude goes to President Donald Trump for starring the process and taking a enactment role,” Honorary Consulate of Armenia successful Fresno Berj K. Apkarian said.

Apkarian says the pathway to bid has to beryllium taken earlier it's excessively late.

“I deliberation we person to enactment affirmative and I deliberation we request to congratulate each parties progressive successful this. Yes, we could person hesitation oregon beryllium concerned, but I privation to enactment that aside,” Apkarian said.

He admits helium couldn’t ideate a bid pact betwixt the 2 nations conscionable a fewer years ago.

“Hope for the caller generation, not lone for the Armenians, but besides for the Azerbaijani young generation,” Apkarian said.

In the end, Der Mugrdechian says determination are inactive galore questions near unanswered by this deal.

“Peace volition not instrumentality spot without, according to the Azeri’s, the request for changes successful Armenia's constitution, important changes which I deliberation are going to beryllium besides a question which needs to beryllium afloat discussed successful Armenia,” Der Mugrdechian said.

Barlow tells maine the statement betwixt Armenia and Azerbaijan could beryllium worked into his program for the upcoming semester.