| | CMEP Weekly Bulletin: Karabakh Armenians Say No Deal Yet With Azerbaijan on Security Guarantees A look at the crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, the visa waiver program, and more news in this week’s bulletin. CMEP’s Bulletin is a weekly round-up of news from the Middle East and represents an array of perspectives on the issues we cover. CMEP does not necessarily agree with all the views expressed in the articles, and they do not speak on CMEP’s behalf. | | | |  | Image: An elderly woman refugee looks on and holds a blanket, with the Karabakh mountains in the background, at the Armenian Red Cross centre near Kornidzor on Sept. 27, 2023. (Alain Jocard/AFP via Getty Images) | | | Over 50,000 Armenians flee enclave in Azerbaijan as exodus accelerates ABC News “About 50,000 ethnic Armenians have now fled the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, according to local officials, as the exodus triggered by Azerbaijan's takeover of the region appeared to accelerate, with fears its entire population may leave. More than a third of the population have now left, with nearly 12,000 people leaving overnight, and thousands more continuing to arrive into Armenia on Wednesday (Sep. 27) morning, in what Armenia's government has called the ‘ethnic cleansing’ of the enclave.” | | | | | |  | Image: Refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh region ride in the back of a truck as they arrive in the border village of Kornidzor, Armenia, September 26, 2023. (Reuters/Irakli Gedenidze) | | | Azerbaijan arrests former top Karabakh official as Armenian exodus grows Reuters “A former head of the breakaway ethnic Armenian government in Nagorno-Karabakh was arrested by Azerbaijan on Wednesday (Sep. 27) as he tried to escape into Armenia as part of an exodus of tens of thousands of people that has triggered a humanitarian crisis. Ruben Vardanyan, a billionaire banker and philanthropist, headed Karabakh's separatist government between November 2022 and February 2023.” | | | | | |  | Image: Footage showed flaming chunks falling from the ceiling. (From Social Media) | | | Iraq fire: At least 100 killed in blaze at wedding party in Qaraqosh BBC “At least 100 people have died and 150 others are injured after a fire broke out during a wedding in Iraq's biggest Christian town. Hundreds were celebrating in a banqueting hall in Qaraqosh in Nineveh province when it happened. It is not known what started the fire but some reports suggest fireworks set it off.” | | | | | | | | | | | |  | Armenia at War: the Survival of the Church in the Oldest Christian State: We have one more session in our mini-course about Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Join us for our final session on October 4th at 12:30 pm - 1:00 pm Eastern for a prayer gathering, including Christian ministries in Armenia, and the opportunity to pray together for an end to the ongoing war and the sustainability of the church in the region. | | | | |  | Meet Assyrian Christians with the Assyrian Aid Society: Learn about the Indigenous Assyrians and one of the earliest Christians from Mesopotamia from our friends at the Assyrian Aid Society. CMEP's Senior Director of Advocacy and Government Relations, Kyle Cristofalo, will be joined by Karmella Borashan, Outreach Director at the Assyrian Aid Society of America, and Younan Markhail, Head of the Assyrian Aid Society-Iraq. Hear about the Assyrians' struggle for survival and the people working to elevate the voices of the Christians still living in the region by joining us via Zoom on October 26th, at 1-2pm Eastern (9-10am Pacific) for this hour-long informative webinar. | | | | | | | | | | | | Support CMEP We believe that peace is possible, and we know that you do too. Donate today to help achieve our shared vision! | | | | | | | | | |  | Image: Vehicles pass under a billboard supporting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi for the coming presidential elections (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) | | | Egyptian rights group says 73 supporters of a presidential challenger have been arrested AP News “Egyptian authorities have detained at least 73 campaign volunteers for a challenger to incumbent President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi in the December election, a rights group said Tuesday (Sep. 26). The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights said the detainees were volunteers working for presidential hopeful and critic Ahmed Altantawy.” | | | | | |  | Image: Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) speaks during a press conference at Hudson County Community College’s North Hudson Campus, Union City, New Jersey, Sept. 25, 2023. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) | | | US military aid to Egypt under scrutiny amid Menendez bribery charges Al-Monitor “US military assistance to Egypt is facing increased scrutiny following allegations that Sen. Bob Menendez used his influence in Congress to secretly aid the government of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Human rights groups say the charges against Menendez, if true, have tainted aid dollars approved by the administration earlier this month.” | | | | | |  | Image: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in January. (Ronaldo Schemdit/AFP via Getty Images) | | | In win for Bibi, U.S. allows Israel to join visa waiver program Axios “Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas has decided to allow Israel to join the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, according to U.S. officials who briefed reporters. Why it matters: The Biden administration's decision is a significant upgrade in relations between the U.S. and Israel, which has been trying to join the program for years.” | | | | | |  | Image: A view of damaged buildings after an IDF raid on the Nur Shams Refugee Camp near Tulkarem, West Bank on September 24. (Issam Rimawi/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) | | | Two Palestinian men killed during Israeli incursion in camp near Tulkarem CNN “Two Palestinian men were killed in the early hours of Sunday (Sep 24) during an incursion by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the Nur Shams refugee camp near Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials said. Palestinian officials named them as Aseed Farhan Abu Ali, 21, and Abd al-Rahman Suleiman Abu Daghash, 32. The Palestinian Ministry of Health said both died after being shot in the head.” | | | | | | CMEP is seeking a Development Intern to support the Development Portfolio of CMEP, including conducting funder research, contacting donors, administrative support for grants, maintaining our donor database, producing data reports, meeting project-based needs as they arise, and offering day-to-day administrative support. | | | | | | | | | | CMEP's Bulletin is a weekly round-up of news from the Middle East and represents an array of perspectives on the issues we cover. CMEP does not necessarily agree with all the views expressed in the articles, and they do not speak on CMEP's behalf. | | | | Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)
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(202) 543-1222 | info@cmep.org | | Please note our offices have changed locations to 110 Maryland Ave NE #505 | | | | | | | | | |
