Armenian Chess Federation Charts New Course for National and Regional Development

feb 27 2024
Momen Zellmi

In the heart of Yerevan, at the Chess Academy of Armenia, a pivotal meeting convened, drawing together the minds and spirits that shape the future of chess in the nation. Under the auspices of the Armenian Chess Federation, key figures including the Third Armenian President and President of the Armenian Chess Federation, Serzh Sargsyan, alongside Vice-President Smbat Lputian, Executive Director Armen Gevorgyan, and the chairs of regional federations, gathered to deliberate on the strategic direction for chess development. This assembly wasn't just another meeting; it was a beacon of hope and ambition for chess enthusiasts across Armenia and beyond.

The conference underscored a collective resolve to foster chess from grassroots to grandmaster levels. Highlighting the meeting was a comprehensive discussion on nurturing young talent and bolstering chess infrastructure across Armenia. The significance of such an initiative cannot be understated in a country where chess is not merely a game but a celebrated aspect of cultural heritage and intellectual prowess. The federation's commitment to enhancing the quality of chess education and increasing accessibility for young aspirants signals a promising horizon for the sport in Armenia.

Central to the discussions were the roles of regional federations in the chess ecosystem. These entities are pivotal in identifying and nurturing talent at the local level, serving as the foundation upon which the national structure rests. The conference provided a platform for these regional leaders to voice their insights, challenges, and aspirations, fostering a collaborative environment aimed at strengthening the sport's regional footprint. This approach ensures that the development of chess in Armenia is not confined to urban centers but is a nationwide endeavor.

Beyond the competitive aspect, the Armenian Chess Federation seeks to imbue a deeper appreciation for chess across all segments of society. By promoting chess as a tool for cognitive development and a means of cultural _expression_, the federation aims to elevate the sport to new heights. This holistic approach to chess development, emphasizing both competitive success and societal impact, is indicative of the federation's vision for the future of chess in Armenia.

The conference at the Chess Academy of Armenia was more than just a meeting of minds; it was a testament to the enduring spirit of chess in the nation. With a clear strategy and a unified front, the Armenian Chess Federation is poised to usher in a golden era for chess in Armenia, enriching the lives of countless individuals and securing the game's legacy for generations to come.

The threat of force is not the way to move forward and it will carry consequences: Stano reacts to Azerbaijani shooting

 12:22,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The European Commission’s lead spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy Peter Stano has said that the European Union supports a sustainable and lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, so the efforts towards the normalization of relations between the two countries need to continue faster

In an interview with Armenpress Brussels correspondent, Peter Stano also spoke about the potential EU response to the Azerbaijani aggression against Armenia, imposing sanctions on Baku, the EU mission in Armenia, etc.

Armenpress: Recently, Azerbaijani troops, deployed on the sovereign territory of Armenia launched another unprovoked attack against Armenia, killing 4 soldiers and bragging about it.  The EU High representative warned about severe consequences for Azerbaijan if it continues aggressive actions. What will be your actions now?

Stano: We are of course, condemning every loss of life wherever it happens under whatever circumstances this happens. But this repeated, unfortunately repeated incident only underlined yet again the need for, of course, distancing the forces and putting much more efforts into measures and activities that prevent such incidents from occurring because they don't bring anything positive. They are just contributing to the atmosphere of tension, distrust and adding one more tragedy upon another tragedy. So, this illustrates really the urgent need for the distancing of the forces – this is something the EU has been advocating for a very long time. We are supporting a sustainable and lasting peace, so the efforts in terms of normalization between Armenia and Azerbaijan need to continue faster and this reminds us how important it is to continue this process because without the normalization there is a risk that such incidents will be repeated again and again and again. And as I said, this only worsens the overall atmosphere. So, it's really important to show restraint on the one hand, and distance the forces on the other hand, and then continuing the overall political efforts to advance the normalization talks. 

Armenpress: What will be the concrete actions of the EU? Because the Azerbaijani forces, by the way, opened fire from the occupied positions in the sovereign territory of Armenia. You always underline diplomacy, talks etc., but these are not tools that will stop Aliyev and the incidents continue as you said. So, I repeat my first question, what kind of actions will the EU take, because the sovereign territory of Armenia is in danger?

Stano: First of all, the EU is not an actor, is not an involved party in this problem. This is in essence a bilateral problem and a problem of course of international law and the respect for international law. We always say that territorial integrity and sovereignty of countries need to be respected, and whenever there are disputes about that, they need to be solved around the negotiating table. So, we, as a third party and not direct party participant or direct side involved in this issue, we can only work with partners and encourage them to follow exactly these steps. That means solving all open issues around the negotiating table and that's why we got involved in the support of the normalization process with President [of the European Council Charles] Michel, with our Special Representative Toivo Klaar, who is conducting a lot of activities and supporting the efforts of President Michel and High Representative [of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep] Borrell, so that we really encourage both sides to continue this process, solve together and solve all the issues, not through shooting, but through discussing at the negotiating table. 

Armenpress: During the joint press conference Mr. Borrell announced that the EU-Armenia relations are at the highest level. If the relations are at the highest level, as the High Representative states, then why does the EU not take practical steps to hold Azerbaijan responsible? In particular, we are talking about sanctions.

Stano: High Representative Borrell really said that relations between EU and Armenia are at their best point, at the highest level currently, and we are determined to continue working on deepening and strengthening them. That's why we agreed two weeks ago in Brussels to launch work on the new partnership agreement or new partnership agenda with Armenia to explore the whole potential of our cooperation even more than what we are doing for Armenia already now. There is a very multifaceted support to Armenia with practical issues on the side of economy, social development through the economic investment plan, through humanitarian assistance, for example, for people who had to flee from Nagorno Karabakh, we are working on strengthening the resilience of Armenia, the resilience of its economy, through the EIP, the Economic Investment Plan, but also through other means, and we already said last year that we are going also to explore the possibilities to strengthen the defence capabilities of Armenia, of course through non-lethal means and non-lethal instruments. But this is something that is on the table. We are also including or we will be including the area of security and defence into our discussions and cooperation in this new partnership agenda, so there are practical steps in order to help Armenia to be stronger, to be more resilient to whatever problems there are in terms of threats to its safety and at the same time we will continue to engage also with Azerbaijan, trying to convey very strongly the message that unilateral actions like threat of force, threat of using force and violations of international law are not the way to move forward because it will carry consequences, but again, we are at a stage of our relations with Azerbaijan, that instead of threats, we still prefer engagement. But if the situation continues to develop in a negative direction, then the Member States will need to see and decide or review the situation and see what other tools we could use. But for us right now, because we are a political community that believes in peaceful resolution of problems, for us right now, the best means to solve the issue also between Armenia and Azerbaijan is to continue engaging with both sides, of course. 

Armenpress: What is the must have condition to apply sanctions against Azerbaijan? What is the red line of the EU and when will you say enough is enough?

Stano: I should maybe clarify one thing very, very clearly. The EU sanctions in general, they are not a magic solution to all the problems. Sanctions are always used in connection with other tools we are using, so they are not the instrument. They are one of the instruments. We are using and usually we start using sanctions when all the other instruments have failed to bring the desired objectives. 

Armenpress: Sorry to interrupt, but don’t you think that sanctions could help to stop Aliyev and he will think twice before attacking Armenia?

Stano: Well, we still believe that no one will attack Armenia, that all the threats or all the challenges Armenia is perceiving right now will be removed exactly in the process of engagement. But the European Union was also very clear, should there be any kind of violation of Armenian territorial integrity and sovereignty, then we would react, but again, we cannot really focus only on sanctions as the only magic wand that solves everything, including using them as a potential. Because if you look at the history or track record of the European Union in using sanctions, then it's usually the last resort that we are making use of when it comes to the current issue or when it comes to sanctions in general. One cannot forget the principle of adopting sanctions, this is an instrument in the hands of the Member States who first need to sit together and decide - yes, we are going to use it and this decision needs to be made by unanimity of all 27. So, unless you have all 27 Member States on board, you cannot talk about the sanctions. But again, this is not a magic solution. It's a supporting measure in combination with other instruments the European Union has always preference for to use them to solve the issues and remove threats or challenges. 

Armenpress: The EU has expanded its civilian monitoring mission in Armenia and at the same time the Azerbaijani MFA invited the EU ambassador to the Ministry and expressed concern that the EU observation mission in Armenia is allegedly busy spreading anti-Azerbaijani propaganda instead of building trust. What is your reaction to this position?

Stano: The European Union decided to launch its mission in Armenia based on the request from Armenia, and we deployed this mission on the territory of Armenia, so this mission is something between the EU and Armenia and the baseless allegations and continued baseless, unjustified criticism directed towards our mission from Azerbaijan is really, I mean it's first of all, it's totally baseless and it's really regrettable. One part or one of the ambitions of the mission was also to engage with Azerbaijan in confidence building measures, and this offer stands. So, we are repeating on every occasion the offer to Azerbaijan to engage with our mission because it will bring only benefits. This is a civilian unarmed mission that is deployed on the sovereign Armenian territory with the task to observe what is going on and to report and to reassure Armenians that, I mean there is a EU partner that is watching over their safety and security. This is not a mission directed against anyone. The mission intends to enhance stability and hopefully also eventually contribute to confidence building, so our offer to engage with Azerbaijan stands, but at the same time very decisively we are rejecting all the baseless allegations and criticism against this mission. 

Armenpress: European Council president Charles Michel’s congratulations to Aliyev and the EEAS’s statement concerning the elections in Azerbaijan isn’t a good example of European common policy. Some experts outline differences between these two approaches? What is your explanation?

Stano: The European Union has one policy, speaks with one voice. What you just described are two different aspects or perspectives of one issue. It is a habit for the European Union to congratulate the people who are being elected or reelected to their positions, either at the level of Prime Minister or the head of State, so it's done at the appropriate level. So, Charles Michel, when the President of the European Council speaks to his partners, he speaks to the President and Prime Minister. So, the President had the feeling that he needs to congratulate President Aliyev for being reelected, he did so. It does not prevent us to listen to the concerns raised by the EU observation mission on the ground, which underlined irregularities in the election process. If you read the assessment very carefully, the report is not questioning the legitimacy of the elections or the election of Mr. Aliev, the mission is pointing out to all the irregularities and problems and making recommendations for the future so that in the future, upcoming elections are then conducted with much better adherence to international standards. So, these are two phases of the same issue, but taken from different perspectives. Our role as the diplomatic service of the European Union is to focus on these processes, to focus on what needs to be improved. We are discussing this with Azerbaijan. We have an ongoing dialogue, in a few weeks’ time we will have a political meeting at the highest level within the framework of cooperation. So, we are raising these issues. We are discussing these issues. I think the final report from the elections, it's still not out. It was a preliminary report and the final report is usually published after a few weeks or few months and then we will be of course taking this conclusion very, very seriously and we will be engaging with Azerbaijan to make sure that we expect them to fulfill all the recommendations. 

Armenpress: EU Ambassador to Armenia Vasilis Maragos announced that Josep Borel is planning to visit Armenia. Are there specific dates of the visit and what is the purpose of the visit?

Stano: The High Representative, of course, is keen and committed to visiting all our partner countries, especially those partners who show the interest to deepen and strengthen their cooperation with the European Union. On the other hand, the High Representative is in charge of EU’s foreign and security policy and these policies are facing huge challenges nowadays, which require him to be in many places at many events almost at the same time. So, of course it always comes down to the agenda. We are working on a possible date. We have nothing to announce at this stage, but we hope that it will be possible that he visits Armenia very soon, exactly to bring the messages of European commitment and the willingness to broaden and deepen the cooperation with Armenia. 

Lilit Gasparyan




Ararat Mirzoyan, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights discuss the latest developments in the South Caucasus

 20:41,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26, ARMENPRESS.  On February 26, in Geneva, on the sidelines of the high-level session of the UN Human Rights Council, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, the foreign ministry said.

The interlocutors discussed a number of issues on cooperation within the framework of the UN Human Rights system.

The steps and achievements taken towards the protection of human rights and strengthening the rule of law in Armenia were touched upon, thanks to which Armenia, according to the indexes of various authoritative international bodies, rose to leading positions in the region.

Touching upon the challenges in protection of human rights in different parts of the world, the importance of effective use of existing tools was emphasized, since the opposite leads to failure in preventing the most serious violations and the repetition of tragic outcomes.

Touching upon the ethnic cleansing carried out by Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh, Minister Mirzoyan briefed his counterpart on the steps taken to address the needs and rights of the Armenian population forcibly displaced from their homeland.

During the meeting, Ararat Mirzoyan and Volker Türk also exchanged views on the latest developments in the South Caucasus. Minister Mirzoyan briefed on the approaches of Armenia to key issues in the normalization process of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, based on unequivocal respect for the principles of territorial integrity, inviolability of borders, and sovereignty. Minister Mirzoyan stressed that with a clear commitment to these principles, as well as refraining from aggressive rhetoric and from steps aimed at escalating the situation on the ground, it will be possible to move forward in the peace process.

Indian migrants reshape Armenia’s labor market

eurasianet
Feb 21 2024
Arshaluis Mgdesyan Feb 21, 2024

Armenia's capital Yerevan has seen surging numbers of labor migrants from India over the past year and a half. 

This as the city's demography and economy have already been reshaped by the influx of Russians fleeing the consequences of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

It's a novel and ironic situation for a traditionally ethnically homogenous country whose economy relies to a large extent on its own citizens going abroad as labor migrants. 

Armenia began to attract labor migrants from India in 2018, when its economy began demonstrating dynamic growth and local businesses began to have trouble finding workers. The economy needed cheap labor. 

Thousands of Indians in Armenia's economy

The number of Indians in Armenia, whose population is just under three million, has grown steadily since then. In 2018 there were a few thousand Indian citizens residing in the country but now that figure is between 20,000 and 30,000, then-Economy Minister Vahan Kerobyan reported last November. 

The figures of the State Statistics Committee (Armstat) differ slightly. Armstat says that in 2023 a total of 54,582 Indian citizens entered the country, of whom 34,687 are considered "tourists." That's considerable growth over the numbers for 2022, when 21,591 Indians entered Armenia, 18,194 of them "tourists." 

But the tourist designation has little meaning and it's hard to distinguish between tourists and labor migrants, largely because many of the latter group never register to seek residency or the formal right to work. In fact, the number of Indian citizens granted residency between 2018 and 2023 has not changed sharply, ranging between one and two thousand annually.

Economists say all this makes it clear that most Indians in Armenia are engaged in the shadow economy.

The former economy minister effectively acknowledged this reality in his remarks last November, noting that tourist flows from India are actually not that high.

Two factors attracting Indian migrants to Armenia

Indians, like other labor migrants, migrate with one goal in mind – to find work and send money back home to their families. Armenia's rapid economic growth in the past few years has made it an attractive destination. 

Over the past few years, Armenia's GDP per capita has nearly doubled in dollar terms. According to the International Monetary Fund, that indicator rose from just over $4,200 in 2018 to over $8,200 in 2023. It's now the highest GDP per capita among the South Caucasus countries. India's GDP per capita, meanwhile, is around $2,800. 

Armenian economist Armen Ktoyan believes that the influx of Indian migrants to Armenia has two main causes: higher wages than back home and the strengthening of the national currency, the dram, in relation to the dollar over the past year and a half. 

"It's precisely these factors that have triggered the influx of labor migrants from India, and this is important in terms of stimulating economic growth. Businesses in spheres such as construction, agriculture and services hire them and save money by doing so. And this in turn lowers the cost price of their products," Ktoyan told Eurasianet. 

Many labor migrants from India are willing to do low-skilled jobs in Armenia due in part to their lack of knowledge of the state language. 

"The delivery sphere suits best. You don't need to know Armenian to work as a courier. You have the delivery address, you make the delivery, and that's it," 27-year-old Suraj, from India, told Eurasianet. 

Suraj has been working as a courier in Armenia for several months. Like hundreds of other Indian citizens, he came to Armenia to make money. He lives together with friends in a rented apartment on the outskirts of Yerevan. So far, he's content with his work. He makes enough to live in Armenia and send $150-200 home each month. 

"I've got everything strictly budgeted. I spend about $120 a month on food in Yerevan, I pay a little less than that in rent, I pay about $200 per month to rent the motorcycle I use for the deliveries. And the rest I send home to my family," Suraj said, adding that this sum is enough to cover living expenses for his five-member family in India for a month. 

Some Indians have stayed longer, gained some grasp of the language and are able to find more profitable work, such as driving a taxi. 

Thirty-four-year-old Ajit has lived in Armenia for two years. He says he came to work in construction. He worked in this field for a few months, building high-rise apartment buildings, then he and some friends did farm work, then he decided to drive a taxi. 

"I was learning Armenian in parallel. I learned the rules of the road and ultimately I was able to work as a taxi driver," said Ajit, who came to Armenia in the footsteps of his cousin, who had come and was able to send money home. 

Indians change the labor market

The sudden appearance of large numbers of Indian workers has changed the Armenian labor market, eliciting mixed reactions from locals. Some worry that Indians are taking their jobs because they're willing to work for less. Others, particularly members of the business community, are distinctly positive. 

"I wouldn't say that the Indians are taking jobs away from locals. As a rule, they work in fields where there is not enough labor. I hire Indians not because I want to pay them less. Sometimes I pay them more than locals since they're good workers. They don't ask many questions, they work, they don't laze about," a local businessman producing canned goods and non-alcoholic drinks told Eurasianet. 

The businessman, who requested anonymity, added that the Indian migrants are creating "healthy competition" on the market. "It's becoming clear to local workers that businesses have an alternative, and this spurs them to be more productive," he said. 

The influx of migrants to Armenia is taking place against a backdrop of strengthening relations between Yerevan and New Delhi. 

According to Indian media reports - which have not been refuted by Armenian officials – in the past year and a half Armenia has signed contracts with India on the purchase of hundreds of millions of dollars of weapons, becoming, according to Armenian officials, the biggest buyer of Indian military hardware in the world.

These growing strategic ties have given India the image of a friendly country in the eyes of Armenian society. For the most part, this positive feeling is extended to the Indian migrants themselves, though there have been occasional manifestations of xenophobic aggression. 

"Indians as labor migrants is a new phenomenon for Armenia. Twenty or thirty thousand people is a large number for our country, so it's been hard for some people in Armenia to comprehend what's going on. People are adapting to each other and in this process there might be some misunderstanding, incomprehension. But I don't see any discrimination against Indians in Armenia, let alone discrimination on a large scale," social anthropologist Aghasi Tadevosyan told Eurasianet. 

Many Indians in Armenia have no plans to stay over the long term. For some, it's a jumping-off point, a place where they can get an economic footing, get residency, get a Schengen visa and move on to Europe. 

Arshaluis Mgdesyan is a journalist based in Yerevan.

Armenian Resistance fighter Manouchian joins France’s Pantheon heroes

The Citizen
Feb 21 2024
A stateless Armenian poet who died fighting the Nazi occupation of France during World War II becomes on Wednesday the first non-French Resistance fighter to enter the Pantheon mausoleum for national heroes. The honour to Missak Manouchian has been seen as long-overdue recognition of the bravery of foreign communists — many Jewish — who fought the Nazis alongside members of the French Resistance.

Watch the video at the link below
https://auburnpub.com/partners/video-elephant/news/armenian-resistance-fighter-manouchian-joins-frances-pantheon-heroes/video_6c78b11c-84eb-533e-b574-607e772963a4.html
Also at 
https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/news/world/armenian-resistance-fighter-manouchian-joins-frances-pantheon-heroes/video/f6ec8d76025be4302fa62c03b8352169
https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/world/armenian-resistance-fighter-manouchian-joins-frances-pantheon-heroes/video/f6ec8d76025be4302fa62c03b8352169

Asbarez: Merdinian School Gala Celebrates Excellence, Philanthropy, and Legacy

A scene from C. & E. Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School's sold out gala held on Feb. 10


LOS ANGELES—More than 300 community leaders, alumni, educators, parents, donors and supporters attended the C. & E. Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School’s sold out gala on Saturday, February 10 in celebration of the school’s enduring legacy and to honor its excellence in education. The event raised more than $200,000 due to the generous contributions from the community, which will go towards enhancing facilities, elevating teacher salaries, and enriching academic programs. 

Held at the iconic Jonathan Club in Downtown Los Angeles, the event began with a cocktail hour and a silent auction hosted by the Merdinian Parent Support Committee. The official program and presentation of awards was kicked off by the Gala Committee Chairperson and Board Member, Dr. Tzoler Oukayan. 

Then, Mistress of Ceremonies and Board member, Dr. Alexia Kevonian welcomed guests and thanked all those that made the inspiring evening possible. The program started with a moving rendition of the American and Armenian National Anthems by Merdinian teachers Marta Hovhannisyan and Anna Zakaryan. Then, Rev. Hendrik Shanazarian, Minister to the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America conducted the invocation for the evening. 

After a brief dinner break, Board Chairperson and alumnus Nerses Aposhian (Class of 2006) took to the stage to reflect on his personal journey at Merdinian. Reminiscing about the formative years he spent at Merdinian, Aposhian extended his gratitude to the educators who not only imparted academic knowledge but also instilled invaluable life lessons both inside and outside the classroom. Fondly recalling his frequent visits to the principal’s office and the patriotic and folkloric songs learned at Merdinian, which still resonate with him today, the audience was captivated as he began singing “Kedashen.” Aposhian acknowledged the impact of those who came before him, stating, “We are here because we have stood on the shoulders of Giants.”  He thanked visionary founding leaders for their dedication and foresight, emphasizing their crucial role in shaping the Merdinian community. 

Nerses Aposhian, Board Chairperson

The program continued with a video presentation highlighting the school’s history, achievements, and enduring impact on the community. 

Taking the stage, Principal Dr. Souzy Ohanian detailed the school’s impressive accomplishments, highlighting the record-breaking number of students enrolled, with more than a hundred on the waiting list. She emphasized that “this remarkable success serves as a testament to the demand for Armenian and faith-based education within our community and serves as a compelling call to action to consider the initiation of a high school or expansion of Merdinian’s offerings to accommodate the growing interest.”

In an attempt to vividly paint a picture of Merdinian for the guests, she said that, “Whether it is the joy of our preschoolers playing in the playground, elementary students singing our Armenian songs, the laughter that makes its way to the hallways of the Middle School, or the sportsmanship displayed by our students on the field, the joy of being part of Merdinian is unmatched.” Concluding her speech she said “we sincerely thank the Almighty for His unwavering support, grace, and advice. As we strive for excellence rooted in our Armenian heritage and faith, we trust God’s providence, acknowledging He is the ultimate source of our strength and inspiration.” 

Dr. Ohanian, Principal of Merdinian

Siblings Nora Bardakjian and Kevork Bardakjian from the Class of 2005 and 2003, took to the stage to present the Excellence in Teaching Award to Merdinian educator and their mother, Suzy Bardakjian. In their heartfelt remarks, they provided a touching glimpse into Bardakjian’s unwavering dedication and passion for teaching at Merdinian. They shared that she always gives a detailed account of every moment at Merdinian when she returns home, highlighting her deep affection for the school and her students. The audience rose to its feet, brimming with admiration and respect, as Bardakjian graciously and emotionally took the stage to express her gratitude to her family and the Merdinian supporters who have played a pivotal role in her journey as an educator.

Suzy Bardakjian with her family and Dr. Ohanian

In introducing the Phillips Family, Aposhian detailed the family’s enduring support and significant contributions to the school’s growth and success, as well as their continuous positive impact on the Armenian evangelical community globally. He expressed gratitude to George Sr. and Suzie for passing along their “philanthropic genes” to their sons, Dr. Albert, Gary, and George Jr., and their respective wives Sue, Arsine, and Dina, who have all remained dedicated to serving Merdinian, the community, and the homeland.

As attendees took their seats after giving the Phillips family a standing ovation, George Jr. Phillips, Vice Chairperson of the Merdinian Board of Directors, stepped forward to convey gratitude for the award on behalf of the family. He candidly acknowledged the family’s initial discomfort in accepting the honor, and underscored the significance of service, emphasizing that serving others is not just a choice but a duty—one that he and his family hold dear to their hearts.

The Phillips Family

Dr. Alexia Kevonian then took the stage to announce the official launch of the new Donor Wall, which will be prominently displayed in the school’s Aram & Anahis D. Boolghoorjian Hall. The “Planting of the Seeds” project features a wall tree generously donated by Dr. & Mrs. Vicken & Sossy Aharonian, where supporters can add the leaves to the tree, thereby permanently showcasing their support for Merdinian and their commitment to shaping its future. Kevonian invited guests to contribute to the project by making a donation of $250.

Greg Hosharian and his band entertained guests all night with Armenian songs, leading to a lively atmosphere that had the audience dancing towards the end of the event.

Community members can still donate to C. & E. Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School on the website.

A day of love, Armenian style

Feb 14 2024

Gyumri, ARMENIA – Newlyweds in Gyumri, Armenia got all fired up about their traditional spring event, Trndez.

The whole town has been preparing for a few days now for the big firelit night held February 13th in celebration of prosperity, love, spring and renewal.

Trndez is an Armenian apostolic holiday, where newlywed couples traditionally jump above a bonfire for a long and prosperous marriage. 

A few hundred people gathered on Vartanants Square, the central square of Gyumri, at 5 p.m. and formed a circle around a big pile of hay. As more people joined, old women, parents and their c

hildren threw flower crowns and other plants on top of the hay. 

“It’s meant for happiness in the family and health for the following year,” said Tamara Hovannissian, an Armenian language teacher in Gyumri, who attended the event.

Hovannissian said the flowers and plants might be a reminder of the olive branches that were brought with Jesus to the temple of Jerusalem 40 days after his birth, according to Armenian apostolic belief. 

She also said that normally, families get those flowers during Easter of the previous year. They keep them in their house all year and burn them on Trndez to keep sicknesses away.

At 5:40 p.m. the crowd was split in half to make way for the priests coming from the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God, on Vartanants Square.

A compact horde of eager old women quickly followed them to get closer to the center of the circle. A few unfriendly looks and irritated Armenian comments later, everyone was ready for the ceremony. 

Children were placed on the inner circle, holding each other by the pinkie. 

Children stand around the haystack. (Mayalie Cieutat/YJI)

The priests sang and read the prayers to the sound of the cathedral bells. Separated into two groups with different attire, they spun around the hay as they recited prayers.

“It does not symbolize anything” about the meaning of the mysterious choreography, said Hovannissian, who is an Armenian and French language teacher in Gyumri.

Women, men and children all made the sign of the cross in unison all throughout the ceremony. In 2011, approximately 92% of the Armenian population claimed to be of the Armenian apostolic faith, according to the U.S. State Department’s Office of International Religious freedoms.


One of the priests then took a long torch, lit it with a candle and then ignited the hay all over. As it caught fire, the crowd seemed to reorganize itself.

All decked out in green t-shirts made for the occasion, members of Hrayrk, a traditional dance group based in Gyumri, came to the front with loud enthusiastic shouts. Music seemed to start blurting out from the ground. The front-liners of the circle started dancing around a blaze that reached about two meters higher than them. 

Temperature rose as fast as spirits as children and young people started to dance and shout.

But as people kept spinning, they grew dangerously close to the fire and a group of men urged the crowd to keep away.

And then the fire started turning into ashes. The dances stopped and the women rushed to the fire to light candles from the flames and to collect the ashes.

“The light is illumination,” said Varduhi Harutyunyan, a local holding a candle to her heart.

Harutyunyan, who was born and raised in Gyumri, explained that Trndez is celebrated “40 days after the birth of Jesus Christ” when he was, according to Armenian apostolic belief, taken to the temple of Jerusalem and purified.

A man lights a candle to bring some of the fire home with him. (Mayalie Cieutat/YJI)

“We also do it on Christmas Eve,” she said, which in Armenia is celebrated on January 5th.

“The ashes are for under the trees and flowers,” said Harutyunyan, “for blessing the plants and for a good harvest.” They are meant for “unity, no war, and peace in the world.”

Candles like hers – held inside a Coca-Cola plastic bottle cut in half – were sold around the square by local residents.

The crowd, which had scattered across the square, came back together to start the jumping part of the ceremony. Children, couples, grandparents and toddlers started jumping in pairs and creating a human tunnel with their arms for following jumpers.

New couples and newly married people are most likely to jump over the fire, said Arsen Sahakyan, who works at a marketing and creative lab in Gyumri.

Locals believe that the couples who got married that year should jump over the fire to be happy, healthy, blessed and purified.

“During the wedding, it makes it so it brings happiness,” said Hovannissian. She added that “it’s mandatory” for the fire to touch the couple’s legs while they are jumping, for it to bring happiness.

Matthew Elyan, an Armenian American who was present at the ceremony, said he once celebrated Trndez in Los Angeles, where he is from. He remembered jumping over a fire in what was “similar to a marshmallow stove.”

“Actually jumping over the fire is not really common,” Elyan said, of celebrating Trndez in Los Angeles. “We have to change that. We’ll buy some more stoves.”

Trndez wasn’t always celebrated as it is today though, said Sahakyan.

When Armenia became Christian, the church reclaimed this tradition to mark a clear break with pre-fourth century polytheistic customs.

“They had a mission to kill other religion stuff,” Sahakyan said. “They started to jump over the fire to say that ‘we are over that other god.’”

Instead, Trndez used to be a pagan celebration for the god of fire in ancient polytheist Armenia.

Back then, Sahakyan said, there was “no jumping, just celebrating.”

Mayalie Cieutat is a Junior Reporter with Youth Journalism International.



Azerbaijan Must Show a Victor’s Wisdom

Feb 9 2024



By Emil Avdaliani
February 9, 2024

Armenia has signaled it might alter its constitution. But while this could open the way to peace, its relations with Azerbaijan remain dominated by raw power.

Flush from its lightening victory over Armenia’s Nagorno-Karabakh enclave in September, Azerbaijan seems in little mood to offer reconciliation.

It is demanding that Armenia’s constitution be rewritten. “It will be possible to achieve peace” if there are changes to several state documents, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev stated. The demand has been echoed by Armenia’s powerful neighbor Turkey.

Together, the two countries could open the way to improved regional relations, including border openings and improved transport links. Or they could spark a backlash that so angers Armenians that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is dumped at next year’s election, perhaps opening the way to a hardline nationalist.

Given what’s at stake, Pashinyan’s government has been surprisingly open to discussions.

In part, that’s because some Azeri demands sound harsher than they are. For example, while Azerbaijan remains determined to secure transportation links to its Nakhichevan exclave — the shortest passes through Armenian territory — the worst tensions have mostly subsided.

In October, Iran and Azerbaijan signed a railway agreement that envisions the transit from Azerbaijan proper to Nakhichevan via Iranian territory. This projected connectivity is beneficial to everyone in the region and could help pave the way for a wider Azeri-Armenian peace agreement.


Territory previously controlled by the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)

Territory controlled by Azerbaijan

Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (Azerbaijan)

This would probably not be comprehensive, but instead compose a roadmap of some kind stipulating major principles, with the detail to be filled in later. Major principles would likely involve mutual territorial recognition, opening of borders, and potentially beginning the work toward establishing diplomatic relations.

Other questions, such as delimitation of borders and the issue of around 100,000 Armenians returning to Nagorno-Karabakh, would likely remain outside the framework.

That seems wise. The alternative would be another lengthy negotiating process to settle border issues before signing the deal. This would take months, if not years. Given Azerbaijan’s military superiority, it would be likely to intersperse the talks with army exercises to pressure its interlocutor.

The preamble of the current Constitution of Armenia refers to the reunification of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, the region which it won by force of arms in 1994. The circumstances under which the document was created — at the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the First Nagorno-Karabakh War — reflected the country’s mood back in the 1990s.

Now, following its defeats in 2020 and 2023, the balance of power very much favors Azerbaijan. And yet, while its demand to change the constitution is unprecedented, it is not impossible.

Surprisingly, government figures in Yerevan agree on the need to change the constitution. What might have been received with ridicule even a year ago is now supported by Pashinyan, who has on numerous occasions criticized the 1990 declaration and suggested plans to enact a new constitution. The planned document would address the new reality created following the fall of Nagorno-Karabakh and effectively acknowledge its loss.

Though a final decision has not yet been made, it seems that Armenia will eventually concede. But it expects mirror changes in Azerbaijan’s main state documents too. The Speaker of the National Assembly, Alen Simonyan, referred to the provisions in the constitution of Azerbaijan, which references Armenia as a hostile neighbor.

Armenia is not just seeking peace with Azerbaijan; it also wants better relations with Turkey, which closed its borders more than 30 years ago. The process has been lengthy and beset with delays, and much of its success depends on Yerevan-Baku talks.

Turkey objects to references in the Armenian constitution to the Armenian genocide and veiled territorial claims toward Turkey based on the post-World War I treaties that dissolved the Ottoman Empire.

These disputes do not take place in a vacuum, of course. There is an attentive domestic audience in Armenia, and Pashinyan has not been a popular leader. The opposition has been accusing him of state treason, which gives some sense of the debate. While the opposition (which is mostly openly pro-Russian) is currently even less popular, constitutional changes to meet foreign demands might further degrade Pashinyan’s standing.

It is a brave path to put aside historical grievances in a determined push toward mending ties with Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Even so, what matters most is not the signing of a peace deal in itself but whether the dominant parties — Azerbaijan and Turkey — show the sense not to push too hard. In that case, the South Caucasus will be set for more years of disputes.

Emil Avdaliani is a professor of international relations at European University in Tbilisi, Georgia, and a scholar of the silk road.

Europe’s Edge is CEPA’s online journal covering critical topics on the foreign policy docket across Europe and North America. All opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the position or views of the institutions they represent or the Center for European Policy Analysis.


Hungary to support strengthening of Armenia-EU relations – Novák

 18:15, 6 February 2024

BUDAPEST, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. Hungary wants Armenia to strengthen the relations with the European Union, Hungarian President Katalin Novák said at a joint press conference with the Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan in Budapest.

"We want Armenia to strengthen its relations with the European Union. You can count on us. When Hungary takes over the presidency of the European Union in July, we will do everything to support Armenia and its relations with the EU, as well as to advance the visa liberalization process for Armenia," noted Novák, adding that the European Union should strengthen its relations with the South Caucasus, and Hungary can be useful in that regard.

Culture ministry opens repository of national dishes

 13:04, 6 February 2024

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport has launched a special Repository of Dishes in the official Repository of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Armenia to preserve the national dishes of the country.

Approximately 250 elements of Armenian and Yazidi national dishes have been collected from across the country. Governmental and non-governmental organizations, restaurant businesses and private citizens participated in compiling the inventory, the ministry said in a statement. 

The repository, which includes the recipes of the dishes, is available here.