Month: October 2021

"Tehran is watching closely." What will happen to cargo transportation from Iran to Armenia

Kevo Kalantarian

  Oct 5 2021

    JAMnews, Yerevan

For three weeks already, Azerbaijani police and customs checkpoints are operating on the section of the road between the Armenian cities of Goris and Kapan, thus slowing down cargo transportation from Iran to Armenia. There is a section of the route that came under the control of Azerbaijan after the second Karabakh war.

Azerbaijani customs officers stop Iranian trucks on the Vorotan section of the Goris-Kapan road and demand payment of customs duties “for crossing the border with Azerbaijan”. Customs posts, according to the official report of Azerbaijan, appeared due to the fact that “numerous incidents of entry of Iranian trucks into the part of Karabakh controlled by Russian peacekeepers have been established”.

The Armenian side faces serious economic problems, since 40% of the country’s trade turnover is carried out through Iran.

Tehran is actively discussing the issue with both Yerevan and Baku. But there is no final decision yet.

All the details – what is happening on the southern border of Armenia, how the country’s government intends to ensure the uninterrupted movement of Iranian trucks and expert opinion on the matter below.

  • Customs payments for Iranian trucks: what is happening at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border
  • Echo of the second Karabakh war: why Baku got the opportunity to blockade the south of Armenia

After the fall of 2020, that is, the end of the second Karabakh war, the 21-kilometer section of the road between the Armenian cities of Goris and Kapan came under the control of Azerbaijan. The security of this section of the road has been ensured by Russian border guards since December.

The tension here began on August 25, 2021, when the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan blocked the road on the Karmrakar-Shurnukh-Goris-Vorotan section and opened it only two days later. Some Armenian villages became isolated and the Russian peacekeepers had to provide them with food during these days.

On September 12, the road closed again – this time to Iranian trucks. Near the village of Vorotan, the Azerbaijani side established posts, armed masked officers began to check the documents of the drivers of Iranian trucks and transported cargo, as well as demand the payment of customs duties.

On September 15, Azerbaijani police arrested two Iranian drivers under the pretext of “illegal entry into the territory of Azerbaijan”. Until now, nothing has been reported about their fate.

The situation on the Goris-Kapan road has returned to the agenda the issue of building alternative roads in the southern border region of Armenia – Syunik, which was discussed at the beginning of the year.

“We will start construction as soon as the weather conditions permit us”, said Minister of Territorial Administration Suren Papikyan, who now holds the post of Deputy Prime Minister, in February.

To bypass the Kapan-Goris highway, the government decided to build an alternative Kapan-Tatev road. Reconstruction of the Tatev-Aghvani section of this road (43 km long) began at the end of July.

“Tatev-Aghvani will be completed this year, all unpaved roads will be ready by winter, but the asphalt road, of course, will only be in the spring”, Deputy Prime Minister Suren Papikyan told Azatutyun (Freedom) radio.

The government plans to complete the construction of the Tatev-Aghvani road by the end of November.

Along with the construction of the Tatev-Aghvani road, the Armenian government initiated the construction of another bypass route – Tatev-Ltsen. But the second highway will only be ready in the next year, 2022.

Moreover, the difference between the two bypass routes, which should become an alternative to the Goris-Kapan interstate road, is that Tatev-Aghvani is difficult to pass for trucks with trailers.

It turns out that many Iranian trucks will have to wait several more months or even a year before they can transport goods to Armenia without paying customs duties to Azerbaijan.

The situation caused tension in Tehran’s relations with Baku, and the problem was discussed with the Armenian authorities.

In response to a request from the Armenian CivilNet publication, the Iranian Embassy in Armenia stated that Tehran is closely following developments in the region in recent months, in particular, the situation with Iranian cargo trucks:

“Development of relations with friendly Armenia and removal of road obstacles and problems are on the agenda”.

The situation on the Goris-Kapan road was discussed during the summit meetings. On September 17, in Dushanbe, the heads of Armenia and Iran discussed, among others, “the issue of organization of uninterrupted cargo transportation between the two countries”.

According to Iranian news agencies, President Raisi announced that an Armenian-Iranian working group would be set up for “energy exchange, transportation and joint production”. According to the same source, Nikol Pashinyan welcomed “Iran’s initiatives to resolve existing problems”.

On September 24, in New York, within the framework of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, a meeting was held between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Iran, who discussed “challenges for transport transit from Iran to Armenia and ways to overcome them”.

Iranian Ambassador Abbas Badakhshan Zokhuri periodically discusses the situation with the Armenian authorities. In recent weeks, he met with the Speaker of the Parliament, the Secretary of the Security Council, the Foreign Minister and one of the Deputy Prime Ministers. It is reported that during these meetings, the deepening of economic cooperation and the prospect of increasing trade turnover to $ 1 billion a year were discussed.

According to Iran expert Garik Misakian, Iran is inclined to restore uninterrupted communication as soon as possible. In his opinion, judging by the statements of the Armenian and Iranian sides, one can assume that Iran is ready “to support the construction of an alternative road or take part in it”.

“Iran is not inclined towards the final closure of the Goris-Kapan road. In connection with this situation, many negative statements have already been made in Iran, even at the highest level”, says Garik Misakian, citing the arrest of two Iranian drivers as an example.

However, despite the tension that has arisen in the Iranian-Azerbaijani relations, according to Misakian, Tehran will not take any steps until the Armenian side has yet expressed its official position:

“The Iranian side has neither the tools nor the desire to interfere in this issue or solve it in favor of Armenia”.

Garik Misakian believes that Iran will first do what proceeds from its national interests, security and economic issues and will wait for Armenia’s position:

“If the Armenian side agrees to transfer control over this section of the road to Azerbaijan, Iran will accept it. If the Armenian side starts any process of returning or joint exploitation of this section of the road, Iran will adjust its policy accordingly, since it cannot interfere in the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. At this stage, it seems that Iran supports the Armenian side”.

Collecting customs duties on Iranian truck drivers on the Goris-Kapan interstate road could have serious economic consequences for Armenia. For three weeks now, economists and the opposition have been talking about the need for the country’s authorities to resolve this issue.

However, the government does not share their concerns. In particular, Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan told reporters that he does not see any big problems:

“Yes, there is an obstacle that I am sure we will overcome in the near future”.

Economist Suren Parsyan believes that Armenia’s foreign trade turnover with Iran is about $410 million a year.

Armenia exports $ 90 million (electricity, which accounts for 80% of exports, meat products and timber) and imports $ 320 million from Iran (gas, oil products, fertilizers, construction materials). And all transportation is carried out by Iranian trucks.

“Armenia very often uses the territory of Iran both for import and export of goods to Arab and Asian countries. If the road issue is not resolved, Armenian goods will become more expensive and lose their competitiveness in the international market, be it the UAE, Iran, China, India or any other country”, says the economist.

Suren Parsyan considers it necessary to reduce risks, otherwise the current situation will affect the economic activity of Armenia in general and the volume of exports – with all the ensuing consequences.

According to the economist, the Tatev-Aghvani road under construction is a temporary solution: even if the road is widened, it will be difficult to pass and ensure the same volume of cargo transportation:

“The only long-term solution will be the construction of the Sisian-Agarak road within the framework of the North-South project”.

With the North-South highway, Armenia can become a transit country. From the north, it will connect Armenia with Georgia and provide access to the Black Sea and European countries. From the south, the highway will connect the country with Iran. The road began to be built in 2012, it was planned to put it into operation in 2019, but so far only about 20% have been built. In 2021, the European Union announced that it will provide 600 million euros for the construction of the most difficult sections of the highway.

Suren Parsyan notes that, according to the draft state budget, the work will begin at the end of next year. Moreover, first it will be necessary to carry out design work, and the construction itself may take another 2-3 years.

Migrant Rights Defender Flees to Armenia Following Russia Entry Ban

Emil Lazarian
The Moscow Times
Oct 5 2021
By Uliana Pavlova

Valentina ChupikAlexander Kim / YouTube

Prominent migrant rights defender Valentina Chupik has fled to Armenia following a 30-year entry ban to Russia, she told The Moscow Times on Tuesday.

Chupik, an Uzbek activist who had held asylum in Russia since 2009, was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport last month, with FSB officers telling her that her refugee status was revoked for alleged “document falsification” and that she is banned from entering Russia for 30 years. She has called the move “absolute nonsense” and expressed fears she could be jailed, tortured or killed if she were repatriated to Uzbekistan.

“I am currently in Armenia in a beautiful spot just on the outskirts of Yerevan,” Chupik told The Moscow Times via WhatsApp. 

Last week, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Chupik’s deportation to Uzbekistan should be suspended, applying Rule 39 of the Rules of Court, which is applied as an urgent measure in cases where there is an imminent risk of causing irreparable harm.

Russian law enforcement had also searched the apartment of Chupik’s 84-year-old mother two days after her detention. 

Chupik and her mother have now applied for asylum in Ukraine and are currently awaiting a response from the Ukrainian authorities, her aides have said. 

Chupik, 48, fled ex-Soviet Uzbekistan in 2005 following a bloody crackdown on protesters in the city of Andijan, claiming she was tortured by Uzbek special services.

In Moscow, Chupik founded the Tong Jahoni (Morning of the World) NGO which provides free legal services to migrants who have faced pressure from law enforcement agencies. 

Each year, hundreds of thousands of migrant workers travel to Russia from former Soviet republics, mainly those in Central Asia, in search of better wages. Many face discrimination and abuse from Russian citizens and authorities. 

But since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Russia has seen a mass outflow of migrant workers, triggering efforts to tackle an emerging labor shortage in industries like construction and agriculture.

Earlier this year, Russia handed a 40-year entry ban to Tajikistan-born opposition activist Saidanvar Sulaimonov in what he called retaliation for his work on a Kremlin critic’s campaign for last month’s parliamentary election.

Life among ghosts: One year after the war in Nagorno-Karabakh

Greg Madatian
Oct 4 2021
by GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
000

A year after the Nagorno-Karabakh war erupted on September 27, 2020 the Armenians of the enclave are trying to restore their lives even if challenges persist.

At first glance, everything seems normal in the Nagorno-Karabakh capital of Stepanakert. Food stores have raised their blinds again, as have clothing stores, beauty salons, cafes and restaurants. The market in the region’s main city, bombed during the war, is brimming with life again and buses are waiting for passengers from the central station: to take them wherever they are going. However, not everywhere is accessible to them anymore. Over 100 villages are now under Azerbaijani control..

On the morning of 27 September, 2020, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian populated unrecognized state in the Caucasus. The war that lasted for 44 days ended with the defeat of Armenians and territorial losses.

One year later, absences weigh heavily in this little-known corner of the Caucasus. The trilateral agreement to end hostilities signed by Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on November 9 redrew the map of the region, displacing thousands in the process. For Gegham Stepanyan, Human Rights Ombudsman of Nagorno-Karabakh, housing is the number one problem in Nagorno-Karabakh today.

“Of the 40,000 displaced by the war here in Artsakh and in Armenia, more than half live in inhumane conditions,” said the 30-year-old defender, using the Armenian name of the self-proclaimed republic. “The government, is struggling to cope, a fact made worse by the failure of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to live up to its commitment of addressing the problems of the internally displaced under the November declaration.”

Instead, local authorities have had to rely on the Red Cross and the Russian peacekeeping contingent, deployed in the region just hours after the war, to provide humanitarian aid to local populations. Armenia and its diaspora have also extended a helping hand.

“Our letters to international organizations remain unanswered,” explained Stepanyan. In addition to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, he has also alerted UNESCO about the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage by Azerbaijan in the territories today under its control. So far there has been no reaction.

The humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh is compounded by frequent water and electricity shortages after most of the water resources and hydroelectric power plants came under Azerbaijani control after the war. As for the telephone and internet connections, they are also elusive. There is huge damage done to infrastructure, but also interference in the audio frequencies from Baku to sabotage Armenian services in Karabakh.

Colleges and universities have just resumed the start of the new academic year without water or electricity, but also without measures to contain the outbreak of COVID-19. The incidence of the virus remains low, something that is attributed to the isolation of the enclave.

A single road connects Nagorno-Karabakh to the rest of the world through Armenia, an “umbilical cord” that the Azerbaijanis managed to cut during the war, but which today remains guarded by Russian peacekeepers in the area. This ensures the distribution of supplies, but also makes entry difficult for non-Armenians. International journalists are today another of the absences in Artsakh. Local authorities use “security reasons.”

Yana Avanesyan, lecturer of international law at Artsakh State University, said that she finds it difficult to explain to her students that international law can be a protection mechanism against attacks like last year. “What credibility do I have after everyone turned their backs on us?” said the 27-year-old lawyer.

She also recognizes that she still does not assimilate everything that has happened last year. “I can’t get used to the idea that I can’t visit Shushi, less than fifteen minutes from here, or the Tigranakert fortress.”

Fear

The borders have moved during the last twelve months, and sometimes even crossing towns through the middle. This is the case of Taghavard: today there are Azerbaijani forces deployed in its church and cemetery. On the other side of the fence, the locals watch the scene from their windows.

Mayor Oleg Harutyunyan is one of those who lost his old house next to the cemetery. He said that of the 1,325 registered in Taghavard before the war, only 600 remain. After firing from the Azerbaijani side became as common as the lack of water or electricity, the Russian peacekeepers deployed between both sides. The mayor said that this has brought “a certain tranquility” to the people.

“At the beginning of the academic year we had only five students in our school, but today there are more than thirty,” said Gohar Shakaryan. She teaches history in a class overlooking the Azeri troops, a privileged vantage point from which to observe the course of events in real time.

Many have returned to the village, but uncertainty is today the most difficult challenge they face. And it is that, beyond the material and territorial losses, the psychological impact of war on society. “We think a lot about what will happen next, and what awaits us, and still know nothing,” the teacher said, expressing the concern of the villagers.

Adding to the pain are the videos circulating on the internet that record the inhuman treatment inflicted on Armenian soldiers still in prison by the Azerbaijanis. Yerevan assures that Baku has returned 69 and, although the number of those still being held is unknown, international organizations such as Human Rights Watch have accused Azerbaijan of “war crimes” after verifying these videos.

There are also those that show the looting of the houses in lost towns, the vandalization of their cemeteries and their churches.

In recent days, a video circulated online, showing an Armenian van with a children’s soccer team held at a makeshift Azerbaijani roadside post. After scrapping Nagorno-Karabakh’s flag from the bus door with a hunting knife, an armed soldier intimidated boys between the ages of fourteen and fifteen.

They belong to a generation that began adolescence with a war, the same as many of their parents during the 90’s.

Although there are no longer any big celebrations or fireworks, people still get married in Nagorno-Karabakh. From the notary of the Ministry of Justice, Liana Mirzoyan speaks of “record numbers” so far this year.

“In the period from November 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021, we have registered 1,072 compared to 282 same time last year. It is the highest figure to date,” said Mirzoyan.

A new generation is on its way.

By Anush Ghavalyan (Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh)


1,000-year-old Islamic coins discovered in Sharjah (UAE)

Maral Takmazian
The National, UAE
Sept 29 2021
Georgia TolleySep 29, 2021

Ancient silver dirham coins minted one millennium ago in Morocco, Persia, Al-Rai, the Khorasan region, Armenia and Transoxiana have been discovered in Sharjah.

A team from Sharjah Archaeology Authority made the discovery in the central region of the emirate.

The Islamic coins were stored in an Abbasid-style pot dating back to the 9th or 10th century AD.

This proves the early presence of the Abbasid dynasty in the region, said Dr Sabah Aboud Jasim, director general of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority.

he Abbasid Caliphate was the third such to succeed the Prophet Mohammed.

The rare coins bear the iconography of five caliphs, who were the chief Muslim leaders from the period, including Abu Jaafar Al Mansour, Mohamed Al Mahdi, Haroun Al Rashid, Mohamed Al Amin and Abu Jaafar Abdullah Al Maamoun.

The haul includes a silver dirham-link coin of Lady Zubaida, also known as Umm Jaafar, the wife of Caliph Haroun Al Rashid, as well as a copper Abbasid fils coin was also found.

The coins were minted in several geographical and administrative areas in the late 8th to early 9th century AD, or 154-199 AH of the Hijri period in the Islamic calendar.

The discovery documents a pivotal period in the history of Sharjah and the UAE during the Abbasid dynasty, and highlights the commercial activity taking place in the UAE and in Sharjah’s central region.

This find is one of many made in recent months in the area. In February, archaeologists at Sharjah Archaeology Authority unearthed a treasure trove of 409 coins in Mleiha.The coins, which travelled along several important trade routes to the Arabian Gulf and the UAE, confirm that the region was an important trading centre during that period.

Many discoveries made in the area are now on display in the Mleiha Archaeological Centre, which opened to visitors in 2016 and charts the region’s history back to the Stone Age.

 

Lithuanian president calls on Armenian PM to step up implementation of democratic reforms

Arpi Talalian
The Baltic Times
Oct 5 2021
  •  2021-10-04

    •  

  •  BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Monday called on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to step up implementation of democratic reforms.

The Lithuanian leader pointed out during a bilateral meeting that, during the elections, the democratic government led by Pashinyan had received a strong mandate from Armenian people for the implementation of reforms.

According to Nauseda, the European Union’s involvement in strengthening institutions and deeper economic ties with Armenia was an aspiration.

He also stressed that Lithuania supported Armenia on the challenging path of democratic reforms and offered Lithuania’s assistance in implementing reforms in the law and order, fight against corruption and other areas, the presidential office said in a press release.

“The upcoming Eastern Partnership summit, that will draw cooperation guidelines between this region and the EU, is important to Lithuania. We are ready to share our experience and send experts to assist Armenia in making firm steps along the path of democracy,” the press release quoted Nauseda as saying.

He also noted that, thirty years ago, Lithuania was the first country to recognize Armenia’s independence and that this year was special for Armenia and Lithuania as it marked the 30th anniversary of the established diplomatic relations.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 10/05/2021

George Mamian 
                                        Tuesday, October 5, 2021


Lithuania Donates More Coronavirus Vaccines To Armenia

        • Marine Khachatrian

A vial labeled "Moderna coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine" placed on 
displayed Moderna logo, March 24, 2021.


Armenia received on Tuesday another batch of coronavirus vaccines donated to it 
by Lithuania.

The 50,000 doses of the Spikevax jab manufactured by the U.S. company Moderna 
were delivered to Yerevan’s Zvartnots airport and handed over to the Armenian 
Ministry of Health. The ministry thanked the Lithuanian government in a 
statement that announcement the shipment.

The Baltic state already provided 25,000 doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine 
to Armenia in early September.

The Moderna shots donated by it are the first American vaccines that will be 
used in Armenia. Gayane Sahakian, the deputy director of the Armenian Center for 
Disease Control and Prevention, said they will be distributed to all policlinics 
and other vaccination centers across the country and made available the 
population by the end of this week.

Armenians have until now been inoculated with vaccines developed by Russia, 
China as well as Oxford University and the Anglo-Swedish company Astra Zeneca.

Health Minister Anahit Avanesian said in July that Armenia will receive this 
fall 50,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine and 300,000 doses 
of the Novavax jab. Shortly afterwards the Armenian government allocated funds 
for the purchase of 300,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. None of those 
vaccines have been imported yet, however.

“We will have Pfizer vaccines, but I don’t know when,” Sahakian told RFE/RL’s 
Armenian Service.

According to the Ministry of Health, just over 517,000 vaccine shots were 
administered in the country of about 3 million as of October 4. Only about 
165,000 of its residents were fully vaccinated.

The government has taken administrative measures to try to accelerate the slow 
pace of its immunization campaign launched in April. A recent directive signed 
by Avanesian obligates virtually all public and private sector employees 
refusing vaccination to take coronavirus tests twice a month at their own 
expense. The requirement took effect on October 1.

The daily number of officially confirmed coronavirus cases in Armenia has slowly 
but steadily increased since June. The Ministry of Health reported on Tuesday 
morning 891 new cases and 24 coronavirus-related deaths.



Opposition Lawmaker Challenges Travel Ban

        • Marine Khachatrian

Armenian - Armen Gevorgian, a former senior aide to ex-President Robert 
Kocharian, speaks to journalists in a court building in Yerevan, January 29, 
2019.


A senior opposition lawmaker standing trial on what he sees as politically 
motivated charges on Tuesday again asked a court in Yerevan to allow him to 
attend sessions of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) in 
Strasbourg.

Armen Gevorgian is the sole full-fledged opposition member of the Armenian 
parliament’s delegation in the PACE. He is affiliated with the Hayastan alliance 
led by former President Robert Kocharian.

Kocharian and Gevorgian face bribery charges, strongly denied by them, in an 
ongoing trial that began more than two years ago. They both were banned from 
leaving Armenia without the court’s permission.

Anna Danibekian, the judge presiding over the trial, refused last month to let 
Gevorgian participate in the PACE’s autumn session held on September 27-30. Two 
other opposition lawmakers, who have the status of “substitutes” in the 8-member 
delegation in the Strasbourg-based assembly, boycotted the session out of 
solidarity with him.

During the latest court hearing on the high-profile case, Gevorgian’s lawyer, 
Lusine Sahakian, petitioned Danibekian to lift the travel ban, saying that it is 
unjustified. The trial prosecutors objected to the request.

The judge did not grant it while leaving open the possibility of allowing 
Gevorgian to travel abroad later on. She said she will consider such permissions 
on a case-by-case basis.

Gevorgian, 48, is also the chairman of the Armenian parliament’s standing 
committee on “regional and Eurasian integration.” He was an influential aide to 
Kocharian when the latter ruled the country from 1998-2008. Gevorgian also 
served as deputy prime minister from 2008-2014 in the administration of then 
President Serzh Sarkisian.

Earlier in September, Danibekian refused to allow Kocharian to visit Moscow at 
the invitation of Russia’s ruling party. Hayastan condemned her decision, saying 
that it was made under strong government pressure.

The judge had repeatedly given Kocharian permission to travel to Moscow before 
the June 20 parliamentary elections in which the ex-president’s bloc finished 
second.



Iran Offers To Help Armenia Build Bypass Roads

        • Naira Nalbandian

An Azerbaijani checkpoint set up at on the main road conneting Armeia to Iran, 
September 14, 2021


Iran is ready to help Armenia build highways connecting the two neighboring 
states and bypassing Azerbaijani-controlled territory, a senior Iranian 
government official said during a visit to Yerevan on Tuesday.

Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development Kheirollah Khademi said Armenian 
roads leading to the Iranian border are of strategic importance to his country.

An official Iranian delegation headed by him arrived in Yerevan on Monday amid 
continuing disruptions in cargo traffic between Armenia and Iran resulting from 
an Azerbaijani roadblock set up on September 12 on the main highway connecting 
them.

Khademi said the purpose of the trip is to discuss with Armenian officials the 
transport hurdles and the ongoing reconstruction of an alternative road which 
also passes through Armenia’s Syunik province bordering Iran and Azerbaijan.

“We are negotiating with the Armenian side so that cargo and passenger traffic 
through that road gets on track as soon as possible,” he told the YouTube 
channel Armenia-Iran Friendship.

“We are ready to assist Armenia in the construction of the new road,” he said. 
“Iran is ready to share its technical and engineering capacity with Armenia.”

The Islamic Republic, Khademi went on, can also provide similar support for the 
Armenian government’s plans to build or refurbish other Syunik roads leading to 
the Iranian border.

“Armenia is also building the North-South highway which starts from the Iranian 
borders and stretches to the Georgian border … We are ready to cooperate with 
Armenia on that as well. Iran has extensive experience in road construction, and 
our contractors are ready to share their experience with Armenia,” he said.


Armenia -- A road in the Syunik province, September 3, 2018.

The official Iranian IRNA news agency reported that Khademi’s delegation will 
explore in Armenia Iran’s possible involvement in the bypass road construction. 
It said the Syunik roads also connect the Islamic Republic with Russia and 
Europe.

The delegation flew to Yerevan as the Armenian and Iranian foreign ministers met 
in Tehran for talks that focused on transport issues. Echoing statements by 
other Armenian officials, Foreign Minister Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan 
assured his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian that work on the 
alternative Syunik road will be completed before the end of this year.

Azerbaijan gained control over a 21-kilometer section of the existing main 
Armenia-Iran highway last December following an Armenian troop withdrawal from 
border areas along Syunik. Azerbaijani officers deployed there began taxing on 
September 12 Iranian trucks delivering goods to and from Armenia. Many truck 
drivers have refused to pay the “road tax” reportedly worth $130 per trip.

Tensions between Tehran and Baku have risen since then, with the Iranian 
military starting large-scale exercises along the Islamic Republic’s border with 
Azerbaijan last week. Iranian officials have accused Baku of harboring Middle 
Eastern “terrorists” as well as Israeli security personnel in the area. 
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev denied the accusations on Monday.

Earlier on Monday, a senior Iranian parliamentarian reportedly accused Aliyev of 
trying to “cut Iran’s access to Armenia” with the help of Turkey and Israel.

Iran already offered to help Armenia upgrade its strategic highways in Syunik 
months before the latest crisis. The two governments set up this summer a joint 
working group tasked with looking into Iranian companies’ possible participation 
in the multimillion-dollar transport projects planned by Yerevan.



Armenian Opposition Demands Parliament Debate On Azeri Roadblock

        • Anush Mkrtchian

Armenia - Anna Grigorian, a Syunik-based deputy from the opposition Hayastan 
bloc, speaks at a session of the National Assembly, Yerevan, October 5, 2021.


Opposition lawmakers continued to push on Tuesday for an urgent session of the 
Armenian parliament on serious disruptions in Armenia’s trade with neighboring 
Iran resulting from a roadblock set up by Azerbaijan last month.

The opposition Hayastan and Pativ Unem blocs demanded such a discussion 
immediately after Azerbaijani authorities began levying hefty duties from 
Iranian vehicles passing through an Azerbaijani-controlled section of the main 
highway connecting Armenia and Iran.

Parliament speaker Alen Simonian accepted the demand, saying that Armenia’s 
defense minister, National Security Service (NSS) and other officials will soon 
brief the National Assembly on Yerevan’s response to Baku’s actions. The 
discussion has still not taken place, however.

Representatives of the two parliamentary opposition forces reminded the 
pro-government majority of Simonian’s promise as the parliament was about to 
discuss other matters on Tuesday morning. They said transport links with Iran 
are vital for Armenia’s national security.

Deputy speaker Ruben Rubinian, who presided over the session, countered that 
Simonian is currently visiting Russia and urged the opposition to wait until he 
returns to Armenia.

Opposition deputies again condemned Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s government 
for handing over a 21-kilometer section of the highway passing through Armenia’s 
southeastern Syunik province to Azerbaijan shortly after a Russian-brokered 
ceasefire stopped the war in Nagorno-Karabakh last November.

Pashinian said at the time that the road section is located on the Azerbaijani 
side of Armenia’s Soviet-era border with Azerbaijan, a claim disputed by his 
political opponents. He has also claimed that Armenia’s former leaders 
challenging him now themselves recognized that border with a law enacted in 2010.

The Azerbaijani roadblock and its resulting negative impact on cargo traffic 
between Armenia and Iran was high on the agenda of talks held by the foreign 
ministers of the two states in Tehran on Monday.

Armenia’s Ararat Mirzoyan briefed his Iranian counterpart Hossein 
Amir-Abdollahian on the ongoing reconstruction of an alternative road in Syunik 
that will allow Iranian trucks to bypass the Azerbaijani checkpoint. He said it 
will be completed soon.

Amir-Abdollahian seemed satisfied with these assurances when he spoke at a joint 
news briefing held after the talks.


Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2021 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Asbarez: AUA Receives $813,135 USAID/ASHA Grant for its Media Lab Project

Elizabeth Jabejian
by Contributor

 

 October 5, 2021

 

in Armenia, Latest, News, Top Stories

The AUA received a grant for the establishment of the university's Media Lab

YEREVAN—The American University of Armenia has received the approval notification of a competitive grant award of $813,135 from the American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) program of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The grant is for the establishment of the AUA Media Lab, which aims to strengthen democratic culture, promote the development of a civic press, foster citizen engagement in social media, and advocate for the proper discernment of information. 

Through cutting-edge equipment and tools, the AUA Media Lab will serve as a medium for pinpointing target areas of media intervention most crucial for the industry. The initiative will promote the co-creation of well-grounded and reliable approaches to curtail pervasive misinformation and disinformation that corrupt the media landscape and falsely amplify narratives that undermine the legitimacy of democracy. With a focus on strengthening American values and practices and catalyzing collaboration with civil society, the Media Lab will serve as a platform for fostering public trust, tolerance, and empathy between and among various communities. This is expected to improve the media landscape and the level of civic engagement, as well as nurture civic skills that advance an effective and results-driven reform agenda. 

As a 21st century American educational institution, part of AUA’s role is to inform, educate and enlighten large numbers of learners within the AUA community, as well as in the extended urban and rural populations. By serving as a community media hub, the AUA Media Lab is expected to generate a competitive advantage for AUA in identifying the most optimal strategic directions for civil society capacity building. This will expand learning opportunities and advance leadership competencies among students, particularly those majoring in humanities and social sciences or business by fostering dialogue and seminal discourse and communication initiatives. 

The AUA Media Lab will not only promote civic engagement among all members of the AUA community, other users, guests, invited speakers, and participants of public events, but also expand institutional linkages and collaborations with other local and international universities and research centers. The larger community will have the opportunity to take part in targeted professional and specialized training in high-impact media concepts and related topics. Moreover, AUA will be able to build expert capacity and attract new collaborative initiatives and research through the Media Lab.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.

Dean Vahan Shahinian Donates $25,000 to SAS

Manouk Vasilian
 by Contributor

 

 October 5, 2021

 

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Dean Vahan Shahinian

The Society for Armenian Studies has received a $25,000 donation from Dean Vahan Shahinian. The donation will be used to create the position of SAS Executive Secretary. As the activities of the Society have multiplied in the past three years, the Executive Council has decided to establish a part-time position to enhance the efficiency of the Society and its activities, both on the national and international levels. 

Dean Shahinian, Esq. worked for the Chairmen of the United States Senate Banking Committee as Senior Counsel and Chief Securities Policy Advisor to staff over one hundred hearings and negotiate and draft numerous bills and laws. He has contributed to the Armenian community by serving on the National Ecclesiastical Assembly (to elect the Catholicos) in 1995 and 1999, on the Diocesan Council and the Diocesan Auditing Committee, on the Boards of St. Nersess Seminary and the Armenian Students Association, by emceeing the annual Alexandria Armenian Festival, by giving talks on Armenian manuscript illuminations, and in many other activities. 

Shahinian expressed his gratitude to the work done by SAS saying: “We rely on Armenian scholars to learn and to inform others about Armenian culture and history. We appreciate the scholarship of Professors Kevork Bardakjian, Richard Hovannisian, Dickran Kouymjian, Christina Maranci, Bedross Der Matossian, Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Helen Evans, Sylvie Merian, and others and revere the work and enthusiasm of the late Lucy Der Manuelian and George Bournoutian.” He praised the mission of the Society saying, “SAS promotes a community for our scholars to enhance the quality and scope of Armenian Studies. I am pleased to contribute towards its mission.” 

“We are deeply touched by Mr. Shahinian’s generous donation,” said SAS President Prof. Bedross Der Matossian. “We are very appreciative of his unconditional support which comes at a time in which SAS is embarking on additional projects and will need a part-time staff person more than ever. I hope other individuals who appreciate the work carried out by the Society will help us financially to implement our various projects. The aim of these projects is to elevate the profile and standards of Armenian Studies throughout the world.”

Since 2018, SAS has embarked on major projects which include but are not limited to the SAS Podcast Series which are available on platforms like Apple Podcast, Spotify, and Google Play; SAS Graduate Research and Travel Grants; The Society for Armenian Studies Publication Series published through the Armenian Series of The Press at California State University, Fresno, e-SAS (Entries of the Society for Armenian Studies), and the “Journal Society for Armenian Studies” published by Brill. Recently the Society began expanding its activities in Armenia and Artsakh by implementing agreements academic institutions in both republics. 

If you would like to support SAS’s various activities, please contact Bedross Der Matossian via email at [email protected].

The SAS, founded in 1974, is the international professional association representing scholars and teachers in the field of Armenian Studies. The aim of the SAS is to promote the study of Armenian culture and society, including history, language, literature, and social, political, and economic questions.

Information about the SAS can be found on its website or by following the SAS on its Facebook page, @societyforarmenianstudies.