Month: November 2023

Armenia: Hidden Eurasian treasure awaits Indian tourists

Andranik Taslakhchian
B2B Chief
Oct 31 2023
Armenia in South Caucasus is a hidden treasure with its world class wines, pristine valleys, breathtaking views that caters to a variety of tourists and lagro products that would be savoured globally.

Not many are aware that the world’s first winery existed in Armenia 6,000 years back and in present-day Armenia it has been revived leading to a craze for tastier home-grown wine even as the locally produced Brandy remains popular in the region and beyond.

Over the last decade and a half almost 200 local wine brands have entered the market making a market not only locally but in Russia, Europe and the USA. India is the next preferred target for the Armenian wine industry in the backdrop of emerging strategic partnership.

Leading from the front is Armas and its dynamic CEO Victoria Aslanian – vineyards, Winery, Distillery, Hotel and Tasting room. “Wine existed in Armenia since antiquity and the industry has been revived successfully. Armas is leading from the front. 70 per cent of our produce are exported to USA-UK-Europe. Our brands have been lauded in France. We are now looking at Japanese market,” Aslanian told ET.

Armenia has the right elevation and soil and climate for growing right grapes for wine, Aslanian pointed out. “We are in a perfect geographical zone to produce best of wines and our products are testimony to that. We in Armas would be exploring the Indian market.”

Vahe Keushguerian, who in many ways fathered Armenian wine industry brining his Italian experience into play, eloquently explained prospects of the local industry. “Armenia has so much excitement to offer. Just like our long history, some of the grapes we use today — Voskehat, Khatunm, Areni — have been perfecting themselves for thousands of years. They have passed through the hands and selection process of countless winemakers. Our domestic winemaking industry has deep roots and an ancient history. That is why we must treat it like our legacy that we share with other wine lovers across the world. The second reason for the uniqueness of Armenian wines is its highland, volcanic soil terroir. This unique land, in my opinion, is the key to making great wine.” Keushguerian, a former restaurateur in the USA, moved to Armenia in 2009, where he realized the potential of the Armenian wine industry and consulted on new wineries while starting the Karas Wine project, which in 2010 was the largest winery project in the country. In 2013 he founded WineWorks as well as Keush, which is a pioneer of traditional method sparkling wine. In 2017, he co-founded OSHIN, another premium Armenian wine project.To bring this wine industry closer to Indian audience Armenian Tourism Committee is ready to welcome tourists from South Asia’s biggest country. 2023 has been the best year for Armenian tourism industry and 21,000 Indian tourists (primarily UAE based) have so far visited the county in 2023 making it 7th largest tourist group in terms of number. “Our top three countries in terms of tourists’ arrivals are Russia, followed by Georgia and then Iran. We are hoping to get big number of tourists from India once direct flights are launched,” Sisian Boghossian told ET.

“There is mystic and unknown factor associated with Armenia which travelers would like to explore. Armenia is an affordable and safe location. Besides pristine locations, Armenia can be gastronomical delight with Armenian diaspora bringing food habits from various parts of the world. And Armenia has a history dating back to hundreds of years. We are also working on adventure tourism in Armenia.”

The wine and tourism industries are well complemented by impressive growth in Armenia’s agro industry. And ArLeAM is leading efforts from the front with its cultivation being located closer to capital Yerevan. ArLeAM is a visionary brand that provides natural, high-quality products grown with extra care.

At ArLeAM intensive orchards, in the area more than 25 hectares four varieties of apples with distinctive, juicy and unique taste characteristics are grown. Armenian apricot has a history of more than 2000 years. In addition to traditional Armenian varieties, European apricot varieties are now grown in ArLeAM orchards. ArLeAM produces several finished products including juices, dried fruits, honey, nuts, fruit and veggie chips among other products. ArLeAM is looking to enter the Indian market via Dubai based distributors.

https://b2bchief.com/armenia-armenia-hidden-eurasian-treasure-awaits-indian-tourists/

Armenian PM sees "no advantage" in Russian troop presence as ties with Moscow deteriorate further

Nyrie Kalashian
eurasianet
Oct 31 2023
Ani Avetisyan Oct 31, 2023

As Armenia seeks Western help in coping with the influx of refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh, its relations with Russia continue to deteriorate. 

Last week Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told the Wall Street Journal that he saw "no advantage" in the presence of Russian troops in Armenia. In the same interview, Pashinyan also ruled out any impending withdrawal from the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). 

Despite his previous criticism of Moscow and the CSTO, Pashinyan has maintained a restrained approach when it comes to actual action against these two security allies. 

Armenia currently hosts approximately 10,000 Russian troops, of whom around 5,000 are stationed at the 102nd Russian military base in the city of Gyumri, near Turkey. Other Russian forces operate at Zvartnots airport, Erebuni military base, and in the southern and eastern regions of Armenia. 

Russian troops are stationed at various points along the border with Azerbaijan, and Russian border guards control Armenia's borders with Turkey and Iran. 

Two thousand Russian peacekeepers were stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh after the 2020 Second Karabakh War. Pashinyan said in October, after Azerbaijan took over the region and its entire Armenian population fled, that the peacekeepers would not be allowed in Armenia if they were to leave Karabakh. 

Pashinyan was the subject of an extended hit piece on Russian state TV on 23 October that contained numerous easily disprovable falsehoods. The Armenian Foreign Ministry filed a note of protest with Russia and summoned Ambassador Sergei Koprikin over the anti-Armenian statements and insults against Prime Minister Pashinyan in the program. 

Pashinyan has been a frequent target of Russian propaganda in recent months. In October, an unnamed top official cited by the TASS news agency claimed that Pashinyan was emulating the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, and attempting to turn Armenia into 'another Ukraine'. Former President Dmitry Medvedev, who is also the deputy head of Russia's national security council, criticized Pashinyan on social media during Azerbaijan's September attack on Nagorno-Karabakh. He accused him of "flirting" with the West and sarcastically asked, "Guess what fate awaits him?" 

Russian state-owned media and propagandists regularly agitate for a change of Armenia's government. Pashinyan has repeatedly emphasized that such calls go against the principles of the countries' alliance. He told The Wall Street Journal that "such an approach violates many rules, starting with non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and diplomatic correctness".

The recent anti-Pashinyan broadcast on Russian TV has triggered calls for Russian channels to be banned in Armenia. Tigran Hakobyan, head of Armenia's Television and Radio Commission, said that talk of cutting of Russian channels have been brewing for years but that "political considerations" have prevented such a move. In response to the Armenian Foreign Ministry's decision, Moscow summoned the Armenian charge d'affaires to discuss what it called an "anti-Russian movement" in Armenia led by the Armenian authorities.

In a move that appears to be aimed at punishing Armenia, the Russian State Duma has decided to postpone consideration of a bill that would recognize Armenian driver's licenses. Russia reportedly expected Armenia to reciprocate by giving the Russian language a status, just like Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan have. There have been no public discussions in Armenia on according Russian such a status, though both Russian and English are mandatory subjects in Armenian public schools. 

In the interview with WSJ, Pashinayn said that Russia's and the CSTO's failure to uphold their security commitments to Armenia had led Yerevan to seek to "diversify [its] relations in the security sector."

Indeed, India has already begun selling weapons to Armenia and more ammunition is expected to be dispatched soon. France, too, has agreed to sell Armenia defensive weapons, including in the realm of air defense. 

Armenia is receiving extensive help from the West to deal with the crisis that followed the mass flow of Armenian refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh who fled Azerbaijan's 9-month blockade and September military assault. A number of Western countries and the EU have already sent millions of dollars to address the needs of those displaced. 

While turning its back on Moscow, Yerevan has appeared more eager to conclude peace talks with Azerbaijan through the mediation of the European Union, rejecting Moscow-brokered meetings and expressing a willingness to participate in EU-led ones. Baku, meanwhile, has shown the opposite preference, rejecting several high-level meetings initiated by the EU.

The war of words between Armenia and Russia has been going on for some time, with Armenian officials criticizing Russia's inaction during escalations in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. And Armenia's move to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court – which has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin – has further strained the two allies' relations.

https://eurasianet.org/armenian-pm-sees-no-advantage-in-russian-troop-presence-as-ties-with-moscow-deteriorate-further


Apple threat alerts received by Armenian journalist imply wider global issue

Arbi Tashjian
The New Indian
Oct 31 2023
 

SAUMYA SHUKLA


















NEW DELHI: As Opposition MPs from different parties on Tuesday shared screenshots of alerts from iPhone maker Apple to posit claims of snooping by the Centre, additional information is surfacing from around the globe hinting at a bigger phenomenon all around.

Artur Papyan, a digital security and media consultant and the director of the Media Diversity Institute in Armenia, took to microblogging site, X, and shared screenshots of Apple issuing a new round of threat notifications about State Sponsored attacks on Armenia-based journalists.

He tweeted, “Apple has issued a new round of threat notifications about State Sponsored attacks. If you’re an Armenia-based journalist or a civil society representative, contact me, @Kornelij or @RubenMuradyan to get your device checked, as well as urgent advice and support.”

This comes just a few hours after opposition leaders like AAP MP Raghav Chadha, TMC MP Mahua Moitra, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, and former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav shared their concerns about such similar notification received from Apple to buttress claims of spying by the Indian government.

Additionally, Samir Saran, the President of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), expressed similar apprehensions by sharing the screenshots. Despite its origins with the Dhirubhai Ambani family, ORF asserts its independence in operations. The foundation has asserted that its financial resources come from various quarters, including the Reliance Group, government, foreign foundations, and other sources. It remains uncertain whether any competitive interests between the Adani and Ambani Groups are connected to the alleged breach of Saran’s iPhone.

The allegations arising from Armenia suggest a different scenario, which extends beyond mere allegations of the Indian government spying on opposition leaders.

READ MORE: Apple breach: Ex-UP CM Akhilesh, Raghav, ORF boss & Mahua claim state-sponsored attack

Artur, who shared the screenshot on X, has worked as a journalist and a multimedia editor with RFE/RL’s Armenian Service for more than a decade. In 2018, he co-founded and worked as the CEO of “Azatutyun TV” internet channel. Artur, in recent years, has taught online media, internet journalism, and professional ethics at several universities, including the Yerevan State University.

https://www.newindian.in/as-opposition-mps-shared-screenshots-of-alerts-from-iphone-to-posit-claims-of-snooping-by-the-centre-additional-information-is-surfacing/

The last war in Nagorno-Karabakh: One family’s story

Samvel Nahapetian
Oct 31 2023
  • Armine Martirosyan
  • Yerevan

The story of a family who fled NK

After the hostilities in September 2023, all Armenians left Nagorno-Karabakh as soon as Azerbaijan unblocked the Lachin corridor. Tatev Mikayelyan, one of the residents of the village of Nerkin Sznek (Ashagi Yemishchan, as it is called by Azerbaijanis) tells the story of her family. Her relatives and fellow villagers fled Sznek through gorges and forests to escape. After a 9-month blockade, there was no gasoline in the village to leave by car.

Tatev also talks about distrust of Russian peacekeepers who have failed to fulfill their obligations to protect the population. He thinks that the more than 100,000 Armenians who left for Armenia after the war could return to their homeland only if their safety is guaranteed by an international contingent.

EU boosts humanitarian aid to displaced Karabakh Armenians with almost €1.7 million

Antranik Varosian
Oct 31 2023

The Commission is increasing its humanitarian funding in Armenia with almost €1.7 million in response to the mass influx of people from Nagorno Karabakh.

The new funding will aim to further strengthen the existing EU humanitarian response to the displaced people by providing cash assistance, shelter, food security and livelihoods assistance, protection, and health.

This funding comes in addition to the €10.45 million already announced by the Commission in response to the crisis, bringing total humanitarian funding to more than €12 million in 2023.

Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič said: “Karabakh Armenians will not be forgotten. As the winter sets in, the displaced people in Armenia will face additional challenges. The EU is boosting its humanitarian funding to be prepared for the winter. We continue working together with our humanitarian partners on the ground to provide assistance to the most vulnerable.”

With more than 100,000 people having fled their homes, often taking minimal belongings with them, they are now in need of food, shelter and other essential services as they try to settle in Armenia.

The needs are expected to increase in light of the looming winter as people in need will require winterised shelter and warm clothing.

Publication date
Author
Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)

Armenpress: Civil Contract appoints new head of Youth Organization’s Board

Garo Vardanian

 10:17,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the Chairman of the Board of the Civil Contract Party, chaired a session of the Board on October 31.

The Board appointed Gohar Safaryan as Chairwoman of the Board of Civil Contract Party’s Youth Organization, and Papin Baghdasaryan was appointed Secretary of the Board of Civil Contract Party’s Youth Organization, the party said in a press release.

Economic growth potential is assessed to be 5,5% – finance minister

Tania Jagharian

 11:02,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, ARMENPRESS. The potential of Armenia’s economic growth is assessed to be 5,5%, Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan has said.

“We usually assess Armenia’s economic potential to be 5,5%,” he said at a parliamentary committee hearing on the 2024 state budget when asked by MP Artur Khachatryan how much the growth would’ve been in the past five years if the external economic conditions are averaged.

“At this moment, the potential of Armenia’s economic growth is assessed to be 5,5%. The capital investments which we are carrying out depend on this potential. The size of that potential depends on the investments, the diversification of our economy and the reforms which we are implementing,” Hovhannisyan added.

He said that the main effort of the government should be directed at increasing this potential.

The government of Armenia earlier said it expects 7% economic growth in 2023. 7% is also the target for 2024.




WATCH: U.S. Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy calls out Piers Morgan for not covering Nagorno-Karabakh

Emil Lazarian

 13:55,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, ARMENPRESS. U.S. Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has called out Piers Morgan and major news media for selective reporting and not covering Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing campaign against Nagorno-Karabakh and its actions against Armenia.

“How many hours of your show – or minutes or seconds – have you dedicated to what Azerbaijan has done to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh… zero is probably the answer,” Ramaswamy told Piers Morgan in a heated interview.

He said that Ukraine and Azerbaijan have been successful in selling a ‘Pied Piper’ myth in the US. 

Ramaswamy said that what Azerbaijan did to Nagorno-Karabakh received ‘pin-drop silence’.