Author: Ara Felekian

Armenian Embassy in Russia hosts Army Day reception

Ara Felekian

 00:15, 7 February 2024

MOSCOW, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ambassador to Russia Vagharshak Harutyunyan has hosted an official reception at the embassy in Moscow marking the 32nd anniversary of the foundation of the Armenian Armed Forces.

Officials from the Russian foreign ministry, defense ministry, foreign diplomats, members of the Armenian community and Armenian church clergy attended the event.

In his remarks, Ambassador Harutyunyan said that “a strong and combat-ready army is one of the most important factors guaranteeing the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of the Republic of Armenia.” He attached importance to the continual reforms in the military in the current regional conditions. The Ambassador underscored Russia’s role in the formation of the Armenian Armed Forces and also spoke about the Armenian-Russian cooperation in the defense sector.

India, France agree on joint defense production

Ara Felekian

 13:03,

 

YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. India and France have agreed to work together on the joint production of defense equipment including helicopters and submarines for the Indian armed forces and production for friendly countries, Reuters reported citing a statement from the Indian government.

The deal was reached during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, who met India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attended a state banquet hosted by President Draupadi Murmu, the Indian government said in a statement late on Friday.

Macron and Modi agreed to expand bilateral ties in defense production, nuclear energy, space research and the use of artificial intelligence for public services like climate change, health and agriculture, the statement said.

It did not specify the value of any deals.

After Russia, France is the largest arms supplier to India, which has relied on its fighter jets for four decades.

The leaders welcomed the setting up of maintenance, repair and overhaul services by France's Safran for leading-edge aviation propulsion (LEAP) engines in India and adding such services for Rafale engines, and a helicopter partnership.

The bilateral summit during Macron's 40-hour visit, was the fifth Macron-Modi meeting since May.

India's Tata Group and France's Airbus have signed an agreement to manufacture civilian helicopters together, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said.

French jet engine maker CFM International also announced an agreement with India’s Akasa Air to buy more than 300 of its LEAP-1B engines to power 150 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

Georgia, Armenia sign deals in Intergovernmental Economic Commission session

Ara Felekian
Agenda, Georgia
Jan 26 2024

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and his Armenian counterpart Nikol Pashinyan on Friday signed several agreements as part of the 13th session of the Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation between the countries, the Georgian Government Administration announced.

The officials signed a joint declaration on the establishment of a strategic partnership between the countries, memoranda on cooperation in agriculture and healthcare, and an agreement on the improvement of the working conditions of diplomatic missions and consular institutions of the two countries. 

Garibashvili said Armenia was one of Georgia's “important trading partners” and among the top 10 trading partners with recent trade turnover, while last year it was sixth in the statistics.  

In his turn, Pashinyan said introduction of joint control models at border crossing points was being “actively” discussed between the customs authorities of the two countries, with the talks aiming to reduce time required for customs procedures.

The discussion at the session also touched on the importance of peace and stability in the region, with Garibashvili noting his office continued efforts to facilitate the peace process and was ready to continue its involvement.

The Armenian PM said he had presented the Peace Crossroads project at the session, with the initiative aimed at assisting growth of regional relations.

In this process the issue of protecting the sovereignty of states is very important, and our region can become a very important regional road between the south and the north, the west and the east, and in all this great importance is attached to inclusiveness, and all states will be given the opportunity to participate in economic projects”, Pashinyan said.

He added a “good” example of economic projects was the Black Sea submarine electricity cable project – intended to connect the grids of the South Caucasus and European Union member states – in which Armenia had a “great interest”.

Armenia warns of risk of escalation after Aliyev’s explicit territorial claims

Ara Felekian

 17:13,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. There is a risk of escalation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said Tuesday.

“I think that there’s a risk of escalation even at this moment,” FM Mirzoyan said at a press briefing when asked whether the likelihood of tensions would grow during the U.S. presidential elections and the EP elections, when international partners will be focused on domestic agenda. “At least the rhetoric we’ve witnessed in the Azerbaijani president’s interview doesn’t allow us to be off guard, not even for a second.”  

FM Mirzoyan said that the Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, in his interview, made explicit territorial claims against the sovereign territory of Armenia.

“We saw them call various Armenian cities and provinces with distorted names, and they called nearly the entire territory of the Republic of Armenia as Western Azerbaijan. There’s always likelihood of escalation. Would this likelihood grow during ongoing elections in various countries? I think it would be rational not to think that way,” he said.

Reviving Heritage: The ‘In the Mountains’ Festival in Armenia

Ara Felekian
Jan 20 2024

By: Momen Zellmi

In the picturesque setting of Tatev, Armenia, on June 24 and 25, the echoes of history and legends will come alive during the immersive festival ‘In the Mountains’. The festival, an initiative designed to boost cultural and gastronomic tourism in Syunik, is a vibrant celebration of the region’s history and legends. The event, meticulously crafted, offers a multitude of experiences, including theatrical performances, master classes, music, national dances, and games, along with a taste of traditional dishes.

Tours of historic old villages are also on the itinerary, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the region’s cultural heritage. Among the highlights of the festival is the opportunity to experience the TaTever aerial tramway over the Vorotan gorge and the Tatev monastery complex from the 9th century. The latter, a spiritual haven accessible by the Wings of Tatev cable car, offers breathtaking views of the gorge. Notably, the TaTever aerial tramway holds the Guinness World Record for the longest passenger aerial tramway.

Under the leadership of Sisian Boghossian, the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Armenia has been instrumental in organizing the festival, underlining its role in attracting tourism to Armenia in four main directions: adventure, culture, gastronomy, and nature. The festival’s potential to boost tourism and provide socio-economic benefits to the community has also been highlighted by Ani Davtyan, the project manager. The festival is supported by the Tourism Committee of the Ministry of Economy of Armenia and organized by Tatev Revival Foundation, Ruben Vardanyan Foundation, Impulse Management Company, and TaTever aerial tramway.

Unique features of the festival include an interactive performance titled ‘History of Syunik. travel through time’, a crafts fair, and musical performances. A dedicated children’s entertainment zone ensures the event is family-friendly, while the ‘Medieval dinner with the noble Orbelian family’ offers an intriguing gastronomic experience. These initiatives are part of the ‘Tatev Revival’ Foundation’s focus on restoring the Tatev Monastery and developing the region. As such, the festival is more than just a celebration; it’s a testament to Armenia’s commitment to preserving and promoting its rich cultural heritage.

Armenia’s prime minister says his country needs a new constitution -Ifax

Ara Felekian
The Straits Times, Singapore
Jan 19 2024

TBILISI – Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Friday that his country needed a new constitution to entrench its "democratic aspirations", Russia's Interfax news agency reported.

It quoted Pashinyan as telling a meeting at the country's justice ministry: "We must have a Constitution that will make the Republic of Armenia more competitive and more viable in the new geopolitical and regional conditions".

Pashinyan, a longtime liberal opposition leader who swept to power on the back of a 2018 revolution which ousted the former ruling elite, was cited as saying it was vital to do everything possible to shore up Armenia's legitimacy.

Under Pashinyan, Armenia fought and lost a 2020 war with Azerbaijan over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region whose ethnic Armenian population fled en masse last year after an Azerbaijani military operation.

Pashinyan has also taken steps to distance Armenia from traditional ally Russia, building ties with Western countries instead while also engaging in talks to sign a potential peace treaty with Azerbaijan that would end three decades of conflict. REUTERS

Armenpress: Armenia presents vision on new avenues of deepening partnership with European Union

Ara Felekian

 11:30,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. On January 12, Armenian Ambassador to the EU Tigran Balayan participated at the roundtable discussion with Permanent Representatives and Ambassadors of the EU member states, high-level representatives of the European Commission and EEAS, the Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union said in a press release.

The meeting was organized by the Permanent Representative of Greece to the EU Ambassador Ioannis Vrailas in a follow-up to the Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan’s participation at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on December 11, 2023.

During the discussion Ambassador Balayan presented Armenia’s vision on new avenues of deepening partnership with the European Union, following EU Council decisions. He touched upon the ideas and proposals that are aimed at the intensification of Armenia-EU relations with a final goal of upgrading them to a qualitatively new level.

The participants expressed full support for Armenia’s ambitious reforms and rapprochement agenda and promised to continue the cooperation in this regard.

In his introduction and while answering many questions from the colleagues, Ambassador Balayan outlined Armenia’s approaches for long-lasting peace in the South Caucasus region.

Armenia’s Ambassador gave a detailed presentation on the reasons and consequences of the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh, underlining that the feeling of impunity in Baku, which once again manifested two days ago with more irredentist, menacing and provocative statements of the Azerbaijani president, is already threatening the very fragile situation.

In Memoriam: Assembly Regional Director Arpi Vartanian

Ara Felekian

Washington, D.C. – The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) mourns the passing of Arpi Vartanian, the Assembly's Regional Director in Yerevan, Armenia.


A longtime and instrumental member of the Assembly's staff team, Vartanian served the organization in numerous capacities, both at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., including a stint as Acting Executive Director, and in its regional office in Yerevan, for nearly three decades.


"The Assembly shares the deep pain of her family, neighbors, and many friends in this unexpected and tragic loss, as do the countless people Arpi positively impacted through her personal touches and through her training and advocacy work over the decades, and sustained commitment to serving the Armenian people and the causes of democracy and human rights," said Assembly Co-Chairs Van Krikorian and Anthony Barsamian. "Arpi truly loved Armenia and Artsakh, along with her friends and colleagues. Her professionalism and her joy in our efforts shone through with all of us. In partial tribute, an endowed fund for interns in Armenia, a program she pioneered, is being established and the Director's office in our Yerevan office will be named in her honor. It will be difficult to imagine those without her."


Vartanian began employment in Yerevan in 1994 as Director of the Assembly's NGO Training and Resource Center, followed by roles as the Director of Grassroots and Internship Program in 1996, Country Director for Armenia and Artsakh in 1997, Acting Executive Director in 2000, and assumed the role of the newly-formed Armenia Regional Director position in 2015 that included responsibilities for Assembly undertakings in Armenia and Artsakh. She worked closely with the Assembly's flagship office in D.C., as well as the Assembly's regional offices in Los Angeles, Boston, and New York. Vartanian also served as Director of AGBU's Yerevan Office in 2012.


A native of Michigan, where she attended the AGBU Alex and Marie Manoogian School, Vartanian graduated from Dearborn High School and Albion College, followed by the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. Vartanian moved to Armenia in 1993 and amassed a wealth of hands-on experience on the ground by carrying out countless projects of the Assembly on behalf of the people of Armenia.


"Arpi's deep knowledge of Armenia, Artsakh and America was invaluable. Her insights and tireless work behind the scenes led to many achievements," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "She will be dearly missed by her Assembly family, colleagues, and all those whose lives she touched."


During her tenure with the organization, Vartanian served as the conduit between the homeland and the U.S., helped raise public awareness of Armenian issues with U.S. and other officials, spearheaded educational initiatives, coordinated and participated in meetings with members of government and community leaders, collaborated with national and international organizations, and connected with youth from the Diaspora and Armenia, including leading the Assembly's Yerevan Summer Internship Program, which was established in 1999.


Vartanian also routinely traveled and led Congressional Member Delegations to Artsakh. In the aftermath of the 2020 Artsakh War, she was joined by Assembly Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan on a trip to assess the plight of people and the ensuing humanitarian crisis.


With her close knowledge of the country and its institutions, Vartanian coordinated numerous Armenian Assembly missions to Armenia, organizing their itineraries and securing meetings with key officials. Vartanian greeted hundreds of Armenian Assembly members who were introduced to the country through her and her generous spirit.


She also skillfully steered many delegations, large and small, ranging from U.S. journalists and analysts to government officials and special guests to meet their objectives and improve Armenia's standing with the international community.


Memorably, Vartanian welcomed the Morgenthau family to Armenia in 1999 and saw to every detail of their visit from meeting President Robert Kocharian to joining the Armenian people on April 24 in laying flowers at the genocide memorial in remembrance of their grandfather Ambassador Morgenthau. A larger gathering of the Morgenthau family traveled to Armenia for the centennial commemorations in 2015, and Vartanian again made all necessary arrangements for their introduction to Armenia and its grateful people.


With her devoted work through the Assembly that positively impacted Armenia, Vartanian was awarded the Medal of Gratitude in 2017 from President Serzh Sargsyan expressly for her "contributions to the strengthening of Fatherland-Diaspora relations."


Reflecting on receiving the distinction, Vartanian stated that she was "honored" to receive the presidential award and she remains "dedicated to Armenia and the work we do to better relations with the United States for the good of our people in Armenia and Artsakh."


Vartanian also received a Certificate of Congressional Recognition from Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) for her role in bolstering relations between the U.S., Armenia, and Artsakh, as well as a Certificate of Recognition from the City of Los Angeles by Mayor Eric Garcetti.

"We were heartbroken to hear of Arpi's passing," said Assembly President Carolyn Mugar. "We worked together for many years, and she had the heart of the Assembly embedded within her as she was with us for so much of our history. Arpi witnessed positive changes in Armenia and built many long-standing relationships in the homeland and in the U.S. We mourn for her family and friends." 


Burial services will take place tomorrow, Friday, at 2 pm at Arin Berd Cemetery in Armenia. Memorial services will take place in the U.S. and Armenia, with details to follow.


Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.


NR#2024-01

Greek Foreign Minister arrives in Armenia

Ara Felekian

 22:02, 9 January 2024

YEREVAN, JANUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, George Gerapetritis, has arrived in Armenia on an official visit.

The Greek Foreign Minister will pay a visit to the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Afterwards George Gerapetritis is scheduled to meet with his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan. A joint press conference of the foreign ministers of Armenia and Greece is planned to take place after their meeting.

AW: Chiden Inch: The Enemy’s Oud

Ara Felekian
January 9, 2024 Mark Gavoor Opinion 0

Mark Gavoor holding his carbon fiber oud

I have a good friend who is Palestinian. He is a very talented musician, plays several instruments very well and has a deep understanding of music of the Arab world and other cultures in the Middle East. We are in the same orchestra along with 40 other musicians, perform three concerts a year and practice eight times for each concert. 

I have a number of ouds. One that I favor most these days I purchased most recently during the pandemic. It is a carbon fiber, solid black oud made in Israel. Because of the color and material, many of my musician friends consider it unconventional. They also are not particularly fond of the sound. Me? I love the color and the durability of the carbon fiber. I also think the sound is deep and rich. This oud fits my style of play. 

With the brutal attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7 and the even more brutal response in Gaza, my friend has been very despondent, and for good reason. The Armenians lost Artsakh on September 28, a mere nine days before the Hamas attack, after a horrible siege by Azerbaijan. Armenians, myself included, have been increasingly despondent since the 2020 war with Azerbaijan. 

At a rehearsal in November, I was tuning my oud before practice. My friend was walking by and said, “I see you brought the enemy’s oud.” I was not sure what to say. In that instant I understood his pain, but it amplified my pain of the total lack of interest in the three-year plight of Armenians leading to the fall of Artsakh.  All I could think to say was, “You know the maker of this oud was an Israeli aerospace engineer named Meir Yaakov Efergen. He stopped making weapons to make instruments.”  

In that instant I understood his pain, but it amplified my pain of the total lack of interest in the three-year plight of Armenians leading to the fall of Artsakh. 

I understand the feelings of my friend. He could not believe or accept what was happening to his people in Gaza. He felt helpless. All he could do was post on social media, protest and participate in concerts to raise money for aid. It is exactly how I have felt for three years regarding Artsakh. 

A few weeks later, I was still thinking about this exchange with my friend; the enemy’s oud indeed. As a result, I left the carbon fiber oud at home and used a very traditional, classic instrument made by arguably the most famous oud maker, Emaniolis, who was a Greek living in Istanbul at the turn of the 20th century.  At another rehearsal, I asked my friend, “Do you recall calling my carbon fiber oud ‘the enemy’s oud?’” He didn’t, and I understood, given the swirl of emotions the war on Gaza has caused for so many people. I went on to say, “You went to Istanbul and had an oud made to your exact specifications by the most talented living maker in Istanbul. I have never called your instrument ‘the enemy’s oud.’”

This all made me reflect on a quote from the great troubadour Aram Tigran (1934-2009) that was going through my head: “If I come to the world again, I will melt all of the tanks, rifles and weapons, and make sazes, cümbüşes and zurnas.” I would love to see that happen.

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Mark Gavoor is Associate Professor of Operations Management in the School of Business and Nonprofit Management at North Park University in Chicago. He is an avid blogger and oud player.