Author: Arsine Chaltikian

King Tiridates III – The first Armenian to participate and win the Olympic Games

Arsine Chaltikian

July 27 2023


 

By 

Lianna Agasyan

 

The first Armenian who participated in the Ancient Olympic Games and won the Olympic Games in 281 in ancient Greece was King Tiridates III of Armenia from the Arsacid dynasty of Armenia.

King Tiridates III of Armenia played in the races of quadriga – chariots harnessed by four horses. He won the wrestling competition in 281 at the 265th Games in Greece.

What distinguishes Tiridates III of Armenia is the fact that it was during his reign that Armenia became the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as the state religion in 301.

In 393, in Ancient Greece, the Armenian king of the Varazdat Arsacid dynasty won a wrestling competition, and his name was engraved on a marble slab as the winner of the last Olympiad.

Movses Khorenatsi wrote about the reign of Varazdat: “The philosopher Augustus from Theodosia, nicknamed the Great, in the twentieth year of his reign appointed Varazdat from the same Arsacid dynasty of Armenia as the king of Armenia instead of the Pap.”

Varazdat was young, bold and strong, very skillful and smart. At the time he fled from Shapouh and, having come to the palace of the emperor, accomplished many feats.

First he defeated the fist fighters in Pisa, then in the City of the Sun, Hellada, he beat the lions, and then at the Olympic Games he was honored, and the feats he accomplished could be compared with the deeds of St. Trdat.

Russia Losing Its Predominant Role In Negotiations On Karabakh Issue – OpEd

Arsine Chaltikian
   

By Paul Goble

Given the increasing activity of the US and the EU in the Caucasus, “Russia is losing the exclusivity it used to have in talks about a possible Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement,” according to Sergey Markedonov, one of Moscow’s leading specialists on the Caucasus.

The director of the ethnic relations department at Moscow’s Institute for Political and Military Analysis says that most people have been so focused on the NATO summit in Vilnius that they have failed to pay attention to other events that should be attended to. Among those is what is happening in the South Caucasus about Karabakh (iarex.ru/news/103200.html).

One reason many have ignored this issue recently is that for a long time, they have viewed the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict as “hopeless” and thus think that Moscow need not do anything to maintain the status quo which for decades has worked to its advantage.

But a lengthy interview by Armen Grigoryan, the secretary of the Armenian Security Council, to the Voice of America on July 11 suggests that such confidence may be misplaced, that the situation around Karabakh is in motion, and Russia is being increasingly left behind and thus losing its influence.

The Grigoryan interview is in Armenian at amerikayidzayn.com/a/7176553.html and in English at jam-news.net/armen-grigoryans-interview-with-voice-of-america/. Because Grigoryan is a senior policy maker and often articulates new directions in Yerevan’s policies, it should be attracting more attention than it has so far, Markedonov says.

In his interview, Grigoryan makes four key points: first, talks between Aliyev and Pashinyan could take place far earlier than anyone thinks, second, the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Karabakh hasn’t lived up to expectations; third, “the problem of Karabakh Armenians is not about territory but about civil rights” within Azerbaijan; and fourth, Armenia’s relations with the US are especially important and must be strengthened in every possible way.

All this suggests that “a framework agreement mediated by the West is closer than ever before” and that it will be something that both Yerevan and Baku will be in a position to “sell” domestically. According to Markedonov, “for Russia this is not very good news.” Moscow can blame the Armenians but of late Russia has not devoted the attention to this issue it should.

Russians need to realize that Moscow “is losing its political exclusivity on an Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement every day and more and more. A framework agreement orchestrated by the US and the EU will alas intensify this trend.” Moscow must recognize that it has competitors and not assume that it can ignore them and what they are doing, Markedonov concludes.

Pashinyan, Blinken Discuss Karabakh

Arsine Chaltikian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 July 11, 2023

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

Azerbaijan installed a concrete barrier on the Lachin Corridor on June 22


Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a telephone conversation with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday.

According a readout from the prime minister’s press office, the two discussed “the situation in the region, the ongoing negotiations on the peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the necessary steps to ensure the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, including the need for a Baku-Stepanakert dialogue with international involvement.”

Pashinyan reportedly also addressed the deepening humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh caused by Azerbaijan’s illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor and the steps necessary for ending that crisis.

The call comes days after President Biden’s National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, met with his Armenian counterpart Armen Grigoryan in Washington last week.

Meanwhile, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a briefing that U.S. is looking forward to the next round of talks between Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders, which are scheduled to take place on July 21. He added that the continuing talks will be a sign that the most recent meeting in Washington between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers were successful.

“We continue to believe an agreement is possible and we look forward to further talks in the coming months,” Miller said.

Creative Resistance: A Literary Reading in Paintings, Poetry, Collage and Fiction

Arsine Chaltikian
 Guest Contributor Literary Corner, Announcements 0

BOSTON, Mass.—The Midway Gallery will present poet Arthur Kayzakian and novelist Nancy Agabian on Sunday, July 23 at 4 p.m., who will read from their recent books which demonstrate creativity as a form of personal transformation and political resistance. A conversation and book signing will follow with books by both authors available for sale. Admission is free and refreshments will be served.

In Kayzakian’s The Book of Redacted Paintings, the narrative arc follows a boy in search of his father’s painting, but it is unclear whether the painting exists or not. The book, a poetry collection, is also populated by a series of paintings. Some are real, incomplete and/or missing, while most are redacted from reality. The withdrawn paintings concept is the emotional arc of the book, a combination of wishing one could paint the pieces he/she/they envision and the feeling of something torn out of a person due to a traumatic upbringing—a sort of erasure ekphrasis, to foresee artwork that was never painted.

Kayzakian is the winner of the 2021 Black Lawrence Immigrant Writing Series award for The Book of Redacted Paintings, which was also selected as a finalist for the 2021 Philip Levine Prize for Poetry. He is also the winner of the Finishing Line Press Open Chapbook Competition for his chapbook, My Burning City. He has been a finalist for the Locked Horn Press Chapbook Prize, Two Sylvias Press Chapbook Prize, the C.D. Wright Prize and the Black River Chapbook Competition. He is a contributing editor at Poetry International and a recipient of the Minas Savvas Fellowship. His work has appeared in or is forthcoming from several publications, including Taos Journal of International Poetry & Art, COUNTERCLOCK, Chicago Review, Nat. Brut, Michigan Quarterly Review, Witness Magazine and Prairie Schooner. 

In Agabian’s The Fear of Large and Small Nations, feminist writer and teacher Natalee—aka Na—seeks to reclaim her cultural roots in Armenia only to be confronted with the many contradictions of being a diasporan. When she falls for a charismatic younger man and returns with him to New York City, Na becomes trapped in an abusive web of codependency, bound by intergenerational trauma and political ideals. Written in short stories collaged with intimate journal entries and blog posts, the fragmented narrative reveals what is lost in the tightrope passage between cultures ravaged by violence and colonialism—and what is gained when Na seizes control of her story, pulsating in its many shades and realities, daring to be witnessed.

Agabian’s previous books include Me as her again: True Stories of an Armenian Daughter (aunt lute books), a memoir honored as a Lambda Literary Award finalist for LGBT Nonfiction and shortlisted for a William Saroyan International Writing Prize, and Princess Freak (Beyond Baroque Books), a collection of poetry and performance art texts. In 2021 she was awarded Lambda Literary Foundation’s Jeanne Cόrdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction. The Fear of Large and Small Nations, a finalist for the PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction, is her first novel.




Karabakh Separatist Official Urges Russia To Open Corridor To Armenia

Arsine Chaltikian
BARRON’S
By AFP – Agence France Presse

A separatist official in Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan on Thursday called on Russia to allow movement on the only road linking the breakaway region to Armenia.

“I appeal to the Russian Federation… to ensure unimpeded movement, transportation of people and goods along the corridor,” State Minister Gurgen Nersisyan said on social media, warning that “the situation is terrible, in a few days we will have irreversible consequences.”

bur/gw

https://www.barrons.com/news/karabakh-separatist-official-urges-russia-to-open-corridor-to-armenia-b6664c80


Turkish Press: ​French, Armenian foreign ministers discuss normalization process of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations

Arsine Chaltikian
Turkey – July 7 2023

French, Armenian foreign ministers discuss normalization process of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations


Lasting peace between two countries can only be achieved by respecting the rights and culture of those living in the region, says French foreign minister

11:45 . 7/07/2023 Friday

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna discussed the status of negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan on normalization of relations in a phone call Thursday with her Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan.

Colonna said that France, Europe and the US supported the mediation efforts between the two countries, the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

She pointed out that lasting peace between the two countries can only be achieved by respecting the rights and culture of those living in the region.

She also expressed concern over the deterioration of the security situation there.

Music: Sergey Smbatyan Leads the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra in a Celebration of Sergei Rachmaninoff

Arsine Chaltikian
July 4 2023

The esteemed conductor will lead the orchestra in concert series on July 12 & 13 that celebrates Rachmaninoff’s 150th birthday.

YEREVAN, ARMENIA, July 4, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ — Sergey Smbatyan, the esteemed Armenian conductor, is proud to announce that he will lead the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra in a special concert series dedicated to commemorating the 150th birthday of the legendary composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. The concert series will occur on July 12 and 13 at the renowned Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall in Yerevan, Armenia.

Sergey Smbatyan, the Founding Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, is renowned for his exceptional artistry and leadership. As the Principal Conductor of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, Smbatyan has also garnered international acclaim for his transformative interpretations and innovative programming.

The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra will showcase Rachmaninoff’s exquisite compositions in this extraordinary concert series. On July 12, the orchestra will perform Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp minor, Op.1 and Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30. On July 13, the program will include Piano Concerto No. 4, The Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43, and Piano Concerto No. 2.

“It is an incredibly moving experience to lead the highly acclaimed Armenian State Symphony Orchestra in celebrating Sergei Rachmaninoff’s 150th birthday with these monumental masterworks,” said Sergey Smbatyan. “We aim to deliver an unforgettable musical experience, capturing Rachmaninoff’s compositions’ profound beauty and emotional depth.”

The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, renowned for its spirited performances and commitment to cultural awareness, seeks to bring the rich heritage of classical music to audiences worldwide. Sergey Smbatyan’s artistic vision and the orchestra’s unwavering dedication have resulted in numerous critically acclaimed performances, captivating audiences with passion and musical excellence.

Sergey Smbatyan is committed to promoting the arts in Armenia and developing young musicians. In 2019, he established the “Music for Future” Cultural Foundation intending to promote classical music education in Armenia and provide young musicians with opportunities to develop their talents.

The latest initiative of the “Music for Future” Foundation is the Donation-Concert of the scholars, which will be broadcast LIVE on the Foundation’s Facebook page on July 11 at 08:00 p.m.

Through its various programs and initiatives, Foundation is helping to create a new generation of talented musicians who have the potential to become cultural ambassadors for Armenia.

To learn more about Sergey Smbatyan and upcoming performances, visit https://sergeysmbatyan.com.

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https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/642844394/sergey-smbatyan-leads-the-armenian-state-symphony-orchestra-in-a-celebration-of-sergei-rachmaninoff

Armenia, Turkey leaders discuss normalization of ties

Arsine Chaltikian

Al Mayadeen
  • ByAl Mayadeen 

The Armenian PM and Turkish President exchange congratulations on Muslim and Christian holidays during a rare phone call.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone on Wednesday in an effort to repair their strained relations.

The common border between Armenia and Turkey has been closed since the 1990s, and the two countries have never had formal diplomatic ties.

In further detail, Pashinyan’s office said that the two leaders have exchanged congratulations on Muslim and Christian holidays and “discussed the process of normalization of bilateral relations.”

In early June, Pashinyan traveled to Ankara to attend Erdogan’s inauguration. He was among the first world leaders to congratulate the Turkish President on his re-election.

In December 2021, the two countries appointed special envoys to help normalize relations. The first commercial flights between Turkey and Armenia in two years were restored last year.

It is noteworthy that Ankara and Yerevan agreed to normalize their relations and open their common border in 2009 when they signed the accord. However, Armenia never ratified the deal and in 2018 ditched the process.

The relationship between the two countries, who have never established diplomatic ties, has been strained over historical and political disputes and has further deteriorated due to the Nagorno-Karabakh war after Turkey supported Azerbaijan’s claim to sovereignty over the region.

However, the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria last February has led to some firsts in many years as countries around the world have been raising efforts to send aid and resources to help with the disaster relief efforts.

One of such event was observed on February 11 at one of the Turkish-Aremnian border crossings where, for the first time in 35 years, the crossing was opened to allow aid to pass into quake-struck Turkey.

At the time, Turkey’s special representative for dialogue with Armenia said five trucks holding aid, such as food and water, in addition to a team that will participate in the search-and-rescue efforts, crossed into Turkey through the Alican border crossing.

On February 7, Erdogan thanked Pashinyan for Armenia’s assistance after the devastating earthquake, emphasizing how much the Turkish government values Yerevan’s assistance, according to sources in the Armenian government. 

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/armenia-turkey-leaders-discuss-normalization-of-ties

Russian President is working in the Kremlin. Peskov

Arsine Chaltikian

 15:53,

YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS. The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, works in the Kremlin, ARMENPRESS reports, citing “RIA Novosti”, the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said.

“The President is working in the Kremlin,” Peskov said.

Earlier, a number of Telegram channels wrote that Putin has left Moscow for another region.

EU4Dialogue: grants for non-governmental organisations in Armenia to support conflict-affected border villages

Arsine Chaltikian
 

The EU4Dialogue project invites non-governmental and civil society organisations in Armenia to submit their grant proposals with a focus on the border villages of Gegharkunik, Syunik, Tavush, and Vayots Dzor regions in Armenia. 

Grants will support grassroots initiatives aimed at promoting conflict transformation by improving the living conditions of conflict-affected populations.

The maximum amount allocated for each grant is up to US$25,000.

The deadline for applications is 31 July.

The ‘EU4Dialogue: Support to Conflict Transformation in the South Caucasus and the Republic of Moldova (Component 2)’ project is financed by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Find out more

Press release

July 31, 2023
Calls for proposals
https://euneighbourseast.eu/opportunities/eu4dialogue-grants-for-non-governmental-organisations-in-armenia-to-support-conflict-affected-border-villages/