17:28, 3 June 2023
YEREVAN, JUNE 3, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has arrived in Ankara, Turkey to participate in the inauguration ceremony of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
PM Pashinyan was welcomed at the airport by Ambassador Serdar Kilic, Turkey’s special envoy for normalization with Armenia.
The ANCA Policy Seminar will include presentations by respected experts across the fields of government, media and public relations, in addition to roundtable discussions and advocacy workshops.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Several prominent Armenian-American professionals in the field of government, media and public affairs will headline the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Policy Seminar at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on June 4.
The invitation-only program will include presentations by respected experts across the fields of government, media and public relations, in addition to roundtable discussions and advocacy workshops. The seminar will bring together ANCA activists from across the United States and provide a platform for community leaders to gain insights and share their own experiences into the most effective approaches for promoting grassroots political engagement, building momentum behind state and regional policy priorities, and advancing our community’s federal legislative priorities through sustained advocacy.
The conference will be headlined by Ken Khachigian, who will offer reflections on his career as an influential political strategist in a fireside chat with ANCA Nevada co-chair Lenna Hovanessian.
Khachigian, known as the “Lion of California GOP [Republican Party] Politics,” served as an adviser on nine presidential campaigns – and worked in the Presidential administrations of Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford. Most notably, he served as President Reagan’s chief speechwriter, authoring many of the president’s most consequential speeches – including his remarks on Holocaust Remembrance Day, where Reagan became the first President to publicly acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.
Khachigian also served as a senior advisor on California Governor George Deukmejian’s gubernatorial campaigns and managed the California campaign for Presidential candidate Bob Dole – a long-time champion of the Armenian people.
The conference will also feature a panel discussion led by prominent Armenian Americans in the field of media and communications. Senior political editor at POLITICO Charlie Mahtesian will join senior vice president of Edelman Public Relations Stephan Pechdimaldji and AXIOS Breaking News reporter Sareen Habeshian in a discussion on how the Armenian-American community can more effectively impact the media landscape.
In addition to his current role at POLITICO, Mahtesian has served as the editor-in-chief of National Journal’s Almanac of American Politics, the biennial book often referred to as “the bible of American politics,” as well as politics editor and deputy Washington desk chief at National Public Radio (NPR). Pechdimaldji is a communications strategist who has managed public and media relations for some of the top publishing and media companies in the country, including Time Inc., Los Angeles Times, Yahoo!, and CBS Interactive. Habeshian is a reporter with Axios, prior to which she worked at KTLA as a digital news producer – where she extensively contributed to coverage of the Armenian American community.
The ANCA Policy Seminar will also feature a panel discussion with Armenian-American elected officials who have played a critical role in advancing issues of importance to the Armenian-American community – including Glendale City councilmember and former mayor of Glendale Ardashes “Ardy” Kassakhian, Glendale City councilmember Elen Asatryan, and Rolling Hills Estates city councilmember and professor of governance at the University of Southern California Frank Zerunyan.
The conference will conclude with a panel discussion featuring ANCA executive director Aram Hamparian and ANCA Government Affairs director Tereza Yerimyan, who will provide an overview of the ANCA’s short- and long-term strategic policy objectives, including the organization’s engagement with key Congressional and Administration branch stakeholders on the following priorities:
— Delivering sustained US pressure on Azerbaijan to end its blockade of Artsakh
— Prohibiting all US arms sales and security assistance to Azerbaijan
— Providing immediate US humanitarian assistance to Artsakh
— Ensuring accountability for Azerbaijan’s ongoing war crimes and human rights abuses
— Securing the release of Armenian POWs illegally detained and tortured by Azerbaijan
— Defining Armenia’s security as the highest US-Armenia bilateral priority
— Recognizing the Artsakh Republic’s inalienable right to self-determination
The ANCA Policy Seminar will build upon a legacy of ANCA service to the cause of Armenian liberty that dates back more than a century, leveraging robust youth programs, vast grassroots reach in all 50 states, vigorous community engagement, and resilient coalition partnerships. The ANCA, as a grassroots Armenian American organization with chapters throughout the US, is deeply anchored in the community. The ANCA remains aligned with our enduring national aspirations – the security and survival of the Armenian homeland – while constantly updating our policy priorities and advocacy tactics to adapt to and overcome the challenges of a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.
20:14, 1 June 2023
YEREVAN, JUNE 1, ARMENPRESS. The meeting of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and European Council President Charles Michel is planned for July 21 in Brussels, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.
“The five-sided meeting of the Prime Minister of Armenia, the President of France, the Chancellor of Germany, the President of the European Council and the President of Azerbaijan took place in Chișinău
The five-sided meeting of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, European Council President Charles Michel and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev took place in Chișinău.
During the meeting, issues related to the unblocking of regional transport and economic infrastructures, border delimitation and border security between the two countries, the agreement on the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the need to address the rights and security of the people of Nagorno Karabakh, as well as POWs, missing persons and other humanitarian issues were discussed.
On July 21, a meeting of the Prime Minister of Armenia, the President of the European Council, and the President of Azerbaijan is scheduled in Brussels”, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
16:54, 2 June 2023
YEREVAN, 2 JUNE, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 2 June, USD exchange rate up by 0.24 drams to 387.22 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 2.43 drams to 416.92 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 4.78 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 2.66 drams to 485.19 drams.
The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.
Gold price up by 139.03 drams to 24579.49 drams. Silver price up by 3.11 drams to 292.44 drams.
[see video]
Asbarez Editor Ara Khachatourian interviewed Glendale Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Vivian Ekchian and the district’s Director of Teaching and Learning, Lena Kortoshian.
The two school officials detailed the achievements by the district that include year-to-year increase in students graduating, as well as an uptick in math and English language proficiency.
Dr. Ekchian presented a comprehensive overview of the student demographics, highlighting that of the 59.3 percent of students who identify as White, 68.7 percent are Armenian. She also delineated the myriad programs the school system offers to ensure the wellness and safety of students.
The school officials emphasized that GUSD is a safe and inclusive environment, where students – regardless of their backgrounds – are afforded the same level attention and access for every child to learn and thrive.
Dr. Ekchian encouraged involvement by the parents, as they are an integral and welcome part of the school community. She, however, stressed that there are curriculum guidelines and standards set by the State of California that every school district must follow, adding that GUSD has made strides to include parents in an effort to effectively ensure the highest standards of learning.
A special PowerPoint presentation was featured during the interview that Asbarez is sharing below.
The Glendale Unified School District has been continuously ranks as one of the top school districts in the State of California.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz joined the talks in Moldova on June 1
Azerbaijan is angry at President Emmanuel Macron of France after the Élysée Palace said that during talks in Moldova on Thursday European leaders called for the release of all prisoners of war and to refrain from “hostile rhetoric.”
“European leaders have called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to respect all their commitments, in particular that of releasing war detainees as soon as possible,” the Elysee Palace said in a statement after Macron, along with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, joined talks between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan hosted by European Council President Charles Michel in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova on Thursday.
According to the Elysee Palace statement, Macron specifically insisted on the importance of not indulging in any hostile rhetoric and for continuing the efforts for a return to peace for the benefit of all the populations in the region.
“They [EU leaders] also recalled the importance of the contribution of the EU monitoring mission in Armenia. Finally, they stressed the importance of defining rights and guarantees for the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh,” the statement reads.
Azerbaijan on Friday accused Macron of distorting the parties’ positions at the Moldova talks.
Aykhan Hajizadeh, Azerbaijan foreign ministry spokesperson, called Macron’s statement “unilateral,” adding that “it does not reflect the position of the parties and distorts it.”
“It is not the first time that France is demonstrating such behavior that does not contribute to the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, peace and stability in the region,” Hajizadeh said.
Baku welcomed statements by Michel and the State Department, which voiced optimism about the talks, but rejected the Elysee Palace statement.
Friday, June 2, 2023
Pashinian’s Remark On Ukraine War ‘Noted’ By Moscow
• Astghik Bedevian
UKRAINE – Smoke erupts following a shell explosion, amid Russia's attack on
Ukraine, in Bakhmut, in this screengrab obtained from a handout video released
on May 7, 2023
Moscow said on Friday that it “took note” of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s
remark that Armenia is “not Russia’s ally in the war with Ukraine.”
Pashinian said this when he spoke to the Czech TV channel CNN Prima News during
a visit to Prague in early May. The Armenian government’s press office released
the transcript of his interview late on Thursday as he took part in a summit of
the European Political Community attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskiy.
“We are not Russia’s ally in the war with Ukraine, and our feeling from that war
is anxiety because it directly influences all our relationships,” Pashinian told
the broadcaster. “In the West, they first and foremost note that we are an ally
of Russia, while in Russia, they see that we are not their ally in the Ukraine
war. So we are not anybody’s ally in this situation, which means that we are
vulnerable.”
MOLDOVA – President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (C) in a joint photo of the
participants of the summit of the European Political Community, June 1, 2023
“We took note of it,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, reacting to
Pashinian’s remarks. “This is an important statement. We know that there are
certain nuances in Armenia's approaches to the conflict over Ukraine. We take
them into account, we know them.”
Armenia has not publicly condemned or backed the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It
has repeatedly abstained from UN General Assembly resolutions accusing Moscow of
military aggression.
Pashinian complained on Wednesday that the escalating conflict in Ukraine is
narrowing Armenia’s “room for maneuver.” He did not elaborate.
Artur Khachatrian, an Armenian opposition parliamentarian, claimed on Friday
that Yerevan is under growing Western pressure to take sides in the conflict.
“Russia can’t say openly, ‘Make a choice: either you are on our side or on the
opposite side,’” Khachatrian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.
Russia - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinian meet in Moscow, May 25, 2023.
In his words, Russian President Vladimir Putin only hinted that Armenia is
taking advantage of the Western sanctions against Russia during a Eurasian
Economic Union (EEU) summit in Moscow last week.
“It will be difficult for us to keep up with Armenia … Their GDP growth is more
than 12 percent [in 2022.] This is a very high, serious indicator,” said Putin.
The double-digit growth was primarily driven by soaring trade with and cash
flows from Russia. Armenian exports to Russia nearly tripled to $2.4 billion
last year. Goods manufactured in third countries and re-exported from Armenia to
Russia are believed to have accounted for most of that gain.
Pashinian insisted earlier this year that Armenia is not helping Russia evade
the Western sanctions.
Pashinian Satisfied With Fresh Talks With Aliyev
Moldova - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashianian attends a summit in Chisinau,
June 1, 2023.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has described his latest meeting with Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev as “useful” but disclosed few of its details.
Pashinian and Aliyev met in Moldova’s capital Chisinau on Thursday on the
sidelines of a European summit. They were joined by EU chief Charles Michel,
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. No concrete
agreements were announced as a result.
Michel said the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders will meet again in Brussels on
July 21. According to Pashinian, their foreign ministers will hold fresh talks
in Washington on June 12 in preparation for the next summit.
“On the whole, I consider the discussion useful,” Pashinian told a group of
ethnic Armenians from Moldova and Ukraine in Chisinau later in the evening.
He did not clarify whether the conflicting parties narrowed their differences on
an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty. He said Baku now seems to accept an
Armenian proposal to use 1975 Soviet maps as a basis for delimiting and
demarcating the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
Aliyev last week insisted that the border demarcation must be carried out on
Baku’s terms and warned of fresh military action against Armenia. Yerevan
condemned his threats.
Baku also shed little light on the Chisinau talks. The Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry on Friday accused Macron’s office of misrepresenting them. But it did
not specify which concrete parts of a French readout of the talks “distort the
positions of the parties.”
In a late-night statement, the presidential Elysee Palace said Aliyev and
Pashinian “reaffirmed mutual respect for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
and Armenia.” It also said the European leaders “stressed the importance of
defining rights and guarantees for the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh.”
Armenian PM To Attend Erdogan’s Inauguration
TURKEY - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greets the audience as he
attends the Non-Governmental Organizations and Muhtars Meeting in Ankara, on May
24, 2023.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian will attend the inauguration of Turkey’s newly
reelected President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, it was announced on Friday.
“The Republic of Armenia has received an invitation to take part in Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s swearing-in ceremony,” said the Armenian
government’s press office. “Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian will leave
for Ankara on June 3 to take part in the ceremony.”
The short statement did not specify whether the invitation was personally
addressed to Pashinian.
Pashinian, who is accused by his political opponents of making unilateral
concessions to Turkey and Azerbaijan, rushed to congratulate Erdogan on winning
reelection in a run-off vote on May 28. He said he hopes to continue “working
together towards full normalization of relations between our countries.”
Erdogan’s first presidential inauguration in 2014 was attended by then Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.
Turkey has since continued to make the opening of the border and the
establishment of diplomatic relations with Armenia conditional on an
Armenian-Azerbaijani peace deal acceptable to Azerbaijan. Turkish leaders have
repeatedly reaffirmed this precondition since the start of the normalization
talks with Yerevan in January 2022.
Armenia - A monument in Yerevan dedicated to Armenians who had assassinated
masterminds and perpetrators of the 1915 Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey,
April 25, 2023.
Tensions between the two neighboring states were reignited in late April after
municipal authorities in Yerevan unveiled a monument dedicated to Armenians who
had assassinated masterminds and perpetrators of the 1915 Armenian genocide in
Ottoman Turkey.
The Turkish government strongly condemned the move and banned Armenian airlines
from flying over Turkey to third countries. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu
threatened last week “new measures” against Armenia if the monument is not
removed soon.
Pashinian described the erection of the monument as a “wrong decision” when he
spoke to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service earlier in May.
During the presidential election campaign, Erdogan and his political allies
repeatedly touted Turkey’s decisive military assistance to Azerbaijan provided
during the 2020 war with Armenia. They accused Erdogan’s main challenger, Kemal
Kilicdaroglu, of opposing Ankara’s political and military alliance with Baku.
Violent Policeman Indicted After Public Uproar
• Naira Bulghadarian
Armenia -- Police officer Arsen Ghaytmazian.
Facing a public uproar, Armenian law-enforcement authorities reversed on Friday
their decision not to prosecute a senior police officer who beat up a teenage
waiter at a hotel in the resort town of Dilijan.
A regional prosecutor ordered investigators to not only indict but also arrest
Arsen Ghaytmazian, the chief of the Dilijan police department’s investigative
unit.
A video circulated on Thursday shows Ghaytmazian repeatedly hitting the
17-year-old waiter, Araz Amirian. According to Amirian’s lawyer, the drunk
officer assaulted him on April 10 after being told to pay for a hotel room
upfront.
Armenia’s Investigative Committee said later on Thursday that it has not brought
criminal charges against Ghaytmazian because he has cooperated with its criminal
investigation, “fully regretted” his actions and apologized to the young man. It
said a prosecutor overseeing the probe has approved the decision.
The decision was strongly condemned by the victim’s family and human rights
activists. It also sparked outrage on social media. Two pro-government members
of the Armenian parliament added their voice to the uproar.
“We, the parents, haven’t forgiven and will not forgive him and we will not
withdraw our complaint,” the waiter’s mother, Araksya Artinian, told RFE/RL’s
Armenia Service. “He must be put on trial.”
The Office of the Prosecutor-General announced afterwards that the chief
prosecutor of northern Tavush province encompassing Dilijan instructed the local
division of the Investigative Committee to reopen the criminal case, charge
Ghaytmazian with assault and seek court permission to hold him in detention.
The policeman will face between three and seven years in prison if tried and
found guilty. According to the Interior Ministry, he was earlier suspended
pending an internal police inquiry.
“I am ready to apologize to those public circles who may be disappointed with
the work of the law-enforcement system because of this case,” said Argishti
Kyaramian, the head of the Investigative Committee.
Kyaramian said his Tavush subordinates were wrong to close the case. But he at
the same time sought to shift the blame onto the regional prosecutor, arguing
that the latter endorsed the initial decision not to prosecute the officer.
Artur Sakunts, a human rights activist, accused the Investigative Committee of
trying to dodge responsibility for what he sees as an attempted cover-up of the
assault. He said that both the Tavush prosecutor and the investigator in charge
of the case must at least be fired.
Ani Chatinian, another activist, said police brutality remains a serious problem
in Armenia despite police reforms declared by the authorities. She argued that
law-enforcement officers are still rarely prosecuted for such abuses.
Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2023 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
A senior police officer in Dilijan, north Armenia, is facing criminal prosecution after beating a minor working as a waiter. While the incident was reported in May, a criminal case against the officer was only reopened after a video of the incident was widely shared on social media.
Armenia’s Investigative Committee stated that while Arsen Ghaitmazyan, the head of the criminal department of the town’s police force, beat the teenager on 10 April, the victim’s parents only addressed law enforcement agencies on 10 May, reports RFE/RL.
Armenian news outlet Armlur.am on Thursday published a one-minute video in which an adult man can be seen attacking a teenager, pulling him around a kitchen and repeatedly hitting him. At the end of the video, the victim, reported to be either 16 or 17 years old, is seen running away from his attacker.
The young man’s lawyer, Sasun Rafayelyan, told RFE/RL that Ghaitmazyan arrived at the hotel drunk, and wanted to rent a hotel room.
The minor, who was an employee of the Haghartsin restaurant and hotel complex in Dilijan, asked Ghaitmazyan how long he wanted to stay at the hotel and noted that payment was required in advance. Ghaitmazyan disagreed and stated that he would ‘pay whenever he wanted’, said Rafayelyan, before beginning the conflict.
The video also shows another person present in the kitchen throughout the incident, who does not make any attempt to intervene. The bystander has not yet been publicly identified.
The incident was reported on 10 May, and a criminal case opened on the same day, said Gor Abramyan, the spokesperson for Armenia’s Investigative Committee. However, the prosecutor’s office then decided not to charge Ghaitmazyan due to his admission of guilt, ‘active remorse’, cooperation with the investigation, and the fact that ‘bodily injuries’ were not observed on the victim.
The minor’s lawyer, however, argued that the decision not to charge Ghaitmazyan was attributable to ‘patronage’.
After the video was widely shared on 1 June, sparking public criticism of the police officer and corresponding law enforcement processes, Armenia’s Prosecutor General announced that a case had been reopened against Ghaitmazyan.
The statement, published on 2 June, added that Ghaitmazyan’s actions had caused the minor ‘severe physical pain’, while also noting that the investigation would additionally assess possible violations of child labour laws by the hotel and restaurant.
Daniel Ioannisyan, head of the Union of Informed Citizens, a prominent Armenian NGO, and a former member of Armenia’s Police Reform Commission, told RFE/RL on Friday that law enforcement officials have repeatedly gone unpunished after physically assaulting citizens, and suggested that police chief Vahe Ghazaryan did not want to reform the system.
‘Vahe Ghazaryan, it seems to me, is simply against real deep reforms, he wants people to be afraid of the police, that is the good state he imagines,’ said Ioannisyan.
If Ghaitmazyan is found guilty, he reportedly faces imprisonment for up to two months, or ‘restriction of freedom’ for two years.
Multiple outlets have reported that Ghaitmazyan was suspended from his official duties but are unclear as to when this took place, with some claiming this had been the case since 5 May. OC Media was unable to directly verify this information.
Wine has always been an inseparable part of Armenian history. Just look at Areni-1, an ancient winery discovered in the village of Areni in 2007, with well-preserved clay vessels, a wine press for stomping grapes, drinking cups and withered grape vines, skins and seeds. Armenian wine even withstood a 70-year-long Soviet ruling that decreed grapes were to be used only for brandy, vodka and fortified wine production. It was only after independence was proclaimed in 1991 that a few vintners were able to take the first steps to reestablish the winemaking traditions of the new Republic of Armenia. Now, Armenian wine has emerged as a global player in the modern era.
“Armenian wine is ancient and also entirely new,” said Master of Wine Christy Canterbury, who participated in L.A.’s Armenian-wine-centered GiniFest virtually from New York. “Today, producers are experimenting and rediscovering how best to make their wines but also how to plant and farm their vineyards. The possibilities are endless.”
This new chapter started with growers such as the Mkrtchyan family of Voskeni Wines, Zorik Gharibian of Zorah Wines, Varuzhan Mouradian of Van Ardi Winery and others who chose winemaking as an investment in their homeland and a way to honor their ancestors. With the help of prominent winemakers, Armenian vintners worked with the terroir to bring out the intense flavors of the grapes.
“Armenia’s terroir relates to some of the hottest topics in the wine industry today: volcanic soils and high-altitude, cool-climate vineyards,” said certified sommelier Irina Ponomarenko. These conditions are ideal for grapes growing in Armenia’s winemaking regions of Aragatsotn, Tavush, Armavir, Ararat, Vayots Dzor, Syunik and the Republic of Artsakh, and part of what separates them from Old World wines produced in France, Italy or Germany.
Areni, Voskehat and Sireni are the most popular wine grape varieties native to Armenia, dating back 4,000 to 6,000 years, and used to create wines ranging from sparkling to still, and even dessert wines. With thick, dark skin, Areni is disease-resistant and strong enough to survive the country’s harsh winters, lending itself to elegant, full-bodied wines. Voskehat, which translates to golden berry, is considered the queen of the Armenian varieties. Not as disease-resistant as Areni, it makes delicate white wines with aromas of fruits and wildflowers. Sireni is the indigenous grape variety of the Republic of Artsakh and is known for its robust flavors.
Historically, multiple varieties were planted together in a single vineyard, with all of the different grapes harvested at the same time and made into a single wine. Today, Armenian winegrowers are separating the varieties in order to understand how each of the grapes performs differently.
“Armenian wine brings us grapes we don’t see grown anywhere else in the world, grapes that are uniquely Armenian,” Canterbury said. “Take Areni, Armenia’s signature red grape. It is an ancient grape that has been largely isolated in this part of the Caucasus. It’s a rugged survivor. Also, it is grown at very high elevation, around and even over 4,000 feet above sea level. These conditions give the grape a remarkable intensity of flavors and structure.”
Recently, a collaboration between Armenian producer Maran Winery and the Institute of Molecular Biology revealed another lost indigenous grape variety — Areni Blanc. This grape now is being used by Maran Winery in its white and orange wine production.
In celebration of Armenia’s winemaking traditions, every year winemakers fly from Armenia to Los Angeles to offer their craft at GiniFest (gini translates to wine in Armenian), an Armenian wine and spirits festival founded in 2018 by sommelier and winemaker Anush Gharibyan O’Connor with L.A. philanthropist Stepan Partamian.
“When I was earning my degree at the Agrarian University of Armenia, my teacher would often speak with great enthusiasm and admiration about Bordeaux wines,” O’Connor said. “I couldn’t help but wonder if Armenian wine would ever garner the same level of recognition, and how I could help facilitate that. Could Areni become a grape that would be known in other countries like the United States?”
Starting with only 10 wineries, year by year GiniFest has grown. This year’s festival brought more than 50 Armenian winemakers from around the world, offering more than 200 wines made from indigenous Armenian varietals and aged in traditional clay vessels and oak barrels.
Husband-and-wife Alex and Talar Sarafian bought their 15-acre Sarafian Vineyards in Artsakh in 2005 as a passion project, selling indigenous Sireni grapes to other wineries. In 2018, the pair began producing estate-grown wines under their new Aran Wines label, including the first rosé made with Sireni grapes. “We like full-bodied wines, like Cabernet Sauvignon, that we are used to drinking here in the U.S.,” Alex Sarafian said. ”When we first tried Sireni, we knew we wanted our wines to be made from that grape.”
Founded in 2013 by the Karapetyan family, less than two kilometers from Areni-1 Cave, Hin Areni vineyards replaced a factory that produced dessert wines during the Soviet Union. On 32 hectares surrounding Areni Village, Hin Areni works specifically with single varietals, highlighting the fresh white fruits and citrus flavors associated with Voskehat and the cherry, black currant and pepper aromas in Areni grapes. A decade after opening, Hin Areni is in the process of building a museum, a guest house and a new vineyard to expand its operations.
GiniFest has introduced Armenian wines to restaurants and wine shops across the U.S., but in Los Angeles in particular. In Studio City, the entire wine list at Rouge restaurant is dedicated to Armenian wines, with more than 20 wineries featured on its list.
“We’ve made it a point to educate all of our guests on the rich history behind the wines, the grape varietals and the ancient winemaking process that is unique to Armenia,” said Rouge co-owner Kevin Zadoyan. “Once in a while, a guest will be confused because the wines are different from what they are used to drinking, but that moment is usually fleeting, and it leads to a second glass more often than not.”
As a new crop of Armenian chefs enters L.A.’s fine-dining arena, many are bringing a modern approach to the far-ranging cuisine of their homeland, while still upholding the tradition of Old World Armenian wines.
“[Wine] works hand in hand with food and cuisine,” said Alex Sarkissian, owner of Momed restaurant in Atwater Village. “Eastern Mediterranean flavors and spices are now being used by established chefs in well-known restaurants, so we can expect wines from those regions to become more popular.”
According to advanced sommelier Paul Sherman, the rise of Armenian wines couldn’t be better timed.
“Culturally, they’re as ‘Old World’ as they can possibly be, but with winemaking traditions that are currently in vogue with the natural wines being made today,” Sherman said. “More importantly, their wines are made with the unique, native grapes of the region, often with no added or needed adornment from oak.”
And with modern wine consumers displaying different preferences, such as a recent trend toward orange and natural wines, Armenian producers are well positioned to capitalize on the moment.
“Armenia provides energetic wines that nonetheless have character and offer a true sense of place,” said Robert Vartanian, advanced sommelier and director of wine at Wally’s. “So much of what makes wine special, even spiritual, is the story behind the bottle: the vineyard, the year, the personalities and cultures that dedicate their lives, even generations, to crafting something beautiful and delicious. Armenia’s is the oldest story.”
Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian will travel to Türkiye on Saturday to attend President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s inauguration ceremony, as the two countries try to mend relations.
“Armenia received an invitation to attend the ceremony of inauguration of the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,” the statement said.
“Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will travel to Ankara on June 3 to take part in the ceremony.”
Armenia and Türkiye have never established formal diplomatic relations and their shared border has been closed since the 1990s.
Türkiye objects to presenting the 1915 incidents as “genocide,” and instead describes the events as a tragedy in which both Turks and Armenians suffered casualties in the heat of World War I.
Ankara has repeatedly proposed the creation of a joint commission of historians from Türkiye and Armenia under the supervision of international experts to examine the issue.
In December 2021, the two countries appointed special envoys to help normalize relations – a year after Armenia lost to Türkiye’s ally Azerbaijan in a war for control of the Armenian-occupied Karabakh region.
Azerbaijan used the help of Turkish combat drones to recapture most of the contested territory that had been under ethnic Armenian control since the 1990s.
In 2009, Ankara and Yerevan signed an agreement to normalize relations, which would have led to the opening up of their shared border.
But Armenia never ratified the deal and in 2018 ditched the process.