Author: Emil Lazarian

Armenia, a small but picturesque country nestled in the South Caucasus region, is known for its stunning landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture. Within this captivating country, there are numerous towns that boast their own unique charm and beauty. However, one town stands out among the rest as the epitome of Armenian beauty – Dilijan.

The Enchanting Town of Dilijan

Located in the Tavush Province, Dilijan is often referred to as the “Switzerland of Armenia” due to its lush green forests, pristine lakes, and refreshing mountain air. This enchanting town is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty, making it a haven for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts.

Dilijan is characterized by its well-preserved traditional architecture, with charming wooden houses and cobblestone streets that transport visitors back in time. The town’s historic center, known as the Old Dilijan, is a maze of narrow alleys lined with quaint cafes, art galleries, and craft shops, where visitors can immerse themselves in the local culture and traditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can I reach Dilijan?
A: Dilijan is easily accessible by road from the capital city of Yerevan, which is approximately 100 kilometers away. Regular bus services and taxis are available for transportation.

Q: What are the must-visit attractions in Dilijan?
A: Dilijan offers a plethora of attractions, including the Dilijan National Park, Haghartsin Monastery, Goshavank Monastery, and the picturesque Lake Parz.

Q: Are there accommodation options in Dilijan?
A: Yes, Dilijan offers a range of accommodation options, including hotels, guesthouses, and vacation rentals, catering to different budgets and preferences.

Q: What activities can I enjoy in Dilijan?
A: Dilijan is a paradise for outdoor activities, such as hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and birdwatching. The town also offers opportunities for cultural experiences, such as visiting local museums and participating in traditional craft workshops.

Conclusion

In the heart of Armenia, Dilijan stands as a testament to the country’s natural beauty and cultural heritage. With its stunning landscapes, charming architecture, and warm hospitality, this town captures the essence of Armenia and leaves visitors in awe. Whether you are seeking tranquility in nature or a glimpse into the country’s rich history, Dilijan is undoubtedly the most beautiful town in Armenia.

After importing rocket launchers and missiles from India, Armenia is now importing an anti-drone system from its South Asian friend. This has come when the conflict-ravaged country is keen to learn from India on how to modernize Soviet-era defense equipment. 

Even as a fragile peace holds between the Caucasian countries, New Delhi is contemplating the supply of a fresh batch of military equipment to Armenia.

People who did not wish to be identified said Armenia has contracted to buy India-developed Zen Anti-Drone System (ZADS). The Indian Air Force (IAF) purchased this anti-drone system in 2021, and the Indian Army has ordered 20 units of C-UAS worth INR 2.27 billion (US$27.3 million). Delivery of the C-UAS to the Indian Army will commence in March 2024.

Officials who did not wish to be identified confirmed to the EurAsian Times that Armenia has contracted the Hyderabad-based Zen Technologies for INR340 crore (US$41.5 million) for the anti-drone system order that includes both training solutions and an anti-drone system.

“The Zen Technologies Anti-Drone System is a proven technology, having been inducted in the IAF and now the Indian Army opting for it. And Armenia realizes that once Indian armed forces induct it, it must be good,” the source said.

The anti-drone system from Zen Technologies works on drone detection, classification, and tracking of passive surveillance, camera sensors, and threat neutralization through jamming drone communication.

Zen Anti-Drone System, a Counter Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS), is a multi-layer multi-sensor Architecture that provides comprehensive security against drone attacks.

The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict heralded the arrival of drones on the modern-day battlefield, with Armenia acknowledging that the Turkish Bayrakter TB-2 had made the difference, forcing them to concede defeat.

The Bayraktar TB2, developed and manufactured by Baykar, a Turkish defense company, is the size of a small airplane and equipped with four laser-guided missiles. It has an endurance of 12 hours when operating 550 nautical miles from its base. This allows it to be ‘eyes in the sky’ for long periods.

Zen Technologies Limited announced that at the board meeting held on October 28, 2023, it approved the establishment of a Branch office in Armenia to tap the business opportunity in that country, including providing sales, support, and service.

Armenia, a small landlocked nation nestled in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia, has emerged as a strategic partner for India. In 2022, when India inked the deal to supply PINAKA multi-barrel rocket launchers (MBRL), anti-tank munitions, and ammunition worth US$250 million to Armenia, it was seen as New Delhi taking a position in the conflict. It was the first export of PINAKA by India.

Armenia opted for Pinaka MBRLs, considered at par with the American HIMARs, for its shoot and scoot capability. The mobility is an advantage as adversary Azerbaijan has been deploying drones, including suicide drones.

While India has not confirmed publicly that it is supplying the Akash SAM system to Armenia, Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) did announce it has received export orders from a friendly country.

The weapons purchased by Armenia have proven to be “very satisfactory,” the chairman of Armenia’s parliamentary committee on defense and security affairs, Andranik Kocharyan, recently stated without naming India.

“Our news media, our people are discussing all day long what weapons were brought, from what country, where it was tested. The relevant division of the defense ministry is also testing this weaponry, and the tests are very satisfactory,” said Kocharyan.

“The list of the countries is that which is being discussed, perhaps a bit more or less. That’s not what matters; what matters is that the work in that direction is proceeding successfully.”

A top Armenian security official and Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, Armen Grigoryan, visited New Delhi on August 28 to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. In light of this, it is said that India is contemplating the supply of a fresh batch of military equipment to Armenia.

In 2022, India stepped up as a defense supplier to Armenia, embroiled in a protracted conflict with Azerbaijan. The first consignment of weapons was delivered last year via Iran.

Armenia, reports the Economic Times, is keen to modernize its military arsenal, primarily of Soviet and Russian origin. The country wants to learn how to upgrade Soviet and Russian equipment in its inventory and integrate it with the Western system.

The dialogue with India is not just about procurement but also about potential joint ventures for local assembly of equipment and training facilities for Armenian officers.

“India possesses several Soviet and Russian-made defense equipment. It has successfully modernized Soviet and Russian-era defense items. This is very impressive,” Colonel Zhiriayar Amirkhanian, assistant to the chief of defense staff, was quoted by the Economic Times. “We in Armenia have several Soviet and Russian-designed equipment, and we want to learn from India’s experience.”

Armenia is apprehensive that Azerbaijan may take advantage of chaos and conflicts in other parts of the globe and launch a fresh military assault against Armenia.

France has also announced to send military aid to Armenia, the beleaguered country seeking to diversify its arms imports and find new allies after Russia failed to provide the nation with ordered weapons worth around US $400 million (it has not yet returned the money).

• Ritu Sharma has been a journalist for over a decade, writing on defense, foreign affairs, and nuclear technology. Article Republished

For months, Western mediators seemed satisfied to sponsor sham "peace talks" between Armenia and Azerbaijan—while on the ground, ethnic Armenians in the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh were being starved by an Azerbaijani blockade. In late September, Azerbaijan attacked and killed scores of people, beginning an ethnic cleansing in which essentially the entire population of more than 100,000 Armenians fled.

Since then, in a reflection of our benighted times, an even deadlier war has erupted in the Middle East, sparked by a bigger massacre. The world is riveted, just as for most of the past year it was occupied with Russia's assault on Ukraine. Azerbaijan's dictator, President Ilham Aliyev, is surely expecting to get away with his crimes.

As things stand, the United States and the European Union were essentially bystanders, indifferent or impotent, to one of the largest expulsions of a civilian population since World War II. This kind of impotence will have devastating effects next time the United States or the Europeans expect endangered people to place their faith in world institutions or Western power and ideals.

But there is still a way forward that salvages something from the situation.

As a foundation, Western nations should own up to the futility of appeasing a dictatorship and accept that allowing Azerbaijan to escape unchastised will encourage more crimes by bad-faith actors elsewhere.

As the stick, the West should put Azerbaijan on notice that the attack on and exodus from Nagorno-Karabakh are being investigated—which will mean visits by fact-finding teams lasting more than the few hours a United Nations mission devoted in September.

Following the precedents set in the trials of Serb warlords and ultranationalists in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Azerbaijan will likely be found liable for the war crime of ethnic cleansing.

Even before the final attack in September, the blockade caused widespread malnutrition and school closures, endangered hospital patients and brought normal life to a halt in a region ethnic Armenians call Artsakh. The scarcity of wheat reached critical levels, forcing families to subsist on a single slice of bread per day. Baby formula was in such short supply that new-borns were forced to drink animal milk without proper sanitary treatment.

Several experts and organizations have declared this abomination a genocide attempt. The former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo, issued a report in August determining that Azerbaijan's actions qualify as genocide under Article II(c) of the Genocide Convention—and on Sept. 6 he warned in testimony to the U.S. Congress that state actors who are signatories to the pact, including the U.S., risk complicity by virtue of inaction.

Incredibly, there continues to be a peace process, although it is on life-support. In any new talks, mediators must assertively hold Azerbaijan accountable for its actions, and stand up for the rights of the people of Artsakh. And economic sanctions against Azerbaijan must be considered unless it agrees to end its outrageous behavior, including ongoing threats against Armenia.

A sustainable peace must be a just peace. It cannot be imposed through starvation and displacement. It cannot ignore what happened to more than 100,000 people while the world averted its gaze.

Western mediators would do well to set aside timidity before a despot and deploy the leverage they most certainly possess. That's because tomorrow's oppressors are not distracted by the Hamas war. They know that what happened in the South Caucasus is a far more classic case of the democratic world abandoning an ally for fear of upsetting a dictator and losing access to Azerbaijan's oil and gas resources. Don't let that lesson stand.

Karena Avedissian, Ph.D., is senior analyst at the Regional Center for Democracy and Security.

The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.