FRANCE 24 spoke to Artak Beglaryan, former state minister and human rights ombudsman of Nagorno-Karabakh. The peace declaration signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan last August in Washington raised cautious hopes, but for displaced residents of Nagorno-Karabakh the situation remains difficult. “It’s relatively good news,” Beglaryan said, “but nothing was written in this declaration about Nagorno-Karabakh and the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.”
In August, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a peace declaration in Washington in the presence of US President Donald Trump. In an interview with FRANCE 24, Aliyev said that “peace is achieved” with Armenia.
But according to Beglaryan, the agreement falls far short. “The declaration says nothing about the rights, security or status of the 150,000 people of Nagorno-Karabakh. Nobody consulted us. […] At least politically, yes, we have been betrayed by the Armenian authorities.”
Since Azerbaijan regained control of the region in 2023, nearly all Armenians have fled. “We were forcibly displaced. The suffering of my people is immense.” The former state minister also sharply criticised the Armenian government.
“Prime Minister Pashinyan claims he is proud of the results and says we should forget our return. That is absurd. Armenia was a party to the conflict and host to refugees, and should have done everything to protect our rights.”
Beglaryan also highlighted what he described as ongoing violations and human rights abuses. Aliyev has refused to grant clemency to imprisoned Nagorno-Karabakh separatist leaders, who have been sentenced to life imprisonment.
“Aliyev himself is a Nazi leader. He and his regime have committed crimes including crimes against humanity and genocide against our people,” Beglaryan said.
Blind since a landmine accident, Beglaryan says Azerbaijani authorities wanted to punish him personally. “I never fought. I only defended my people’s rights. And yet we are punished for our very existence.”
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Congressman Sherman Commemorates the 1988 Sumgait Pogroms Against Armenians
Mar 11 2026
Congressman Sherman Commemorates the 1988 Sumgait Pogroms Against Armenians
By George Christopher Thomas
“Today we stand in solidarity with the Armenian American community in commemorating the 1988 Sumgait Pogroms. Thirty-eight years ago, Azerbaijani mobs targeted Armenian residents of Sumgait solely because of their ethnicity, unleashing days of horrific violence that culminated in the murder, rape, and expulsion of ethnic Armenians living in Azerbaijan at the time.
The atrocities in Sumgait were not isolated. They were followed by additional anti-Armenian violence in Kirovabad and Baku.
As we honor and remember the victims of these pogroms, we must also confront the continued dangers of anti-Armenian hatred today. The world witnessed the consequences of unchecked aggression in 2023, when Azerbaijan’s military offensive resulted in the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh’s entire Armenian population and effectively ended their centuries-old presence in the region.
I remain deeply concerned by credible reports of ongoing abuses, including the continued detention of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians, and threats facing Armenian cultural and religious heritage sites. These issues demand sustained international attention and accountability.
The United States must continue to press for the immediate and unconditional release of Armenian detainees, support the protected right of return for displaced Armenians of Artsakh, and work with international partners to safeguard Armenian cultural and religious heritage.
For decades, I have worked with my colleagues in the Congressional Armenia Caucus to hold Azerbaijan accountable and to strengthen the U.S.–Armenia relationship. We must ensure that the lessons of Sumgait are not ignored.
On this solemn anniversary, we remember the victims, stand with the Armenian people, and reaffirm our commitment to preventing anti-Armenian violence wherever it occurs.”
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Armenia Strengthens International Partnerships During Nuclear Energy Summit in
In a high-profile March 10 visit to Paris, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan highlighted Armenia’s commitment to civil nuclear energy at the Second Nuclear Energy Summit, while engaging in key talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, and EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso; simultaneously, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan strengthened Armenia’s strategic partnerships with France and the US, advancing energy, infrastructure, and regional cooperation ahead of the European Political Community summit.
Second Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris
On March 10, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in the Second Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris, which was hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi. The summit included high-level participants such as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and the prime ministers of Slovakia and Croatia. Following a joint photo session, Pashinyan delivered a speech highlighting Armenia’s commitment to civil nuclear energy as a low-carbon, dispatchable power source that complements renewable energy. He noted Armenia’s support for the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy by 2050 at COP28 and the First Global Stocktake assessing progress toward the Paris Agreement goals.
Pashinyan outlined Armenia’s plans to extend the operational lifetime of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) until 2036 as a cost-effective path toward energy security and a transition to a new nuclear unit. He emphasized the country’s focus on innovations in civil nuclear energy, particularly Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technologies, which offer scalable capacity and shorter construction timelines. Armenia is currently evaluating international proposals, guided by considerations of reliability, sustainability, and strict nuclear safety and non-proliferation standards.
Pashinyan stressed the importance of developing a skilled workforce to support nuclear energy, from design to safe operation and decommissioning. He highlighted Armenia’s commitment to safe management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel and noted that throughout the ANPP’s operational history, no incidents related to nuclear or radiation safety have occurred. He concluded by emphasizing the Summit’s role in fostering international initiatives and partnerships in the nuclear sector.
Pashinyan Strengthens Armenia’s Ties With IAEA, EBRD, And France
During his visit to Paris, Pashinyan met with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to discuss the development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, technical cooperation, nuclear safety, and ongoing programs in Armenia, including SMR technologies.
He also held talks with Odile Renaud-Basso, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, focusing on the progress of bilateral cooperation. They discussed continued support for government reforms, private sector competitiveness, small and medium-sized enterprise development, and infrastructure modernization. Renaud-Basso confirmed the EBRD’s readiness to support Armenia in implementing planned programs and reforms across various sectors.
Pashinyan met with Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues, including deepening political dialogue, implementing joint economic and infrastructure programs, and regional developments. Both leaders emphasized consistent efforts to strengthen peace and stability in the region and discussed the prospects for further development of Armenia-European Union cooperation, highlighting the importance of promoting joint initiatives and deepening partnerships.
Mirzoyan Advances Armenia-France and Armenia-US Strategic Partnerships
On March 10, in Paris, Ararat Mirzoyan, the Foreign Minister of Armenia, met with Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France. The discussion focused on advancing the strategic partnership between Armenia and France, including cooperation in key sectors such as energy and infrastructure. The ministers also addressed preparations for the upcoming European Political Community summit in Yerevan in May and emphasized continued collaboration to strengthen democratic resilience. They exchanged views on developments in the Middle East, with Mirzoyan highlighting the importance of resolving the situation and ensuring regional stability.
On the same day, Ararat Mirzoyan met with Thomas DiNanno, the US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. The talks covered the deepening of Armenia-US strategic cooperation. Both sides welcomed the conclusion of negotiations on the Agreement on Cooperation between Armenia and the United States in the Field of Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy, noting their readiness to sign the agreement and further develop collaboration in the sector. Regional infrastructure projects and other issues of mutual interest were also discussed.
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Russian personnel evacuated from Iranian nuclear power plant via Armenia
Russia has evacuated the remaining personnel at the Bushehr nuclear power plant via Armenia. According to RIA Novosti, Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev said the second round of evacuations included 150 people, comprising both plant personnel and their family members.
Likhachev said that the second phase of the evacuation of Russian staff and their families from the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran has thus been completed.
“Last night we completed another phase of the evacuation of our staff. A few days ago, 150 people left the Bushehr nuclear power plant and crossed the Armenian border overnight. They are already on their way to our country. This is the second phase of the evacuation,” RIA Novosti quoted Likhachev as saying.
The evacuation comes amid heavy U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeting various targets across Iran.
Published by Armenpress, original at
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Discover Armenia For The Best Value In Outstanding Brandies
Jan 4 2024
Discover Armenia For The Best Value In Outstanding Brandies
Armenia’s brandies represent outstanding quality and value, especially for ultra-aged expressions of 20 years or more. Here are backgrounds and tasting notes on 20 top-rated Armenian brandies.
Joseph V Micallef
A Brief History of Armenian Brandy
Armenia is a small country in the South Caucasus nestled between the Anatolian Peninsula and the Caspian Sea. Along with its northern neighbor, Georgia, the region is believed to be the birthplace of wine. Although it is likely that wine making had multiple independent centers of origin, the oldest historical evidence of winemaking, going back more than 6,000 years, is found in this region.
According to local legend, Armenians have distilled wine into brandy since the 12th century. There is little definitive evidence of this. If true, then the production of brandy in Armenia predated alcohol distillation in Spain and France by several centuries.
In the late 19th century, a thriving brandy industry developed in Armenia. Taking advantage of the popularity of Cognac in Russia, a consequence of the anti-German, Franco-Russian alliance that preceded World War I, Armenian Brandy was also labeled Kanyak, the Armenian spelling for Cognac.
For a brief time, one Armenian producer, Nikolay Shustov, official supplier of Armenian brandy to the Russian Tsar Nicholas II, had the right to label his brandy as Cognac. Shustov & Sons eventually became the Yerevan Brandy Company, Armenia’s largest brandy producer.
Brandy production is still a big business in Armenia. Yerevan, the country’s capital, boasts more brandy distillers per capita than any other city, including Cognac.
The Armenian government sold the largest Soviet-era brandy distiller, the Yerevan Brandy Company, to French spirits giant Pernod-Ricard in 1999. It’s exported to over 20 countries, and the most common brand of Armenian brandy found abroad.
The country currently produces around 20 million liters, about 5.7 million gallons, 90 percent of which is exported.
Armenian brandy production has several interesting features. It only utilizes indigenous grape varieties. Armenia has over 200 indigenous grapes, only a few of which have been studied.
Only Voskehat, Garan Dmak, Mskhali, Kangun and Rkatsiteli (a Georgian grape variety) can legally be used for brandy production. Grapes are grown widely in Armenia, with the best coming from the Ararat Valley beneath Mount Ararat in Western Armenia. Grapes also provide the alcohol base for fruit vodkas and unflavored vodkas.
Brandy is produced in Charentais stills, as in Cognac, using a double distillation process. Maturation occurs in casks made from Caucasian/Persian oak, Quercus macranthera. Caucasian oak is believed to impart flavors of dried fruit, dried herbs, vanilla, and chocolate notes. These are aroma and taste elements closely associated with Armenian brandy.
Armenia’s Top Brandy: Tasting Notes
Ararat Nairi 20 YO Brandy, Yerevan Brandy Company
International Wines & Spirits Competition (IWSC), Gold; San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), Double Gold; International Spirits Challenge (ISC), Gold; New York International Spirits Competition (NYISC), Gold; Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB), Gold.
Established in 1887, the Yerevan Brandy Company is renowned worldwide for producing Armenian brandies from local grapes and unique oak casks.
The rich and flavorful brandy features dark chocolate, dried fruit, and honey flavors, with a long, complex, velvety finish.
Armenia 25 YO Brandy, Great Valley Wine & Brandy Factory
The brandy features vanilla, dried fruit, and oak notes, with a refined, elegant finish.
Ararat Dvin 15 YO Brandy, Yerevan Brandy Company
IWSC, Gold; SFWSC, Double Gold SFWSC, Double Gold; ISC, Gold; NYISC, Gold; CMB, Gold.
The brandy features cinnamon, clove spices, dark chocolate, and nutty undertones, with a long, luxurious finish.
Proshyan Brandy Factory 20 YO, Proshyan Brandy Factory
IWSC, Gold; SFWSC, Gold; CMB, Gold; NYISC, Gold; ISC, Gold.
Established in 1887, Proshyan is a historic brandy producer using unique traditional Armenian winemaking traditions.
The brandy features fruit, vanilla, and almond, with a long, warming, smooth finish.
Ararat Vaspurakan 15 YO Brandy, Yerevan Brandy Company
SFWSC, Gold; IWSC, Gold; ISC, Gold; NYISC, Gold; CMB, Gold.
Fig, caramel, and dark dried fruit dominate the palate, with a smooth, velvety, lingering finish.
Ararat Akhtamar 10 YO Brandy, Yerevan Brandy Company
SFWSC, Gold; IWSC, Gold; NYISC, Gold; ISC, Gold; CMB, Gold.
A slightly lighter style of Armenian brandy featuring caramel, apricot, and toasted oak, with a balanced, smooth finish.
Armenia 15 YO Brandy, Great Valley Wine & Brandy Factory
IWSC, Gold; SFWSC, Gold; CMB, Gold; ISC, Gold; NYISC, Gold.
The brandy features dried apricot, oak, and vanilla, with a balanced, long-lasting finish.
Noy Classic 20 YO Brandy, Yerevan Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory
IWSC, Gold; SFWSC, Gold; NYISC, Gold; ISC, Gold; CMB, Gold.
One of Armenia’s top brandy producers, Noy, is known for utilizing traditional Armenian methods and local oak barrels for their distinguished brandies.
The sweet brandy exhibits oak, dried fig, and spice notes and a refined, smooth finish.
Mané 18 YO Brandy, Proshyan Brandy Factory
SFWSC, Gold; IWSC, Gold; CMB, Gold; ISC, Gold; NYISC, Gold.
The brandy features caramel, dried fruit, and subtle spice, with a robust, full-bodied, and smooth finish.
Ararat Ani 7 YO Brandy, Yerevan Brandy Company
IWSC, Gold; SFWSC, Gold; CMB, Gold; NYISC, Gold, ISC, Gold.
The sweet brandy features vanilla, dried fruits, and a hint of almond, with a rich, layered finish.
Great Valley Armenian Oak 10 YO, Great Valley Wine & Brandy Factory
SFWSC, Gold; IWSC, Gold, NYISC, Gold; CMB, Gold; ISC, Gold.
The brandy features seasoned oak, honey, subtle spice, and a smooth, complex finish.
Noy Araspel 15 YO Brandy, Yerevan Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory
IWSC, Gold; SFWSC, Gold; NYISC, Gold, ISC, Gold, CMB, Gold.
The brandy features hazelnut, honey, ripe fruit and a long, rich finish.
Ararat Armenia 20 YO Brandy, Yerevan Brandy Company
SFWSC, Gold; IWSC, Gold; CMB, Gold, NYISC, Gold; ISC, Gold.
The brandy features dark chocolate, toasted almond, and caramel, with a smooth, refined finish.
Noy Tirakal 10 YO Brandy, Yerevan Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory
IWSC, Gold; SFWSC, Gold; NYISC, Gold; CMB, Gold; ISC, Gold.
The brandy features vanilla, dried fig, and soft spice with a smooth, elegant finish.
Mané 15 YO Brandy, Proshyan Brandy Factory
SFWSC, Gold; IWSC, Gold; CMB, Gold; ISC, Gold; NYISC, Gold.
The brandy features dried fruit, honey, warm spices and a rich, smooth finish.
Ararat Otborny 7 YO Brandy, Yerevan Brandy Company
SFWSC, Gold; IWSC, Gold; NYISC, Gold; CMB, Gold; ISC, Gold.
The brandy features caramel, apricot, vanilla, and a long, balanced finish.
Noy Grand Reserve 15 YO Yerevan Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory
IWSC, Gold; SFWSC, Gold; CMB, Gold; NYISC, Gold; ISC, Gold.
The brandy features fig, vanilla, dark chocolate, and a smooth, luxurious finish.
Ararat Armenia Select 15 YO Yerevan Brandy Company
SFWSC, Gold; IWSC, Gold; NYISC, Gold; ISC, Gold; CMB, Gold.
The brandy features spice, oak, dark chocolate, and a complex, full-bodied finish.
Mané 20 YO Brandy, Proshyan Brandy Factory
IWSC, Gold; SFWSC, Gold; CMB, Gold; ISC, Gold; NYISC, Gold.
The brandy features caramel, spice, toasted oak, and a smooth, elegant finish.
Ararat Nairi Reserve 30 YO, Yerevan Brandy Company
IWSC, Gold; SFWSC, Double Gold; NYISC, Gold; ISC, Gold; CMB, Gold.
The brandy features dark chocolate, raisin, caramel, and a velvety, lingering finish.
These Armenian brandies showcase excellence in craft and aging, reflecting Armenia’s deep tradition in brandy production. They are outstanding brandies, especially the ultra-aged ones, many of which retail for under $50. You can find Armenian brandies at most specialty liquor stores. The best selection is at Glendale-based Remedy Liquor. The store caters to the large Armenian community in Glendale and stocks many ultra-aged expressions.
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Sydney: Armenian Resource Centre Receives Additional 300 Thousand Dollars in A
Armenian Resource Centre Receives Additional 300 Thousand Dollars in Australian Government Funding
The funding, provided through the Settlement Engagement and Transition Support Program, will enable the ARC-AU to directly support newly arrived Armenian migrants displaced by conflicts in the Middle East, helping them settle in Australia and rebuild their lives.
Letters of support for the ANC-AU's funding request were received from various local, state and federal elected including, Senator Deb O’Neil – Senator for New South Wales; Mr Jerome Laxale MP – Federal Member for Bennelong; Dr Sophie Scamps MP – Federal Member for Mackellar; Ms Kylea Tink MP – Federal Member for North Sydney; Mr Mark Coure MP – NSW State Member for Oatley; Mr Tim James MP – NSW State Member for Willoughby; Mr Jordan Lane MP – NSW State Member for Ryde; Dr Hugh McDermott MP – NSW State Member for Prospect and former Ryde City Councillors Mr Sarkis Yedelian OAM and Mr Bernard Purcell.
In 2023, representatives from the ANC-AU office and ARC-AU Chairperson Tro Tufenkjian met with the Hon. Andrew Giles MP, former Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, and Multicultural Affairs, to convey their gratitude and discuss the allocated funding.
Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Australia, Michael Kolokossian said, “We are pleased to make this very exciting announcement for our community. These funds will go a long way for the Armenian Resource Centre of Australia and will help us in assisting and providing support to the most vulnerable Armenians of our community here in Australia.”
Chairperson of the Armenian Resource Centre, Tro Tufenkjian said, “We wish to express our gratitude to the former Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon. Andrew Giles MP and all elected officials from local, state and federal politics who helped secure this crucial funding for our community."
The Australian Department of Social Services additional funding of approximately $300,000 – which is part of over $1,200,000 granted to a Consortium that includes the Armenian Resource Centre, the Assyrian Australian Association, the Chaldean League and the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese – will cover operational expenses to assist with the resettlement of migrants.
Established in 2017, the ARC-AU is an independent, community-led organisation providing settlement support services to Armenians who have migrated to Australia for humanitarian reasons or are existing vulnerable residents and helps improve the lives of Armenian community members in Australia by provision of access to support services that meet their settlement and social needs.
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Germany hosts the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan for peace talks
BERLIN (AP) — Germany sought to move forward talks on a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan on Wednesday, welcoming the two countries' foreign ministers to Berlin.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock hosted her counterparts, Armenia's Ararat Mirzoyan and Azerbaijan's Jeyhun Bayramov, at a secluded government villa for what was billed as two days of talks.
The latest talks followed a meeting on Feb. 17 between German Chancellor OIaf Scholz, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Scholz underlined Germany's willingness to help conclude peace talks, along with that of European Council President Charles Michel.
“We believe that Armenia and Azerbaijan now have an opportunity to achieve an enduring peace after years of painful conflict,” Baerbock, who visited both countries in November, said ahead of a three-way meeting. "What we’re seeing now are courageous steps by both countries to put the past behind and to work toward a durable peace for their people."
Armenia and Azerbaijan have a long history of land disputes. The most recent border skirmish left at least four Armenian soldiers dead earlier in mid-February.
Azerbaijan waged a lightning military campaign last year to reclaim the Karabakh region, which Armenian separatists had ruled for three decades.
The region, which was known internationally as Nagorno-Karabakh, and large swaths of surrounding territory came under full control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia at the end of a separatist war in 1994.
Azerbaijan regained parts of Karabakh and most of the surrounding territory in a six-week war in 2020 that ended with a Russian-brokered truce. In December 2022, Azerbaijan started blockading the road linking the region with Armenia, causing food and fuel shortages.
It then launched a blitz in September 2023 that routed the separatist forces in one day and forced them to lay down arms. More than 100,000 ethnic Armenians fled the region, leaving it nearly deserted.
With political momentum from the successful military operation, Aliyev won another term in a snap election on Feb. 7.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have pledged to work toward signing a peace treaty, but no visible progress has been made, and tensions have continued to soar amid mutual distrust.
"Direct dialog like today and tomorrow is the best way to make further progress," Baerbock said.
https://www.bgdailynews.com/news/international/germany-hosts-the-foreign-ministers-of-armenia-and-azerbaijan-for-peace-talks/article_862e5a4a-8432-5eae-97a5-0c8fb274cd44.html
The Armenians in Ethiopia(Part II)
As Boris Adjemian’s narration reveals, the Arba Arba Ledjotch (Forty Children), who became the first imperial brass band, were not the first Armenian presence in the country. Armenians had already been established in the royal court for many generations preceding this period. A small Armenian community began to emerge in Ethiopia, particularly in Harar, Dire Dawa, and Addis Ababa, during the late 19th century. As subsequent passages elucidate, the initial families primarily came from the Arabkir region, now part of Turkey. Following the genocide, additional Armenian families migrated to Ethiopia from Ayntab and Cilicia, augmenting the community’s presence in the country.
One name that frequently arises is that of Sarkis Terzian (1868-1915), one of Emperor Menelik’s most renowned Armenian associates. Known as both a smuggler and a merchant, he made his fortune as an arms trader and gained fame by introducing the steamroller, aptly named ‘Sarkis babur,’ into the country. His close relationship with those in power elevated him to a revered status among the descendants of Armenian immigrants to Ethiopia, who regard him as a founding hero. Another notable figure was Dikran Ebeyan, who crafted Emperor Menilek’s crown.
Sarkis Terzian, his wife Vartouhie and their two children, Yervanet et Avedis, 1906
As Professor Richard Pankhurst detailed in his essay, “Menilek and the Utilization of Foreign Skills in Ethiopia,” Dikran, who came from Cairo, was a jeweler by trade. His interest in Ethiopia was sparked “when an Ethiopian pilgrim bound for the Holy Land had stopped in Egypt, bearing a letter from Menelik to the Armenian community, requesting them to send him a goldsmith. The Armenian is said to have made three unsuccessful attempts to reach Ethiopia by way of Massawa, but was each time stopped at the port. Eventually, however, he landed at Tajurah, and proceeded inland to Menilek’s court, where he was never short of work. He produced several crowns for the sovereign and his consort Taytu, among them the crown used in Menilek’s coronation as Emperor in 1889 and another which the Emperor presented to the cathedral of Aksum.”
In one passage of “La fanfare du néguse,” Adjemian elucidates how the Armenian figures employed at the gebbi, the imperial palace, were under the protection of the Ethiopian rulers while upholding a discreet presence. “Contemporary sources only briefly mention their existence, often portraying them solely in the context of their craft or commercial roles. But personal relationships held great significance during this period, at a time when there was not yet a formal Ethiopian government and when, in the words of historian Berhanou Abebe, the realm of “foreign affairs” was, in fact, the emperor’s interactions with foreigners. The protocol was somewhat uncodified at the court of Menelik II, allowing individuals like Dikran Ebeyan, a simple Armenian goldsmith, to mingle with the small society of European diplomats and leverage his interpersonal skills.”
(The second installment of three book description to be published over the month.)
Raisina Dialogue: Making a Case for India-Armenia Strategic Partnership
"Relations between India and Armenia are so close and deep, that we can be considered strategic partners," announced Narek Mkrtchyan, minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Armenia. The minister was in Delhi to attend the Raisina Dialogue – the flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics organised by the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF).
How this tiny country has come to occupy an important strategic space for India could be gauged by the fact that one of the first panels of this year's dialogue was devoted to India-Armenia ties.
Why should Armenia be important for India?
For one, Armenia, situated in the south Caucuses range, occupies a geopolitically strategic location, bordering Iran, Turkey, and Azerbaijan.
Gaining a foothold in the region is of long-term benefit for India. Bilateral relations would primarily be hinged on two key pillars – defence and connectivity.
Armenia-India Defence Ties
Emerging after a decades-long conflict with neighbouring Azerbaijan in which it lost the contested but ethnic-Armenian populated territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia is facing numerous security challenges.
The Ukraine crisis has exacerbated these concerns as Armenia's traditional defence ally Russia has been unable to fulfill some of its obligations under the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) – a Moscow-led military bloc, of which Armenia is a member (recent reports say that Armenia has suspended its membership of the CSTO).
Since at least 2020, Armenia has turned to India for its defence procurements. These include:
Four Swathi Weapon Locating Radars (WLRs) developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the indigenously manufactured Pinaka rocket launcher also developed by the DRDO.
Armenia, in a sense, has become the launchpad for India's defence exports. In fact, according to Mkrtchyan, India now accounts for 90 percent of all of Armenia's arms purchases amounting to USD 245 million.
Such export of military hardware is meant to give a boost to India's country’s defence industry and indigenous production, in keeping with the government’s 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Make in India' policies. The government has set an export target of USD 5 billion dollars of defence goods for 2025.
Defence cooperation between the two countries also envisages setting up joint manufacturing bases in Armenia, synergised by the fact that it has a large pool of specialists. At one time, it was known as the "Silicon Valley of the CIS". It can become a hub for defence exports to countries in the region and the Balkans.
Strengthening Armenian defences would also be a bulwark against the increasingly expanding military alliance of Azerbaijan-Turkey-Pakistan, all three inimical to India and the Indian position on Jammu and Kashmir.
In this regard, it behoves us to remember that Armenia has always supported India's position on Jammu and Kashmir.
Armenia's other strategic salience for India is connectivity. In earlier columns, I have dwelt on the importance of alternative routes to the Suez Canal to Europe via the Eurasian landmass. This has been further exacerbated by the Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
India has not escaped these attacks either. According to the UNCTAD, as of 26 January, the volume of trade going through the Suez Canal had fallen by 42 percent over the previous two months.
Such a trade and transport route could only pass through Armenia which has joined the Chabahar Port project and is part of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) – which connects India to the Russian Federation through Iran, Azerbaijan, and the Caspian Sea.
With Russia under increasing Western sanctions and neighbouring countries like Poland and Finland closing the border with it, the alternative for India would be to access the Black Sea ports via the INSTC connected to Armenia's North-South Transport Corridor which would run further through the territory of Georgia to access the ports of Batumi and Poti, (another geo-strategic, significant port of Anaklia is under construction).
The Armenian government has launched an ambitious project to leverage Armenia's geopolitical location tournaments into a "Crossroads of Peace".
Large tracts of the North-South Corridor running through Armenia need to be constructed and a minister pitched for Indian companies to participate in the international tenders the country would soon float.
Connectivity through Armenia to Europe would further allow India to overcome the tyranny of geography thrust on it with the 1947 partition.
There are a plethora of other avenues of cooperation with Armenia – trade, setting up manufacturing bases for Indian companies, migration corridor. Currently, Armenia hosts about 50,000 Indian workers; education, space research, science and technology, and tourism.
All this is capped by centuries-old historically cordial relations between Indians and Armenians – two of the world's most ancient people – evidence of which is scattered all across India at least. India enjoys a position in the mind-scape of the country that few other nations do. This gives India an advantage there.
Another advantage is India’s close relations with Russia, which precludes any discomfort with Indian presence there.
Given the speed with which Indo-Armenian relations have taken off after a long inertia with several high profile visits and meetings including those at the level of foreign ministers, defence ministers, and national security advisors of both countries, along with the immense potential that waits to be tapped, it would only be logical for bilateral ties to be institutionalised into a strategic partnership.
It would be immensely conducive to the balance of force in the South Caucuses and to peace in the region and beyond.
(Aditi Bhaduri is a journalist and political analyst. She tweets @aditijan. This is an opinion piece and the views expressed are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for them.)
Decades of conflict: The complex history of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations
Two major wars between the two countries during the last four decades, in the years 1992 and 2022, in addition to the small wars, caused about forty thousand deaths and displaced over a million people from both sides.
More than once, negotiations took place between the two parties to resolve the dispute, but they did not succeed, without forgetting how complex the conflict was, as Armenia was receiving support from Iran while Turkey and Israel stood alongside Azerbaijan.
After Russia had emphasized its commitment to protecting regional stability and ensuring Armenia's sovereignty, in the past two years, its commercial interests prevailed and it became closer to Azerbaijan.
As for the United States, it stands to some extent in the middle despite its criticism of Baku, even if it is interested in not expanding Moscow's influence.
Last September, the Armenians of Artsakh decided to stop fighting and withdraw from the region following an Azerbaijani attack. They felt that most of the world had abandoned them and even those closest to them, so the region came under Azerbaijani control. A large portion of its population left, while a minority remained reassured by Azerbaijan’s announcement that it seeks the peaceful reintegration of the region.
Attempts were made between Baku and Yerevan to reach a comprehensive peace agreement, but obstacles emerged, as Azerbaijan refused in mid-November to participate in talks with Armenia in Washington because of what it considered the latter’s biased position.
The picture has changed in the past weeks, as Germany is hosting the delegations of the two countries on Wednesday and Thursday after a meeting that brought together ten days ago in Munich, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, in which they agreed to continue negotiations between their countries.
As for why Germany was chosen, because Azerbaijan objects to Paris hosting any meeting, considering it a party to its clear support for Armenia, Germany was chosen for its active role in the European Union.
The negotiations aim to avoid more problems, resolve border disputes, and enhance stability, amid the continuing atmosphere of caution between the two countries and the fear of a return to the language of war.
But will the regional role be influential and supportive of such a rapprochement, or will interests play a role?