Author: Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS

Tourism operators at MITT Moscow mull transforming Yerevan into gateway connecting to the world

Emil Lazarian

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 09:49,

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian pavilion at the annual MITT Moscow tourism expo is of big interest to travel agencies, governmental organizations and potential tourists.

Gayane Ayvazyan, the PR and Digital Marketing expert at the Armenian Tourism Committee told ARMENPRESS from Moscow that they’ve had meetings with tourism representatives from the Russian capital, St. Petersburg, Sochi, as well as representatives of Rostourism and the Association of Tour Operators of Russia and media outlets.

“There is rather big activeness, both individuals and tourism representatives display big interest towards the Armenian pavilion. We’ve had a number of meetings with representatives of the sector. We mostly talked about the importance of cooperation especially in the current conditions [Russian-Ukrainian conflict]. There is big interest from Russia to expand cooperation, they are eager to work more effectively with Armenia. We even talked about proposals on Yerevan becoming a hub from where it will be possible to connect with the world, especially when Russia is under sanctions,” Avyazyan said.

According to Ayvazyan, most of the questions raised during the discussions related to flights. The work of Armenian airlines was highlighted.

13 travel agencies from Armenia are participating in the event.

One of the participants, the Armenia-based Just Travel agency, is presenting tour packages offering adventure, cultural and gastro tourism.

“In this difficult situation, when many countries have shut down the opportunity of visits for Russian citizens, Armenia is one of the few countries where Russian tourists can come,” Just Travel representative Naira Tovmasyan said.

She added that Armenia is a very convenient place also for corporate tourism.

Russia is Armenia’s biggest and primary tourism market. In 2021, more than 350,000 Russian tourists arrived in Armenia, making Russia the top inbound country of origin of tourists.

Anna Gziryan




Armenian PM sends congratulatory letter to President of Cyprus

Emil Lazarian

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 11:33,

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory message to President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the PM’s Office said.

The message runs as follows,

“Your Excellency,

I warmly congratulate you on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Cyprus.

March 18 marks the consolidation of interstate relations based on centuries-old Armenian-Cypriot ties and strong friendship, common values, mutual respect and sympathy.

Armenia values the warmest interstate relations and effective cooperation established between our two countries over the past three decades, which are the evidence of the unwavering brotherhood and mutual support of the Armenian and Cypriot peoples.

It is no secret that Cyprus is one of the EU member states with which Armenia enjoys high mutual trust and strategic cooperation.

I am convinced that the rich experience and the multifaceted bilateral agenda gained during these years provide wide opportunities for revealing and comprehensively utilizing the full potential of the Armenian-Cypriot cooperation, giving a new impetus to the bilateral relations, raising them to a qualitatively new level.

The vibrant Armenian community gives a special content and warmth to the Armenian-Cypriot relations with its contribution to the political, economic and cultural life of the country, which has always been highly appreciated by the Government of Cyprus.

I once again congratulate all of us on the occasion of the 30th anniversary, wishing our countries and brotherly peoples prosperity, peace, fruitful cooperation full of jubilees.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration”.

Yerevan trolleybus fleet to be replenished with modern vehicles

Emil Lazarian

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 13:00,

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. The trolleybus fleet of Yerevan will soon be replenished with 10 new modern vehicles, the Yerevan City Hall’s Electric-Transportation CJSC Director Harutyun Yeremyan told ARMENPRESS.

“The electric transportation of the city will not be shut down, definitely. We will work and develop,” he said.

Currently the trolleybus fleet comprises 51 vehicles, but only 43 are operational. “Ten to twenty thousand people use electric transportation in Yerevan daily. We serve five trolleybus routes,” Yeremyan said.

The electric transportation is now the most affordable transportation in Yerevan, with the ticket priced only 50 drams. However, the modernization of the fleet could lead to the increase of ticket prices.

“I don’t think now the prices will increase, but in the future when the fleet gets replenished this issue could be discussed,” Yeremyan said.

Azerbaijan, Iran sign transport deal bypassing Armenia

Emil Lazarian
EurasiaNet.org
Heydar Isayev Mar 18, 2022

Azerbaijan and Iran have signed a transit agreement that could have big implications for Armenia.

One of Azerbaijan’s key demands after winning the 44-day war in 2020 was for Armenia to allow it overland access to its Nakhchivan exclave, a piece of territory surrounded by Armenia, Iran and Turkey. Since Armenia surrendered, Baku has persistently campaigned for this route, which it calls the “Zangezur corridor” and which would run over Soviet-era railways and roads across Armenia’s Syunik province.

The November 10, 2020, ceasefire statement even included language that Russia would “guarantee the security of transport connections” between mainland Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan across Armenian territory.

Talks have stalled as tensions between the two nations continue to fester.

Nevertheless, it came as something of a surprise to observers in Baku when Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Rostam Ghasemi arrived on March 11 to sign a memorandum of understanding allowing for new trade and communications links connecting the East Zangezur region of Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan.

Little about the memorandum was made public, but the way Baku described it as a “corridor” suggests Azerbaijani vehicles will be allowed to cross Iranian territory without submitting to Iranian customs checks.

The terms provide for a new highway, a railway as well as unspecified energy infrastructure. Additionally, four bridges will be built over the Aras River, which defines the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran – two road and two railway bridges.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Ghasemi discussed how “the new corridor would be an important international corridor for both transport and electricity,” the president’s website said.

Official statements did not clarify which side would pay for the new infrastructure, but as the prime beneficiary, it seems most likely that Azerbaijan will foot the bill.

Aliyev has repeatedly demanded Armenia open a corridor across its territory since the end of the war. The president even threatened to use force should Armenia refuse. 

In a statement to the media, the president’s senior foreign policy advisor Hikmat Hajiyev said that the new route through Iran “will put an end to Armenia’s years-long policy of blockade of Nakhchivan.”

UK-based analyst Fuad Shahbazov believes that Baku will continue pushing for the path across Armenia, but that it “will most likely be postponed for some time.” 

“What is seen is that the Azerbaijani government has decided not to wait for Armenia’s final stance on the [Zangezur] corridor as the former is more interested in strengthening regional cooperation,” Shahbazov wrote for BBC Azerbaijani.

Relations between Iran and Azerbaijan have run hot and cold for years. Last autumn, Baku and Tehran were hurling insults at each other in an unprecedented bout of saber-rattling. A few months later they agreed to a deal to swap natural gas along with Turkmenistan.

 

Heydar Isayev is a journalist from Baku.

Locals say 11 Armenians killed in Ukraine since beginning of war

Emil Lazarian
– 15:06 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – 11 Armenians have been killed in Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s invasion on February 24, according to local Armenian organizations.

According to the Union of Armenians of Ukraine, 26-year-old Artem Ayvazyan died in Kharkov on March 1. He was a volunteer, helping those in need in his city, delivering food and medicine to them.

Deputy Chairman of the Union David Mkrtchyan has said that among the dead Armenians eight civilians and three soldiers have been killed in Kherson, Chonhar and Mariupol.

Before the war, about 350,000 Armenians lived in Ukraine. However, it is still unknown how many of them have managed to leave the country in the past three weeks. Mkrtchyan said that they are now trying to understand how many Armenians are still in Ukraine, but the country’s border service is overloaded with work

About 4,000 Ukrainian citizens have moved to Armenia since the beginning of the war, Denis Avtonomov, the Ukrainian Chargé d’Affaires in Armenia, was cited as saying on March 18. Avtonomov said that most of them are ethnic Armenians, many have relatives and family here and rarely turn to the Embassy for help. The diplomat added that a certain number of ethnic Ukrainians has also escaped to Armenia.

State minister: All customers in Artsakh to be supplied with natural gas in next few hours

Emil Lazarian
Panorama
Armenia –

Gas supply to more than half of the customers in Artsakh has now been restored, and natural gas will be delivered to the rest in the next few hours, State Minister Artak Beglaryan said on Saturday.

The repair and checking of the damaged gas pipeline was completed late on Friday, with natural gas delivered to the receiving point of Artsakhgaz CJSC at night.

“The people of Artsakh will now be able to resolve the heating and other problems in the current extremely cold weather conditions,” the minister wrote on Telegram.

“Some 30-40 cm of snow fell in Stepanakert today. The snowfall was even heavier in other settlements of Artsakh, which is unprecedented for March. In such conditions, the population of Artsakh was deprived of natural gas for more than 11 days in a row due to artificial and deliberate obstacles created by Azerbaijan,” Beglaryan said.

Oh, Snap! Armenia’s Rosa Linn releases Eurovision 2022 song

Emil Lazarian
wiwibloggs
  • POSTED ONMARCH 19, 2022
  • BYWILLIAM LEE ADAMS

“It’s 4am — I can’t turn my head off, wishing these memories would fade…”

The opening words of Rosa Linn’s “Snap” — her entry for Armenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.

The tender number is genuine and straightforward. Rather than shrieking for attention, Rosa Linn speaks from the heart about getting over an ex.

“Turns out people lie,” she says matter-of-factly. “They said, ‘Just snap your fingers’ as if it was really that easy for me to get over you.”

The chorus seems at once like a meditation and a request to the universe: She reminds herself to breathe through counting, but also tries to expel this person from her heart.

She sings: “I’m snapping one, two, where are you? You’re still in my heart. Snapping three, four, don’t need you here anymore. Get out of my hea-ar-art.” 

The Earthy, folksy quality of the song has shades of The Lumineers and their hit “Ho Hey”. Delivered by a young woman with a big heart, the genre gets a special twist driven by a quiet emotional intensity.

Stripped back and at times almost acoustic, this song deserves sensitive, intimate staging that lets Rosa Linn’s sincerity shine through. Get it right and we’re feeling a sleeper hit. 

The Public TV Company of Armenia selected Rosa Linn through a careful internal selection process. 

The 21-year-old singer, songwriter, and producer was born and raised in Vanadzor, Armenia. She has been fond of music since childhood and started her professional career with the record label “Nvak Collective” — founded by Eurovision 2015 alum and beloved queen Tamar Kaprelian. 

In her own words, Rosa says: “From the outside looking in, the odds seemed like they were against me – an unknown girl from a small town in Armenia. But the power of manifestation is real when it is combined with hard work; persistence; and just putting oneself out there. I’m excited to let people into my inner-world through my music. And I’m beyond honored to be able to represent my beloved country on the biggest stage in Europe.”

In a new press release, AMPTV elaborated on Rosa Linn’s entry. We’re re-printing it in full below.

Rosa Linn, Armenia’s representative at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, has just released her entry song “Snap”, together with the official music video.

Rosa says this song is a journey into her inner world, a personal story everyone can relate to: “I think we’ve all been at a snapping point, where it felt like there’s no way out and that the entire world is just crumbling down around you. You start questioning everything, including yourself. I have been there. And what I realized was that I had the
strength to shape my reality – it just took getting out of my own way and finding inner-peace. It’s all about self-love and accepting that you are enough. Writing “Snap” was a form of therapy for me and I hope that it can be that for others who are also going through hard times.”

“Snap” was written by Rosa Linn, Larzz Principato, Courtney Harrell, Allie Crystal, Tamar Mardirossian Kaprelian. Lyrics by Rosa Linn, Larzz Principato, Courtney Harrell, Allie Crystal, Tamar Mardirossian Kaprelian, Jeremy Dusoulet

https://wiwibloggs.com/2022/03/19/snap-armenias-rosa-linn-releases-eurovision-2022-song/271103/

ALSO READ

https://eurovisionworld.com/esc/armenia-rosa-linn-releases-snap-for-eurovision-2022

https://www.aussievision.net/post/eurovision-2022-armenia-s-song-snap-out-now-in-australia

https://www.escunited.com/armenia-rosa-linn-will-snap-her-moment-in-turin/

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Armenian, Italian FMs exchange messages on 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations

Emil Lazarian

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 16:27,

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Italy exchanged messages on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Italian Republic, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.

In his message Ararat Mirzoyan, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia, particularly emphasized the fact that the Armenian-Italian cooperation is characterized by a high-level political dialogue. He commended the growing bilateral trade turnover, as well as the volume of Italian investments in Armenia. Minister Mirzoyan expressed determination in bringing bilateral economic relations to the level of political dialogue.

Congratulating the Armenian counterpart, Luigi Di Mayo, the Foreign Minister of Italy, in his turn noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Armenian-Italian friendly relations and political dialogue have been developing and strengthening, as evidenced by the high-level reciprocal visits. He added that the friendly relations between Armenia and Italy establish stable trade-economic and cultural ties, which are complemented by the existing cooperation in various spheres.

Armenia’s Security Council Secretary to visit Germany

Emil Lazarian

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 16:56,

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan will depart for Berlin on a tow-day visit on March 21, his Office said in a statement.

Armen Grigoryan is scheduled to meet with Jens Plötner, the foreign and security policy adviser to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

During the visit the Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia will also have several working meetings.

Armenian-Dutch Foreign Ministries hold political consultations

Emil Lazarian

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 19:40,

YEREVAN, 18 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. Political consultations were held between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands on March 18 in The Hague, co-chaired by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan and Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for Political Affairs Thijs van der Plas.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, the sides expressed satisfaction over the high level of political dialogue between Armenia and the Netherlands at different levels, the interlocutors discussed a broad scope of issues on the Armenian-Dutch bilateral agenda. Regarding trade and economic cooperation, the interlocutors noted the positive dynamics observed in recent years and outlined the steps that need to be taken to fully realize the existing potential.

The parties touched upon the events to be organized on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and the Netherlands.

The parties discussed the agenda of the Armenia-EU partnership, exchanged views on a number of issues of mutual interest on the international and regional agenda, as well as discussed cooperation and mutual support within the framework of international organizations.

The interlocutors also touched upon the current situation around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In this context, the parties stressed the importance of the full resumption of the Karabakh peace process under the auspices of the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group. The Armenian side expressed gratitude for the support and firm position of the Dutch Parliament during and after the Azerbaijani aggression unleashed against Artsakh, as well as for raising the issue by the government on bilateral and multilateral platforms, emphasizing the need to continue this approach, taking into account the current geopolitical developments.

During his visit to The Hague, Deputy Minister Hovhannisyan met with representatives of the political parties of the Netherlands and civil society activists, and also took part in a diplomatic reception dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and the Netherlands. During the reception, a number of persons were awarded for their significant contribution to the deepening of bilateral cooperation between Armenia and the Netherlands.