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

U.S. Embassies worldwide regularly recruit Citizen Liaison Volunteers – Embassy releases clarification

Emil Lazarian

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 15:03,

YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS. The Embassy of the United States in Armenia released a clarification over the recent publication in its website titled “Message for U.S Citizens” seeking Community Liaison Volunteers.

“U.S. Embassies worldwide regularly recruit Citizen Liaison Volunteers to help share information with and render assistance to U.S. citizens living and traveling abroad. This is a routine consular matter”, the Embassy said.

U.S. Embassy Yerevan recently published a Message for U.S. Citizens seeking Community Liaison Volunteers (

Pyunik FC manager apologizes for striking child pitch invader after Dudelange match

Emil Lazarian

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 17:03,

YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS. The General Manager of Yerevan’s Pyunik FC Kim Arakelyan has issued a public apology for striking a child who ran into the pitch following the club’s UEFA Champions League 1st leg of second qualifying round match against F91 Dudelange.

“I’d like to apologize for the incident that took place after the match against Dudelange. My partners who organize international matches will very well understand that these matches imply a great sense of responsibility and any violation could lead to serious consequences for the club, up to disqualification of the entire team and ban from participation in European championships.

Nevertheless, I very well realize and I bear the entire responsibility for the incident. Being devoted to Pyunik FC and our country, I couldn’t properly react and I let my emotions control me. I apologize to everyone involved and our team, because our team symbolizes only victories, history and respect,” Arakelyan said in a statement.

He added that he is willing to meet with the child and the parents and personally apologize.

Pyunik lost 1:0 to Dudelange in Yerevan.

Armenian Deputy FM, newly appointed Ambassador of Albania discuss issues of deepening cooperation in a number of spheres

Emil Lazarian

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 19:20,

YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. On July 19, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan received the newly appointed Ambassador of Albania Luela Hajdaraga (residence in Athens) on the occasion of handing over the copy of her credentials.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, congratulating the Ambassador on the occasion of her appointment, Deputy Foreign Minister Hovhannisyan highlighted the importance of Armenian-Albanian relations and the need to further develop them. He wished success to Ambassador Hajdaraga in her mission, expressing hope that she will give a new impetus to the bilateral cooperation with her vigorous activities.

Expressing gratitude for the reception and good wishes, Ambassador Hajdaraga assured that she will make maximum efforts to activate and promote the cooperation between Armenia and Albania.

The interlocutors referred to issues related to political dialogue, partnership in international structures, development of trade and economic relations, cooperation in educational and cultural fields, as well as the expansion of the legal framework.

Putin highly appreciated the development of Russian-Iranian relations at the meeting with Raisi

Emil Lazarian

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 20:51,

YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. During the meeting with the President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin said that the relations between the two countries are developing at a good pace, ARMENPRESS reports, Ria Novosti informed.

According to him, these relations have a significant contribution to the Syrian settlement, and in terms of trade, the countries can boast of record numbers.

“We can boast of record numbers of trade growth. We are strengthening our cooperation in the field of international security, making a significant contribution to the settlement of the Syrian crisis,” Putin said during the meeting.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi expressed hope that the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Iran will be a turning point for the development of relations between the two countries.

“I have great hope that your official visit to Iran will become a turning point for the strengthening of relations between the two countries on issues of the regional and international agenda,” Raisi said.

Armenian, Polish FMs refer to regional and international security issues

Emil Lazarian

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 21:10,

YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. Within the framework of the official visit to Poland, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau on July 19.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the MFA Armenia, the Ministers exchanged congratulations on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Poland, noting that the partnership of the last 30 years is a solid ground for consistent development and strengthening of interstate relations.

In this context, the Ministers expressed satisfaction with the results of the political consultations held between the Armenian and Polish Foreign Ministries on June 28 in Yerevan and expressed their belief that their continuity and frequency will best serve to the deepening of the political dialogue and cooperation between the two countries.

The Ministers referred to the possibilities of further expansion of Armenian-Polish cooperation, expressing readiness to take steps in the fields of trade, high and information technologies, finance and banking, justice, education, science and culture.

The interlocutors exchanged ideas on deepening cooperation in the direction of promotion of democracy, protection of human rights and strengthening the rule of law. Minister Mirzoyan presented the agenda of democratic reforms in Armenia to his colleague.

Ararat Mirzoyan and Zbigniew Rau also referred to the possibilities of developing effective cooperation between Armenia and the European Union. Minister Mirzoyan emphasized the implementation of steps aimed at strengthening the inclusiveness of the Eastern Partnership program and further increasing its efficiency, emphasizing in this regard the role of Poland as the initiator country of the Eastern Partnership.

Regional and international security issues were discussed during the meeting. Minister Mirzoyan presented Armenia’s position regarding the processes aimed at establishing regional peace and stability.

The key role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs’ format in promoting Nagorno Karabakh peace process and normalizing relations with Azerbaijan was emphasized.

Ararat Mirzoyan presented to his colleague Azerbaijan’s continuous provocative actions towards Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, belligerent and maximalist statements, stressing that similar steps undermine efforts aimed at establishing regional stability and peace.

Reference was made to the humanitarian consequences of the 44-day war, in particular, the repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians illegally held in Azerbaijan, as well as the prevention of the policy of destruction and distortion of the Armenian historical and cultural heritage of Artsakh in the territories that have passed under Azerbaijani control.

FM Mirzoyan expressed confidence that the existing mechanisms in the toolkit of the OSCE and the Institute of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office will contribute to opening an era of regional peace and sustainable development and strengthening the atmosphere of constructive dialogue and trust.

Armenpress: Putin refers to Nagorno Karabakh conflict during the meeting with Erdoğan

Emil Lazarian

Putin refers to Nagorno Karabakh conflict during the meeting with Erdoğan

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 21:45,

YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. During the meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Tehran, Russian President Vladimir Putin, among other issues, also talked about the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, ARMENPRESS reports, the Kremlin’s official website informs.

“Of course, we also have another important issue under our spotlight, the settlement of the Karabakh problem. Recently, I met with the President of Azerbaijan within the framework of the Caspian Forum,” Putin said.

The parties also discussed the Syrian issue, as well as the implementation of bilateral large projects.

Prime Minister introduces new Chief of General Staff to top brass

Emil Lazarian

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 17:05,

YEREVAN, JULY 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the Ministry of Defense to introduce the new Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, First Deputy Minister of Defense Edvard Asryan to the top military leadership.

“First of all I’d like to thank Lieutenant General Kamo Kochunts for fulfilling the duties of the Chief of General Staff in the last six months. I’d like to wish good luck to Mr. Asryan in fulfilling his mission in this highly important position. As you know, certain legislative changes were made and from now on after the law takes effect the Chief of the General Staff will also serve as First Deputy Minister of Defense, with all subsequent consequences. We made this decision upon studying a number of events that took place in the recent years, including issues of working partnership between the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff. I believe that a right decision was made. I’d like to express hope that as a result of implementing this decision the productivity of our work in the area of reforms of the military, the army will be more effective.

Mr. Kochunts, allow me to once again thank you for your work, and Mr. Asryan, allow me to wish you good luck in this highly important position,” PM Nikol Pashinyan said.

“In this responsible position, Mr. Prime Minister, I assume the obligation to fulfill all envisaged functions and duties and fulfill the objectives of the Armed Forces,” Asryan said in part in his remarks. He stressed that the General Staff is a collegial body and that they will work under collegial principals.

Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan also delivered remarks. He congratulated Asryan on his appointment and wished productive work. Papikyan thanked Kochunts for his service. 

Asryan then ceremonially assumed the duties of Chief of General Staff as Minister of Defense Papikyan handed him the Coat of Arms of the Armed Forces.

AW: Aurora’s Sunrise featured at the Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival

Emil Lazarian
 Zoryan Institute Film 0

YEREVAN—The Zoryan Institute is pleased to announce that the animated film Aurora’s Sunrise has been featured in the International Competition at the 19th annual Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival. The film was screened on July 14, 2022 in Yerevan, Armenia.  

Aurora’s Sunrise is a historical animated documentary film about the life of Armenian Genocide survivor Aurora Mardiganian, who shared her brave story of survival with the world, raising millions of dollars in humanitarian aid for survivors following the Genocide. The Zoryan Institute’s objective with this animated film is to bring the story of an incredible survivor from its oral history collection to life on the big screen, to empower young women and girls to represent their communities in the face of great adversity and violence.

This documentary film was made possible by the financial partnership of Eurimages, along with the majority ownership and financial partnership of “Armenian Group,” composed of the Zoryan Institute Armenia, the National Cinema Center of Armenia and Bars Media. The film is based on Mardiganian’s audio-visual oral history testimony given to the Zoryan Institute in 1984 and was made possible by the academic contribution of the Zoryan Institute.

The film is directed by Inna Sahakyan and produced by Bars Media, Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion & Artbox Laisvalaikio Klubas, with contributions made by the Lithuanian Film Center, ZDF/ARTE, Public TV Armenia, and LRT.

Atom Egoyan, honorary chairperson of the festival, had this to say about Mardiganian in the foreword of the 2014 edition of Ravished Armenia and the Story of Aurora Mardiganian: “What makes Aurora a super survivor is that she not only witnessed the elimination of her family and community, but also inspired a dramatic retelling of this experience… Aurora lived through the experience of genocide, lived through the experience of making a film about the Genocide, and then witnessed both events effectively disappear – one through the denial of the perpetrators, the other through the physical laws of the film itself.”

Nearly 40 years ago, the Zoryan Institute made an investment to conduct interviews with survivors of the Armenian Genocide with technologies that were considered ultra-modern at the time: video recording. This medium not only captured the voices of survivors, but also their presence, expressions, and their raw emotions. This was the first oral history project to do this, and it made a huge contribution to the preservation of an invaluable part of the Armenian people’s experience and history. The animated film allows audiences to visualize all of the elements that are confined to one’s imagination when watching these recordings. Viewing the experience of genocide unfold on the big screen will make Aurora’s amazing story eternally accessible.  

Aurora’s Sunrise is not the only film based on the Zoryan Institute’s oral history archives. The 1988 PBS hit An Armenian Journey by award-winning documentary filmmaker and former chairperson of the Zoryan Institute Theodore Bogosian features 70-year old Mariam Davis who returned back to Eastern Turkey for the first time since she was 10 years old. Davis was the first Armenian Genocide survivor that the Zoryan Institute had the pleasure of interviewing for its Armenian Genocide Oral History Program in 1983. 

Dr. Rouben Adalian, a member of the Zoryan Institute’s Board of Directors who interviewed Aurora in 1984, concluded a recent interview with the Zoryan Institute stating: “[Aurora] was clearly someone who already knew how to tell her story. She taught us, and me personally, that as a researcher you can be armed with all kinds of questions, to try to present the facts in a scientific manner, but a survivor with the energy and personality that Aurora had could tell her story in her own way, and our obligation was to listen more than to ask questions.”

Dr. Adalian also remarked on the incredible legacy that Aurora is passing down to future generations, and now sharing with the rest of the world. “I think it is Aurora’s spirit, energy, ability to share her story… that now [led to this film] that future generations can analyze and find inspiration in the history that previous generations may not have noticed. This is Aurora’s legacy. This is the value of this interview. This is the unprecedented and important contribution that the Zoryan Institute made when I sat down with this survivor, as with many other survivors, but in this one case, with a woman whose name meant the very dawn that sheds light on the fact that on how important it was to talk to the survivors and save their stories.”

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Zoryan Institute and its subsidiary, the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies, is a non-profit organization that serves the cause of scholarship and public awareness relating to issues of universal human rights, genocide, and diaspora-homeland relations. This is done through the systematic continued efforts of scholars and specialists using a comparative and multidisciplinary approach and in accordance with the highest academic standards.


Iran Unveils Ominous New Naval ‘Drone-Carrier Division’

Emil Lazarian
BYEMMA HELFRICH, TYLER ROGOWAYJUL 17, 2022 6:38 PM
THE WAR ZONE

Iran state media

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The Iranian Navy has announced the introduction of what it’s calling its inaugural “drone-carrier” division. A corresponding unveiling ceremony aired on Iranian state TV showing the navy launching drones from various ships and even a submarine. The display points to Iran’s ongoing push to not only acquire more weaponized drone capabilities and capacity, but to deploy those systems via a diversified set of vectors — including from the sea. The new division was revealed while President Joe Biden was visiting Saudi Arabia in an effort to foster local support as tensions with Iran continue to rise just days after reports began to surface citing that Iran had offered to supply Russia with a significant amount of both armed and unarmed drones on an expedited timeline to bolster its invasion of Ukraine.

The new Iranian Navy division’s unveiling ceremony was held Friday, July 15 in international waters of the Indian Ocean with a number of high-ranking Iranian officials in attendance including Army Commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi. The event also seems to have doubled as a demonstration exercise, allowing the division a chance to showcase its use of ships, and submarines to deploy its locally produced drones. From the broadcasted ceremony, a Kilo-class submarine designated as Tareq, an auxiliary ship named Delvar, and the landing ship Lavan can be seen. While certain specific details about the division were not divulged, Reuters did report that Iranian state TV claimed one unnamed vessel currently carries at least 50 drones.

PressTV, which is also an Iranian state media outlet, claims that the division’s primary operations will consist of transporting and operating these various unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which are said to be made up of combat, surveillance, and kamikaze types, although the Iranian state TV broadcast was seemingly focused on highlighting how a lot of these UAVs are kamikaze drones designed for carrying out strikes. As to the actual type of drones to be employed by the division, reports indicate that UAVs such as Pelican, Homa, Arash, Chamroosh, Jubin, Ababil-4, and Bavar-5 were all utilized during the unveiling ceremony. 

Kian Sharifi, the senior journalist for BBC Monitoring, tweeted that the drone that can be seen launching from the Tareq submarine is identified as a Homa UAV. However, incredibly little is known about Homa at present aside from it being a reconnaissance UAV, and two total drones can be seen on Tareq in photos taken of the event posted by the MEHR News Agency. There’s one that actually launches from the surface and one that appears to be hovering over it.

Two Iranian drones can be seen launching from or near the submarine’s dry deck. MEHR News Agency

While submarine-launched drones are becoming more commonplace, their uses are limited if the submarine has to surface to deploy them. Still, there are applications where launching them from a surfaced submarine might offer some value. Even developing the capability to transfer small items to and from a submarine via drone can be a worthwhile endeavor.

Also said to have been featured in the Iranian Navy’s “drone carrier” unveiling was the Pelican-2 drone, a vertical take-off naval UAV designed to fly horizontally as well as land and float on water in the event of an emergency. Pelican-2 was engineered to serve patrol and reconnaissance missions, with four motors that allow it to achieve vertical movement in addition to its powerful propellor used for horizontal flight. This ‘hybrid’ configuration is becoming more and more popular for naval applications. The Chamroosh UAV, however, is a less sophisticated drone being that the aircraft is hand-launched. 

One of the Iranian drones used in the unveiling ceremony of the Iranian Navy’s “drone-carrier” division. MEHR News Agency

That leaves the Arash, Jubin, Ababil-4, and Bavar-5 drones. The Arash UAV is at the very least known to be a kamikaze drone first introduced in 2020 and was recently used during an annual Iranian war game exercise in 2021. The Ababil-4 is Iran’s second-newest addition to the Ababil family of drones designed by Ghods Aviation Industries and mass-produced by Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries. While few technical details are known about Ababil-4, its predecessors are used primarily for surveillance operations but can also be fitted with weapons depending on the mission. At a showcasing event in April of this year, the Ababil-5 was revealed to be carrying six Almas anti-tank guided missiles and was said to be capable of carrying Ghaem-5 precision-guided munitions.

Both the Bavar-5 and the Jubin UAVs, on the other hand, are newer and details about both of the drones’ configurations do not appear to be readily available. The delta-canard configuration seen on some of these drones is nothing new as it has been used for many Iranian drone designs, and especially those provided to its proxies, for years. These drones are usually associated with long-range ‘suicide’ attacks and can even potentially carry anti-radiation seekers for finding and striking enemy air defense radars.

One of the Iranian drones used in the unveiling ceremony of the Iranian Navy’s “drone-carrier” division. MEHR News Agency

Auxiliary-type ships that will allegedly support the Iranian Navy’s new “drone-carrier” division serve as another example of Iran developing capabilities to carry out asymmetric attacks far from its own shores. Iran is known to have used commercial ships discreetly for military purposes, which you can read more about in this past War Zone piece, and while these might not be super high-end platforms ready to face off with major navies, they definitely reflect real threats in other capacities. 

The exporting of sea-launched drone capabilities to nefarious customers and especially its militant proxy forces is really a bigger issue than Iran displaying the capability itself. The fact is these drones could be launched from pretty much any ship, not just obvious ‘drone carriers,’ and even be employed against other ships. This can make attributing the source of attacks very challenging, as well as interdicting the launch platforms prior to deploying the drones.

One of the Iranian drones used in the unveiling ceremony of the Iranian Navy’s “drone-carrier” division flying above auxiliary ship Delvar. MEHR News Agency

One of the Iranian drones used in the unveiling ceremony of the Iranian Navy’s “drone-carrier” division. MEHR News Agency

That category of threats has been a growing friction point in the Middle East as of late, and The War Zone routinely highlights the fact that a low-intensity maritime drone war is already underway between Iran and Israel. Another drone event in Israel’s maritime zone just occurred. The fear of proliferation of these systems, as well as cheap cruise missiles, has led to the possibility of a previously unthinkable alliance between the Arab states and Israel that could include a shared air defense network focused on early warning, tracking, and engaging these threats. The drones’ small signatures and their ability to fly low, and in some cases slow, over great distances, along with their low cost, which allows for ‘flocks’ to be deployed against a single target area, even by non-state actors, make them an especially potent air defense challenge. The fact that they can be launched from pretty much any ship complicates things considerably. Israel is already preparing for such a contingency and the U.S. has major concerns about similar threats emanating from beyond its shores.

Meanwhile, Israel, which pioneered the ‘suicide drone’ concept, is also equipping its own ships with similar, albeit far more advanced systems.

One of the Iranian drones used in the unveiling ceremony of the Iranian Navy’s “drone-carrier” division. MEHR News Agency

Needless to say, Iran is evidently making prominent strides in indigenous weapons and capabilities development. How exactly this equipment will be used, and by who, however, remains to be seen. 

Contact the author: [email protected]