SHAR IS COMING TO GYUMRI, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR HOMES. The warning worked, Sarik Minasyan

April 20, 2026

Nikol Pashinyan’s efforts to organize a motorcade from Yerevan, to detain people and thereby create the impression of a crowd at the “Varchabend” concert in Gyumri’s Vardanants Square, failed in such a way that the sound of the already shamefully failed Pashinyan concert in the evening is probably still heard in the ears of Sarik Minasyan, the CP candidate who lost in the Gyumri council elections, and Shirak governor Davit Arushanyan, on whose shoulders it was placed. The “sacred duty” to ensure the fullness of Vardanants Square.

168.amAccording to reports, Nikol Pashinyan fell into such convulsions from the half-empty appearance of Vardanants Square that it cost Sarik Minasyan a loss of balance and, as a result, on the social network rude behavior, for which he has already apologized.

And no matter how much the CP ladies and men published close-up photos from their convenient ruckuses, no matter how much the entire administrative resource was filled in Gyumri, especially the highly “literate” Shirak, who considers Shirak to be one of the most beautiful cities in Armenia, for example, with the governor of Armavir, no matter how much Defense Minister Suren Papikyan, who left the business, published heart-warming pictures from the square, no matter how well-known singers sang from the stage, the reality did not change. Vardanants Square remained half-empty. Aram MP3, of course, is a talented artist and many people love him, but the people of Gyumri didn’t even leave their homes to listen to him, it was so unpleasant for them to see Nikol Pashinyan and the CP members.

According to our information, the number of people was less than during the final rally of the CP during the Gyumri council elections.

Read also

  • The last stop of “Armenia without EITA” is the Shangyala state
  • What is behind Onik Gasparyan’s offer to speak at the closed meeting, what open questions await his open answer?
  • Armenia-Azerbaijan. Will there be an enclave exchange?

Gyumri once again rejected Pashinyan, and this is the reality. Gyumri does not forgive Pashinyan’s encroachments on either its faith or its decisions.

It is noteworthy that the “Union of Informed Citizens” did not publish the number of listeners of the Varchaband concert in Vardanants Square, counting the number of cars in the motorcade (according to the CP members: 1230 cars, but perhaps they also attributed to their motorcade just the cars of those going to Gyumri – A.V.).

It is noteworthy that a day before the concert, the people of Gyumri warned each other on social networks not to leave the house, the shar is coming to the hometown. In fact, there is a culture of listening to each other in Gyumri.

Armenia-Azerbaijan. Will there be an enclave exchange?

April 20, 2026

Soviet cartography of Nikol Pashinyan’s government and: «of the peace agenda» about twists and turns

Recently, the topic of enclaves in the territory of Armenia and Azerbaijan has been somewhat pushed to the background, but there is no doubt՝ after the June parliamentary elections, the topic of border demarcation will definitely return to the current agenda. Thus, Doctor of Political Sciences Artur Khachikyan is publishing the possible scenario of territorial concessions in favor of the neighbors, starting with the early handing over of the enclave of Tigranashen (Kyark), «which will cut the North-South strategic road, cutting off Syunik from the north»։

And it seems that the events are leading to it. Under the “peaceful” calls of Pashinyan and his teammates, the village of Tigranashen leaves the impression of an empty and uncertain settlement.is noted In the latest report of Lurer periodical. The territory of the village at the foot of Tezhkar (Ghez’l-Dash) mountain, which is about 8-10 km from the border village of Nakhichevan, is 960 hectares, the total exclave is almost 1430 hectares.

Read also

  • PEOPLE WILL ANSWER TO PASHINIAN’S “SHUNUSHANGYAL” INJURY ON JUNE 7, EVERYTHING WILL FALL IN ITS PLACE. ARMAN ABOVIAN
  • What is behind Onik Gasparyan’s offer to speak at the closed meeting, what open questions await his open answer?
  • Pashinyan does not forget anything. as he gave, so he will take. Why did the Prosecutor’s Office keep the process of “homelessness” of Mkhitar Zakaryan a secret?

According to official data, there are about 40 houses in Tigranashen, through which passes the strategic road connecting the Ararat Valley to Vaik and Syunik, but most of them are either empty or inhabited by elderly people. As a result of the visit of the activists of the “Non-Western Azerbaijan” movement Suren Surenyantsi and Hayk Nahapetyan to the village, a manifesto was prepared, listing the problems and demands regarding the security and future of the village in the context of the “peace process” between Baku and Yerevan.

According to Baku’s version, Kyarki is located in the Ararat Marz of Armenia, within the borders of the Sadarak region of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic under the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan, and “657 square meters of Nakhichevan in the Soviet period. km territory was illegally handed over to Armenia.” It is noted that on February 18, 1929, by the decision of the Central Electoral Commission of the Central Executive Committee of the Transcaucasian Soviet Socialist Republic, 10 villages of the Nakhichevan region were handed over to Armenia, which allegedly grossly violated the terms of the Moscow Treaty of March 16, 1921 and the Kars Treaty of October 13, 1921.

In 1930, 3 more villages were joined to Armenia: Lehvaz, Astazur and Aldara, as well as Kyark. According to the decision of the Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan on May 5, 1938, a significant part of the surrounding lands of that village was transferred to Armenia, which led to the complete isolation of Kyarki from the Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic of Nakhichevan.

at the same time according to former RA Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan conclusions published by some mapsի՝ «the village never had the status of an enclave and from the beginning was not only part of the First Republic of Armenia, but also part of Soviet Armenia. The village was called Karke (Kyar in Azerbaijanic:in).

Another Armenian village, Genu, was located in the immediate vicinity of Tigranashenthe with the name, which was also a part of Soviet Armenia. the name is derived from the evergreen tree. Over the years, the village has been divided into two parts, Turkish J:as a result of the resettlement of representatives of the Afarlu clan, and received Jafarlu and Geight the names. For example, from 1926 c:Artezner village was part of the territory of Soviet Armenia…

The same applies to the historical Armenian villages of Tavush. ohfor example, Voskepari, which, both in 1918-1920 and in the Soviet years, was in Ijevan region: In Barani region.

Misrepresentation of historical facts, blatant disregard for the rights and safety of border residents, lessons learned from history, and blatantly unprofessional interpretations have for decades deprived us of the legal basis to protect the rights and interests of our citizens, endangering the security of our country.”

A convincing answer there is none to the question of when exactly and: on the basis of which documents these or those enclaves appeared. most likely, they areand:were formed elementally due to the ethno-religious composition of the population of one or another region and: its economic and: with the characteristics of economic activity։

“Until 1936, no Azerbaijani enclave existed on the territory of Armenia on Soviet maps.” continues the topic is the famous Armenian cartographer Ruben Galchyan. “For the first time only in 1936, the official map of the Transcaucasia was published, on which the first two Azerbaijani enclaves appeared, in the Tavush region of Armenia, and another such area, the present-day Tigranashen, in the Ararat region, was marked on the map in 1939”, but on another Soviet map published a year later, there are all enclaves except Kyarki.

1940ssorry last and: Later, the leadership of the Armenian SSR proposed to Baku to include the exclave in Armeniaand:from the town of Zod on the southeast coastand:outlet in front of a larger area (moreover, according to unofficial information, a Kurdish autonomous district within the Armenian SSR was previously planned here as a replacement for the much larger and more populated similar region (“Red Kurdistan”) between Nagorno-Karabakh and the Armenian SSR within Azerbaijan in 1923-32. There was also an unrealized project for a 20 percent territorial expansion of that district, development of social infrastructure, food industry, and cotton cultivation there). However, Baku did not plan to eliminate Yerand:60 km of the direct road to that Azerbaijani exclave, not accepting the exchange offers.

By the way, the same question, two neighbors «fraternal» between republicsand: in the context of broader demarcation, in his extensive letter to Khrushchev put Honored Art Worker of the ASSR and: Honored Architect of the USSR MrRafael Israelyan, winner of the post-prize on July 20, 1962, with whomand:came the short answer: “It will come againthe bowl» (by the way, during the same period, Khrushchev initiated a project to transfer the lands of Northern Kazakhstan to the RSFSR):…

The escalation of the Karabakh conflict on the border in the 1980s and 1990s was naturally followed by armed clashes between the Armenian and Azerbaijani SSRs along the entire border, including in the Nakhichevan Autonomous Region. The residents of Kyarki moved to the adjacent territory, where they built the village of Yeni Kyarki 1992-in: In August, units of the new Azerbaijani army occupied the Artsvashen (Bashkend) enclave of the Krasnoselsk region of Armenia, which was to be returned has hope Pashinyan’s government՝ within the framework of a hypothetical exchange of enclaves (in: by the way, hardly any of the former residents or their descendants will return there). According to Galchyan՝ «will be the most logical solution to the question «The exchange of the Armenian Artsvashen enclave with the Azerbaijani one»: Otherwise, if the parties return their enclaves, a whole complex of problems related to their access will arise, and therefore full of conflict, in which case (we would add) Baku will most likely act from a position of force or the direct threat of its use.

The above residents of Tigranashen publicfrom the letter follows՝ one of the most painful problems remains educational. As a result of the youth exodus, only 4 children currently attend the local school. According to the current regulations, schools that do not reach the minimum number of students will be closed. and: From September 1, 2026, the local school will also suffer the same fate. In addition, the villagers have no place to work, which forces them to leave their homes in search of a livelihood, whichn “further aggravates the demographic situation and accelerates the process of settlement emptying»:

And the residents consider the main and most worrying problem to be the houses and: for plots of landand:lack of formal ownershipIn many cases, the state does not issue appropriate certificates, which actually deprives people of legal guarantees and: does not allow to talk about either development or long-term investments in the village. According to Hayk Nahapetyan՝ such an approach may be linked to the future of the area politically and: with legal uncertainty, because if the state officially recognizes the property rights of citizens, then in the case of possible territorial solutions, a serious legal conflict will arise»: It has a direct impact and: standard of living and: on the development prospects of the whole community». He does not increase confidence in tomorrowand: A premiseand:available by hidden the threat.

Lack of property rights, socio-economic difficulties and security problems are a closed circleand:formation, from which the village stilland:he sees no way out. An impression is created that Tigranashen is preparing one way or another as a result of the June vote of CP if successfuland:hand them over։ However, for now, that success is far from being a fact, and the second stage provided for by the current Constitution is not at all excluded…

Alexey Baliand:

vpoanalytics.com

Translation by Zhanna Avetisyan




168: Iran is buying Wa Bank. According to Tripp, Iran also has leverage. Abb

April 20, 2026

“Iran will hit the places where, according to Tehran, the threat to the Islamic Republic is concentrated,” he said today. 168TVof “diplomat” he mentioned on the air of the program Russian journalist, political commentator Abbas Juman: referring to the war against Iran and its consequences in the South Caucasus.

Abbas Juma believes that it is difficult to predict the course of the war and negotiations at the moment, because either the resumption of the hot phase of the war or the negotiation process is possible, although every statement of the US President Trump pushes the parties away from the negotiations.

Speaking from the South Caucasus, the Russian political commentator said that the war is changing Iran’s approaches, they are becoming tougher. According to him, if the war continues, if it unfolds, there is a great risk of involving other players in the war.

Read also

  • MOSCOW IS TURNING… SAMVEL KARAPETIAN, SITTING AT HOME, RULES THE COUNTRY. EDGAR GAZARYAN
  • You killed an 86-year-old man with his 14-month-old granddaughter, what are you happy about? Ruben Melkonyan
  • How Erdogan is trying to legitimize the status quo established by the use of force in the South Caucasus by positioning himself as a “peacemaker” power

“The close cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel is not a secret for anyone, Israel’s role in the Karabakh conflict is not a secret for anyone, the fact that Iran’s opponents bet on Azerbaijan is a fact. It is a fact that Azerbaijani territories are being used for spying on Iran, for carrying out sabotage, and for intelligence purposes. It is also a fact that Iranians know this well. It’s no secret that Iranians are suspicious of official Baku. The combination of these facts allows us to assume that, yes, at a certain stage, Azerbaijan can become, if not a player, then a platform, and a certain punishment. bear for it, because the Iranians will not ask questions, ask, tolerate, that stage has passed. The Iranians will strike if they think there is a threat from the territory of Azerbaijan,” Juma expressed a similar opinion, continuing to note that Aliyev is still able to balance and shows caution, just like his elder brother in Ankara.

Juma noted that Tehran is extremely worried about the fact that Yerevan is deepening relations with the EU and the USA. According to him, Iran has the right to worry about that fact, because Iran is at war. Juma believes that today Iran is at war and has the right to consider projects like “Trump Road” as a component of aggression. “What does Trump’s path mean, what about Iran, what about access to Armenia, and what if it is a dual purpose route?” Maybe it’s not just about trade. And, according to you, how should Iran, which is already at war and showing its strength, respond?

Abbas Juma stated that he is not trying to predict, threaten, but, in his opinion, the deeper the relations between the enemies of Yerevan and Iran, the more questions Iran will have to Yerevan. “And when I say that Iran’s relations and approaches to its neighbors will be reviewed, it also applies to Armenia. In this situation, how will Armenia balance, frankly speaking, it is not very clear, because Iran has the right to be wary of TRIPP, everything that concerns the relations between Yerevan and Washington, Yerevan and Paris,” said the analyst.

What leverages does Iran have in this matter, Abbas Juma said that Iran has, including power leverage. “Iran is going to the bank, one could have said something before the war, and as long as Iran is in the form it is today, feeling the weight of the war, realizing that it is pointless to talk to these people, it will hit the places where, according to Tehran, the threat to the Islamic Republic is concentrated. How the current government will interpret TRIPP is hard to say. However, if RA disregards Iran’s basic principles, if there is a threat to Iran’s national security, if Iran perceives it that way, then Iranians will not sit idly by,” Juma said.

Armenia is ready to facilitate transit transportation between Azerbaijan and Turkey

Photo: parliament.am

At the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Istanbul, the representative of the ruling party of Armenia announced the beginning of a new era of stability in the South Caucasus, stressing the economic and humanitarian benefits of the peace process with Azerbaijan.


Hasmik Hakobyan, deputy of the “Civil Agreement” faction, in his speech called the joint declaration of August 8, 2025 a historical milestone, which established the recognition of mutual sovereignty based on the Alma-Ata declaration.


The politician considered the fact that, thanks to diplomatic efforts, there have been no armed incidents and casualties on the borders for almost two years, and it was also possible to ensure the return of prisoners. Yerevan considers regional economic integration to be the main driver of lasting peace.


As an example, Hakobyan pointed to the launch of the TRIPP program, within the framework of which, in November of last year, for the first time since 1991, a cargo train from Azerbaijan arrived in Armenia through the territory of Georgia.


“We are also ready to facilitate transit transportation between Azerbaijan and Turkey, believing that interdependence is the best antidote to enmity,” the Armenian parliamentarian emphasized.


Ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 2026, the Armenian authorities are promoting the concept of “Real Armenia”, which is aimed at development in internationally recognized territories.


According to Hakobyan, the government strives to make democracy and peace irreversible by building a future where state borders serve not as obstacles, but exclusively as gates of regional cooperation.

The court canceled Serzh Sargsyan’s deal. 78.8 million drams will be charged to the budget

Photo: sputnik

The Anti-Corruption Court of Armenia invalidated the sale and purchase agreement of the state plot signed by the former Minister of Defense Serzh Sargsyan in 2006, obliging the buyer to pay multi-million financial compensation to the state.


The judicial act was made on the basis of the claim of the State Interests Protection Department of the General Prosecutor’s Office. The 0.17-hectare plot of land located on Tsovakal Isakov Avenue in Malatia-Sebastia administrative district of the capital appeared at the center of the case.


The court recognized the deal between the then head of the defense department and the private company as illegal. Since the actual return of the territory to the state is currently impossible, the court ordered the closed joint-stock company to compensate the market value of the asset. The amount subject to confiscation will be 78.86 million drams (equivalent to about 205.3 thousand US dollars).


“Considering the impossibility of returning the mentioned plot of land, as a consequence of the invalidity of the contract, its value will be expropriated from the company in favor of the Republic of Armenia,” explained the supervisory department, adding that the judgment has already entered into legal force and an enforcement notice has been issued.

Official invitation

Dear partner,

We kindly invite you to participate in the professional workshop entitled “Re-reading the political, religious and social ideas of the spiritual leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ali Khamenei”, which will take place on on April 22 at 14:00 at YSU Theology Faculty.

Your presence will be greatly appreciated and will greatly contribute to the success of the event.

Address: c. Yerevan, Abovyan 52:

Date: April 22, 2:00 p.m

ACT petition pushes for Greek, Armenian and Assyrian genocide education in sch

Greek Herald
April 20 2026

 

·

A new petition before the ACT Legislative Assembly is calling for the inclusion of Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocide education in the territory’s school curriculum, as community groups intensify efforts to secure broader historical recognition.

The e-petition, sponsored by Greens MLA Andrew Braddock, urges the ACT Government to incorporate teaching on the experiences of these communities during World War I and its aftermath, particularly the period between 1915 and 1923.

It comes as the Canberra Association of Pontos ‘Trapezounta’, alongside Armenian and Assyrian organisations, continues a coordinated push to have the proposal adopted.

Supporters say the initiative is about strengthening historical awareness and ensuring students gain a more complete understanding of events that profoundly impacted these communities.

The petition highlights what it describes as the systematic mass killings and deportations carried out under the Ottoman Empire, which led to the deaths and displacement of millions of Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks.

Advocates argue that including this history in the curriculum would not only acknowledge the experiences of affected communities, but also contribute to a broader understanding of migration, identity and multicultural Australia.

The petition, lodged earlier this year, remains open to ACT residents, with organisers urging supporters to take part, noting that even small increases in signatures could strengthen the case for parliamentary consideration.

If successful, the proposal would prompt the ACT Government to review its curriculum framework and consider formally incorporating the topic into classroom teaching.

The push reflects a wider movement across Australia, where diaspora communities have long advocated for greater recognition of these historical events within education systems and public discourse.

If you are an ACT resident, you can sign the petition here before it closes on May 3.

https://greekherald.com.au/news/act-petition-pushes-for-greek-armenian-and-assyrian-genocide-education-in-schools/

Ranking Member Shaheen, Senator Tillis Send Bipartisan Letters to Meta, Alphab

Foreign Relations Committee – US Senate
April 20 2026

WASHINGTON – Last week, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Thom Tillis (R-NC), sent letters to Meta and Alphabet urging them to devote sufficient resources to preventing Russian disinformation ahead of Armenia’s June 2026 parliamentary elections.

“Independent experts assess that Russia is updating its playbook from Moldova, including by using Meta platforms, to influence the results of Armenia’s democratic process,” wrote the Senators in their letter to Meta. “Prime Minister Pashinyan has noted that ‘people from Russia’ are being encouraged to support certain political parties. A respected Armenian civil society group, the Union of Informed Citizens, has identified more than a hundred pages on Meta platforms promoting manipulative content relating to the upcoming elections. The group has also noted coordinated inauthentic behavior reportedly directed by a Russian-Armenian oligarch listed by the first Trump Administration in a statutorily required report to Congress as a ‘significant senior foreign political figure [or] oligarch in the Russian Federation, as determined by their closeness to the Russian regime.’”

“We hope that you will reprise and adapt efforts taken to support Moldova in defending its democracy against foreign assault but now with relevant Armenian institutions,” wrote the Senators in their letter to Alphabet. “We urge Alphabet to devote sufficient resources to counter Russian disinformation ahead of the Armenian elections.”

The Senators expressed their concerns to the companies and the recognition by the United States of the grave threat posed by Russian actors’ disinformation efforts to Armenian democracy.

Full text of the letters to Meta and Alphabet are available HERE and HERE and provided below.

Dear Mr. Zuckerberg,

We appreciate Meta’s engagement with our teams to explain your initiatives to counter Russian-backed disinformation and political financing ahead of Moldova’s September 2025 parliamentary elections. We write to call your attention to another of the Russian Federation’s efforts to interfere in a vulnerable democracy’s elections, this time ahead of Armenia’s June 2026 parliamentary elections. These elections are pivotal for determining Armenia’s future, as they are likely to determine the outcome of regional peace initiatives and connectivity projects, including the flagship Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, a key component of peace talks. No foreign power should be permitted to influence the results of Armenia’s sovereign decisions.

Independent experts assess that Russia is updating its playbook from Moldova, including by using Meta platforms, to influence the results of Armenia’s democratic process. Prime Minister Pashinyan has noted that “people from Russia” are being encouraged to support certain political parties. A respected Armenian civil society group, the Union of Informed Citizens, has identified more than a hundred pages on Meta platforms promoting manipulative content relating to the upcoming elections. The group has also noted coordinated inauthentic behavior reportedly directed by a Russian-Armenian oligarch listed by the first Trump Administration in a statutorily required report to Congress as a “significant senior foreign political figure [or] oligarch in the Russian Federation, as determined by their closeness to the Russian regime.”

We hope that you will reprise and adapt efforts taken to support Moldova in defending its democracy but now with relevant Armenian institutions. We urge Meta to devote sufficient resources to counter Russian disinformation ahead of the Armenian elections. While the United States must remain impartial in its views about the results of Armenia’s democratic process, we cannot turn a blind eye when we see a foreign power attempt to impose its will on the Armenian people. If these efforts use platforms based in the jurisdiction of the United States, our responsibility is even greater to mitigate and prevent such efforts. I urge Meta to use this moment to help ensure that Armenia’s elections remain free and fair.

Dear Mr. Pichai,

We appreciate Alphabet’s engagement with our teams to explain your initiatives to counter Russian-backed disinformation and political financing ahead of Moldova’s September 2025 parliamentary elections. We write to call your attention to another of the Russian Federation’s efforts to interfere in a vulnerable democracy’s elections, this time ahead of Armenia’s June 2026 parliamentary elections. These elections are pivotal for determining Armenia’s future, as they are likely to determine the outcome of regional peace initiatives as well as connectivity projects, including the flagship Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, a key component of peace talks. No foreign power should be permitted to influence the results of these sovereign decisions, which must be made exclusively by the Armenian people.

Independent experts assess that Russia is using and updating its playbook from Moldova, including by using Alphabet platforms, to influence the results of Armenia’s democratic process. Prime Minister Pashinyan has noted that “people from Russia,” referring to Armenians abroad, are being encouraged to vote for certain political parties. A respected Armenian civil society group, the Union of Informed Citizens, has identified at least seventeen YouTube channels promoting manipulative content relating to the upcoming elections.

We hope that you will reprise and adapt efforts taken to support Moldova in defending its democracy against foreign assault but now with relevant Armenian institutions. We urge Alphabet to devote sufficient resources to counter Russian disinformation ahead of the Armenian elections. While the United States must remain impartial in its views about the results of Armenia’s democratic process, we cannot turn a blind eye when we see a foreign power attempt to impose its will on the Armenian people. If these efforts use platforms based in the jurisdiction of the United States, our responsibility is even greater to mitigate and prevent such efforts. I urge Alphabet to use this moment to ensure that Armenia’s elections remain free and fair.

‘Armenia as a bridge to Europe’ — deputy foreign minister speaks at forum in

JAM News
April 20 2026
  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

“Now, the stability that we have in the South Caucasus is the biggest competitive advantage that we have” Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan said during a panel discussion at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

He added that he finds it “even surprising to realise that the South Caucasus is now one of the most stable regions in the world”, at a time when instability is widespread, supply chains are disrupted and wars are ongoing.

“But the destruction of these supply chains, for example, is not going to last forever. And we need to be smart enough and quick enough to materialize the competitive advantages that we have” he said.

The panel, titled “The South Caucasus: An Emerging Strategic Hub”, also featured Hikmet Hajiyev, head of foreign policy at the Azerbaijani presidential administration; Levan Zhorzholiani, head of the Georgian government administration; and Akif Kılıç, chief foreign policy and security adviser to the Turkish president.

Kostanyan said it was symbolic that four representatives of the region were discussing cooperation and a shared vision for the future.

During the discussion, he also addressed the peace process with Azerbaijan, the normalisation of relations with Turkey, and Armenia’s prospects for European integration. He then outlined the key points of his remarks.


  • Opinion: ‘Russia ‘blackmails’ Armenia with threat of gas price hikes’
  • ‘Armenia could become a small transit hub’: economist on developments around Iran
  • ‘Battle for scandal-loving voters’: Armenia’s pre-election mood

Achieving peace with Azerbaijan required political courage

So I believe that the historic event of August 8, which happened last year in Washington, will be a game-changer, not only for Armenia and Azerbaijan, but for the whole region, including Georgia and Türkiye. And this is an inclusive process. 

You’re speaking about the uncertainties in the world. And at some point, it’s even shocking to think that, you know, South Caucasus is one of the most stable regions at the moment in the world, when the logistical chains and supply chains are disrupted everywhere, when there are ongoing wars, etc, etc. Now, the stability that we have in the South Caucasus is the biggest competitive advantage that we have. But the destruction of these supply chains, for example, is not going to last forever. And we need to be smart enough and quick enough to materialize the competitive advantages that we have. 

And as it was coming to reaching peace, which took political courage, political decisions, now we need to move forward with new political, very important decisions on opening of the communications in the region, creating additional interlinkages between our countries, but also becoming a bridge and unimpeded connectivity between Europe, Central Asia, Far East. And at the end of the day, stability and peace were a very important layer of the developments that we had, for example, with Azerbaijan last year.

I guess Hikmet will share my opinion that peace between us is the most important guarantee for the independence of Armenia and Azerbaijan and for the sovereignty of Armenia and Azerbaijan.”  

It is in Armenia’s interests to diversify its economy and become a transport hub

“It’s important that we are building economic ties. It was mentioned already that we started trade with Azerbaijan. Hopefully, in the near future we’ll also be exporting some goods from Armenia to Azerbaijan.

Energy security – this is one of the very important components of possible cooperation, not only bilaterally but also from a regional perspective. As it was rightly mentioned, a TRIPP project, which Armenia is going to carry out with our United States colleagues, is about multimodal connectivity, is about the railways, roads, but also about energy grids and pipelines. And here we have our own interest to diversify the energy supply to Armenia but also to become a transit hub for energy resources coming from Central Asia, Azerbaijan, and going to Europe.

We have an interest in the Black Sea Submarine Project, as Armenia currently is the biggest producer of green energy among South Caucasus three, and as Georgia and Azerbaijan are also working to increase our renewable capacities, investing a lot in solar, planning to have a new nuclear power plant built, etc.”

Partnership with the EU is the choice of the Armenian people

“Сooperation with the EU is very crucial for us. For us, it’s not only economic cooperation but this is also a choice of the people of Armenia, who have European inspirations. And we are currently working on different dimensions to start with gradual or sectoral integration with the European Union.

And in this regard, of course, Georgia’s European future is also very important for us, based on geography but from a philosophical point of view as well. And we also have a law adopted last year on launching the EU accession process of Armenia, which step-by-step the government of Armenia will be carrying out.

In the future, if we manage to become an EU member state, … and a Turkish colleague is smiling, given Turkish experience.”

Openness to new ideas requires open borders

“I cannot speak about the schedule in 2028 at the moment because we believe that we need to implement a vast majority of reforms. And for us, the process of EU integration, first of all, is about reforms, it’s about raising the quality and the standards of governance and economy, etc, in the country. But if in the future we become an EU member state – I cannot judge whether Türkiye will be an EU member state or not at the moment –  but this will create additional economic opportunities for us as well as Türkiye is a member of the customs union. But hopefully, we’ll not wait that long with Türkiye to boost our economic relations as well. 

Probably the last comment also to share the feeling that I had from the previous round of exchange, I should highlight that all the speakers sharing the panel have very open minds regarding the future. But I should also highlight that open minds require open borders. Hopefully, this will be changing in the near future.”

CSUN Students Commemorate Armenian Genocide, Raise Awareness

CSUN Newsroom
April 20 2026

CSUN’s Armenian student organizations this week are commemorating the darkest chapter in Armenians’ history, as well as celebrating their heritage and working to raise awareness on campus and in the wider community.

April 21 will begin three days of observances, including a vigil to remember the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

“We lost 1.5 million of our people,” said Araz Arabian, president of the CSUN Armenian Student Association. “It was over 100 years ago, but we still remember and commemorate the genocide while celebrating the survival of our language and culture.

“The Armenian Genocide is recognized by the United States now, but there is still the stain of denial that happened for so many years,” said Arabian, a graduating senior and chemistry major. “People still walk by our observances on campus and ask about it — no one really learns about this history in school. We seem to learn about everyone’s history except Armenians. What we really want to do is raise awareness, even if just a few more students or community members learn more about this each year.”

Arabian’s maternal great-grandparents survived the genocide, ultimately settling in Lebanon. Her family is just one example of the expulsion and dispersal caused by the genocide, she said.

“This is why we’re so spread out across so many different countries. This is why we have a diaspora,” Arabian said. “Some Armenians were left in hiding and adopted Islam. Others fled to nearby countries. There are Greek Armenians, Iraqi Armenians, Russian Armenians, Lebanese Armenians and so many more. The influence of the genocide is tremendous.”

About 8 to 10% of CSUN’s student body is of Armenian descent, one of the highest concentrations of Armenian students at any university in the U.S. Student organizations are also taking time to celebrate Armenian Heritage Month (April) on campus and share their pride in Armenian culture.

“For Armenian Heritage Month, rather than always mourning, we also want to celebrate — that we are here,” Arabian said. “Our ancestors were able to survive such terrible conditions and horrible things that were done to them. That’s why we’re here. We are the descendants of the survivors. It’s also important to remember the lives that were lost.”

The following events and observances are open to the campus community and to the public:

Tuesday, April 21
10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Matador Walk, in front of University Library: Silent protest to raise awareness about the Armenian Genocide.

Wednesday, April 22
11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Matador Square: Armenian Heritage Month celebration – The CSUN Armenian Student Association (ASA) and CSUN Hidden Road Initiative (HRI), an Armenian nonprofit philanthropic organization, will be selling jewelry, roses and gata, a traditional Armenian dessert.

7:30 to 9 p.m., Chaparral Hall 5114: Open meeting and guest speakers – ASA will host a special meeting featuring guest speakers who will discuss the history and roots of the Armenian Genocide.

Thursday, April 23
6 to 8 p.m., Matador Square: Candlelight Vigil – ASA, HRI, and the CSUN chapter of Armenian fraternity Alpha Epsilon Omega will host a vigil to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. The program will include a moment of silence, and students will share stories and display a replica of the eternal flame monument in Armenia that memorializes the genocide.

For more information, visit ASA’s Instagram.