Author: Jagharian Tania

10 Armenian Startups To Watch In 2024

Jagharian Tania
TechRound
Jan 3 2024

DANA LEIGH




The Armenian tech scene is bustling with innovation and potential, showcasing a diverse range of startups that are making strides in their respective fields.

From AI-driven platforms to cutting-edge software solutions, these ten startups are not just reshaping the Armenian tech landscape, but also making an impact on a global scale. Here’s a closer look…

 

  

SoloLearn has emerged as a premier mobile platform revolutionising how individuals learn coding. Launched in 2013, it now boasts over 30 million users, offering courses in 13 programming languages including Python, Java, and C++. What sets SoloLearn apart is its blend of education and social interaction; users not only learn but also share knowledge within a thriving community.

The app’s evolution from offering diverse courses to focusing solely on programming demonstrates its commitment to specialising in coding education. Recognised as the FbStart App of the Year in 2017, SoloLearn is a testament to innovative, accessible learning.

 

krisp is a noise-cancelling app that has transformed digital communication. Utilising advanced machine learning and digital signal processing, Krisp efficiently filters out background noise from calls on platforms like Skype and Slack. What makes krisp stand out is its ability to process both incoming and outgoing audio, delivering a clear conversation experience with minimal sound delay.

Its adoption by large companies for call centre operations shows its effectiveness and growing necessity in professional and personal communication environments. krisp represents the forefront of audio technology, enhancing communication clarity in an increasingly noisy digital world.

OnePick is redefining social media management through its AI-powered platform. This innovative startup assists in creating compelling social media content by generating tailored text and selecting relevant images based on page and market data analysis.

The AI software not only crafts a content plan but also streamlines the entire content creation process. OnePick stands out for its ability to understand and adapt to evolving social media trends, ensuring that the content remains fresh and engaging. This makes OnePick an invaluable tool for businesses and individuals looking to maintain an impactful and efficient social media presence.

 

Payva offers a solution in payment and expense management for enterprises, particularly targeting the complex systems used in the U.S. and Europe. Their SAAS & AI-based platform simplifies the organisation, processing, and management of corporate expenses, especially in travel and entertainment.

By addressing the inefficiencies in existing systems, Payva has become a vital tool for over 5 million companies, helping them save costs and streamline their financial operations. Their technology not only enhances expense management but also represents a significant leap in financial technology, providing a more intuitive and efficient approach for businesses.

Vineti is at the forefront of healthcare technology with its personalised Therapy Management platform, designed to simplify the complex process of cell and gene therapy and personalised cancer vaccines.

Serving as a central ecosystem, it connects all stakeholders – from medical professionals to drug manufacturers and logistics providers. The platform enhances operational efficiency, reduces human error, and ensures compliance with regulations. Recognised as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum in 2019, Vineti’s platform accelerates the delivery of life-saving therapies, making it a critical innovation in personalised healthcare and medical treatment.

 

ServiceTitan, founded in 2012, provides a comprehensive platform tailored for businesses offering plumbing, HVAC, and electrical services. It’s more than just a management tool; it’s a growth catalyst, streamlining operations, improving customer service, and enhancing business performance. ServiceTitan’s platform integrates various aspects of service business management, including scheduling, billing, and customer relations, in a user-friendly interface.

This focus on ease of use and efficiency makes ServiceTitan a go-to solution for service-based businesses seeking to optimise their operations and expand their customer base, marking it as a leader in business management solutions.

UCAR is changing the transportation and logistics industry in Armenia. This technological platform simplifies the process of sending parcels and finding truck drivers for various transportation needs. It’s an invaluable resource for both businesses and individuals, providing a seamless way to estimate costs, locate appropriate trucks, and manage logistics.

UCAR’s platform demonstrates the power of technology in optimising logistics, making it easier to move goods across Armenia and the surrounding regions. Its user-friendly interface and efficient service model make it a standout choice for those seeking reliable and straightforward transportation solutions.

Destination Armenia is an innovative online platform designed to showcase Armenia’s tourism potential. This comprehensive aggregator collects all relevant information and resources about Armenian tours, culture, and unique characteristics of the region. It’s a valuable tool for tourists and travel enthusiasts, offering insights into the best experiences Armenia has to offer.

By bringing together diverse aspects of Armenian tourism in one location, Destination Armenia makes trip planning more accessible and informative, effectively promoting the country’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty to a global audience.

 9. Podcastle: AI-Powered Audio Content Creation

Podcastle stands at the cutting edge of audio content creation, powered by AI technology. This platform is a haven for podcasters, bloggers, journalists, educators, and content marketers, enabling them to effortlessly transform text into high-quality audio. Podcastle’s editing tools allow for seamless content modification, achieving professional-grade sound within seconds.

Its user-friendly interface and advanced features make it an indispensable tool for anyone looking to create or enhance audio content, highlighting the transformative impact of AI in the realm of digital content production.

IntelinAir is changing the agricultural landscape with its analytics platform. By analysing aerial imagery along with other indicators like soil temperature and humidity, IntelinAir provides farmers and insurance companies with valuable insights for crop management. This technology, driven by machine learning and computer vision, identifies problem areas and offers forecasts, enhancing decision-making in agriculture.

Available through a mobile application, IntelinAir operates on a subscription model, tailoring its services to the specific needs of its clients. With an estimated annual revenue of $4 million, IntelinAir is a leader in agricultural technology, offering innovative solutions for modern farming challenges.

In conclusion, these ten Armenian startups are not just innovating within their industries; they’re setting trends and redefining their sectors. As they continue to grow and evolve, they’re worth keeping an eye on in 2024 and beyond, as they represent the dynamic and promising future of Armenia’s tech sector.

Armenia Cannot Go West Until Russia Loses its War Against Ukraine

Jagharian Tania
Dec 29 2023
OPINION - 
By Taras Kuzio

Euphoria in Washington and Brussels about Armenia’s reorientation towards the West should be welcomed. Armenia attended the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) heads of state and Eurasian Economic Union meetings in Moscow on December 26. Armenia will chair the Eurasian Economic Union in 2024.

At the same time, euphoria is premature; to reach the West, Armenia must first leave the east which would be only possible if Russia was militarily defeated by Ukraine. As witnessed by Russia’s invasion of Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine last year, the Kremlin is not a supporter of ‘Brexits’ from its Eurasian sphere of influence.

History and geography constrain a country’s foreign policy and geopolitical orientation. And no more so than in the case of Armenia, which lies in the South Caucasus neighbouring Azerbaijan and Turkey. Armenia has no common border with its traditional Russian ally.

Armenia has aligned with Russia since becoming an independent state following the disintegration of the USSR. A brutal war in 1988-1992 led to Turkey closing Armenia’s western border in 1993 while its eastern border with Azerbaijan lay through occupied territory. After winning the First Karabakh War, Armenia occupied a fifth of Azerbaijani territory which included the symbolically important Karabakh region.

In May 1992, with the war just over, Armenia, Russia, and four Central Asian states – all former Soviet republics – signed the Tashkent Treaty. A year later Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan signed as well but they did not renew their participation in 1999, opting instead to align with Ukraine and Moldova in the pro-Western GUUAM (named after the first letter of its five members) group.

A decade later the original six members of the Tashkent Treaty became the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organisation). Although promoted by Russia as a Eurasian response to NATO this was a misnomer as NATO did not launch its first enlargement in the post-communist era until seven years later. Since then, NATO has enlarged on five further occasions while the CSTO has remained static.

CSTO members joined for diametrically different reasons. Belarus is a Russian satellite state and, like Russia, is xenophobically anti-Western. Four Central Asian states do not feel threatened by their neighbours and have looked to the CSTO to defend their regimes. Armenia built security partnerships with Russia and Iran to counter Turkey and Azerbaijan with whom it had poor relations and occupied territory of Azerbaijan.

Armenia’s pro-Russian security policy was deepened by bilateral military relationships with Russia signed in August 1992 and March 1995. Russia has two military bases in Gyumri and at Yerevan airport. Armenian officers train at Russian military academies and most of Armenia’s military equipment is Russian. Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine there were rumoured to be plans to expand the number of Russian bases in Armenia. In February 2021, Armenian Defence Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan raised the possibility of ‘redeploying some military formation of the [102nd] Russian base to the eastern part of Armenia.’ The possible location was the Vardenis region, southeast of Lake Sevan.

In August 2010, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed an agreement extending these Russian military bases until 2044. Serj Sargsyan and Robert Kocherian, who have played musical chairs with the positions of president and prime minister and who were dubbed the ‘Karabakh clan,’ are solidly pro-Russian in their foreign policy orientation.

Russia’s military involvement in Armenia goes even deeper.

Uniquely in the former USSR, Armenia’s borders are controlled by Russian border guard troops based on a treaty signed in September 1992. Russian border guard troops are based in Gyumri, Armavir, Artashat, Meghri and at Zvartnots airport. Russia’s border guard troops are under the control of the FSB, Russia’s Federal Security Service whose responsibility is internal Russian security but also stretches to cover the entire former USSR. In the USSR, the border guards came under the control of the KGB.

After the ceasefire following the 2020 Second Karabakh War, Russia expanded the presence of FSB border guard troops to five locations in Armenia, including two on the border with Nakhichevan, two on the border with Iran, and one in Tegh.

Russia’s military control of Armenia goes even further. In 2016, Armenia ratified an agreement with Russia to create a joint air-defence system which includes the entirety of Russia’s Air Force’s capabilities, including reconnaissance and surveillance, fighter jets and bomber planes.

On the economic front, Russia expanded its control over Armenia stealthily over the course of the last three decades. Armenia’s gas, and nuclear power sectors are controlled by Russia. Nearly as many Armenians live and work in Russia as do in Armenia, sending home remittances that are important for the government budget.

The EU included Armenia alongside five other Soviet republics, in the Eastern Partnership unveiled in 2010. The Kremlin viewed the Eastern Partnership as a threat to its Eurasian sphere of influence and created the CIS Customs Union as its response. After coming back as Russian president in 2012, Russian President Vladimir Putin applied pressure on Ukraine and Armenia to not sign Association Agreements with the EU. In 2013, Ukrainians rebelled against President Viktor Yanukovych’s withdrawal from the Association Agreement while Armenians accepted President Sargsyan’s decision to do so. Armenia joined the Eurasian Economic Union, as the CIS Customs Union had been renamed.

Nikol Pashinyan came to power in 2018 following a popular revolt against corruption and undemocratic practices undertaken by the ‘Karabakh clan’ which dominated Armenian politics since the early 1990s. Pashinyan has no love for the CSTO because it failed to intervene in the 2020 Second Karabakh War. Russia claimed there was no military action on Armenian territory and the CSTO did not intervene because the war was fought on territory internationally recognised as Azerbaijani. Pashinyan also condemned Russian peacekeeping forces for not intervening on Armenia’s side during the short-lived Azerbaijani retaking of Karabakh earlier this year.

Pashinyan has boycotted recent CSTO summit showing how Armenia has become a de facto passive member. Nevertheless, despite the prime minister’s criticism, Armenian government officials have been at pains to say that there are no plans to withdraw from the CSTO or close Russian military bases. The only discernible difference has been Armenia’s interest in balancing countries with whom it conducts military cooperation. Nevertheless, this has been on a small scale, the Eagle Partner peacekeeping training exercise held in Armenia in September included only 85 U.S. and 175 Armenian soldiers.

Pashinyan and other Armenian officials have never raised the question of withdrawal from the Eurasian Economic Union. In 2016, the UK held a Brexit referendum using article 50 of the Treaty on the European Union; the charter of the Eurasian Economic Union does not include such a mechanism.

Countries can only be in one customs union. In 2014, Ukraine signed the Association Agreement and is part of the EU customs union. Armenia cannot re-join the path to signing an Association Agreement until it leaves the customs zone of the Eurasian Economic Union which it joined in January 2015.

Washington and Brussels should encourage Armenia to pursue a more balanced multi-vector foreign policy. This may gradually reduce Russia’s influence in Armenia. With the decline of the ‘Karabakh clan’ following the formerly occupied territories returning to Azerbaijani sovereignty, Russia has lost its main source of influence in Armenia.

While Pashinyan’s heart would like to steer Armenia towards Europe, his head understands realities on the ground. There is no easy mechanism for Armenia to withdraw from the CSTO or Eurasian Economic Union – even if the Kremlin were to accept this step, which is unlikely.  It is also unclear what would be the Kremlin’s response if Armenia unilaterally abrogated Russian military bases.

Ironically, Armenia’s best chance of moving west is if the east is militarily defeated by Ukraine. As Russian history has shown in the mid nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Russian leaders have traditionally not survived the domestic turmoil brought about by military failures.

 

Taras Kuzio is a professor of political science at the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy and an associate research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society. He is the author of Fascism and Genocide: Russia’s War Against Ukrainians.

The views expressed in this article belong to the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect those of Geopoliticalmonitor.com.

https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/armenia-cannot-go-west-until-russia-loses-its-war-against-ukraine/

In Armenia, What’s Old is New Again

Jagharian Tania
Forbes
Dec 26 2023
Lana Bortolot

Contributor

After a few thousand years of winemaking, Armenia is making its debut as a producer of quality wines for the modern drinker.

A small, land-locked country of not-quite three million—its diaspora is three times the number of its residents—you don’t hear much about Armenia. It was in the news briefly this fall during a border conflict with Azerbaijan, whose military bases overlook vineyards in Vayots Dzor, a prime production region. But in the wake of the larger conflict in Gaza occurring soon after, the Armenian-Azerbaijan situation has slipped from public view.

And that’s to the advantage of a wine industry undergoing a renaissance that just this year started exploring broader, international markets for commercialization. The concept of Armenian wine might be new to many, but the country’s wine production goes back at least 6,000 years. Evidence of systematic winemaking such as wine presses, jars and karases (clay vessels similar to amphorae) was found in the Areni-1 cave, a site from the Early Bronze Age in Vayots Dzor, and a stone’s throw from leading wineries today.

Like its Georgian neighbor to the north—another ancient wine culture—Armenia’s wine industry suffered under Soviet rule that prioritized bulk and brandy production over quality wines of place. It’s been only in the post-Soviet years that winemakers were able to reclaim their heritage and infuse the old vineyards with new technology and renewed stewardship.

“During the Soviet era, much of the connection with traditional winemaking was lost except in home winemaking,” says Ara Sarkissian, head of wine at Storica Wines, a Massachusetts-based importer dedicated to Armenian fine wine. “After the fall of the Soviet Union, Armenia saw an influx of immigration; Armenians moved [back] to their homeland, bringing with them technology, knowledge and funding.

“This allowed for a reset of sorts in winemaking and people were open to bringing in new ideas, approaches and technology from Europe and elsewhere to rejuvenate commercial wine production.”

Storica was established in 2018 and today represents seven brands by five producers, who, in turn represent a new generation and mindset for the country’s winemaking. Though they’re far flung across a rugged landscape, they are closely bound by a common commitment to quality and defining the new Armenian terroir.

Armenia 101. In part, Armenia mirrors conditions in some of the world’s most prized regions—high-elevation vineyards—up to nearly 6,000 feet above sea level—on well-draining limestone and volcanic soils. But any geographic similarities to Europe end there: the heart of Armenia’s wine country is defined by valleys and, in large part, a dramatic mountainscape—ripples of brown hues in the highlands turning to purple and snow caps in the distance. In some places, it’s the only horizon the eye can see. Indeed, mountains make up about 70% of the land. Some vineyards are so remote, all there is to see are earth and sky.

“It’s not really a hospitable region—very dramatic and a little extreme and edgy,” said Vahe Keushgerian, who along with his daughter Aimee, produces traditional-method sparkling wine from 130-year-old ungrafted vines at Keush, established in 2010 in Vayots Dzor. From his vineyards 5,741 feet above sea level, the boundaries of all four neighboring countries—Georgia, Turkey, Iran and Azerbaijan—are in view.

His assessment is echoed by Arsen Mkrtchyan, director at Noa, a winery founded in 2017 on 35 hectares (~86 acres) of land formerly part of an “old-style vineyard more oriented to volume than quality.”

“When we bought the land, we didn’t expect it to be so stony and so much work, but now we can’t stop,” he said.

At this point, Armenia’s six wine-producing regions largely seem to be defined by their altitudes, and a visual reminder of this is Mount Ararat, a 16,854-foot dormant volcano, which, though in eastern Turkey, dominates the view for miles. The regional crown jewel is Vayots Dzor, with elevations up to 5,900 feet above sea level. Armavir, located in the Ararat plain (2,953 – 3,609 feet asl), is the largest and mostly focused on white wines. Ararat with (2,625-3,281 feet) follows in size. Aragatsotn is a northwestern outpost for quality-led boutique family wineries with the same elevations as Armavir. Keush’s French-trained winemaker Arman Manoukian says Armenia is about 20 years away from having an appellation system, so for now, valleys and elevations are the main markers.

The country is home to more than 350 indigenous varieties, about 80 of which have been DNA tested, Vahe estimated, with about 30 in commercial cultivation for still (dry) and sparkling wines are made. (Sweet wine production is limited and mostly consumed locally and is not part of the export strategy.) About 70% of Armenian wines are consumed in-country.

Thanks to those extreme elevations and diurnal temperature shifts, in general, the wines are crisp and have a linear fruit _expression_, ready for the modern consumer. Master of Wine Lisa Granik, author of Wines of Georgia and a market adviser to Armenia, calls them “well-balanced, approachable and appealing alternatives to the ubiquitous varieties in the current market.”

Storica focuses on five grape varieties that have the greatest potential to resonate with consumers in the American market. “We have decided to primarily import wines made with Areni, which is easy to pronounce, but is also approachable, being medium-bodied and low in tannin,” Sarkissian said. Some are crunchy-red-fruited wines that often can pass for Pinot Noir. The whites made of Voskehat can mimic a creamy-textured Chardonnay from the Burgundy villages.

The work starts in the vineyard. Starting with a clean slate means not only breaking ground, but also making viticultural decisions that will define the respective wineries: where to source grapes, how to farm them and how to manage resources, such as water, that are in scarce supply. The decisions are individual, but all the programming starts with a common desire to preserve and elevate what is truly Armenian.

Aimee Keushgerian, who grew up in Tuscany and repatriated from the United States, established Zulal (“pure” in Armenian) in 2017, making dry wines micro-vinified from grapes that were on the verge of extinction. She sources from small growers in Vayots Dzor and Artashat. Noa is working with a consulting oenologist on the winery’s sustainability program, focused on water conservation and other organic best practices. The winery is in its first year of pursuing the three-year organic certification.

Over at Voskevaz, winemaker Ghevond Petrosyan says “we’re trying to reactivate traditions in a modern style, but respect native varieties, natural root stocks and methods like fermenting the grapes in karas.” Indeed, ownership at Voskevaz has a foot in both the past and future: The former Soviet winery was founded in 1932, “reborn” through an acquisition by the Hovhannisyan family in 1997 and “born again” in 2013 with a significant restoration that includes a castle-like folly set up for enotourism.

And at Van Ardi, a winery at 3,356 feet in Aragatsotn, Varuzhan Mouradian, repatriated from Los Angeles to start what is widely considered Armenia’s first boutique winery. His mission, he said, is “to put Armenia on a fine-wine map and to reeducate Armenians about [their] wine heritage.” Certified organic, Van Ardi employs methods often found in biodynamic vineyards, such as farming by a lunar calendar and playing music for the vines and constructing a bell tower that gives off vibrations on the “do” note. “We consider the vines communicate with each other and have feelings,” he says. “We are always experimenting and adapting: It’s a process.”

Finding a market. All this bodes well for a nascent wine market in which consumers value stewardship and authenticity, though Sarkissian says it’s not without its challenges.

“They are twofold: One is that the grape varieties are unknown, the other is that Armenia is not known as a wine producer due to the break during Soviet times,” he said. “Armenia is behind Greece and Georgia by about 15 years in terms of the ability of U.S. consumers to have a basic understanding of [its] wine personality.”

However, it is his job, along with the new generation of winemakers, to suss out a narrative that will attract consumers who, increasingly, are interested in off-the-beaten path wines.

“While currently the market potential rests among consumers willing to venture beyond, say, Chardonnay and Bordeaux varieties, the value and quality of Armenian wines should allow them a toehold in the growing demand for ancient varieties from ancient wine growing areas,” says Granik.

But if Greece and Georgia, both with similar challenges can surmount them, so can Armenia with its backstory still in development.

“Areni has been shown to be the grape variety that was vinified in the Areni-1 cave, making it the oldest continually used grape variety that we know of. This certainly helps the story,” Sarkissian says.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lanabortolot/2023/12/26/in-armenia-whats-old-is-new-again/?sh=299935487cdd

Courtesy Call on Parliamentary Vice Minister FUKAZAWA by H.E. Mr. Areg HOVHANNISIAN, Amb. of the Republic of Armenia to Japan

Jagharian Tania
Dec 22 2023
Courtesy Call on Parliamentary Vice Minister FUKAZAWA by H.E. Mr. Areg HOVHANNISIAN, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Japan

On December 22, Mr. FUKAZAWA Yoichi, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, received a courtesy call by H.E. Mr. Areg HOVHANNISIAN, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Japan. The overview of the meeting is as follows:

  1. Parliamentary Vice Minister Fukazawa stated that he would like to continue to deepen cooperation in the fields, such as economy, human resources’ development, people-to-people exchange and culture between Armenia and Japan.
  2. He stated that he is deeply saddened by the displacement of over 100,000 people and Japan has implemented Emergency Grant Aid of USD 2 million through the international organizations. He added that further support is also considered. He also paid respect to the joint statement issued recently by the Governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia as a step for confidence-building measures towards a peace agreement.
  3. Ambassador Hovhannisian congratulated Parliamentary Vice Minister Fukazawa on his appointment, and he explained the recent situation in Caucasus region and expressed his gratitude for wide range of Japan's assistance including Emergency Grant Aid.
  4. The two sides agreed to work closely together to further strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two countries.

Asbarez: At a Time of Global Unrest, Montrose Christmas Parade Brings Message of Peace

Jagharian Tania
by Catherine Yesayan

 

 

 

in Columns, Community Links, Latest, Top Stories

The Montrose Peace Vigil participants at the 2023 Montrose Christmas Parade


BY CATHERINE YESAYAN

From Vietnam to Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Ukraine, to the war in Artsakh and, now, in Gaza. It seems the world is on fire and wars have become a regular part of our lives. Indeed, the events unfolding in today’s world are very disheartening.

When I was a kid growing up in Tehran, there was no notion of a war. However, after watching war movies, in my childish daydreams, I used to imagine that maybe, one day, there would be a war where I lived and the “enemy” would invade.

My parent’s bedroom had a short bedside chest that I had planned to hide in, in case there was a war and the bad guys were to enter our home. 

Now, because of all the disturbing things happening in today’s world, who knows what fears kids may have nowadays? 

George Eliot, an English novelist, once said, “Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.”

One “small thing,” that may help in times of war, to some degree, are peace vigils—typically organized by small action groups. One such example, here in Southern California, is the Montrose Peace Vigil.

First, let me tell you about the enclave of Montrose, a historic old town neighborhood in North Glendale. The area is known as the La Crescenta Valley. The business district of Montrose centers around its main street, Honolulu Avenue.

The “Peace Vigil” in Montrose was launched in 2006. The main aim of the initiative was to protest the war in Iraq, which had started three years earlier. Following the end of the Iraq War, the organization continued its effort and staged vigils to oppose various wars happening in the world.

Every Friday, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., members of the Montrose Peace Vigil gather, with their placards, at the northwest corner of Honolulu and Ocean View Blvd. to protest the ongoing wars.

Catherine Yesayan (right) with Roberta Medford

Although the peace vigil is very close to my heart, over these many years, I’ve had the chance to participate in the weekly vigil on only a few occasions.

The Montrose Peace Vigil is the brainchild of Roberta Medford, who, when asked how the idea came about, said she was inspired by a similar vigil that had begun a few years earlier in Glendale.

The reason I started this piece by spotlighting the peace vigil is because they took part in the Montrose Christmas Parade, which I attended.

The Montrose Christmas Parade was created 45 years ago in an effort to bring the Christmas spirit to the local community.

Roberta is a woman brimming with enthusiasm and joy. She said that being included in the Montrose Christmas Parade took some negotiations and work, but finally, in 2008, the group was invited to participate in the parade. 

The cardboard “Peace Train”

Some of the very creative members of the peace vigil got together and, using large pieces of cardboard, built a little two-caboose train with a motor and music streaming— they called it the “Peace Train.”

The Christmas Parade is held on the first Saturday in December, typically a very cold night. This year marked the 12th year that the Montrose Peace Vigil participated in the parade.

Every year, in early November, I receive a save-the-date email from Roberta in regard to the Montrose Christmas Parade. I try to participate as often as I can. I love being in the parade as well as being a spectator.  

Roberta lives within walking distance of the parade route. Each year, she invites the peace vigil participants to her home and offers hearty refreshments prior to joining the parade, which starts at 6:10 p.m. The group typically leaves for the parade around 5 p.m.

This year, around 150 groups took part in the parade, which focuses heavily on family. The groups included several schools from surrounding cities with drill teams, bands, and cheerleading groups. Also, many service and dance groups, as well as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts participated in the parade. Thousands of spectators gathered along the parade route.

The parade marks the start of the Christmas season in our neck of the woods, and a highlight of the event is when Santa Clause visits by helicopter.

There were several groups that I found fascinating, such as the folkloric Mexican dance groups and the school marching bands. But I was especially delighted when I saw two Armenian groups participating in the parade.

The first group I noticed was the Armenian General Athletic Union, or Homenetmen, “Shant” Chapter from the La Crescenta Valley. Members of the organization’s scouting and athletics youth programs were in attendance. The group consisted of 50 scouts, a few athletes, and about 30 parents.

The Homenetmen “Shant” chapter of La Crescenta was established in 1993. The chapter has over 600 members, including athletes, scouts, and volunteers from many age groups.

In the Western Region of the United States, there are 18 Homenetment chapters. Most of those chapters are located in Southern California.

The other Armenian group that participated in this year’s parade was the “Dance with Ani Studio.” The parade committee had invited the dance group to participate with 30 female performers, from seven to 13 years old. They were all very delighted to be there and to dance in the parade.

Catherine Yesayan

This concludes my report on the Montrose Christmas Parade. 

Catherine Yesayan is a regular contributor to Asbarez, with her columns appearing under the “Community Links” heading. She can be reached at [email protected].



We are passionate about education, it is an investment in the future of Armenia: David Amaryan

Jagharian Tania

 14:09,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. Armenian entrepreneur, investor and founder and CEO of Balchug Capital, David Amaryan, together with his brother, Vardan Amaryan, founder of the Armenian investment company Apricot Capital, have established the Amaryan Charitable Foundation, which is dedicated to education and humanitarian relief projects in Armenia.

We had an insightful conversation with David Amaryan about the Foundation's establishment and first projects, his personal journey, interests and running a business in Armenia.

Mr. Amaryan, after the tragic events in Artsakh you and your brother, Vardan Amaryan, announced the establishment of a foundation focusing on relief projects, starting with initiatives in Syunik province. Could you please provide details on the plans for creating the Amaryan Charitable Foundation? What prompted the decision to commence operations in Syunik?

I hail from Syunik; it's my homeland. My father's and grandfather's village, Verishen in Syunik, is where I spent my childhood. Although born and raised in Yerevan due to my parents' work —my father is a scientist, and my mother is a teacher— my happiest and carefree childhood years were spent in the village, surrounded by the love and care of my grandparents. So, it is a place that is very dear to me and one that I know very well, and was a good place to start our charitable activities, but of course we will build our activities around the country.

Growing up during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War and subsequent crises had a significant impact on me, my sense of self and my view of the world. I saw how war could devastate people’s lives and I realized the fragility of the peaceful and prosperous existence that many countries take for granted.

So, what happened in Artsakh in September 2023 is a personal tragedy for me. Our compatriots were deprived of everything: their home, homeland, and sometimes even relatives. The challenges faced by the people of Artsakh are extraordinary. That's one of the reasons why we established the Amaryan Charitable Foundation so that we could help.

But we also wanted to really focus on education. Education was the starting point for Vardan and me which gave us the ability to advance our careers both in Armenia and internationally, and ultimately to build our very successful businesses. We want to give other Armenians the opportunities that we had. We are passionate about education; it is an investment in the future of Armenia.

In doing so Vardan and I wanted to use the experience and expertise that we have built up in the financial world internationally in order to make a real contribution to our own country. We recognize the very important work done by the government, local authorities, international organizations and agencies, but we think the private sector can play a critical and complementary role too.

In fact, if you look at the US or many European countries, charitable organizations created by people in business or finance do many incredibly valuable things for society. We think that is a good model to follow and a good precedent to set. It is already happening in Armenia, but we want to help it develop further.

Mr. Amaryan, you've had quite an interesting journey, from studying in the USA to working on Wall Street. Could you share more about your background and experiences?

Living abroad for many years was driven by study and work. However, my brother and I never forgot our homeland, we have been doing many things to improve and develop the country.

At school I excelled both in mathematics and humanities, language, and literature. Yet, my interest in finance and calculations dates back to my childhood. My brother and I even created a game envisioning the "Amaryan Corporation" with multi-storey offices, cars, and many employees: it turns out we visualized our future (laughs). My brother and I share a strong bond; I can't imagine my life without him.

I attended both school and university in the United States, relying solely on educational grants. My first opportunity to study in the USA arose in 1995. At that time, I was a 13-year-old eighth-grade public school student when I came across an article in the local newspaper mentioning that Robert Tembeckjian was in Armenia.  Robert was teaching ethics and political science courses in Yerevan at the American University of Armenia (AUA), instructing graduate degree candidates during the day and adult/extension-program enrollees at night. Motivated by the chance to enhance my language skills and engage with a native speaker, I approached Robert and requested to attend his evening courses. Having excelled in English at school, my parents supported this endeavor as an opportunity for both acquiring new knowledge and fostering communication skills.

Throughout the spring semester, four nights a week, I traveled over an hour each way from home on the outskirts of town to the centrally located AUA. I consistently occupied the front row in a large auditorium filled with adults and very often waited for Robert after classes. His office was on the way and we had various discussions covering a wide range of topics, including our Armenian family histories, sports, politics, weather, and the economic and social consequences of the then-ongoing blockade of Armenia's western and eastern borders by Turkey and its ally Azerbaijan. These conversations, interactions, and the friendship with Robert, now recognized as mentorship, played a crucial role in shaping my aspirations and helping me to set ambitious goals.

A year later, I was selected by the U.S. Embassy in Armenia and, having received a full scholarship, went to the USA as a high school exchange student at one of the most prestigious schools in New York, Trinity School in the upper west side of Manhattan. Robert's family hosted me in New York. I was able to juggle my classes with sports, engage in various after-school activities and have fun with my friends. Almost 30 years have passed since those days, and we are as close with Robert as ever. We are one family.

Upon completion of the program, I returned to Armenia and then opted to pursue a full scholarship at Miami University in Ohio. Subsequently, I got a job on Wall Street. I started my career at the investment management firm Sanford C. Bernstein (now AllianceBernstein) as an associate portfolio manager, overseeing investments for New York based clients of about $4 billion. I worked a lot, without breaks or holidays, but those years were invaluable in terms of gaining expertise. 

While I greatly enjoyed my work, my priority was maintaining a strong connection with my parents. Consequently, I made the decision to return to Armenia. After a while, again due to work obligations, I moved to Russia, this time with my family. I held positions in various leading financial and investment companies, including Troika-Dialog and Citigroup. However, I had the conviction that one day we would establish our own company, and it would undoubtedly be in Armenia.

And how did you establish Balchug Capital?

In 2010, my brother and I founded our own investment business. This decision was a direct response to the lessons and insights we gained from the 2008 global economic crisis. Learning from both our successes and failures, we understood the significance of adapting and evolving in the face of challenges.

I was a 28-year-old individual who had experienced success and witnessed ongoing development in an expanding and ever-growing market. However, in 2008, the world seemed to unravel, leaving one uncertain about what steps to take and what to anticipate.

During these periods, I learned the importance of discerning when to pause and refrain from action and when to make decisive moves. We learned to make the right decisions. Reflecting on these experiences today, I have no regrets. Each challenge, despite its difficulties, brought about positive results, and our successes were the outcomes of relentless hard work. Adopting a balanced approach – philosophical and pragmatic – with clear-headed judgment is essential. Importantly, regardless of the circumstances, one must not give up, no matter what.

How do you anticipate the future expansion of Balchug Capital, and where do you envision it?

We have the vision of evolving into a widely recognized, Armenia-based, global leading holding company. The goal is to contribute significantly to the development and dissemination of investment culture in Armenia.

The headquarters of Balchug Capital will always be in Armenia. There is so much we can do in the investment management space here, and that means a dedicated strategy, professional specialists, and collaboration with our partners. But we have already had a lot of visible success and made substantial progress, and I am sure we can continue to grow in the future.

Armenia continues to face many challenges and we will always do everything we can to help it to develop. Regardless of Balchug Capital's development or where we will expand to, its roots and activities will always be anchored in Armenia.

Currently, Balchug manages assets with vast developmental potential and opportunities. We are already planning approximately 3-5 transactions for the next year. Our team is continually expanding, comprising professionals who share the same values that form the bedrock of our company: honesty and kindness. In general, one of the critical factors contributing to success is surrounding oneself with individuals who are highly experienced and accomplished, from whom there is always something new to learn. The energy of the people you collaborate with holds significant importance.

Returning to your personal interests, you have quite fascinating hobbies: sports and music. At first glance, one might find the combination of these hobbies and your profession incompatible.

I often hear that (smiles). One could argue that sports and music are no longer mere hobbies; they have become integral parts of my daily life, defining how I live. I have been playing music since the age of 17. I recall the first time I entered a club and realized that electronic music was a departure from the familiar tunes we were used to listening to. Since that moment, I delved deeper into it, using the money I had saved to acquire musical instruments and explore electronic music. I can't envision my life without music: I have been playing for 26 years.

Certainly, there are instances when individuals who primarily know me from the business world are surprised to learn about my involvement in music. This reaction is a consequence of prevailing stereotypes, there seems to be a widespread notion that professionals in the financial sector should conform to a classic suit-and-tie image!

Sports also play an integral role in the lives of all members of our family. The main sport activities of our family are Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and horse riding. My two daughters and my son all practice Jiu Jitsu. My 6-year-old son, Alex is a two-time world champion and Armenia champion. My 16-year-old daughter has been horse riding since she was 3 years old. She has won numerous competitions in jumping and she is a member of the Armenian National Team.

Have you been a role model only in that sense? Do they aspire to continue your work?

My eldest daughter, Anna, is 16 years old and already shows an interest in finance and the economy. We spend significant time together discussing various topics and challenges. I consistently encourage her, emphasizing that with diligent studies and becoming a proficient professional, she could embark on her career within our company. On the other hand, my 6-year-old son isn't as enthused by this prospect. Some time ago, when he had reluctantly agreed to sit down to do his homework, my wife tried to inspire him saying that in order to be able to work in his daddy’s company, he needed to become a good professional. In response, he indignantly remarked, "Daddy has already promised his company to Anna (my daughter)" (laughs).

My three children are growing up with core family values, but they undoubtedly have their own autonomy and opportunities. Above all, ensuring they receive a quality education is of utmost importance.

As an individual with many years of experience and operating in many countries, what is your vision for the future of Armenia? How can we address the modern challenges and demands of an ever-changing and developing world?

That is one of the challenging questions I believe every Armenian confronts at some stage in their life.

Achieving economic independence is exceptionally difficult for small countries like ours. However, it is crucial to understand the strengths and opportunities inherent in our country and harness them for development.

Foremost, a high-quality educational system is essential; indeed, much depends on education. Other critical components include a well-established economy and defense system.

A country should also be attractive, policies should be clear and consistent both in terms of investment and tourism, and foster a welcoming environment. Time and experience proved that internal resources and potential alone are not enough to achieve significant success. Thus, we must create an environment that effectively attracts and uses external resources. We need to focus on generating global value.




World of Genomics: Armenia

Jagharian Tania
Frontline Genomics
Dec 12 2023
12 DECEMBER 2023

Article written by Bethany Hanson, Science Communications Writer.

Let’s head into the Caucasus for the next stop on our World of Genomics tour, Armenia! With an alphabet that dates back to 405AD and one of the world’s oldest cities, Yerevan, Armenia is famed for its rich, ancient history. Today, Armenia is taking new steps into the world of in genomic medicine.

Fun fact: Chess is a mandatory subject for school children in Armenia!

Sharing borders with Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Iran, the country is nestled in the Caucasus Mountains. Much of the country sits on a high, volcanic plateau1. The landlocked country has no lowlands and an average elevation of 1,800m above sea level. This unique geography creates stunning landscapes of soaring mountains cut through by deep river valleys. In the east of the country, Lake Sevan sits in the Sevan Basin, surrounded by peaks reaching 3,600m high! In the southwest the Aras River cuts across the Ararat Plain, creating rich alluvial soils and acting as a boarder for Turkey to the South1.

Armenia has an incredibly rich history stretching all the way back to the Bronze Age, with the earliest evidence of human settlement dated somewhere between 4,000 and 2,200 BC. At this time, the area was settled by many small nations and tribes, which became the genetic foundation of the Armenian population, known as the Hayk1.

Over the following centuries, the area was conquered Alexander the Great and later became part of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. At its greatest point, the Armenian kingdom encompassed parts of Iran and the Middle East1.

During World War I, the Armenian population faced direct persecution as the Ottoman government, the Young Turks, who initiated a brutal campaign to deport and exterminate the Armenian people. The Turkish authorities viewed Armenian citizens as a foreign threat aligned with pro-Christian enemies. In what became known as the Armenian Genocide, hundreds of thousands of people were driven from their homes or killed. Estimated death tolls range from 600,000 to 1,500,000. Tens of thousands of refugees fled to Russia, Syria, Lebanon, the United States and France. As a result, very few Armenians remained in their historical homeland1.

As WW1 raged, Armenia briefly declared independence in 1918 before it became a Soviet republic in 1920. For the next 71 years, Armenia saw a period of relative stability and development but at the cost of aggressive suppression of historical Armenian culture and national ambition. In the late 20th century, the Armenians again sought independence and it was finally declared in 1991. This led to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan, which resulted in thousands of casualties1.

Currently, 98% of the population identify as ethnically Armenian and speak Armenian Hayeran, a unique Indo-European language. In 2011, 94% of Armenians identified as Christian, with the vast majority belonging to the Armenian Apostolic Church.

  • Land area: 29,740 km²
    • Gross domestic product (GDP):
      • Total: $19.5 billion
      • Per capita:  $7,014
  • Population size:  2,780,469
    • Birth rate:  12 per 1,000
    • Death rate:  13 per 1,000
    • Infant mortality rate: 10 per 1,000
    • Average life expectancy: 
      • Male: 67 years
      • Female: 77 years
    • Ethnicity:  Armenian (98.1%), Yezed (1.2%) and other groups including Kurds, Russians, Ukrainians and Assyrians (0.7%).

After gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the Armenian Healthcare system underwent a series of rapid reforms, including partial privatisation, to replace the largely centralised Soviet structure. The State Health Agency (SHA) was established in 1997, as an independent public body but was incorporated into the Ministry of Health (MOH) in 20013.

Through the SHA, the MOH functions as the single payer and purchaser of medical services covered under the Basic Benefits Package (BBP)3. The BBP only covers “vulnerable groups” such as children, the elderly, people with disabilities, low-income families and veterans.

Despite the BBP, 85% of Armenian healthcare is currently paid for out of pocket. 1 in 5 households spend 10% of their income on healthcare and 2 of 3 people report foregoing necessary healthcare due to the cost4.

The WHO has reported that over the last few decades Armenia’s healthcare system has been chronically underfunded4. Between 1990 and 2020, hospital beds decreased by 58%3. Health spending stagnated and only accounts for a small portion of the governmental budget. Hospital interventions consume 50% of the national budget, which has left community level care either inadequate or completely absent in rural areas. Though, since 2006, primary care has been free for those covered by the BBP.

However, on the 2nd February 23 the Armenian Government announced the start of a phased introduction to universal health insurance, starting with public sector employees5. This would make all healthcare free at the point of access and they aim to reach full coverage by 2027. Furthermore, in March 2023, the Armenian Ministry of Health announced they are moving forward with a restructure of their primary care system in collaboration with the WHO European Centre. The reforms aim to target workforce shortages and family medicine provision.

Leading causes of death in Armenia (per 100,000):

  1. Ischaemic Heart Diseases (300.95)
  2. Stroke (71.72)
  3. Lower Respitory Infections (41.05)
  4. Respiratory Cancers (34.81)
  5. COPD (28.15)
  6. Hypertensive Heart Disease (26.13)
  7. Diabetes (24.13)
  8. Cirrhosis of the Liver (21.18)
  9. Road Injury (19.95)
  10. Colo-rectal Cancers (15.87)

Currently, noncommunicable diseases account for 93% of deaths, significantly higher than the global average of 71%. WHO figures from 2016 show that 22% of Armenians are likely to die prematurely (between 30 and 69 years) from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases or cancer. They estimated that the economic impact of noncommunicable diseases on the Armenian economy to be 363 billion USD, equivalent to 6.5% of the country’s GDP.

A rise in unhealthy lifestyles is a main contributing factor to mortality in Armenia. In 2016, 54% of the adult population were overweight and 20% were obese. This is lower than the European averages of 59% and 23%, respectively, but has shown a consistent increase since 2000. Furthermore, smoking is very prevalent in those over the ages of 15 and especially in men. 25.5% of Armenians smoke, which is higher than the EU average of 24.7%. However, in 2020, the National Assembly of Armenia implemented new regulations restricting tobacco advertising and banning smoking in both indoor and outdoor public areas, including bars and restaurants.

Over the last two decades, Armenia implemented several national strategies aiming to improve maternal and infant care. As a result, between 2000 and 2019, maternal mortality dropped from 43 to 26 per 100,000 live births. In the same period, infant mortality dropped from 27 to 10.5 per 1,000 live births. These rates are still higher than the WHO European Region average but show consistent decline.

As part of its wider healthcare improvement plan, Armenia has been investing in hospital-based TB care and has changed protocols to create a more person-centred approach to TB prevention and treatment. These changes resulted in improved financial efficiency and allowed the reallocation of resources to further develop TB services. They aim to eliminate TB in the country by 2030.

There is currently only one health centre in Armenia that provides genetic services for direct patient care. Founded in 1998 by Armenian geneticist Professor Tamara Sarkisian and located in the capital city of Yerevan, the Centre of Medical Genetics and Primary Health Care of Armenia (CMG) provides many genomic services, including genetic counselling. Hereditary risk screening is available for a range of diseases, and they have dedicated labs for cytogenetics, molecular diagnostics, cancer genetics and the genetics of autoinflammation.

The CMG cancer laboratory’s analyses covers all of the somatic mutations of genes for targeted cancer therapies required by international guidelines. Additionally, their next-generation sequencing screens cover the 84 specific genes laid out in European Molecular Quality Network requirements as being associated with all known types of hereditary cancer6.

However, this facility is simply not accessible to the majority of the population. With the services only provided in the capital, those outside of the city need to travel for treatment and currently, genetic testing is very rarely used due to the high-cost of both initial testing and subsequent targeted therapy. While pre-natal testing is available, newborn sequencing is not currently available to Armenian patients.

In September 2020, a conscious push to expand the Armenian healthcare system’s knowledge of and capacity for precision medicine began. The Yerevan State Medical University hosted the programme “Twinning for the Armenian Research Infrastructure on Cancer Research” or ARICE project, which received full funding from the EU. The programme connects Armenian research institutions with world leading experts to accelerate progress in developing the country’s cancer research infrastructure.

As a result of the ARICE programme, participating European institutes provided YSMU with 71 biobanking Standard Operating procedures, which allowed the Armenian team to standardise their protocols to align with EU standards. The aim is that this will allow for sharing of biobanked data between Armenia and other EU countries7. Armenia has not adopted the federal act on human genetic testing8. However, in February 2022, the Armenian government approved the “Rules of Professional Ethics of the Healthcare Professional” in collaboration with the Council of Europe’s project on “Protection of Human Rights in Biomedicine”.

In July of 2022, the American genetics company, BostonGene opened a new facility in Yerevan. Sargis Gevorgyan, Director of BostonGene’s Armenian branch at the time, said that they chose the country due to its scientific potential. He also stated that they aim to work closely with universities to train new geneticists9.

Just a few months later, Illumina, in collaboration with Professor Tamara Sarkisian, opened a genetic laboratory, Genotek, aiming to provide wider private access to genetic services for Armenian patients. The laboratory will work in collaboration with the CMG by providing doctors with access to more efficient sequencing technologies and training.

While these new genomic facilities increase the availability of genomic technology, it does not currently address the cost prohibition faced by most Armenian patients. It is unclear how Armenia’s eventual universal health insurance policy will address the need for precision medicine.

  • The ARICE program (Sept 2020 to Aug 2023)
    • The Twinning for the Armenian Research Infrastructure on Cancer Research (ARICE) project aims to improve Armenia’s currently limited cancer research capabilities by creating collaborations with renowned institutions: The Medical University of Graz, Austria, the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the WHO and Charles University, Czech Republic. The project was fully funded by the EU.
    • The project centers on Armenia’s Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU) and aims to enhance its capacity for clinical genetic research by improving biological sample collection and data integration for analysing chronic diseases like cancer.
    • So far, the ARICE programme has provided training to Armenian scientists and has helped bring Armenian biobanking protocols in line with EU standards. The programme also facilitated YSMU hosting an international conference; “Cancer Research and Current Molecular Testings in Application”.
  • The Armenian Medical Genome Project
    • This project aims to unravel Armenia’s complex genetic background to deliver personalised medicine to Armenian patients. The project is a collaboration between UCLA and the scientific non-profit ArmGenia. This partnership was key to providing the Armenian team with modern, less expensive methods of genetic testing.
    • The project started in 2016, a year after the 100-year anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. A group of investors sought to use the resulting global attention to fund a project to map the Armenian genome. In 2020, the Promise Armenian Institute at UCLA provided further funding to allow the project to continue, with particular focus of the Artsakh population. These people had been identified as mostly homogenous, historically isolated group.
    • With nearly 50 genomes fully sequenced in 2021, UCLA professor Dr Grody stated that the next phase of the project would be to identify genomic risk for “common adult diseases that pose serious public health issues in Armenians” and to begin a “clinical aspect” to the trail. This would involve a US based genomic counsellor advising on appropriate clinical interventions.
  • Clinical and genetic studies of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF).
    • Familial Mediterranean Fever is a hereditary auto-inflammatory disorder, which is most common in populations of Mediterranean decent – including Armenians.
    • Since 1997, many molecular genetics studies have been performed among Armenian populations to establish the genetic cause of the disease and potential treatments10. This work established specific gene mutations need for a FMF diagnosis and made it possible to predict mutation-related symptoms, opening up the potential for genetic counselling11.
    • As a result of this work, Armenia’s Chief Geneticist, Tamara Sarkisyan participated in the creation of the international protocol “Guidelines for the genetic diagnosis of hereditary recurrent fevers”.
  • The Atlas of the Armenian Genome
    • The consistent collaboration between research scientists for the last 20 years has resulted in a detailed genomic history of the Armenian people to be uncovered. This research has successfully traced eight millennia of matrilineal genetic continuity12. In his book “Uninterrupted Code: Armenian Genetic History”, Levon Yepiskoposyan, a key researcher, examines how this data can be combined with historical and linguistic research and what role genetics play in Armenian identify.

Notable Organisations

  • The National Academy of Sciences of Armenia
    • The National Academy of Sciences of Armenia is the highest scientific body in the country. An early form of the Academy was founded in 1919 when the University of Yerevan created the country’s first education and science centre. In 1935, this centre became the Armenian branch on the USSR’s Academy of Sciences. It was reestablished as the Armenian Academy of Sciences in 1938 and finally renamed the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia in 1992.
    • The Academy’s Department of Natural Sciences was founded in 2007. It now has 2007 staff scientists working in a wide ranges of areas including proteomics, medical screening, genetic engineering and stem cell research. The department also acts as a hub for research grants and contracts, as well as a key contact with international research organisations. They currently list as one of their main objectives as the “study of the Armenian genome including pathogenomics, immunogenomics and population genomics”.
  • ArmGenia
    • The Genetic Research Charitable Trust ArmGenia is a non-profit that aims to use cutting-edge genomic research to understand ancient Armenian history, advance genomic research and deliver precision medicine to patients.
    • They receive funding from the Armenian Government, national and international charities, individual donors and grants. Their current collaboration with UCLA constitutes part of ArmGenia’s effort to create a “Living Map of Armenia”. This could be used by Armenian diaspora and nationals to trace their heritage prior to the forced displacement. The project calls for the active involvement of members of the diaspora to make their data as representative of pre-genocide Armenia as possible.
    • They also want to establish a national database of genomic data for research into personalised medicine.
  • The National Association for Armenian Studies
    • Founded in 1955 by members of the diaspora living in America, the association advocates and promotes Armenian Studies at institutes of higher learning. They raise funds and support students via scholarships and sponsor cultural and educational events.
    • In addition to their work with universities and colleges, they run the Armenian Heritage Press, which subsidises and publishes literature on Armenian history, culture and language. They aim to act as a safe haven for their country’s history and culture, and to preserve this knowledge for future generations.
    • While the Association is based in the United States, it has grown to have international reach. Starting with the initial 60 founding members the Association has grown into globally recognised non-profit, which has supported and funded authors, scientists and scholars across the world.

Notable individuals

  • Sos Alikhanian (1906 to 1985)
    • A Soviet Armenian geneticist who is credited as one of the founders of molecular genetics in the USSR. Between 1931 and 1948, he was a researcher at Moscow State University, after which he worked at the Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy until 1968. He then was appointed as the director of the State Research Institute of Genetics and Selection of Industrial Microorganisms and part-directed the national journal “Genetics”13.
  • Professor Tamara Sarkisian
    • Dr Sarkisian founded the CMG in July 1998 and leads it to this day. She started her career as an Assistant Professor at Yerevan State University where she worked from March 1974 to November 1998. She then founded the CMG and worked as an independent researcher for Yerevan State Medical University.
    • Following the establishment of the CMG, she was appointed Chief Geneticist of the Republic of Armenia (2000-2018) and served as a member of the European Health System (1999 -2004).
    • She has advocated for and represented Armenian genomic medicine on the international stage and though founding the CRM, was the first to offer it directly to Armenian patients.
  • Levon Yepiskoposyan
    • Since 2015, Dr. Levon Yepiskoposyan and his research team engaged in a project to study the Armenian gene pool across time and space.
    • He received his first doctorate in Anthropology in 1977 at Moscow State University and his second in Genetics at the Russian Academy of Science in 1989.
    • In 1993, he was appointed President of the Armenian Anthropological Society. His research integrated historical, linguistic and geographical studies to create a complex map of Armenian cultural and genomic history. His work, along with his fellow researchers’, has contributed to the continuing efforts to create a full “Atlas of the Armenian Genome”. His research is detailed in his book “Uninterrupted Code: Armenian Genetic History”, which is currently available in Armenian and Russian and is due to be translated into English.

In recent years, Armenia as seen a large, private investment to establish new genomic laboratories in the capital city, Yerevan. Alongside international collaborations, this has the potential to result in cheaper genetic tests, greater access to sequencers and more healthcare professionals being trained in genomic medicine. With the Illumina, Genotek and BostonGene labs up and running alongside the Centre of Medical Genetics and Primary Health Care, Armenia could very well establish itself as a hub for precision care and genomic research.

However, at the time of writing, the Armenian Government has not announced any policies explaining how genomic testing, precision medicine or genetic counselling will be integrated into their universal health insurance roll out.

So, while it looks likely that Armenia’s capacity for genomic medicine will improve in the next few years, this will likely not improve accessibility for most patients until cost is removed as a barrier.

  1. Suny, Ronald Grigor , Howe, G. Melvyn , Mints, Aleksey Aleksandrovich and Dowsett, Charles James Frank. “Armenia“. Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Sep. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/place/Armenia. Accessed 23 September 2023.
  2. The World Bank: National Accounts (2022). GDP (current US$) – Armenia | Data. [online] Worldbank.org. Available at: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?locations=AM [Accessed 23 Aug. 23AD].
  3. Tsaturyan, S. and Scarpetti, G. (2022). Health Systems in Action: Armenia. [online] The European Health Observatory , European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, pp.0–24. Available at: https://eurohealthobservatory.who.int/publications/i/health-systems-in-action-armenia [Accessed 23 Sep. 2023].
  4. Meyer, C. (2021). The economic benefits of investing in universal health coverage in Armenia. [online] blogs.worldbank.org. Available at: https://blogs.worldbank.org/europeandcentralasia/economic-benefits-investing-universal-health-coverage-armenia [Accessed 23 Sep. 2023].
  5. The Government of the Republic of Armenia (2023). The Government is taking steps to ensure the phased introduction of comprehensive health insurance in Armenia. [online] www.gov.am. Available at: https://www.gov.am/en/news/item/10247/ [Accessed 25 Sep. 2023].
  6. Bedirian, K., Aghabekyan, T., Mesrobian, A., Shekherdimian, S., Zohrabyan, D., Safaryan, L., Sargsyan, L., Avagyan, A., Harutyunyan, L., Voskanyan, A., Tadevosyan, A., Melik-Nubaryan, D., Khachatryan, P., Saghatelyan, T., Kostanyan, M., Vardevanyan, H., Hovhannisyan, M., Sarkisian, T., Sargsyan, K. and Babikyan, D. (2022). Overview of Cancer Control in Armenia and Policy Implications. Frontiers in Oncology, 11. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2021.782581.
  7. ARICE (2021). Standardized Operation Procedures in Cancer Biobanking and Oncological Research for YSMU. [online] www.arice.am. Available at: https://www.arice.am/newsview20210630.php [Accessed 25 Sep. 2023].
  8. The Council of Europe (2023). Full list – Treaty Office – www.coe.int. [online] Treaty Office. Available at: https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list?module=signatures-by-treaty&treatynum=203 [Accessed 25 Sep. 2023].
  9. First Channel News (2022). Famous American company BostonGene is already in Armenia. [online] www.1lurer.am. Available at: https://www.1lurer.am/en/2022/07/27/Famous-American-company-BostonGene-is-already-in-Armenia/767780 [Accessed 23 Sep. 2023].
  10. Sarkisian, T., Ajrapetyan, H. and Shahsuvaryan, G. (2005). Molecular Study of FMF Patients in Armenia. Current Drug Target -Inflammation & Allergy, [online] 4(1), pp.113–116. doi:https://doi.org/10.2174/1568010053622885.
  11. Moradian, M.M., Sarkisian, T., Ajrapetyan, H. and Avanesian, N. (2010). Genotype–phenotype studies in a large cohort of Armenian patients with familial Mediterranean fever suggest clinical disease with heterozygous MEFV mutations. Journal of Human Genetics, 55(6), pp.389–393. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/jhg.2010.52.
  12. Margaryan, A., Derenko, M., Hovhannisyan, H., Malyarchuk, B., Heller, R., Khachatryan, Z., Avetisyan, P., Badalyan, R., Bobokhyan, A., Melikyan, V., Sargsyan, G., Piliposyan, A., Simonyan, H., Mkrtchyan, R., Denisova, G., Yepiskoposyan, L., Willerslev, E. and Allentoft, M.E. (2017). Eight Millennia of Matrilineal Genetic Continuity in the South Caucasus. Current Biology, [online] 27(13), pp.2023-2028.e7. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2017.05.087.
  13. Piruzyan, E.S. (2006). Professor Sos Isaakovich Alikhanyan, the founder of the school of molecular genetics of microorganisms. Russian Journal of Genetics, [online] 42(11), pp.1217–1225. doi:.
https://frontlinegenomics.com/world-of-genomics-armenia/

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister receives delegation led by MEP Geoffroy Didier

Jagharian Tania

 22:00, 5 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan on December 5  received the delegation led by Member of the European Parliament Geoffroy Didier.
 
Welcoming the members of the delegation, Paruyr Hovhannisyan highlighted the significant support from the European Parliament on issues of primary importance for Armenia during the challenging period for the country and the region, the foreign ministry said.
 
"The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that the scope of cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union is impressive, including active political dialogue, joint efforts to overcome current challenges, the implementation of the provisions of the Comprehensive and Extended Partnership Agreement and the prospects for expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
 
The Deputy Minister also expressed appreciation for the EU's initiatives aimed at enhancing Armenia's resilience," the statement reads.
 
According to the source, members of the delegation expressed their concern about the large-scale military attack by Azerbaijan against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh in September, highlighting the resulting humanitarian situation.
 
Deputy Geoffroy Didier expressed full support for Armenia in overcoming the current challenges.
 
It is noted that Paruyr Hovhannisyan comprehensively presented steps aimed at normalizing Armenia-Azerbaijan relations and addressing other regional issues.

The Beauty of Kim Kardashian’s Armenian-American Heritag

Jagharian Tania
Gillett News
Nov 29 2023

In a world where cultural diversity is celebrated, Kim Kardashian stands as a prominent figure whose ethnic background is intriguing to many. The renowned reality TV star and businesswoman has a distinct appearance that sparks curiosity about her heritage. So, what is Kim Kardashian’s ethnicity?

Kim Kardashian is proudly Armenian-American. Her father, Robert Kardashian, hailed from an Armenian-American background, while her mother, Kris Jenner, has ancestry rooted in Dutch, English, Irish, and Scottish origins. This fascinating fusion of ethnic backgrounds has played a pivotal role in shaping Kim’s unique identity and physical features.

Armenia, the country from which Kim’s paternal ancestors originate, boasts a rich and vibrant culture that extends back thousands of years. Nestled in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia, Armenia has been influenced by nearby countries like Turkey, Iran, and Georgia, resulting in a kaleidoscope of traditions, cuisine, and language within its society.

FAQ:

Q: What is the meaning of “ethnicity”?
A: Ethnicity encompasses a person’s cultural background, including their customs, traditions, language, and heritage. It signifies a shared set of characteristics among a group of individuals, often based on factors such as nationality or ancestry.

Q: Are there other notable celebrities of Armenian descent?
A: Absolutely! In addition to Kim Kardashian, there are several other incredibly talented individuals of Armenian heritage who have left a significant impact on the world stage. Some examples include the beloved singer Cher, Serj Tankian – the iconic lead singer of System of a Down, and the legendary former professional tennis player Andre Agassi.

Q: Does Kim Kardashian embrace her Armenian heritage?
A: Yes, Kim Kardashian takes great pride in her Armenian roots. She has made multiple visits to Armenia, advocating for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and raising awareness about her ancestral heritage. Notably, Kim even named her daughter “North West” as a tribute to her Armenian background.

In essence, Kim Kardashian’s Armenian-American ethnicity has not only shaped her physical appearance but also contributed to her remarkable journey in the entertainment industry. Through embracing her heritage, she has become an inspirational figure, encouraging individuals worldwide to celebrate and cherish their own cultural backgrounds.

https://gillettnews.com/news/the-beauty-of-kim-kardashians-armenian-american-heritage/266926/ 

Towards a Brighter Tomorrow: India’s G20 Presidency and the Dawn of a New Multilateralism

Jagharian Tania

 16:44,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Today marks 365 days since India assumed the G20 Presidency. It is a moment to reflect, recommit, and rejuvenate the spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future.’

As we undertook this responsibility last year, the global landscape grappled with multifaceted challenges: recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, looming climate threats, financial instability, and debt distress in developing nations, all amid declining multilateralism. In the midst of conflicts and competition, development cooperation suffered, impeding progress.

Assuming the G20 Chair, India sought to offer the world an alternative to status quo, a shift from a GDP-centric to human-centric progress. India aimed to remind the world of what unites us, rather than what divides us. Finally, the global conversation had to evolve – the interests of the few had to give way to the aspirations of the many. This required a fundamental reform of multilateralism as we knew it.

Inclusive, ambitious, action-oriented, and decisive—these four words defined our approach as G20 president, and the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration (NDLD), unanimously adopted by all G20 members, is testimony to our commitment to deliver on these principles.

Inclusivity has been at the heart of our presidency. The inclusion of the African Union (AU) as a permanent member of the G20 integrated 55 African nations into the forum, expanding it to encompass 80% of the global population. This proactive stance has fostered a more comprehensive dialogue on global challenges and opportunities.

The first-of-its-kind 'Voice of the Global South Summit,' convened by India in two editions, heralded a new dawn of multilateralism. India mainstreamed the Global South's concerns in international discourse and has ushered in an era where developing countries take their rightful place in shaping the global narrative.

Inclusivity also infused India’s domestic approach to G20, making it a People’s Presidency that befits that world’s largest democracy. Through "Jan Bhagidari" (people's participation) events, G20 reached 1.4 billion citizens, involving all states and Union Territories (UTs) as partners. And on substantive elements, India ensured that international attention was directed to broader developmental aims, aligning with G20's mandate.

At the critical midpoint of the 2030 Agenda, India delivered the G20 2023 Action Plan to Accelerate Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), taking a cross-cutting, action-oriented approach to interconnected issues, including health, education, gender equality and environmental sustainability.

A key area driving this progress is robust Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). Here, India was decisive in its recommendations, having witnessed the revolutionary impact of digital innovations like Aadhaar, UPI, and Digilocker first-hand. Through G20, we successfully completed the Digital Public Infrastructure Repository, a significant stride in global technological collaboration. This repository, featuring over 50 DPIs from 16 countries, will help the Global South build, adopt, and scale DPI to unlock the power of inclusive growth.

For our One Earth, we introduced ambitious and inclusive aims to create urgent, lasting, and equitable change. The Declaration’s ‘Green Development Pact' addresses the challenges of choosing between combating hunger and protecting the planet, by outlining a comprehensive roadmap where employment and ecosystems are complimentary, consumption is climate conscious, and production is planet-friendly. In tandem, the G20 Declaration calls for an ambitious tripling of global renewable energy capacity by 2030. Coupled with the establishment of the Global Biofuels Alliance and a concerted push for Green Hydrogen, the G20’s ambitions to build a cleaner, greener world is undeniable. This has always been India’s ethos, and through Lifestyles for Sustainable Development (LiFE), the world can benefit from our age-old sustainable traditions.

Further, the Declaration underscores our commitment to climate justice and equity, urging substantial financial and technological support from the Global North. For the first time, there was a recognition of the quantum jump needed in the magnitude of development financing, moving from billions to trillions of dollars. G20 acknowledged that developing countries require $5.9 trillion to fulfil their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2030.

Given the monumental resources required, G20 emphasised the importance of better, larger, and more effective Multilateral Development Banks. Concurrently, India is taking a leading role in UN reforms, especially in the restructuring of principal organs like the UN Security Council, that will ensure a more equitable global order.

Gender equality took centre stage in the Declaration, culminating in the formation of a dedicated Working Group on the Empowerment of Women next year. India’s Women's Reservation Bill 2023, reserving one-third of India’s Parliament and state legislative assembly seats for women epitomizes our commitment to women-led development.

The New Delhi Declaration embodies a renewed spirit of collaboration across these key priorities, focusing on policy coherence, reliable trade, and ambitious climate action. It is a matter of pride that during our Presidency, G20 achieved 87 outcomes and 118 adopted documents, a marked rise from the past.

During our G20 Presidency, India led deliberations on geopolitical issues and their impact on economic growth and development. Terrorism and the senseless killing of civilians is unacceptable, and we must address it with a policy of zero-tolerance. We must embody humanitarianism over hostility and reiterate that this is not an era of war.

I am delighted that during our Presidency India achieved the extraordinary: it revitalised multilateralism, amplified the voice of the Global South, championed development, and fought for the empowerment of women, everywhere.

As we hand over the G20 Presidency to Brazil, we do so with the conviction that our collective steps for people, planet, peace, and prosperity, will resonate for years to come.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi