Author: Karagyozian Lena

Christmas in Armenia amidst fear and hope

Karagyozian Lena
Vatican News
Dec 28 2023
In the heart of the Lesser Caucasus mountain range, Armenia celebrates the Christmas season amid the dying embers of a challenging year. The Sisters of the Armenian Congregation of the Immaculate Conception in Gyumri, near the Turkish border, are working hard to bring comfort to children displaced by the war.

By Marine Henriot

Christmas festivities in Armenia span from December 25 for the Catholic Church to January 6 for the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Pope Francis recalled the suffering of those displaced by the war in Nagorno Karabakh during his Urbi and Orbi blessing on 25 December as he implored peace and fraternity:

"May the day of definitive peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan draw near. May it be advanced by the pursuit of humanitarian initiatives, by the return of refugees to their homes in legality and security, and by reciprocal respect for religious traditions and the places of worship of each community “.

This message serves as an underlying roadmap for the survival of Armenia, the world's first Christian state, that finds itself celebrating Christmas celebrations at the end of another challenging year.

Engaged in a territorial conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region for decades, Azerbaijan and Armenia have fought several wars, one between 1988 and 1994 and another in the fall of 2020. In September 2023, after a swift offensive launched by Azerbaijan, the region officially returned to Baku's control. Following this 24-hour military operation, Baku authorities also arrested several separatist representatives, and almost the entire population of Nagorno-Karabakh, more than 100,000 out of 120,000 registered citizens, fled to Armenia.

Gyumri, the country's second-largest city, is located close to Armenia’s northwestern border with Turkey. It’s where three nuns from the Armenian Congregation of the Immaculate Conception run an orphanage that hosts about thirty children.  The Christmas celebrations are an opportunity to bring some relief to the orphanage’s young residents, many of whom come from Nagorno Karabakh.

"We create nativity scenes, organize meals, organize parties; it's a celebration," said Sister Nariné, who spoke to Vatican Radio while in the midst of preparations for a day in which more than 300 people were expected, including former residents and their families.

The children, she explained, often celebrate Christmas twice: on December 25 and on January 6. "It poses no problem with the families," Sister Nariné added, highlighting an excellent relationship and understanding among the different religious rites.

"We fear another war in Armenia; we are not accustomed to living in peace," the nun lamented.

In the orphanage, she continued, psychologists provide support to displaced children because in Gyumri, even though it is geographically distant from Nagorno Karabakh, the war is omnipresent.

"We can see soldiers in the city and families from Nagorno Karabakh. We would like the children to forget this war, but it's not easy," she said.

“We would like the children to forget this war, but it's not easy.”

After the defeat in September, the Armenian separatist authorities of Nagorno Karabakh agreed to dissolve on January 1, 2024. In a recent development, on December 22, the leader of the Armenian separatists announced his previous decree ordering the dissolution of separatist institutions was not valid.

Despite some positive signals such as the promise of Yerevan and Baku to "normalize" their relations, observers remain sceptical about the signing of a peace agreement between the two neighbours.

Together with the children in Gyumri, Sister Nariné has only one wish for 2024: "Above all, we want peace. Everyone wants peace. We pray."

“We want peace. Everyone wants peace. We pray.”

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-12/christmas-armenia-nagorno-karabakh-catholic-sisters-orphanage.html

Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan holds meeting with Russian Ambassador

Karagyozian Lena

 14:34,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan has held a meeting with the Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin.

During the meeting Mayor Avinyan attached importance to the relations between Yerevan and major Russian cities and stressed that the ties have prospects of development, City Hall said in a readout. As an example of successful partnership, Mayor Avinyan told the Ambassador that recently the city authorities introduced changes into the architectural licensing and blueprinting procedures, where the experience of Rostov-on-Don, Yerevan’s sister city, has been taken into account.

Ambassador Kopyrkin said that Yerevan and various Russian cities have collegial relations that will allow to enhance the circle of partnership and carry out new joint projects in some sectors of city administration.

Anna Donchenko, the Head of the Armenian-Russian Trade Representation, was also present at the meeting. Speaking about business circles, Mayor Avinyan attached importance to active participation of Russian companies in the bid solicitations announced by Yerevan City Hall.

Washington, D.C. marks AYF 90th anniversary with a focus on service to community and homeland

Karagyozian Lena
 Anie Shahnazarian Community News, Diaspora, Youth 0

A multi-generational packed house at the AYF 90th anniversary program held on December 9 at the Soorp Khatch Armenian Church Arabian Hall

WASHINGTON—The Armenian Youth Federation – Youth Organization of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (AYF) Washington, D.C. “Ani” Senior and “Sevan” Junior chapters rallied support for Artsakh’s forcibly displaced Armenian population at the “Service to the Community and Homeland” event marking the 90th anniversary of the hallowed youth organization.

AYF D.C. “Ani” Chapter “Service to Community and Homeland” emcee Nayiri Shahnazarian

“Ninety years ago, the ARF leadership in North America invited General Karekin Njdeh to travel to communities across the United States and Canada with a mission—to inspire Armenian youth to organize a powerful force for Armenian freedom. A force—built on the pillars of education, Hai Tahd, culture, athletics and socials—which would become a worldwide youth movement building toward the ultimate goal of a free, independent, united Armenia,” stated AYF “Ani” Chair Nayiri Shahnazarian, who guided attendees through an evening of empowering stories of youth activism locally and in the Armenian homeland.

Tsoghig Hekimian offers an alumni perspective on the AYF’s youth empowerment programs

Held on Saturday, December 9, at Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church Arabian Hall, AYF alumni and current members offered anecdotes of their time in the organization. They regaled attendees with how their participation in the AYF Internship and Homenetmen Jamboree—both in Armenia this past summer—and local activities educated them and motivated expanded community service initiatives.

Offering an alumni perspective, Tsoghig Hekimian shared stories of university activism to ensure proper representation of the Armenian Genocide at Los Angeles’ Museum of Tolerance and how the AYF has served as the foundation to her ongoing service to the ARF, Armenian Relief Society and the Armenian National Committee of America.

AYF “Sevan” Chapter member Alek Tekeyan offered a powerful presentation of Vazgen Ovyan’s “Այս Ղարաբաղն է” (This is Karabakh), after which Maria Stepanyan led attendees in singing “Zartir Lao” while her brother Sevak accompanied on guitar. AYF “Sevan” Junior Chapter chair Karine Najarian and secretary Meghri Aguilian offered an update on an impressive array of junior chapter accomplishments in 2023. A moving presentation on the 2023 Homenetmen Jamboree in Armenia was offered by Mary Markarian, Meghri Aguilian and Sebouh Kassardjian.  Attendees delighted in the musical talents of Alexandra and Lilia Yaralian, who enthralled with their playing of the kanun. 

AYF D.C. “Ani” Senior Chris Huth discusses how the AYF Summer Internship in Armenia further connected him to the Armenian homeland

The evening concluded with Chris Huth’s overview of his unforgettable moments of connecting to the homeland and cause through the AYF Internship in Armenia and Sune Hamparian’s life-changing summer of service interning with international human rights lawyer Siranush Sahakyan in Yerevan in the ongoing international campaign to secure justice for Armenian POWs and political prisoners held illegally by Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan’s genocidal ethnic cleansing of Artsakh’s indigenous Armenian population, coupled with the corrupt Aliyev regime’s ongoing occupation of sovereign Armenian land and illegal detention of Armenian POWs and political prisoners, prompted Washington AYF supporters to donate over $2,000 to assist Artsakh refugees, bringing the local AYF chapter closer to honoring its annual commitment to raise $10,000 for Artsakh youth-related projects. To support the AYF “Ani” Chapter’s Artsakh-related programs, visit https://givebutter.com/dcani and put “Anniversary Dinner for Artsakh” in the comments.

A special thank you to our AYF “Ani” Seniors and “Sevan” Juniors who served the evening’s delicious buffet dinner catered by Vache Abkarian and his family-owned Sasun’s Cafe

Additional video from the AYF “Service to Community and Homeland” event will be posted to the D.C. chapter’s social media channels.

  •  Bio
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Anie Shahnazarian grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and is currently a member of the AYF-YOARF Greater Washington, DC “Ani” Chapter. She began working as a statistician at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services after the completion of her statistics and English literature degrees at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Additionally, she volunteers as an assistant teacher at the local Baltimore Armenian School.


Armenpress: Prime Minister Pashinyan congratulates Emir of Qatar on National Day

Karagyozian Lena

 10:29,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has congratulated the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, on the occasion of the National Day.

"I sincerely congratulate you and the friendly people of Qatar on the occasion of the National Day,” PM Pashinyan said in a letter to the Emir published by his office. We highly value the friendly relations with the State of Qatar, considering your country as one of the most important partners of the Republic of Armenia in the Arab world and the Gulf region. We are impressed by Qatar's achievements and innovative approaches and are ready to deepen our cooperation in various fields. I sincerely hope that we will have the opportunity to host you in Armenia in the near future. Taking this opportunity, I wish you and the friendly people of the State of Qatar continued progress, stability and prosperity,” he added.

Welcoming the Release of Armenian and Azerbaijani Soldiers

Karagyozian Lena
U.S. Department of State
Dec 7 2023

PRESS STATEMENT

MATTHEW MILLER, DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON

DECEMBER 7, 2023

The United States welcomes the announcement by Armenia and Azerbaijan of the release of two Azerbaijani and thirty-two Armenian detainees.  This commitment represents an important confidence building measure as the sides work to finalize a peace agreement and normalize relations.  We commend Azerbaijani President Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan for their joint efforts to lay the groundwork for a more peaceful and prosperous future for the people of the South Caucasus.

The United States will continue to strongly support efforts to reach a durable and dignified peace.


RFE/RL Armenian Service – 12/08/2023

Karagyozian Lena 
                                        Friday, December 8, 2023


Armenian Official Hopes For U.S. Pressure On Baku

        • Astghik Bedevian

Armenia - Sargis Khandanian of the ruling Civil Contract party attends a session 
of the National Assembly, Yerevan.


A senior Armenian lawmaker expressed hope on Friday that the United States will 
press Azerbaijan to agree to fresh U.S.-mediated peace talks with Armenia.

“We hope that our U.S. partners will make sufficient efforts and maybe also put 
pressure on Azerbaijan so that negotiations continue in Washington,” said Sargis 
Khandanian, the chairman of the Armenian parliament committee on foreign 
relations.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was scheduled to host talks between the 
Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers in Washington on November 20. 
However, the Azerbaijani side cancelled them in protest against what it called 
pro-Armenian statements made by James O’Brien, the U.S. assistant secretary of 
state for Europe and Eurasia.

O’Brien visited Baku and met with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and 
Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov earlier this week. He said he told them that 
Blinken still “looks forward to hosting” the top Armenian and Azerbaijani 
diplomats soon. It is not yet clear whether he reached with them any agreements 
to that effect.

In what may have been a related development, a U.S. special envoy for the 
Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks, Louis Bono, met with Foreign Minister Ararat 
Mirzoyan in Yerevan on Thursday. The Armenian Foreign Ministry said Mirzoyan 
reaffirmed his readiness to meet with Bayramov in the U.S. capital.

His meeting with Bono coincided with the announcement of an Armenian-Azerbaijani 
agreement to exchange prisoners and take other confidence-building measures. The 
United States and the European Union were quick to welcome the deal. They said 
they hope that it will facilitate an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty sought by 
them.

Khandanian cautioned, however, that implications of the prisoner swap, agreed as 
a result of direct contacts between Baku and Yerevan, should not be 
overestimated. The two sides have only solved a “humanitarian issue” and it 
remains be seen whether they can make similar progress on other fronts, he said.

In recent weeks, Baku has repeatedly accused the Western powers of pro-Armenian 
bias and proposed direct negotiations with Yerevan.




Armenian Government Issues Jobs Data On Karabakh Refugees


Armenia - Refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh ride in a truck upon their arrival at 
the border village of Kornidzor, September 27, 2023.


Over 5,350 ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh have found jobs in Armenia but 
thousands of others remain unemployed more than two months after fleeing their 
homeland following an Azerbaijani military offensive, a senior Armenian official 
said on Friday.

News agencies quoted Ruben Sargsian, a deputy minister of labor and social 
affairs, as saying that about one thousand of them have been hired by Armenian 
schools, colleges and other educational institutions. More than 1,800 others now 
work for local entities involved in services, manufacturing and construction, 
Sargsian told a news conference. He said nothing about the occupations of other 
officially employed Karabakh refugees.

More than 100,000 ethnic Armenians making up Karabakh’s virtually entire 
remaining population fled to Armenia in late September as Baku regained full 
control of the region after two days of fighting that left hundreds of soldiers 
from both sides dead. Most of them have since struggled to find new housing and 
sources of income. In Sargsian’s words, 3,737 refugees had the official status 
of an unemployed person as of December 4.

Armenia - Ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh walk along the road from 
Nagorno-Karabakh to Kornidzor in Syunik region, September 26, 2023.

According to Karabakh’s exiled leadership now based in Yerevan, some 6,000 
Karabakh Armenians have left for other countries, mainly for Russia, for these 
reasons. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said on November 23 that their 
out-migration from Armenia has essentially stopped not least because of various 
aid programs implemented by his government.

“I have repeatedly said that our policy on our sisters and brothers forcibly 
displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh is as follows: if they are objectively unable or 
unwilling to return to Nagorno-Karabakh we will do everything to have them stay 
in Armenia,” he said.

However, many refugees complain that Armenian ministries, law-enforcement 
agencies and local government bodies are rejecting their job applications on the 
grounds that they do not have Armenian citizenship or are not registered in 
permanent places of residence in the country.

Pashinian and other government officials declared in October that the refugees 
are not Armenian citizens despite the fact that virtually all of them hold 
Armenian passports. Some legal experts disputed those claims.

Armenia - Newly arrived refugees from Nagorno Karabakh register at a government 
aid center in Kornidzor, September 26, 2023.

“I don't know anyone in my circle who has landed a job in the [Armenian] public 
sector,” Armen Petrosian, a former martial arts coach who worked at the Karabakh 
ministry of education and sports until the exodus, told the Hraparak newspaper 
on Friday.

Petrosian said that he applied for corresponding jobs at the Yerevan mayor’s 
office or sporting schools administered by it but was told that the municipal 
administration is “not an employment center.” He accused the Armenian government 
of “doing everything” to reduce the number of the Karabakh refugees. Many of 
them blame Pashinian for the restoration of Azerbaijani control over their 
homeland and its depopulation.

Earlier this week, Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinian told municipal officials to be 
“a bit more active” in helping Karabakh Armenians find jobs. But it is not clear 
whether he encouraged them to hire refugees.




West, Russia Hail Armenian-Azeri Prisoner Exchange


Two flags of Armenia and Azerbaijan fluttering in the wind.


The United States, the European Union and Russia have praised Armenia and 
Azerbaijan for agreeing to swap prisoners held by them and to take other 
confidence-building measures.

Under the agreement announced late on Thursday, Azerbaijan will free 32 Armenian 
prisoners of war in exchange for Armenia’s release of two Azerbaijani soldiers 
and support for Baku’s bid to host the COP29 climate summit next year.

“This commitment represents an important confidence building measure as the 
sides work to finalize a peace agreement and normalize relations,” Matthew 
Miller, the U.S. State Department spokesman, said shortly after the announcement.

EU Council President Charles Michel was also quick to welcome the deal, calling 
it a “major breakthrough in Armenia-Azerbaijan relations.”

“I now encourage the leaders to finalize the Armenia-Azerbaijani peace deal [as 
soon as possible,] tweeted Michel.

The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed its “satisfaction” with the prisoner 
exchange the following morning.

“This contributes to mutual strengthening of trust and opens up new 
opportunities for furthering the Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization process in 
line with the comprehensive trilateral agreements reached by the leaders of 
Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia in 2020-2022,” said Maria Zakharova, the ministry 
spokeswoman.

Zakharova specifically hailed Yerevan’s stated support for the holding of the 
COP29 in Baku. She said that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special climate 
envoy has “held contacts with Baku and Yerevan aimed at reaching a common 
understanding” on the UN climate summit.

The chairman of the Armenian parliament committee on foreign relations, Sargis 
Khandanian, stressed, meanwhile, the deal is the result of direct negotiations 
held by Baku and Yerevan. He gave no details of those talks.

Khandanian also said the release of the prisoners is “a matter of hours or 
days.” The Azerbaijani government publicized overnight the list of the 32 
captives that will be repatriated by it. Most of them were taken prisoner in 
Nagorno-Karabakh in December 2022 just weeks after a Russian-brokered ceasefire 
stopped the Armenian-Azerbaijani war.

According to Yerevan-based human rights groups, Baku held at least 55 Armenian 
captives as of Thursday. They included 41 POWs, six civilians and eight current 
and former leaders of Karabakh arrested following Azerbaijan’s September 
military offensive in Karabakh. The Karabakh leaders are not covered by the 
latest deal.



Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2023 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Exploring Armenian Wine

Karagyozian Lena
Forbes
Nov 29 2023
Liza B. Zimmerman

This ancient winemaking country was never on my radar. Was it because few of the wines have historically been available in the U.S. or because the bulk of indigenous wine grapes are not familiar to us in the U.S.? It certainly also doesn’t help that the country has been buffeted by war on many sides for much of its long wine-making history.

The wine grapes from the Caucasus, primarily Armenia and Georgia, never made the leap to Western Europe. As a result, most U.S. and European consumers don’t know much about them or how to pronounce them.

However, on my first trip to Armenia, I was impressed with the overall quality of the wines and the passion that local producers put into them. Sadly, very few of them are present on the U.S. market. Storica, the Boston-based importer who led this trip, is changing that up. As are international winemakers like Paul Hobbs, while collaborating on winemaking endeavors there; and the fact that the latest SOMM film, part of a series of four, is based on wine production in Armenia. The film was just released in the U.S. and I recently reviewed it.

This was also a particularly moving trip, which most wine country trips aren’t always, given the political situation in the country. Armenia has long had a tenuous relationship with neighboring Azerjaban and it is not getting any better. So, I felt that the producers really poured their heart and soul into hosting us there in more ways than one. I wonder how many American producers might have canceled tastings and winery visits if their homeland felt imperiled?

The Background

Anyone interested in understanding Armenia should look at the country’s deep history of winemaking. The Areni-1Cave, the oldest known winery dating from over 6,000 years ago shows evidence of wine consumption dating back to 6000 B.C. The country’s primary Christian population has also ensured that wine has long been made for use in the church and at home.

There is also a deep-seated tradition of home winemaking all around the country—much like you see in Italy or any southern European country—which is testament to how much countryfolk like crafting what they grow in their yards in into a great dinner pairing. This is something we observed in abundance on this trip, at places like Yeganyan’s Gastroyard, an interactive culinary center where visitors can make lavash bread and traditional sweets (and enjoy them with BBQ at dinner right afterwards).

The wine industry here is fueled by stalwarts who are reinventing the wheel, from within, and those who have come back from many years abroad. Vahe Keushguerian, the charming protagonist of SOMM4, vividly expresses why he headed home after years of living in Italy and the U.S. Paul Hobbs, the legendary California winemaker, who has put some new styles of Argentine Malbec on the map also became interested in producing wine this country in high-elevation vineyards with tons of sunshine. Hobbs has been making wine under the Yacoubian-Hobbs label since 2014 and he has been producing wine in Sonoma since the early 2000s.

The Background on Hobbs

Paul Hobbs is a well-known California winemaker, who has also had a long career swooping in and collaborating with producers in a number of countries including Argentina as well as Cahors in the South of France as well as his latest venture in Armenia with Yacoubian-Hobbs label over the past decade.

He chatted with me briefly about how his Armenian collaboration started. He notes that he was, “approached by two Armenian brothers living in Los Angeles who liked my California wines and knew of my history of helping to internationalize the Argentine wine industry. They convinced me they were serious about doing something significant to help elevate the image of the wines in their home country and they wanted my help,” he shares.

“Early events in my career had catapulted Armenia in my imagination. …When enough seemingly disparate things align it can feel like being called. That’s what got me there. Once there of course it comes down to just one thing—the terroir. If yes, you explore deeper. If not, you go home.” He adds, which makes a lot of sense to me, that he is also working with a number of well-known European varietals “to understand how that response to the terroir from this part of the world.”

The Basics

Armenia has long been cut off from the international wine-producing world as it was part of the Soviet Union until 1991. As the Soviets did, with other neighboring countries like Moldova, the Armenians were told to focus on “Cognac,” and other fortified wines. This clearly is not even Cognac as it is made outside the French region of the same name.

Areni is the country’s flagship red grape. What is more many vineyards here are phylloxera-free and have been planted on their own roots: which is something you don’t see much in Europe except for small regions like Colares in Portugal.

A few of my favorites tasted on this trip included Noa Arkuri Noah Of Areni 2022, which had lovely stone fruit notes and flowers. The rosé sparkler from Kuesh is delightfully over the top with a fragrant aroma and hints of berries on the palate. It’s made by Keushguerian. Van Ardi is another notable producer with a nice estate. The winery’s 2022 Kangun—an indigenous white grape—had rich stone fruit notes, good acidity and notes of citrus and apricot skin on the finish.

Some of these unique varietals are picking up traction in U.S. restaurants, particularly where there is a large Armenian community in places like Glendale, in Los Angeles. Rosalie Tcholakian, an owner of the two-location Carousel restaurant shares that her dinners are growing more interested in Armenian wines. She adds that many non-Armenia customers are also showing up, so “Armenia is definitely on the map!”

Bzhania Lashes Out at Armenian PM Pashinyan for Backing Georgia’s Territorial Integrity

Karagyozian Lena
Civil Georgia
Nov 27 2023

On November 26, the de facto president of occupied Abkhazia condemned Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statement on November 24 that Armenia “unequivocally and fully” supports “the unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and democracy of Georgia”. The Armenian Prime Minister said this while answering a question in a live broadcast on whether his country was ready to recognize Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region as Russia-occupied territories.

According to Ekho Kavkaza, Pashinyan further noted that Armenia’s votes in the UN have changed since 2019. Before 2019, Armenia had voted against the UN resolutions recognizing the right of Georgian internally displaced persons to return to their homes in occupied Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. Since 2019, Armenia has abstained from voting.

In his statement, Aslan Bzhania blames the Armenian leadership’s statements on “Western influence,” claiming that Prime Minister Pashinyan’s recent statement “fundamentally contradicts the fact of sovereignty” of occupied Abkhazia.

“Today, the Armenian community in Abkhazia is represented in the central and local authorities, the Armenian language and culture are supported by the [ed. de facto] state, and the structures of the Armenian Apostolic Church function freely,” adding that “the Armenians in Abkhazia have everything that Nikol Pashinyan could not guarantee to the Armenians of Karabakh, who, as a result of his policies, faced the tragedy of the collapse of statehood and a mass exodus from their homeland.”

Bzhania called on the Armenian government to “abandon indoctrinated rhetoric and begin to take into account the actual state of affairs in the implementation of its foreign policy”.

Ethnic Armenian members of the so-called parliament of occupied Abkhazia, Ashot Minosyan, Galust Trapizonyan, Eric Rshtuni and Levon Galustyan, also reacted to Pashinyan’s statement, calling it “too cynical.” In their statement, the four representatives of the de facto legislature criticized the Armenian prime minister for “easily changing positions” and blamed him for the disappearance of Nagorno-Karabakh from the “political map of the world”.

“Unlike Pashinyan, there are no politicians in Abkhazia who would question the people’s choice and liquidate with a stroke of a pen a country that was conquered with the blood of sons and daughters,” the so-called deputies concluded.

https://civil.ge/archives/571441

Armenian Defense Ministry denies report on supplying missiles to Ukraine

Karagyozian Lena

 12:55, 21 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ministry of Defense has denied media reports that claimed Armenia will supply missiles to Ukraine.

Ministry of Defense spokesperson Aram Torosyan denied the reports in written comments to Armenpress.

Armenpress: A number of foreign news media, including Azerbaijani ones, have been generating reports recently claiming that Armenia will supply missiles to Ukraine. This report has also been published by certain Armenian news outlets. How would you comment on this?

Aram Torosyan: A relevant division of the Ministry of Defense is monitoring media reports pertaining to the sector and is commenting or reacting to them according to necessity and appropriateness. This given information is untrue and we call upon Armenian news media not to circulate the fake narratives generated by foreign propaganda sources.

Prime Minister Pashinyan invites new President of Argentina to pay official visit to Armenia

Karagyozian Lena

 11:10,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has congratulated Javier Milei on his election as President of Argentina.

“My warm congratulations on your election as President of the Republic of Argentina,” Prime Minister Pashinyan said in a letter addressed to President Javier Milei. "I hope that during your tenure, by successfully overcoming all existing challenges, you and your political team will be able to strengthen Argentina’s positions in the international arena, and the Armenian community of Argentina will continue to have its contribution in strengthening the country. Armenia is a reliable partner for Argentina in issues pertaining to human rights, democracy and building free economic relations. I’d like to take this opportunity to invite you to pay an official visit to Armenia at a time of your convenience. I am sure that the warm relations between our countries still have great untapped potential. I am expressing readiness to build a more ambitious agenda through joint work and develop relations with Argentina in all directions of bilateral interest,” Pashinyan said in the letter.