Author: Ophelia Vardapetian

Tehran to host Armenia-Iran Intergovernmental Commission meeting next week

Ophelia Vardapetian

 12:51,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan attended on February 9 the official reception dedicated to the 45th anniversary of the Iranian Islamic Revolution, the country’s national day.

In his speech, Grigoryan congratulated the friendly people of Iran and noted that the age-old relations between Armenia and Iran are based on mutual trust, respect and sincere friendship.

“The governments of our countries are displaying the necessary political will and are making all efforts in the direction of expanding the high-level political ties and interstate cooperation. The rich agenda of bilateral ties is a vivid testament to this,” he said.

He welcomed the interest and involvement of Iranian companies in the implementation of strategic projects for Armenia. “We attach great importance to the close contacts and constructive cooperation between the leaders of Armenia and Iran , as well as our executive and legislative authorities,” Grigoryan said.

Grigoryan said that together with Iranian Vice President Davoud Manzour he will co-chair the meeting of the Armenia-Iran Intergovernmental Commission in Tehran next week.

“Iran is an important partner for us, with whom our friendly and constructive relations not only bring good for our peoples, but are also a serious factor for ensuring stability and development in the entire region. In this context, I’d like to emphasize that our government highly appreciates the Iranian top leadership’s unambiguous stance on the inviolability of the territorial integrity and borders of the Republic of Armenia,” Grigoryan said, adding that there is a historic chance to make joint efforts to further strengthen the friendly relations between Armenia and Iran.

Armenia receives most humanitarian aid from United States and EU countries, according to official statistics

Ophelia Vardapetian

 16:10, 8 February 2024

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Armenia received in 2023 humanitarian aid worth $35,6 million from various countries.

Most of it, worth over $8,1 million, was sent by the United States, followed by Italy ($3,8 million) and Switzerland ($2,8 million) according to official data released by the Statistical Committee.

The volume of humanitarian aid sent to Armenia in 2023 decreased 58,8% compared to 2022.

Germany, China and France are the next top humanitarian aid donors with $2,1 million, $1,8 million and $1,3 million worth of goods respectively.

46,8% of the entire humanitarian aid came from EU countries, 22,8% from the U.S., only 0,1% from CIS countries, and the rest from other nations.

Armenians influence 90% of consciousness being formed in Azerbaijan today: PM

Ophelia Vardapetian

 20:00, 1 February 2024

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenians, the Republic of Armenia, fill 90 percent of the consciousness being formed in Azerbaijan today,  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview with Public Radio of Armenia.

"They form their perception of statehood and public relations on the basis of signals received from Armenia and sent from Armenia regarding how Armenia affects them, how Armenia and Armenia's perception affects their own perception. And this is a mutual process", Pashinyan said.

Iran’s Kharrazi discusses ties with Armenia prime minister

Ophelia Vardapetian
MEHR News Agency
Iran – Jan 30 2024

TEHRAN, Jan. 30 (MNA) – The Head of Iran's Foreign Policy Strategic Council Kamal Kharrazi met and held talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan, discussing the bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Armenian Prime Minister emphasized the importance of Kharrazi's visit to Armenia and expressed confidence that it will give a new impetus to the further development and strengthening of Armenia-Iran relations.

According to the Armenian prime minister's website, Nikol Pashinyan noted that they agreed with the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran to take consistent steps in the direction of continuously increasing the volume of trade turnover. At the same time, the Prime Minister noted that he fondly remembers the meeting with the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and asked Kharrazi to convey his warm greetings.

The two sides discussed various issues related to the Armenia-Iran cooperation agenda, which related to political and economic relations, cooperation in energy, infrastructure, and other fields, and implementation of joint projects.

The sides exchanged ideas on issues related to security and stability in the South Caucasus.

MP/PR

Armenian parliamentary speaker: National anthem, emblem should be replaced sooner or later

Ophelia Vardapetian
Interfax
Jan 30 2024

YEREVAN. Jan 30 (Interfax) – Armenian parliamentary Chairman Alen Simonyan believes the country needs a new national anthem and amended coat of arms.

"It's obvious to me that the Republic of Armenia's national anthem should be changed sooner or later. It should be Armenian, it should have some relation to our state and Armenian music, and it should comply with anthem rules. I don't insist that it should be replaced by the music of the great Aram Khachaturyan [a prominent Armenian and Soviet composer and author of the Armenian Soviet Republic's anthem], which, in my view, is excellent and as Armenian as it can only be, but obviously, the anthem of foreign origin needs to be replaced," Simonyan wrote on Telegram.

The current Armenian anthem is based on a verse by Mikayel Nalbandian titled 'The Song of an Italian Girl', written in 1859.

Simonyan also called for discussing amendments to Armenia's coat of arms.

"At least Armenia can't be underwater, which was a punishment for humankind. A lion can't look like a facebook smiley, and a sword defending Armenia can't be chained," Simonyan said.

Armenia's coat of arms depicts the Deluge near the foot of Mount Ararat.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan proposed changing the country's national anthem in June 2023.

"People regularly address me on that, I also feel that way […] I have no definitive conclusion. The official lyrics of our current anthem end in death. The ideology is right, I have no problems with the text, but the anthem concludes with a line about death, a picture of death," he said.

As for Armenia's coat of arms, it has nothing to do with contemporary Armenia, he said.

"What is depicted there? Noah's Ark on Mount Ararat, and the coats of arms of four Armenian dynasties. Looking at the coat of arms, I wonder: What relation does it have to us? After all, we adopted it in 1991. How is it related to the state founded in 1991? What is it about? Looking at its center, you can see Noah's Ark on Mount Ararat and the current territory of the Republic of Armenia, which is underwater," Pashinyan said.

The Armenian coat of arms also has a picture of a lion, "which hasn't been part of Armenia's natural habitat for ages," Pashinyan said.

Armenian LA Solar expands with EBRD support

Ophelia Vardapetian
European Bank for Reconstruction & Development
Jan 26 2024

By Olga Aristeidou

With temperatures hovering around zero, Yerevan has been dressed in winter attire. Sunshine is not the first thing that comes to mind in the Armenian capital in winter, but it is one of the most modern and effective ways of keeping our homes warm at the coldest time of the year.

Solar energy is one of the most efficient and least expensive types of energy. One of the many advantages of solar panels is that they continue to produce energy even in bad weather. On cold and clear days, snow on the ground can act as a mirror, reflecting additional sunlight onto solar panels. And after a heavy snowfall, a small open spot on the surface of a panel will absorb the sun's rays and gradually heat it up, leading to the faster thawing of surface snow.

LA Solar is one of the largest solar panel manufacturers in Armenia and the wider Eastern Europe and the Caucasus region, exporting to over 40 countries, with the Unites States of America being one of its top markets.

The company focuses on the high-tech production of solar panels, using one of the most modern technologies available, from Swiss company Meyer Burger. It currently has an annual production capacity of 350 MW. Its panels absorb several times more sunlight than panels produced by other technologies.

“The demand for more powerful and more productive solar panels is growing every year,” explains Maksim Targashov, Head of production at LA Solar. “Many people are switching to solar energy in Armenia and elsewhere. This is supported by the local weather conditions, contracts with electricity networks and other factors.”

When LA Solar was formulating its expansion plans, it contacted the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and its partner financial institution, HSBC, for support. The company acquired working capital by procuring 12,000 450 W photovoltaic (PV) module assembly kits, with financing from HSBC under the EBRD’s Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF). The GEFF programme in Armenia is supported by the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

This should enable the company to produce PV panels with a total capacity of 5.4 MW. Statistics and similar investments financed by the GEFF in Armenia suggest that the average relative energy savings achieved by installing PV stations for own use is approximately 63 per cent. Based on this data, the GEFF investment in LA Solar's PV panels will result in the avoidance of 2,543 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

Furthermore, end-users will benefit from significant electricity savings amounting to 7,500 MWh per year, translating into more than US$ 900,000 in annual savings.

Embracing solar energy’s potential and innovative solutions

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), utility-scale solar PV and onshore wind are the cheapest options for new electricity generation in a significant majority of countries worldwide. Global solar PV capacity is set to almost triple over the 2022-27 period, surpassing coal and becoming the largest source of power capacity in the world.

The IEA also expects to see an acceleration in the installation of solar panels on residential and commercial rooftops, helping consumers to reduce their energy bills.

This is also LA Solar’s vision. One of its more recent innovative products is solar roof-tile modules.

“The idea is that instead of placing a solar panel on the roof of your house, you turn the roof into a panel,” says Maksim Targashov. “These modules can fully replace a roof. This solution offers reliable energy resilience, while enhancing the house’s visual appeal. It also has proven reliability, competitive low light performance, and resilience to dust, wind and snow pressure. We also produce triangular panels to fill gaps on roofs and maximise solar energy utilisation from unused roof spaces.” 

While China remains the dominant player in the solar PV sector, its share of global manufacturing capacity could decrease from 90 per cent today to 75 per cent by 2027, according to the IEA. Companies, such as LA Solar, are one of the reasons.

“We are the biggest producer in the region,” says Maksim Targashov. “We produce a lot for the United States of America, and we will continue to expand. Our expansion plans should lead to a significant increase in energy output, thereby contributing to a reduction in CO2 emissions and promoting environmental sustainability. Moreover, we expect to generate new job opportunities and to stimulate economic growth in the region.”

The GEFF programme operates through a network of more than 170 local financial institutions across 28 countries, supported by more than €5 billion of EBRD finance. More than 218,000 investments have led to a reduction of over 9.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. In Armenia, as at the end of November 2023, more than 400 energy efficiency and renewable energy projects and businesses had been financed.

Armenia may provide new information on minefield maps to Azerbaijan

Ophelia Vardapetian

 16:22,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Armenia may provide new minefield maps to Azerbaijan if such information is gathered and trust is strengthened, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has said.

“Armenia wants to continue confidence building measures,” he said, noting that Armenia twice gave minefield maps to Azerbaijan in the past.

“We conveyed to Azerbaijan minefield maps twice, but then, strangely, the Azerbaijani side complained that the maps are ineffective and inaccurate. It is noteworthy that the mine laying in those areas started in the nineties by Azerbaijan itself, but, anyway, we managed to summarize and convey to Azerbaijan the information that was available to us,” Mirzoyan said.

He said that now Armenian authorities are trying to restore, using inquiries among other measures, any information about possible locations of mines.

“In case of constructive approach and steps for strengthening trust from both sides, and if we truly succeed to restore reliable information, I don’t rule out that we will once again convey it to Azerbaijan,” the Armenian Foreign Minister said. He added that this time the process should be carried out through international partners, in order for them to validate that Armenia is conveying reliable information.

Armenian President, Finland’s Foreign Minister meet in Davos

Ophelia Vardapetian

 10:45,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan has held a meeting with Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Khachaturyan and Valtonen discussed the enhancement of bilateral agenda between Armenia and Finland, as well as issues pertaining to the Armenia-EU partnership. “The general situation in the South Caucasus region and the existing security challenges were also discussed,” the Armenian President’s Office said in a readout.

Both sides attached importance to the ongoing democratic reforms in Armenia, and the concepts and programs aimed at strengthening democratic institutions, Khachaturyan’s Office added.

Armenian Ambassador, President of the ICC discuss issues related to the effective implementation of the Rome Statute

Ophelia Vardapetian

 20:06,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 12, ARMENPRESS: Ambassador of Armenia to the Netherlands Viktor Biyagov  paid a courtesy visit to the International Criminal Court and had meetings with P. Hofmański, President, K. Khan, Prosecutor and O. Zavala, Registrar of the Court, the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Netherlands said.

The interlocutors congratulated the Ambassador on his appointment and welcomed Armenia's accession to the Court.

It was underlined that ratification of the Rome Statute by Armenia is of utmost importance for the universalization of the international criminal justice system and fight against impunity.

The effective implementation of the Rome Statute by Armenia, cooperation with the Court, as well as possible capacity building programs were discussed.

Germany Offers Aid to Armenia in Bid to Curtail Russian Influence: Report

Ophelia Vardapetian
Jan 10 2024

By: Momen Zellmi

Reports from Russia cite informed sources that Germany is offering financial aid to Armenia, with strings attached that ostensibly aim to weaken Russian influence in the region. The terms of this reported aid package include the removal of Russian border guards from Armenian territory and the displacement of pro-Russian individuals from key positions within Armenia’s military, intelligence agencies, and law enforcement.

The financial aid, which is said to be tied to supporting the government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, reportedly includes measures to prevent the mass migration of Karabakh Armenians to European Union countries. This is viewed as part of Germany’s broader geopolitical strategy to create a divide between Armenia and Moscow, and integrate Armenia into the anti-Russian policy of the West. The Russian media report suggests that Berlin is offering to provide Yerevan with financial and technical assistance, in addition to political support.

This move by Germany, if substantiated, could be seen as part of a larger effort to reduce Russian influence in Armenia and the surrounding region. Amid escalating tensions between Russia and the West, the financial aid package reportedly offered by Germany could represent a strategic pivot for Armenia, a country traditionally allied with Russia but now potentially drawn into the broader geopolitical chessboard.

While this report is yet to be officially confirmed, the alleged offer from Germany could have significant implications for the dynamics of power in the Caucasus region. A shift in Armenia’s allegiances could strain relations with Russia and provoke a response from Moscow. Moreover, the displacement of pro-Russian individuals from key positions could cause internal friction within Armenia and potentially destabilize the region. As the world watches, the move could set a precedent for how Western nations engage with countries within Russia’s sphere of influence.