Author: Talar Tumanian

Various ideas on mitigating humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh under discussion, says Pashinyan

Talar Tumanian

 15:46,

YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that his administration maintains permanent contact with Nagorno Karabakh authorities in an attempt to find opportunities or approaches that could help mitigate the humanitarian crisis resulting from the Azerbaijani blockade of Lachin Corridor.

“And it is also due to our work that various international organizations are making decisions related to this issue. An attempt is made in the negotiations process to find solutions. As you know, a task force led by the Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia has been formed for a long time now regarding the ongoing humanitarian situation in Nagorno Karabakh, which is engaged in daily discussions on what steps could be taken, what steps could be most effective. As long as the danger of a humanitarian disaster isn’t resolved, the actions aren’t sufficiently effective, therefore with every day we should think what else can be done in order to eventually be able to achieve a result, even just an interim result. There are the most various ideas, and I think you’ll see these ideas implemented at some point,” Pashinyan said.

He refused to disclose details on the ideas but clarified that all possible steps must be of humanitarian nature. What matters is the timely, accurate utilization of the ideas, and not speaking about them, he added.

Plans to Open International Robotics Center in Armenia

Talar Tumanian

Fagen wasanni

ALL ABOUT XXI CENTURY TECHNOLOGIES

 Chelsea Johnson

A proposal to establish an international robotics center in Armenia has gained significant support from Dr. Karen Eguiazarian, a professor of Signal Processing at Tampere University in Finland. Dr. Eguiazarian, who attended the annual conference of the Armenian Society of Fellows (ASOF) in Dilijan, believes that this initiative can address the pressing challenges faced by Armenia in the aftermath of the 2020 Karabakh war.

The ASOF, which consists of 253 scholars, scientists, artists, and entrepreneurs of Armenian descent from around the world, aims to elevate Armenia’s educational and research institutions to a global level. Recognizing the need for immediate action, the organization has made the decision to open an international robotics center in Armenia as early as this fall.

One of the key areas that Dr. Eguiazarian identifies for development is the research sector, especially in information technology (IT). He emphasizes the importance of pragmatism and the application of research to address Armenia’s existing problems and support its economy. Dr. Eguiazarian believes that the establishment of the robotics center will facilitate the integration of knowledge from ASOF members and Armenian universities, fostering collaboration and innovation.

The scientist envisions Armenia becoming a regional leader in robotics, building upon its historical contributions during the Soviet era. He highlights the need to reverse the brain drain that occurred after the collapse of the Soviet Union, calling for the return of Armenian scientists who have studied abroad, particularly in the field of robotics. Dr. Eguiazarian stressed the interdisciplinary nature of robotics, which can play a crucial role in the advancement of artificial intelligence.

Drawing inspiration from Finland, a country with similarities to Armenia in terms of population and lack of oil resources, Dr. Eguiazarian suggests that Armenia can follow Finland’s model of focusing on human resources development. The IT sector in Armenia has the potential to drive scientific and research advancements, aligning with Western standards. By establishing the robotics center and the planned Center for Economic Research, the ASOF aims to facilitate positive changes in Armenia’s scientific and economic landscape.

To achieve their goals, the ASOF members are encouraged to contribute their knowledge and expertise to the project by dedicating one or two months each year to work in Armenia. This collaboration between international experts and local talents is expected to stimulate the growth of the robotics sector and propel Armenia as a research and innovation hub.

In summary, the ASOF’s proposal to establish an international robotics center in Armenia has gained enthusiastic support from Dr. Karen Eguiazarian. He believes that this initiative can address Armenia’s challenges and elevate its research institutions to global standards. By focusing on the IT sector and leveraging the expertise of ASOF members, the center aims to position Armenia as a leader in robotics and foster economic development. Drawing inspiration from Finland, the ASOF seeks to emulate its success in human resources development. The establishment of the robotics center and the planned Center for Economic Research are crucial steps towards realizing this vision.

https://fagenwasanni.com/news/plans-to-open-international-robotics-center-in-armenia/68605/

Group of Armenian civil society organizations concerned over Charles Michel’s statement

Talar Tumanian

 17:20,

YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. A group of Armenian civil society organizations have expressed concern regarding the recent statement made by the President of the European Council Charles Michel.

Below is the full statement released by the group of civil society organizations.

“The undersigned civil society organizations in Armenia express their alarm over the press statement of July 15 made by Charles Michel, President of the European Council, following the latest trilateral meeting with Prime Minister Pashinyan and President Aliyev. Specifically, we are concerned that the announcement equates the Lachin Corridor and Aghdam as options to address the current humanitarian crisis. This proposal disregards the fact that the source of the humanitarian crisis is Azerbaijan’s continued blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh (NK), subjecting its population to hunger and malnutrition to force submission to their demands, or worse, push them physically out of the territory. Moreover, it does not solve other ongoing violations of human rights, including freedom of movement, access to health services, access to education, etc. We fear that should this proposal be pursued, it will worsen the current dire situation, putting the lives of people in Nagorno-Karabakh at risk.

“The Lachin Corridor does not have an alternative. The February 2023 Preliminary Order (reaffirmed in July 2023) of the International Court of Justice confirms the importance of keeping the corridor open for the free passage of people, goods, and vehicles. However, the Azerbaijani side has not only ignored the Order but has further tightened the months-long blockade. Instead of addressing the root cause of the humanitarian crisis, the discussion of “alternative” routes, such as Aghdam, diverts the international community’s attention from the source of the problem – the illegal blockade of a humanitarian corridor and the policy of ethnic cleansing by the Azerbaijani government. Making the Aghdam road operational would inadvertently support this policy by giving additional political and economic leverage to Azerbaijan over the Armenian population in NK and further undermining their rights. 

“Using hunger as a negotiation tactic should not be normalized. If the current situation of a total blockade persists, the act of offering food and supplies through Aghdam resembles hostage-taking and undermines any efforts to build trust between NK and Azerbaijan within the context of a possible Baku-Stepanakert dialogue. Should the international community yield to Azerbaijan’s unlawful actions and clear intentions of ethnic cleansing, it would effectively validate the wrongful closure of the Lachin Corridor and the captivity of 120,000 individuals since December 2022. Furthermore, this endorsement would legitimize the non-adherence to the ICJ’s order and discredit all existing and future agreements or international legal rulings.

“Additionally, the statement refers to the facilitation of the release of soldiers who inadvertently cross to the other side. While this is an important issue, it is crucial that the fate of all detainees and prisoners of war is not forgotten. There are at least 35 confirmed prisoners of war and other civilian detainees in Azerbaijan. There have been reliable reports that they have been subjected to torture and inhuman and degrading treatment. Two of them were kidnapped earlier this year from Armenia proper, and the court in Azerbaijan sentenced them to lengthy prison sentences for “trespassing” for allegedly attempting to supply a group of “saboteurs” and for “armed terrorism conspiracy”. Similar sham trials have also occurred in relation with other detainees captured during and after the 44-day war. It is obvious that access to justice is impossible under the current circumstances. Moreover, Azerbaijan appears to hold these detainees as a bargaining chip during the process of negotiations.

“Thus, we earnestly request that the international community:

  • prioritize efforts to immediately unblock the Lachin Corridor in accordance with the ICJ ruling,
  • unite efforts in facilitating the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of war and other detained persons.

 

 

 

Democracy Development Foundation

Analytical Centre on Globalization and Regional Cooperation (ACGRC)

Center for Rights Development NGO

“Asparez” Journalists’ Club

“For Equal Rights” Educational Center NGO

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor

Non-Discrimination and Equality Coalition

Public Journalism Club

Peace Dialogue NGO

Protection of Rights Without Borders NGO

Real World, Real People NGO

Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center

Regional Center for Democracy and Security

Union of Informed Citizens

Women’s Support Center”

International Court of Justice rejects Armenia’s request for Azerbaijani troops to withdraw from border

Talar Tumanian
 eureporter 

On 14 July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) published its decision to unanimously reject Armenia’s request for Azerbaijan “to “[w]ithdraw any and all personnel deployed on or along the Lachin Corridor since 23 April 2023 and refrain from deploying any such personnel on or along the Lachin Corridor”. Armenia had made a request for the Court to modify its February 2023 Order in May this year. The request was rejected unanimously by the 15 ICJ judges.

See the statement issued by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov welcoming the Court’s and stating that “Azerbaijan has a right to control its own borders. The ICJ rejected Armenia’s request to issue an order that would deny our country an inherent aspect of our sovereignty. The below request by Armenia was unanimously rejected. The best response to Armenia’s falsehoods.”

Some key points from the Court’s order are:

  • Armenia’s attempts to spin the Court’s decision into a “win” and “reaffirmation” of its position is a profound misstatement -“Affirmation” of the Court’s prior order does not suggest that the Court credits Armenia’s position. To the contrary, the Court rejected Armenia’s requested measure that would have required closing the Border Checkpoint. [paragraph 29]
  • Armenia’s obstructive conduct is why the Court in its 6 July Order has also reaffirmed its previous 7 December 2021 Order that both parties shall refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the Court or make it more difficult to resolve.
  • The Court also made clear in the Order itself that it is “without prejudice as to any finding on the merits concerning” both Parties’ compliance with its Order of 22 February 2023. [paragraph 32]

Since the Border Checkpoint was established at the end of April 2023, at least 1,927 Armenian residents have travelled through the checkpoint between Armenia and Karabakh and more than a hundred cargo vehicles have passed through in each direction, to provide residents with essential goods, food, and necessary medical services and supplies.

https://www.eureporter.co/world/azerbaijan-world/2023/07/17/international-court-of-justice-rejects-armenias-request-for-azerbaijani-troops-to-withdraw-from-border/

Asbarez: Notice of National Funeral: Prof. Richard G. Hovannisian

Talar Tumanian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Community, In Memoriam, Latest, News, Top Stories
Richard G. Hovannisian


Professor Richard G. Hovannisian, a paragon of enlightenment and learning from one century into another, passed away on July 10, 2023, at UCLA Hospital, on the same university campus where he taught for 60 years.

The community wake will take place on Wednesday, July 19 at 7 p.m. at Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church, located at 900 W. Lincoln Ave., Montebello, CA 90640.

The national funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 22 at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, located at 2226 Ventura Ave., Fresno, CA 93721.

Prof. Hovannisian is survived by:

Son, Raffi and Armenouhi Hovannisian, children and grandson
Son, Armen and Elizabeth Hovannisian, children and granddaughter
Daughter, Ani and Armenio Kevorkian and children
Son, Garo and Arsineh Hovannisian and children
Sister-in-law, Nazik Kotcholosian Messerlian and family
Brothers John, Ralph, and Vernon Hovannisian families (Fresno-Visalia)
In-laws, Takouhi Khatchikian family
Zabel Aranosian family
Seda Artounians family
Zohrab Kevorkian family

And all relatives, friends, colleagues, and students.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Orran (Center for Underprivileged Children in Armenia), c/o 2217 Observatory Ave., Los Angeles CA 90027 or the Richard G. Hovannisian Scholarship Fund/Holy Martyrs Ferrahian High School, c/o 101 Groverton Place, Los Angeles, CA 90077.

Armenian Foreign Minister to participate in Dubrovnik Forum

Talar Tumanian

 13:29, 7 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan will participate in the Dubrovnik Forum on July 7-8 in Croatia, the Foreign Ministry announced Friday.

FM Mirzoyan will deliver remarks in the panel discussion entitled “World Order out of Order: How to Stabilize World Politics”. Meetings with other participants of the forum are also scheduled, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan said in a statement.

Macron to meet 220 mayors after sixth night of riots

Talar Tumanian

 10:08, 3 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 3, ARMENPRESS. French President Emmanuel Macron is to meet on Tuesday with 220 mayors of towns that have witnessed riots that broke out since the death of the 17-year-old Nahel M. at the hands of a police officer, France24 reported citing a statement from the presidency.

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin on Sunday announced that 45,000 police and gendarmerie officers will be deployed across France for a third consecutive night, France24 reports.

The 17-year-old victim, identified only as Nahel M., was shot at point-blank range by a police officer on Tuesday morning in the Paris suburb of Nanterre. He was driving a yellow Mercedes when he was pulled over for traffic violations.

Police initially reported that he was shot after driving his car at police, but this was contradicted by a video that rapidly went viral across social media and was later authenticated by AFP. The footage shows the two policemen standing by the stationary car, with one pointing a weapon at the driver. A voice is heard saying, “You are going to get a bullet in the head.” The police officer then appears to fire as the car abruptly drives off before gradually coming to a stop. 

The incident has sparked six nights of violent unrest in the capital and cities across France.

The interior ministry said police made 78 arrests nationwide Sunday, down significantly from 719 arrests the day before.

More than 3,000 people have been detained overall following a mass security deployment.

Hundreds of police and firefighters have been injured in the violence, although authorities haven’t said how many protesters have been hurt.

The home of the L’Haÿ-les-Roses mayor Vincent Jeanbrun was attacked on Sunday, in what French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne described as “particularly shocking” act and vowed to hold those guilty to account.

​Is Armenia’s Move to Join the ICC a Strategic Necessity or Geopolitical Suicide?

Talar Tumanian

Is Armenia’s Move to Join the ICC a Strategic Necessity or Geopolitical Suicide?


ANNA OHANYAN

JUNE 28, 2023
COMMENTARY

The government’s initiative to ratify the Rome Statute has become a major test of Armenia’s relations with Russia and Russia’s sway over its peripheries.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war of conquest against Ukraine was intended to restore Moscow’s hold on a key part of its old empire. It has failed. With no end in sight to the war, Russian influence is gradually eroding in its claimed “privileged sphere of influence” on its periphery. Nowhere is this more evident than in Russia’s evolving relationship with Armenia, as Yerevan is flirting with ratifying the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Russia is historically Armenia’s oldest and most vulnerable partner, bound to it by bilateral and multilateral security agreements signed in the wake of the Soviet breakup. Having succeeded in stopping the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020, Russia introduced its peacekeepers into the region, but it has been unable or unwilling to implement the very agreement it brokered. Peacekeepers have done little to stop Azerbaijani violations inside Nagorno-Karabakh; nor have they been able to maintain control over the Lachin corridor connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia, as it was stipulated they would in the agreement that the Kremlin brokered to end the war. Russia also ignored its bilateral security obligations to Armenia as well as its multilateral security commitments under the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) when Azerbaijan launched attacks at Armenia proper and established a military presence inside Armenia. Russia’s failure to intervene on Armenia’s behalf has rendered Yerevan’s security architecture with Moscow all but defunct.

Anna Ohanyan is a nonresident senior scholar in the Russia and Eurasia Program.

Armenia has responded by expanding its outreach to other countries. In addition to Armenia’s continued engagement with the United States in the areas of judicial and rule of law reforms, it has launched cooperation on civil nuclear energy. A series of high-level visits from Washington culminated in the September visit of a U.S. congressional delegation led by then Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. In addition, Armenia signed a defense cooperation agreement with India in 2022, in another sign of diversifying security partnerships.

Public attitudes toward Russia are also in decline. Although 50 percent of Armenians still consider Russia one of their country’s most important political partners, it now trails behind France, Iran, and the United States.

The most recent move by Armenia’s government, certain to affect its relations with Russia, was the government’s December request for the Constitutional Court to examine whether the Rome Statute on the International Criminal Court (ICC) is compatible with its constitution. The request was motivated primarily by the government’s desire to gain leverage against Azerbaijan, which has not signed the Rome Statute. By becoming a party to the ICC, Armenia would gain an additional forum to mobilize the international public and legal opinion against Azerbaijan for its attacks on Armenian territory. Strengthening its deterrence capabilities against Baku is the primary driver for Yerevan’s move towards the ICC.

Armenia signed the Rome Statute in 1999 but has not ratified it. In 2004, the Constitutional Court ruled that portions of the Rome Statute violated the country’s constitution, but since then, the constitution has changed. On March 24, a few days after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin for alleged war crimes against Ukraine, the Constitutional Court concluded its monthslong deliberations and—citing constitutional changes since 2004—removed the legal obstacle to Armenia’s ratification of the Rome Statute and membership in the ICC. This moves the issue into the political arena, putting the responsibility for the momentous step on the Armenian National Assembly.

The ICC arrest warrant for Putin made Armenia’s parliamentary ratification even more challenging. Its ICC membership would obligate the government to arrest the leader of its traditional ally, should he decide to visit Armenia.

The Kremlin’s reaction was swift. The official Russian news agency TASS, citing unnamed sources from the Foreign Ministry, declared that Armenia’s decision was “absolutely unacceptable” and warned of “serious consequences.” For its opening salvo, Moscow appears to have dusted off its Georgia playbook from 2006, when it banned wine imports from Georgia for perceived transgressions by its former colony. This time around, the Kremlin banned dairy imports from Armenia, ostensibly for some newly discovered health and safety concerns. Armenia’s 2022 dairy exports to Russia totaled around $30 million—a small amount even in the context of Armenia’s $19.5 billion 2022 GDP, but an important income source for rural Armenians.

The reaction to this development in Armenia has ranged from “strategic necessity” to “strategic suicide.”

Advocates of ratification cite geostrategic, security, and moral arguments. They maintain that the failure of Armenia’s policy of relying on Russia as its security guarantor has made the country more vulnerable to external attacks. Russia’s turning a blind eye to Azerbaijani incursions into Armenian territory in 2021 and 2022 means the end of its role as a security provider to Armenia, a precarious security condition further compounded by the growing partnership between Russia and the Azerbaijan-Türkiye axis directed against Armenia.

By ratifying the Rome Statute, Armenia would gain leverage and exercise some degree of accountability versus Baku. Membership in the ICC would give Armenia new legal tools to utilize in its efforts to constrain Azerbaijan. Advocates of ratification cite the extrajudicial execution of at least seven Armenian soldiers taken prisoner by Azerbaijani troops—an alleged war crime—during the September incursion into Armenia. Membership in the ICC would offer Armenia at least some prospect of holding Azerbaijan accountable.

Existential necessity is another argument. In an interview for this piece, one prominent Armenian legal scholar noted that “Armenians as a nation have experienced a genocide. We owe it to our next generations to ratify the Rome Statute.” He added that the ratification would improve Armenia’s security by enhancing its ability to hold Baku accountable, considering its territorial advances inside Armenia. The ratification also would extend the ICC jurisdiction over Armenia, allowing the ICC to regulate Armenia’s behavior if the ongoing precarious diplomacy with Azerbaijan breaks down and hybrid war tactics by Baku escalate into active warfare in the territory of either state. Armenia’s willingness to submit to the jurisdiction of the ICC would remove potential obstacles to weapons purchases from advanced industrialized democracies. In return, those countries would be reassured that the weapons would be used for defensive purposes only and in line with international laws governing the conduct of states at times of war.

Most, but not all, opponents of ratification come from the Republican Party, which ruled Armenia for many years before the 2018 Velvet Revolution, and the political elites aligned with its previous presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan. They have argued that ratification will cause “unpredictable consequences for the country.” Describing it as “political myopia,” they reflect the view of many who remain skeptical of the effectiveness of international organizations as deterrents against Azerbaijan. Provoking the wounded Russian bear is fraught with existential danger for Armenia, they say.

The political positions on the ratification transcend the “velvet divide,” the split in Armenian politics between those who backed the 2018 revolution and those who opposed it. The executive branch has reportedly debated the wisdom of proceeding with ratification and the security benefits that could be derived from it.

One lingering question is whether the Armenian government would arrest the Russian president if he traveled to the country. Armenia would be the third post-Soviet country outside the EU to ratify the Rome Convention, after Georgia and Tajikistan. Putin has visited Tajikistan several times without fear of being arrested. The established consensus dictates that the requirements of the Rome Statute supersede the principle of diplomatic immunity, but the track record on this is mixed at best. If Armenia ratified the statute, it would be obligated to arrest Putin if he traveled there, but the chances of that happening are virtually zero. Other ICC member countries have refused to arrest political leaders for whom arrest warrants have been issued. The risk to Armenia from refusing to arrest Putin would almost certainly be only reputational.

Discussions about ICC ratification have taken place alongside Armenia’s downgrading of its relations with CSTO. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government canceled a CSTO military exercise planned for the fall of 2022 and refused to fill the post of CSTO deputy secretary-general. It also rejected an offer from CSTO to deploy a monitoring mission on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The concern then was that the CSTO mission would do little to stop Azerbaijani incursions under the guise of impartiality—let alone help Armenia, even though it is a CSTO member and Azerbaijan is not. Pashinyan has even raised the possibility of freezing or terminating Armenia’s membership in the CSTO.

The Pashinyan government’s initiative to ratify the Rome Statute has become a major test of Armenia’s relations with Russia and Russia’s sway over its former dominions. Intended primarily to strengthen Armenia’s position against Azerbaijan, ICC ratification has landed squarely in the middle of Armenia’s reevaluation of its long-standing relationship with Russia. Uncontroversial and most likely quite popular had it been confined to the context of relations with Azerbaijan, the ICC decision has emerged as a major controversy in Armenian politics because of its likely impact on relations with Russia. The ICC debate has also exposed the limits of Russian statecraft since its invasion of Ukraine: that its longtime ally would consider breaking loose from its strategic embrace is a sign of Russia’s diminished soft and hard power in the region. The ratification vote in the Armenian parliament is bound to be a momentous event for the country, as well as for the entire South Caucasus region.

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

A ‘Katapult’ to revitalise the creative economy in Armenia

Talar Tumanian

“Armenia is full of art.” says Shoghakat Mlke-Galstyan. In every family there is someone who paints, plays, sings… When an Armenian speaks about Armenia, the second or third word is about art.” And yet, the arts are among the least studied fields, and artists face constant challenges and issues that distract them from their creativity, suppressing the potential of the field.

Shoghakat Mlke-Galstyan is the Communications and Events Coordinator of the Katapult Creative Accelerator Programme, a three-year EU-funded initiative that aims to overcome some of these challenges. The programme was launched in April 2022, at the initiative of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and the Creative Armenia Arts Foundation with the aim of empowering artists and promoting the ecosystem of cultural and creative industries. It has a total budget of €3,750,000, of which €750,000 comes from the AGBU, while the main donor is the European Union.

When the artist meets the market…

One of the components of the Katapult Creative Accelerator Programme is to offer the artist financial stability and empowerment. Shoghakat Mlke-Galstyan explains what this means and why it is important.

“The identity of the artist is threatened when dealing with the market, and this is a serious issue in Armenia. For example, an artist wants to make money, which is great, but there are very few opportunities to make money doing exactly what they want to do. More often than not, they have to adapt their styles to the market. We all know what that means, what kind of songs are in demand in restaurants, what works of art hang in houses, etc… And here we understand that the artist has a fragile personality; after several such orders it seems to them that they have betrayed their identity, which is why they say: the market is a bad thing, I need to stay away from it… There are many cases when an artist works as a trader, teacher, or does various administrative tasks, but does not allow the market to touch his art,” says Shoghakat and adds: “The vision of Katapult is that the artist is not in a financial, but in a creative search.” But how?

From individual solutions to systemic improvements

Observations of international and local trends, study of curricula, focus group discussions, telephone and Internet surveys, and economic analysis preceded the launch of the Katapult Creative Accelerator Programme to somehow illustrate the issues of the cultural industry.

The first issue that greatly harms creative people is the infringement of intellectual property rights. Shoghakat Mlke-Galstyan is certain that in Armenia copyright is violated in 90 percent of cases, and royalties are extremely low. The first Global Intellectual Property Forum, held on April 29, 2023, was aimed at addressing this issue. The Forum and other similar events, seminars, and training sessions are at the heart of the Katapult Programme.

Another challenge for the creative industry is the regulation of online shopping. In the case when the state does not see how much money art brings in, that is, when the real potential of the creative industry is not reflected in GDP, there is little incentive to implement reforms. Why focus on an industry that generates very little turnover? According to Shoghakat, there are no relevant payment systems in operation in Armenia, legal solutions have not yet been found, and online sales are often carried out illegally. “Let’s say you liked something on Instagram and bought it; you most likely set up an Idram account, card number and were asked to make a transfer. You liked the purchase, everything was very nice, but it was an illegal transaction, since you were not provided with a receipt for the purchase. But if the artist decides to make the process completely legal, he must issue you an online invoice, and you will be required to provide passport data… Imagine that you are buying a small toy for your child worth 5000 AMD, and you are asked for passport details. Would you go through with the transaction?”

Shoghakat says that in order to make it easy and convenient for artists to enter the market legally, and ensure that they are protected, strategic approaches must be developed, because “no one in the world, be it a German or an American, likes to pay taxes”. “If I tell an artist that you have to register 5,000 dolls you have made, he will ask me why should I register this if I live well and do not pay taxes. And this is an important question. There are different models in the world that provide an answer to this question, for example, in the German model, the more professional expenses an artist reports about, the less tax he pays,” says Shoghakat Mlke-Galstyan.

The third major issue in the creative industry is the complexity of transportation. The fact is that before the goods can be produced and dispatched to the customer, the artist still needs to obtain materials. There are many great and small issues in this supply chain, the sector is not coordinated, or even if it is coordinated, people in the same sector often have conflicting information on the same issue.

Shoghakat Mlke-Galstyan, the Communications and Events Coordinator of the Katapult Creative Accelerator Programme, emphasises that not a single solution found by the artist is wrong. It’s just that these decisions are unique to the individual, and this greatly hinders the industry. “Our only goal is to see how you found individual solutions, whether they can be adapted to the system, so that we have systematic solutions. We aim to avoid situations where problems are solved only by the strong, courageous and resourceful, and to promote the system as a whole to support the artist.”

Collaboration

The launch of the ‘Katapult’ programme was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the AGBU, the EU, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of High-Tech Industry of Armenia. The MoU is based on the school of thought that universal changes should be tangible and can only be achieved as a result of joint efforts. According to Shoghakat Mlke-Galstyan, “We want to carry out serious reforms, but the sector is not ready for fundamental changes, we are not ready, the country is not ready, and small changes are often more feasible. For example, there are many unregistered individual artists; freelance artists are a very big driving force in the field of culture, but we do not have the term “freelance artist” in the legal field. During COVID, we realised that they were simply ignored by all programmes.”

Varvara Hovhannisyan, adviser at Ministry of Economy, says she takes pleasure in being part of the discussions with “Кatapult”. She highlights the work done in the focus groups and emphasises that the transparency of the AGBU lays the foundations for effective development. Svetlana Sahakyan, Head of the Contemporary Art Department of the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, also said that in the first year of Katapult, a lot had been achieved, i.e. a database of active figures and organisations in the field was created, for which workshops and discussions were regularly organised, a forum on copyright was set up, collaborations and networks were established with filmmakers and film producers, and the most successful initiative of the programme was the Katapult expo.

Katapult Pavilion

Visiting Katapult’s creative industry expo in late April, towards the end of its month-long residence at the HayArt cultural centre in Yerevan, the venue wasn’t crowded, allowing visitors to take their time in inspecting the exhibits. According to those working there, the first weeks of the expo were much more crowded, with the most popular exhibit being was the fashion capsule, which also generated the most sales.

At the Printing and Books sub-booth, Albert Avagyan explained that some of the samples selected for the exhibition were either not for sale or had limited copies, which makes the stand more interesting. Albert added that, in addition to the Katapult, the HayArt building itself was also a discovery for many visitors. “The round building on Mashtots Avenue is very well known, but some visitors had never seen it from the inside; the building was also interesting for guests from other countries. We were visited by embassies, delegations, the Mayor of Lyon, students, artists, passers-by… The Katapult Pavilion was a good opportunity for both authors and publishers. We have books that are truly unique – you won’t find them anywhere else. For example, we have silk-screen prints of Dadivank that were made shortly after the war. Look, at the very end there is a part of the imprint on clay. It is interesting that each copy is different, this book has historical and cultural value,” says Albert.

Another particularly impressive booth was the creative technology capsule presented by :DDD Kunst House. This is a unique exhibition that explores how technology is slowly erasing the human presence through applied art and installations. The capsule featured two apps and one installation: Damyansky’s Goodbye Camera, a post-human camera that removes a person from an image, Nare Petrosyan’s How to be an Artist app, which allows anyone to become an artist, and Sasun Margaryan’s Beyond Online interactive installation on the importance and fragility of physical interventions.

Curator Teresa Davtyan said that her motivation for participating in the Katapult creative industry expo was that she recently began to actively study technological art, build relationships with artists who have extensive experience in this field, and intends to undertake steps to try and create a bridge between local and international artists for exchange. “It’s strange to sell your work, but it’s the only way to be independent…” Teresa quotes the artist Raphael Roosendaal and adds: “The Katapult creative industry expo, one of the goals of which is to create opportunities for the sale of works of art themselves, was an important professional experience for me and the artists I chose to show.” Teresa says that there are many obstacles in the field of contemporary art and art in general, but she tries not to lose the artist’s “pure joy” in these difficulties and has always sought and found the way of free and healthy cooperation that she imagined.

Author: Armine Hovhannisyan

Article published in Armenian by Hetq.am

https://euneighbourseast.eu/news/stories/how-katapult-revitalises-the-creative-economy-in-armenia/

Azerbaijan violates ceasefire in Nagorno Karabakh

Talar Tumanian

 09:50, 20 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani military violated the Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire in three directions starting 11:05, June 19 until 07:55, June 20, the Nagorno Karabakh Ministry of Defense said in a statement on Tuesday.

Azerbaijani forces used small arms in the directions of Martuni, Shushi and Martakert.

Nagorno Karabakh did not suffer casualties.

Local authorities reported the shooting incident to the Russian peacekeeping contingent’s command.

As of 09:15, June 20, the situation on the line of contact was relatively stable.