Author: Toneyan Mark

Armenia bolsters defence capabilities with Indian MArG 155mm howitzers

Toneyan Mark
  Nov 21 2023
By siliconindia  |  Tuesday, , 11:36:51 AM IST


Armenia is planning to enhance its military capabilities by procuring MArG 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzers manufactured by Pune-based Bharat Forge in India. These howitzers are a modern artillery system that offers power, precision, and mobility. With the ability to negotiate gradients up to 30°, the MArG 155mm/39 caliber stands out for its exceptional all-terrain maneuverability. Its ‘shoot and scoot’ capability adds versatility, making it a formidable weapon in modern combat scenarios.
India's export of indigenous defence technology has reached a pivotal moment with this recent move. The MArG 155mm/39 caliber – BR is an exceptional artillery system that offers mobility and precision. Its acquisition by Armenia is considered a significant development for India's defence industry. Armenian officials have visited India recently to test the howitzer and finalize the deal with Bharat Forge. This acquisition strengthens the strategic partnership between India and Armenia and positions India as a key supplier of defence equipment to Armenia.
In 2020, Armenia procured four Swathi mobile radar units from India, and in September 2022, a US$245 million contract was signed for Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers, anti-tank rockets, and various types of ammunition. This latest purchase adds to a series of acquisitions by Armenia from India since 2022, including the Akash Surface-to-air missile system, 155mm towed ATAGS howitzers, Zen Anti-Drone Systems, 30mm and 40mm grenades, PINAKA multi-barrel rocket launchers, anti-tank munitions, and ammunition. These acquisitions underscore the deepening collaboration in defence between the two nations, reinforcing Armenia’s defence capabilities.
Based on information in the public domain, since 1991, tensions have brewed between Azerbaijan and Armenia, sparked by the Armenian military’s occupation of Karabakh an internationally recognized part of Azerbaijan along with seven neighboring regions. It has been reported in a section of the media that in a decisive move during the autumn of 2020, Azerbaijan liberated a significant portion of this territory through a war that concluded with a Russian-brokered peace agreement, paving the way for diplomatic normalization.
In a recent development in September, the Azerbaijani army launched a counter-terrorism operation in Karabakh with the aim of establishing constitutional order. This resulted in the surrender of illegal separatist forces in the region. Both sides have agreed to basic principles for a peace treaty, according to Russia's Tass News Agency. However, there are still differences in their diplomatic language.
https://www.siliconindia.com/news/general/armenia-bolsters-defence-capabilities-with-indian-marg-155mm-howitzers-nid-226570-cid-1.html

Nagorno-Karabakh man faces fabricated war crime charges in Azerbaijan

Toneyan Mark

 15:54,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Azeri authorities have pressed war crime charges against Rashid Beglaryan, the Nagorno-Karabakh man who has been jailed in Azerbaijan after accidentally crossing into Azeri-controlled territory in August.

Beglaryan is facing multiple fabricated charges, according to local media reports.  

Rashid Beglaryan, a local of Hin Shen village, got lost and appeared in Azeri-controlled territory in August, 2023. He was arrested by Azeri border guards.

How Russian Migration Fuels Armenia’s IT Sector Growth

Toneyan Mark
Nov 6 2023
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to a significant influx of Russian IT specialists into Armenia, boosting the sector and contributing to the country's economic recovery.

The growth of IT has become a synonym for Armenia’s development in the last decades. Given that the country has had a rather strong position in the IT sector since the collapse of the Soviet Union, it appears to be natural to observe the industry flourishing. In the 2000s, the primary agents of change were the branches of multinational companies, such as Synopsys Armenia and others. In recent years, the focus has shifted towards establishing a vibrant and thriving start-up ecosystem. Not even the economic slowdown in 2014-2016, the political upheavals of 2018, the Covid-19 Pandemic, and the 2020 war in Nagorno Karabakh did stop the growth of the IT sector in Armenia. 

The growing number of IT companies in Armenia has created an opportunity for the younger generation to have a more significant influence and earn higher salaries, considering that the current average net monthly salary in Armenia is around $400. Today, a coder with basic knowledge earns between $1200 and $2000 per month, while salaries for senior developers in the sector have started to reach $5000 a month. It is also essential to note that Armenia’s IT sector does not employ just coders. Designers, content writers, project managers, graphic designers, lawyers, marketers, and accountants work in IT companies. While their salaries are often lower than those of coders, they are still relatively high compared to other sectors. 

However, not everything shines in the Armenian IT sector. The number one problem is the shortage of qualified professionals. At the same time, Armenia still faces brain drain, and the most successful start-ups usually leave the country and register themselves in the US to access Western Venture Capital. The latest example is Picsart, the first unicorn with Armenian roots. Some other famous IT companies are being named Armenian only because their founders are Armenians, although they were established outside the country and only have branches in Armenia, like ServiceTitan. 

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has triggered a significant exodus of Russians; some left Russia for political reasons, as they were against the war, and many did not want to compromise their lives. Armenia became one of the primary destinations for Russian migrants due to several reasons. Armenia and Russia enjoy a visa-free regime, and there are many daily flights to Yerevan from multiple Russian cities. Armenia and Russia are members of the Eurasian Economic Union, allowing tariff-free export and import. Perhaps, most importantly, many Armenians have favorable views on Russians. Despite the growing criticism of Russia in Armenia due to its actions or inaction during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, Azerbaijani incursions into Armenia in 2021 and 2022, and the military takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan in September 2023, this has not turned into resentment against Russians, as it has focused on the Russian state. 

According to different estimates, up to 100,000 Russians have entered Armenia since February 2022, with two big waves, one in March-April and one in late September-October 2022, immediately after mobilization was declared in Russia. As of October 2023, up to 60,000 Russians remain in Armenia, primarily located in the capital, Yerevan, though a few Russians also live in Gyumri, the second biggest city of Armenia. Most Russians who migrated to Armenia are specialists in the IT sphere. The robust growth of the IT sector in Armenia played a role in influencing their choice, as Armenia can offer them developed infrastructure, including IT business centers and IT parks.  

In early March, when the first large wave of Russians arrived, the local tech community quickly organized events and online groups to integrate the newly arrived tech professionals moving to the country. One telegram group, set up to help those relocating, quickly reached tens of thousands of members.  

Several Russian companies have also opened offices or expanded their current presence in the country. One notable example is Miro, an online whiteboard tool valued at $17.5 billion after closing its $400 million Series C round. Yandex, the Russian tech giant, also opened a new office in Armenia earlier this year. It can be assumed that most of the workforce of these offices are relocated Russians. However, their presence will create future employment opportunities for Armenian tech sector workers as well.  

Meanwhile, it should be noted that not all newcomers started to work in Armenian companies. Some Russian specialists later found opportunities to immigrate to other countries in Europe and North America. Some are still in Armenia working remotely for global companies, and others are working for the Armenia branch of their employers. 

In general, the influx of Russian IT specialists has played a positive role in the further development of the already booming IT sector in Armenia, and, in the long term, it will contribute to the overall economic recovery of Armenia. 

 

Armenian Foreign Minister comments on problems with Russia

Toneyan Mark

 11:22, 3 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. Problems exist in the relations between Armenia and Russia, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has said.

Mirzoyan said Armenia favors discussing, understanding and resolving the problems in a constructive manner.

The Armenian FM made the remarks at a parliamentary committee hearing on the 2024 state budget.

Speaking about cooperation in foreign policy, Mirzoyan said that Armenia will continue to develop its relations with Russia, among others, with whom it is connected with numerous and multisectoral ties.

“Now, of course it is visible that there are some problems in these relations. We aren’t satisfied with many things, we are surprised with many things, as far as I understand it there is similar attitude in Russia. We are convinced that what makes our Russian partners surprised is a consequence of the policy that we have seen in the most various media and elsewhere. We have no other position than to constructively discuss, understand and resolve the problems and move forward as friends and colleagues,” Mirzoyan said, stressing that this must be a bilateral work.

It is impossible to destroy Hamas without destroying Gaza and its civilian population, says Lavrov

Toneyan Mark

 15:20,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 28, ARMENPRESS. It is necessary to "stop" in the Gaza Strip and announce humanitarian programs, said in an interview with BelTA.

"It is necessary to stop, it is necessary to announce humanitarian programs to save the population, which has found itself in a blockade: no water, no electricity, no food – there is none of this," Lavrov said.

He stressed that if the Gaza Strip is destroyed and two million people are expelled, it will be a catastrophe for many decades or even centuries.




Georgian PM highlights hosting Azerbaijani, Armenian PMs at Silk Road Forum, discussing future projects

Toneyan Mark
Agenda, Georgia
Oct 28 2023
Agenda.ge, 27 Oct 2023 – 20:28, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday highlighted hosting his Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts Ali Asadov and Nikol Pashinyan at the fourth edition of the Silk Road Forum, an event featuring more than 2,000 delegates and guests from up to 60 foreign states in the Georgian capital.

In his social media post Garibashvili said he was “glad” to host the officials, with the discussions covering the “future” of the South Caucasus region and “large-scale” regional projects, the implementation of which was in the “common interests”.

Garibashvili said within “peace initiatives” revealed by him while addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month, his Government was “ready to ensure peace, stability, and economic development in the region for the benefit of the countries”.



Armenia, Azerbaijan join Iran-hosted talks aimed at reconciliation

Toneyan Mark
ARAB NEWS
Oct 24 2023


  • Talks are seen as Moscow’s attempt to reduce growing Western influence in the Caucasus

TEHRAN: Armenia and Azerbaijan joined talks Monday in Tehran seeking to ease tensions between the arch foes, which soared with Baku’s lightning offensive to retake the long-disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
However, the same day as the meeting, Azerbaijan announced the start of joint military drills with its ally Turkiye near the border with Armenia just weeks after Baku seized Karabakh from pro-Yerevan separatists.
At the meeting in the Iranian capital — which also included foreign ministers from Turkiye, Russia and Iran — the envoys noted a push for peace in the Caucasus.
“This meeting… can be the cornerstone of the path toward establishing peace and ending challenges in the South Caucasus with the participation of regional players and neighbors,” said Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
The talks are seen as Moscow’s attempt to reduce growing Western influence in the Caucasus — a region it has long considered as its backyard.
According to Moscow’s original plan, the “3+3 format” was meant to also include Georgia. But Tbilisi, which aspires to join the EU and NATO, has rejected the proposal.
Since Moscow brokered a 2020 cease-fire between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the European Union and United States have stepped up their own efforts to mediate a peace agreement between the two sides.
Russia, the traditional power-broker in the region, has seen its role diminished since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Ahead of the talks, Azerbaijan’s defense ministry said Monday it had begun joint drills with its ally Turkiye near the border with Armenia — weeks after Baku seized the long-disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region from pro-Yerevan separatists.
Azerbaijan last month took control of the enclave in a 24-hour military operation that ended decades of Armenian separatist rule.
The ministry said “up to 3,000” troops would take part in the tactical drills held in the capital Baku, the Nakhichevan exclave between Iran and Armenia, as well as territories retaken from Armenian separatists.
The exercises — dubbed “Mustafa Kemal Ataturk 2023” — involve dozens of artillery weapons and aviation.
Baku said they were aimed at “ensuring combat interoperability” between the allies.
Tensions are running high between Armenia and Azerbaijan, a month after Baku’s lightning offensive.
Yerevan fears that energy-rich Baku may seek to press its advantage — with the help of Ankara — to forcibly connect its Nakhichevan exclave with Azerbaijan proper by capturing lands in southern Armenia, along the Iranian border.
Iran opposes the idea of a so-called Zangezur corridor, as it would create a direct land link between Azerbaijan and Tehran’s historic rival Turkiye.
Armenia said it is ready to reopen transport communications between mainland Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan via its territory under condition that its sovereignty over the area is not questioned.
Baku has denied having any territorial claims over Armenia.
Karabakh, internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan and for decades home to a majority Armenian population, was at the center of two wars between Yerevan and Baku — in 2020 and in the early 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
After a months-long blockade of the region, Azerbaijan launched a lightning offensive against Armenian separatist forces on September 19, 2023.
After less than a day of fighting, separatist authorities agreed to lay down arms and reintegrate with Azerbaijan.
Almost all of Nagorno-Karabakh’s ethnic Armenian population — some 100,000 people — fled for Armenia after the offensive, sparking a refugee crisis.


Iran to host six-nation meeting on Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process Reuters

Toneyan Mark
Reuters
Oct 22 2023
Reuters

DUBAI/MOSCOW, Oct 22 (Reuters) – Foreign ministers from Iran, Turkey, Russia and Georgia will meet their counterparts from Azerbaijan and Armenia in Tehran on Monday and discuss progress towards a peace agreement between the two South Caucasus neighbours, Iranian state media said.

IRNA news agency quoted the foreign ministry as saying the six countries wanted to talk about regional issues "without the interference of non-regional and Western countries".

That was an implicit reference to the United States and the European Union, whose involvement in the search for a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan has particularly annoyed Moscow.

Russia's Interfax news agency said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would travel to Tehran for the meeting. Russia regards itself as the security guarantor between Azerbaijan and Armenia but the demands and distractions of its war in Ukraine have led to a weakening of its influence.

Azerbaijan last month staged a lightning offensive to regain control of the region of Nagorno-Karabakh where ethnic Armenians had enjoyed de facto independence since breaking away in the 1990s.

More than 100,000 Karabakh Armenians have since fled, and Armenia has accused Azerbaijan of carrying out ethnic cleansing. Baku denies that, saying people were free to stay and be integrated into Azerbaijan.

The two countries have fought two wars in the past three decades and have so far failed to reach a peace deal despite long-running efforts by the United States, EU and Russia.

Reporting by Maxim Rodionov; Editing by Hugh Lawson

Middle East on ‘verge of the abyss’, Guterres warns

Toneyan Mark

 11:32,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, ARMENPRESS. UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday appealed to Hamas to immediately release all hostages and to Israel to grant “unimpeded access for humanitarian aid” into the Gaza Strip.

The UN chief’s appeal comes as clean water and other vital supplies are dwindling inside Gaza in the wake of Israel’s blockade imposed in response to the Hamas attacks.

“In this dramatic moment, as we are on the verge of the abyss in the Middle East, it is my duty as Secretary-General of the United Nations to make two strong humanitarian appeals.

“To Hamas, the hostages must be immediately released without conditions.

“To Israel, rapid and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid must be granted for humanitarian supplies and workers for the sake of the civilians in Gaza.

“Gaza is running out of water, electricity and other essential supplies.  The United Nations has stocks available of food, water, non-food items, medical supplies and fuel, located in Egypt, Jordan, the West Bank and Israel.  These goods can be dispatched within hours.  To ensure delivery, our selfless staff on the ground, along with NGO partners, need to be able to bring these supplies into and throughout Gaza safely, and without impediment to deliver to those in need.

“Each one of these two objectives are valid in themselves.  They should not become bargaining chips and they must be implemented because it is the right thing to do,” Guterres said in a statement.