Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

AW: Never give up, never give in

Yeghisabet Arthur
 John Dekhane History 0

Captain Victor ‘Transport’ Maghakian

Exactly 108 years ago, on December 30, 1915, the First World War was raging, and the forces of evil were already trying to exterminate the Armenian population. But thousands of miles away, in Chicago, Illinois, the Maghakian family was celebrating the birth of a beautiful baby named Victor. This little boy was the first child of Dickran and Alice Maghakian, two Armenian refugees who were forced to leave their beloved land. Victor grew into a kindhearted, friendly and cheerful teenager who always had a smile on his face. He was the oldest of four brothers and three sisters. As his father worked hard at the steel mill, Victor took on much of the responsibility of raising his younger siblings. In 1930, the Maghakian family moved from Chicago to San Diego, California.  

The defining moment that changed the course of Victor’s life happened in 1936. On an ordinary sunny day, Victor made the decision to join the U.S. Navy. He felt it was his duty to serve his country and couldn’t wait to go overseas. Later that day, he headed towards the U.S. Navy recruiting office, but as he walked past a movie theater, he decided to buy a ticket to watch Pride of the Marines starring Charles Bickford. The movie was a revelation for Victor, who immediately headed towards the Marine Corps recruiting office instead. Shortly after, the Maghakian family moved to Fresno, California, and lived next to William Saroyan, the legendary Armenian American novelist who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1940 and won the Academy Award for Best Story for the movie The Human Comedy. After saying goodbye to his loved ones, Victor was sent to Asia and was stationed in the Philippines and China for four years. He fulfilled his duties admirably and was frequently sent to different countries. Victor’s extensive understanding and knowledge of foreign bases and societies led him to be nicknamed “Transport” by his fellow Marines.

Victor Maghakian with Grace McDonald, who starred in the movie Gung Ho!

In early 1942, Victor was among the 900 Marines (out of 15,000) selected to join the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion. Only the best Marines could become members of this elite Battalion. By August, the time had come to confront Japanese forces on Makin Island in the Pacific Ocean. During the raid, Platoon Sergeant Victor Maghakian demonstrated remarkable courage and outstanding determination, but while leading his men, he was struck by enemy fire. His forearm was injured so badly that he struggled to remain conscious. Ignoring pain and fear, Victor wrapped up his open wound and launched a successful solo attack against the Japanese position. Shortly after, Victor received medical first aid and was ordered to return to the rear, but he refused to do so and kept fighting with his brothers-in-arms. For his bravery and leadership on Makin Island, Victor was awarded the Navy Cross, which is the second highest military decoration for valor and extraordinary heroism in combat. The American war movie Gung Ho! was based on the Makin Island raid led by the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion. Victor’s role was played by famed actor Sam Levene.

A few weeks later, during the deadly Battle of Guadalcanal, Victor and his comrades were ambushed and pinned down by heavy fire. In order to save his men, Victor stood up and revealed his exact position, so that the Japanese soldiers would come out of their hiding spots. Victor’s wrist was struck by enemy fire, but thanks to his incredible act of courage, his men were able to kill all the Japanese soldiers. After the Battle of Guadalcanal, Victor spent two months in a U.S. Navy hospital in Oakland, California. During that time, he married the love of his life, Vera Karaoglanian. They couldn’t wait to spend the rest of their lives together, but Victor had to end this never-ending war, so he returned to combat duties. In January 1944, he volunteered to participate at the Battle of Kwajalein, where he killed several Japanese soldiers and captured two. A month later, Victor was fighting on the Eniwetok Atoll, where he saved the life of Private First Class Lee Marvin, who later became a famous actor.

Throughout the entire war, Victor led his men through some of the bloodiest fighting in seven South Pacific campaigns.

Day after day, week after week, month after month, he fought in hell for a heavenly cause.

Even when Victor was surrounded or outnumbered, he never gave up. This Armenian American hero received many awards and decorations, becoming one of the most decorated servicemen of World War II. In order to defeat tyranny and enable us to live in freedom, Victor made many sacrifices, including his health. All his combat wounds led him to become 60-percent disabled. In 1945, he was initially treated at the U.S. Naval hospital in Virginia before being transferred to the U.S. Naval hospital in Philadelphia. In 1946, Victor was discharged from military duty as a captain. Victor Maghakian’s grave at the Ararat Cemetery in Fresno, California

Following the war, Victor returned to Fresno and later moved to Las Vegas, where he was employed by a hotel and casino from 1954 to 1974. This true Armenian American hero died of cancer on August 17, 1977, at the age of 61, and he is now resting in peace at the Ararat Cemetery in Fresno. Looking back on her brother’s life, Victor’s sister stated: “He was a quiet and dedicated man and was always very calm, except for war. He was such a giving man.”

At this moment in time, when the forces of evil are still trying to exterminate the Armenian population, the extraordinary story of Victor Maghakian must encourage all Armenians to never give up, never give in and never lose hope. Outnumbered by ruthless enemies, and relentlessly attacked, Victor always prevailed, and so will Armenia.

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John Dekhane grew up in Paris before moving to the South of France. He works for a sport organization in Monaco. Since he was a child, he has always been interested in World War II with particular emphasis on American soldiers. In order to honor them, over the past years, he has located and purchased WWII U.S. artifacts in Europe and donated these items to more than a hundred museums in the United States.


Armenian Quarter in al-Quds faces ‘existential threat’ amid attack

Yeghisabet Arthur
Dec 29 2023
  • ByAl Mayadeen English

Thirty armed men attack the Armenian Quarter and the Armenian Patriarchate Of Jerusalem explains that the clergy, indigenous Armenians, and the historical Armenian culture in al-Quds are faced with a real ‘existential threat’.


The Armenian Patriarchate Of Jerusalem issued an “urgent communique” confirming that “a massive and coordinated physical attack was launched on Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Seminarians and other Armenian community members” in the Armenian quarter of occupied al-Quds.

The communique explained, “Over 30 armed provocateurs in ski-masks with lethal and less-than-lethal weaponry including powerful nerve-agents that have incapacitated dozens of our clergy broke into the grounds of the Cow’s Garden [in the Armenian Quarter] and began their vicious assault,” adding that the assault resulted in serious injuries of “several priests, deacons and students of the Armenian Theological Academy along with indigenous Armenians.”

SETTLERS CONTINUE THEIR ATTACKS ON THE ARMENIAN QUARTER. A group of 30 violently attacked Armenians as israeli settlers have been attempting to seize 25% of the Quarter. A dozen Armenians were attacked and two were detained for defending themselves. pic.twitter.com/LFdn3nf4xu

The Communique highlighted that this comes after the Patriarchate had filed a lawsuit for the Cows’ Garden in the Armenian quarter against Australian-Israeli businessman Danny Rothman (Rubenstein)  and George Warwar (Hadad), noting that this attack is the “criminal response we received” for filing the lawsuit.

Moreover, the Patriarchate stressed that the “existential threat is now a physical reality,” and that the Armenian church in occupied al-Quds, alongside the clergy and all indigenous Armenians, “are fighting for their very lives on the ground.”

In turn, the Save the ArQ Movement also released a statement calling the situation a “series of alarming incidents targeting the peaceful Armenian community,” in the Old City of occupied al-Quds. The statement highlighted that the attacks have been taking place repeatedly “in the past two months” as part of a “broader campaign” by Xana Capital, a company, to “illegitimately and illegally seize control of the historic Cows’ Garden [Armenian Gardens in the Armenian Quarter].”

These attacks, according to the statement have also been “placing the safety and integrity of the community and all Christians in the Old City at severe risk.”

In its update, the Save the ArQ movement underscored that following the attack, the Israeli occupation forces showed up at the scene but “rather than addressing the aggressors solely, they arrested two innocent members of our community, Paul Djernazian and Bedig Giragossian.”

Armenians in occupied Palestine said “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!” and demanded the “immediate release of unlawfully detained community members…and those responsible for the violent acts” to be held accountable.

“Make no mistake, this is an existential threat and requires immediate and decisive action from everyone,” the statement said.

Today, a new statement by the movement announced that the two Armenians who were arrested earlier have been released.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/the-armenian-quarter-in-al-quds-faces–existential-threat–a

Also watch: https://english.almayadeen.net/videos/israeli-settlers-attack-armenian-community-in-occupied-al-qu

Armenpress: NATO is monitoring the situation in Poland – Stoltenberg

Yeghisabet Arthur

 20:16,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg highlighted on Friday that the organization is closely monitoring the recent occurrence where a missile violated Poland's airspace, originating from the shared border with Ukraine.

"I spoke with the Polish President Andrzej Duda about the missile incident in Poland. NATO stands in solidarity with our valued ally, is monitoring the situation and we will remain in contact as the facts are established. NATO remains vigilant," Stoltenberg said.




RFE/RL Armenian Service – 12/28/2023

Yeghisabet Arthur 
                                        Thursday, 


Azeri FM Seeks Direct Talks With Armenian Counterpart

        • Lusine Musayelian

Switzerland - Foreign Ministers Ararat Mirzoyan of Armenia and Jeyhun Bayramov 
of Azerbaijan meet in Geneva, October 2, 2022.


More than one month after cancelling a U.S.-mediated meeting between the 
Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers, Baku has proposed that they hold 
direct talks at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov revealed the proposal at a news 
conference on Thursday. He did not say whether the Armenian side has already 
responded to it. There was no immediate reaction to Bayramov’s statement from 
Yerevan.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had been scheduled to host Bayramov and 
his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan in Washington on November 20 for 
further negotiations on a peace treaty between the two South Caucasus nations. 
Baku cancelled the meeting 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 early this month in what appears to have been a failed bid 
to convince the Azerbaijani leadership to reschedule the cancelled meeting. A 
senior aide to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on December 19 that 
Washington must reconsider its “one-sided approach” to the Armenian-Azerbaijani 
conflict before it can mediate more peace talks.

Aliyev withdrew from talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian which 
the European Union had planned to host in October. The EU too has been accused 
by Baku or pro-Armenian bias. Armenian leaders have suggested that Aliyev is 
simply dragging his feet on the peace treaty in hopes of clinching more Armenian 
concessions.

Bayramov said on Thursday that Yerevan’s position on key details of the peace 
treaty has become more acceptable to Baku after Azerbaijan’s September 19-20 
military offensive that led to its recapture of Nagorno-Karabakh. He did not 
shed light on that “progress” or the remaining differences between the two sides.

One of the key sticking points is their border disputes. Mirzoyan reiterated on 
Wednesday that the peace treaty should contain a concrete mechanism for 
delimiting the Armenian-Azerbaijani border such as Soviet military maps printed 
in the 1970s.

Baku continues to oppose that. Bayramov insisted on delinking the border issue 
from the treaty. He also said that the signing of the treaty depends on the 
“political will” of the Armenian side.

“We hope to see the extent of that political will in the coming days,” added the 
Azerbaijani minister.

Armenian opposition leaders have warned Pashinian’s government against signing 
the peace accord before the border delimitation. They say that Baku wants to 
leave the door open for territorial claims to Armenia.




Ex-President Sarkisian Rejects Pashinian’s ‘Lies’ On Karabakh

        • Shoghik Galstian

Armenia - Former President Serzh Sarkisian (right) attends the presentation of 
his book, Yerevan, March 7, 2023.


Former President Serzh Sarkisian on Thursday brushed aside Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian’s latest statement blaming Armenia’s former leaders and foreign powers 
for the fall of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Sarkisian said that Pashinian admitted having “consciously sacrificed” Karabakh 
to Azerbaijan in a televised interview last week.

Speaking to Armenian Public Television, Pashinian claimed that U.S., Russian and 
French mediators leading the OSCE Minsk Group had predetermined the 
“dissolution” of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic with their peace 
plans drawn up prior to his rise to power in 2018. He said virtually none of 
those plans offered a comprehensive solution to the conflict with Azerbaijan.

Some of the mediating powers for decades used the conflict as a “truncheon 
hanging over Armenia’s head,” Pashinian charged amid his government’s 
unprecedented tensions with Russia.

“I saw many lies and falsifications in that speech but must single out one 
important fact: Armenia’s ruler admitted that he sacrificed Karabakh 
consciously,” Sarkisian told reporters.

“I just didn’t understand what truncheons he is talking about, who had 
brandished those truncheons over Armenia’s head,” he said. “The [Minsk Group] 
co-chairs who had issued five statements to the effect that Nagorno-Karabakh’s 
status must be determined through the expression of [Karabakh residents’] will?”

“Did he mean the country which had provided us with billions of dollars worth of 
weapons for free or at discounted prices and which he handed over to 
Azerbaijan?” the ex-president added, referring to Russia.

Most of the Karabakh peace proposals were based on so-called Madrid Principles 
which the United States, Russia and France originally put forward 2007. This 
framework agreement envisaged that Karabakh’s predominantly ethnic Armenian 
population would determine the region’s internationally recognized status in a 
future referendum.

Pashinian has repeatedly denounced the Madrid Principles in an effort to absolve 
himself of blame for the 2020 war in Karabakh won by Azerbaijan. He has said 
that this peace formula, largely accepted by Sarkisian and his predecessor 
Robert Kocharian, essentially recognized Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan and 
called for Armenia’s “capitulation.”

Armenian opposition leaders and other government critics have shrugged off those 
claims. They say that Pashinian made the disastrous war inevitable by rejecting 
the last version of the Madrid Principles.

In 2021, Sarkisian publicized the secretly recorded audio of a 2019 meeting 
during which Pashinian said he opposes that peace plan because it would not 
immediately formalize Karabakh’s secession from Azerbaijan. Pashinian said he is 
ready to “play the fool or look a bit insane” in order to avoid such a 
settlement.




Armenia Turning Way From Russia, Says Lavrov


United Arab Emirates - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a meeting 
of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Russian President 
Vladimir Putin in Abu Dhabi, December 6, 2023.


Armenia is reorienting its foreign policy towards the West at the expense of its 
long-standing alliance with Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said 
in an interview published on Thursday.

“Unfortunately, official Yerevan, succumbing to the persuasion of Westerners, is 
trying to reformat its foreign policy line,” he told the official Russian news 
agency TASS. “It is exchanging the time-tested alliance with Moscow not even for 
concrete help from the West but only for vague promises.”

Lavrov was particularly concerned about what he described as Armenia’s deepening 
ties with NATO.

“Yerevan has been developing cooperation with NATO and its individual member 
countries lately,” he said. “This year, Armenia took part in several dozen 
events with the alliance. It continues to modernize its armed forces according 
to NATO standards, and the republic’s military personnel are undergoing training 
in a number of NATO member states. This cannot fail to cause us concern.”

“I hope that Yerevan is aware that deepening interaction with the alliance leads 
to a loss of sovereignty in the field of national defense and security,” he 
warned.

Armenia - U.S. and Armenian troops start a joint exercise at the Zar training 
ground near Yerevan, September 11, 2023.

Earlier this week, a senior NATO official praised Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian’s government for moving away from Russia and seeking “more cooperation 
and political dialogue” with NATO.

“Armenia has decided very clearly to make some shift in their foreign policy, to 
take some distance from Moscow,” Javier Colomina, the NATO secretary general’s 
special representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia, told Georgian 
television.

Pashinian declared in early September that his government wants to “diversify 
our security policy” because Armenia’s heavy reliance on Russia has proved a 
“strategic mistake.” He claimed that Moscow is “unwilling or unable” to defend 
its South Caucasus ally. Armenia hosted a U.S.-Armenian military exercise later 
in September.

The Russian Foreign Ministry denounced these and other “unfriendly steps,” 
accusing Pashinian of “destroying” Russian-Armenian relations at the behest of 
Western powers. The rift between the two longtime allies deepened further after 
Moscow did not prevent or stop Azerbaijan’s September 19-20 military offensive 
that restored Azerbaijani control over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenia - Russian soldiers march during an official Armenian ceremony to mark 
the 76th anniversary of Soviet victory in World War Two, Yerevan, May 9, 2021.

Despite the heightened tensions, Pashinian has announced no plans to pull his 
country out of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). 
Pashinian said in late October that his administration is also not considering 
demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from Armenia even if it sees no 
“advantages” in their presence.

Lavrov described as “harmful” any talk of such a withdrawal. He insisted that 
Armenia cannot successfully confront its grave security challenges with the help 
of the United States and the European Union.

Pashinian’s domestic political opponents have also criticized his foreign policy 
moves while agreeing with his assertions that Russia is not fully honoring its 
security commitments to Armenia. They argue that the West is not ready to give 
any Armenia security guarantees or significant military aid.



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.

Biden, Qatar’s Emir discuss Gaza hostages

Yeghisabet Arthur

 11:11,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. U.S. President Joe Biden and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani have discussed the need to release hostages held in Gaza and efforts to boost humanitarian aid, the White House has said.

“The two leaders discussed the urgent effort to secure the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas, including American citizens,” the White House said in a readout.

It added that the leaders also discussed the ongoing efforts to "facilitate increased and sustained flows of life-saving access to humanitarian aid into Gaza."

Qatar and Egypt were mediators between Israel and Hamas in the late November truce.

EU expresses concern over arbitrary detention of journalists and activists in Azerbaijan

Yeghisabet Arthur

`

 19:46,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. The European Union has voiced significant concerns about the arbitrary imprisonment of journalists in Azerbaijan.

“Human rights, including fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law are important elements of the relationship between Azerbaijan and the European Union,” Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano said in a satatement.

According to him, in this context, the recent arbitrary detentions of journalists Ulvi Hasanli, Sevinj Vagifqizi, Mahammad Kekalov, Aziz Orujov, Rufat Muradli, Nargiz Absalamova, Teymur Kerimov, Ibrahim Humbatov as well as Hafiz Babaly raise serious concerns about the narrowing space for independent journalism and limitations to freedom of _expression_ in Azerbaijan, which run contrary to its international commitments.   

“The European Union also regrets the arrest of human rights activist Ilhamiz Guliyev and political opposition leader Tofiq Yagublu, and the decision to extend the pre-trial detention of distinguished scholar and activist Gubad Ibadoghlu and of civil society activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev,” Stano said.

The European Union calls on Azerbaijan to release those imprisoned for exercising their fundamental rights and to ensure free and unhindered space for independent journalism and freedom of _expression_.

“The European Union remains committed to continue the dialogue and cooperation on human rights with Azerbaijan,”  Peter Stano noted.

AUA and Washington State University launch partnership to create Center for Excellence in Journalism

Yeghisabet Arthur
 American University of Armenia News 0

YEREVAN—The American University of Armenia (AUA), in partnership with Washington State University (WSU), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a Center for Excellence in Journalism and create a new master’s program in journalism education. The $1.3 million, four-year university partnership initiative is funded by the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan to support Armenia’s media sector.

Through the U.S. Embassy’s support, 90-percent tuition scholarship will be provided to approximately nine graduate students per year to study in the Master’s in Journalism degree program, with a select number of students also having the opportunity to compete for a summer internship in the United States, where they will acquire hands-on reporting skills in a U.S. media outlet.

“We are proud and grateful to be the recipient of this important grant from the U.S. Embassy,” said AUA President Dr. Bruce Boghosian. “Since the University’s inception, the U.S. government and USAID/ASHA have supported the American University of Armenia in various ways, and this marks another milestone in our longstanding relationship. We look forward to working alongside our colleagues at WSU to implement this project and eventually launch a Master’s in Journalism degree program. We are convinced that this new program will be of great benefit to Armenia and the region at large.” 

The Center for Excellence in Journalism will serve as a hub for journalism education and leadership in research, training, best practices and collaboration with leading experts and policymakers that advances knowledge of how quality journalism can serve as a bulwark against misinformation and improve networking within Armenia’s journalism ecosystem. The Center will also offer professional development programs serving the wider media community.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Rafik Mansour traveled to Armenia to inaugurate the new university partnership. U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien, as well as Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan, also attended the launch event.

“This U.S.-Armenia relationship is based on shared values, including press freedom and the critical role of education in building a strong, democratic society that is resilient to disinformation,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary Mansour at the inauguration event. “The United States is proud to invest in this university partnership initiative, which will support Armenia’s democratic development and invest in the next generation of journalists.” 

“This project aims to support current and future journalists with the knowledge and skills to have a positive impact on the journalism sector in Armenia and beyond,” says Dr. Hagop Yacoubian, dean of the AUA College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS). “The project will contribute to further diversifying the academic portfolio of CHSS and thus providing new possibilities for us as we prepare students to become civic and professional leaders.”

“We are delighted to formally establish this flagship partnership in journalism education between AUA and WSU,” said Dr. Lawrence Pintak, professor of communications at Washington State University. “This program represents a new milestone in the development of Armenia’s media sector and will support the professional development of Armenia’s journalism community for years to come.”

In addition to this program, the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan also announced an award to AUA to implement a two-year English program for journalists aimed at equipping the participants with English-language skills through courses tailored to their professional needs.

The event was live-streamed through the AUA Media Lab.

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Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.


Armenia prefers peace talks with Azerbaijan to continue in Washington and Brussels

Yeghisabet Arthur

 13:56, 8 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS. Armenia hopes that the US will put sufficient effort and pressure on Azerbaijan in order for the negotiations to continue in Washinton, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations Sargis Khandanyan told reporters.

“There’s no information at this moment regarding the date and the conditions, but as you know Armenia is always in favor of continuing the negotiations on the foreign ministerial level in this format,” he said when asked on an expected meeting with Azerbaijan in the U.S. capital. “We hope that our colleagues in the United States will put sufficient effort, and perhaps pressure, on Azerbaijan so that the negotiations continue in Washington,” he said when asked about Baku’s participation.

Armenia has accepted the offer to hold talks with Azerbaijan in Washington.

Asked whether Armenia would be ready to hold talks in Moscow, Khandanyan said, “As far as I know there are no specific timeframes or proposals on holding negotiations in Moscow. It is also very important to ensure the continuity of the logic of the negotiations, and a logic has been developed that rounds of foreign ministerial negotiations were held in Washington and summits were held in Brussels, so it would be better to ensure the continuity in order not to start everything again from a new point.”

EU and Armenia hold second Joint Research and Innovation Committee meeting under Horizon Europe

Yeghisabet Arthur
Dec 7 2023

The second meeting of the EU-Armenia Joint Research and Innovation (R&I) Committee under the agreement associating Armenia to the Horizon Europe programme took place in Yerevan on 5 December.

The parties discussed the achieved results and the way forward to broaden R&I cooperation in order to achieve tangible progress within the Horizon Europe programme. 

The Armenian side highlighted several national R&D policy reforms undertaken since the first meeting, in particular the significant increase in public funding for research and development (R&D), as well as the reorganisation of the Committee on Science into the National Committee on Higher Education and Science to ensure synergy between research and higher education.

The Armenian side also reported on the progress made in relation to the three European Research Area (ERA) Policy Agenda actions (research assessment, infrastructures and careers), and confirmed the country’s commitment to place ERA priorities in the national research strategy. 

The EU invited Armenia to actively participate in the opportunities in specific areas of Horizon Europe, such as the Widening actions, the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, upcoming European Research Council and European Innovation Council calls, and activities in collaboration with the Joint Research Centre.

According to the EU Delegation to Armenia, since the signing of the Association Agreement on 11 February 2022, Armenia received a total EU contribution for research and innovation of €3.3 million, which includes 11 grants signed and 13 participations from Armenia.

Find out more

Press release

https://euneighbourseast.eu/news/latest-news/eu-and-armenia-hold-second-joint-research-and-innovation-committee-meeting-under-horizon-europe/

Armenpress: Yerevan accepted Blinken’s proposal to hold a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington

Yeghisabet Arthur

 23:29, 7 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. On December 7 Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received Louis Bono, the Senior Adviser for Caucasus Negotiations, the U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group.

The interlocutors touched upon topics of regional security and stability.

The recent developments in the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the positions of the sides on the draft peace treaty were discussed. The Armenian side responded positively to the offer of the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to organize the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington.