Category: 2022

Armenia and Turkey reaffirm their desire for “normalization”, according to Yerevan

Emil Lazarian
The Saxon
July 11 2022

By

 Teilor Stone

 -

July 11, 2022

President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the recent NATO summit.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan exchanged a rare phone call on Monday, during which they called, according to Yerevan, for easing relations between their long-time sworn enemy countries.

In a statement, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said that MM. Erdogan and Pashinyan had agreed on the importance of a bilateral process to normalize relations.

This talk comes as Ankara and Yerevan have succeeded in the 1st July a diplomatic breakthrough: they agreed to allow the direct transport of goods by air between their countries and to open the crossing of their common land borders to citizens of third countries.

The two leaders hope that the July 1 agreements will be implemented in the near future, Armenian diplomacy said on Monday.

The two countries do not ;have never formally established diplomatic ties and their common border has been closed since the 1990s, forcing trucks to transit through Georgia or Iran.

Armenians estimate that one and a half million of their people were systematically killed during the First World War by the troops of the Ottoman Empire.

Turkey, from the dismantling of the empire in 1920, recognizes massacres, but rejects the term genocide, evoking a civil war in Anatolia, coupled with a famine, in which 300,000 to 500,000 Armenians and as many Turks are dead.

Armenia's defeat in Nagorny-Karabakh after six weeks of war in November 2020, in favor of Turkey's ally Azerbaijan , however, now makes possible a rapprochement between Yerevan and Ankara.

This improvement is strongly desired by Armenia, in the grip of economic difficulties, and encouraged by its Russian ally.

On January 14, special envoys, Serdar Kiliç on the Turkish side, and Ruben Rubinyan for Armenia, met in Mosc Where. The following month, commercial flights resumed between the two countries, the first in two years.


https://thesaxon.org/armenia-and-turkey-reaffirm-their-desire-for-normalization-according-to-yerevan/1659/
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https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/turkey-armenia-leaders-hold-rare-talks-bilateral-ties

Celebrate summer with a traditional Armenian picnic in the Midcoast

Mary Lazarian
Maine – July 11 2022
by BDN Community

Hosted by Searsport Shores Oceanfront Campground,  Saturday July 23 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Summer in Maine is all about eating outdoors – the pleasure of long sunny days, and farm stands overflowing with heirloom tomatoes, glorious salad greens, local cheese, and baked goods galore. With beautiful picnic spots and delicious food around every corner, Astrig Koltookian Tanguay likes to say, “I think we should be called the ‘Picnic State’ instead of the ‘Pine Tree State’!” 

Astrig – whose family is originally from Armenia – and her husband Steve run the award-winning Searsport Shores Oceanfront Campground, where eating al fresco is a way of life. This will be their second year of hosting an Armenian picnic in conjunction with the Armenian Cultural Association of Maine and the Makers Guild of Maine. ”It’s a great way to celebrate our beautiful surroundings, the region’s wonderful produce, and share our cultural heritage with friends, neighbors and visitors to Maine, ” explains Astrig, “ Plus we had so many people asking us to do it again.”

There will be authentic shish kebab sizzling on the outdoor grill, and great bowls of fragrant rice pilaf, handmade hummus and vegetarian falafel. Armenian “pizza” – lamejun – will be baked to order in the wood fired oven along with puffy pita breads, and there will be trays of homemade paklava and other middle eastern sweets for dessert. Coffee lovers will get the rare chance to taste genuine Armenian coffee – a potent espresso like brew – boiled up in a traditional jazzve with sugar and spice to taste. 

Armenian and Middle Eastern music will be provided by master Oud player and recording artist Leo Derderian, accompanied by veteran musician Bob Arzigian and friends. There will also be traditional folk dancing and the opportunity to learn the steps and join in. 

Picnic-goers are invited simply to relax in the campground’s gardens with their spectacular views of Penobscot Bay or explore the rocky shoreline and woodland trails. “Middle Easterns are known for their hospitality” says Astrig, “and all are welcome!”

This exciting new addition to the Midcoast calendar is the latest in a long tradition of Summer Picnics organized by Armenian communities around New England. “The earliest of these American Armenian Picnics go back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, “Astrig explains. “When Armenians first sought refuge here, they were leaving behind farms, orchards, and villages that their families had lived in for generations. Many had to make new lives in industrial towns and cramped apartments. Summer picnics – often organized by the Armenian Church — became a lifeline, reconnecting communities with the outdoors and each other, and keeping memories, customs, and Armenian culture alive.”

Searsport’s Armenian Picnic is being sponsored by three organizations: (1) The Makers Guild of Maine, a local nonprofit that promotes the ongoing value of heritage skills – and making things by hand, or at home, or in the community. (2) The Armenian Cultural Association of Maine, a Portland based nonprofit dedicated to preserving and perpetuating the Armenian culture and heritage in all aspects of life through the enhancement of its language, education, art, music, dance, literature, singing, theater, and sports. (3) Flying Shoes of Belfast a nonprofit dedicated to bolstering the spirited dance and music community of Midcoast Maine.

Admission is free and food will be available for purchase, but advance booking is strongly recommended as last year’s feast sold out fast, 

Proceeds and donations from the event will be donated to the Mughdusian Studio Center in Yerevan Armenian. The Center was founded in 2014 with the goal of achieving social justice through art. 

Searsport Shores Ocean Campground is located at 216 West Main St. (Route 1) Searsport, Maine 04974.

Please bring friends and family, leave pets at home and wear comfortable walking shoes.  Handicapped parking is available.

For more information please visit: www.makersguildmaine.org/armenian-picnic/ or www.campocean.com or call the campground at 207-548-6059.

https://www.bangordailynews.com/2022/07/11/bdn-maine/celebrate-summer-with-a-traditional-armenian-picnic-in-the-midcoast/

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Justice Minister sheds light on future Interior Ministry

Ara Felekian
PanARMENIAN
Armenia – July 12 2022
July 12, 2022 – 15:43 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The establishment of a Ministry of Internal Affairs is a very important and big step for the law enforcement system of Armenia, Minister of Justice Karen Andreasyan said Monday, July 12, Pastinfo reports.

"I am not at all belittling the entire path that our respected police, the ministries of internal affairs have gone through. I just want to emphasize that that there is a completely new approach, where the police does not simply change its name and become the Ministry of Internal Affairs," Andreasyan told lawmakers.

"Of course, the police will maintain its very important role, but the police will be the heart, an important part of the civil structure of a political administration, which will be the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

Andreasyan said the Ministry will not be created from scratch, but rather be built on the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

"The whole secrecy of the work of these months was to propose a model that would not impose additional costs, an additional burden on the state, so that a new structure is not assembled from scratch, but the great potential of the police is combined with one of the existing political bodies," said Andreasyan.

Azerbaijani forces shell Armenian positions from large-caliber firearms

Markos Nalchajian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia – July 12 2022
July 12, 2022, 12:41

 Less than a minute

The Azerbaijani Armed Forces opened fire in the direction of Armenian military positions located in the western part of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Large-caliber firearms were used, the Ministry of Defense informs.

The fire of the Azerbaijani units was silenced by the retaliatory actions of the Armenian side.

At the same time the Ministry denied the reports of the Azerbaijani side claiming that in the evening of July 11, units of the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire in the direction of the Azerbaijani positions located in the eastern part of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

Armenia international Varazdat Haroyan signs for Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta

Tambiyan Samvel
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia – July 12 2022
July 12, 2022, 13:45

 Less than a minute

Armenia international Varazdat Haroyan has signed for Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta FC. The collaboration will last until summer 2024.

He thus joins his teammate Hovhannes Hambartsumyan at the club.

Haroyan earlier terminated the contract with Spanish Cadiz.

Varazdat Haroyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia on August 24, 1992 and plays as central defender. He started his career in local Pyunik, where he played until 2016 with three championships and five cups of Armenia. He then moved to the Iranian league for a year before moving on to Russia. He competed there for three years and continued in Kazakhstan with Astana. 

He spent the last season at Cadiz, Spain. He was named Armenian footballer of the year in 2021.

Construction and earthwork on Mount Hatis prohibited by law, Armenia’s Geology Institute says

Garnik Zakarian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia – July 12 2022
July 12, 2022, 18:12

 1 minute read

Mount Hatis has been recognized as a geological monument under the name “Hatis Volcano,” meaning that construction and earthworks in the territory are prohibited by law, the Institute of Geological Sciences of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences said in a statement today.

It reminds that under Armenian legislation, permission, detailed engineering and geological research, seismic microdonation are needed for any construction on the site. Furthermore, a special seismic risk assessment is needed in case of large and important structures.

Plans for giant statute of Christ sparked controversy in Armenia. The statement comes after the groundbreaking ceremony for the Jesus Christ statue was held on the top of Hatis Mountain on July 9. Footage showed that earthwork and road construction projects have already been carried out.

The Geology Institute demands that results of the above-mentioned studies and the construction permit be published and made available for independent examination.

Armenia planning to create foreign intelligence agency

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia – July 12 2022
July 12, 2022, 16:07

 1 minute read

The government and the ruling Civil Agreement faction of the National Assembly are carrying out large-scale reforms in three directions in the fields of the Police, the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces, Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, said at the parliamentary hearing on the process of creating the Ministry of Internal Affairs organized by the Standing Committees on National Defense and Security Affairs.

The Secretary of the Security Council informed that in the context of the reforms, it is planned to create a separate foreign intelligence agency. The office of the Security Council has already started discussions with colleagues on forming a new structure.

“The Police reforms should be considered in this broad context, and the democratic concept is based on it. In 2018 the government started the process of democratization of the security sector, which is also important from the point of view of security, stability and improvement of our capabilities,” said Armen Grigoryan.

From the point of view of the general security system, the Secretary of the Security Council highlighted the merging of the functions of the Police and the Ministry of Emergency Situations into one ministry.

Biden’s nomination of new Ambassador to Armenia sent to Senate

Jane Topchian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia – July 12 2022
July 12, 2022, 10:46

 1 minute read

The White House has sent a number of nominations and withdrawals to the Senate.

US President Joe Biden earlier nominated Kristina A. Kvien, of California to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Armenia.

A career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister-Counselor, Kvien serves as Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy Kyiv. She was previously Chargé d’Affaires ad interim from 2020-2022. Prior to that, she served as Minister-Counselor for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, France and as Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. In both Paris and Bangkok, she served more than one year as Acting Deputy Chief of Mission. She also served as Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in London.

Earlier in her career, Kvien was detailed to the National Security Council in Washington, D.C. as Director for EU, Ukraine and Belarus affairs. Other overseas assignments include the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia; the U.S. Mission to the EU in Brussels; and the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Republic of the Philippines. Domestic assignments include the Office of European and Regional Affairs, and the Office of Central European Affairs, both in the Bureau of Europe and Eurasian Affairs.

Kvien, a native of California, holds a BA from Occidental College and an MS from the U.S. Army War College. She is a recipient of multiple State Department performance awards and speaks Russian and French.

PM Pashinyan, Amb. Arisian discuss the perspectives of development of Armenian-Syrian relations

Bedik Zaminian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia – July 12 2022
July 12, 2022, 16:56

 1 minute read

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Syrian Arab Republic to Armenia Nora Arisian.

The Prime Minister congratulated Ambassador Arisian on the start of her diplomatic mission and wished her effective activities for the development of relations between the two countries.

“Armenia values cooperation and historical ties with Syria. We are following the developments and wish that our friendly Syria overcomes the crisis as soon as possible,” said Nikol Pashinyan.

The Prime Minister referred to the humanitarian mission sent by Armenia to Syria in 2019, which carried out humanitarian mine-clearing, contributed to raising awareness among the population and provided medical services.

Ambassador Nora Arisian thanked for the warm words and emphasized that for her, as a Syrian-Armenian, the diplomatic service in Armenia is an honor. On behalf of the Syrian authorities, she expressed gratitude to the Armenian authorities for the humanitarian assistance provided to the country and noted that she will make her best to further strengthen the bilateral relations.

The interlocutors emphasized the role of the Syrian-Armenian community in strengthening Armenian-Syrian ties. Thoughts were exchanged on the agenda and perspectives of cooperation.

Yerevan’s Matenadaran to host unique exhibition of artist Jean Boghossian

Jane Topchian
Panorama
Armenia – July 12 2022

The Mesrop Mashtots Matenadaran in Yerevan will be hosting the exhibition Dialogue of well-known contemporary artist Jean Boghossian, co-chair of the Boghossian Foundation. The exhibition opens at 5pm on Tuesday and is curated by famous Italian art critic Bruno Corà, organizers said.

The exhibition is unique because for the first time contemporary art will be displayed next to ancient manuscripts at the Matenadaran. The core of both collections is the book, through which it became possible to create a bridge that connects the works of a contemporary artist with medieval manuscripts. Boghossian’s numerous works in the form of books dialogue with the manuscripts kept and exhibited at the Matenadaran and are presented harmoniously side by side.

The peculiarity of Boghossian’s art is the use of fire in his artworks. Fire is Boghossian’s artistic language of choice, with which he works on canvas, paper, books, and plastics. In his paintings and drawings, Boghossian uses different multimedia including watercolor, charcoal, oil, pigments and acrylic paint.

The following series of artworks will be showcased at the exhibition: Livres-objet brulés (2012-2020), Exultet (2014-2016), Fans (2014-2020), Livres reliés (2012-2020), Abstract Writing (2016-2021), Sculptures (2007-2020), and other artworks.

This exhibition provides a new experience to represent the old and the new under one roof, to show that the book summarizing the memory of humanity and its heritage can be presented in different artistic ways.

The Dialogue exhibition will be open to visitors until October 8, 2022.

Jean Boghossian is an abstract multidisciplinary artist whose recent artworks all bear, at different degrees, traces of burn degradation. It is through the process of willful damage with an invasive and rather violent method (fire), that Boghossian continuously searches for harmony. Conscious that one will never completely tame the chaotic move of flames and smoke, he enters the fire dance and moves along with the blaze until he chooses to stop the process. This is where he feels the right balance has been reached.

Born in Aleppo in 1949, Boghossian comes from a family of jewelers for whom he worked while studying Economics and Sociology at University of Saint-Joseph in Beirut. In 1975, the Lebanese Civil War forced Boghossian to leave the country and settle in Belgium. Over three decades ago, Boghossian decided to enroll in the Academy of Fine Arts in Boitsfort, Brussels, while continuing to oversee the family business. In 1992, together with his brother and father he created the Boghossian Foundation. Globally, Boghossian is one of the few artists who experiments by applying fire and smoke to various works.