Category: 2022

‘Tell Brussels Armenian citizens are shaming you’: Protest held outside EU office in Yerevan

Ophelia Vardapetian
Panorama
Armenia – July 4 2022

Armenian MP Gegham Manukyan of the opposition Hayastan alliance on Monday pressed the EU Delegation in Armenia on its failure to speak about human rights violations in the country over the past four years.

Speaking at a protest held by the resistance movement outside the EU Delegation office in central Yerevan, he accused employees of the organization of turning a blind eye to the incumbent authorities’ unlawful conduct, pressure on Armenian courts and political persecutions against opposition activists ordered by them.

Demonstrators gathered outside the EU office holding photos of activists arrested during the protests in Yerevan, as well as a photo of EU Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin and the former acting head of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), Gagik Jhangiryan, sitting side by side.

“By remaining silent, they have turned this building into a shameful place,” the oppositionist said.

He urged the EU Delegation members to be “honest” with the EU headquarters in Brussels.

“Tell them that dignified citizens of Armenia are shaming you for supporting dictatorship, remaining silent to the beatings of protesters near the EU Delegation office a few weeks ago as well as the arrests of hundreds of citizens,” Manukyan said.

"The leadership of the delegation must be changed urgently so that the attitude towards the structure changes as well," he added.

ARARAT Cherry: Bright facets of classic brandy in new product of ARARAT flavors range

Jack Hunanian
Panorama
Armenia – July 4 2022

ARARAT Cherry is the new facet of ARARAT, which embodies the richness of Armenian brandy and perhaps the most widespread symbol of prosperity, generosity of nature and contemplation.

New product’s taste is a harmonious mix of multilayered tastes of brandy and cherry, a revelation of flavors gently hidden behind their glittering colors, the Yerevan Brandy Company said on Monday.

With 30 % ABV ARARAT Cherry is emphasized with a soft, round taste and shades of candied cherry, which evolves into a long-lasting and gradually revealing aftertaste of chocolate.

With this new product, the brand moves forward and intertwines the classic brandy with cherry as not merely a juicy fruit but also as a culturological symbol known by different generations. The cherry blossom is a very special period in humans’ emotional calendar, which was famously praised by various writers and painters. It is a period of summertime, warm evenings, sincere and heartfelt conversations. Intertwining juicy cherry with the Armenian brandy, ARARAT offers its consumers a new form of what is already known. Two widely recognized tastes under a brand-new interpretation.

ARARAT Cherry is the third in the ARARAT Flavor range, which enriches early launched ARARAT Apricot and ARARAT Coffee.

Launched in 2019, ARARAT Flavor range was aimed at strengthening the brand’s position in “Premium +” segment and involving new consumers. During the three years, the brand managed to record success in the new category of drinks by becoming “N1 imported flavored brandy” in consumption, according to IWSR. Hence, in the year of its launch ARARAT Apricot's sales – the first beverage of the range – exceeded the initial sales expectations by four times. Today, the ARARAT Flavors range records a steady growth and is represented in 25 countries worldwide.

ARARAT Flavors range is a new interpretation of the Armenian brandy, which completely changes standard perceptions of classic brandy. It reveals new facets of its multilayered taste with new and contemporary ways of consumption. ARARAT Cherry, ARARAT Apricot and ARARAT Coffee can be served both – neat, either cold or with ice, and in a mix of fresh and light cocktails. For instance, ARARAT Apricot goes well with apple juice or tonic, coke is a great choice for ARARAT Coffee, and ARARAT Cherry is well served with pomegranate or cranberry juice.

It is worth mentioning that each beverage in ARARAT Flavors range is not only a combination of well-known flavors but a presentation of a totally complete taste, which become a benchmark even for the most demanded palates.

New beverages of ARARAT Flavors range are fundamental discoveries for the classic and conservative category of brandy. This also emphasized new horizons of responsible drinking and perfectly expanded the understanding of who these types of drinks are meant for. Today, Armenian brandy is not only considered an inseparable part of a generous table and most important celebrations but also an essential element for warm conversations and heartfelt meetings with friends and loved ones in cafes and bars.

By enhancing worldwide trends of flavored drinks, ARARAT Cherry will bring fresh colors into the warm tradition of sincere encounters both in Armenian and across the world.

Azerbaijanis completely destroyed Shushi’s Armenian church, Artsakh warns

Emil Lazarian
Panorama
Armenia – July 4 2022

CULTURE 15:35 04/07/2022 ARMENIA

The Saint Hovhannes Mkrtich (St. John the Baptist) Armenian church, also known as Kanach Zham/Green Church, in Shushi has been completely destroyed by the Azerbaijanis, Artsakh’s State Service for the Protection of Historical Environment sounded the alarm on Facebook on Monday.

Now it is being converted into an Orthodox church under the name of renovation, it said.

Among the monuments of Shushi, the church of St. John the Baptist in the Upper District is of particular interest. It is called "Green Church" because the dome of the church used to be green.

There is an inscription on the year of construction above the entrance to the bell tower of the church, which says: "Babayan Stepanos Hovhannes. In memory of his deceased brother Mkrtich, 1847." 

“Recently, a social media user, Elnur Allahverdiev, returned to the thankless work of Russification of the Green Church. It should be noted that the rush of Russification of the church is not a new phenomenon for Azerbaijan. At one time, Fuad Akhundov unjustifiably considered the church Russian Orthodox. In the mid-1960s, a decision was made in Baku to expand the Armenian part of the city in order to expand the “living space” for Azerbaijani settlers, and, obviously, to remove the Armenian traces of Shushi. During this time, three surviving Armenian churches and one Russian church were destroyed, as well as several Armenian cemeteries with beautiful khachkars and monuments. The Green Church, which Fuad Akhundov considers "Russian Orthodox" without reason, has turned into a gallery,” the service said.

Armenian freestyle wrestlers win five medals at European Championships

Edgar Tavakalian
Panorama
Armenia – July 4 2022

SPORT 16:06 04/07/2022 ARMENIA

Armenian freestyle wrestlers have captured a total of five medals, including three gold, one silver and one bronze, at the 2022 European Junior Wrestling Championships held in Rome, Italy.

Hayk Papikyan (70 kg), Mushegh Mkrtchyan (79 kg) and Lyova Gevorgyan (125 kg) were crowned European champions, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports said on Monday.

Harutyun Hovhannisyan (57 kg) took silver, while Hayk Abrahamyan (61 kg) won bronze for the Armenian team.

As reported earlier, Armenian Greco-Roman wrestlers won one gold, one silver and two bronze medals at the European Championships.

Liparit Melikjanyan dismissed as Armenian judicial watchdog member

Karapet Navasardian
Panorama
Armenia – July 4 2022

The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), a state body overseeing Armenian courts, has formally dismissed Liparit Melikjanyan as its member.

Melikjanyan submitted resignation on Monday, July 4, the SJC said in its decision.

The Armenian parliament has elected Melikjanyan as a judge of the Anti-Corruption Chamber of the Court of Cassation dealing with civil lawsuits. He was sworn in as Court of Cassation justice at the presidential palace on Monday. 

CivilNet: Aghavno and Berdzor Armenians may be relocated to two nearby villages

Arpi Talalian
CIVILNET.AM

01 Jul, 2022 10:07

Armenia’s parliament voted 66-0 at a special session to remove two prominent opposition deputies, Ishkhan Saghatelyan and Vahe Hakobyan, from their leadership positions for excessive absenteeism.

The residents of Aghavno and Berdzor may be relocated to the nearby villages of Hin Shen and Mets Shen, says Artsakh’s Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan. This comes after Armenia and Artsakh’s leadership confirmed that the Berdzor subregion will be handed to Azerbaijan in accordance with the November 9, 2020 statement.

Fresno Photographer Shoots Hot Spots from Ukraine to Armenia. New Video Tells His Story

Jirair Kafian
June 28 2022

At just 21 years old, Fresno-born photographer John Kasaian discovered he has a passion for documenting the effects of global conflict up close.

The Bullard High School graduate hopped on a plane in February, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, to capture wrenching scenes of refugees fleeing tanks and missile attacks. He said he was motivated to help Americans become more aware of the turmoil that often exists outside the “perfect bubble of the world” most in the United States enjoy each day.

Related Story: Fresno Photographer Captures Images of Ukrainians Fleeing to Safety

Just a few months after that eye-opening experience, Kasaian headed back overseas. This time his focus was on his ancestral home of Armenia. There, the long-simmering dispute with neighboring Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh continues to take lives, despite a cease-fire from a six-week war that erupted in 2020.

“I wasn’t very in touch with my Armenian heritage, I guess,” Kasaian said of his familiarity with the country before his trip. Once he arrived, though, the experience was almost overwhelming.

“The culture shock of actually being in Armenia almost distracted me from the project that I was there to document,” he said.

In a GV Wire exclusive, Kasaian shares his powerful images and observations about his first-ever visit to Armenia in late May.

By John Kasaian, Special to GV Wire

Since 1988 the Yerablur Military Memorial Cemetery has become the burial place for Armenian soldiers that have lost their lives in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The cemetery is perched up on a hill on the outskirts of Yerevan where a nice view of the city greets the eye. I do not find it too common to ever see a cemetery being built. A more disheartening feeling is knowing that this cemetery will only ever stop construction once this conflict comes to an end.

Leaving an eerie feeling in your stomach as you walk around this hillside, you see the stone tiles and wet cement litter the lower half of the cemetery in preparation for new graves.

On the evening of May 23, I came to visit the cemetery. It was at the end of a long stormy day. Many vases were left windblown over the graves, with flowers that had fallen from vases creating a sort of neglected feel. There is a distinct smell of days-old roses, which anyone who has been to a cemetery knows.

The combination of the muddied water, wilting flowers, and the sight of toppled ceramic vases set the scene for what could only be described as emotionally paralyzing. Surrendering any visitor to the realities of this conflict and giving an understanding of the sheer size of the casualties the conflict has produced.

With the current state of the cemetery, it was a relief to see people come out to clean up the graves; reset the vases and flowers, sweep the leaves off the newly poured concrete, and return them to their prior state. At the end of our walk around the cemetery, the trail pushed us towards a large monument. An inscription reads “Մահ չիմացիալ մահ է, մահ իմացիալ անմահություն.” Translated, it means “Death unknown is death, death known is immortality”.

A few notable people are buried at this cemetery. They include Vardan Stepanyan, better known as the Dushman Vardan, who was a commander in the first Nagorno Karabakh war from 1988 to 1994 and was widely known as a hero in Armenia. There’s also Sose Mayrig. Born as Sose Vartanian, she was surnamed Mayrig for her maternal care over the youth of Armenia and her bravery.

And, then I come across the grave of Monte Melkonian. Originally from Visalia in the Central San Joaquin Valley, he was an Armenian-American commander who served bravely in the first Nagorno Karabakh war and was buried with full honors. A crowd estimated at 100,000 people celebrated his death as his casket was walked through the city center.

Walking through this cemetery reminded me of the impact this war has had on its country, the mourning faces of mothers, and confused siblings seeing the grave of their 17-year-old brother. Armenia is in a war they never wanted to fight.

https://gvwire.com/2022/06/28/fresno-photographer-shoots-hot-spots-from-ukraine-to-armenia-new-video-tells-his-story/

Armenia signals readiness to restart controversial mine project

Jane Topchian
June 29 2022
Ani Mejlumyan Jun 29, 2022
Protesters watch as police carry away guard trailers that sparked a new round of demonstrations at Amulsar in 2020. (photo courtesy of Tehmine Yenoqyan)

After years of indecision, Armenia appears to be preparing the way to resume development of the controversial Amulsar gold mine project.

On June 18, new amendments in the country’s mining code went into force. Among other things, they allow companies to carry out mining with environmental impact assessments more than a year old, as long as the delay was caused by reasons that include “civil disobedience.”

Development of the Amulsar mine was suspended in 2018 following large protests against the project’s potential environmental damage. Since then its prospects have fallen and risen as the government appeared unable to reconcile the need for investment and jobs in the country with the serious environmental consequences that the mine threatened, and the resulting popular opposition to the project.

The government has not said formally whether it intends to restart the mine project. But activists monitoring it say that all signs point in that direction. 

After parliament passed the law earlier this year, a group of activist organizations appealed to the government to revoke it. “This legislative change is, in fact, a restriction on the constitutional right to hold public meetings, rallies, marches, demonstrations, as well as the right to participate in decision-making,” the February 10 letter read. “It is obvious that the legislative change is primarily related to [the] Amulsar gold quartzite mine development project.”

The activist organizations appealed to President Vahagn Khachaturyan to not sign the law but he did on June 18, saying that experts consulted by his office confirmed that the law was constitutional. 

Amulsar is one of the largest foreign investments in Armenia. The company that operates it, Lydian International, says that it has already invested $300 million in the project and claims that the mine would contribute $488 million to the state budget through taxes and royalties over its 11-year operation, amounting to 1.4 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. 

But many experts and environmentalists believe that the mining process in Amulsar, close to the resort town of Jermuk, will harm the local ecology and could even pollute Lake Sevan, Armenia’s largest source of fresh water. 

As an opposition politician, Nikol Pashinyan also opposed the project, the contract for which had been signed in 2007. When Pashinyan became prime minister following 2018’s “Velvet Revolution,” activists, encouraged by the rise to power of someone they saw as an ally, rallied for a new wave of protests against the mine that summer. The prosecutor general’s office launched a criminal case in August 2018 against the operator of the mine, Lydian Armenia, accusing it of damaging the environment by unauthorized mining operations.

The government commissioned a new audit of the project, arguing that the initial environmental impact assessments were tainted by the close association with Lydian Armenia of the experts who carried them out. When the new audit was released, in August 2019, it largely supported the previous assessments, though it did identify some additional risks. 

Pashinyan initially said the new audit was positive enough to go ahead with the project, but a public backlash forced the government to backtrack and promise that it would produce yet another environmental impact assessment. 

Lydian responded by threatening to sue for damages of up to $2 billion if the government pulled out of the project. Demonstrations began again to gather steam, with clashes between police and protesters in August 2020. A month later, however, the war with Azerbaijan started and the issue largely dropped off the public agenda. 

The criminal case, meanwhile, was terminated in December 2021. No new environmental impact assessment was ever carried out, and the new law means that Amulsar can move forward using the most recent assessment.

Sources in the current and former governments have told Eurasianet, on condition of anonymity, that economic needs in the post-war period have meant the likelihood of the mine reopening has significantly increased. 

Western embassies, in particular the British and American, have long supported the project. United States Ambassador Lynne Tracy visited the mine site in April and “encouraged an expeditious and transparent resolution of outstanding disputes around the project,” the embassy said in a statement. She also “welcomed Lydian’s commitment to upholding the highest international labor and environmental standards and noted the potential for the project to serve as a significant driver of growth for Armenia’s economy.”

Environmental activists disagree. 

“[T]here is abundant evidence of serious violations of a wide range of rights in the development of the Amulsar gold mine, from substantive and procedural environmental rights to social, economic and political rights of affected individuals and communities,” wrote CEE Bankwatch Network, an organization monitoring projects in the region funded by international financial institutions, in a new report.

It recommended that the Armenian government revoke all licenses to operate the mine, initiate an “independent expert assessment of the costs and benefits” of the project, then “take this assessment into account to ensure that negative impacts are duly identified and prevented and that local populations and communities may directly benefit from the project if it is finally pursued.”

Ani Mejlumyan is a reporter based in Yerevan.

First Policy Dialogue Of The “GREEN Armenia” Joint Platform Takes Place

Emil Lazarian
June 29 2022
By India Education Diary 

YEREVAN – The Government of Armenia, in cooperation with the World Bank, the European Union and the United Nations Development Program, today launched the “Growth and Recovery for the Strengthening, Upgrading and Prosperity of Armenia” platform in support of Armenia’s promising sustainable development, green recovery and growth.

The discussion, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan, was attended by World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus Sebastian Molineus, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Andrea Wiktorin, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden to Armenia Patrik Svensson, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia Natia Natsvlishvili, Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan, and representatives of other organizations.

The goal of the GREEN Armenia platform is to combine and optimize policies and investment initiatives to support Armenia’s transition to a green economy. Today’s event was the first in a series of thematic dialogues, jointly organized by beneficiaries, to come up with innovative ideas and to learn about global knowledge, which is key to building resilience to climate change.

Deputy Prime Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan welcomed the participants of the discussion, emphasizing that the Armenian Government highly appreciates such initiatives in terms of summarizing the work done, learning lessons and outlining the next steps. “This is best expressed in the Government’s Action Plan 2021-2026, by which we have planned a number of measures, from increasing the share of green energy to the promotion of alternative vehicles, the introduction of related infrastructure, afforestation, and other necessary works,” the Deputy Prime Minister said, adding that, on the way to building a modern low-carbon economy, Armenia attaches importance to ensuring an inclusive, participatory process with the active participation of international partners, the private sector, civil society, and academia.

According to Sebastian Molineus, World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus, the GREEN Armenia platform will assist Armenia in its efforts to transition to a sustainable economy. “The green transition may be a stimulus for Armenia’s economy, but it will be necessary to set priorities in cooperation with the private sector and international development partners and implement low- carbon, resource efficient policies and programs, in line with environmental goals,” said Mr. Molineus.

According to EU Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, the green agenda, which is considered one of the leading priorities set by the EU for Europe and the planet, implies much more than the reduction of emissions. “It implies systemic changes in economies, societies and industries. In the case of Armenia, this opportunity is clear. A greener economy will not only improve the quality of life of the Armenian people, but will also stimulate sustainable growth and new jobs,” the EU Ambassador said, hoping that the GREEN Armenia platform will contribute to an open and transparent transition to a green economy.

According to UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia Natia Natsvlishvili, making Armenia’s economy greener is the right policy in these difficult times, and it can serve as a national strategic framework to ensure an equitable and inclusive transition to a sustainable, zero-emission, climate-friendly economy, while minimizing potential challenges that can be faced by the affected population and communities. Ms. Natsvlishvili reaffirmed the UNDP’s readiness to combine efforts with the EU, the World Bank and other partners to assist the Government of Armenia in a fact-based, equitable and strategic policy of green transition, contributing to economic growth, human development and the unique natural capital of the country.

During the discussions, the Government presented its vision for the transition to a green economy in Armenia and its policy on climate and environment, which will help strengthen Armenia’s resilience. The representatives of the scientific-educational community, the public sector and international organizations presented their experience and position on the challenges and opportunities on the way to the transition to a green and resilient economy.

Deputy Prime Minister Matevosyan praised the efforts and readiness of all partners and stakeholders to combine their knowledge, experience and resources for the sustainable growth of the country through the GREEN Armenia platform.

https://indiaeducationdiary.in/first-policy-dialogue-of-the-green-armenia-joint-platform-takes-place/

Turkish Press: What is the Zangezur Corridor and why does it matter to Eurasia?

Emil Lazarian
Turkey – June 29 2022

Azerbaijan and Armenia, the two uneasy neighbours in the troubled region of Caucasus, fought a bloody war over the disputed Karabakh territory two years ago and continue to have many political differences. 

On Monday, Türkiye, which borders the two former Soviet republics, called on both countries to take concrete steps towards reconciling with each other through the forging of better communication channels in order to open the critical Zangezur Corridor. 

"We strongly support the Zangezur Corridor, which will provide a connection between the western regions of Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan," said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. 

"We are expecting the opening of the corridor immediately," he added. 

The corridor is part of a strategic transportation route extending from the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, to Kars, Türkiye’s eastern province, passing through Armenian territory near the country’s border with Iran. As a result, its opening is dependent upon the development of a comprehensive Armenian-Azerbaijani agreement. 

At the end of 2020’s 44-day Karabakh War, which culminated with a triumphant Azerbaijan, the two countries signed a trilateral ceasefire agreement alongside Russia that consisted of sections on the opening of transportation routes. 

As was stated in the ceasefire deal’s article 9, “All economic and transport connections in the region shall be unblocked. The Republic of Armenia shall guarantee the security of transport connections between the western regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in order to arrange unobstructed movement of persons, vehicles and cargo in both directions.”  

Azerbaijan strongly believes that article 9 encompasses the opening of the Zangezur Corridor and although Russia, whose border guards are supposed to be responsible for overseeing transportation between Azerbaijan and Armenia, does not refer to the route as the Zangezur Corridor nor as a ‘corridor,’ it does support its opening. 

The Zangezur Corridor runs through Azerbaijan and Armenia territories reaching Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan's autonomous region, which neighbours Türkiye. (Zeyd Abdullah Alshagouri / TRTWorld)

While Armenians have not publicly embraced the idea of opening the corridor, Yerevan, the capital of the landlocked state, has recently begun to approach the project in a positive way, according to Azerbaijani officials and other sources.

What is the Zangezur Corridor? 

Zangezur, which is currently part of southern Armenia, has been a disputed territory since World War I. Under the communist Soviet Union, the area, which is located between Baku’s Nakhchivan autonomous region and Azerbaijan, became part of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR). Today, Armenia considers the area its Syunik province.

During the Soviet era, Moscow built two railways to connect Nakhchivan with main Azerbaijani territory in a region that Baku now refers to as the Zangezur Corridor, sometimes called the Nakhchivan Corridor by Azerbaijani media and analysts. But these railways became unusable during the First Karabakh War, which began in 1992. 

Baku now aims to rebuild the Soviet-era railways and to construct highways in the area to connect Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan region. Furthermore, the corridor is also part of a big transportation project connecting Baku with Istanbul. 

In a specific sense, the Zangezur Corridor aims to give Azerbaijan unrestricted access to its Nakhchivan enclave without any Armenian checkpoints while it passes through Armenian territory near the Tehran-Yerevan border. In a general sense, the corridor is a geopolitical project connecting Europe with Central Asia and China through the Azerbaijan-Türkiye route. 

Why is the Zangezur Corridor a big deal? 

The Zangezur Corridor plays a crucial role in increasing regional connectivity — not only throughout Caucasia, but also across greater Eurasia, joining Turkish, Russian, Central Asian, Iranian and Armenian territories and linking Europe to Asia. 

The connectivity the corridor will enable will also help galvanise trade relations between different states. While NATO and Russia have been on different pages regarding many issues from the Ukraine conflict to the Middle East, both appear to have positive views on opening the transportation route.

According to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the corridor, as part of the International North–South Transport Corridor, will also serve as a linking point between Russia and Iran, increasing Tehran’s access in the region. 

But Iran, which has strong ties with Armenia, does not want to see the Zangezur Corridor functioning, according to experts. As a result, Tehran is concerned by a possible Armenia-Azerbaijan-Türkiye rapprochement, which Iran believes would weaken its political positions, compromising its national and regional interests. 

“Iran considers Türkiye's land connection with Azerbaijan and its opening to Central Asia via Azerbaijan as a threat to its national unity and territorial integrity,” said Otabek Omonkulov, an Uzbek academic, who is an expert on Central Asia politics, in an earlier TRT World interview. 

Türkiye’s land connection with Azerbaijan also means that Ankara will have better access to Turkic states in Central Asia, with which it has strong historical and cultural ties. 

"The corridor that is going to pass through here is going to unite the whole Turkic world," said Aliyev last year. Aliyev repeated this point with conviction in November during the meeting of the Organisation of Turkic States. 

"One of the most important aspects of the Zangezur Corridor is that it will connect the Turkic world. Thus, the geography of the torn Turkic world will be connected with transport and logistics projects," said Rashad Mammadov, Azerbaijani ambassador to Türkiye in May. 

Besides improving connectivity between Central Asia, the ancestral homeland of the Turks, and Türkiye, experts believe the corridor will also link trade routes across a broad network from China to Europe, significantly boosting interregional connectivity far and wide.