Category: 2023

The Temple of Garni – Armenia’s sole surviving Greco-Roman colonnaded building

Hunanian Jack
Nov 6 2023


The Temple of Garni, standing proudly as the sole surviving Greco-Roman colonnaded building in Armenia and the former Soviet Union, continues to be shrouded in historical mystery. While its exact origins are still a subject of debate, it is most likely that the temple was constructed in 77 AD, during the reign of Tiridates I.

This Armenian monarch, who had been crowned by the Roman emperor Nero eleven years earlier, is believed to have been instrumental in the temple’s construction.

The tale goes that Nero, in a gesture of goodwill, sent Tiridates back to Armenia with a group of Roman craftsmen and substantial resources, which were used to build the fortified city of Garni and its central temple. This temple was dedicated to the ancient Armenian Sun God, Mihr.

Support for the Tiridates theory partially rests on a Greek inscription found near the site, which references the completion of a significant construction project in 77 AD. Nevertheless, some scholars debate whether this evidence is sufficient to conclusively confirm the theory.

What is indeed remarkable is that the Temple of Garni remains standing to this day. It not only survived a destructive earthquake in 1679 but also withstood the wave of Christianization that swept through Armenia in the 4th century. During this period, King Tiridates III’s regime ordered the destruction of most pagan temples, making the temple’s survival even more enigmatic.

To this day, the temple continues to be a captivating enigma, drawing over 135,000 visitors each year who come to admire its historical significance and architectural grandeur.

By Historic Vids.

https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/11/06/the-temple-of-garni-armenia/

Letters to Artsakh

Hambardsumian Paul
Daily Sundial, CSUN
Nov 6 2023
Brandon Balayan, Reporter • November 5, 2023

Founder and Director of the Hidden Road Initiative Nanor Balabanian received text messages from her students asking her to save them from Azerbaijan’s bombardment of Artsakh.

The Nagorno Karabakh Republic, also known as Artsakh, is a self-determined state recognized internationally as a part of Azerbaijan. A majority of its population is Armenian. On Sept. 19, Azerbaijan launched an attack on the republic, which displaced over 100,000 people and ended with the agreement to dismantle all government institutions by Jan. 1, 2024.

Among these displaced were 42 English students of the Hidden Road
Initiative (HRI). To show support to their students, CSUN’s HRI chapter held their event at the East Conference Center on Oct. 12, sending personalized letters to the forcibly displaced students.

HRI is a charitable non-profit organization that aims to provide educational and leadership opportunities for students living in remote villages in Armenia through annual educational summer camps, scholarship opportunities, and development projects. HRI has chapters at CSUN, UCLA, UC Berkeley, UCSB and UCSD.

The CSUN and UCLA chapters divided up the students and are both writing letters. CSUN’s members are writing to 13 students, some of which are a part of the same family.

Lily Chakrian, President of CSUN HRI, said the goal of the event was to show their students that they have advocates from across the world while also fundraising for the Artsakh Family Fund. Chakrian said she is one of the few executive members who has not been to Artsakh.

“It’s really hard because I haven’t been able to see and I don’t– can’t imagine what they’re going through and what they’re experiencing,” Chakrian said.

This fund was created by HRI in response to the displacement of Armenians from Artsakh. There is a $300 minimum donation which would sponsor a displaced family and would help cover living expenses for their initial months in Armenia. The organization has currently raised about $18,000, according to documents provided by HRI. The letters will be delivered by a HRI executive board member to Armenia in November.

Balabanian said although the scale of the displacement is unprecedented, she has experienced this in the past.

“I experienced the 2020 war and I was in Artsakh when we were all deported,” Balabanian said. “I [also] had to help students flee from Akhpradzor from the Sept. 2022 attacks.”

It is a persistent cycle of displacement that has not ended.

Nana Grigoryan, a former HRI student from Kolkhozashen, was in Artsakh while Azerbaijan was imposing its blockade. She applied and was admitted to an international baccalaureate in Israel, and had her tuition covered with the help of a fundraiser by Kooyrigs NGO, a nonprofit that “provides resources to the global Armenian network through launching community projects, implementing educational initiatives and amplifying marginalized voices.”

She was able to reach Armenia from Artsakh with the help of the Red Cross, and prepared to leave for university. Grigoryan began attending the university but was displaced due to the recent Israeli-Palestinian war, and has returned to Armenia.

Balabanian said the most they can do right now is to create communities so they can speak with one another, and these virtual English classes have been a space for this.

Every Saturday, HRI holds its English classes through Zoom. Students first go through a 30-minute thematic lesson and then break off into Zoom rooms with their personal teachers. This past Saturday, the class focused on words associated with fall, and started their class with an Armenian nursery rhyme, “My dear, it is fall!”

Balabanian said HRI currently has between 80-100 teachers, who are mostly from the U.S., and they teach about 120 students a week.

All of HRI’s students from Artsakh have been displaced and are receiving support from HRI’s Artsakh Family Fund for housing and immediate aid.

For now, these students can learn and live in peace and not under bombardment.

https://sundial.csun.edu/176746/news/letters-to-artsakh/

Armenian military leaders visit EUCOM for bilateral meeting

Boris Nahapetian
Nov 6 2023
U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Steven Basham, the U.S. European Command deputy commander, hosted a delegation of military officials from Armenia at EUCOM’s headquarters on Nov. 3.

The Armenian delegation was led by Chief of the General Staff of the Republic of Armenia Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Edvard Asryan.

Discussions focused on Armenia’s security environment, defense reforms and the defense cooperation with the United States.

“We were honored to host Lt. Gen. Asryan and his team. We learned a lot from one another,” Basham said. “This was a milestone event as we deliberately and incrementally develop our defense relationship.”

The Armenian delegation began their visit to Germany with a tour at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels to observe training activities. They also met with the Non-Commissioned Officer Academy as part of their aims to further develop the Armenian military’s NCO corps.

“Armenian armed forces are currently undergoing significant reforms and transformation and we are interested in receiving support and learning about the best practices from our partners, and especially the United States.” Asryan said. “These discussions lay the foundation to plan and conduct future combined training with U.S. European Command as we aim to advance our military’s ability to respond to changes in a dynamic and complex environment.”

https://www.dvidshub.net/news/457128/armenian-military-leaders-visit-eucom-bilateral-meeting

Team Telecom IPO brings in US$19.8 million as Armenian govt courts Starlink

Arpi Talalian
Developing Telecoms
Nov 6 2023
JAMES BARTON


Armenia’s Team Telecom has completed its initial public offering (IPO), listing around 40 million shares worth AMD8.24 billion (US$19.8 million) on the Armenian Securities Exchange.

The listing means that approximately 1,000 investors, whether individuals or businesses, now hold shares in the operator. Team Telecom has stated that it intends to use the funds generated through the IPO in order to extend its NGN fibre-optic network across Armenia. It also aims to deploy a 5G mobile network and switch on new international communication links.

“The development of the telecommunications sector in Armenia is our priority, and I am glad that from now on our new shareholders will also participate in the implementation of all our strategic plans,” said Hayk Yesayan, CEO of Team Telecom Armenia.

Team Telecom is not the only service provider on the rise in Armenia – Arka News reports that the country’s Minister of High Technologies Industry Robert Khachatryan is in talks with SpaceX over a potential launch of Starlink satellite broadband.

Khachatryan was quoted by Arka News as saying that satellite broadband “can become an alternative means of communication for our country, which it is in many places. We have already started a dialogue on this issue, but I would not like to elaborate.”

Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan’s son became an MP and was released from arrest

Hovhannisian John
Nov 6 2023
  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Levon Kocharyan, son of former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, became a deputy of the National Assembly today. The Central Election Commission announced this decision a couple of hours ago.

Kocharyan was arrested two months ago on charges of beating four policemen during an opposition protest. He denied the accusation and claimed that he himself was hit by the policemen during the protest organized in Yerevan on September 22. He was diagnosed with a concussion at a medical center.

The defense team believes that the arrest was due to the political views of Levon Kocharyan and his father.

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Former President Robert Kocharyan is the leader of the opposition Hayastan parliamentary faction. A few days ago, one of the deputies of the faction, Armen Charchyan, resigned his parliamentary powers.

After that, three candidates from the bloc’s pre-election list, Mirdat Madatyan, Angela Nalbandyan and Gerasim Vardanyan, applied to the Central Election Commission with applications to give up their mandates.

Psychologist Mihrdat Madatyan justified his refusal to give up his mandate by the impossibility of combining his parliamentary powers with his professional ones. Angela Nalbandian explained her decision by the fact that the party she represents has already decided to leave the “Hayastan” parliamentary bloc a year ago. Gerasim Vardanyan wrote on Facebook that his move was due to the “context of tactical positioning” in the fight against the authorities.

Levon Kocharyan was next on the list. The CEC decided to grant him a mandate during an extraordinary session.

As lawyer Alexander Kochubaev said earlier, “it turned out that it was not Levon Kocharyan who was engaged in active politics, but active politics was engaged in him.”

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan gave a speech at the dedication of a monument to those killed on March 1, 2008

Kocharyan’s lawyers argued in advance that after obtaining the status of deputy, “the illegal arrest should be canceled.”

“Levon Kocharyan, who does not have the status of a deputy and was illegally deprived of his freedom, cannot remain in prison from the moment he acquires the status of a deputy on November 6, 2023,” their statement read.

They referred to the precedent decision of the Constitutional Court made in 2021 regarding other deputies subjected to criminal prosecution.

Former deputies of the Hayastan faction Artur Sargsyan and Mkhitar Zakaryan were also under arrest when they received their deputy’s mandate. In December 2021, the Constitutional Court issued a decision stating that “a person who does not have the status of a deputy and is in detention cannot remain under arrest from the moment he/she acquires the status of a deputy”.

However, after his release, the Prosecutor General may apply to the National Assembly with a motion to deprive the MP of immunity and re-arrest him.

The prosecutor’s office has so far refused to say whether they will appeal to the parliament after Levon Kocharyan’s release.


https://jam-news.net/levon-kocharyan-became-a-deputy-of-the-armenian-parliament/

Armenpress: Armenia officially bids to host 2027 Francophonie Games

Frangulian Shushan

 10:16, 6 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has submitted a bid to host the 2027 Francophonie Games (Jeux de la Francophonie), Deputy Foreign Minister Vahe Gevorgyan said in his remarks at the 44th International Organisation of La Francophonie Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

In his speech, Gevorgyan reaffirmed Armenia’s commitment to the fundamental values of the organization, particularly in the direction of promoting and strengthening peace, democracy, rule of law and human rights protection.

Gevorgyan also spoke about Azerbaijan’s policy of ethnic cleansing and its September 19 attack in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Deputy FM said that Armenia is making significant efforts to accommodate over 100,000 refugees, including 30,000 children, with dignity and care for their primary needs. The need for international protection of the rights of the forcibly displaced population of Nagorno-Karabakh was highlighted.

Pope Francis speaks with Iranian President by phone

Emil Lazarian

 10:44, 6 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS. Pope Francis spoke by phone on Sunday afternoon with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Vatican News reports.

The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, confirmed the conversation to Vatican News, specifying that it occurred at the request of the Iranian president.

The Iranian presidency's website reported that President Raisi expressed his appreciation for the Pope's appeals for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Earlier on Sunday, Pope Francis reiterated his appeal at the Angelus address:

"I continue to think about the serious situation in Palestine and in Israel where many, many people have lost their lives. In God’s name, I beg you to stop: cease using weapons! I hope that avenues will be pursued so that an escalation of the conflict might be absolutely avoided, so that the wounded can be rescued and help might get to the population of Gaza where the humanitarian situation is extremely serious. May the hostages be freed immediately. There are also many children among them – may they return to their families! Yes, let’s think of the children, of all the children affected by this war, as well as in Ukraine and by other conflicts: this is how their future is being killed. Let us pray that there might be the strength to say, 'enough'."

In recent days, Pope Francis also held phone calls with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (2 November), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (26 October), and with US President Joe Biden (22 October).

Among other issues addressed in his conversations with world leaders, the Pope had indicated the need to find paths to peace and the hope of reaching a two-state solution with a special status for Jerusalem.

Armenia to add varicella vaccine to National Immunization Schedule

Emil Lazarian

 11:27, 6 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS. Armenian health authorities plan to add the varicella vaccine in the National Immunization Schedule, Minister of Healthcare Anahit Avanesyan has said.

Avanesyan briefed lawmakers at a parliamentary committee hearing Monday that the 2024 state budget envisages a 16,4% increase for the National Immunization Schedule.

“Thanks to this we will be able to introduce the use of the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine in our country,” Avanesyan said, adding that the vaccination will contribute to keeping people healthy and protected from the highly contagious disease.

Congressman Pallone stresses need for U.S. to provide security and humanitarian assistance for Armenia

Vorskanian Yeghisabet

 11:37, 6 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS. United States Congressman Frank Pallone has reiterated the need for the U.S. to provide security and humanitarian assistance for Armenia.

Speaking at a ceremony at St. Stepanos Armenian church in Elberon, NJ, Pallone said that potential attacks by Azeri leader Ilham Aliyev against southern Armenia require U.S. action.

“Spoke at St. Stepanos Armenian church's 35th anniversary about the need for the U.S. to provide security & humanitarian assistance for Armenia in the aftermath of the Azerbaijani invasion of Artsakh. Potential attacks by Aliyev against southern Armenia requires U.S. action,” the Congressman said in a post on X.

Putin to seek reelection in 2024 – Reuters

Emil Lazarian

 14:56, 6 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to run in the 2024 March presidential election, Reuters reported citing various sources.

Putin feels he ‘must steer Russia through the most perilous period in decades’, according to the anonymous sources.

The sources, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of Kremlin politics, said that news of Putin's decision had trickled down and that advisers were now preparing for the campaign and a Putin election.

"The decision has been made – he will run," one of the sources who has knowledge of planning told Reuters. A choreographed hint is due to come within a few weeks, another source said.

Another source, also acquainted with the Kremlin's thinking, confirmed that a decision had been made and that Putin's advisers were preparing for Putin's participation. Three other sources said the decision had been made: Putin will run.

A foreign diplomatic source, who also requested anonymity, said Putin made the decision recently and that the announcement would come soon.

Putin has held continuous positions as president or prime minister since 1999 – as prime minister from 1999 to 2000 and from 2008 to 2012, and as president from 2000 to 2008 and since 2012.