Category: 2024

Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation talks enter sixth session

Hagop Kamalian
 Hoory Minoyan News 0

YEREVAN—The sixth session of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation commission was held today along the Ijevan-Kazakh border. 

The Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministries shared short, identical statements after the meeting that did not report any agreements or offer details of the meeting.

Key representatives, including Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan and Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev, engaged in discussions focused on the demarcation of the state border between the two nations. The previous session of the Armenian-Azerbaijani commissions occurred on November 30, with Grigoryan and Mustafayev jointly chairing the proceedings.

Border demarcation has been a central hurdle in the ongoing Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks. Azerbaijan has refused Armenia’s proposal to use Soviet-era maps to delimit the border. Azerbaijan has also said that a peace treaty should be signed before an agreement is reached on border delimitation, which Armenian authorities say would open the door to Azerbaijani territorial claims against Armenia.

Participants heading to the meeting on the Ijevan-Kazakh border on Jan. 31, 2024 (screen grab)

The issue of enclaves has been in the spotlight of ongoing talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, in a January 17 interview, demanded the return of eight Azerbaijani villages within Armenian territory, including four enclaves and four non-enclave villages. “The four villages that are not enclaves should be returned to Azerbaijan without any preconditions,” he said. For the enclaves, Aliyev proposed establishing a separate expert group to facilitate discussions and called for their return, including roads leading to these areas and proper accommodation for residents.

Rumors surrounding the villages’ return to Azerbaijani control have circulated since the end of the 2020 Artsakh War. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a close ally of Azerbaijan, mentioned “the return of the Gazakh villages” in a speech to parliament soon after the war’s conclusion. In June 2023, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan suggested that he may be willing to cede Kyarki, a village strategically located along Armenia’s north-south artery. In October, Azerbaijani media speculated that Pashinyan had pledged to return the villages, citing a statement recognizing Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

The issue of minefield maps has also entered the peace talks. On January 25, Armenia’s National Security Service announced that it would transfer eight documents containing information about minefields in Artsakh to Azerbaijan in what it called a confidence-building measure. The Azerbaijani Foreign Minister reacted negatively, stating that maps previously provided by Armenia are “ineffective, incomplete and do not accurately portray the reality on the ground.” In response, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry accused Azerbaijan of “continuing to manipulate the topic and turning Armenia’s positive move into an occasion for escalation and negative rhetoric.”

The prospect of handing over maps outlining minefields in three districts of Azerbaijan has raised heightened concerns within Armenian national security circles. While the gesture may be perceived as a move towards transparency in the peace process for Azerbaijan, analysts have raised apprehensions about potential ramifications for sovereignty. Some analysts argue that providing detailed maps of minefields in Azerbaijani territories could compromise Armenia’s strategic advantage and undermine its sovereign control over certain regions.

A report published by CMI, a Norwegian independent development research institute, emphasized the need for a careful and thorough evaluation of the implications of handing over the maps, weighing the potential benefits of cooperation against the risks to Armenian sovereignty. The ongoing discussions on this matter highlight the intricacies of managing post-conflict scenarios and the challenges associated with finding a balance between humanitarian objectives and safeguarding national security interests. The Armenian perspective emphasizes the paramount importance of protecting sovereignty while engaging in diplomatic processes.

Ahead of today’s meeting on border delimitation and demarcation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, PM Pashinyan, speaking at a January 28 celebratory event commemorating the 32nd anniversary of the Armenian Army’s formation, said that Armenia has officially proposed the demilitarization of the border with Azerbaijan. The announcement also included suggestions for establishing a mutual arms control mechanism and signing a non-aggression pact. Pashinyan presented these proposals as alternatives “if it turns out that signing a peace treaty will take longer than expected.”

Deputy Prime Ministers Shahin Mustafayev and Mher Grigoryan

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has issued a statement expressing strong opposition to the proposal to establish a non-aggression pact. In the official statement, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “Nikol Pashinyan’s proposals regarding the mechanism of mutual control of weapons and the non-aggression pact are unacceptable for official Baku.” The ministry called the statement an attempt to divert attention away from the ongoing bilateral peace agreement discussions and the process of establishing interstate relations.

In the statement, the Azerbaijani side called on Armenia to “stop encroachments” on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan. The alleged encroachments cited by Azerbaijan include provisions in Armenia’s Constitution that they dispute, such as the right of self-determination for the ethnic Armenians of Artsakh; recognition of the Armenian Genocide; various laws, decisions and applications submitted to international courts following the 2020 Artsakh War; and official correspondences distributed to international organizations. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan persistently asserts unfounded claims to the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia and maintains control over more than 200 square kilometers of Armenian land.

During a speech at the OSCE on January 17, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan raised concerns about Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of Artsakh and suggested that Baku is contemplating an attack on Armenia. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov countered these claims, stating that Artsakh Armenians left voluntarily and accused Yerevan of unnecessarily prolonging the peace process. Bayramov criticized what it sees as biased accusations from third parties.

“We publicly offered Armenia to meet on the mutual state border or in an impartial and neutral third country,” Bayramov said. Azerbaijan has consistently shown a preference for resolving the conflict regionally, either through bilateral negotiations or with the mediation of Georgia, Turkey or Russia. Meanwhile, Armenia has called for international mediation by Western actors. 

The rejection of Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan’s proposals underscores the existing challenges and complexities in the diplomatic relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, particularly concerning territorial integrity and sovereignty. 

  •  Bio
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Hoory Minoyan was an active member of the Armenian community in Los Angeles until she moved to Armenia prior to the 44-day war. She graduated with a master's in International Affairs from Boston University, where she was also the recipient of the William R. Keylor Travel Grant. The research and interviews she conducted while in Armenia later became the foundation of her Master’s thesis, “Shaping Identity Through Conflict: The Armenian Experience.” Hoory continues to follow her passion for research and writing by contributing to the Armenian Weekly.


The First Beat is creating community through music and play

Mike Maghakian
 Pauline Getzoyan Local Spotlight, Diaspora 0

Record albums and instruments adorn the walls of The First Beat

Walking into The First Beat play space in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, you are immediately immersed into a world of music and imagination. The First Beat, the brainchild of Bethany and Raffi Rachdouni, is a feast for the senses, geared for children up to six years old.

Bethany and Raffi met in 2007 while studying music at the University of Rhode Island, later marrying in 2015. Both are music educators – Raffi in public school and Bethany part-time at St. Rocco School in Johnston, RI. Active members of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church, they are the parents of Marcos (five), Tomas (three) and Rafael (two), all of whom are students at the Mourad Armenian Saturday School, where Raffi is the music teacher.

Bethany and Raffi Rachdouni in the music room of The First Beat

I recently visited The First Beat to talk with the Rachdounis about their venture into the world of play spaces. I was enthralled with the music-themed decor, from instruments and music notes to actual record albums hanging on the walls and pint-sized instruments throughout the rooms. And yes, there are multiple rooms in this musical play space, which is the point. This brings us to the inspiration behind The First Beat.

Bethany always dreamed of opening a daycare with an arts component, but when that didn’t materialize, the concept of play spaces intrigued her. She was a nanny for many years and attended many Music Together classes, a music and movement program, with her charges. “I thought, why not incorporate the two? So we took a play space and brought in the music classes,” she said.

The couple was eager to share the story of how they coined The First Beat. Bethany had fully expected Raffi to think of the name since “that was his thing—he’s the one who comes up with names.” Raffi began brainstorming ideas like “play…something or kid music…something, but nothing was clicking,” they recalled.

“I had just finished teaching pre-K, and Marcos was in my class. I was saying, ‘stead-y beat, stead-y beat’ [in a steady rhythm]. And I remember thinking, these are their first beats, and it just clicked. I told Raffi, and he said, oh, that’s it!” shared Bethany.

Raffi, Bethany and their children with Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien at the ribbon cutting in October 2023

The First Beat opened in May 2023, and at first, the concept was new to people who were used to taking their children to a music class and then leaving. The idea here is for people to come and stay to play. “This morning a family came in just to play with the toys,” Bethany explained. “I sat and did ukulele with the little girl, and then I left her and her mom alone to go grocery shopping or whatever they wanted. The whole thing is to come in for music class, but instead of it just being a half hour and then you have to leave, people stay for hours to play, which is really sweet and really nice.”

Raffi and Bethany see The First Beat creating a sense of community among those who attend. Parents and grandparents get to know one another, sometimes even socializing outside of the play space. Some people bring their laptops and work while the children take music class and play, and others observe or participate in the play. 

Bethany explained that their setup is much like a children’s museum concept. Rather than one large play space area, there are multiple rooms: music festival, sensory play, vehicles, garden, tools, shopping and climbing—something for everyone. This allows for “the structured music class and unstructured exploratory play, which is a great balance of sitting for music class and then going to play,” Raffi said.

The music is hands-on and includes movement to expend energy. The feedback from parents and grandparents has been very positive, both to the movement and to the familiarity of the songs that the Rachdounis use for music classes.

The opportunity for all the kids to interact with each other at very young ages prepares them for preschool, too. “I tell parents that just one day a week will help that drop off at preschool,” Bethany said. 

Another special component of The First Beat is Ms. Stacey, the Rachdounis’ aunt Stacey Khatchadourian. While Bethany and Raffi work as music teachers at their respective schools, Ms. Stacey is at The First Beat doing storytime, bubbles and more. Ms. Stacey has regulars who come in just for her at The First Beat. “We couldn’t do it without her,” Bethany said.

“I am happy to be a part of The First Beat,” Ms. Stacey told the Weekly. “Forming relationships with the families and watching the children develop skills makes me happy. When they enter the door and say, hi Ms. Stacey, it makes my day!”

The Rachdounis with a large group of their supportive friends during a recent gathering at The First Beat

The Rachdounis have a large and supportive group of friends who frequent The First Beat. In October 2023, they held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien that was attended by many friends and family from the Rhode Island Armenian community. “It’s been nice to see our friends so supportive of our business and our place and the talents that we give to their kiddos, not just in church but also here with Bethany,” Raffi said.

Newly-elected Camp Haiastan Board member Ani Megerdichian Arakelian planned an excursion to The First Beat during the first week of Day Camp in June 2023 for out-of-town parents. They brought the younger siblings of the day campers to the play space, where the Rachdounis held English and Armenian music class followed by lunch and play. The day was such a hit that they are planning it again for this summer during Day Camp.

Hrag and Ani Arakelian have been bringing their children to The First Beat from the start. “Anoush and Kevork absolutely love The First Beat. When Anoush was too young for preschool, The First Beat was a way to introduce her to experiencing lessons, following directions and socializing,” said Hrag. “Although our kids may not be the most active participants during the music lessons, they sing the songs all the way back home.”

Now that their parental leaves are over and Ani and Hrag are back to work, Ani’s mother takes the children every Thursday to The First Beat. “The children truly enjoy music class and are engaged by the well-planned and always changing lesson plans. My mom also enjoys taking her grandchildren, as well as the socialization with other grandparents and caregivers,” Ani said.

Bethany and Raffi are encouraged by the outpouring of support from the community. They have held many birthday parties and special events at The First Beat. The most recent one, a New Year’s Eve Balloon Drop, drew a record 20 families to the space. The event featured movement (get your giggles out), a dance party with a disco ball and the balloon drop, all receiving an enthusiastic response. “That’s the day I went home and said, we’re doing it. We’re making it happen,” Bethany recalled. 

Bethany hopes to expand the space and add more rooms and music classes. She is considering adding an ice cream parlor room and a veterinarian room, among others, all while maintaining and building upon the children’s museum concept.

Most importantly, Bethany loves being able to talk with people while the children play. It allows her to get to know the family members and caregivers and ask about their days—creating community and connections at The First Beat.

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Editor
Pauline Getzoyan is editor of the Armenian Weekly and an active member of the Rhode Island Armenian community. A longtime member of the Providence ARF and ARS, she also is a former member of the ARS Central Executive Board. An advocate for genocide education, Pauline is the chair of the RI Holocaust & Genocide Education Commission and co-chair of the RI branch of The Genocide Education Project. In addition, she has been an adjunct instructor of developmental reading and writing in the English department at the Community College of Rhode Island since 2005.


Armenpress: PM chairs consultation on social-economic inclusion programs, housing issues of people forcibly displaced from Karabakh

Ani Basmajian

 21:50,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS.  Prime Minister Nikol Pashiyan chaired a consultation, during which issues related to the progress of socio-economic inclusion programs and planned measures for people forcibly displaced from Nagorno Karabakh were discussed, the PM's Office said in a readout.

Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan, who coordinates the work of the "Humanitarian Center" of the government, reported that 4.4 billion AMD were allocated through regional administrations for the purpose of food security for the forcibly displaced persons located in regions. 112,000 people benefitted from the one-time support of 100,000 AMD. "Later, we defined the support program for rent and utility expenses, by which we supported those who have an apartment in the amount of 10,000 AMD, and those who do not have an apartment – 40+10 thousand AMD. This messure is for 6 months, of which 3 months have already passed. This will continue until March inclusive," said Tigran Khachatryan.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, 17,000 forcibly displaced students have been admitted to public schools, a scholarship support program is being implemented for 4,000 students in secondary professional or higher educational institutions. This number will increase in the near future.

"We have 69,000 people who are registered in the primary healthcare sector. This is also a channel through which they are able to use hospital services within the framework of the state order. As of today, we have about 7,000 cases in which people also used state-ordered hospital services. We have 20 thousand 656 applications for pensioners or allowance receivers, the pensions of 11 thousand 800 are already being paid. Let me remind you that we have made the payments for all the months following October, simply because the applications are based on registration, the person must be registered and submit an application. This is a process that will continue until everyone is fully integrated into the system. We also have 2408 applicants who applied for allowances, 585 of them actually received their allowances.

In the field of employment, 212 teachers were sent to regions within the framework of our support program, 202 medical workers found work in various institutions. In total, 725 people applied to participate in professional training programs, and we provided an opportunity for legal entities to be re-registered to ensure the continuity of their activities and to be able to smoothly continue their economic activities," said the Deputy Prime Minister. It was also noted that as of the end of December 2023, according to the data of the State Revenue Committee, 10,000 forcibly displaced people were registered as paid workers.

Next, the housing problems of people forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh and the possibilities of their solution were addressed, taking into account the issue of balanced territorial development. In this context, the participants of the consultation exchanged ideas on possible support tools, various observations and recommendations were presented.

Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized the importance of the harmonization of social programs and instructed those responsible to continue discussions on the presented ideas and proposals.

RFE/RL Armenian Service – 01/31/2024

Emil Lazarian 
                                        Wednesday, 


Baku, Yerevan Hold Fresh Talks On Border Delimitation

        • Artak Khulian

ARMENIA -- Azerbaijani (L) and Armenian army posts on the Armenian-Azerbaijani 
border, June 18, 2021.


Senior Armenian and Azerbaijani officials held on Wednesday another round of 
direct negotiations on the delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, a 
key hurdle to a comprehensive peace deal between the two nations.

The sixth joint session of Armenian and Azerbaijani government commissions on 
border demarcation and delimitation took place at a relatively peaceful section 
of the heavily militarized frontier. It was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister 
Mher Grigorian and his Azerbaijani counterpart Shahin Mustfayev.

The two sides issued very short and identical statements that shed no light on 
the agenda of the talks or give other details. Nor did they report any 
agreements.

Speaking in Yerevan earlier in the day, parliament speaker Alen Simonian said 
that the Armenian side hopes the fresh talks will bring more clarity to the 
delimitation issue. He indicated that Baku and Yerevan continue to disagree on a 
concrete mechanism for delineating the border.

“We can show, with a deviation of meters, where the border of Armenia and 
Azerbaijan passes,” Simonian told reporters. “Not just show some imaginary maps 
but maps with legal basis under them.”

Armenia insists on using the most recent Soviet military maps drawn in the 
1970s. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev reiterated Baku’s rejection of the 
idea in early January, saying that it favors the Armenian side.

Aliyev again accused Armenia of occupying “eight Azerbaijani villages” and said 
their return will top the agenda of the upcoming delimitation talks. Grigorian 
denied this, saying that the Armenian and Azerbaijani government commissions 
will compare each other’s maps and discuss procedural issues.

Aliyev and other Azerbaijani officials also said that an Armenian-Azerbaijani 
peace treaty should be signed before the delimitation and demarcation of the 
border. Yerevan insists, however, that the treaty must spell out legally binding 
principles of the delimitation process. Armenian analysts and opposition figures 
believe that Aliyev wants to leave the door open to Azerbaijani territorial 
claims to Armenia.




Armenia ‘Getting Closer To NATO’


Armenia - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian meets NATO envoy Javier Colomina, 
January 19, 2024.


A senior NATO official has again praised Armenia for moving away from Russia and 
seeking closer ties with the U.S.-led alliance, prompting another Russian 
warning to Yerevan.

“We are very encouraged by the decisions that Armenia has decided to take in 
their foreign policy and defense policy, the shift they have decided to 
implement,” Javier Colomina, the NATO secretary general’s special representative 
for the South Caucasus and Central Asia, told the Armenpress news agency in an 
interview published on Wednesday.

“I know it is a decision that is difficult to implement and will probably take a 
long time, but, of course, we encourage our partners to get closer to us and 
that is what Armenia is doing,” Colomina said, adding that Armenian leaders 
assured him in Yerevan last week that they will continue to “increase the 
cooperation” with NATO.

The envoy revealed that the two sides are now close to working out a new 
“individually tailored partnership program” that will flesh out Armenia’s closer 
partnership with NATO. He gave no details of the action plan, saying only that 
it will set “quite ambitious goals.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry was unusually quick to comment on Colomina’s 
remarks that came amid Russia’s unprecedented tensions with Armenia. It warned 
that closer ties with NATO could only spell more trouble for the South Caucasus 
nation.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova attends the Saint 
Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 16, 2022.

“We have already seen what proximity to NATO leads some countries to: 
involvement in conflicts, loss of sovereignty and independence, submission to 
foreign planning in all spheres and, most importantly, the absence of an 
opportunity to realize their own national interests,” Maria Zakharova, the 
ministry spokeswoman, told a news briefing in Moscow.

“Armenia should probably … open the map and look at the region, the countries 
between which it is situated … The West gives promises to everyone, and I just 
wonder which of them have been fulfilled and where,” she said.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian declared in August that his government is trying 
to “diversify our security policy” because Armenia’s long-standing heavy 
reliance on Russia has proved a “strategic mistake.” He claimed that Moscow is 
“unwilling or unable” to defend its South Caucasus ally. Moscow has since 
repeatedly accused Pashinian of “destroying” Russian-Armenian relations at the 
behest of the West.

Turkey, one of Armenia’s neighbors mentioned by Zakharova, is a key NATO member 
state that provided decisive military assistance to Azerbaijan during the 2020 
war in Nagorno-Karabakh. NATO did not criticize the Turkish involvement in the 
six-week war.

Ankara is now fully backing Azerbaijani demands for an extraterritorial corridor 
to the Nakhichevan exclave and other Armenian concessions. There are lingering 
fears in Yerevan that Baku will resort to military to try to clinch those 
concessions.




Armenian Deputy Minister Sacked, Detained

        • Susan Badalian

Armenia - Deputy Economy Minister Ani Ispirian.


One day after being relieved of her duties, an Armenian deputy minister of 
economy was reportedly detained on Wednesday in a corruption investigation 
launched by law-enforcement authorities.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Economy confirmed that the 32-year-old 
official, Ani Ispirian, was taken in for questioning from her office in the 
morning. She gave no other details.

Armenia’s Investigative Committee said, meanwhile, that its investigators as 
well as officers of the National Security Service (NSS) jointly searched 15 
locations, including the ministry building in Yerevan, as part of two criminal 
cases opened by them. Its spokesman, Gor Abrahamian, did not confirm that 
Ispirian is among seven individuals arrested as a result.

In a statement released later in the day, the committee said that unnamed 
Ministry of Economy officials illegally disqualified a private entity from a 
procurement tender to make sure that it is won by another bidder. The latter 
offered 392 million drams (about $1 million) for the service, or nearly three 
times more than its disqualified rival, the statement said, adding that six of 
the arrests are related to this case.

In the other case, it went on, a ministry official, also not identified by the 
law-enforcement body, abused his or her position to help other individuals 
receive 238 million drams in state agribusiness funding in violation of rules 
set by the ministry. Those individuals are linked to another person with whom 
the official was “on close terms,” said the statement. It said that the 
allocation amounted to the embezzlement of public funds.

Another source told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service that the arrested suspects also 
include the head of a Ministry of Economy division.

Economy Minister Vahan Kerobian claimed to be unaware of the reason why his 
ministry was raided by the law-enforcement officials.

“Investigative bodies usually raid government agencies in corruption cases,” 
Kerobian told reporters. “We attach great importance to fighting against 
corruption but also respect the presumption of people’s innocence.”

“And I must point out that there have been no guilty verdicts against Ministry 
of Economy employees in the last three years,” he added, referring to his time 
in office.

Kerobian insisted that Ispirian’s dismissal and apparent detention are a 
coincidence.

“She said one and a half months ago that her husband has found a job in the 
Netherlands and that they are going to move there,” the minister said. “She 
wrote a resignation letter a few days before the relocation.”

Ispirian lived and worked in Russia before joining the ministry in 2020 through 
a government program designed to encourage Diaspora Armenians to relocate to 
Armenia and work for its government bodies. She became a deputy minister a year 
later.

Less than a month ago, Ispirian was also appointed as head of the governing 
board of a state fund tasked with attracting foreign investment in Armenia.




Armenian Government Defends Refusal To Raise Pensions

        • Robert Zargarian

Armenia - Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisian speaks at a press conference in 
Yerevan, .


Finance Minister Vahe Hovannisian insisted on Wednesday that the Armenian 
government is right not to raise pensions this year despite planning a 23 
percent rise in its overall expenditures.

“The reason why the pensions will not rise in 2024 is our [different] spending 
priorities,” Hovannisian told reporters.

The government set the spending target tax late last year as the total amount of 
taxes collected by it increased by over 15 percent in 2023 amid continuing 
robust economic growth in Armenia. Most of the extra spending projected by the 
2024 state budget is to be channeled into infrastructure projects.

“If we raise pensions now as much as we all dream of and then suddenly one day 
we can't pay those pensions, it will be a very big disaster for our country,” 
said Hovannisian.

The government most recently raised the modest pensions paid to some 500,000 
Armenians in June last year. The average monthly pension in the country now 
stands at about 50,000 drams ($123). It is well below the per-capita minimum 
cost of living. The so-called “consumer basket” calculated by the Armenian 
Statistical Committee is worth just over 80,000 drams ($198).

Over the last several years, the pensions have increased by a total of just 
6,000 drams per month. These increases have been offset by inflation.



Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2024 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Government allocates over 3,1 billion drams for nationwide subvention programs

Yeghisabet Arthur

 11:33, 1 February 2024

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government will allocate a total of 3 billion 151 million drams to all 10 provincial authorities for the implementation of 43 subvention projects in 34 towns.

The decision was adopted at the Cabinet meeting on February 1.

Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Gnel Sanosyan said that two of the projects have been underway since 2021, 10 since 2022 and 31 since 2023.

In 2023, the government allocated a record-high funding to the provincial governments.

Armenian government develops new law on procurement

Diana Dabaghian

 11:44, 1 February 2024

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government is developing a new law on procurement, Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan said Thursday.

He said that all government ministries have been asked to submit recommendations.

“We will soon hold consultations with government bodies, NGOs and businesses, to outline all changes that we want to carry out with the new law. I’d like to underscore that this is going to be a new law, and not amendments, because we believe that the reality we are in now and the reality when the law was written are different. A lot has changed in terms of the volumes of procurements. We think we need to make fundamental steps here,” Hovhannisyan said.

The most recent changes in the procurement law were made in 2016.

Government launches anti-drug trafficking task force

Maral Chavushian

 13:35, 1 February 2024

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. The government has launched an interdepartmental commission tasked with preventing drug trafficking.

Minister of Internal Affairs Vahe Ghazaryan said at the Cabinet meeting on February 1 that such a commission was formally enacted in 2003 but it failed to ensure practical and sustainable operations in line with modern challenges.

The new commission will be led by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and will ensure cooperation with law enforcement agencies and support the implementation of Armenia’s international obligations regarding the fight against drug trafficking.




PM Pashinyan lauds reforms for upgrade in Transparency International CPI score

Manouk Vasilian

 12:15, 1 February 2024

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has commented on the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2023 report, which shows that Armenia has stopped the regress in its score. 

“The year before we had a regress in the score of the Transparency International Corruption Perception index. We addressed this issue at the Cabinet meeting and now we can say that we have stopped the regress and we have a bit progress,” Pashinyan said Thursday at the Cabinet meeting. 

PM Pashinyan highlighted one sentence from the Transparency International report, "Despite facing challenging security threats – like many countries in the region – Armenia has the potential to navigate such difficulties and turn strong policies into better control of corruption." 

“This is a very objective sentence,” Pashinyan said.

“This means that having faced security challenges in the previous period, a context was formed that this wasn’t the most important issue, and that security issues should be dealt with. But I’d like to remind you that when we had very concrete crises in various situations, we publicly agreed that our work is to stay on track on the strategic agenda and continue the work. Unequivocally, today many countries and international organizations are taking note of the unusual manifestations of our resilience. And this is because even in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, our reforms agenda did not stop not for a minute. We’ve raised the level of our resilience thanks to our reforms, and we must continue that path,” Pashinyan said.

Armenia’s CPI 'score,' measured on a 100-point scale, rose from 46 to 47 in 2023.

Armenia ranks 62nd out of 180 countries and territories evaluated in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (CPI).

The cultural heritage of Armenia deserves more attention: Italian architect

Vicken Chmshkian

 09:15,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. Italian architect Alberto Collet, distinguished by his extensive international expertise and a profound passion for innovative projects, has made an impact in Armenia, too. His contribution includes spearheading the "Reflection of Infinity" project in collaboration with his team during the MEDS Gyumri workshop. In an interview with "Armenpress," Collet shares insights into his journey to Armenia, the successful realization of the project, and outlines his visionary plans for the country. Coming from the Veneto region in Italy, Collet's architectural endeavors have led him to diverse European cities, with Barcelona standing as his current place of residence.

– Could you please provide some insights into your background? Specifically, where were you born, and raised, and what professional path have you pursued?

I currently live in Barcelona; Spain and I was born in the Veneto region in the northwest of Italy. I have studied at the University IUAV, Faculty of Architecture in Venice. Here I learned about Armenians and Armenian culture for the first time.

During my degree, I have had the opportunity to take different courses, workshops, and seminars that have given me the possibility of relating both to the national and international panorama. Later I got my postgraduate degree in Urban Design at ArsNova Siena and then I acquired a double Master’s degree at Domus Academy and University of Wales, in Milan.

Years later I studied at the ETSAB in Barcelona.  I have also received my PhD at the FAUP in Porto, Portugal, researching the work of Álvaro Siza.

Throughout this time, I have been founding the Bauart studio and the Alternative Academic Project (AAP), a laboratory dedicated to innovative projects for public and private entities, mainly dealing with the organization of architecture workshops. I have developed an intense collaboration with different universities, including the Polytechnic University of Milan, where I currently work as a professor of architectural design.

– You mentioned that your first acquaintance with Armenia occurred in Venice. Could you please share more details about that experience?

I began to relate to Armenian culture during my university years in Venice. I started reading some books there and visited the island of Saint Lazarus. Years later I have had the possibility of meeting several members of the Armenian community of Buenos Aires in Argentina and from there discovering its history in the broadest sense, its cultural and spiritual heritage. Etchmiadzin Cathedral, built in the 4th century, is one of the oldest examples of Christian architecture.

I have always had a lot of admiration for the Armenian diaspora, which has brought Armenian culture to various parts of the world, keeping their identity. 

– In August, you were hosted and took part in the MEDS Gyumri project. Could you share some details about the process and describe the professional and emotional impact it had on you?

A few months before participating in the MEDS Gyumri project, I had prepared a very simple concept of a project for an important ephemeral architecture competition in Spain, for which I had not been selected. When I saw the announcement that they were looking for tutors for an architectural workshop in Armenia, with a project proposal, I thought that I could rethink and adapt my concept to the requirements of that workshop.

I didn't have much information about the place as initially, the area had to be outside of the city of Gyumri. So, I spent entire days studying the city from a distance, proposing options to the MEDS organization, but the proposed places were not realistic at that time.

Therefore, I had a concept of a minimal pavilion but did not know where this would be placed until I arrived in Gyumri. I remember that the first element that struck me was the stones of the buildings when I arrived in Armenia, almost like a watercolor, having different gradations of color and changing tones. After seeing that, I wanted to reinterpret those features of the black tuff by incorporating them inside the small element.

- What motivated your decision to become involved in the MEDS project?

Surely the main reason to get involved with Meds was to participate in a project workshop that can be built. Previously I had participated in different workshops, as a collaborator, tutor, and organizer, in landscape contexts, international cooperation, land art, urban planning, and architectural projects, but none of them were focused on construction. This aspect interested me and continues to interest me a lot. On the other hand, the Armenian context from the beginning has seemed very novel, and exotic, a way of getting to know a cultural history that in my opinion deserves more attention. I needed to experiment and test some elements that I wanted to implement in the field of ephemeral architecture.

- What significant discoveries did you make during your time in Armenia? Which areas of the country did you have the opportunity to explore?

The landscape is something that always remains imprinted on me in the territories I visit. The shape of the stone, its color, and its texture fascinate me very much, as it was in Armenia.

During the construction of the pavilion, I did not have time to explore some new places. However, the sponsor of our project, PROFAL Company organized an excursion for our team. It started with Lake Sevan which surprised me with its water color, its pure and crystalline shores but also with the presence of several historical monasteries. After that, we visited the Dilijan National Park, where I was fascinated by the large oaks, oriental fagus, and hornbeams. In the last part of the excursion, I had a chance to visit Yerevan, being able to appreciate the orientation towards Mount Ararat, getting lost in its streets with its lively bars in a mixture of scales, from small to large at the same time.

My tour through the center made me breathe a constant relationship with Europe and Mediterranean culture.

- Please elaborate on your project, the Pavilion. What is the concept behind this architectural monument, and what prompted its installation in the territory of Gyumri, Mother Armenia?

Our project is called “Reflection of Infinity.” The orientation of the pavilion is towards the Black Fortress (Sev Berd), an important nineteenth-century fortress where lots of historical events took place. The Pavilion serves as an observation point covered with a mirroring element. This reflection connects the statue of Mother Armenia to another important element representing in this way the strength, resilience, and protectiveness of the Armenian people. The design incorporates reflective surfaces, and a black-painted interior to symbolize the connection with the black tuff. At the same time, the pavilion becomes a dynamic game for many children visiting this park.

“Reflection of Infinity” represents a beacon of hope and a symbol of revival. Its purpose transcends mere aesthetics. Since it was prepared by architecture and design professionals from different countries, it stands as a testimony to the power of collaboration with the promise of a brighter future for this resilient city. Representing a symbol of unity and progress, this structure is an icon that ushers in a new era for Gyumri, where past and present coexist in harmony, and the future is as bright as the reflections on its mirrored surface.

 - What is the focus of your current project, and what are your plans for Armenia?

Currently, I am keeping my main focus on domestic architecture and the evolution of architectural competitions in the European context, and in parallel, I am developing a more systematic planning of ideas for ephemeral architecture projects that could be presented in these contexts. I think that in Armenia there are many places where the idea of flexible elements that can be part of dynamic processes could be implemented.

I will also be happy to collaborate with different institutions, cultural centers, companies, etc. who see the possibility of generating synergy throughout the Armenian national context but also creating a connection in the European context.

Armenpress: Turkey’s ambitions exceed its actual capabilities: Turkologist comments on Ankara’s foreign policy

Emil Lazarian

 08:55,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, ARMENPRESS. Turkologist Ruben Safrastyan, commenting on Turkey's foreign policy, believes that the country's ambitions exceed its actual capabilities. In an interview with "Armenpress," the turkologist noted that Ankara, however, is taking steps to align its ambitions with real opportunities.
According to him, while Turkey remains a middle power, it aspires to position itself as one of the most powerful states in the world. 
"By giving the green light to Sweden on NATO membership, Turkey essentially struck a deal with the US and was able to get what it had been pursuing for about three years. The approval of Sweden's membership served as a pretext in that deal, but it fundamentally concerned the ratification of the supply of forty American F-16 fighter jets.
The Turkish army already has about eighty such fighters, and the American side should also modify them. It is important for the US that Turkey continues to be its faithful ally in the Middle East because its geographical position and the presence of a combat-ready army are of great importance from the point of view of implementing NATO's plans in that region," said the expert. 
According to Safrastyan, Turkey has also achieved its goals with Sweden, as official Stockholm has started to impose stricter conditions and restrictions on public speeches by Kurdish exile figures in Sweden, thereby abandoning its policy of allowing people the opportunity to freely express themselves and carry out actions.
"Turkey's decision was not a surprise for Russia, which is in conflict with the North Atlantic Alliance. From the beginning, it was clear to everyone, including Moscow, that Ankara would sooner or later take that step, and, by and large, could not prevent new members from joining the alliance. Turkey was just trying to address its problems during that entire period. It is no coincidence that the official reaction of the Russian side was quite calm," said Safrastyan.
Referring to the question of whether the Turkish side's political maneuvers in the South Caucasus are not excluded, considering the frequent mention of the so-called "Zangezur Corridor," which is opposed by the Islamic Republic of Iran, the turkologist noted that although Ebrahim Raisi, during his visit to Turkey, spoke against the inadmissibility of red lines and border changes in the region, official Ankara will continue to pursue its policy. The goal is for Turkey and Azerbaijan, by violating the territorial integrity of Armenia, to establish a direct land connection between each other.
"Turkey's pressure on this matter will persist, and Iran is unlikely to engage in confrontation or a military clash with Turkey at this stage, as it seeks to avoid conflicts and potential attacks outside its territory. Rather, one can anticipate adventurous actions from Azerbaijan, given its alliance with Turkey and shared interests. The 'Zangezur Corridor' is primarily strategically vital for Turkey because it establishes a connection to the Turkish-speaking countries of Central Asia, significantly increasing its political influence all over the world.
The annual GDP of Turkish-speaking countries amounts to more than one trillion dollars, which is equally significant. On the other hand, Turkey strives to play a significant role in the London-Beijing logistics axis, connecting a substantial part of the world economy in the future," Safrastyan explained.
Nevertheless, according to him, there is a simple reality that should not be overlooked. As much as Turkey is trying to participate in the implementation of logistics mega-projects, it has not been able to complete the construction of the 200 km section of the railway that should connect Kars with Azerbaijan through Nakhichevan.
"They have been talking about it for years, but it is not being built. Turkey is now attempting to address the issue with the assistance of Azerbaijan, with which it signed an agreement for joint financing last year, actually involving the funds generated from the sale of oil and gas by Azerbaijan. According to Safrastyan, the winners of the tenders are already known, and preparations will commence soon.
Turkey sometimes harbors rather great ambitions,  but sometimes they do not have enough resources for their implementation; in other words, Turkey's ambitions exceed its actual capabilities," Ruben Safrastyan concluded.
Manvel Margaryan