News – Page 511 – Armenian Directory & News

UNESCO Approves Areni-1 Cave for Tentative Heritage List

July 24, 2026July 24, 2026 Hagop Kamalian

by Contributor

July 24, 2026

in Armenia, Arts & Culture, Latest, News, Top Stories

Armenia’s new nomination, “Areni-1 Cave: Prehistoric Life and Winemaking in the Arpa River Valley,” has been approved for inclusion on UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List. Armenia is participating in the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan as a country elected to the committee for the first time.

The nomination was prepared under an earlier memorandum of cooperation between Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, the Areni-1 Cave Research Foundation and the Armenian Enotourism Council public organization. The Armenian Enotourism Council financed the submission, making the initiative another successful example of public-private cooperation.

Armenia’s delegation includes Harutyun Vanyan, head of the Department for Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments at the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, as well as five national experts. Armenia’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO Aram Hakobyan heads the delegation.

The newly registered nomination, along with all Armenian submissions added to the list in previous years, is available on UNESCO’s official website.

Through consistent work over the past three years, Armenia has added four more nominations to the four entries placed on UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List in 1995.

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Asbarez: Growing Up Armenian Without an Armenian Community

July 24, 2026July 24, 2026 Emil Lazarian

by Contributor

July 24, 2026

in Commentary, Latest, Op-Ed, Top Stories

Young Naneh Grigor (second from left) with her cousins

BY NANEH GRIGOR
Special to Asbarez

Every summer I can remember, I have traveled to Los Angeles to stay with my grandparents and spend time with my cousins. Every summer, I experience the same kind of culture shock.

I have lived in several places, but they have all had one thing in common: There was no visible Armenian community. There may have been a few Armenians nearby, but I never met them. I never had Armenian friends. I never spoke Armenian outside my home. I did not grow up surrounded by Armenian organizations, restaurants, churches or community events.

My cousins had the opposite experience. They grew up in Glendale, where Armenian culture was part of their everyday lives. They had Armenian classmates, Armenian friends and countless opportunities to participate in that community. For them, being Armenian was not something that had to be explained. It was everywhere.

Naneh with her baby cousin

For me, being Armenian often felt like something that only existed inside my house. Outside of it, I regularly met people who did not know where Armenia was or what being Armenian meant. I became used to explaining my culture instead of sharing it with people who already understood.

That distance created a disconnect. I love being Armenian, but I have not always known how to express that love. I do not know every Armenian song, participate in Armenian organizations or have a large group of Armenian friends. Sometimes, when I am surrounded by Armenians who seem more involved in the culture, I feel as though I am observing something I am supposed to naturally understand.

It can make me wonder whether I am Armenian enough.

My cousin, Nyra Zadourian, said that being surrounded by Armenians pushed her to become more involved in the community. Through Armenian scouting, the Armenian Relief Society, school clubs and traditional dance, she learned about Armenian history and culture while building friendships with other Armenians.

Nyra said her Armenian friends introduced her to cultural experiences she might not have found somewhere else. She learned Armenian dances, listened to Armenian music and became familiar with the unspoken rules of Armenian social life. She also believes growing up in Glendale helped her find her voice.

“A lot of Armenian people are outspoken, so you have to learn how to be equally as outspoken or you’ll be overlooked,” she said.

But being surrounded by Armenians did not make her identity simple. In some ways, it made it more complicated.

Nyra has struggled with cultural expectations, including expectations surrounding religion and how Armenian women should behave. She has sometimes felt out of place for not sharing beliefs that others considered central to being Armenian. Eventually, she realized that being Armenian did not mean giving up her individuality.

“Separate from being an Armenian, you are an individual, and you’re allowed to have your own beliefs,” she said.

Her experience made me realize that neither of us has a more authentic Armenian identity. We have simply developed our identities under different circumstances. Her identity was shaped by being surrounded by Armenian culture. Mine was shaped by missing it.

Growing up outside an Armenian community has made me feel disconnected, but it has also made me value the culture deeply. I love Armenian food, music, history and the feeling of being with my family. I love the pride Armenians carry and the determination to preserve our culture after everything our people have survived.

My love for my culture may be quieter than my cousins’. It may not be expressed through weekly meetings, Armenian clubs or traditional dance. But being less involved does not mean I care less.

When I visit Los Angeles, I still feel that culture shock. I notice everything I did not have growing up. But I am beginning to understand that identity is not a checklist of organizations joined, songs memorized or Armenian friends made.

I may not have grown up surrounded by Armenian culture, but I still grew up loving it. That love is not weakened by distance. In many ways, the distance has made me hold on to it even more tightly.

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CC: 42 Violations of Journalists’ and Media Rights in Second Quarter of 2026

July 24, 2026July 24, 2026 Alex Jidarian

· JULY 23, 2026

YEREVAN — The second quarter of 2026 was a tense period for journalists and media outlets in Armenia, largely because of the June 7 parliamentary elections, according to the Committee to Protect Freedom of _expression_ (CPFE).

In its quarterly report, the committee noted that Armenia faced both external and internal information-related challenges during the reporting period. CPFE President Ashot Melikyan said dangerous hybrid information campaigns had been conducted.

“Unfortunately, this disinformation was disseminated through a significant segment of Armenia’s information sphere, and the public witnessed an internal information war. According to our observations, the danger posed by false and misleading reports was significantly reduced through fact-checking platforms. Investigative journalists were also very active both inside and outside the country, uncovering important information. In addition, although their number is limited, Armenia has several active and professional media outlets that exposed this disinformation,” Melikyan said.

During the second quarter of 2026, the CPFE recorded 42 violations of the rights of journalists and media outlets. These included one case of physical violence, 30 cases of various forms of pressure, and 11 violations of the right to receive and disseminate information.

“Nearly half of the 42 recorded cases occurred during the campaign preceding the June 7 parliamentary elections or on election day itself. During the same pre-election period, five of the 11 new lawsuits filed against journalists and media outlets in the second quarter were related to campaign issues,” Melikyan said.

Of the 11 new lawsuits filed during the quarter, three were brought by opposition politicians, three by private citizens, one by a representative of the business sector, one by a media outlet, and three by senior government officials.

Addressing violations of the right to receive and disseminate information, Melikyan said 11 such cases were recorded during the second quarter. Although this figure was four higher than in the previous quarter, it was 28 lower than during the same period in 2025.

“Overall, we can say that the situation during these parliamentary elections was calmer than during the previous elections. In the past, election periods were marked by much more serious incidents. Although we recorded one case of physical violence, we did not witness the beatings or violent clashes seen in previous years,” Melikyan added.

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Why I Play Armenian Music for Non-Armenian Audiences

July 24, 2026July 24, 2026 Antranik Varosian

· JULY 23, 2026

Ara Topouzian

One of the questions I am asked most often is, “Who do you perform for?”

People are sometimes surprised when I tell them that many of my most meaningful performances have been for audiences with little or no connection to being Armenian. In fact, I believe performing Armenian music for non-Armenian audiences is one of the most important things we can do to preserve our culture.

Too often, we fall into the mindset that Armenian music is only for Armenians. While it is certainly a treasured and important part of our identity, it is also part of the world’s cultural heritage. Music has the remarkable ability to cross borders, languages, religions, and generations. It invites curiosity where words sometimes cannot.

Some of the most rewarding moments I have experienced have not come from playing for people who already know the melodies. They have come from those hearing them for the very first time.

After a performance, I often receive thoughtful questions:

“What is that instrument?”

“Is there sheet music for these ancient songs?”

“Why does it sound both joyful and sorrowful?”

“Can you tell me more about Armenian history?”

Each year, I have the privilege of performing Armenian music and sharing the rich history and culture of the Armenian people with participants in Leadership Oakland.

These conversations remind me that every performance is more than a concert. It is an opportunity to build understanding, challenge assumptions, and create a lasting connection with a culture many people have never encountered.

Recently, during my Smithsonian Institute fellowship I had the opportunity to present a brief demonstration of the kanun and share a small piece of Armenian history with more than thirty fellows from across the United States. Most had never even seen the instrument before. Many had never heard Armenian music. Yet the response was immediate. They leaned in, asked sincere questions, and wanted to understand the stories carried within the music.

That experience reinforced something I have believed for years: preservation does not happen only within a community. It also happens when others come to appreciate, respect, and carry a piece of that culture with them.

Perhaps one person leaves a presentation with a new appreciation for Armenia/Armenian people. Perhaps they tell a friend about the beautiful instrument they heard. Perhaps they attend another Armenian performance or read about our history. Culture survives not only because those within it preserve it, but because others choose to value it as well.

As a musician, I certainly enjoy performing for Armenian audiences. There is a shared understanding that requires few explanations. But there is something equally powerful about introducing our music to someone hearing it for the very first time. In those moments, I am not simply performing. I am serving as a cultural ambassador.

That is why I seek opportunities to perform in schools, museums, libraries, leadership programs, universities, and community organizations—not just Armenian festivals or cultural events. Every new audience represents another opportunity for Armenian music to be heard, understood, and remembered.

Music has carried the Armenian story across centuries of hardship, migration, and resilience. Today, it continues that journey every time someone listens with an open heart.

And perhaps that is how cultures truly endure—not by keeping them to ourselves, but by sharing them generously with the world.

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Groups urge Sinirlioğlu to clarify Armenian Church stance

July 24, 2026July 24, 2026 Adrine Hakobian

· JULY 24, 2026

Panarmenian.net

Four Armenian and international organizations have issued a joint statement condemning remarks by OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioğlu during a conversation with Russian pranksters, while emphasizing the Catholicos’ role in defending the rights of Armenians.

They said Sinirlioğlu “has failed this test” and must now clarify his position and engage in dialog with the Catholicos of All Armenians to ensure full protection of the rights of the Armenian Apostolic Church, its clergy and faithful, Aysor.am reported.

The statement was signed by the Armenian Center for Political Rights, the Helsinki Committee of Armenia, the Forum for Religious Freedom Europe and Christian Solidarity International. The organizations expressed deep concern over and condemned the recorded remarks by Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu, a Turkish national who serves as Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

According to the organizations, the remarks effectively indicated his willingness to offer support from his office to the Armenian government in an initiative to remove Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, head of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

“The fact that the most senior official of an organization whose core commitments include the protection of human rights expressed, even tentatively, a willingness to assist such a request is deeply troubling and demands immediate and public clarification.

We recognize the circumstances in which these statements were made. They were obtained by Russian pranksters who posed as Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a telephone conversation. The conversation was published on July 8. The pranksters in question have a documented history of targeting politicians and public officials in order to elicit statements on sensitive public issues. We do not condone the use of such deception. And while we recognize that the conversation was elicited through a ruse, the Secretary General’s words nevertheless reveal a position incompatible with the responsibilities of his office.

During the conversation, the Secretary General accused the Catholicos of politicizing the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church. He then agreed to ‘look into’ how the OSCE could support the person posing as Armenia’s prime minister in removing the Catholicos from office. When the Secretary General asked whether he could ‘change the Catholicos,’ the person impersonating the Armenian prime minister replied that he was ‘considering all possible ways.’ He asked for the Secretary General’s support if such a move drew public criticism, to which the Secretary General responded: ‘OK, I’ll do my best, I’ll try.’ At no point during the conversation did the Secretary General object that the forced removal of a religious leader by the state would violate the very fundamental freedoms the OSCE is mandated to protect,” the statement said.

The organizations noted that Principle VII of the 1975 Helsinki Final Act establishes the OSCE’s fundamental commitment to “respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief.” This commitment has been repeatedly reaffirmed and is binding on all 57 OSCE participating States, including Armenia. The autonomy of religious organizations and their freedom to independently regulate their internal and canonical affairs are key components of that guarantee. The statement also noted that, because the Secretary General bears responsibility for upholding this commitment, he should not offer even tacit support to a government seeking to remove a church leader.

“These statements cannot be viewed in isolation. Since May 2025, the Armenian government has pursued a systematic and sustained campaign against the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church as part of a broader assault on democracy and the rule of law. Prime Minister Pashinyan has publicly called for the removal of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, published a ‘roadmap’ for steps to remove him, and made unfounded allegations against the Catholicos and senior clergy. Travel restrictions have been imposed on the Catholicos and several bishops, while senior clergy have been detained on criminal charges that appear politically motivated. Taken together, these actions constitute a state-organized effort to subordinate the Church to the government’s will, endangering the principle of separation of church and state enshrined in Armenia’s Constitution.

The Armenian Apostolic Holy Church is not an ordinary party to a political dispute. Since Armenia adopted Christianity as the state religion in 301, the Church has played a decisive role in preserving the Armenian people’s language, culture and national identity. Article 18 of Armenia’s Constitution recognizes this role as its ‘exclusive mission.’ Contrary to the Secretary General’s assertion that the Catholicos is politicizing the Church, he has in fact sought to fulfill precisely that constitutional mission by defending the rights of the Armenian people, including Armenians subjected to ethnic cleansing from Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023. Therefore, any attempt by the state to remove the Catholicos violates not only Armenia’s international obligations on freedom of religion but also the country’s constitutional order.

Accordingly, we call on Secretary General Sinirlioğlu to:

● publicly clarify and withdraw any suggestion that the OSCE could support the removal of the Catholicos of All Armenians or otherwise interfere in the internal governance of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church;

● reaffirm the OSCE’s commitment to protecting freedom of religion or belief in Armenia, in accordance with its human-dimension commitments;

● engage in dialog with the Catholicos of All Armenians to ensure full protection of the rights of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, its clergy and faithful.

We stand ready to meet with OSCE representatives to provide further information and explain our concerns, and we will continue to closely monitor the conduct of the organization’s leadership. The head of the OSCE must serve as a bulwark against violations of religious freedom, not as their willing facilitator. Judged by the published remarks, Secretary General Sinirlioğlu has failed this test and is now obliged to clarify his position,” the statement said.

The statement was signed by Christian Solidarity International President John Eibner, Forum for Religious Freedom Europe President Ján Figeľ, Armenian Center for Political Rights President Rafael Ishkhanyan and Helsinki Committee of Armenia President Siranush Sahakyan.

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French-Armenian archaeological team discovers rare ancient mural at Erebuni

July 24, 2026July 24, 2026 Maghakian Mike

· JULY 24, 2026

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AIWA Scholarship Awards

July 24, 2026July 24, 2026 Ani Basmajian

· JULY 24, 2026

AIWA Scholarship Awards

AIWA scholarships provide a unique opportunity for donors to remember loved ones while at the same time providing much-needed financial assistance and recognition to young women preparing for their careers and professions. Beginning in 1997, with the establishment of the Agnes Missirian Scholarship Endowment, over 200 scholarships have been awarded to full-time female students of Armenian descent attending accredited colleges or universities in countries all over the world. Students entering their junior or senior year in college, as well as graduate students, are eligible to apply. Awards are based on financial need and merit. Scholarship awards are funded from endowments and from donations over one or many years.

Female of Armenian descent

Financial Need and academic merit

Full-Time Student Only

Attend Accredited University/College

Applicants must be entering their 3rd or 4th year of undergraduate education (applicants residing in the state of California may apply when entering their 2nd year), or be a graduate student, in the fall of 2026.

3.2 Minimum GPA

Official Copy of University/College Transcripts

Two Letters of Recommendation

A high-resolution photograph of the applicant

Completed application

Dates: Our 2026 application cycle is now closed, and awards will be announced in May. Applications for 2027 will open in January. For more information, e-mail: [email protected]

AIWA Scholarship Awards 2026

The Armenian International Women’s Association is pleased to present the scholarship recipients for the 2026 school year. As in previous years, we are committed to awarding as many applicants as possible with financial assistance especially in these difficult times with gratitude to our donors. We are excited for the futures of these outstanding Armenian women and wish them success in all their endeavors.

$141,000

57 scholars

CENTRAL BOARD

$2,000

BOUSQUET (BALIAN) , FANNY

($1,000)

France, majored in Armenian diasporas in the Early Modern era (PhD), entering L’École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS)

KHACHATRYAN , EMILI

($1,000)

Spain, studying Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship: PRIME Program at Brown University

AIWA FOUNDERS SCHOLARSHIP

$2,000

BAGDOIAN , HEATHER

($2,000)

United States, specializing in Education (EdD) at Clark University

LUCY KASPARIAN AHARONIAN SCHOLARSHIPS

$3,000

TOTOKIAN , SERLY

($1,000)

Lebanon, specializing in Neuroscience entering American University of Beirut

YENGOYAN , MARI

($1,000)

Armenia, specializing in Information Security, entering National Polytechnic University of Armenia

YESAYAN , ANNA

($1,000)

Armenia, specializing in Statistics and Data Science entering Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich.

NISHAN AND MARGRIT ATINIZIAN SCHOLARSHIP

$2,000

ALTUNKARA , SELIN

($1,000)

Germany, majored in Molecular and Cellular Biology (MS), entering Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich

SAHAGIAN , ANNIE*

($1,000)

Canada, studying Law at McGill University

ETHEL JAFARIAN DUFFETT ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS

$20,000

BEGLARYAN , INGA

($2,000)

Armenia, specializing in Law (MA) at Paris Panthéon-Assas University

HAYRIYAN , SHUSHANIK

($2,000)

United States, specializing in Political Science at American University

HOVHANNISYAN , TAMARA

($2,000)

Armenia, specializing in Political Science at Erasmus University Rotterdam

KARAPETYAN , SHAKE

($2,000)

United States, specializing in Applied Physics at Cornell University

KHOJOYAN , SUSANNA

($2,000)

Armenia, Masters in Astrophysics and Cosmology at University of Padua

MARTIROSYAN , IZABELLA

($2,000)

Armenia, specializing in Business Analytics at Universidad Europea (Madrid)

MELKONYAN , ELIZA

($2,000)

United States, specializing in Psychology (LMFT Track) at St. Thomas University

MIRZOYAN , OKSANA

($2,000)

United States, specializing in Film Directing and Screenwriting at Columbia University

YESAYAN , OFELYA*

($2,000)

Korea, majored in Business at University of Oxford

ZAKEVOSYAN , MARINE

($2,000)

Armenia, specializing in Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics at University of Oxford

EVA AND JACK MEDZORIAN SCHOLARSHIPS

$3,000

FARAH , ALEXA*

($1,000)

United States, specializing in Voice Performance and Music Education at Rider University

NAVASARDYAN , ELEN

($2,000)

Armenia, specializing in Finance at University of Rochester (Simon Business School)

ALICE KANLIAN MIRAK SCHOLARSHIPS

$12,000

ASHIGOVA , INGA

($1,000)

Armenia, specializing in Business Communications (MS) at Vienna University of Economics and Business

AYVAZYAN , HAYKANUSH

($2,000)

Armenia, specializing in Business Analytics (MS) at University of Southern California

GALSTYAN , TATEVIK

($2,000)

Armenia, specializing Social Anthropology at University of Oxford OR University College London OR Central European University

GHAZARYAN , SHOGHIK

($2,000)

Armenia, specializing in Environmental Policy at University College Dublin

ISRAYELYAN , ASPRAM

($2,000)

Armenia, specializing in Regional Studies (Political Science): Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia at Harvard University (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences)

PAPAZIAN , AREV

($2,000)

Lebanon, specializing in Sociology and Social Anthropology at Central European University

ZARGARYAN , NADEZHDA

($1,000)

Chechia, specializing in Media and Communication studies at Charles University Prague

AGNES MISSIRIAN ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

$3000

ARAKELYAN , SHUSHANNA

($3,000)

Armenia, specializing Management (MBA) at Harvard University (Harvard Business School)

GEORGE AND CAROLANN NAJARIAN SCHOLARSHIPS

$6,000

IVANYAN , ARUSYAK

($2,000)

Japan, specializing in Medical Science at Kumamoto University

POGHOSYAN , MARIAM

($1,000)

United States, studying Dentistry at University of Rochester

SARGSYAN , ANNA

($2,000)

United States, studying Dentistry at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine

SEKOYAN , MONIKA

($1,000)

Great Britain, specializing in Artificial Intelligence at Imperial College London

HRIPSIME PARSEKIAN SCHOLARSHIP

$2,000

BUSH , SERENA

($2,000)

Chechia, specializing in International Human Rights and Protection of Environment (LLM) at Charles University Prague

ROSE “AZAD” HOVANNESIAN ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP

$2000

ZEITUNIAN , MADISON

($2000)

United States, specializing in Social Work at University of Michigan

ARPINE KHARAJIAN SCHOLARSHIPS

$7000

DER MATOSSIAN , SERLY*

($1,000)

Lebanon, Majoring in Psychology Minoring in Social Work at Haigazian University

DULGARIAN , ARAZ

($1,000)

United States, specializing in Clinical Psychology with Emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy at Pepperdine University, Graduate School of Education and Psychology

HAVATIAN , CYNTHIA*

($1,000)

United States, specializing in Exercise Science at Seton Hall University

KRAFIAN , NAIRI

($1,000)

Lebanon, Majoring in Occupational Therapy at Quinnipiac University, School of Health Sciences

TENEKEDZHYAN , VARDUI*

($1,000)

United States, Double Major in Entrepreneurial Management and Business Administration with a minor in Marketing at Bentley University

YACOUBIAN , LILIANA*

($2,000)

United States, specializing in Biobehavioral Health (Pre- Nursing track) at The Pennsylvania State University

BARBARA MERGUERIAN SCHOLARSHIP

$2500

GHAZARYAN , GAYANE

($2500)

Armenia, specializing inSociology & Social Anthropology at Central European University (CEU)

JOY RENJILIAN-BUGY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

$1000

GHAZARYAN , GAYANE

($1000)

Austria, specializing in Political Science at Paris Lodron University of Salzburg

RUSSIAN SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS SCHOLARSHIPS

$6000

HOVHANNISYAN , VIKTORYA*

($2,000)

United States, specializing in Biochemistry at Simmons University

APITONIAN , MARIA

($2,000)

Italy, M.Sc. Physics: Statistical Physics and Complexity at Sapienza University of Rome

IGITKHANIAN , MARINA

($1,000)

Armenia, studying Data & Artificial Intelligence at Institut Polytechnique de Paris

MKRTCHYAN , LILIA*

($1,000)

United States, specializing in Economics and Psychology at Boston College

LOS ANGELES AFFILIATE

HASMIK MGRDICHIAN SCHOLARSHIP

$50,000

ABOVIAN , NAREH*

($10,000)

United States, studying Psychology (BA) at University of California, San Diego

DEEB , GABRIELLA*

($10,000)

United States, studying Biochemistry at University of California, Irvine

MARGARYAN , LILIA

($10,000)

United States, studying Medicine at University of California, Irvine School of Medicine

PINEDJIAN , SYLVA*

($10,000)

United States, studying Nursing at Biola University

TSAROUKIAN , NICOLE*

($10,000)

United States, studying Biology at University of California Berkeley

NEW ENGLAND AFFILIATE

$5,500

MARANGOUDAKIS , SOPHIA*

($2,000)

United States, studying Hotel Administration at Cornell University

PETROSYAN , MONIKA*

($1,500)

United States, studying Business Analytics and Information Technology, Russian Language and Literature at Rutgers University

FARAH , LIANA*

($1,000)

United States, studying Special Elementary Education and Mathematics at The College of New Jersey

PARADYAN , LUSINE

($1,000)

Armenia, Media, marketing, communication, journalism at University of Glasgow / Erasmus Mundus GLOCAL program

OLGA PROUDIAN SCHOLARSHIP IN DIPLOMACY

$1,000

VARTANYAN , OLESYA

($1,000)

Georgia, studying Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University

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CC: Avanesyan outlasts Putintseva in Hamburg, makes Armenian history

July 24, 2026July 24, 2026 Talar Tumanian

· JULY 24, 2026

https://www.thecaliforniacourier.com/avanesyan-outlasts-putintseva-in-hamburg-makes-armenian-history/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTQ7TBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEekxejkVI7LCIzORjONlOYplcl5azb9UfY5Kgj0sxu42howMPgMF2PLRtU0Nw_aem_MaUOkMzblcsGFHAEAUal9g

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168: Rubio-Lavrov meeting. A new round of negotiations or an old stalemate?

July 24, 2026July 24, 2026 Emil Lazarian

July 30, 2026

The 35-minute meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, which took place in Manila within the framework of the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, at first glance did not yield any breakthrough results.

The parties did not announce any progress on the ceasefire, nor the start of new negotiations, nor any political agreement. However, the statements made after the meeting showed a much more important reality. Today, Washington and Moscow do not agree not only on the terms of settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, but also on the question of where the negotiation process should start.

After the meeting, in a conversation with journalists, Marco Rubio announced that he and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed US-Russia relations, as well as the need to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.

According to him, “new ideas” will be needed to end the Russian-Ukrainian war.

He noted that the previous proposals were “unacceptable for Ukraine at that time”.

“And I don’t think they would be acceptable to them now either. In fact, probably even less acceptable,” said the head of the State Department, without clarifying exactly what proposals we are talking about.

“If peace is to be established, it will be due to certain new ideas and new concepts, and we are ready to offer some of them in suitable terms and formats, if the opportunity arises and the conditions are created. We are ready to take on that role,” added Rubio.

He noted that what US President Donald Trump wants most is for “people to stop dying” so that Ukraine can live in peace, Ukrainians can return to their homeland and restore it, and that five thousand young Russians are not killed every week.

“He [Trump] thinks this is a stupid and pointless war. And if we can play our part in ending it, we’re going to use the power and influence of the United States to do it. We are ready to do so if such an opportunity presents itself, and I hope it will. And this is exactly what we consistently bring to the consciousness of both sides,” Rubio concluded.

According to the results of the meeting, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that Lavrov presented to the head of the State Department “the real situation on the contact line” and “emphasized the inadmissibility of further arming the Kiev regime.”

Lavrov “confirmed the readiness of the Russian side regarding the political and diplomatic settlement of the conflict”, noting that Moscow is committed to the proposals put forward by the American side at the Anchorage summit.

Earlier, Bloomberg reported that Russia no longer plans to return part of the occupied territories to Ukraine as part of a possible deal to end the war. According to the interlocutors of the publication, Vladimir Putin refused any territorial concession because the Kremlin now considers the informal agreements reached during the Anchorage summit of the Russian and US presidents to have failed.

In other words, according to the Kremlin, the basis for negotiations already exists, and the problem is not the lack of new ideas, but the fact that Washington has so far been unable or unwilling to move forward in the directions of the already discussed ideas.

This was perhaps the main political outcome of the meeting. If Rubio actually declares that the existing negotiation logic has been exhausted, proposing to search for new solutions, then Lavrov claims that there is no need to search for new solutions, because the initial political basis has already been formed. According to Russia, it is now the turn of the United States to clarify whether Washington is ready to continue the process on which verbal understandings were previously reached.

However, the negotiation impasse is not only caused by the differences between Washington and Moscow. The position of Europe also plays a key role in the Ukrainian settlement process, which in recent years has become not only one of the main political supporters of Kiev, but also an important factor affecting the continuation of the war. According to Moscow, the continued military and financial support of European countries is one of the circumstances that allows Ukraine to continue its resistance.

Russian analyst Alexander Khramchikhin believes that the Russian side insists that any negotiation process can be effective only when taking into account not only the positions of Washington and Moscow, but also the fact that Europe has become one of the main pillars of Ukraine’s security.

According to him, according to the Kremlin’s logic, if Western support continues at the same level, reaching a political agreement on ending the war becomes more difficult, because Kiev continues to have the opportunity to maintain military resistance.

“At the same time, Europe’s approach is based on other calculations. This very circumstance creates one of the most complicated contradictions in the negotiation process. Washington is trying to find a resolution that would allow ending the war, Moscow wants the future agreement to take into account its military-political demands, and Europe and Kiev are trying to gain an advantage. It is the differences between these three approaches that currently complicate the path to any final agreement.” 168.amKhramchikhin said in a conversation with

He believes that in the background of these geopolitical rearrangements, the factor and role of the South Caucasus is also gaining special importance and it is the Ukrainian war that has significantly changed the balance of power in the region in recent years.

“If a new phase really begins in Russian-American relations, it may have a direct impact on the South Caucasus as well. Possible agreements between the great powers or the deepening of contradictions can change the environment in which regional processes are taking place today, but currently there are no results or even a normal negotiation process in the negotiations between the Ministry of Defense and the Russian Federation.

The Rubio-Lavrov meeting showed that the main issue surrounding the end of the war is still not only the conditions under which the conflict can end, but also who and with what principles will form the post-war international order,” Khramchikhin said.

—

Finally, the Anchorage arrangements were “written on ice”? Artak Zakaryan

July 24, 2026July 24, 2026 Karagyozian Lena

July 24, 2026

RPA GM member Artak Zakaryan writes:

“Finally, the Anchorage arrangements were ‘written on ice’…

The main conclusion of the 35-minute meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and US Secretary of State Rubio in Manila is that the agreements reached in Anchorage are being forgotten, and the peace negotiations are at an impasse again.

During the discussion, Lavrov presented the situation on the front, warning that the continuation of arms supplies to Ukraine is “unacceptable” for Russia. For his part, Rubio stated that “the Anchorage negotiations have failed” and added that “Russia needs new ideas”.

It is obvious that these words mean concessions expected from Moscow, which Russia cannot agree to.

Apparently, it is about freezing the conflict on the current front line. Such a scenario, along with abandoning the issues of demilitarization and de-Nazification of Ukraine, is being promoted by the West. However, it does not correspond to Russia’s interests in any way.

Russian President Putin has repeatedly stated that long-term peace is important, not a temporary ceasefire, especially considering that significant areas of Donbas are still under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

About a year ago, the Trump-Putin meeting in American Anchorage seemed like an important achievement. personal talks at the level of the presidents, informal contacts through Jared Kushner and Steve Wittkoff, and the emergence of Kirill Dmitriev as a negotiator. There was also a belief that this diplomatic channel, considered the most reliable, could build a direct dialogue. At that time, Russia was conducting offensive operations, the territories were coming under its control quite quickly, and the front lines were changing in its favor. There was an impression that there was very little left to reach the final agreements.

During the last year, as a result of the unjustified optimism of the Russian side, now the Ukrainian side is gradually gaining a tactical advantage in this war of technologies. If in 2025 In August, strikes against Russian territory were of a unique nature, now Ukraine strikes almost every day

Deep in Russia. Coordinated through the Starlink system and supported by American intelligence, the drones hit critical targets, including infrastructure hubs and oil refineries.

It is noteworthy that the USA does not even try to hide its role. Trump recently openly stated at a NATO summit, without mentioning the “Spirit of Anchorage,” that Washington supports such strikes, including an attack on a Moscow oil refinery. Moreover, the US is now interested in prolonging the conflict. the American military industry receives significant revenues from supplies to Ukraine, and the sanctions policy continues to weaken the Russian economy.

The result of the Manila meeting, in my opinion, is this. The Anchorage agreements, as the Armenian people figuratively say, were “written on ice”. The United States is now not interested in making peace on Russia’s terms. The negotiations have turned into a show of irreconcilability between the parties.

Freezing of the conflict, continued attacks on Russian territory, use of drones and increased pressure have become the basis of the new strategy of the West. Waiting for real solutions is difficult for now. The Russian MFA can only record that the Manila meeting became the next step leading to a diplomatic impasse.

And peace, like war, always begins on the battlefield.”

—

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