By PanARMENIAN
The Armenian government has adopted a policy of maintaining nuclear energy as an essential factor of energy security, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the second Nuclear Energy Summit that opened in Paris, where he delivered a speech.
In his remarks, Pashinyan noted that nuclear energy is now viewed as a low-carbon and controllable energy source that can be effectively combined with renewable energy sources.
He added that advances in safety technologies make it possible to extend the operating life of existing nuclear reactors, providing an effective pathway toward achieving zero emissions.
In this context, Pashinyan said Armenia has launched a program to extend the operating life of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant until 2036, which will also lay the groundwork for building a new nuclear power unit in the future.
“To this end, our attention is focused on innovations in civilian nuclear energy, particularly small modular reactor (SMR) technologies, which offer promising prospects. Growing demand encourages leading companies to develop safer and more flexible solutions with shorter construction times and scalable capacity that can better match the needs of national power grids.
Taking these factors into account, Armenia has decided to consider the application of small modular reactor technology. We are currently carefully studying the technologies and evaluating proposals from international partners. The selection process is guided by reliability, long-term sustainability and our commitment to the highest standards of nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation.
By 2050, a qualified workforce will be the backbone of the nuclear sector—from design and construction to safe operation, maintenance and eventual decommissioning. Training and educational programs are essential to ensure the availability of the necessary workforce. In this regard, Armenia highly values international cooperation in both bilateral and multilateral formats.
I am pleased to note that thanks to these efforts and the dedication of Armenian specialists, no nuclear or radiation safety incidents have occurred throughout the entire operation of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize the importance of the safe management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, which is crucial for both present and future generations. Protecting human health and the environment must remain our guiding principle,” Pashinyan said.
The summit was also attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the prime ministers of Slovakia and Croatia, as well as several other heads of government and officials.
Earlier, after meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said Armenia and the United States had completed negotiations on a “123 Agreement” on civilian nuclear energy, opening opportunities for major projects. According to him, this could include up to $5 billion in initial exports from the U.S., plus $4 billion in support for fuel and maintenance.
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Tigran Hamsyan’s Concert Homage to Armenia Hits Home Richard S. Ginell on Mar
Richard S. Ginell oPianist Tigran Hamasyan — and we just say “pianist” to avoid pinning him down into one genre — has ranged all over the place from anodyne New Age noodling to the most rhythmically and harmonically complex jazz-based compositions. Most of all, though, his roaming is usually solidly rooted in his Armenian heritage. He doesn’t let us forget it, and his fans don’t let him forget it, either.
Thus, when Hamasyan made his first appearance at The Soraya on Saturday March 7, the region’s expansive Armenian diaspora turned up en masse for their countryman, who moved back to Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, in 2018. He was in town to promote his new album, Manifeste (released in February), which is an overt homage to his heritage, however expressed in a progressive musical language that takes cues from Western jazz-rock. He calls it, unsurprisingly, a “manifesto,” one of ideas about war, struggles of children, and the environment as they relate to Armenia, drawing upon musical sketches that date back to 2011
If one were to put a label on this music, it was highly charged jazz-rock of a mindset that was in fashion around 1972, full of repetitive, rapid-paced modules of notes emanating from Hamasyan’s acoustic grand piano, often spiced with Armenian melodic ideas. If the late keyboard giant Chick Corea had been Armenian, he might have come up with something like this.
Starting the album’s title track deceptively with delicate solo piano, Hamasyan quickly shifted into the higher electric gear with the rest of the band, occasionally vocalizing wordlessly. “Ultradance” kicked up the pace even further in a call-and-response manner, interpolating repeating solo piano riffs in between electric outbursts. The Armenian folk influence in melodic line and rhythm sounded the strongest in this number.
“War Time Poem” — in what Hamasyan called the “extended version” (to say the least) — found him preparing a few of the strings on the piano to make plunking sounds like droplets of water. The selection was expanded way beyond its length on the album into a new, partly-improvised, arc-like structure, eventually culminating in dissonant violence — hence, war time — before bowing out in the subdued way in which it started.
“Dardahan” rumbled along until the lopsided revolving rhythm took a hold of everyone in the foursome in unison, reminding me a bit of “Ostinato” from Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi album. “A Eye (The Digital Leviathan),” punning on the tech tool that threatens to take over the world, was another series of repetitive riffs, with complex drumming dominating the field.
The contemplative finale, “National Repentance Anthem,” sounded like a minor-key lament for Armenia, with sampled water sounds and a moaning vocal from the composer. So moving was this music for the predominantly Armenian audience that they spontaneously started to hum and sing along with the tune. With a hand signal, Hamasyan quieted them down as he took a solo, after which the mass vocalizing started up again.
At encore time, at first, Hamasyan asked for requests, and the titles of many numbers from his previous albums were shouted out from the hall. But he took it back.
“We’re not going to do old stuff,” he said as he launched into “Prelude for All Seekers” from the album, plus another number with wistful whistling over a solo piano in the upper registers.
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Jazz, folk, and fire: Tigran Hamasyan Brings ‘Manifeste’ to Cleveland Museum
Jazz, folk, and fire: Tigran Hamasyan Brings ‘Manifeste’ to Cleveland Museum of Art
Armenian piano virtuoso Tigran Hamasyan, known for his distinctive jazz-meets- piano compositions that combine jazz, minimalist, electronic, rock, and Armenian folk, will stop at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Gartner Auditorium tonight, Wednesday, March 11, as part of his Manifeste Tour.
Armenian composer and pianist Tigran Hamasyan, known for his unique fusion of jazz, rock, and traditional Armenian folk music, is performing at the Cleveland Museum of Art.Wednesday’s concert features Hamasyan on piano, Yessaï Karapetian on keyboards, Evan Marien on bass, and Arman Mnatsakanyan on drums.
The Manifeste tour is based on the release of his 2025 album by the same name and subtitled “A Transcendent Journey Through Rhythm, Ritual, and Armenian Soul,” Hamasyan’s work is described as “a sonic statement infusing the deep spiritual traditions of his Armenian heritage throughout.”
Recorded between 2023 and 2025 in studios throughout the world, “Manifeste” is a personal declaration and a vivid portrait of seeking, the joy of creation, and spiritual transformation.
“Manifeste” follows Hamasyan’s 2024 “The Bird of a Thousand Voices,” which continues his exploration of ritual sequence.
"Seeking and working on yourself to find who you are…finding something that may have always been there but that you need to dig for in order for it to manifest and be born into this world," Hamasyan reflects in his “Manifeste” liner notes. "That moment when a piece of music is being born and joy fills your heart is the most precious moment for me as a musician."
Born in Gyumri, Armenia, in 1987, Hamasyan’s musical journey began in his childhood home, where he was exposed to a diverse array of musical influences leading to him playing piano at the age of three.
He performed in festivals and competitions by the time he was 11 and won the Montreux Jazz Festival piano competition in 2003. Hamasyan released his debut album, “World Passion,” in 2004 at the age of 17.
The following year, in 2005, Hamasyan won the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition (renamed in 2019 to the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition) and has won several competitions ever since then.
Hamasyan has earned praise from jazz luminaries, including Herbie Hancock, Brad Mehldau, and the late Chick Corea, while also building a dedicated following worldwide.
The concert, today, Wednesday, March 11, runs from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Gartner Auditorium. Tickets range from $26 to $53 for CMA members; $35 to $59 for nonmembers; and $10 for students (purchase at the door; subject to availability).
https://freshwatercleveland.com/street-level/Jazz-Folk-Fire-Tigran-Hamasyan-Brings-Manifeste-To-Cleveland-Museum-Of-Art_031126.aspx
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Russian personnel evacuated from Iranian nuclear power plant via Armenia
Russia has evacuated the remaining personnel at the Bushehr nuclear power plant via Armenia. According to RIA Novosti, Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev said the second round of evacuations included 150 people, comprising both plant personnel and their family members.
Likhachev said that the second phase of the evacuation of Russian staff and their families from the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran has thus been completed.
“Last night we completed another phase of the evacuation of our staff. A few days ago, 150 people left the Bushehr nuclear power plant and crossed the Armenian border overnight. They are already on their way to our country. This is the second phase of the evacuation,” RIA Novosti quoted Likhachev as saying.
The evacuation comes amid heavy U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeting various targets across Iran.
Published by Armenpress, original at
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Residential building damaged in Tehran’s Armenian neighborhood during U.S.-Is
A residential building in Tehran’s Armenian neighborhood of Majidieh has been damaged in the ongoing U.S.-Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran, the Iranian Embassy in Yerevan said in a statement.
No casualties were reported in the strike.
The embassy released a video showing the damaged building.
“According to the latest information, fortunately, there are no casualties among the residents, although some residents have been trapped under the rubble,” the Iranian Embassy said.
The embassy added that Majidieh is one of Tehran’s old Armenian neighborhoods. It is known for its vibrant life and developed infrastructure, in the creation and development of which Iranian Armenians have played a significant role.
Published by Armenpress, original at
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Armenia and Türkiye discuss energy cooperation
Armenian Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Davit Khudatyan held a meeting with Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar in Paris to discuss energy cooperation.
“As a follow-up to the meeting held in Istanbul last June, we discussed the possibilities for cooperation between Armenia and Türkiye in the energy sector,” Khudatyan said in a statement on social media.
“Emphasizing the readiness to develop direct cooperation in the energy sector between the two countries, we discussed the next steps and technical details,” he added.
Published by Armenpress, original at
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Missile strike hits residential building in Tehran’s Armenian district
A missile strike by the U.S and Israeli forces has hit a residential building in the Armenian-populated Majidieh district of Tehran, the Iranian Embassy in Armenia reported.
According to the updates provided by the embassy, there have been no reported fatalities among local residents. However, several people were believed to have been trapped under the rubble following the strike.
Video circulating on social media appears to show a local Armenian resident describing the attack on the residential complex. In the footage, the woman criticizes U.S. President Donald Trump for brutality.
Majidieh is considered one of Tehran's long-established Armenian districts. The area is known for its active community life and developed infrastructure, much of which has historically been built and supported by members of the Iranian-Armenian community.
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‘Let them bang their heads against the wall’: Armenia’s government reacts to
Head of Armenian Genocide memorial head ‘forced to quit’ after JD Vance’s vis
Reports have suggested that the director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Foundation, Edita Gzoyan, was ‘urged’ by the government to resign after speaking to US Vice President JD Vance about the massacre of Armenian citizens in the conflict with Azerbaijan.
This reportedly displeased Armenian authorities, who remain cautious in their official rhetoric about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as they navigate the ongoing normalisation process with Azerbaijan.
On Wednesday, the Institute confirmed to the state-run media outlet Armenpress that Gzoyan had submitted a resignation letter, but that the resignation had not yet been accepted, and that no official replacement has been named.
Unconfirmed reports suggesting that she was pressured to resign by the Education Ministry surfaced on 6 March, with tabloid Hraparak reporting that the ministry justified the move by claiming that Gzoyan ‘had not properly supervised’ ongoing renovations at the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex.
The outlet at the same time underscored that the supervision of the restoration ‘does not fall within [Gzoyan’s] official responsibilities’. Instead, it suggested that Gzoyan was dismissed after speaking with Vance about the massacres of Armenians in Sumgait, Kirovabad (Ganja), and Baku at the onset of the conflict with Azerbaijan in the 1980s. She had additionally given him a book on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
At the genocide memorial, Armenia has erected several monuments commemorating the victims of the massacres, which Gzoyan had shown Vance to emphasise ‘the connection between what happened and the Armenian Genocide’.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan appeared to hint at his displeasure with Gzoyan speaking about the massacres during a parliamentary session, saying that ‘things have happened that would have been better if they hadn’t happened’.
Seperatly, Hraparak further reported that as pressure mounted on Gzoyan, the whole staff of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute submitted a letter to Pashinyan, ‘expressing their outrage and asking him to take action’.
On Tuesday, RFE/RL reported that Hrachya Tashchyan, a former aide to Pashinyan and ex-head of his administration’s External Relations Department, arrived at the museum the same morning ‘with the intention of replacing’ Gzoyan.
‘[Tashchyan] hurried to Gzoyan’s office, saying he was there as a guest’, RFE/RL reported.
However, no official information has yet been released regarding the director’s resignation. According to media reports, the ministry suggested submitting a written inquiry for their comment.
RFE/RL further reported that Raymond Gevorgyan, chair of the board of trustees responsible for selecting a new director, had stepped down, along with several other board members. On 6 March, Pashinyan made new appointments to the board.
Since the beginning of US President Donald Trump’s second term, there has been increasing speculation that the US has reversed its policy of officially recognising the Armenian Genocide first adopted under former President Joe Biden.
The issue received renewed attention after Vance’s visit to Armenia, during which he tweeted about his visit to the memorial using the term ‘genocide’, but deleted the post shortly after and refrained from using the word in any subsequent communications.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include the news that Gzoyan had submitted her resignation letter.
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RFE/RL – Armenia More Secure Now, Says Pashinian
Amid widespread fears of another war with Azerbaijan and Baku’s demands for more Armenian concessions, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has claimed to have made Armenia much more secure in the past year.
In his New Year’s Eve address to the nation, Pashinian said that his country is “entering 2025 in a significantly more peaceful, significantly more stable, significantly more secure environment, and significantly more independent, significantly more sovereign, significantly more confident than before.”
“The year 2024 has been the most peaceful and calm year for our country in the last twenty years, and this fact really needs to be analyzed deeply and seriously,” he said, adding that his policies will keep Armenia on that trajectory.
In that context Pashinian touted unilateral territorial concessions to Azerbaijan which he made last spring, sparking massive anti-government protests in Yerevan. He described them as a “success story.”
Pashinian’s domestic detractors maintain that the handover of four disputed border areas and Pashinian’s broader appeasement policy will not bring real peace and will only encourage Baku to seek more Armenian concessions.
Following the handover, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev renewed his demands for a change of Armenia’s constitution which he says contains territorial claims to his country. He went on to set other preconditions for an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty. Those include the return of Azerbaijanis who lived in Soviet Armenia until the late 1980s and an end to Yerevan’s arms acquisitions.
Aliyev again demanded an end to those acquisitions in his New Year address to the nation, saying that they pose a security threat to Azerbaijan, the defense budget of which is almost three times higher than Armenia’s.
“I consider it my duty to once again warn the Armenian leadership to avoid this dangerous path,” he said, adding that “Armenia is unable to compete with us either militarily or in any other field.”
Armenian officials said earlier that Baku may be planning to launch another military aggression against Armenia after hosting the COP29 climate summit in November. Pashinian’s administration is anxious to prevent such invasion by negotiating the peace treaty.
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