Armenia, Egypt taking steps towards developing defence cooperation: Armenian Ambassador to Cairo

Jirair Kafian
Daily News, Egypt
Dec 26 2023

Imagine embarking on a journey through time, where you can hear the echoes of ancient Egyptians whispering alongside tales of Armenian kings. Picture the sands of the Sahara dancing with the snow-capped peaks of Mount Ararat. This is the rich tapestry of history woven between Armenia and Egypt, a vibrant thread that stretches from ancient trade routes to the bustling streets of Cairo and Yerevan today. In this interview, Hrachya Poladyan, the Armenian Ambassador to Egypt, discusses the current state of bilateral ties, exploring areas of cooperation, challenges, and future prospects.

How would you describe the current state of relations between Armenia and Egypt? What are some of the key challenges and opportunities in further strengthening these ties?

First of all, I would like to seize this opportunity to congratulate the people of Egypt and President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi for his re-election, wishing Egypt continued prosperity and stability.

Coming to the bilateral relations between Armenia and Egypt, I would note that during the last three decades, since the Independence of the Republic of Armenia, we have developed close relations with the Arab Republic of Egypt, which have constantly been growing and expanding. Armenia has always attached great importance to political cooperation with Egypt, and bilateral political relations have been rich in high-level mutual visits. In this regard, the historic visit of President Al-Sisi this January as well as the visit of the President of Armenia to Egypt to attend COP-27, have raised the Armenian-Egyptian political dialogue to a new level. 

Armenia highly appreciates the stabilising political role of Egypt in maintaining and fostering security and cooperation in the Middle East, Africa and beyond, and its balanced, peace-oriented foreign policy as well as its effective role and experience in countering terrorism and extremism. Armenia is deeply interested in developing defence and security cooperation with Egypt, as well.   

Furthermore, our interstate relations are strong and have great potential for even further growth since they are based on the historically friendly ties between Armenian and Egyptian nations. There is complete historical information indicating that Armenians had already settled in Egypt since at least the eleventh and twelfth centuries, in the era of Fatimid Egypt and have since then been quite influential and contributed greatly to the foundation of the modern state of Egypt. Even today, there are streets named after Nubar Pasha (the first Prime Minister of Egypt who was of Armenian origin) in both Cairo and other cities, as well as a city called Nubaria. Also, during World War I, escaping the Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire, Armenians received safe shelter in the Arab countries, including Egypt, where they found a new home. 

I can say that, in contemporary Egypt as well, the Armenian community has played an important role in the country’s cultural, educational and social life. Among the most prominent artists of Armenian origin who played a tangible role in Egyptian modern culture, I can mention the names Anushka, Lebleba, Nelly, Fayrouz, Sarukhan etc. And I proudly note that during the meetings with the political figures and religious leaders of Egypt, they always emphasise the great contribution of the Armenian community to the state-building process and overall development of Egypt. At the same time, the Armenian community of Egypt plays the role of a unique bridge between our two states.

To sum up, I can state that the Armenian-Egyptian political dialogue is on a very high level, the bilateral agenda is quite fruitful and includes the fields of economy, investments, tourism, education, culture, health, etc. The existence of the mutual political will to further expand the cooperation and explore new areas of collaboration, by itself generates opportunities to further strengthen these ties and the challenges that might exist in this regard are merely on the technical operational level.

We’ve seen recent high-level visits and agreements. What concrete steps are being taken to implement them and advance bilateral cooperation?

President Al-Sisi’s visit was historic since it was the first time that an Egyptian president visited Armenia. The President of Egypt had meetings with his Armenian counterpart, as well as with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. And as a gesture to mark the historic visit of President Sisi to Armenia, one of the squares of our capital city, Yerevan, has been named “Square of Egypt”. 

About a month after the visit, Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, paid a working visit to Egypt. Although the main goal of his visit was to participate in the 159th session of the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers at the Arab League, he also had a bilateral meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and discussed with him the ongoing efforts to implement the arrangements that were agreed upon during the Egyptian President’s visit. The Armenian Foreign Minister also held very important meetings with Ahmed Al-Tayeb – the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and Pope Tawadros II – Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church. 

This year was significant also in terms of making specific steps towards developing defence cooperation between Armenia and Egypt. In December, Armenia (High-tech Ministry) participated in the international exhibition of defence and security technologies “EDEX 2023” in Cairo, with a joint pavilion that included 12 Armenian companies which demonstrated their solutions and products in the sphere of defence and security under the joint pavilion “Armenia”. In the framework of “EDEX 2023” minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia, Robert Khachatryan had bilateral meetings with Lieutenant General Mohamed Ahmed Zaki Mohamed, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Minister of Defense and Military Production of Egypt, Mohamed Salah El Din Mustafa, Egypt’s State Minister for Military Production, Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Mokhtar Abdellatif, Chairperson of the Arab Organization for Industrialization. During these meetings, certain agreements have been reached between the parties on military cooperation. In this context, I would like to highlight Armenia’s deep interest in developing security and defence cooperation with Egypt, a country that plays a pivotal role as a pillar of security and stability in the Middle East, the Mediterranean Basin, and Africa 

Alongside the official visits, high-level meetings regularly take place in various international areas, such as in the framework of the UN General Assembly, COP, etc. 

The high-level visits that followed the historic visit of the Egyptian President to Armenia themselves embody the concrete steps that are being taken to implement the agreements reached in Yerevan. We are expecting other high-level mutual visits in the near future and further expansion of our mutual cooperation in various fields. 

Specifically, can you share any potential joint projects or initiatives in areas like tourism, cultural exchange or education?

Cooperation in the field of tourism plays an important role in Armenian-Egyptian relations. We have recently made tangible achievements in the field of tourism. In February of this year, the first business forum between Armenian and Egyptian touristic companies was held in Cairo. During the forum, agreements were reached to enhance cooperation between countries in the relevant field. Representatives of Egyptian tourism companies will exchange visits to Armenia in the near future.

According to current data, about 105,000 tourists from Armenia visited Egypt during 2022. We expect that in 2023 the number of Armenian tourists will reach 140-150 thousand tourists. On the other hand, the number of Egyptian tourists visiting Armenia is still quite low, about 8000 in 2023. However, the number of Egyptian tourists wishing to travel to Armenia to explore our culture, history and traditions has significantly increased. Thus, in December there will be direct charter flights from Cairo to Yerevan taking Egyptian tourists to celebrate the holidays in Armenia. We hope that the start of regular direct flights between our capitals, expected shortly, as well as the recent facilitation of visa requirements by Armenia (Egyptian citizens can now apply for a visa, without any invitation, directly at the Embassy of Armenia or through the e-visa system, while Egyptians having a valid residency or a valid visa of over 40 countries (including GCC, EU and Schengen countries, USA, New Zealand, etc.) can obtain a visa upon arrival at any border-control point of the Republic of Armenia) will be a great contribution in increasing the number of Egyptian tourists visiting Armenia. 

I mention with satisfaction that the cultural cooperation between Armenia and Egypt is witnessing significant development. We are working to strengthen cooperation between the National Library and Archives of Egypt and “Matenadaran” Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts in Armenia. In this context, an exhibition of Arab-Islamic manuscripts preserved in the Matenadaran will soon be organised in Cairo. In order to consolidate cooperation, the two parties are working to stimulate mutual visits by official delegations and cultural groups. In September 2023, the Yerevan State Puppet Theater participated in the 30th Cairo International Festival of Experimental Theater. Moreover, for two years in a row, the Ararat Armenian National Dance Youth Ensemble has represented Armenia at the World Children Festival, organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Egypt.

Also, to further enhance people-to-people ties, from time to time, the Armenian Embassy in Cairo and the Egyptian Embassy in Yerevan organise cultural events and concerts in the hosting countries. The last cultural days were organised in Yerevan by the Egyptian Embassy in 2019. Now the Armenian side is conducting preparatory work to organise Armenian cultural days in Egypt during the next year.

Besides this, we continued our intensive cooperation in the fields of education, and science. Mutual programs are being implemented to teach Armenian and Arabic to Armenian and Egyptian students. In the context of this cooperation, The Center for Armenian Studies at Cairo University continues its work. A lecturer from the Yerevan State University teaches the Armenian language to Egyptian students. In February a scientific symposium, dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the birth of the famous Armenian poet Yeghishe Charents, was held by the Center for Armenian Studies at Cairo University. This scientific symposium will be followed by an international scientific conference that will be held by the Center for Armenian Studies.

There is significant and fruitful cooperation with the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development, which continues hosting tens of Armenian officials (policemen, diplomats, military personnel, etc.) and other specialists (doctors, professors, etc.) in various training courses every year. Throughout the last three decades in total more than 2000 Armenian specialists have participated in the courses organised by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development.  

Given the geographical distance, what are the main obstacles to increasing trade volume between our two countries? What role can Armenian and Egyptian business communities play in promoting bilateral trade and investment?

Firstly, I would like to point out that the Egyptian President’s visit to Armenia gave a new impetus to our economic relations. In fact, President Sisi’s visit to Yerevan was also significant due to the immediate and promising results that it has produced so far. With great excitement, I would note that several Egyptian and Armenian companies have since expressed reciprocal interest and willingness to explore business and investment opportunities in our friendly countries. Several companies have paid visits in order to get acquainted with the available opportunities on the ground. Thus, I can state that the representatives of the Armenian and Egyptian private sectors view President Sisi’s visit to Yerevan as a signal to further develop economic relations between Armenia and Egypt. In their announcements, the leaders of Armenia and Egypt have emphasised the need for expanding the partnership and mutual investments in various sectors of the economy, such as industry, high-tech, tourism, communications, electricity, etc. 

On its part, the Armenian Embassy in Cairo is making great efforts to strengthen and develop economic cooperation between the two countries, hoping that bilateral trade and mutual investments will increase in the coming years. It should be noted that the year 2022 was very promising as the volume of trade exchange increased four times compared to the numbers of 2021. However, given the geographical distance, the trade turnover volume between our two countries continues to face challenges, and the launch of direct cargo flights between the capital cities can assist in achieving more tangible results in the coming years. 

Armenia is also interested in participating in many international exhibitions held in Egypt. This year, Armenia participated in the 56th session of the Cairo International Fair. The products of nearly twenty Armenian companies were presented in the Embassy’s pavilion and the Armenian side intends to continue and increase participation in such events in Egypt.

In the first quarter of 2024, we are planning to convene the sixth session of the Armenian-Egyptian intergovernmental committee in Cairo, to follow up on the implementation of previously reached agreements, as well as to explore possibilities of reaching new ones aimed at further expansion of economic ties. For that purpose, in particular, in the framework of the intergovernmental committee session, a business forum will be organised between the two countries’ business representatives. 

The infrastructure development projects that the Egyptian government is pursuing are really impressive and the Embassy is constantly informing Armenian stakeholders about them. I can say that there are currently several Armenian IT companies that have expressed interest in implementing projects in the New Administrative Capital. Hopefully, in the near time, there will be some tangible outcomes to announce. 

Armenia’s participation in regional organisations, in turn, creates new avenues for cooperation with non-member states. For instance, this is the case with the Eurasian Economic Union: Egypt (along with several other countries in the region) is interested in cooperation with the EEU, and this interest broadens the scope of our cooperation with Egypt. In this regard, I would like to reiterate Armenia’s interest, as a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, in continuing to make efforts to help Egypt complete the process of drafting and signing a free trade agreement with the Union as soon as possible, noting that this agreement will provide new opportunities to support economic, trade and investment cooperation between Armenia and Egypt. 

Do you see any potential for Egypt to become a gateway for Armenian exports to Africa or vice versa?

Indeed, Egypt can and I think will become in the near future the main gateway for Armenian exports to Africa. At the moment, Armenian business with Africa is quite insignificant, but the expected increase in Armenian trade-business involvement in Egypt, will result in more and more Armenian companies getting interested in further expanding to other African countries and Egypt will be the natural gateway for them. In this context, we are interested in participating in the regional exhibitions held in Egypt, such as the Food Africa Expo, etc., believing that exhibitions are the best places to explore the regional markets and to find business counterparts in order to conduct targeted work and pursue profitable economic achievements.  

Armenia has set ambitious climate goals. How can Egypt’s experience and resources following COP28 support Armenia’s climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts? Are there any specific areas for potential collaboration, such as renewable energy development or sustainable agriculture practices? 

Firstly, I would like to note that the climate change agenda and new and renewable energy projects are among the priorities of the Armenian government. During the official visit by the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Armenia, as well as during the meeting that took place between the President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan, and the President of Egypt, within the framework of COP 28 in Dubai, the two governments stressed the importance of enhancing direct and indirect investments between the states in all possible fields, including the energy sector. I would like to point out that the participation of the President of the Republic of Armenia in COP27 as well as in COP28 particularly emphasised Armenia’s readiness to develop cooperation in the field of energy with Egypt. 

Armenia believes that in order to address the challenges of Climate Change it is needed to change our lifestyle and the way that we deal with natural resources. To this end, Armenia works with Middle Eastern countries, especially with Egypt on the agenda of using water resources and with the UAE, on the projects of Solar energy generation. Also, we work closely with the EU on making amendments to the country’s Environmental Legislation.

I am convinced that in the near future, Armenian-Egyptian relations will also witness fruitful cooperation in this area in the form of concrete joint projects and initiatives. 

How can international actors, including Egypt, help address humanitarian concerns arising from the conflict, such as the displacement of civilians? 

Firstly, I would like to state that this conflict has never been about the Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict, it has been about the right of Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to live freely and in security in their homeland without the fear of being slaughtered. 

Armenia is committed to its vision of building stability and peace in the region and continues its constructive participation in the negotiations on the normalisation of relations with Azerbaijan. Seeking to establish lasting peace in the South Caucasus, Armenia has initiated “The Crossroads of Peace” project, expressing its readiness to ensure the safety of cargo, vehicles, people, pipelines, and electric lines in its territory, thus connecting all the neighbouring countries with its further continuation by linking the East with the West, the North with the South, thus, ensuring economic benefits for the region and countries beyond. Armenia believes that this project is able to play the role of an important guarantee of peace in the region.  

On December 7, 2023, Armenia and Azerbaijan jointly declared their commitment to normalising relations and are set to exchange prisoners captured during the recent conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Nonetheless, despite the fact that Armenia has always stated its commitment and readiness to normalise relations, the Azerbaijani side continues occupying around 150 square kilometres of Armenia’s sovereign territory during its aggressions in 2021 and 2022 and continues its warmongering and Armenophobic rhetoric laying territorial claims on other sovereign territories of Armenia (including capital Yerevan). In fact, the agreement to release the POWs all-for-all had been reached immediately after the end of the 44-day war, in 2020, and Baku did not comply with that agreement, although Yerevan did release all the POWs at the moment. So, this recent statement and the release by Azerbaijan of 32 POWs came only after Azerbaijan in September 2023 committed another aggression against the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh and ethnically cleansed the region from its indigenous population. Within a few days, more than 105 thousand Armenians were forcibly displaced from their ancestral homes. Another 26 thousand Armenians were already displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of the devastating war of 2020. It should be mentioned that in its recent decision, the International Court of Justice ordered Azerbaijan to “ensure that persons who have left Nagorno-Karabakh and who wish to return are able to do so in a safe, unimpeded and expeditious manner”. Armenia welcomes this decision and fully supports the realisation of this legally binding decision.

As far as currently there are no appropriate conditions to guarantee the security and rights of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia has been taking all necessary steps to address the needs of refugees. While the Azerbaijani mass media is busy spreading “scenes” claiming that there are Armenians who want to be integrated into Azerbaijan. It is clearly a false propaganda of Azerbaijani authorities trying to get rid of the status of a country that committed ethnic cleansing. It is pretty cynical, indeed, to force over 100 thousand Armenians out of their homeland and then to simulate the integration of a couple of dozens (not more than 40 people), especially if “integration” in Baku’s terms means forced assimilation. 

We expect the international actors, including Egypt, to support Armenia’s policy and efforts to establish peace in the region, as well as we expect them to firmly condemn the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno Karabakh and make efforts to secure the rights of the indigenous Armenian population to return to their homeland and live in security and peace.  

Can you share your thoughts on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, including Egypt? What implications do you see for Armenia and the region?

Concerning the ongoing events in and around Gaza, we express our condolences for all the thousands of innocent lives that are being lost as a result of military escalation, highly appreciating Egypt’s efforts to ensure the flow of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, receive wounded Palestinians and evacuate foreign nationals.

With regard to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict Armenia has always supported the “two-state” solution as the only viable option for establishing lasting peace in the Middle East.  

We encourage the parties to reserve peaceful means for resolving the conflict and come back to the negotiation table. We fully support Egypt’s efforts, in reaching negotiated solutions to all the outstanding issues and its mediating role. Armenia, as a direct neighbour of the Middle Eastern region, is a natural beneficiary of such a foreign policy of Egypt, since we are greatly interested in a peaceful and cooperative regional environment not only because of the economic and trade opportunities but also because of the security and wellbeing of thousands of our compatriots that live in the region (Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine etc.) for centuries. 

How can Armenia and Egypt work together to counter regional threats like terrorism and extremism?

The challenges that terrorism and different types of extremism pose are universal, and Armenia itself is trying to fight terrorism in its surrounding area with any means available. In this regard, we highly appreciate Egypt’s effective role and experience in countering terrorism in the Middle East and Africa, but this, of course, is not a challenge that a single country can overcome. Unfortunately, there are other players in the region that support and foster various terrorist activities. We faced it ourselves during the 44-day war in 2020 when Azerbaijan used terrorists and mercenaries to fight against the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh, and, as a matter of fact, two of those mercenaries are currently under detention in Armenia.  

With regard to the cooperation between Armenia and Egypt, Armenian security and police officers participate in various training courses organised by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development, including in the field of the fight against terrorism, gaining much-valued experience and knowledge from our Egyptian partners. I can state that such courses have greatly enhanced the security collaboration between our countries and I see readiness and potential on both sides to further expand security dialogue. 

https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2023/12/26/armenia-egypt-taking-steps-towards-developing-defence-cooperation-armenian-ambassador-to-cairo/

Mohamed Samir

Armenia to preside over EAEU in 2024, Moscow to host next summit

Boris Nahapetian
Belarus – Dec 26 2023

ST PETERSBURG, 26 December (BelTA) – Armenia will preside over the structures of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in 2024. This decision was made at the EAEU summit in St Petersburg on 25 December, BelTA has learned.

In accordance with the EAEU Treaty, the chairmanship is carried out on a rotational basis in the order of the Russian alphabet. Accordingly, Armenia will take over Russia as the EAEU president.

It was also decided where and when the next meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council will take place. Speaking at the summit, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko noted: “We are grateful to Vladimir Vladimirovich that Moscow will host the next meeting of our organization, this will be an anniversary summit [timed to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the EAEU Treaty]. Nikol Vovayevich [Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan] and I put forward such an initiative. The president of Russia upheld it. All members of the EAEU agreed. In May next year we will hold the next summit of the heads of state of our union in Russia.”

Azerbaijan Announces Expulsion of Two French Diplomats

Vorskanian Yeghisabet
Voice of America
Dec 26 2023
AFP - Azerbaijan's foreign ministry said Tuesday that two French diplomats had been ordered to leave over actions "incompatible with their diplomatic status."

The ministry said in a statement it had summoned French ambassador Anne Boillon to express a "strong protest over the actions of two employees of the French Embassy."

Without providing further details, it said the two had been declared personae non gratae and ordered to leave the country within 48 hours.

The move came amid tense relations between the countries as Baku has accused France of being biased towards Armenia during European-mediated peace talks with its arch-foe.

In November, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accused France of inciting conflicts in the Caucasus by arming Armenia.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have fought two wars over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Baku reclaimed the enclave in September after a lightning offensive against Armenian separatists who had controlled it for three decades.

Armenia and Azerbaijan had said a comprehensive peace agreement could be signed by the end of the year, but internationally mediated negotiations between the ex-Soviet republics have made little progress.

Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have met on several occasions for talks under the mediation of the European Union.

But in October, Aliyev refused to attend negotiations with Pashinyan in Spain, over what he said was France's "biased position".

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had been set to mediate the talks along with European Council President Charles Michel.

Home to a large Armenian diaspora, France has been routinely accused by Azerbaijan of pro-Armenian bias over the Caucasus countries' territorial conflict.

Azerbaijan expels French diplomats amid Armenia tensions

Arsine Chaltikian
DW – Deutsche Welle
Dec 26 2023

The Foreign Ministry in Baku said two French diplomats were named personae non grata and the ambassador was summoned in protest. However, the ministry did not specify reasons for the dispute.

Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said that two French diplomats had been ordered to leave the country over actions "incompatible with their diplomatic status." 

The ministry said in a statement that it had summoned French ambassador Anne Boillon to voice a "strong protest over the actions of two employees of the French Embassy." 

It said the pair were given 48 hours to leave the country. 

But the statement did not provide the exact reason for the two diplomats being sent home.

The move comes amid strained ties between Baku and Paris as  European powers attempt to mediate between Azerbaijan and neighboring Armenia. 

Azerbaijan reclaimed the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, over which the rivals fought two wars in recent decades, in a lightning offensive in September against Armenian separatists who had controlled it since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

In October, President Ilham Aliyev refused to attend a round of talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, citing what he said was the EU and France's "biased position" on the dispute. 

France's President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Council President Charles Michel had been set to mediate at that meeting.

In November, Aliyev accused France of inciting conflicts in the Caucasus in recent decades by arming Armenia.

France is home to a large Armenian diaspora and has often been accused of partiality by Baku.

Armenian Prime Minister rebukes Putin and Lukashenko at summit in Russia

Khondkarian Raffi
MSN
Dec 26 2023
RBC Ukraine
Story by Liliana Oleniak

Ameeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council was held in St. Petersburg on December 25. During the meeting, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made remarks about his country's position on the separation of economic and political issues, according to Azatutyun.

The head of the Armenian government says that "the Eurasian Economic Union is an economic association that should not have a political, let alone a geopolitical agenda."

"We continue to perceive it in this way and develop interaction within the framework of our economic cooperation in this context, seeking to stop all attempts to politicize Eurasian integration," Pashinyan says.

According to him, the EAEU and its economic principles should not correlate with political ambitions.

"The EAEU and its economic principles should not be associated with political ambitions. The fundamental freedoms of trade and integration cannot and should not be restricted for political reasons, as this will lead to corrosion of the fundamental principles of the association," the Prime Minister says.

In contrast to Pashinyan, Russian and Belarusian dictators Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko regularly advocate the politicization of all associations in the post-Soviet space.

Deterioration of Armenia's relations with Russia and Belarus

The Armenian authorities have repeatedly expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of effective support for the Collective Security Treaty Organization in the framework of international cooperation among its member states. In particular, the last such complaint about the presence of Russian military bases on the territory of the country was expressed by Armenia during active hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The CSTO members are Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

In the summer, Armenia refused to participate in the Skela-2023 exercise in Belarus under the auspices of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

At the end of October, it became known that the Armenian authorities were considering closing down Russian state TV channels because they had committed violations.

In early November, the Russian Federation stated that it perceived Armenia's participation in the Ukrainian peace formula summit in Malta as a "demonstrative anti-Russian gesture."

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/armenian-prime-minister-rebukes-putin-and-lukashenko-at-summit-in-russia/ar-AA1m3l7f



In Armenia, What’s Old is New Again

Jagharian Tania
Forbes
Dec 26 2023
Lana Bortolot

Contributor

After a few thousand years of winemaking, Armenia is making its debut as a producer of quality wines for the modern drinker.

A small, land-locked country of not-quite three million—its diaspora is three times the number of its residents—you don’t hear much about Armenia. It was in the news briefly this fall during a border conflict with Azerbaijan, whose military bases overlook vineyards in Vayots Dzor, a prime production region. But in the wake of the larger conflict in Gaza occurring soon after, the Armenian-Azerbaijan situation has slipped from public view.

And that’s to the advantage of a wine industry undergoing a renaissance that just this year started exploring broader, international markets for commercialization. The concept of Armenian wine might be new to many, but the country’s wine production goes back at least 6,000 years. Evidence of systematic winemaking such as wine presses, jars and karases (clay vessels similar to amphorae) was found in the Areni-1 cave, a site from the Early Bronze Age in Vayots Dzor, and a stone’s throw from leading wineries today.

Like its Georgian neighbor to the north—another ancient wine culture—Armenia’s wine industry suffered under Soviet rule that prioritized bulk and brandy production over quality wines of place. It’s been only in the post-Soviet years that winemakers were able to reclaim their heritage and infuse the old vineyards with new technology and renewed stewardship.

“During the Soviet era, much of the connection with traditional winemaking was lost except in home winemaking,” says Ara Sarkissian, head of wine at Storica Wines, a Massachusetts-based importer dedicated to Armenian fine wine. “After the fall of the Soviet Union, Armenia saw an influx of immigration; Armenians moved [back] to their homeland, bringing with them technology, knowledge and funding.

“This allowed for a reset of sorts in winemaking and people were open to bringing in new ideas, approaches and technology from Europe and elsewhere to rejuvenate commercial wine production.”

Storica was established in 2018 and today represents seven brands by five producers, who, in turn represent a new generation and mindset for the country’s winemaking. Though they’re far flung across a rugged landscape, they are closely bound by a common commitment to quality and defining the new Armenian terroir.

Armenia 101. In part, Armenia mirrors conditions in some of the world’s most prized regions—high-elevation vineyards—up to nearly 6,000 feet above sea level—on well-draining limestone and volcanic soils. But any geographic similarities to Europe end there: the heart of Armenia’s wine country is defined by valleys and, in large part, a dramatic mountainscape—ripples of brown hues in the highlands turning to purple and snow caps in the distance. In some places, it’s the only horizon the eye can see. Indeed, mountains make up about 70% of the land. Some vineyards are so remote, all there is to see are earth and sky.

“It’s not really a hospitable region—very dramatic and a little extreme and edgy,” said Vahe Keushgerian, who along with his daughter Aimee, produces traditional-method sparkling wine from 130-year-old ungrafted vines at Keush, established in 2010 in Vayots Dzor. From his vineyards 5,741 feet above sea level, the boundaries of all four neighboring countries—Georgia, Turkey, Iran and Azerbaijan—are in view.

His assessment is echoed by Arsen Mkrtchyan, director at Noa, a winery founded in 2017 on 35 hectares (~86 acres) of land formerly part of an “old-style vineyard more oriented to volume than quality.”

“When we bought the land, we didn’t expect it to be so stony and so much work, but now we can’t stop,” he said.

At this point, Armenia’s six wine-producing regions largely seem to be defined by their altitudes, and a visual reminder of this is Mount Ararat, a 16,854-foot dormant volcano, which, though in eastern Turkey, dominates the view for miles. The regional crown jewel is Vayots Dzor, with elevations up to 5,900 feet above sea level. Armavir, located in the Ararat plain (2,953 – 3,609 feet asl), is the largest and mostly focused on white wines. Ararat with (2,625-3,281 feet) follows in size. Aragatsotn is a northwestern outpost for quality-led boutique family wineries with the same elevations as Armavir. Keush’s French-trained winemaker Arman Manoukian says Armenia is about 20 years away from having an appellation system, so for now, valleys and elevations are the main markers.

The country is home to more than 350 indigenous varieties, about 80 of which have been DNA tested, Vahe estimated, with about 30 in commercial cultivation for still (dry) and sparkling wines are made. (Sweet wine production is limited and mostly consumed locally and is not part of the export strategy.) About 70% of Armenian wines are consumed in-country.

Thanks to those extreme elevations and diurnal temperature shifts, in general, the wines are crisp and have a linear fruit _expression_, ready for the modern consumer. Master of Wine Lisa Granik, author of Wines of Georgia and a market adviser to Armenia, calls them “well-balanced, approachable and appealing alternatives to the ubiquitous varieties in the current market.”

Storica focuses on five grape varieties that have the greatest potential to resonate with consumers in the American market. “We have decided to primarily import wines made with Areni, which is easy to pronounce, but is also approachable, being medium-bodied and low in tannin,” Sarkissian said. Some are crunchy-red-fruited wines that often can pass for Pinot Noir. The whites made of Voskehat can mimic a creamy-textured Chardonnay from the Burgundy villages.

The work starts in the vineyard. Starting with a clean slate means not only breaking ground, but also making viticultural decisions that will define the respective wineries: where to source grapes, how to farm them and how to manage resources, such as water, that are in scarce supply. The decisions are individual, but all the programming starts with a common desire to preserve and elevate what is truly Armenian.

Aimee Keushgerian, who grew up in Tuscany and repatriated from the United States, established Zulal (“pure” in Armenian) in 2017, making dry wines micro-vinified from grapes that were on the verge of extinction. She sources from small growers in Vayots Dzor and Artashat. Noa is working with a consulting oenologist on the winery’s sustainability program, focused on water conservation and other organic best practices. The winery is in its first year of pursuing the three-year organic certification.

Over at Voskevaz, winemaker Ghevond Petrosyan says “we’re trying to reactivate traditions in a modern style, but respect native varieties, natural root stocks and methods like fermenting the grapes in karas.” Indeed, ownership at Voskevaz has a foot in both the past and future: The former Soviet winery was founded in 1932, “reborn” through an acquisition by the Hovhannisyan family in 1997 and “born again” in 2013 with a significant restoration that includes a castle-like folly set up for enotourism.

And at Van Ardi, a winery at 3,356 feet in Aragatsotn, Varuzhan Mouradian, repatriated from Los Angeles to start what is widely considered Armenia’s first boutique winery. His mission, he said, is “to put Armenia on a fine-wine map and to reeducate Armenians about [their] wine heritage.” Certified organic, Van Ardi employs methods often found in biodynamic vineyards, such as farming by a lunar calendar and playing music for the vines and constructing a bell tower that gives off vibrations on the “do” note. “We consider the vines communicate with each other and have feelings,” he says. “We are always experimenting and adapting: It’s a process.”

Finding a market. All this bodes well for a nascent wine market in which consumers value stewardship and authenticity, though Sarkissian says it’s not without its challenges.

“They are twofold: One is that the grape varieties are unknown, the other is that Armenia is not known as a wine producer due to the break during Soviet times,” he said. “Armenia is behind Greece and Georgia by about 15 years in terms of the ability of U.S. consumers to have a basic understanding of [its] wine personality.”

However, it is his job, along with the new generation of winemakers, to suss out a narrative that will attract consumers who, increasingly, are interested in off-the-beaten path wines.

“While currently the market potential rests among consumers willing to venture beyond, say, Chardonnay and Bordeaux varieties, the value and quality of Armenian wines should allow them a toehold in the growing demand for ancient varieties from ancient wine growing areas,” says Granik.

But if Greece and Georgia, both with similar challenges can surmount them, so can Armenia with its backstory still in development.

“Areni has been shown to be the grape variety that was vinified in the Areni-1 cave, making it the oldest continually used grape variety that we know of. This certainly helps the story,” Sarkissian says.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lanabortolot/2023/12/26/in-armenia-whats-old-is-new-again/?sh=299935487cdd

Are India and Armenia Moving Toward a Strategic Partnership?

Hambik Zargarian
The National Interest
Dec 26 2023

India’s robust relationship with Armenia may be put on hold by the shift in the Caucasus’ balance of power.

by Abhinav Pandya Follow @abhinavpandya on Twitter

When it comes to Indian geopolitical maneuvers, the global strategic community feels that India punches much below its weight, mostly confined to South Asia. Until recently, India’s strategic calculus was primarily limited to Pakistan, followed by China. Its outreach to the Western world was largely economic and cultural, barring a minor strategic component dwelling upon defense deals. However, after the Chinese incursions in Doklam and Galwan worsened the India-China relationship and the involvement of extra-regional actors like Turkey in the Kashmir conflict, India’s foreign policy vision, approach, and strategic calculus are expanding beyond South Asia. Some of its manifestations include India’s interest in the Indo-Pacific, global strategic connectivity projects like IMEC, an upsurge in India-Greece bilateral ties, and New Delhi’s enthusiastic showmanship during its G20 presidency.

India’s outreach to Armenia, a faraway country in the South Caucasus, is part of this new change. The October 2021 visit of Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, to Yerevan is historic because it’s the first such visit of the Indian foreign minister to Armenia in the last thirty years. Before this, Prime Minister Modi met his Armenian counterpart, Nikol Pashinyan, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, seeking Yerevan’s support in finalizing a trade arrangement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EaEU). 

In the last three years, India has emerged as a major weapons supplier to Armenia. These big-ticket defense deals include the sale of Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers, a $40 million contract of SWATHI weapon-locating radars, ammunition anti-tank missiles, and 155 mm artillery guns. The author’s interlocutors in India’s Ministry of External Affairs informed that Armenia is interested in more defense deals, including drones and counter-drone systems, loitering munitions, and mid-range surface-to-air missiles. In October 2022, Armenia’s defense minister, Suren Papikyan, visited the New Delhi defense expo and met his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh. 

In Sept 2022, both countries signed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) in culture, digital infrastructure, and renewable energy to promote business ties at the India-Armenia Conference 2022 in Bengaluru. The delegates explored the trade and investment potential in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, information technology, cinema, and tourism. Additionally, one can witness an uptick in think tank-level cooperation between India and Armenia. Most recently, the author represented the Usanas Foundation at the Yerevan Dialogue Series organized by the Armenian Prime Minister’s Office in collaboration with Armenia’s top-level think tank, Applied Policy Research Institute (APRI). APRI will also organize the next dialogue series with the Observer Research Foundation, another Indian think tank, and the Raisina Dialogue organizer in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs. 

All these developments rest on the solid bedrock of robust cultural and historical ties between the two countries that have existed for centuries. The Armenian business community has lived in India for over four centuries. Kolkata is home to centuries-old Armenian churches. The first draft of a constitution for the Armenian nation was drawn up in Chennai. 

Strategic Connectivity and Geopolitics

Until the 2020 war, India more or less had a clear stand, backing Armenia against Azerbaijan’s territorial aggression. Turkey and Pakistan’s support of Azerbaijan made it all the more essential for India to support Armenia. In 2017, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Pakistan signed a trilateral ministers’ agreement to boost defense and strategic ties. Notably, Azerbaijan has declared its support for Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, whereas Armenia supports India. Turkey-Pakistan relations extend back to 1947. After India abrogated Kashmir’s special status in 2019, Turkey emerged as a diehard proponent of Pakistan’s position against India. Under Erdogan’s Islamist leadership and Pan-Turkic ambitions, Ankara’s interest and support of Pakistan strengthened, and anti-India diatribes have become vitriolic. More recently, the author’s interlocutors have suggested that Erdogan’s private paramilitary force, SADAT, may be active in sending highly trained mercenaries to Kashmir. 

In addition to counter-balance Turkey and Pakistan, India also looks at Armenia as a nodal point to expand its strategic and economic outreach to the South Caucasus. Delhi’s most critical interests in this region lie in the strategic connectivity projects. India’s interest in the INSTC (International North-South Corridor), of which Armenia is a part, is firmly rooted in its quest for land connectivity to Eurasia, Central Asia, and Europe through the Iranian plateau, otherwise blocked by Pakistan and Afghanistan. With this intent, India aims to extend INSTC to Armenia, connecting Chahbahar port in South East Iran to European and Eurasian markets. India and Iran have two options- railway lines connecting North Western Iran to Russia or the Black Sea through Armenia’s Syunik province or via the Caspian Coast through Azerbaijan. Armenia is a natural choice for India because of Azerbaijan’s proximity to Pakistan and Turkey. Armenia is also keenly interested in INSTC. Yerevan announced an alternate road to Iran in May 2021 to connect Iranian ports to Georgian ports via Armenia. During the Indian foreign minister’s 2021 visit, Armenia also proposed a scheme allowing the transportation of Indian products to Russia and the Black Sea via Armenia. All these initiatives bring the INSTC closer to reality. 

Given the abovementioned developments, it is reasonable to conclude that both countries are moving towards a robust strategic partnership. However, India’s relative silence after the fall of Nagarno-Karabakh in 2023 indicates a moderate decline in New Delhi’s enthusiasm for the relationship and a sense of guarded optimism bordering on skepticism. Perhaps, after Azerbaijan cemented its control over Nagarno-Karabakh, India now feels insecure about its investments and plans for strategic connectivity projects in this region. India may reconsider its abovementioned preference for the Syunik transit route because of the Zanzegur region that falls within it. Baku has made claims to the Zanzegur corridor as it provides unimpeded access to its exclave of Nakchivan. Given the revisionist intent of Azerbaijan, these threats originating from Baku can not be underestimated. Hence, the prevailing instability and volatile security situation may dampen India’s enthusiasm for a transit route through Syunik.

Nevertheless, India faces a tough choice. India is deeply invested in the Chahbahar project and eyes INSTC as a critical connectivity project to obtain overland routes to Europe. Despite the hindrances from sanctions against Iran and Russia and major differences over the arbitration issues with Iran, India has finalized a ten-year contract with Iran for the use of Chahbahar port. 

India’s West Asia expert and former envoy to many Middle Eastern countries, Ambassador Anil Trigunayat, said in a telephone interview that after the Ukraine war, Russians have become very serious about the rapid execution of INSTC to gain access to Chahbahar through the Indian Ocean, to counter the European sanctions. India does not want to miss this opportunity. He further said that if India shows a lack of interest, China will likely occupy that space as it already has strong ties with Russia. India’s dependence is further accentuated by the declining prospects of the IMEC (India-Middle East Europe Corridor) after the Israel-Hamas war. 

Hence, whether these vulnerabilities will compel India to explore the Azerbaijan route for INSTC against the backdrop of the Turkey-Pakistan-Azerbaijan alliance remains a million-dollar question. 

In addition to the abovementioned factors, the increasing involvement of global powers in the South Caucasus can also impede the transformation of the India-Armenia relationship into a strategic partnership. After Russia’s lukewarm response to the war with Azerbaijan, there is a marked Armenian shift toward the United States, which is making Moscow uncomfortable. In the recent Russia-Ukraine war, India had to face tremendous pressure from the Western powers to abandon Russia. Given its aversion to alliances, New Delhi would avoid getting caught in another cold war front between the United States and Russia. Also, India’s strong ties with Israel, Iran’s arch-enemy, and Iran’s with China, India’s arch-enemy, will make it increasingly challenging for India to continue and further its involvement in Russia-Iran-led INSTC. The worst-case scenario for India will be the passage of INSTC through Azerbaijan. Hence, it can be argued that in the prevailing uncertainty and instability in the South Caucasus, India will prefer to move ahead on a bilateral trajectory with Armenia, with a particular focus on defense deals and economic ties. 

Dr. Abhinav Pandya is a founder and CEO of Usanas Foundation, an India-based geopolitical and security affairs think-tank, and the author of Radicalization in India: An Exploration. His second book, Terror Financing in Kashmir, was released this month. He has a Ph.D. from OP Jindal University and an MPA from Cornell University.

https://nationalinterest.org/feature/are-india-and-armenia-moving-toward-strategic-partnership-208173

LCF Armenian Class Celebrates Holidays Through Music

Vorskanian Yeghisabet
Dec 26 2023
The Armenian after-school program for LCE, PCR, and PCY elementary school students celebrated its first Christmas concert and performance on Dec. 19.
Led by the highly experienced and dedicated teacher Marianna Khachatryan, the students memorized and recited Armenian holiday poems, sang Armenian Christmas songs and played instruments.
The enthusiastic students included PCY first grader Emin DerHartunian, PCY fourth grader Mihran DerHartunian, PCY second grader Vahan Gozumian, LCE first grader Arka Terzian, LCE transitional kindergartner Arpi Terzian, and PCR fourth grader Alec Tsaturyan.
The students were also recognized for their personal achievements and were awarded certificates, highlighting their strengths in their learning. Parents were invited to the classroom to see the performance and experience the progress the students made in their Armenian language skills throughout the school year.
This initiative, which embraces diversity and inclusion in our community, is taught by the Davidian and Mariamian Educational Foundation. It is a reputable organization that has successfully implemented similar programs in 25 schools across Southern California.
The program officially started for the three elementary schools in February 2023 and offers a six-year curriculum that includes Armenian language and cultural components. Open to any elementary school child in the La Cañada school district, the program accommodates students of all proficiency levels. Currently, the class is divided into beginner and intermediate levels. Upon completion of the program, students will receive a graduation ceremony, marking their linguistic and cultural accomplishments.
For those interested in enrolling, classes are currently held on Tuesdays from 3:30 to 5:30 pm at a La Cañada Unified School District office classroom and will begin on Jan. 9. Further details can be found at DMEF.org.

https://outlookvalleysun.outlooknewspapers.com/2023/12/26/lcf-armenian-class-celebrates-holidays-through-music/

Lukashenko on integration prospects: Armenia will definitely be with us

Jalatian Sonya
SB.BY
Belarus – Dec 25 2023

When asked by journalists whether he was offended that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan arrived to the EEU summit in St. Petersburg, but had not earlier visited the CSTO summit in Minsk, Belarus’ President Aleksandr Lukashenko noted, “What's the difference? St. Petersburg, Minsk… These are different formats.”

The Head of State said that, even during his telephone conversation with Pashinyan before the Minsk summit, he knew that he would go to St. Petersburg, “When I was talking to him, I asked: ‘Will you go to St. Petersburg?’ He replied: ‘Well, this is a different format, an economic one. We feel aggrieved with the military-political one, the CSTO, but this will focus on the economy’. That's why I knew he would come to St. Petersburg. I supported him in that then, and I support him now. What kind of offense could it be?”

“Won't we lose Armenia?” journalists asked.

“Well, if Armenia wants to die economically, then we can lose it. However, I do not think that Armenians are stupid people. They are smart, and I am sure that Armenia will not go anywhere. Didn’t it see how people were dying in Afghanistan, how they were clinging to the chassis? Do you remember that when Americans were going away? They will use Armenia in the same way and go away. This will be the case, it is their [Americans’] politics. Armenians are smart, they understand that this is exactly what will happen. Who will help them there? France is trying to do something. You see what is happening in France; they should better settle everything domestically before interfering with the Caucasus. They cannot resolve all issues at home, and Armenians see this,” the Head of State said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko explained what the key of the politics is, “The events happening publicly are one side, and the other side is what is occurring outside this publicity. The main processes are taking place there. Due to these processes, Armenia will definitely be with us, since the most important direction of their development is here.”

  

How far can Armenia go in getting closer to West: Expert opinion

Hagop Kamalian
MSN
Dec 24 2023
Story by Natalia Direyeva 
Armenia continues its path towards Western integration and expresses the desire to resume the signing of the Association Agreement with the European Union, says to RBC-Ukraine Wojciech Wojtasiewicz, an expert on the South Caucasus at the Polish Institute of International Affairs (Warsaw).

Closer ties with the European Union

Armenia's Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, affirms his commitment to diversifying security relationships. Concrete steps have been taken, including agreements for military supplies from France. In October, Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that Paris would provide a certain quantity of arms, including air defense assets. In November, it was disclosed that the planned transfer of light armored vehicles Bastion to Ukraine would be redirected to Armenia.

Since February 2023, a Civilian Mission of the European Union (EUMA) has been operating in Armenia. This neutral mission, exclusively active on Armenian territory, lacks executive functions. It is designed for a two-year term to contribute to stability in Armenia's border regions and normalize relations with Azerbaijan.

Additionally, an Agreement on Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership is in effect between Brussels and Yerevan. Pashinyan considers it one of the pillars of reforms in Armenia, expressing the ambition to draw closer to the EU and cooperate on police reform, the judicial system, education, and public administration.

The Armenian government aims to return to the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU

As the first step towards strengthening cooperation, on December 11, the EU expanded its mission from 138 to 209 personnel. Foreign Minister of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, made a series of statements affirming a pro-European direction. He welcomed the decision to start negotiations on the EU accession of Ukraine and Moldova, not only on behalf of the government but also on behalf of the Armenian people. According to him, the process of democratization and reform in the country "will not stop for a moment."

Expert Wojciech Wojtasiewicz suggests that the authorities aim to return to the signing of the Association Agreement. The document was ready in 2013, but then-President Serzh Sargsyan received a call from the Kremlin and ultimately declined. Following this, Vladimir Putin initiated the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Armenia is eager to secure visa-free access to the EU

The Armenian government now seeks a new agreement with the European Union, with the expansion of the observer mission marking the initial move.

"Secondly, they want to obtain a visa-free regime so Armenians can travel to EU countries without Schengen visas. They also want a free trade zone. In principle, this is the most important. Additionally, negotiations are underway with the US and France on constructing a power plant to reduce dependence on Russian resources and gas. But implementing such decisions quickly is difficult; it will take time," Wojtasiewicz explained.

The details of what is happening in the triangle of Armenia – the West – Russia are discussed in the material by RBC-Ukraine.