Thursday, January 4, 2024
Armenian Officials Sacked Over Substandard Construction Work
• Karine Simonian
Armenia - Prime Minsiter Nikol Pashinian inspects a newly renovated school gym
in Lori province, January 3, 2024.
Two senior Armenian officials were sacked on Thursday one day after Prime
Minister Nikol Pashinian witnessed the poor quality of construction financed by
his government during a visit to northern Lori province.
Pashinian inspected several schools and other facilities refurbished in local
rural communities during the trip designed to showcase the government’s
nationwide infrastructure projects. He was left fuming after noticing many flaws
in their design and construction overseen by the Armenian government’s Urban
Development Committee and the provincial administration.
Pashinian seemed particularly upset with what looked like substandard equipment
and furniture supplied to a newly renovated school gym in one of the Lori
villages.
“To summarize things briefly, I am very, terribly unhappy, and I will not
tolerate such a thing,” a government video of the trip showed him telling
officials accompanying him.
The government announced the dismissal of the head of the Urban Development
Committee, Armen Ghularian, and Lori Governor Aram Khachatrian as Pashinian
chaired its weekly meeting in Yerevan the following morning.
The premier spent 16 minutes sharing his impressions of what he saw in Lori and
complaining about what he called a “deeply entrenched” culture of inadequate
government-funded construction in Armenia.
“You touch a [school] hanger and it falls down, water drips everywhere you go,
not to mention the fact that for five months I didn’t manage to convince I don’t
know whom not to put transparent glass in toilets,” he said.
Armenia - Lori Governor Aram Khachatrian (left) and Armen Ghularian, head of the
Urban Development Committee.
“We no longer need officials who raise issues, we need officials who solve
issues,” added Pashinian.
Pashinian pledged to solve this and other problems, blamed by him on government
corruption, when he swept to power nearly six years ago. He has since claimed to
have eliminated “systemic corruption” in the country. His critics have dismissed
the claims.
There are growing questions about integrity in public procurement in Armenia.
This is one of the reasons why Transparency International downgraded the
country’s position in its annual survey of corruption perceptions around the
world released a year ago.
Most of the construction projects in Lori inspected by Pashinian were
implemented by a company contracted by the Urban Development Committee. The
company called T-Construction could not be reached for comment.
Khachatrian, the sacked provincial governor, is also a senior member of
Pashinian’s Civil Contract party. He told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service that he
himself decided to resign right after Pashinian’s visit.
Armenian Government Reports Further Rise In Tax Revenue
Armenia -- The entrance to the State Revenue Committee headquarters in Yerevan,
November 29, 2018.
The Armenian government’s tax revenue rose by over 15 percent in 2023 amid
continuing robust economic growth, the head of the State Revenue Committee
(SRC), Rustam Badasian, said on Thursday.
Badasian told reporters that his agency collected a total of 2.22 trillion drams
($5.5 billion) in various taxes and duties. He said this was first and foremost
the result of its continued crackdown on tax evasion.
The SRC was also helped by the overall macroeconomic situation in Armenia. The
country’s Gross Domestic Product was on course to grow by 7-8 percent last year.
The Armenian economy expanded even faster, by 12 percent, in 2022 mainly because
of a surge in cash inflows from Russia resulting from Western sanctions against
Moscow. The government’s tax revenue jumped by 21 percent at the time.
The 2024 state budget approved by the Armenian parliament last month commits the
SRC to collecting 2.61 trillion drams in taxes. The figure would be equivalent
to almost 25 percent of GDP, Finance Minister Vahe Hovannisian told lawmakers.
It will not be enough to fully cover a 23 percent surge in government spending
this year projected at 3.2 trillion drams ($7.9 billion). The budget deficit
should therefore widen to 4.6 percent of GDP this year, according to government
projections.
The International Monetary Fund praised the Armenian authorities for planning to
further improve tax collection when it approved a “precautionary” loan worth
$170 million to them in December 2022.
Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2024 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
Asbarez: Out & About in Yerevan
The Erebuni Archeological Museum in Yerevan, Armenia
BY CATHERINE YESAYAN
Since 2001, I have traveled to Armenia numerous times. However, I never had the chance to visit the Blue Mosque in Yerevan, which is right across the street from the main market, called the “Pak-Shuka,” where I have shopped several times.
I always wanted to visit the mosque for two reasons: first, because of its historic value, and second, because it’s an Iranian mosque, and I was born in Iran. Finally, one day my friend Katya Aghabegian, a French language professor, told me that on May 11, 2023 a group of students from the university would be visiting the Blue Mosque, and that I could join them.
I arrived at the mosque a bit early. There were a few students already waiting outside. At 11:30 a.m., the group was ushered inside the mosque. Right next to the entrance of the mosque was the library, where our group of 40 to 50 students entered.
Some of us sat around the long table, and the others stood alongside the library shelves. A docent, an Armenian woman, gave us a brief history of the mosque.
The Blue Mosque in Yerevan, Armenia
The Blue Mosque is one of the oldest structures in central Yerevan and the most significant from the Persian occupation of Armenia. It was the largest of the eight mosques in Yerevan in the 19th century and is the only active mosque in Armenia today.
This modest mosque was originally constructed in the 18th century. It is called the Blue Mosque because blue is the dominant color found in the design of the tiles of the dome.
The Blue Mosque occupies a little over 1.6 acres of land. Apart from the mosque and the prayer hall, the building encompasses a theological school, meeting halls, and sleeping facilities all around the courtyard. Those structures still exist on the sides of the courtyard.
The construction was ordered by the governor of the region at the time, Hussein Ali Khan, who represented the sitting Persian Shah. During those days, the region of Yerevan was under the rule of Persia.
A docent at the Blue Mosque offering a brief history of the mosque to visitors
The construction of the Blue Mosque began in 1760. Finally, sometime between 1764 and 1768, the mosque was opened to the public. Around that time, the population of Yerevan was about 20,000.
Following the Russo-Persian War of 1826 to 1828, Yerevan and Eastern Armenia fell under the rule of the Russian Empire.
After the peace treaty was signed between Persia and Russia, the Arax river became the natural border where the Russian influence ended. To this very day, the river separates the borders of Iran and Armenia.
Under Russian rule, throughout the years Yerevan saw some gradual growth and several buildings were constructed. At that time, there were other mosques in the region, but because of Communist beliefs, they were destroyed. Only the Blue Mosque has remained standing.
The mosque ceased to operate as a religious institution in the mid-1920s. However, its courtyard became a creative space for Armenian artists, writers, poets, and academics, facilitating the production of a new cultural and aesthetic order for socialist Armenia.
The Blue Mosque’s courtyard The Blue Mosque’s courtyard
In the courtyard there was a large Elm tree which gave a shady refuge from the hot and dusty city of Yerevan. There was also a teahouse, which became a hub for intellectual gatherings.
Seyed Hossein Tabatabai, who is the adviser of the Cultural Center of the Iranian Embassy in Armenia, has noted that the mosque was preserved and not demolished by the efforts of a number of Armenian intellectuals, especially Yeghiché Charents, the iconic Armenian poet.
During my visit, I also learned that when the Mulberry tree in the courtyard is in bloom each year, the mosque conducts a service in memory of Charents. They honor his memory because of his efforts to save the Mosque from demolition.
After the independence of the Republic of Armenia from the Soviet Union in September 1991, a negotiation began between Iran and Armenia to refurbish the mosque.
In October 1995, via a contract signed between the states of Iran and Armenia, the restoration job began under the supervision of Iranian and Armenian specialists in the field of cultural heritage, and with the financial support and capital from the Islamic Revolution Fund of Iran.
Today the Blue Mosque, with its fine looking structure, is a jewel in the center of Yerevan, on the very busy street of Mashtots — in full view. The historical monument is a vestige of the old Yerevan.
Right across from the Blue Mosque is the iconic “Pak Shuka,” or Yerevan’s “Indoor Market.” This cultural and historical monument was built during the Soviet era in 1952.
Pak Shuka in Yerevan, Armenia
The building was designed by famed architect Grigor Aghababyan, whose 100th birthday was commemorated in 2011. The market was listed on the State List of Immovable Historical and Cultural Monuments of Yerevan as an officially recognized architectural structure.
When I visited Armenia for the first time in 2001, the Pak Shuka was one of the sites that we were ushered to. The façade is made from red-pinkish Tuff volcanic stone, with a metallic ornate half-moon gate.
At that time, there were stalls inside of the Pak Shuka that were occupied by local farmers that brought their wear, from Armenia’s sun-kissed fruit and vegetables to preserves and dried fruits, nuts, spices and herbs. The market also offers an assortment of meats, seafood, and poultry, along fresh lavash bread, and, of course, the ever-present sujukh — shelled walnuts threaded on a string, dipped in grape molasses, then hung to dry until a thick and tender coat covers it in the form of a sausage.
In its heyday, tourists experienced the true definition of Armenian culture and hospitality in the market, and were greeted by a myriads of friendly vendors offering samples. It gave us a special feeling.
During the last decade, the building was bought out by a wealthy Armenian businessman who evicted all the tenants and gutted the inside of the market and the building’s internal arches, decorative molds, and ornamentations. However, the façade was kept intact. A group of activists were against the renovation of the market, but the Pak Shuka was eventually turned into a supermarket by “Yerevan City.”
I decided to go across the street and do a little shopping at the supermarket. At the entrance, right before the “Yerevan City” supermarket, I noticed an independent stall where they were offering dried fruit, sujukh, fruit-rolls, nuts, and other condiments from fruit and vegetables. I was happy to see that, in that corner, the old taste of the market was somehow preserved.
At the main enclosed space of the market, there were a great number of shoppers. Merchandise were on display and the shelves were well stocked.
There were several cashiers working, but the lines were long. It took me more time than I had expected to stay in the line to finally pay for the few items that I had picked up, and then exited from the side door.
On my way home, I decided to take the bus instead of a taxi, like the locals. During the last two months that I’ve been in Yerevan, I’ve noticed that new busses have hit the streets. I crossed the street by using the underground pedestrian passage and stood in line at the bus station.
It was a great experience. While inside the bus, I definitely felt the newness of it. I even noticed that there were plugs to charge the cell phones. I arrived at my destination in no time and walked the short distance to my home, where I rejoiced about the things that I had experienced that day.
A few years ago, before the COVID-19 pandemic, I received an email from a friend informing me about an underground structure that a man named Levon had excavated under his home in Yerevan.
So, after few years of delay, I finally had the opportunity to visit “Levon’s Divine Underground” on a very rainy Sunday in May. My husband, daughter, and granddaughter decided to visit that extraordinary site, as well.
“Levon’s Divine Underground” tourist attraction in Yerevan, Armenia “Levon’s Divine Underground” tourist attraction in Yerevan, Armenia
The underground structure is called “Divine,” because Levon claimed that he was not working alone when uncovering it. According to him, there must have been a divine presence that helped him dig continuously. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to dig all that he dug with just a hammer and a chisel.
The underground cave is in Arinj, a well-known village that is about half an hour away from the center of Yerevan. It was an easy drive by taxi to the village, but when we arrived we had trouble finding Levon’s home, which is unknown to many taxi drivers.
When we arrived at the site, there were a few cars parked in front of the house. We thought that a few other groups might be visiting, but by the time we got out of the taxi, they had all left.
After knocking on the door, we were greeted by Levon’s daughter who invited us inside. She gave us a brief history of how her father dug the 72 foot structure deep down under their home.
Excavation tools used by Levon
She said the undertaking started with a simple request by her mother for an underground cellar in which she could store potatoes for winter. Levon built a small storage space for his wife in 1985, and then continued to dig for the next 23 years until his death in 2008.
As I mentioned he did the digging with only a hammer and a chisel. I should add that the bed-rock under his home was made of basalt, which is a kind of stone that is very tough to dig.
Levon not only dug stairs and little chambers, he also created some sculptures to give the space an ambiance. His daughter led us from one set of stairs to an open space and then up and down through more steps, nooks, and crannies.
We entered the grotto from the street. However, after crossing succession of steps up and down, we finally exited the labyrinth and ended up in their kitchen. I was stunned.
We couldn’t figure out how, in such a compact space, Levon was able to create an entrance from the street and an exit from the other side. It took us about 30 minutes to move through the underground space and home. We never felt the slightest hint of mustiness as we went up and down the stairs.
In 2008, I had the opportunity to visit another subterranean construction in Fresno, California. Baldassare Forestiere, a Sicilian immigrant who in the early 1900s had bought land to grow citrus. Soon after purchasing the property, Forestiere realized that his land was useless because it was sitting on a bed-rock. So he decided to dig, using shovels and other hand tools, to create a subterranean escape from the sweltering summer heat. He excavated for the next 40 years.
Forestiere’s underground space is horizontal and spans over 10 acres, with sky-lights and numerous grotto-like rooms and trees that he planted underground. His vision was to make the space into a resort, but of course it never materialized.
A miniature architectural model of the Erebuni Fortress
The fourth site I’d like to tell you about is the Erebuni Archaeological Museum, which is located in the outskirts of Yerevan. The museum was established in 1968. The opening of the museum was timed with the 2,750th anniversary of the city of Yerevan. The Museum stands at the foot of a hill, on top of which the ruins of Erebuni Fortress stands.
In 1940, a local man on the slopes of the hill found a chunk of basalt stone with a cuneiform inscription explaining that the city was built by Argishti the King of Urartu in 782 BC.
That piece of basalt stone lead to more excavations and the Erebuni Fortress was uncovered from under the dirt that had covered the whole area. The majority of the fortress was built from raw bricks. Some parts of the structure were reinforced and restored, and the fortress was turned into an outdoor museum. The citadel was encircled by strong walls, in some places built in three rows.
The docent shows the basalt piece that was discovered A rendered image of Erebuni Fortress
During excavations, archeologists have unearthed huge collections of jars, pitchers, bronze bracelets, glass, agate beads, and many other artifacts that tell us about the life of the citadel.
The most interesting fact, that the docent explained, was that water was supplied to the citadel by underground stone pipelines that were joined together. These types of pipelines had set a model to transport water in the centuries to come.
Catherine Yesayan
We didn’t get to see the ruins of the fortress, because there was confusion about how exactly to get there. The docent told us it would be better to reach the fortress by car, instead of climbing the stairs. However, the taxi driver couldn’t find a way to get to the ruins. But the information about the history of it all was priceless.
Catherine Yesayan is a regular contributor to Asbarez, with her columns appearing under the “Community Links” heading. She can be reached at [email protected].
Iran Again Highlights Need to Respect Armenia’s Territorial Integrity
A cargo terminal at a border crossing with Iran
Iran, once again, challenged Baku’s ongoing insistence to create a land corridor through Armenia to Nakhichevan, saying that preserving the territorial integrity of countries in the region is of utmost importance.
In an interview with Armenia’s Public Television, Iran’s Ambassador to Armenia Mehdi Sobhani emphasized that Iran’s position on regional developments has not changed.
“We are against any geopolitical changes in the region. Changing borders is a ‘red line’ for us, which was announced at the highest level in Iran and no one can deviate from this position,” the ambassador said.
“An extraterritorial corridor through the territory of one of the countries in the region makes no sense. Transport routes in each country are that nation’s sovereign affair. I believe that the establishment of an extraterritorial corridor on the territory of Armenia has nothing to do with international law, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states,” Sobhani said when asked to clarify Tehran’s position on the continued insistence by Ankara and Baku on the so-called corridor.
At the same time, Sobhani wondered whether those states that are talking about an extraterritorial corridor through Armenia are really ready to allow similar routes to be laid through the territory of their country.
“I think that the answer can only be no. Therefore, they should not expect from others what they would not want in their case,” Sobhani added.
The Iranian ambassador also discussed Tehran’s position on the forced displacement of Artsakh Armenians, and categorically condemned military responses to regional problems.
“We share the same opinion regarding the population of Nagorno-Karabakh. We believe that military action cannot solve fundamental regional problems. To solve them, it is necessary to identify the roots of the conflict, and this can be done through dialogue and peaceful communication,” added the Iranian diplomat, expressing his conviction that the best mechanism for solving existing problems is dialogue.
Sobhani said that to achieve a common understanding on all issues, Armenia and Azerbaijan should talk to each other.
“This is a package within which they must be able to reach mutual understanding that will ensure the establishment of a stable peace. This can be guaranteed by the participation of the countries of the region, a striking example of which is the holding of a meeting in the 3+3 format in Tehran. When the countries of the region support the agreements reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan, this could become the biggest guarantee of achieving permanent and stable peace in the region,” the ambassador said.
Referring to the humanitarian assistance provided to refugees from Artsakh, the diplomat noted that this was the least that a neighboring country could do. According to him, there is no religious, ethnic or other context in this either.
“In Kapan, I met with Armenian settlers to understand why and under what conditions they left their homes. Their clear message to me was that they want the necessary conditions to be provided in Nagorno-Karabakh to return to their homes. I asked them why they left their homes, they responded that they had to do so because they did not feel physically safe,” Sobhani said.
He also said that Iran’s newly-opened consulate in Kapan in Armenia’s Syunik Province has played an important role in simplifying traffic, helping drivers resolve emerging issues and increasing trade turnover between the two countries.
Sobhani said that the Syunik region is of strategic significance for Armenia, and added that the opening of a consulate was of vital importance.
“We can say that this diplomatic establishment has continued the path to developing relations in this region,” Sobhani added, expressing hope that it will soon be possible to open an Armenian consulate in Tabriz.
Tehran Dismisses Baku’s Claims about Hazards from Metsamor Power Plant
The Metsamor nuclear power plant in Armenia
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has dismissed claims that the Metsamor nuclear power plant in Armenia can contaminate the Araks River with radioactive materials, the Iranian Tansim News Agency reported.
Addressing Iranian lawmakers, Amir-Abdollahian said that the technical report and inspection by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran dismissed the possibility of contamination of the Araks River as a result of the operation of the Metsamor nuclear power plant in Armenia.
Earlier, the Azerbaijani media claimed that Armenia’s Metsamor nuclear power plant pours 12 to 16 thousand cubic meters of radioactive waste into the Araks River every day.
Baku Says ‘Corridor’ Through Armenia Should be Included in Peace Treaty
A military post along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border
An Azerbaijani official said Wednesday that creating a land corridor through Armenia will provide unimpeded access to Nakhichevan and pointed out that for Baku this was one of the “main directions” of peace talks with Armenia.
Elchin Amirbekov, an Azerbaijani presidential envoy for special assignments, said in an interview with the Estonian television that restoring transport links between Armenia and Azerbaijan was an important facet of the peace process between the two countries.
Within that context, Amirbekov said Baku’s initiative to “restore the Zangazur [(Zangezur)] corridor so that Azerbaijani citizens living in the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, or in the main part of the country, have unhindered land communication” was of crucial importance.
“The main direction of the negotiations is the agreement on the text of the peace agreement. It notes all the main parameters of future peace, including the restoration of communications. In addition to the main direction, there are two more: the opening of communications, as well as the delimitation and the subsequent demarcation of the state border between Azerbaijan and Armenia,” said Amirbekov.
“It’s about a 42-kilometer railway line, which, unfortunately, was destroyed as a result of the conflict. It’s not just about building the missing section. By the way, this work is almost finished by us. I mean the Horadiz-Agbend section. Unfortunately, the Armenian side has not even started working on the technical rationalization of this project,” added the Azerbaijani official.
Asbarez: Armenia’s Public TV Claims Etchmiadzin Did Not Want Karekin II’s Message to be Aired
Catholicos Karekin II delivers new year message on Dec. 31
Armenian Public Television on Wednesday claimed that the Holy See of Etchmiadzin did not want Catholicos Karekin II’s annual new year message to be aired, saying a church official had contacted the network with a request to not air the video of the pontiff’s speech.
In a statement issued on Wedenday, Armenia’s Public Television Board said that a Reverend Vahram Melikyan had contacted the channel asking that they not use the video of the Catholicos.
“On December 31, the Public TV Company planned to broadcast the address of the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II in one of the most watched segments, at the time set aside for the official addresses this year. The speech of the Catholicos should follow the speech of the President of Armenia, who is the head of the state according to the Constitution,” said the public TV’s statement.
“December 31, Father Vahram Melikyan, on behalf of the Mother See, informed the Council of the Public Broadcaster that they disagreed with the time scheduled for the messages and demanded not to broadcast or use the video recording of the Catholicos’ message, whose copyright belongs to the Mother See,” added the statement.
In its statement, the Public Broadcasting Board said that it was satisfied with the verbal communication from the Holy See, but did not indicate whether the Board officially reached out to Etchmiadzin for confirmation.
“This year, at the last minute, the Public Television Company informed, without any reason, that His Holiness’ New Year’s message will not be broadcast before midnight, as was traditionally customary,” the church’s Etchmiadzin-based Mother See said late on Sunday. It said it rejected the state-controlled broadcaster’s offer to air the message during an earlier news program, Azatutyun.am reported.
AW: Chidem Inch: Old Banquet Photos
I was recently at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Chicago for a concert. I noticed a photo, black and white, taken at a banquet at the Sheraton Towers on June 25, 1960, in honor of the visit of Catholicos Vazken I, of blessed memory. The photo was taken from a balcony and showed the head table and at least 30 tables of 10 people that could fit in the shot. Everyone was dressed up—to the nines as they used to say. My guess is there were 350-500 people in attendance.
The photo was impressive, not only because it captured a celebration of a Pontifical visit, or coincidently, that it was taken on the evening of my seventh birthday. It was something more—something nostalgic. There have been photos like this in every Armenian church, agoump or getron, in commemorative and souvenir booklets. These photos, always in black and white and from an aerial vantage point, keep us rooted to the past. They are always taken from an aerial vantage point, in the grand ballroom of a swanky downtown hotel. They capture the gatherings of Armenians in the U.S. honoring or commemorating something—a convention, the founding of a church, the burning of a mortgage, or perhaps the 25th anniversary of this or the 30th anniversary of that.
I am sure these photos are not unique to the Armenian community. Every ethnic group, church, civic or professional organization likely has similar photos.
Banquet at the Sheraton Towers in Chicago on June 25, 1960, in honor of the visit of Catholicos Vazken I, of blessed memory
From my perspective, I have seen more Armenian banquet photos than any others. These panoramic photos have impressed me for years, especially those from the 1930s and 1940s. These photos of hundreds of Armenians, dressed in their finest gathered in luxurious ballrooms, were taken just 15-30 years after the Genocide. It is hard to distinguish faces pictured beyond the front two rows of tables, and if the photo is not from Detroit, where I grew up, there is almost zero chance I will recognize anyone. Yet, I am mesmerized by these photos. I look at and study them much longer than I would a masterpiece in an art museum. It is a window to the first generation, the survivors of the Genocide. Who is the baker, the butcher, the storekeeper, the rug merchant? Who are the factory workers and common laborers? To me, they all seem to say, “Look at us. We not only survived but are thriving. We miss our homeland, but look at us.”
Why don’t we see more banquet photos these days? We certainly have photos of participants and delegates of various conventions, Armenian and Sunday School students, and gatherings on the steps of churches or other venues. We took photos like these then and certainly today. Yet, we almost never see these kinds of banquet photos anymore.
The answer is probably quite simple. These days we rarely use the grand city center hotels. Most of our banquets and dinners are held in suburban hotels and banquet halls. These venues were probably built after 1960. They all have something in common—none of them have balconies. It is almost impossible to get these kinds of photos without a very tall ladder or perhaps a drone. It seems these kinds of photos just faded away with the change in architecture and interior design of the newer, more “modern” venues.
There are a few modern versions of this genre of nostalgic photos. Maybe, given how many images are created these days, we should leave these panoramic banquet photos to the black and white era of that first generation.
How Armenia can make the “Crossroads of Peace” concept more attractive
Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan presents the “Crossroads of Peace” at the Silk Road Conference in Tbilisi (RA Prime Minister, October 26, 2023)
As Armenia and Azerbaijan continue peace negotiations, the restoration of communications has come to the forefront. This topic was included in the November 10, 2020, trilateral statement ending the 2020 Artsakh War, according to which “all economic and transport links in the region shall be unblocked.” “Armenia shall guarantee the safety of transport communication between the western regions of Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan, and control over transport communication shall be exercised by the Border Guard Service bodies of Russia,” the statement reads.
Immediately afterward, Azerbaijan started to push forward the narrative of the so-called “Zangezur corridor,” demanding the establishment of an extra-territorial corridor via Armenia to reach its exclave Nakhichevan. To garner international support, Azerbaijan linked the “Zangezur corridor” to the Middle Corridor project, which envisages the transportation of goods from China to Europe via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, South Caucasus and Turkey, circumventing Russia and Iran. The Middle Corridor gained momentum after the start of the Russia–Ukraine war in February 2022, as land transit from China to Europe via Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus became highly problematic.
Immediately after the end of the 2020 Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) War, Azerbaijan also linked the establishment of the “Zangezur corridor” to the existence of the Berdzor (Lachin) Corridor, arguing that as Armenians enter Artsakh via Berdzor without any passport and border controls, Azerbaijanis should pass via Armenia to Nakhichevan without any controls as well. This argument lost any credibility after Azerbaijan established a checkpoint on the Berdzor Corridor in April 2023 and launched a military assault to take over Artsakh in September 2023. Now Azerbaijan states that it recognizes Armenian sovereignty over the Syunik region but demands “easy access” and special guarantees for the safety of Azerbaijanis who will travel via Armenia. There is, however, a lack of clarity on what these demands mean. It is not improbable that Azerbaijan exploits this ambiguity to demand the de facto establishment of an extra-territorial corridor via Armenia.
Meanwhile, the Armenian government has rejected any option of providing an extra-territorial corridor and argues that all communications should be under the full sovereignty and control of the states whose territories they will pass through. This means that Armenia does not want any involvement of Russian troops in the control of communications through its territory, contrary to what it had agreed to in the November 2020 trilateral statement. (Importantly, this statement could be considered de facto obsolete, given its irrelevance with the fall of Artsakh). Furthermore, Armenia has recently established a special unit within its law enforcement bodies to ensure the safety of persons and cargo traveling through its territory.
To counter the Azerbaijani narrative of the “Zangezur corridor,” the Armenian government recently published its vision of the restoration of communications called the “Crossroads of Peace.” Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan presented this concept in October 2023 at the Silk Road Conference in Tbilisi, stating that Armenia was ready to open all communications within its borders, connecting not only Azerbaijan with Nakhichevan but also Azerbaijan with Turkey, Iran with Georgia, etc.
Two months after launching the “Crossroads of Peace” map, the Armenian government has yet to provide details. This lack of more concrete information makes the project rather vague. To increase the visibility and feasibility of the concept, it would be better to link it to pre-existing discussions of regional and global transport projects. The “Crossroads of Peace” can be presented as an option to establish a link between Russia and Turkey via Azerbaijan and Armenia, using the Nakhichevan–Yeraskh–Gyumri–Kars railway and highway. Meanwhile, it may support the launch of the “Persian Gulf–Black Sea” transport corridor connecting the Iranian Persian Gulf ports to the Georgian ports of the Black Sea. The concept has been under discussion since 2016, but no concrete steps have been taken yet. The launch of the Iran–Nakhichevan–Yerevan–Tbilisi–Batumi–Poti railway could be a reliable way to launch the “Persian Gulf–Black Sea” corridor.
Another way to boost this concept is to connect the project to India’s efforts to reach European markets circumventing the Suez Canal. Originally, India hoped to realize this goal through the “North–South International Transport Corridor,” which would connect India with Europe via Iran and Russia. However, after February 2022, large-scale transit from Russia to Europe is not possible, and routes via Iran, Nakhichevan, Armenia, Georgia and the Black Sea may be alternatives for India to reach Europe. In this context, connecting the “Crossroads of Peace” idea with India’s trade objectives may increase its international standing and also gain support from India and other countries interested in India–Europe alternative transport routes.
Armenia may also advertise the “Crossroads of Peace” concept as a project that can contribute to the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). BRI envisages the establishment of alternative roads to connect China with Europe. China has sea transit with Iran, and if the Iran–Nakhichevan–Armenia–Georgia route is launched, then Chinese goods could also reach Europe via Iran–Nakhichevan–Armenia–Georgia–Black Sea routes.
Armenia needs a strategy to counter the Azerbaijani narrative on the “Zangezur corridor” as a vital part of newly emerging global logistics and the future of regional economies in a decarbonized world. An integral part of that strategy should be the connection of the “Crossroads of Peace” concept to global transport projects, such as the “Persian Gulf–Black Sea transport corridor,” “India–Europe corridor” or the BRI.
How to observe the New Year
Hebrews 12: 1-2 (WC Ferrell, Flickr)
As the page turns on our calendar, we ask, “How do we observe the New Year?” The New Year is an opportune time to evaluate our lives and hopefully gain a deeper understanding of life. In this respect, the Bible is the best source that can be of great assistance to provide us with insight and guidance.
In the Bible, life is compared to the flower of the fields, a trust and a journey. In the Epistle to the Hebrews, life is compared to a race. The picture is that of a person standing at the starting line, ready to run. This scripture sheds some light concerning life’s journey. It tells us the following:
First, we must look behind us. The author of Hebrews speaks of “a great cloud of witness,” in reference to the previous chapter where he called on the roll of the faithful across the centuries. He speaks of Noah, Abraham, Joseph and others as if they sit in a stadium waiting to watch us run. The past offers us a body of experience. If we are wise enough to use it, surely it can save us to take advantage of the insights of the past upon which to build our own future.
Second, we must look within us. The author of Hebrews urges us “to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” Are we carrying around an old cardboard box full of worries, guilt and past regrets? We don’t have to carry it anymore. We should not allow the frustrations, disappointments or mistakes of one day, a week or even earlier years to ruin our entire life. We should not dwell on thoughts that depress us. If our minds are filled with clouds, we should chase them away and fill them with sunshine. We should gather the courage to do what is right and take responsibility for our actions.
Third, we must look forward. There is a life out there to live. Hebrews 12 calls it “the race which lies ahead.” We should not live in the past. It is true that we cannot turn back the wheels of time physically, but we can go back psychologically. We can sentimentalize the good-old-days. The danger of sentimentalizing the past is that it destroys our effectiveness in the present and kills aspirations for the future.
The Apostle admonishes us “to run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” That is the forward-looking orientation of which St. Paul speaks about when he writes, “I press on toward the goal” (Philippians 3:14).
We can go forth worthily to meet the future and make it a significant one if we honestly accept what we have in the way of talent, ability and resources and use them productively.
Finally, we must look upward. The race which lies ahead is uncertain. Only God knows what the future holds, and He is too wise to spoil the excitement by taking away the anticipation. The New Year will be a year in many ways like the past—hills and valleys, good times and bad. For some people who are with us in the race of life, this will be their last year. Yes, the future is unknown to us. But one thing is known: Our Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, will be with us, whether we live or die.
As for those who are in the race of life, the writer tells them “to fix their eyes on Jesus, the author and the perfecter of our faith.” Just as a runner concentrates on the finish line, we should concentrate on Jesus, the goal and objective of our faith.
Documentary “We Thrive” to screen at film festival in Izmir, Turkey
We Thrive, an award-winning documentary highlighting Armenian-American musicians and the healing powers of music, will be screened at IZDOC International Documentary Festival in Izmir, Turkey at the French Culture Center from January 25-28, 2024. Detroit area filmmakers Lisa Hagopian and Eric Harabadian are honored that the progressive festival organizers agreed to screen their Armenian-American documentary.
We Thrive is a feature length documentary that demonstrates all of us can go beyond the struggles and tragedies of our lives, and the often tragic history of our ancestors, and “thrive” via music.
Hagopian and Harabadian of Vision 561 Productions LLC produced the film spotlighting an eclectic mix of musicians who share a common bond. The film features Chuck Alkazian, Stevie “Soul” Ansara, Sean Blackman, Kim Kashkasian, Hachig Kazarian, Vaughn Masropian, Tia Mayhem, Kim Naccashian, Eliza Thomasian Neals, Ara Topouzian, Tanya Venom and Dan Yessian.
Armenian-American history is a tale of genocide, struggle, survival and, ultimately, renewal. These aspects are touched on in detail through a contemporary lens that sheds light on the Armenian community at large and on a more personal scale, with stories from the subjects in the film.
We Thrive is told through conversations, archival footage, photographs and live performances. It is a unique and captivating mix of traditional Armenian music, world beat, rock, blues and classical.
We Thrive won “Best Documentary” at the Golden Door Film Festival in New Jersey and the “Independent Spirit Award” from the Detroit Trinity International Film Festival. The film was nominated for “Best Documentary” at the Glendale International Film Festival in California and “Best Music Documentary” and Lisa Hagopian for “Best Directress” by Film Threat Magazine’s “Award This!” competition.
View the We Thrive official trailer here and follow on Facebook. For more information, contact [email protected].