Author: Arpi Talalian

CivilNet: Azerbaijani forces attempt major incursion, Karabakh authorities say

Arpi Talalian
CIVILNET.AM

01 Aug, 2022 10:08

By Mark Dovich

Azerbaijani forces attempted a major incursion across the line of contact into Karabakh Monday morning local time, the region’s authorities said.

“On August 1, starting at 9:00, Azerbaijani units in several sections of the northern and northwestern border zone of the Artsakh Republic resorted to provocations by making attempts to cross the line of contact, which were stopped by (Artsakh) Defense Army units,” the Artsakh Defense Army announced.

Karabakh forces suffered no casualties, though the situation along the line of contact remained tense into Monday evening, it said.

In a follow-up, the Artsakh Defense Army refuted “information circulating on the internet about heated battles in one part of Artsakh or another,” urging people to “exclusively follow official information.”

Karabakh Foreign Minister David Babayan echoed those sentiments in his own Facebook post, stressing that “everything is under the control of our armed forces” and calling on people to “rely exclusively on official sources of information.”

In its statement, the Artsakh Defense Army added that “the leadership of the (Artsakh) Republic, together with the command of the (Artsakh) Defense Army and the Russian peacekeeping contingent, is taking appropriate steps to resolve the situation” along the line of contact.

Earlier in the evening, Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan convened a meeting with his defense and security chiefs to review the “operational and tactical situation” in and around Karabakh, Harutyunyan’s office reported.

Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry has denied the incursions, saying the Artsakh Defense Army’s statements have “a provocative and misleading goal.”

Earlier in the day, Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry called on social media users in the country not to share footage of Azerbaijani troop movements in and around Karabakh.

Asbarez: Government Breaks Silence on Barring Entry of French-Armenian Leader

Arpi Talalian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 July 22, 2022

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

ARF Bureau member Mourad Papazian

More than a week after unceremoniously barring prominent French-Armenian community leader and a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau Mourad Papazian from entering Armenia, the Armenian government claimed on Friday that the decision was made because he allegedly “organized” an attack against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan when he was visiting France in June, 2021.

Pashinyan’s press office told Armenpress on Friday that Papazian, who is also the co-chair of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations in France (CCAF), was barred from entering Armenia pursuant to law because he was among those who “organized the attack” on the official motorcade of the Armenian Prime Minister’s delegation in France earlier in June, 2021.

Upon arriving in Armenia on July 14, Papazian was told the he was barred from entering the country and was declared a persona non-grata. He was then forced to take a flight back to France. Since then, the government had not provided a reasoning for its decision, which condemned by the ARF Bureau, the CCAF, as well as the ARF-D Western U.S. Central Committee. These organizations warned that the government’s actions posed a threat to Armenia’s democratic development.

In response to Armenpress’ inquiry, Pashinyan’s press office said that Papazian “was denied entry into the Republic of Armenia based on Clause G and Z, Article 8 of the Law on Foreign Nationals. This person is one of the organizers of an attack on the official motorcade – displaying the state flag of Armenia—of the governmental delegation led by the Prime Minister near the Armenian Embassy in France on June 1 last year. Various objects and items were thrown in the direction of the motorcade. The official Armenian flag-bearing car carrying the Prime Minister was attacked and the situation was resolved only as a result of intervention by French police and security forces.”

Since June 2021, Papazian has traveled to Armenia on several occasions, including in May when he accompanied Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo on a visit to Armenia. He was also in Armenia in February to attend the ARF World Congress. Papazian told Azatutyun.am that since June 2021 he has traveled to Armenia “at least four times.”

“This is a lie,” Papazian told Azatutyun.am, arguing that the government had ample opportunity to enact the aforementioned law since June 2021.

“The other active participants of the attack were also denied entry into Armenia,” said Pashinyan’s press office. “Furthermore, the Republic of Armenia does not have any reservations against any participant of peaceful rallies, while those who organized the attacks and took part in them were banned from entering the Republic of Armenia by law.”

Music: Rosa Linn Snaps up millions of new fans

Arpi Talalian
July 18 2022
Rosa Linn Snaps up millions of new fans

Rosa Linn took Armenia to an 11th Grand Final this May, and now she’s enjoying life beyond the Eurovision Song Contest as her song ‘Snap’ becomes a viral summer sensation.

Rosa wasn’t quite able to follow in the footsteps of her country’s Junior Eurovision counterpart, Maléna, who won the most recent Junior Contest for Armenia, but she is gaining legions of new fans thanks to her entry’s enduring popularity.

‘Team Snap’ has revealed to Eurovision.tv that the song has gained 4.2 million new listeners on Spotify, culminating in over 23 million streams, with a huge chunk of that audience originating in the United States of America, thanks in no small part to Snap’s success on TikTok and social media.

The song's hook 'Snapping 1, 2 – where are you?' is proving popular with content creators, using it to soundtrack their short videos.

Even Hollywood superstar Reece Witherspoon used the track as part of an Instagram Reel… but sadly missed the opportunity to reference the ‘bend and snap’ from her cult film Legally Blonde.

This new found popularity has propelled the song into the UK and Italian charts this week at numbers 67 and 83 respectively, also charting at number 32 in Germany, while over on the Emerald Isle the track has reached 16 on the Irish Official Charts.

Snap is also doing well on the Viral 50 (USA) Spotify list and steadily climbing the global Spotify chart.

As Rosa pointed out back in March: ‘The power of manifestation is real when it is combined with hard work; persistence; and just putting oneself out there’ - and that seems more true now than ever. 

Here’s hoping Snap continues to gain traction across the globe, and who knows… perhaps we’ll see a performance later this year in Yerevan when Armenia hosts the 20th Junior Eurovision Song Contest?

https://eurovision.tv/story/rosa-linn-snaps-millions-new-fans 









West could impose sweeping sanctions on Armenia – Gagik Makaryan

Arpi Talalian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
David Stepanyan

ArmInfo.The West could impose sweeping  sanctions on Armenia, Gagik Makaryan, Chairman of the Republican  Union of Employers of Armenia, said in an interview with ArmInfo.  

"We are forecasting further deterioration of the economic situation  along with the growing geopolitical conflict between Russia and the  West. In Armenia's case, the conflict could well result in  restrictions and sanctions on the country. We can see the United  States, Great Britain and the EU, along with growing pressure on  Russia, are imposing growing demands on other nations to get Russia  totally isolated. And Armenia is not an exception," Mr Makaryan said. 

In this context, the expert believes that certain demands that could  be imposed on Armenia would be in conflict with the country's  membership in the Eurasian Economic Union. Along with the U.S.  financial aid to Armenia and EU influence in the context of a number  of socio-economic programmes in the country, Yerevan has to make a  hard choice. Similarly, Armenia is under the influence of the United  Nations and other international agencies, which are implementing a  number of development programmes in Armenia.  And the U.N. is  obviously against Russia now. 

In this context, Mr Makaryan is forecasting further deterioration of  the situation. Therefore, Armenia's leadership should find  alternative solutions as soon as possible – less economic than  diplomatic ones.  Armenia is, to an extent, facing the consequences  of anti-Russian sanctions now given the serious restrictions on  transfers of large amounts of money in USD terms to and from Armenia.  In turn, Armenia's Central Bank and commercial banks are extremely  cautious, stay out of mischief in dealing with their partners and  with foreign diplomatic missions. 

"Given a substantial share of foreign capital in Armenian banks, we  can see that even the largest banks are far from being independent in  implementing their monetary policies. They constantly have to look  back at the situation stemming from the Ukraine crisis and met the  West's wishes, which causes problems in our banking system," Mr  Makaryan said.    

Turkish Press: Turkey’s Armenian community welcomes Ankara-Yerevan normalization talks

Arpi Talalian
July 14 2022

Turkey's Armenian community welcomes Ankara-Yerevan normalization talks

The Armenian Patriarch in Turkey and the head of an Armenian foundation praised the normalization efforts following a phone conversation between President Erdoğan and PM Pashinyan.
İstanbul – BIA News Desk, Anadolu Agency14 July 2022, Thursday 17:22

Turkey's Armenian community is pleased with Ankara and Yerevan's efforts to normalize bilateral relations, the head of the Association of Armenian Foundations in Turkey (ERVAP) said.

The phone conversation between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Monday, the third day of the Muslim holiday of the Feast of Sacrifice, was welcomed by Turkey's Armenians, Bedros Şirinoğlu said in a written statement yesterday (July 13).

While the process of normalization between Turkey and Armenia has led to great expectations recently, the setting created by the direct contact of the two leaders through the phone has added a new dimension to optimism, said the statement.

"Our society, symbolizing the continuity of the tradition of co-existence of two ancient peoples, passionately backs this process of normalization with its rich network of institutions," it said, adding that the leaders of foundations were determined to mobilize all of their experience in this "historical turning point."

"The anticipated full normalization is the primary goal that requires patience," he added.

In a social media post on Monday, Patriarch Sahak II Mashalian, the 85th patriarch of Armenians in Turkey, welcomed the leaders' phone talk, saying it built up people's hopes for peace at a time when the world was disturbed by warfare.

"I pray that the peaceful methods of diplomacy become the winner, not death and wars," he said, hoping that the discussion of leaders would open a new chapter in Turkish and Armenian relations.

Turkey and Armenia last December named special envoys to discuss the normalization of ties. The envoys have held four meetings since then, with the latest one taking place on July 1 in Vienna.

After the latest meeting, the envoys agreed to enable the crossing of the land border between Turkey and Armenia by third-country citizens visiting the two countries respectively at the earliest date possible.

Ambassador Serdar Kılıç and Deputy Speaker of Armenia's Parliament Ruben Rubinyan also agreed on commencing direct air cargo trade between their countries at the earliest possible date.

Since the start of the normalization talks, flights between İstanbul and Yerevan have resumed. The two countries intend to resume diplomatic relations and achieve what they call "full normalization." (VK)


Ministry of High-Tech Industry to intensify cooperation with My Step Foundation

Arpi Talalian
ARMINFO
Armenia –
Alina Hovhannisyan

ArmInfo.The Ministry of High-Tech Industry intends to intensify its cooperation with the My Step Foundation in human resource development, Minister Robert  Khachatryan and Deputy Minister David Sahakyan stated at their  meeting with Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, CEO, My Step Foundation. 

The sides discussed current issues related to the NerUzh (Potential)  Diaspora Tech Startup Program. 

Mr Hayrapetyan briefed Minister Khachatryan on the Quanta quantum and  mesoscopic physics programme and on the Foundation's further  projects, particularly STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering,  Mathematics) development in Armenia's schools.

Armenian-German relations are developing dynamically. PM Pashinyan receives the delegation of state of Saxony-Anhalt

Arpi Talalian

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 17:59,

YEREVAN, JULY 14, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received the President of the Landtag of the state of Saxony-Anhalt of the Federal Republic of Germany Gunnar Schellenberger and the delegation led by him.

The Prime Minister emphasized the fact of the dynamic development of Armenian-German relations at different levels, which is evidenced by the recent frequent mutual official visits and active contacts. Nikol Pashinyan emphasized the decentralized cooperation with the States of Germany, which complements and enriches the interstate partnership.

The President of the Landtag of Saxony-Anhalt also noted the high level of bilateral relations and reaffirmed the readiness to implement new joint projects. According to him, it is for this purpose that the delegation led by him has visited Armenia, with which friendship and mutually beneficial partnership has a history of 10-years.

The interlocutors discussed issues related to cooperation between Armenia and Saxony-Anhalt, exchanging views on perspectives for cooperation in the spheres of science, education, culture, technologies, as well as in food processing, water resources and solid waste management, and agriculture. The Prime Minister highlighted the upcoming signing of the memorandum of cooperation with Armavir Province and offered to consider the possibility of organizing mutual visits of business circles, which will give an opportunity to exchange experience and development vision. Gunnar Schellenberger welcomed the idea, saying that the proposals of the Armenian side will be presented to the interested circles.

In the context of strengthening humanitarian ties, the sides referred to "Armenia Day" event planned in the Landtag on November 17, 2022. According to Gunnar Schellenberger, it is the first of its kind, and Armenia was chosen as a friendly and democratic country. The President of the Landtag also highlighted the activities of the "Mesrop" Armenian studies center at the Martin Luther University in the city of Halle in Saxony-Anhalt.

The Prime Minister expressed gratitude for continuous efforts in the Saxony-Anhalt state aimed at raising awareness of Armenian culture and the development of Armenian studies and emphasized that democratic values are one of the most important pillars of the relations between the two countries.

Researchers Discover Crusades Era Grenades in Jerusalem

Arpi Talalian
ByJames Ssengendo
Researchers discover Crusades era Grenades in the Old City of Jerusalem Credit: Wikimedia Public Domain

Researchers have discovered grenades that were used in the time of the Crusades within the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. In a recent study, the remains of elements of the grenades were analyzed and explosive materials were found inside them.

In the analysis of the objects found in the Garden of Armenia in Jerusalem, these 900-year-old objects were identified to have possibly been hand grenades.

Researchers tested residues on sherds from four sphero-conical vessels, which they dated to the 11th or 12th century.

Chemicals indicative of medicine and oils were found in three of the vessels, but the fourth vessel contained a unique combination of plant-based oils, animal fat, and nitrates,  indicating something that was built to explode.

The several sphero-conical vessels excavated from the Armenian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem between 1961 and 1967 are artifacts attributed to the Mamluks at the time, a group of enslaved soldiers that eventually won political control across swathes of the Middle East and fought the Crusaders.

Stanica Aurel-Daniel, a researcher at ICEM Tulcea said “Sphero-conical vessels were used as small containers for various substances, another hypothesis indicating even fermented beverages (beer)”.

“Certainly, the use of these containers for Greek fire or grenades remains topical,” the researcher said. She added that she was, however, unaffiliated with the research.

Though it’s not the first time the use of grenades in the Crusades has been suggested and there have been previous historical accounts of Saladin’s forces tossing explosives during the Siege of Jerusalem in 1187, the recent analysis lends more credibility to the idea.

The researchers confirmed that the chemical cocktail on the pottery sherd was not black powder, indicating that Crusades-era fighters figured out a way to build explosive, handheld weaponry locally.

In thinking about brutal Crusades weaponry, swords, bows, maces, axes, and flails probably come to mind, but according to a recent study, hand grenades were common, too.

Carney Matheson, a molecular archaeologist at Griffith University in Australia said: “An explosive has two main components: a fuel and an [oxidizer], as well as a vessel that applies pressure to allow the reaction to build pressure until it can cause an explosion.”

“If explosive ingredients are correct, then it advances our understanding of medieval weapons in the Middle East at this time because it shows that the explosive weapons described by the crusaders were a local invention,” said Matheson.

Matheson further added that “the chemical ingredients for these weapons were developed in the Middle East, not the adoption of black powder from China through the silk route.”

Weapons similar to the analysis of the objects were found nearly a century ago in Cairo, and that team found evidence of sulfur and potassium nitrate on the artifacts. However, recent work identified additional nitrates, which are believed to have mixed together to form an oxidizing agent in the heart-shaped ceramic grenades.

Sports: Ararat Armenia defeat Torpedo Kutaisi

Arpi Talalian
NEWS.am
Armenia –

Armenian vice-champion Ararat Armenia are preparing for the second qualifying round of the Conference League.

The Yerevan club played a friendly against Georgian Torpedo Kutaisi and won 2-0. Portuguese forward Hugo Firmino scored a double.

Ararat Armenia will play its first game of the second qualifying round of Conference League on 21 July in Yerevan.

The Yerevan club will play the winner of the pair Dinamo Tbilisi – Paide Linnameeskond.

AW: Sunrise Stepanakert Festival brings joy, hope to Artsakh

Arpi Talalian
 Irina Safaryan Music, Culture 0

All shades of blue are covering the peaceful evening sky and the peaks of the mountains of Stepanakert. Several dozen people are gathered outside the garden of Stepanakert State Theater for the opening ceremony of the second annual Sunrise Festival for a performance by Arthur Khachents, an Armenian singer from the Hadrut region of Artsakh, singing “Կյասս Քիսս/You Come and Go.” It’s a song he wrote after the 2020 Artsakh War and performed with Apo Sahagian, a musician from Jerusalem. 

Arthur Khachents performs at Sunrise Stepanakert

Khachents told the Armenian Weekly this song is about the pain, memories and love for Hadrut. It’s also written in the Hadrut dialect, which makes this scene even more heartwarming. 

“I was invited to perform at the Sunrise Festival opening ceremony which I accepted with great pleasure. This is my first concert in Artsakh after the war, after losing my home region of Hadrut, so it was twice as important for me to come and perform for my people,” says Khachents.

Khachents was one of dozens of artists, filmmakers and other professionals from a variety of cultural and media spheres featured in the 10-day multimedia festival held in Stepanakert, the capital of the Republic of Artsakh, from June 24 to July 3. 

Sunrise Stepanakert Festival was co-founded by Shoushan Keshishyan and Lilit Hakobyan back in 2021 after the second Artsakh War.

Sunrise Stepanakert co-founders Shoushan Keshishyan and Lilit Hakobyan

“Art and culture are the best remedies to heal after the war,” said Keshishyan. “While working on this project, we understood that music is not enough. A film screening is not enough. An exhibition is not enough. This is how we got this multimedia version of the festival, which contains masterclasses, film screenings, concerts and other forms of art,” she explained.

Modern dance masterclass by Rima Pipoyan

Once the team decided on a location for the festival, they headed back to Yerevan to discuss logistics and fundraising. The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation became a key supporter.

The first Sunrise Stepanakert Festival took place in the summer of 2021 in cooperation with the Center of Francophonie in Stepanakert and with the support of the government of Artsakh. 

This year, under the theme of “Belonging,” Artsakh youth for the second time were given a chance to enjoy diverse exhibitions by 30 artists from Artsakh, Armenia, India, Russia, France, Brazil, Argentina, the US and Canada. Gayane Sarkisyan served on the organizing committee and helped sift through applications from different artists during an intense selection process. 

“We made all possible efforts to invite the best artists and professionals and to have interesting workshops at the festival. Last year, the festival was more about helping Artsakh people get into art and revival. This year, it is more about bringing people to Artsakh and getting closer to them,” explained Sonya Avagyan, a fashion designer, social entrepreneur and a festival organizer. 

Serouj Hovsepian

Serouj Hovsepian, a 23-year-old filmmaker from Lebanon, presented his short film ‘Nahapet’ at the festival—his third time in Artsakh. “The film is about eternal issues of Armenian society which are best fitted in frames of the festival,” he explained. “Before coming to post-war Artsakh, I was concerned not for my safety, but for the people living here and how I should behave myself next to them, what I should do and what I should not say. But as soon as I arrived in Stepanakert, I realized that Artsakh people are healing and they have their own way to mourn and swallow their pain. I find it incredible.”

Nahapet screening

Anayis Zatikyan, a 24-year-old graphic designer and illustrator from Brazil, is also a frequent visitor to Artsakh. She repatriated to Armenia in 2019. “I am amazed with this festival, which once again proves how many talented people we have to speak, to listen and to work with here in our motherland. It inspires me. It is like the last piece from my Armenian identity puzzle. I feel complete here in Artsakh.”

Anayis Zadikyan

Organizers say they are pleased with the success and popularity of the festival in its second year. There were more participants, and events were not limited to one location, but rather spread out throughout the capital.

Vanik Mezhlumyan, a 14-year-old from Stepanakert, said these opportunities in Stepanakert are few and far between. “This is why I’m trying not to miss the chance to become a part of it and to meet new people which helps you to broaden your horizons. I like the idea of the festival and would love to have more such events in Artsakh,” he said.

Tatev Tadevosyan, a volunteer, concurs. “The masterclasses, workshops, interaction with different people and with Diasporans affect us both spiritually and intellectually. We like touching the art and being a part of it. We are excited about it.”

Baking pakhlava

Tumanyan’s ART Wine House served as the site for jingalov hats and pakhlava masterclasses. “I am very happy to host Sunrise here and see all these people enjoying both the process and the tasting,” said owner Kristina Balayan. “Artsakh is alive with its people. We realize this, and despite everything, we continue to live, love and enjoy life to its fullest.”

Pakhlava

Larisa Avagyan, a student from Stepanakert, was delighted to participate in the pakhlava masterclass. “My mom will kill me knowing this, as I never did it at home, but I came here and tried to learn it. I liked the process, and I am looking forward to trying pakhlava baked by me.”

Margos Margossian

Margos Margossian, a photographer from Los Angeles, California, curated a photo exhibition with journalist Astrig Agopian. They distributed 27 disposable cameras to youth in the border villages of  Kolkhozashen and Mokhratagh and asked the young people to take pictures of what the theme of ‘belonging’ meant to them. “We were pleasantly surprised at their talent and insight,” said Margossian. “Since I am an Armenian American, it is quite difficult for me to enter Artsakh, and I am thankful every time. If I were to summarize Artsakh into one sentence it would be ‘the forest shall give you life.’”

Margossian said he is honored to have this project featured in the Sunrise Stepanakert Festival. “I truly believe in giving a voice to the arts, especially now where most of us are still in a reactive state. Creating is so important now. I feel Sunrise has given a voice to Armenians all over and brought them to Artsakh. After all, we are trying to nourish our souls. Sunrise gave hope.”

Organizers say they took care of the entrance visas for all non-Armenian passport holders and foreign participants. “I should also mention the role of the Russian peacekeeping mission in Artsakh, as none of our participants from abroad had problems while traveling to Artsakh. They are well-informed of our festival, very supportive and every time when they see me coming to Artsakh they always say, ‘welcome home,’” said Hakobyan.    

Hakobyan strongly believes that it is more important to create a connection between Yerevan and Stepanakert and people who come to participate at the festival. They get to know Artsakh and its people. She believes that it is crucial to always keep this connection strong. That educational exchange is so important.

“I feel very happy in this kind and artful atmosphere,” said Armine Grigoryan, a 14-year-old volunteer from Stepanakert.

Stepanakert State Theater, named after Vahram Papazian, is the architectural masterpiece that served as the main location for the festival. It was unfortunately abandoned years ago and is in an emergency state now. 

Dancing Armenian national dances

“It is the best location to organize our festival, and we hope that after the Sunrise there will be people who will be ready to donate and renovate this building,” said Hakobyan. “Although the theater is closed, I hope one day it will be renovated and will open its doors to audiences and performances again.”

Lav Eli performs at Sunrise Stepanakert

The Sunrise Stepanakert Festival concluded with a Lav Eli concert, leaving many unforgettable memories and new friendships which will create new pieces of art and inspire a brighter future in Artsakh.

  •  Bio
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Irina Safaryan is a political scientist, translator and freelance journalist based in Stepanakert. She earned her master's degree at Yerevan State University's Department of International Relations; she's also studied at the Diplomatic School of Armenia. She was an intern at the European Parliament and is well-informed on EU-Armenia relations. Irina is the co-founder of the first Wikipedia Club in Artsakh, an author of more than 100 articles in Armenian Wikipedia. Irina is interested in politics, education, new technologies and everything connected to peace and sustainable development of Artsakh.