NNA – Lebanese Forces Party leader, Samir Geagea, on Friday discussed political developments in Lebanon and the situation in Armenia and the Middle East with the Armenian Ambassador, Vahagn Atabekian, in Maarab.
The meeting was also attended by the embassy's advisor, Stepan Kevorkian, and the former minister and head of the party's foreign relations apparatus, Richard Kouyoumjian.
14:12,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian National Committee of Canada has urged the Canadian government to maintain the arms embargo on Turkey amid reports suggesting that Ottawa is considering lifting the restrictions.
“The Armenian National Committee of Canada expresses deep concern over recent reports suggesting that Canada may lift its arms embargo on Turkey as part of a larger deal to appease the Turkish regime in exchange for approval of Sweden's accession to NATO,” the Armenian National Committee of Canada said in a statement.
“This potential move is particularly troubling in light of Canada's recent history with arms exports to Turkey.
“Despite Global Affairs Canada imposing a moratorium on arms sales to Turkey in October 2019, Canada allowed the export of L3Harris/WESCAM drone technology to Ankara in the spring of 2020. Disturbingly, substantial evidence confirmed Turkey's illegal diversion of this equipment to Azerbaijan after Azerbaijan invaded the Republic of Artsakh in September 2020, which later resulted in Canada cancelling the relevant permits. This diversion, in violation of Turkey's contractual obligations with Canada, resulted in the illegal use of Canadian-made WESCAM drone avionics by Azerbaijan against civilians in Artsakh.
“Canada must not be complicit in Turkish-Azerbaijani war crimes by contributing to the expansion of their military arsenals. The sale of such weaponry to rogue states violates Canada's arms export regulations, posing a significant risk to domestic and regional stability. In line with Canada's stated priorities of preserving regional peace and security and protecting human rights, Ottawa must go beyond cancellations and implement a comprehensive ban on arms sales to Ankara, rather than lifting them.
“Moreover, Turkey has demonstrated a lack of trustworthiness in honouring contractual agreements with Canada, as evidenced by the illegal diversion of weapons to conflict zones. Canada cannot risk repeating such violations, especially as Azerbaijan – backed by Turkey – continues to threaten Armenia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Therefore, we urge the Canadian government to exercise utmost caution and prioritize regional stability, peace, and human rights by refraining from lifting the arms embargo on Turkey and instead enforcing a comprehensive ban on arms sales to Ankara and Baku.
“The Armenian National Committee of Canada remains committed to advocating for policies that align with Canada's principles of promoting global peace, security, and human rights,” the organization added.
11:16, 16 January 2024
YEREVAN, JANUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Parliament on Tuesday ratified the protocol on the application of the Armenia-EU readmission agreement between Armenia and Austria. The ratification was made with 93 votes in favor.
So far similar protocols have been ratified with Bulgaria, Czechia, Germany, France, Estonia and Poland.
Armenia, the ancient land nestled in the cradle of viniculture, is experiencing a resurgence in its wine industry, driven by its distinctive local grape varieties. Among its prized indigenous grapes, Voskehat stands out. Often referred to as the queen of Armenian grape varieties, Voskehat is celebrated for its thick skin, longevity, and versatility in winemaking. This allows it to produce a spectrum of flavors, ranging from vegetal and key lime to tropical notes.
Wine experts often draw parallels between Voskehat and Chenin Blanc due to their similar blending capacities, especially for sparkling wines. Its versatility and adaptability to the region’s climate have earned Voskehat a revered status among Armenian grape varieties.
Besides Voskehat, the Armenian vineyard is home to a plethora of unique grape varieties. Khatoun, celebrated for its high acidity and tart flavors, often finds itself in a blend with Voskehat. Kangun, a grape developed during the Soviet era for brandy production, has adapted well to the Armenian terroir, lending freshness and honeyed notes to white and sparkling wines.
Another noteworthy grape is Garan Dmak. Known for its vegetal and ripe pear flavors, this grape is often compared to French Sancerre. However, the pride of Armenian grape varieties is the Areni Noir. This grape, often described as the pearl of Armenian grape varieties, produces wines with pronounced acidity, deep color, and aromas of cherry and blackcurrant. Wine connoisseurs often liken Areni Noir to Burgundian wines due to its thin skin and bright acidity.
The Armenian wine industry also boasts hybrids like Tigrani, a cross between Saperavi and Areni Noir, that adds fruitiness and florality to tannic red varieties. The grape Haghtanak, translating to ‘victory’, is a deeply colored and tannic grape often found in blends. Kakhet, traditionally used for Port-style sweet wines, is now recognized for its light, aromatic profile with notes of berries and pepper. A rare gem in the Armenian vineyard is Tozot, a grape with high acidity and vibrant strawberry notes, used in various wine styles, including rosé and brandy.
These unique grape varieties encapsulate the potential and richness of the Armenian wine industry. The increasing interest among wine enthusiasts and professionals signals a promising future for Armenian wines on the global stage.
11:07,
YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. Armenia will be represented at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics in Gangwon, South Korea by skiers Fenya Galstyan, Armen Margaryan and Hakob Hakobyan.
The 2024 Winter Youth Olympics will take place January 19 to February 1.
11:09, 6 January 2024
YEREVAN, JANUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. The agreement on mutual elimination of visa requirement for the citizens of the Republic of Armenia and the United Arab Emirates will come into effect from February 1, 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia said.
As of February 1, Armenian citizens can enter, exit and transit through the UAE without an entry visa or fee. The passport of an Armenian national must be valid for at least 6 months from their arrival date in the UAE.
Armenian citizens will be allowed to stay in the territory of the United Arab Emirates for a maximum period of 90 days in each 180-day period.
The validity of the passport refers to the period of validity indicated on the 2nd (Armenian) and 3rd (English) pages of the passport, not the note on the validity in foreign countries (round stamp) indicated on the 4th page of the passport, which is no longer applicable and is not mandatory from January 1, 2024.
13:22, 4 January 2024
YEREVAN, JANUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. The Iranian Embassy in Armenia will open a condolence book on January 5, from 10:00 to 16:00, on the occasion of the January 3 bombings that killed over 100 people in the southeastern city of Kerman.
On January 3, two bomb explosions hit a commemorative ceremony marking the 4th anniversary of death of military commander Qasem Soleimani, who was killed by a US airstrike ordered by then-President Donald Trump at Baghdad International Airport in 2020.
According to latest reports, the death toll has reached 103, and 211 are wounded. The Iranian government declared the bombings a terrorist attack.
On November 15, the exhibition “Three Cities: Constantinople, Paris, Yerevan. Tigran and Zabel Yesayan” was unveiled to the public in Yerevan, Armenia at the Gevorg Grigorian (Giotto) Studio-Museum. The exhibition offers insights into the unseen parts of the couple’s lives, including the artworks of Tigran Yesayan, which are being exhibited to the public for the second time in 100 years.
Having lived and worked in both Constantinople and Paris in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Tigran and Zabel Yesayan had an immense impact on Armenian culture and artistry. As a student of Académie Julian, Tigran made sculptures and paintings while also writing different types of articles. Zabel, for her part, was a highly respected figure in Paris. She studied literature and philosophy at the Sorbonne University and Collège de France, and published works in both French and Armenian periodicals. After her husband’s death, Zabel took her children and moved to Yerevan in 1933. As outlined by the two curators Arpine Saribekyan and Haykuhi Sahakyan, “Yerevan became the last place of refuge for the art and literary heritage of the Yesayan spouses.”
Through this exhibition, the creative legacy of the Yesayans is being presented to the general public. Saribekyan and Sahakyan conducted in-depth scientific research at the National Archives of Armenia, the storage and manuscript departments of the National Gallery of Armenia, the Yeghishe Charents Museum of Literature and Arts, the National Library of Armenia and Nubarian Library in Paris.
One of the walls of the exhibit on the second floor of the Gevorg Grigorian (Giotto) Studio-Museum
Upon entering the second floor of the museum, where the exhibition is displayed, the visitor is presented with two walls that recount the life stories of both figures. “This was helpful for visitors who were not very familiar with the small details of their lives. It gives a deeper understanding of who they were and why people should care that their works are presented here,” one of the visitors of the exhibition said.
“The initial goal was to showcase Tigran’s works while shedding light on Zabel, as she was the one who gifted his works to the National Gallery when she came to Armenia from Paris in 1933,” Saribekyan explained.
In 1935, Zabel executed the first and only personal exhibition of her late husband’s works at the State Museum of Fine Arts of Armenia (now the National Gallery of Armenia), where more than 150 of his works were exhibited. The exhibit shows Tigran’s works to the Armenian public along with Zabel’s influential literary works and portrays them together as a powerful Western Armenian couple.
One of the main goals of the exhibition was to bring recognition and showcase Tigran as an artist. Besides that one exhibition that was held in 1935, Tigran’s works have not received much attention, until now. “I felt a sense of longing. His paintings made me miss a place I’d never seen with my own eyes, places I have only been able to imagine through art like this,” another visitor explained while reflecting on Tigran’s works.
As a renowned literary and political figure, Zabel Yesayan is recognized by all Armenians worldwide. However, many people do not know about her domestic life, one of the elements that this exhibition highlights. By showcasing a handmade bag, embroidery work, letters to her children and more, the exhibition “presents Zabel as a woman, a wife, a mother and not only a literary figure,” the curators explained.
It showcases Zabel as a resilient and hardworking woman, not just in the public sphere, but also domestic. “Through her various works, Zabel was a caregiver to her family and her country,” Saribekyan said.
Zabel Yesayan’s court case
While the artworks and handmade pieces carry significant emotional worth, one of the most important pieces in the exhibition is the court case piece from the National Archives of Armenia. It is the only piece that represents how Zabel’s journey ended in Yerevan, Armenia.
The exhibition provides a comprehensive overview of the couple’s path through Constantinople, Paris and Yerevan. As the idea for the exhibition was centered around these three cities, the curators went back and forth on ways to showcase Zabel’s last years in Yerevan. After further research, they came across Zabel’s court case, which includes the court’s testimony before she received her verdict. This is the first time this piece is being shown in public.
The exhibition is a classical homage to the influential couple. It gives people the opportunity to see Zabel Yesayan and her husband’s works exhibited and to form a deeper connection with the couple. It takes visitors back in time and immerses them in the experiences and emotions that the couple shared through artworks, letters, pictures and more. Such exhibitions carry on the legacies of influential Armenian figures and ensure that the current and future generations interact with Western Armenia.
The exhibition will be open for visitors until the end of March.
Some of the couple’s belongings, including notebooks, letters and pictures
Captain Victor ‘Transport’ Maghakian
Exactly 108 years ago, on December 30, 1915, the First World War was raging, and the forces of evil were already trying to exterminate the Armenian population. But thousands of miles away, in Chicago, Illinois, the Maghakian family was celebrating the birth of a beautiful baby named Victor. This little boy was the first child of Dickran and Alice Maghakian, two Armenian refugees who were forced to leave their beloved land. Victor grew into a kindhearted, friendly and cheerful teenager who always had a smile on his face. He was the oldest of four brothers and three sisters. As his father worked hard at the steel mill, Victor took on much of the responsibility of raising his younger siblings. In 1930, the Maghakian family moved from Chicago to San Diego, California.
The defining moment that changed the course of Victor’s life happened in 1936. On an ordinary sunny day, Victor made the decision to join the U.S. Navy. He felt it was his duty to serve his country and couldn’t wait to go overseas. Later that day, he headed towards the U.S. Navy recruiting office, but as he walked past a movie theater, he decided to buy a ticket to watch Pride of the Marines starring Charles Bickford. The movie was a revelation for Victor, who immediately headed towards the Marine Corps recruiting office instead. Shortly after, the Maghakian family moved to Fresno, California, and lived next to William Saroyan, the legendary Armenian American novelist who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1940 and won the Academy Award for Best Story for the movie The Human Comedy. After saying goodbye to his loved ones, Victor was sent to Asia and was stationed in the Philippines and China for four years. He fulfilled his duties admirably and was frequently sent to different countries. Victor’s extensive understanding and knowledge of foreign bases and societies led him to be nicknamed “Transport” by his fellow Marines.
Victor Maghakian with Grace McDonald, who starred in the movie Gung Ho!
In early 1942, Victor was among the 900 Marines (out of 15,000) selected to join the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion. Only the best Marines could become members of this elite Battalion. By August, the time had come to confront Japanese forces on Makin Island in the Pacific Ocean. During the raid, Platoon Sergeant Victor Maghakian demonstrated remarkable courage and outstanding determination, but while leading his men, he was struck by enemy fire. His forearm was injured so badly that he struggled to remain conscious. Ignoring pain and fear, Victor wrapped up his open wound and launched a successful solo attack against the Japanese position. Shortly after, Victor received medical first aid and was ordered to return to the rear, but he refused to do so and kept fighting with his brothers-in-arms. For his bravery and leadership on Makin Island, Victor was awarded the Navy Cross, which is the second highest military decoration for valor and extraordinary heroism in combat. The American war movie Gung Ho! was based on the Makin Island raid led by the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion. Victor’s role was played by famed actor Sam Levene.
A few weeks later, during the deadly Battle of Guadalcanal, Victor and his comrades were ambushed and pinned down by heavy fire. In order to save his men, Victor stood up and revealed his exact position, so that the Japanese soldiers would come out of their hiding spots. Victor’s wrist was struck by enemy fire, but thanks to his incredible act of courage, his men were able to kill all the Japanese soldiers. After the Battle of Guadalcanal, Victor spent two months in a U.S. Navy hospital in Oakland, California. During that time, he married the love of his life, Vera Karaoglanian. They couldn’t wait to spend the rest of their lives together, but Victor had to end this never-ending war, so he returned to combat duties. In January 1944, he volunteered to participate at the Battle of Kwajalein, where he killed several Japanese soldiers and captured two. A month later, Victor was fighting on the Eniwetok Atoll, where he saved the life of Private First Class Lee Marvin, who later became a famous actor.
Throughout the entire war, Victor led his men through some of the bloodiest fighting in seven South Pacific campaigns.
Day after day, week after week, month after month, he fought in hell for a heavenly cause.
Even when Victor was surrounded or outnumbered, he never gave up. This Armenian American hero received many awards and decorations, becoming one of the most decorated servicemen of World War II. In order to defeat tyranny and enable us to live in freedom, Victor made many sacrifices, including his health. All his combat wounds led him to become 60-percent disabled. In 1945, he was initially treated at the U.S. Naval hospital in Virginia before being transferred to the U.S. Naval hospital in Philadelphia. In 1946, Victor was discharged from military duty as a captain. Victor Maghakian’s grave at the Ararat Cemetery in Fresno, California
Following the war, Victor returned to Fresno and later moved to Las Vegas, where he was employed by a hotel and casino from 1954 to 1974. This true Armenian American hero died of cancer on August 17, 1977, at the age of 61, and he is now resting in peace at the Ararat Cemetery in Fresno. Looking back on her brother’s life, Victor’s sister stated: “He was a quiet and dedicated man and was always very calm, except for war. He was such a giving man.”
At this moment in time, when the forces of evil are still trying to exterminate the Armenian population, the extraordinary story of Victor Maghakian must encourage all Armenians to never give up, never give in and never lose hope. Outnumbered by ruthless enemies, and relentlessly attacked, Victor always prevailed, and so will Armenia.
Thursday,
Azeri FM Seeks Direct Talks With Armenian Counterpart
• Lusine Musayelian
Switzerland - Foreign Ministers Ararat Mirzoyan of Armenia and Jeyhun Bayramov
of Azerbaijan meet in Geneva, October 2, 2022.
More than one month after cancelling a U.S.-mediated meeting between the
Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers, Baku has proposed that they hold
direct talks at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov revealed the proposal at a news
conference on Thursday. He did not say whether the Armenian side has already
responded to it. There was no immediate reaction to Bayramov’s statement from
Yerevan.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had been scheduled to host Bayramov and
his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan in Washington on November 20 for
further negotiations on a peace treaty between the two South Caucasus nations.
Baku cancelled the meeting in protest against what it called pro-Armenian
statements made by James O’Brien, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for
Europe and Eurasia.
O’Brien visited Baku early this month in what appears to have been a failed bid
to convince the Azerbaijani leadership to reschedule the cancelled meeting. A
senior aide to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on December 19 that
Washington must reconsider its “one-sided approach” to the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict before it can mediate more peace talks.
Aliyev withdrew from talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian which
the European Union had planned to host in October. The EU too has been accused
by Baku or pro-Armenian bias. Armenian leaders have suggested that Aliyev is
simply dragging his feet on the peace treaty in hopes of clinching more Armenian
concessions.
Bayramov said on Thursday that Yerevan’s position on key details of the peace
treaty has become more acceptable to Baku after Azerbaijan’s September 19-20
military offensive that led to its recapture of Nagorno-Karabakh. He did not
shed light on that “progress” or the remaining differences between the two sides.
One of the key sticking points is their border disputes. Mirzoyan reiterated on
Wednesday that the peace treaty should contain a concrete mechanism for
delimiting the Armenian-Azerbaijani border such as Soviet military maps printed
in the 1970s.
Baku continues to oppose that. Bayramov insisted on delinking the border issue
from the treaty. He also said that the signing of the treaty depends on the
“political will” of the Armenian side.
“We hope to see the extent of that political will in the coming days,” added the
Azerbaijani minister.
Armenian opposition leaders have warned Pashinian’s government against signing
the peace accord before the border delimitation. They say that Baku wants to
leave the door open for territorial claims to Armenia.
Ex-President Sarkisian Rejects Pashinian’s ‘Lies’ On Karabakh
• Shoghik Galstian
Armenia - Former President Serzh Sarkisian (right) attends the presentation of
his book, Yerevan, March 7, 2023.
Former President Serzh Sarkisian on Thursday brushed aside Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinian’s latest statement blaming Armenia’s former leaders and foreign powers
for the fall of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Sarkisian said that Pashinian admitted having “consciously sacrificed” Karabakh
to Azerbaijan in a televised interview last week.
Speaking to Armenian Public Television, Pashinian claimed that U.S., Russian and
French mediators leading the OSCE Minsk Group had predetermined the
“dissolution” of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic with their peace
plans drawn up prior to his rise to power in 2018. He said virtually none of
those plans offered a comprehensive solution to the conflict with Azerbaijan.
Some of the mediating powers for decades used the conflict as a “truncheon
hanging over Armenia’s head,” Pashinian charged amid his government’s
unprecedented tensions with Russia.
“I saw many lies and falsifications in that speech but must single out one
important fact: Armenia’s ruler admitted that he sacrificed Karabakh
consciously,” Sarkisian told reporters.
“I just didn’t understand what truncheons he is talking about, who had
brandished those truncheons over Armenia’s head,” he said. “The [Minsk Group]
co-chairs who had issued five statements to the effect that Nagorno-Karabakh’s
status must be determined through the expression of [Karabakh residents’] will?”
“Did he mean the country which had provided us with billions of dollars worth of
weapons for free or at discounted prices and which he handed over to
Azerbaijan?” the ex-president added, referring to Russia.
Most of the Karabakh peace proposals were based on so-called Madrid Principles
which the United States, Russia and France originally put forward 2007. This
framework agreement envisaged that Karabakh’s predominantly ethnic Armenian
population would determine the region’s internationally recognized status in a
future referendum.
Pashinian has repeatedly denounced the Madrid Principles in an effort to absolve
himself of blame for the 2020 war in Karabakh won by Azerbaijan. He has said
that this peace formula, largely accepted by Sarkisian and his predecessor
Robert Kocharian, essentially recognized Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan and
called for Armenia’s “capitulation.”
Armenian opposition leaders and other government critics have shrugged off those
claims. They say that Pashinian made the disastrous war inevitable by rejecting
the last version of the Madrid Principles.
In 2021, Sarkisian publicized the secretly recorded audio of a 2019 meeting
during which Pashinian said he opposes that peace plan because it would not
immediately formalize Karabakh’s secession from Azerbaijan. Pashinian said he is
ready to “play the fool or look a bit insane” in order to avoid such a
settlement.
Armenia Turning Way From Russia, Says Lavrov
United Arab Emirates - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a meeting
of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Russian President
Vladimir Putin in Abu Dhabi, December 6, 2023.
Armenia is reorienting its foreign policy towards the West at the expense of its
long-standing alliance with Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said
in an interview published on Thursday.
“Unfortunately, official Yerevan, succumbing to the persuasion of Westerners, is
trying to reformat its foreign policy line,” he told the official Russian news
agency TASS. “It is exchanging the time-tested alliance with Moscow not even for
concrete help from the West but only for vague promises.”
Lavrov was particularly concerned about what he described as Armenia’s deepening
ties with NATO.
“Yerevan has been developing cooperation with NATO and its individual member
countries lately,” he said. “This year, Armenia took part in several dozen
events with the alliance. It continues to modernize its armed forces according
to NATO standards, and the republic’s military personnel are undergoing training
in a number of NATO member states. This cannot fail to cause us concern.”
“I hope that Yerevan is aware that deepening interaction with the alliance leads
to a loss of sovereignty in the field of national defense and security,” he
warned.
Armenia - U.S. and Armenian troops start a joint exercise at the Zar training
ground near Yerevan, September 11, 2023.
Earlier this week, a senior NATO official praised Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinian’s government for moving away from Russia and seeking “more cooperation
and political dialogue” with NATO.
“Armenia has decided very clearly to make some shift in their foreign policy, to
take some distance from Moscow,” Javier Colomina, the NATO secretary general’s
special representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia, told Georgian
television.
Pashinian declared in early September that his government wants to “diversify
our security policy” because Armenia’s heavy reliance on Russia has proved a
“strategic mistake.” He claimed that Moscow is “unwilling or unable” to defend
its South Caucasus ally. Armenia hosted a U.S.-Armenian military exercise later
in September.
The Russian Foreign Ministry denounced these and other “unfriendly steps,”
accusing Pashinian of “destroying” Russian-Armenian relations at the behest of
Western powers. The rift between the two longtime allies deepened further after
Moscow did not prevent or stop Azerbaijan’s September 19-20 military offensive
that restored Azerbaijani control over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Armenia - Russian soldiers march during an official Armenian ceremony to mark
the 76th anniversary of Soviet victory in World War Two, Yerevan, May 9, 2021.
Despite the heightened tensions, Pashinian has announced no plans to pull his
country out of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
Pashinian said in late October that his administration is also not considering
demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from Armenia even if it sees no
“advantages” in their presence.
Lavrov described as “harmful” any talk of such a withdrawal. He insisted that
Armenia cannot successfully confront its grave security challenges with the help
of the United States and the European Union.
Pashinian’s domestic political opponents have also criticized his foreign policy
moves while agreeing with his assertions that Russia is not fully honoring its
security commitments to Armenia. They argue that the West is not ready to give
any Armenia security guarantees or significant military aid.
Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
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