Author: Emma Nadirian

The faces leading Armenia & Cyprus’ creative industry

Emma Nadirian
GUAP
Feb 6 2024

Hey everyone, I’m Katie Bedrossian! You’re probably wondering where that long surname comes from. It’s Armenian! Some Armenian creatives you may know of include Kim Kardashian and Cher but there are so many more out there. There’s also many talented Cypriot creatives out there. I’m here to shine a light on these talented creatives..but first let me tell you a bit about myself. 

So I’m Katie, a social impactadvocate passionate about my Armenian heritage. You might be wondering where Armenia is. It’s a beautiful country in the middle east known for its amazing sights, churches, people and the food is the best part! I could write a whole piece just on Armenian food alone, but we will save that for another time. 

Alongside my Armenian background, I am also an advocate for my Cypriot heritage and connecting diverse Cypriot communities. As someone who comes from a family of refugees that fled to Cyprus after the Armenian Genocide  and later to the UK,  this has always inspired me to tell stories of often marginalized communities. 

I’m a bubbly person with a big energy for life and I can also be a deep thinker (I blame that on me studying Sociology at uni). I am very much driven by social impact and using my creativity to share important stories like this article I’m writing now! 

My creativity is explored in different ways through poetry, events, creating content, dance, webinars, and podcasts. I aim to leave the world in a better place than when I found it. Throughout my work one thing is always there: my desire to have impact and shine a light on diverse voices. Now that intro is out the way, let’s dive into this article properly and see what Armenian and Cypriot creatives to look out for…

Find insta: Garen Tchobanian Co-Founder of AZAT MARD

First up, we have ‘AZAT MARD,’ which is a cool Armenian men’s clothing fashion company by Armenian Co-Founder Garen Tchobanian alongside his business partner  Neil Malhotra. The words ‘AZAT MARD’ translates to ‘Free Man/People.’ Garen used to represent Armenia’s football team with a business and fashion background. The aim behind this fashion brand was to create comfortable clothing for men that also looked fashionable. Their experience of fashion and personal journey led to the creation of ‘AZAT MARD.’ 

Many celebrities like KSI, Anthony Joshua and Cristiano Ronaldo have been spotted wearing the clothing. It’s so good to see an Armenian fashion brand thrive with unique graphics on different products.

There’s the number 610 printed on most of the clothing which is a reference to the date AZAT MARD was made (6th October). I love the different graphic designs on the t-shirts and caps. One of my favourite designs is the t-shirt with Ararat brandy , food and Mount Ararat. If you’ve never had Armenian brandy, it’s very strong!

I love the thought and detail that has gone into this authentic clothing brand. There are also some interesting graphic prints of various Armenian artists including boxer  Kirk Kerkorian and French-Armenian artist Charles Aznavour There are hubs in New York, South of France, and Los Angeles. Go check out their website and start supporting this Armenian brand! 

Jessie Bedrossian

Next up we have Jessie Bedrossian. So you noticed the surname is the same as mine right? That’s because she’s my sister! 

Jessie Bedrossian is an Armenian actor who has recently finished shooting a film playing the supporting lead opposite Danny Dyer, and ended last year performing a lead role at Shakespeare’s Globe. Hard to summarise how talented she is without writing a full-on essay, but I’ll try to keep it brief. 

So what is she doing at the moment? She’s in post-production on a short film, ‘Pomegranate,’ which she starred in and co-produced. The film explores an intergenerational Armenian family living in the UK, and the rippling effect of denied trauma from the Armenian genocide. Jessie can also be seen in season 8 of  ITV’s Grantchester (available now on ITV hub), and she will shortly be seen in the Bush Theatre’s ‘Protest Series’, which will be streamed online. 

She is passionate about creating and championing minority artists and underrepresented stories within the arts, and is currently developing her first short which explores her Armenian culture and heritage. So go check out her stuff and support! Can’t wait to see what’s next in store for her. (Keep shining sis!)

Elen Yeremyan (also known as Brunette):  Armenian Singer and Eurovision Song contest 2023

Elen is an Armenian singer. Her career with music started from an early age. She released single ‘’Love the Way You Feel,’’ and also represented Armenia at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023 with a song she wrote called ‘’Future Lover.’’Her performance was beautiful and she also is part of Project 12, which is a band in Armenia known for great music. They performed when I was in Armenia last year and it was a lovely evening dancing and hearing different songs as well as remix versions of other songs. 

Andre Spight: Armenian Basketball, Sportsperson and Gold Medallist 

Andre is Armenian from America, and is part of the Armenia National Basketball Team helping them to win during FIBA European Championship and was recently featured on MIASEEN meaning ‘’Together’’ (an Armenian led platform that shares news on the community). Andre spoke with MIASEEN about his sports experience, career journey and what motivates him, with a big part of his motivation coming from his mother. Alongside this, he also has a tattoo of Kobe Bryant’s sheath logo which remains an important symbol for him of his personal journey and success.

In 2023, he was part of the Pan Armenian Games for the third time and spoke about previous success stories, and representing black Armenian communities. It’s great to see an athlete like Andre thrive.  

Ruben Koulaksezian: Founder of Little Armenias 

Ruben is a French-Armenian creative who created a travel guide helping Armenian diaspora communities to find Armenian attractions around the world. This is something that I think is so important as it allows us to see lovely Armenian places across the globe that we probably didn’t know about before. Even the name itself is cute. Ruben explains more detail in ‘Armenian Weekly’ about his personal journey and helping the diaspora feel connected.

It all started when Ruben was interested in travelling and documenting Armenian restaurants, churches, and sights he visited. After sharing vlogs of his journey across the world connecting to Armenian diaspora and sights, he began to grow a following online. It’s beautiful to see how many Armenian sight attractions there are in different countries. I have learnt so much just by following his page. Little Armenias was voted best project from AGBU FOCUS in Brazil. (Just to also add in for context that AGBU is a great organisation raising awareness and connecting Armenian communities through socials and events). 

Ruth Ismayelyan: Founder of Radiant Cosmetics, Forbes 30 Under 30

Ruth’s journey is inspiring. She was tired of damage that kept being caused by acrylic nails so she wanted to explore ways to enhance nail growth and healthy nails. Her journey began when she started looking at cuticle oil and making her own one. The results were great as she was able to create a cuticle oil that helped with nail growth. 

She started sharing content on her TikTok which gained attention from many people. Ruth started selling the cuticle oil and made ‘Radiant Cosmetics,’ selling cuticle oil as well as other products. She was on Forbes 30 under 30and continues to promote nail growth through her cuticle oil which have amazing results! 

Go check out her page and who knows maybe you might even test out the cuticle oil yourself, I know I will be.

Cypriot Creatives

Anthony Anaxagorou:

Anthony  is a Cypriot poet, publisher, and educator. He was featured in Merky Books with publication‘How to write it,’ which focuses onpoetry, literature, race, and class. It also explains the creative writing process by giving advice to new creative writers. This is something I think is important as it’s helping people know how to write creatively.

Some of the themes Anthony focuses on in his poetry,I resonate with especially  where he speaks about the impacts of being a refugee. I felt connected to this piece as someone with Cypriot heritage too.. Poetry is a beautiful way to create stories and Anthony is definitely a creative person to look out for and support. 


Sophia Hadjipanteli: Model 

Sophia is a Greek-Cypriot model that is an active advocate for beauty and normalising being comfortable in your own skin and how you look. She is now the creative founder of the Unibrow Movement that helps overcome society pressures to fix or to hide who you are or what you look like. It’s great to see Sophia be an advocate for beauty and helping build confidence in young women to be your authentic self and not conform to societal pressures. I think this is so beneficial by helping young girls see beauty within themselves and strive to be confident in who they are.  Whilst Sophia gained attention from 2017 with her unibrow, she has become a beauty advocate ever since and a model for Premier Models. She is a definitive role model for the younger generation and has been in many publications one being Vogue and Vanity Fair to name a few. 

B-Young: Singer

B-Young is Turkish-Cypriot who is best known for being a rapper and songwriter.  He started gaining a following alongside other well-known artists of Hardy Caprio, Fredo, NSG, Not3s and Ramz. He also collaborated with Tion Wayne on ‘Last Night.’ Hismusic is a vibe and has a mix of genres ranging from R & B,and Hip-Hop categories.  In 2017, he released‘’Jumanji’’ which went to number 13 on UK chart. I remember when this song came out, I had it on repeat. His other song ‘’079ME’’  was another great hit. And let’s not forget about his other great tune ‘’Catch Me Outside.’’ This is also one of my favorite tracks. 

Maria Christodoulou: Founder of ‘Root to Vine’ podcast. 

Maria is a Cypriot creative that helps raise awareness on Cypriot diaspora communities by having important conversations on the  ‘Root to Vine’ podcast. It is the first podcast series that is shining a light on Cypriot identity and heritage  through the diaspora. She has had a range of people on this podcast series. It’s great how through having conversations, people are able to learn more about Cyprus, the culture and people’s individual perceptions. 

With each episode focusing on a different theme linked to Cyprus, it shows power in expressing yourself, your heritage through having important talks. Ultimately it’s through having important conversations that we are able to learn more about different cultures. Go check out the podcast episodes!

Hovig Demirjian: Armenian-Cypriot Singer

Hovig Demirjian is an Armenian-Cypriot singer and songwriter from Cyprus.  He started performing in various venues including clubs in Cyprus. He was part of the Greek equivalent to  X factor and came 7th, which then helped him to release songs and do tours. Hovig also represented Cyprus in the Eurovision multiple times.  

I enjoy hearing the blend of Greek and Armenian songs and I saw Hovig perform last year in Cyprus and really enjoyed it. Whenever I’m out and the music is a vibe, you will find me on the dance floor and Hovig’s tracks are great. It’s lovely to see Hovig succeed in his music journey whilst representing the Armenian Cypriot community. 

And that’s only a few Armenian, and Cypriot creatives. There are so many more to look out for and support. It’s been lovely writing this piece and showing some emerging talent out there. I love how people ultimately use creativity in different ways to express themself. The people I have written about in this article inspire me to continue doing the work I am doing. One thing all these creatives have in common is how they use their heritage in their pieces of work. I hope you enjoyed reading this article as much as I enjoyed writing it. Until next time, Katie x

https://guap.co/the-faces-leading-armenia-and-cyprus-creative-industry/

Senators introduce resolution asserting congressional oversight over U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan

Emma Nadirian

 11:57, 2 February 2024

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2, ARMENPRESS. U.S. Senators Ed Markey (D-MA) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) have introduced a bipartisan resolution requesting a report on Azerbaijan’s human rights practices pursuant to Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) reports.

The resolution requests information from the U.S. State Department on Azerbaijan’s human rights abuses both within the country, as well as during its sustained military assault against Nagorno-Karabakh  that last year resulted in the ethnic cleansing of its entire indigenous Armenian population. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Peter Welch (D-VT) have joined as original cosponsors.

“The need to hold Azerbaijan’s government accountable and forge a peaceful path forward is long overdue,” said Senator Markey. “Military action has never been the solution to peace and stability in Nagorno-Karabakh. This resolution puts pressure on Azerbaijan’s government to uphold human rights and stop committing crimes against ethnic Armenians in the region. We must protect the will, the rights, and the bedrock freedoms of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.”

“Azerbaijan has already been bulldozing holy sites and starving Armenian communities. This is the type of country the Biden administration wants supplying LNG to Europe instead of Louisiana natural gas?” said Dr. Cassidy.

A House version of the 502B(c) request on Azerbaijan – H.Res.735 – was introduced by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) during Azerbaijan’s blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh last year.

“The Administration’s continuing support for the Aliyev regime, which regularly commits atrocities and human rights violations, simply isn’t in line with our values as Americans. Given Azerbaijan’s egregious military action against Artsakh on September 19, it is imperative that President Biden and Secretary Blinken reconsider our aid policies,” said Representative Schiff. “This resolution aims to gather information on human rights abuses and war crimes being committed by Azerbaijan and to halt future aid. As a country that champions human rights, we must ensure our foreign aid reflects our commitment to core values and does not contribute to further violence against the Armenian people in Artsakh. This resolution is a step towards aligning our international aid with the ethical standards and interests of the United States.”

The Markey-Cassidy resolution will require the Department of State to provide a detailed description of widely documented human rights abuses perpetrated by Azerbaijan, including unlawful or arbitrary killings, torture of detainees, the displacement of ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, and the destruction of religious and cultural sites – in addition to violations of internationally recognized human rights including freedom of speech, assembly, political participation, and religious freedom.

The Markey-Cassidy 502B(c) resolution on Azerbaijan will build on ongoing efforts to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its human rights violations – including the recent unanimous passage of S.3000, led by Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), which would prohibit the executive branch from exercising its waiver authority over existing restrictions on military assistance to Azerbaijan pursuant to Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act.

Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act is a long-standing yet underutilized statute that prohibits U.S. security assistance to “any country the government of which engages in a consistent pattern of gross violation of internationally recognized human rights.” If the Markey-Cassidy resolution passes, it will mark the first time that Congress has requested a report under Section 502B(c) since 1976.

Section 502B(c) is a potent tool to reassert long-overdue Congressional oversight and human rights standards on U.S. military assistance. As a privileged measure, Senators have the ability to discharge a 502B(c) report and force a vote on the Senate floor. Upon passage of the resolution, the State Department must provide a report within 30 days detailing a country’s human rights practices and the steps taken by the United States to prevent these abuses – or security assistance will automatically be suspended until such a statement is transmitted. Following the provision of the requested report by the State Department, Congress may then vote to terminate or restrict security assistance through a joint resolution of disapproval.

Over 25 civil society organizations have welcomed Senator Markey and Cassidy’s introduction of a 502B(c) request in Azerbaijan’s human rights practices, including: Amnesty International USA, Freedom House, Human Rights Foundation (HRF), the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), National Council of Churches (NCC), the Arms Control Association (ACA), Friends Commitee on National Legislation (FCNL), Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), Center for International Policy (CIP), Peace Action, Common Defense, Action Corps, Foreign Policy for America (FP4A), Center for Victims of Torture (CVT), Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), National Iranian American Council (NIAC) Action, Women for Weapons Trade Transparency, Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding & Policy, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), In Defense of Christians (IDC), American Friends of Kurdistan (AFK), and the Anglican Office for Government & International Affairs.

EU Foreign Affairs Council will discuss Armenia and Azerbaijan on Monday

Emma Nadirian
Jan 19 2024

A meeting of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council, with the participation of the Foreign Ministers of the 27 member states, will be held in Brussels on Monday 22 January starting at 0900. The meeting will be chaired by EU High Representative Josep Borrell.

An announcement from Brussels said that the Council will discuss Ukraine and the Middle East. Under the item current affairs it will discuss Armenia and Azerbaijan.



Iranian and Armenian Foreign Ministers Convene in Yerevan: A Spotlight on Diplomacy

Emma Nadirian
 bnn 
HongKong – Dec 27 2023

By: Momen Zellmi

In a significant diplomatic development, the foreign ministers of Iran and Armenia, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Ararat Mirzoyan respectively, are convening a joint press conference in Yerevan, Armenia today. This event, accessible live through social media platforms, underscores the mutual commitment between the two nations to foster closer relations and enhance regional cooperation.

The meeting between the two ministers is expected to delve into the potential expansion of political, economic, and cultural ties. The primary focus of their dialogue is likely to revolve around enhancing these bilateral relations and potential avenues of cooperation. This visit from Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is a testament to the importance Iran places on its relationship with Armenia.

Aside from bilateral matters, the conference is also expected to address broader regional issues. Prior to arriving in Yerevan, Minister Amir-Abdollahian had telephonic conversations with the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Russia, suggesting a wider agenda for discussion. Such engagements indicate the significance of diplomatic dialogue in navigating the complex terrain of international relations.

The ministers’ meeting holds particular relevance for the South Caucasus region. The press conference could provide insights into the ‘3+3’ format, a cooperative framework involving Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Georgia, Iran, Russia, and Armenia. This diplomatic engagement further underscores the role of dialogue and mutual understanding in promoting regional stability and cooperation.

In conclusion, the joint press conference between the foreign ministers of Iran and Armenia signifies an ongoing commitment to dialogue and cooperation. It serves as a reminder of the pivotal role diplomacy plays in fostering international relations and regional stability.

Border delimitation could be separated from peace treaty, says Speaker of Parliament

Emma Nadirian

 14:05,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Alen Simonyan hasn’t ruled out that Armenia and Azerbaijan could separate the border delimitation issue from the possible peace treaty.

“I think that we can consider such an option because in terms of time it could take longer, perhaps even years. A country heading towards true peace won’t see any obstacle in such things,” Simonyan said, stressing that this is his personal opinion.

The border delimitation and demarcation could take very long, he added.

“Yes, I don’t rule out that such an option could be acceptable for Armenia,” Simonyan said.

US, Europe should ‘stop fooling around’ expecting Russia’s collapse, says Putin

Emma Nadirian

 17:39,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Russia does not shut itself from the US and Europe, and it is time for them to "stop fooling around" expecting Russia’s collapse, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during the meeting of the Council on strategic development and national projects, Tass reports.

"I would like to note that we do not shut ourselves from the American continent, from North America, from the US and Canada, we do not shut ourselves from European states. They actually should stop fooling around and stop waiting for us to collapse," Tass quoted Putin as saying.

According to Russia's Putin, if Western states want to benefit from cooperation with Russia, they can do it.

"We do not push them away. But it is their business and their decision," Putin noted.

He noted that the US and Europe must themselves contemplate what they are being motivated by.

CSTO secretary general to visit Armenia on 21 December

Emma Nadirian
Belarus – Dec 20 2023

MOSCOW, 20 December (BelTA) – Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Imangali Tasmagambetov is set to visit Armenia on 21 December, BelTA learned from the CSTO press service.

“On 21 December, CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov is scheduled to visit Yerevan to meet with Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan. The parties are expected to discuss the results of the joint meeting of the CSTO Foreign Ministers Council, the CSTO Defense Ministers Council and the CSTO Committee of Secretaries of the Security Councils and the session of the Collective Security Council held in Minsk in November 2023,” the press service said.

As BelTA previously reported, Armenia did not take part in the abovementioned events.

Armenia, Estonia ready to enhance relations

Emma Nadirian

 15:43, 13 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. This year the Armenia-Estonia relations were distinguished by rather active political dialogue, mutual visits, contacts in international platforms and political consultations, Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan said at a joint press conference with his Estonian counterpart Margus Tsahkna in Yerevan.

He said they expressed willingness to take steps to maintain the dynamics of development of ties and enhance the agenda.

“Today we had the chance to discuss a rather broad circle of issues. In addition to the enhancing political dialogue, we attached importance to the economic component of bilateral ties, as well as maximal use of potential for the development of close cooperation in targeted areas,” Mirzoyan said, pointing out opportunities for exchange of experience and joint projects in IT. “Of course this sector is greatly connected with education and science, where we also have the potential to combine our capabilities,” he added.

The Armenia-EU partnership was also discussed.

The expansion of the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA) and Estonia’s participation in it was highlighted in context of regional stability.

Mirzoyan reiterated Armenia’s readiness to deepen relations with the EU as much as the EU will find it possible.




Armenpress: Armenian President visits "Armenian-Argentine School" in Buenos Aires

Emma Nadirian

 20:23, 13 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Within the framework of his working visit to the Republic of Argentina, the President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan visited the "Armenian-Argentine School" in Buenos Aires.

The educational complex was built in 1954 on the initiative of the Siranush and Poghos Arzumanian Foundation and as a token of gratitude was transferred to the Argentine government for their assistance and support  to Armenians. Argentinian children study in the educational complex, the Presidential Office said.

In honor of the Armenian president's visit to the school, the teaching staff and students of the complex presented an Armenian-Argentinean cultural program. The Argentinean schoolchildren presented a number of Armenian folk works, including Komitas.

According to the source, Vahagn Khachaturyan, welcoming the attendees, emphasized that the "Armenian-Argentine School" is a vivid proof of the strong friendship  between Arenian and Argentine peoples.

"Argentina, with its nature, emotions, warm attitude towards Armenians, holds a special place for Armenians and after the independence of Armenia, our cooperation has gained a new impetus. I am sure that this Armenian-Argentine cooperation will continue in the near future and I hope that our Armenian-Argentine school in Yerevan will present such a beautiful surprise event to our Argentinian friends who will visit Armenia," said the President.

At the end of the meeting, President Khachaturyan made a note in the guest book of the school.