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New Post has been published on https://massispost.com/2024/12/armenia-and-turkey-to-assess-rail-border-crossing-feasibility/

Armenia and Turkey to Assess Rail Border Crossing Feasibility

YEREVAN — Armenia and Turkey will jointly assess the technical requirements for the border crossing via the Gyumri-Kars railway, Armenian Foreign Minister and BSEC Chair-in-Office Ararat Mirzoyan announced during his remarks at the 49th Meeting of the BSEC CMFA. “With Turkey, we have already agreed to jointly assess the technical requirements for the border crossing by the Gyumri-Kars railway. At the same time, we have proposed to Azerbaijan modalities for relaunching our rail infrastructure, simplifying border crossing and customs procedures, and providing additional insurance mechanisms,” Mirzoyan said on Thursday, December 19. He emphasized the importance of mutual trust and enhanced…

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New Post has been published on https://massispost.com/2024/12/trade-turnover-between-russia-and-armenia-doubles-to-10-2-billion/

Trade Turnover Between Russia and Armenia Doubles to $10.2 Billion

MOSCOW — Trade turnover between Russia and Armenia in the first 10 months of 2024 reached $10.2 billion, which is twice as much as in the whole of 2023, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said at a meeting of the Russian-Armenian intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation in Moscow, Russian news agency Tass reported. “Our trade and economic ties continue to be on the rise. At least I will say that mutual trade between our countries is setting new records, reaching $10.2 billion in January-October. This is more than twice as much as last year, but this year is not…

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New Post has been published on https://massispost.com/2024/12/armenian-genocide-museum-institute-receives-rug-woven-by-ghazir-orphans-as-a-gift/

Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Receives Rug Woven by Ghazir Orphans as a Gift

YEREVAN — The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute has received a carpet woven by Armenian orphans from the Ghazir orphanage in Lebanon during the 1920s as a gift. The donor is Dr. Vahram Shemmassian, a professor and lecturer at California State University, Northridge, USA, who acquired the carpet at an online auction. The carpet, featuring a floral motif bordered by five bands, reflects the traditions of the Isfahan school in its design. It was created in a carpet factory established in 1923 at the American Orphanage in the Middle East, where more than 3,200 carpets were produced over approximately six years (1923–1929).…

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New Post has been published on https://massispost.com/2024/12/armenia-greece-and-armenia-greece-cyprus-defense-cooperation-programs-for-2025-signed-in-athens/

Armenia-Greece and Armenia-Greece-Cyprus Defense Cooperation Programs for 2025 Signed in Athens

ATHENS – Bilateral consultations between Armenia and Greece, along with trilateral discussions involving Armenia, Greece, and Cyprus on defense matters, took place yesterday in Athens, according to the Armenian Defense Ministry’s press service. Following the consultations, the Armenia-Greece bilateral cooperation program and the Armenia-Greece-Cyprus trilateral cooperation program for 2025 were signed. These agreements include several dozen activities spanning various branches of the armed forces. During the discussions, the parties reviewed the results of defense cooperation in 2024 and outlined plans for 2025. A delegation from the Armenian Ministry of Defense, led by Levon Ayvazyan, Head of the Defense Policy and…

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New Post has been published on https://massispost.com/2024/12/u-s-state-department-armenian-azerbaijani-settlement-remains-a-priority-for-washington/

U.S. State Department: Armenian-Azerbaijani Settlement Remains a Priority for Washington

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Addressing a question about whether the United States is disappointed by the lack of progress in normalizing Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, U.S. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel emphasized that the current administration remains committed to resolving the issue until the end of its term. “We try not to focus on disappointments but rather on continuing our work. Secretary Blinken has often said that many issues require sustained effort over many days before tangible results emerge. I may have paraphrased that poorly, so I apologize. However, this remains a critical issue for this administration and the Secretary of State, and…

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New Post has been published on https://massispost.com/2024/12/pm-pashinyan-dismisses-aliyevs-demands-and-reiterates-armenias-stance/

PM Pashinyan Dismisses Aliyev's Demands and Reiterates Armenia's Stance

YEREVAN — Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday rejected Azerbaijan’s ongoing demands for Armenia to amend its constitution, cease purchasing weapons, and accused Baku of harboring territorial ambitions against his country. Pashinyan addressed these issues in an interview with the official Armenpress news agency, responding to conditions for an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace agreement outlined by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during an interview with a state-run Russian broadcaster on Wednesday. Among Aliyev’s demands was a revision of Armenia’s constitution, which Azerbaijan claims lays groundwork for Armenia’s assertion over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region recaptured by Azerbaijani forces last year. Pashinyan referenced a September ruling…

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New Post has been published on https://massispost.com/2024/12/usaid-administrator-samantha-power-reaffirms-strong-us-armenia-partnership/

USAID Administrator Samantha Power Reaffirms Strong US-Armenia Partnership

WASHINGTON, DC — On December 17, the Embassy of Armenia in Washington, D.C. hosted a special fireside chat on USAID’s lasting impact in strengthening Armenia’s economic resilience and democratic governance. The event featured USAID Administrator Samantha Power, alongside Ambassador Lilit Makunts. Ambassador Makunts opened the event by welcoming the distinguished guests, representatives of the Armenian American community and acknowledging the importance of USAID’s contributions to Armenia’s development. She expressed deep appreciation for Administrator Power’s leadership in advancing democratic values, human rights, and international development, emphasizing her commitment to Armenia’s growth. In her remarks Administrator Power reiterated the strong partnership between…

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New Post has been published on https://massispost.com/2024/12/gary-r-phillips-elected-president-of-the-armenian-missionary-association-of-america/

Gary R. Phillips Elected President of the Armenian Missionary Association of America

PARAMUS, NJ —On December 7, the Board of Directors of the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) elected Gary R. Phillips as its new President. Mr. Phillips was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from the University of Southern California (USC), earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1980, followed by a Juris Doctor degree in 1985. He worked for Deloitte before becoming a Certified Public Accountant in 1987. He also earned a Real Estate Broker’s License in 1991. Professionally, Mr. Phillips is a partner of Phillips Law Partners, LLP, where he specializes in estate planning, trusts…

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New Post has been published on https://massispost.com/2024/12/european-parliament-condemns-human-rights-breaches-in-azerbaijan-calls-for-release-of-armenian-prisoners/

European Parliament Condemns Human Rights Breaches In Azerbaijan, Calls for Release of Armenian Prisoners

BRUSSELS — In its plenary session on December 19, the European Parliament adopted the resolution on “The Continued repression of civil society and independent media in Azerbaijan and the cases of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu, Anar Mammadli, Kamran Mammadli, Rufat Safarov and Meydan TV” with 434 votes in favor, 30 against, and 89 abstentions. The vote was preceded by a parliamentary debate on the subject on 18 December. Members of the European Parliament strongly condemn the repression of press freedom and the crackdown on dissent by the Aliyev regime and call on the EU executive to enact targeted sanctions against Azerbaijani officials violating…

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New Post has been published on https://massispost.com/2024/12/media-experts-call-for-clear-safeguards-in-armenias-proposed-media-self-regulation-law/

Media Experts Call for Clear Safeguards in Armenia’s Proposed Media Self-Regulation Law

At a Yerevan conference hosted by The Armenia Project, panelists stressed the need for independence, transparency, and strong incentives in the draft law’s framework. YEREVAN – Dec. 10, 2024 – Leading media figures and democracy advocates gathered in Yerevan today to urge clarity, transparency, and independence in Armenia’s proposed media self-regulation law. In a series of lively discussions, local and international experts emphasized the importance of creating a landscape that promotes ethical journalism, combats disinformation, and deepens media literacy. The event comes as Armenia’s parliament prepares to finalize amendments to the Law on Mass Media. The panels were hosted by…

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New Post has been published on https://massispost.com/2024/12/forbes-magazine-starlink-could-be-a-transformative-force-for-armenia/

Forbes Magazine: Starlink Could Be a Transformative Force for Armenia

NEW YORK — Starlink’s satellite-based service could be a transformative force in rural parts of Armenia, according to an article published by Forbes magazine. Forbes contributor Craig S. Smith, in a piece titled Elon Musk’s Stars Over Armenia, noted that with recent regulatory approvals and the commencement of testing, the timeline for Starlink’s operational launch in Armenia is accelerating. “The government’s focus on Starlink is part of Armenia’s broader digital transformation agenda, an ambitious effort to position the country as a technology-driven economy,” Smith said in the article. Below are excerpts from the article. “One of the most significant aspects…

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New Post has been published on https://massispost.com/2024/12/armenia-hosts-8th-ministerial-meeting-of-the-ancient-civilizations-forum/

Armenia Hosts 8th Ministerial Meeting of the Ancient Civilizations Forum

YEREVAN — The 8th Ministerial Meeting of the Ancient Civilizations Forum began on Wednesday in Yerevan, chaired by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan. The meeting welcomed the Minister of Culture of Greece, the Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts of Iran, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iraq, and representatives from Egypt, Peru, Italy, China, and Bolivia. In his opening remarks, Minister Mirzoyan emphasized Armenia’s belief in the Ancient Civilizations Forum as a unique platform for fostering cultural dialogue and promoting mutual understanding and tolerance. “Throughout history, civilizations have served as essential sources of human creativity, knowledge, and ethical principles—repositories…

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New Post has been published on https://massispost.com/2024/12/aliyev-outlines-multiple-preconditions-for-peace-accord-with-armenia/

Aliyev Outlines Multiple Preconditions for Peace Accord with Armenia

BAKU — Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has outlined several preconditions for signing a peace accord with Armenia during an interview with a Russian state broadcaster, made public on Wednesday. Aliyev emphasized that Armenia must not only amend its constitution but also facilitate the return of Azerbaijanis who lived there until the late 1980s. Additionally, he called for Armenia to cease purchasing weapons and to agree to disband the OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorno-Karabakh. He confirmed that two other contentious issues remain obstacles in the ongoing Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations over a bilateral peace treaty. Baku seeks to include provisions in the draft…

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New Post has been published on https://massispost.com/2024/12/france-committed-to-support-armenia-especially-in-air-defense-minister-lecornu/

France Committed to Support Armenia, Especially in Air Defense – Minister Lecornu

PARIS – France is committed to supporting Armenia in its defense efforts, French Minister for Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu announced following a meeting with Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan. “We continue to work on supporting Armenia in its defense efforts, including advice, training, and equipment, particularly in the area of air defense,” Lecornu stated. The meeting was preceded by an official welcoming ceremony, which featured a guard of honor and the national anthems of both countries. At the outset of the meeting, Defense Minister Suren Papikyan expressed his condolences for the victims of the cyclone on the French overseas island…

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New Post has been published on https://massispost.com/2024/12/aua-celebrates-the-launch-of-dr-armen-der-kiureghians-new-book/

AUA Celebrates the Launch of Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian’s New Book

YEREVAN  — On December 13, the American University of Armenia (AUA) hosted the presentation and signing of From Earthquake Tragedy to Beacon of Light: The Story of the American University of Armenia, a new book authored by AUA co-founder, President Emeritus and Trustee Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian. Published by AUA Press, under the direction of Shushan Avagyan, the book chronicles the University’s 30-year journey of founding, growth, challenges, and achievements. In attendance were alumni, faculty, staff and students, representatives of other higher educational institutions, and guests. The event began with opening remarks from AUA President Dr. Bruce Boghosian, who welcomed attendees and…

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New Post has been published on https://massispost.com/2024/12/dr-israel-charny-1931-2024-pioneering-genocide-studies-scholar-passes-away/

Dr. Israel Charny (1931–2024): Pioneering Genocide Studies Scholar Passes Away

December 16, 2024: With great sadness, the Board of Directors, staff and volunteers of the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (IIGHRS), A Division of the Zoryan Institute, mourn the passing of Prof. Israel Charny at 93 years of age on December 14, 2024. Dr. Charny was one of the early pioneering figures in the field of genocide studies and a steadfast advocate for human rights. He was one of the founding co-editors of the Institute’s academic journal, Genocide Studies International. He played a key role in shaping the genocide studies discipline not just through the journal, but…

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New Post has been published on https://massispost.com/2024/12/acas-annual-comedy-night-bringing-joy-and-providing-for-children-in-armenia/

ACA’s Annual Comedy Night: Bringing Joy and Providing for Children in Armenia

PASADENA — On December 12, 2024, the AEBU Center in Pasadena was filled with energy and excitement as the Armenian Council of America (ACA) hosted its 3rd Annual Comedy Night, blending laughter with philanthropy. The event, which drew a packed audience, had a dual purpose: to provide a night of entertainment and to gather donations for toys, coats, and blankets for children in Armenia—particularly those who have been forcibly displaced from Artsakh. Serving as the evening’s host, Master of Ceremonies Steven Hovagimian guided the crowd through a series of performances by an exceptional lineup of comedians, including Fanto, Michael Passion,…