On December 1, Armenia’s first domestically made satellite “Hayasat-1” was launched by a SpaceX rocket at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The project is a collaboration between Yerevan’s Bazoomq Space Research Laboratory and Armenia’s Center for Scientific Innovation and Education, and commissioned by Armenia’s Ministry of High Tech Industry. CSIE’s Technical Director of Space Programs Masis Gumrigyan gathered with supporters to watch the launch. Gumrigyan spoke about the challenges he and his team faced, and what this launch means for Armenia’s future in space.
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Yerevan Air Public Talk: Towards Cleaner Air in Armenia’s Capital?
By Christopher Crowson Air pollution levels have exceeded the World Health Organisation’s recommended limits in Yerevan everyday this year so far. On average, just by breathing in the city’s air, Yerevan’s inhabitants are smoking what calculates to one and half cigarettes per day. In an effort to raise awareness about air pollution in the city, the initiative Yerevan for People set up the Yerevan Air Public Talk at Ground Zero Café last week. During the discussion, physicians, environmental activists as well as representatives from the City Hall and the Ministry of Environment gave presentations. Attendees were encouraged to ask questions […]
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Switzerland Opens a Diplomatic Door—for Armenia to Walk Through
Op-ed by Vartan Oskanian, Armenia’s former foreign minister (1998-2008) By adopting the motion titled “Peace Forum for Nagorno-Karabakh: Enabling the Return of Armenians”— the Swiss Council of States has delivered a rare but essential breakthrough in the stalemated diplomacy surrounding the South Caucasus. With both houses of the Swiss Parliament now backing the initiative, the Federal Council is legally mandated to facilitate a Swiss-hosted platform for dialogue between representatives of Azerbaijan and displaced Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. At its heart, this is about far more than just another diplomatic format. It is the first tangible, institutionalized attempt by a neutral power […]
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Collective spirit unifies youth in Montreal’s Armenian diaspora
By Nanor Froundjian The Armenian diaspora in Montreal is building momentum as they find new ways to foster a sense of community and create links between generations. The current fragile climate in Armenia has given heightened urgency to become involved in community programs. That’s according to organizations like the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Young Professionals Montreal (YP MTL) and the Canadian Armenian Alumni Association (CAAA). “The Artsakh War showed us how important it is for us to be all united as Armenians, regardless of our ideologies, and just to work together for the betterment of our Armenian land,” said […]
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Swiss Parliament Greenlights Peace Forum for Nagorno-Karabakh
By Paul Vartan Sookiasian The Swiss government is now mandated to host a “Peace Forum for Nagorno-Karabakh” following the passage of a bill in the parliament’s upper house, the Council of States, concluding a multi-step legislative process that has unfolded over the past half year. Modeled on a similar forum Switzerland organized for Ukraine, the Peace Forum aims to provide a unique platform for dialogue between representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan. The motion’s stated objective is to “ensure the safe, collective, and dignified return of the forcibly displaced Armenian population to their historical homeland.” The National Assembly, the parliament’s lower […]
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Pashinyan’s office urges Baku to continue normalization, refutes ceasefire breaches
By Alexander Pracht In a statement released Tuesday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Office denied Azerbaijan’s accusations regarding alleged border ceasefire violations, while also advocating for the signing of a normalization treaty between the two nations. Since Sunday, Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry has issued six separate reports claiming its forces have come under fire from the Armenian side. However, Armenia’s Defense Ministry refuted all allegations following a review, emphasizing that Azerbaijan has not provided any facts or substantiation about the claims. Furthermore, it noted that despite repeated offers to establish a joint mechanism for investigating such incidents, first proposed last June, […]
