Iranian Archives

Iranian company starting pistachio orchards in Armenia

June 1, 2018 By administrator

Pistachio orchards will be planted in Armavir province of Armenia with investments from Tana Partez, an Iranian company.

Such an agreement was reached at a meeting of Agriculture Minister Artur Khachatryan and director of Tana Partez LLC Behzad Eslahchi.

The company has purchased 600 hectares of agricultural land in the communities of Artamet and Bagramyan of Armavir, 400 hectares of which – with drip irrigation – will be used to grow pistachio.

Khachatryan said such programs are important for the development of agriculture in Armenia, since they provide an opportunity to increase the area of cultivated land, at the same time introducing new cultural practices.

The Iranian businessman said, in turn, that the company seeks to expand its activity in Armenia, create a drying and packing shop for pistachios and expects the Ministry of Agriculture to assist in the process.

Armenian, Iranian FMs attend a business forum organized at Development Foundation of Armenia

November 29, 2017 By administrator

An Armenian-Iranian business forum with the participation of entrepreneurs and economic officials from both countries took place today in the Development Foundation of Armenia attended by Iranian FM Mohammad Javad Zarif.

As the Foundation reported in a release, about 150 businessmen took part in the forum dedicated to the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between neighboring countries. Armenia’s business opportunities, free economic zones, tax regulations, preferential trade regimes were introduced to the entrepreneurs from neighboring countries.

“I think this forum like the previous ones will be aimed at creating new business relationships and, moreover, getting results,” noted the Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Investments Emil Tarasyan.

“We have not been able to enter EEU so far, so it is necessary to use geopolitical situation more efficiently and the whole potential of our relations,” noted the Head of the Iran-Armenia Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hervik Yarijanian.

“The Development Foundation of Armenia has effective supportive and aftercare tools focused on export and investment. In our country, doing business for Iranian entrepreneurs will be profitable, and also by 23% more affordable with more skilled labor and financial sustainability,” noted the Head of the DFA International Relations team Narek Aleksanyan.

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of two countries Edward Nalbandyan and Mohammad Javad Zarif welcomed the participants of the forum. During the second part of the forum, around 150 businessmen from both countries met and discussed joint projects with the support of the DFA.

During B2B meetings more than 50 Iranians, 80 Armenians and 20 Iranian businessmen from our country reviewed the projects related to food industry, engineering services, light industry, and trade, the source said.

Armenian community presents demands to Iranian presidential hopefuls

May 19, 2017 By administrator

Siranush Ghazanchyan

Iranians will be electing the country’s new President on May 19. Five candidates will be running in the election after Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf withdrew from the race, urging voters to cast their ballot for conservative cleric Ebrahim Rais.

At a meeting held last week representatives of the Armenian community compiled a two-page petition addressed to Iranian presidential hopefuls.

“Iranian Armenians are free to opt for any candidate. We have no lobbying in its classical sense. Most Armenians back the reformists. This does not mean, however, that there are no supporters of conservatives,” Armenian member of the Iranian Majlis Karen Khanlaryan said in an interview with Public Radio of Armenia.

The community, however, shares common concerns, which have been presented to the candidates.

“We have raised the issue of Armenian Genocide recognition, and demanded material and moral support for the development and preservation of the Armenian community,” Karen Khanlaryan said.

Speaking about the concerns, the lawmaker said: “A number of churches and schools need to be protected, but the Armenian community is unable to cover the costs by itself. The budget allowances provided to the community are not enough,” he said.

For Karen Khanlaryan, recognition of the Armenian Genocide is of primary importance and should be on the agenda of the elected President.

“The issue of Armenian Genocide recognition should come on the agenda, considering the regional developments,” the MP said, adding, however, that “it’s hard to predict the results.”

The community has also demanded to involve Armenians in government activities. “We have not had any representative in the executive. There have been office employees, but no has been appointed to a political post,” Khanlaryan said.

The petition has been sent out to all candidates, even the one who withdrew from the race. There has not been any response.

Karen Khanlaryan noted that “the incumbent President has spoken about minority rights,” and the MP sees this as a hint.

An Iranian-Armenian Musician in Germany: “Government in Armenia Must be Honest with the Diaspora”

January 10, 2017 By administrator

Gagik Aghbalyan,

Singer and composer Masis Arakelyan was born in Iran, but moved to Germany after graduating from school.

Arakelyan says he continues to live encumbered with the mindset of an exile, always longing for Armenia.

Last May, he staged a solo performance in Iran, the proceeds of which went to Artsakh. He performed the Krounk Suite in Tehran, which deals with Armenian history and the Genocide. His music was a bit hit, even with foreigners, and the auditoriums were packed. But Armenians in Germany, Arakelyan says, aren’t interested.

Masis, you’ve lived in Germany for a long time, near the forest in a wonderful place. But you still feel homeless. Why?

Yes. I was raised in Iran. There, we thought that the culture wasn’t ours. You’d go out on the streets and see a foreign culture and language. Germany has a Christian culture, but it’s still foreign. Originally, I wanted to call the suite Antouni (Homeless), and not Krounk, because 7.5 million of the world’s 10 million Armenians live scattered all over. This work is also my story. When I walk down a street, I wonder which is my homeland, Iran, Germany or Iran.

No matter how many decades ago one’s ancestors migrated from the homeland, living on foreign shores is becoming torturous for Armenians. Why?

You must look for the reason in our history. They’ve always tried to change and destroy us. We’re afraid to live scattered about, to live in a foreign place, even though the history of the diaspora is quite old.

Look at my forbearers. Four hundred years ago, Shah Abbas used force and moved them to Persia, to benefit his country, so that the Armenians would develop the new capital Isfahan. That’s what happened. Armenians built churches, founded the first print house in Persia, and spurred advancements in the technical and cultural sectors. From that time on, Isfahan became one of the most beautiful and modern cities. But we lost Nakhichevan, the homeland of our ancestors.

But the possibility exists to return to Armenia. You do not return, and instead continue to live a confused life on foreign shores. Wouldn’t you feel more at ease if you moved to Yerevan?

I have thought about it. Globally, Armenians have attained high positions. If they moved to Armenia with their resources, imagine what the country would become. But they don’t return, because the country has lost its allure. In Iran, they say “homeland, homeland”, but coming to Armenia they see a tumbledown country and the dream vanishes.

The road of mass return must be for us to make Armenia attractive, like an 18-year-old beauty. The objective defines the road.

If you want the people to trust and support you, the government must first be truthful towards the people and not follow personal ambitions. It must be for the community. This is the only road of return.

Why isn’t the government honest with the diaspora? If it was, many would return. Living on foreign shores is a bad thing. Many in Armenia receive a great education and move to America. They deliver pizza or travel down crooked paths.

Those in government must much more for a mass return of Armenians.

You have encountered Armenian communities in many countries. Isn’t there, at least, unity in those communities?

No. There is constant bickering. They don’t support one another. You also find it in European communities. I’ve heard it’s the same for Armenian communities in America. Armenians think of their personal gain.

Why did our kingdoms fall apart? It was due to disunity. Persia retained its kingdom even though it was a multi-national country. We, despite being homogeneous, lost what we had. Look at what the Jews accomplished in a few decades. We have enriched the diaspora, but not the homeland.

Berlin is replete with an Arabic lifestyle. I haven’t noted any Armenian traces in the two weeks I have been here. Who is your audience for the national culture you present?

In Berlin, there are three Armenian communities. There’s the embassy as well. But they are scattered and remain apart. They even commemorate the Genocide separately. There are no Armenians at my concerts. Last year, I performed a concert in Berlin for the Krounk album. Europeans attended, but not Armenians. Sorry, there were three Armenians; a Turkish-Armenian father and son, and one person from Armenia. I advertise all the events within the Armenian communities. No one attends.

Masis, how can you make a living by presenting Armenian culture to non-Armenians?

I don’t only work with Armenian culture. I perform in Iran and other foreign countries. I performed my Persian project, Recital for Voice and Piano, at the famous Berlin Pergamon Museum in 2011. Now, I working on a piece for a symphonic orchestra and hope to stage it soon.

When I sing in Armenia, I bring money with me. Armenia doesn’t pay and I don’t expect any such thing. Just as long as they make Armenia attractive so that we can all return.

Karabakh seeks to attract Iranian tourists with Persian cultural heritage

October 5, 2016 By administrator

Nagorno Karabakh is keen to attract tourists from Iran using the Persian cultural heritage in its territory, Karabakhs’ Deputy Minister of Economy Sergey Shahverdyan said Tuesday, October 5.

“Iranian cultural heritage is constantly in the center of Karabakh authorities’ attention, and we take steps for the preservation of the Persian heritage, including mosques, tombs and other cultural relics,” Shahverdyan said.

Also, he reminded that an Iranian organizations was to implement a restoration project at the Upper Mosque in Shushi.

Citizens of Armenia and the CIS member states can travel to Karabakh without visas, while those of other countries will have to get corresponding passes right on the border, as well as at Karabakh representative offices in Yerevan, Warsaw, Paris, Moscow and elsewhere.

Armenia: Tourist destinations of Syunik province presented to Persian-speaking audience Video

September 25, 2016 By administrator

Another video dedicated to presenting Armenia’s tourist destinations to the Persian-speaking audience presents the sights of Syunik province.

The video features world’s oldest observatory, Zorats Karer (Karahunj), Tatev Monastery Complex built in the 9th century and the world’s longest reversible aerial tramway (5752m) built in 2010, included in the Guinness Book of Records.

You can also watch the previous videos of the project featuring the Temple of Garni.

Another Iranian commanders killed in fight on terror in Syria

October 13, 2015 By administrator

IRGC Brigadier General Farshad Hassounizadeh, who was killed by Daesh Takfiris in Syria on October 12, 2015.

Two veteran Iranian commanders have been killed while fighting against terrorist groups in Syria, reports say.

Hamid Mokhtarband and Brigadier General Farshad Hassounizadeh, both commanders with the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), were killed during the battle against Daesh Takfiri terrorists in Syria on Monday, Tasnim news agency reported.

Hassounizadeh was in Syria to defend the holy shrine of Hazrat Zeinab, the granddaughter of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), in the country’s capital of Damascus.

The two commanders were killed few days after the killing of IRGC senior Brigadier General Hossein Hamedani by Daesh terrorists on the outskirts of Syria’s northern city of Aleppo.

Iran has sent military advisers to Syria to help in the fight against terrorists wreaking havoc in the conflict-stricken country.

The foreign-sponsored conflict in Syria, which flared in March 2011, has thus far claimed the lives of more than 250,000 people and left over one million injured, according to the United Nations.

Iranian, Armenian Foreign Ministers Meet in New York

October 1, 2013 By administrator

NEW YORK—The Armenian and Iranian Foreign Ministers Edward Nalbandian and Mohammad Javad Zarif met in New York on Friday on the sidelines of the 68th session of the UN General Assembly.

The two ministers hailed the high-level, mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, mentioning that the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan recently attended the inauguration ceremony of his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani.

During the meeting reference was made to the cooperation between the parliaments of Armenia and Iran and the activities of the inter-parliamentary friendship groups.

The two parties exchanged perspectives on cooperation in trade, energy, and transport.

The foreign ministers discussed efforts towards the settlement of the Syria crisis and negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programs.

The process of settlement of the Karabakh war was also discussed. In this context, Iran’s Foreign Minister reiterated his support for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Edward Nalbandian concluded the talks with an invitation to his Iranian counterpart to Armenia.