On the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of Charles Aznavour, the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia invited the Indian Economic Trade Organization in New Delhi for the Concert by Klingen Choir & Cultural Association. The Concert was attended by various other ambassadors and diplomats in the capital which was followed by dinner.
Charles Aznavour, often hailed as one of the greatest songwriters of all time and an icon of 20th-century pop culture, was born Shahnour Vaghinag Aznavourian on May 22, 1924, in Paris to Armenian immigrant parents. His rich Armenian heritage profoundly influenced his artistry, infusing his music with a unique blend of cultural depth and emotional resonance.
Aznavour’s career spanned over eight decades, during which he recorded more than 1,200 songs in multiple languages and sold over 100 million records worldwide. Known for his deeply emotional voice and poignant lyrics, his music transcended borders, resonating with audiences globally. Beyond his musical achievements, Aznavour was a passionate humanitarian and a staunch advocate for Armenian causes, playing a crucial role in raising awareness and aiding the Armenian community.
The performance included Sipan Olah who is the conductor, tenor, pianist, music scores arrangements, concert manager, cultural advisor SipanOlah is a London-based award-winning opera singer (tenor), pianist and conductor. He was joinged by Hagop Jack who is an oboist from the UK, MA graduate of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Also at the performance was Hayarpi Yeghikyan Soprano who is a graduate of Lyon 3 University (LLB), Lille 2 University (LLM) and Huddersfield University (MA in English Language and Applied Linguistics) Hayarpi is currently the director of London Language League Ltd.
The Indian delegation to Armenia visited Armenia many times in the past months and Armenia is actively exploring to explore the procurement of Indian missiles, such as the indigenous beyond visual range Astra air-to-air missile, and to potentially upgrade its Russian-origin Sukhoi 30 (Su-30) combat aircraft fleet. However these discussions are in early stages.
This new era in Armenia–India relations began with the Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar’s visit to Armenia in October 2021. India supported Armenia in the UN Security Council after the September 2022 aggression by Azerbaijan, and Armenia fully endorsed India’s position on the Kashmir issue. In October 2022, the Armenian defense minister visited India to kick off defense cooperation, while in 2023 various Armenian and Indian delegations exchanged visits, including one led by the Armenian Secretary of the Security Council to India.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan took part in the Raisina Dialogue 2023, while the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Narek Mkrcthyan attended this year and made a keynote speech at the Armenia-India Dialogue special event which opened the Raisina Dialogue, organized by the Observer Research Foundation and APRI Armenia, New Delhi and Yerevan-based think tanks, respectively.
In 2023, India became the primary supplier of weapons to Armenia, effectively replacing Russia, which is preoccupied by war in Ukraine. Defense cooperation is at the forefront of Armenia–India cooperation, while discussions are underway to launch partnerships in other areas, such as strategic software development, including space technologies, infrastructure, and renewables. Both countries are working to launch direct flights, which will facilitate economic cooperation and people-to-people contacts.
Multiple factors enable Armenia and India to advance toward that goal. These include the growing importance of the South Caucasus for India as a transit route to Russia and Europe, and India’s vision to extend its presence beyond its immediate neighborhood into the “Extended neighborhood,” which includes the South Caucasus. Also at play is India’s role as one of the significant actors in the emerging multipolar world, and Armenia’s need to diversify its foreign policy without antagonizing Russia.
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