Construction of Berd’s social-educational center underway: The Ambassador of Japan visited Tavush province

A multifunctional social-educational center is being built in the town of Berd, designed for children, parents, and young people. It complements the Tavush Diocese’s existing “Arevik” and “Paponts Tun” centers. This project is part of a large-scale program initiated by the “Pahapan” Foundation, which has brought together several partners to create new opportunities in Berd.

The center will feature a modern building and a safe environment where children can learn and grow, while adults receive social support and professional knowledge.

In an interview with Tavush Media, Japan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia, Yutaka Aoki, said:

“By creating this center, we are improving infrastructure that is essential from the perspective of human security. This place will serve as a community center for all groups of the population. In the work we are doing in Armenia, special importance is given to residents displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. Berd, being a border area and a host community for displaced people, is of particular significance in this regard.

In Tavush Province—and in Armenia in general—we have various programs: establishing water supply networks for farmers, providing medical equipment to healthcare institutions, renovating educational centers, and similar initiatives. Tavush is incredibly beautiful, but the most important thing I can mention is the hospitality and warmth of the people, which left the best impression on me.”

The main goal of the new center is to provide community members with practical knowledge and opportunities that can help ensure a more stable future. It is designed to serve around 300 children and young people annually.

In addition to its educational and social components, the center will become a new venue for cultural and community events. Inclusive educational programs, cultural activities, and community initiatives will be held here in a supportive environment.

For the Berd community, the social-educational center aims to create a space where children can learn without limitations, parents receive necessary support, and young people find new paths for self-development and socio-economic stability.

UNDP marks Its 30th anniversary in Armenia with a mine action awareness event in Dilijan

Tavush Province became the next stop in the series of events dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Armenia. Over the past three decades, UNDP’s work has spanned multiple sectors, and the event held in Dilijan aimed to highlight joint efforts in the field of humanitarian demining and community security.

“Over the past 30 years, the UN Development Programme has contributed to addressing Armenia’s key challenges and has played a significant role in the successes achieved here. It is no coincidence that I am in Tavush Province on the 30th anniversary of UNDP in Armenia. We have carried out major work here, particularly in the areas of socio-economic development, gender equality, demining, and environmental protection. There are still communities in Tavush with mine-contaminated areas, which hinder their further socio-economic development,”
said Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia, in an interview with Tavush Media.

During the event, a film showcasing 30 years of UNDP’s activities in Armenia was screened. The film featured stories from different regions of the country — from border villages to schools, water pipelines, and roads built in rehabilitated areas.

As part of the event’s theme, participants took part in an interactive exercise. In a mock “minefield” demarcated with paper signs and ribbons, a simulation drill was conducted to demonstrate how mines are detected, what equipment is used, and how safety in contaminated areas is ensured.

Alongside mine action efforts, UNDP’s programs over the past 30 years have transformed the realities of dozens of communities, reducing risks and creating more sustainable conditions for development.

Grape harvest in full swing

The grape harvest is underway in Tavush Province, as people gather the fruits of a year’s hard work.
Tavush Media correspondent Hayk Dombyan visited the villagers during the harvest.

A car caught fire on the road leading to Navur village

Նավուր գյուղի սար տանող ճանապարհին մեքենա է այրվել

On October 7, at 21:00, the Crisis Management Center of the Tavush Regional Rescue Department received a report that a car was on fire on the road leading to the mountains of Navur village.

Two fire-rescue crews from the Regional Rescue Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Rescue Service were dispatched to the scene.

It was found that a “Jeep” vehicle was burning at the 11th kilometer of the Berd–Chambarak highway.

Before the rescuers arrived, one passenger had been taken to a medical center.

The fire was contained at 21:38 and extinguished at 22:00. The vehicle was completely burned.

Rescuers cordoned off the area.

Librarian’s cay celebrated at Noyemberyan city library

A festive gathering was held at the Ignat Mamyan Noyemberyan City Library, part of the Noyemberyan Cultural Center, in celebration of Librarian’s Day. The event brought together all the librarians of the community.

The meeting with the head of the Noyemberyan community focused on the value of books and knowledge, the role of culture, and opportunities to promote reading. The community leader congratulated the librarians on their professional holiday, highlighting their role in transmitting knowledge and preserving cultural values.

The librarians shared their concerns and suggestions, emphasizing the importance of experience exchange and deepening cooperation between community libraries as a key pathway for spreading knowledge and strengthening cultural ties.

Since 2004, October 7 has been celebrated as Librarian’s Day in the Republic of Armenia. The aim of the day is to acknowledge the profession of librarians and their role in shaping the educational environment and disseminating knowledge. The library is considered one of the fundamental institutions of a society’s spiritual and educational life. It has long ceased to be merely a repository of books. In modern society, the library functions as a multifunctional educational environment, a platform for public communication and knowledge exchange, and a center for organizing community cultural life and leisure.

The library is a space where classical values are combined with innovative solutions for their preservation. It provides opportunities for the creation, dissemination, and exchange of knowledge while fostering a multi-layered environment for public communication and the strengthening of socio-cultural connections. The development and modernization of libraries is one of the key directions of state cultural policy.

Librarians play an undeniable and significant role in fulfilling this important mission. In this context, the ministry places great importance on organizing continuous training for librarians, enhancing their professional skills, and promoting the exchange of international experience.

Photos by Hranush Ananyan, Tavush Media correspondent.

Electric siren to be activated in Nerkin Karmiraghbyur village – public notice

On October 8, between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., a drill on the topic “Organizing the Alerting, Sheltering, and Evacuation of the Population in Case of an ‘Air Raid Alert’ Signal” will be conducted in Nerkin Karmiraghbyur, a settlement of the Berd community in Tavush Province.

As part of the exercise, an electric siren will be activated at 12:00 p.m.

Residents are kindly asked not to be alarmed.

“Avetis” for the children of Tavush: A social-educational center opens in Sevkar

The Diocese of Tavush has brought joyful news for the children of Sevkar and neighboring villages: one of the buildings in the center of Sevkar village has been renovated, improved, and furnished to house the new “Avetis” Social-Educational Day Center. The center officially opened its doors on October 5, on the occasion of Teacher’s Day, with the mission to strengthen the educational, cultural, and spiritual values of the community’s children.

Following the opening ceremony, attendees laid flowers in memory of the Sevkar residents who sacrificed their lives for the homeland.

The Social-Educational Day Center offers a variety of clubs and classes, including Bible study, drawing, carpet weaving, sewing, kanon (traditional string instrument), and sports. It will welcome children not only from Sevkar but also from Sarigyugh, AcharKut, Kirants, and Tsaghkavan, providing them with opportunities to participate in different educational and cultural activities.

The doors of the “Avetis” Center are open to the entire community. The Diocese of Tavush aims to nurture confident, creative children guided by strong values through the activities of this new center.

Volunteer fire-rescue base opens in Ptghavan village

Every idea can become reality when it brings together those who believe in the cause. In the village of Ptghavan, Tavush Province, a volunteer fire-rescue group has been formed to support the firefighting and rescue teams of Noyemberyan. Stationed in Ptghavan, the volunteers have already demonstrated their skills and dedication to service by responding to incidents recorded throughout the year.

The opening day of the new base was especially symbolic for the volunteers, as they were officially awarded firefighter qualifications.

During the event, the volunteers carried out an exercise, showcasing their professional abilities and skills in emergency situations. There were no casualties, and the task was successfully completed.

The Ptghavan Volunteer Fire-Rescue Base will serve several communities in the Noyemberyan area, including Ptghavan, Haghtanak, Lchkadzor, Archis, Ayrum, Bagratashen, Deghdzavan, and Debedavan.

The activities of the volunteer firefighters serve as a reminder that a safe environment depends on each individual’s preparedness.

Tribute to the police officers from Tavush who fell in the 44-day war

On October 4, representatives of state and local self-government bodies, along with police officers, laid flowers at the memorial dedicated to the police officers from Tavush who sacrificed their lives during the 44-day war.

The 44-day war began on September 27, 2020. From the early morning hours, the entire territory of Artsakh came under heavy bombardment and artillery fire. Many Armenians took up the defense of their homeland, standing shoulder to shoulder with the soldiers and officers of the Armenian army to prevent the enemy forces from advancing into the country.

On September 27, police officers also rushed to their workplaces in a state of emergency. The first police units were formed to fight alongside the regular army and volunteer forces on the frontlines. Their training exercises ended on October 3, and on the same day, the officers departed for Artsakh.

On October 4, during a consultation, an enemy missile exploded in the auditorium of the Shushi Cultural Center, killing officers from the Tavush, Lori, and Shirak regional police departments. They became the first police casualties of the 44-day war.

Among the fallen heroes of the Tavush Regional Police Department were
Tatul Otaryan, Vahe Ghazaryan, Vazgen Grigoryan, Artush Zohrabyan, Lentush Gyozalyan, Seryozha Virabyan, Suren Khachatryan, and Karen Badoyan.

They chose a conscious path of sacrifice and achieved immortality through their heroism.

Let us remember them — today, tomorrow, and always.

Azatamut village turns 55

This year, the village of Azatamut in Tavush Province is celebrating the 55th anniversary of its founding. Although it is officially classified as a village, its appearance—with apartment buildings and cottages—resembles that of a town.

Azatamut was established in 1970 as a settlement built around a bentonite clay factory. Initially, it was named after the settlement adjacent to the factory. In 1978, the settlement was renamed Azatamut, a name with historical significance. In November 1920, the 11th Red Army entered Armenia from Azerbaijan through this area and subsequently Sovietized the republic. The settlement was given the name “Azatamut,” meaning “Gateway to Freedom,” to commemorate that event.

According to the last Soviet census of 1989, the population of Azatamut was around 4,000 people. However, following the partial shutdown of the bentonite factory, the settlement experienced emigration.

Azatamut is located 11 km northeast of Ijevan, the regional center, at an elevation of 580 meters above sea level. The Ijevan–Berd highway passes through the village.

Today, this border village is fully gasified and has a reliable water supply. At 55 years old, Azatamut continues to live and develop, preserving its unique character and important role in the community life of Tavush.