Last year Ameriabank launched “My Ameria, My Armenia” campaign to unite people around one idea and choose, via public voting, which sector would receive AMD 100 million from Ameriabank’s 2025 corporate social responsibility (CSR) and charity budget.

Eight areas were offered: children’s health, education, sustainable development and green economy, SME, information technologies, science, culture, sports and healthy lifestyle. More than 55,000 people voted. As a result, children’s health and education were chosen, receiving 54.9% and 19.5% of votes, respectively.

Out of more than 80 applications, 15 programs aimed at improving children’s health and education were selected.

The initiatives focus on providing medication to children with chronic illnesses, improving the quality of life of children with special needs, providing schools with smart screens, procuring a specially equipped ambulance for children, and delivering training in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and cultural education.

Watch the video to learn more about the programs.

About Ameriabank

Ameriabank is a leading financial and technology company in Armenia, a major contributor to the Armenian economy. In pursuit of digital transformation, the Bank has implemented unique products, services and innovative platforms designed to meet the diverse financial and non-financial needs people have today and keeps on improving them.

Being a dynamically developing fintech environment, Ameriabank offers comprehensive solutions to improve the quality of life.

The Bank is supervised by the Central Bank of Armenia.

Below is the full text of the statement:

We, the undersigned civil society organisations and individuals, express our deep concern regarding the alarming developments that have recently taken place in Armenia. Today, we are witnessing violations of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, the principle of the rule of law, fundamental human rights and freedoms, and the independence of the judiciary, as well as a gross breach of the autonomy of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church (the Church), a right protected by the Constitution and international conventions.

Representatives of Armenia’s executive and legislative branches continue to interfere with the autonomy and freedom of the Church’s activities, in violation of the Constitution and the Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organisations, international norms on freedom of religion or belief, and the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) (https://ks.echr.coe.int/documents/d/echr-ks/autonomy-of-religious-organisations ). The authorities’ unlawful and unacceptable attempts to influence the formation of ecclesiastical governance bodies and internal decision-making processes are deeply concerning. Equally unacceptable are attempts to arbitrarily edit or alter the Church’s centuries-old traditions, rites, sacraments, canonical order, and other domains of ecclesial life.

We strongly condemn the exertion of pressure on Church clergy by state security bodies of the Republic of Armenia, including the National Security Service (https://youtu.be/gH5JgOJEKG8). Such conduct constitutes an abuse of official power and an impermissible deviation from the aims and functions of the National Security Service.

We are also concerned by the selective use of criminal justice tools against clergy, for the purpose of exerting unlawful and undue influence, including the use of pre-trial detention as a punitive measure and as a means of compelling behaviour desired by public authorities.

It is unacceptable that public officials at the highest political level continue to promote rhetoric targeting clergy with hate speech and insults, as well as unlawfully disseminating personal information, using both public and private information channels. We believe that such actions may severely undermine the country’s already fragile social cohesion, leading to deeper polarisation and intolerance.

We firmly believe that any reform or renewal within the Church must take place inside the Church itself, grounded in the principles of freedom and autonomy of religious organisation, in accordance with the Constitution and Armenia’s international legal obligations, without any discrimination and on an equal footing with other religious organisations.

In view of the above, we reiterate our demands:

•         From representatives of public authorities, and especially from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: to refrain from any actions that violate the RA Constitution, domestic laws, or Armenia’s international legal obligations; to respect the Church’s freedom and autonomy; and to cease exerting unlawful influence on judicial bodies and law-enforcement agencies.
•         From President Vahagn Khachaturyan: to fulfil his function of overseeing adherence to the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia.
•         From public officials: to exercise restraint in their public statements; to observe the ethical and behavioural standards required of public office-holders; and to refrain from speech that disseminates hate, intolerance, discrimination, or insult.
•         From judges: to exercise their powers independently, in compliance with the Constitution and human rights standards, including the right to liberty and the principle that pre-trial detention must be applied only as an exceptional measure.
•         From the Investigative Committee and the Prosecutor’s Office: to ensure independent and effective investigations, guided solely by the requirements of the Constitution and the law; and to safeguard the rights of all individuals involved in proceedings, including respect for the presumption of innocence.
•         From the Police and the National Security Service: to carry out their functions independently and strictly in accordance with the demands of the Constitution and the law; and to refrain from the disproportionate and unnecessary use of force or from violating individuals’ rights.

Organisations:
Protection of Rights Without Borders NGO
Regional Centre for Democracy and Security
Yerevan Press Club
Armenian Progressive Youth NGO
Public Journalism Club
Journalists for Human Rights NGO
Centre for Law and Freedom NGO
Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Armenian Committee
Helsinki Association Human Rights NGO
Media Initiatives Centre
Yezidi Centre for Human Rights
 Centre for Community Mobilization and Support NGO

Individuals:
Gayane Shagoyan, Cultural Anthropologist
Isabella Sargsyan, International Expert on Freedom of Religion or Belief
Zaruhi Hovhannisyan, Human Rights Defender, New Justice Culture NGO
Armen Martirosyan, Publisher
Tigran Paskevichyan, Journalist–Publicist
Sarhat Petrosyan, Architect–Urban Planner
Inga Harutyunyan, Psychologist, Social Protection Specialist
Apres Zohrabyan, Orientalist
Aram Khanalanyan, Architect–Theorist
Arsen Hakobyan, Cultural Anthropologist
Maria Sadoyan, Translator
Mushegh Hovsepyan, Human Rights Defender
Nune Torosyan, Teacher, Translator, Editor
Ruben Malayan, Calligrapher, Lecturer
Vardan Harutyunyan, Human Rights Defender
Mariam Movsisyan, Communications Specialist

Ameriabank was granted this prestigious award for a number of innovative solutions launched during the reporting period, which significantly streamlined the process of getting a mortgage loan and provided enhanced access to credit. It is noted, that Ameriabank maintains a leading position in the Armenian mortgage market for seven consecutive years, with a market share standing at about 23% (as of September 30, 2025).

Euromoney notes, that Ameriabank’s success in the real estate sector has been greatly underpinned by the ongoing development of MyHome ecosystem. In particular, as the only bank in Armenia to provide fully digital mortgage loans on the primary market, Ameriabank has moved further, by expanding the capabilities of its platform. Late in 2024, the bank launched online approval of mortgage loans also for the secondary market, thus compressing the process, which previously took around 10 working days, to a few minutes.

Ameriabank provides over 45% of its mortgage loans on primary market via MyHome platform, which demonstrates the leading position of the platform and users’ trust.

Euromoney highlights that the platform has grown significantly, becoming a comprehensive ecosystem of real estate services. Over the past year, the number of MyHome users grew by 42%, while the number of monthly active users tripled. In addition, individual sellers are now given the opportunity to list their real estate on the platform. Now over 6,000 items of real estate from 98 developers and more than 35 brokerage companies are listed on the platform, including property abroad. The platform also features discounts and other benefits from renovation service providers, furniture and appliance stores.

During the reporting period, a renovation cost calculator was added to MyHome, enabling platform users to estimate their renovation budget by answering a few simple questions.

Reflecting on the results of the award ceremony, Arman Barseghyan, Ameriabank’s Retail Banking Director, noted: “It is a great honor for us to be recognized as the Best Bank for Real Estate for the second year in a row, and at the same time confidence to continue with new drive and enthusiasm. Ameriabank consistently introduces innovative solutions, streamlining the process of buying a home and making it easier and more accessible for buyers through cooperation with our partner developers. The transformation of MyHome into a full-fledged ecosystem is yet another milestone achieved in this direction. This award once again proves that our initiatives truly contribute to the qualitative improvement of real estate market in Armenia. We are grateful to Euromoney for the appreciation”.

Ameriabank is the leader of Armenia’s mortgage market. As of September 30, 2025, the bank’s share in the mortgage loans market amounted to 22.8%, with the loan portfolio exceeding AMD 372.5 billion.

About Ameriabank

Ameriabank is a leading financial and technology company in Armenia, a major contributor to the Armenian economy. In pursuit of digital transformation, the Bank has implemented unique products, services and innovative platforms designed to meet the diverse financial and non-financial needs people have today and keeps on improving them.

Being a dynamically developing fintech environment, Ameriabank offers comprehensive solutions to improve the quality of life.

The Bank is supervised by the Central Bank of Armenia.

S&P highlights the Bank’s strong capital adequacy, its leading position in digital solutions, and the stable quality of its assets, despite the growth of the loan portfolio. The “stable” prospect reflects S&P’s view that over the next 12 months the Bank will maintain a high capital adequacy ratio while preserving a stable level of asset quality.

IDBANK IS SUPERVISED BY THE CBA.

This will enable the orchestra to replace worn-out instruments that have been used for several decades with new ones. Thanks to new high-quality musical instruments the orchestra will achieve professional sound.

For the purchase of 17 musical instruments of European production, benefactor Karen Vardanyan donated 129 million drams.

TRIPP (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity) — says US President Trump, proudly noting that the main route connecting Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan will bear his name.

“Crossroads of Peace” — says Pashinyan, assuring that the opening of routes under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of Armenia will benefit all countries in the region and beyond.

“Zangezur Corridor” — says Aliyev, emphasizing the “unimpeded” passage of Azerbaijanis.

What is hidden behind this wordplay, and what rules are the other players in the region following?

WordPlayPeace

“The Zangezur Corridor” and the “North–South” transport corridor are not competitors,” TASS news agency, controlled by the Kremlin, wrote recently, quoting Sergey Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian Security Council.

The assessments made by the official who served for many years as Russia’s Minister of Defense during a press briefing quickly spread to both Azerbaijani and Armenian media. Soon after, TASS changed the wording in both the headline and the text, replacing “Zangezur Corridor” with “Meghri Corridor,” but in media outlets that republished the article verbatim or in translation, the original version remained.

What did Shoigu actually say? An examination of the video of the press briefing shows that the expression “Zangezur Corridor” was spoken not by Shoigu, but by the journalist from Russia24 (a nationwide federal information channel) who posed the question. In his response, the Russian Security Council Secretary used only the term “corridor,” without mentioning any place name.

“I think both routes not only have a right to exist, but are also necessary so that Azerbaijan is connected to its regions, and commercial transport corridors arise between the countries,” he said.
It turns out that Shoigu was attributed a wording he did not actually say, and the modification in the TASS article was likely due to this circumstance. Whose intervention, encouragement, or request prompted this is currently unknown. But one thing is clear: in Kremlin-controlled media, the topic of opening communication routes through Armenia is mainly covered using official Baku vocabulary and rhetoric.

Corridor or Route

Armenians do not like the word “corridor.” In Eduard Aghayan’s explanatory dictionary, we read:

A long passage inside a building connecting apartments on the same floor.

(Geog.) A narrow strip of land connecting to a sea and passing through another state’s territory.

Generally, any narrow passage stretching through an area (emphasis by the author).

We do not like this word because we see danger in it — danger for our country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

And what is written in the Washington document signed this year on August 8?

Тhe joint declaration signed by the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of Azerbaijan, with President Trump’s signature as a witness.

Below is an excerpt from the declaration where the opening of routes is addressed:

“3. We reaffirm the importance of opening communications between the two countries for domestic, bilateral, and international transport, based on respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction of the states, in order to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and its surroundings. These efforts will include unimpeded communications through the territory of the Republic of Armenia between the main part of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan, with mutual benefits for the Republic of Armenia regarding international and domestic communications.
4. The Republic of Armenia will work with the United States of America and, mutually agreed upon, third parties to establish the framework for implementing the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) communication program within the territory of the Republic of Armenia. We reaffirm our determination to take all measures in good faith to achieve this goal as quickly as possible.” (emphasis by the author).

The word “corridor” is not mentioned here, but the expressions “unimpeded” and “with mutual benefits” are noteworthy. The word “unimpeded” can also be found in the trilateral statement ending the 44-day war, signed by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia five years ago.

In the above-mentioned trilateral statement, in point 9 it is written:

“All economic and transport connections in the region are unblocked. The Republic of Armenia guarantees the safety of transport communications between the western regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, ensuring the unimpeded movement of citizens, vehicles, and goods in both directions. The Russian FSB Border Service carries out control over transport communications. By agreement between the parties, the construction of new transport connections linking the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic with the western regions of Azerbaijan will be ensured.”

The word “corridor” is not found here either; it is only mentioned in relation to the Lachin corridor, but unimpeded movement under the supervision of the Russian FSB Border Service is recorded. This is exactly why we do not like the term “corridor.”

Two Documents, One Opportunity 

After the signing of the November 2020 trilateral document, much has changed. There are no longer Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh; in September 2023, more than 100,000 Armenians were forcibly displaced from their homeland due to Azerbaijani aggression.

This was preceded by months-long blockades of Nagorno-Karabakh under the pretext of environmental actions by Azerbaijanis, even though point 6 of the trilateral statement required Azerbaijan to ensure the safe movement of citizens, vehicles, and goods in both directions through the Lachin corridor. The 5 km-wide Lachin corridor, which was supposed to ensure the connection between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, remained under the supervision of the Russian peacekeeping forces.

Two years ago, Russian peacekeepers left Nagorno-Karabakh; they had been informed in advance about the military operation initiated by Baku in September 2023 but did not intervene in any way.

Meanwhile, the presence of Russian FSB border guards in Armenia continues; they monitor the Armenian-Turkish border. In October last year, Putin and Pashinyan agreed in Moscow that from January 1, 2025, Russian border guards would withdraw from the Armenian-Iranian border checkpoint. Armenian officials do not hide that, with sufficient capacity development, the RA NSS border guards will replace Russian border guards at all sections of the state border.

The pre-signing of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Peace Treaty under the auspices of the US, along with Armenia’s aspirations to join the EU, do not fit in any way with Moscow’s plans. This is stated bluntly by the Russian Foreign Minister.

Sergey Lavrov said at a plenary session following the high-level Minsk Third International Conference on Eurasian Security:

“NATO and the European Union are building their own dialogues and cooperation frameworks with the countries of Central Asia and the South Caucasus, and the West is trying to use these connections not so much for mutually beneficial cooperation as to separate these countries from the Russian Federation. We will prevent such trends with all available means—diplomatic, political, economic.”

The countdown has begun: Armenia’s parliamentary elections are on June 7, 2026.

Vanik Hakobyan, Editor-in-Chief of Factor TV

Baarle is a village that is like a mosaic, each piece is a part of a state, each piece of land must be painted in the colors of its country’s flag and each puzzle must be put in its place so as not to get confused, otherwise it will become an interstate, even international issue.

Baarle is a village located on the border between the Netherlands and Belgium, resembling a large labyrinth of enclaves and exclaves. Historically, 22 small Belgian territories remained within the Netherlands, officially called enclaves, and 8 smaller parts of these Belgian territories are Dutch, also called exclaves.

And just like that, there are two states in one village: the Dutch part is called Baarle Nassau, and the Belgian part is called Baarle Hertog /3078+7200 inhabitants/. The Dutch and Belgian parts are different, although intertwined, but each is subject to the rules and laws of its own country.

The map, of course, will help to understand what the picture is like in Baarle, but not everything is so easy, and who owned the house whose kitchen is in Belgium, and whose living room is in the Netherlands, and whose interstate border passes between the beds, this issue was discussed for a long time and during the demarcation it was decided: Where the door of the house is, that country belongs to that house with its inhabitants.

And so, during one night, the decision is finally made and with all her heart and soul Belgian grandmother in the morning, appears through her door in the Netherlands, the indignation is great, and the solution is simple: she closes the Dutch door and installs a door in the part of the house that opens to Belgium.

This is becoming a precedent and in this village, doors become decisive and one house can have two doors in two different states, whose tax policy, organizational and legal regulations are more favorable, they become residents of that part voluntarily and with an open door.

Until 1995, Baarle did not have clear borders

Willem van Gool is 74 years old, he is the head of the tourism center. In his youth, he considered Baarle a boring village, and now he gladly tells tourists the history of his village, interesting events, without boredom and using his own example to present the problem of borders and their solutions.

-There is a house in Baarle, the state border passes right through the middle of the door, the house has both Belgian and Dutch numbers. In such cases, I joke, saying that when planning a child, be careful in which country your bed is placed, it depends on whether he will be born Belgian or Dutch, – he says with a smile.

Photo by The New York Times 

There are many such jokes here, but beyond the jokes there is a chronology, dates and facts that were not so funny.

Until 1830, the Netherlands and Belgium were part of one state, but the Belgians rebelled and declared independence. When they arrived at Baarle, drawing the borders, they realized that if they started to clarify the borders of this village and put them on the map piece by piece, the demarcation would take another 10 years.

“Let’s stop here, then we’ll come back and fill this gap,” said the group of demarcaters and left Baarle, Willem says, clarifying that the border gap was about 60 km. The border posts, which were installed in the 19th century after the demarcation, are not in this village; Baarle was between the 214th and 215th border posts.

We, the inhabitants, knew who owned every little square, but the demarcaters left and forgot to return for more than a hundred years.

And this land patchwork began back in the feudal system, when dukes and counts donated, leased, transferred or inherited land. If previously these land puzzles were cultivated lands, now instead of them there are 170 structures: houses, shops, churches and schools.

You cross the border about 60 times on your way from home to work

-Before the creation of the European Union, we were two different countries, with different laws, currencies, and border guards. It was important to have a pass when going to work, and it had to be written on the pass what we had. For example, if a locksmith went to work in the other part of Baarle, he had to declare what instruments he had with him along with the pass. And he had to show it to the border guards every time. All this was often annoying and they paid also fee to cross the border.

This border crossing also helped residents buy cheaper goods from the neighboring country. In Belgium, there was a problem with bread and butter, it was very expensive, and in the Netherlands, butter was very cheap. In Baarle, you could cross the street and buy expensive butter. However, the cunning ones took advantage of this situation and started making money by selling butter.

When, in addition to bread and butter, they began to smuggle alcohol, prohibited items, weapons, drugs… Baarle became a paradise for smugglers and left a big mark on the history of the village. It is not for nothing that a statue dedicated to “De Pungelaer” – the smuggler – was erected here.

The Death Wire of the Border “De Dodendraad”

In 1915, during World War I, Germany occupied Belgium and in order to prevent escapes to the neutral Netherlands, to nullify supplies with the enemy, espionage and communication links, it built an electric fence along the entire border of Belgium and the Netherlands (over 300 km long). The posts were covered with wires that were constantly charged with a current of 2000 volts. Even a single touch could be fatal.

However, the border in the Baarle area was so intricate that building the fence was quite difficult. Therefore, Baarle became an important crossing point for refugees, spies and supplies. Many Belgians tried to reach the Netherlands through Baarle, bypassing the deadly wire.

But this was not tolerated for long, and the deadly wire even crossed these tangled borders: it ran through gardens and home yards.

3,000 people died of electrocution while crossing these wires, but Baarle, with its tangled borders, leads the way in the number of victims. Many Belgians tried to cross the fence using various tricks (digging tunnels, using beer barrels, dry wood or rubber elements), 16-year-old Miet Pauw from Baarle-Hertog smuggled people across the border, risking her own life and the lives of her relatives. She helped many during both the First and Second World Wars.

Every year, children from Dutch and Belgian schools gather to honor Miet Pauw. One year, the Hertog school organizes a big event, the next year, the Nassau school. This is a unique form of reconciliation between the villages, an attempt to share a difficult period in history with each other, not by forgetting, but by remembering and appreciating the difficult path traveled.

The enclaves got their own “passport”

In the 1970s, in order to finally resolve the gap in the border between the Netherlands and Belgium, they decided to start redrawing the border. More than 100 years had passed, and it took more than two decades to redraw the border.

A piece of land that belonged to no one and was called that, was recognized as Belgian by an international court decision in 1995, without a war, and the Belgian border was expanded by 50 square meters. Officially, Baarle has 22 pieces of Belgian enclaves: Baarle-Hertog, 8 pieces of Dutch exclaves.

Baarle is a village, but its residents consider it the capital of enclaves in the world. They studied the enclaves in the world and compiled a tourist passport. They have identified 64 enclaves, of which about 30 are located in Baarle, they have the most, so they have reserved the title of being called the capital of the enclaves for their village.

When chess pieces even cross the border

The number of visitors to this village is increasing every year, some want to appear in two countries at the same time, some want to walk across the border, and others want to understand how such peaceful borders can exist in our irreconcilable world.

The people of Baarle are also sparing no effort to build everything right on the border, bridging the differences between the two countries, making the borders more flexible and balanced.

In April of this year, the opening of the chess table was organized. Dutch and Belgian chess players marked the chess table installed right on the border with their game.

The cross-border table was opened with the Belgian and Dutch chess kings and queens, FIDE representatives, Dutch women’s chess grandmaster Anne Haast, and FIDE master Ruben Aghayan representing Belgium.

Our compatriot Ruben Aghayan has been in Belgium since 2000. Hե has thought a lot about European and our borders. He believes that in order to have such borders, it is necessary: ​​

“A mutual compromise. Here, everyone makes some kind of compromise, unfortunately, in our case there is no such approach, only we want to live in peace, but on the other side of the border, they imagine that peace differently. The Dutch and the Belgians did not have such a big conflict, but the French and Germans had huge problems, but today they have good relations, because that aspiration was mutual. I am not saying that they sought to forget the past, but rather they smoothed out the differences and created new relations after so many difficult years.”

In Baarle, the representative of the Netherlands won the cross-border chess, and when the children played, Ruben’s 7-year-old daughter brought victory to Belgium.

“Although we are in a difficult phase now, and I don’t know what we can do, I hope that one day, we in Armenia will be able to organize a symbolic event on the border with our neighbors. I hope that one day their mentality will change․ I’m not saying to become brothers, but at least not to hate each other; Every country will be able to develop normally, knowing that it is not threatened by war,” Ruben Aghayan shares his opinion․

When asked whether he would play such cross-border chess with our neighbors on our border, he answered: -Of course, why not, it would be a good step for both sides, I would play with pleasure.

Enclaves help resolve uncertainties and “mess”

Photo by Mark A Phillips 

– It’s easy to draw borders and create problems, but living together and finding solutions requires much more effort. All over Europe, enclaves continue to challenge our  traditional understanding of borders and encourage us to think more flexibly.

This is the perspective of Mark A Phillips, a photographer based near London and a Fellow of Royal Photographic Society, who has explored many of Europe’s enclaves.  His other recent projects explore the climate crisis and the importance of sharing, repair and reuse as a response to waste and to creating a more sustainable future.

“Unbound – footprints of Europe” visited and photographed 42 of the 44 enclaves within the European Union, visiting some many times,  engaging with local archivists and historians.  Representing footprints from the history of Europe, he explores the maleability and flexibility of these borders, and how they manage to maintain identity and sovereignty in such a tangled labyrinth.

– We need ‘borders’. They create a sense of identity and somewhere to belong. Many of the areas visited maintain their identity, and their local customs and cultures. Llivia  (a Spanish enclave just inside in France) is determindly Catalan. Baarle retains both Belgian and Dutch customs. In some cases, they have even reinforced this local identity by working together with neighbours.  My sense in that, the “problems of borders” are more to do with central governments than how people act at the local level. The EU and the creation of the Schengen area have, in turn, contributed to solving border problems by reducing he need for physical barriers.

-In the modern world, enclaves, are a bit of an anomaly. They counter the central governments’ aim at having nice, neat borders and control. My interest in them is that they are places of interdependence, they deal with ambiguity and ‘messy’ situations. Therefore, they are good places to find solutions, and to find places where people work together. A common theme is how all these areas develop local solutions and find ways to make it work. They exhibit a degree of unruliness and maybe seen as a little subversive to how the central governments would like things.   But that’s a good thing.

It takes courage to live in peace

It was not an easy road for the Belgians and Dutch to live together, to share their national characteristics in one village. In this village, each citizen of each country had their own school, church, municipality, and police.

By the way, the most difficult thing for the police was that a Dutch criminal, in order to escape, had only to cross the street and end up in Belgium, where the police had no authority to arrest him. Or there was another precedent when a murder was committed and for years they decided in which country it was, to be convicted under Dutch or Belgian law.

And in the event of an accident on the street, they began to decide whether to call the medical assistance of Baarle Nassau or Baarle Hertog for help, the victim could remain helpless until this issue was resolved.

Now these issues are not there, but that does not mean that everything is decided at once. For example, the discussion of the construction of the Cultural Center began in 2020 and construction will begin only this year.

-We have been discussing everything for 5 years, for example, who should be the architect of the center: a Dutchman, who designs beautiful structures, or a Belgian, who is more responsible for new technologies and security. After long discussions, we decided that it would be both, and so on, every detail, -Willem van Gool notes.

The border runs through the middle of the Cultural Center, these symbolic steps ensuring equality between borders have helped to move forward and respect each other’s opinion, national characteristics.

The steps of equality or unification have not contributed to artificially assimilating or appropriating each other’s uniqueness, even in small matters they are delicate; For example, both Dutch and Belgian mayonnaises are served together in Baarle, sweet or sour, lovers of flavors choose for themselves.

And the first step was 60 years ago, when Belgian and Dutch schoolchildren were united in one room, the daily fights gradually decreased, they began to talk and become friends. By the way, Willem van Gool was one of those children and he also advises that everything should start with the children. These steps are still ongoing: joint bicycle tours, camps, various events.

“Do you think the borders are symbolic and there are no problems here? The meetings of the community council are heated, there are issues that we disagree with, but we are able to have a dialogue, discuss, even if it takes years. It takes courage to listen to the opinion and proposal of the other side, patience to debate, and also responsibility for decisions.

For example, during the coronavirus, masks were mandatory in one country, but not in the other. In order to regulate the unstable situation, two community leaders decided to apply the strictest measure, that is, everyone had to wear a mask. This had no legal status, but both the Dutch and the Belgians obeyed this rule, because it is a responsibility towards each other and establishes new, bilateral rules on the spot for our residents of the enclave,” Willem van Gool says at the end of our conversation and promises to send me the passport of the capital of the world’s enclaves, the author of the idea of ​​which was himself.

A month later it reached me, on the first page the passport defines the term enclaves and invites:

“Borders separate people and states, but in enclaves we perceive the border as a meeting place for different cultures, an opportunity to learn from each other. We invite you to us to expand the boundaries of your own thinking, for which the borders of our small village can be the inspiration.”

This is how Baarle Nassau and Baarle Hertog welcome and see off their guests.

As a guest, the white crosses on the ground and the dome of the church built in the form of border pillars will always remain in my mind, silently testifying to those borders that were intricate, sometimes saving, often a trap, and now enviable and exemplary for warring countries.

Most of the photos are taken from the Toerisme Baarle-Nassau-Hertog website and social media pages, some also have copyright notes on the photos

Anahit Harutyunyan

This article was published within the framework of the “Explaining Democracy: Reporting Initiative” program, with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Armenia.

• Salem Al Shamsi: “This trade mission to Armenia represents a significant step in our strategic efforts to unlock the vast potential of the Caucasus region for the business community in Dubai.”
• A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Dubai Chambers and Enterprise Armenia to enhance bilateral cooperation.
• Non-oil trade between Armenia and Dubai reached a value of AED 25.7 billion during 2024, reflecting annual growth of 76%.
• Around 500 Armenian businesses were registered as active members of Dubai Chamber of Commerce at the end of H1 2025.

Dubai, UAE – Dubai Chamber of Commerce, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has successfully concluded its trade mission to Georgia and Armenia. During the mission’s second leg, the chamber arranged a series of business-to-business meetings between companies from Dubai and their counterparts in Armenia to explore new partnerships and uncover opportunities to expand mutual trade and investments.

As part of the mission’s activities, Dubai Chamber of Commerce organised a business forum in Yerevan titled ‘Doing Business with Armenia.’ The event was planned in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Armenia, the UAE Embassy in Yerevan, the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, and Enterprise Armenia.

The forum featured a keynote speech delivered by Lilya Sirakanyan, Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia. The session also saw insightful remarks from Salem Al Shamsi, Executive Vice President of International Relations at Dubai Chambers; H.E. Dr. Nariman Mohammed Sharif Abdulla Al Mulla, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of Armenia, and Karen Ivanov, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Armenia.

The event attracted the participation of senior officials, business leaders, and representatives of local companies, who gathered to explore avenues for cooperation and joint business opportunities with the members of the Dubai delegation.

Salem Al Shamsi, Executive Vice President of International Relations at Dubai Chambers: “This trade mission to Armenia represents a significant step in our strategic efforts to unlock the vast potential of the Caucasus region for the business community in Dubai. We are dedicated to providing Dubai-based companies with the platforms and support they need to forge strong international partnerships, enhancing their competitive edge on the global stage and driving mutual economic growth.”

Armenia’s non-oil trade with Dubai has shown remarkable growth, rising from AED 14.6 billion in 2023 to AED 25.7 billion in 2024, marking a significant increase of 76%. Around 500 Armenian businesses were registered as active members of Dubai Chamber of Commerce by the end of June 2025, with 79 new companies joining during H1 2025 alone.

During the forum, the chamber showcased Dubai’s dynamic business environment and highlighted the emirate’s competitive advantages for Armenian companies. Presentations from both Dubai Chambers and Enterprise Armenia outlined the significant opportunities available in both markets for companies looking to expand their international footprint.

Dubai Chamber of Commerce has identified a range of high-potential sectors for exports from Dubai to Armenia, including electronic equipment, motor vehicles and parts, beauty products, nickel, and woven fabrics.

Promising sectors for investment in Armenia by Dubai-based companies include retail in consumer goods; logistics services; the hospitality sector; travel and tourism; food and beverage; and ceramics and glass; as well as ICT and related consulting services.

The delegation from Dubai featured representatives from 16 Dubai-based companies operating in diverse sectors including the automotive industry; building materials and construction; energy and renewables; food and beverages; healthcare and pharmaceuticals; industrial engineering; chemicals; and shipping and logistics.

Eligible participants of the “My Armenia, My Future” contest are all students who are holders of Ameriabank Visa Student card, except those who have already received a scholarship or another award under the previous edition of the contest.

Winners will be selected based on the combination of the following two criteria:

• Cumulative grade point average (GPA) as of the end of the 1^st semester of the academic year 2025-2026
• Automated IQ test results

The deadline for submitting applications for participation in the “My Armenia, My Future” contest is November 15, 2025, 11:59 p.m. Yerevan time. The terms of participation and other details are available here.

Under the 2024-2025 edition of the “My Armenia, My Future” contest 160 students from 15 universities of Armenia received scholarships.

The contest is held in cooperation with “reArmenia” charity foundation.

About Ameriabank

Ameriabank is a leading financial and technology company in Armenia, a major contributor to the Armenian economy. In pursuit of digital transformation, the Bank has implemented unique products, services and innovative platforms designed to meet the diverse financial and non-financial needs people have today and keeps on improving them.

Being a dynamically developing fintech environment, Ameriabank offers comprehensive solutions to improve the quality of life.

The Bank is supervised by the Central Bank of Armenia.

Despite technological advances, agriculture remains male-dominated in the European Union.

“As a woman, you have to prove your worth to men, even when you start from the same place, with the same education and experience,” says 25-year-old Sarah Amélie Ost, recalling her first production internship on a French farm.

After graduating from a local veterinary college, Sarah continues her studies at the University of Barcelona, pursuing a master’s in epidemiology and biosecurity. “One day, when I’ve had enough of research and academic life, I’ll return to the countryside and to farming,” she says.

Life in Plombières-les-Bains, where Sarah’s family settled after leaving the bustle of the city, is close-knit: a community of five thousand in northeastern France where everyone knows one another. Locals often joke that there are more cows than people.

Farms are generally small, averaging 40–50 cows. While automatization has eased much of the physical labor, stereotypes remain: cattle farming is still seen as men’s work, whereas women are expected to handle small livestock and crop production.

“Men are given advantages and preferences based solely on their gender,” Sarah notes.

Seeking institutional solutions

The EU has tried to address this imbalance by enshrining gender equality into the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the first time, obliging member states to monitor and promote women’s participation.

The program offers credit support, job opportunities, and promotes women’s participation in decision-making. Yet, for women, and especially young people, entering agriculture remains a challenge.

“Without land inheritance, it’s almost impossible to start a farm from scratch, given the high prices,” Sarah insists.

The official numbers reflect these concerns. Agriculture remains a major employer in the EU, with 8.7 million people working in the sector. But farmers are ageing: 57 percent are over 55, while only 12 percent are under 40. Gender disparities are also clear. According to European Commission data from 2021, women account for around 30 percent of the agricultural workforce, with wide variation: 40 percent in Austria compared to just 15 percent in Ireland.

Meanwhile, strict EU regulations on biodiversity protection are reshaping land use. Large areas are designated as Natura 2000 protected lands, limiting expansion.

“The number of farms is shrinking dramatically, while existing ones are getting bigger,” says Arie Keijzer, a 73-year-old livestock and dairy farming expert from Dronten, the Netherlands. He points to urban expansion and land designated for conservation as factors squeezing farmers.

Dutch farmers also face restrictions on fertilizers and chemicals. “You can’t harm nature; every decision depends on managing that responsibility,” he explains. Public pressure, particularly from urban society, has further driven calls to reduce livestock numbers to cut emissions.

Agriculture itself is evolving. In his lifetime, the Dutch expert has witnessed a transformation:

“Nowadays, just two people can manage 500 cows, but traditions are slow to change,” he says. Forty years ago, only 10 percent of agricultural university students in the Netherlands were women; today, they account for 55 percent.

“There used to be a saying: if you can’t do anything else, you can always become a farmer. Today’s agriculture requires professionalism, vocational training, expertise, and strict compliance with regulations,” he adds.

But pressure remains immense: long hours, government oversight, consumer demands for affordable yet high-quality food, and competition from cheap imports. “City people love to see the countryside,” Keijzer says with a smile, “but living the life of a farmer isn’t very attractive for young people.”

The persistence of a new generation

In Switzerland, the mood is different. “Farming is part of our culture and tradition, a heritage that is deeply rooted and respected,” says 29-year-old Flurina Müller.

Florina grew up in Schaffhausen, northern Switzerland, in a conservative community. Her parents were musicians but supported her agricultural ambitions wholeheartedly.

“When I visit farms to give advice, I sometimes question my legitimacy, since I didn’t grow up on a farm myself,” she admits.

After earning a master’s in agricultural economics from the Bern University of Applied Sciences, Flurina and her friends are planning to start their own farm.

“It’s a different approach from the traditional family farm, but regardless of gender or age, starting alone is extremely difficult,” she says, pointing to high costs of land, capital, and connections even with government support.

While academia offers a sense of equality, she says stereotypes still dominate in practice. “In the field, gender equality is less visible. Women still face doubts and bias,” she explains.

According to the European Commission, several member states have already introduced intervention programs to improve gender equality in rural areas, including the LEADER program. By 2040, the Commission envisions an EU where living conditions attract more women and young people to agriculture, while ensuring fair labor standards.

Next year, in 2026, the EU plans to launch a Women in Agriculture platform as a space for exchanging best practices and ideas.

Armenian reality

What is considered a challenge in Europe is often viewed as progress in Armenia.

“I observed no gender-based division of labor in Europe. I was treated equally to male colleagues, even when it came to tasks like lifting heavy weights,” shares Arpine Hakobjanyan, a 37-year-old milk and dairy technologist who visited Switzerland for an experience exchange.

Arpine is from the Verishen settlement in Syunik province. She works at the “Elola” dairy factory and teaches at Goris State Agricultural College. Her study trip to Wildberg took place under the Modernizing Vocational Education and Training in Agriculture in Armenia (MAVETA) project, led by the Swiss government with support from local and international partners.

Through MAVETA, Armenian colleges have introduced in-demand agricultural professions via dual education. Dairy technology is one of them.

According to official data, 21.8 percent of Armenia’s employed population works in agriculture, with women accounting for only 21 percent of those employed in the sector․

“There is both a shortage of qualified specialists and a lack of interest among the younger generation,” explains Lilit Hovhannisyan, MAVETA project manager. “Dual training provides a solution: students gain theoretical knowledge at college, practical experience at private companies, and are paid for their work.” The project collaborates with schools, colleges, and private companies to encourage young people and women to pursue careers in agriculture in Tavush, Lori, Armavir, Syunik regions and in Yerevan.

Despite differences in resources and challenges, agriculture is aging in both Europe and Armenia. Regardless of location, whether in a small village in Syunik or a large farm in the Netherlands, the full participation of women is not just a matter of equality but a crucial factor in addressing demographic challenges in rural areas and ensuring sustainable generational renewal in the agricultural sector.

By Anush Ghavalyan

This article was published within the framework of the “Explaining Democracy: Reporting Initiative” program, with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Armenia.