Author: Alex Nanijanian

EU to host Armenia, Azerbaijan leaders for peace talks

Alex Nanijanian
May 9 2023

EURACTIV.com with AFP and Reuters

The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan will hold talks in Brussels on Sunday (14 May), the European Union said, amid efforts to reach a peace deal over their three-decade territorial dispute.

European Council president Charles Michel will host Armenia’s Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev as part of the push “to promote stability in the South Caucasus and normalisation between the two countries”, a statement said Monday.

The meeting in Brussels comes after the United States said “tangible progress” was made towards a peace agreement to end the dispute over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh at talks between their foreign ministers in Washington last week.

Pashinyan and Aliyev have held several rounds of talks, generally organised by the EU or Russia, but have failed to resolve outstanding difficulties, including border demarcation and access to areas across each other’s territory.

The EU statement said the two leaders had also agreed to meet together with the leaders of France and Germany on the sidelines of a European summit in Moldova on 1 June.

They in addition committed to meeting in Brussels “as frequently as necessary to address ongoing developments on the ground”, the statement said.

Armenia and Azerbaijan were both republics of the Soviet Union and gained their independence when it broke up in 1991.

The two sides have gone to war twice over disputed territories, mainly Nagorno-Karabakh, a majority-Armenian enclave inside Azerbaijan.

Tens of thousands were killed in the wars, one lasting six years and ending in 1994, and the second in 2020, which ended in a Russia-negotiated ceasefire deal.

But clashes have broken out regularly since then.

Azerbaijan has injected new tensions by placing a checkpoint on the Lachin Corridor, the only land link between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenia views the move as a violation of a ceasefire negotiated between the two sides.

The Western mediation efforts come as major regional power Moscow has struggled to maintain its decisive influence due to the fallout from its war on Ukraine.

The Kremlin has insisted there is “no alternative” to the ceasefire deal it signed with the two warring neighbours in 2020 that saw Russian peacekeepers deployed on the ground.

Pashinyan is visiting Moscow on Tuesday to attend the 9 May parade dedicated to the victory in World War II.

(Edited by Georgi Gotev)


AW: Grateful

Alex Nanijanian
May 9, 2023 Varak Ghazarian Opinion 0

Sarigyugh, Armenia (Photo: Varak Ghazarian)

Dear Armenia,

I am grateful. Every day I wake up and think how grateful I am to be living in Armenia. To be living in Armenia during a crucial time of Armenian history. To be living on the land where my ancestors have lived for thousands of years. To be living on a land full of centuries-old culture. To be able to learn the songs and dances that my predecessors sang and danced to. To be able to explore the land rich in holy mountains, endless valleys, dense forests, constantly flowing water, ancient churches and prehistoric ruins. To be able to speak and hear a nearly two-millennia-old language. To be able to affect change through my everyday life.

A profound sense of meaning entered my life due to the 2020 Artsakh War. I understood that I needed to be in my homeland. I understood that Armenia’s livelihood was severely threatened. After two years of struggle, I count my homeland as an everyday blessing. I was fighting against myself and everything around me. I have now found peace within myself and my current situation, even if Armenia’s situation has continued to get more and more grim. I view every day as an attempt to create a stronger and better Armenia through my everyday actions and perspectives. I hope to inspire a new generation that will help bring about positive change and a sense of belonging to their homeland.

In a world where patriotism is condemned and punished, here I stand as a “patriot” of Armenia. I do not believe that love for your country will necessarily breed nationalistic ideas and hatred toward other nations. I believe this patriotism within me stands for not just the development and survival of Armenia, but for upholding global democratic values. To be able to fight for democracy against dictatorial regimes and struggle for the betterment of human society. For peace to come for Armenia, the people must not continue to breed hatred for one another. Each side, starting with Turkey, must recognize its past mistakes and repent for the atrocities they have committed. Not only forgiveness, but also restitution for what was lost during such atrocities because a simple “sorry” does not undo such horrible wrongdoings. Only then will we be able to move forward in a positive light. The people on both sides must be rid of the hatred within their countries and breed a new generation of understanding and forgiveness that will bring about innovative solutions to the current conflict.

With Love,

A Concerned Armenian

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Varak Ghazarian is an Armenian-American from Los Angeles who attended a Armenian school his entire life. Upon his graduation from UC Berkeley, he volunteered in Armenia for year with Birthright Armenia. He spent time in Artsakh for a month, where he mentored teenagers in border villages about fundamental topics of health. He currently lives in Armenia, which has opened up a door of imagination that was closed off elsewhere.


Reuters: Armenian, Azerbaijani ministers hold talks in US over Karabakh dispute

Alex Nanijanian
May 1 2023
Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington on Monday as part of efforts to ease friction between the South Caucasus rivals.

Tensions have flared anew after Azerbaijan installed a road checkpoint at the start of the Lachin Corridor, the only route linking Armenia to the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh territory.

Karabakh is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, but home to mostly ethnic Armenians. Azerbaijan committed to keeping the route open as part of a Russian-brokered ceasefire in 2020 that ended a six-week war between the two countries.

Azerbaijan said it had established the checkpoint in response to what it said were Armenian weapon supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh. Yerevan denies that charge.

The talks – bilaterals between Blinken and each foreign minister as well as a three-way discussion – were not expected to yield a breakthrough.

A senior State Department official said Washington's "goal is to make sure that the ministers are able to sit down and talk to each other … But it's most important that the two of them are able to continue their negotiations."

Washington previously said it was "deeply concerned" by Azerbaijan establishing the checkpoint.

The official also said the United States was disappointed Russia had taken a negative view of the meeting taking place in Washington.

The stand-off is seen as a test of Russia's resolve to mediate disputes in the region. Armenia – formally an ally of Russia through a mutual self-defence pact – has repeatedly called on Moscow to use its peacekeeping force to stop what it calls Azerbaijan's "gross violation" of the peace deal.

The parties have agreed to hold talks in Moscow at some point in the future, though no date has been set yet.

Negotiations over a longer-term peace deal between the two sides after another military flare-up last year quickly stalled as Armenia pushed for the European Union and France to have a bigger mediating role, but Azerbaijan rejected.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Daphne Psaledakis in Washington D.C., and Jake Cordell in Tbilisi; Editing by Nick Macfie and Hugh Lawson)

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/armenian-azerbaijani-ministers-hold-talks-in-us-over-karabakh-dispute/ar-AA1aBc2x?ocid=Peregrine

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https://www.jpost.com/international/article-741784

Prague hosts 6th session of Armenian-Czech Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation

Alex Nanijanian

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 12:21, 5 May 2023

YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. The 6th session of the Armenian-Czech Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation was held on May 4 in Prague.

Czech Republic’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Edvard Kozusnik and Armenia’s Deputy Minister of Economy Narek Teryan co-chaired the meeting, the Ministry of Economy said in a press release.

The meeting focused on a broad circle of trade-economic issues, cooperation in industry and industrial cooperatives, high technologies, agriculture, transportation, scientific-technical and educational areas, culture, environment, tourism and other sectors, which will contribute to stronger economic ties between the two countries.

The sides signed a protocol based on the agreements reached during the session.

A number of meetings were organized for businessmen participating in the event.

Turkis Press: ‘Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Armenia normalization to bring new progress’

Alex Nanijanian
DAILY SABAH
Turkey – May 5 2023

If the countries in the Caucasus choose to invest in peace, it will open new opportunities in the region, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Thursday.

In an article for TRT World, Akar said, "Hopefully, reversing historical enmities will pave the way for lasting friendship and cooperation."

"However, we must be mindful of the delicate situation at hand. While the conflict is currently frozen, the threat of falling back into hostilities grows the longer it takes to hammer out a deal," he said.

Akar said two issues have prevented Ankara and Yerevan from developing normal ties since Armenia's independence from the Soviet Union. One was "the war in 1992 over Karabakh and the consequent occupation, in violation of international law, of a substantial amount of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia."

"The other obstacle is the unresolved differing perspectives on the historic events of 1915 that led to the deaths of both Armenians and Muslims in the final years of the Ottoman Empire," he said.

While the first one has more or less been resolved, with Azerbaijan regaining its lands in 2020 after three decades of Armenian occupation, the second one "has proven far more difficult to surmount, as it is a deeply emotional and sensitive topic for both sides," said Akar.

Türkiye is keen to resolve this issue and called on Armenia in 2005 to open its national archives and establish a joint committee of historians to research the events of 1915, said Akar, adding "Türkiye has already opened its national archives to international scrutiny, but Armenia still keeps its archives closed and refuses to respond to our call."

"During World War I, the Ottoman Empire was attacked by Russia on its eastern front, emboldening Armenian nationalists to take up arms and engage in acts of violence against Muslims, including attacks on Muslim villages and civilians. These acts have been documented and acknowledged by historians as well as by Western military missions at the time," he said.

He also said that American Gen. James Guthrie Harbord's report on the events of that time "also documented the atrocities committed by Armenians, who did not constitute a majority in any region of the Ottoman lands, against other subjects of the empire."

"This is not to disregard the massive humanitarian crises that took place during this period. President (Recep Tayyip) Erdoğan back in 2014 – then as the prime minister – expressed his condolences to the descendants of the Armenians who lost their lives in that period," Akar said.

Türkiye’s position on the events of 1915 is that the deaths of Armenians in eastern Anatolia took place when some sided with invading Russians and revolted against Ottoman forces. A subsequent relocation of Armenians resulted in numerous casualties.

Ankara objects to the presentation of these incidents as "genocide," describing them as a tragedy in which both sides suffered casualties.

Akar said that Türkiye remains steadfast in its belief that the Turkish and Armenian people, who have a long history of living in tolerance and peace, can establish relations based on friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation, despite the challenges.

"If the countries in the region and beyond choose to invest in peace, the political and economic dividends will be high for the entire region. Türkiye would like to see third countries – including its allies in the West – either help usher in this new understanding or be at least wary of efforts to politicize a historical controversy and perpetuate hostilities," he added.

On the other side, regarding the ongoing tensions between Baku and Yerevan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on the same day that direct talks between his country and Armenia are the best way for achieving a peace agreement.

"I believe that direct negotiations between the two countries will be more useful and necessary. I think we should continue to move in this direction if, of course, Armenia is also ready for this," he said, speaking at an international conference in the city of Shusha on Wednesday.

Aliyev said that Armenia, now more openly than some of its friends in the West, recognizes Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and it only needs to express that Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan as it has already done on paper.

"The Alma-Ata Declaration actually delineated and recognized as administrative and official the borders of the former republics of the USSR. This means that they (Armenians) have already agreed that Karabakh is Azerbaijan. And I recently said that they just need to say the last word. They said "A." Now they should have said "B." They should say what I said, that Karabakh is Azerbaijan. I am waiting for that. I hope that time will come," he said.

Aliyev admitted that there are some sensitive issues in relations with the U.S. concerning the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, but for the rest, "the bilateral agenda is very wide."

Relations between the former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military illegally occupied Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan and seven adjacent regions.

Clashes erupted on Sept. 27, 2020, with the Armenian Army attacking civilians and Azerbaijani forces, violating several humanitarian cease-fire agreements. During the 44-day conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and around 300 settlements and villages that Armenia had occupied for almost 30 years.

The fighting ended with a Russian-brokered agreement on Nov. 10, 2020, which was seen as a victory for Azerbaijan and a defeat for Armenia. However, the cease-fire has been violated several times since then.

Tensions Mount Over Russia-Patrolled Land Corridor Linking Armenia, Azerbaijan

Alex Nanijanian
THE EPOCH TIMES
May 2 2023
By Adam Morrow
May 1, 2023Updated: May 1, 2023
biggersmaller

Tensions between Baku and Yerevan have mounted in recent weeks over a Russia-patrolled land corridor linking Armenia to the next-door Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Although most of Nagorno-Karabakh’s roughly 120,000 inhabitants are ethnic Armenians, the region is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.

Yerevan accuses Azerbaijan of blocking its only land route to the region—the so-called Lachin Corridor—in breach of a 2020 ceasefire agreement between the two former Soviet republics.

Baku, for its part, has stated that its actions conform to international law and accuses Armenia of using the corridor to funnel arms into Nagorno-Karabakh—a claim Yerevan denies.

On May 1, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosted the foreign ministers of both countries in Washington in an effort to resolve the impasse.

The talks, which reportedly included one-on-one meetings followed by a three-way discussion, weren’t expected to produce any immediate breakthroughs.

According to one State Department official, the discussions were mainly intended to let the two sides “sit down and talk to each other.”

"It’s most important that the two of them are able to continue their negotiations,” the official said.

A settlement in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, on Nov. 10, 2020. (Francesco Brembati/Reuters)

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia captured most of Nagorno-Karabakh—an area of roughly 2,730 square miles—from neighboring Azerbaijan.

Armenia remained in control of the region until late 2020, when it fought a second war with Azerbaijan that saw the latter retake almost all lost territory.

The six-week conflict ended with a Moscow-brokered ceasefire agreement, while Russian peacekeepers were deployed along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and along parts of the Lachin Corridor.

On April 27, the Russian Foreign Ministry said efforts were underway “by Russia’s peacekeeping contingent … and on the political level” to “bring the process back to the path outlined in the trilateral agreements of Nov. 9, 2020.”

Despite the 2020 ceasefire agreement, clashes between the two warring sides continue to flare up intermittently.

On April 11, seven soldiers were killed—three Azerbaijanis and four Armenians—during an armed clash near the Lachin Corridor.

An Armenian soldier fires artillery during the ongoing fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, on Oct. 25, 2020. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

The dispute was exacerbated on April 23 when Azerbaijan erected a military checkpoint near the opening of the Lachin Corridor.

In justification for the move, Baku accused Armenia of using the land route to bring military personnel and equipment—including landmines—into the region, in violation of the 2020 ceasefire agreement.

“In light of these provocations, the establishment of a border-control mechanism at the starting point of the Lachin road will provide transparency over road traffic and ensure security,” the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It went on to assert that the checkpoint, which operates in conjunction with the Russian peacekeeping contingent, wouldn’t impede civilian traffic.

But Yerevan said that the checkpoint violates the terms of the 2020 ceasefire agreement, which stipulates that the corridor must be kept open.

Armenian officials have also claimed that inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh are now facing food shortages because of the corridor’s alleged closure.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan before a meeting with leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region’s future at the Kremlin in Moscow on Jan. 11, 2021. (Mikhail Klimentyev/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

Last week, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna visited both capitals in an effort to mediate the crisis.

At a joint press conference with Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov on April 27, Colonna sharply criticized what she described as the “unilateral measures” taken by Baku.

“Freedom of movement in the corridor is essential to reestablish trust,” she said.

Bayramov responded by saying that, since late 2020, Baku had repeatedly warned that Armenia was using the corridor to funnel arms into Nagorno-Karabakh.

“But I don’t remember France making any statement against Armenia,” he said.

One day earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the issue.

According to a subsequent statement released by the Kremlin, the two leaders “discussed developments around Nagorno-Karabakh with a focus on resolving practical tasks to ensure stability and security in the region.”

“In the context of the current situation in the Lachin Corridor, they confirmed the importance of strict observance of the … fundamental agreements reached [in November 2020] by the leaders of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan,” the statement reads.

Shortly after the phone call between Putin and Pashinyan, Moscow appointed Col. Gen. Alexander Lentsov, deputy commander of Russian ground forces, to lead its peacekeeping mission in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenia is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a six-nation military alliance led by Moscow.

Although Azerbaijan maintains good relations with Russia, it isn’t a member of the alliance.

Reuters contributed to this report.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/tensions-mount-over-russia-patrolled-land-corridor-linking-armenia-azerbaijan_5234100.html


ANCA-ER activists host array of Armenian Genocide remembrance events

Alex Nanijanian
April 26, 2023 ANCA-Eastern Region ANCA News 0

WATERTOWN, Mass. — Local chapters throughout the Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region (ANCA-ER) hosted an impressive array of commemorative events and garnered unprecedented regional awareness for the 108th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide throughout the month of April, culminating on April 24 – the international day of justice for the Armenian Genocide. 

Activists from across the eastern region stressed the importance of this year’s commemoration in particular, as it was marked amidst a blockade on Artsakh, which has been ongoing since December 12, 2022. The commemorations, proclamations and events throughout the month of April have shed light on the continuation of genocide linking Ottoman Turkey’s treatment and annihilation of the Armenian people to Azerbaijan’s current genocidal behavior against Artsakh – home to indigenous Armenians for millenia. 

“On behalf of the ANCA-ER board and staff, I am incredibly touched by the work of the ANCA-ER activists,” expressed ANCA Eastern Region Board chair Dr. Ara Chalian. “Every year, our activists plan commemorative events to underscore the importance of raising awareness of the internationally recognized Armenian Genocide; but this year, they went even further to sound the alarm on the humanitarian disaster impacting the Armenians in Artsakh as we speak. Our activists empowered their fellow Armenians in the homeland by garnering the support of federal, state and city-level governments who issued proclamations, gave speeches, made commitments, statements for the congressional record, hosted educational events, community outreach and so many more initiatives – initiatives that are heartfelt and impactful,” he concluded. 

Forty-two proclamations were issued from states such as Illinois (8), Massachusetts (8), Michigan (9), New Hampshire (4), New Jersey (3), New York (1), North Carolina (3), Rhode Island (5) and Ohio (1). 

ANC of New York and Albany activists joined State Senator Andrew Gounardes at the New York State Capitol to witness a legislative resolution marking April 24, 2023, as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day in the State of New York. Pictured left to right: Sonia Sukljian, Betty Minassian, Niree Kaprielian, Antranig Karageozian, New York State Senator Gounardes, Vincent Nasri, Ani Tchaghlasian, Nairi Diratsouian

On the heels of US recognition of the Armenian Genocide by legislative and executive branches, as well as the 50 US states, these proclamations are a testament to the importance of creating awareness of the Armenian Genocide and the current danger facing the Armenian nation today.

Thanks to the efforts of the ANC of Granite City, the Granite City City Council issued a proclamation on April 18, 2023, establishing a friendship city between Granite City, Illinois and Ashan, Republic of Artsakh. Pictured left to right: Steve Hagopian, Mayor of Granite City Mike Parkinson, Stephen Hagopian and Der Taniel Manjikian.

Of the 42 proclamations, 35 were signed by cities: Warren, Birmingham City, Sterling Heights, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Livonia, Detroit, Hazel Park, North Chicago, Lincolnwood, Waukegan, Hoffman Estates, Glenview, Niles, Crystal Lake, Granite City, Boroughs of Fort Lee and Ridgefield, Chelmsford, Andover, Lowell, Billerica, Dracut, Methuen, North Andover, Haverhill, Windham, Salem, Manchester, Nashua, Asheville, Fayetteville, Xenia, North Providence and Cranston. Three were signed by governors of the states of Michigan, North Carolina and Rhode Island. Three were signed by state bodies in the New York State Senate and Rhode Island State House of Representatives and Senate. 

Armenian National Committee of America Honoree Jasper Bedrossian speaks at Cranston, Rhode Island Armenian Genocide Commemoration and Flag Raising about his parents, Agape and Hampartsum Bedrossians who were the children of survivors of the Armenian Genocide.

Five of the region’s ANCs also hosted flag raisings, including the ANC of Illinois’ flag raisings in North Chicago and Waukegan, the ANC of New Jersey’s flag raisings in the Borough of Fort Lee, and the ANC of Rhode Island’s flag raisings in North Providence and Cranston. The ANC of Merrimack Valley hosted its third annual flag raising in Lowell (where the inaugural flag raising took place several years ago), Andover, Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Methuen, North Andover, Haverhill and Westford with special guests including Congresswoman Lori Trahan, as well as commemorative flag raisings in coordination with the ANC of New Hampshire in Windham, Salem, Manchester and Nashua. 

Armenian Genocide Commemoration event organized by the ANC of New Jersey in Montvale, New Jersey.

In addition to flag raisings and proclamations, activists with the ANC of Granite City secured a Friendship City agreement between Granite City, Illinois and Ashan, a city in the Republic of Artsakh. The proclamation, spearheaded by Mayor Michael Parkinson, sets the foundation for long-term cooperation between the two cities to exchange ideas about the future of Artsakh. 

Armenian Genocide informational display organized in the Bar Harbor Library in Bar Harbor, Maine, spearheaded by the ANC of Maine.

Along the lines of education and cultural awareness, activists from the ANCs of Maine and Michigan created a display in the Bar Harbor Library in Maine and Farmington Community Library to educate the community about the Armenian Genocide with an emphasis on the vital role that Ambassador Henry Morgenthau played in the US response during the Armenian Genocide. 

ANC of Michigan worked with local libraries, such as the Farmington Community Library, in the Metro Detroit area to set up book displays about the Armenian Genocide during the month of April.

“I get the pleasure of working alongside the activists throughout the ANCA-ER on a daily basis and am in awe of their commitment and dedication,” said ANCA-ER Legislative and Community Affairs director Nairi Diratsouian. “The survival of the Armenian nation hangs in the balance as we watch the events of genocide unfold right before our very eyes in Artsakh. Together as a region, we commemorated the events of the past and laid a foundation for the future – a future in which no injustice against the Armenian nation will go unpunished,” she concluded.

The local chapters of the ANCA-ER remain dedicated to advocating for Artsakh and Armenia and furthering Armenian Genocide education to ensure that the cycle of violence and the perpetuation of genocide does not continue.

The ANCA-ER thanks its sponsors, co-sponsors, advocates and volunteers for their continued support and dedication to the cause of furthering Hai Tahd and raising awareness for Armenian issues in the United States and abroad.

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The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region is part of the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots organization, the ANCA. Working in coordination with the ANCA in Washington, DC, and a network of chapters and supporters throughout the Eastern United States, the ANCA-ER actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.


RFE/RL Armenian Report – 04/28/2023

Alex Nanijanian 
                                        Friday, 


Armenia Rules Out Talks On New Lachin Corridor Regulations

        • Nane Sahakian

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan (R) and French Minister for Europe and 
Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna at a joint press conference in Yerevan, April 
28, 2023.


Yerevan has no intention to get involved in negotiations on any new regulations 
regarding the Lachin Corridor after Azerbaijan officially blocked the only road 
connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia recently, Armenia’s top diplomat said 
on Friday.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his visiting French counterpart 
Catherine Colonna in Yerevan, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stressed 
that the status of the corridor was agreed upon in the Moscow-brokered ceasefire 
agreement that put an end to a six-week Armenian-Azerbaijani war over 
Nagorno-Karabakh in November 2020.

The agreement placed Russian peacekeepers in charge of providing security for 
Nagorno-Karabakh and ensuring free movement for its people along a 
five-kilometer-wide strip of land connecting the mostly Armenian-populated 
region with Armenia and known as the Lachin Corridor.

Citing Armenia’s “continued military supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh”, Azerbaijan 
installed a checkpoint at the entrance to the corridor on April 23, tightening 
the already existing blockade of the region that was effectively imposed by 
government-backed Azerbaijani protesters back in December.

The protesters posing as environmental activists said today they were suspending 
their action after blocking the road at a junction just off Stepanakert for 138 
days. According to Azerbaijani media, their representatives said that the 
establishment by Baku of a border checkpoint at the entrance to the Lachin road 
partly met their demands for control over the use of the region’s natural 
resources.

Authorities in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh described the roadblock as illegal. 
Russia also denounced Azerbaijan’s “unilateral actions” in the Lachin Corridor. 
The United States, France and other Western powers voiced their concerns that 
Azerbaijan’s move could fuel further tensions and undermine efforts by Yerevan 
and Baku to reach peace in the region.

Mirzoyan stressed on Friday that Armenia supports full implementation of the 
2020 deal.

“It concerns not only the agreements on the Lachin Corridor. All agreements 
should be honored so that it becomes possible to have more serious achievements 
in the Armenia-Azerbaijan settlement,” he said.

Mirzoyan also reiterated Yerevan’s position that Baku should have an 
internationally visible dialogue with Stepanakert on the rights and security of 
Nagorno-Karabakh’s Armenians.

For her part, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Colonna emphasized 
that Paris demonstrates full support for talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“France is not doing it alone, it is doing it together with the European Union, 
the United States, keeping in touch with the Organization for Security and 
Cooperation in Europe and the UN, which can play a positive role in this 
process,” Colonna said.

She said that the path of peace is complex and difficult to find. “But, as I 
said in Yerevan and Baku, it is the only way that will make it possible to 
achieve a just and sustainable peace and will make it possible to create new 
prospects for the future of the two countries and their populations,” the French 
minister said.

During her earlier meetings in Baku and Yerevan Colonna urged Azerbaijan to 
comply with the order of the International Court of Justice that ruled in 
February that Azerbaijan must “take all measures at its disposal to ensure 
unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles, and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in 
both directions.”

Official Baku denies blockading the Armenian-populated region, pledging to 
ensure, in cooperation with Russian peacekeepers deployed in the region, all 
“necessary conditions” for “a transparent and orderly passage of Armenian 
residents living in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan” in both directions.

Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh dismiss such assurances, insisting that there must 
be only Russian presence in the corridor under the terms of the Moscow-brokered 
ceasefire agreement.

Receiving Colonel-General Alexander Lentsov, the newly appointed commander of 
the Russian peacekeeping force in Nagorno-Karabakh, in Yerevan on April 28, 
Armenia’s Defense Minister Suren Papikian stressed the importance of efforts “to 
achieve the unblocking of the Lachin Corridor as soon as possible.”

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian also urged Azerbaijan and Russia to 
abide by the 2020 trilateral agreement to ensure free movement along the Lachin 
Corridor when he spoke at a weekly cabinet session in Yerevan on Thursday.

Pashinian also called for a broader international presence in Nagorno-Karabakh 
and the Lachin Corridor.

“Azerbaijan’s efforts to turn Nagorno-Karabakh into a new scaffold for Armenians 
must be stopped, and the only reliable way of doing that is the presence of 
representatives having a broad international mandate in Nagorno-Karabakh. As the 
first step it is necessary that an urgent international fact-finding mission be 
sent to Nagorno-Karabakh and the Lachin Corridor,” the Armenian leader 
underscored.




French Official Urges Armenia, Azerbaijan To Maintain Ceasefire

        • Artak Khulian

French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna (in the center) 
visited the Armenian town of Jermuk near the border with Azerbaijan on April 28, 
2023.


French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna urged Armenia 
and Azerbaijan to maintain ceasefire as she visited an Armenian town near the 
volatile border between the two countries on Friday.

Colonna’s regional tour that also included a stop in Baku comes amid heightened 
Armenian-Azerbaijani tensions over a land corridor that connects 
Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia.

Azerbaijan set up a checkpoint on the Lachin Corridor on April 23, thus 
tightening the already existing blockade of the Armenian-populated region that 
was effectively imposed by government-backed Azerbaijani protesters back in 
December.

Both in Baku and Yerevan the top French diplomat urged Azerbaijan to comply with 
the order of the International Court of Justice that ruled in February that 
Azerbaijan must “take all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement 
of persons, vehicles, and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.”

Official Baku denies blockading the Armenian-populated region, explaining that 
the checkpoint at the entrance to the Lachin road was installed in response to 
Armenia’s “illegal military supplies” to the region, a claim denied both in 
Yerevan and Stepanakert.

Azerbaijan has also pledged to ensure, in cooperation with Russian peacekeepers 
deployed in the region, all “necessary conditions” for “a transparent and 
orderly passage of Armenian residents living in the Karabakh region of 
Azerbaijan” in both directions.

Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh dismiss such assurances, insisting that there must 
be only Russian presence in the corridor under the terms of a Moscow-brokered 
ceasefire agreement that put an end to a six-week Armenian-Azerbaijani war in 
2020.

During their meeting in Yerevan late on Thursday the French minister and 
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian described “unilateral actions by 
Azerbaijan” as “unacceptable.”

Pashinian’s press office also quoted Colonna as saying that France supports 
Armenia “in the search for a just and sustainable peace.”

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian receives France’s Minister for Europe 
and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna in Yerevan, .

While on her visit to Armenia on April 28 the French minister also travelled to 
Jermuk, an Armenian resort town that was shelled by Azerbaijani troops during 
last September’s deadly fighting on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council Armen Grigorian accompanied Colonna on 
the trip.

Edward Asrian, the chief of the Armenian Armed Forces’ General Staff, reportedly 
presented to the senior French official the situation in Jermuk after last 
year’s fighting that both sides blamed on each other.

Armenia says Azerbaijan occupied chunks of its sovereign territory after an 
unprovoked aggression, which Baku denies.

Asrian said that the territory that Azerbaijani forces penetrated in the 
direction of Jermuk made over 60 square kilometers, with the front of the 
penetration stretching 11 kilometers wide and going up to 8 kilometers deep into 
Armenian territory. He said both military and civilian infrastructure came under 
shelling.

“Great damage was done to civilian infrastructure. The town of Jermuk suffered 
significant damage,” the senior Armenian military official said.

During her trip to Jermuk the French foreign minister, in particular, wrote on 
Twitter: “[I am] in Jermuk, with the observation mission of the European Union. 
The European Union is helping to ease tensions and build prospects for peace. 
The ceasefire between Azerbaijan and Armenia must be respected in order to find 
the way of trust.”

In February, the European Union deployed about 100 civilian monitors in Armenia 
on a two-year mission to reduce the risk of a serious escalation along the 
Armenian-Azerbaijani border. A smaller two-month-long EU observation mission had 
already been deployed in Armenia following last fall’s clashes along its restive 
border with Azerbaijan.

At their meeting yesterday Pashinian and Colonna also highlighted the importance 
of “the effective activities of the EU observation mission in Armenia in the 
context of ensuring security and stability in the region.”


Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2023 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Armenpress: Azeri actions in Lachin Corridor aimed at committing ethnic cleansing in Nagorno Karabakh, Pashinyan warns EU’s Michel

Alex Nanijanian

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 09:22,

YEREVAN, APRIL 26, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has held a phone call with President of the European Council Charles Michel.

“Views were exchanged around the military-political and humanitarian situation in the region,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout.

The Armenian Prime Minister “emphasized that the Azerbaijani side’s steps in the Lachin Corridor are aimed at the consistent implementation of its policy of committing ethnic cleansing in Nagorno Karabakh and fully depopulating Nagorno Karabakh.”

PM Pashinyan also “stressed the importance of an adequate reaction by the international community to Azerbaijan’s actions undermining regional security, as well as implementation of practical steps in the direction of the unconditional fulfillment of the International Court of Justice ruling.”

The Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations process was also discussed.

“The sides attached importance to consistent efforts in the direction of ensuring stability and peace in the region.”

The Lachin Corridor has been blocked by Azerbaijan since 12 December 2022. 

The United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan on February 22 to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. Azerbaijan has so far ignored the ruling.

Asbarez: Baku’s Claims of Armenians Transporting Arms to Artsakh Denied

Alex Nanijanian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

A screen shot from a video released by Baku alleging Armenian arms transports to Artsakh


Azerbaijan claimed that an Armenian Army military convoy, accompanied by Russian peacekeeping units, had entered Karabakh on Friday, accusing Yerevan of transporting arms to Artsakh.

Armenia’s Defense Ministry, as well as Artsakh authorities slammed Baku for continuing its misinformation campaign and advancing its aggressive policies in the region.

“All claims by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry regarding the transfer of personnel, weapons and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Armenia are also false,” Armenia’s defense ministry said in a statement.

Artsakh Interior Ministry called the Azerbaijani claims false and explained in a Facebook post that the movement depicted in a video posted by Baku depicted the transport of cargo internally within Artsakh, explaining that the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia—the Lachin Corridor—remained blockaded since December 12.

“In the video published by them [Azerbaijan], a water truck can be seen, with which it is definitely not possible to transport weapons,” added the Artsakh statement.

“Thus, Azerbaijan is misleading the international community by representing the transportation of humanitarian goods and internal movements as the transportation of military equipment and ammunition,” said Artsakh’s Interior Ministry.

“On the other hand by violating the ceasefire almost every day, the Azerbaijani armed forces are opening fire even at civilians in Artsakh, halting all farming activities,” the Facebook message says.