Author: Andranik Taslakhchian

Pashinyan highlights lifting ban on entry of Armenian citizens to EAEU states

Andranik Taslakhchian

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 12:12, 4 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan highlights lifting entry ban for Armenian citizens to several member states of the Eurasian Economic Union, which was imposed due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

“In these difficult times it’s important to find an agreed upon solution for all sensitive issues. The issue of eliminating the ban on passenger transportations and entry of Armenian citizens to several EAEU states remains a priority for us. This year has been more difficult for Armenia for known reasons. But we have been actively engaged in all integration processes. During these days we have felt the full support of our friends. We thank for the invaluable support provided to us by Russia in the fight against the coronavirus and other issues which we have faced this year”, the Armenian PM said during the online session of the Eurasian Inter-governmental Council.

Pashinyan said it can be stated for sure that the pandemic didn’t impact the efficiency of the work of the Union.

“I hope the future agreed upon actions against the novel coronavirus will bring positive results in the near future”, the PM said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

CivilNet: Armenian villagers in Lachin remain uncertain about their future

Andranik Taslakhchian
CIVILNET.AM

2 December, 2020 06:14

Click CC for English.

The Lachin region, which served as a land connection between Armenia and Karabakh, was handed over to Azerbaijan on December 1. According to the trilateral “end of war” statement signed on November 9, a five kilometer corridor managed by the Russian peacekeepers will remain to continue to connect Armenia and Karabakh. There are rumors that in addition to the corridor, several towns and villages nearby will also remain outside Azerbaijan's control. But with no clear information from the authorities, a portion of residents from the town of Berdzor and the villages of Aghavno and Sus are already leaving. 

Even if the villages do stay under the control of Russian peacekeepers, it remains to be seen whether residents will feel secure enough to continue their lives in the area. CIVILNET’s Tatul Hakobyan and Aren Grigoryan are in Lachin's Berdzor and Aghavno areas.

TURKISH press: Armenian President Sarkissian urges PM Pashinian to resign over Nagorno-Karabakh defeat

Andranik Taslakhchian
 ISTANBUL POLITICS 
NOV 30, 2020 8:26 AM GMT+3
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian speaks during his address to the nation in Yerevan, Armenia, Nov. 12, 2020. (Reuters File Photo)

Armenia's president urged the government to step down and argued that new elections should be held within a year at the latest and an interim government of national accord should be formed, preferably a technocratic one.

Armen Sarkissian also criticized the Armenian government during his meeting with representatives of the Armenian community in Russia.

He described Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian's signing of a cease-fire agreement with Azerbaijan on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue and the withdrawal of Armenians from Karabakh as a "great tragedy."

"There is a solution in any country where such a great tragedy has occurred. The government that led to this has to go," he said.

Sarkissian had previously said he was not involved in the process of signing a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan that ended the decadeslong Nagorno-Karabakh crisis.

He said he learned about the deal over the news and that he had not been consulted before Pashinian "painfully" agreed to sign the deal.

The Armenian president said the decision should have been made after a period of consultation and debate, as the issue is extremely important for the country.

He pointed out that the situation in Armenia was very different from two years ago when elections were held and proposed the establishment of a provisional national unity government and early elections.

Suggesting that a technocratic government be established on which all parties will agree, Sarkissian said this government could work for six months or a one-year period and lead the country to early elections.

Sarkissian also said that a constitutional referendum needed to be organized before there can be new elections to amend the constitution.

Claiming that neither the president nor the prime minister should alone make important decisions for Armenia, Sarkissian said: "The constitution is not balanced at all in our country. There should be a balance between the parliament, the government and the presidency."

He also emphasized that the country's president should be elected by popular vote, not by the parliament as it is now.

In 2018, Pashinian rose to prominence as the leader of widespread demonstrations across the country against the political establishment, demanding an end to corruption and a more democratic Armenia.

He was elected prime minister by the parliament after the bloc he led received 70.4% of the vote in elections held in December 2018.

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

New clashes erupted on Sept. 27 and ended with a Russian-brokered truce six weeks later.

The Armenian army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces and violated three humanitarian cease-fire agreements during the 44-day conflict.

After nearly 30 years, Azerbaijan managed to liberate its territories from the illegal Armenian occupation. Yerevan was defeated and was forced to sign a cease-fire agreement with Baku that put an end to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh on Nov.10.

Pashinian said he signed an "unspeakably painful" deal that allowed Azerbaijan to claim control over regions it took back in the fighting.

While Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages amid the heavy fighting, Armenians are also handing over other territories under the deal, which is being monitored by both Russia and Turkey.

Activity of Armenia’s 4th largest taxpayer under threat, economist says

Andranik Taslakhchian
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 27 2020

The activity of Armenia’s 4th largest taxpayer, GeoProMining Gold company exploiting the Sotk gold mine, is under threat, economist Suren Parsyan warns.

"Even after so many losses, it is at least strange to see the carelessness of the incumbent authorities and their continuous attempts to mislead the public. Many eyewitnesses sounded the alarm about the invasion of the Sotk mine by the Azerbaijani troops, but the authorities, as always, are inactive, thinking only of extending their grip on power,” the economist wrote on Facebook.

“Regardless of who will remain in power, control over that mine is of strategic importance. GeoProMining Gold company operating the Sotk mine is one of the largest taxpayers in Armenia with a large number of jobs,” he said.

In January-September 2020, the company paid 16.3 billion drams in taxes ($34 million) to the state budget, up by 30.4% or 3.8 billion drams from the same period of 2019, the economist said.

“The government must take steps to ensure the smooth operation of the Sotk mine, as every day of non-operation causes great and irreversible damage to our country's economy and population. Besides, the reduction of tax revenues will cause serious problems in attracting much-needed loans in the future,” Parsyan added.


Patriots coach Belichick calls on US to take action against Turkey and Azerbaijan for attacks on Armenians

Andranik Taslakhchian
MSN.com
Nov 18 2020


New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick called for U.S. action on behalf of Armenia in ongoing clashes along its border with Azerbaijan.

Reporters at Belichick's Wednesday morning press conference asked him for his reaction to a memo from acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller invoking the coach's "Do Your Job" slogan. Miller had added to military personnel, "We are a team, and that should be our mindset."

"Well, I really appreciate the kind words from Secretary Miller," Belichick said in the video call, according to CBS Boston. "When you consider the type of leadership that he's shown throughout his career serving our country, it really means a lot. I'm flattered by the reference that he made."

"I'll just say, while we're on the subject, I read his point about combating traditional threats. And I couldn't help but think and hope that we've seen from other countries around the world, and I hope that our country will take action against Turkey and Azerbaijan for their unprovoked and deadly attacks on Armenians," Belichick continued. "We've seen that when a humanitarian crisis and things like that, like ethnic cleaning, go unpunished, that they just continue to happen. I hope that we can put a stop to that."

Belichick has weighed in on Armenian politics before, making similar comments in a video posted to Patriots director of football Berj Najarian's Instagram profile in October.

Nejarian himself has long spoken out on issues relating to Armenia and has urged the U.S. to recognize the killing of 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turks as a genocide despite pressure from Turkey to not use the designation. Nejarian said he directly pressed then-President Obama on the matter when the team visited the White House in 2015.

The Boston area has one of the country's largest concentrations of Armenian immigrants and their descendants, with about 50,000, according to the Armenian Diaspora Survey, which tracks Armenian communities.


The Armenians of Artsakh need our help

Andranik Taslakhchian
Bucks County Courier Times
Nov 18 2020
By Tom Murt  |  Bucks County Courier Times

On Sept. 27, the Caucasus region between the Caspian and Black seas witnessed the most violent military engagement in a quarter of a century. This conflict was over the region of Nagorno Karabakh, self-proclaimed as the Republic of Artsakh. Artsakh has always contained a majority indigenous Armenians and has retained semi-independence and a reputation as fierce warriors. While world leaders including the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe have called for cessation of hostilities and negotiation, stronger action — especially from the world’s most powerful nation — is vital to the safety and security of the Armenian people.

To put it into perspective, the conflict over a region slightly smaller than Connecticut was born with the creation of the Soviet Union in the 1920s. At the time, even though the population was overwhelmingly Armenian (95%) and bordered Armenia, Artsakh was wrongly attached to Azerbaijan, a Soviet republic dominated by Muslim Turks.

The Armenians of Artsakh never accepted this status, yet little could be done over the next 70 years until the advent of Soviet perestroika which led to optimism for reunification with Armenia. The law of secession that allowed for the independence of republics and led to the collapse of the Soviet Union also allowed for autonomous regions within those republics to choose their own independence and the Republic of Artsakh was thus born by a democratic vote in 1991. This independence was never accepted by Azerbaijan and in response, the Azeris initiated a reign of terror and ethnic cleansing.

As Armenians defended their homes, the conflicts grew to all-out war from 1991 to 1994, when a ceasefire was signed. By then, the Armenians had gained military control of the entire region. Since the 1994 ceasefire, there have been many violations — both sides blaming the other for the violations. Yet, it is telling that the Armenian side has always accepted the call for monitoring systems at the line of contact while Azerbaijan has not.

Azerbaijan has used the years since the ceasefire to arm its military with profits from oil revenues. The recent outbreak of violence initiated by Azerbaijan was foreshadowed by military exercises conducted in August with Turkey. Allies in the region believe that Turkey is behind this latest ‘poking’ of the Russian bear.

With Turkish backing, Azerbaijan has been encouraged in its new offensive with little incentive to negotiate peacefully. The decline in oil prices has stressed the economy of Azerbaijan and President Ilham Aliyev, who has never been a torchbearer for democracy, has been targeting Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh with indiscriminate bombing and kamikaze drones.

Amnesty International recently confirmed the use of cluster bombs by Azerbaijan. “The use of cluster bombs in any circumstances is banned under international humanitarian law, so their use to attack civilian areas is particularly dangerous and will only lead to further deaths and injuries,” said Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s acting Head of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. “Cluster bombs are inherently indiscriminate weapons, and their deployment in residential areas is absolutely appalling and unacceptable,” said Krivosheev.

Turkey, as a NATO signatory, has a responsibility to encourage peace and democracy. Recognizing its role in inciting the conflict, the European Court of Human Rights specifically cited Turkey in its call for all countries involved in the conflict to halt actions that place civilian lives at risk.

The United States also has a special role to play as part of the Minsk Group of the OSCE, which is spearheading the peace process. While mainstream media universally refer to Artsakh as “internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan,” the United States should appreciate and support the right of self-determination of an oppressed indigenous Armenian population. Our own Declaration of Independence supports this right, as does international law.

The U.S. has joined other leaders of the Minsk Group in calling for a cessation of the fighting and return to the negotiating table. Armenia seems ready to talk, but Azerbaijan and Turkey have absolutely refused. A resolution has been introduced in the House of Representatives (HR 1165) condemning Azerbaijan, denouncing Turkey’s participation and calling for the return to the ceasefire agreement. Stronger action is required in the way of sanctions against Turkey and Azerbaijan and the addition of U.S. aid to the impoverished Armenians of Artsakh. Our nation has an obligation to be on the side of peace, justice, and freedom. We should not stand by while another genocide is imposed on the Armenian people.

Rep. Thomas Murt serves the 152nd Legislative district of Pennsylvania serving constituents in Upper and Lower Moreland townships, Hatboro, Bryn Athyn and parts of Upper Dublin and Northeast Philadelphia.

2020-11-18T16:09:58Z


ANN/Armenian News – Week in Review – 11/15/2020

Andranik Taslakhchian

Armenian News Network / Armenian News

Armenian News: Week in Review

ANN/Armenian News

November 15, 2020

  • Asbed Kotchikian

  • Emil Sanamyan

  • Artyom Tonoyan

  • Hovik Manucharyan

  • Asbed Bedrossian

Hello, and welcome to the Armenian News Network, Armenian News, Week in Review for Sunday November 15, 2020. In this episode we continue to discuss various topics around the War in Artsakh. We’ll be talking to our guests about the following major topics:

  • The war ends. What are the terms of the deal?

  • Pax Russiana

  • The extent of Turkey’s presence in Azerbaijan

  • Jubilation in Baku

To talk about these issues, we have with us:

Asbed Kotchikian, a senior lecturer of political science and international relations at Bentley University in Massachusetts where he teaches courses on the Middle East and former Soviet space.

Emil Sanamyan, a senior research fellow at USC’s Institute of Armenian Studies specializing in politics in the Caucasus, with a special focus on Azerbaijan;

And

Artyom Tonoyan is a research associate at the University of Minnesota's Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, with specialties in religion and politics and nationalism in the South Caucasus, and Russia.

This episode was recorded on Saturday, November 15.

YouTube           Apple            Google         Spotify       Facebook

36 hours after we recorded last week’s podcast, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia signed a joint statement to end the war.

Under the terms of the Russian-brokered deal, by December Armenian forces are to withdraw from three districts – Karvajar, Lachin and Agdam, – while Azerbaijan will keep the territory in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas captured during the conflict.

Let’s talk about some of the points of the signed statement.

  1. A complete ceasefire and end to all hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict from 00:00 Moscow time on 10 November 2020. The Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, hereinafter referred to as the parties stop at the current territorial positions they occupy.

  2. Agdam District returns to the Republic of Azerbaijan by 20 November 2020.

  3. Along the frontline in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor there will be a peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation with 1960 military personnel with small arms, 90 armored personnel carriers, 380 military vehicles and other special equipment.

  4. The peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation is deployed in parallel with the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh. The duration of the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation is 5 years with automatic renewal for the next 5-year period if none of the parties state otherwise 6 months in advance.

  5. In order to improve the effectiveness of control over the implementation by the Parties to the conflict agreements, a peacekeeping command post is being installed in order to enforce the ceasefire.

  6. The Republic of Armenia will return to Azerbaijan the Kalbajar District by 15 November 2020, and the Lachin District by 1 December. The Lachin corridor (5 km (3.1 mi) wide) which will provide access from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia remains under the control of the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation. The town of Shusha located within the corridor will remain in Azeri possession. By agreement of the Parties, a construction plan will be determined in the next three years for a new route of movement along the Lachin corridor, providing a link between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia with the subsequent redeployment of the Russian peacekeeping contingent to guard this route. The Republic of Azerbaijan guarantees the safety of traffic along the Lachin corridor of citizens, vehicles, and goods in both directions.

  7. Internally displaced persons and refugees return to the territories of Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent areas under the control of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees.

  8. The exchange of prisoners of war, hostages and other detainees is to be made, as well as the remains of casualties.

  9. All economic activity and transport links in the region are to be unrestricted. The Republic of Armenia guarantees the safety of transport links between western regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in order to organize the unimpeded movement of citizens, vehicles and cargo in both directions. Transport control is carried out by the bodies of the Border Service of the FSB of Russia. By agreement of the Parties, the construction of new infrastructure linking the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic with regions of Azerbaijan is to take place.

Putin’s nuanced political navigation throughout the Artsakh war may be paying off. Russia appears to have outmaneuvered Turkey as the sole non-warring signatory in the ceasefire document and says it will be the only power to send peacekeeping troops to the region, although Turkey and Azerbaijan are now arguing this point. 

At least for now Russia has expanded its presence in Armenia, and now also in Azerbaijan. What’s their end game?

What are the underlying “interests” that are driving the Turkey-Azerbaijan alliance right now?

No doubt that Ilham Aliyev is the biggest personal winner from the outcome of this war. By liberating the regions around Nagorno-Karabakh and imposing harsh conditions on Armenia, he managed to not only deliver on his decades long promise but also probably consolidated his dynastic rule for the foreseeable future.

Any thoughts about how this victory would impact Azerbaijan’s political orientation and future relations with Russia, Turkey and Iran? 

That concludes our program for This week’s Armenian News Week in Review. We hope it has helped you understand some of the current issues. We look forward to your feedback, and even your suggestions for issues to cover in greater depth. Contact us on our website, at groong.org, or on our Facebook Page “ANN – Armenian News”, or in our Facebook Group “Armenian News – Armenian News  Network”.

Special thanks to Laura Osborn for providing the music for our podcast. I’m Hovik Manucharyan, and on behalf of everyone in this episode, I wish you a good week. Thank you for listening and we’ll talk to you next week.

Armenia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey

Additional: Russia, Iran, Ceasefire, Aliyev, Pashinyan


Armenian healthcare minister congratulates military doctors on professional day

Andranik Taslakhchian

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 12:23,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Healthcare of Armenia Arsen Torosyan has congratulated military doctors on their professional day.

The minister expressed his gratitude to the military doctors for their heroic work during the recent war and for saving numerous lives.

“Your direct participation and contribution to preserving the physical and spiritual health condition of our soldiers is invaluable. These days the medical community has shown a unique unity and saved the Armenian soldier, volunteer and civilian. We have been in frontline together and have passed a difficult path, unconditionally fulfilling your mission”, the minister said in his congratulatory letter.

“I bow before the memory of all fallen doctors who fulfilled their professional duty sacrificing their life during the large-scale war unleashed by Azerbaijan, I wish tenacity to their families and relatives. I wish peace to our country, and good health to doctors. Stay firm and continue your high mission”, the minister added.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Pashinyan expects opposition to officially rule out violence or use of weapons

Andranik Taslakhchian

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 12:17,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says he expects the opposition to make a statement ruling out violence and the use of weapons in political matters.

The PM made the remarks at an online press conference when asked about the existing hate speech in Armenia.

 “Thank God nothing close to what happened with the Speaker of Parliament has happened over the past 2,5 years with any opposition politician, and it won’t happen. If we were to conduct a monitoring on social media, it’s still a question who was more targeted during the past 2,5 years. It is a fact that the atmosphere in the country must be improved, that the atmosphere of hate must be ruled out, and we don’t argue with this. But this requires specific actions not only from the government. I am stating that the things they tried to attribute to us this night is ruled out, it is ruled out that our actions have such toolbox. Let the opposition itself state, are they ruling out violence and the use of weapons? If they rule it out, then we have necessary preconditions for dialogue, for discussions and for overcoming the situation with joint powers,” Pashinyan said.

He pointed out that most of the political forces didn’t even condemn the November 10 riots in Yerevan when the Government headquarters, the parliament building and his official residence were attacked.

“Is it because they had organized it? How can they accuse the government in advocating hate speech?”

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan