Author: Ani Basmajian

Armenia, Turkey agree to open border to third country citizens before tourist season

Ani Basmajian
 TASS 
Russia –
Despite sharing a border, Armenia and Turkey don’t have diplomatic relations

YEREVAN, March 24. /TASS/. Armenia and Turkey have agreed to open their borders to citizens of third countries ahead of the tourist season, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said on Friday.

"We have agreed to open the border with Turkey to citizens of third countries ahead of the tourist season. Active efforts in this area are being made," he said at a meeting of the relevant parliamentary commission.

Despite sharing a border, Armenia and Turkey don’t have diplomatic relations. The two countries’ top diplomats signed protocols on the establishment of diplomatic relations and on the principles of bilateral relations in Zurich in 2009 but these protocols have not been ratified by either of the sides. On March 1, 2018, Armenia announced the annulment of the protocols. In 2021, the countries appointed special envoys for issues of settling bilateral relations.

‘High Probability Of Escalation’ With Azerbaijan: Armenia PM

Ani Basmajian
BARRON'S
March 14 2023
By AFP – Agence France Presse

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Tuesday warned of a "very high probability" of an escalation on the restive border with Azerbaijan and in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, over which the arch foes fought two wars.

"There is a very high probability of an escalation along Armenia's border (with Azerbaijan) and in Nagorno-Karabakh," Pashinyan said in a press conference, accusing Baku of stepping up "aggressive rhetoric" amid the "humanitarian catastrophe" caused by Baku's blockade of the contested territory.

mkh-im/brw/yad

Armenia to agree to senior position in CSTO if it strengthens security of country — PM

Ani Basmajian
 TASS 
Russia – March 14 2023
"If this doesn't happen, we see no point in holding this position," Nikol Pashinyan said

YEREVAN, March 14. /TASS/. Armenia will agree to appoint its representative to the position of deputy secretary general of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) if this will strengthen its security, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told a news conference on Tuesday.

"We will be glad to get the quota of the CSTO deputy secretary general, if it does not happen so that with getting this position we will send the wrong message to our people, if it will be another factor towards security," Pashinyan told journalists. "If this doesn't happen, we see no point in holding this position," he added.

https://tass.com/world/1588285

‘Azerbaijan seeks to create conditions for unhindered ethnic cleansing’, warns Nagorno Karabakh

Ani Basmajian

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 17:06,

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 15, ARMENPRESS. The statements by the Azerbaijani side that the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict has been resolved and is no longer on the international agenda are untrue, the Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on March 15.

Below is the full statement issued by the Artsakh MFA.

“In response to the statements made by Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the President's Office Hikmet Hajiyev regarding the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict, the negotiation process and a number of other issues, we consider it necessary to state the following: 

The statements of the Azerbaijani side that the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict has been resolved and is no longer on the international agenda do not correspond to reality. The fact that the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict has not been resolved and needs a comprehensive settlement has been repeatedly stated by representatives of both individual States, including the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries, and a number of international organisations.
 
The fact that the UN Security Council, which bears primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, in December 2022 discussed the situation related to the blocking of the Lachin Corridor, refutes the claims of the Azerbaijani side that the conflict is no longer on the international agenda. The desire of official Baku to legitimise the results of the illegal use of force against the Republic of Artsakh and its people and present it as a solution to the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict is an attempt to return to the times when military force prevailed over international law. 

We are convinced that a comprehensive settlement of the conflict can only be achieved through negotiations, on the basis of the norms and principles of international law. Rejecting the international mechanism of dialogue with official Stepanakert, Azerbaijan is trying to avoid the implementation of possible agreements. Engagement of the international community in the dialogue between Artsakh and Azerbaijan is the only way to guarantee a comprehensive settlement of the conflict. 

We strongly reject Azerbaijan's attempts to distort the essence of the conflict and present it as an internal issue. Against the backdrop of the 90-day blockade of Artsakh, it is obvious that in this way Azerbaijan seeks to create conditions for unhindered ethnic cleansing in Artsakh, excluding the intervention of the international community. This is why Azerbaijan is opposed to the involvement of the international community, including the sending of international missions to Artsakh, so that nothing and no one can prevent the implementation of their criminal plans to ethnically cleanse Artsakh. 

At the same time, Azerbaijan continues to make false accusations claiming that Armenia has not fully withdrawn its armed forces and continues to supply arms and ammunition to Artsakh. Such statements do not correspond to reality and are intended to justify the blockade of Artsakh, which has been lasting for more than 90 days. 

We emphasise that the Republic of Artsakh has a Defence Army made up of local residents, the presence of which does not contradict any provision of the Trilateral Statement of 9 November 2020, and remains the main guarantee of the security of the people of Artsakh. Azerbaijan's campaign against the Artsakh Defence Army is due to the fact that Baku seeks to deprive the Artsakh Armenians of the possibility of self-defence and resistance to Azerbaijan's criminal plans of ethnic cleansing.

Azerbaijan's claims that the Lachin Corridor is open are false. It should be noted that during the hearings of the International Court of Justice, Azerbaijan had the opportunity to present all its arguments regarding the situation related to the blocking of the Lachin Corridor. However, after a detailed examination of the arguments presented by the parties, the International Court of Justice ordered Azerbaijan to ensure the unimpeded movement along the Lachin Corridor. We recall once again that the decisions of the International Court of Justice are legally binding.”

AYF Camp Haiastan presents summer 2023 leadership team

Ani Basmajian
March 8, 2023 Camp Haiastan Diaspora 0

FRANKLIN, Mass. — The AYF Camp Haiastan Board of Directors is pleased to announce the 2023 camp management staff.

Nairi Koroghlian (Long Island City, New York) will be the 2023 Summer Camp Director, and Ani Changelian will return to AYF Camp Haiastan this summer to direct the day camp. The Board has also selected a Program Director, a new position responsible for developing and organizing curriculum specific activities and schedules for Camp Haiastan’s programs. This role will be filled by former Summer Director Seran Tcholakian of Farmington Hills, MI.

Nairi Koroghlian

Koroghlian has a long history with the Camp, starting as a camper in the early-to-mid ’80s and then serving on staff in the early ’90s. Her love for the Camp was established through her parents Harry and Claire Kushigian. Now, she’s part of a Camp Haiastan Summer Director legacy. Her father, also known as “Baron Harry,” was a Camp Haiastan counselor from the late 1950s to the early 1960s and later served as the 1962 Summer Director when he, along with former Summer Camp Director Mesrob Odian, started the ‘History of the Camp’ lecture, which is now a mainstay ‘Hye Talk’ delivered to staff and campers every year.

Koroghlian draws upon more than 20 years of professional experience in various roles ranging from marketing to theater and film. Most recently, she has been a leader in the health and wellness industry, serving as a coach for large organizations throughout Manhattan, including Sesame Street and Weight Watchers International. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked as a volunteer crisis responder for IMALIVE.org, an organization that brings awareness to mental health and suicide prevention.

“I am thrilled to return to the ‘best place on earth’ this summer to inspire a love for our Armenian heritage for our youth and create a nurturing experience for fostering friendships and cultural pride,” expressed Koroghlian.

Koroghlian is a native of Rhode Island and a University of Rhode Island graduate. She resides in New York City with her husband Haig. The two met as campers at Camp Haiastan.

Ani Changelian

Camp Haistan is looking forward to Changelian’s return as director of the day camp. “Ani’s extensive knowledge of the Camp and her experience with children greatly benefit our youth,” stated Board chairman Hratch Najarian.

Changelian received a master’s degree in education from the New York Institute of Technology, Downing College. She lives in Bedford, Massachusetts with her husband Andrew and their two children, former campers and staff members. Changelian previously worked as a kindergarten teacher at St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School in Watertown and also served as the AYF Camp Haiastan Summer Director from 2019-2021.

Seran Tcholakian

Tcholakian, a camper for many years, is now the inaugural Program Director at Camp Haiastan. A native of New York, Tcholakian lives in Farmington Hills, Michigan with her husband Rafi and their five children, former campers and staffers. A graduate of Hunter College, Tcholakian taught for many years at the Alex and Marie Manoogian School in Dearborn. She is now a tutor and an active member of her local Armenian community through the Armenian Relief Society (ARS).

This new position will bring an increased level of attention to the Camp’s various programs and ensure that all activities are engaging for young campers. Following her recent stint as summer director (2019 – 2021), Tcholakian has proven that she understands the needs of the campers and staff to ensure a positive, developmentally appropriate and magical experience.

“We are excited to kick-off the 2023 summer season with this strong leadership team,” stated executive director Kenar Charchaflian. Serving as an AYF Camp Haiastan staff member goes beyond the reward of impacting the future youth of our community. For generations, our grounds have served as a place of opportunity to learn new skills, to build friendships and to grow professionally and individually. Staff applications are open through the 20th of March. Application deadlines are below.

March 14th – Aquatics Director, Armenian School Teacher, Lifeguard, Health Center Staff, Kitchen Staff, Summer Office Administrator
March 20th – Cabin Counselor, Day Camp Counselor, Staff In Training (SIT)

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Located in Franklin, Massachusetts, AYF Camp Haiastan, was founded in 1951 and is the oldest Armenian camp in the United States. The Camp prides itself on providing a healthy and safe experience to Armenian-American youth to help them foster their Armenian identity and establish lifelong friendships.


The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced the violation of the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh

Ani Basmajian
March 2 2023

March 2 – BLiTZ. According to TASS, Russian peacekeepers recorded a violation of the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh. This was stated in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

The ceasefire regime, in particular, was recorded in the Askeran region. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, there were no casualties.

At the same time, the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent is trying, together with both sides of the conflict – Azerbaijani and Armenian, to begin proceedings on the fact of the violation.

It would not be superfluous to recall that earlier, after the defeat in the Second Karabakh War, Armenia, with the participation of Russia, reached written agreements with Azerbaijan on the settlement of the conflict. According to these agreements, Armenia must withdraw its troops from Azerbaijani territory. If this does not happen, then, as Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev noted, Baku will be forced to use force in order to force Armenia to peace.

Aliyev: Azerbaijan spent about 4 billion dollars on the restoration of Karabakh March 2, 2023 at 13:11

In this regard, Yerevan risks running into another military defeat, since Moscow is unlikely to stand up for Yerevan again.

https://www.weeklyblitz.net/news/the-ministry-of-defense-of-the-russian-federation-announced-the-violation-of-the-ceasefire-in-nagorno-karabakh/

Russia urges restraint after shootout near Nagorno-Karabakh

Ani Basmajian
Canada – March 6 2023
MOSCOW – 

Russia said Monday that its forces helped end a deadly weekend clash between Azerbaijani soldiers and the police of Nagorno-Karabakh, urging all parties to show restraint.

Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994. In 2020, Azerbaijani troops routed Armenian forces in six weeks of fighting that ended with a Russia-brokered peace deal allowing Azerbaijan to take a significant part of Nagorno-Karabakh and reclaim nearby areas which had been in Armenian hands for nearly two decades.

Tensions soared again in December when Azerbaijani protesters claiming to be environmental activists blocked the main road between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, leaving its 120,000 residents short of food and other basic supplies.

Last month, the United Nations' highest court ordered Azerbaijan to allow the resumption of free movement along the so-called Lachin corridor, but the situation has remained tense.

On Sunday, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said a shootout occurred when Azerbaijani soldiers went to check vehicles suspected of transporting weapons along an auxiliary dirt road that links Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia's Interior Ministry dismissed the claim and described the shooting as an “ambush,” saying that three police officers from Nagorno-Karabakh were killed.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday that its troops patrolling the region as peacekeepers under the 2020 Moscow-brokered deal moved quickly to halt the clash. The ministry confirmed that three Nagorno-Karabakh police officers were killed and added that two Azerbaijani troops also died in the shootout.

The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concern about Sunday's shooting and urged all parties to show restraints and make steps to de-escalate the situation.

UNSC to be authorized to intervene when Azerbaijan’s non-compliance with ICJ ruling becomes contentious – Kirakosyan

Ani Basmajian

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 14:08,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. All requests by Armenia for provisional measures in international courts are followed by tit-for-tat requests filed by Azerbaijan, Representative of Armenia on International Legal Matters Yeghishe Kirakosyan said at a press conference. By doing so, Azerbaijan seeks to cause controversy in an attempt to diminish the impact of the requests filed by Armenia, Kirakosyan explained.

“But I can say that Azerbaijan is not succeeding. I am saying this based on concrete results. For example, the latest result, when the International Court of Justice rejected Azerbaijan’s request, while granting Armenia’s request. The decisions adopted by international organizations also prove this,” Kirakosyan said.

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. The Lachin Corridor is blocked by Azerbaijan since 12 December 2022. 

However, the Lachin Corridor is still blocked by Azerbaijan.

Although the ICJ ruling doesn’t mention timeframes for fulfilling the order, it does clearly mention that the decision is binding, which means that a country must take action from the moment the ruling is published, Kirakosyan explained.

“Unfortunately, international law doesn’t envisage an institution dealing with enforcement of decisions. The body which has some responsibility in the direction of the fulfillment of the ICJ rulings and decisions is the UN Security Council, which will be entitled to intervene when the issue becomes contentious.  We realize that an intervention by the Security Council is complicated. Although there are many other measures to maximally gain from the legal process,” Kirakosyan said.

The Representative of Armenia on International Legal Matters noted that the Foreign Ministers of various countries, as well as the UN Secretary-General, issued statements citing the ICJ ruling after it was released.

“These are important processes, the pressure must be maximally increased in this direction. By the way, this ruling is highly important in political-legal terms. Now, it turns out that apart from the trilateral statement we also have one more international legal document which stipulates unimpeded passage along Lachin corridor or Azerbaijan’s obligation to ensure it,” Kirakosyan said.

Why Ukraine Supports Azerbaijan on Nagorno-Karabakh

Ani Basmajian
Feb 21 2023

For over two decades, Ukraine has firmly stood by Azerbaijan in order to highlight the importance of preserving internationally recognized borders in the post-Soviet space.

by David Kirichenko
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict presents a diplomatic challenge for Ukraine as it seeks to balance its interests with its foreign policy priorities. Ukraine views conflicts in the post-Soviet space as remnants of the Soviet era, and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is no exception. However, the conflict also serves as a reminder of Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia due to Russia’s repeated attempts to attack Ukraine’s sovereignty and borders. Therefore, Ukraine has been interested in supporting the preservation of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized borders since 1991.

The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as the Artsakh conflict, arose after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Nagorno-Karabakh is an ethnic Armenian-majority region located within the borders of Azerbaijan. Ethnic Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh declared independence from Azerbaijan in 1991, leading to a full-scale war between the two sides. A ceasefire was signed in 1994, but the conflict was never fully resolved, and tensions have remained high between the two sides.

The 2020 fighting saw Azerbaijan launch a military offensive to retake control of Nagorno-Karabakh with Turkish support. Ethnic Armenian forces could not hold off the Azerbaijan military, and Azerbaijan made significant gains in the region. A Russia-brokered ceasefire was signed in November 2020, but Azerbaijan had already secured control of much of Nagorno-Karabakh. 

The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh resulted in significant casualties on both sides and displaced thousands of ethnic Armenians from the region. The conflict has also had broader regional implications, with Turkey’s involvement raising tensions with Russia. The resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains an ongoing issue, with ongoing negotiations and efforts to find a lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia, and the annexation of Crimea, has made Kyiv’s position on preserving the territorial integrity of neighboring states even more crucial. For over two decades, Ukraine has firmly stood by Azerbaijan in support of its territorial integrity and sovereignty. This unwavering stance, which has become more robust and consistent since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2014, is a reflection of Ukraine’s understanding of the importance of preserving internationally recognized borders in the post-Soviet space.

Furthermore, Ukraine’s refusal to recognize self-proclaimed states, such as Kosovo, is a strategic move aimed at protecting its own sovereignty and territorial integrity, given Russia’s repeated attempts to invade Ukraine’s borders.

Regarding any international conflict, Ukraine abides by the principle of territorial integrity. Most Ukrainian politicians and experts support this approach, which is reflected in Ukraine’s 2020 national security strategy, which declared Azerbaijan a strategic partner on par with Poland, Lithuania, and Georgia. Turkey, which is actively participating in the current conflict on Azerbaijan’s side, also has a strategic partnership with Ukraine.

In contrast, Armenia, a member of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), has traditionally supported Russia in all votes on issues related to Crimea and Donbas. On the other hand, Azerbaijan has consistently voted in favor of Ukraine.

Given its foreign policy priorities and ongoing conflict with Russia, Ukraine has expressed support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia and highlighted the “privileged dialogue” between the two countries in recent years. Zelenskyy has emphasized the importance of preventing the crisis from turning into a “frozen” conflict and urged for a swift resolution to the problems back in 2020.

Since 2014, the UN General Assembly has adopted nine resolutions related to the territorial integrity of Ukraine, the human rights situation in Crimea, and the region’s militarization. But, Armenia has voted against all nine resolutions on Crimea. Armenia has used this support for the concept of “self-determination” in Crimea as a justification for a similar process in Nagorno-Karabakh. However, this approach has moved further away from a peaceful settlement and has drawn Armenia closer to its main ally, Russia. 

While Russia has long been Armenia’s main military and political ally, Armenia’s dependence on Moscow for defense and security deepened further following the 2020 war with Azerbaijan. Armenia is heavily reliant on Russia for military equipment and officer training. In addition, Russia is Armenia’s leading trading partner, and in 2019, nearly half of all money transfers to Armenia came from the two million Armenians living and working in Russia. As a result, Armenia is constrained in its foreign policy choices and is obligated to align its voting behavior with Russia in international organizations.

For over two decades, Ukraine has stood as a steadfast ally of Azerbaijan, consistently supporting its territorial integrity since the first ceasefire in 1994. This unwavering stance, which has become more robust and consistent in the face of Russia’s aggression, speaks to the strategic importance of preserving internationally recognized borders in the post-Soviet space. Armenia’s dependence on the Russian state as an ally has put it at odds with Ukraine, making it unlikely that relations between both countries improve until Armenia distances itself from Russia.

David Kirichenko is a freelance journalist covering Eastern Europe and an editor at Euromaidan Press. He tweets @DVKirichenko.

https://nationalinterest.org/feature/why-ukraine-supports-azerbaijan-nagorno-karabakh-206234

Artsakh Foreign Minister conducted visit to Russia last week

Ani Basmajian

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 16:46,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. From 12 to 16 February, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh Sergey Ghazaryan was on a working visit to the Russian Federation, the Foreign Ministry of Artsakh said in a press release.
 
During the visit, the Foreign Minister had meetings with public, political, and expert circles, as well as representatives of the Armenian community.

Ghazaryan was in Armenia when the blockade of the Lachin corridor began on 12 December 2022.