Author: Arbi Tashjian

Asbarez: Criminal Charges Filed Against Israeli Drone-Maker Suspected of Bombing Artsakh Target

Arbi Tashjian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 December 29, 2021

 

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

A drone manufactured by Israel-based Aeronautics, which has been charged

Israeli drone-maker Aeronautics and three of its senior employees were charged on Wednesday with violating the law regulating defense exports in its dealing with one of its most prominent clients, reported Haaretz.

A gag order issued by the Rishon Letzion Magistrate’s Court prevents the publication of further details.

The firm has been under investigation for the past several years. In 2018 the Justice Ministry said prosecutors intended to press charges against its employees for aggravated fraud and violations of the defense export law.

In an unusual announcement in August 2017, the Defense Ministry said that it had suspended https://asbarez.com/israels-defense-ministry-suspends-drone-maker-deal-with-azerbaijan/ the marketing and export license for one of the firm’s attack drones to a significant customer in a foreign country. Police later launched an investigation into the matter.

That same month it was reported that the Defense Ministry’s Security Agency opened a probe into a complaint alleging that Aeronautics representatives demonstrated the use of a kamikaze drone in Azerbaijan by attacking a manned position in Artsakh.

The company denied the claim at the time and said that any operational use of the aircraft was only carried out by the buyer of the drone. Aeronautics Defense added that it never carries out demonstrations against live targets, as was the case in this instance.

Longtime United States senator, former Democratic leader Harry Reid dies at 82

Arbi Tashjian

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 11:20, 29 December, 2021

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Harry Reid, a former United States Democratic Senate leader who spearheaded epic legislative battles through three decades in Congress, has died at the age of 82, CNN reported citing a statement from his wife Landra Reid.

"I am heartbroken to announce the passing of my husband, former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. He died peacefully this afternoon, surrounded by our family, following a courageous, four-year battle with pancreatic cancer," she said in a statement Tuesday.

Reid rose from humble beginnings in Searchlight, Nevada, to become the most powerful politician in Nevada history, capping off his political career as the Democratic leader in the Senate, including eight years in the majority.

United States President Joe Biden, who served with Reid in the Senate, called him one of "the all-time great Senate Majority Leaders in our history" in a statement Tuesday.

"He was my leader, my mentor, one of my dearest friends," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said in a statement Tuesday evening. "He's gone but he will walk by the sides of many of us in the Senate every single day."

Former United States President Barack Obama released a letter he had written to Reid before his death in lieu of a statement. "I wouldn't have been president had it not been for your encouragement and support, and I wouldn't have got most of what I got done without your skill and determination," Obama wrote.

Turkey announces one of its preconditions for normalization of relations with Armenia

Arbi Tashjian
 News.am 
Dec 30 2021
10:29, 30.12.2021

The vice-chairman of the ruling party of Turkey has touched upon the matter of normalization of relations with Armenia.

Regarding the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, Omer Celik stressed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has several principal views on this matter: Azerbaijan's positive attitude to the process, opening of archives, removal of the Armenian Genocide issue from political tribunes and leaving it to historians, Anadolu Agency reported.

"The initiative to normalize relations with Armenia can take place on the condition that Armenia abandons its aggressive and invasive policy against Azerbaijan. Besides, the most sensitive point for President Erdogan is that our Azerbaijani brothers and [Azerbaijan president] Mr. [Ilham] Aliyev look positively on the normalization of Turkey's relations with Armenia," Celik said.

Armenia lifts ban on Turkey’s imports in bid to ease icy bilateral relationship

Arbi Tashjian


    Dec 31 2021


    Armenia is lifting a ban on Turkish manufactured imports imposed after Turkey backed Azerbaijan in its crushing 2020 war in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

    The six-month ban was imposed on New Year’s Eve last year, extended for another six months and it is not being extended. It did not apply to raw materials.

    Yerevan called the import ban retaliation for Turkey’s “inflammatory calls”, arms supplies to Azerbaijan and “deployment of terrorist mercenaries to the conflict zone”.

    It is hoped the lifting of the ban will boost Armenian exports.

    Turkey has refused to establish diplomatic ties with Armenia and the border has been closed since the early 1990s in solidarity with Azerbaijan over Armenia’s seizure of Nagorno-Karabakh. It also bans all Armenian imports.

    In September 2020, Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a one-sided, 44-day war over Nagorno-Karabakh, claiming more than 6,500 lives and ending with a Russian-brokered ceasefire. Under the deal, Armenia formally lost territories it had controlled since the breakup of the Soviet Union.

    Turkey and Armenia in December said they would appoint special envoys on improving relations.

    Armenia imported US$267 million worth of Turkish manufactured goods in 2019, mostly through Georgia. According to Armenia’s Ministry of Economy, Turkish imports fell to $20 million in the first nine months of this year.

    Armenia’s foreign ministry has said it believes in “normalising relations with Turkey without preconditions”.

    Turkey recently said it is hoping to normalise its relations with Armenia if Yerevan agrees to open a land corridor connecting Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave. Turkish leaders have also mentioned Azerbaijan’s demand for formal Armenian recognition of Azerbaijani sovereignty over Karabakh.

    Turkey and Armenia have announced that steps toward normalisation are being taken and bilateral charter flights will commence.

    This month Turkey appointed Serdar Kılıc, a former ambassador to the US, as its special envoy to normalise ties with Armenia. Armenia then appointed a special representative, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Ruben Rubinyan.

    Turkey said Russia will host a meeting between the two special envoys, although no date was given.

    The disputed legacy of the Armenian Genocide during the First World War is an ongoing source of bilateral tensions.

    Armenia and Turkey signed a peace accord in 2009 to establish diplomatic ties and open the border but the agreement was never ratified and relations remain tense.

    https://www.eurasiatimes.org/en/31/12/2021/armenia-lifts-ban-on-turkeys-imports-in-bid-to-ease-icy-bilateral-relationship/









    Priorities of Armenian Presidency of CSTO discussed in Yerevan

    Arbi Tashjian
    Public Radio of Armenia
    Dec 22 2021
    , 18:45

     1 minute read

    Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan received Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization Stanislav Zas, who has arrived in Armenia on a working visit.

    The interlocutors discussed the priorities of the organization’s activity during Armenia’s chairmanship in the CSTO. Suren Papikyan stressed that one of the priorities of the Armenian side will be to increase and improve the efficiency of the CSTO activities and further the development of CSTO’s military component.

    The parties stressed the importance of the year 2022, considering that it marks the 30th anniversary of the Collective Security Treaty and the 20th anniversary of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

    They confirmed that the measures planned next year will be more effective in enhancing cooperation between the CSTO member states and expanding the international role of the Organization.

    Toivo Klaar accompanies captives returning from Azerbaijan to Armenia

    Arbi Tashjian
    News.am, Armenia
    Dec 19 2021
    14:38, 19.12.2021

    The captives who have been returned to Armenia from Azerbaijan Sunday were accompanied by Toivo Klaar, the European Union (EU) Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia. 

    “Happy to have been able to repatriate 10 Armenia servicemen. Important gesture by Azerbaijan in the process of addressing humanitarian issues. The European Union will continue to work with both countries to build on the successful meetings of EU European Council president with president of Azerbaijan and [Armenia’s PM] Nikol Pashinyan,” Klaar wrote on Twitter, and posted some respective photos. 

    As reported earlier, ten Armenian captives—two of whom are from Gyumri—have returned to their homeland Sunday—and through the mediation of President Charles Michel of the European Council.

    Stratfor: Normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations will essentially increase Turkey’s influence in the region

    Arbi Tashjian
    News.am, Armenia
    Dec 16 2021
    Stratfor: Normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations will essentially increase Turkey's influence in the region
    23:53, 16.12.2021

    Stratfor writes that the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations will essentially increase Turkey’s influence in the region.

    Stratfor also writes that it’s unclear whether there will be full normalization of the relations since none of the countries wants to change its position on recognition of the Armenian Genocide, but the normalization of relations will help open the closed borders between the two countries, will be economically beneficial for both sides and will essentially increase Turkey’s influence in the region.

    Stratfor goes on to state that the talks herald the fact that Russia needs to do more for Armenia, if it hopes to decelerate the decline of its influence in the South Caucasus, and Turkey is taking advantage of the talks to keep Azerbaijan from presenting too many demands to Armenia in the talks over transport and demarcation.

    According to Stratfor, this may help improve the relations between Turkey and the West, particularly Ankara and Washington since the U.S. government has been calling on Turkey to mend ties with Armenia for years. The Turkish government needs financial and political support which it may receive from powerful partners such as the U.S. and the European Union, which will appreciate Turkey’s actions to counter Russia on the major stage of military operations.


    Armenian Ambassador, German President discuss prospects of developing bilateral cooperation

    Arbi Tashjian

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     14:40,

    YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Ambassador of Armenia to Germany Viktor Yengibaryan presented his credentials to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on December 14, the Armenian Embassy reports.

    Congratulating the Armenian Ambassador on appointment, the German President wished him productive work and success.

    In turn Ambassador Yengibaryan thanked for the reception and congratulations and stated that he will make all efforts to further strengthen the friendly ties between Armenia and Germany.

    The prospects of developing the Armenian-German cooperation in political, economic, cultural and other areas were discussed during the meeting.

    Newspaper: 3 sections of highway to Armenia’s Voskepar will be on Azerbaijani border, alternative roads to be built

    Arbi Tashjian
    News.am, Armenia
    Dec 14 2021
    Newspaper: 3 sections of highway to Armenia's Voskepar will be on Azerbaijani border, alternative roads to be built
    22:56, 14.12.2021

    As a result of the demarcation and delimitation to be carried out by Armenia and Azerbaijan, new bypasses will be built in Tavush Province.

    According to Pastinfo newspaper, the Armenian authorities are planning to build alternative roads in a few sectors of the road leading to the bordering Voskepar village of Tavush Province, as well as the Armenia-Georgia interstate road passing by the village. The new road will link a few villages to Baghanis.

    The M-16 highway, according to Google Maps, crosses the Azerbaijani border from a few sectors, and since the Armenian authorities are demarcating with Google Maps, there is an initial decision to build a nearly 12 km road.

    Based on the map, the highway will cross the allegedly new border with Azerbaijan in nearly three sectors, including the Tsaghkavan-Kirants road, the road from Kirants village to Voskepar and the road leading from Voskepar to Baghanis.

    According to preliminary discussions, construction of the new alternative road will be launched in Tsaghkavan and will pass through Kirants and Voskepar and reach Baghanis.

    Voskepar will remain a bordering village, with certain territorial concessions. It’s no secret that Russian soldiers set up a turnpike in the bordering Voskepar village of Tavush Province in August of this year. According to reports, the road on which the peacekeepers are standing will be considered an Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

    Arayik Harutyunyan, Ambassador Anne Louyot discuss range of issues of Armenian-French friendly relations

    Arbi Tashjian

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     19:14,

    YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. The Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia Anne Louyot, ARMENPTRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

    The interlocutors discussed a number of issues on the agenda of the Armenian-French friendly relations, stressed the need to develop and expand cooperation in various spheres.

    In particular, the parties discussed issues related to the strengthening of trade and economic ties, cooperation in the field of public administration, and further steps in those directions.

    Arayik Harutyunyan and Ambassador Anne Louyot expressed confidence that as a result of the effective efforts of the two Governments, the relations between Armenia and France will get a new impetus in the near future.