Author: Babken Chilingarian

​​​Armenia’s ombudsman: Offensive assessments in social networks about Artsakh compatriots are completely unacceptable

Babken Chilingarian
News.am, Armenia
Nov 29 2020
 
 
Armenia's ombudsman: Offensive assessments in social networks about Artsakh compatriots are completely unacceptable
13:30, 29.11.2020
 
Offensive assessments in social networks about Artsakh compatriots are completely unacceptable, the Ombudsman of Armenia Arman Tatoyan wrote on his Facebook.
 
"The high dignity and honor of the Armenians of Artsakh are one of the bright symbols of the unity of all Armenians," he said. "We now more than need to achieve solidarity and be united. And the aforementioned perverse phenomena only increase the tension, create obstacles for the urgent solution of existing issues."
 
"I ask you not to get involved in such “discussions”, regardless of who does it or in what groups it is done or what issues are being discussed (social, political, etc.),” the Ombudsman wrote.
 
 
 
 

Armenia’s Tegh community left without pastures, 70% of livestock sold

Babken Chilingarian
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 28 2020

After the handover of Artsakh regions to Azerbaijan, 6 out of 7 rural settlements in the enlarged Tegh community of Armenia’s Syunik Province are becoming bordering areas. Currently, construction work and fortification of positions are underway in these areas.

“The people, along with units of the Defense Army, are trying to reinforce their positions so that we can stand firm on our land. It is our sacred duty to keep our defensive positions intact. How else? If we sit idly by, who will defend our posts?” head of the community Nerses Shadunts said in an interview to Panorama.am.

According to him, all residents have joined their efforts to defend their posts.

Tegh community is home to 5,600 people. Its total administrative area comprises 15,000 hectares. The community head gave his assurances that despite the existing problems, no one wants to leave their homes.

The residents of community are mainly engaged in animal husbandry. To graze animals, the inhabitants of Tegh used to reach the Jebrayil district in Artsakh.

"We used to raise 60,000 sheep in a community, where are we going to keep them now? In the five-year economic development plan, we have outlined risk points in case of territorial changes. And that is what has already happened. The pastures which were used for grazing of our animals are now under their [Azerbaijani] control,” Shadunts said.

But the problem has already been resolved, the community head said, adding people have sold 70% of their livestock. There are no other pasture lands in the community, he said.

“Our people did not save up fodder, they thought that they would continue to raise livestock on pastures. Nothing was predicted. People are not to blame for this,” he said.

Shadunts called for new proposals and strategy with a focus on greenhouses.

“We need to come up with something else, specialists and institutions should start working on it. We have nowhere to go from our lands. In fact, we have no such intention,” Shadunts said.

No new program has yet been discussed with state structures, he added.


Explained | Who won the war over Nagorno-Karabakh?

Babken Chilingarian
The Hindu, India
Nov 18 2020

Stanly Johny

17:48 IST

Updated: 18:20 IST
Stanly Johny

 

 

Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to end military operations in and around Nagorno-Karabakh in a ceasefire brokered by Russia

The story so far: After six weeks of fierce fighting, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to end military operations in and around Nagorno-Karabakh in a ceasefire brokered by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Some 2,000 people, including combatants and civilians, are estimated to have been killed in the war. Armenian leader Nikol Pashinyan has described the decision to accept truce as “painful”, while Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, backed by Turkey, has claimed victory. Russia, which has enforced the ceasefire, seems to have reinforced its influence in the South Caucasus.

In 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed, the newly independent Armenia and Azerbaijan went to war over Nagorno-Karabakh, which had been an autonomous region within Azerbaijan during the Soviet years. Armenians have made historical claims over the enclave, which is largely populated by ethnic Armenians. By the time the all-out war came to an end in 1994, Armenia had captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts from Azeri forces, which amounted to some 13% of Azerbaijan’s territory.

Also read | Nagorno-Karabakh | Battle for the black mountains

In September, Azerbaijan President Aliyev launched the offensive vowing to take back Nagorno-Karabakh and other Armenian-occupied districts. In six weeks of fighting, Azeri forces, backed by Turkey-supplied armed drones and other equipment, cut through Armenian defences and retook territories, including some 40% of Nagorno-Karabakh itself.

Russia, which has a security agreement with Armenia, remained neutral in the early days of the war when Turkey threw its weight behind Azerbaijan. Russia brokered a ceasefire two weeks into the conflict, but it didn’t hold. When Azerbaijan defeated Armenian troops and captured territories, Armenian Prime Minister sought Russian help. But Mr. Putin said the security guarantee is for Armenia, not for the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. But Russia was apparently concerned about the rapid change in the status quo and the more assertive security role Turkey was playing in its backyard.

Editorial | Crisis in Caucasus: On Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh

By the third week of October, Russia established small military outposts along the Armenian border, apparently to prevent the conflict spilling into mainland Armenia and also to send a message to Baku. In the same week, Russia conducted a massive air strike in Syria’s Idlib against Turkish-backed militants, killing dozens of them, which is seen as Moscow’s warning against Turkey. Mr. Putin accepted Azerbaijan’s victory (as the ceasefire allows Azeri troops to control the territories they have seized) but prevented a total defeat of Armenia. Under pressure from a decisive Moscow, both sides agreed to cease the operations.

 

According to the ceasefire, Armenia agreed to withdraw its troops from much of the territories around Nagorno-Karabakh. The core of the enclave with ethnic Armenians and Stepanakert as its capital would remain outside the control of Azerbaijan. Baku will build a road linking the newly captured territories to Nakhchivan, an autonomous republic of Azerbaijan which had been geographically separated from the mainland. As the broker of the truce, Russia would send some 2,000 peacekeepers to the region, who would patrol between the Azeri troops and Nagorno-Karabakh, including the Lachin corridor, which connects the enclave with Armenia.

Editorial | Fragile ceasefire: on Armenia–Azerbaijan clashes

In sum, Azerbaijan gained territories, but not the whole of Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia lost territories it controlled since the 1990s but avoided a total defeat as much of Nagorno-Karabakh would remain independent of Azeri control. And Russia gained a bigger foothold in the region with its troops being deployed within Azerbaijan.

It’s complicated. That Russia could enforce the ceasefire and keep Turkey and western countries out of the final talks shows that Moscow remains a dominant power in the South Caucasus. Moscow had also wanted to send peacekeepers to the region (the Lavrov Plan), but both Armenia and Azerbaijan were not open to the idea earlier. Now, Russia can do that . But the war also showed that the Russian dominance in the region could be challenged. Turkey backed Azerbaijan throughout the war against Moscow’s wishes and made sure that the Azeri side prevailed. On Wednesday, Turkish Parliament approved sending troops to the region to join an observation post despite the ceasefire mandating only Russians to deploy peacekeepers. If Turkey continues to play an assertive role in the region through its ally Azerbaijan, a reluctant Moscow would face a new rival in its backyard.

It’s not. The war has altered the balance of power in favour of Azerbaijan. It stopped short of taking the entire Nagorno-Karabakh for now, but it doesn’t mean that it won’t go for it again. The status of Nagorno-Karabakh remains unsettled, which means the conflict has only been postponed, not resolved.



Parliament Majority Leader says stabilizing situation is top priority for government and society

Babken Chilingarian

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 11:26,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. Parliament Majority Leader Lilit Makunts says the top priority for both the government and the society is the stabilization of the situation.

“I am calling for calmness, vigilance and soberness,” Makunts said in parliament in response to repeated calls from the opposition demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

“The top priority task today should be stability, given the fact that the statement signed by the three states is a statement on ending the war,” she said, referring to the Karabakh armistice. “We are now in a very fragile condition and we should find solutions together. Having a mandate, keeping a mandate is very difficult because we are a part of our people and we ourselves have difficult emotions from our own failure,” Makunts said.

She didn’t rule out political changes. “As a government, we have our guilt and share of responsibility for the 2,5 years. But by running passions high at this phase, when our officials are engaged in very important negotiations, important processes are taking place over Artsakh, we don’t anyhow display our patriotism.”

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Sandbags and monks in khaki: Russian troops guard Armenian monastery after ceasefire

Babken Chilingarian
Yahoo! News
Nov 16 2020




DADIVANK, Azerbaijan (Reuters) – Soldiers unloaded sandbags and monks donned khaki vests over their cassocks on Sunday after Russian peacekeepers arrived to guard the 12th century Armenian Dadivank monastery in territory due to be ceded to Azerbaijan within days.

Russia has deployed troops as part of a Moscow-brokered ceasefire deal to end six weeks of fighting between ethnic Armenian forces and Azeri troops over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.

Ethnic Armenians have set fire to their homes, severed electricity cables and cut down trees before leaving the area that is to be handed over to Baku's control.

But Father Ovanes, the superior of the monastery, said he would not leave, regardless of whether there were Russian peacekeepers stationed there to protect him.

"I was prepared and I said: I'm not getting out of here," he told Reuters.

Azerbaijan was initially expected to take over the Kalbajar region, controlled by ethnic Armenians since the end of the first war over Nagorno-Karabakh in 1994, on Sunday.

But Baku has extended the deadline until Nov. 25, presidential administration official Hikmet Hajiyev said.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has told his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev to take care of Christian shrines in parts of Nagorno-Karabakh that Azerbaijan gets under the deal, the Kremlin said on Saturday.

Reuters reporters saw Russian peacekeepers guarding a newly established checkpoint next to the monastery. An armoured personnel carrier was parked in front of a chapel, and troops took selfies with the clergy inside.

"We are happy that our Russian soldiers, our brothers are here to protect the border and to protect this monastery, and the monastery will bless them and protect them," said Father Moses, a clergyman.

Peacekeepers might be allowed to remain at the monastery as a result of negotiations which are still ongoing, Father Ovanes said.

The clergy has taken down church bells and cross-stones and sent them out of the region, fearing they could be desecrated and vandalised.

The monastery overlooks a village that was burnt down and abandoned by its residents after the peace deal.

Most residents had already left the Kalbajar district by Sunday, but some Armenian soldiers stayed behind to finish demolishing the houses in another village called Knaravan.

Reuters reporters saw them taking down electricity poles, sawing them and loading them into a truck next to a school that had its windows smashed and roof torn off.

"We don't want to leave to the enemy, to Azerbaijan, what belonged to us. We just try to keep what belonged to us," said one of the soldiers who declined to give his name.

(Additional reporting by Nvard Hovhannisyan in Yerevan and Nailia Bagirova in Baku; Editing by Matthias Williams and Hugh Lawson)


Nagorno-Karabakh – Statement by Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs (10 Nov.2020)

Babken Chilingarian
France Diplomatie
Nov 11 2020
 

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    • Announcements were made last night by Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian authorities regarding the implementation of a ceasefire agreement in Nagorno-Karabakh. We have taken note of the agreement and are examining its terms and implications. Clarifications are expected in order to assess their impact.

    The cessation of fighting is crucial. The parties had made this commitment several times over the last few weeks and we have been, and remain, strongly committed to this priority within the framework of the co-chairmanship of the Minsk Group. We therefore expect Azerbaijan to strictly uphold the commitments that it has made and to put an immediate end to its offensive. In this context, we call on Turkey not to do anything that goes against this key priority.

    At this difficult time, France reaffirms its wholehearted friendship with the Armenian people in light of our close human, cultural and historic ties with Armenia. In these tragic circumstances, we stand alongside it. In particular, we will work to lend it all the humanitarian support it needs. Indeed, the situation on the ground, with displaced populations and fighting in urban centers, has resulted in serious humanitarian consequences.

    France has mobilized its efforts in recent weeks through a very large number of civil society initiatives. The French authorities are contributing to these initiatives, providing medical assistance, which arrived late last week in Yerevan and included teams of surgeons specialized in treating conflict victims. Other initiatives will be taken in the coming days to provide Armenia with the help it will need.

    Finally, the resumption of negotiations between the parties on a lasting settlement of the conflict remains necessary, beyond the ceasefire announced yesterday. As co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, France will be an active participant in this effort. Discussions between the two parties must resume without delay. They must allow for the return of people displaced by the conflict in recent weeks, and for the definition of the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh.



‘Artsakh’s right to self-determination must be preserved’ – US Congressman

Babken Chilingarian

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 10:38,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Congressman Brad Sherman has asked the US Department of State and the US Co-Chair to the OSCE – the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, to work with the partners to achieve a fair and balanced long-term settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

“The terms of the Russia and Turkey-backed ceasefire ending Azerbaijan’s unprovoked violence against Artsakh and Armenia are unfair. The Trump Administration’s absence was glaring and led to disastrous results for the people of Armenia. Who drafted this ceasefire agreement? None other than Putin and Erdoğan. This is the result of a lack of US leadership. We must not stand for this disastrous deal forced on Armenia. We must not view it as a final settlement.

Artsakh’s right to self-determination must be preserved”, the Congressman said on Facebook.

 

Editing by Aneta Harutyunyan

Ukraine’s President hospitalized due to COVID-19

Babken Chilingarian

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 12:23,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and head of his office Andriy Yermak have been hospitalized after testing positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) earlier this week, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

Zelenskiy and Yermak are being treated at Kyiv’s Feofaniya Clinical Hospital, Yermak's adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, said in a November 12 interview with the online newspaper Ukrayinska Pravda.

“A special office has been equipped there to enable the president to hold conferences. He has held a large number of conference calls today”, Podolyak said.

He said Yermak has a separate, isolated ward.

U.S. Welcomes ‘Apparent Ceasefire’ in Karabakh

Babken Chilingarian

November 12,  2020



The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

The United States on Thursday welcomed what it called the “apparent ceasefire” agreement in Karabakh, expressing confidence that the OSCE Minsk Group, of which the U.S. is a co-chair, will participate in finding a lasting settlement to the conflict.

James Gilmore, the U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE made following statement on Thursday about the Karabakh conflict:

The United States, as one of the three Minsk Group co-chairs, welcomes the apparent ceasefire and cessation of fighting in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.  We have always said there is no military solution to this conflict, and we deeply regret the unnecessary loss of life, including many civilians, caused by the recent violence.  As the situation continues to unfold and we learn more about the arrangement announced November 10, we will need to address the role of the international community and the OSCE itself in maintaining a transparent peace.

We are deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation on the ground. We reiterate our urgent calls for both sides to adhere to the humanitarian ceasefire from October 10, which they reaffirmed on October 17 and again on October 25.  We also urge both parties to immediately undertake the steps agreed on in Geneva on October 29.

We call on the sides to protect civilians and civilian objects.The large-scale displacement of civilians, including vulnerable populations such as children and elderly,  in the midst of a global pandemic and shortly before the onset of winter is almost certain to create a completely unnecessary humanitarian crisis.

We urge the sides to avoid actions that could result in the resumption of violence, to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric and actions, and to take advantage of the cessation of violence to build a lasting peace.  We urge external parties to act responsibly and to avoid taking actions that could reignite violence or further exacerbate regional tensions.

This conflict has gone on for far too long.  The toll it has taken on people in the impacted area, and in the region, is far too high.  We hope a lasting peace is within our sights.  We’re confident that the Minsk Group will stand ready to participate in bringing a lasting and permanent peace to the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Turkey offended by Pompeo’s plan to discuss religious issues

Babken Chilingarian 
Associated Press


Nov. 11, 2020

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey took offense at a U.S. statement that
said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would promote religious freedom
during an upcoming visit to Istanbul and called Wednesday on
Washington to focus on racism and hate crimes in the United States
instead.

The State Department said in a statement Tuesday that Pompeo would
travel to Istanbul to meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I,
the spiritual leader of the world’s Greek Orthodox Christians. The top
U.S. diplomat plans to discuss religious issues in Turkey and to
promote “our strong stance on religious freedom around the world,” the
statement read.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry rebuked the statement “as extremely
inappropriate,” insisting that the country protects the rights of
citizens of various faiths to freely practice their religions.

“It would be more advisable for the United States to look in the
mirror first and to show the necessary sensitivity to human rights
violations such as racism, Islamophobia and hate crimes in its own
country,” the Turkish ministry said in a statement.

“Our reaction on this matter was conveyed to the U.S. side, and it was
suggested that (Washington) focus on increasing cooperation between
our countries on regional and global issues,” the Foreign Ministry
said.

In July, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan converted Istanbul’s
landmark Haghia Sophia into a mosque, ignoring calls for the former
cathedral to be kept as a museum in recognition of the city’s
multicultural past. The move led to accusations that the Turkish
leader was trying to erase Orthodox Christians’ cultural heritage.

The structure, a United Nations world heritage site, served as one of
Christendom’s most important cathedrals before being turned into a
mosque with the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople and then into a
museum 86 years ago.

Erdogan later also announced a decision to transform the Church of the
Holy Saviour in Chora, another Byzantine-era church in Istanbul, into
a mosque as well.

Turkey is also under pressure to reopen a Greek Orthodox theological
school that was shut down in 1971.

Pompeo was not scheduled to meet with Turkish officials during a tour
that will also take him to France, Georgia, Israel, the United Arab
Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia during Nov. 13 – 23.