Author: Garik Boshkezenian

Pashinyan highlights intensification of communication between representatives of Armenia, Azerbaijan

Garik Boshkezenian

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YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. It stems from the general reality that the contacts between the representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan should be more frequent in order to be able to resolve the situation and find solutions, trying to avoid crises, ARMENPRESS reports Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said in an online press conference, answering the question why Yerevan and Baku have decided to use the platform of the Eastern Partnership for organizing the meeting, which is out of the OSCE Minsk Group format.

“Still back in summer, I stated several times that the Republic of Armenia is ready to have high and top-level meetings and negotiations with Azerbaijan within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. As you know, the foreign ministers have already had meetings in that format. We expect that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ format will also organize such a meeting. We have already announced about it in advance, we have expressed our readiness”, Pashinyan said.

Speaking about the expected meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Brussels on December 15, Pashinyan said that this is not something new, as President of the European Council  Charles Michel had proposed such an idea during a regional visit in the summer, saying that the Eastern Partnership summit will take place and suggested organizing such a meeting.

"I did not reject that idea, I accepted it, saying that we will further clarify in December. In already known circumstances, he called me and the president of Azerbaijan. We both confirmed our participation in the EaP summit and expressed readiness to meet within the framework of the summit," Pashinyan said.

Participants of rally organized by Liberation Movement march through Yerevan

Garik Boshkezenian
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 23 2021

The participates of a rally organized by the Liberation Movement initiative group at the Republic Square in downtown Yerevan on Tuesday started marching through the Armenian capital.

The demonstrators marched from Amiryan Street to Mashtots Avenue and Sayat Nova Street.

At the end of the march, the participants plan to return to the Republic Square.

"In the meantime, we give Pashinyan time to come here and answer our questions. Otherwise, we will consider it contempt towards us and will start showing our contempt from tomorrow. No one was held to account for blocking streets or breaking into universities, radio stations in 2018. Do they think that they are privileged and all these tools are only intended for them? We are following their example now," Zartonk party leader Ara Zohrabyan stated.

"Take to the streets for the soldiers defending the borders! Stand up for soldiers! I am convinced no one wants more casualties, so take to the streets!” said Karin Tonoyan, head of the opposition 5165 party.

The members of the Liberation Movement unveiled their plan to hold another rally at the Republic Square on Wednesday evening.

Asbarez: EXCLUSIVE: Human Rights Defender Discusses Current Situation on Armenia’s Borders

Garik Boshkezenian
 by Asbarez Staff

 

 November 15, 2021

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Interviews, Latest, News, Top Stories, Videos
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Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan on Monday said that the current border standoff, especially after Azerbaijan set up customs checkpoints along two main roads, violates the rights of the citizens of Armenia who reside in and around the impacted areas.

He told Asbarez Editor Ara Khachatourian, in an exclusive interview that also will air Monday at 8 p.m. on Horizon Television, that Azerbaijan’s ongoing policy of Armenophobia currently has manifested itself in using the checkpoints to isolate residents from their basic rights—food, work, medical services and commerce.

He argued that as negotiations are underway to determine the pace and process of opening the co-called communications and transport links between Armenia and Azerbaijan, blockading Armenian citizens from access to basic necessities is a violation of rights and international norms.

Tatoyan is in Los Angeles at the invitation of the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region and will serve as a keynote speaker at a luncheon on Sunday, Nov. 21 marking the 10th anniversary of the landmark ANCA Grassroots Conference. Tatoyan also will receive the ANCA-WR “Human Rights Champion” award during the luncheon. Obtain tickets. Tatoyan will also speak on a panel with other leading human rights experts on Monday, Nov. 22 at CSUN. ANCA-WR has organized this event in collaboration with the Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA School of Law, the UCLA Promise Armenian Institute, and the CSUN Armenian Studies Department.

Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan met with Asbarez’s editorial department and staff

Following the interview at Horizon studios in Little Armenia, Tatoyan visited the Asbarez offices and met with its editorial department and staff. He answered staff questions about the current post-war realities in Armenia.

He also praised Asbarez for its continued coverage of the events in Armenia and especially the newspaper’s commitment to shed light on the activities of the Human Rights Defender’s Office and its mission to protect the rights of the citizens of Armenia.

Violent Flare-Up A Reminder Of Need For Long-Term Azerbaijan-Armenia Peace – OpEd

Garik Boshkezenian
Nov 19 2021
 November 19, 2021

By Arab News

By Luke Coffey*

The one-year anniversary of the end of the Second Karabakh War between Armenia and Azerbaijan passed last week. After much indifference, dithering and disinterest from the international community, Russia finally brokered a November 2020 ceasefire agreement that stopped the fighting. The end result saw Baku liberating much of its land previously occupied by Armenia, the establishment of a small Russian peacekeeping force in the region, and a fragile situation along the Azerbaijani-Armenian border.

Since the ceasefire, much of this border has not been demarcated. So, it is not surprising that, earlier this week, renewed fighting broke out along the border. Although official details are scarce, media reports suggest that several soldiers from each side were killed, with many more wounded, in intense clashes.

It is not clear who instigated this most recent round of fighting. Renewed fighting would probably mean a bigger Russian peacekeeping presence in the region. As one of its client states, a bigger Russian presence would benefit Armenia.

Ever since last year’s war, Armenia has wanted to drag Russia into the fighting on its behalf. Many Armenians were left disappointed during the Second Karabakh War when the Collective Security Treaty Organization failed to intervene on their behalf. The CSTO is an intergovernmental security organization led by Russia. Armenia is a member and Azerbaijan is not. Despite Armenian pressure, the CSTO remained out of last year’s war. Since the fighting was taking place inside the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan, the organization said it had no obligation to assist Armenia. Now that Armenia claims its territory has been attacked during the recent clashes, it has requested CSTO assistance once again.

It is equally unclear what motivation Azerbaijan would have for a resumption of hostilities with Armenia right now. It is not in Baku’s interest to have the Russian peacekeeping force on its territory any longer than needed. More clashes along the undefined border give Moscow further justification to maintain its peacekeeping force in Azerbaijan.

Also, most of Baku’s military objectives, namely the return of occupied regions to its control, was achieved during the war last year. Since the end of hostilities, Azerbaijan has focused on rebuilding and repopulating its newly liberated territory. It is also trying to attract international investors to the region. Obviously, any breakout of hostilities could complicate, if not derail, these efforts.

Azerbaijan also has a significant security dilemma on its southern border with Iran, which makes it unlikely to want to increase military tensions with Armenia right now. The relationship between Azerbaijan and Iran has become fraught in recent years. Tehran has criticized Baku’s good relations with Israel. Meanwhile, Iran’s cozy relationship with Armenia is a constant source of concern for Azerbaijan. Last month, Iran conducted large-scale and provocative military exercises along its border with Azerbaijan, in a section that was under Armenian occupation until last year.

These maneuvers rattled policymakers in Baku.

In addition to properly delineating the Azerbaijani-Armenian border, there are two other areas of contention from the agreement that need to be addressed urgently if there is ever going to be an enduring peace.

The first issue is the establishment of the Zangezur corridor. For years, Baku has been desperate to have a direct land connection with its Nakhchivan enclave. Due to the frozen conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia prevented Azerbaijan from using its land or airspace to reach Nakhchivan. However, according to Article 9 of last year’s ceasefire agreement: “All economic and transport connections in the region shall be unblocked. The Republic of Armenia shall guarantee the security of transport connections between the western regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.”

A year later, no progress has been made on this issue and this has irked Baku.

Another issue that continues to be a big problem pertains to Article 4 of the ceasefire agreement. This states that Russian peacekeeping forces will be deployed to a rump section of Nagorno-Karabakh where a small Armenian minority resides, “concurrently with the withdrawal of the Armenian troops.” While Russian peacekeepers have arrived in the region, not all Armenian and Armenian-backed forces have withdrawn. Baku is reasonably frustrated with the lack of progress to implement this aspect of the peace agreement.

This border flare-up between Azerbaijan and Armenia is one more geopolitical challenge the broader European region is currently facing. There is a crippling political crisis in Georgia over the ongoing detention and treatment of former President Mikheil Saakashvili. Belarus has created a migrant crisis on the border with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Eastern Europe is facing a major energy crisis as winter approaches. Last week, Europe reported almost 2 million COVID-19 cases. Unbelievably, this is the most cases in a single week in Europe since the pandemic started. The last thing that the region needs is a new breakout of major fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The warning lights are flashing. The South Caucasus is on the brink of even more blood being shed. But with renewed diplomatic energy, conflict can be avoided. In the past, Armenians and Azeris traded with each other and lived peacefully together. Now is the time for the international community to build an enduring peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

• Luke Coffey is Director of the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy at the Heritage Foundation.

https://www.eurasiareview.com/19112021-violent-flare-up-a-reminder-of-need-for-long-term-azerbaijan-armenia-peace-oped/

Newspaper: Armenia opposition is forming large-scale resistance network

Garik Boshkezenian
News.am, Armenia
Nov 20 2021
09:07, 20.11.2021

YEREVAN. – Past daily of Armenia writes: According to Past newspaper’s information, the opposition is forming a large-scale resistance network throughout the country (…).

In essence, after the rally of the [opposition] "Armenia" Bloc [led by second President Robert Kocharyan] on November 8, there do not seem to be any public protests yet, but, according to the information we have, it is only the public part.

Our sources convey that an operative management headquarters has already been formed, which is having constant meetings with representatives of various political, public circles, organizations. Meetings are organized also with individual figures, including former MPs, intellectuals, specialists in various fields.

According to Past’s information, about 40 regional centers have been established in the territory of Armenia, where they are going to enroll the citizens who want to take part in the resistance.

At the same time, a large legal team has also been formed to resist and counter the authorities’ pressure, police violence.

By the way, there is talk that after the completion of the preparatory work, large-scale surprise actions of protest are not ruled out.

Armenia, Azerbaijan Reach Ceasefire After Border Clashes

Garik Boshkezenian
The National Interest
Nov 17 2021

The two sides have reached a ceasefire, calming fears that the flare-up in violence could lead to a renewed conflict, for the time being. 

by Trevor Filseth 

Following border clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan that left at least one soldier dead, the two sides have reached a ceasefire, calming fears that the flare-up in violence could lead to a renewed conflict.   

The clashes on Tuesday are the latest round of border violence between the two countries, which have opposed one another politically since their independence from the Soviet Union. The nations dispute the mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh region, which has long had an ethnic Armenian majority but belonged to Azerbaijan during the Soviet era due to a Stalin-era internal border change.

As the Soviet Union declined in the late 1980s and Moscow’s central authority waned, secessionist ethnic Armenians pushed for the territory’s reunification with Armenia, and the territory’s parliament voted to join Armenia in 1988. Although Moscow refused to permit the change, it catalyzed regional secessionism, and following the independence of the two nations, they fought a war to resolve the disputed territory’s status. Armenia eventually emerged victorious in 1994, although the region remained officially independent and did not unify with Armenia. However, in the fall of 2020, Azerbaijan struck back, initiating a six-week war from September until November, during which it decisively defeated Armenian forces and recaptured large swaths of the Armenian-occupied territory. 

The ceasefire ending the 2020 conflict was mediated by Russia, which has stationed troops in Armenia and played a key role in resolving tensions in the Caucasus. In the November 2020 settlement ending the last war, Russian peacekeeping troops were assigned to patrol the Lachin Corridor, a narrow strip of land connecting Armenia to the Republic of Artsakh, the ethnic Armenian proto-state within Nagorno-Karabakh. The corridor was briefly closed on Sunday after an unspecified incident between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces.

Russia also mediated the ceasefire ending Tuesday’s clashes, with both sides agreeing to cease hostilities at 6:30 P.M. local time, according to the Armenian defense ministry. The United Nations and the European Union had also pushed diplomatically for a ceasefire.  

Earlier reports from the day had suggested that, in addition to the death of one Armenian soldier, twelve others had been captured by Azerbaijani forces, and Armenian troops had lost control over two military positions on the two countries’ border.

It was not clear which side started the clashes, and both sides blamed each other. 

Trevor Filseth is a current and foreign affairs writer for the National Interest.

Image: Reuters

Armenia local elections: Ruling party wins in Ijevan

Garik Boshkezenian
News.am, Armenia
Nov 15 2021
00:07, 15.11.2021

The ruling Civil Contract Party (CCP) has won the local elections in Ijevan, Armenia.

According to the party, they received 80.78%, whereas the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation-ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party—a mere 5.87% of the votes in the administrative capital of Tavush Province

The CCP, led by Artur Chagharyan, and the ARF Dashnaktsutyun, led by Vahan Ghazumyan, ran in the elections in Ijevan.

Armenian Foreign Ministry silent on Mirzoyan-Bayramov meeting

Garik Boshkezenian
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 11 2021

Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov met in Paris, Azerbaijani media reported on Thursday, citing the country’s Foreign Ministry.

The talks were attended by the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office.

According to the reports, the parties exchanged views on issues related to the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

It is worth noting that the Armenian side has not released a statement on the meeting. There is no information about the Paris meeting either on the official website of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, or on its official Facebook page. The Foreign Ministry spokesperson has not made any statement either.

There is no statement on the meeting on the OSCE website as well.

3+3 format on Karabakh: The best way forward

Garik Boshkezenian
Tehran Times
Nov 6 2021
  1. Politics
November 6, 2021 – 21:37

TEHRAN – With tensions in the South Caucasus subsiding by the day, diplomatic contacts between the countries of the region take on a renewed importance in terms of avoiding misunderstanding.

Over the past few days, several meetings and phone conversations were held between officials and diplomats from the Republic of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, and Iran, marking a remarkable rise in diplomatic interactions involving the key stakeholders of the South Caucasus region.

Of all the statements resulting from these interactions, remarks by Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexei Overchuk during his visit to Armenia stood out as the most important development in the region.

Overchuk met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and discussed a number of issues, particularly the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. 

It seems that the most important issue discussed by Overchuk and Pashinyan was the opening of transit links in the region, especially those connecting Azerbaijan with the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic.

During the meeting, Pashinyan complained that “Azerbaijan is trying to impose its perceptions on the commission” tasked with following up on the statements of November 9 and January 11, which refer to the unblocking of all transport and economic ties in the region.

“Armenia should get road and railway communication routes through Azerbaijan; Azerbaijan should receive railway and road communication routes through Armenia, including one connecting Azerbaijan to the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic,” Pashinyan told Overchuk, according to ARMENPRESS.

The Russian official, in turn, pointed to the transport links in the region and said that Azerbaijan and Armenia, together with Russia, have reached a “very good understanding” of the links. 
 
Overchuk then uttered something for the first time in public: the links would be under the jurisdiction of countries using them. 

“The roads remain under the jurisdiction of the countries through which they pass,” he said. 

This has once again raised alarm bells in Tehran which has repeatedly warned that it accepts no change in the international borders in the Caucasus region.

The Russian official did not openly say that the transit links between Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan would be under the jurisdiction of Baku. But it goes without saying that Azerbaijan would be the first country to use them. So, did Overchuk mean that Armenia would give away its border with Iran? There is no clear answer yet. 

And this ambiguity is another reason for Russia, as the lead mediator in the region, to work closely with all countries involved in the Caucasus region, including Iran, which shares borders with both Azerbaijan and Armenia and is concerned that changes in Armenia’s southern border would come at an irreversible geopolitical cost for it. 

This may explain Iran’s quick diplomatic moves on Saturday to get support from the region’s stakeholders for reviving a regional platform called 3+3 format that includes Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia and their three big neighbors- Russia, Turkey, and Iran. 

The format was proposed by Russia in early October but has since been shelved. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian expressed support for the format during his Saturday phone conversations with his Russian and Azerbaijani counterparts.  

During conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Amir Abdollahian said, “Iran supports regional talks in the format of 3+3 or other formats upon which all sides agree in order to resolve the disputes in the region and to expand regional cooperation.”

He reiterated this message in the conversation with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, underlining that “Iran supports regional talks in the format of 3+3 or other formats and believes regional problems can be resolved using regional mechanisms.”

But despite the Iranian insistence, differences between Azerbaijan and Armenia are being addressed in a trilateral format rather than the 3+3 one. And the trilateral formant seems to have not ensured the interests of all the stakeholders. 

Overchuk said he held 8 meetings with his Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts, with the last meeting being held on October 22. “Based on these data, after the 8th session of the joint working group held on October 22, it seems to us that we will reach concrete solutions,” he said. 

And these solutions have apparently resulted in giving Azerbaijan full control over Iran-Armenia borders.