Author: Greg Madatian

Over 150 global humanitarian, business and political leaders demand freedom of “Armenian Prisoners”

Greg Madatian
 Guest Contributor Diaspora 0

Nobel laureates, captains of industry, former heads of state and civil society leaders unite, calling for unconditional release of ethnic Armenians illegally held in Azerbaijan; failure to release most prominent prisoners demonstrates political retribution by Baku; calls for sanctions against the Aliyev regime mounting in the U.S. Congress and the European Parliament

Nobel Prize laureates, business leaders, former heads of state and humanitarians are among the more than 100 global figures who have signed a letter calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the “Armenian Prisoners,” which includes eight Armenian political prisoners, who are former leaders of Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh’s government illegally detained following Azerbaijan’s invasion and seizure of the region in September. More than a dozen other prisoners of war arrested during the conflict also remain in custody.

The collective plea echoes growing concerns over conditions and treatment of these imprisoned individuals, including prominent Armenian businessman and humanitarian, Ruben Vardanyan. Their arrest follows a campaign of ethnic cleansing by Azerbaijani forces. While the December 7 release of 32 Armenian prisoners of war is a welcome first step, all of the others must be released. The failure of Baku to release the remaining eight political prisoners raises deep concerns over the motives by the Aliyev regime of their continued detention.

Noubar Afeyan taken at Global Innovation Forum 2022, Yerevan, Armenia (Wikimedia Commons)

“The human rights abuses witnessed in the wake of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict demand urgent attention and action,” said Noubar Afeyan, another signatory as well as the co-founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative. “President Aliyev chooses political retribution over justice. We believe in the inherent dignity and rights of every individual and call on the international community to join us in condemning this injustice.”

Afeyan has long collaborated on global and regional economic development and humanitarian projects with Vardanyan, who has become a symbol of the broader struggle for political freedom and human dignity in the region. His unjust imprisonment has galvanized some of the world’s most respected voices to champion his cause and that of others unjustly detained.

“We call on President Aliyev to fulfill his obligations to international rules and law, ensuring those unjustly imprisoned can return safely to their families,” said Paul Polman, vice chair of the United Nations Global Compact and former CEO of Unilever. “All individuals in Nagorno-Karabakh have a right to experience a life of peace and security, including the freedom to move without hindrance or the looming specter of inhuman treatment.”

Paul Polman, Vice Chair of the United Nations Global Compact and former CEO of Unilever (Wikimedia Commons)

Polman is one of the letter’s signatories, alongside former heads of state, such as Ernesto Zedillo, former President of Mexico; Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland; Oscar Arias, former President of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; and Elisha Wiesel, chairman of the board of the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity and son of the late Elie Wiesel, former co-chair of Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity. Other prominent signatories represent a wide range of sectors, including Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin; Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce; Ariana Huffington, founder of Thrive and The Huffington Post; and Serj Tankian, renowned musician and lead vocalist of System of a Down.

“The unjust detention of Ruben Vardanyan and so many others being held in Baku violates their basic human rights,” said Mary Robinson, former U.N. High Commissioner of Human Rights. “For the government of Azerbaijan to be respected in the global community, it is critical they respect the rule of law, especially in light of the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh. They must release these detainees immediately.”

Mary Robinson, former U.N. High Commissioner of Human Rights (Wikimedia Commons)

Their unified plea serves as a powerful reminder that global political leaders are closely monitoring developments in Azerbaijan and calling for the release of the detainees. As asserted in the letter issued today, December 12, the detention of Armenian prisoners is a clear violation of international norms, including the Third Geneva Convention.

In recent weeks, members of the European Parliament and European Council have pursued a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the release of all illegally held detainees arising from the conflict in Artsakh. In October, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling on Azerbaijan to release and commit to a broad amnesty for all the inhabitants of Artsakh who have been arrested since September 19, including former officials from the region. The European Parliament has also called for sanctions against the individuals in the Azerbaijani government responsible for multiple ceasefire violations and violations of human rights in Artsakh, as well as investigations into the abuses committed by Azerbaijani forces that could constitute war crimes.

Similarly, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced a resolution calling on Azerbaijan to immediately release all prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians currently detained in the years-long attack on Artsakh. The resolution also calls on U.S. President Joe Biden to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act on Azerbaijani government officials responsible for the illegal detention, torture and extrajudicial killing of Armenian prisoners of war, civilian detainees, hostages, political prisoners and others detained persons.

A full list of signatories and a copy of the letter are available at: www.FreeArmenianPrisoners.com.




Kennan [Institute] Cable No. 86: What the Resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Teaches Us

Greg Madatian
Dec 12 2023
KENNAN INSTITUTE

By Michael Keays

On September 19 and 20, the armed forces of Azerbaijan advanced on Nagorno-Karabakh, ending, within 24 hours, a so-called “frozen” conflict, the origins of which hearken back to 1988.[1] The war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over this mountainous territory in 1992–94, and the subsequent stalemate, punctuated by several flashes of violence, led to over 30,000 casualties on both sides and the forced internal migration of over a million Azerbaijanis. The recent flight of over 100,000 ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh into Armenia has put additional stress on that country. While such conflicts rarely end quickly and neatly—it will take decades to tie up loose threads—there are already some lessons we can learn from the conflict.

Lessons from the Conflict

Multilateral efforts to resolve conflict are important. They conveyed to the leaders of the conflicting parties that the world and regional powers were watching and would hold them accountable. A negotiated resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was added to various governments’ foreign policy goals. Regular visits to the conflicting parties served to discourage or delay any military planning. The groups of leaders and officials from the conflicting parties in Nagorno-Karabakh were relatively small and challenged with many issues at the same time, so whenever they had to deal with special negotiators from the U.S., Russia, France, and other countries, they had to put down what they were doing at the time.

Michael Keays (far right) in Stepanakert/Khankendi, with U.S., Russian, and French peace process negotiators, September 1998.
IMAGE CREDIT

The interest and involvement of several countries in the region ensured that the conflict would not fade away and be forgotten; this is a feature of human behavior often referred to as “compassion fatigue.” Consider the fact that, as of this article’s publication, over 50 conflicts are currently active in the world—and that number doesn’t consider non-state conflicts. Counting those, the number is well over 80. Most of these are in Africa, and coverage of them in the mainstream media is rare.[2] In the U.S., what should have been an obscure conflict occasionally received press coverage so that Americans beyond just the Armenian diaspora knew about it. Public interest tends to have an impact on whether governments make an issue a priority or not.

“Frozen” conflicts can flash at any moment. This is true especially if mediators are distracted. Back in the late 1990s, there was a view that someday, Azerbaijan would probably retake the Nagorno-Karabakh region by force with a modern, appropriately sized army purchased with oil money. This concern was allayed by the sense that the conflict would have to be resolved before oil from the region could get out to Western markets, something that seemed distant. That sense of distance fell apart when the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline was opened in 2006.[3] Once the oil started flowing, Azerbaijan’s financial situation improved, and, not surprisingly, the country started working on building up its military capabilities. Seventeen years later, it found itself in a position to try to retake Nagorno-Karabakh militarily. It helped that it not only had the means but had the space, in the sense that Russia and the U.S. were focused on Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine. What was considered by many experts a “frozen” conflict suddenly became hot, and then ended even more suddenly. The military resolution of the situation also reminds us that seemingly endless conflicts can actually end. Nagorno-Karabakh has gone the way of Tamil Tiger-occupied Sri Lanka, a conflict which also appeared irresolvable until 2009.[4]

Money talks, and who your friends are matters. Azerbaijan slowly built up its army with the intent of taking back Armenian-occupied areas surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh and the region itself. Azerbaijan’s defense spending grew dramatically starting in 2004, from $144 million in 2003 to $1.2 billion in 2008. In January 2009, Azerbaijan claimed it would increase its defense spending to $2.3 billion. It could do that because its economy was growing at an unprecedented rate. Smart spending is as important as being able to outspend your opponent. While Azerbaijan’s armed forces decreased in terms of personnel from 2007 to 2019, its quality increased significantly, primarily due to assistance received from Turkey and Israel, but also the U.S. 

                                          Azerbaijan Armed Forces
                                    2007[5]                       2019[6]
Army:                          85,000                         56,000
Air Force:                   8,000                            8,500
Navy:                          2,000                            2,500
Total personnel:       95,000                          67,000

In a war of attrition, numbers are significant, but in this case, the capabilities edge on the Azerbaijan side—largely due to training, military exercises, and technological force multipliers—proved to be the winning factor, even as it was on the offense and had to fight uphill. Turkey has been heavily involved in the modernization of Azerbaijan’s military since 1992, and it started providing Azerbaijan more robust professional military education and access to joint training and exercises in 2010.[7] Israel also played a key role in Azerbaijan’s military modernization. In 2012, Azerbaijan purchased $1.6 billion worth of weapons from Israeli Aerospace Industries, an additional $5 billion worth of weapons in 2016, and another $127 million worth of weapons in 2017.[8] Most of the purchases consisted of unmanned aircraft and satellite technology to improve battlespace awareness for the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. 

All of this proved critical to Azerbaijan’s victories on the battlefield in the fall of 2020, and then its retaking of Nagorno-Karabakh in September of this year. This also revealed the substantial weakness of Nagorno-Karabakh's defense forces and Armenia’s political and logistical ties. Russia, Iran, and the worldwide Armenian diaspora—Armenia’s allies and supporters and, through it, supporters of Nagorno-Karabakh—proved incapable of defending those trying to tear the region away from Azerbaijan. The wealth and generosity of your allies matter, and in this case, Azerbaijan had the better, more capable allies. President Ilham Aliyev has demonstrated that he is not as weak as observers once worried he was after the 2003 death of his father, Heydar Aliyev. Azerbaijan’s security and negotiating position are much improved now.

Occupying another country’s land is costly and usually ends badly. Armenia had external support from its wealthy and politically influential diasporas located in the U.S. and France, among other places. These communities did a lot to keep up the dream of an independent so-called Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (“Artsakh,” according to Armenians) alive—even at one point by financing the construction of an impressive highway linking Yerevan with Stepanakert/Khankendi—but enthusiasm, the leveraging of sympathetic politicians in important countries, and money to build roads and churches rarely change the conditions on the ground that matter in warfare. In fact, these factors can intensify the desire of refugees and internally displaced people to return to their homeland, and push for the chance to do so. 

Immediate Lessons

Beyond the key takeaways above, we should consider three more ideas as we reflect on Azerbaijan’s recent military operation in its Nagorno-Karabakh region.

First, this is an opportunity for the U.S. and allies to reach out to Armenia to help it to process what just happened and support the displaced. Russia and its peacekeepers standing between the Azerbaijanis and the Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians clearly failed to stop Azerbaijan’s offensive. Russia and Iran are increasingly becoming pariah states, given their aggression against Ukraine and Israel, respectively. They are on self-defeating trajectories. Armenia should be encouraged to further orient itself westward.

Second, the inaction of Russia’s peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh as Azerbaijani forces advanced might suggest to outside observers that Russia is distracted and stretched to the limits by Ukraine. In other words, Russia’s ongoing occupation of parts of Georgia (Abkhazia, South Ossetia) and its troops in Transnistria without the government of Moldova’s consent, while long-standing, might be worth pushing against, as Russia may not be as strong as we have long believed. At least it could be perceived that way after what just transpired in Azerbaijan. This bears further analysis. 

In the meantime, if the U.S. and other Western countries have not yet done so, they might consider cautioning the Moldovans and Georgians not to test Russian resolve, given Mr. Putin’s likely, unpredictable, and escalatory reaction to a testing of perceived Russian vulnerability. And the U.S. and others should keep an eye on Transnistria and the occupied territories Russia has been expanding in Georgia. Several recent and upcoming events concerning Moldova could provoke incidents, including the November 5 local elections, the potential parliamentary approval of Moldova’s National Security Strategy (which lists Russia as its main external threat), the EU’s decision about whether formal accession talks with Moldova can begin, and the renewal or expiration of the OSCE mandate in Moldova by the end of the year. It is worth remembering that Moldova is neither a member of NATO nor the EU and is not far from the Ukrainian port city of Odesa. Russia has been repeatedly targeting Odesa with missiles and drones, possibly as part of a larger effort to take Ukraine’s entire Black Sea coast and link Russia up with Transnistria to Ukraine’s west.

Third, if the U.S. and its allies and partners have not yet done so, they should make it clear to Azerbaijan that they will be watching them in the post-conflict period. As the saying goes, they should “trust but verify.” They should also warn Azerbaijan not to take military action to establish a land bridge between Azerbaijan proper and the exclave of Nakhchevan, an act which would require the seizure of Armenian territory.

Michael C. Keays is a senior diplomatic fellow at the Kennan Institute of the Wilson Center. While the author is on detail from the State Department to the Kennan Institute, the views are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. government or the Wilson Center.

[1] Vladimir Solovyov, “Azerbaijani Control of Nagorno-Karabakh Will Not Stop Conflict in the South Caucasus,” Carnegie Politika, September 28, 2023, https://carnegieendowment.org/politika/90655

[2] Anna Marie Obermeier and Siri Aas Rustad, Conflict Trends: A Global Overview, 1946–2022 (Oslo, Norway: Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2023), https://reliefweb.int/report/world/conflict-trends-global-overview-1946-2022#:~:text=Despite%20the%20increase%20in%20battle,in%2038%20conflict%2Daffected%20countries

[3] bp Azerbaijan (website), “Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline,” https://www.bp.com/en_az/azerbaijan/home/who-we-are/operationsprojects/pipelines/btc.html

[4] Jayshree Bajoria, “The Sri Lankan Conflict,” Council on Foreign Relations, updated May 18, 2009, https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/sri-lankan-conflict

[5] GlobalSecurity.org (website), “Azerbaijan—Introduction,” https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/azerbaijan/intro.htm

[6] Edward J. Erickson, “The 44-Day War in Nagorno-Karabakh: Turkish Drone Success or Operational Art?” Military Review, August 2021, https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Military-Review/Online-Exclusive/2021-OLE/Erickson/

[7] Haldun Yalçınkaya, “Turkey’s Overlooked Role in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War,” GMF (German Marshall Fund), January 21, 2021, https://www.gmfus.org/news/turkeys-overlooked-role-second-nagorno-karabakh-war

[8] Erickson, “The 44-Day War.” 

https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/kennan-cable-no-86-what-resolution-nagorno-karabakh-conflict-teaches-us

The California Courier Online, December 14, 2023

Greg Madatian

The California
Courier Online, December 14, 2023

 

1-         Armenian
Government Adds Unnecessary

            Burdens on Already Suffering Artsakhtsis

            By Harut
Sassounian

            Publisher, California Courier

            www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

2-         Cologne, Germany
removes Monument to Genocide

3-         Israel to Sell Updated Air Defense System,
Satellites to Azerbaijan

4-         People to be
allowed to freely carry weapons in Armenia

 

************************************************************************************************************************************************

 

1-         Armenian
Government Adds Unnecessary

            Burdens on
already Suffering Artsakhtsis

            By Harut
Sassounian

            Publisher, California Courier

            www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

 

As if the problems of displaced Artsakh Armenians were not
bad enough, given their forced departure from their native land and the
subsequent hardships faced by lack of housing, food, medicines and other
essential items after their arrival in Armenia, the government is now
creating more unnecessary difficulties for them.

Artsakh Armenians, who have been citizens of Armenia for a long time, are suddenly told by
the Armenian government that they are not citizens of Armenia, even though they possess passports
issued by the Republic
of Armenia. Many Artsakh
Armenians have used their Armenian passports for years to travel to foreign
countries without any problems, which means that the authorities in Armenia and
other countries accepted their passports as genuine Armenian passports. How is
it possible that Artsakhtsis were citizens of Armenia
while living in Artsakh, but not after they arrived in Armenia?

To make matters more confusing, the government of Armenia is now telling Artsakh Armenians that
since they are not citizens of Armenia,
they may apply for Armenian citizenship in the future. This is complete
nonsense. How can a citizen of Armenia
apply a second time for citizenship? If I, as a US citizen, apply for US
citizenship for the second time, American government officials will treat me as
a fool and show me the door.

I believe that the Armenian government, led by Prime
Minister Nikol Pashinyan, has a hidden agenda in treating Artsakh Armenians as
non-citizens. He wants to make sure that during future elections in Armenia, Artsakh Armenians will be unable to
vote, knowing that many of them will not vote for his political party’s
candidates, since Pashinyan is the one who handed Artsakh to Azerbaijan. We
now have the additional evidence that the country’s leader is not only
incompetent, but also violates the country’s laws for political gain. This is
confirmed by the Interior Ministry’s declaration: “A person with refugee status
does not have the right to vote and be elected in national elections.”

Last week, the Republic
of Armenia’s Ministry of Interior
issued a statement in the format of “answers to frequently asked questions by
forcibly displaced citizens of the Republic
of Artsakh.” In this
first sentence, there is already an error. Artsakh Armenians are citizens of Armenia, not citizens of Artsakh or Azerbaijan.

The Ministry tried to entice Artsakh Armenians to accept
their refugee status, telling them that those who have the status of a refugee
have no obligation to serve in the armed forces of Armenia. In other words, Artsakh
Armenians, who must serve in Armenia’s
armed forces as citizens of Armenia,
are wrongly exempted from military service, in violation of Armenian law.

The Ministry also stated that as refugees, Artsakh Armenians
have no right to own agricultural land. This provision deprives them of the
ability to grow food on their own plot of land, since they do not have the
necessary funds to purchase food.

The Ministry then stated that refugees cannot travel to a
foreign country. This is also false, as Artsakh Armenians with their Armenian
passports can travel to any country after obtaining a visa, if one is required.
Some countries like Russia
do not require a visa from Armenian citizens. Thousands of Artsakh Armenians
have already left Armenia
simply by showing their Armenian passports which means that both Armenia and
other countries have recognized their passports as legitimate documents.

The Ministry then contradicted itself by stating that
“should a refugee’s passport expire, it can be renewed by presenting two photos
and the expired passport.” How can Artsakh Armenians renew their passports in Armenia, if
they are not Armenian citizens and do not hold Armenian passports?

In a further contradiction, the Ministry stated that those
Artsakh Armenians who become Armenian citizens do not lose their ability to benefit
from social assistance programs for refugees. The only requirement is that they
be classified as ‘displaced.’ If they do not jeopardize their right to receive
assistance after becoming citizens of Armenia, why are they classified as
refugees and not recognized as citizens?

Incredibly, after giving away Artsakh and repressing the
rights of Artsakh Armenians to pursue any political activity in Armenia on
behalf of Artsakh, the Ministry of Interior stated that their losses of
property in Artsakh “does not disappear or cease to exist as a result of a
change in a person’s legal status,” meaning acquiring citizenship of Armenia.
It remains to be seen if the Armenian government, beyond mere words, will be
willing to file lawsuits in international courts to defend the property rights
of Artsakh Armenians.

Artsakh Armeniams, who are citizens of Armenia, have
suffered more than enough. They should not be burdened with such unnecessary
bureaucratic nonsense.

************************************************************************************************************************************************
2-         Cologne,
Germany
removes Monument to Genocide

 

By Jerome Wnuk

 

(Apollo News)—The monument to the Armenian genocide in Cologne, Germany
has been repeatedly erected and dismantled over the years. Sometime, the city
had the statue removed on the grounds that a cycle path was to be built and
sometimes for fear of “social upheaval”. After a march by Turkish nationalists,
including supporters of the far-right Grey Wolves and DITIB associations, at
the end of October, the city finally decided that the memorial should be
removed.

The memorial was erected in Cologne in 2018 to commemorate the victims of
the Armenian genocide between 1915 and 1918. At that time, 1.5 million Armenians
were murdered in massacres and death marches under the responsibility of the
Young Turk government of the Ottoman Empire,
which was formed by the Committee for Unity and Progress. For international
historians, the genocide is indisputable, but Turkey does not recognize the
crime.

Since its inauguration next to the Kaiser Wilhelm equestrian
statue, the memorial of the “Remember Genocide” initiative has repeatedly
caused disputes with Turkish nationalists, who have successfully put pressure
on the city. Following protests, the memorial was repeatedly removed by the
city and rebuilt by activists from the initiative – although the city’s reasons
for not granting the memorial permission and removing it often varied from time
to time.

For example, Cologne’s
mayor Reker recently justified herself with the “diverse interests of our
pluralistic urban society”, which had to be taken into account. However, this
did not stop the “Remember Genocide” initiative from putting the sculpture back
up in the city center on April 24 this year, Remembrance Day. The city then
issued a special use permit until May 24. However, this was not sufficient for
the campaign and they filed a legal complaint.

In addition to denying the genocide against the Armenians,
the Turkish participants in the demonstration did not distance themselves from
the atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel and even denied them. The
chairman of the youth organization “Fatherland Party” spoke to public
broadcaster WDR about the right of Palestinians to defend themselves,
explicitly including Hamas terror.

Just weeks later, the city council decided to finally
abolish the “This pain affects us all” memorial at the end of 2023. Instead, a
new memorial is to be erected to “commemorate the victims of oppression,
racism, violence and human rights violations”. At its meeting on December 7,
the city council decided on the funding for a dialogue process in which a new
memorial is to be developed. This process is expected to take two years and
cost up to 350,000 euros, according to the Kölner Stadtanzeiger.

For the Turkish right-wing extremists, who have been
fighting against the memorial for years, the Cologne city government’s caving in is a
complete success. On Facebook, nationalists euphorically wrote: “The defamation
monument will now be removed. We congratulate the Cologne city council on their decision in
favor of justice!”

This is not the first time that political pressure from
Turkish nationalists or diplomats in Germany
has led to success: in 2005, Brandenburg
removed the topic of the Armenian genocide from the curriculum due to the
intervention of Turkish diplomats. In 2011, the University
of Stuttgart refused to allow a
lecture on the genocide due to Turkish “protests from Berlin”—the university stated that it wanted
to “remain neutral”.

In 2014, due to protests against a play by Edgar Hilsenrath
which deals with the genocide, the event poster at the theatre in Constance was taken down and a statement from the Turkish
consul was read out before each performance. The premiere had to take place
under police protection.

************************************************************************************************************************************************
3-         Israel
to Sell Updated Air Defense System, Satellites to Azerbaijan

 

By Vahe Sarukhanyan

 

(Hetq.am)—As reported by Defence Industry Europe some months
ago, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) performed a successful demonstration of
the Barak MX systems in Azerbaijan.

The Barak MX can deploy missiles with a range of 35, 70 and
150 km against air targets. Each launcher holds eight missiles. The weapon can
be used both at sea and on land. Moreover, the land version can be stationary,
transportable or mobile (self-propelled). Targets of this anti-aircraft system
include fighters, helicopters, cruise and tactical ballistic missiles, drones
and guided bombs.

Systems of the Barak (Hebrew for lightning) family are not
new to the armed forces of Azerbaijan.
In 2012 Azerbaijan
signed a $1.6 billion contract with IAI, which was supposed to supply drones
and the newest air defense systems. As part of this deal, in 2016, Israel
delivered the Barak 8 system and its missiles. According to information, the
Barak 8 launcher used by Azerbaijan
is mounted on the chassis of the Belarusian MZKT-7301 truck, that is, it is a
mobile weapon.

Defense analyst Leonid Nersisyan tells Hetq that the Barak
MX is a suitable option for the Azerbaijani army, because it has been using
these systems for a long time and has appropriate specialists operating the
weapon. It is easy to integrate the Barak MX into the management system of the
Azerbaijani armed forces.

“This weapon can use air defense missiles against different
targets, for example, with a 150 km range missile, which is expensive, to hit
high-priority targets, or with a cheaper 35 km range missile to hit targets
that are slow moving or nearby,” says Nersisyan.

The Barak MX is also applicable against tactical ballistic
missiles. The Russian Iskander is a tactical ballistic system in Armenia’s
arsenal.

Baku’s acquisition of the
Barak MX system is not the only result of the cooperation between Azerbaijan and
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). IAI supplies Azerbaijan with “kamikaze” type
Harop drones, LORA tactical ballistic systems, and LAHAT anti-tank missiles.

In the spring of this year, it was revealed that IAI will
sell two monitoring space satellites to Azerbaijan.

In June 2014, the European Airbus Defense and Space company
launched the SPOT 7 satellite from the territory of India.
It was acquired by Azerbaijan
in December of the same year and renamed Azersky. According to Azerbaijan, the
satellite had a wide range of applications: defense, security, response to
emergency situations, natural resources reconnaissance, maritime observation,
environmental protection, urban planning, mapping, agriculture, tourism, etc.

After acquiring the satellite, Baku announced the Azersky project cost 157
million euros. 

On October 15, 2020, as the war raged on in Karabakh, the
French L’Obs newspaper wrote that although Azersky was exclusively for
monitoring Baku’s
oil and gas fields, in fact it also works in the field of defense and security.
The French periodical noted that this civilian satellite allows Baku to remotely oversee
operations against Armenians. Ilham Aliyev also confirmed this claim in
February 2021.

In fact, when the European-made Azersky (SPOT 7) got out of
control (the communication with Azersky was cut off), Azerbaijan turned to Israel for help. The Israeli Globes
wrote that in this case it is about IAI’s OptSat 500 observer satellites.

According to IAI data, these satellites take pictures in
panchromatic, multispectral (RGB+NIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectrums.
The resolution of the images is 0.4 m or 40 cm, which exceeds the indicators of
Azersky (1,5 m for panchromatic and 6 m for multispectral pictures). The
lifetime of OptSat 500 satellites is seven years.

“These satellites are a very important purchase for Azerbaijan,”
says Nersisyan. “The resolution is quite good. There are commercial satellites
of this level from which you can order pictures. The best commercial satellites
are the Maxar ones, whose resolution is 0.3 m, but it’s one thing to order and
another thing is to have two of your own and have the opportunity to photograph
whatever you want.”

Armenia
also has its own observing satellite, which was sent into Earth’s orbit on May
25, 2022, from the USA.
The Spanish-made satellite, which received the name ARMSAT_1, takes
multispectral (RGB+NIR) pictures, and the resolution of the pictures is 1.8 m,
which is a weaker indicator than Azersky and the Israeli OptSat 500.

“The observation satellites are for optical reconnaissance,”
says Nersisyan. “With a resolution of 40 cm, you can’t see people, but you can
see a tank, a car, various military objects, positions quite well. Constantly
taking pictures can give Azerbaijan
quite a lot of information not only about the Armenian army, but also about
other strategic areas.”

The satellites to be acquired by Azerbaijan still need to be manufactured.
According to Globes, until then IAI must conduct satellite technology and
operation courses for Azerbaijanis.

According to Azerbaijani media, IAI will take over the
design, assembly, integration and testing of the first of the OptSat 500 satellites,
involving Azerbaijani specialists.

Furthermore, the Israelis will also help the Azercosmos
agency in designing a new center for the preparation of satellites in Azerbaijan.
Globes has reported that Azercosmos plans a long-term cooperation deal with IAI
that includes the creation of innovative and entrepreneurial centers in the
field of space activities in Azerbaijan, academic training in space
technologies, as well as the opening of a joint business center.

Summarizing Israeli military purchases by Azerbaijan, Leonid Nersisyan says that the
continuous cargo flights between the two countries show that in addition to the
supply of Barak MX and satellites, there are other contracts, which, however, Azerbaijan does
not publicize.

Nersisyan points out that, contrary to before the 2020 war, Azerbaijan now doesn’t speak much about its
military purchases of pro-Armenian bias and proposed direct negotiations with Yerevan.

 

**********************************************************************************************************************************************

4-         People to be
allowed to freely carry weapons in Armenia’

 

(News.am)—In Armenia,
it is necessary to regulate at the legislative level the issue of citizens’
right to self-defense by using weapons. This was announced by Vilen Gabrielyan,
an MP of the ruling Civil Contract Faction and author of the package of bills
on making amendments and addenda to the Law on Arms Traffic Regulation, during
the debates on this law initiative at a meeting on December 4 of the Standing
Committee on Defense and Security of the National Assembly of Armenia.

According to the lawmaker, this submitted package is aimed
at eliminating possible manifestations of corruption in this domain in Armenia,
reducing the number of illegal weapons, and gradually withdrawing them from
illegal circulation in the country.

“Citizens of the country, in particular, will get the right
to carry firearms if they fulfill a number of requirements, including mental
stability, the presence of an appropriate license, etc.,” explained the MP.

It was noted that the adoption of this package of draft laws
will contribute also to the development of hunting, amateur and sports
shooting, as well as military training in Armenia.

In turn, Armen Khachatryan, deputy chairman of the aforesaid
committee and the related rapporteur, emphasized the adoption of the
legislative package, and called on his colleagues to vote in favor.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan
presented the positive position of the Armenian government regarding this
package of bills. She highlighted their joint work with the creator regarding
the package.

And as a result of the debates, this law package was
approved by the Standing Committee on Defense and Security.

The most recent gun law in Armenia was adopted on October 5,
2022. The Law “On Regulation of Firearms Circulation”—on the acquisition of
arms, and the sale and circulation of military products—was adopted by Armenia’s
National Assembly, and was expected to improve gun control measures and
regulate the circulation of weapons and munitions.

The law came into force six months after the adoption date.
Prior to this law, gun control measures had not been changed since 1998.

“On Regulation of Firearms Circulation” specified three
types of firearms that can be purchased by Armenian citizens: Long-barreled
firearms (grooved or smoothbore firearms); Combination firearms (barreled and
smoothbore), including interchangeable, insertable grooved barrels; and Long
barreled firearms (firearms with a barrel length not exceeding 1500 mm and
caliber not exceeding 12.7 mm).

Article 15 of the law defined the right of Armenian citizens
to acquire a weapon. After gaining permission from the police, any person 21
years and older could purchase a combination or long-barreled firearm
(shotgun). The firearm must be registered with the Police within five working
days after its purchase. Being a member of a hunting association and owning a
combination firearm for five years would no longer be a requirement for
purchasing a weapon.

According to the 1998 law, an Armenian citizen could have
owned a maximum of eight firearms—up to three rifles and five shotguns. The
2022 law made it possible for a citizen to acquire 10 units of civilian weapons
with a permit to keep and carry them.

Supporters of the 2022 law believed that weapons should be
more accessible to ordinary citizens for self-defense purposes. According to
them, this does not mean people should be armed while walking down the street
or protecting themselves from their neighbors.

At the time, supporters said that it was a recognition that Armenia is in a
state of war and it is vital for its reservists to be combat-ready and in
fighting condition. The 2022 law stipulated that a citizen who is a first-time
purchaser of a civilian weapon is required to undergo a short-term training
course on gun safety rules in weapon’s training NGOs authorized by the
government and to obtain a certificate. The police determine how the training
is to be conducted.

Opponents of the 2022 law objected that it would pose undue
expense and delays on the purchase of weapons.

According to the 1998 law, in order to obtain a permit to
purchase a weapon, a citizen had to submit a medical report to the police about
health issues that would prevent the possession of weapons, such as visual
impairment, mental illness, alcoholism or drug addiction.

The medical report is issued by a polyclinic based on
medical inspections made by a medical committee. If the polyclinic does not
provide psychiatric and narcotic medical care and services, then the citizen
has to submit a medical document to the polyclinic issued by medical
institutions that provide psychiatric and narcotic medical care and services.

These documents are better known as “narco” and “psycho”
certificates. Prior to August 2022, the fee for these certificates was 3000
AMD. In August 2022, the fees increased to 20,000 AMD.

These certificates were only valid for one month; a medical
certificate was required for every time a weapon was purchased. Other one-time
fees were also assessed for each gun.

“This should not be allowed. They are making guns for the
rich again,” Ishkhan Gevorgyan, Chair of the Board of Azatazen (an NGO that
also offers military training for civilians) said in 2022 when the new law was
passed.

 

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Shanghai honors 50 expats with prestigious Magnolia Silver Award for 2023

Greg Madatian
Global Times, China
Dec 4 2023
By 

Huang Lanlan

 in Shanghai

Fifty foreign nationals in Shanghai were honored with this year's Magnolia Silver Award, an award specifically honoring expatriates in Shanghai for their contributions to the city. 

This year, the award winners are from 15 countries and are engaged in various fields including economy and trade, finance, science and technology, shipping, education, medical care, and culture, as introduced by Kong Fu'an, director-general of the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, on Sunday. 

With their talent, passion, and dedication, they have contributed to the openness, vitality, prosperity, and progress of Shanghai, making the city a better place, Kong said in a speech he delivered at the award's presentation ceremony in downtown Shanghai on Sunday.

Each of the award winners has moving stories that contain expatriates' sense of belonging, integration, and love for the city of Shanghai, he added. 

In his speech, Kong cited four of the winners' connections with and contributions to Shanghai. They included Alexander Rhys Gregg-Smith, the Senior Vice President of Bureau Veritas (BV) Group and the Chief Executive of BV Marine & Offshore North Asia and China.

The Port of Shanghai, the world's busiest container port, has been at the forefront of the development of the whole of China and driving global trade, Gregg-Smith said in a speech he delivered at the ceremony on behalf of all the award recipients. "The rapid development of Shanghai provides us with a vast stage," he said. 

Speaking of himself, Gregg-Smith mentioned that he has lived and worked in many countries and cities around the world, but his love for Shanghai is deeply embedded in his heart. "It is not just a place for work; it is my spiritual home." 

For him, the award is more than a mere medal or title, "it is a symbol of the enthusiastic support and warm welcome consistently felt in this truly international megacity," Gregg-Smith added. 

Ahead of the ceremony on Sunday, Gregg-Smith shared with the Global Times his excitement about winning the award. "It's a great pride and honor to me. It's fantastic to be recognized," he said. 

Gregg-Smith mentioned that he and his colleagues now have many dealings with the Shanghai government, working on assisting the shipbuilding and international shipping in this city. 

Gregg-Smith was one of the many expats who witnessed the rapid development of Shanghai over the decades. "My first time in China was in 1998, and between 1998 and 2023, the GDP of Shanghai has increased some 10 times," he told the Global Times. "So at least for me, it is the number one city. I'm really happy to be here and [to witness] these years' exciting developments." 

Astrid Poghosyan, who works at the development department of Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, is one of the youngest winners of the award this year. 

The award not only shows Shanghai's appreciation to those who make significant contributions to the city's development but also embodies its recognition and encouragement for the international young people who make efforts in pursuing their dreams in China, Poghosyan said to the Global Times on Sunday. 

Coming to Shanghai at the age of 16, Poghosyan, now 30, said that over the years she has well integrated herself into this city, from professional work to daily life, as well as community voluntary services. 

"I've been here for 14 years," she told the Global Times in fluent Putonghua. "I grew up here, and most of my friends are Chinese. I'm an expat from appearance, but I have a very 'Chinese heart.'" 

Shanghai began honoring expatriates in 1989 with the Magnolia Silver Award and added the gold award and honorary citizenship to the system in 1992 and 1997, respectively, according to the official website of the municipal government. These awards have honored more than 1,827 foreigners in the past 34 years.


Congressional Armenian Staff Association thanks U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo

Greg Madatian
 Guest Contributor Diaspora 0

Rep. Anna Eshoo

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Congressional Armenian Staff Association (CASA) Executive Board issued the following statement upon the announcement by Armenian-American U.S. Representative Anna Eshoo (CA-16) that she will retire at the end of the 118th Congress:

“We would like to extend our gratitude to Congresswoman Anna Eshoo for her decades-long public service and leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives. In addition to fighting for issues of importance to Armenian-Americans—including U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, improving U.S.-Armenia relations and advocating for the human rights of Artsakh’s Armenians—she has also been a beacon of empowerment and mentor to those around her.

“She was an active member of the Democratic Party leadership, worked in the California State Legislature, and served as a San Mateo County Supervisor as well as a member of Congress where she ascended to positions of great leadership and influence. As such, she was a reminder to all Armenian-Americans that they belong in America’s centers of power and can contribute as servant leaders at all levels of government.

“We wish Congresswoman Eshoo all the best in her future endeavors and hope that other Armenian-Americans will follow in her footsteps on Capitol Hill.”

The Congressional Armenian Staff Association is a non-partisan, bicameral congressional staff organization recognized by the U.S. House Committee on House Administration. CASA aims to recruit, retain and advance Armenian American staffers in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and is dedicated to encouraging career development and increasing opportunities for its members.




Armenian Carpet Weaving courses to be held in Warsaw Royal Castle

Greg Madatian

 12:47,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The official opening ceremony of the educational and cultural program “Armenian Carpet Weaving master class in Poland” took place in the carpet hall of the Warsaw Royal Castle.

This initiative is made possible through the financial support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport and with the initiative of Museum of Folk Arts named after Hovhannes Sharambeyan, in cooperation with Warsaw Royal Castle and the Polish-Armenian Fund, the commissioner of diaspora affairs in Poland and under the auspices of the Embassy of Armenia in Poland.

Within the context of the program, the masters of the Museum of Folk Arts named after Hovhannes Sharambeyan will hold carpet weaving trainings available for different age groups.

The event was attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Poland Alexander Arzoumanian, spiritual pastor of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Poland Fr. Minas Hakhverdyan, Armenian Honorary Consul in Lodz Rafal Choma, Commissioner of Diaspora Affairs in Poland Diana Hovakimyan and also the representatives of the Armenian community.  

The coordinator of the Warsaw Royal Castle-Museum Agnieszka Jedrzejewska-Kurek presented the exclusive carpet collection of the “Tereza Sahakyan” foundation. Agnieszka Jedrzejewska-Kurek presented the history of the collection and emphasized the importance of holding educational programs in Poland.

Welcoming the attendees, Gayane Aslanyan, Deputy Director of the Museum of Folk Arts, underscored the primary objective of the program; the promotion of intangible cultural heritage, with a specific focus on carpet weaving, and fostering awareness about the cultural heritage within the Armenian community in Poland.

Iraqi president in Armenia to strengthen cooperation

Greg Madatian

 12:48, 22 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. President of Iraq Abdul Latif Rashid said his visit to Armenia is aimed at strengthening the cooperation in the political, cultural, economic and tourism sectors.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan, the Iraqi president described his visit to Armenia as a ‘historic’ trip.

“This is the first visit by an Iraqi president to Armenia, that’s why I consider this to be a historic visit. I am grateful to Armenia for the hospitality and warm reception,” the Iraqi president said.

He said that Armenia and Iraq have very strong geographic, cultural and social ties. “We are proud of the Armenian community of Iraq. Their coexistence with the Iraqi people comes from very early times,” President Abdul Latif Rashid said. 

The Iraqi president said his country is now addressing the reforms of the service sector and it needs support from the international community, including from friendly countries like Armenia.

He said that there is great potential for trade cooperation with Armenia. The president also called for establishing direct air connection between Armenia and Iraq to contribute to an increase in mutual visits.

Arayik Harutyunyan receives the regional director of the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency

Greg Madatian

 19:02,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan received the delegation led by Barbara Boeni Slaats, Regional Head of Cooperation South Caucasus at Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

At the meeting, reference was made to the humanitarian problems of our compatriots forcibly displaced from Nagorno Karabakh and the programs implemented by the Armenian government in that direction, the press service of the Government said.

Arayik Harutyunyan highly appreciated the support provided by Switzerland to the Armenian Government related to both the problems of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh and to the ongoing reforms implemented by the Government.

An agreement was reached to continue cooperation on the reform agenda, in particular, the Public Administration Reform (PAR) strategy.

The Chief of the Prime Minister’s Staff emphasized that the priority of participatory management of the PAR strategy is one of the important directions, as it will improve the involvement of civil society in decision-making.

B. Slaats noted that bilateral programs with the Armenian government are progressing successfully and they are ready to cooperate in the direction of other development programs in Armenia.

Russian MFA says Armenian decision to skip CSTO events doesn’t meet national interests

Greg Madatian
TASS, Russia
Nov 22 2023
Maria Zakharova said Armenia is not going to stymie the work of the CSTO's statutory bodies or prevent the approval of documents that have already been agreed

MOSCOW, November 22. /TASS/. Yerevan's decision to skip the events of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in Minsk from November 22-23 does not meet the interests of the Armenian people, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

"The decision of the Armenian leadership not to participate in the joint session of the abovementioned organizations, we are talking about the formats of the Council of Foreign Ministers, the Council of Defense Ministers, the Committee of Security Councils Secretaries on November 22 and the session of the CSTO Collective Security Council on November 23, is certainly regrettable. We do not believe that it meets the long-term interests of the Armenian people and will contribute to the strengthening of security and stability of this friendly country," she said at a news conference.

Zakharova said Armenia is not going to stymie the work of the CSTO's statutory bodies or prevent the approval of documents that have already been agreed.

"This essentially leaves the door open for Yerevan and allows it to join the work in the future, and we hope that Armenian allies will use this opportunity in the not too distant future," she went on to say.

Amid peace treaty struggles, Armenia submits another draft proposal to Azerbaijan

Greg Madatian
 Hoory Minoyan News 0

YEREVAN—Armenia submitted a sixth proposal for a draft peace agreement to Azerbaijan on November 21, the Armenian Foreign Ministry announced. 

“Armenia remains committed to conclude and sign a document on normalization of relations based on previously announced principles,” the Armenian Foreign Ministry said. The proposal coincided with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s public declaration that he is committed to intensifying efforts to sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan.

While addressing the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on November 18, PM Pashinyan highlighted the progress made during trilateral meetings facilitated by European Council president Charles Michel in Brussels. He specifically mentioned that three fundamental principles of peace have been agreed upon between Armenia and Azerbaijan during these negotiations. 

Elaborating on these principles, Pashinyan delineated the first as mutual recognition of each other’s territorial integrity, referring to maps from the USSR General Staff from 1974-1990. He further indicated that both countries have agreed to refrain from territorial claims against each other. PM Pashinyan urged Azerbaijan to publicly declare its commitment to these principles.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressing the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Yerevan, Nov. 18, 2023 (RA Prime Minister)

However, in response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan released a press statement claiming that Azerbaijan submitted proposals for a draft peace treaty to Armenia in September and accusing Armenia of not providing a response. It called this delay a serious setback to the negotiation process.

Negotiations on a peace treaty are ongoing following Azerbaijan’s invasion of Artsakh on September 19 and its near 10-month blockade of the Berdzor (Lachin) corridor connecting Artsakh to Armenia and the rest of the world, depriving the local Armenian population of food, fuel and basic supplies. Azerbaijan’s September 19 assault on Artsakh led to a mass exodus of over 100,000 people fleeing towards Armenia, sparking widespread condemnation and accusations of ethnic cleansing.

PM Pashinyan also named unblocking of regional communications based on the sovereignty and jurisdiction of each side as another crucial element of a peace treaty. Despite the apparent agreement on several peace principles, Pashinyan said that a lack of mutual trust between the parties is a significant impediment to signing a treaty. He highlighted how past statements from Azerbaijan indicating reluctance towards signing a peace agreement, coupled with perceived intentions for aggressive actions, have hindered progress. Pashinyan called for establishing mechanisms for resolving disputes in interpreting the peace agreement and implementing security guarantees.

The recent shifts in attitude and policy in the West have affected the geopolitics of the region. Additionally, recent statements and actions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, echoed in a multifaceted geopolitical landscape, have intensified discussions around regional stability and the complexities of their diplomatic relations.

In comments to the press on November 20, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov denied Pashinyan’s remarks that Azerbaijan is preparing for war. Peskov stated that Azerbaijan has expressed its readiness to sign a peace treaty. Azerbaijan’s leadership also denied that such assertions have been made at the state level. It emphasized previous statements advocating for peace and a desire to conclude a peace treaty.

Kremlin Press Secretary Dimitry Peskov (Wikimedia Commons)

There has been a significant shift in Armenia’s stance regarding military threats from Azerbaijan. Formerly, Armenia had expressed concerns about a potential Azerbaijani invasion in its southern region, due to Azeri demands to open the so-called “Zangezur corridor” in Armenia’s Syunik province for communications. Moreover, international speculation, including from the American Stratfor analytical center, centered on Aliyev’s demands regarding transit through this corridor, potentially affecting the region’s geopolitical landscape. Armenia has rejected the demand for a corridor that would be free from customs and passport controls, insisting that regional communication links should respect the sovereignty of national borders. 

Notably, Iran also expressed apprehension regarding possible border changes in the South Caucasus, particularly its shared northern border with Armenia. Its concerns stemmed from broader geopolitical shifts in the region involving various external players such as Turkey, Israel, Europe and the United States.

Responding to escalating tensions, Azerbaijan renounced the idea of the “Zangezur corridor” and proposed an alternative route through Iran for transit to its exclave Nakhichevan. This move aimed to counter commentary that Azerbaijan is preparing to attack Armenia.

Consequently, Armenia faced challenges in its strategic maneuvering, leading PM Pashinyan to shift the battleground to the European platform. During a parliamentary session on November 16, Pashinyan reaffirmed Armenia’s stance on finalizing a peace treaty with Azerbaijan in the forthcoming months, emphasizing the necessity of mutual agreement between both nations. 

Pashinyan emphasized the collaborative nature of the peace process, asserting that while Armenia is ready to sign a peace treaty, Azerbaijan’s participation and signature are equally imperative for its successful implementation.

While the negotiation process on a peace deal appears to stall, Azerbaijan has also criticized a decision by the U.S. Senate to halt military aid to Azerbaijan. The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill on November 16 to halt military aid to Azerbaijan for the next two fiscal years, a move known as the Armenian Protection Act of 2023. This bill, if approved by the House and signed by the president, would prevent the State Department from granting a waiver necessary to provide military assistance to Azerbaijan under current legislation.

Introduced by Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and enjoying bipartisan support, the measure represents Congress’ strong stance in restricting U.S. military support to Azerbaijan, particularly following its rapid military advancement in Artsakh in September.

The decision follows a previous joint appeal by 91 lawmakers to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging economic sanctions against Azerbaijani officials for their military actions and blockade in Artsakh. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) also urged Blinken not to extend the waiver in response to Azerbaijan’s invasion of the region, emphasizing the importance of compliance with a 1992 law restricting U.S. aid until Azerbaijan ceases blockades and offensive actions against Armenia and Artsakh.

Despite the Biden administration’s historical practice of issuing waivers citing national security concerns, Ambassador James O’Brien from the State Department recently stated during a House hearing that there are no plans to issue a new waiver under Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act.

The Milli Majlis, Azerbaijan’s parliament, has strongly criticized this move by the U.S. Senate, viewing it as damaging to bilateral ties and impeding regional peace efforts. It accused the U.S. of supporting separatist movements within Azerbaijan, eroding trust in U.S. mediation of Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations. The Milli Majlis vowed to firmly counter any actions perceived as detrimental to their national interests. This rebuke highlights growing tensions between both nations, adding complexity to the regional landscape.

Senator Peters emphasized that the bill aimed to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its actions and would restrict military aid for two years due to its failure to comply with previous agreements. He urged the Biden administration to take public action in response to the ongoing conflict.

Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Artsakh Gev Iskajyan told the Weekly in an interview that the recent developments in Washington D.C., namely the passage of the Senate resolution, are welcome steps towards addressing the conflict in the region. “However, it is imperative that we go beyond just these resolutions and aim for punitive measures against Azerbaijan, both for their ethnic cleansing of Artsakh and for their omnipresent threats of war against Armenia,” he stated. 

  •  Bio
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Hoory Minoyan was an active member of the Armenian community in Los Angeles until she moved to Armenia prior to the 44-day war. She graduated with a master's in International Affairs from Boston University, where she was also the recipient of the William R. Keylor Travel Grant. The research and interviews she conducted while in Armenia later became the foundation of her Master’s thesis, “Shaping Identity Through Conflict: The Armenian Experience.” Hoory continues to follow her passion for research and writing by contributing to the Armenian Weekly.