Author: Jane Topchian

Ethnic Cleansing ‘Happening Right Now’ as Armenians Forced from Christian Homeland

Jane Topchian
Sept 26 2023
GEORGE THOMAS

An indescribable nightmare is unfolding as thousands of Armenians are on the run following Azerbaijan's military takeover of their homeland. Armenia's prime minister has declared that ethnic cleansing is underway.

More than 120,000 Armenians live in a landlocked enclave in Azerbaijan and many fear this takeover will wipe out their Christian and ethnic history.

Officials from Armenia and Azerbaijan are set to meet today in Brussels for the first time since Azerbaijan's Muslim-majority forces seized control of the predominately Armenian-Christian territory of Nagorno-Karabakh last week.

"It was a nightmare. There are no words to describe," said a distraught resident of Nagorno-Karabakh. "The village was heavily shelled. Almost no one is left in the village. Most people have been evacuated."

The blitz attack forced nearly 14,000 refugees to cross into Armenia, with thousands more stuck in massive traffic jams at the only checkpoint crossing.

Amidst all this, a massive explosion at a fuel depot killed 20 and injured more than 300 as refugees scrambled to get gas before escaping. 

Joel Veldkamp is with the human rights group Christian Solidarity International.

"Our friends there told us that people in Karabakh are deciding some of them to have the bodies of their loved ones who were killed in this war to be taken to Armenia in refrigerated cars to be buried there because if they bury them in Karabakh they won't be able to visit them ever again and their graves may be desecrated by Azerbaijani forces," Veldkamp said on the group's social media platforms.

Ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh walk along the road as they flee Nagorno-Karabakh, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Vasily Krestyaninov)

Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"This is an area of Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh, that has been contested for many years," said Dr. David Curry of Global Christian Relief. "It has historically been filled with Armenians, Armenian cultures, the Christian faith."

While it's been internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, the area has been ruled by ethnic Armenians for three decades. 

Two U.S. officials traveled to the region and met with Armenia's prime minister Nikol Pashinyan on Monday. He told them ethnic cleansing is "happening right now." 

"We received word yesterday from our friends in Nagorno-Karabakh that essentially deportations are beginning of the entire Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh," Veldkamp reported.

Armenians are some of the first people in the world to embrace Christianity. Now there's concern their religious and ethnic history in Nagorno-Karabakh could be wiped out.

"The population of ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh should be able to remain in their homes in peace and dignity with respect for their rights and security, if they choose to do so," said State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller. "Those who want to leave, and return should be allowed safe passage."

CBN contributor Chuck Holton who has reported extensively from Armenia warns Azerbaijan's ambitions don't stop at Nagorno-Karabakh's borders. 

"The real concern here is that Azerbaijan is not going to stop by just taking over this one exclave (Nagorno-Karabakh). They are literally talking about taking all of Armenia," Holton told CBN's Christian World News program.

https://www2.cbn.com/news/world/ethnic-cleansing-happening-right-now-armenians-forced-christian-homeland

Rep. Pallone Introduces Bipartisan Legislation To Protect & Provide Humanitarian Assistance to the Armenian People

Jane Topchian

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr (D-NJ) introduced bipartisan legislation with Reps. David Valadao (R-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) to protect Armenians and provide humanitarian assistance to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh in response to the brutal and unjust actions taken by the Government of Azerbaijan, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).

The Bill, "Supporting Armenians Against Azerbaijani Aggression Act of 2023," covers a spectrum of pertinent and swift actions that can be taken by the Administration in the aftermath of Azerbaijan's illegal and unprovoked attacks on the Armenian people of Nagorno-Karabakh, from calling on Azerbaijan to open the Lachin Corridor to providing humanitarian assistance to imposing sanctions to ceasing waivers of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, as well as appropriating funding for future partnerships between the U.S. and Armenia.

"President Aliyev's genocidal campaign against the Armenian people of Artsakh has gone on too long, and it is past time the United States takes meaningful action to halt it. This legislation takes a major first step in addressing the atrocities committed by his regime and holding him and his cronies accountable for the death and destruction they have wrought. It would also provide the Armenian people impacted by the conflict with the assistance and security they need to live safely in their ancient homelands without fear of reprisal from the Azerbaijani government," stated Congressman Pallone.

The Assembly's Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan stated: "Since he has taken a page out of Putin's playbook in Ukraine, Aliyev too must be held accountable for his ongoing targeting of civilians in Artsakh. We urge the Administration to sanction Azerbaijan for its genocidal actions."

The Bill further calls for $30 million to "provide humanitarian assistance to groups in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh impacted by the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, Azerbaijan’s September 2022 attack on Armenia, and Azerbaijan's blockade of the Lachin Corridor."

The Bill also contains language to provide $10 million in Foreign Military Financing assistance to Armenia to "support Armenia's independence, joint training and exercises with the U.S., and train Armenian forces for future international peacekeeping operations."

Imposing sanctions on Azerbaijan regarding the Aliyev regime's clear attempts at ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh is also specified, as well as the government's "operations that instigated the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War; attacks on Armenia in September 2022; the blockade of the Lachin Corridor beginning in December 2022; attacks on Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023."

Finally, the Bill highlights the importance of protecting the rights of the Armenian people in Nagorno-Karabakh and requests that the Secretary of State "shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a detailed strategy to ensure the durable security for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh" that incorporates the "rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh" as well as the "establishment of accountability measures to ensure the rights and security of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh in the event that the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan reach a peace agreement" as well as "support for the protection of Armenian cultural heritage sites in Nagorno-Karabakh."


Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.


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NR# 2023-32


US forces to hold joint drills with former Soviet republic Armenia

Jane Topchian
First Post
Sept 6 2023
Agence France-Presse

Armenia will host joint drills with US peacekeeping forces next week, officials in Yerevan said Wednesday, the latest sign of the ex-Soviet republic’s drift away from traditional ally Russia.

The report came a day after Russia dismissed Yerevan’s criticism of Russian peacekeepers over their failure to maintain order at the Lachin corridor, the sole road linking Armenia to the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The exercise, Eagle Partner 2023, will be held on 11-20 September in Armenia’s Zar training centre “to increase the level of interoperability” between Armenian and US forces participating in international peacekeeping missions, Armenia’s defence ministry said in a statement.

“The exercise involves stabilisation tasks between conflicting parties during peacekeeping mission.”

The manoeuvres will be held amid a spat between Yerevan and Moscow over the role of the 2,000-strong Russian peacekeeping contingent that has patrolled the Lachin corridor since a 2020 Russian-brokered ceasefire ended a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan for control of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Moscow was either “unable or unwilling” to control the Lachin corridor which Yerevan says is under Azerbaijani blockade that has stopped food from getting to Armenian-populated towns.

Marking a major foreign policy shift, Pashinyan has also said that Yerevan’s longstanding reliance on Russia to guarantee the country’s security was a “strategic mistake.”

His wife was on Wednesday in Kyiv to attend a meeting of first ladies and gentlemen and deliver humanitarian aid for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Russia has a permanent military base in Armenia which is part of the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation.

Russia on Tuesday rejected the criticism, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying that “Russia continues to fulfil its role as a guarantor of security… Russia is not going anywhere and is not going to go anywhere.”

Tensions between Baku and Yerevan have escalated sharply in recent months, as both sides accuse the other of cross-border attacks.

The two sides have been unable to reach a lasting peace settlement despite mediation efforts by the European Union, United States and Russia.

https://www.firstpost.com/world/us-forces-to-hold-joint-drills-with-former-soviet-republic-armenia-13086302.html

Russia summons Armenia’s envoy over ‘unfriendly steps’

Jane Topchian
PRESS TV, Iran
Sept 9 2023

Russia summons Armenia's envoy over 'unfriendly steps'

Saturday,

Russia has summoned Armenia's ambassador to Moscow following a number of unwelcome gestures by Yerevan, including its announcement of joint war games with the United States.

The envoy was summoned to the Russian foreign ministry on Friday, three days after Armenia said it was to host a joint army exercise with the US during the upcoming week.

The Armenian defense ministry alleged that the purpose of the September 11-20 "Eagle Partner 2023" drills was to prepare its forces to take part in international peacekeeping missions.

"The Armenian leadership had in recent days taken a series of unfriendly steps," the Russian ministry said in a statement.

Moscow, meanwhile, protested to Yerevan about a trip by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's wife to Kiev, which has been engaged in warfare with Russia since last February.

Yerevan has also increased its criticism of Moscow’s peacekeeping role in Nagorno Karabakh, a region which is disputed by Armenia and neighboring Azerbaijan.

Pashinyan had recently alleged that the Russian forces, which were deployed to the region to end 2020 hostilities between Yerevan and Baku, had failed in their role to protect civilians and their freedom of movement in a key corridor in Azerbaijani-controlled areas in Karabakh.

The Russian foreign ministry said the Armenian envoy was given a "tough presentation."

The ministry stressed, though, that Russia and Armenia "remain allies and all agreements on developing the strengthening of the partnership will be fulfilled."

Turkish president Erdogan says will speak with Armenian PM on Nagorno-Karabakh election

Jane Topchian
New Indian Express
Sept 10 2023

Turkey has previously said it "does not recognise this illegitimate election which constitutes a violation of Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Published: 10th September 2023

By AFP

NEW DELHI: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that he would hold talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as tensions mount between Armenia and Ankara's ally Azerbaijan.

Turkey has already condemned the election of a new president in Azerbaijan's separatist Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh on Saturday.

Lawmakers in Nagorno-Karabakh's parliament elected the head of the security council in the separatist government, Samvel Shahramanyan, by 22 votes to one.

Turkey has previously said it "does not recognise this illegitimate election which constitutes a violation of Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Speaking after the close of the G20 summit in New Delhi, Erdogan said: "I will have a telephone conversation, probably tomorrow, with Mr Pashinyan. What has been done in Karabakh is not appropriate. We cannot accept this".

Armenia and Azerbaijan have traded accusations of cross-border attacks in recent months, and Armenia has warned of the risk of a fresh conflict, saying Azerbaijan was massing troops on the countries' shared border and near Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azerbaijan's Armenian-populated enclave was at the centre of two wars between the Caucasus neighbours.

Six weeks of fighting in autumn 2020 ended with a Russian-brokered ceasefire that saw Armenia cede swathes of territory it had controlled for decades.

Tensions have risen again, with Yerevan accusing Baku of creating a humanitarian crisis by blocking traffic through the Lachin corridor — the only road linking Armenia to Armenian-populated Karabakh.

The two sides have been unable to reach a lasting peace settlement despite mediation efforts by the European Union, the United States and Russia.

Next week, Armenia will host joint military drills with US forces, the latest sign of the ex-Soviet republic's drift from its traditional ally Russia.

Armenpress: Shipping Armenian goods through Iran to Arab countries and India under discussion

Jane Topchian

 09:19, 30 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Iran are working to significantly increase trade turnover. Last year bilateral trade stood at 714 million dollars. Data of this year’s first half shows a 13% increase, which in turn shows that the positive pace of dynamics is maintained.

On August 25, an exhibition showcasing the products offered by Armenian and Iranian companies in the fields of agriculture, manufacturing and tourism opened in Yerevan with the purpose of boosting bilateral trade between Armenia and Iran.

Hojjatollah Abdolmaleki, the Secretary of the Supreme Council of Free Trade-Industrial and Special Economic Zones of Iran and presidential advisor was personally leading a delegation to Armenia and attended the event.

Armenia’s commercial attaché to Iran Vardan Kostanyan told ARMENPRESS that both sides are seeking new opportunities to further develop trade. The two countries plan to increase bilateral trade to 1 billion dollars, and then to 3 billion dollars.

Kostanyan said that Iran plans to open eight new free economic zones, bringing the number of its FEZs to 15.

“We are now looking into the untapped potential and opportunities to utilize them in bilateral cooperation. On the other hand, our neighbor is still under sanctions, therefore while carrying out economic policy we are unconditionally taking into consideration this fact. Iran provides state support and protection to companies investing in its economy,” Kostanyan said. He highlighted direct meetings between business representatives.

“Armenia and Iran attach great importance to the prospect of carrying out shipments through the Persian Gulf-Black Sea logistic route, and the Armenian side is maximally seeking to support the implementation of this megaproject, attaching great importance to the use of its own territory. The option of exporting Armenian goods through Iranian territory to Arab countries and India is also under discussion, and in this context the parties have decided to find solutions through joint efforts, and simplify the procedures applied from both sides on that road,” Kostanyan said.

Armenia’s membership to the EEU and its land border with Iran gives opportunities for establishing enterprises and carrying out broad joint projects, he said. 

Interview by Manvel Margaryan




Heavy reliance on Russia for security was a mistake: Armenian PM

Jane Topchian
tvp World
Sept 3 2023




Despite a defense pact and a Russian military base in Armenia, Pashinyan suggested that Moscow does not view his country as pro-Russian enough. “Our security was almost entirely tied to Russia, especially for arms,” Pashinyan stated. However, with Russia embroiled in the Ukrainian conflict, he believes Moscow may fall short in meeting Armenia’s security needs, showcasing the pitfalls of depending solely on one nation.

This sentiment resonates with a growing frustration in Armenia over Russia’s perceived inability to champion Armenian interests. In a direct rebuke, Pashinyan also criticized Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh, accusing them of not fulfilling their duties.

Hinting at a possible shift in Armenia’s foreign policy, Pashinyan mentioned establishing closer ties with the European Union, the United States, and other regional powers, signaling a diversification of Armenia’s security partnerships.

While Moscow, having mediated between Yerevan and Baku in the past, remained silent on Pashinyan’s statements, it has previously defended its global actions and refuted claims of neglecting foreign allies due to the Ukraine situation.

Nagorno-Karabakh, largely populated by ethnic Armenians but internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, saw significant conflict in 2020 until a Russian-brokered ceasefire.
https://tvpworld.com/72461883/heavy-reliance-on-russia-for-security-was-a-mistake-armenian-pm

Armenia and Azerbaijan report casualties in new border clashes

Jane Topchian
The Print, India
Sept 1 2023
REUTERS
04:30 pm IST

TBILISI (Reuters) -Armenia and Azerbaijan said on Friday that they had sustained casualties in fighting around their common border, northwest of the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenia’s Defence Ministry said two of its servicemen had been killed and another wounded in shelling near the border villages of Sotk and Norabak. Azerbaijan said Armenia had struck its positions across the border in the Kalbajar region using drones, wounding three servicemen.

Armenia said Azerbaijan was massing forces close to the border, and striking its positions using drones, mortars and small arms fire. Azerbaijan denied gathering forces, but said it was taking “retaliatory measures”.

Reuters was unable to verify the reports.

Nagorno-Karabakh, internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, has been a source of conflict between the two Caucasus neighbours since the years leading up to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, and between ethnic Armenians and Turkic Azeris for well over a century.

Despite sporadic discussions on a peace deal to agree on borders, settle differences over the enclave and unfreeze relations, tensions remain high and skirmishes along the shared border are a regular occurrence.

(Reporting by Felix Light; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

“Condemnable and inadmissible” – Armenia Human Rights Defender decries Azeri kidnappings in Lachin Corridor

Jane Topchian

 16:06,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, ARMENPRESS. After receiving information about the abduction by Azerbaijan of a 22-year-old student who was being transported to Armenia accompanied by the Russian Peacekeepers from the illegal checkpoint on the Lachin Corridor, the Human Rights Defender’s Office initiated a study of the case, the Armenian Human Rights Defender’s Office said in a statement.

Furthermore, the Human Rights Defender immediately contacted colleagues from the competent bodies.

The issues related to other similar incidents that took place on the checkpoint were also discussed. The results will be analyzed and summarized, and letters will be addressed to authoritative international organizations with a mandate to protect human rights. The abduction by Azerbaijan of persons being transferred to Armenia through the mediation of international actors, including the Russian Peacekeepers, is condemnable and inadmissible.

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia emphasizes once more that this situation underscores gross violations of human rights by the Azerbaijani authorities, taking into consideration that international legal guarantees and standards universally recognized in the modern civilized world regarding interference with fundamental human rights are not observed.

Armenian President congratulates Indian counterpart on successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 lunar probe

Jane Topchian

 21:29, 24 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan has congratulated President of India Droupadi Murmu on the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 lunar probe.

“I am happy that India has become the first country to achieve a controlled soft landing of its lunar probe on the south pole of the Moon, although this is already the third time that Indian experts have successfully launched a spacecraft into the Moon’s orbit. This is a pivotal event in Moon exploration that will greatly contribute to revealing the secrets of the Earth’s satellite and possible exploitation of its resources. I wish you robust health and success, and new achievements to the friendly people of India,” Khachaturyan said in a letter to President Droupadi Murmu.