Author: Jirair Kafian

Mobilization of foreign terrorist fighters in conflicts a new alarming trend, Armenia’s envoy to UN says

Jirair Kafian
Public Radio of Armenia
Jan 16 2021
– Public Radio of Armenia

Armenia remains firmly committed to the global fight against terrorism and is actively engaged in international and regional activities aimed at the implementation of the counter-terrorism conventions and their additional protocols, as well as the relevant resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council, Armenia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Mher Margaryan said at the UN Security Council VTC Meeting on “20th Anniversary of Resolution 1373 (2001) and the Establishment of the Counter-Terrorism Committee: Trends, challenges and opportunities.”

He stressed that mobilization of foreign terrorist fighters in conflicts represents a new alarming trend.

“Our region is not immune to the scourge of terrorism and its radical ideology and violent practices. Amidst the outbreak of an unprecedented global pandemic, on 27 September 2020 Azerbaijan, with the direct support of Turkey, employed thousands of foreign terrorists fighters in a large-scale military aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh),” Armrnia’s envoy to the UN said.

“The offensive led to massive loss of human life, displacement of tens of thousands of civilians, destruction and desecration of religious and cultural heritage and other gross violations of international human rights law and humanitarian law. The ISIL-style torture, inhuman treatment and executions of prisoners of war and civilian hostages by the Azerbaijani forces was widely disseminated and glorified in the media outlets and social networks,” he added.

Mr. Margaryan noted that “he recruitment of foreign terrorist fighters by Turkey from the Middle East and their transfer to Azerbaijan and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone is a well-established and documented fact, acknowledged by law enforcement agencies of several countries and extensively reported by independent observers.

“The UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries of the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner in its Statement of 11 November 2020 has referred to “widespread reports that the Government of Azerbaijan, with Turkey’s assistance, relied on Syrian fighters to shore-up and sustain its military operations in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, including on the frontline. The fighters appeared to be motivated primarily by private gain, given the dire economic situation in the Syrian Arab Republic. In case of death, their relatives were reportedly promised financial compensation and Turkish nationality,” the Ambassador stated.

“It is even more disturbing that the Syrian fighters deployed to Azerbaijan are allegedly affiliated with armed groups and individuals that, in some cases, have been accused of war crimes and serious human rights abuses during the conflict in Syria, thus seemingly perpetuating a cycle of impunity and risking further abuses of international law,” Mher Margaryan stated. 

Turks organize feast in historic Armenian church in Urfa

Jirair Kafian
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 15 2021

Society 12:50 15/01/2021 Region

Turks have organized a barbecue feast in the historic Armenian Sourp Asdvadzadzin (Holy Mother of God) church in the village of Germush in Urfa Province, Turkish T24 news outlet reported on Thursday.

The church is said to have been built in the 19th century. It was last restored in 1881. The church was badly damaged as a result of illegal excavations.

The feast was organized by the owner of a restaurant in the churchyard, the source said.

Photos of the party shared on social media came into the spotlight in a short period of time.

Local residents said the church was destroyed as a result of illegal excavations with the use of excavators and other heavy equipment, asking the authorities to restore the historic building.

One of the residents living in the vicinity of the church, Ubeyit Inci, said treasure-hunters, in the hopes of unearthing riches, come to the church unusually at night, adding it's the the local residents who protect the cultural heritage.

"Now those who want to buy alcohol or eat barbecue come here. We want the church to be restored," he said. 

Germany revokes asylum status of Armenian origin Syrian regime supporter

Jirair Kafian
MENA FN – Middle East North Africa Financial News
Jan 10 2021
 
 
 
Date
1/10/2021 7:23:59 AM    
 
  
 
(MENAFN)According to local media, Germany canceled asylum status of Armenian origin Syrian regime supporter Kevork Almassian.
 
 The Die Welt newspaper declared that the status of Almassian was repealed, mentioning the immigration authority. Almassian has been in Germany since 2015.
 
 According to the newspaper, the cause behind the action was being a supporter of the Bashar al-Assad regime and is not under political pursuit in Syria.
 
 It further said that Almassian could confront exile but the hesitation could continue for some time as the case was transported to court.
 

Turkish press: ‘Turkey’s military power changes concept of war’

Jirair Kafian
Guc Gonel and Kenan Irtak   |08.01.2021

ISTANBUL 

Turkey's military facilities and technologies have the potential to change the concept of war and conflict in the world, the country's parliament speaker said in Istanbul on Friday.

Speaking at a symposium on South Caucasus and the Karabakh conflict, Mustafa Sentop said the potential of Turkey's military facilities and technology was partially demonstrated in Syria and Libya, and more recently "very clearly" in Azerbaijan during the second Nagorno-Karabakh war.

When new clashes erupted on Sept. 27 last year, the Armenian army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces and violated several humanitarian cease-fire agreements. During the 44-day conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages from the nearly three-decade occupation.

Turkey's Bayraktar TB2 armed drones purchased by Baku played a significant role in Azerbaijan's victory in Karabakh.

Although the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been settled with the Moscow-brokered cease-fire, he said, the conflicts in the South Caucasus, around Turkey and across the world have not ended yet.

Sentop recalled that top Turkish officials paid a visit to Azerbaijan during the war and expressed their support to the brotherly country.

Historical, legal Azerbaijani land

The Turkish speaker underlined that the Nagorno-Karabakh area has always been considered a historical Azerbaijani territory.

No matter how far we go into history, he said, Nagorno-Karabakh was under Azerbaijani rule, both after the Iran-Russia agreement, in the beginning of the 19th century, and in the Constitution adopted in the Soviet Union period.

"In the Soviet period, there was no tendency, practice or legal regulation that Nagorno-Karabakh would have an administration outside the lands of Azerbaijan. In this respect, when we look back, we see that Nagorno-Karabakh is a land belonging to Azerbaijan historically," he said.

He went on to say that the same situation and justification was also actual from the legal perspective as four UN Security Council resolutions refer to Armenia as an invader in Azerbaijani territory.

"The negotiations, which have always been on the table for 30 years, have not come to a conclusion," he said, adding that the result was achieved when "finally the power of Azerbaijan" was shown.

"I would like to express that the steps that solve problems and contribute to world peace are very valuable. Turkey with its diplomatic interventions in many regions has clearly shown that it was in such a way," Sentop said.

ODIHR calls for restraint and respect for the democratic process following US election unrest

Jirair Kafian

Save

Share

 12:53, 7 January, 2021

YEREVAN, JANUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. Watching the increasingly disquieting events unfolding in the United States capital in recent hours following the November general elections, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) voices its concern regarding the integrity of the democratic process, and calls on all sides to keep to the principles of democracy and the rule of law, ODIHR said in a statement.

As one of the 57 countries of the OSCE region, the United States has committed not only to hold democratic elections but also ensure that “the candidates who obtain the necessary votes are duly installed in office.” While the US legal system provides for a smooth transition of power, restraint by all those involved in the process remains vital, even in a country with such strong institutions and traditional respect for democratic norms. Neither incitement to violence nor violence itself has any place in the democratic process”, the statement says.

Law enforcement officers on Wednesday night detained more than 50 people after the curfew imposed in the US capital due to riots, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert Contee announced at a press conference, TASS reported.

In addition, two pipe bombs were recovered from the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic national committees, Contee said.

Earlier, authorities of Washington DC confirmed four deaths during violent protests on Wednesday near the US Congress building.

Protesters supporting current President Donald Trump stormed on Wednesday the US Congress building in Washington DC and disrupted the work of lawmakers, who met to certify the results of the November presidential election for President-elect Joe Biden.




Turkish press: Turkey: Court orders remand of 2 in Dink murder case

Jirair Kafian
Murat Kaya and Basak Akbulut Yazar   |06.01.2021

ISTANBUL

An Istanbul court on Wednesday ordered that two former intelligence officers be remanded in custody over the 2007 killing of a prominent Armenian-Turkish journalist, according to a judicial source.

Heavy Penal Court no.14 in Istanbul issued interlocutory order and found Volkan Sahin and Veysal Sahin guilty of knowing the murder of Hrant Dink beforehand, said the source on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Citing evidence against the two, the court ordered that arrest warrants be issued to nab Volkan Sahin and Veysal Sahin as "they spent short time under detention," the source added.

Dink, then editor-in-chief of the Armenian-Turkish newspaper Agos, was killed outside his office on Jan. 19, 2007.

The judicial control order for Ali Oz, former gendarmerie command, and Ecevit Emir were lifted by the court, while they are still banned from leaving the country.

Emre Cingoz, another defendant in the case, was banned to leave Istanbul, while his judicial control was released and his ban on leaving the country continues.

The next hearing of the case will be held on Jan. 8.

*Writing by Sena Guler

UK sanctions on Armenia and Azerbaijan

Jirair Kafian
The Government of the United Kingdom
Jan 2 2021

This page provides guidance on the arms embargoes in place on Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Published 31 December 2020
From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Export Control Joint Unit

In February 1992, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) requested that all participating states should introduce an embargo on ‘all deliveries of weapons and munitions to forces engaged in combat in the Nagorno-Karabakh area’. This embargo is still in effect.

On 2 July 2014, the UK refined its interpretation of the arms embargo as covering the export, supply or delivery of all goods and items on the UK military list (which forms a part of the UK strategic export control lists) where this equipment could be used:

  • in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, or
  • on the land border between Azerbaijan and Armenia

This embargo is implemented through the Export Control Order 2008. All export and trade licence applications for Armenia and Azerbaijan as elsewhere will be assessed on a case-by-case basis against the UK Strategic Export Licensing Criteria and we will not issue a licence where to do so would be inconsistent with the Criteria.

Additionally, some goods which are not on the UK military list might also need an export licence. These are covered by the military end-use control.

For further information on financial sanctions: contact the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation [email protected] or subscribe to the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation’s e-alerts

For further information on trade sanctions: contact the Export Control Joint Unit Helpline on 020 7215 4594 or email [email protected] or subscribe to the Export Control Joint Unit’s notices to exporters

For further information on transport sanctions: contact the Department for Transport on [email protected]

For general information on sanctions: contact the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s Sanctions Unit on [email protected]

Armenian opposition slams Pashinyan’s ‘policy of mischief’

Jirair Kafian
Panorama, Armenia

Dec 21 2020
Politics 20:11 21/12/2020 Armenia

Armenia's opposition forces making up the Homeland Salvation Movement reacted to the developments in Syunik Province on Monday, denouncing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s “mischievous” policy. A statement released by the movement reads:

“Nikol Pashinyan the traitor, who is clinging to power, today initiated another provocation against residents of Syunik. Having sent more than 1,500 police officers and other law enforcement agency officers to Syunik since late last night, he tried to secretly visit a number of towns in the region.

However, seeing the resolute position of Syunik residents to bar him from entering the region, Nikol Pashinyan first ordered the arrest of Goris Mayor Arush Arushanyan, then he had the interstate road blocked by police forces, depriving citizens of their constitutional right to free movement. Also, he incited provocative actions against the priest of the church in Sisian, Father Pargev Zeynalian.

To the credit of our compatriots in Syunik, all of Pashinyan's efforts were in vain, and with their dignified behavior they prevented another provocation of the traitor. This kind of attitude of Nikol Pashinyan is a serious challenge to our public solidarity.

The Homeland Salvation Movement strongly condemns the policy of mischief of incumbent Prime Minister Pashinyan and warns that any of his provocations will receive the most decisive response from the people.

And Pashinyan, who had to flee Syunik today, should have already realized how unpromising and even dangerous his approaches are. In any case, the Homeland Salvation Movement calls on all citizens of Armenia to unite and to join the nationwide strike and boycott of classes tomorrow, December 22.

Dear compatriots, tomorrow at 12pm we are waiting for you all at the Republic Square. Together we will save our homeland!” 

CivilNet: Azerbaijan Threatens Italian Journalist for Criticizing Its Human Rights Policies

Jirair Kafian
CIVILNET.AM

24 December, 2020 19:15

Simone Zoppellaro is an Italian independent journalist. He knows the Caucasus very well and specializes on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. His recent criticism of Azerbaijan’s human rights policies and the conflict with Armenia has put him in hot waters. The Azerbaijani government has threatened him with retribution. Mr. Zoppellaro, who now lives in Germany,  talks with CivilNet’s Ani Paitjan about the economic relations between Italy, Azerbaijan and Turkey that led Italy to choose profit instead of addressing human rights issues. 

Scammers attempt to defraud Armenians on Facebook by using fake Kardashian account

Jirair Kafian

Save

Share

 11:37, 24 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. Scammers are attempting to defraud Armenians on social media by using a fake Kim Kardashian account on Facebook, the Armenian Agency of Personal Data Protection has warned.

“The fake Kim Kardashian account seeks to steal banking data, e-mail addresses and passwords,” the agency said, warning social media users not to share or comment such posts.

Editing and translating by Stepan Kocharyan