Author: Karapet Navasardian

Karabakh Armenians again refuse negotiation in Baku

Karapet Navasardian
  • JAMnews
  • Baku

Karabakh Armenians refusal to negotiate

The Azerbaijani authorities offered the Armenian community of Karabakh to meet in Baku to continue negotiations, the second invitation after the first meeting in Khojaly on March 1, but the Armenians refused to go to Baku. “After each refusal of the Armenians to meet with the leadership of Azerbaijan, their opportunities will decrease,” political scientist Farhad Mammadov believes.

  • “We cannot intervene”: head of EU mission on a possible offensive by Azerbaijani Armed Forces
  • Amnesty International Report on Georgia: Selective justice and political persecution of opponents
  • Aliyev on the preparation of the tripartite statement of November 10, 2020

Immediately after a long vacation in connection with the Novruz holiday on Monday, March 27, the presidential administration of Azerbaijan publicly invited representatives of the Armenian community of Karabakh to Baku to continue negotiations.

The first official contacts between Baku and Khankendi (Stepanakert) after the second Karabakh war took place on March 1 in Khojaly, at the headquarters of the Russian peacekeeping contingent temporarily stationed in Karabakh.

On March 1st, a meeting took place between representatives of official Baku and Karabakh Armenians in Khojaly

On the part of official Baku, deputy of parliament Ramin Mammadov was appointed the head of the delegation for negotiations with the Karabakh Armenians.

Almost two weeks after the first talks in Khojaly, on March 13, official Baku issued the first invitation to the capital of Azerbaijan to hold the second round of talks. The Armenian side refused.

The day before, the Karabakh Armenians made it clear that they would not agree to holding talks in Baku this time either.

Official contacts of Baku and Khankendi – According to Ramin Mammadov, mainly humanitarian issues were discussed

The armed forces of Azerbaijan, having taken a height near which three dirt roads converge, and along which it is possible to bypass the Lachin road and drive to Armenia, established control over these routes, political observer Oktay Gasimov says:

“This was done in order to put an end to the supply of weapons, ammunition, mines, and other military equipment by Armenia to illegal Armenian armed groups stationed in the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan, as well as the transportation and rotation of personnel of the Armenian Armed Forces.”

The Azerbaijani army has taken control of dirt roads north of the Lachin corridor, where Russian peacekeepers are temporarily stationed

He stressed that Azerbaijan may soon take “other steps in different directions”:

“One of these steps is Baku’s call to hold a meeting in Baku and discuss the reintegration of Karabakh into Azerbaijan. This is a clear message for Azerbaijan, the essence of which boils down to the fact that one should not even think about revenge. At the same time, Azerbaijan invites the Armenians of Karabakh to dialogue and reintegrate with Azerbaijan.

The choice is for the Armenians to make. But it is premature to think that they have drawn any conclusions from what is happening. Quite recently, the separatists held a meeting of the so-called “Security Council”, following which it is clear that they will not agree to voluntary reintegration.”

Political scientist Farhad Mammadov expressed confidence that “after each refusal of the Armenians to meet with the leadership of Azerbaijan, their opportunities will decrease.”

“You need to understand that between the first and second proposals, Azerbaijan carried out an operation in Karabakh and took control of all alternative roads that lead to the Lachin corridor. That is, new realities have formed that limit Armenia’s ability to supply weapons to Karabakh. And already in the new situation, a new proposal was made to meet.”

Mammadov believes that this is being done by the leadership of Azerbaijan in order to demonstrate to all external forces and mediators that Baku is constructive: “but every refusal, in theory and logic, should lead to even greater changes in the situation.”

“Each time after refusal to meet in Baku or in another part of Azerbaijan, an operation will be carried out to change the conditions and situation, and further paralyze the actions of Armenia in Karabakh and a group of people who have usurped power in the Armenian-speaking part of the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan,” he added.

Regarding the statement of the head of the European mission in Armenia, Markus Ritter, that the European mission is holding Azerbaijan back, Mammadov said:

“If the Europeans justify their presence in Armenia by containing Azerbaijan, they will be disappointed. Azerbaijan has no intentions to seize the territory of Armenia. Proof of this is Azerbaijan’s proposal to mutually recognize each other’s territorial integrity. The second element is the intention to establish a checkpoint on the Lachin and Zangezur roads. These two points indicate that Azerbaijan has no intentions to attack the territory of Armenia. So let Mr. Ritter first think and then speak,” he added.

Hikmet Hajiyev interview with Report news agency on relations between Baku and Karabakh Armenians

“As for the EU mission itself, if there is a threat to Azerbaijan from the territory of Armenia, the EU mission is not an obstacle in order to deliver a preventative strike, as happened in September last year,” Mammadov said.

And about the possible signing of a peace agreement in Washington, he maintains that the place where the peace agreement is signed is of no fundamental importance for Azerbaijan:

“The main thing is that this agreement meets the national interests of Azerbaijan. The place of signing the peace agreement will rather depend on the Armenian side, where it will be comfortable for it to do it, in the presence of whom. Because this country suffers from cognitive dissonance. On the one hand it is a member of the CSTO and the EU, but on the other gravitates toward the US and the EU. Where it will be more comfortable for them to sign a peace agreement is of no fundamental importance to us. The main thing is the result,” he concluded.

https://jam-news.net/karabakh-armenians-refusal-to-negotiate/

Russia irritated by Armenia’s intentions to recognise ICC jurisdiction, which wants to arrest Putin

Karapet Navasardian

Russia considers Armenia's intention to join the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) unacceptable and warns Yerevan about the consequences of such a step.

Source: Russian propaganda outlets TASS and RIA Novosti, with reference to the identical comment "of a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry"

Quote: "Moscow considers Yerevan's plans to join the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court against the backdrop of the recent illegal and legally void and null ICC warrants against the Russian leadership absolutely unacceptable," the source said.

Details: The agency source added that Armenia was warned about the "extremely negative" consequences of their possible steps for bilateral relations with Moscow.

Background: Last week, Armenia's Constitutional Court declared that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court is in line with the country's basic law, paving the way for its ratification.

Armenia's Constitutional Court announced its decision a week after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin, finding him guilty of the illegal deportation of thousands of children from Ukraine.

The warrant issuance means that Putin could be arrested if he travels to any member state of the International Criminal Court.

Azerbaijan’s provocations don’t contribute to efforts for establishing stability – Foreign Minister

Karapet Navasardian

Save

Share

 17:16,

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS. On March 27 political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and the Czech Republic took place in Yerevan. The Armenian delegation was headed by Paruyr Hovhannisyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Czech delegation was headed by Jaroslav Kurfürst, Director General for European Affairs of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the foreign ministry said in a readout.

During the consultations, the interlocutors discussed a wide range of issues related to the Armenian-Czech bilateral agenda. The parties emphasised with satisfaction the high level of the existing political dialogue and the necessity to maintain it. Touching upon the perspectives of economic cooperation, the sides expressed their willingness to undertake steps towards expanding the business ties. The cooperation in the cultural, educational and scientific fields was also discussed.

The parties referred to the expanded Armenia-EU partnership as well as discussed the possibilities of mutual support within the international organisations.

The delegations exchanged views on a number of issues of regional and international agenda of mutual interest.

Deputy Minister Hovhannisyan briefed the interlocutor on the deteriorating humanitarian situation as a result of the ongoing blockade of the Lachin corridor and Armenia’s commitment and efforts to establish peace in the region. The importance of the decision made on February 22 by the International Court of Justice was emphasised, according to  which, Azerbaijan  should take all necessary measures to ensure the uninterrupted movement of people, vehicles and cargo in both directions through the Lachin Corridor.

Following the consultations, Jaroslav Kurfürst was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan. The interlocutors touched upon the bilateral political dialogue between the Republic of Armenia and the Czech Republic, as well as issues of the Armenia-EU partnership, including the deployment of the EU civilian monitoring mission in Armenia. They exchanged views on recent regional developments. Foreign Minister Mirzoyan emphasised that despite the ongoing negotiations on the treaty of establishment of peaceful relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the latter’s provocations and aggressive rhetoric do not contribute to the efforts aimed at establishing stability in the region.

PM Pashinyan felicitates Kurdish community of Armenia on Newroz

Karapet Navasardian

Save

Share

 10:53, 21 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on March 21 extended Newroz greetings to the Kurdish community of Armenia.

“I warmly congratulate the representatives of the Kurdish community of Armenia on the national holiday, Newroz,” PM Pashinyan said in a message published by his office. “This beautiful spring holiday symbolizing the awakening of nature and the new year is full of new life, new hopes and expectations of success. May the new year be a year of overcoming problems, establishing peace and fruitful work. I wish the representatives of the Kurdish community of Armenia health, hope and faith in the prosperous future of our country, and progress and implementation of good initiatives to your community.”

Russia accuses Azerbaijan of violating ceasefire with Armenia

Karapet Navasardian
India –
MoscowEdited By: Manas Joshi

Earlier in the day, Azerbaijani Defence Ministry said it has taken control of some auxillary roads in its Armenian-majority breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh over which it has fought wars with Armenia.

Russian defence ministry on Saturday (March 25) accused Azerbaijan of violating Moscow brokered ceasefire with Armenia. Russia said that Azerbaijan let troops cross over the demarcation line.

"On March 25… a unit of the armed forces of Azerbaijan crossed a line of contact in the district of Shusha, in violation" of the agreement of November 9, 2020, the Russian defence ministry said in a statement. 

The ministry said that Russian peacekeepers "are taking measures aimed at preventing escalation… and mutual provocations." 

Earlier in the day, Azerbaijani Defence Ministry said it has taken control of some auxillary roads in its Armenian-majority breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh over which it has fought wars with Armenia.

The ministry said "necessary control measures were implemented by the units of the Azerbaijan Army in order to prevent the use of the dirt roads north of Lachin" for arms supplies from Armenia.

The sole road linking Karabakh to Armenia, the Lachin corridor, has been for months under Azerbaijani blockade, which Yerevan says has led to a humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

Occasional shootouts have broken out along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and in Karabakh since a Russian-mediated truce ended six-weeks of fighting in autumn 2020.

(With inputs from agencies)


Dutch foreign ministry summons Azeri ambassador to communicate need to fully implement ICJ ruling on Lachin Corridor

Karapet Navasardian

Save

Share

 10:40,

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani Ambassador was invited to the Dutch foreign ministry to communicate the need to fully implement the ICJ decision and unblock the Lachin Corridor, the Federation of Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands (FAON) reported.

The Federation of Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands (FAON)said it has taken note of the answers by Dutch Foreign Minister Wobke Hoekstra to the written questions of 13 parliamentary factions about the ICJ ruling of 22 February 2022 on blockade of Lachin Corridor (Armenia v. Azerbaijan). Minister Hoekstra agrees with the MP’s, that there is non-compliance by Azerbaijan with the Judgment of the ICJ on the blockade of the Lachin Corridor. According to the Court ruling, Azerbaijan must take all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions, which it keeps blockaded for more than 100 days.

In his letter to the Parliament, the Minister underlines that the International Court rulings are legally binding. Therefore, the Netherlands publicly called on the Azerbaijani authorities to comply with the ruling.

According to the Minister, the Netherlands has repeatedly raised its concerns about the humanitarian situation in Nagorno Karabakh resulting from the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, at several occasions including in bilateral talks with the Azerbaijani authorities, as in the recent meeting between the Dutch Prime Minister Rutte and Azerbaijani President Aliyev. The Minister Hoekstra has conveyed these concerns in several conversations with the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister. The Netherlands has also expressed these concerns in various multilateral forums, such as the EU Foreign Affairs Council and the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The Netherlands, together with the other EU member states, has also conveyed this position by means of EU statements to, for example, the Permanent Council of the Organisation for Security and Stability in Europe (OSCE).

The Minister also states that the restrictive interpretation of the Court ruling by Azerbaijan is not shared by the Dutch Government. The Minister Hoekstra underlined that the Court ruling must be complied with in their entirety, which means that Azerbaijan must ensure the free movement of people, vehicles and cargo through the Lachin Corridor in both directions.

The United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan on February 22 to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. The Lachin Corridor has been blocked by Azerbaijan since 12 December 2022.




Pashinyan said that Armenia lost the 2020 war because of the fifth column in the army

Karapet Navasardian
March 14 2023
ByDesk Blitz

Nikol Pashinyan promised to declassify information on this topic.

“According to my personal conviction, we lost the war because the fifth column operated in our army. I think that these facts will become public in the near future,” TASS quoted the head of the Yerevan Cabinet of Ministers.

BLiTZ wrote: the pro-Turkish vector of official Yerevan’s foreign policy was not to the taste of the Armenian population, which does not believe in the sincerity of Ankara. Columnist Ruben Margaryan came to this conclusion earlier against the backdrop of the results of an opinion poll by the International Republican Institute, according to which the rating of Nikol Pashinyan’s government was rapidly collapsing.

https://www.weeklyblitz.net/news/pashinyan-said-that-armenia-lost-the-2020-war-because-of-the-fifth-column-in-the-army/

Azerbaijani president sees good chance for reaching peace with Armenia

Karapet Navasardian
 TASS 
Russia – March 14 2023
According to Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s position rests on two approaches: first, the signing of a peace treaty with Armenia, and, second, dialogue with Armenians living in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region

BAKU, March 14. /TASS/. There is every chance of achieving peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Tuesday.

"I think that we have a good chance to reach an agreement, especially now that, after the meeting in Sochi last October, Azerbaijan and Armenia have recognized each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. It would be a good idea to sign such an agreement sooner or later," the presidential press service quoted him as saying at a meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin.

The Azerbaijani president stressed that his country has elaborated five fundamental principles for a peace agreement on the basis of international law. A peace treaty, in his words, could be signed on the basis of these principles.

According to Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s position rests on two approaches: first, the signing of a peace treaty with Armenia, and, second, dialogue with Armenians living in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region.

He recalled that on March 5 Azerbaijan’s envoy met with Armenians in Karabakh. He also said that his administration has invited representatives of the Armenian community in Karabakh to visit Baku for a continuation of contacts and communications on issues concerning reintegration and the implementation of a range of infrastructure projects.

Karabakh Armenians: between ethnic cleansing and reintegration into Azerbaijan

Karapet Navasardian
March 15 2023
  • March 14, 2023

    •  

  • 0 Comments

    •  

  • BY Nikola Mikovic
The United States seems to be the only major power that can prevent an escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Although the South Caucasus has traditionally been in Russia’s geopolitical orbit, Moscow, bogged down in Ukraine, is unlikely to have capacity to deal with the ongoing crisis in the mountainous region of Azerbaijan that has been under the Armenian control for decades.

On March 11, Azerbaijani Defense Ministry released footage of military vehicles allegedly carrying personnel of Armenian Armed Forces units and “illegal Armenian armed groups accompanied by the Russian peacekeeping contingent” in Nagorno-Karabakh. In other words, Baku accused Yerevan and Moscow of smuggling weapons to the Karabakh Armenians. Although Armenia denied such claims, Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry said that the country’s military should “take suppressive measures against the possible threats of Armenia, which is trying to create fake tension in the region”. According to Azerbaijani military officials, Baku should “respond adequately if necessary”.

Such rhetoric came a day after Kristina Kvien, the United States Ambassador to Armenia, stressed that the Lachin corridor – the only transportation route connecting Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh – “should be opened immediately”. Indeed, the Lachin corridor has been blocked since December 12, when Azerbaijani protesters claiming to be environmental activists stopped traffic by setting up tents. Azerbaijan seems to be using the Lachin Corridor blockade as a method of pressure on Armenia, aiming to force Yerevan to fully implement the 2020 ceasefire deal the two countries’ leaders signed in Moscow.

According to the Russian-brokered agreement, all economic and transport links in the region must be unblocked. Azerbaijan, as the clear winner of the 44-day war the two archenemies fought over Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020, insists on a construction of the Nakhchivan Corridor, also known as the Zangezur Corridor – a road and a railway that should connect mainland Azerbaijan with its exclave of Nakhchivan through Armenia’s territory. If built under the Azeri terms, such a transportation network would limit Yerevan’s sovereignty over parts of Armenia’s Syunik province bordering Iran, since Baku is interested in the creation of a land passage without any passport or customs controls.

Besides Armenia, Iran also seems to oppose the construction of the Nakhchivan corridor, quite aware that it would help Azerbaijan to establish a direct link with its ally Turkey. Moreover, the Islamic Republic is worried about the growing military ties between the energy-rich Caucasus nation and Israel. Tehran fears that Baku could allow the Jewish State to use Azerbaijani territory for potential attacks on Iran. Azerbaijan, on the other hand, continues arresting Shia figures, fearing that the Islamic Republic could use them as an instrument to destabilize the Caucasus nation. Both, Azerbaijan and Iran are Shia-majority countries, although besides religion they have very few things in common. Baku and Tehran have different allies, different priorities and different geopolitical goals.

It is, therefore, not surprising that some Azerbaijani media have reportedly accused Iran of blocking Nakhichivan. If true, Armenia could, at least to a certain extent, benefit from such a move. However, given that Baku and Yerevan have recently resumed Western-brokered talks that should lead to a peace agreement between the two nations, it is rather questionable if the Armenian political leadership is interested in additional tensions in the region.

Still, the situation in the South Caucasus remains rather strained. The International Crisis Group warned on January 1 that “the danger is that the talks go nowhere or another flare-up sinks both the Moscow-led and West-backed tracks, and Azerbaijan takes what it can by force.” Although Russia aims to preserve the region in its geopolitical orbit, neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan seem to be satisfied with the role the Kremlin is playing in Nagorno-Karabakh. Baku is waiting for 2025, which is when the Russian peacekeeping troops’ mandate expires, to establish full control over the region. The Karabakh Armenians, for their part, frequently protest against the Russian peacekeepers, accusing them of not being able to ensure security in the region.

Since Yerevan does not have capacity to protect the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, their leaders have started holding direct talks with Azerbaijan, even though Baku’s goal is to reintegrate them into Azerbaijani society, which is something most of them strongly oppose.

“We aren’t going to give Azerbaijan a mandate to commit ethnic cleansing or genocide in Nagorno Karabakh”, said Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on March 14.

Although Armenia’s room for political maneuver is rather limited, it is expected to attempt to ensure the Karabakh Armenians’ rights, namely through negotiations with Baku, as well as with other regional and global actors. That is why Yerevan insists on international presence in Nagorno Karabakh, which should continue after the expiration of the Russian peacekeepers’ initial mandate in November 2025. But will Azerbaijan, strongly backed by Tukey and Israel, accept any international troops in the region?

One thing is for sure: under the current circumstances, the United States, rather than Russia, remains the only actor that can preserve the status quo in the South Caucasus. But in the long-term, unless Washington pressures Baku and Yerevan to reach a lasting peace agreement, another round of escalation in the region seems to be inevitable.

https://globalcomment.com/karabakh-armenians-between-ethnic-cleansing-and-reintegration-into-azerbaijan/

Armenpress: Armenian Deputy FM and Iraqi parliamentarians discuss issues of regional security and stability

Karapet Navasardian

Save

Share

 21:00,

YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. On March 16, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Vahan Kostanyan received the delegation of the Iraq-Armenia Friendship Group of the Council of Representatives of the Republic of Iraq, headed by Mօhammed Siddik Mohammed, the Chairman of the Group, ARMENPRESS was informed from MFA Armenia.

Welcoming the members of the delegation, Vahan Kostanyan highly appreciated the positive development dynamics of the multi-faceted relations with Iraq, particularly emphasising the role and efforts of the parliaments of the two countries.

The sides discussed a wide range of issues on the agenda of bilateral cooperation, including Armenian-Iraqi cooperation in the spheres of economy, healthcare, education and tourism. The activation of the works within the framework of the Armenian-Iraqi Intergovernmental Commission, as well as political consultations between Foreign Ministries were stressed.

During the meeting, regional security and stability issues were discussed. The Deputy Minister briefed on the normalisation process of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, as well as the situation in the region resulting from the blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan. Vahan Kostanyan underscored the inadmissibility of Azerbaijan’s speculations of the religious factor, as well as the groundless attempts to disrupt the traditional warm relations between Armenia, the Armenian people and the Arab world, noting that Armenia has traditionally friendly relations with the vast majority of Arab states. Vahan Kostanyan expressed gratitude to friendly Iraq for its unbiased position.