Author: Karapet Navasardian

Armenian, Kyrgyz PMs meet in Kazakhstan, discuss bilateral cooperation

Karapet Navasardian

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 09:36, 5 February, 2021

ALMATY, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met on February 5 with new Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Ulukbek Maripov on the sidelines of his working visit in Kazakhstan, the Armenian PM’s Office told Armenpress.

Nikol Pashinyan congratulated Ulukbek Maripov on appointment, wishing success in his future activities. Pashinyan said Armenia and Kyrgyzstan have a close cooperation at bilateral and multilateral formats, on the sidelines of the integration unions, adding that Armenia is interested in deepening the partnering ties.

The Kyrgyz PM thanked his Armenian counterpart for high appreciation and stated that Kyrgyzstan attaches great importance to the intensification of partnership with Armenia. He said both countries are connected with traditional warm relations, adding that works must be done to deepen both the commercial and the cultural-humanitarian cooperation.

The sides highlighted the high level of the political dialogue and reaffirmed their interest to deepen the mutual relations.

The Armenian and Kyrgyz PMs also exchanged views on the development of the trade-economic cooperation. In this context they touched upon the opportunities to be available as a result of the reopening of transportation communications and the unblocking of roads in the region. The officials agreed to intensify the high-level mutual contacts.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenian historian Hamlet Petrosyan reacts to another Azerbaijani slander

Karapet Navasardian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 1 2021

Armenian Doctor of History, Professor Hamlet Petrosyan, who leads the archeological excavations in Artsakh’s Tigranakert, reacted to another slander by Azerbaijan in a statement on Sunday. The full text of the statement is below.

"In the Azerbaijani media domain, they post pictures from my Facebook page, which show, among others, the packaging of the materials of the Tigranakert Archaeological Museum. The Azerbaijanis present the materials of the excavations in Tigranakert as "the result of illegal excavations", describing the evacuation of these items from the war zone as "theft of Azerbaijani cultural heritage".

I would like to remind the semi-literate propagandists of the aggressive state that the archeological excavations in Tigranakert were carried out at the official invitation and with the permission of the Artsakh authorities, that they were financed from the Artsakh state budget. The Tigranakert Archaeological Museum was established, operated by the decision of the legitimate authorities of Artsakh, with funding of the government of Artsakh. The archeological research of Tigranakert was carried out on a full legal basis, with high professionalism, the results of the research were regularly presented to the international scientific community. It's just ridiculous to talk about a secret process.

Let me mention that Azerbaijani archaeologists, who worked in the area in the 60s and 80s of the last century, did not see the archeological traces of the old city. I urge them not to be so jealous of what they have not been able to find.

During the 44-day war, Tigranakert became an area of enemy shelling, about which we have warned more than once. As a result, the Tigranakert archeological site were completely destroyed. The Artsakh authorities and I, our research team, could not allow the Tigranakert Archaeological Museum to suffer such a fate. The archeological findings of Tigranakert are the property of the people of Artsakh, the issues of its protection are not within the competence of Baku, but Stepanakert. In case of peace, they will be returned to Stepanakert and will be exhibited in the museum to be created for it.

The fact that Artsakh is not politically recognized does not deprive its indigenous people of their right to culture. Including the right to research and promote cultural heritage. So, the archeological research of Tigranakert was carried out on an absolutely legal basis.

The Azerbaijani ideology of depriving the people of Artsakh of their cultural heritage is a continuation of the genocide of the Armenian cultural heritage. Genocide, which we have witnessed for decades, genocide, which culminated in 2005-2006 by destruction of thousands of khachkars in Jugha, the genocide that gained momentum during Azerbaijan's and Turkey’s recent aggression, continues every day. And it can not be justified by false political statements and false accusations.

My colleagues and I will continue the research of Artsakh's cultural heritage, its popularization and the revelations of Azerbaijani vandalism. Aggression, military domination, defamation of international bodies are not competent and cannot deprive the people of Artsakh of the right to preserve their identity with their cultural heritage."

Artsakh FM sends letters to UN, UNESCO chiefs over destruction of Armenian cultural heritage by Azerbaijan

Karapet Navasardian
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 26 2021

Artsakh Foreign Minister David Babayan on Tuesday sent letters to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay in connection with the systematic and deliberate destruction by the Azerbaijani authorities of the Armenian cultural heritage in the territories of the Republic of Artsakh under the occupation of Azerbaijan, which is a gross violation of international law.

The letters present detailed facts on the consistent commitment of similar crimes by the Azerbaijani authorities, in the Soviet period and the following years, with the aim of partially or completely destroying any evidence of Armenian presence in the territories under Azerbaijani control, the Artsakh Foreign Ministry reported. 

In particular, it is noted that the most tragic fact in the practice of eradication of the Armenian cultural heritage was the deliberate destruction of several thousand medieval khachkars (cross-stones) at the Armenian cemetery of Old Jugha (Julfa) in Nakhijevan in 1997-2006.

The letters also state that during the Soviet period and Azerbaijani military aggression against the Republic of Artsakh in 1992-1994, no less than 167 Armenian churches, 8 Armenian monastic complexes, and 123 historical Armenian cemeteries were ruined, obliterated and completely destroyed by the Azerbaijani authorities. During the same period, some 2500 Armenian khachkars (cross-stones) and more than 10,000 Armenian tombstones were destroyed and used as building material.

The letter emphasized that such policy of Azerbaijan became more intensive during the military aggression unleashed against the Republic of Artsakh on September 27, 2020 and is still underway, which is a real threat of complete destruction of the Armenian cultural heritage in the territories under the Azerbaijani military occupation in the near future. In particular, attention is drawn to the fact that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces deliberately missile-struck Ghazanchetsots (Holy Saviour) Cathedral, located in the town of Shushi, utilizing an optically-guided unmanned aerial vehicle – not once, but twice. It is also noted that numerous videos and photos are distributed regularly on the Internet by the servicemen of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, evidencing their deliberate destruction of monuments and artefacts of Armenian cultural heritage.

The foreign minister called on the heads of the international organizations to take effective steps to ensure the protection of Armenian historical, cultural, and religious monuments and to demand that the Azerbaijani authorities respect and fulfill their obligations to preserve Armenian cultural heritage that is currently under their control and to abandon their dissolute policy of its erasure and destruction.

Attached to the letters was the report of the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh on vandalism against the Armenian cultural heritage in the occupied territories of the Republic of Artsakh and the threat of destruction of Armenian monuments.

‘Impunity leads to more torture’, Armenian ombudsman tells Foreign Policy

Karapet Navasardian
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 29 2021

Justice will be a bedrock for any sustainable peace, Armenia’s Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan told Foreign Policy, referring to the war crimes committed by the Azerbaijani forces against Armenian soldiers during the recent Artsakh war.

“Impunity leads to more torture,” said Tatoyan, whose office has prepared several reports documenting torture and inhumane treatment of Armenian prisoners of war (POWs).

“Impunity is a very dangerous thing,” he added. 

First woman gets private pilot license in Armenia

Karapet Navasardian
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 28 2021

The first woman named Diana has been granted a private pilot license in Armenia, Chair of Armenia’s Civil Aviation Committee Tatevik Revazian said in a tweet on Thursday.

"Meet Diana, the first female Private Pilot License (PPL) holder in Armenia. As the first female Director General of Civil Aviation Authority in Armenia it’s a BIG honour to see more female involvement. And guess what! She is pregnant," she tweeted, adding "inspiration" and "femalepilot" hashtags.

 

https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2021/01/28/woman-PPL-Armenia/2442695

Azerbaijani media outlet distorts German FM’s remarks on mercenaries involved in war against Artsakh

Karapet Navasardian

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 14:08,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani media outlets continue their policy of distorting the facts. This time they have distorted the remarks of German Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.

In particular, Sputnik Azerbaijan reported that the German FM, commenting on the issue of involvement of mercenaries by Azerbaijan into the war against Artsakh, has stated that no evidence has been found on that.

Meanwhile, the transcript of the full speech of the German FM shows that he hasn’t made any such statement, quite the contrary, the minister stated that they are aware of this issue, adding that this is not the only conflict where Syrian mercenaries are involved in.

“We are familiar with the issue of Syrian mercenaries involved in the war against Nagorno Karabakh. I think we need to understand that this is not the only conflict at this moment where Syrian mercenaries are involved in. We have a similar situation also in Libya. Based on the information we have [over Karabakh], we suppose that there are still some Syrian mercenaries left in the conflict zone, and all international efforts were made to understand how they have been used, their actual number and who bears responsibility for their presence, however, we do not have a final information on this matter yet”, the German FM has said.

He stated that Germany, as a member state of the OSCE Minsk Group, is ready to make efforts for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

European Parliament strongly condemns Turkey’s destabilizing role in Karabakh

Karapet Navasardian
Panorama, Armenia
Jan 22 2021

In the resolution on the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy – annual report 2020 adopted on Wednesday, January 20, the European Parliament (EP) denounces Turkey’s destabilizing role in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh).

The resolution says the European Parliament takes good note of the agreement on a complete ceasefire in and around Nagorno-Karabakh signed by Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on 9 November 2020 and hopes that this agreement will save the lives of both civilians and military personnel and open brighter perspectives for a peaceful settlement of this deadly conflict.

It regrets that changes to the status quo were made through military force, rather than peaceful negotiations, strongly condemns the killing of civilians and destruction of civilian facilities and places of worship, condemns the reported use of cluster munitions in the conflict, urges both Armenia and Azerbaijan to ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which comprehensively bans their use, without further delay.

The resolution stresses that a lasting settlement still remains to be found and that the process of achieving peace and determining the region’s future legal status should be led by the Minsk Group co-chairs and founded on the group’s Basic Principles, highlights the urgent need to ensure that humanitarian assistance can reach those in need, that the security of the Armenian population and its cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh is ensured, and that internally displaced persons and refugees are allowed to return to their former places of residence.

The EP calls for all allegations of war crimes to be duly investigated and those responsible to be brought to justice and calls on the EU to be more meaningfully involved in the settlement of the conflict and not to leave the fate of the region in the hands of other powers.

The resolution takes the view that the EU needs to urgently define a better geopolitical and overall strategy for its short-, mid- and long-term relations with Turkey, particularly in the light of continued democratic backsliding and the growing assertiveness of Turkey’s foreign policy, which is contributing to the escalation of tensions and having a destabilizing impact that threatens regional peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and South Caucasus, and its role in conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh.

In Article 38 the European Parliament strongly condemns the destabilizing role of Turkey which further undermines the fragile stability in the whole of the South Caucasus region and calls on Turkey to refrain from any interference in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, including offering military support to Azerbaijan, and to desist from its destabilizing actions and actively promote peace. It condemns, furthermore, the transfer of foreign terrorist fighters by Turkey from Syria and elsewhere to Nagorno-Karabakh, as confirmed by international actors, including the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries and regrets its willingness to destabilize the OSCE Minsk Group as it pursues ambitions of playing a more decisive role in the conflict.

Armenian FM highlights solution of the issue of POWs in a phone conversation with Russian FM

Karapet Navasardian

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 18:44,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Aivazian held a phone conversation with the Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov on January 13, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia.

In the context of the meeting of the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in Moscow on January 11, the Ministers discussed issues of regional security and stability. Minister Aivazian emphasized the full and immediate implementation of the obligation on the repatriation of the prisoners of war, captives and other detained persons enshrined in the statement of November 9, 2020.

During the conversation the sides also touched upon the agenda of Armenian-Russian allied relations.

Chiefs of Armenian, Azerbaijani security services meet again to discuss the exchange of POWs

Karapet Navasardian
Public Radio of Armenia
Jan 10 2021
The National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia denies rumors claiming the chiefs of the National Security Services of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet in Tavush region tomorrow.
 
The NSS says a meeting in that format was held days ago in the neutral zone in the vicinity of Yeraskh community in Ararat province.
 
The chiefs of the security services of the two countries held another meeting today on the territory of Vorotan and Shurnush communities in Syunik province to discuss issues related to the exchange of prisoners and search for the missing.
 
The NSS notes that Mediaport and a number of other information platforms have been spreading false news and obvious misinformation in recent days claiming that territorial and border issues are on the agenda of the meetings, thus deliberately misleading the public.
 
“Based on the overriding interest of the nation and the state, the director of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia exclusively exercises the powers vested in him by law, has never engaged an will not engage in any function outside the scope of those powers,” the NSS said in a statement.
 

MEP Fragkos to GCT: Greeks and Armenians have a common experience going back 2,000 years

Karapet Navasardian
Greek News Times

Jan 9 2021
 
 
by Paul Antonopoulos
 
“Having travelled a lot, I wondered why Greeks look down on themselves. We really are a global exception. If we consider our incomparable past, it does not make sense to not be proud of ourselves.”
 
27-year-old Chios-born Member of the European Parliament, Emmanouil Fragkos, explains the above as the reason why he decided to enter politics on the European stage and become a member of the Hellenic Solution (Ελληνική Λύση) Party.
 
Although a qualified veterinarian, which allowed him to serve in the medical services of the Greek military during his compulsory conscription, he joined the Hellenic Solution “in order to face the reasons and the actors that spread misery in Greek society. Plus, I believe we have to urgently find solutions for our national issues.”
 
Greek City Times spoke with MEP Emmanouil Fragkos on a variety of issues, including Greek-Turkish relations, the European Council, as well as the situation in Armenia, Syria and elsewhere.
 
1) We had a very turbulent 2020 between the COVID-19 pandemic and Turkish hostilities, but it was also a year that saw huge changes in Greece. Greece improved its relations with many non-EU/NATO countries like Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and India. Is Greece heading in the right direction in terms of its foreign policy and what could be improved?
 
Greece must always invest in its relations with major third countries. Personally, I have taken specific initiatives for all the countries that you refer to.
 
Firstly, and sadly, I was the only Greek MEP that voted against an anti-Egyptian resolution.
 
Indeed the Egyptian regime is not flawless but if it collapses, the “gates of hell will open”: The Muslim Brotherhood will be re-established, Egypt will fall under Turkish influence, and the country – which is the only Arab country that currently does not send away but, instead, receives migrants – will be destabilised. A new “Arab Spring”.
 
No other Greek MEP thought of it this way.
 
I have co-signed a Written Question to the Commission, supportive of the Abraham Accords, wishing to bring the UAE, Bahrain and Israel closer to the EU.
 
I have tabled a few pro-Indian amendments and I am in constant communication with Indian diplomats. Recently, we started discussing an initiative in order to counter Islamic extremism in both the EU and India.
 
Guess which country supports this extremism!
 
You thought right. Turkey.
 
Also, I am proud of my attempts to create bridges with Russia. It is true that for certain EU countries Russia is seen as an enemy, but for long-term Greek interests, we have to reach out to Russia. I envisage the end of this New Cold War, starting from a decision that the EU did take against Russia but failed to take against Turkey.
 
2) 2020 was one of the most tense and difficult years in Greek-Turkish relations, but many in the European Union were not willing to acknowledge this reality or willing to impose sanctions against Turkey. What is the best way moving forward for the European Union to de-escalate Turkish hostilities against Greece and Cyprus?
 
I would identify this problem with the European Council. Different countries have a variety of interests with Turkey. Certainly, often there are publicly unspoken reasons that lead foreign affairs.
 
Certain cases that we can explain are, for instance, Germany’s exports to Turkey, Spanish and Italian fears over their economy, Malta’s banking sector and Azeri money.
 
Clearly, certain colleagues in the European Parliament expect some support from the Turkish lobby in return for their positive stance towards Turkey. I would propose that you search the stance of MEPs from Left parties in countries with big Turkish communities.
 
I keep on repeating that they should prioritise legality, solidarity and democratic values.
 
3) Turkey has been so emboldened due to the lack of repercussions that it partially reopened Varoshia in occupied northern Cyprus in violation of United Nations resolutions. At a European level, what can be done to not only reverse the partial reopening of Varoshia, but bring a final settlement to the Cyprus issue?
 
We need to try to implement the UN Security Council Resolutions. How can this be? Our major tool is trade. We must remember the illegitimate action of Turkey and push the EU to impose sanctions.
 
Turkey should be able to see a clear “stick and carrot policy.” Sanctions should be the new normal for Turkey. These sanctions should be in force, until it aligns with international legitimacy.
 
4) We saw on September 27 the start of the Turkish-sponsored invasion of Armenian-controlled Artsakh. How do you view this aggression?
 
Greeks and Armenians have a common experience that goes back about two millennia.
 
The dramatic experience during the last years of the Ottoman Empire, when practically all the Christians were “cleansed” out of the Ottoman Empire, has been a common dramatic experience for Greeks and Armenians.
 
Unfortunately, Greece did nothing to stop the most recent crimes.
 
The EU did nothing.
 
I personally supported, through letters and Parliamentary Questions to the Commission and the Council, a variety of actions so we could stop the Turkish aggression against Armenia, but…
 
5) Do you think pan-European diplomacy needs improving, and if so, how can this be achieved?
 
A policy of principles would mean prioritising legitimacy over trade. If Morocco would occupy Spanish land, we would not be able to keep normal relations with Morocco.
 
So we should be reminded that economics is the prerequisite of in-dependence.
 
A stronger Greece could have a stronger voice in the EU and globally in order to make things happen.
 
Pan-European action is real in certain policy areas like trade. If Europe uses it for our interests/legality, it can give ground to reliability, allowing for a strengthened cooperation.
 
6) On December 29, from your Twitter account, you made a video directed to German MEP Erik Marquardt, one of the biggest supporters of flooding Greece with illegal immigrants. Did you receive a response from MEP Marquardt?
 
Not yet, I would be surprised if I would receive a reply.
 
True progressives don’t reply. They simply fan the flames of their progressivism by rambling on and on about the same narrative.
 
We must be reminded that German industry needed low-cost labour. The whole of Europe had to pay the price of migration that we did not want.
 
We must never stop saying migration is something that:
 
A) European countries don’t want.
 
B) The countries of origin don’t want, and
 
C) Illegal migrants (should) realise it is against their interests.
 
One more point is that the humanists should realise how many people die and suffer through this process.
 
 
Our reply to the German MEP @ErikMarquardt that smears Greece, in the EP, on the issue of illegal migration, trying to enforce an open #border_policy on us.
Απάντηση στον Γερμανό ευρωβουλευτή Marquardt που συκοφαντεί καθημερινά την Ελλάδα θέλοντας να μας επιβάλλει ανοιχτά σύνορα. pic.twitter.com/CCvoXzae0Z
 
— EMMANOUIL FRAGKOS FRAGKOULIS MEP🇬🇷 (@e_fragkos) December 29, 2020
 
 
 
7) Syria is still in a state of war due to Turkish-support for jihadist organizations and suffering because of US-EU imposed sanctions. With Syria traditionally being a friend of Greece and thousands of Greek Orthodox Christians living in Syria, will improving relations with Damascus be a priority for you?
 
The “Arab Spring” was a dead end. Certain countries require certain forms of governance, at least for a certain period of time.
 
I can assure you it is very inconvenient for the West that their attempted removal of Assad failed. Despite the changing governments, Greece doubted Al-Assad.
 
You’re making a great point about the Greek Orthodox of Syria that have been overlooked by every government, let alone the Alawites and Druze that refer to elements of Greek philosophy – but we never tried to approach them.
 
We need to find an updated modus operandi with the Syrian government and, no, Syria cannot become Sweden anytime soon.
 
If Syria is sovereign, then Turkey will stop violating northern Syrian, which is a geopolitically important region.
 
Greece needs good relations with Syria.
 
8) It appears Turkey is attempting to instigate a conflict with Greece through endless provocations. If a conflict was to occur, is Greece prepared to face the Turkish threat, and what more can we do to prepare Greece if such a conflict is to occur?
 
Si vis pacem, para bellum (If you want peace, prepare for war).
 
The Hellenic Solution has played a very constructive role in the Greek Parliament, insisting on upgrading our defence systems.
 
I can assure you that if we were not in the Greek Parliament, the majority would have been dragged by the wishy-washy SYRIZA opposition.
 
A strong defence is the only language that the Turks understand. More than that, sanctions is our response on the European level.