Author: Karlen Baghdasarian

Armenpress: Video evidence debunks Azerbaijani “simple and unreasonable” disinformation on March 5 attack

Karlen Baghdasarian

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 09:30, 6 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, ARMENPRESS. The former State Minister of Artsakh Artak Beglaryan issued a statement on the Azerbaijani disinformation regarding the March 5 deadly ambush by Azeri forces against Nagorno Karabakh police officers.

Beglaryan said that the Azerbaijani disinformation is “simple and unreasonable” to such extent that even a child can identify the lies.

Below is the full statement released by Beglaryan.

“The disinformation from Azerbaijani authorities is so simple and unreasonable in its logic that even a kid can identify their lies on the ambush their armed forced carried out on Artsakh policemen today.

  1. The Artsakh police car was traveling from Stepanakert to their duty checkpoint in the Shushi region, while the Azerbaijani side claims that it was traveling from Armenia to Stepanakert. The car’s direction of travel is fully visible in the video published by the Artsakh Police.
  2. With the police vehicle traveling from Stepanakert, it is clearly impossible that they were transferring weapons, or anything for that matter, from Armenia to Artsakh because they were traveling in the opposite direction.
  3. The video also shows the moment Azerbaijani servicemen ambushed the police vehicle, firing then approaching and opening the door then throwing documents, claiming to check for weapons that they didn’t find.
  4. A photo published by the Police also shows the targeted vehicle, at the location, post-attack, was empty, which means that there was no cargo in it.
  5. Besides the fact that the officers were traveling from Stepanakert, they were also traveling in a small vehicle barely large enough for the passengers, how could weapons be transported in such a small car?
  6. The video also shows how the Azerbaijani servicemen were shooting at the car from a distance and then approaching closer and shooting again into the car. Video evidence makes it apparent that only after leaving the location of the attack, Artsakh military positions fired in defense. It refutes Azerbaijani false claims that the Artsakh side shot first.
  7. If the Artsakh side was the first attacker according to the Azerbaijani side, in that case what about the video evidence and why the targeted car and the losses of both sides were on the road under our control over 1 kilometers far from the contact line?
  8. Azerbaijani authorities planned this attack, wrongly assuming their ambush and killing of our people would not receive an adequate and defensive response from the Artsakh military position near the incident location. We have full rights to protect our people from Azerbaijani crimes and genocidal actions.

This is nothing less than a continuation of the ethnic cleansing policy of the Aliyev regime against the people of Artsakh in parallel with their 84-days of blockade.

Azerbaijan has not only done nothing to implement the UN International Court of Justice order, published on February 22, to open the Lachin Corridor for unimpeded movement of persons, cars and cargo, but it continues to deteriorate the humanitarian crisis further with such kind of aggressions.

By the way, the UN International Court of Justice rejected the Azerbaijani application on Armenian munitions saying that there are not sufficient evidence on those claims.

The Aliyev dictatorial regime of Azerbaijan must be punished by the international community for this and previous crimes, including the blockade, otherwise they will continue to escalate their aggressions and commit new and more brutal crimes against humanity and the people of Artsakh.”

ANCA outlines Artsakh-driven US foreign aid priorities

Karlen Baghdasarian
 ANCA ANCA News 0

ANCA Government Affairs Director Tereza Yerimyan making the case on Capitol Hill for aiding Artsakh and holding Azerbaijan accountable.

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) – in grassroots outreach, legislative meetings, appropriation requests and Congressional testimony on Capitol Hill – is rolling out Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) foreign aid priorities aligned with the survival of Artsakh and security of Armenia in the face of escalating threats by Turkey and Azerbaijan.

The ANCA is asking House and Senate appropriators – particularly those that serve on the State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs subcommittees, to fund direct humanitarian aid programs in Artsakh, to prohibit continued US military aid to Azerbaijan and to hold the Aliyev regime accountable for its war crimes, anti-Armenian aggression and ongoing blockade of Artsakh. Policy priorities for Artsakh, Azerbaijan and Armenia are provided below.

Artsakh

Starting in Fiscal Year 1998, Congress began sending direct US aid to Artsakh in the form of maternal health care, clean drinking water and life-saving demining by the HALO Trust. The ANCA is making the case that, in the wake of Azerbaijan’s 2020 attack, and to address the crisis arising from Azerbaijan’s prolonged blockade of the region, this aid program must be meaningfully expanded to meet the humanitarian and recovery needs confronting the families of Artsakh – estimated at well over $250,000,000 – helping them rebuild their lives and resettle in safety upon their indigenous Armenian homeland.

While encouraged by language in the FY23 Consolidated Appropriations Act mandating the Department of State in consultation with USAID prepare a humanitarian assistance strategy to support those impacted by the Artsakh War, the ANCA is requesting that Congress ensure that this strategy is delivered and implemented in order to meet short-term humanitarian needs and support a long-term investment in Artsakh. In terms of the FY24 bill, the ANCA is requesting $75 million for Artsakh:

Refugee Relief: $20,000,000
Food Security: $15,000,000
Energy Security: $10,000,000
Education: $10,000,000
Healthcare: $10,000,000
Water/Sanitation: $5,000,000
Rehabilitation: $3,000,000
Demining/UXO: $2,000,000

Azerbaijan

The ANCA continues to communicate its outrage over the Biden Administration’s reckless and irresponsible decision to continue US military aid to Azerbaijan in the wake of Azerbaijan’s 2020 attack on Artsakh, its assaults and occupation of sovereign Armenian territory and its ongoing blockade of Artsakh. The ANCA is making the case that sending US military aid to Baku – including Section 333 (Capacity Building), Foreign Military Financing and International Military Education and Training – materially adds to Baku’s equipment stores, tactical abilities and offensive capabilities, and frees up state resources for renewed cross-border action against both Artsakh and Armenia. In addition to the material impact the provision of military assistance has had on Azerbaijan’s capacity to wage its war of aggression against the Armenian people, the continuation of US military assistance is viewed by Azerbaijan as a green-light for renewed aggression against Armenia and Artsakh.

In light of Azerbaijan’s ongoing blockade of Artsakh and the humanitarian crisis it has created – which the Administration has noted undermines the prospects for peace in the region – the ANCA contends that the Administration should strictly enforce Section 907 and that Congress, for its part, should rescind the President’s authority to waive this provision of US law and enact statutory prohibitions on any new US military or security aid to Azerbaijan.

Armenia

The ANCA is explaining to legislators, new and old, that Armenia – an ancient Christian nation deeply rooted in Western democratic values – has, despite the crushing economic impact of Turkish and Azerbaijani aggression and blockades, stepped forward as an ally and partner for the United States on a broad array of complex regional challenges. Armenia is a member of NATO’s Partnership for Peace, and the Armenian military has been among the highest per capita providers of peacekeepers to US-led deployments, including those in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Kosovo and Mali. Today, given the existential regional threats to the Armenian homeland, the ANCA is pressing policy-makers to urgently prioritize the security and viability of Artsakh and Armenia above domestic and reform agendas.

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The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.


Armenian, Iranian Foreign Ministers meet in Geneva

Karlen Baghdasarian

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 16:17,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan met with Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Geneva within the framework of the high-level meeting of the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council. 

The foreign ministers discussed issues related to bilateral and multilateral partnership, the Armenian foreign ministry said in a read-out. Both sides were pleased to note the high level political dialogue between Armenia and Iran.

Joint actions for the further development of cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including in the sectors of energy, transport and infrastructures were highlighted.

Ideas were exchanged around issues of security and stability in the region.

Speaking about the grave humanitarian situation resulting from the blockade of Lachin corridor, FM Ararat Mirzoyan stressed that it is imperative that Azerbaijan immediately stops the blockade of Nagorno Karabakh without preconditions in accordance with the terms of the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement.

The implementation of the ICJ ruling was also underscored.

FM Mirzoyan presented the latest developments in the Armenia-Azerbaijan settlement process.

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 is blocked by Azerbaijan since 12 December 2022. Azerbaijan hasn’t yet complied with the order.




Iran reiterates opposition to any geopolitical change in region

Karlen Baghdasarian

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 16:30,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Iran’s relations with Armenia are historical and in line with the interests of the entire region, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said during a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Geneva, IRNA reports.

“We’ve numerously said that the good relations between Tehran and Yerevan aren’t detrimental to any country. We support the development of communication between all countries in the Caucasian region, however being against any geopolitical change in the region is our fundamental policy,” the Iranian FM added.

FM Hossein Amir-Abdollahian added that Armenia and Iran have big potential for development of relations especially in the economic sector.

The foreign ministers discussed issues related to bilateral and multilateral partnership, the Armenian foreign ministry said in a .

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1105122.html?fbclid=IwAR3rDle38LdhWc7iobYWheZCh-MQs1URAykw-SyvEle_gcQ70tnz2jcM_qQ

Dutch lawmakers call for actions to open Lachin corridor as Azeri officials display “absolute ignorance” of ICJ ruling

Karlen Baghdasarian

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 13:14,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Lawmakers in the Netherlands called on Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra to take action for the immediate opening of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan and restoration of unimpeded access to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), the Federation of Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands (FAON) reported.

FAON said that Dutch MP Pieter Outsight and 12 other MPs of parliamentary factions – Brekelmans (VVD), Mulder (CDA), De Roon (PVV), Van Dijk (SP), Van der Staaij (SGP), Ceder (CU), Piri (PvdA), Van der Lee (GroenLinks), Koekkoek (Volt), Teunissen (PvdD), Eppink (Ja21) and Van der Plas (BBB) have consolidated their voices to address questions to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands urging to take action for the immediate opening of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan.

“The questions call for an unambiguous stance in regards to the application of the ICJ order, according to which Azerbaijan must take all necessary measures to halt the blockade and ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor, in both directions, and asks what steps the Netherlands is planning to take in order to have the Azerbaijani authorities implement the ruling. The MPs ask if the Minister has taken note of the fact that the ambassador of Azerbaijan in the Netherlands made provocative tweets about “ongoing NGO’s peaceful action”, which underscores once again the absolute ignorance of the Azerbaijani officials to the ruling of the ICJ. Among other questions the MPs also inquire, in case the Minister shares the opinion that Azerbaijan does not meet the ruling of the Court, if he intends to address the ambassador of Azerbaijan about it. The MP’s also want to know what steps the Netherlands will take towards EU, Council of Europe and UN for the immediate implementation of the ruling. The MPs also ask about Azerbaijan’s obligation, being a member of organisations as UN and Council of Europe, to stop the ongoing violations of human rights and international law, and also this ruling of the International Court of Justice. The FAON also took note and welcomes the statement by the Dutch MFA calling upon Azerbaijan to abide by the legally binding decision of the ICJ. FAON has been active for the opening of Lachin corridor towards Dutch public, media and politics since December 12th, resulting in several debates and 2 motions (December 14 and January 19) and held a 3-day Silent Protest demonstration in front of the parliament on January 17,18,19, submitting a petition on January 17 to the parliament and a rally at the Peace Palace on January 30 in The Hague,” reads the FAON press release.

The United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice – ordered Azerbaijan 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 is blocked by Azerbaijan since 12 December 2022.

UN court calls for end to Nagorno-Karabakh roadblock

Karlen Baghdasarian
 Associated Press

Feb 22 2023

By MIKE CORDER

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The United Nations’ highest court ordered Azerbaijan on Wednesday to “take all steps at its disposal” to allow free movement of traffic along the only road between Armenia and the ethnic Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan that has been blocked by protesters in a move that has further fueled tensions between the two countries.

The legally binding 13-2 ruling by the International Court of Justice results from the latest legal skirmishes in a long-running feud between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. Each country filed a case with the court accusing the other of breaching a convention aimed at stamping out racial discrimination.

Wednesday’s ruling on the blocked road known as the Lachin Corridor came just over two years after the neighboring nations ended a war in Nagorno-Karabakh that killed about 6,800 soldiers and displaced around 90,000 civilians.

The remote and rugged region is within Azerbaijan but had been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since the end of a separatist war in 1994.

A cease-fire brokered by Russia ended the 2020 war and granted Azerbaijan control over parts of Nagorno-Karabakh as well as adjacent land occupied by Armenians. Russia sent a peacekeeping force of 2,000 troops to maintain order, including controlling the Lachin Corridor.

Armenia’s lawyers said during court hearings last month that the roadblock set up late last year by protesters claiming to be environmental activists was part of an Azerbaijani campaign the Armenians labeled “ethnic cleansing.”

International Court of Justice President Joan E. Donoghue said the evidence presented by Armenia established that the blockade “has impeded the transfer of persons of Armenian national and ethnic origin hospitalized in Nagorno-Karabakh to medical facilities in Armenia for urgent medical care.”

It also interrupted supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh of “essential goods causing shortages of food, medicine and other lifesaving medical supplies,” Donoghue said.

In their majority decision, the court’s judges ordered Azerbaijan to “take all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.”

In a statement, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the court’s ruling “took note of Azerbaijan’s representation that Azerbaijan has and undertakes to continue to take all steps within its power and at its disposal to guarantee safe movement along the Lachin road.”

The statement said Azerbaijan “will continue to uphold the rights of all people under international law and to hold Armenia to account for its ongoing and historic grave violations of human rights.”

The court, in its ruling, said that Armenia’s request for judges to order Azerbaijan to “cease its orchestration and support” of the protests on the Lachin Corridor was “not warranted.”

The judges rejected Armenia’s request for an order for Azerbaijan not to block gas supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh, saying that Armenian lawyers did not provide enough evidence to back their claim that Azerbaijan was disrupting the supply.

In a statement, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the court’s ruling “took note of Azerbaijan’s representation that Azerbaijan has and undertakes to continue to take all steps within its power and at its disposal to guarantee safe movement along the Lachin road.”

The statement said Azerbaijan “will continue to uphold the rights of all people under international law and to hold Armenia to account for its ongoing and historic grave violations of human rights.”

The court, in its ruling, said that Armenia’s request for judges to order Azerbaijan to “cease its orchestration and support” of the protests on the Lachin Corridor was “not warranted.”

The judges rejected Armenia’s request for an order for Azerbaijan not to block gas supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh, saying that Armenian lawyers did not provide enough evidence to back their claim that Azerbaijan was disrupting the supply.

The judges also declined a request by Azerbaijan for an order to stop or prevent Armenia from laying landmines and booby traps in areas of the region to which Azerbaijani citizens are to return.

The world court ordered both nations a little over a year ago to prevent discrimination against one another’s citizens in the aftermath of the war and to not further aggravate the conflict.

____

Aida Sultanova in London contributed.

Turkish Press: Azerbaijan says it will not hold talks with ‘representatives’ from outside Karabakh

Karlen Baghdasarian
Anadolu Agency
Turkey – Feb 23 2023
23.02.2023

ISTANBUL

Azerbaijan has said that it will not hold talks with those who present themselves as representatives of the Armenian population living in Karabakh but are, in fact, from outside the region.

“The Azerbaijani side declared that it is ready to hold a dialogue with the representatives who have the right to represent the Armenian residents, and not with those who come to the Karabakh region from outside and present themselves as representatives of the Armenian residents,” a statement by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry read on Wednesday.

The statement was released in response to comments made during a joint press conference between Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Luxembourgian counterpart Jan Asselborn.

It added that Yerevan should not interfere in Baku’s internal affairs and act in accordance with the norms and principles of international law, as well as the Prague and Sochi agreements.

The statement also criticized Asselborn’s comments as “biased”, “ignorant” and “completely contrary to the relevant principles of international law,” noting that “the rights and security of residents of Armenian origin living in the (Karabakh) region will be ensured in accordance with the constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan and its legislative acts.”

“With its statement, the Armenian side demonstrates once again that it is not interested in peace in the region,” the statement said.

It further added that Yerevan’s rejection of Baku’s proposal to establish a border checkpoint to stop the misuse of the Lachin road, connecting Armenia to the Karabakh region, shows the country’s intent to repeat its claims that the protests have created a "blockade" and a "tense humanitarian situation" in the region.

It said the evaluation of Azerbaijan's proposal to establish a border checkpoint by Armenia as “an application of force” demonstrates that Yerevan is “not interested in providing transparency on the Lachin road.”

Relations between the former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

In the fall of 2020, during 44 days of heavy fighting, Azerbaijan liberated a significant part of Karabakh, and a Russian-brokered peace agreement was subsequently signed.

The peace agreement has not, however, ended conflict along the border and other disputes between the two countries.

FM Fayssal Mikdad thanks Armenia for noble stance of solidarity with Syrian people at difficult circumstances

Karlen Baghdasarian

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 14:25,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Syrian Foreign Minister Fayssal Mikdad thanked Armenia at his meeting with Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Damascus for the noble stance of solidarity with the Syrian people at these difficult circumstances.

FM Ararat Mirzoyan is visiting Syria to supervise the delivery of the third batch of humanitarian aid after the earthquake and express solidarity.

“During his reception, Dr. Mikdad welcomed the Armenian minister noting that his visit comes at right time, and it is an _expression_ of historical and firm relations between two countries which continuously are developing to serve the interests of the two peoples. Dr. Mikdad expressed Syria’s thanks to Armenia for its noble stance of solidarity with the Syrian people at these difficult circumstances, SANA news agency reports.

Photos by Hayk Manukyan




Artsakh President explains the reasons for Ruben Vardanyan’s resignation from the post of State Minister

Karlen Baghdasarian
NEWS.am
Armenia – Feb 23 2023
Artsakh President explains the reasons for Ruben Vardanyan's resignation from the post of State Minister
17:21, 23.02.2023

Artsakh President Araik Harutyunyan explained the reasons for Ruben Vardanyan's resignation from the post of State Minister.

As previously reported, the president announced his decision, speaking in the parliament of the republic.

Harutyunyan said that just a few days after Vardanyan's appointment as State Minister, Azerbaijan began a blockade of the Republic, blocking the Lachin corridor. "All this time Ruben Vardanyan and I have been together, following events, developments both in Artsakh and in the outside world on a daily basis, constantly exchanging views on solutions to the situation," Harutyunyan noted, thanking Vadanyan for his desire to share responsibility.

"All this time I was constantly discussing, assessing and analyzing all the problems that existed and were additionally formed after the blockade of Artsakh, I followed the latest geopolitical developments around Artsakh and the South Caucasus, I held a number of consultations and also informed Ruben Vardanyan about them, we had joint discussions. Though each of us may have our own version of what we are going to do and how we are going to do it, Ruben Vardanyan was sympathetic to my position, admitting that in any case I am proficient in the situation, being fully aware of it due to my position, and I can provide comprehensive and insightful assessments of the information more fully," Harutyunyan said.

On the reasons for Ruben Vardanyan's resignation, the president spoke without disclosing brackets, but mentioned the need to "confront the challenges" and "not exhaust the resilience." "Since I myself appointed Mr. Vardanian to the position of Minister of State almost four months ago, I must emphasize that the situation then and now are very different both externally and internally.  Nevertheless, I highly appreciate Mr. Vadanyan's efforts during that period, both in raising international awareness of Artsakh and for the resolution of numerous internal problems during the blockade," Harutyunyan assured.

Without commenting on the various rumors, speculations and publications on the issue, Harutyunyan noted that "no one can feel more pain from this decision than I do." "I will also say that I do not discuss and do not coordinate my steps and decisions with anyone except the people of Artsakh and state bodies. I appointed Ruben Vardanyan to the post of state minister by my decision and made a proposal on my initiative, it was approved by the people of Artsakh, when making such a decision I was aware of the probability and possibility of problems in Azerbaijan and other places, but no one prevented me and could not prevent me from making such a decision," Harutyunyan said. He expressed confidence that Vardanian will remain in Artsakh and increase his efforts aimed at Artsakh's prosperity through his active public activities.

"Regarding the speculations about the differences between me and Ruben Vardanyan on the foreign policy course, I would like to note that the strategic goal of both of us is the Armenian, independent and secure future of Artsakh, we both have the same perception of the vital interests and red lines of the people of Artsakh. Nevertheless, our short-term approaches have certain tactical differences, which are based on the differences in our perception of certain factors, including the highly unpredictable instability in the world and the region, methods of protecting red lines, the efficiency of using Armenian resources and leverage, and the influence of geopolitical actors' interests and leverage," Harutyunyan stated.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 20-02-23

Karlen Baghdasarian

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 17:38,

YEREVAN, 20 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 20 February, USD exchange rate down by 0.54 drams to 392.35 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.34 drams to 419.30 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.01 drams to 5.28 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 2.85 drams to 471.84 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 31.32 drams to 23134.08 drams. Silver price down by 4.79 drams to 267.61 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.