Author: Paul Hambardsumian

Asbarez: Kapan Military Posts to be Surrendered to Azerbaijan by 5 p.m. Friday

Paul Hambardsumian

December 17,  2020



City of Kapan in Armenia’s Syunik Province

Kapan Mayor Gevorg Parsyan was informed on Thursday that all military positions in the city, which is in Armenia’s Syunik Province, must be surrendered to Azerbaijani forces by 5 p.m. Friday, news.am reported.

“The Defense Ministry has issued an order to surrender to the enemy, by 5 p.m. [local time] tomorrow, all the positions we held for the defense of Kapan,” Parsyan said, adding that this will make the entire city defenseless.

Parsyan explained that with this retreat or surrender the security zone around the city of Kapan will disappear and that “the enemy will be one kilometer from our residential zone, and 200 to 300 meters from the airport. Our rural roads will be blocked. This is an ugly situation.”

The Kapan mayor 10 village will be impacted by the new mandate, among them the Akarag, Yeghvart, Khndrants, Oujanis, Jakaten, Shikahogh, Srashen, Nerkin Hand, Tzav, Shikert villages, the latter six of which will have no other transportation routes.

He said that he had been raising the alarm about this since the November 9 agreement, which ended the war, but has called into question Armenia’s territorial integrity and saw the surrender of Artsakh territories to Azerbaijan.

“I have been saying that if such a situation occurs where we are returning to Soviet era boundaries, Kapan will be rendered defenseless,” explained Parsyan, who said that if there were any discussions about this, he was not included in them.

He said that he was informed of the possibility of Russian guards being stationed along the border, whose main task would have been to ensure the safety of the roads leading to the city.

Armenia’s Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan was visiting the Syunik Province, but had not visited Kapan at the time of Parsyan’s statements.

Local residents blocked Kapan roads in protest of the imminent handover of positions.

Parsyan and the residents are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Defense Ministry: Video showing Armenian servicemen being freed from siege authentic

Paul Hambardsumian
Panorama, Armenia

Dec 16 2020

A video circulated on the web and showing a group of Armenian servicemen being freed from a siege in the area near His Tagher and Khtsaberd villages of Hadrut region is authentic, Armenia's defense ministry reported in a statement. 

"The operation was facilitated thanks to practical steps of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Artsakh and at the personal meditation of Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov," the ministry added. 

To note, the Artsakh Defense Army earlier reported that it had  lost contact with the personnel of several military positions deployed near Hin Tagher and Khtsaberd villages of Hadrut in yet unknown circumstances on Tuesday evening. 


Artsakh identifies 33 more KIA troops

Paul Hambardsumian

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 12:24,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Defense of Artsakh released the names of 33 more troops who were killed in action in the war, bringing the number of identified KIAs to 1779.

As of the latest official information the death toll stood at 2718.

The total number of the killed troops and those missing in action are yet to be announced as the search and retrieval of bodies, as well as the identification process continues. 

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Erdogan: France’s Karabakh resolution is a ‘disaster’

Paul Hambardsumian
Middle East Eye
Dec 6 2020
Erdogan: France's Karabakh resolution is a 'disaster'

December 6, 2020 at 1:59 pm

The Turkish president on Saturday termed a French parliament resolution on Upper Karabakh a "complete disaster."

"The decision taken the previous day in the parliament of France, the co-chair of the [OSCE] Minsk Group, is a complete disaster beyond the scandal," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the opening ceremony of a newly built motorway in eastern Turkey via video link.

A so-called French resolution to recognise Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state was adopted on Friday.

Erdogan noted that Azerbaijan did not attack anyone or anyone's lands, and it just liberated its own lands that had been occupied by Armenia for nearly 30 years despite UN and OSCE resolutions.

"It [Azerbaijan] did this by remaining within the framework of legitimacy, not by targeting civilians and civilian settlements like Armenians," Erdogan stressed.

Read: Azerbaijani parliament slams French senate's resolution

Referring to the French resolution, he said that such an attack on the sovereignty rights of a state is "unacceptable".

"We hope that the international public will react to this approach, which is dangerous and will threaten all states, initiated by France," Erdogan said.

The Turkish president also warned that Europe would get the most damage from this distortion, as it owes its current political unity to "a very bloody and dark period of struggle."

Azerbaijan says 2,783 soldiers killed in Nagorno-Karabakh clashes

Paul Hambardsumian
Al Jazeera, Qatar
Dec 3 2020

For the first time, Baku announces military death toll from six weeks of fighting over region.

3 Dec 2020

Azerbaijan has said that 2,783 of its soldiers were killed during its conflict with ethnic Armenian forces over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and that more than 100 of its troops were still missing.

Azerbaijan had until Thursday not disclosed any of its military losses in the conflict that erupted on September 27 and came to a halt on November 10 when a Russian-brokered peace deal ushered in a ceasefire.

Swaths of territory in Nagorno-Karabakh previously controlled by ethnic Armenians were handed over to Azerbaijan, whose forces had captured territory including areas that Baku lost in an earlier war in the 1990s.

Armenia has not yet disclosed a final death toll for its military, but an ethnic Armenian official confirmed on November 14 that 2,317 soldiers had been killed.

Dozens of civilians from both sides also died during the conflict, which saw Azerbaijan and Armenia accused of using cluster munitions in civilian areas.

In a separate development, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would visit Ankara’s staunch ally, Azerbaijan, on December 9 and 10.

The planned visit is the first by a foreign head of state to Baku since the ceasefire.

Ankara announced on Tuesday that Turkey and Russia have agreed to monitor the Karabakh truce from a joint peacekeeping centre.

Last month, the Turkish parliament voted to deploy a mission to set up the centre with Russia, while Moscow has insisted that Turkey will have no troops on the ground under the terms of the truce deal.

Turkish officials have said the centre will be established in an area designated by Azerbaijan.

Source : Al Jazeera and News agencies


Advisor to Artsakh President comments on possibility of re-opening Stepanakert airport

Paul Hambardsumian

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 16:59, 1 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Advisor to the president of Artsakh Davit Babayan says in case of unblocking transport communication routes as envisaged by the statement signed by the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan, the re-launch of the airport of Stepanakert should be put into discussion.

“With the support of the Russian side, the re-opening of the Stepanakert airport will create a second important route connecting with the external world. Moreover, after its re-opening the airport can become an important transportation hub, as well as will enable to solve socio-economic issues”, Davit Babayan told Armenpress, adding that according to his information during the recent military operations the airport of Stepanakert has been targeted, but didn’t suffer serious damages.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenian defense minister, Russian Ambassador highlight activity of humanitarian center in Karabakh

Paul Hambardsumian

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 18:27,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan received today Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergei Kopyrkin, the ministry told Armenpress.

Ambassador Kopyrkin congratulated Vagharshak Harutyunyan on appointment as Armenia’s defense minister.

During the meeting the sides highly valued the dynamics of the Armenian-Russian allied cooperation and political dialogue, as well as the productive partnership in the defense sector.

Defense Minister Harutyunyan specifically highlighted the role and efforts of Russia aimed at stabilizing the military-political situation in the region, the efficiency of the ongoing peacekeeping mission in Artsakh within the frames of the implementation of the November 10 statement signed by Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The officials also attached importance to the activity of the Russian inter-agency humanitarian center in the territory of Nagorno Karabakh aimed at the return of the refugees, restoration of civilian infrastructure, search for those killed, captured and missing in action and combination of the activities of various organizations in the humanitarian field.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

TURKISH press: Senior Turkish officials, minority communities discuss minority rights, steps against hate crimes

Paul Hambardsumian
 ISTANBUL LEGISLATION 
NOV 30, 2020 11:52 AM GMT+3
Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül and Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalın chair a meeting with the representatives of minority communities in Turkey at the Dolmabahçe Presidential Office in Istanbul, Nov. 29, 2020. (AA Photo)

Senior Turkish officials discussed minority rights and steps that can be taken against hate crimes in a meeting Sunday with the spiritual leaders of minority communities and representatives from minority foundations.

Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew; Archbishop Sahak Maşalyan, the 85th Armenian patriarch of Turkey; Yusuf Çetin, the metropolitan bishop of the Istanbul-Syriac Church, and Ishak Haleva, chief rabbi of the Jewish community in Turkey, were present at the meeting held in the Dolmabahçe presidential working office in Istanbul.

Yusuf Çetin (L), the metropolitan bishop of the Istanbul-Syriac Church, and Ishak Haleva, chief rabbi of the Jewish community in Turkey, are seen attending to a meeting with the representatives of minority communities in Turkey at the Dolmabahçe Presidential Office in Istanbul, Nov. 29, 2020. (AA Photo)

Following the three-hour session, Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül and Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalın spoke to Turkish media.

Gül said they had an important and efficient consultation with the representatives, adding that decisive steps have been taken over the last 18 years under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).

"Since 2008, we have seen once again that the steps we took regulating foundations yielded very important results in removing obstacles from minorities," Gül said.

He went on to say that suggestions regarding property rights, the right to education and the right to organize were discussed.

Noting that the ruling AK Party has demonstrated its desire to increase freedom for all citizens, Gül said they also addressed further steps that can be taken against hate crimes.

Kalın also said the meeting was very productive.

He said minority community members who were unable to address the state before are now accepted and have a voice.

"As you know, with the Endowments Law enacted in 2008, a historical, revolutionary change took place and the properties and immovables that belonged to the foundations were returned."

He added that some specific issues related to churches, schools and properties that were on the minority representatives' agenda were also discussed at the meeting.

"It is extremely important that we fight against hate crimes and discrimination with a single voice, especially at a time when anti-Islamism, anti-Semitism and anti-Christianity are on the rise all over the world," he said. "We have stated here once again that there is no legal or humanitarian basis to condemn, accuse or make anyone an object of hate, regardless of their religious identity, because of their religion, ethnic identity or belief."

The meeting came amid recent reform efforts in the areas of law, the economy and democracy. Representatives of minority communities relayed their problems and expectations, describing the meeting as "positive, hopeful and solution-oriented."

In a written statement released by the Armenian patriarch, Maşalyan said that one of the consensuses that representatives of minority communities reached was the displeasure with the exploitation of issues related to minority communities in Turkey by international actors as a political tool.

“It was emphasized that there is a state structure in Turkey which is willing to listen to these problems and ready to take steps for producing solutions,” he said.

Sait Susin, the chairperson of the executive board for the Virgin Mary Assyrian Church Foundation located in Istanbul's Beyoğlu district, also said that it is very important and thoughtful that authorities noted their opinions and expectations for the planned democratic reform efforts.

In the past decades, Turkey has moved to reinstate the rights of minorities and help their survival as their numbers have dwindled over time. Long treated as second-class citizens, the Greek, Jewish, Armenian and Syrian communities have praised the return of their rights, though they have complained about it being a slow process.

Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) & Armenia: Let’s Stay In The Solution

Paul Hambardsumian
The Blunt Post
Nov 21 2020

By Vic Gerami

As an Armenian-American activist journalist, I have been covering Artsakh and Armenia almost exclusively for the last seven weeks. I write editorials, interview members of Congress about the situation on my radio show, give interviews to TV programs, and rebuttal biased, ill-informed, and lazy journalists about 14 hours a day, 7 days a week. I co-produced the ‘I Stand With Artsakh & Armenia‘ celebrity PSAs. I also read quite a lot of articles about Artsakh and Armenia from various sources of media. Finally, I read posts from fellow Armenians on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

My experience of reading social media posts is that a lot of people do what’s called ‘dumping’ in 12-Step. Dumping is when someone shares at a 12-Step meeting about their life, a bad situation, a personal challenge by unloading all the negative, but without suggesting a solution or what they are going to do to address the problem/challenge/negative feeling.

I realize that all of us are hurting very badly and in a lot of pain to say the least. And that we need to get things off our chest, be heard, and vent to fellow Armenians who understand the pain. We are traumatized, shellshocked, and stunned that we just went through another genocidal attack and ethnic cleansing in the hands of Azeris & Turks in 2020. Further, we are angry and feel betrayed that the world abandoned us-again.

But here is the issue with dumping merely negative information, pessimistic views, and doomsday predictions in a group without suggesting a solution, an alternate approach, or a productive course of action. Dumping may feel good momentarily as we get something off our chest, but it does not have a lasting effect. It also exasperates all the negative feelings that we are going through and puts salt into the wound. Simply, it keeps us in the problem and not the solution.

It fans the flames of negativity and pessimism. While it’s natural to have a mourning period while we cry, complain, vent, and even lash out, we need to channel those feelings into solution-based actions at some point. Since I am a grateful recovering alcoholic with 12+ years in a 12-Step program, I will give you an example of how this is done.

Let me give you an example of a share, first the ‘stuck in the problem’ version, followed by an ‘in the solution’ alternate.

“I just watched a video of Azeris damaging an Armenian church in Artsakh and vandalizing historical monuments. It’s like Nakhichevan all over again. Those savages will destroy all our cultural riches so they can claim that they were in Artsakh first. And nobody cares, the world turned a blind-eye the first time and they will do it again.”

Alternate: “I just watched a video of Azeris damaging an Armenian church in Artsakh and vandalizing historical monuments. This cannot be like Nakhichevan all over again. We are more awake and have better resources to stop it before it’s too late. We must make noise and expose them for what they are doing. Let’s write, call, and tweet the main international organizations that have to do with cultural heritage-UNESCO, ICCROM, Council of Europe Steering Committee for Cultural Heritage and Landscape, and EAC.”

The alternate share leads us out of the problem and puts us in the solution. I hope this helps at least one person. Again, this is simply my experience, strength, and hope. It is merely a suggestion. Take what you like and leave the rest.

Kind regards to Armenians all over the globe. Let’s remember that we are doing our best and should not be hard on ourselves. And I will leave you with this. ‘We cannot think ourselves into right action, we can only act ourselves into right thinking.’


7 Villages in Martakert to be Surrendered to Azerbaijan

Paul Hambardsumian

November 19,  2020



Martakert

According to the “end of war” document, which stipulates the surrender of Artsakh territories to Azerbaijan, seven villages in the Martakert Province, which is to remain under Artsakh control, will have to be handed over to Azerbaijan.

According to Artsakh authorities Azerbaijan is claiming that the seven villages fall in Aghdam, which is scheduled to be surrendered on Friday.

The seven areas in Martakert that are to be surrendered to Azerbaijan

Artsakh authorities said the villages of Nor Maragha, Nor Aygestan, Nor Seysulan, Nor Karmiravan, Nor Haykajur, Hovtashen and Nor Jraberd, as well as the city of Akna in the Martakert Province “are being fall under the control of Azerbaijan, pursuant to the terms of the trilateral agreement on ending the Karabakh war signed by the Armenian Prime Minister and the Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan.”

Artsakh authorities have been moving the property of more than 2,000 residents from these villages and working to ensure accommodation for them.