Author: Suren Karakhanian

Asbarez: WATCH: Euronews Asks Pashinyan and Aliyev Same Questions. See How they Respond

Suren Karakhanian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 August 1, 2023

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories, Videos

Euronews interviewed Pashinyan and Aliyev for a special report that aired on Aug. 1


Europnews chief international correspondent Anelise Borges recently traveled to Lachin and Armenia and interviewed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan individually.

She posed the same questions to both leaders and presented the responses in a special report that aired on the influential European news channel on Tuesday.

“We have been negotiating for months to get the opportunity to meet with two of the leading politicians of the countries involved in one of the longest conflicts in the world. We offered to ask the same questions to Ilham Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan and give them the opportunity to express their point of view on the conflict  and  on perspectives of the world,” Borges said in her introduction.

While Pashinyan was interviewed in the prime minister’s palace in Yerevan, it appears that Aliyev was interviewed in the occupied Artsakh city of Shushi, on the margins of a media conference the Azerbaijani leader hosted there a few weeks back.

Borges also traveled to Lachin on an Azerbaijani military helicopter and filed a separate report from there, also speaking to Stepanakert-based journalist Marut Vanyan.

“Perhaps the most interesting thing during my trips to Azerbaijan and Armenia was what I saw and heard, talking not with politicians, but with locals — from both sides. Resentment, pain and that inextricable connection with the land of Karabakh that they feel, all this unites and divides them equally,” Borges observed in her report.

“Whether diplomats in Europe, the United States or Moscow agree, efforts to achieve peace must be done with an eye on the people and for the people.This will take generations, but only in this way it will be possible to build a new reality for the inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan,” she concluded.

Below is a close transcription of the interview, the YouTube video of which is provided below.

“Not a Peace Treaty”
Euronews:  Mr. President Aliyev, Mr. Prime Minister Pashinyan, thank you for this conversation. Nagorno-Karabakh has become the scene of one of the most violent conflicts in the recent history of Transcaucasia. And after the signing of the peace agreement in 2020, tensions are not decreasing. How do you explain this unrelenting hostility?

Ilham Aliyev:  Declaration signed on November 10*, 2020 ( the document entered into force on the night of November 9-10, 2020 – Euronews), did not really provide for the establishment of a lasting peace. A ceasefire declaration is not a peace treaty. This declaration was a de facto act of surrender on the part of Armenia. Therefore, we began to put forward initiatives for the final settlement of the conflict with Armenia on the basis of such principles as mutual recognition of territorial integrity, sovereignty, international borders, delimitation of borders, non-use of force or renunciation of the threat of use of force. And we put this proposal on the negotiating table. It is we, a country that has suffered from occupation for 30 years and that has restored justice by force, who have become the founders of a new peace process. I wouldn’t say it’s going very smoothly. But we do not lose optimism, because very active negotiations are now underway at the level of foreign ministers of both countries.

Nikol Pashinyan: The document signed on November 9, 2020 is not a peace treaty or a peace agreement as you called it. Moreover, it is not such in a legal sense, and not that de facto: a number of its provisions are grossly, maliciously violated. 
I agree with you: this is rather a certain concept of a future peaceful architecture that can be implemented. 

Unfortunately, many provisions are regularly violated by Azerbaijan. This is happening now. You see, you asked a question about Nagorno-Karabakh, and everyone understands this, but Azerbaijan, for example, continues to assert that there is no Nagorno-Karabakh. 

Closely from intermediaries?
Euronews: You have just returned from Brussels, where another round of discussions was held under the auspices of the European Union , and you met several times with the President of Azerbaijan. These peace talks gave hope for a lasting peace in the region, but judging by what you say, these hopes are in vain. So is it possible to achieve peace? What can you say about the results of these negotiations?

Nikol Pashinyan: Peace is not only possible, but necessary. This is my belief, my position. This is what I believe in. But for that to happen, it is important that the international community understands the important nuances, that it clearly understands why we are not moving forward at a rapid pace. Let me return to our penultimate meeting in Brussels, which was attended by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel. Then the President of Azerbaijan and I agreed, or rather, reached an understanding that Armenia and Azerbaijan recognize each other’s territorial integrity: the territory of Armenia is 29,800 km², the territory of Azerbaijan is 86,600 km². Mutual recognition of territorial integrity. So far, the President of Azerbaijan has not publicly confirmed our agreement. But he didn’t refute it either. This is a detail that does not contribute to creating a trusting atmosphere.

Ilham Aliyev: I think it’s right to have hope. In fact, these meetings allow touching on very sensitive issues: what will the border look like? After all, the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan has not yet been defined. As soon as the Soviet Union collapsed, we faced this aggression. So, the main thing is the border. What will be the real situation on the ground? What will happen to transport links? Let me remind you that following the results of the Second Second Karabakh War, Armenia undertook to provide access to our Nakhichevan exclave. But so far this has not happened. Therefore, the main work on specific clauses of the peace treaty is being carried out by the ministers. The meetings between the leaders of the two countries simply create, it seems to me, a favorable background. But if we see a constructive approach from the Armenian side, and most importantly,

Euronews: What does the EU offer at the negotiating table?

Ilham Aliyev: Initially, the EU did not participate in the mediation process during the period of occupation, when we have been negotiating since 1992. It was an initiative of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, who invited us to the negotiations, and we supported this process, because, given the level of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU, Armenia and the EU, I think that the EU can be the best mediator, because our relations based on mutual respect, mutual trust and mutual interest. So this initiative is now developing into a very active dialogue format. And we meet not only in Brussels, but also, for example, on the sidelines of the last summit of the European Political Community in Chisinau. It seems to me that this is important, because we do not allow the situation to stagnate, because if there is a stagnation, if a kind of respite is taken again, then we are not immune from any dangerous scenario.

Nikol Pashinyan: First of all, I would like to emphasize that the benefits of mediation have long been known to everyone. But such discussions also have certain disadvantages. And if I may, I’ll tell you about one of them. I proceed from the premise that effective mediation is when non-fulfillment of agreements is followed by at least a demonstration of an appropriate political attitude towards those who have violated their obligations. On the Brussels site, for example, we do not observe this. I raise this question all the time. I’ll tell you a secret, we even prepared a document, which we called an “audit”, which lists all the agreements that were reached in Brussels, but subsequently were not implemented. And it’s a pretty impressive package. This cannot but be alarming.

Euronews: Do you think that the traditional regional mediator, Russia, is annoyed that the West (we are talking about the US and the EU) is playing an increasingly significant role in the region? Or has the fact that Russia got bogged down in Ukraine worked in favor of other players who are now also trying to help you and the Azerbaijanis find a common language?

Nikol Pashinyan: Let me remind you that all this rivalry between powers is not directly related to us. You are aware of the work of the OSCE Minsk Group, which was created to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. But since February 24, 2022, the co-chairs of the group simply stopped interacting. Individual countries have decided that they no longer want to interact with other participants in the process, hence all the problems.

Ilham Aliyev: Well, Russia mediated a ceasefire agreement or declaration on November 10, 2020. It was not the United States or the European Union. And our first meetings with my Armenian colleague were organized by Russia on Russian territory. After the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the situation has changed, and we have seen the United States and Europe become more active. In fact, for us there is no significant difference who will lead the process or, let’s say, who will appropriate the laurels of mediation. It’s important to get results.


[SEE VIDEO]

Euronews: I understand that you have a long and complicated relationship with Russia. In your opinion, does Russia retain its influence in the region?

Ilham Aliyev: As for Azerbaijan’s position, little has changed here, because our relations with Russia will remain balanced. They are based on the recognition of each other’s national interests and, of course, territorial integrity and sovereignty. Russia is our neighbor and partner.

Nikol Pashinyan: Of course, due to the events in Ukraine, the interest of not only Russia, but also other geopolitical players in our region is declining, since in practice all international attention is focused on Ukraine. This is one of the factors.
Lachin: man-made crisis?

Euronews: Let’s talk about the situation on the ground, shall we? Both the EU and the US demanded free passage through the Lachin corridor. What happens on this road, which is of vital importance for the population of Nagorno-Karabakh?

Nikol Pashinyan: What is happening in Nagorno-Karabakh is a humanitarian crisis. What is a humanitarian crisis? Food is not supplied to Nagorno-Karabakh, there is not enough food. Foreign food supplies have been cut off. A number of essential goods are not supplied. Baby food is not supplied, there are no medicines. There are no hygiene products. There are no other essentials. Natural gas supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh were interrupted by Azerbaijan. The supply of electricity to Nagorno-Karabakh was interrupted by Azerbaijan. Fuel supplies were also interrupted by Azerbaijan. So there is a real threat of famine, we are also facing health problems and so on.

Euronews: You know Azerbaijan denies this. They say in Baku that the route through Aghdam is open.

Nikol Pashinyan: I don’t know what you mean, because I’m talking about a statement that I myself signed and which has the status of an international document. It clearly states that the Lachin corridor is under the control of Russian peacekeepers, and this is not only a road, but a 5 km wide zone, which should be beyond the control of Azerbaijan, it is this corridor that should provide a connection between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia.

Ilham Aliyev: Freedom of movement is not blocked. Since we established a border post on April 23, more than 2,000 residents of Karabakh have freely crossed into and out of Armenia. On June 15, Armenia committed another military provocation, wounding one of our border guards, and the road was blocked for the duration of the investigation. But then it was reopened. The Red Cross has resumed the transportation of medicines and the evacuation of patients in need of treatment in Armenia. But, unfortunately, illegal goods such as cigarettes, iPhones and gasoline were found in the Red Cross trucks during the check. The Red Cross acknowledged this and told us that they were not responsible for the smuggling. At the same time, the emblem of the organization was depicted on the trucks and on the uniform of the drivers.

Armenians of Karabakh before the “choice”
Euronews: About 5,000 people died on both sides in 2020. I came to Nagorno-Karabakh and met with many mothers of the dead Armenian soldiers. I was also able to observe pain and suffering from a different perspective, thanks to the work of my colleagues in Azerbaijan. I remember a conversation with a woman who said that she blamed politicians for the war and the death of her sons. According to her, politicians should resolve issues through diplomacy, and not fall into the traps of war. What do you think your mission is? Establish a lasting peace or win the war?

Ilham Aliyev: Well, to win the war was the mission of my life, or at least my political life, and I successfully coped with it. We have won the war. We have restored justice, we have restored our territorial integrity. And now we’re talking about the world. If Armenia wants peace, we will achieve it, because we have no territorial claims against Armenia, and we do not want them to have territorial claims against us. I mean, the people who live in Karabakh, on the territory that is now temporarily controlled by Russian peacekeepers, are in Azerbaijan. They have to make a choice: stay here to live as our citizens and ethnic minority – you know, we have a lot of them – or leave.

“Demanding peace from politicians”
Nikol Pashinyan: You know, in any case, war is wrong. If there is a war going on, then someone somewhere has done something wrong or a group of people have made mistakes. But on the other hand, what is the reason for the war? The reason for the war lies in the impossibility of achieving a lasting peace or maintaining peace. But is this reason genuine? Infallible? Isn’t this slyness? This is another question. My son was also in the war. And my wife was in the war. And now you are asking a very serious question. But I think it has many different levels of meaning. Throughout its existence, mankind has been talking about the need to avoid wars, about the need to strive for peace …

Euronews: Do you have something you would like to convey to the other side? It’s not about the politicians you meet during negotiations, but about ordinary people?

Nikol Pashinyan: I think that all the words have already been said. People usually say: we have lived on this earth for a long time and will continue to live here. Although, perhaps, there is still something that I would like to address to the public of Armenia and the public of Azerbaijan, because in both countries people should demand peace from their governments. This should be formulated precisely as a social requirement. And it must be carried out with competence, peacefulness and flexibility.

“We offer them a normal life”
Ilham Aliyev: I never thought about it, because for the first time in my life I am asked such a question. My message to the Armenians in Armenia: we want peace with your state. Another call is to clearly understand the current geopolitical situation and the alignment of forces. For many years, the leaders of Armenia have been convincing their people that they have the strongest army in the world, that if a war starts, they will come to Baku, the war broke this narrative. We don’t want another war. Not today, not ever in the future. As for the Armenians in Karabakh, they should not follow their so-called leaders. They lied to them all the time. Karabakh Armenians must understand that, being part of the Azerbaijani society with security guarantees and rights, including educational, cultural, religious, municipal, they will be able to live a normal life, they will no longer be manipulated. We offer them a normal life. And I think that if they hear me, they should understand it. And they know that I wouldn’t say it just like that.

President of Nagorno Karabakh declares nationwide disaster, asks UN to intervene

Suren Karakhanian

 13:30,

STEPANAKERT, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS. President of Nagorno Karabakh Arayik Harutyunyan has formally declared Nagorno Karabakh to be a disaster zone amid the total blockade.

Announcing the disaster declaration, Harutyunyan said he expects an urgent international reaction in the form of either collective or individual security, political and humanitarian support.

“Right now Artsakh [Nagorno Karabakh] is the only territory in the world to be in total isolation and under blockade, without any humanitarian aid or international presence,” Harutyunyan said, adding that Nagorno Karabakh could be considered to be a “concentration camp” if his disaster declaration fails to garner international aid.

Speaking about his expectations from the international community, President Harutyunyan said , “First of all we have demands to the parties of the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement, especially Russia, to implement the obligations of the guarantor of security, and we demand Armenia to respect the right to self-determination of the people of Artsakh and refrain from any statement or action that would recognize Artsakh to be part of Azerbaijan.”

He added that Artsakh demands the UN Security Council to take action to prevent the genocidal policy carried out by Azerbaijan and ensure the latter’s compliance with the ICJ and ECHR orders on opening the Lachin Corridor.

Harutyunyan also called on the UN to urgently intervene.

“I demand the UN Secretary General to display moral and political responsibility and leadership to warn the international community on the grave situation facing the people of Artsakh. I demand Mr. Guterres to launch, without hesitation and delay, the UN system to resolve this situation,” Harutyunyan said, adding that he’s ready to personally contact the Secretary General online and present the situation.

PM Pashinyan praises Washington’s mediation efforts

Suren Karakhanian

 16:28,

YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that he sees some degree of harmonization of stances of the West and Russia in the Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations process.

Speaking at a press conference on July 25, PM Pashinyan praised Washington’s efforts and noted that Russia’s activeness in the negotiations process has indeed reduced because of the ‘developments in Ukraine.’

“I highly appreciate the efforts of the United States. They are making truly serious efforts for making a peace treaty possible. Yes, Russia’s negotiations activeness has reduced to some extent. But not because they don’t want a resolution of the issue, but because they aren’t investing the presumed time and energy because of the developments in Ukraine. In relation to our current situation, we see harmonization trends happening in the positions of the West and Russia,” Pashinyan said.

The Armenian PM said that he’s held most of his meetings in Western platforms for objective reasons, and not because Armenia wanted to push Russia out of the process.

Armenian Christians face ‘religious cleansing,’ say rights activists

Suren Karakhanian

Azerbaijan is 'strangling' the conflict-torn Nagorno-Karabakh region with blockade, they alleged

The existence of Christians in a disputed border region is under threat due to ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, rights activists say.

Muslim-majority Azerbaijan’s invasion of Armenia and its ongoing blockade of the Nagorno-Karabakh region is the latest attempt at “religious cleansing” of the Christian nation, said Sam Brownback, a U.S. politician and former ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.

Brownback issued his statements to air concerns about Armenian Christians on July 18, Catholic News Agency (CNA) reported.

His responses were delivered days after he visited Armenia on a fact-finding trip with the Christian human rights group, Philos Project, the report stated.

Brownback, a Catholic, said that Islamic Azerbaijan is “strangling” the conflict-torn region.

“Azerbaijan, with Turkey’s backing, is really slowly strangling Nagorno-Karabakh,” Brownback said. “They’re working to make it unlivable so that the region’s Armenian-Christian population is forced to leave, that’s what’s happening on the ground.”

He warned that if the United States does not intervene, “we will see again another ancient Christian population forced out of its homeland.”

Brownback called for Congress to pass a “Nagorno-Karabakh Human Rights Act” to establish basic security guarantees for the Nagorno-Karabakh population.

He also called on the U.S. to reinstate previously used sanctions on Azerbaijan should it continue its blockade.

While persecution of Christians in the near east is common, the latest one has a new dimension.

This time the religious cleansing is being “perpetrated with U.S.-supplied weaponry and backed by Turkey, a member of NATO,” he said.

Bordered by Muslim-majority Turkey and Azerbaijan, Christian roots of Armenia date to ancient times.

About 90 percent of Armenia’s estimated 2.8 million people are Christians, the U.S. State Department reported in 2019.

Conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region since 1990s after both nations gained impendence after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Both former Soviet states laid claims on the region, leading to the First Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1994. Armenia gained primary control of the territory following the war. 

Tensions sparked again in September 2020 when the two nations engaged in military conflict after Azerbaijani troops moved in to gain control of the disputed region.

The armed conflict lasted for about two months, ending with a peace deal brokered by Russia in November that year.

A study published in the Population Research and Policy Review estimates that 3,822 Armenians and at least 2,906 Azerbaijanis were killed during the 2020 conflict. 

Following the conflict, Azerbaijan gained control of large swathes of the region and imposed blockade.  A thin strip of land called the “Lachin corridor” is now Armenia’s only access point to Nagorno-Karabakh.

Now, an Azerbaijani blockade of the Lachin corridor, in place since December, is crippling Armenian infrastructure in Nagorno-Karabakh, rights activists say, CNA reported.

“The situation is extremely urgent and existential,” Philos Project President Robert Nicholson said. “This is the oldest Christian nation facing again for the second time in only about a century the possibility of a genocide.”

He was referring to the deaths of up to 1.5 million Armenians more than a century ago in waning years of the Ottoman Empire. The U.S. has recognized the killings as genocide, but Turkey has repeatedly denounced the characterization.

Nicholson said there are 500 tons of humanitarian equipment “unable to get into Nagorno-Karabakh because of the blockade that Azerbaijan has placed upon that region.”

“There has been no natural gas flowing since March and other energy supplies, [such as] electricity, are spotty at best,” Nicholson added. “Families have been separated. Surgeries have been canceled. The 120,000 people inside [Nagorno-Karabakh] are really desperate for help.”  

https://www.ucanews.com/news/armenian-christians-face-religious-cleansing-say-rights-activists/102048

Aliyev says “there are people in Armenia still living with revanchist ideas”

Suren Karakhanian
Armenia –

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said today that "today there are people in Armenian society and even the government who still live with revanchist ideas.”

Speaking today at a media forum in Shushi, he noted:

“In the past, the danger for us for 30 years came from Armenia and its occupation policy. In general, we have already overcome this threat. But, of course, we must be vigilant, we must not forget the past.”

“We must be prepared for any scenario. To this end, after the Karabakh war ended, we immediately began to implement in-depth reforms in the field of defense,” Aliyev said.

Noting that “today our army is stronger than three years ago,” the Azerbaijani president added:

“It is a must, and it stems from our history. We see that today the norms of international law are grossly violated. When international law does not work, when the signature is not so important, only force guarantees peace.”

Armenian healthcare minister warns of serious crisis in Nagorno Karabakh

Suren Karakhanian

 13:54,

YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS. Nagorno Karabakh’s healthcare system is experiencing a crisis just like all other areas, Minister of Healthcare of Armenia Anahit Avanesyan told reporters on July 20.

“Right now there are patients requiring transfer to Armenia for treatment. I’ve had contact this morning, and we expect a swift transfer,” Avanesyan told reporters.

She said that Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) hospitals have suspended all planned surgeries and other procedures and reserves of medications are used only in urgent cases.

“Reserves of medications are certainly not endless in Artsakh, this situation constitutes a serious healthcare crisis because right now the entire process is disrupted, and medical supplies are not entering Artsakh,” she said.

Avanesyan said she is conveying information on the situation to all international partners, the Armenian Human Rights Defender and the Representative of Armenia before the European Court of Human Rights. “And this is all being documented in order to serve as a basis for certain sanctions in the future. The answers we’ve received thus far are unsatisfactory because the only road linking Artsakh with Armenia remains closed,” Avanesyan said.

Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since December 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – 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.  Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. Moreover, Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medication. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno Karabakh, with officials warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing against Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh. Hospitals have suspended normal operations and the Red Cross has been facilitating the medical evacuations of patients.

IntelBrief: On Shaky Ground: Washington Talks Marred by Renewed Violence in Nagorno-Karabakh

Suren Karakhanian
 THE SOUFAN CENTER 

Bottom Line Up Front

  • Tensions remain high between Armenia and Azerbaijan after violent skirmishes in the historically disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh left four Armenian servicemen dead amidst peace negotiations hosted in Washington D.C.
  • Despite Moscow’s role in mediating the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, its intentions have long been suspect to regional experts who believe that Russian interests benefit from the ongoing nature of this frozen conflict.
  • Many analysts have noted Russia’s displeasure with increased Western intervention in the dispute; peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan aligns with Western interests, as it could significantly bolster energy security and potentially curb Russia’s influence over the South Caucasus.
  • With growing involvement from the West and Russia, Nagorno-Karabakh could act as another proxy battleground for escalation, complicated by existing tensions related to Ukraine and other geopolitical flashpoints.

Amidst U.S.-led peace talks in Washington D.C., violent skirmishes in the historically disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh erupted again between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops toward the end of June. Tensions between the two countries remain high after the violence, which left four Armenian servicemen dead. These attacks followed allegations by Azerbaijan of an Armenian assault that wounded one of its soldiers, while Armenia reported breaches of the ceasefire by Azerbaijan. This tit-for-tat escalation is not new in a region that has remained a hotbed of conflict dating back to the 1990s. Despite the fighting, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated that further progress has been made toward a peace agreement during the negotiations. Azerbaijan and Armenia’s foreign ministers provided vague comments echoing Blinken’s sentiment, stating that the countries have an advanced mutual understanding of a draft agreement. These statements have stoked skepticism among experts about the feasibility of achieving a successful settlement between the two states and longtime adversaries. Admittedly, Blinken also acknowledged that substantial work lies ahead. Armenia aims to delimit the territory’s border based on 1975 Soviet-era maps, a position at odds with Azerbaijan's, which advocates for the “analysis and examination of legally binding documents instead of relying on a particular map.” Further, Armenia has consistently maintained a hard line surrounding international mechanisms to ensure the rights of Armenians in the territory, while Azerbaijan argues that these are internal issues, and as such, refuses to consider these demands.

The Washington-held negotiations came on the heels of Moscow’s own peace talks on May 25th, where Russian President Vladimir Putin also touted further progress toward a peace agreement, with both countries publicly recognizing each other’s territorial integrity. Both Russia and, more recently, the U.S. continue to be major players in this frozen conflict, a term used to describe this and three other unsettled disputes in the South Caucasus. The U.S.’s growing role in peace negotiations has reportedly increased tensions with Russia, which has historically acted as a mediator. Nagorno-Karabakh, a de jure territory of Azerbaijan, is predominantly populated by ethnic Armenians. Although the region is internationally recognized as belonging to Azerbaijan, it is governed by the unrecognized Republic of Artsakh, referring to the Armenian name of the territory. This conflict spans several centuries but was reignited during the Soviet era due to its "nationalities policy," which designated the region as an autonomous oblast, strengthening the ethnic identity of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh while situating them within the borders of Azerbaijan and assimilating them under the Soviet Union's hegemony. Many historians believe that this was a deliberate policy designed to increase the territory’s vulnerability and dependency on Moscow. This peace proved fragile, however, demonstrated by the dissolution of the Soviet Union. As former Soviet republics sought to define borders and reaffirm national identities, the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh flared anew, resulting in two deadly wars between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 1994 and 2020. In between these wars, the conflict remained in an unstable or "frozen" state, with sporadic episodes of violence mediated by Russian peacekeeping troops.

Despite Moscow’s role in mediating the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, its intentions have long been suspect to many regional experts, who believe that Russian interests benefit from the ongoing nature of this frozen conflict. Russia has been a key player in the region, in charge of administering peacekeeping troops, but has never been considered impartial. Armenia is a close ally of Russia, while Azerbaijan has long been wary of Russia’s hegemony over the South Caucasus, often closely aligning with Türkiye. Despite Russia’s lack of neutrality, Armenia has recently experienced little advantage from its alliance. Nikol Pashinyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia, has been a vocal critic about the perceived shortfall in support Armenia received from Moscow during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. Recently, fresh tensions have emerged between the Armenian government and the Russian-backed state minister of the Armenian separatist region in Nagorno-Karabakh. The separatists had called on the Armenian government to halt negotiations in Washington following the violent clashes and held Pashinyan responsible for the attacks. It is widely believed that Russia benefits from a loyal but weak and dependent Yerevan. Easing border restrictions with Armenia's neighbors, Azerbaijan and Türkiye, would likely introduce new trade and energy opportunities for Armenia, a country that currently relies heavily on Russian exports. Notably, the presence of Russian peacekeepers in the territory further solidifies Russia’s influence over its “backyard” and traditional sphere of influence in the region.

On the other hand, Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine has presented an opportunity for Western nations, primarily the U.S., to increase its involvement in Nagorno-Karabakh. Peace in this region aligns with Western interests, as it could significantly bolster energy security, particularly for Western Europe, which has recently struggled with energy supply issues after heavily reducing its dependency on Russian oil. Rising energy costs have served as a flashpoint in Europe, causing political instability and providing fodder for far-left and far-right populist messaging. Peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan would also potentially curb Russia’s influence over the South Caucasus and quite possibly deter further invasions similar to Ukraine. Many experts have noted Russia's displeasure with increased Western intervention in the dispute. They suspect any peace agreement will favor Azerbaijan, which has acted unfavorably to Moscow, such as constructing a checkpoint in the Lachin corridor. This corridor, a perennial conflict flashpoint that connects Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh, falls under the jurisdiction of Russian peacekeepers as per the November 2020 ceasefire agreement. By closing the corridor, Azerbaijan directly violated the agreement. Moreover, Armenia, increasingly frustrated with Moscow's perceived lack of intervention, requested the deployment of an EU monitoring mission to the shared border with Azerbaijan, which became operational in February. At the same time, Armenia postponed the deployment of forces from the Russian-backed Collective Security Treaty Organization.

However, even with increased negotiations, the recent eruption of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh during the Washington-led talks does not inspire confidence in the prospect of sustainable peace between the two nations. The lack of further substantial progress since May contributes to a ubiquitous ambiguity surrounding peace, as many experts agree that these intermittent violent escalations will persist until a formal peace agreement is reached. With Russia's role in this conflict prompting questions among observers, and the West’s growing involvement in negotiations raising tensions, Nagorno-Karabakh could very well be another proxy battleground for escalation, complicated by existing tensions related to Ukraine and other geopolitical flashpoints.

https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-july-14/

Memories of Armenia: The Wings of Tatev

Suren Karakhanian
Queens Gazette, NY

BY CATHERINE TSOUNIS

Who holds the record for Longest non-stop double track cable car in the world? It is in a country struggling to maintain its independence . A poor nation materially, the first Aryans or “Ancient people”, Armenia has  the longest reversible aerial tramway built in only one section at the Tatev monastery. Its majestic view is unforgettable.

I remember Tatev because I was the only person of the Holy Martyrs 2018 Pilgrimage who was not warned and drank poisonous juice that landed me in a hospital without adequate plasma. A life experience that had a happy ending, because Father Abraham  Malkhasyan  sang an Armenian religious hymn, blessing me at the hospital. It was destiny for me to experience all, overcome and remember “The Wings of Tatev” in 2023. Every traveler has an experience that changed their life. Seeing historic Armenia helped me appreciate my Greek heritage. It is the longest reversible aerial tramway built in only one section the Aegean and Western Anatolia because of the courageous Orthodox Armenian people, the backbone of the Byzantine education, spiritual and military establishments.

Flying over the gorge located at the Syunik region, south of Yerevan, presented a once in a lifetime view. The manufacturer is the Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group of Austria/Switzerland. In the middle of nowhere, the Caucasus mountains, one sees Western technology. “The Wings of Tatev” was built within the framework of the Tatev Revival Project. The project was conceived  by Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend. The aerial tramway was officially launched on 16 October 2010., where it set the Guinness World Record   for the longest non-stop reversible aerial tramway.1

The Tatev Gateway  is noncommercial. It has one goal: the restoration of Tatev Monastery and the development of the local community. – Tatev, that means “give wings.”2  Flying across the gorge was like having wings.

Special appreciation to Rev. Dr. Abraham  Malkhasyan  of Holy Martyrs Apostolic Armenian Church in Bayside, NY, the  Pilgrimage leader Aram Ciamician and photographer Lara Ciamician, Zarmi Megherian and Armenian mentors scholar Mardo Anastasian and community activist Carol Anastasian.

  

  

For more pictures, click on the link below:
https://www.qgazette.com/articles/memories-of-armenia-the-wings-of-tatev/


New Video Details What Happened When Azerbaijani Forces Attempted to Plant Flag in Armenia

Suren Karakhanian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 July 7, 2023

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

Azerbaijani forces attempt to raise a flag on Armenian territory


A video released on Friday on the Russian Telegram channels details the events of June 15 when Azerbaijani forces attempted to plant their flag on Armenia’s sovereign territory, after which Baku tightened its blockade of Artsakh by banning any travel on the road.

On June 15, Armenia’s National Security Service reported that its units prevented Azerbaijani forces from planting their flag on Armenian territory by firing shots. At the time a short video clip was circulated, prompting Armenian government officials to conjecture that Russian peacekeeping force were abetting the Azerbaijani forces in their effort to breach Armenia’s borders.

This resulted in a standoff between Yerevan and Moscow, with Armenia’s foreign ministry reporting that it had summoned Russia’s Ambassador to Armenia, Sergey Kopyrkin, and questioned him about the incident on the Hakari bridge.

Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova did not deny the involvement of Russian peacekeepers in the incident, telling reporters shorty after that the Russian forces were fulfilling their duties. She also shrugged off the incident by blaming it on the yet un-demarcated borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The video released on Friday — three weeks after the incident — on pro-Kremlin media outlets’ Telegram channels chronicles the day’s event and shows that Azerbaijani forces made four attempts to raise or plant their flag on the Armenia-side of the Hakari bridge. Friday’s footage also shows that the Russian peacekeeping forces were attempting to deter the Azerbaijanis from advancing into Armenia’s territory.

The footage also shows that Armenian NSS units prevented Azerbaijani forces from planting the flag and after successfully downing the flagpole, they folded the flag and returned it to the Azerbaijani side, which would make three further attempts at planting its flag, with the final attempt resulting in the shooting down of the flag from the pole.

Officials from Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan have not commented about the video.

Why Azerbaijan May Find Itself a Victim of Its Own Success

Suren Karakhanian
July 5 2023
Plentiful resources contribute to long-term success if channeled to the development of institutions, but Azerbaijan, like many other autocracies, is instead using them to burnish its image abroad and cement the status quo.
Kirill
Krivosheev

Since the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, news out of Azerbaijan has been an unending series of announcements about achievements and victories. It remains to be seen, however, whether the current success is sustainable.

Baku’s biggest triumph in recent years has undoubtedly been almost complete resolving the complicated and long-running territorial dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh in its favor. Following Azerbaijan’s victory in the 2020 war, those forcibly evicted by Armenians three decades ago have begun to return home, though so far, only a few hundred of the 700,000 people who originally fled the disputed territory and Armenia have returned. The main thing for Baku, however, is that the process is finally under way after decades of waiting.

Azerbaijan’s other foreign policy successes only add to the sense of optimism. The country looks set to make big profits on the European energy market, which is desperate for oil and gas after Russian supplies nearly ended amid the war in Ukraine.

The extraction and export of natural gas is growing, and there are ongoing negotiations about the construction of new branches of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) that link Caspian gas fields to Italy. Several Balkan countries that the pipelines pass through are ready to switch from Russian to Azerbaijani gas. EU leaders have called Baku a “reliable” partner that is making a significant contribution toward “security of supply.”

All this is happening without any significant concessions by Baku to the West. On the contrary: Azerbaijan is conducting itself rather crudely, not hiding its ire at the Western leaders who sympathize with Armenians, like French President Emmanuel Macron.

Gone are the days when Baku attempted to be liked in the West by financing the restoration of sites including the Sistine Chapel, thousand-year-old churches in France, and the catacombs in Rome. After victory in the Nagorno-Karabakh war, Baku halted such overtures, disappointed that European society mostly remained supportive of Armenia.

Nor has Baku been shy about criticizing Moscow. There has been a flurry of official diplomatic protests: over statements by State Duma deputies, comments made on talk shows, and the reasons for disagreements with Russian peacekeepers stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Baku’s assertiveness is even visible when it comes to extremely sensitive issues for Russia. Most telling of all was Aliyev’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 1: the leaders of Belarus, Armenia, and the Central Asian nations could not possibly allow themselves to meet with Putin’s antagonist.

Still, it’s not all plain sailing. Azerbaijan is still using the coronavirus pandemic to justify its closed land borders, which make it impossible to enter the country from Russia, Georgia, or Iran. The two exceptions are the tiny land border between Turkey and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan, and the post in Lachin corridor linking Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, which remain open.

It is hard to find any medical explanation for this policy so long after the pandemic. It is more plausible that the domestic situation in Azerbaijan is not that stellar, and the authorities fear that excessive contacts with the neighbors may ignite serious trouble.

Both Azerbaijan and Iran adhere to the Shia branch of Islam, but the two countries’ relations are increasingly strained due to Baku’s growing apprehension about importing religious radicalism.

In the case of Russia, the Azerbaijani authorities would rather avoid the influx of Russians fleeing mobilization or political repression. In Armenia and Georgia, it made prices skyrocket, while Azerbaijan is already struggling with inflation—food prices rose by nearly 20 percent last year—so there is likely an aversion to taking on any extra economic risks.

Another danger the regime faces is that the successful return of territory in Nagorno-Karabakh is fueling rising domestic expectations. For many years, revanchism was at the cornerstone of the ideology of the Aliyev regime. What happens if successful revanchism does not yield what many hoped it would?

Above all, this concerns the repopulation of Nagorno-Karabakh, a project that has few parallels in modern history. It’s crucial for Baku that there should be no discontent among the returnees. But given the Azerbaijani system, that is unlikely—when the most fertile land ends up in the hands of those with the best connections, for example. While Azerbaijanis are still euphoric over their military success, in a few years it may be important to them that villages in Nagorno-Karabakh are not Potemkin villages.

There are other risks, too. While Azerbaijan has boosted its international standing by increasing gas deliveries to Europe, this is no panacea. The experience of other post-Soviet states suggests that without social justice and political accountability, even petrodollars, foreign investment, and military victory are not enough to guarantee stability. Widespread disappointment could easily explode into protests if it is fueled by anger over growing corruption and widening inequality.

The Azerbaijani regime is lucky to have reached this stage of its development at a comparatively favorable moment in time. It is not threatened by the senility of an eternal leader (Aliyev is only sixty-one years old) or external pressure. Europe is more dependent than ever on new gas supplies, and that means Western politicians will not pay too much attention to the fate of the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.

On the other hand, this sort of halcyon era has already been experienced by other post-Soviet countries—for example, Russia and Belarus—and it ended without achieving sustainable prosperity. Plentiful resources contribute to long-term success if channeled to the development of institutions, but Azerbaijan, like other autocracies, is instead using them to burnish its image abroad and cement the status quo.

Inevitably, such a system is vulnerable. A good example is Kazakhstan, which also appeared to be enjoying a rare run of success until it was convulsed by unrest in January 2022. If Azerbaijan likewise experiences such social discontent, the situation would be exacerbated by the large number of men with military experience, the proximity of unfriendly Iran, and widening inequality typical for many resource-rich autocracies. The consequences could be dire.

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.