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Author: Vardan Badalian

Putin: Solution to Armenia-Azerbaijan border issue requires mutual concessions

Vardan Badalian
News.am, Armenia
Oct 21 2021
23:50, 21.10.2021

The solution to the issue related to the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan requires mutual concessions, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin said today.

According to him, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev showed their political wisdom by stopping the bloodshed in Nagorno-Karabakh. “In spite of the whole tragedy of the current events, the two succeeded in standing above the momentary political conjuncture and made a very responsible decision. I know that, no matter how strange it sounds, the peoples of both countries have demands from their respective leaders. There are always political forces that are discontent with certain things or think they could have done more. Nevertheless, Pashinyan and Aliyev managed to stop the bloodshed. However, there are still key factors.

In particular, it is necessary to create conditions for a long-term settlement in the whole region. The conditions can only be created when the two parties accept the reached agreements as long-term and when both parties assess the advantages, and I would like to emphasize this — the advantages of peaceful co-existence. Everyone is interested in this. Azerbaijan is interested in normal communication and unblocking of links with Nakhchivan. This is one of the first problems facing Armenia. It is necessary to create an effective economy in the region establish effective cooperation, including with Azerbaijan in the future, as well as to defreeze ties with Turkey.

Russia did everything it could to stop the bloodshed, and not only. Our peacekeepers are fulfilling their duty with dignity. More than 50,000 refugees have already returned. Overall, maintaining the situation in the conflict zone is a success. Unfortunately, incidents take place, and yes, sometimes people die. Currently, the most important thing is the ultimate settlement of the situation on the border. Here, of course, nothing will be possible without Russia’s participation. However, here we don’t need anyone else. There are simple pragmatic things such as maps, which are located at the General Staff of the Russian army. These are maps that show how the borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan looked during the Soviet era.

There are things that also require mutual concessions. So, it is necessary for the two parties to acknowledge and understand this. Is this possible? Yes, it is. However, of course, Russia also supports a multilateral format, including, say, intensification of the activities of the Minsk Group. We are working in this direction. The important thing is to achieve the main goal, that is, the creation of security and further construction of ties in the positive sense. We also need to look towards the future. The problem is not that the relevant article of the statement envisaged possible extension of the period of the Russian peacekeeping contingent…The question is the improvement of relations between the two countries. This is the most important thing. I hope we are able to achieve this.”

Pashinyan reaffirms Armenia’s readiness for demarcation of border with Azerbaijan

Vardan Badalian
Oct 15 2021

MINSK, 15 October (BelTA) – Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reaffirms its country's readiness to begin demarcation and delimitation of the border with Azerbaijan as he addressed the web-based CIS summit on 15 October, BelTA has learned.

"Demarcation and delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan is crucial to achieving lasting peace. We are ready to start this process. In this regard, we also hope for the support of Russia and our other international partners. An appropriate atmosphere is very important for overcoming the existing obstacles," Nikol Pashinyan said.

In that regard, he made a number of specific proposals.

He also noted that the signing of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan is the key matter, and therefore it is important to continue the negotiation process in this regard. "We consider it important to restore the negotiation process within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship. In their statements over the last month, the co-chairs repeatedly noted the need to resume the peace process to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Nikol Pashinyan said.

The Armenian prime minister also praised the meetings between the Armenian and Azerbaijani ministers of foreign affairs in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and also in Minsk on 14 October with the mediation of the Russian minister of foreign affairs. “The upcoming visit of the co-chairpersons to the region and their visit to Nagorno-Karabakh will be an important event,” he added.

Nikol Pashinyan reiterated that his country is ready to work in all the suggested areas. “We are convinced that the implementation of all these tasks will ensure substantial progress in creating conditions for a lasting and durable peace in our region,” the prime minister stressed.

He said that he did not consider the CIS summit platform to be a convenient place for looking into the shared history of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The countries are now conducting such proceedings as part of their lawsuits in the international court in The Hague.

Responding to Nikol Pashinyan's words, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, who is presiding at the event, said: “Thank you, you are absolutely right. The CIS is not a platform to consider individual issues. We do not have such powers and functions. However, we are grateful that you and Ilham Heydarovich [Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan] have informed the heads of state on the situation in your region. Our friends, both Azerbaijanis and Armenians, live there. We will certainly keep this information in mind while setting the agendas in our countries.

​Armenia tells World Court Azerbaijan promotes ethnic hatred

Vardan Badalian
The National Post, Canada
Oct 14 2021

Armenia tells World Court Azerbaijan promotes ethnic hatred

Reuters
Oct 14, 2021  

THE HAGUE — Armenia told judges at the World Court in The Hague on Thursday that Azerbaijan promotes ethnic hatred against Armenians and asked the court to stop what its lawyers call a cycle of violence and hatred.

Armenia’s assertions, which Azerbaijan denies, are part of a case it filed at the World Court last month that says Azerbaijan has violated the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, to which both states are signatories.

Thursday’s hearing does not go into the merits of the case but instead deals with Armenia’s request for emergency measures to stop the alleged violations, while the court considers the claim.

After Armenia’s claim was made public Azerbaijan filed a counterclaim accusing Armenia of violating the anti-discrimination treaty. Azerbaijan is also seeking that the court order protective measures while the case is ongoing.

Lawyers for Armenia accused Azerbaijan’s authorities of fostering ethic hatred and a culture where murder and torture of ethnic Armenians were “systematic.”

“Generations upon generations are indoctrinated into this culture of fear and hate of anything and everything Armenian,” Yeghishe Kirakosyan said.

Azerbaijzan’s deputy foreign minister Elnur Mammadov told the court via video link later on Thursday it was actually Armenia which was involved in “decades-long ethnic cleansing.”

Lawyers for Azerbaijan dismissed Armenia’s complaint as “obviously hopeless” and accused it of using the United Nation’s highest court to score political points.

In fighting late last year, Azeri troops drove ethnic Armenian forces out of swathes of territory they had controlled since the 1990s in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh region, before Russia brokered a ceasefire.

The World Court, formally known as the International Court of Justice, is the United Nations’ court for resolving disputes between countries. The court has yet to determine whether it has jurisdiction in this case. It will take years before judges reach a final ruling in the Armenia versus Azerbaijan case, but they could rule on possible emergency measures in a just weeks. (Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg, Editing by William Maclean and Giles Elgood)

Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte expresses Lithuania’s willingness for closer ties with Armenia

Vardan Badalian

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 11:57, 4 October, 2021

VILNIUS, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS. Lithuania wants to deepen bilateral relations with Armenia, continue exchange of experience in various sectors and is ready to be Armenia’s friend in the future as well, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said at a joint press conference with Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan in Vilnius.

She expressed hope that the Armenian and Lithuanian governments will find ways to enhance ties.

“This year we celebrate the 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations. We celebrate the anniversary of restoring diplomatic ties with a number of states, but we managed to meet only with few representatives of states, and I am very happy that this meeting is taking place,” PM Simonyte said.

PM Simonyte said that the June 20 Armenian elections showed the very strong support for democracy in the country.

“The prime minister and his political team received strong support. They received strong support for reforms and democratic changes. And I believe that exchange of technical knowledge and experience and best practice and solutions, lessons learned from mistakes and information on alternatives can be useful. We passed a long way, we’ve amassed a rich experience and we have exchanged this experience and will further continue to actively exchange,” she said.

PM Simonyte said that soon Yerevan and Vilnius will be linked with direct flights.

Speaking about challenges facing Lithuania and Armenia, as well as other countries, PM Simonyte pointed out the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that Lithuania has very successful experience in fighting against the pandemic and is also supporting Armenia in this matter.

“Our health workers are providing assistance to Armenia, our government has made two decisions on donating vaccines to the Armenian people. We hope that we will be able to support in overcoming this issue and we will help the Armenian government,” the Lithuanian PM said, noting that the Lithuanian and Armenian healthcare ministries have signed an agreement on combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Lithuanian PM thanked the Armenian government for addressing illegal migration issues.

“One of the pressing needs was ensuring translators. We need translators to communicate with people illegally crossing the border, and Armenia helped us by dispatching Kurmanji translators. We highly appreciate this assistance.”

PM Simonyte said that Lithuania supports the EU’s efforts aimed at deepening partnership with Armenia and overcoming regional challenges.

Speaking about the Armenia-EU CEPA, she said: “We believe that with their support and participation  the European institutions play a highly important role. The mechanisms for re-establishing and maintaining peace are also very important. We are ready to be Armenia’s friend in the future too.”

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

President Nausėda expresses Lithuania’s support to efforts of OSCE MG Co-Chairmanship for solving NK conflict

Vardan Badalian

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 14:05, 4 October, 2021

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met with President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda on the sidelines of his official visit, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.

The Lithuanian President welcomed the Armenian PM’s official visit to Lithuania and expressed confidence that it will contribute to the development and deepening of the bilateral and multilateral relations.

Mr. Nausėda expressed hope that the partnership between the Lithuanian and Armenian governments will give a new impetus to implementing joint projects in economic and humanitarian sectors.

The Lithuanian President highlighted the partnership and the exchange of the Lithuanian experience in Armenia’s ongoing reforms.

Prime Minister Pashinyan thanked for the warm welcome and expressed confidence that the Armenian-Lithuanian relations will continue to develop and record progress. In this context, he emphasized the importance of expanding the economic ties and the trade turnover volumes.

The meeting also touched upon the cooperation within the EU’s Eastern Partnership program, the effective implementation of the 2.6 billion Euro support package provided by the EU to Armenia, as well as the ongoing developments in South Caucasus. The Lithuanian President expressed his country’s support to the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship aimed at settling the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Open-air photo exhibition in Brussels to raise awareness about the brutal war against Armenians of Artsakh

Vardan Badalian
Public Radio of Armenia
Sept 27 2021
September 27, 2021, 17:07

 Less than a minute

AGBU Europe has partnered with local authorities in Brussels and with the Armenian community of Belgium on a campaign to raise awareness among the population of Brussels about the brutal war that struck the Armenian population of Artsakh last fall.

From September 27 to November 10, 2021 an open-air photo exhibition will be in display in the Flagey area, depicting the impact of the Artsakh war through the lens of photojournalists Roberto Travan from Italy and Olivier Papegnies from Belgium. 

A live performance event will also take place on Friday October 1 at 18:00.

Azerbaijani press: Chairperson of Azerbaijani parliament calls on Kazakh parliament to recognize Khojaly genocide

Vardan Badalian
12:33 (UTC+04:00)
514

By Trend

Chairperson of the Azerbaijani parliament Sahiba Gafarova, who is in Kazakhstan on an official visit, during a conversation with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Chairman of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Nurlan Nigmatulin called for the recognition of the Khojaly genocide in the country's parliament, Trend reports on Sept. 29 referring to the Azerbaijani parliament.

The chairperson of the Azerbaijani parliament informed about the Khojaly genocide which occurred almost 30 years ago.

Some international organizations and parliaments of many countries have already recognized this massacre as genocide, Gafarova stressed, expressing hope that the parliament of Kazakhstan will express its attitude to this grave crime against humanity.

During the meetings, the chairperson of the Azerbaijani parliament also spoke about the termination of the thirty-year Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani lands as a result of Azerbaijan's victory in the 44-day second Karabakh war, the process of restoring cities and villages completely destroyed by Armenia during the occupation and large-scale infrastructure projects.

Moreover, during a meeting with Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Maulen Ashimbayev, Gafarova also highlighted the topic of the Khojaly genocide and expressed hope that the Kazakh side will take appropriate steps in this regard.

On Feb. 25-26, 1992, during the first Karabakh war, the Armenian Armed Forces, supported by the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops, stationed in Khankendi city, committed an act of genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly.

As many as 613 civil residents, including 63 children, 106 women, and 70 old people were killed in the massacre, 1,000 people were injured, and 1,275 were taken, hostage.

CivilNet: Explaining the €2.6 billion EU package for Armenia

Vardan Badalian
CIVILNET.AM

29 Sep, 2021 08:09

Andrea Wiktorin, the European Union Ambassador to Armenia, in conversation with CivilNet’s Eric Hacopian, explains the details, focus and processes of the €2.6 billion EU funding package to Armenia. Ambassador Wiktorin discusses how the success of this package can be ensured and what her message would be to critics who believe these funds are meant to distract from the inaction of the EU during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.

Turkish press: Turkey expects Russia to take responsibility in Idlib deal: Minister

Vardan Badalian
 ANKARA DIPLOMACY 
SEP 28, 2021 12:04 PM GMT+3

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar speaks during a videoconference with military officials, Sept. 27, 2021 (AA Photo)

Turkey expects Russia to uphold its responsibilities in the Idlib deal, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Tuesday, underlining that Turkey has been abiding by the principles of the agreement.

"We hope that with the meeting our president will have with Mr. Putin, a return to peace will be possible as at the beginning of the memorandum of understanding," he said as attacks on the last opposition bastion continue to increase.

Speaking to journalists, Akar commented on the attacks on Idlib saying: “They (Russia) say that they carry out these attacks against ‘terrorist groups there.’ However, among those that lost their lives or run from these attacks are no terrorists. We have been trying to explain this for months.”

He added that he might hold talks with his Russian counterpart.

Akar underlined that communication channels between Turkey and Russia are open and that Turkish soldiers in the field can hold meetings with Russian generals.

He also noted that the participation of all groups who have a say in the future of Syria in the constitution-making process under the coordination of the U.N. and holding elections with the participation of all actors are some of the main things that Turkey has been stressing since the beginning.

He also spoke on attempts by the PKK terrorist group’s Syrian wing, the YPG, to infiltrate despite an agreement with Russia in the Operation Peace Spring area.

“We had agreed that the terrorists there must withdraw however, their presence there continues. This is an issue in which we are right,” Akar said, indicating that Turkey is in talks with the U.S. and Russia in this regard, while Ankara also takes its own precautions and hinders terrorist attacks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will discuss the issue of Idlib in their upcoming meeting Wednesday in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi.

Russia is the main ally of the Syrian regime, while Turkey supports groups that have fought to unseat Bashar Assad. However, Russian and Turkish troops have cooperated in Idlib, the final holdout of opposition forces, and in seeking a political solution in the war-torn country.

Despite backing opposing sides in both the Syrian and Libyan conflicts, Turkey and Russia have forged close cooperation in the defense, energy and tourism sectors.

NATO member Turkey has bought Russian S-400 air defenses – leading to U.S. sanctions on Turkish defense industries – and has been in talks with Russia over possibly buying a second batch.

Ankara and Moscow were rivals in Nagorno-Karabakh during fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenian forces last year. Russia eventually brokered a cease-fire between Turkey-backed Azerbaijan and Armenia, and is working with Ankara to monitor it.

Russia joined Syria’s now 10-year conflict in September 2015, when the regime military appeared close to collapse. Moscow has since helped in tipping the balance of power in favor of Assad, whose forces now control much of the country. Hundreds of Russian troops are deployed across Syria, and they also have a military air base along Syria’s Mediterranean coast.

During the past few years, Russian warplanes targeted the areas under the control of the Syrian opposition, initially launching attacks from Hmeimim Air Base in the west of the country.

Human rights organizations have published several reports accusing Russia of the death of tens of thousands of civilians in Syria since its intervention in 2015, while the international community has taken some actions against the Russia-backed Assad regime’s war crimes.

Furthermore, Putin and Assad recently met in Moscow to discuss the cooperation between their armies and how to continue operations to gain control of the last opposition-held areas in Syria. Putin blasted the presence of “foreign forces" in parts of Syria – an apparent reference to hundreds of U.S. troops who are in eastern Syria working with YPG/PKK terrorists, as well as Turkish troops in northern Syria. Putin said the presence of the foreigners is illegal because they have no approval by the U.N. or the Assad regime.

The Idlib region is home to nearly 3 million people, two-thirds of them displaced from other parts of the country.

Nearly 75% of the total population in the opposition-held Idlib region depends on humanitarian aid to meet their basic needs as 1.6 million people continue to live in camps or informal settlements, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

For years, the Assad regime has ignored the needs and safety of the Syrian people, only eyeing further gains of territory and crushing the opposition. With this aim, the regime has for years bombed civilian facilities such as schools, hospitals and residential areas, causing the displacement of almost half of the country's population.

The situation of the people in Idlib worsened when the Assad regime, backed by Russia, launched an offensive on the province, causing the largest one-time displacement in the history of the Syrian civil war and a huge humanitarian tragedy, according to the U.N.

Turkish press: Turkey pledges support for stability of region on first anniversary of Karabakh war

Vardan Badalian
  • 12:01:00

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Sept. 27 reiterated Turkey’s support to Azerbaijan and called on parties for normalization process in the region on the first anniversary of the Karabakh war.

“We want Karabakh to be remembered for peace and development rather than instability and conflict. The region should now enter the normalization process. There are now new opportunities for regional cooperation and prosperity,” he said, speaking at the Extraordinary Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Turkic Council.

When asked if there is a planned meeting with his Armenian counterpart to make efforts for normalization in the region, Çavuşoğlu said there was no scheduled meeting at the moment.

Reminding that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan gave some positive messages after the election, Çavuşoğlu said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed positive remarks afterward.

“Our greatest desire since the beginning is that after the war is over, the region turns into a place of peace and stability. In this direction, as you know, Azerbaijan has offered to sign a comprehensive peace agreement with Armenia. There has yet to be a positive response from Armenia. But in the next period, as always, we will coordinate the steps we can take together with dear Azerbaijan. We decide together; we take steps together,” he stated.

Speaking at the event, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said that Sept. 27 marks the beginning of an end to the Armenian occupation in Upper Karabakh.

“The unity of the Azerbaijani people, army and the chief commander on the battlefield for 44 days showed that status quo had to change,” he said.

The latest big-scale clashes in Karabakh erupted last September when the Armenian army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces.

During a subsequent 44-day conflict, which ended under a Russia-brokered deal in November, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages from Armenia’s nearly three-decade occupation.

On Jan. 11, leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a pact to develop economic ties and infrastructure to benefit the entire region. It included the establishment of a trilateral working group on the Karabakh issue.

A joint Turkish and Russian center to monitor a cease-fire deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia has since become operational in Karabakh on Jan. 30.

Turkic Council members met in Istanbul to discuss current developments in Afghanistan, where the Taliban have taken power. Top diplomats of the Turkic Council member states Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan and Hungary, which has an Observer State status, attended the meeting.

“Developments in Afghanistan have global implications. However, the Turkish world, as Afghanistan’s neighbor, feels the impact of these developments more,” Çavuşoğlu said.

The fact that millions of Turkish kin live in Afghanistan is of direct interest to Turkey, he added.

“We have special relations with Afghanistan. Therefore, it is important that we send a strong message to the world with the joint statement we will make at the end of the meeting,” the minister said.