Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

The military personnel of the Russian peacekeeping continent perform tasks to control the ceasefire regime and ensure the security of the reconstruction of the infrastructure of settlements near the line of demarcation of the parties in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

In the Martuni district, while ensuring security, Russian peacekeepers are carrying out restoration work on laying a water main to provide water to two settlements, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

"Work is underway to restore water supply in the villages of Tagavard and Krasny Bazar," said the head of the administration of the Martuni district of Nagorno – Karabakh, Edik Hovhannisyan.

The nearest aquifer is located near the demarcation line, so local residents turned to the Humanitarian Response Center of the Russian peacekeeping contingent to ensure safety during the work.

"After the war, we had problems with water supply in these two villages, we turned to the peacekeepers of the Russian Federation. We responded very quickly, and thank you very much for this, " the head of the administration expressed his gratitude.

Directly at the site of the restoration work, Russian sappers conducted an inspection of the surrounding area and searched for explosive objects, after which they allowed the work of engineering equipment.

After the replacement of 20 kilometers of the pipeline, more than 2,500 residents of the villages of Tagavard and Krasny Bazaar of Nagorno-Karabakh will be provided with drinking water.

The International Crisis Group which is a specialized think tank in research and analysis of global crises, released a new report on Nagorno-Karabakh, reflecting on the post-war prospects. 

The report titled "Post-war Prospects for Nagorno-Karabakh" reads the 2020 war left many issues unresolved and the front lines volatile, among them the fundamental questions about who will provide security and services for the Nagorno-Karabakh residents or how to manage humanitarian aid and whether the ceasefire will hold.

According to the report, the Russian peacekeepers deployed in the region need a clearer mandate. "While they have set up checkpoints along Nagorno-Karabakh’s main thoroughfares and along the mountain road linking it to Armenia, they are based far from the front line. How long they can keep acting as troubleshooters of everyday problems is unclear. How they would react to a front-line escalation is murkier still, given that the ceasefire agreement did not spell out their mission precisely. Moscow should consult with the conflict parties and then give its troops clear rules of engagement. The parties themselves should devise, potentially with Russian mediation, a formal mechanism for resolving urgent issues, be it residents’ detention or access to water," the report said. 

The authors also elaborate on the humanitarian consequences of the conflict. It is noted that the local and international actors make no attempt to address the post-war issues – security, basic needs and displacement – Nagorno-Karabakh is likely to remain an area of low-intensity tensions for decades to come. 

"Neither Stepanakert nor Yerevan has the resources to deal with the post-war chaos alone, risking a protracted humanitarian crisis and long-term displacement of people. For now, Armenia is doing what it can for residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, whether they were able to return to their homes or not. UN agencies, NGOs and foreign governments could help shoulder the burden of aiding the displaced – but, at present, most are blocked from doing so. The only international organisation working in Nagorno-Karabakh is the International Committee of the Red Cross, which has been there since the 1990s. The rest remain hamstrung by the central debate over the region’s political status. Russia says it is ready to help facilitate such aid if and when outside agencies gain access. In the meantime, these organisations should find creative solutions to allow minimal support at least to their local counterparts on the ground," the report added. 

Armenian-American entrepreneur, inventor and philanthropist, the Co-foundar of Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Noubar Afeyan has talked about 'The Future Armenian"  – a new public initiative aiming to create a common framework for the sustainable development of Armenia as a country and Armenians as a nation.

In an interview with Araksya Karapetyan, Afeyan presents the list of 15 goals pursued by the initiative and speaks of the necessity to launch further discussions on the implementation of the initiative.

"We need to find mechanism  by which Diasporans who care abut Artsakh, care about our security, and all the topics listed in the goals can work in partnerships with Armenians living in Armenia and own the future versus observe the future," Afeyan said. 

To note, Initiative is not affiliated with any political group or organization. It is financed by the initiators of Armenia 2041 non-profit Foundation: Noubar Afeyan, Artur Alaverdyan, Richard Azarnia, Ruben Vardanyan. It strives to enrich and facilitate the public discourse about the future of Armenia and Armenians.

Watch the full interview below: