Category: 2020

TASS Press review: Nagorno-Karabakh map redrawn

Toneyan Mark
TASS, Russia
Dec 30 2020
Top stories in the Russian press on Wednesday, December 30
© AP Photo/Emrah Gurel

This outgoing year has shown that the post-Soviet space remains a volcano, which is belching out wars, revolutions and other shocks even 30 years after the breakup of the USSR. The key event for the post-Soviet states in 2020 was the second war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, which lasted for 44 days. Unlike the first war in the early 1990s, which resulted in Azerbaijan’s defeat, this time Baku clinched victory, regaining control over a significant part of territories adjacent to Nagorno-Karabakh and also a part of this mountainous region. A peace deal between Yerevan and Baku was reached due to Russia’s mediation. Moscow will not only monitor the compliance with the ceasefire but will also become a guarantor of a future long-term settlement to the Karabakh conflict, Kommersant writes.

The key point of the trilateral deal was an agreement to deploy Russian peacekeepers to the conflict zone in order to prevent the resumption of a military confrontation and create conditions for relaunching the diplomatic process, which has been stalled for a quarter of a century.

The second Karabakh war, which broke out on September 27, was predetermined by many factors. Among those, which ensured Azerbaijan’s victory, was its superiority in armaments, first of all, its total air domination thanks to unmanned aerial vehicles purchased from Israel and Turkey. Experts say Armenia was caught off-guard by advanced "kamikaze drones." Among other factors for Azerbaijan’s victory was the assistance of Turkish military advisers, and the direct participation of Turkey’s military on the battlefield, which included pilots and gunners, as well as mercenaries from the Middle East (although Azerbaijan strongly denies this).

When touching on the reasons for Armenia’s defeat, experts blame the short-sighted policy of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who allowed the war to break out even though the country was not ready for it, as well as strategic and tactical errors by Armenia’s military command. Azerbaijan’s triumph debased Pashinyan’s calls to grant Nagorno-Karabakh a special status. A huge majority of Armenians believe that the prime minister is to blame for the shameful defeat and the opposition is demanding his resignation. Even if the current wave of protests fails to topple the premier and his government, Pashinyan’s prospects in the next or early elections seem to be rather vague, according to the newspaper.

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Russia committed to further development of allied cooperation with Armenia, Putin tells Sarkissian

Jhanna Virabian
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 30 2020

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory message to the President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sarkissian on the occasion of New Year and Christmas.

“I hope that the difficulties and worries the passing year brought will remain in the past. I would like to reaffirm our commitment to the further development of the Russian-Armenian allied cooperation for the benefit of our two brotherly peoples, for the benefit of strengthening peace and security in the South Caucasus region,” Putin said in the message.

He wished good health happiness and success to president Sarkissian, his relatives and friends. The Russian president also wished peace and prosperity to all citizens of Armenia.

On behalf of the President of the Russian Federation, a collection of stamps dedicated to the hero of the Soviet Union Gevorg Vardanyan was handed to the President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sarkissian.


Situation in Karabakh conflict one tends to normalize – Lavrov

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia

Dec 30 2020

The situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone tends to normalize, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says.

“We note with satisfaction the disposition of Baku and Yerevan to fulfill their obligations and to work towards a general stabilization of the situation,” Lavrov said in an interview with TASS.

He hailed the high degree of cooperation shown by the parties in resolving issues that arise on the ground.

“Russia, in turn, continues to responsibly and effectively fulfill its function as the guarantor of the ceasefire. No provocative actions against the Russian peacekeepers have been observed so far,” the Foreign Minister said.

According to him, the only “noticeable violation” occurred on December 13 on the contact line where the Russian peacekeepers were not present.

“Vigorous steps taken by the command of our peacekeeping contingent in cooperation with Azerbaijani and Armenian partners helped to avoid the escalation of the incident. We will continue to make every effort to prevent breakdowns of the truce,” Lavrov said.

“On the agenda is preventing any violations of the ceasefire regime, as well as clearing the area of explosive objects, exchanging prisoners of war and bodies of the dead, ensuring the safe return of refugees and internally displaced persons, resolving urgent humanitarian issues, preserving historical monuments, regardless of their confessional affiliation, unblocking transport and economic routes,” Russia’s top diplomat added.

He noted progress in all above-mentioned areas, but added that “there are also problems that are inevitable given the extraordinary situation.”

“As for the discussion of the still unresolved political issues, I can reaffirm our readiness both in our national capacity and through the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to assist in organizing such meetings as soon as the parties are ready for it,” Sergey Lavrov stated.


US-Armenian relations at an all-time low, political scientist says

Albert Nalbandian
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 30 2020

Relations between the United States and Armenia have hit an all-time low, according to political scientist Suren Sargsyan.

In a public post on Facebook on Wednesday, the expert said it was naive to think that the Biden administration would embark on a process of providing financial assistance to Armenia immediately after taking power amid the deep financial crisis in the US due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“1. First of all, next year's budget is Trump's budget, which envisages $16.6 million in aid to Armenia.

2. Yes, it is possible that additional assistance will be provided to Armenia, for instance, to fight Covid-19, as it was done for hundreds of countries this year.

3. The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has stated that it is working to increase the amount of US assistance to Artsakh and Armenia. It’s not ruled out that we will receive some humanitarian assistance in the post-war period. But this should be exclusively attributed to the ANCA activities and not to the attitude towards the Armenian authorities. It is obvious that this will be the result of their work, rather than Biden's "love" for our government.

4. Let's not forget that the ARF demands the resignation of the authorities, which means that the Armenian National Committee in Washington will not do anything for the Armenian authorities any longer, with all the ensuing consequences.

5. Let's not forget that the US-Armenian relations are at an all-time low.

Let me repeat myself: Washington's attitude towards Yerevan may change, but its politics will not,” he wrote. 

Armenian Foreign Ministry issues official position on border demarcation processes in response to ombudsman’s inquiry

Bedik Zaminian
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 30 2020

Armenia’s Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan on Wednesday said following the results of his visit to Syunik Province, he submitted an inquiry to the Foreign Ministry, requesting clarifications over demarcation and delimitation processes along Armenia's border with Azerbaijan, taking into account the direct impact of these processes on human rights in the current situation.

The ministry issued an official position, which the ombudsman published in full on his Facebook page.

“Demarcations are successive bilateral international processes that require the existence of a joint commission and within the framework of which professional discussions and negotiations are held. A prerequisite for the above-mentioned processes is the existence of normal bilateral relations, including diplomatic relations, between the neighboring states.

In international practice, a bilateral intergovernmental commission (chaired by representatives of the foreign ministries of the countries) is formed to carry out demarcation and delimitation processes between neighboring countries, consisting of representatives of state stakeholders (foreign policy, defense, security), experts (particularly in the field of geodesy cartography).

The first stage of the work of such commissions, as a rule, ends with a separate bilateral agreement on the legal basis of the demarcation, and later, after the demarcation, on the joint implementation of the demarcation process.

Upon successful completion of the bilateral process, the commission concludes an agreement on the border between the two countries, which stipulates that all border issues have been resolved.

Prior to the commencement of the above-mentioned processes, "their successful completion, the deployment of armed forces or border troops to conduct combat duty along the state border is a purely defensive" security measure, in areas actually under the control of the parties, negotiated directly or indirectly between representatives of the armed forces."

Therefore, the implementation of the current measures is not related to status issues, can not be interpreted as a final agreement on demarcation, or mechanical approval of existing administrative boundaries”.

Arman Tatoyan has established an effective and reliable cooperation with the Foreign Ministry on the mentioned issues, as well as on various other issues, especially with the country's permanent representatives in international structures and its ambassadors to a number of countries.

Armenia bracing for third wave of coronavirus

Vatche Chakhmakhchian
JAM News
Dec 30 2020

    JAMnews, Yerevan
 

In the second half of January, another uptick in coronavirus infections is expected in Armenia due to active contacts between people during the New Year holidays, Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan announced earlier today.

Now ‘there is a relative stabilization’ following the two previous peaks of infections in the summer and autumn. Moreover, the second aggravation was caused by the second Karabakh war.

For a long time, Armenia was tenth in the world in cases per million population, ahead of neighboring countries. Now the situation has changed. Armenia has dropped to the thirteenth line, while Georgia has rocketed up the list, becoming eighth.

On December 30, 582 new cases of infection were registered in Armenia. In total, 158,878 infected people have been infected in the country. 141,844 have recovered, and 2807 infected have died.

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The third wave, which, according to doctors’ forecasts, is expected in the second half of January, will be “softer” than the second, that is, the incidence rates will not be so high.

Health Minister Torosyan noted that because of the second Karabakh war, it was impossible to comply with sanitary standards, which led to thousands of cases a day. However, he noted, in the post-war period the situation is improving, with many hospitals returning to normal work, but are braced for a third wave:

Employees of the Armenian Ministry of Health, including Arsen Torosyan, were vaccinated with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine

Christmas gifts from London for Artsakh kids

Jack Hunanian
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 30 2020


About 1,200 shoeboxes filled with New Year’s gifts are on their way from London to Yerevan, where they will be distributed by the NGO “Future is Now” to children of families displaced by the war.

An appeal was launched one month ago and word spread quickly within the UK and across all of Europe, engaging both non-Armenians and Armenians alike.

With the help of 39 volunteers working over two weekends at St Sarkis Church in Kensington, London, the boxes were collected, grouped by age and gender, security checked, itemized and packaged to be placed in transit to Yerevan, via Brussels. 

The appeal was the initiative of Victoria Lazzari, 32, who together with her Armenian boyfriend Yuri Khodjamirian, 35, visited Artsakh last year.

“The idea came from my mother who reminded me how as a family we used to send boxes via our school around Christmas time to children affected by war. I felt compelled to bring a little joy and hope to this devastating tragedy that has displaced thousands of families. Sending a shoebox creates a connection between the donor and recipient that donating money alone does not. It also gives the receiving child a sense that someone far away made a great effort to show that they care,” said Victoria Lazzari.

These shoeboxes are not just gifts, they are a personal connection between people living in the UK to children far away in Armenia. One of those dropping a shoebox was Tatevik. She herself received one such shoebox 30 years ago and told of the affect it had on her. People enclosed cards containing hopeful messages, photos of themselves. Many had never heard of Artsakh or Armenia prior to taking the time to make a shoebox.

Opposition figure: Foreign Ministry ‘accuses’ Pashinyan of committing crime against Armenia’s territorial integrity

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 30 2020

The Armenian Foreign Ministry “accuses” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of committing a crime against Armenia’s territorial integrity, the inviolability of the state borders and the external security, leader of the opposition One Armenia party Artur Ghazinyan said on Wednesday.

Citing the ministry’s official position issued in response to the ombudsman’s inquiry seeking clarifications over border demarcation and delimitation processes in Syunik Province, the opposition figure described it as a "confirmation of the treason committed by the prime minister.”

“In response to the ombudsman's inquiry, the Armenian Foreign Ministry presented the entire legal procedures of the delimitation and demarcation of state borders, which in fact proves the criminal-arbitrary nature of Nikol Pashinyan's actions and is yet another proof of the treason,” he wrote, calling on the law enforcement authorities' attention to the statement.

The ministry's statement is below. 

“Delimitation and demarcation of state borders are successive bilateral international processes that require the existence of a joint commission and within the framework of which professional discussions and negotiations are held. A prerequisite for the above-mentioned processes is the existence of normal bilateral relations, including diplomatic relations, between the neighboring states.

In international practice, a bilateral intergovernmental commission (chaired by representatives of the foreign ministries of the countries) is formed to carry out delimitation and demarcation processes between neighboring countries, consisting of representatives of state stakeholders (foreign policy, defense, security), experts (particularly in the field of geodesy cartography).

The first stage of the work of such commissions, as a rule, ends with a separate bilateral agreement on the legal basis of the demarcation, and later, after the demarcation, on the joint implementation of the demarcation process.

Upon successful completion of the bilateral process, the commission concludes an agreement on the border between the two countries, which stipulates that all border issues have been resolved.

Prior to the commencement of the above-mentioned processes, "their successful completion, the deployment of armed forces or border troops to conduct combat duty along the state border is a purely defensive" security measure, in areas actually under the control of the parties, negotiated directly or indirectly between representatives of the armed forces."

Therefore, the implementation of the current measures is not related to status issues, can not be interpreted as a final agreement on demarcation, or mechanical approval of existing administrative boundaries."

Armenia’s Foreign Ministry briefs Ombudsman on its official stance on demarcation and delimitation

Greg Madatian
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 30 2020

The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued its official official position on border demarcation and delimitation processes.

The Human Rights Defender requested the Foreign Ministry’s stance on the issue following Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan’s visit to Syunik province.

The comments sent to the Ombudsman are provided below:

“Delimitation and demarcation are successive bilateral international processes that require the existence of a joint commission, and professional discussions and negotiations are held within that framework. A prerequisite for the above-mentioned processes is the existence of normal bilateral relations, including diplomatic relations, between the neighboring states.

In international practice, a bilateral intergovernmental commission (chaired by representatives of the foreign ministries of the countries) is formed to carry out delimitation and demarcation processes between neighboring countries, consisting of representatives of state stakeholders (foreign policy, defense, security), experts (particularly in the field of geodesy cartography).

The first stage of the work of such commissions, as a rule, ends with a separate bilateral agreement on the legal basis of the delimitation, and later on the joint implementation of the demarcation process.

Upon successful completion of the bilateral process, the Commission concludes an agreement on the border between the two countries, which stipulates that all border issues have been resolved.

Prior to the commencement of the above-mentioned processes and their successful completion, the deployment of armed forces or border troops to conduct combat duty along the state border is a purely defensive and security measure in areas under the actual control of the parties, negotiated directly or mediated between armed forces.

Therefore, the implementation of the current measures is not related to status issues, cannot be interpreted as a final agreement on demarcation, or mechanical approval of existing administrative boundaries.”

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia has established effective cooperation and reliable cooperation with the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the mentioned issues, as well as on various other issues, especially with our country’s permanent representatives in international structures and our ambassadors to a number of countries.

TURKISH press: Turkish personnel arrived in Azerbaijan to monitor cease-fire deal, Defense Minister Akar says

Lara Antonian
 ISTANBUL DIPLOMACY 
DEC 30, 2020 11:28 AM GMT+3
Azerbaijani forces move toward Aghdam in the Aghdam region of Azerbaijan, Nov. 20, 2020. (AP Photo)

The Turkish personnel assigned to work in the joint monitoring center in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh arrived in Azerbaijan, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar announced Tuesday.

"Our staff went to Azerbaijan and stands by there. After the construction of the joint center is completed and it goes operational, one of our generals and 35 military officers will start their duty immediately," Akar said in a virtual year-end evaluation meeting.

Turkey's Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Güler, other military commanders and senior authorities were in attendance at the meeting. Addressing defense and security issues, Akar recalled that Azerbaijan liberated its lands from Armenia's occupation after nearly 30 years.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a Russia-brokered agreement on Nov. 10 to end the fighting and work toward a comprehensive resolution. Turkey and Russia later signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a joint center to monitor the peace deal. It will be established on Azerbaijani territories liberated from Armenia's occupation.

Around 2,000 Russian peacekeepers have been deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh under the terms of the cease-fire deal and are expected to stay in the region for at least five years. The Turkish Parliament also last month overwhelmingly approved the deployment of Turkish peacekeeping troops to Azerbaijan after Turkey and Russia signed the deal on establishing a joint center to monitor the cease-fire in the region.

Earlier in December, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said the center will be established in the Aghdam region. Akar underlined that Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in the region are also clearing mines and improvised explosives. Two Special Mine Detection and Clearance Teams, consisting of 135 mine clearance specialists of the TSK, have been supporting the Azerbaijani troops in regions liberated from Armenia's occupation. The Turkish troops are also training Azerbaijani soldiers in mine detection and clearance techniques and tactics.

"As part of the humanitarian aid activities, we did our best to support our Azerbaijani brothers and sisters, and we will continue to do so. We have supported them in their rightful and honorable struggle, and we will continue to do so," he added.

In another statement, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Tuesday that Turkish and Azerbaijani military personnel conducted joint efforts to detect and destroy mines in the Aghdam region recently liberated from Armenia's occupation.

"A group on the clearance of mines of the Turkish Armed Forces in our country and the units of the Engineering Troops of Azerbaijan fulfill the tasks of engineering support in the liberated Aghdam region," said a ministry statement.

It said that the troops cleared "sowing plots and connecting roads" of mines and unexploded shells. While releasing footage of these operations, the ministry said, "Activities on the detection and disposal of unexploded shells and mines in liberated territories are being continued."

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

When new clashes erupted on Sept. 27, the Armenian military launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces and violated several humanitarian cease-fire agreements.

During the 44-day conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages from the nearly three-decade-long occupation.

The truce is seen as a victory for Azerbaijan and a defeat for Armenia, whose armed forces have been withdrawing in line with the agreement.

Despite the agreement ending the conflict, the Armenian military has violated the agreement several times, killing a number of Azerbaijani soldiers and a civilian and wounding a few people, according to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.