Category: 2023

Asbarez: In Response to Baku’s Actions, France Expels 2 Azerbaijani Diplomats

David Nargizian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

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

President Aliyev and Macron in Paris in 2012


France has decided to expel two employees of Azerbaijan’s embassy in Paris, after Baku took a similar step this week against two employees working in France’s embassy in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said that two French diplomats had been ordered to leave the country over actions “incompatible with their diplomatic status.”

Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that it had summoned French ambassador Anne Boillon to voice a “strong protest over the actions of two employees of the French Embassy.”

“France has taken note of the decision taken by Azerbaijan to declare two members of the French Embassy in Azerbaijan persona non grata. It categorically rejects the allegations presented by Azerbaijan to justify its decision,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday in response to Baku’s actions.

“As a reciprocal measure, France has declared two employees of the Azerbaijani Embassy in France persona non grata,” the French Foreign Ministry said, adding that Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to France was summoned and was officially informed of the decision.

Armenian Christians attacked in Jerusalem, some in serious condition

Talar Tumanian
Dec 28 2023
By MAAYAN JAFFE-HOFFMAN

Over 30 armed provocateurs wearing ski masks and some carrying lethal weapons attacked a group of Armenian bishops, priests, deacons, and other citizens on Thursday morning in the Old City of Jerusalem, according to the Armenian Patriarchate.

"A mass and coordinated physical attack was launched," the Patriarchate wrote in an official letter to the Police and Israeli government, which The Jerusalem Post reviewed. "Several priests, students, and indigenous Armenians are seriously injured."

"They literally attacked us," Bishop Koryoun Baghdasaryan, director of the Real Estate Department for the Patriarchate, told the Post.


The Police confirmed that it received the letter and said that arrests were made on both sides – both Armenians and Muslims who allegedly carried out the attack. No one has been officially charged, the Police said.

"There was an unfortunate incident where some Arab Muslim men and some men from the Armenian community got into a brawl in the old city of Jerusalem," Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum told the Post. "Police came promptly to separate the parties, and arrests were made on both sides.

"The city of Jerusalem will not tolerate any criminal activity, whether religiously motivated or otherwise, and the police will prosecute those responsible," she said.


The Patriarchate claimed that the attack was in response to its submitting a lawsuit to the District Court of Jerusalem for the Cows' Garden Land deal, which was officially received by the court sometime earlier this week.


The Armenian Patriarchate filed a lawsuit to cancel an agreement made over two years ago by the Patriarchate to lease one-fourth of the Armenian Quarter to Australian Jewish developer Danny Rothman (Rubinstein) and his Christian Arab partner George Warwar (Hadad) for 98 years.

Once local and international Armenians understood what had happened, they began protesting, including holding a weekly vigil, to pressure the Patriarchate to cancel the deal.

The deal became known as the Cows' Garden Land Deal because the developer was going to build a luxury hotel on the grounds of what is currently a parking lot on a plot of land with that name. The developer also planned to take down several homes and a seminary.

About two months ago, the Patriarchate finally sent a letter stating it intended to withdraw from the contract. As a result of that letter, Baghdasaryan said, the developers came with bulldozers and started tearing down buildings and preparing the area for construction. In addition, about six weeks ago, a similar violent attack occurred.

"Instead of going through a legal process, they brought criminals and attacked our community," Baghdasaryan told the Post.

"We do not live in Somalia," he continued. "Armenians are quiet, peaceful people. We follow the rules of the land. Israel is a lawful country. The Police cannot leave these people unpunished."

Neither the Police nor Hassan-Nahoum could confirm any connection between Thursday's brawl and the developers.

In an investigative report by the New Arab on Jewish Australian developer Rothman, they said that Rothman has declined to speak to the media. He told the Associated Press, "I never get interviewed by the press," according to the New Arab.


The Jerusalem Post reached out to Rothman via LinkedIn, but he has yet to respond.

In his letter, the Patriarchate called on the Police to open an investigation.

"The Armenian Patriarchate's existential threat is now a physical reality," the letter concluded. "Armenian clerics in Jerusalem are fighting for their lives against impune provocateurs."


https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-779881

Violent Assault on Armenian Christians in Jerusalem’s Old City

Raffi Khondkarian
Dec 28 2023

By: Geeta Pillai

In the heart of the historic Old City of Jerusalem, an unexpected and violent incident unfolded on Thursday afternoon. Over 30 provocateurs, their identities hidden beneath ski masks, launched a brutal assault on the Armenian community. Among the aggressors, some were seen brandishing lethal weapons.

The location of the assault was the tranquil ‘Cows’ Garden’ nestled within the Armenian Quarter of the Old City. This peaceful enclave became the stage for a scene of violence and fear as the group of masked individuals descended upon unsuspecting Armenian clerics and citizens.

Despite the surprise and the overwhelming odds, the Armenian community retaliated bravely. Young and old, laypeople and clerics alike, fought back against their attackers. The struggle continued until the authorities arrived at the scene, bringing the conflict to a halt. In the aftermath, two Armenians were taken into police custody, while several others, including priests, students, and indigenous Armenians, were left nursing serious injuries.

In response to this shocking incident, the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem has issued a call to arms. The Patriarchate is urging the international community to step in, and is demanding that the Israeli government launch a thorough investigation into the attack and bring the culprits to justice.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the volatile nature of the Old City of Jerusalem. Despite its rich history and religious significance, the city remains a hotbed of tension and conflict, with the potential for violence never far beneath the surface.

https://bnnbreaking.com/breaking-news/crime/violent-assault-on-armenian-christians-in-jerusalems-old-city/

Russia Considers Armenia a Strategic Ally Despite Strained Relations

Karlen Baghdasarian
Dec 28 2023

By: Momen Zellmi

In a recent interview with TASS news agency, Sergei Kopyrkin, the Russian ambassador to Armenia, reaffirmed Russia’s perception of Armenia as a strategic ally, despite the current tensions stirring between the two nations. The ambassador underlined the shared interests, history, and viewpoints on international matters that continue to bind the nations together. However, he acknowledged the existence of differences in their respective bilateral and multilateral agendas.

Relations between Russia and Armenia have been decidedly bitter since the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. The situation has been further exacerbated following the September 2022 offensive by Azerbaijan, which Russian peacekeepers did not halt. Armenia has been openly critical of Russia’s perceived failure to live up to its security obligations.

The actions of the Armenian government, labelled as unfriendly by the Russian Foreign Ministry, and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s public criticism of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) for its lack of support, have strained ties further between the two nations. Pashinian has also shed light on Russia’s delay in delivering weapons under defense contracts valued at $400 million.

Despite these concerning issues, Kopyrkin referred to them as operational matters that can be resolved through dialogue. This statement comes in a time when Armenia appears to be seeking alternative arms suppliers, having recently signed defense contracts with India and France. These actions signal a potential shift in Armenia’s military alliances, which could have profound implications for its relationship with Russia.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has criticized Armenia for supposedly seeking to replace its alliance with Moscow with ambiguous promises from the West. In response, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stressed the importance of careful wording when discussing Yerevan and Moscow relations, refuting claims that Armenia criticizes Russia at the highest level.

As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how these challenges will reshape the dynamics of Russia-Armenia relations and what consequences they might have on the wider geopolitical stage.

Asbarez: Iran Again Voices Support for Armenia’s Territorial Integrity and Sovereignty

Emil Lazarian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

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

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian speaks to reporters in Yerevan on Dec. 27


Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who was in Yerevan on Wednesday, once again voiced his country’s support for Armenia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Official Tehran has been a vocal opponent of Baku’s ambitions to carve out a land corridor through Armenia to connect with Nakhichevan.

During a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan, Amir-Abdollahian also welcomed Yerevan’s efforts to establish peace in the region, specifically supporting the Armenian government’s so-called “Crossroads of Peace” plan.

He told reporters that during his meeting Mirzoyan, they “reflected on stable peace and stability in the South Caucasus and the role that Iran has as an active factor and can assume the role of a guarantor of peace and stability in the region.”

“I would like to emphasize that Iran supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Armenia. Iran has had historical relations with neighboring Armenia, which are further developing, deepening, and reaching a high level day by day,” Amir-Abdollahian emphasized.

“We fully understood that Armenia is very serious about achieving stable peace and is taking serious steps,” Iran’s top diplomat said.

Amir-Abdollahian reflected on recent telephone conversations he held with his Azerbaijani and Russian counterparts, Jeyhum Bayramov and Sergey Lavrov, saying that he is convinced that they too are commitment to “lasting peace” between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“I think that it is possible to achieve [agreement between Armenia an Azerbaijan] in the first months of the new year in order to achieve stable peace,” he said.

Amir-Abdollahian said that Tehran is optimistic about peace in region, and believes that there are various avenues, including the so-called “3+3″ format, to ensure stability in the region “without external influences.”

The Iranian foreign minister stressed the importance of excluding “intervention of foreign forces” several times during his remarks.

“Iran supports the establishment of stable peace in the South Caucasus and the launch of the North-South transit route. Iran also welcomes the project proposed by the Prime Minister of Armenia, which was presented as the Crossroads of Peace. We are ready to be consistent for the development of the North-South transit route,” Amir-Abdollahian added.

Yerevan Says Specifics of Delimitation Must be Included in Peace Treaty

Emil Lazarian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

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

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan hosts his Iranian counterpart in Yerevan on Dec. 27


Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Wednesday said that the specifics of the delimitation of borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan must be included in an eventual peace treaty with Azerbaijan, thus countering Baku’s insistence that the border process not be linked to peace discussions.

Last week, Himet Hajiyev, the chief advisor to President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, told reporters in London that Baku would consider separating the border delimitation process from the peace talks and an eventual peace treaty. A day later, Armenia’s Parliament Speaker, who has taken it upon himself to discuss and express approaches to foreign policy matters, said that he did not see a problem in separating the two issues.

With his remarks on Wednesday, Mirzoyan clarified that Yerevan wants the delimitation issues — including the the maps that are to be used in that process — to be included in the language of a peace deal.

“It is extremely important for us that the future delimitation process is predictable and its principles, its foundations are fixed in the peace agreement,” Mirzoyan told reporters on Wednesday during a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who was visiting Yerevan.

“For us, a reference to [concrete] maps would be such a way of ensuring that predictability without predetermining the results [of the process],” added Mirzoyan.

“The three principles pertain to the sovereignty of countries, mutual recognition of territorial integrity and inviolability of borders. When talking about transport and communication infrastructures, we once again address the jurisdiction within the context of these three principles. They are principles accepted by the international community and their legitimacy is recognized worldwide,” Mirzoyan emphasized.

Mirzoyan said that the Armenian government is making every effort to bring the peace process to its logical conclusion, but emphasized that a peace treaty cannot be achieved unilaterally and called for Azerbaijan’s cooperation.

“We have repeatedly emphasized the Republic of Armenia’s commitment to engaging in conscientious and constructive negotiations with Azerbaijan. The ultimate goal of these negotiations is the settlement of relations and the establishment of peace. We have consistently reaffirmed our dedication to the peace process and the establishment of lasting peace in our region,” said Mirzoyan.

“We have had negotiations with Azerbaijan in several directions and several phases; we are working on a concrete draft of the peace treaty. Recently, we have received new proposals from the Azerbaijani side, which we will thoroughly study and respond appropriately, submitting our own proposals,” he added.

“There is a real possibility to achieve peace; there is a window to bring the process to a logical end.  We do have a chance for peace despite the many obstacles and difficulties we have faced. Despite even the forced displacement of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, the hate speech from Azerbaijan, the aggressive rhetoric, we really see that opportunity,’’ said Mirzoyan, noting that the Armenian government is doing its utmost to ensure that the process leading to peace reaches its logical conclusion.

Mirzoyan expressed hope that Azerbaijan would show such constructiveness. He added that positive signals are visible, such as the agreements reached due to the recent contacts, which led to the release of prisoners of war and detainees. In turn, Armenia supported Azerbaijan’s bid to host the 29th Session of the UN Climate Change summit next year.

“On the other hand, we observe negative signals, given the aggressive statements and calls from Azerbaijan, and the avoidance of high-level meetings. Although there are proposals, the meetings have not taken place recently. We hope that in the near future, we will have the opportunity to sign a long-term peace agreement,” concluded Mirzoyan.

Asbarez: AMAA Orphan & Child Care Event in New York Raises Funds for Displaced Artsakh Armenians

Zhanna Nahapetian
by Contributor

 

 

 

in Artsakh, Latest, News, Top Stories

Attendees at the Basquiat x Warhol exhibit at Brant Foundation in New York


As we celebrated the birth of Christ, and in the spirit of charity, a fundraiser was organized by the Armenian Missionary Association of America NY/NJ Orphan & Child Care Committee to raise critical funds for families displaced from Artsakh. The AMAA continues to advance its mission to support these families, help restore their normal lives, and meet their long-term needs. A private, curated museum tour of the exhibit, which featured artwork by Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, was held on December 13 at the Brant Foundation in New York City.

Art enthusiasts, old friends and new acquaintances — many traveling by a chartered bus from the Armenian Presbyterian Church in Paramus, NJ — gathered at the Brant Foundation to view the unprecedented, private exhibition that displayed the collaborative art of Warhol and Basquiat, led by Contemporary Art Advisor Aileen Agopian, and the Brant Foundation’s Docent, Mario Fasani. Agopian’s authoritative input about Warhol and Basquiat, their place and impact on contemporary art, informed those present and enhanced their appreciation of the two icons.

Guests viewing the private exhibition featuring the collaborative art of Warhol and Basquiat

Fasani spoke in detail about Warhol’s emphasis on consumerism, his celebration of pop culture, and elevating everyday items like lemons, apples, soda bottles, and soup cans. Warhol painted mundane items to depersonalize himself from his art, Fasani noted. He also spoke about Haitian American, Brooklyn-born artist Basquiat’s expressionism and highlighted his extraordinary collaboration with Warhol, where the two expressed themselves creatively on the same canvas at times, and “reforestation of each other’s art” at other times, as shown in this special exhibit. The artists used mediums such as silk screen ink, acrylic, synthetic polymer paint, watercolor, and oil stick on linen, canvas, wood panels, and even punching bags.

After being treated to an exceptional experience, the guests had the opportunity to pose questions and be privy to Fasani’s and Agopian’s expert elucidation.

According to the Brant Foundation, the “Basquiat x Warhol, is an exhibition of works from the artists’ influential collaboration in the early eighties. Curated by Dr. Dieter Buchhart and Peter M. Brant in collaboration with Dr. Anna Karina Hofbauer, this is the first time this iconic collaboration has been the subject of a major New York exhibition in over twenty-five years.” Peter Brant is one of the most important collectors in New York. He began collecting contemporary art at 19, focusing on and supporting young emerging artists, often upon the recommendation of eminent art dealer since the 1960s, Leo Castelli.

AMAA NY/NJ Orphan & Child Care Committee Chairs Vicki Hovanessian and Seta Nalbandian

Those in attendance included members from the NY/NJ Evangelical community as well as the NY/ NJ Armenian Relief Society, the Tekeyan Cultural Association, the ADL, the daughters of Vartan, the Diocese, the Prelacy, and guests from California, Colorado, and Chicago.

After the tour, the attendees gathered at Yara Lebanese restaurant in New York City, in a convivial atmosphere of fellowship. The festive dinner of Middle Eastern delicacies was preceded by a thoughtful prayer filled with expressions of gratitude by Jennifer Telfeyan-LaRoe.

True to her magnanimous nature, Vicki Hovanessian spoke of the impetus for the event and had a kind word to say about each guest. The attendees echoed co-chair Seta Nalbandian’s remarks about chairlady Hovanessian’s phenomenal contributions and myriad accomplishments, amid further testimonials and appreciative applause.

AMAA NY/NJ Orphan & Child Care Committee members

An impromptu birthday celebration for committee member Dr. Celeste Telfeyan Helvacian was a much-appreciated gesture before everyone departed the venue with hearts filled with the spirit of giving and a sense of benevolence.

Founded in 1918, the Armenian Missionary Association of America serves the spiritual, educational, and social needs of Armenian communities in 24 countries around the world including Armenia and Artsakh. For additional information, you may visit the website.

RFE/RL Armenian Service – 12/28/2023

Boris Nahapetian 
                                        Thursday, 


Azeri FM Seeks Direct Talks With Armenian Counterpart

        • Lusine Musayelian

Switzerland - Foreign Ministers Ararat Mirzoyan of Armenia and Jeyhun Bayramov 
of Azerbaijan meet in Geneva, October 2, 2022.


More than one month after cancelling a U.S.-mediated meeting between the 
Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers, Baku has proposed that they hold 
direct talks at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov revealed the proposal at a news 
conference on Thursday. He did not say whether the Armenian side has already 
responded to it. There was no immediate reaction to Bayramov’s statement from 
Yerevan.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had been scheduled to host Bayramov and 
his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan in Washington on November 20 for 
further negotiations on a peace treaty between the two South Caucasus nations. 
Baku cancelled the meeting in protest against what it called pro-Armenian 
statements made by James O’Brien, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for 
Europe and Eurasia.

O’Brien visited Baku early this month in what appears to have been a failed bid 
to convince the Azerbaijani leadership to reschedule the cancelled meeting. A 
senior aide to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on December 19 that 
Washington must reconsider its “one-sided approach” to the Armenian-Azerbaijani 
conflict before it can mediate more peace talks.

Aliyev withdrew from talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian which 
the European Union had planned to host in October. The EU too has been accused 
by Baku or pro-Armenian bias. Armenian leaders have suggested that Aliyev is 
simply dragging his feet on the peace treaty in hopes of clinching more Armenian 
concessions.

Bayramov said on Thursday that Yerevan’s position on key details of the peace 
treaty has become more acceptable to Baku after Azerbaijan’s September 19-20 
military offensive that led to its recapture of Nagorno-Karabakh. He did not 
shed light on that “progress” or the remaining differences between the two sides.

One of the key sticking points is their border disputes. Mirzoyan reiterated on 
Wednesday that the peace treaty should contain a concrete mechanism for 
delimiting the Armenian-Azerbaijani border such as Soviet military maps printed 
in the 1970s.

Baku continues to oppose that. Bayramov insisted on delinking the border issue 
from the treaty. He also said that the signing of the treaty depends on the 
“political will” of the Armenian side.

“We hope to see the extent of that political will in the coming days,” added the 
Azerbaijani minister.

Armenian opposition leaders have warned Pashinian’s government against signing 
the peace accord before the border delimitation. They say that Baku wants to 
leave the door open for territorial claims to Armenia.




Ex-President Sarkisian Rejects Pashinian’s ‘Lies’ On Karabakh

        • Shoghik Galstian

Armenia - Former President Serzh Sarkisian (right) attends the presentation of 
his book, Yerevan, March 7, 2023.


Former President Serzh Sarkisian on Thursday brushed aside Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian’s latest statement blaming Armenia’s former leaders and foreign powers 
for the fall of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Sarkisian said that Pashinian admitted having “consciously sacrificed” Karabakh 
to Azerbaijan in a televised interview last week.

Speaking to Armenian Public Television, Pashinian claimed that U.S., Russian and 
French mediators leading the OSCE Minsk Group had predetermined the 
“dissolution” of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic with their peace 
plans drawn up prior to his rise to power in 2018. He said virtually none of 
those plans offered a comprehensive solution to the conflict with Azerbaijan.

Some of the mediating powers for decades used the conflict as a “truncheon 
hanging over Armenia’s head,” Pashinian charged amid his government’s 
unprecedented tensions with Russia.

“I saw many lies and falsifications in that speech but must single out one 
important fact: Armenia’s ruler admitted that he sacrificed Karabakh 
consciously,” Sarkisian told reporters.

“I just didn’t understand what truncheons he is talking about, who had 
brandished those truncheons over Armenia’s head,” he said. “The [Minsk Group] 
co-chairs who had issued five statements to the effect that Nagorno-Karabakh’s 
status must be determined through the expression of [Karabakh residents’] will?”

“Did he mean the country which had provided us with billions of dollars worth of 
weapons for free or at discounted prices and which he handed over to 
Azerbaijan?” the ex-president added, referring to Russia.

Most of the Karabakh peace proposals were based on so-called Madrid Principles 
which the United States, Russia and France originally put forward 2007. This 
framework agreement envisaged that Karabakh’s predominantly ethnic Armenian 
population would determine the region’s internationally recognized status in a 
future referendum.

Pashinian has repeatedly denounced the Madrid Principles in an effort to absolve 
himself of blame for the 2020 war in Karabakh won by Azerbaijan. He has said 
that this peace formula, largely accepted by Sarkisian and his predecessor 
Robert Kocharian, essentially recognized Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan and 
called for Armenia’s “capitulation.”

Armenian opposition leaders and other government critics have shrugged off those 
claims. They say that Pashinian made the disastrous war inevitable by rejecting 
the last version of the Madrid Principles.

In 2021, Sarkisian publicized the secretly recorded audio of a 2019 meeting 
during which Pashinian said he opposes that peace plan because it would not 
immediately formalize Karabakh’s secession from Azerbaijan. Pashinian said he is 
ready to “play the fool or look a bit insane” in order to avoid such a 
settlement.




Armenia Turning Way From Russia, Says Lavrov


United Arab Emirates - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a meeting 
of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Russian President 
Vladimir Putin in Abu Dhabi, December 6, 2023.


Armenia is reorienting its foreign policy towards the West at the expense of its 
long-standing alliance with Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said 
in an interview published on Thursday.

“Unfortunately, official Yerevan, succumbing to the persuasion of Westerners, is 
trying to reformat its foreign policy line,” he told the official Russian news 
agency TASS. “It is exchanging the time-tested alliance with Moscow not even for 
concrete help from the West but only for vague promises.”

Lavrov was particularly concerned about what he described as Armenia’s deepening 
ties with NATO.

“Yerevan has been developing cooperation with NATO and its individual member 
countries lately,” he said. “This year, Armenia took part in several dozen 
events with the alliance. It continues to modernize its armed forces according 
to NATO standards, and the republic’s military personnel are undergoing training 
in a number of NATO member states. This cannot fail to cause us concern.”

“I hope that Yerevan is aware that deepening interaction with the alliance leads 
to a loss of sovereignty in the field of national defense and security,” he 
warned.

Armenia - U.S. and Armenian troops start a joint exercise at the Zar training 
ground near Yerevan, September 11, 2023.

Earlier this week, a senior NATO official praised Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian’s government for moving away from Russia and seeking “more cooperation 
and political dialogue” with NATO.

“Armenia has decided very clearly to make some shift in their foreign policy, to 
take some distance from Moscow,” Javier Colomina, the NATO secretary general’s 
special representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia, told Georgian 
television.

Pashinian declared in early September that his government wants to “diversify 
our security policy” because Armenia’s heavy reliance on Russia has proved a 
“strategic mistake.” He claimed that Moscow is “unwilling or unable” to defend 
its South Caucasus ally. Armenia hosted a U.S.-Armenian military exercise later 
in September.

The Russian Foreign Ministry denounced these and other “unfriendly steps,” 
accusing Pashinian of “destroying” Russian-Armenian relations at the behest of 
Western powers. The rift between the two longtime allies deepened further after 
Moscow did not prevent or stop Azerbaijan’s September 19-20 military offensive 
that restored Azerbaijani control over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenia - Russian soldiers march during an official Armenian ceremony to mark 
the 76th anniversary of Soviet victory in World War Two, Yerevan, May 9, 2021.

Despite the heightened tensions, Pashinian has announced no plans to pull his 
country out of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). 
Pashinian said in late October that his administration is also not considering 
demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from Armenia even if it sees no 
“advantages” in their presence.

Lavrov described as “harmful” any talk of such a withdrawal. He insisted that 
Armenia cannot successfully confront its grave security challenges with the help 
of the United States and the European Union.

Pashinian’s domestic political opponents have also criticized his foreign policy 
moves while agreeing with his assertions that Russia is not fully honoring its 
security commitments to Armenia. They argue that the West is not ready to give 
any Armenia security guarantees or significant military aid.



Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2023 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

France expels two Azerbaijan diplomats in ‘reciprocity’ move

Emil Lazarian
Dec 28 2023

France has declared two employees of Azerbaijan's embassy persona non grata in a move of "reciprocity", the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

The ministry said in a statement it had summoned French ambassador Anne Boillon to express a "strong protest over the actions of two employees of the French Embassy".

Without providing further details, it said the two had been declared personae non gratae and ordered to leave the country within 48 hours.

The move came amid tense relations between the countries as Baku has accused France of being biased towards Armenia during European-mediated peace talks with its arch-foe.

In November, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accused France of inciting conflicts in the Caucasus by arming Armenia.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have fought two wars over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Baku reclaimed the enclave in September after a lightning offensive against Armenian separatists who had controlled it for three decades.

Armenia and Azerbaijan had said a comprehensive peace agreement could be signed by the end of the year, but internationally mediated negotiations between the ex-Soviet republics have made little progress.

Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have met on several occasions for talks under the mediation of the European Union.

But in October, Aliyev refused to attend negotiations with Pashinyan in Spain, over what he said was France's "biased position".

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had been set to mediate the talks along with European Council President Charles Michel.

Home to a large Armenian diaspora, France has been routinely accused by Azerbaijan of pro-Armenian bias over the Caucasus countries' territorial conflict.

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AFP)

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20231227-france-expels-two-azerbaijan-diplomats-in-a-move-of-reciprocity

Armenia’s Ex-President Robert Kocharian Ends Trial by Invoking Statute of Limitations

Arpi Talalian
Dec 28 2023

By: Momen Zellmi

The decade-long legal saga surrounding Armenia’s former President Robert Kocharian reached its conclusion on Wednesday in Yerevan. Kocharian, who led Armenia from 1998 to 2008, agreed to invoke the statute of limitations on corruption charges while steadfastly professing his innocence. This move brings an end to a trial that has been as much about political rivalry as it has about the pursuit of justice.

Kocharian’s legal troubles began in July 2018, following the ‘velvet revolution’ that saw Nikol Pashinian assume power. Initially, the accusations against the ex-president were tied to a 2008 crackdown on opposition protesters. Later, charges were added, alleging that he had accepted a hefty $3 million bribe from an Armenian businesswoman.

Kocharian, alongside his former chief of staff and two retired generals, began their trial proceedings in May 2019. The former president dismissed the charges as politically motivated, portraying them as a ‘political vendetta’ orchestrated by Pashinian.

(Read Also: France Declares Two Azerbaijani Diplomats ‘Persona Non Grata’ Amid Diplomatic Strife)

In a legal twist, the coup-related charges were annulled in 2021 by the Constitutional Court of Armenia. However, the bribery allegations remained. Judge Anna Danibekian eventually closed the case, citing the expiration of the statute of limitations without pronouncing a verdict of acquittal or conviction.

Interestingly, Kocharian had previously resisted invoking the statute, holding out for full acquittal. But in a change of stance, he chose to invoke the statute to seek medical treatment abroad.

(Read Also: Azerbaijani Offensive Sparks Refugee Crisis in Armenia)

The conclusion of the trial carries significant financial implications as well. It results in the return of 2 billion drams ($5 million) in bail money to his daughter Gayane and the unfreezing of Kocharian’s assets.

Despite the charges, Kocharian, who now leads Armenia’s primary opposition alliance, would have evaded prison even if found guilty due to the statute of limitations.