Category: 2023

Turkish Press: Türkiye strongly condemns opening of monument in Armenia glorifying ‘bloody act of terror’

Emma Nadirian
Anadolu Agency
Turkey –
Burç Eruygur, Seda Sevencan, Diyar Güldoğan 

ISTANBUL

Türkiye on Wednesday criticized the inauguration of the Nemesis Monument in the Armenian capital Yerevan which honors perpetrators of assassinations against Ottoman and Azerbaijani officials in the early 1920s. 

"We strongly condemn the opening of the 'Nemesis Monument' in Yerevan, which is dedicated to the perpetrators of the assassinations against Ottoman political and military leaders in the early 1920s and Azerbaijani officials of the time, as well as even some Ottoman citizens of Armenian origin," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"The opening of this shameful monument glorifies a bloody act of terror that led to heinous terrorist attacks in which 31 of our diplomats and their family members were murdered," it said.

The statement also underlined that the way these events were portrayed by Armenian media indicated that a distorted and unacceptable understanding of history persisted among some people.

"Such provocative steps, which are incompatible with the spirit of the normalization process between Türkiye and Armenia, will in no way contribute to the efforts to establish lasting and sustainable peace and stability in the region. On the contrary, they will negatively affect the normalization process," it said.

An earlier statement by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry also condemned the unveiling of the Nemesis Monument.

“Building this monument with the permission and approval of the relevant government agencies of Armenia…is the promotion of the terrorist policy by Armenia and the propaganda of terrorist acts carried out throughout the history,” the statement said.

Recalling that Operation Nemesis targeted officials of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic as well as the Ottoman Empire between 1920 and 1922, the statement further said: “Armenian terrorism, extremism, aggressive separatism, and all forms and manifestations of racial discrimination must be fought decisively without any ambiguity or double standards.”

“The support of terrorism at the state level, which has been used by radical Armenian groups throughout history, must be strongly condemned by the international community, and in order to ensure peace and tranquility in the region, the policy of terrorism should be stopped by Armenia,” the statement said.

It added that such steps by Armenia “seriously question the country's alleged ‘sincerity’ and ‘goodwill’ in connection with the ongoing normalization negotiations with Azerbaijan and Türkiye.”

“It should be noted that the path to peace and reconciliation does not lie in the further glorification of crimes and mistakes but in the recognition of them,” it added.

Russia names new peacekeeping head as tensions rise between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Emil Karabekian
INDIA TODAY
REUTERS

By Reuters: Russia said on Wednesday it had appointed one of its most senior army commanders to lead a peacekeeping force in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, as tensions rise again between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Russian peacekeepers were deployed in 2020 to end a war over Nagorno-Karabakh, the second that Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought since the 1991 Soviet collapse. The mountain enclave is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but populated mainly by ethnic Armenians.

The Russian armed forces said the peacekeepers were now headed by Colonel-General Alexander Lentsov, deputy commander-in-chief of the Russian ground forces. He replaces Major-General Andrei Volkov, a more junior officer.

No reason was given for the change, announced hours after a telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Armenia has voiced increasing frustration that the Russian force has failed to keep open the Lachin corridor, the only land route that links it to Karabakh across Azerbaijani territory.

Russian media quoted an Armenian spokesperson on Tuesday as saying the country had appealed to the International Court of Justice over Azerbaijan's installation of a checkpoint on the highway on Sunday, calling it a "flagrant violation" of Baku's obligation to ensure free movement.


Turkish Press: Russia says US, France failed as ‘honest brokers’ in Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement

Emil Lazarian
Anadolu Agency
Turkey –
Elena Teslova  |27.04.2023 

MOSCOW

Russia on Thursday said the US and France have failed to be "honest brokers" in the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.

Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said recent remarks by the US and French officials show that their real motives in the South Caucasus are aimed at undermining Russia's position in the region.

In their recent statements, Washington and Paris blamed Moscow for the establishment of an Azerbaijani border checkpoint on the Lachin corridor, which links Armenia and Karabakh.

"The US and EU representatives, in particular France, positioned themselves as "honest brokers" in the process of Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization. They seem to fail … Attempts by French and American colleagues to convince that they are guided solely by the interests of achieving peace in the South Caucasus are disavowed by their regular anti-Russian attacks," Zakharova said.

The new checkpoint has been operational since Sunday on the Lachin-Khankendi road (Lachin corridor), a road Armenia has used to access the Karabakh region.

Relations between the two former Soviet republics have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Karabakh, which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

Most of the territory was liberated by Baku during a war in 2020 fall, which ended after a Russian-brokered peace agreement and opened the door to normalization.

Zakharova also said Moscow is making efforts through the Russian peacekeeping contingent on the ground and at the political level to resolve the situation around the Lachin corridor and return to the 2020 trilateral agreements.

She further said the Russian side also considers it "fundamentally important that Armenian authorities contribute to the search for mutually acceptable solutions."

Commenting on remarks by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who said he informed the Russian side about the progress in the implementation of the Russian part of the Black Sea grain deal, Zakharova said he spoke about "progress in attempts" to implement it while Moscow would like to see "progress in results."

As for the possibilities for Ukraine to acquire nuclear weapons or create a "dirty bomb," – an explosive device with nuclear parts, any signs of such activity are closely monitored by the relevant Russian agencies, she said.

About the US reaction to a phone talk between Chinese and Ukrainian presidents, Zakharova said Washington's statements are contradictory.

"In deeds the US is doing everything to continue the conflict – increasing arms supplies, financing the Kiev regime and its crimes. They are certainly those who consider themselves beneficiaries from the continuation of hostilities," she stressed.

In response to a question about the Group of Seven plans to ban any export to Russia, the spokeswoman said trade restrictions undermine the generally accepted principles of multilateral trade and competition, and completely devalue the norms of sovereign equality and mutually beneficial cooperation.

"The US does not care about the reverse losses, because the losses primarily concern the EU countries, and who in Washington does think about some other states?" she said.

"If new sanctions are imposed, we will react, but react, as always, thoughtfully, carefully, and guided by the tasks of protecting our interests," she said.

Zakharova also said Russia is working with BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – on expanding payments in national currencies as part of countering sanctions.

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/russia-says-us-france-failed-as-honest-brokers-in-armenian-azerbaijani-settlement/2883198





​Alexander Lentsov appointed commander of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh

Hovik Karapetian

Alexander Lentsov appointed commander of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, Colonel General Alexander Lentsov has been appointed commander of Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh.

This is said in the bulletin of the Russian Defense Ministry about the activity of the Russian peacekeeping contingent.

Mediamax notes that Alexander Lentsov became the fifth commander of the Russian contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh since the deployment of peacekeepers in November 2020.

The first commander was Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov, followed by Major General Mikhail Kosobokov, Lieutenant General Gennady Anashkin and Major General Andrei Volkov.

Decades of conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh: What is it and why Armenia and Azerbaijan fight over the region?

Arpi Talalian
India –
Saket Tiwari
The two nations, who were both formerly a part of the Soviet Union, have fought each other numerous times in the past 35 years over the sovereignty of Nagorno-Karabakh.
New Delhi: The only land path connecting Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh, the Lachin Corridor, has been blocked by a checkpoint, established by Azerbaijan recently. This action was followed by accusations of border gunfire by both Azeri and Armenian soldiers. Rival South Caucasus nations Armenia and Azerbaijan have previously on April 11, 2023, accused one another of starting a deadly conflict that left seven troops dead near the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh territory. 

Over the last 35 years, the two countries, who were both once parts of the erstwhile Soviet Union, have engaged in a number of clashes over control of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is considered internationally as belonging to Azerbaijan but is home to a majority-ethnic Armenian community.

The Lachin Corridor is a crucial route into Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenia that passes through Azeri territory. The Azeri military ministry said, as per The Guardian, that three servicemen had perished in combat near this route. According to the Armenian defence ministry, six soldiers were injured and four servicemen died.

A hilly region in the South Caucasus, Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region known to Armenians as Artsakh.

After the Russian Empire fell in 1917, it was claimed by both Azerbaijan and Armenia, and it has been a source of conflict ever since.

Although the territory is recognised internationally as belonging to oil-rich Azerbaijan, most of its residents are ethnic Armenians, and they have their own government. This government has close ties with Armenia but is unrecognised by it and other UN member states.

Armenians, who are majorly Christians, assert a lengthy history of domination in the region that dates back centuries before Christ.

The predominantly Muslim nation of Azerbaijan also ties its historical identity to the region. It accuses the Armenians of forcing Azeris, who resided nearby in the 1990s, out. It suggests ethnic Armenians obtain Azeri passports or leave because it wants to seize complete control of the enclave.

The enclave has been ruled by Persians, Turks, Russians, Ottomans, and Soviets. Armenia submitted to Bolshevik rule when Azerbaijan fell under their authority, which ushered in the Sovietization of the whole Caucasus.

With its borders modified to incorporate as many Armenians as possible, Karabakh continued to be an autonomous region inside the Azeri Soviet Socialist Republic. The “Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast” was its name, reported Al Jazeera.

The First Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988–1994) between Armenians and their Azeri neighbours broke out when the Soviet Union fell apart. Over a million people were displaced, and over 30,000 people were murdered, as per media reports.

Armenians, after the first war, control the majority of Karabakh and additional land surrounding Karabakh, and Azerbaijan lost some of its territory. Azerbaijan pledged to regain control of the area.

After decades of conflict, Azerbaijan launched a military offensive in 2020 that quickly overcame Armenian fortifications. It came to be known as the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. In the 44-day conflict, Azerbaijan, supported by Turkey, triumphed decisively and reclaimed some of Karabakh.

https://www.news9live.com/knowledge/decades-of-conflict-in-nagorno-karabakh-what-is-it-and-why-armenia-and-azerbaijan-fight-over-the-region-au2114-2119562

Azerbaijan accused of ‘ethnic cleansing’ by Armenian Government in build-up to Baku

Emil Lazarian
SAM HALL

Armenian officials have urged F1 to 'raise a voice of protest' against Azerbaijan's 'ethnic cleansing policy' in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been ongoing since 1988 with a series of wars and periods of 'low-intensity conflict'.

The Nagorno-Karabakh region is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, although some territory is controlled by the breakaway Republic of Artsakh.

In recent years, the Armenian population has been expelled from the Azerbaijan-controlled area.

In a strongly worded statement released on Thursday, Armenian officials said: “The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia calls on the organisers of the "2023 Formula 1 Grand Prix" European tournament and the international sports community to raise a voice of protest regarding the ethnic cleansing policy of the Azerbaijani authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh.

"The Ministry draws the attention of the sports community to the fact that since December 12, 2022, the Republic of Azerbaijan has illegally blocked the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to both Armenia and the world, creating an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh.

"On February 22, 2023, the United Nations International Court of Justice satisfied Armenia's claim, obliging Azerbaijan to open the Lachin Corridor immediately.

"To this day, Azerbaijan has not only failed to comply with the court's decision but has also cut off gas and electricity supplies.

"On April 23, the Azerbaijani authorities set up an illegal checkpoint on the humanitarian corridor connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, taking 120,000 Armenian residents of Nagorno-Karabakh hostage.

"With this policy, the Azerbaijani authorities are trying to ethnically cleanse the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, forcing them to leave their native land.

"The organisation of the "2023 Formula 1 Grand Prix" European tournament in Baku aims to cover up the policy of extermination of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh.

"We call on the organisers and participants of the "2023 Formula 1 Grand Prix" not to be part of the cover-up of the policy of ethnic cleansing.”

F1 and the FIA have been contacted by GPFans for comment on the Armenian statement.

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/106355/armenia-f1-condemn-azerbaijan-grand-prix-ethnic-cleansing-policy/

Azerbaijan Rebukes France Over Armenia Inaction

Albert Nalbandian
BARRON'S
AFP
By AFP – Agence France Presse

Azerbaijan on Thursday rebuked Paris for failing to use its influence to help calm tensions in the South Caucasus as France's top diplomat visited the region.

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna began a visit to Azerbaijan on Wednesday as fresh tensions rage between Baku and Yerevan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

It was the first visit of a French foreign minister to Baku in six years.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two wars over the mountainous enclave of Karabakh, and after the latest bout of fighting in 2020 Moscow brokered a ceasefire between the South Caucasus enemies.

Speaking to reporters alongside Colonna on Thursday, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said: "Over these past years, France has never appealed to Armenia."

France has a large Armenian minority, and President Emmanuel Macron has sought to retain Paris's influence over resolving the decades-long Karabakh conflict.

Last weekend, Baku set up a checkpoint on the Lachin corridor, the only land link between Armenia and Azerbaijan's Armenian-majority region, sparking new tensions.

On Thursday, Bayramov said that Azerbaijan had every right to set up the checkpoint on "its territory" and the move was in line with its constitution.

He accused Armenia of using the land link to bring in "arms and ammunition" to Karabakh.

Colonna for her part said that peace between the two arch-enemies was "possible".

"It is possible to end this conflict and make peace," Colonna said, adding that the process would be "long and difficult but it is possible to succeed".

"France has only one objective and has no other wish other than to contribute to peace and to find the path to peace", Colonna told the joint news conference.

Colonna also met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Thursday. After visiting Baku, Colonna will travel to Yerevan.

Earlier in the day Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called for "a wider international presence" in Karabakh and the Lachin corridor.

He has repeatedly accused Russian peacekeepers of failing to protect ethnic Armenians living in the breakaway region.

The Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST) Building Innovations in Scientific Research and Education

Lena Karagyozian

NEWS PROVIDED BY

FAST 

Apr 27, 2023, 08:57 ET

FAST Set to Host Advance Armenia Gala in Los Angeles to Help Accelerate Funding Toward: the ADVANCE Research Grants and Generation AI

LOS ANGELES,  /PRNewswire/ — The Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST), is excited to announce its 2023 Advance Armenia Gala which will be held on May 11, 2023, at The Landmark in Mission Hills, CA. This annual event is focused on amplifying FAST's Advance Armenia campaign to drive support and engagement for programs that enable FAST's mission: to foster and accelerate the advancement of science and technological innovation for Armenia and beyond. Funds raised will encourage progress in two key programs of the foundation: the ADVANCE Research Grants and Generation AI High School project.

"I am delighted to host our second Advance Armenia Gala in Los Angeles," says Dr. Armen Orujyan, CEO of FAST and renowned innovation architect. "In Los Angeles, the Armenian community has shown tremendous support towards FAST's mission to drive innovation in the scientific ecosystem through far-reaching and cutting-edge education and research. By working together, we will achieve remarkable results." 

In 2020, FAST established the ADVANCE Research Grants. The program funds research teams under the leadership of distinguished international scientists that are working on producing globally competitive research. The successful inaugural Advance Armenia Gala in 2022 raised $1.4 million for the ADVANCE Research Grants, attracting additional resources for scaling up the program. It opened the space for distinguished scientists from all over the world (International Principal Investigator, PI) to undertake innovative and groundbreaking research projects in Armenia by forming and leading new groups of local researchers. In 2022, the program was scaled thanks to the generous contributions of the FAST supporters.

Another exciting project fostered by FAST is the implementation of Generation AI aiming to create the educational and career pipeline for the AI researchers and innovators. With a focus on enhancing math and computer science competencies and introducing AI curriculum, Generation AI will prepare and motivate high school students to pursue rewarding careers in this rapidly growing field. In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, a pilot program of the Generation AI High School project will commence this fall at select Armenian public high schools. This groundbreaking program represents a significant step forward in fostering the next generation of AI researchers and innovators for advancing technological innovation in Armenia.

The Los Angeles gala will unite diasporans and other global citizens passionate about supporting the betterment of Armenia and its future. In addition to an inspiring program, the evening will include welcoming remarks from the FAST Co-Founder, Dr. Noubar Afeyan and a presentation by FAST's Chair of Board of Advisors Dr. Mary Papazian and Vice President of Strategic Programming Suzanna Shamakhyan. Dr. Afeyan will also host the keynote speaker Dr. Ardem Patapoutian, 2021 Nobel Prize Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Scripps Research and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

This year FAST expands research impact in Armenia with ADVANCE Research Grants. Additionally, it takes unprecedented strides in AI education in Armenian high schools to build a sustainable pipeline of scientists.

About FAST 

FAST aims to support Armenia's transformation into a science-driven innovative country by 2041 through scientific discovery and innovation. Our long-term vision is Armenia's transformation into a top ten Global Innovator nation and top five in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. FAST has designed and structured numerous programs and initiatives to become independent parts of the STI ecosystem, ensuring their continuing sustainability. 

FAST programs (1) help transform and augment Armenia's educational model by enhancing students, educators, and early-career scientists' skills that prepare them for future scientific work. (2) Armenian researchers are granted with more opportunities and vital funding for fellowships, research in key innovation sectors, and collaboration between local and international experts. (3) Commercialization projects identify and nurture promising entrepreneurs, early-stage startups, and tech ventures to bring cutting-edge, commercially viable, and globally competitive solutions to life.

FAST has designed and structured numerous programs and initiatives to become independent parts of the innovation ecosystem, thereby ensuring their continuing sustainability. Since 2017 FAST has implemented over 25 programs which impacted more than 9000 beneficiaries. 

For more information, please visit our website: www.fast.foundation.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-foundation-for-armenian-science-and-technology-fast-building-innovations-in-scientific-research-and-education-301809294.html

Russia Changes Commander Of Peacekeepers In Nagorno-Karabakh – Defense Ministry

Nyrie Kalashian

 Muhammad Irfan  Published | 07:02 PM

Russia's Defense Ministry said Wednesday that Ground Forces Deputy Commander-in-Chief Col. Gen. Alexander Lentsov has been appointed commander of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh against a backdrop of rising tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik – 27th April, 2023) Russia's Defense Ministry said Wednesday that Ground Forces Deputy Commander-in-Chief Col. Gen. Alexander Lentsov has been appointed commander of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh against a backdrop of rising tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The 2,000-strong Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh has changed four commanders since its deployment in November 2020. Lentsov's predecessor, Maj. Gen. Andrey Volkov, had held the helm since January 2022.

"Starting on April 25, 2023, Colonel General Alexander Lentsov, deputy commander-in-chief of ground troops of the Russian armed forces, has been appointed commander of the Russian peacekeeping contingent (in Nagorno-Karabakh)," the statement read.

On Sunday, the Azerbaijani State Border Service said its units had set up a border checkpoint in the Lachin corridor, the only land route linking Armenia and the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Baku explained the decision by the alleged illegal use of the road by the Armenian side and security threats. Since December 12, 2022, the Lachin corridor has been blocked by a group of Azerbaijanis described by Baku as environmental activists.

Yerevan slammed Baku's move, stressing that it was against both the 2020 trilateral declaration and the February 22 decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) mandating Baku to ensure unhindered movement through the Lachin corridor. On Tuesday, Armenia appealed to the ICJ over Azerbaijan's installation of the checkpoint.

Moscow responded by stressing the unacceptability of any unilateral steps in violation of the provisions of the 2020 tripartite statement and also noted an increase in the number of ceasefire violations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, calling on the parties to return to respecting the agreements.

The decades-long conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh flared up again in September 2020, marking the worst escalation since the 1990s. Hostilities ended with a Russia-brokered trilateral declaration of ceasefire signed in November 2020. The two former Soviet countries agreed to the deployment of Russian peacekeepers in the region.

https://www.urdupoint.com/en/world/russia-changes-commander-of-peacekeepers-in-n-1682615.html


France Urges Azerbaijan to Free up Road to Disputed Enclave, Baku Unhappy

George Mamian
By Reuters


By Nailia Bagirova

BAKU (Reuters) -French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna urged Azerbaijan on Thursday to remove a newly installed checkpoint on the road linking Armenia to the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, on the first leg of a delicate trip to both countries.

Her comments in Baku drew a sharp retort from her Azerbaijani counterpart that highlighted the sensitivities of her mission.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have fought two wars in the past three decades over Nagorno-Karabakh, which is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but populated mainly by ethnic Armenians and run by a separatist administration.

Azerbaijan set up a new checkpoint on Sunday on the road to Karabakh, the Lachin corridor, in a move Armenia that called a gross violation of a 2020 ceasefire between the two countries, and which also sparked U.S. concern.

"We deplore the unilateral measures taken by Azerbaijan at the start of the Lachin corridor," Colonna told a news conference with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. "Freedom of movement in the corridor is essential to re-establish trust."

Bayramov responded that Azerbaijan had been saying for 2-1/2 years that Armenia was using the route to transfer weapons and fighters to Karabakh, "but I don't remember France making any statement against Armenia".

BLOCKADE

The checkpoint marked a sharp escalation in a months-long blockade of Karabakh that began in December, when Azerbaijani civilians identifying themselves as environmental activists shut down the road to traffic.

Ethnic Armenians in Karabakh complain of a humanitarian crisis, while Armenia is increasingly unhappy with the failure of Russian peacekeepers to keep the road open.

Separately, Moscow said deputy foreign minister Mikhail Galuzin had held one-on-one meetings with the Armenian and Azeri ambassadors to discuss the Lachin corridor and Karabakh.

Galuzin underlined the importance of sticking to agreements that Russia had signed with both nations on the normalisation of relations, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Russia said on Wednesday it had appointed a new head of its Karabakh peacekeeping force.

Colonna rejected a reporter's suggestion that France was biased against Azerbaijan, saying its only interest was to secure peace.

She said reopening the Lachin corridor was a point of international law and a question of restoring trust.

"If you want to nourish the peace process, yes we need gestures of a kind that can help rebuild confidence," she said.

(Writing by Mark Trevelyan, Felix Light and David LjunggrenEditing by Gareth Jones and Frances Kerry)

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-04-27/french-minister-urges-azerbaijan-to-free-up-road-to-disputed-enclave