Month: February 2020

Armenia and Artsakh ready to contribute to global security and lasting peace – PM Pashinyan

Emil Lazarian

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 21:28,

MUNICH, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Artsakh are ready to make real efforts to form lasting peace in the region, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a panel discussion on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The discussion was attended by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

“As a Prime Minister of Armenia I consider this situation not only my responsibility for the security of our country, but also I perceive my responsibility for the security of the region, for the global security, and I propose President Aliyev to perceive this situation as our mutual task, action, that is to form a lasting peace and stability and not view this situation only as an issue of our national agenda, but an issue of a global and regional security agenda, and our duty is to make efforts and contribute to the global security, and I assure you that Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh are ready for that”, PM Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan said that the international community should state very clearly that there is no military solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. “If someone thinks otherwise and says that there is a military solution to the conflict, I think the people of Nagorno Karabakh will answer that in that case we can state that this conflict is already resolved. However, I think that we need a lasting peace”, he added.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




‘Nagorno Karabakh has never been part of independent Azerbaijan’ – Pashinyan tells Aliyev in Munich

Lilit Nahapetian

‘Nagorno Karabakh has never been part of independent Azerbaijan’ – Pashinyan tells Aliyev in Munich

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 21:37,

MUNICH, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan once again reaffirmed that Nagorno Karabakh has never been a part of independent state of Azerbaijan.

Participating at a panel discussion on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict together with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, the Armenian PM said he sees a necessity for new ideas for the negotiations of resolving the conflict.

Commenting on Aliyev’s “overview” of history, Pashinyan said there was no need to go so far into the history. “I would ask President Aliyev not to go so far into the history because when Armenian King Tigran the Great was negotiating with Pompey, a Roman military leader, there wasn’t any country in the South Caucasus and around the world in general named Azerbaijan. So I don’t think that it is right to go so far because I can go even further and start from for example 400 BC, but I wouldn’t do that because I don’t think that it is right way to go”, he said.

Pashinyan said that the Caucasian Bureau decided for Karabakh to be a part of Armenia and this was totally a lawful decision. “And after that, according to the personal initiative of Joseph Stalin this decision changed in Moscow. It was like a plot between Stalin, Lenin and Ataturk. Karabakh has never been a part of independent state of Azerbaijan. Karabakh was put into Azerbaijan only in the process of forming the Soviet Union. And when we are speaking about territorial integrity, we should decide about which country territorial integrity we are speaking. My question is that if Azerbaijan respected territorial integrity of the Soviet Union, becoming independent country, as Azerbaijan left the Soviet Union in the same way as Nagorno Karabakh left the Soviet Union. You can say that I am now speaking about the country that doesn’t exist, meaning the Soviet Union, but the Soviet Republic which contained Nagorno Karabakh, also doesn’t exist, there is no Soviet Republic, Soviet Socialist Republic of Azerbaijan, and that is truth. And like Azerbaijan gained independence from the Soviet Union, in the same way Nagorno Karabakh gained independence both from the Soviet Union and from Soviet Azerbaijan”, Pashinyan said.

Commenting on Aliyev’s statements on Khojaly events, the Armenian PM reminded that in the mid-90s former president of Azerbaijan Ayaz Mutalibov in one of his interviews to a Russian newspaper stated that the provocation in Khojaly was organized by the Azerbaijani opposition to withdraw him from power. “And this happened actually because as a result of that event Ayaz Mutalibov was removed from the post of President of Azerbaijan”, Pashinyan said.

As for the UN Security Council resolutions, Pashinyan said the general meaning of these documents was to unconditionally and immediately establish ceasefire, stop any violence and military actions. “And if we will look at the UN Security Council Resolution 884, we will see that it is written there that Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire and as a result Azerbaijan lost territories. And first of all it is Azerbaijan that didn’t keep the conditions of the UN Security Council document. And this is very important to state”, Nikol Pashinyan said.

But according to him, it’s not good for the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders every time to repeat the same thing. “But unfortunately, within the past 25, 30 years we are repeating every time the same things. And I am afraid, international community maybe somehow is tired hearing the same things. And I think that we need to bring some new ideas. And when I became the Prime Minister of Armenia through the peaceful, Velvet, democratic Revolution, I understood that it isn’t possible to solve 30 years lasting conflict with one or two steps. And I thought that in order to solve this conflict we need revolutions. And I started the process of micro-revolutions”, he said.

Pashinyan proposes micro-revolutions to achieve real breakthrough in NK negotiation process

Emil Lazarian

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 22:29,

MUNICH, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan proposes the idea of micro-revolutions in the negotiation process for solving the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. He has already proposed three micro-revolutions at different times, but received no response from the Azerbaijani President.

“My principled approach is the following: it’s impossible to solve this conflict with one or two steps. I think we need to have micro-revolutions in order to transfer them into mini-revolutions after which we will have a breakthrough in the negotiation process. What was that micro-revolution? In September 2018 I announced that any solution in the NK conflict should be acceptable for the people of Armenia, the people of Karabakh and the people of Azerbaijan. Why this is a micro-revolution because I am the first leader of Armenia who says that any solution should be acceptable for the people of Azerbaijan as well. I am not only the only leader of Armenia, but also I am the only one from the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan who says that any solution should be acceptable for all sides. And now a year has passed since that Revolution. This is a very important micro-revolution”, Pashinyan said at a panel discussion on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict with the participation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

He said the next revolution is that during one of his recent press conferences he called on the Armenian and Azerbaijani users of social media not to use social networks for insulting or threatening one another. “I called on to use the social media, the new technologies to try to understand each other better. This is an approach as well. And I tried to address directly the people of Azerbaijan, and I would not oppose if President Aliyev talks to the Armenian people”, the Armenian PM said, but added that there is a very strange fact because Aliyev refuses to talk to the representatives of Nagorno Karabakh. “How it’s possible to solve this conflict without talking to the representatives of Nagorno Karabakh?”, the PM asked. He stated that Nagorno Karabakh has been recognized as party to the conflict and party of negotiation by the OSCE and this happened twice, on March 24, 1992 and in 1194 during the OSCE summit in Budapest.

Pashinyan said the Armenian side is devoted to the negotiation process, the peace process. “And I think that the negotiation should take place within the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship format. And we are working quite intensively and are ready to put real efforts, to make real difference to reach the solution of the conflict”, he said.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




RFE/RL – Armenian, Azeri Leaders Spar Over Karabakh

Markos Nalchajian
February 15,  2020

Germany — Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian (R) and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev meet in Munich, .

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev publicly butted heads over the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict after holding fresh talks in Munich on Saturday.

Aliyev and Pashinian gave no indications of major progress towards the conflict’s resolution when they spoke during a panel discussion at the annual Munich Security Conference.

“Nagorno-Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan, this is the historical truth and … the territorial integrity is recognized by the whole world, and Nagorno-Karabakh is an integrated part of our country,” Aliyev said.

“Over the past 25 years, 30 years, we are repeating every time the same thing,” responded Pashinian. “And I’m afraid that the international community is tired of hearing the same thing, and I think we need to bring some new ideas.”

Echoing statements by Armenia’s former leaders, Pashinian said that Karabakh had never been part of an independent Azerbaijani state and that its predominantly Armenian population exercised its right to self-determination during the collapse of the Soviet Union. He also called on the international community to “make clear” to Baku that there can be no military solution to the Karabakh conflict

Germany — Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian (L) and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev take part in a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference, .

“The international community should first and foremost explain that Nagorno-Karabakh is Azerbaijan and, secondly, exert pressure on the aggressor,” countered Aliyev.

The public discussion moderated by a former senior U.S. defense official followed a brief meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders. No details of those talks were immediately made public.

Aliyev and Pashinian met in the southern German city two weeks after their foreign ministers concluded two days of negotiations in Geneva held in the presence of U.S., French and Russian mediators.

In a joint statement with the mediators, the ministers said the “intensive discussions” focused on “possible next steps to prepare the populations for peace; principles and elements forming the basis of a future settlement; and timing and agenda for advancing the settlement process.” They did not elaborate.

An Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said the Geneva talks were “the most intensive” in years.

https://www.azatutyun.am/a/30436182.html?fbclid=IwAR2tuitQe9reDyDjdplZelBj3vPDqeoPFhZ3xcG5Q2aNgvWENfJhnihchFk





30th anniversary of Baku pogroms commemorated in U.S. Capitol

Karakhanian Suren
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 14 2020
Politics 15:17 14/02/2020 World

To mark the 30th anniversary of the violent pogroms against Armenians in Baku, the Congressional Armenian Caucus held a commemorative event on Feb. 12 in the U.S. Capitol with the participation of Armenian advocacy groups, community leaders and supporters, Armenian Council of America reported.

Keynote speaker Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte, an author, human rights activist and survivor of the Baku pogroms discussed the importance of remembering the tragic events which displaced thousands of Armenians in Baku 30 years ago, igniting a movement of xenophobia against Armenians which still exists today in Azerbaijan.

She drew a parallel between the atrocities committed against Armenians during the Genocide and compared it to the pogroms of Baku and Sumgayit as a way of history repeating itself and the victims being voiceless in a time of great injustice and terror.

Founding Co-Chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), along with Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) and Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), all of whom have visited Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), spoke about the importance of commemorating and speaking out against the horrific acts of the Baku pogroms and reminding the world that Azerbaijan continues to carry out their campaign of hate, discrimination and intolerance. Advocating for more funding through USAID, they reiterated the importance of the de-mining efforts of the Halo Trust in Artsakh and pledged to continue to fight for more funding, as well as hold Azerbaijan responsible for human rights and rampant cease fire violations in the absence of OSCE monitors at the border.

“We are grateful to the Congressional Armenian Caucus and all supporters on the Hill for giving a proper importance to the issue of persecutions and massacres of Armenians in Sumgayit, Baku, Kirovabad and many other cities and villages across Azerbaijan,” said Congressional Armenian Co-Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL).

“I stand with people of Artsakh and their rejection of the repeated attempts by the Azerbaijani government to bring them back under oppressive rule. They fought for their freedom, their right for self-determinization, and the opportunity to be greater than second-class citizens. I’m glad to be here today as we recognize the 30th Anniversary of the Baku pogroms and stand in solidarity with the people of the Republic of Artsakh,” added Congressman Bilirakis.

Additional members of Congress who expressed their support for the Armenian community condemning the Baku pogroms were Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. TJ Cox (D-CA), Rep. Andy Levin (D-MI), Rep. Jim Acosta (D-CA) and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL).

“By 1991, facing no international condemnation or sanctions, Azerbaijan’s authorities have escalated attacks on Armenians to the level of a full-scale military aggression against the Republic of Artsakh,” said Robert Avetisyan, Permanent Representative of Nagorno Karabakh.

“Those atrocities and attacks have become another unfortunate evidence that lack of a timely condemnation of any demonstration of aggression and fascism can lead to even greater human tragedy and unpredictable developments. We are grateful to the US legislature, our compatriots in the Armenian American organizations like the Armenian National Committee of America, Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian Council of America, and all organizations and structures who share our vision of a safe, strong and democratic Republic of Artsakh in a peaceful and prosperous South Caucasus,” added Avetisyan.

In a message to Assad Catholicos Karekin II hails Armenian Genocide recognition

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 14 2020

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, has sent a letter to President of the Syrian Arab Republic Bashar al-Assad to thank him on behalf of the Armenian people for the unanimous adoption by the Syrian People’s Council of a resolution recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide by the Syrian People’s Council.

“The condemnation of crimes against humanity and negation of denial is a firm guarantee that new genocides and crimes against religious and ethnic discrimination can be prevented and a peaceful world can be built,” His Holiness said in the letter.

“The Syrian people today reaffirmed the commitment and determination of their ancestors, who gave shelter to the children of our nation exiled during the difficult years of the Armenian Genocide. Decades ago in the wilderness of Deir ez-Zor, during the presidency of your well-known father, Hafez al-Assad, the construction of the Holy Martyrs Church became another record of the Syrian authorities’ position on the Armenian Genocide,” the Catholicos added.

“We have repeatedly witnessed the undeserved kindness and attention of you and your people towards our people, vivid expressions of which are the Armenian sanctuaries, cultural and educational institutions, numerous testimonies of the Syrian-Armenian community’s remarkable life,” reads the letter of His Holiness.

His Holiness, expressing his support to the pious people of Syria, wished that the desired peace and tranquility in the country would be restored and the dreams of the bright life of the brotherly people overcoming difficulties come true.

The Netherlands completes ratification of Armenia-EU Agreement

Adrine Hakobian
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 14 2020


On 12 February 2020, the Netherlands notified the General Secretariat of the European Council and the Council of the EU about the completion of its internal procedures necessary for the ratification of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement.

Twenty-one EU member states – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Poland, Luxembourg, Denmark, Malta, Romania, United Kingdom, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Germany, Ireland, Croatia, Sweden, Slovenia and the Netherlands – have now informed the European Council and the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union of the completion of the internal procedures necessary for the ratification of the Agreement.

Belgium and France have also completed domestic procedures necessary for the ratification of the Agreement, but are yet to inform the EU Secretariat.

Catholicos Aram I welcomes Syrian parliament’s recognition of Armenian Genocide

Emil Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 14 2020

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has sent a letter to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad welcoming the unanimous adoption of a resolution recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide by the People’s Council of Syria on Thursday.

“We are confident that you and your late father played an important role in recognizing and condemning the genocide over the past years. On this occasion, we would also like to emphasize that the Syrian people, with its constituent elements, its state and all structures, recognized the Armenian Genocide 100 years ago when it welcomed the children of the Armenian Genocide victims on its land,” he said.

“You recognized the Armenian Genocide when the Syrian people shared their bread and water with Armenians who fled the genocide, which is why our people of the Diaspora welcome this decision of the Syrian parliament with special warmth.

“We would like to express our highest appreciation to the Syrian parliament, Your Highness and the people of Syria, wishing you full peace and wellbeing,” the letter reads.

Catholicos Aram I has also addressed a similar letter to the speaker of the People’s Council of Syria. 

Pashinyan explains his “Karabakh is Armenia, that’s it” remark

Dabaghian Diana
MediaMax, Armenia
Feb 14 2020
Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has stated that his remark “Karabakh is Armenia, that’s it” has a “very clear and concrete meaning”.

“We have stated that we will consider an attack on Karabakh by Azerbaijan an attack on Armenia. Armenia is the guarantor of Karabakh’s security. This is all that needs to be said,” Pashinyan noted at Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), where he delivered a speech on February 13 during the working visit to Germany.

 The Prime Minister underlined that unilateral efforts could not solve the Karabakh issue.

 “Even if we assume that any government of Armenia should make one-sided efforts, it will only aggravate the problem, but not solve it. Azerbaijan loves to talk about territories, but we are talking about security, which is important to understand. If a country makes someone a hero for murdering an Armenian…

 The buffer zone Azerbaijan talks about was created exactly because of that, because when Azerbaijan shelled civilians’ homes, people, children had to hide in basements for years. 

When we hear “territories”, we think of security. First of all, it is not the Republic of Armenia, but the Republic of Artsakh that is not ready to concede its territories, the same as no country is ready to jeopardize its security. Therefore, the solution for this situation can be based only on guarantees of security, which are none at the moment. There have never been such guarantees. The lack of guarantees caused the situation we have now.

 We have not seen a single constructive step on the part of Azerbaijan in the last year and a half of talks. However, I would like to note that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and I managed to reduce the tension in the region and at the borders to an unprecedented low since our first meeting in September of 2018. I hope that constructive discussions will help us maintain the relatively stable situation and progress toward a legal settlement,” said Nikol Pashinyan.


Foreign Ministry: Armenia highly appreciates Syria’s recognition of Armenian Genocide

Jhanna Virabian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 14 2020

The Armenian Foreign Ministry has released a statement in connection with the resolution of the People’s Council of Syria recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide.

Below is the full text of the statement publicized by the ministry’s press service.

“We highly appreciate the adoption of the resolution by the People’s Council of the Syrian Arab Republic on recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire.

The genocide, unleashed by the Young Turk Government, a significant part of which was perpetrated in the territory of Syria under the rule of the Ottoman Empire at that time, is a part of common historical memory of Armenian and Syrian peoples.

Syrian people, having witnessed the genocide, perpetrated against the Armenian people, were among the first to lend a helping hand to the victims of the genocide. Thousands of survivors refound a new homeland in Syria, establishing one of the most flourishing Armenian communities and contributing to Syria’s progress.

This resolution is a vivid illustration of century-old friendship and mutual affinity between the Armenian and Syrian peoples. This is a solid contribution to restoration of historical justice and prevention of genocides.

Today, as Syrian people go through ordeal, we convey our solidarity and support to them to overcome the existing challenges.”