Month: September 2020

Boston.com, MA

Sept 15 2020

More specifically, Condé Nast’s Alex Erdekian highlights Watertown, writing that the Boston suburb is home to the third largest population of Armenians in America.

“Following the genocide after World War I (today, less than a third of Armenians worldwide live in Armenia), Armenians made this town their home,” Erdekian wrote. “With them, they brought a culinary tradition of unmatched mezze, plenty of mint and parsley, and kebabs on kebabs.”

The article called out Watertown’s Sevan Bakery, an Armenian and Middle Eastern food market in operation since 1984. The market offers tabouleh, stuffed eggplant, Armenian potato salad, halva, and more, though Erdekian says “don’t sleep on their freshly baked goods,” including boregs (phyllo pastries) and bogachas (savory hand pies). Anoush’ella, which has one location in the South End and another in the Fenway, was also referenced, with its flatbreads given a special shout-out.

Fantastic Armenian cuisine can also be found in places like Arax Market, Eastern Lamejun Bakers, and .

https://www.boston.com/food/restaurants/2020/09/15/conde-nast-traveler-armenian-cuisine-massachusetts

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 15

Trend:

Armenia continues to violate all principles of international law related to the protection and management of water resources in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and at the transboundary level, the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources said in their joint statement, Trend reports on September 15.

The hostile attitude towards nature and environmental terror in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and surrounding districts of Azerbaijan currently occupied by Armenia, pose a serious threat to the environment of the entire region, the statement reads.

According to the statement, as a result of the heavy pollution of transboundary rivers by Armenia, there is a great threat to the survival of wildlife in these rivers. At the same time, the use of reservoirs in the occupied territories has become impossible and has become a potential source of danger for the population living in the surrounding areas due to lack of maintenance.

“Armenia's non-participation in the UN Convention on the "Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes" makes it impossible to resolve transboundary water issues within the framework of international norms,” the statement reads. “Resolution No. 2085, adopted in 2016 by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on deliberate deprivation of the residents of Azerbaijan's border regions of water, reflecting the demand of immediate withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the mentioned region and ensuring investigation of independent engineers and hydrologists on the spot, has not been implemented.”

“On the contrary, Armenia has expanded its activities in this direction. In recent days, the blockage of the Indjasu River, which runs through the village of Dovekh in the Tavush region of Armenia and flows into the reservoir in the village of Kemerli in the Gazakh region, has deprived the local population of water,” the statement adds.

As the statement stresses, this situation, which is a serious violation of the principles of international law and human rights, also poses serious challenges to the implementation of internationally accepted regulations, including the obligations under the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

“The latest open provocative activities of the Armenian leadership show that the country in addition to grossly violating international law and fundamental human rights continues to be a serious threat to peace and security in the region. We call on the international community to strongly condemn the illegal activity of Armenia and take urgent measures to prevent such unlawful actions of the aggressor state,” the joint statement concludes.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 15

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made a phone call to President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan to congratulate him on the 102nd anniversary of the liberation of Baku on September 15, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani presidential press-service.

Noting that the Caucasian Islamic Army under the leadership of Nuru Pasha had liberated Baku from Armenian and Bolshevik occupation together with the Azerbaijani National Army and volunteers, the president said the martyrs who gave their lives in the battles were commemorated with deep respect and their memory would always live in the hearts of our people.

President Aliyev noted that he had sent a congratulatory letter to President Erdogan on this significant event. The president noted that September 15 was still celebrated as an example of devotion to the memory of our ancestors. In this regard, events are being held in Baku and various regions of Azerbaijan.

President Erdogan thanked President Aliyev for the phone call, conveyed his congratulations to President Aliyev, and said that he had also sent a letter to the Azerbaijani president on this occasion. The president of the Republic of Turkey underlined the role of the Caucasus Islamic Army led by Nuru Pasha and the Azerbaijani National Army in the liberation of Baku.

The presidents stressed that the two countries had always stood by each other and supported each other in all matters.

The military parade held two years ago on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the liberation of Baku was also pointed out during the telephone conversation.

The presidents recalled with pleasure their watching the military parade with the participation of Azerbaijani and Turkish soldiers. The sides hailed the fact that the relations between the two countries had risen to an even higher level.

During the conversation, the presidents discussed prospects for developing cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey in various fields.

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 15

By Elchin Mehdiyev – Trend:

The beginning of a new phase is observed in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Trend reports referring to the publication titled "Armenian provocations and the silence of the OSCE Minsk Group" made by Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Chairman and Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, Ali Ahmadov, posted on his official Facebook page.

“The steady expansion of the Armenian provocations gradually began to replace the relative stability that was preserved in the past,” Ahmadov added.

“The clashes in the direction of Azerbaijan’s Tovuz district on the state border between Azerbaijan and Armenia two months ago as a result of Armenia’s military provocations, the subsequent exposure in connection with the supply of weapons to this country, the arrest of the Armenian saboteur in the direction of Azerbaijan’s Goranboy district are just a shortlist of Armenian provocations in the conflict zone and connect with the conflict,” deputy prime minister said.

“The Armenian prime minister’s frequent visits to the occupied territories and statements that fundamentally contradict the spirit of the settlement process have become an integral part of other Armenian provocations,” Ahmadov said.

“The fact that the "appeals for peace" made by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's wife in the first months of the Armenian prime minister's rule recently replaced the photographs with the Kalashnikov assault rifle, testifies to the vile nature of the Armenian provocation,” deputy prime minister said.

Ahmadov stressed that the Armenian provocations are observed not only in the country’s aggravation of the militaristic rhetoric and behavior.

"The recent resettlement of the Armenians of Lebanese origin to the occupied Azerbaijani territories is nothing more than an unprecedented provocation, striking a crushing blow on the conflict settlement process,” deputy prime minister added.

“The whole world witnesses a process of gross violation of international law – the settlement of the occupied territories,” Ahmadov said. “The Armenian adventurism will lead to dangerous prospects, for example, to repeat in the 21st century the policy of resettlement, which once changed the demographic situation in the South Caucasus.”

“The history of the last 50-60 years of the Middle East is an instructive example of bitter consequences of such games,” deputy prime minister said. “The attempts of the Armenian politicians to turn the South Caucasus into a hotbed of constant conflicts and wars cannot be ignored. They must be condemned by international organizations and the world community as a whole.”

“Amid Armenia’s growing provocations, the silence of the OSCE Minsk Group, which took upon itself the mission of settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, its transformation into an impartial observer, to put it mildly, cannot but cause surprise,” Ahmadov added.

“In any case, the OSCE Minsk Group cannot evade responsibility because the conflict has dragged on and it has failed to find the correct formula for the settlement,” deputy prime minister said. “Presently, the OSCE Minsk Group witnesses that the Armenian side continues to commit another crime, which can lead to new, even regretful consequences.”

“Azerbaijan stands for peaceful but just settlement of the conflict with the condition of withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from all occupied territories,” Ahmadov said. “With a few exceptions, the ceasefire which has been valid since 1994 testifies to this.”

“However, the fact that the conflict has not been resolved up till now, the growing Armenian provocations and the silence of the mediators limit the choice of Azerbaijan in ensuring its territorial integrity,” deputy prime minister said. “Azerbaijan must and will return its occupied lands.”

“If mediators and diplomats do not cope with their work, the heroic Azerbaijani army will fulfill its noble mission,” Ahmadov said. “The battles in April 2016 and July 2020 showed what our army is capable of. There is no doubt that our servicemen will lead to the triumph of justice.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday congratulated the people of Azerbaijan and their leader on the 102nd anniversary of the liberation of the capital Baku from Armenian and Bolshevik occupation.

The president remembered the Caucasian Islamic Army, under the leadership of Nuri Pasha, and the Azerbaijani national army that won a historic victory, as well as all the fallen soldiers and heroes during this battle.

Erdoğan underlined that the unity, solidarity and cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan put forth against threats toward their existence and vital interests are an example and a message to the world.

Reiterating that both countries are determined to deepen and enhance relations in all aspects under the notion "One nation, two states," Erdoğan said Turkey will always be on Azerbaijan's side with great support.

The friendly political, legal, commercial and military relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey were documented shortly after the foundation of the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic on May 28, 1918, with the Treaty of Batumi, signed between the newly established country and then-Ottoman Empire on June 4, 1918.

With the treaty, the empire recognized the independence of Azerbaijan, which could in turn request the empire's military help in case of any threat.

After the republic proclaimed independence in Georgia, Fatali Khan Khoyski, Azerbaijan's first prime minister, formed the government in Ganja, now northwestern Azerbaijan, in June as he was not able to travel directly to Azerbaijan's current capital Baku as the city was then controlled by Armenian militants and Bolsheviks.

On Sept. 15, 1918, an elite Ottoman force called the Caucasian Islamic Army under the leadership of the 29-year-old Nuri Pasha (Killigil) was sent by then-Minister of War Enver Pasha to what is today Azerbaijan in the closing months of the World War I in response to a plea from the region's people.

The Caucasian Islamic Army, made up of Azerbaijani and Turkish soldiers, completed its mission in September, liberating Baku and thus laying the groundwork for the country's independence decades later in 1991.

Over 1,100 Caucasian Islamic Army martyrs sacrificed their lives together with the Azerbaijani people for this cause.

The liberation of Baku at the time paved the way for the transfer of the capital from Ganja and ensured the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, providing the basis for its modern-day boundaries.