Month: May 2021

Canadian, Russian FMs discuss developments in Nagorno Karabakh

Ani Basmajian
Public Radio of Armenia

Canada’s Foreign Minister Marc Garneau and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the developments in Nagorno-Karabakh at the Arctic Council Ministerial meeting

Minister Garneau reiterated that Canada continues to call on Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tensions and expresses its hope that the parties can engage in meaningful action, including accelerating the release of detainees and the remains of the deceased, the investigation and prosecution of all alleged war crimes and cooperation on demining.

Minister Garneau said Canada will continue to support the primary role of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in reaching a permanent settlement of this conflict.

Azerbaijan authorities must not be allowed to muddle us with fake peace process, Armenia’s Ombudsman says

Hovik Karapetian
Public Radio of Armenia
Azerbaijan authorities must not be allowed to muddle us with fake peace process, Armenia’s Ombudsman says – Public Radio of Armenia

Peace is the highest value for us but we must not allow Azerbaijani authorities to muddle us with fake peace process, Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan said in a statement.

The statement reads:

1) The highest authorities of Azerbaijani not only did not stop, but also deepened the policy of Armenophobia and fascist enmity towards the entire population of Armenia, and the entire Armenian people. This is about genocidal policy.

He emphasized that the delimitation by itself, without creation of a security zone will not ensure the rights of citizens of Armenia and especially border residents and will cause new violations and tensions, as long as these conditions exist.

2) Based on the same principle, the President of Azerbaijan constantly speaks in the language of threats about our country and the entire population. He is proud to have a generation grown up with feelings of hatred and animosity.

3) The Azerbaijani authorities deliberately continue to cause mental suffering to the families of the Armenian captives and missing persons, and violate the rights of the captives by not publishing the real numbers and not returning them to their homeland.

4) The real danger of recurrence of Azerbaijani atrocities during the war against Armenian civilians and servicemen has not been eliminated, while no one has been held responsible for what occurred.

5) The Azerbaijani armed servicemen are present illegally in the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia in the Gegharkunik and Syunik regions disturbing the peace of mind of the Armenian society.

6) In the vicinity of the villages of the Gegharkunik and Syunik regions, the Azerbaijani armed servicemen continue to grossly violate the rights of the border residents of Armenia (threatening Armenian citizens (including shepherds) by displaying their weapons to them, people are deprived of access to their lands, pastures, periodic shootings near the border villages of Armenia, etc.).

7) Gross violations of rights and provocations are recorded on the roads of between the communities of the Syunik region (pelting an Armenian civilian car with stones on the road from Goris to Kapan, dragging the shepherd of Aravus and punching him in the eye, blocking the road from Kapan to Chakaten village with an Azerbaijani car, refusing the return of the animals of the border residents of Armenia which have crossed over to lands under Azerbaijani control, and other incidents.) The placement of Azerbaijani armed servicemen, flags and signs on those roads continuously violate the rights of the Armenians citizens (psychological tensions, and intention to terrorize, restriction of the free movement of people, etc.).

Special note: In general, the demarcation process of borders is of fundamental importance for any country. It is also a guarantee for the protection of human rights.

However, the delimitation process may last for years, if not decades, and as long as the conditions listed by me do not exist, the urgency of real guaranteeing of the rights of the border residents of Armenia, and the Armenian citizens, requires the creation of a security zone around the Gegharkunik and Syunik regions, along all the sections of the border with Azerbaijan.

Therefore, the delimitation can be implemented only after the creation of the security zone, or at least, in parallel to its creation.

To restore the disrupted normal life of the Armenian citizens, and above all, that of the border residents, Azerbaijani armed servicemen, flags, and signs should be removed from the vicinity of the villages, and from the roads between the communities of Armenia.

Otherwise, the delimitation process in itself, will be accompanied by new violations of the rights of the citizens of the Armenia, and especially the border residents, and the increase of the tensions in the society.

This will not secure peace in the region!

Lithuanian parliamentarians express concern over reports of growing tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Kanayan Tamar
Public Radio of Armenia

Members of the Seimas Group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations with the Republic of Armenia adopted the statement on the situation on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The statement notes that Lithuania is closely monitoring the situation on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The parliamentarians expressed their concern about reports of rising tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan with reports of an incursion into the Armenian territory.

The Members of the Seimas Group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations with the Republic of Armenia urge all parties to respect the ceasefire agreement achieved on November 10 fully and to continue to negotiate a permanent and peaceful settlement. The call is issued for stopping all action that would undermine the ceasefire and escalate tensions.

The expectation is voiced that Azerbaijan will immediately pull back its forces.

Azeri servicemen advanced for 1,5km into Armenia’s territory, threatened Armenian soldiers to open fire

Bedik Zaminian
Aysor, Armenia

On May 20 at approximately 10 am a group of Azeri armed servicemen without permission crossed the state border of Armenia in Khoznavar settlement of Tegh community of Syunik province, Armenia’s Military Prosecutor’s Office reports.

They advanced for 1,5 km into Armenia’s territory and voiced threats of usage of force, stating that the territory belongs to Azerbaijan and threatened to open fire in case Armenian servicemen go forward. After it the Armenian servicemen managed to send them to starting positions.

“On the same day at about 9.10 pm a group of Azerbaijani servicemen again without relevant permission crossed the state border in the same sector and started fight with a group of Armenian servicemen – implementing their service duties – who went toward them. As a result of brawl 11 representatives of the Armenian Armed Forces received different body injuries. This time as well the Armenian Armed Forces servicemen managed to send them [Azeri servicemen] to starting positions,” the Armenian Military Prosecutor’s Office reported.

Criminal case has been filed into the case.

Brawl between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops reported in Sev Lake area in Syunik

Markos Nalchajian
Public Radio of Armenia

The situation resulting from the provocations carried out by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on May 12 and 13 has not changed significantly as of noon on May 21, the Ministry of Defense informs.

A quarrel between the parties was reported near Lake Sev late on May 20. The incident was caused by the videos which were earlier published on Armenian and Azerbaijan news outlets and social media. The command of the troops was able to resolve the altercation.

The Ministry of Defense urges to refrain from spreading such videos and notes that they in no way help resolve the issue peacefully, contributing to the unnecessary increase of tension.

In general, the situation is stable. Units of the Armenian Armed Forces are in full control of the situation, continuing to block the advancement of the Azerbaijani military.

Armenian ombudsman: We must not allow Azerbaijani authorities to muddle us with fake peace process

Emil Karabekian
Panorama, Armenia

Peace is the highest value for us but we must not allow Azerbaijani authorities to muddle us with fake peace process, Armenia’s Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan said in a Facebook post on Friday.

“I specifically highlight again that the delimitation by itself, without creation of a security zone will not ensure rights of citizens of Armenia and especially border residents and will become cause of new violations and tensions, as long as these conditions exist:

1) The highest authorities of Azerbaijani not only did not stop, but also deepened the policy of Armenophobia and fascist enmity towards the entire population of Armenia, and the entire Armenian people. This is about genocidal policy.

2) Based on the same principle, the President of Azerbaijan constantly speaks in the language of threats about our country and the entire population. He is proud to have a generation grown up with feelings of hatred and animosity.

3) The Azerbaijani authorities deliberately continue to cause mental suffering to the families of the Armenian captives and missing persons, and violate the rights of the captives by not publishing the real numbers and not returning them to their homeland.

4) The real danger of recurrence of Azerbaijani atrocities during the war against Armenian civilians and servicemen has not been eliminated, while no one has been held responsible for what occurred.

5) The Azerbaijani armed servicemen are present illegally in the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia in the Gegharkunik and Syunik regions disturbing the peace of mind of the Armenian society.

6) In the vicinity of the villages of the Gegharkunik and Syunik regions, the Azerbaijani armed servicemen continue to grossly violate the rights of the border residents of Armenia (threatening Armenian citizens (including shepherds) by displaying their weapons to them, people are deprived of access to their lands, pastures, periodic shootings near the border villages of Armenia, etc.).

7) Gross violations of rights and provocations are recorded on the roads of between the communities of the Syunik region (pelting an Armenian civilian car with stones on the road from Goris to Kapan, dragging the shepherd of Aravus and punching him in the eye, blocking the road from Kapan to Chakaten village with an Azerbaijani car, refusing the return of the animals of the border residents of Armenia which have crossed over to lands under Azerbaijani control, and other incidents.) The placement of Azerbaijani armed servicemen, flags and signs on those roads continuously violate the rights of the Armenians citizens (psychological tensions, and intention to terrorize, restriction of the free movement of people, etc.).

Special note: In general, the demarcation process of borders is of fundamental importance for any country. It is also a guarantee for the protection of human rights.

However, the delimitation process may last for years, if not decades, and as long as the conditions listed by me do not exist, the urgency of real guaranteeing of the rights of the border residents of Armenia, and the Armenian citizens, requires the creation of a security zone around the Gegharkunik and Syunik regions, along all the sections of the border with Azerbaijan.

Therefore, the delimitation can be implemented only after the creation of the security zone, or at least, in parallel to its creation.

To restore the disrupted normal life of the Armenian citizens, and above all, that of the border residents, Azerbaijani armed servicemen, flags, and signs should be removed from the vicinity of the villages, and from the roads between the communities of Armenia.

Otherwise, the delimitation process in itself, will be accompanied by new violations of the rights of the citizens of the Armenia, and especially the border residents, and the increase of the tensions in the society. This will not secure peace in the region!” he said. 

Azerbaijan continues violating international humanitarian law, Armenia’s acting FM tells CoE

Sonya Jalatian
Public Radio of Armenia

By refusing to hand over the remaining prisoners of war Azerbaijan continues violating international human rights law and international humanitarian law, Armenia’s acting Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian said, addressing the 131st Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

He reminded that last year Azerbaijan waged a bloody war against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh). The war was accompanied with massive violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. 

“These transgressions are well documented not only in Armenian sources, but also internationally: by organizations such as Amnesty, the Human Rights Watch and Freedom House. Our own European Court of Human Rights indicated interim measures to Azerbaijan with relation to hundreds of persons confirmed to be captured by that country, requesting information about them, but not receiving any. The Court went to the length of publicly notifying the Committee of Ministers that Azerbaijan is not cooperating. Last PACE plenary expressed its grave concern as well. By refusing to hand over the remaining prisoners of war Azerbaijan continues violating international human rights law and international humanitarian law to this very day,” the acting minister said.

“We see an important role for the Council of Europe in addressing the devastating humanitarian consequences of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh including displacement, destruction of cultural and religious sites and continued captivity of hundreds of prisoners of war and civilians.  We believe that our Committee should bolster its efforts in this respect, also by providing its full support to the Court, Parliamentary Assembly, Commissioner for Human Rights and other relevant bodies. So far, the response of the Committee to Azerbaijan’s obvious violations of its statutory and conventional obligations has not been adequate,” Aivazian added.

He emphasized that lack of strong response to massive and grave human rights violations in Nagorno-Karabakh further emboldened Azerbaijan to project the same policy towards Republic of Armenia by making attempts to seize borderline territories and deprive the local population of their livelihood. 

“The Council of Europe was established with the aim of achieving greater unity among its Member States. And the Council has been successful in bringing almost the entirety of Europe under one roof and in devising legal standards guiding many aspects of the cooperation between its Member States. Yet, there is a great divide between some of our Member States. And while the perpetrators of atrocious crimes are allowed to be on equal footing with those who still believe in the values of democracy and human rights, this divide is only going to widen. Unless we reinvigorate our efforts in ensuring democratic security throughout Europe, and particularly for those living in areas of conflicts and confrontations, our overarching goal of greater unity in Europe would remain illusory,” Ara Aivazian concluded.

Canada’s Garneau to Lavrov: We will continue to support OSCE in reaching permanent settlement of Karabakh conflict

Karlen Baghdasarian
Panorama, Armenia

Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau spoke with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, at the Arctic Council Ministerial meeting on Thursday.

“Minister Garneau reiterated that Canada firmly supports the work of the Arctic Council and will continue to work with all Arctic states and Indigenous Permanent Participants to advance sustainable economic, social and cultural development as well as environmental protection initiatives important to Northern Peoples and communities in the circumpolar Arctic region.

Minister Garneau reiterated Canada's unequivocal condemnation of Russia's illegal invasion and annexation of Crimea and expressed Canada's concern over Russia's recent destabilizing actions in and around Ukraine,” the government of Canada said in a statement.

“Finally, Minister Garneau and Minister Lavrov discussed the developments in Nagorno-Karabakh. Minister Garneau reiterated that Canada continues to call on Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tensions and expresses its hope that the parties can engage in meaningful action, including accelerating the release of detainees and the remains of the deceased, the investigation and prosecution of all alleged war crimes and cooperation on demining, and that we will continue to support the primary role of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in reaching a permanent settlement of this conflict,” the statement said. 

Tigran Abrahamyan: Armenian authorities’ thesis paves the way for further territorial losses

Parkev Tvankchian
Panorama, Armenia

The thesis of the current Armenian authorities that “if Armenia refuses to make concessions, new war will break out” has undergone “various transformations” over the recent eight months, according to military expert Tigran Abrahamyan, the head of the analytical center Henaket.

“Karvachar, Akna, Kashatag, and later the parts of Kovsakan, Sanasar, which were held by Armenians as of November 9, 2020, as well as a number of villages in the Hadrut region, were ceded [to Azerbaijan] with a similar ‘justification’,” he wrote on Facebook on Friday.

Abrahamyan claimed during the pre-election period, this thesis is used with various changes to convince people that “if we are not in power, the opposition will start a new war in the event of winning the elections.”

“This not only aims to complete their dirty work by intimidating and misleading people and playing on their emotions, but also paves the way for further territorial losses.

“The sector of society with sober judgement today believes it is not the time to reproach and accuse each other, but it is necessary to join forces in order to explain to people, convince them and present the reality to them through various tools.

“It does not matter whether it will be carried out through rallies, actions, interviews or meetings on the ground, the priority is presenting the true state of affairs to people,” he said.

CoE will do everything possible within its mandate to raise humanitarian and human rights questions, its chief tells Armenian president

Paul Hambardsumian
Panorama, Armenia

Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE) Marija Pejčinović Burić responded to Armenian President Armen Sarkissian’s letter referring to the immediate return of all Armenian prisoners of war and civilians detained by Azerbaijan, the presidential office reported on Friday.

“We also continue to follow closely the humanitarian and human rights situation in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. On its side, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe expressed its concern about reports that not all persons detained in the context of the 2020 conflict have been exchanged,” the CoE chief said.

She also informed that the PACE Migration Committee is now preparing a report on the “Humanitarian consequences of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.”

“Let me assure you that the Council of Europe will do everything possible within its mandate in order to assist both member states in achieving long-lasting peace and prosperity in the region and use every available opportunity to raise humanitarian and human rights questions,” says Marija Pejčinović Burić in her letter.