Month: November 2023

Armenia Receives French Armored Carriers Through Georgia

Emil Lazarian
Civil Georgia
Nov 15 2023
Civil.ge Send an email15/11/2023

On November 12, the French armored personnel carriers Bastion, manufactured by Acmat, was shipped to the port of Poti for transportation to Armenia. Bastion components were also delivered to Georgia by the French company ARQUUS.

According to French media Ouest France, the shipment is part of French military aid to Yerevan and was originally planned to be sent to Kyiv, but these 12.5-ton troop carriers were deemed too poorly protected against artillery fire and anti-tank missiles. France has also sold three Thales Ground Master 200 (GM200) radars and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Armenia to supply the Mistral short-range air defense system.

Asked to comment on the issue, Armenian Defense Minister Aram Torosyan said on November 13: “Apart from the official messages and announcements on cooperation between Armenia and France in the field of defense, we cannot disclose any additional information at the moment.”

Aykhan Hajizada, the MFA Spokesperson of Azerbaijan, stated that the Ministry strongly condemns France’s decision to deliver “Bastion” offensive armored vehicles to Armenia. He argued that this transfer would bolster Armenia’s military capabilities, contributing to their continued occupation of Azerbaijani territories and aggressive policies.

Hajizada criticized France for allegedly contradicting its proclaimed support for international law, peace, and stability in the region, stating that these actions undermine efforts to normalize relations and respect territorial integrity. He accused France of engaging in a smear campaign against Azerbaijan and criticized the country’s interests in the region. The spokesperson called for both Armenia and France to cease their militarization policies, emphasizing the necessity of peace and stability in the region.

“We call upon the international community to refrain from delivering weapons and creating conditions for such a delivery to Armenia, which is known as a country with its aggressive policy and actions, and to end and condemn such illegitimate activities that prevents the establishment of peace and prosperity in the region,” – Hajizada concluded.

Georgian Foreign Minister, Ilia Darchiashvili commented on the issue as well, stating: “Every country has the right to have a defense force, and when it comes to conventional equipment or weapons allowed by international agreements, every country has the right to acquire them. Georgia’s position is that both countries [Azerbaijan and Armenia] should have the opportunity to use the transit function of our country on equal terms.”

Testimonies from frontline workers and community members caring for vulnerable refugees in Armenia

Arsine Chaltikian
Nov 15 2023

While media attention may have diminished, the health needs of more than 100 000 refugees who entered Armenia from Karabakh have not.

WHO, through its Country Office in Armenia and Regional Office for Europe, has been meeting with refugees to assess their health needs. WHO has also met frontline workers operating 24/7 to care for them. Heroes from the community have been tireless in ensuring refugees have access to health care, while some refugees have joined WHO in helping address the health needs of the most vulnerable.

These are some of their testimonies.

Credits

With winter approaching, and the possibility of harsh weather conditions towards the end of 2023 and at the beginning of 2024, access to winter-specific assistance is particularly challenging for vulnerable groups.

https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/photo-stories/item/testimonies-from-frontline-workers-and-community-members-caring-for-vulnerable-refugees-in-armenia

Unhappy with Russia, Armenia seeks new security partners

Tania Jagharian
eurasianet.org
Nov 15 2023
Arshaluis Mgdesyan Nov 15, 2023

For most of its post-Soviet history, Armenia has essentially had one partner in the field of defense and security: Russia. 

But recent experiences have shown that Moscow cannot be relied on for help when the chips are down. 

So now, despite the country's deep economic dependence on Russia, Armenia's leaders are looking elsewhere for security cooperation and finding eager partners. 

France steps in to boost Armenia's weak air defenses

On October 23 Yerevan signed an agreement with Paris on the purchase of three GM 200 anti-aircraft radar systems and a memorandum of understanding on the future delivery of Mistral short-range air defense systems.

Future cooperation will also include French training for Armenia's ground forces and support for Yerevan's military reform efforts. 

After the signing ceremony, Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan and his French counterpart Sébastien Lecornu spoke of the importance of helping Armenia protect its vulnerable airspace.

In the 2020 Second Karabakh War Armenia's air defense turned out to be woefully unprepared for the onslaught of Turkish and Israeli-made drones used by its adversary Azerbaijan. 

Those drones owned the skies and are widely acknowledged to be one of the decisive factors behind Armenia's defeat after 44 days of fighting. 

To address this weakness, Armenia decided to procure the three French-made radar systems, which have a range of 250 kilometers. 

Military analyst Leonid Nersisyan, who has closely monitored Armenia's arms purchases over the last 10 years, believes security cooperation with France was chosen for two reasons.

 "First, France's political leadership has on numerous occasions shown its sympathies towards Armenia, renderning diplomatic support to it in the conflict against Azerbaijan. Second, France is one of the few players in the arms market that makes practically all kinds of weapons," Nersisyan told Eurasianet. 

With the signing of the deal, France became the second country, after India, with which Armenia has intensified its defense contacts. Armenia's previous near-total dependence on Russia was recently acknowledged as a "strategic mistake" by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. 

 Armenia tends to be quiet about the details of its defense cooperation with India, neither confirming nor denying Indian media reports about major arms purchases. 

In contrast Yerevan shares some details of its deals with France that are usually not made public in such transactions, including precise numbers of units purchased, asin the case of the GM 200s. 

Away from Russia and toward the West

Russia has different feelings about Armenia's new military partners. It pays little mind to the  Indian weapons but flies into a jealous rage when arms are procured from NATO member France. 

The Russian authorities see in such deals an attempt to reduce its influence in the South Caucasus. 

As Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently put it, "The Western countries now actively courting Armenia want to be friends with it against the Russian Federation." 

Armenia's growing proximity to the EU, in particular France, and growing distance from Russia are indeed related phenomena. 

The breaking point was the Azerbaijani army's incursions into Armenian territory in September 2022. Russia, and the Russian-led CSTO, which both have treaty obligations to protect Armenia from attack, rebuffed Yerevan's call for military assistance and instead took only the mildest of diplomatic steps in reaction.

Since then, relations have been in a steady decline, with Prime Minister Pashinyan recently remarking that Armenia has seen "no advantages" in hosting a Russian military base in the post-Soviet period (though he added there are no plans to attempt to remove it). 

 Not everyone supports the Armenian leadership's attempted pivot away from Russia. The country's established opposition groups warn that such a course contains risks for Armenia that Western countries can't help it mitigate. 

Tigran Abrahamyan, an MP from the I Have Honor faction, sees danger in recent statements by high-ranking Russian officials. 

"At the moment it is not clear what specific steps will be taken in what direction, but one gets the impression that at some point this [approach] will lead to serious consequences," Abrahamyan told Eurasianet. 

He also expressed doubt that the "collective West" would be willing to support Armenia in the face of the threats hanging over it. For this reason, the opposition MP believes that "ratcheting up tensions with Russia is an extremely incautious step." 

While Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says his country has no intention of leaving the CSTO and changing its foreign policy orientation, Armenia has reduced its participation in the Russian-led bloc to a bare minimum. Most recently, he informed Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko that he would not be attending the next CSTO summit in Minsk on November 23. 

"Armenia is practically not participating in the CSTO. We are not taking part in the meetings of the organization, we are not signing on to the documents they adopt, we have recalled our representative at the CSTO and not appointed a new one. We are effectively not members of this organization," a source close to Armenia's ruling elite told Eurasianet on condition of anonymity.

Some analysts say it is precisely the freeze in Armenia's participation in the CSTO that has opened up opportunities to buy weapons from NATO member France. 

"Earlier, Armenia was told privately that there could be no supplies of weapons from NATO countries because of the access Russia has to its defense sector as a member of the CSTO," military-political expert Armine Margaryan told Eurasianet. 

She added that if Armenia is to fully exit the CSTO, it has to have security alternatives in place and she views the fostering of defense cooperation with France and other NATO countries, like the U.S. in this context. 

France is not the only NATO country with which Armenia is fostering defense cooperation. In September, after a long break, Armenian and U.S. armed forces held joint drills in Armenia, to the Kremlin's chagrin. 

But despite Russian rumbles of dissatisfaction, Yerevan appears determined to stay on its current course. 

"Armenian-American cooperation, including in the military sphere, is continuing according to plan, on the same basis as before. This includes training, military, and technological support," the chairman of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces Edvard Asryan, told journalists on November 9, shortly after his return from Stuttgart, Germany, where he held talks with the European Command of the U.S. armed forces. 

During his meetings there, Asryan discussed details of the reforms conducted in the Armenian armed forces in areas such as combat readiness and the modernization of command systems, as well as the U.S.'s future involvement in this process.

This is a striking development, given that two years ago Armenia had been planning to reconfigure its military, freshly battered in the 2020 war, based on the Russian model and was discussing the details of corresponding reforms only with high-ranking representatives of the Russian General Staff. 

France's "signal" to other NATO countries

Now the taboo on security cooperation with NATO countries has been broken, and France seems determined to ensure the trend continues. 

"We are the first NATO country to have an open and confident cooperation in the field of defense with Armenia. And that's a signal to the regional environment, of course, but it's also a signal to our NATO partners," France's ambassador to Armenia, Olivier Decottignies said in an interview with CivilNet on November 2. 

"We wouldn't invest in cooperation in training, in cooperation between military academies if we didn't have a long-term perspective. On the other hand, Armenia's defense partnership cannot rely only on France."

The envoy went on: "We are the first partner among NATO countries for Armenia. But there are partners in the field of defense and the Armenian government is actively pursuing the diversification of their partnerships and we support that."

Arshaluis Mgdesyan is a journalist based in Yerevan.

Lukashenka urges Armenia to ‘seriously consider’ not leaving the CSTO

Diana Dabaghian
Nov 15 2023
 

ByArshaluys Barseghyan

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has urged Armenia to ‘seriously consider’ its options before taking steps which may see Armenia leave the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).

On Tuesday, Armenia’s Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, announced that he would not be taking part in the CSTO summit scheduled to be held in Minsk on 23 November.

This came in a telephone call with Belarus’s President Lukashenka, in which Pashinyan reportedly expressed his hope that the CSTO ‘would understand the decision’.

Lukashenka then reportedly urged Pashinyan not to make ‘hasty decisions’ about Armenia’s status in the Russia-led security bloc.

‘The president suggested that the PM of Armenia should not hurry, should not make hasty decisions, but should seriously think about the next steps, which may be aimed at disintegration’, stated Lukashenka’s press secretary, Natalya Eismont.

Following Pashinyan’s announcement, Moscow expressed its ‘regret’, with Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov telling reporters that Russia understands that ‘each head of government or head of state may have his own events in his work schedule, their own circumstances’.

‘But we can only express regret because such meetings are a very good reason for exchanging opinions; to clarify positions’.

On Wednesday, Pashinyan suggested that he was not taking part in the CSTO summit, because the bloc did not recognise Armenia’s borders.

He was referring to a statement by Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi, who stated that since the borders between Azerbaijan and Armenia were not demarcated, it would be difficult to determine where there were ‘any violation’ on the Armenia–Azerbaijan border.

‘Simply participating silently under those conditions’, he said, could bring into question Armenia’s ‘territorial integrity and sovereignty’.

‘We also make such decisions in order to give ourselves and CSTO time to think.’

Pashinyan also explained that Armenia was purchasing weapons from the West and elsewhere ‘because our partners in the security sector, including for objective reasons, are unable to sell us weapons and ammunition’. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the country has struggled to procure the weapons needed to maintain its war.

‘We tell them very well, please don’t be upset, but we have to look for other security partners. We are looking for and finding these partners, we are trying to sign contracts, get some weapons, military equipment. That is our policy’.

On Tuesday, Armenia Security Council Secretary, Armen Grigoryan, stated that Armenia has declined to attend CSTO meetings because of the security bloc’s inaction in the face of Azerbaijani attacks on Armenian territory.

Article 4 of the CSTO charter stipulates that members of the bloc are obliged to mutually defend each other against external threats or attacks.

Grigoryan said that Armenia had ‘many questions’ to the CSTO, hinging its participation in future meetings on whether it will receive answers.

’Until now, we do not have the answer to these questions, and this is also the reason why we are not participating in the session of the CSTO Collective Security Council’, said Grigoryan.

Earlier on Tuesday, Arman Yeghoyan, an MP from the ruling Civil Contract party and the chair of the European Integration Commission, noted in a briefing that while Armenia is not currently considering leaving the bloc, the government has repeatedly expressed its ‘dissatisfaction’ with the CSTO.

‘And here you are surprised that we do not participate?’ said Yeghoyan. 

Armenia’s relations with Russia have been deteriorating since the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020, with Yerevan seemingly pushing itself away from the Moscow-led CSTO and Commonwealth of Independent State in favour of closer security ties with the West.

[Read more: Armenia steps up military ties with West as Russia relations tumble]

Pashinyan and other high-ranking officials have repeatedly declined to participate in CSTO and CIS sessions. Armenia refused to host joint CSTO peacekeeping exercises and sat out two CSTO drills in autumn. Yerevan also refused to send a representative to serve as the CSTO’s deputy secretary general in March.

https://oc-media.org/lukashenka-urges-armenia-to-seriously-consider-not-leaving-the-csto/

Turkish Press: Turkish parliament extends mandate of troops deployed in Azerbaijan for 1 more year

Lilit Nahapetian
Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Nov 15 2023
Ertugrul Subasi and Kemal Karadag

ANKARA

The Turkish parliament on Wednesday extended for one more year the deployment of troops sent to Azerbaijan in the wake of a fall 2020 conflict with neighboring Armenia over the Karabakh region.

The extension under a presidential motion will start on Nov. 17.

Ismail Ozdemir, a lawmaker, said that with the support of Türkiye, Azerbaijan managed to end the Armenian occupation of its lands.

Ozdemir said that the will of the Turkish people signifies a guarantee of peace and emphasized their opposition to activities that escalate tensions in all regions.

Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

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

The Coming War in the Caucasus: Azerbaijan and Turkey set their sights on Armenia.

Tambiyan Samvel

Nov 15 2023

The Coming War in the Caucasus

Azerbaijan and Turkey set their sights on Armenia.

James W. Carden
Nov 15, 202312:01 AM

YEREVAN—Atop a high hill, just west of Yerevan’s old city, stands a stark, deeply affecting monument marking the Ottoman Empire’s 1915 genocide of 1.5 million Armenians. The world Armenia inhabits is once again taking on a tragic color: Last month, to what might charitably described as a muted international response, Azerbaijan, Turkey’s closest ally in the region, achieved its long-cherished goal of ridding the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave of its ancient Christian community after a 9-month blockade that deprived its 120,000 residents of food, fuel, and medical supplies.

In the aftermath of the Second World War, Raphael Lemkin, a law professor and refugee from Nazi-occupied Europe, through a tremendous force of will, conceived, wrote, and lobbied the United Nations to adopt the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Lemkin, who invented the term genocide, defined it as “a coordinated plan of different actions aiming at the destruction of essential foundations of the life of national groups, with the aim of annihilating the groups themselves.”

What happened to the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh is undoubtedly then a case of genocide by the longtime Islamist dictator of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. And while pushed from the minds of policymakers in Washington thanks to recent events in Gaza, last week GOP hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy was one of the few candidates running for president to acknowledge that what happened in Nagorno-Karabakh is “probably the most under-appreciated atrocity in the world.”

And he’s not wrong: the Biden administration, distracted by its various and sundry overseas projects, including funding and overseeing a war against nuclear-armed Russia in Ukraine and now aiding and abetting the Israeli war on Gaza, met the news with a few strong statements and not much else.

Yet there seems more to come for Armenia—and little interest in the West in doing anything to prevent it.

The next target of Aliyev’s is likely the southern Armenian province of Syunik, which, if taken by force, as seems to be the plan, would create a land corridor (also known as the Zangezur Corridor) that would connect Azerbaijan proper to its western Nakhchivan enclave. Nakhchivan borders Turkey, and thus would create a profitable connection between the two allies.

It isn’t as if Azerbaijan and its powerful Turkish patron are making any secret of their plan to invade and annex sovereign Armenian territory. In December 2022, Aliyev flatly proclaimed that “present-day Armenia is our land.” The months that followed he went on to declare that “we are implementing the Zangezur corridor, whether Armenia likes it or not.” For his part, Aliyev’s patron, the Islamist Erdogan, praised the ethnic cleansing, describing it as “an operation” that was “completed in a short period of time, with utmost sensitivity to the rights of civilians.”

Things are already underway. Riding a wave of oil revenue, Azerbaijan, which has boosted defense spending to $3.1 billion, is steadily and not-so-stealthily advancing across Armenia's eastern border.

In any case, it seems likely they’ll get away with it when the time comes. Why? As Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the first chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, recently explained,

Azerbaijan is an ally with the West against Iran; it provides energy to Europe and it spends millions on sophisticated Israeli weapons. But such exigencies must not get in the way of the world’s responsibility to stop what is happening before its very eyes: the Armenian genocide of 2023.

As if that weren’t enough, Armenia has been cursed with pusillanimous leadership in the form of a Soros-backed politician named Nikol Pashinyan. Pashinyan, who has served as prime minister since 2018, has what might be described as an almost “Anti-Midas” touch. In the space of five years he has managed to alienate his country’s principal great power supporter, Russia, all the while signaling weakness towards Armenia’s revanchist neighbors, resulting in the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh and very likely, more to come. Dr. Pietro Sharakrian, a postdoctoral fellow at the Higher School of Economics in St. Petersburg, put it starkly: “Pashinyan’s premiership has been a disaster for the Armenian people.”

There exists, more worryingly still, the possibility of a wider regional war should Azerbaijan roll into Syunik. For one, Iran has expressed opposition to such a move and if Russia wraps up its war in Ukraine, the possibility exists that they will be freed up to step in as well. So one shouldn’t rule out a collision involving the major players in the region: Russia, Iran and Turkey.

Sadly, the cruel vicissitudes of history and politics are not yet finished with Armenia.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James W. Carden served as advisor on U.S.-Russian affairs at the State Department during the Obama administration.

 

Borrel threatened Baku with "serious consequences". Opinion on the EU position

Emil Lazarian
Nov 14 2023
  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Details of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting

The EU mission that monitors Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan will be expanded. This proposal was approved by the participants of the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the European Union. It is reported that the EU foreign ministers took into account the “continuity of reforms in Armenia”. The decision must still be approved by the European Commission and ratified by EU member states.

The participants of the meeting also approved a proposal to intensify discussions on the liberalization of visa regime with Armenia. This was stated by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell at a press conference after the meeting. But journalists quoted his statement regarding Armenia’s security most of all:

“Any violation of Armenia’s territorial integrity is unacceptable and will have serious consequences for the quality of our relations [with Azerbaijan].”

Political observer Hakob Badalyan considers it vital to get clarification on how effective the mentioned “consequences” will be, and whether, for example, sanctions on President Aliyev and his family members are possible.

  • EU mission monitoring Armenia’s borders with Azerbaijan opens fifth office
  • “NK was not a red line for the West, but Armenia could be” – Azerbaijani expert
  • “We are not satisfied with many things” – Armenian Foreign Minister on relations with Russia

Josep Borrel ltold journalists about the need to strengthen the EU observation mission stationed on the Armenian border. In this regard, the number of observers patrolling the territory will be increased.

“The EU will be very attentive to any attempts of internal and external destabilization in Armenia. The Council of Ministers discussed how to strengthen cooperation with Armenia and support its democratically elected authorities, its sustainability, security and ensuring the continuation of reforms in the country. We will also consider possible support to Armenia within the framework of the European Peace Facility,” he said.

The European Peace Facility is a mechanism through which Brussels provides funds to non-EU countries to improve their defense capabilities, prevent conflict and promote peace. Through this mechanism, the EU has supported Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.

Borrell also called for the resumption of negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan through the mediation of the head of the European Council. He stated that a peace agreement could be signed and the EU is committed to continue its mediation role.

According to Beniamin Poghosyan, Azerbaijan may resort to military actions and present them as “liberation of its territories”

This is how Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan commented on the possible expansion of the EU observer mission on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. He told journalists that this issue has been discussed for a long time. But it is not clear yet by how many the number of observers will be increased.

Commenting on the beginning of negotiations on visa liberalization with the EU, he noted that Yerevan seeks to complete them as soon as possible. He believes that the process will intensify in the coming months and considers it important that none of the EU countries has opposed it.

Armen Grigoryan spoke about the “tools” for ensuring the country’s security at a conference in Brussels called “Armenia-Europe: Armenia’s Strategic Future”

Political observer Hakob Badalyan told JAMnews that when assessing the statement on violation of Armenia’s territorial integrity, one should understand what exactly EU officials mean by integrity. He says that the border is indivisible, and Azerbaijan demands the return of enclaves.

The expert emphasizes that in the current world situation, all such “international formulations” lose their force and significance, yielding to the factor of force:

“The question arises how rational it will be to expect that statements about territorial integrity can mean anything and be a deterrent for Azerbaijan.”

He believes that the wording “severe consequences” in Borrell’s statement also needs clarification:

“Are we talking about severe consequences in the form of some kind of sanctions that Aliyev can easily circumvent or compensate for? Or would they be severe consequences directly for Aliyev’s family? The latter could in a sense change the situation.”

The analyst calls the expansion of the EU observation mission and the discussion of visa liberalization a “bonus” offered to Armenia. In his opinion, in this way the EU is trying to bring Baku back to the Brussels negotiating platform and achieve the signing of a protocol document, if not a peace treaty.

Badalyan warns that one should not allow visa liberalization with the signing of a peace agreement:

“Yerevan is offered one thing, expecting to get something else. If it is connected with the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, then the bonus in the form of visa liberalization should be definitely rejected. It is much more important for us what will be the content of the agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.”

He recalls that during her visit to Armenia, German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock avoided the topic of closer EU relations with Yerevan. She stated that “peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan is important and a priority.” According to Badalyan, this showed that the EU “considers its relations with the region as a whole and is not ready to significantly promote relations with Yerevan, which would lead to differentiation with Azerbaijan.

Badalyan states that today the power factor prevails over the appeals and statements of the international community. And Azerbaijan’s power is formed in interrelation with such actors as Turkey and Israel:

“Despite the appeals of the international community, Israel bombs Gaza and solves its problems, including at the cost of killing civilians. To the extent that EU statements deter Israel from solving its problems militarily, they will also deter Azerbaijan if Baku sees an opportunity to use force against Armenia.”

https://jam-news.net/details-of-the-eu-foreign-affairs-council-meeting/ 


Putin punishes Russia’s key ally

Hovsep Chakrian
WND
Nov 2 2023

By David Boyajian

Oddly, few Westerners who write about the South Caucasus have ever grasped Christian Armenia's significance as Russia's only ally and military outpost among the region's three countries.

Simply put: Were Russia to lose Armenia, the U.S./NATO/EU and pan-Turkism would inevitably dominate the Caucasus/Caspian and, perhaps, beyond. Putin understands this.

Georgia and Azerbaijan are, after all, headed away from Russia.

Though always under Russian pressure, Georgia is an unofficial NATO candidate with sizable Western investments. NATO countries and Israel have been modernizing its military. Tbilisi is also the middleman for Baku's gas/oil pipelines extending to Turkey and elsewhere.

Azerbaijan's fossil fuel deposits, pipelines and U.S./European commercial/economic ties are well-known.

Less talked about are Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev autocracy and its pan-Turkic ideology; formal alliance with NATO's Turkey; deployment of international terrorists; dependence on Israeli weapons/military prowess; and longtime backing by America's Jewish lobby.

Elected ostensibly as a democratic reformist in 2018, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan grew friendlier with the West than had Yerevan's previous leaders.

This enraged Putin. That's problematic: Armenia's dependent on its ally for gas, oil, the nuclear power plant, weapons, remittances from Armenians in Russia, and more. However, Pashinyan didn't break with Moscow.

Nevertheless, Putin resolved to punish and humiliate Armenia to force it totally and irrevocably under Russian domination.

Punish and humiliate

In 2020, Putin silently but indisputably greenlighted Azerbaijan, Turkey, international terrorists and Israel to sledgehammer Christian Armenia and Armenian-populated Artsakh/Karabagh into submitting to Russia.

We know that near its borders Russia is extremely NATO-and-terrorist-phobic.

And yet: In Azerbaijan's 44-day war in 2020 (Sept. 27-Nov. 9) against Artsakh's Armenians, Turkey openly delivered American-supplied F-16s, Bayraktar drones containing NATO parts, additional weapons, generals, troops, and several thousand jihadist terrorists to Azerbaijan.

Tellingly, the Kremlin was unruffled.

Moreover, Tel Aviv – the West's friend, not Moscow's – overtly resupplied Baku with high-tech weapons.

The Kremlin, again, voiced no particular alarm.

Post-war, however, Russia revealed that it'd been in charge all along. During the fighting, for instance, it was Moscow – not Baku – that had offered Yerevan a "peace" deal (which Pashinyan declined).

Artsakh – gifted to Azerbaijan by Stalin but indigenously Armenian for millennia – lost the war, as did Armenia. Buffer zones around Artsakh gained by it in the early 1990s were also forfeited.

Putin's fingerprints were, not surprisingly, all over the Nov. 9, 2020, agreement among Moscow, Yerevan and Baku.

In what remained of Armenian-populated Artsakh,the pact awarded Russia:

  • An armed, 2,000-troop "peacekeeping" mission plus guardianship over the only road – the Lachin corridor – between Artsakh and Armenia proper.
  • Military control over future routes through Armenia between Azerbaijan and its Nakhichevan exclave.

That Russia greenlighted a war against Armenia/Artsakh isn't a total surprise.

Moscow has always sought to keep Yerevan apprehensive and dependent. The Kremlin has for decades permitted repeated Azerbaijani attacks on Armenia despite Yerevan's defense pacts with Moscow and the Russian-led CSTO alliance.

None of this is intended to defend PM Pashinyan. He has failed and should resign.

And please ignore the nonsense that Russia, shaken by setbacks in Ukraine, couldn't prevent the 2020 war. Putin's invasion of Ukraine came much later: February of 2022.

Punishment without end

Throughout 2021-2023, Azerbaijan invaded, occupied, and fortified over 80 square miles of Armenia's internationally recognized southeast.

Hurling the Azerbaijani attacks in Armenia's face, the Kremlin sarcastically termed them mere "border demarcations." The Azerbaijanis are still there.

Russia/CSTO had again willfully violated their defense treaties with Armenia.

Meanwhile, despite Russia's 2020 pledge, its "peacekeepers" permitted incessant Azerbaijani assaults on Artsakh from 2021 on.

Then, in December of 2022, Azerbaijan sent military and other officials disguised as "eco-activists" to block the Lachin corridor.

The armed "peacekeepers" could've moved the Azerbaijanis off the road in 5 minutes. Instead, the Russians feigned helplessness as food and medical supplies to Artsakh were blocked. Meanwhile, the well-fed Russian soldiers offered to sell food to the starving Armenians at inflated prices.

Baku also cut off gas, electricity, and communications to Artsakh. Yet again, despite its signed agreement, Moscow said little and did nothing.

The blockade, declared former International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo, fit the U.N. definition of genocide: "Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction."

Thus, "Christian" Russia and its half-Turkic Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu blatantly violated the Nov. 9, 2020, accord while Artsakh was attacked and starved.

On Sept. 14, 2023, Acting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Yuri Kim testified that the Biden administration "will not countenance any effort – short-term or long-term – to ethnically cleanse Artsakh."

Then came Sept. 19's genocidal cleansing.

Genocidal cleansing

Azerbaijan launched a genocidal military assault on Artsakh. 120,000 Armenians fled their democracy of 30-plus years lest they be murdered if they stayed. Some were, in fact, killed, tortured and murdered.

Russian "peacekeepers" let it happen. No surprise.

Artsakh's millennia-long nationhood – gone in a flash.

The White House clearly "countenanced" the cleansing, as did Europe and the U.N. America often prioritizes authoritarian regimes over human rights and common decency.

The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention recently issued a Red Flag Alert "due to the alarming potential for an invasion of Armenia by Azerbaijan in the coming days and weeks."

The geopolitical future

Russia has certainly not finished punishing Armenia and Pashinyan.

Invasions by Azerbaijan and even Turkey are quite possible.

In that case, Russia would likely "save" Armenia, which would sign over its sovereignty to Moscow. Armenia might even become a Russian Union State, like Belarus.

Assuming near total Russian control of Armenia, the U.S./NATO/EU would find it very difficult to totally penetrate the Caucasus even if Armenia's borders with Turkey/Azerbaijan eventually open.

Putin's been trying for years to entice Turkey and Azerbaijan into his web. The Turkic twins have played along but aren't fooled.

But as Russia rightly fears pan-Turkism, it would probably permit only limited penetration through Armenia by Ankara and Baku. Thus, a Russian-controlled Armenia would become a buffer, not a U.S./NATO/EU pathway. But nothing is certain.

To keep the West totally at bay, Russia could invade Georgia and control the pipelines originating from Azerbaijan.

Another danger to Russia would be an extraterritorial corridor (not just the existing roads) from Turkey through northwest Iran – occupied by masses of Azeri speakers – to Azerbaijan.

That's one reason why Turkey, Azerbaijan, and probably the U.S. and Israel wish to dismember Iran, attach its northwest to Azerbaijan, and cut off Armenia's access to Iran. Moscow and Tehran know this well.

Will Russia's punishment of Armenia ultimately benefit the Kremlin?

Or will Russia receive its just desserts for the vile, unwarranted punishment of its ally?

The Economic Landscape of Armenia: A Balancing Act of Salaries and Living Costs

Anna Tamamian
Gillett News
Nov 12 2023

Armenia, an emerging economy nestled in the South Caucasus region, has been making remarkable progress in recent years. With its burgeoning industries and increasing foreign investments, one can’t help but wonder: do people get paid well in Armenia?

The Current Economic Progress

Armenia has enjoyed consistent economic growth during the past decade, particularly in fields like information technology, tourism, and agriculture. This upward trajectory has led to a surge in employment opportunities and an overall better quality of life for many Armenians. However, it’s worth mentioning that compared to certain European nations, the average salary in Armenia remains relatively modest.

Analyzing Salary Levels

Based on recent statistics from the National Statistical Service of Armenia, the average monthly salary in the country amounts to approximately 200,000 Armenian Drams (around $400). Nevertheless, this figure varies significantly depending on the industry and occupation. Professionals engaged in the IT sector or multinational corporations generally earn higher salaries compared to those in other sectors.

Factors Influencing Salary Levels

Multiple factors contribute to the variation in salary levels across Armenia. One of the most significant factors is the cost of living, which is generally lower than that of many European countries. This means that even with a comparatively lower salary, individuals can still maintain a reasonably comfortable lifestyle. Moreover, the level of education and work experience significantly impacts salary levels in Armenia.

FAQ

Q: Can one expect career advancement opportunities in Armenia?
A: Absolutely! Armenia’s expanding economy presents diverse opportunities for professional growth, particularly within industries like IT, finance, and tourism.

Q: How does the cost of living in Armenia compare to that of other nations?
A: The cost of living in Armenia is notably lower than in many European countries. Consequently, individuals in Armenia can adequately afford housing, food, and other essential living expenses.

Q: Does the Armenian government strive to enhance salary levels in the nation?
A: Yes, the Armenian government has devised various strategies to attract foreign investments and foster economic growth, indirectly contributing to improved salary levels for its citizens.

In essence, while the average salary in Armenia might be lower compared to certain European countries, the country’s economic growth and lower cost of living provide individuals with opportunities for a comfortable livelihood. With the continuous development of industries and the implementation of government initiatives, the future holds promise for further improvements in salary levels within Armenia.

Exploring the Charm of Armenia: A Hidden Gem in South Caucasus

Emil Lazarian
Gillett News
Nov 12 2023

Armenia, a captivating landlocked country nestled in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia, has caught the attention of adventurous souls in search of a new place to call home. Bursting with a rich tapestry of history, mesmerizing landscapes, and a vibrant cultural scene, Armenia provides a living experience like no other. Let’s delve into the key aspects that make Armenia a captivating destination worth considering.

The Affordability Advantage: One of Armenia’s standout features is its relatively low cost of living compared to many other countries. From housing and transportation to daily expenses, everything tends to be pocket-friendly, making it an appealing option for those looking to stretch their budget without compromising on quality.

A Life of Quality: Armenia takes pride in offering its residents a high quality of life, defined by a strong sense of community and a rich cultural heritage. This peaceful and secure environment makes it an ideal setting to raise a family. Moreover, the well-developed healthcare system ensures easy access to quality medical services.

Embracing Economic Opportunities: Although Armenia has encountered economic challenges in the past, it has been making remarkable progress in recent years. The country is witnessing a booming tech industry, with an upsurge of startups and IT companies. Furthermore, Armenia’s strategic location between Europe and Asia opens doors for trade and business opportunities.

Education, a Priority: Education lies at the heart of Armenian society, boasting a high literacy rate and a well-established educational system. The country is home to several esteemed universities and research institutions, creating a conducive environment for academic growth and exploration.

From Ancient Monasteries to Majestic Landscapes: Armenia’s awe-inspiring landscapes, including the famed Mount Ararat and the picturesque Lake Sevan, magnetize tourists from all corners of the globe. The country offers a myriad of outdoor activities, ranging from invigorating hikes to thrilling ski adventures, not to mention the opportunity to explore ancient monasteries and immerse oneself in history.

A: Armenian, which belongs to the Indo-European language family, serves as the official language of Armenia.

A: While the job market in Armenia can be competitive, opportunities do exist, particularly in the flourishing tech sector and the burgeoning tourism industry.

A: Armenia is widely regarded as a safe country with a low crime rate. Nonetheless, exercising caution and adhering to common safety practices is always advisable.

In a nutshell, Armenia embodies a compelling amalgamation of affordability, quality of life, economic potential, and natural splendor. While it may not suit everyone’s taste, it undeniably holds tremendous allure for those seeking a fresh and enriching living experience.