Author: Alex Nanijanian

Sylvie Vartan: French singer with Bulgarian, Armenian roots releases 50th album

Alex Nanijanian
Oct 23 2021

4 Min Read
Milana Nikolova

Milana Nikolova

She’s been called the most famous French artist you’ve never heard of, but Sylvie Vartan has never forgotten her Bulgarian and Armenian roots.

Sylvie Vartan, born in Bulgaria to an Armenian father and a Jewish-Hungarian mother, relocated to Paris in the 1950s and in the 1960s became a europop icon thanks to hits which include La Plus Belle Pour Aller Danser, Si Je Chante, and Zum Zum Zum.

Despite now being in her late 70s, the pop diva is back with yet another album.

Vartan is often credited for popularising the counterculture yé-yé music genre which emerged in France and Southern Europe in the latter part of the 20th century, borrowing elements from mainstream American and British pop rock.

As asserted in a recent article about the performer in Vogue, “Sylvie Vartan just might be the most famous French woman you’ve never heard of”.

Her 1964 La Plus Belle Pour Aller Danser is amongst the most iconic songs of the yé-yé genre, but far from her only successful record. During a long and impressive career, Vartan has sold 50 million records and CDs and has been features on the covers of thousands of magazines, mostly in France.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, along with her then husband Johnny Hallyday, the so-called Elvis of France, Vartan was filled some of the most iconic Parisians theatres, including Olympia and the Palais des congrès de Paris.

However, Vartan could easily stand out without her famous husband, thanks to elaborate performances, costumes and choreography that became more and more adventurous with time.

Vartan was just nine years old when her family left communist Bulgaria, but is not apathetic towards her Armenian, Bulgarian and Hungarian heritage.

Her memories of her Armenian-Hungarian family feature heavily in the lyrics of many of her songs, including Mon Enfance (My childhood) and Mon père (My father). Another one of her best known songs is the 1968 hit La Maritza, named after a river which runs through Bulgaria.

From a very young age, Vartan (then still known by her father’s Armenian surname – Vartanian) dreamt of becoming a star.

At the age of eight she played the role of a schoolgirl in one of the most iconic Bulgarian films ever made, 1952’s Under the Yoke which tells the story of a Bulgarian anti-Ottoman uprising.

Nevertheless, just few months later, the family used connections at the French embassy in Sofia, where Vartan’s father worked, in order to flee the country.

While a few of her songs did enjoy some limited popularity in the Eastern Bloc, her Bulgarian, Armenian and Hungarian origins and her family’s journey away from communism were hidden from audiences behind the Iron Curtain.

In the 1990s she was among the first western celebrities to perform in Bulgaria, where she spoke to the audience in fluent Bulgarian and performed Oblache Le Bialo, a folk song that tells the story of migrants and refugees, and is generally used to represent the Bulgarian diaspora.

While nowhere near as well-known in Bulgaria as in France, Vartan’s charity work in Bulgaria has won her the title of an honorary citizen of Sofia.

Now in her late 70s, Vartan has surprised her fans by adding yet another album to her already impressive collection of records.

Merci pour le regard is Vartan’s 50th studio album and her 66th overall. It is also her first album with newly-released original songs in 10 years.

Released this month, the album includes 14 tracks in her signature style – classic and melancholic. Her songs are accompanied by guitars, trumpets, an accordion, a violin, and most frequently the piano, played by one of France’s favourite pianists, Gérard Daguerre.

The nostalgia for her past can still be seen in her newest songs, such as Le bleu de la mer noire (The blue of the Black Sea).

Vartan is currently on tour in France and Belgium until the end of November.

Kremlin reacts to reports on trilateral Armenian-Russian-Azerbaijani summit

Alex Nanijanian
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 23 2021
, 14:20

 Less than a minute

If an agreement on holding a Russia-Armenia-Azerbaijan summit is reached, the Kremlin will inform in due time, Russian President’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told RIA Novosti.

The comments come in the wake of reports claiming that a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev could take place in early November. It was reported that the parties were expected to sign trilateral statement.

“If such an agreement is reached, we will inform about it in due time,” Peskov said, asked whether a meeting of the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan was planned in Moscow in the first decade of November.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 10/22/2021

Alex Nanijanian 
                                        Friday, 
Kocharian’s Bloc Plans Anti-Government Rally
        • Gayane Saribekian
Armenia - Thousands of opposition supporters led by former President Robert 
Kocharian (center) and senior members of his Hayastan alliance march to the 
Yerablur Militarty Pantheon in Yerevan, September 26, 2021.
The main opposition Hayastan alliance said on Friday that it will rally 
supporters in Yerevan soon in an effort to thwart what it described as more 
Armenian concessions to Azerbaijan planned by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.
Senior representatives of the bloc led by former President Robert Kocharian 
claimed that Pashinian is ready to cede more territory to Baku, including by 
agreeing to a land corridor between the Nakhichevan exclave and western 
Azerbaijan passing through Armenia’s Syunik province.
“We believe that what is happening will lead to a new capitulation agreement,” 
said Ishkhan Saghatelian, a deputy parliament speaker. “Armenia will be making 
new concessions. In order to prevent that, pan-Armenian forces must form a 
national resistance front to show the entire world, including this government of 
evil, that our people disagree with this course and are fighting against it.”
“We need to explain all this to people because [Pashinian] is continuing to fool 
people [with talk of peace.] After sending people to their death [in 
Nagorno-Karabakh last fall] he is now intimidating them with [warnings about] 
another war,” he told reporters.
Armenia - Opposition leader Ishkhan Saghatelian attends a session of the 
National Assembly after being elected one of its three deputy speakers, Yerevan, 
August 6, 2021.
Saghatelian said that Hayastan is now holding consultations with other 
opposition groups and will announce the date of its rally next week. He would 
not say whether it will be a one-off protest or the first in a series of 
anti-government rallies.
Pashinian visited the Armenian parliament on Thursday to meet with deputies 
representing his Civil Contract party. According to one of those lawmakers, 
Gagik Melkonian, Pashinian assured them that he is not planning any territorial 
concessions to Baku.
Melkonian shrugged off the opposition allegations about such concessions, saying 
that Kocharian’s bloc simply wants to seize power. He said the authorities are 
not worried about Hayastan protests.
“Their place is the street,” he told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service. “Let them fight 
on the street. Nobody will be standing by their side.”
Armenia - Supporters of former President Robert Kocharian and his opposition 
alliance attend an election campaign rally in Yerevan's Nor Nork district, June 
9, 2021.
Saghatelian confirmed that Pashinian’s removal from power remains on Hayastan’s 
agenda.
Kocharian, who had ruled Armenia from 1998-2008, likewise said on October 4 that 
regime change remains his and his political allies’ key goal. But he cautioned 
that they must “generate” greater popular anger at the government before trying 
to topple it with street protests.
“The biggest problem is that a considerable part of our people has come to terms 
with this situation and voted for these ones,” Kocharian said, referring to the 
ruling political team. He insisted at the same time that a politically active 
minority of citizens can also pose a serious threat to Pashinian’s hold on power.
Pashinian’s Civil Contract party won Armenia’s June 20 parliamentary elections 
with almost 54 percent of the vote, according to their official results. 
Hayastan came in a distant second with 21 percent. Its final election campaign 
rally in Yerevan drew a massive crowd.
Armenian Watchdog Alarmed By ‘Curbs On Press Freedom’
        • Robert Zargarian
Armenia - Ashot Melikian, chairman of the Committee to Protect Freedom of 
Speech, at a news conference in Yerevan, .
An Armenian press freedom group on Friday expressed serious concern over what it 
called new restrictions on news reporting imposed by the authorities in recent 
months.
“These restrictions have taken the form of legislative initiatives, rules and 
regulations, and practical actions restricting journalistic activity,” said 
Ashot Melikian of the Committee to Protect Freedom of Speech.
Presenting a quarterly report released by his organization, Melikian singled out 
serious curbs on journalists’ freedom of movements inside the Armenian 
parliament building which were imposed days after the current National Assembly 
held its inaugural session on August 2.
Under the new rules introduced by parliament speaker Alen Simonian, reporters 
accredited to the parliament can no longer interview deputies coming out of the 
chamber or enter a section of the building housing their offices. Simonian, who 
is a senior member of the ruling Civil Contract party, cited security concerns 
and the need for greater media respect for parliamentarians.
Opposition lawmakers, human rights ombudsman Arman Tatoyan and Armenia’s leading 
media associations rejected that explanation.
Those groups expressed outrage at Simonian’s attempts to block press coverage of 
an August 11 parliament session that descended into chaos amid bitter insults 
traded by pro-government and opposition deputies. Security officers entered the 
press gallery overlooking the chamber and ordered journalists present there to 
stop filming or photographing the ugly scenes.
Armenia - Parliament speaker Alen Simonian talks to journalists, August 25, 2021.
“It was an unprecedented and condemnable action,” Melikian told a news 
conference. “Journalists must be able to show the public what kind of a National 
Assembly was elected and how each deputy behaves.”
Melikian also condemned recent government-backed bills that tripled maximum 
legal fines for “slander” and made it a crime to gravely insult state officials 
and public figures.
“Nobody is going to defend slanderers or slander in general,” he said. “What we 
emphasize is that very often strong criticism is interpreted as a grave insult. 
We all know that officials and politicians regard such criticism as an insult.”
The bill on heavier defamation fines was authored by speaker Simonian. President 
Armen Sarkissian refused to sign it into law in April, asking the Constitutional 
Court to assess its constitutionality. The court ruled earlier this month that 
the bill does not run counter to the Armenian constitution.
The Armenian authorities’ decision to criminalize slander and defamation was 
strongly criticized by Freedom House late last month. The Washington-based 
democracy group said it testifies to a “clear degradation of democratic norms in 
Armenia, including freedom of expression.” Pro-government lawmakers rejected the 
criticism.
Norway, Moderna Pledge Biggest Vaccine Donation To Armenia
Vials with a sticker reading, "COVID-19 / Coronavirus vaccine / Injection only" 
and a medical syringe are seen in front of a displayed Moderna, October 31, 2020.
The Norwegian government and Moderna have pledged to give Armenia more than 
620,000 doses of a coronavirus vaccine manufactured by the U.S. biotech company, 
Health Minister Anahit Avanesian announced on Friday.
Avanesian said the Armenian Ministry of Health signed a “trilateral agreement” 
to that effect with them on Thursday.
“Thank you the Kingdom of Norway and the Moderna company for your efforts to 
overcome the pandemic,” she wrote on her Facebook page.
Avanesian said that the European Union will assist in the upcoming shipments of 
Moderna’s Spikevax vaccine to Armenia. She gave no dates for their delivery.
Moderna’s co-founder and chairman, Noubar Afeyan, is an Armenian-American 
billionaire businessman. Afeyan has financed various charity projects in Armenia.
Armenia -- Armenian-American businessman Noubar Afeyan speaks in Yerevan, April 
24, 2019
Armenia has already received smaller quantities of vaccines donated by the 
governments of France, Belgium, Lithuania, China and Russia.
Health authorities in the South Caucasus state began using earlier this month 
50,000 doses of Spikevax provided by the Lithuanian government. Armenians were 
previously inoculated only with Chinese and Russian vaccines as well as the 
Astra Zeneca jab developed by Oxford University.
Avanesian said in July that Armenia will buy this fall 50,000 doses of Johnson & 
Johnson’s single-dose vaccine and 300,000 doses of the Novavax jab. Shortly 
afterwards the Armenian government allocated funds for the purchase of 300,000 
doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. None of those vaccines have been imported 
yet.
Armenia - Health Minister Anahit Avanesian is vaccinated against COVID-19, April 
28, 2021.
The latest donation pledge comes as the authorities in Yerevan are trying to 
speed up the slow pace of vaccinations in the country of about 3 million amid 
rising coronavirus cases and hospitalizations that have overwhelmed the Armenian 
healthcare system.
As of October 17, just over 403,000 people there received at least one dose of a 
coronavirus vaccine and only about 185,000 of them were fully vaccinated.
Starting from October 1, all Armenian workers are required to get inoculated or 
take coronavirus tests twice a month at their own expense. Avanesian said last 
week that the authorities could also introduce a mandatory coronavirus health 
pass for entry to cultural and leisure venues.
The Ministry of Health said on Friday that 42 more Armenians have died from 
COVID-19 in the past day. The ministry also reported five other deaths 
indirectly caused by the disease.
Russia Indispensable For Ending Armenian-Azeri Border Dispute, Says Putin
        • Nane Sahakian
Russia - President Vladimir Putin attends a session of the annual Valdai 
Discussion Club in Sochi, .
Armenia and Azerbaijan cannot end their simmering border disputes without 
Russian mediation and mutual concessions, according to Russia’s President 
Vladimir Putin.
Putin commented on the aftermath of last year’s war in Nagorno-Karabakh and 
Russian efforts to bolster a shaky peace in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict 
zone during an annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club on Thursday.
“The main thing now is to finally resolve the situation on the 
[Armenian-Azerbaijani] border, and it’s impossible to do anything here without 
Russia’s participation,” he said. “We probably don’t need anyone except Russia 
and the two sides. Why? … Because the Russian army’s General Staff has maps 
showing the borders that existed between Soviet republics in Soviet times.”
Tensions have run high in recent months at several sections of the long border 
where Azerbaijani forces reportedly advanced a few kilometers into Armenian 
territory in mid-May. Armenia has repeatedly demanded their unconditional 
withdrawal. Azerbaijan maintains that its troops took up new positions on the 
Azerbaijani side of the frontier.
Amenia - An Armenian soldier at a border post in Gegharkunik province, July 5, 
2021.
Moscow proposed later in May that Yerevan and Baku set up a commission on border 
delimitation and demarcation. It offered to act as a mediator in such talks.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian stated at the time that the talks are conditional 
on an Azerbaijani withdrawal from Armenia’s “sovereign territory.” But he 
indicated in August that his government is ready to negotiate without any 
preconditions.
Baku has also expressed readiness for such negotiations. They have still not 
begun, however.
Putin, who brokered a ceasefire that stopped the Karabakh war last November, 
said that while Soviet military maps must serve as a basis of the talks the two 
conflicting sides should be ready for minor territorial swaps and other mutual 
concessions.
“There are things there that also require mutual compromises,” he said. 
“Something could be straightened [on the map] in some places and swapped in 
others.”
Armenia - A view of an area in Armenia's Syunik province where Armenian and 
Azerbaijani troops are locked in a border standoff, May 14, 2021. (Photo by the 
Armenian Human Rights Defender's Office)
Pashinian has for months been facing Armenian opposition allegations that he has 
secretly agreed to cede major chunks of Armenian territory to Azerbaijan. The 
prime minister has categorically denied that.
Russia is already the sole international facilitator of ongoing 
Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations on opening transport links between the two 
South Caucasus foes. A Russian-Armenian-Azerbaijani task force set up in January 
for that purpose held a fresh meeting in Moscow earlier this week.
Putin stressed on Thursday that Moscow remains committed to a “multilateral 
format” of achieving a broader normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations 
and a Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. He said it is now trying to step up the 
mediating activities of the OSCE Minsk Group co-headed by Russia, France and the 
United States.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2021 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

ICJ holds hearings over Armenia’s request to indicate provisional measures against Azerbaijan

Alex Nanijanian

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 13:30, 14 October, 2021

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 14, ARMENPRESS. The International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, is holding public hearings over Armenia’s request to indicate provisional measures against Azerbaijan.

On September 16, 2021, Armenia instituted proceedings against the Republic of Azerbaijan before the International Court of Justice with regard to alleged violations of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

Armenia also requested the Court to indicate certain provisional measures “as a matter of extreme urgency”, including the return of Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives from Azerbaijan, as well as the closure of the so-called “Military Trophies Park” in Baku.

The hearings will last until October 15.

Armenia is represented by a group at the hearings, which involves famous international experts who will help to present the country’s interests.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Turkey and Armenia ready to ‘normalize relations’ after nearly 30 years

Alex Nanijanian
Oct 15 2021
Relations between the nations have been strained since 1993
Written byArzu Geybullayeva
Posted  7:54 GMT 

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 during the first Karabakh war in a show of solidarity with its long-time ally Azerbaijan. Almost three decades later, Turkey is considering reopening that border in the aftermath of Azerbaijan’s victory in the second Karabakh war in 2020.

During Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Azerbaijan in December 2020, he said, “If positive steps are taken in this regard, we will open our closed doors.” A month later, an unnamed senior Erdogan advisor told Turkish journalist Asli Aydintasbas that Ankara was ready to “normalize relations with Armenia.”

In February 2021, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu condemned the possible coup attempt against Armenia’s Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, who said the General Staff issued a statement calling for his resignation.

On April 24, 2021, during his meeting with Armenian Patriarch Sahak Maşalyan, Erdogan said, “It is time for us to lay bare that we as Turks and Armenians have reached the maturity of overcoming all obstacles together.”

“Everybody would win” if there were a broad regional settlement, Turkey’s former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told The Economist in May 2021.

“As a landlocked state, an open border and active trade could facilitate economic development and alleviate poverty in a country,” wrote Hans Gutbrod, a professor at Illa State University in Tbilisi, and David Wood, a professor at Seton Hall University in a June 2021 piece for Foreign Policy. Adding, “Rapprochement with Ankara may also allow Yerevan to address its near-total dependence on Russia, thereby promoting greater regional stability. And Turkey would also benefit, especially through increased trade.”

Then in August, Armenia’s Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, said the country was ready to strengthen ties with Turkey following positive signs from Ankara. The country’s parliament approved a five-year action plan, stating that Armenia was “ready to make efforts to normalize relations with Turkey.” While the plan was approved, it was harshly criticized by opposition lawmakers, according to reporting by Civilnet.am.

The goodwill intentions were also reflected in Armenia opening its airspace to Turkish Airline flights en route to Baku.

On September 29, Turkey’s Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalınm told one Turkish television channel, “In principle, we are positive about normalization with Armenia. The main reason why we ended our diplomatic relations and closed our border in 1992 was the occupation of Karabakh. With this problem resolved, there is — in fact — no obstacle to normalization with Armeni̇a.”

Turkey and Armenia were close to finding some common ground in 2008 when Turkey’s then-President Abdullah Gul traveled to Yerevan to watch the first of the two qualifying World Cup matches between Turkey and Armenia. A year later, Serge Sarkisian, the Armenian president, traveled to Turkey’s province of Bursa to watch another football game between the two national teams. The game and Sarkisian’s visit to Turkey followed the signing of a series of protocols in Zurich that were designed to normalize relations between the two countries. Described at the time as “football diplomacy,” the negotiations eventually fell through after Turkey withdrew due to mounting pressure from Azerbaijan. Armenia formally declared the protocols null and void in 2018.

Now, the chances of Azerbaijan interfering are slim. “Before Armenia’s withdrawal from this region, Baku saw Turkey’s opening of the borders as a betrayal and harshly criticized it. Now, after the truce, this issue is off the table and it won’t be a surprise to see a milder tone from Azerbaijan than in 2009,” said Ankara-based political analyst Hasan Selim Özertem in an interview with Eurasianet.

In Armenia, there are differing opinions about how this new bilateral relationship may work out, according to journalist Ani Mejlumyan writing for Eurasianet:

Most Armenian analysts and officials believe that Yerevan should pursue normalization with Ankara one on one, without Russia, Azerbaijan, or anyone else getting involved. Turkey, meanwhile, appears to be more interested in pursuing normalization in the framework of its proposed “3+3” platform, a regional body made up of the South Caucasus states and their neighbors: Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, plus Iran, Russia, and Turkey.

The role that Russia would play remains to be seen. Speaking at the New Knowledge Forum in Moscow on September 3, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, “now that the war in Nagorno-Karabakh is over, there are grounds for unblocking the political process, transport, and economic ties.” In 2009, Russia openly encouraged the nation’s “football diplomacy” and welcomed the signing of the Zurich Protocols.

However, there are also “moral dimensions” at stake, according to Hans Gutbrod and David Wood:

To achieve more effective, mutually beneficial relations, both the Armenian and Turkish governments should work to reframe the Armenian genocide—and the wider suffering that accompanied the downfall of the Ottoman Empire—as a shared history. This is an inevitably long, emotionally strenuous process. For Armenia, it means shifting toward a diplomacy that invites Turkish society to engage—whether through exhibitions, travel, or academic and cultural exchange. Indeed, Armenian and Turkish societies have far more in common than what divides them. They may find the same in their histories.

One way to do this would be by focusing on individual actions and experiences rather than “collective castigations,” argue Gutbrod and Wood. They note that stories of those who stood in solidarity with Armenians remain largely untold, and perhaps now is the right time to bring those forward, to rebuild ties. But that would depend on both sides’ willingness. According to the action plan adopted by the Armenian parliament in late August, the government of Armenia will continue to lobby “for world capitals to recognize the Armenian Genocide,” which would “strengthen the system of security guarantees of Armenia.” It may prove more difficult. Ruben Melkonyan, a Turkish studies scholar at Yerevan State University, thinks Armenia may have to drop the genocide recognition now that the country is “in a weak position.”

Russian-Iranian competition heats up in South Caucasus

Alex Nanijanian
Oct 15 2021
For Moscow, contradictions with Tehran may turn out to be much more sensitive than disputes with Ankara.


Kirill Semenov

During Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian’s visit to Moscow on Oct. 5, one of the main topics of the talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov was rising tensions in Iranian-Azerbaijani ties. At a press conference in the Russian capital, Iran’s top diplomat voiced a range of complaints against Baku, focusing on Azerbaijan’s dealings with Israel. In turn, Lavrov made it clear that Russia is “against the buildup of military activity” in the South Caucasus and “against provocative exercises,” which should have been a signal to the Iranian side about the need to reduce the tension. 

Azerbaijan and Turkey carried out joint military exercises in early September in the Azerbaijani Lachin region, as tensions between Baku and Tehran escalate.

Moreover, the Russian foreign minister mentioned that at the talks with Abdollahian he spoke in favor of creating a “3 + 3” negotiation format, which would include Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Russia and Turkey. This is necessary to resolve regional issues, he stressed.

On Oct. 1, Iranian ground forces began the “Conquerors of Khaybar” exercises in the northwest of the country, on the border with Azerbaijan, using armored units, artillery, drones and combat helicopters. This is one of the largest military maneuvers the Iranian armed forces have conducted in recent history near Azerbaijan, inevitably sparking fears that it could be preparation for military aggression.

Iran also accused Azerbaijan of cooperation with Israel. The head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in Tabriz, Col. Hossein Pursmail, said that “the repetition of Israel’s threats against Iran through the mouth of Azerbaijan is not only not in the interest of Baku, it is also a threat to the latter’s very existence.” Further statements by Iranian representatives expanded the list of Tehran’s grievances. For example, Iranian lawmaker Mahmoud Begash pointed out that it could not only be about Israel: “If the Turkish adventure and Azerbaijan’s behavior continue, we will return Nakhchivan and Nagorno-Karabakh to the main owner — Iran.” Both Nakhchivan and Nagorno-Karabakh are autonomous regions within Azerbaijan

Tehran’s militaristic moves near the border with Azerbaijan, as well as the crisis between the two countries in general, are provoked primarily by the ambitions of the new Iranian leadership under President Ebrahim Raisi, which is likely seeking to compensate for the failures of its predecessors through taking tough stances. 

The foreign policy of Raisi’s administration “is a balanced foreign policy under active, dynamic and intelligent diplomacy. Our focus on Asia and the region doesn’t mean that we don’t pay attention to other regions including the West,” Amir-Abdollahian told Iranian news agency ISNA.

During the 44-day Armenian-Azerbaijani war in late 2020, the previous Iranian administration, led by Reformists, tried to come up with various mediation initiatives. However, the Iranian proposals did not arouse interest from the parties to the conflict themselves, nor from Russia and Turkey.

Tehran likely harbored a grudge, and Lavrov had to specifically comment on the issue in December 2020, a month after the conflict had ended, saying, “By the way, I don’t remember that during all the years of my tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, in the course of our numerous contacts with Iranian colleagues, the topic of Karabakh aroused interest during our consultations or negotiations.” 

Thus, Iran, unlike Russia and Turkey, felt as though its interests were not observed following the Armenian-Azerbaijani war.

In addition, Iran — which views itself as a leader globally for Shiite Muslims — has practically lost its influence in the predominantly Shiite country of Azerbaijan, and is trying to compensate with direct support from Armenia. But by doing so, Tehran is challenging not only Baku and its allied Ankara, but also Moscow. Tehran is trying to become a guarantor of the security and territorial integrity of Armenia and thereby reduce the Russian side’s influence on the Armenian leadership. This was duly appreciated in Armenia itself, and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan unexpectedly went to Tehran on Monday, Oct. 4, where he received corresponding assurances of support from the Iranian side.

“Azerbaijan’s encroachments on the sovereign territory of Armenia threaten our efforts to ensure stability and security in the region,” Mirzoyan said during the visit. “In this regard, we highly appreciate the position of Iran regarding the territorial integrity of Armenia and the inviolability of its borders.”

By “encroachments on the territory” he meant the Zangezur Corridor, a route that must pass, according to the agreements on Nov. 10, 2020, through Armenia and connect the main territory of Azerbaijan with the isolated Azerbaijani region of Nakhchivan. Keep in mind that this approach by Iran, which opposes the creation of this corridor, also indirectly contradicts the interests of Russia, since the Russian border troops will have to ensure the protection of this highway, which would certainly provide Moscow with additional leverage in the South Caucasus.

The contours of the Russian-Iranian contradictions in the South Caucasus complement the Russian-Iranian competition in Syria. The gradual accumulation of the conflict potential of the two countries, unlike the mutual claims of Ankara and Moscow, is still hidden and not advertised, and in Russia it is often denied.

In Syria, Russia can hardly be satisfied with the constant attempts of pro-Iranian structures, primarily the 4th division of Maher Assad, to take control of the territories on the borders with Jordan and Israel. If these areas are transferred to the 4th division, pro-Iranian formations might be deployed there, which will threaten Israel, Russia’s strategic partner in the Middle East. Also, the the creation of a virtually autonomous pro-Iranian enclave in the Deir az-Zor region certainly worries Russia, along with Tehran’s influence on decision-making in Damascus in general, which is still decisive. Iran has also occupied most of the most attractive niches in the Syrian economy, which are closed to Russian business.

On the whole, for Moscow, contradictions with Tehran may turn out to be much more sensitive than disputes with Ankara. Russia and Turkey are filling vacuums in the Middle East and South Caucasus, not encroaching on each other’s spheres of influence, but only dividing them (as happened in Idlib or in Libya). Iran, on the other hand, may try to start pushing Russia out of the place where it is already entrenched, be it part of Syria controlled by Assad or Armenia. Also, Iran may compete with Russia for influence in Afghanistan, as well as in Central Asia, notably Tajikistan.

War is impossible – Artsakh’s Foreign Minister

Alex Nanijanian

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 01:10,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 15, ARMENPRESS. After the shootings in Artsakh this evening, the situation is calm, it is completely controlled by the Artsakh Defense Army and the Russian peacekeepers, the Artsakh Defense Army has no casualties, and the lives of the wounded soldiers are not in danger, Foreign Minister of Artsakh Davit Babayan told ARMENPRESS, urging the Armenian people not to give in to the misinformation or unchecked information and to follow exclusively official information, particularly, the press releases of the Defense Army, since exaggerated information having nothing in common with the reality is being spread.

“At this moment, thank God, we have no victims, the doctors are doing everything possible to ensure no risk to the lives of the wounded servicemen.. The general situation is stable now. The peacekeepers are also dealing with that issue, they came to the scene immediately, that is, there is no reason for panic,” Artsakh’s Foreign Minister told Armenpress.

According to Davit Babayan, today’s incidents took place near Norshen community of Martuni region of Artsakh. Answering the question of what size and scale the Artsakh-Azerbaijani clashes were, whether there is a danger of escalation of tension, Davit Babayan answered that at the moment the situation is fully under control. Babayan does not think that the incident can escalate into a large-scale war. “It’s impossible as long as Russian peacekeepers are standing there. We should understand this very well, and avoid spreading panic. War is impossible. And we must understand that it is a provocation by the enemy, and they will resort to such provocations again, because this is their style. This is not something new for us”, Davit Babayan said, adding that this new provocation of the Azerbaiajni side pursued not just a political, but geopolitical goals. He clarified that Azerbaijan’s acts are directed against both Russia and Armenians.

Turkish press: Russia should annex parts of eastern Turkey, RT editor-in-chief says

Alex Nanijanian
 ISTANBUL DIPLOMACY 
OCT 07, 2021 2:54 PM GMT+3

A roadblock of Russian “peacemakers” on the road to Khankendi, Jan. 14, 2021. (Reuters File Photo)

The editor-in-chief of the Russian state TV channel RT said Russia should annex eastern Turkey’s Mount Ağrı (Ararat) and Kars province.

Margarita Simonyan, who is of Armenian descent, told public broadcaster Rossiya 1 TV channel that the country should annex the areas from Turkey.

Simonyan’s controversial comments followed similar remarks by Russian politician and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia Vladimir Zhirinovsky, who claimed that a “special” tsar-like regime was necessary to secure Armenia.

“Any democratic regime like the U.S., U.K. or France is unacceptable (for Russia). And you, Armenians, will get both Kars and Ardahan if there’s a strict regime like (the rule under) a tsar. Under a democratic government, even Yerevan will be taken away from you,” he said.

Armenia and Turkey have never established diplomatic relations and their shared border has been closed since the 1990s.

The ties have further deteriorated due to Turkey’s support for its regional ally Azerbaijan, which fought with Armenia last year for control of the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region.

But last month, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said Yerevan was prepared to hold discussions on repairing relations with Ankara.

Meanwhile, Turkey and Russia enjoy strong relations, as officials highlight cooperation on numerous regional issues. In July, Dmitry Polyanskiy, the first deputy permanent representative of Russia to the United Nations, said Turkey is working to preserve world peace in crisis areas including Libya, Syria and Nagorno-Karabakh.

A Russian-brokered deal on Nov. 10 halted a six-week conflict between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh and its surrounding areas, securing territorial gains for Azerbaijan. Turkey agreed with Russia that its troops would also monitor the cease-fire. Ankara and Moscow signed an agreement to establish a joint observation center in Nagorno-Karabakh.

On the other side, Turkey has frequently voiced that the two countries have made significant contributions to the establishment of cease-fires in both Syria and Libya, while further steps need to be taken in Libya to reintegrate the country’s divided institutions.

Elections in Armenia showed people’s trust in democracy: ARMENPRESS Exclusive with Lithuanian Prime Minister

Alex Nanijanian

 14:43, 8 October, 2021

VILNIUS, OCTOBER 8, ARMENPRESS. Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte underscores that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received a very strong level of trust from the Armenian people at the June 20 parliamentary election. PM Simonyte says the Armenian people expressed trust in democratic processes and said yes to the “mandate for a better life”. The Lithuanian Prime Minister highlighted the fact that the elections in Armenia were recognized as fair and transparent.

PM Ingrida Simonyte was interviewed by ARMENPRESS Director Aram Ananyan on the prospects of developing the Armenian-Lithuanian relations in various sectors, cooperation in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

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Aram Ananyan: Madam Prime Minister, thank you very much for your time. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Armenian-Lithuanian diplomatic relations. It is meaningful that Lithuania is the first country to have recognized the independence of the Republic of Armenia. If we were to sum up, what kind of relations do we have today and most importantly in what direction are we moving forward?

Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte: Well, I think that basically we are on the same road. We have some modalities, but we are on the same road because we are countries that believe in fundamental democratic values, it is important for people to have right to choose, to decide their fate. It is important for them to know what is happening, so the freedom of press, private property, independent courts and all the other fundamental values are the foundation of what we call liberal democracy.

And I think that we are both on the same road, of course for many reasons, geographical as well. We are in a pool of other countries that formerly joined the European Union by those values. But I think the partnership with other countries that are like-minded is very important and it’s good that we had the chance to discuss with Prime Minister Pashinyan what we can do as a people who see those fundamental values as crucial for them prosperity of our nations, how we can share our experiences, how we can share our stories, our successes, and sometimes maybe mistakes as well.

Aram Ananyan: Madam Prime Minister, you addressed important issues. We always say that there is a big potential for boosting economic ties: In which sectors do you see opportunities for developing this cooperation?

Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte: Well, I think it’s not only about trade. I think it’s about cooperation on also other levels, because we can also speak about, cooperation, for example, of our universities and science as well. And the agreement that was signed by ministries of health, sort of building the basis for cooperation in this area, which appeared to be very important because of COVID. So I think that in terms of economic ties first, and the easiest thing will be speak about tourism, because we are somewhere on the way of opening a new direct flight, which will connect the people. So this is a, niece that I think can be elaborated and can be widely used.

Now, in terms of economic relations between businesses, once you have a flight option and once you have a political backing, I think business is smart enough to find their own opportunities and in what is available in one market and the other. So I know that there is a big ambition in Armenia in digital transformation. And we have quite a number of companies that operate also on the biggest scale. And we have a number of solutions that are already applicable here or in another country. So this might be of interest for example, for Armenian institutions to use this experience or to use the products that are developed or to use the systems that are operational here or in other countries, also green transition, alternative energy. This is just the dimension of where I see that this synergy, that of European policy or policy of European union, but also policy lines of Armenian government are very much, sort of, coinciding. So, I think there is a big opportunity for synergies. 

Aram Ananyan: Lithuania assisted Armenia in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic. The Armenian and Lithuanian healthcare ministries signed an agreement on cooperation. Could  you tell us more about future cooperation in this sector?

Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte: We can be of use to Armenian institutions in term of reforms in health care, in health insurance, as well as in organizing of healthcare. We are not a country without problems. We still have a couple of things to do ourselves. So, it’s good that you can also progress and maybe share your experience with the others. And during COVID, there were exchange of expertise or medical personnel as well as things that we needed for COVID tests or vaccines for the management of situation. But these were rather in the framework of, well, if we can share them, we share, and we were sharing not only with Armenia, but also with other countries. But I think that it is important because you have to use your options wisely. And if we, being in the European union, being lucky to receive vaccines one of the first globally, so if we see that it is also doable, you know, sharing with the others then, and it’s only the way countries should pursue, but this was rather a situation that was created by COVID. But since this, exchange of experience and this cooperation proved to be quite good and quite fruitful.

Aram Ananyan: As you know, 2020 was a dramatic year for Armenia. The war in Nagorno Karabakh led to a number of issues, including humanitarian ones. Lithuania was one of the first to respond. What is your position on the conflict settlement and will you continue the humanitarian assistance programs?

Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte: A stance that we take, I guess, for many years, that if you see people suffering somewhere and you can help somehow in that, in a reasonable way, then you should do this. And we as a country that is based on Christian values is exercising this in many aspects being that a natural disaster somewhere or being that a conflict in Karabakh.

And I’m really sorry. And I extend my condolences to those who died in this conflict, and any loss of human life is a huge loss. So it is very sad that still we have situations like that, but of course there is no other way, as just try to regulate this. And of course the preferable option is that it would be regulated in a political manner, by the framework of Minsk group chairmanship. And it’s good to hear that are at least some steps towards this direction.

Of course it is not easy. It never is easy because while people have dissenting opinions on who’s right, and who’s wrong and what should be done. But I think that with the help of also European union institutions and participation of European union and experience in regulating conflicts in other places, with a sincere heart, and I see sincere will to come to a peaceful situation. , I hope we will achieve something. I mean, this first Armenia and Azerbaijan, but also globally, because it’s important for Europe and it’s important for the globe because the less conflicts we have then the easier it is for people to come to their daily lives, and, create their future and their prosperity.

Aram Ananyan: Lithuania is one of the unique pioneers of developing the EU-Armenia relations. Lithuania was first to ratify the Armenia-EU CEPA and is in favor of liberalization of the visa regime. At what pace are we moving forward in this direction?

Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte: Well, you know, in, European union, things are not necessarily moving fast, although sometimes European union can act actually fast and COVID was a situation where it was clearly seen that we can also move very fast. So maybe, when we have this summit of Eastern partnership, there will be a bigger ambition presented by the European union. But you know, that in many cases we are proponents for European decisions being more embracing towards Eastern partnership countries. And it is not only related to Armenia, but also to other countries. We discuss about reforms in Ukraine. We discuss about Georgia. We discussed about Moldova and other countries. And we think that there are so many solutions that can make European union and Eastern partnership countries closer to each other and then people on both sides benefit. People, business, general conditions becoming better and people getting to know each other and be able to move or to make business. So no surprise that we are one of the loudest supporters of those ambitions, and of course you cannot just have this decision for yourself. There should be an agreement, but we are pushing for this agreement that we are advocating for this agreement.

Aram Ananyan: Given the trends of democratization in Armenia, how does Vilnius view the support programs for continuing the reforms?

Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte: Well, it will still depend on Armenian people and Armenian government, but, with the level of trust that Prime Minister Pashinyan received during the elections, I think he has a very strong mandate. People actually said that ‘we trust in democratic process’. We do not want a strongman to come and sort all our problems because we know that usually it does not happen this way. You just get less democracy, less freedom of speech, and then you should be more happy about things that are actually worse than they used to be, but your options to make your opinion visible or heard are much more limited. So it’s good to see that, elections in Armenia were recognized as fair and transparent, and it is very important.  Usually people when come and vote, they vote for a better life, how they see it. And I think they see it in a democratic environment. But we all have, to make efforts to produce better public service, to have a more fair competition or reduce some problems that we face.

For Armenia maybe this is, sort of a bigger area of questions where you need solutions. For example, prime minister is visiting the waste management companies trying to know about this experience of deposit system. And he told me that this is an important issue for Armenia. For us, this is closed case. We think it’s very successful. So that’s why we can share our experience with other countries. A lot needs to be done, but the end goal is the welfare of people. And I strongly believe that it’s welfare of people that comes as a consequence of democratic values, not vice versa, because sometimes people who think otherwise they say ‘let’s first take care of economy, and then we will provide with democratic values’. It never happens like that because the welfare comes actually as a result of democratic values, because when people can choose what they want to do, where they can say what they do not like loudly, where they can go to the court if they are not happy, and the court is independent where they can secure their property, which will not be taken by somebody who just came in and took a business or other property. When it’s secured by law, and by independent courts, then business can flourish and welfare can increase.

Aram Ananyan: The Armenian-Lithuanian relations have strong foundations and the Armenian Prime Minister gifted the Book of Lamentations by St. Gregory of Narek to you, and the Lithuanian culture is well known in Armenia. In this context, what potential do you see for developing bilateral relations? You also received an offer to visit Armenia, when is your trip likely to take place?

Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte: Our cultural ties can be more intense and I hope that the ability to travel directly will add up immensely to this, especially when we speak about all our citizens, just people who are walking the streets and living in whatever towns and villages, who can travel, see the culture, get this personal experience, get the sense of the flavor of the other country and come back with the best. At the level of cultural cooperation, I think, we also can do more. We can exchange not only what was created twenty, fifty or a hundred years ago, but also what is being trending. And I think we have quite a number of young prominent artists who would be more than happy to present or to be presented to Armenian public. And, we were speaking with the prime minister that this cooperation between people, as well as between scientific, educational institutions and cultural institutions should be intensified.

I think it is a great honor to be invited. I don’t know if you know, but there was never a Lithuanian prime minister to have visited Armenia so far. So I hope I will be able to be the first and it will happen soon.

Aram Ananyan: Thank you Madam Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte: Thank you very much.

Armenia, Italy deepen cooperation in justice sector: memorandum signed in Rome

Alex Nanijanian

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 15:37, 7 October, 2021

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Justice Minister of Armenia Karen Andreasyan met on October 6 with Italian Justice Minister Marta Cartabia in Rome, the Armenian ministry said in a statement.

At the meeting minister Andreasyan thanked his Italian counterpart for the opportunity to meet and stated that the government of Armenia is interested in boosting the relations with Italy.

He emphasized that the justice reforms are one of the key directions of the government’s agenda and introduced his Italian counterpart on the actions taken within the past three years, as well as presented Armenia’s anti-corruption agenda, human rights, police and other reforms.

Karen Andreasyan said that the Armenian government managed to create new and transparent institutions with the support of international, including the European partners. In this respect he thanked Italy for the introduction of a program “Strengthening anti-corruption reforms in Armenia”, by which the OSCE helps the Armenian government to create an Anti-Corruption Committee. Italy is the main donor country of the program.

The minister invited his Italian counterpart to visit to Armenia.

The meeting was followed by a signing ceremony of a memorandum of cooperation between the Justice Academies of the two countries.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan