Author: Antonian Lara

Azerbaijan’s Aliyev hopes for Baku’s positive reaction to peace treaty proposals

Antonian Lara
 TASS 
Russia – March 8 2023
Baku received comments from Erevan and in response, sent them their own, Azerbaijan’s President says

BAKU, March 8. /TASS/. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev hopes for Armenia’s positive response to Baku’s proposals for a bilateral peace treaty.

“We hope that Armenia will respond positively to our comments regarding peace treaty-related proposals,” Aliyev said in a statement for the press on Wednesday following talks with his Latvian counterpart, Egils Levits.

Aliyev recalled that some time ago Baku submitted to Yerevan a proposal for a peace treaty, which, he said was based on the norms and principles of international law.

“We have received comments from Armenia and in response, we sent them our own. The process is underway,” he said.

Ghana and Armenia hold bilateral talks

Antonian Lara
Ghana – March 3 2023

Ghana and Armenia have held bilateral meetings on the sides of the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, India.

Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah led the Ghanaian side while Mr. Hakob Arshakyan, Vice President of the National Assembly led the Armenian side.

The two countries agreed to collaborate on matters of information dissemination, digitization and countering misinformation.

Ghana’s diplomatic relations with Armenia were first established in the 1990s after the Government of Ghana gave approval for the recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations with countries in the former Soviet Union.

Since then, the two countries have co-operated at the political and international levels. Bilateral relations between Ghana and Armenia remain very cordial and have been nurtured by continuous collaboration at both multilateral and bilateral levels.

The two countries share a strong commitment to peace and security, underpinned by a common interest in a stable and secure world order.

Both countries at the meeting held on Friday, March 3, 2023, agreed on the need to expand economic co-operation.

Ghana’s delegation also included high Commissioner to India HE Kwaku Asoma- Cheremeh and officials from the high commission and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

https://www.myjoyonline.com/ghana-and-armenia-hold-bilateral-talks/

Artsakh sets up working group to discuss urgent humanitarian issues with Azerbaijan

Antonian Lara
Panorama
Armenia – March 3 2023

Artsakh’s government has set up a working group to discuss pressing humanitarian issues with Azerbaijan, the country’s Security Council Office said in a statement on Friday. The full statement can be read below.

“We inform that in accordance with the decision made at the session of the Security Council of the Republic of Artsakh on February 28, 2023, a working group has been established, the purpose of which is to discuss URGENT humanitarian issues with the Azerbaijani side.

The head of the group is Samvel Shahramanyan, Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Artsakh.

In accordance with the agreement reached through mediation of the command staff of the peacekeeping troops of the Russian Federation deployed in the Republic of Artsakh, on March 1, 2023, at 11 a.m., a meeting was held at the headquarters of the peacekeeping mission with participation of the commander of the troops, Major General Andrey Volkov, which was attended by a similar working group formed by the Republic of Azerbaijan, headed by Ramin Mammadov, member of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan.

The following issues were on the meeting agenda:

1. Ensuring uninterrupted supply of natural gas to the Republic of Artsakh and excluding further disruption of the gas supply;

2. Ensuring the possibility of inspecting the section of the only high-voltage line entering Artsakh from the Republic of Armenia, which is under the control of the Azerbaijani armed forces, in order to carry out restoration works by the specialists of Artsakh Energy CJSC and restore the electricity supply to the Republic of Artsakh;

3. Conducting an one-time visual tour by an Azerbaijani specialized group on the territories of Kashen and Drmbon mines;

4. Complete opening of the Stepanakert-Goris highway.

In the opening remarks, the commander of the peacekeeping troops presented the participants of the meeting as parties of the Republic of Artsakh and the Republic of Azerbaijan.  After that, the head of the Artsakh group clarified to the Azerbaijani side the powers of the group he leads, that is the discussion of the above-mentioned specific issues and finding solutions on them.

At the beginning of the discussions, the head of the Azerbaijani group tried to lead the conversation towards the need for integration of Artsakh people with Azerbaijan, presenting prospects of obtaining possible socio-economic benefits in that case. However, the head of the Artsakh group called for discussion on clearly defined issues. The latter also emphasized that these contacts on urgent humanitarian and infrastructural issues cannot address the main issues of comprehensive settlement of the conflict, and for this it is necessary to establish a format with broad international support.

It should be noted that the other members of the Azerbaijani group were engaged in the discussion of the above-mentioned four specific issues and the search for solutions, accordingly, the subsequent course of the meeting was fully complied with the framework defined by the agenda.

As a result of the discussion of all the above-mentioned issues, specific agreements were reached, which the Azerbaijani side undertook to report to the higher authorities, and in the coming days to inform the Artsakh side about the results through the peacekeeping mission.

During the meeting, an agreement was reached on establishment of the stable two-way communication mechanism between the parties.

At the meeting, the parties agreed to publish only general information for the time being, given that the process is still in the working stage.  However, shortly after the meeting, the head of the Azerbaijani group gave interviews on various information platforms of his country, in which he spread disinformation, completely deviating from the actual content and process, in particular announcing that the meeting discussed “issues of the reintegration of the Armenian population of the Karabakh region into Azerbaijan.” Unfortunately, some representatives of the Armenian media took this trick of Azerbaijani officials and media, thereby creating a false impression that issues related to the comprehensive settlement of the conflict are allegedly being discussed in Artsakh-Azerbaijani contacts. Meanwhile, as we mentioned, the meeting on March 1, in which the commander of the Russian peacekeeping troops participated as well, was dedicated only to the discussion of steps aimed at lifting the blockade of Artsakh and relating issues.

Another misinformation of Azerbaijan, according to which the next meeting of the official representatives of the parties “may take place in Ganja or Aghdam” and without the participation of the Russian peacekeeping troops, is without substance as well.

We urge the public not to succumb to the fabrications of the Azerbaijani propaganda machine and to be sure that the public will be given exhaustive information about the above-mentioned process and its results.”

https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2023/03/03/Artsakh-humanitarian-issues/2801992

Sumgait massacre became first large-scale manifestation of the genocidal policy of Azerbaijan against Armenian people

Antonian Lara

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 18:06,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Today marks the 35th anniversary of the Sumgait pogroms, which have become one of the most tragic and hideous pages in the recent history of the Armenian people. From February 27 to 29, 1988, in the city of Sumgait, located just 40 kilometers from Baku, with the criminal connivance and even at the direction of the Azerbaijani authorities, mass progroms against the Armenian population took place, accompanied by murders, torture and other atrocities, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Artsakh. Armed with sharp metal rods, axes, hammers and other improvised means, groups of pogromists, with the complete indifference of the city law enforcement, broke into the apartments of Armenians and retaliated against innocent people with incredible cruelty. During several days of violence, dozens of Armenians were killed, hundreds were brutally beaten and tortured, and thousands were forcibly displaced. The atmosphere of hatred towards Armenians was fueled by anti-Armenian slogans and calls for violence voiced during the rallies. The purpose of these criminal acts, organized by the Azerbaijani authorities, was to create an atmosphere of fear and thereby suppress the peaceful demands of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Sumgait massacre became the first large-scale manifestation of the discriminatory and genocidal policy pursued by Azerbaijan against the Armenian people for decades. This was followed by massacres of Armenians in other cities of Azerbaijan, in particular Baku, Kirovabad, Shamakhi, Shamkhor, Mingechaur and elsewhere, as well as three wars unleashed against Artsakh, which were accompanied by deliberate attacks on civilians, the use of prohibited and indiscriminate weapons and other war crimes.

The pogroms in Sumgait became the basis for the revival of intolerance and hatred against Armenians in Azerbaijan. Armenophobia was elevated to the rank of state policy. The inspirers and perpetrators of this heinous crime became a role model in Azerbaijan, and crimes against Armenians became the norm. Two years later, in January 1990, the Armenian pogroms in Baku were carried out under the slogan “Glory to the heroes of Sumgait!”. Unfortunately, Azerbaijan was not held accountable either for the pogroms in Sumgait or for subsequent genocidal actions, as a result of which an atmosphere of political permissiveness and impunity was formed for the authorities of this authoritarian state.

The combination of these factors – a sense of impunity and permissiveness, intolerance and hatred towards Armenians, as well as the desire to suppress the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination at any cost – led to the rooting of genocidal intentions against the people of Artsakh in the political consciousness and state policy of Azerbaijan. A clear manifestation of these criminal intentions is the blockade of Artsakh that has been going on for more than two months, and was driven by the desire of the Azerbaijani authorities to force the people of Artsakh to give up their collective rights, deprive them of their homeland and ultimately destroy them.
Even after 35 years, Azerbaijan’s policy of oppression, intimidation, gross violations of human rights, the use or threat of force, as well as deportation and ethnic cleansing against the people of Artsakh has not changed. Nevertheless, despite all the difficulties and challenges currently facing the Republic, the people of Artsakh remain firm and determined to defend their rights in their historical homeland and continue the struggle for freedom, independence, democracy and human rights.

We bow to the memory of all innocent victims of Azerbaijan’s aggressive and misanthropic policy, and once again call on the international community to take active and effective measures to break the vicious cycle of Azerbaijan’s wrongdoings, prevent new crimes against humanity and bring those responsible to justice.

Crimes by Azerbaijani authorities were "vivid examples of state-planned Armenophobia" – MFA on Sumgait pogrom

Antonian Lara

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 11:16,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia released a statement on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the massacres of Armenians in Sumgait, also known as the Sumgait pogrom.

Below is the full statement.

“35 years ago, on February 27-29, 1988, amid the encouragement and criminal inaction of the Azerbaijani authorities, the massacres of the Armenians in the city of Sumgait were carried out, resulting in the killing of hundreds of Armenians, including children, women, elderly, while thousands were forcibly displaced.

The pre-planned massacres by the Azerbaijani authorities were carried out in order to brutally suppress the civilised struggle of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to live with dignity and peacefully in their historical homeland.

This mass crime committed on the grounds of national identity received a wide response and was condemned by the international community, including relevant resolutions adopted by the European Parliament. However, the real organisers and perpetrators of the crime not only weren’t held accountable but also, encouraged by impunity and indulgence, raised a new wave of Armenophobia and intolerance, carrying out new pogroms and massacres of Armenians in Baku, Kirovabad and other Armenian-populated areas of Azerbaijan.

As a result of these bloody events, hundreds of thousands of Armenians had to leave their homes in haste, leaving behind their possessions and property, and during all these years they never got a chance to exercise their violated rights.

The subsequent events demonstrated that the mentioned crimes of the Azerbaijani authorities were not separate episodes, but vivid examples of state-planned Armenophobia, while their continuous manifestations forced the displacement of tens of thousands of Armenians from the Shahumyan region, Getashen, and as a result of the 44-day war also from Hadrut, Shushi and neighbouring regions.

35 years after the Sumgait massacres, for about 80 days, Azerbaijan has illegally blockaded the Lachin corridor. The purpose of this operation is to displace the remaining 120,000 Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh as well.

Henceforth, Azerbaijan continues its policy of depopulating Nagorno-Karabakh by subjecting the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to ethnic cleansing. In order to prevent it, targeted condemnation by the international community and the implementation of relevant international mechanisms is imperative.

Even today, ignoring the orders of the reputable international courts, Azerbaijan explicitly continues to destroy, desecrate and vandalise the Armenian historical-cultural monuments and sanctuaries, aiming to erase the Armenian trace in the territories fallen under its control. Simultaneously, the propaganda of hatred towards Armenians continues at the highest level, which aims to prevent the two nations from overcoming the environment of enmity.

Today, paying tribute to the memory of the innocent victims of the pogroms against Armenians in Sumgait and other communities, we emphasise once again that  Azerbaijan’s Armenophobic rhetoric, maximalist aspirations and aggressive actions in response to efforts of Armenia to build stability and peace in the region, are inadmissible.

At the same time, the Republic of Armenia expresses its commitment to the peace agenda, believing that the establishment of lasting and comprehensive peace and security in the region is an urgent imperative,” reads the foreign ministry’s statement.

Surmalu trade center director jailed in pre-trial detention

Antonian Lara

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 13:04, 23 February 2023

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. A court approved the investgiators’ motion on remanding the Director of the Surmalu trade center in pre-trial detention.

Surmalu director Irina Madatova was arrested on February 22 in the ongoing criminal investigation into the August 14, 2022 deadly explosion at the trade center’s warehouse.

Madatova is charged with violating fire safety rules and falsification of documents, the Investigative Committee said in a press release.

A total of 5 persons are indicted in the case.

“There is no need to duplicate formats”: about Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations

Antonian Lara
Sept 30 2022


  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Negotiation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Despite the ongoing tension after the hostilities of September 13-14, Armenian officials are not refusing negotiations with representatives of Azerbaijan. The next meeting of Foreign Ministers Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov is scheduled for October 2 in Geneva.

This information was confirmed by the press secretary of the Armenian Foreign Ministry Vahan Hunanyan: “Despite the provocations from Azerbaijan, Armenia will take part in the meeting. Thus, the statements of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry that Armenia is trying to disrupt the negotiations are groundless. Armenia, as before, is constructive, aimed at achieving a lasting peace in the South Caucasus, and expects the same of Azerbaijan.”

Earlier, on September 27, a meeting was held in the United States between Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan and Advisor to the President of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev.

Azerbaijanologist Tatevik Hayrapetyan considers this format of meetings unnecessary, since the platform for negotiations between the foreign ministers of the two countries has long been used.

Details of the Grigoryan-Hajiyev meeting, topics of the Armenian-Azerbaijani talks, and xpert opinion on the expediency of their formats.

  • “Our ally isn’t fulfilling its obligation to supply weapons” – Prime Minister of Armenia
  • “The least painful solution” or “the path of struggle”? Choice of former presidents of Armenia
  • “Azerbaijan intends to occupy other territories of Armenia” – Pashinyan from UN rostrum

Armen Grigoryan and Hikmet Hajiyev met at the White House on the initiative of US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

According to the Armenian Security Council, the parties recognized the importance of eliminating the consequences of hostilities, and discussed

  • the need for peace in the region,
  • the process of a long-term peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem.

Intense hostilities on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border began at midnight on September 13. On the evening of September 14, Armenia announced that, thanks to the intervention of international partners, an agreement had been reached on a ceasefire. The officially announced total number of dead and missing Armenian soldiers is 207 men. At least 20 soldiers were captured.

On the evening of September 28 the Armenian Defense Ministry reported that Azerbaijan had resumed hostilities, as a result of which three more soldiers were killed.

Jake Sullivan described the Grigoryan-Gadzhiev meeting as “direct and constructive.”

“We discussed the importance of preventing further violence and holding timely and focused negotiations. We have also outlined clear steps to achieve a stable and lasting peace,” he wrote on his Twitter page.

Hikmet Hajiyev also commented on the meeting on Twitter. The adviser to the President of Azerbaijan expressed gratitude to America for “discussing and promoting the agenda of lasting peace and stability in the region.”

The Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia and the Advisor to the President of Azerbaijan met three times in 2022. The talks were held in Brussels with the participation of EU Special Representative Toivo Klaar.

The Prime Minister of Armenia and the Secretary of the Security Council are visiting Washington and Paris. What is the agenda?

On September 28 Armen Grigoryan, who is in Washington, gave an interview to the Armenian service of the Voice of America. He called the meeting with Hajiyev productive.

According to Grigoryan, Armenia and Azerbaijan are discussing four interrelated issues: humanitarian problems, unblocking roads, delimitation and demarcation of the border, and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“We have tried to be clear about how we will move forward in these areas. The peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan is connected with all this,” he said.

Grigoryan recalled that there are other formats for Armenian-Azerbaijani talks: with the participation of foreign ministers, vice-premiers, as well as heads of national security services. According to him, “the meetings of the leaders of the countries are due to the progress made in these formats.”

The Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia emphasized the positive effect of US involvement in regional processes.

As an example, he cited recent hostilities on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. He said it was possible to stop the fighting thanks to the retaliatory actions of the Armenian army and American intervention.

The Office of the Human Rights Defender published an extraordinary report on the consequences of hostilities on the Armenian border. The report presents cases of torture of Armenian prisoners of war, abuse of the bodies of the dead, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and shelling of hospitals, schools and kindergartens.

Azerbaijanologist Tatevik Hayrapetyan says the Grigoryan-Hajiyev format raises questions:

“To be honest the format is incomprehensible to me, because if there is a platform for negotiations between foreign ministers, then why launch duplicate formats. What are these issues that cannot be discussed by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, but are discussed by the Secretary of the Security Council and Advisor to the President of Azerbaijan?”

She considers direct communication between the heads of security services and defense ministers more understandable. Hayrapetyan believes that the problem is that Armen Grigoryan is not meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart, but with Aliyev’s adviser.

The Azerbaijanologist considers this format not only problematic, but even dangerous, “just like Grigoryan’s statements”:

“It should not be forgotten that his response to Aliyev about the illegitimacy of Azerbaijan’s demand to use another route connecting Artsakh with Armenia instead of the Lachin corridor was used by Azerbaijan to unleash aggression in the Berdzor [Lachin] region on August 3. After that the route connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh was quickly changed. I’m not talking about that anymore. Before the attack on September 12, Grigoryan and Hajiyev met in Brussels in August.”

Tatevik Hayrapetyan also believes that the Brussels format of the Armenian-Azerbaijani talks has exhausted itself, and mediation should go to the United States and France:

“In the Brussels format there is not even a mention of Nagorno-Karabakh, there have never been any normal formulations arising from the interests of Armenia. This format has already proven its worthlessness. The mediation of the United States and France is more useful for us, including from the point of view of containing Azerbaijan.”

https://jam-news.net/there-is-no-need-to-duplicate-formats-about-armenia-azerbaijan-negotiations/





Artsakh Foreign Minister Discusses Karabakh Conflict with Rep. Schiff

Antonian Lara
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

Artsakh Foreign Minister David Babayan meets with Rep. Adam Schiff on Sept. 25


Artsakh Foreign Minister David Babayan met with Representative Adam Schiff on Sunday and discussed the Karabakh conflict settlement process.

Babayan’s meeting with Schiff took place ahead of the Armenian National Committee of America-Wester Region’s annual banquet during which they were both honored with the “Freedom” and “Advocate of Justice” awards respectively.

Babayan briefed Schiff on the current domestic and foreign policy priorities of the Artsakh, including the Karabakh conflict settlement with Azerbaijan and other regional developments.

He expressed his gratitude to Schiff for advancing Armenian concerns in Congress and his decades-long support of Artsakh. Babayan also conveyed that the people of Artsakh greatly appreciate Schiff’s, and his colleagues’, efforts to advocating for the protection of the rights of the people in Artsakh.

Joining Babayan at the meeting were Artsakh’s Deputy Culture Minister Lernik Hovhannisyan and Artsakh’s Permanent Representative in the U.S. Robert Avetisyan.

Earlier on Sunday, Babayan was hosted and honored by Western Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian at the St. Leon Armenian Cathedral in Burbank where the Artsakh foreign minister attended Sunday services.

Artsakh Foreign Minister David Babayan at St. Leon Cathedral on Sept. 25

Babayan and Derderian discussed the current developments in Artsakh and Armenia and stressed the importance of strengthening Homeland-Diaspora relations. Babayan also emphasized the important role played by the Armenian Apostolic Church in advancing our national priorities.

Asbarez will have complete coverage of both events in upcoming editions.




Fresh clashes break out on Armenia-Azerbaijan border (+Links)

Antonian Lara
euronews
Sept 13 2022
Fresh clashes break out on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Fresh clashes have broken out on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, it’s been claimed.

Armenia’s defence ministry claimed Azerbaijani forces had started “intensive bombardment” of its positions shortly after midnight towards several towns such as Goris and Sotk.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has claimed that 49 soldiers were killed.

Baku accused Armenia of “large-scale subversive acts” overnight, adding that Armenian fire had caused casualties in its ranks.

The Azerbaijan foreign ministry said its forces suffered unspecified casualties and that “definitive retaliatory measures were taken”.

Pashinyan held separate talks overnight with Russian President Vladimir Putin, his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and US diplomatic chief Antony Blinken.

Armenia and Azerbaijan, two rival ex-Soviet republics in the Caucasus, have clashed in two wars over the past three decades for control of the Nagorny Karabakh region, the last of which was in 2020.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday he had discussed “Armenian provocations” with Baku and called on Armenia to focus on peace negotiations.

In a statement, Russia said the matter should be resolved “exclusively through political and diplomatic means” and called on both sides to cease hostilities amid “extreme concern”.

The European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called for a halt to hostilities and “a return to the negotiating table”.

The French Elysée Palace also said on Tuesday that it would bring the dispute to the United Nations Security Council.

Six weeks of fighting in the autumn of 2020 left more than 6,500 people dead and resulted in a ceasefire brokered by Russia.

As part of the deal, Armenia ceded parts of the territory it had controlled for decades and Moscow deployed some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers to oversee the fragile truce.

Frequent shootings have been reported along their common border since the 2020 war. 

Last week, Armenia accused Azerbaijan of killing one of its soldiers in border clashes. In August, Baku said it had lost a soldier, and the Nagorno-Karabakh army reported that two of its soldiers had been killed and more than a dozen wounded.

Another bloody war in the early 1990s saw thousands killed on both sides and hundreds of thousands of people displaced. That war ended with a truce in 1994, although there has been sporadic violence since as the dispute remains unresolved.

https://www.euronews.com/2022/09/13/fresh-clashes-break-out-on-armenia-azerbaijan-border

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