Author: Antranik Varosian

Strong international coalition can prevent full Azeri invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh and impose respect for ceasefire -MEP

Antranik Varosian

 14:21,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS. Member of the European Parliament François Alfonsi (France), the Co-chair of the European Parliament-Artsakh Friendship Group, is not fully satisfied with the EU’s policy regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. However, the MEP believes that as a result of consistent work and pressure by the European Parliament, the EU is trying to be more active and involved in the process.

In an interview with ARMENPRESS Brussels correspondent Lilit Gasparyan, Alfonsi said that first of all Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin must adhere to the 9 November 2020 agreement.

He said that the logic of the Cold War-era corridor between the German Democratic Republic (GDR, East Germany) and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG, West Germany) could be an example for a possible solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“The EU is more or less dealing with the issue,” Alfonsi said when asked to assess the EU’s policy in responding to the Nagorno-Karabakh humanitarian disaster resulting from the blockade.

“And I think this is a result of the European Parliament’s consistent work and pressure. The monitoring mission that Mr. Borrell sent to Armenia is nevertheless a positive step. Besides, the President of the European Council is bringing together the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to try and find a way out. I think Europe is involved to some extent, and this is more in the interest of the Armenian people for Europe to be involved, because Europe, in addition to international diplomatic influence, also has means of economic pressure, which are real.  The EU could utilize these means if it wanted to. It’s a difficult situation, and if Europe were to leave any initiative the situation would become more difficult. This is my first response. Secondly, there is an international agreement that must be respected. This is a precondition, the ceasefire agreement, which explicitly envisages free movement along Lachin Corridor under guarantees of Russian peacekeepers. It’s only them on the ground and they know what they should do, therefore I think this should be the starting point of discussions. By closing the Lachin Corridor Mr. Aliyev is using his position of force. He has made proposals on new possible entrances and roads, which would run through Azeri territory, under its complete control. But this cannot happen, because there is no trust, particularly by the Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh. Europe must show that by uniting main actors, it has the influence to impose complete respect for the 2020 ceasefire agreement, because everything must happen around it [agreement].”

“The only thing recognized by everyone, by Russians, Americans, Europeans, and the Azerbaijanis and Armenians, is the ceasefire agreement that has been signed, including by Mr. Aliyev. Therefore, the first thing that needs to be asked from the international actors is to tell Mr. Aliyev to respect his own signature,” the MEP added.

François Alfonsi added that there is a strong majority in the European Parliament that will continue supporting the Armenian people.

He noted that the EU monitoring mission sent to the Armenian border has suppressed to some extent further attacks by Azerbaijan.

MEP Alfonsi warned that Aliyev’s ultimate goal is the complete invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh and stressed that only a coalition of major powers can prevent this.

Asked on his view about a possible peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Member of the European Parliament said that the main principle of such an agreement should be the respect of every citizen’s right.

“The main principle is for every citizen to be able to say ‘my rights are respected.’ There can be peace only when people will consider their rights to be respected. How can the Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh say that their rights or territory are respected in these conditions? They can’t. Europe knows this well,” Alfonsi said.

“…it is necessary to have guarantees regarding the territorial integrity, the rights of the Armenian population and the inviolability of the Lachin Corridor, just like between West Germany and East Germany during the Cold War,” he added.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs briefed on Nagorno- Karabakh humanitarian crisis

Antranik Varosian

 14:47,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS. On August 18, in New York, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met with United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, the foreign ministry said in a press release. 

Ararat Mirzoyan particularly presented the extremely difficult humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, stressing that the responsible actors of the international system should not allow it to turn into a real humanitarian catastrophe. The Minister emphasised the special role and prevention function of the UN Security Council as a structure with a mandate to maintain peace and security.

Touching upon the unfolded difficult conditions for the vulnerable groups of 120,000 people in Nagorno-Karabakh, Minister Mirzoyan stressed the urgency of implementing the Orders of the International Court of Justice of February 22 and July 6 and lifting Azerbaijan’s illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor.

In the context of establishing lasting stability in the region, Minister Mirzoyan emphasised the need for Azerbaijan to refrain from actions and provocations aimed at neutralising international efforts in that direction and the possibility of achieving peace.

Forthcoming U.N. Security Council meeting to be ‘test for efficiency of international actors,’ says Nagorno-Karabakh

Antranik Varosian

 20:02, 15 August 2023

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. The Nagorno-Karabakh foreign ministry has said that the August 16 U.N. Security Council emergency meeting will be a “test for efficiency of international actors.”

The U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting Wednesday in response to a call from Armenia. Permanent Representative of Armenia to the U.N., Mher Margaryan, in an August 11 letter addressed to the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the current President of the U.N. Security Council, said that the people of Nagorno-Karabakh are on the verge of a full-fledged humanitarian catastrophe as a result of the Azerbaijani blockade and called for an emergency meeting. The U.S. Mission to the U.N. said that the emergency open meeting will take place Wednesday afternoon.

“On Aug 16, UNSC will convene an emergency meeting to discuss deteriorating humanitarian situation caused by Artsakh Blockade imposed on the civilian population of Republic of Artsakh by Azerbaijani authorities. This meeting is a test for efficiency of international actors,” the Nagorno-Karabakh Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Facebook.

Nagorno-Karabakh ruling party nominates ARF lawmaker Davit Ishkhanyan for Speaker

Antranik Varosian

 10:29, 7 August 2023

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 7, ARMENPRESS. The Nagorno-Karabakh Parliament convened an extraordinary session Monday morning to elect a new Speaker following Artur Tovmasyan’s resignation.

The ruling Free Motherland (AHK) party has nominated Davit Ishkhanyan, a Member of Parliament representing the opposition ARF, for the position.

President Arayik Harutyunyan and former Speaker Arthur Tovmasyan are also participating in the session.

Van Novikov




Ongoing blockade puts thousands at risk in Nagorno-Karabakh

Antranik Varosian
Aug 7 2023

Download the article at www.frankcandor.com

Ethnic Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh, including 30,000 children, are completely shut off from food, medicine, electricity, and fuel by Azerbaijan.

NEW YORK, NY, USA, August 4, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ – Atrocity Alert #358 issued by the Global Center for the Responsibility to Protect highlights the dire situation where populations are at risk of or are enduring, mass atrocity crimes. This alert addresses the impending genocidal atrocity that is occurring in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Today for more than seven months Azerbaijani authorities have blockaded the Lachin corridor, the sole road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia, precipitating a humanitarian crisis. The blockade has deprived over 120,000 ethnic Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh, including 30,000 children, of life-saving resources such as food, medicine, electricity, and fuel. On 28 July Armenian authorities accused Azerbaijan of denying transport of over 400 tons of humanitarian aid into Nagorno-Karabakh. In a statement issued on 25 July, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that despite persistent efforts, “the last time the ICRC was allowed to bring medical items and essential food items into the area was several weeks ago.”

Deprivation of resources indispensable to survival imposes excessive burdens upon civilians that may eventually result in immense suffering and loss of life. Under International Humanitarian Law, all sides must allow and facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need, including medical supplies and essential food. The intentional and unlawful denial of humanitarian assistance may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but contains a majority ethnic Armenian population that has been led by de-facto authorities since December 1991. There is a long history of armed clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan for control of Nagorno-Karabakh. Despite a 1994 ceasefire agreement, sporadic clashes have continued along the border of Nagorno-Karabakh over the past 25 years, including intense fighting in September-November 2020 that concluded after a peace deal brokered by Russia. The blockade began on 12 December 2022, after Azerbaijani environmental activists, allegedly supported by the country’s authorities, blocked the Lachin corridor in protest of the alleged exploitation of minerals. Azerbaijani authorities formalized the blockade by establishing a border point at the entrance to the corridor in late April 2023. Ongoing attempts to de-escalate tensions – which have risen amidst the blockade – and broker a new peace treaty have been unsuccessful thus far.

On 25 February the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Azerbaijan to ensure free movement of all persons, vehicles, and cargo along the Lachin corridor in both directions. Meanwhile, in July the President of Nagorno-Karabakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, requested Luis Moreno Ocampo, former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, for an expert opinion on the blockade. While the opinion has no legal implications, it may help determine if the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh merits further investigation.

Azerbaijani authorities must immediately lift the blockade of the Lachin corridor and allow for unhindered and safe passage of civilians and goods along the corridor, as well as guarantee unimpeded humanitarian access in line with international law and the order by the ICJ. States must engage in further dialogue with all parties, as well as support calls from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to establish an independent fact-finding mission to assess the humanitarian situation.

The Responsibility to Protect – known as R2P – is an international norm that seeks to ensure that the international community never again fails to halt the mass atrocity crimes of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity. The concept emerged in response to the failure of the international community to adequately respond to mass atrocities committed in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia during the 1990s. The International Committee on Intervention and State Sovereignty developed the concept of R2P in 2001.

The Responsibility to Protect was unanimously adopted in 2005 at the UN World Summit, the largest gathering of Heads of State and Government in history. It is articulated in paragraphs 138 and 139 of the World Summit Outcome Document:

Craig Nelson
FrankCandor News
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Disney Axes Atatürk Series After Armenian Lobbying

Antranik Varosian
The European Conservative
Aug 3 2023
Turkish authorities launched an investigation into Disney after the network pulled a dramatisation of the life of Kemal Atatürk following lobbying by the Armenian diaspora.
  • Thomas O'Reilly
  • — August 3, 2023

American media conglomerate Disney has come under heavy diplomatic fire from Turkey after the company decided against airing a TV series dramatising the life of Turkey’s founding father Mustafa Kemal Atatürk following lobbying from Armenian activist groups.

Disney had intended to show a recently released six-part series simply named “Atatürk” on October 29th in honour of the centenary of the foundation of the Turkish Republic. 

A monumental figure in Turkey’s national mythology, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk served as his nation’s first President from 1923 to 1939 and is revered for establishing a secular Turkish Republic out of the ashes of the Ottoman Empire. 

While commended in the West for his commitment to secular values in the majority Muslim nation, Atatürk is a despised figure in Greek and Armenian history in particular for his role in the Armenian genocide, a historic fact disputed by the Turkish government to this day.

Disney’s decision has been publicly slammed by Ankara’s ruling Justice and Development Party which blasted the cancellation of the series as perpetuating the “politics of lies” at the behest of the Armenian lobby.

Disney executives had been pressured into cancelling the series after public lobbying from the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) which campaigns for greater recognition of the Armenian genocide. A spokesperson for Disney said the show will be syndicated on its sister company FOX and denied caving to political pressure.

The Armenian diaspora forms a powerful ethnic bloc in American politics with the recognition of the Armenian genocide, estimated to have killed over a million people between 1915 and 1923, a major foreign policy sticking point in Turkey’s international relations.

Officially, Turkey downplays the mass killing of Armenians which it says has been heavily exaggerated and driven by natural causes rather than specific Turkish policy. Both the United States and the EU recognise the Armenian genocide despite diplomatic protestations from Ankara.

The refusal of Disney to broadcast the series comes as Turkey and its ally Azerbaijan are accused of human rights abuses in the disputed Lachin region which it has blockaded in an effort to drive out ethnic Armenians following a border war with Armenia. 

While ostensibly a Western ally and NATO member, Turkey is judged by many pundits to be moving away from Europe and embracing a form of Islamic populism under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and has earned much criticism for its support of Sunni radicalism in the Middle East and ongoing attempts to fan the flames over Quran burning incidents in Scandinavia.

Thomas O’Reilly is an Irish journalist working for The European Conservative in Brussels. He has an educational background in chemical sciences and journalism.

Foreign Diplomats Visit Kornidzor Where Aid Convoy Remains Blockaded

Antranik Varosian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 July 28, 2023

 

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


Accredited diplomats representing 19 foreign countries on Friday visited Kornidzor in Armenia’s Syunik Province where a humanitarian convoy carrying emergency food and medical aid to Artsakh remains blocked by Azerbaijan at the entrance of the Lachin Corridor.

The foreign representatives were able to see first hand how the delivery of 400 tons of humanitarian assistance from Armenia is being barred from entry into Azerbaijan.

It was announced that the trucks, which arrived there on Wednesday, would remain at the mouth of the Lachin Corridor by the Hakari Bridge, where Azerbaijan has set up an illegal checkpoint.

The foreign diplomats and members of international organizations represented the United States, Belarus, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, Iran, Iraq, Poland, Lithuania, India, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine, France, United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

While in Syunik the foreign representatives met with citizens of Artsakh who have been stranded in Armenia since the Azerbaijani blockade began in December, 2022.

Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan and the Syunik Governor Robert Ghukasyan accompanied the foreign representatives as they toured the area and later held a closed-door meeting with the Artsakh citizens.

“As you can see the trucks carrying humanitarian cargo have been stranded here for a while now,” Ghukasyan told the foreign representatives “The vehicles have stopped here and it is impossible to transport the humanitarian cargo to the other side of the border,” Ghukasyan said, pointing to the convoy of trucks that cleared the Armenian checkpoint at Kornidzor on Wednesday.

The governor pointed out that the Azerbaijani authorities are attempting to advance the notion of “reintegration” when people, including children in Nagorno-Karabakh are starving.

“Do they intend to reach that integration by way of starvation to death? This is unacceptable for us all. This humanitarian cargo must reach the people who are impatiently waiting for it, who are hungry. Otherwise we would all silently witness the situation get worse with every second,” Ghukasyan told the diplomats.

“I probably cannot imagine the difficult situation you are in. I wish I had some good news to share with you. But unfortunately, we know what you know. At this moment, I want to ask: if you have any clear message, a message that you want us to take to our embassies, to the capitals of our country, send them,” Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy to Armenia John Allelo said after meeting with Artsakh citizens.

The only message from the people of Artsakh was “open the road of life.”

RFE/RL Armenian Service – 07/25/2023

Antranik Varosian 
                                        Tuesday, 


Russian FM Hosts Fresh Armenian-Azeri Talks


Russia - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meets his Armenian and 
Azerbaijani counterparts in Moscow, .


Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov signaled lingering major obstacles to an 
Armenian-Azerbaijani peace deal late on Tuesday after hosting fresh talks 
between his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts in Moscow.

Lavrov described the trilateral talks as “useful” but reported no concrete 
agreements reached by the three ministers.

He said he stressed the need to end a grave humanitarian crisis in 
Nagorno-Karabakh resulting from Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin corridor 
supposedly controlled by Russian peacekeepers. But he gave no indications that 
Baku agreed to unblock Armenia’s vital supplies of food, medicine, energy and 
other essential items to Karabakh.

In his opening remarks at the talks, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan 
said the “illegal” blockade is “complicating the negotiation process.” Speaking 
at a separate meeting with Lavrov held earlier in the day, Mirzoyan expressed 
hope that “some solutions” to the crisis will be found during their discussion 
with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.

A peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan was also high on the agenda of the 
trilateral meeting.

“The path is not easy,” Lavrov said, commenting on prospects for its signing. 
“There are quite a few complex and important issues to be resolved.

“The most sensitive of them was and remains the problem of guaranteeing the 
rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh in the context of 
ensuring the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in full accordance with the 
1991 Declaration signed by the leaders of the former Soviet republics in Almaty. 
Its validity is confirmed today by both the Azerbaijani and Armenian leadership.”

Russia - Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks after hosting talks between his 
Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts, Moscow, .

The Armenian government, Lavrov went on, “understands the need to convince the 
Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to meet as soon as possible with Azerbaijani 
representatives” and ascertain their “rights” in accordance with international 
conventions designed to protect ethnic minorities.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has pledged to recognize Azerbaijani 
sovereignty over Karabakh during talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev 
mediated by the European Union. In a clear jibe at Yerevan, the Russian Foreign 
Ministry said earlier this month that Pashinian’s move “radically” changed 
negotiation process.

Lavrov indicated that Armenia and Azerbaijan are much closer to working out 
modalities of planned transport links between the two South Caucasus nations. 
But he did not say when such an agreement could be finalized by a 
Russian-Armenian-Azerbaijani task force dealing with the matter.

Mirzoyan and Bayramov held two rounds of intensive U.S.-mediated negotiations 
outside Washington in May and June. Meanwhile, the EU’s top official, Charles 
Michel, hosted a series of fresh meetings between Aliyev and Pashinian in 
Brussels. Russia claims that the main aim of the Western powers if to drive it 
out of the South Caucasus.

Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow “understands” the conflicting sides’ 
“interest” in not only Russian but also Western mediation efforts.

“But there should be no attempts to artificially impose certain agreements not 
in the interests of the Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples but for the sake of 
nice headlines in the media and geopolitical and domestic political 
considerations,” he said.




Karabakh Leaders Blast Pashinian’s Stance


Armenia - People demonstrate in Yerevan in a show of solidarity with 
Nagorno-Karabakh, .


Nagorno-Karabakh’s leadership demanded late on Tuesday that Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian walk back on his plans to recognize Azerbaijani sovereignty over 
Karabakh through an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty.

It also said that the Karabakh Armenians will not give up their right to 
self-determination despite Azerbaijan’s seven-month blockade of the Lachin 
corridor and the resulting crippling shortages of food, medicine, fuel and other 
essential items in the Armenian-populated region.

“Artsakh and the people of Artsakh cannot be part of Azerbaijan,” the Karabakh 
premier, Gurgen Nersisian, told thousands of people who again rallied in 
Stepanakert’s central square in protest against the blockade.

“Any oral or written statements by Armenia recognizing Artsakh and the people of 
Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan are unacceptable,” Nersisian said. “As the ongoing 
events show, they are destructive for Artsakh and encourage new criminal acts 
committed by Azerbaijan against the people of Artsakh. Azerbaijan is openly 
demonstrating what awaits Armenians under Azerbaijani rule.”

“We are demanding that the Republic of Armenia abandon its intention to 
recognize Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan and such an approach to normalizing 
relations,” he went on. “This approach cannot ensure peace in the region and a 
safe and dignified existence of the people of Artsakh. What is more, it cannot 
even guarantee Armenia’s existence because the target of the Turkish-Azerbaijani 
duo is not Artsakh but the Armenian people and statehood.”

Nersisian clearly responded to Pashinian’s statements made at a news conference 
in Yerevan earlier in the day. The Armenian premier defended his policy on the 
conflict with Azerbaijan and said that “Armenia cannot decide the fate of the 
people of Nagorno-Karabakh.” He chided the authorities in Stepanakert for their 
reluctance to embark on a dialogue with Baku on the “rights and security” of the 
Karabakh Armenians.

Nersisian claimed that most citizens of Armenia do not support Pashinian’s 
stance and are “ready to declare that if need be.” The restoration of 
Azerbaijani control over Karabakh would lead to a “subjugation” and 
“extermination” of its population, he said.

Pashinian already drew condemnation from Stepanakert as well as the Armenian 
opposition when he stated in May that he recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial 
integrity.




Red Cross Seeks Permission To Resume Aid To Karabakh


Nagorno-Karabakh - Empty shelves at a food store in Stepanakert.


The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Tuesday that it must 
be allowed to resume relief supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh which has been 
struggling with severe shortages of essential items due to Azerbaijan’s blockade 
of the Lachin corridor.

“The civilian population [of Karabakh] is now facing a lack of life-saving 
medication and essentials like hygiene products and baby formula,” the ICRC said 
in a statement. “Fruits, vegetables, and bread are increasingly scarce and 
costly, while some other food items such as dairy products, sunflower oil, 
cereal, fish, and chicken are not available. The last time the ICRC was allowed 
[by Azerbaijan] to bring medical items and essential food items into the area 
was several weeks ago.”

“Our humanitarian aid convoys are a lifeline for the population in this area. 
With these convoys blocked, our concern is that the humanitarian situation will 
further deteriorate,” the statement quoted the ICRC’s regional director for 
Eurasia, Ariane Bauer, as saying.

“This is life-saving work, and it must be allowed to continue,” Bauer added, 
urging the conflicting sides to reach a “humanitarian consensus” for that 
purpose.

The Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers stationed in Karabakh began sending 
limited amounts of humanitarian aid to Karabakh after Azerbaijan blocked 
commercial traffic through the Lachin corridor last December. Baku halted those 
relief supplies as well on June 15, aggravating the humanitarian crisis in the 
region. The ICRC has since been intermittently allowed to only evacuate 
critically ill Karabakh patients to Armenian hospitals.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said it “took note” of the ICRC statement while 
warning the Geneva-based organization against “abusing” its mandate. It also 
said the Armenian side has rejected its offer to supply Karabakh with basic 
necessities from Azerbaijan proper and the town of Aghdam in particular.

Karabakh’s leadership has described the offer as a cynical ploy designed to 
facilitate the restoration of Azerbaijani control over the Armenian-populated 
territory.

The ICRC noted in this regard that it is “not currently able to bring 
humanitarian assistance to the civilian population through the Lachin corridor 
or through any other routes, including Aghdam.”

Its statement came amid worsening food and fuel shortages that have brought 
economic life in Karabakh to a standstill. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat 
Mirzoyan said last week that the region is “on the verge of starvation” and 
called for stronger international pressure on Baku.




Armenia Can’t Protect Karabakh, Says Pashinian


Armenia - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian speaks during a news conference in 
Yerevan, .


Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Tuesday defended his recognition of 
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and said that Armenia is not in a position to 
“decide the fate” of Nagorno-Karabakh’s ethnic Armenian population.

“Our position is that Armenia cannot decide the fate of the people of 
Nagorno-Karabakh and it follows the logic that Nagorno-Karabakh’s 
representatives themselves must be a party to negotiations, dialogue [with 
Azerbaijan,]” Pashinian told a news conference.

“This is the agenda that we are furthering, bearing in mind that the rights and 
security of Nagorno-Karabakh should be discussed with the participation of 
Nagorno-Karabakh’s representatives in the format of a Baku-Stepanakert dialogue 
and within the framework of an international mechanism. And I think that the 
people, the representatives, the government of Nagorno-Karabakh will have an 
opportunity to address all issues preoccupying them within the framework of this 
formula.”

Pashinian sparked domestic uproar in May when he pledged to recognize 
Azerbaijani sovereignty over Karabakh through an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace 
treaty. Members of his political team have linked the signing of such a treaty 
to an internationally mediated dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert on “the 
rights and security” of the Karabakh Armenians.

Karabakh’s leadership and the Armenian opposition have denounced Pashinian’s 
stance. They say the restoration of Azerbaijani rule would only force the 
Karabakh Armenians to flee the territory.

Arayik Harutiunian, the Karabakh president, insisted late on Monday Armenia’s 
leaders refrain from making statements recognizing the region as part of 
Azerbaijan. Pointing to the Azerbaijani blockade of the Lachin corridor and the 
deepening humanitarian crisis in Karabakh, Harutiunian said Baku is keen to “get 
rid of the people of Artsakh” through the blockade and “ethnic cleansing.”

“Saying that the Armenian government must be banned from recognizing 
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity effectively means banning Azerbaijan from 
recognizing Armenia’s territorial integrity or … contributing to the Azerbaijani 
policy of not recognizing Armenia’s territorial integrity,” Pashinian countered 
during his press conference.

“I am the prime minister of 29,800 square kilometers,” he said, referring to 
Armenia’s total area.

Speaking after Pashinian’s last meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev 
hosted by him on July 15, European Council President Charles Michel said the two 
leaders reaffirmed their earlier “understanding that Armenia’s territory covers 
29,800 square kilometers and Azerbaijan’s 86,600 square kilometers.”

Azerbaijan’s total Soviet-era area cited by Michel includes Karabakh. Aliyev has 
not publicly confirmed recognizing Armenia’s existing borders.


Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2023 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

China supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia

Antranik Varosian

 19:29,

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS. On July 21, regular political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and the People's Republic of China were held in Beijing. The Armenian delegation was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan, and the PRC delegation was led by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu, ARMENPRESS was informed from MFA Armenia.

During the consultations, the parties discussed a wide range of issues on bilateral regional and international agenda, including cooperation within the framework of international organizations. Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan presented Azerbaijan's policy of using force against Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia which undermines the efforts of the Armenian side aimed at maintaining peace and stability in the South Caucasus. The Deputy Minister presented the details of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan and the threat of ethnic cleansing of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu emphasized that China supports the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia, underscoring that the settlement of conflicts through peaceful negotiations is the key to maintaining peace and security in the region. The Armenian side reiterated its support to the One China principle.

Both sides commended the dynamics of bilateral cooperation in the trade, economic, cultural and educational spheres and discussed issues regarding the development and deepening of cooperation in the spheres of connectivity, investments, tourism and air communication.

On the same day, the delegation led by Mnatsakan Safaryan had a meeting with Mr Li Yongquan, the Director of the Institute of Eurasian Social Development, Development Research Center of the State Council, the leading "think tank" of the PRC government, and the institute's experts. Issues on international and regional politics were discussed.

AJR Trucking Honored With Two Awards at Nation’s Biggest Postal Conference

Antranik Varosian 

PRESS RELEASE
AJR Trucking Inc
435 E Weber Ave,
Compton, CA 90222
Contact: Siranush Zakaryan
Tel: 213-952-5800
Fax: 562-989-9525
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: https://www.ajrtrucking.com


Compton- May 2023: AJR Trucking, one of the leading carriers of the United States Postal Service, was honored to be among the award winners at the National Postal Forum (NPF) conference this year. The company was awarded in the ‘Transportation Partner of the Year’ and ‘Supplier Excellence’ categories.
The NPF conference is an annual event hosted every spring by a group of major postal customers/mailers in tandem with the United States Postal Service (USPS). It is attended by over 4,000 industry professionals from across the U.S., representing several small and large corporations.
This year, it was held between May 21-24 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Postmaster General and the USPS executive leadership team select the winners of the ten categories presented at this event.
The companies in contention lead the way in innovation and adhere to best practices in the mail industry. All participating organizations work in tandem with the USPS to enhance the value of mail and package delivery.
The first award presented to AJR Trucking was Transportation Partner of the Year 2022. The award is handed out in recognition of postal service vendors who demonstrate outstanding performance in transportation and delivery.
AJR Trucking was honored to be appreciated for its efficient systems, active steps towards minimizing emissions, and commitment to embracing an electric vehicle future.
The jury found AJR Trucking’s missions aligned with the postal service’s ‘Delivering For America’ plan.
The second award to go to AJR Trucking was in the ‘Supplier Excellence’ category. This award is presented to companies that excel in various quality and performance measurements. 
“AJR Trucking remains committed to providing services that meet the highest standards of quality, delivery, punctuality, and administrative excellence. These awards are a reminder that the quality of service we aim for needs constant effort and commitment. We thank the NPF for honoring us with this recognition,” commented Jack Khudikyan, CEO of AJR Trucking. 

AJR Trucking is a freight transportation provider headquartered in Compton, California.
Apart from being a major drayage carrier, for the last 30 years, AJR Trucking has provided mail-hauling services for the USPS and is proud to be one of the postal service’s most reliable partners.
AJR Trucking was founded in 1984 by the Khudikyan family, back when it was known as A&J Trucking. It entered into a partnership with the postal service in the 1990s.
After graduating from business school in 2007, Jack Khudikyan took over the family business and currently serves as the CEO of AJR Trucking.
What started with eight trucks and $940,000 in revenue 15 years ago has now transformed into a fleet of over 500 trucks thanks to his dedication. 
Along with his father, Chris Khudikyan, Jack is committed to creating a greener future in the trucking industry and has built the company’s culture around innovation and sustainability.
AJR Trucking operates over 115 compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks, which resulted in eliminating over 130 thousand metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, taking over 28 thousand cars off the road, and equating to planting 2,170,000 trees.
In 2022, AJR Trucking placed the largest order for battery-electric vehicles. Earlier this year, it placed a purchase order for 50 Nikola hydrogen trucks to add to its fleet. The shipment is expected to be delivered between the third and fourth quarter of 2023. 
AJR is committed to delivering exceptional results with safe operating practices, timely maintenance of trucks, introducing new and updated equipment and building a network of professional vendors.
These awards only serve as an encouragement for AJR Trucking to continue to work towards its goals. 

Regards, 
Siranush
 

www.YourTeam.marketing
T. 747.272.0707


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