Author: Aram Torosian

Armenian PM assures Russia’s position on NK conflict has not changed in past five years

Aram Torosian

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 15:39,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan assures that the rumors according to which something has changed in the Armenian-Russian relations, that’s why that solution took place over the Artsakh issue, are a myth.

“Myth number one according to which something was not good in the Armenian-Russian relations, therefore such solution took place. I officially state that in the past 5 years Russia’s position on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict has not changed. The second myth is that there was an opportunity for me to resign, and to change the course of war, but I didn’t use that opportunity, preferring power from the favorable course of the military operations”, the PM said during a Q&A session in the Parliament.

He stated that he has received these messages. “And I had a direct talk to the people with whom that conversation could have taken place whether it could lead to any change in the situation and whether there is such a component in that story”, he said, adding that this issue has been discussed quite openly.

As for the Armenian-Russian relations, the PM assured that these relations have been, are and will be strategic, allied, and no one doubts that.

On November 9 Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a statement on a full ceasefire and cessation of all military actions in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone since 01:00 Yerevan Time on November 10. Russian peacekeepers are being deployed to Nagorno Karabakh.

Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Terms of the Karabakh truce – corridors, boundaries and peacekeepers

Aram Torosian
JAM News
Nov 13 2020
 

  • Key points of the agreement
  • What did Armenia and Azerbaijan get as a result of the agreement?
  • What remains to be clarified?
  • Access from Karabakh to Armenia
  • Will there be Turkish peacekeepers be in Karabakh?
  • Access from Armenia to Iran – and a corridor from the Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan to mainland Azerbaijan
  • • What names and whose state symbols will be in Karabakh?
 

What are the provisions of the trilateral agreement signed on November 10, 2020 between Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia, which stopped the 45-day war between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Karabakh – and caused massive protests in Armenia.

 • Armenia and Azerbaijan stop at the positions they occupied by the moment of the signing of the agreement.

 • Russian peacekeepers – 1,960 servicemen – will be stationed along the contact line in Nagorno-Karabakh. They will remain there for five years with automatic renewal for the same period if neither side requests their withdrawal.

 • A timetable has been agreed upon, according to which Armenia should withdraw its troops to return control to Azerbaijan in the regions adjacent to Karabakh: by November 15 – Kelbajar region, by November 20 – Aghdam region, by December 1 – Lachin region.

 • Refugees are to return to the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent areas, this process will be under the control of the UN.

 • The parties must exchange prisoners of war.

 • All economic and transport links in the region are to be unblocked. Control over transportation and transit will be carried out by the border service of the FSB of Russia.

  • ‘We got the most we possibly could’ – comments from Baku politicians, observers
  • Op-ed: who will replace Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan?
  • ‘I take personal responsibility for this’ – Armenian PM on situation in Karabakh

 • Receives all areas around Nagorno-Karabakh.

 • Gains several districts of Nagorno-Karabakh itself – but does not gain control there over the capital Khankendi / Stepanakert and those districts that were under the control of the Armenian forces at the time of signing the agreement, including over the cities of Martuni and Mardakert.

 • Receives a transit land corridor along the southern border of Armenia with Iran, which will connect the Azerbaijani autonomous republic of Nakhichevan and mainland Azerbaijan.

 • The Azerbaijani army remains in the regions around Karabakh and in those regions of Karabakh itself, which it occupied before the conclusion of the agreement – including in the strategically important city of Shusha. At the same time, the Armenian side is obliged to completely leave these territories.

 • Receives a corridor for transport links between Karabakh and Armenia, 5 kilometers wide, which will be ensured by Russian peacekeepers for at least 5 years.

 • Reserves formal sovereignty over the border area in the south of the country, along which the transit corridor between Nakhichevan and Azerbaijan will pass. Russia will ensure the security of the corridor.

 • For the first time in modern history, it will receive a transit land corridor with Azerbaijan – through the territory of Armenia and through the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan.

Map of Karabakh and adjacent regions of Azerbaijan following the results of the war.  Purple  – territories that have not been transferred to Azerbaijan, and what will happen to them further is unclear [more on this below].

The main points that should be clarified by the parties at the official level, but for now have become the subject of speculation by experts and on social media:

Until now, this road was the Lachin corridor, which passes through the city of Shusha / Shushi. The agreement says that there will be no more travel to Armenia through Shusha and in the next three years a road should be built bypassing the city, which will be controlled by Russian peacekeepers. What will happen before the appearance of this road – there is no answer to this question.

The text of the agreement on the website kremlin.ru refers only to Russian peacekeepers.  

This was also confirmed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Vladimir Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov.

However, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev claims that Turkish peacekeepers will also be stationed on the territory of Karabakh.

The official website of the President of Azerbaijan published a video recording of the conversation between Aliyev and Putin, in which the President of Azerbaijan clearly speaks of ‘the joint peacekeeping mission of Russia and Turkey’ – and there are no objections from Putin.

Two corridors will run in the south of Armenia – from Armenia to Iran and from Nakhichevan to Azerbaijan. And the only checkpoint between Armenia and Iran – Agarak-Norduz – is located just a few kilometers from Nakhichevan.

Will a new road be built for the Nakhichevan corridor? The agreement says nothing about this.

If the existing road is used on this section, it will be a source of constant tension for all parties, including Iran.

Here is a map showing a transit land corridor from the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (bordering Turkey) to Azerbaijan with a white dotted line.  

The gray color on the map shows the territory of Iran, with which Armenia has close economic ties.

What will be the names of the cities in Nagorno-Karabakh: Khankendi or Stepanakert? Khojavend or Martuni? 

Which country’s flags will be on the administration buildings in Karabakh?

What currency will be used there?

Who will be the heads of cities and villages?

What citizenship will those who live there have?

These are all questions that are unlikely to be answered soon.

 • The ‘Second Karabakh War’.  From September 27 to November 10, 2020, the Azerbaijani and Armenian armies fought fierce battles in the Karabakh conflict zone using armored vehicles, artillery and drones. Several thousand people were killed among the military and civilians on both sides. An armistice was declared three times during this time – on October 10, 18 and 26, but each time it was immediately violated. The war was stopped by a trilateral agreement signed on November 10 by Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia

 • Karabakh war 1991-1994. Armed conflict between Armenians and Azerbaijanis that took place in 1991-1994 on the territory of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region of Azerbaijan and the surrounding regions.

Since the signing of the ceasefire in 1994 and until November 2020, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has existed as a de facto independent republic, not recognized by any state in the world, including Armenia. The Azerbaijani population left this territory and only ethnic Armenians lived there. Azerbaijan has always considered Karabakh and the territories around it occupied during the war as occupied and demanded their return.

Over the years, negotiations on a settlement of the conflict with international mediation have yielded no results.

The previous outbreak of full-scale hostilities – the so-called April War or Four-Day War – occurred in April 2016. As a result, dozens of people died on both sides.

https://jam-news.net/who-and-what-will-control-in-karabakh-news-maps-agreement-peacekeepers-regions-azerbaijan-armenia/

Identification of bodies continues, says Armenian military

Aram Torosian

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 15:05,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian authorities continue the process of identification of bodies of the victims of the Artsakh war, the Defense Ministry said.

Meanwhile, the search and retrieval and exchange of MIAs is underway with the involvement of the Russian peacekeepers and the Red Cross.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Russian peacekeepers enter Nagorno-Karabakh as Kremlin seeks UN presence

Aram Torosian
WION News, India
Nov 14 2020
WION Web Team Armenia Nov 14, 2020, 04.24 PM(IST)

As Russian peacekeepers entered Nagorno-Karabakh in trucks and armoured personnel carriers even as Armenia said that over 2,000 fighters were killed in clashes against Azerbaijan.

Russia has deployed over 2,000 peacekeepers after a peace deal was struck between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Armenia’s health ministry spokeswoman Alina Nikoghosyan said: “To date, our forensic service has examined the corpses of 2,317 dead servicemen, including unidentified ones.”

Also Read: Armenians flee homes as takeover by Azerbaijan looms

Meanwhile, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said his country would involve the United Nations for humanitarian purposes.

Lavrov said Russia was in contact with UN High Commissioner for Refugees office, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the UN development programme in order to prevent a humanitarian crisis.

However, the peace deal was met with large scale protests on the streets of Armenia with demonstrators crying out  “Nikol is a traitor!” as reports indicated Azerbaijan had made clear gains in territorial claims after weeks of fighting.

Russian guards have reportedly placed five posts in Nagorno-Karabakh with two on the border with Iran. Russia now has troop presence in nine former Soviet republics including Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Nagorno-Karabakh row between Azerbaijan and Armenia has been festering since the 90s after the break-up of the former Soviet Union. At least 30,000 people have been killed in the conflict which ended in an uneasy truce in 1994.

Sweden to continue supporting efforts for a lasting settlement of NK conflict

Aram Torosian

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 20:22,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Sweden, a country that will assume chairmanship of the OSCE, will continue supporting the efforts aimed at reaching a lasting and stable settlement to Nagorno Karabakh conflict, ARMENPRESS reports foreign minister of Sweden Ann Linde said.

”The Government salutes the fact that Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed for a ceasefire. Now we are trying to get more information about the agreements and how they will be implemented. It’s clear that the conflict has not ended yet and there are still many issues to be solved. For that reason it’s important that the OSCE and the international community remain committed to a lasting and stable settlement through negotiations. At the end of the year, when Sweden assumes the chairmanship of the OSCE, I will continue supporting those efforts”, she said.

Ann Linde added that the clashes in Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone were intensive that caused people many sufferings and significant damage. ”Sweden condemns attacks against civilian population and civilian infrastructures. It’s necessary to respect the international humanitarian law. The humanitarian situation is very important. Dozens of thousands of civilians were forced to abandon the conflict zone, while populate areas and civilian objects, such as schools and hospitals have been ruined”, the Foreign Minister of Sweden said.

Azerbaijani armed forces retreat in Martuni direction: WarGonzo

Aram Torosian

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 14:46, 8 November, 2020

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS. The Russian WarGonzo reports that the Azerbaijani armed forces are retreating in the direction of Artsakh’s town of Martuni.

The Telegram channel of WarGonzo informs that the Defense Army of Artsakh managed to shot down a warplane of the Azerbaijani side not far from the town of Martuni.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 11/07/2020

Aram Torosian 
                                        Saturday, November 7, 2020
Putin, Macron Discuss Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and French President Emmanuel Macron meet 
at the Fort de Bregancon, a presidential residence in Bormes-Les-Mimosas, August 
19, 2019
Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh 
with French President Emmanuel Macron as Armenia reported "fierce fighting" near 
a key city in the region.
During a November 7 phone call, Putin and Macron expressed serious concern over 
the large-scale clashes between ethnic Armenian and Azerbaijani forces in the 
region and the involvement of fighters from Syria and Libya in the conflict, the 
Kremlin said in a statement.
The presidents said they would continue coordinated mediation efforts, including 
through the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Minsk 
Group, set up in 1992 to seek a peaceful resolution.
Earlier in the day Armenian military authorities said that numerous overnight 
attacks by Azerbaijani forces outside the town of Shushi (Shusha), a key 
stronghold in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, had been thwarted. They said fierce 
battles near the town continued during the day.
Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry called the claims it was shelling 
Shushi "completely untrue."
The hilltop town of Shushi is located on a main road that links the region's 
capital of Stepanakert with the territory of Armenia, which backs ethnic 
Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.
At least 1,200 people and possibly many more have died in nearly six weeks of 
fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Attempts by Russia, France, and the United States, which co-chair the OSCE Minsk 
Group, to help reach a lasting ceasefire have so far failed.
Armenia Considers Tripling Compulsory Payments To Army Insurance Fund
        • Artak Khulian
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian visits a military hospital in Yerevan 
where soldiers wounded during fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh are treated. October 
23, 2020.
Citing an increase in the number of military casualties due to the ongoing war 
in Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia’s Ministry of Defense has proposed raising the size 
of monthly compulsory payments to the Army Insurance Fund.
Since 2017 every working Armenian has been required to pay 1,000 drams (about 
$2) per month to a special fund set up for compensations paid to the families of 
soldiers killed or seriously wounded in action.
Under the compensation schemes, in addition to one-off payouts of between 5 
million and 10 million drams ($10,000 and $20,000), the families of killed or 
maimed army officers, contract soldiers and conscripts receive monthly pensions 
ranging from 100,000 to 300,000 drams ($200-$600) for 20 years.
The ministry suggests that compulsory payments to the Army Insurance Fund be 
tripped – from 1,000 to 3,000 drams ($6) beginning in January 2021.
The amendment is yet to be submitted to parliament for approval. Before that it 
was put to public discussion in Armenia earlier this week.
Since the outbreak of ongoing hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians in 
Armenia and around the world have also been urged to increase their 
contributions to the Army Insurance Fund on a voluntary basis or make donations 
to it to help the families of soldiers killed or wounded in action.
So far, Armenian authorities have confirmed the deaths of 1,177 servicemen in 
battles against Azerbaijan. The death toll is only expected to rise as 
hostilities continue. Authorities have not provided statistics for the number of 
wounded soldiers, but it is believed there may be several thousands of them.
Artak Manukian, a member of the pro-government My Step faction in parliament, 
said on Friday that raising compulsory payments to the Army Insurance Fund is 
needed “to mitigate the [compensation] problem and fix it in the future.”
The opposition Prosperous Armenia and Bright Armenia factions have not yet 
presented their final positions on the bill, but representatives of both 
factions said they consider it unfair that all workers should be taxed evenly 
regardless of their incomes.
“It would be unfair if I, as a member of parliament with a high salary, 
contributed the same amount as those who receive a minimum or average salary,” 
Prosperous Armenia’s Naira Zohrabian said.
Bright Armenia faction leader Edmon Marukian also spoke in favor of gradating 
the payments for workers with different incomes.
But director of the Army Insurance Fund Varuzhan Avetikian explained that the 
proposal of opposition lawmakers cannot be implemented in a situation where many 
citizens do not fully declare their real incomes.
Avetikian said that the fund has already started paying compensations to the 
families of those killed or wounded in the current fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2020 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

CivilNet: UN Security Council Called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to Respect a New Ceasefire in Karabakh

Aram Torosian
CIVILNET.AM

03:12

United Nations Security Council members called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to respect a new ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh during a meeting on the disputed region on October 19, AFP reports. 

During the closed-door meeting, which was requested by France, Russia and the United States, the council’s 15 members reiterated a plea by UN chief Antonio Guterres for parties to honor a new ceasefire.

“Everyone was saying the same thing: the situation is bad and both sides need to pull back and heed the Secretary-General’s calls for a ceasefire,” a UN diplomat told AFP.

The full text is expected to be agreed between council members this week. It will also call on both sides to resume negotiations within the framework of the Minsk Group.

The Minsk Group, co-chaired by Russia, France, and the US, was created by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 1992 to spearhead efforts for a peaceful solution in the Karabakh conflict.

The renewed fighting between the sides began on September 27, following an Azerbaijani offensive, backed by artillery fire and precision drone strikes. The New York Times reports that while Armenia’s limited air defenses have failed to stop the drones, but its troops, bolstered by volunteers and conscripts, have slowed the Azerbaijani advance. The use of Syrian mercenaries, deployed by Turkey to Azerbaijan, has added a new layer of security issues in the region. 

The first UNSC closed-door meeting on the renewed fighting took place on Sept. 30.

Asbarez: CBS Fires 2 Employees Who Told Armenians ‘I Hope You Die’

Aram Torosian

October 14,  2020



Armenians gathered in front of CBS Studios in Los Angeles to protest its unfair coverage of Sunday’s March for Victory for Artsakh

President and CEO CBS Entertainment Group, George Cheeks, said that after a review, the company has fired two employees who confronted Armenian protesters in front of its studios Monday, one reportedly telling them, “I hope you die and I hope your country gets blown away.”

In a letter addressed to Armenia’s Consul General to Los Angeles Ambassador Armen Baibourtian, Cheeks said “two of these individuals have been identified as CBS employees.”

CBS addressed a letter to Armenia’s Consul General in Los Angeles Ambassador Armenian Baibourtian

“Please be assured: this conduct does not align with the values of our company, and we condemn their language in the strongest terms. These incidents were investigated immediately, and as of last night, both of these individuals are no longer employed by CBS,” Cheeks told Baibourtian in the letter. “All of us here want you to know that we respect your right for peaceful protest, and we apologize to you and the Armenian community for this experience outside our facility.”

A group of Armenians staged a demonstration in front of the CBS Studios in Los Angeles to protest the network’s local coverage of the 150,000-person March for Victory for Artsakh on Sunday. In covering the Sunday’s event, the local CBS affiliate stations interviewed Nasimi Aghayev, Azerbaijan’s Consul General, who accused Armenia of being the aggressor and claimed Armenia attacked Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani forces, with the equivocal and military support of Turkey, launched an aggressive attack across Artsakh beginning on September 27. Despite a ceasefire that went into effect on Saturday, Azerbaijan continues its relentless attacks on civilian and military targets in Artsakh.

During the Monday demonstration to protest the CBS coverage, two individuals who were believed to be employees directed insults at the Armenians gathered there. Baibourtian also was on the scene and spoke to CBS security officials.

The local news site Patch LA reported that one of the employees, who was not able to enter the parking lot told hurled insults at the protesters allegedly saying: “I hope you die and I hope your country gets blown away.”

Another employee, according to Patch LA, allegedly told the demonstrators, “Good thing you’re not ‘BLM,’ cause I probably would run your ass over,” referring to the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests.

According to Deadline, production “slowed” on the CBS lot as a result of the all-day protest on Monday.