Author: Aram Torosian

Turkey says the Armenian-Azeri ceasefire “cannot replace a lasting solution”

Aram Torosian
Greek City Times
Oct 10 2020
by PAUL ANTONOPOULOS

Turkey on Saturday hailed the Azerbaijan-Armenia humanitarian truce as an “important first step”, but was quick to add that such measures “but cannot replace a lasting solution.”

In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry also reaffirmed that “Turkey will continue to stand by brotherly Azerbaijan on the ground and at the table”

“The ceasefire which was declared on humanitarian grounds for the exchange of prisoners of war and bodies, is an important first step, but cannot replace a lasting solution,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“Since the beginning, Turkey has always underlined that it would only support those solutions which were acceptable to Azerbaijan. With this understanding, Turkey will continue to stand by brotherly Azerbaijan on the ground and at the table,” the statement continued.

The Turkish Foreign Minister claimed that “during the armed conflicts that started on 27 September 2020, Azerbaijan has shown Armenia and the whole world that it has the ability and the self confidence to reclaim its territories under occupation for nearly 30 years.”

“In this process, calls for ceasefire were made from all over the world with humanitarian considerations. Consequently Azerbaijan gave Armenia a last opportunity to withdraw from the territories it has occupied,” the statement added.

It is noted that the Turkish Foreign Minister and its Azerbaijani counterpart discussed by telephone a tripartite meeting between Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on Saturday, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov discussed the tripartite meeting between the foreign ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia in Moscow on Friday, citing sources, who asked not to be named. Çavuşoğlu voiced Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan’s decisions at the tripartite meeting.

Russian President Vladimir Putin summoned the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia to Moscow on Friday for consultations mediated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and the parties decided to suspend the ceasefire on humanitarian grounds.

However, just minutes after the ceasefire was meant to begin, Azerbaijan broke it by attacking various positions, particularly against the town of Hadrut that it falsely claimed it had captured yesterday but was exposed to be a lie.


AGBU Press Office: AGBU Raises $5 Million for Haystan All Armenian Fund and Matches It With $5 Million Weeks Before Deadline

Aram Torosian 
AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Website: 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
  
Friday, October 9, 2020
  
AGBU Raises $5 Million for Haystan All Armenian Fund and Matches It With $5 
Million Weeks Before Deadline
The #Aid4Artsakh matching gift campaign for humanitarian relief in Artsakh and 
Armenia was intended to generate $5 million in donor support over the course of 
six weeks with a commitment from AGBU to match it dollar for dollar up to that 
amount. Yet the swift and overwhelming response from all corners of the Armenian 
World met that goal in just 4 days, thereby completing the matching phase of the 
fundraising effort as of midnight October 9, 2020.  
 
The donations received by this time totaled $5,400,000, which added to AGBU's 
$5,000,000 match brings the total to the $10,400,000 million to be transferred 
to All-Armenian Fund. While any new gifts received will not qualify for a match, 
the donations will also be transferred to the Fund. 
 
The proceeds from this drive will help support the life-sustaining humanitarian 
assistance for civilians and life-saving emergency medical equipment.  
 
"This instantaneous and organic outpouring of support sends a powerful and 
heartfelt message to all those in harm's way or with family members defending 
the nation on the frontlines," stated AGBU President Berge Setrakian. "It says 
'You are not alone. We rise together as one Armenian Nation.'"
 
In response to the news, All Armenian Fund Executive Director said, "We can't 
thank AGBU enough for initiating the $5 million matching gift opportunity 
through its own assets and for deploying every tool in its global communications 
arsenal to reach old and new donors far and wide in a time-warp speed."
 
To continue delivering humanitarian support for the people of Armenia and 
Artsakh, first time and existing donors can direct their gifts to himnadram.org 
or agbu.org/aid4artsakh.
The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) is the world's largest non-profit 
organization devoted to upholding the Armenian heritage through educational, 
cultural and humanitarian programs. Each year, AGBU is committed to making a 
difference in the lives of 500,000 people across Armenia, Artsakh and the 
Armenian diaspora.  Since 1906, AGBU has remained true to one overarching goal: 
to create a foundation for the prosperity of all Armenians. To learn more visit 
 .


Aid4Artsakh-Matching-Gift-Program-Meets-$10-Million-Goal_ARMENIAN-WESTERN.doc
Aid4Artsakh-Matching-Gift-Program-Meets-$10-Million-Goal_ARMENIAN-WESTERN.doc


Aid4Artsakh-Matching-Gift-Program-Meets-$10-Million-Goal_ARMENIAN-WESTERN.pdf
Aid4Artsakh-Matching-Gift-Program-Meets-$10-Million-Goal_ARMENIAN-WESTERN.pdf


Aid4Artsakh-Matching-Gift-Program-Meets-$10-Million-Goal_ENGLISH.doc
Aid4Artsakh-Matching-Gift-Program-Meets-$10-Million-Goal_ENGLISH.doc


Aid4Artsakh-Matching-Gift-Program-Meets-$10-Million-Goal_ENGLISH.pdf
Aid4Artsakh-Matching-Gift-Program-Meets-$10-Million-Goal_ENGLISH.pdf


Aid4Artsakh-Matching-Gift-Program-Meets-$10-Million-Goal_FRENCH.doc
Aid4Artsakh-Matching-Gift-Program-Meets-$10-Million-Goal_FRENCH.doc


Aid4Artsakh-Matching-Gift-Program-Meets-$10-Million-Goal_FRENCH.pdf
Aid4Artsakh-Matching-Gift-Program-Meets-$10-Million-Goal_FRENCH.pdf



Aid4Artsakh-Matching-Gift-Program-Meets-$10-Million-Goal_ARMENIAN-EASTERN.doc


Aid4Artsakh-Matching-Gift-Program-Meets-$10-Million-Goal_ARMENIAN-EASTERN.pdf
Aid4Artsakh-Matching-Gift-Program-Meets-$10-Million-Goal_ARMENIAN-EASTERN.pdf

Azerbaijan’s brazen speculation – denial of the attack against Ghazanchetsots Cathedral vs. facts

Aram Torosian

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 19:52, 8 October, 2020

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 8, ARMENPRESS. Ghazanchetsots Holy Savior Cathedral  of Shushi town of Artsakh appeared under Azerbaijani strikes twice on October 8. Following the 1st strike, when the Azerbaijani military leadership understood that its crime against civilization will receive an international reaction, hurried to deny any links with it. But hours later the strikes again took place, unfortunately injuring international journalists, who were there to cover that unexplainable hate crime.

The Azerbaijani side is trying to mislead the international community, saying that they have not bombed Ghazanchetsots Holy Savior Cathedral.

Of course, lies, fake news and overt manipulations of the Azerbaijani officials do not surprise anyone in the recent period.

It’s important for us to expose this lie, since it’s a crime against civilization.

Facts:

  1. Azerbaijan carried out strikes against Ghazanchetsots Cathedral of Shushi and the published materials prove it.

  1. Following the strikes the Azerbaijani defense ministry announces that it has not targeted Ghazanchetsots Cathedral , but again strikes it minutes after the announcement.

A number of journalists were injured as a result of the Azerbaijani strikes against the Cathedral. One of them, a Russian reporter, is in critical situation and is undergoing surgery.

 

Reactions:  

  1. Primate of the Artsakh Diocese, His Holiness Pargev. ‘’They are striking our spiritual values, despite the fact that we renovate Mosques. This is the handwriting of the ‘’Islamic State’’.
  2. Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. ‘’Condemning the act and assessing it as an act of extreme religious intolerance, Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin addresses the Pastors of churches, the international community and organizations, inter-church and inter-religious organizations to raise a decisive voice for the sake of stopping the bloodshed, protection of the right of the people of Artsakh to free and independent life and unconditional preservation of ancient religious-cultural heritage’’.
  3. Syrian-Russian journalist Abbas Juma. ‘’It’s an extremely important church for all Armenians. Of course, I greatly regret that this conflict starts to acquire religious nature. Azerbaijanis gave it a religious nature long ago and I can see it from the rhetoric in the social media. Many in Azerbaijan perceive it as a fight for the sake of Islam’’.

 

Azerbaijan’s brazen speculation

The first announcement of the Azerbaijani side attempted to insinuate that probably it was the Armenian armed forces that struck the Cathedral. Without trying to understand the ridicule of the announcement, let’s see some facts.

Capital of Artsakh Stepanakert was being heavily bombed from Shushi in 1992. The Azerbaijanis kept their ammunition in Ghazanchetsots Holy Savior Cathedral .

Bellow is the footage of the 1st Lord’s Prayer at Ghazanchetsots Cathedral following the liberation of Shushi.

The boxes full of ammunition can be seen in the footage. Their kept the ammunition in the Cathedral because they knew that Armenians would never strike their own church and that’s why this wwas the safest place for them.

Hero of Artsakh, Commander of Shushi liberation operation Arkadi Ter-Tadevosyan famous as Kamandos assessed the October 8 strike of Azerbaijani army as an act of a beast, atrocity.

‘’ Ghazanchetsots Holy Savior Cathedral  of Shushi is the symbol of Shushi, it’s our belief. When we were kept under fire from Shushi in 1990s, we were looking at that town with great love. What the adversary is doing, is an act of a beast. When peace come, we will again restore it’’, Komandos said.

 

About the Cathedral

Ghazanchetsots Holy Savior Cathedral  of Shushi is an exclusive historical, cultural and spiritual heritage for South Caucasus.

This Church is the center of Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It was built in 1868-1887. After Gandzasar, it’s Artsakh’s second most important spiritual center.

Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan

Stop Turkey’s allegedly looming second Armenian genocide, now, before it happens

Aram Torosian
The Times of Israel
Oct 3 2020

Turkey never acknowledged the genocide it perpetrated on many Christian communities, predominantly Armenian, just over a century ago. Just imagine present-day Germany if it would deny the Holocaust. How scary would they be?! That’s how terrifying Turkey is today. They’ve done it before. They don’t acknowledge it, let alone regret it.

For people who’d say “No, such a thing is impossible now,” I want to remind them that the Holocaust was also unimaginable but executed anyway. By the most developed nation at the time, the center of science and counter-culture–something you can’t say about Turkey.

When some of his leaders told Hitler that genocide on the Jews was not possible and would lead to a worldwide protest, he said: Who now remembers the Armenian Genocide?

And the Armenians were not slaughtered by anonymous invisible killers like by gas chamber, carpet bombing, or a nuclear bomb. They were murdered one-by-one, soldiers against civilians, from babies to the elderly, women and men, poor and rich, slaughtered by bullet or ballonet.

Just imagine how scary it would be if Nazi-Germany could have ‘helped solve’ a border disputed between the Jewish State and its neighbors.

Stop Turkey from finishing the job. The news is they’re about to try.

Turkey is no longer a democracy with opposition or freedom of the press.

Don’t get distracted or misled by who fights whom there. Turkey is accused of sending Syrian mercenaries to do the work for them.

The NATO must tell member Turkey that if it harms one Armenian, directly or indirectly, NATO troops will invade Turkey and capture its leadership for facing a tribune for war crimes and crimes against humanity. (The US has a clown for president who likes the Turkish dictator, so count them out.)

Stop Turkey. Everyone is responsible for speaking up. Bloggers in blog posts, politicians in politics, journalists in the media, citizens on social media going viral, voters contacting their political representatives, scientists and other influencers taking clear positions, etc. Silence is complicity. Just like I don’t shut up, neither need you or your friends.

Moshe-Mordechai van Zuiden
Psychology, Medicine, Science, Politics, Oppression, Integrity, Philosophy, Jew


JP: Iran, Egypt and Gulf cautiously watch Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict

Aram Torosian
Jerusalem Post
Oct 3 2020
 
 
Iran, Egypt and Gulf cautiously watch Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict
 
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN  
OCTOBER 3, 2020 16:02
 
Previous clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2016 and in July of this year did not receive the same level of attention.
 
The Middle East is closely watching the outcome of fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This is unusual because previous clashes in 2016 and in July of this year did not receive the same level of attention. The reason that the region is watching is because of Turkey’s deep involvement in pressuring Azerbaijan to push forward and “liberate” territory as protests take place in Iran. Syrian fighters, mostly from the Turkmen minority, have been recruited to fight on the side of Baku.
 
Turkey’s ruling party, which has close relations with Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, wants the region to see the conflict as both an “Islamic” conflict and one that is important to Turkish speakers. On October 1, Turkey put out a statement claiming “Jerusalem is ours,” which appears to link its foreign policy of threatening Israel to its policy of trying to fan the flames against Armenia. Ankara stands to gain in ways from the conflict that are not shared interests with Baku. For instance, Ankara wants to use it to pressure Russia in Idlib. Russia has been trying to secure the M4 highway and there are rumors of Russia-Turkish discussions behind the scenes, trying to take over the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and link it to Syria where they have partitioned northern Syria.  
 
Iran has a more sympathetic view of Armenia. Iran’s Fars News has sought to make the conflict appear “Islamic” in order to reduce the support for Azerbaijan by Azeri protesters in Iran. There are millions of members of the Azeri minority in Iran and the country’s leadership fears any local ethnic protest because it knows that it will undermine the already tenuous regime. With Azeris in the streets chanting slogans against Armenians and against Russia and Persians, the regime moved to try to channel them in a different direction.
On Saturday, Iran’s Fars News wrote about Armenia downing an Azerbaijan military aircraft. Tehran is clearly watching closely what the outcome may be. It does not want the conflict to continue. Iran’s Fars News ran a second article about Iran’s view of the conflict arguing that Iran does not want spillover from the war and that it is warning the parties involved to stop.
Meanwhile, media that is sympathetic to Iran and Hezbollah has also written on the conflict. Al-Mayadeen has noted that Turkey is “declining” and thus fanning the flames in the Caucuses. The same media notes there are clashes in the countryside of Aleppo, showing how Syria is linked to the battles in Nagorna-Karabakh. One author notes, “it can be said that the Turkish-Azerbaijani military adventure in Nagorno Karabakh is on the way to an end, and it can also be said that Turkey, or President Erdogan in particular, is on the way to losing another file.” The author argues that Turkey’s leader is pressured in Syria and the Mediterranean.
Meanwhile, countries that tend to oppose Turkey’s aggression, such as Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have been less critical of the Azerbaijan offensive. This is because, while they view Ankara’s Muslim Brotherhood ambitions in Gaza and Libya as dangerous, they do not view Baku as a problem.
They would prefer, much as Israel appears to prefer, a good relationship with Azerbaijan and not to let Baku move too close to Turkey. Israel’s close relationship with Azerbaijan, ostensibly alongside Turkey, thus upsets some of the usual patterns of the region where Ankara and Jerusalem oppose one another. This is largely because this conflict was seen as outside the Middle East alliance system until the last several weeks. Now that alliance system takes on more importance from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Caucuses as it is all knit together globally.
The general regional alliance system in recent years has cemented itself around several groups. There is the Israel-UAE-Bahrain-Jordan-Egypt-Greece-Cyprus group that is linked to Saudi Arabia’s role as well. There is the Turkey-Qatar-Gaza-Libya group that supports Tripoli’s embattled government. Then there is the Iran-Hezbollah-Houthi-Syria regime-Baghdad group that includes Iran’s allies and proxies across the region. Azerbaijan does not fit into these groupings because it has sought an independent foreign policy and not to get involved in Middle East disputes. However, it appears some countries want to link these battles to the Middle East. In a world where the US hegemonic role of the 1990s is changing rapidly, the role of major states such as Russia, Turkey and Iran are growing and that means they will try to broker deals regarding this Caucuses conflict. That has major implications for the rest of the Middle East.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

51 more Armenian soldiers confirmed killed repelling Azerbaijani aggression – Public Radio of Armenia

Aram Torosian
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 3 2020
51 more Armenian soldiers confirmed killed repelling Azerbaijani aggression

The Artsakh Defense Ministry published the names of servicemen killed repelling the Azerbaijani aggression:

Arsen Meruzhan Yeghoyan, born in 2001

Levon Hamlet Stepanyan, born in 2001

Edgar Arayik Arakelyan, born in 2000

Vahe Arayik Arakelyan, born in 2000

Saribek Hovhannes Mkrtchyan, born in 2000

Suren Harutyun Babayan, born in 2000

Gagik Smbat Mikichyan, born in 2001

Artyom Edward Logyan, born in 2001

Vache Ararat Petrosyan, born in 1996

Volunteer Karen Stepan Hovhannisyan, born in 1997

Arsen Vrezh Grigoryan, born in 2001

Aram Mher Mkrtchyan, born in 2002

Gor Hovsep Ghevondyan, born in 2000

Yerem Vanush Galstyan, born in 1979

Arthur Derenik Yeranosyan, born in 1995

David Vladimir Arzumanyan, born in 1986

Albert Baregham Martirosyan, born in 1995

Garnik Vardan Sargsyan, born in 1990

Garnik Lernik Malkhasyan, born in 1991

Derenik Khachik Khachatryan, born in 1996

Ashot Yuri Vardazaryan, born in 1985

Evgeny Agber Gorodnichi, born in 1993

Taron Hakob Hakobyan, born in 1987

Arshak Ararat Abrahamyan, born in 2002

Maxim Hakob Manukyan, born in 2002

Eduard Arsen Davoyan, born in 2001

Albert Armen Khachatryan, born in 1994

Mush Mher Hakobyan, born in 1999

Van Armen Aslanyan, born in 2001

Alen Artush Stepanyan, born in 2001

Edgar Hrachya Margaryan, born in 2000

Misha Melik Grigoryan, born in 2001

David Henzel Ghulyan, born in 2002

Harutyun Aharon Ghazaryan, born in 2001

Arman Karen Mkrtchyan, born in2001

Rustam Gagik Galstyan, born in 2001

Mkhitar Garik Galeyan, born in 2000

Serzh Armen Beglaryan, born in 2000

Hakob Sergey Hakobkekhvyan, born in 2000

Mihran Gagik Harutyunyan, born in 2001

Grigor Varuzhan Muradkhanyan, born in 2001

Mikael Ararat Yeganyan, born in 2001

Artem Gagik Chipliyey, born in 2002

Arman Vigeni Azatyan, born in 2000

Kamo Sergey Bakhshiyan, born in 1988

Gor Karen Karapetyan, born in 2001

Armen Arshak Harutyunyan, born in 2001

Gor Vigen Manukyan, born in 1991

Gevorg Albert Bagiyan, born in 1976

Volunteer Slava Vladimir Movsisyan, born in 1978

Volunteer Norayr Vladimir Arakelyan, born in 1960


France struggles for Karabakh peace breakthrough amid fierce fighting

Aram Torosian
Dev Discourse
Oct 3 2020

A French attempt to relaunch peace talks over Nagorno-Karabakh showed no sign of a breakthrough on Saturday as Azerbaijan blamed Armenia for re-igniting their decades-old conflict. Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave inside Azerbaijan, said Azeri forces had again launched rockets towards its main city, Stepanakert, a week after the opposing sides began pounding each other with tanks and missiles.

The clashes are the worst since the 1990s, raising the risk of a wider regional war that could draw in Russia and Turkey amid deepening concern about stability in the South Caucasus, where pipelines carry Azeri oil and gas to world markets. “Fierce battles continue along the entire front,” the Azeri defence ministry said on the seventh day of fighting with ethnic Armenian forces.

French President Emmanuel Macron spoke on Friday with President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia – which backs Nagorno-Karabakh – and said later in a statement he had proposed a new way to restart talks. “The president of Azerbaijan placed the entire responsibility on the leadership of Armenia for the break-off of negotiations and the armed confrontation,” Aliyev’s press service said. Armenia says it was Azerbaijan that reopened the conflict by launching a major offensive on Sept. 27.

Armenia had said on Friday it was willing to engage with Russia, the United States and France – co-chairs of the so-called Minsk Group of the OSCE security organisation – on renewing a ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh. But Aliyev told Al Jazeera in an interview on Friday that the Minsk group had failed for the past three decades to make progress over the dispute.

He said Azerbaijan was not ignoring ceasefire calls, but this could only be achieved if ethnic Armenian forces withdrew from Azeri territories – a reference to Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions they have controlled since the 1990s. “(The) conditions must be that they withdraw from the territories. We need our territories back by peaceful means and we demonstrated for 28 years our willingness to have a peaceful settlement,” Aliyev said.

Some 200 people have been reported killed in the past week and the toll may be considerably higher, as Azerbaijan has not disclosed its military losses. Violence first broke out over Nagorno-Karabakh in 1988, when both Armenia and Azerbaijan were still part of the Soviet Union, and some 30,000 people were killed before a 1994 ceasefire.

The International Committee of the Red Cross voiced alarm at civilian deaths and injuries, including of children. “People have been in touch with the ICRC, terrified for themselves and their families and at a loss as to where to go or what to do to stay safe,” it said. It added it was concerned about the risk of a surge in COVID-19 cases from people hiding for hours in shelters or crowding together with poor sanitation.

(Additional reporting by Margarita Antidze in Tbilisi; Writing by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Alexander Smith)

https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1237750-france-struggles-for-karabakh-peace-breakthrough-amid-fierce-fighting

Ilham Aliyev’s authority has always been based on manipulations of NK conflict – Armenia MFA

Aram Torosian

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 16:28,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Spokesperson of the Armenian foreign ministry Anna Naghdalyan commented on the statement of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev delivered at the UN General Assembly.

Armenpress presents the MFA spokesperson’s comment:            

“The peoples of the region inherited a complex conflict, the final resolution of which requires an agreement that will be acceptable for the people of Armenia, the people of Artsakh and the people of Azerbaijan. Only the authorities enjoying the mandate of their people are capable of demonstrating the political will for reaching a compromise and establishing peace. Both Armenian and Artsakh authorities have received the mandate of their peoples and are ready to launch a dialogue with the authorities of Azerbaijan that enjoy the relevant mandate of their people.

Ilham Aliyev, who inherited the power from his father and who shares it within a single family, is not such a leader. His authority has always been based on manipulations of the conflict, promoting the image of Armenia and the Armenian people as a “useful enemy” within his own society, rather than addressing the latter’s needs.

Under the rule of Ilham Aliyev Azerbaijan missed the historic opportunity to use the “oil boom” to build a modern country and society. Today the authorities of Azerbaijan are perceived in the world as an authoritarian and repressive regime which uses all the opportunities, including the COVID-19 pandemic, to harass and silence its own people.

In the region, we deal with such a governmental system where the values are replaced with a cult of personality, dynasty and own wealth, while the interests serve the preservation of inherited power at all costs. Regrettably, “all costs” are paid by the people of Azerbaijan deprived of voice and freedoms”.

Tehran: Seven Iranian prisoners in Armenia repatriated to Iran

Aram Torosian
Mehr News Agency, Iran
Sept 25 2020

TEHRAN, Sep. 25 (MNA) – At the continuous efforts and numerous follow-ups of the Iranian Embassy to Yerevan, seven Iranian prisoners in Armenia were released and returned to the Islamic Republic of Iran on Fri.

Despite the agreement on the transfer of convicts between Iran and Armenia, the issue of transferring convicts had been stopped for almost three years. With the efforts of the Embassy of Islamic Republic of Iran in Yerevan and the cooperation of concerned officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Consulate General and judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran as well as concerned officials in Armenia, repatriation of seven Iranian prisoners in Yerevan was initially agreed at the first step.

With due observance to the meetings held with the judicial authorities of Armenia as well as numerous correspondences and full-time follow-ups, other Iranian prisoners, whose sentences have been issued and executed and administrative courts have agreed to transfer them, will be transferred to the Islamic Republic of Iran in the next steps, according to IRNA. 


Azerbaijani press: Union of Azerbaijani Women of Europe protests against Armenian PM’s wife’s photo shoot with arms in hand

Aram Torosian
19:15 (UTC+04:00)
592

By Trend

The “Ana Veten” (Motherland) Union of Azerbaijani women of Europe has expressed a protest against the participation of Anna Hakobyan, wife of the Armenian prime minister, in illegal military exercises in the occupied Azerbaijani territories of Nagorno-Karabakh region, as well as the dissemination of photographs in which she aims from a machine gun at the Azerbaijani trenches, the Azerbaijani State Committee on Work with Diaspora, told Trend on Sept. 14.

The issue that Armenia has been holding the Azerbaijani territories of Nagorno-Karabakh region and adjacent districts under occupation for 30 years and the fact that international organizations and the leading countries recognize this, was stressed in the statement addressed to the international community and signed by the Chairperson of the Union, Maisa Agamirzoyeva.

“Yerevan ignores the demands of the world community to withdraw its armed forces from the occupied territories as well as stop provocations on the line of contact and the state border with Azerbaijan, which is trying to resolve the conflict [Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict] peacefully,” the statement said. “During the July clashes, the whole world witnessed Armenia’s aggression.”

Following the statement, to conceal the fact that the provocation in the direction of Azerbaijan’s Tovuz district was initiated by the government headed by her husband, disguised as peacefulness, Hakobyan appealed to Azerbaijani mothers.

“The recent photos of Hakobyan, who in 2018, declaring herself to be the defender of peace in the region, invited Azerbaijani women to join the campaign “Women for Peace”, her call to the Armenian women to defend the occupied territory of the neighboring country with arms in her hand testifies Armenia’s hypocritical foreign policy,” the statement said. “If women in Armenia are already preparing for war, what is the point of this country’s peace-loving statements?!”

The Union said that despite the recent calm on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border and the contact line, worrisome moments persist and the messages on social networks and world media only increase this concern.

While demanding the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the territorial integrity and internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan, the Union stated that Armenia must stop the attacks on civilians in Azerbaijan and immediately withdraw its armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories under the decisions of the UN Security Council and OSCE.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.