Author: Aram Torosian

Armenia names new ambassadors to Poland, Sweden and Iraq

Aram Torosian

 13:17, 5 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. President Vahagn Khachaturyan has appointed Misak Balasanyan as Armenia’s new ambassador to Iraq, the presidency reported Tuesday.

The President signed the order at the advice of the Prime Minister.

With another decree, Armenia’s Ambassador to Belgium Anna Aghajanyan was relieved of duties and appointed Ambassador to Sweden.

Meanwhile, Armenia’s Ambassador to Sweden Alexander Arzumanyan was relieved of duties and appointed Ambassador to Poland.

Armenia’s Ambassador to Poland Samvel Mkrtchyan was relieved of duties.

Turkish Press: Russian checkpoint delaying 40 tons of flour aid from Azerbaijan to Armenians in Karabakh

Aram Torosian
Anadolu Agency
Turkey – Aug 30 2023
Alperen Aktaş  |30.08.2023 – Update : 30.08.2023

BAKU 

The Azerbaijan Red Crescent’s 40-ton flour aid for Karabakh Armenians is stuck Wednesday at a Russian-controlled checkpoint on the Aghdam-Stepanakert road. 

Two trucks that departed from Baku, loaded with the flour destined for Armenians in Stepanakert and surrounding areas, have not been granted passage through the Russian checkpoint, where they arrived Tuesday.

Azerbaijan Red Crescent officials spent the night in tents set up in the region and handed the quality certificate for the flour to Russian authorities.

Azerbaijan has been imposing restrictions for some time on the Lachin-Stepanakert road — which Armenians living in Karabakh use to travel to and from Armenia — citing border guards being fired on from Armenia and the transportation of smuggled goods with vehicles from the International Red Cross Organization.

Heavy vehicles are not allowed to travel on the route that is open to civilians, a source told Anadolu, who asked to remain anonymous.

Armenia’s trucks, claiming that the Armenian population in Karabakh is facing a “humanitarian crisis” due to the closed road, have been waiting at the border for about a month.

The Baku administration said it will not allow shipments to its sovereign territories that were not previously discussed.

It proposed the Aghdam-Stepanakert road for shipments to the Armenian population in Karabakh.

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/russian-checkpoint-delaying-40-tons-of-flour-aid-from-azerbaijan-to-armenians-in-karabakh/2979520

Iran envoy meets Armenian defense minister

Aram Torosian
 TEHRAN TIMES 
Sept 2 2023
  1. Politics
September 2, 2023 – 17:47

TEHRAN – The Iranian Ambassador to Armenia, Mehdi Sobhani, met on Friday with Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan.

The meeting took place amid a new escalation between Yerevan and Baku. 

“On September 1, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Suren Papikyan received the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia Mehdi Sobhani,” the Armenian defense ministry said in a statement. 

The statement added, “The meeting was attended by the Defense Attaché of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia, Colonel Bahman Sadeghin. A number of topics of Armenian-Iranian cooperation, as well as regional security issues, were discussed.”

Sobhani is a veteran Iranian diplomat with experience in serving in hotspots. Previously, he was Iran’s ambassador to Syria, where a decade-long conflict turned the Arab country into a hive of diplomatic activity.

He has been recently posted to Armenia, which is locked in a dispute with Azerbaijan over a number of issues, including an Azerbaijani insistence to open a land corridor cutting through southern Armenia.

According to the statement, the Armenian defense minister briefed the Iranian ambassador on “the details about the Azerbaijani provocation near Sotk, on September 1.”

Tensions flared up again between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia on Friday, with Yerevan accusing Baku of starting a new provocation that resulted in the killing of four Armenian servicemen. 

In late August, Armenian media quoted the Iranian ambassador to Yerevan as stressing Tehran’s support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Armenia.

“Our fundamental policy is to develop relations with the Republic of Armenia. Iran always defends the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Armenia. The two countries have never had any problems in any field or level, especially since Armenia regained its independence,” said Mehdi Sobhani while visiting an economic exhibition in Yerevan.
 

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/488633/Iran-envoy-meets-Armenian-defense-minister

Armenian troops killed in drone clashes with Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh

Aram Torosian
Jerusalem Post
Sept 1 2023

By REUTERS

Armenia and Azerbaijan said on Friday that they had sustained casualties in fighting around their common border, northwest of the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenia’s Defence Ministry said two of its servicemen had been killed and another wounded in shelling near the border villages of Sotk and Norabak. Azerbaijan said Armenia had struck its positions across the border in the Kalbajar region using drones, wounding three servicemen.

“[Russia has shown an] absolute indifference to the aggression against the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia”

Armenian Foreign Ministry

The incident came a day after Armenia accused treaty ally Russia of “absolute indifference” towards attacks on its territory.


Armenia accused Azerbaijan of massing forces close to the border, and striking its positions using drones, mortars, and small arms fire. Azerbaijan denied gathering forces, but said it was taking “retaliatory measures.”

Reuters was unable to verify the reports.


Nagorno-Karabakh, internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but inhabited primarily by ethnic Armenians, has been a source of conflict between the two Caucasus neighbors since before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, and between ethnic Armenians and Turkic Azeris for well over a century.

Despite sporadic discussions on a peace deal to agree on borders, settle differences over the enclave, and unfreeze relations, tensions remain high and skirmishes along the shared border are a regular occurrence. Two days of clashes in September last year saw around 300 servicemen killed on both sides.


Continued fighting, along with a months-long blockade of Karabakh by Azerbaijan, have strained once warm relations between Armenia and Russia, which is Yerevan’s traditional ally, and which has a peacekeeping contingent in Karabakh.

In a statement on Thursday, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry accused Russia of “absolute indifference to the aggression against the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia,” and of using a “false excuse” to avoid supporting Armenia.

In recent months, Russia has publicly backed Azerbaijan’s claim to Nagorno-Karabakh and blamed Armenia for the ongoing blockade of separatist-held Karabakh.


Azerbaijan slams French ‘interference’ on Nagorno-Karabakh

Aram Torosian
RFI, France
Sept 1 2023

Azerbaijan summoned France’s ambassador Thursday and condemned its “direct interference” in Nagorno-Karabakh after several French councils sent a humanitarian aid convoy to blockaded Armenians in the enclave.

Baku has been accused of blocking the Lachin corridor – the only road link between the enclave and Armenia – since December, cutting off Armenian-populated settlements in the disputed breakaway region.

Azerbaijan said it had set up checkpoints on the short mountainous road for “security reasons”, while Yerevan has demanded that the UN intervene to prevent a “humanitarian catastrophe”.

On Wednesday, several French politicians, including Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, joined a 10-lorry humanitarian convoy financed by French local councils, which was stopped from entering the enclave.

Hidalgo wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that “no humanitarian aid can get into” Nagorno-Karabakh “in total violation of human rights”.

“This is a humanitarian crisis.”

The stand-off has riled Azerbaijan, which summoned the French ambassador Thursday.

“The ambassador received a note of protest over vehicles being sent to the Lachin border post… under the cover of ‘a humanitarian convoy’,” Baku said in a statement.

It also condemned the “provocative declarations (of French politicians) against Azerbaijan”, which they said were stirred up by a “campaign of lies and manipulation by Armenia”, a historic French ally.

  • Azerbaijan rebukes France for ‘failure and inaction’ over Armenia
  • France sends emergency aid to Armenian community in Nagorno-Karabakh

“This constitutes direct French interference in Azerbaijan’s internal affairs,” it added.

The Caucasus neighbours have been locked in a deadly dispute over the enclave – internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan – since the 1980s and fought two wars over the territory.

The second, in 2020, saw the defeat of Armenian forces and significant territorial gains for Azerbaijan.

Faced with international criticism, Baku insists that the Lachin corridor is not blocked to civilians, and said earlier this week that it was itself sending an aid convoy to Nagorno-Karabakh.

(AFP)


Armenpress: U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy accuses Azerbaijan of crime against humanity in Nagorno- Karabakh

Aram Torosian

 13:35,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS. United States Senator Bill Cassidy has accused Azerbaijan of committing a crime against humanity in Nagorno-Karabakh by weaponizing food.

“The humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is growing more and more dire by the day. If Azerbaijan doesn’t lift the blockade people will starve. Weaponizing food constitutes an Article 7 Violation of the Rome Statutes, a ‘Crime against Humanity,’” Cassidy said in a post on X.

AYF New York “Hyortiks” on Capitol Hill

Aram Torosian
 AYF New York “Hyortik” Chapter Diaspora, Youth 0

Aris Givelekian Andrew Gorgissian

This summer, two active AYF New York “Hyortik” Junior members participated in the Armenian National Committee of America’s (ANCA) Summer Academy. High school students Andrew Gorgissian and Aris Givelekian were eager for the opportunity to learn about Hai Tahd while staying in the nation’s capital. 

“The ANCA Summer Academy opened my eyes to advocacy and Armenian issues. Throughout the week, many of our lectures and group activities were conducted on the topic of Artsakh. My peers and I were able to understand more about the reality and ongoing tragedy that Artsakh is facing during the blockade,” Gorgissian shared. “Toward the end of the week, our group went to Capitol Hill to persuade congressional staffers to co-sponsor H.Res.108, which condemns the atrocities that come with the blockade of the Lachin Corridor.”

Gorgissian explained that the group learned new concepts about government and policy, while also bonding through activities including touring the Wilson House, paddle boating on the tidal basin and playing board games at the Aramian House. He said they formed strong connections with each other, which will help them to strengthen their Armenian community.

“My peers and I were all amazed by the ANCA’s efforts to persuade politicians to support Armenia, and we aspire to support the Armenian cause in any means necessary,” Gorgissian said. “The ANCA Summer Academy motivated me to spread my knowledge of Armenian issues to my fellow peers and my local Armenian community. I truly enjoyed the balance of education and leisure that we experienced throughout the program. I am forever grateful for the accommodations that the ANCA has provided and the people I’ve met throughout the ANCA Summer Academy. I long to use all of the lessons I’ve learned in order to improve myself and benefit others around me.” 

“During my stay at the Aramian House as an ANCA Haroutioun and Elizabeth Kasparian Summer Academy intern, I learned a lot about political advocacy for the Armenian Cause,” Givelekian said. “Each and every day, 16 other interns and I sat through meetings, lectures and discussions regarding the current state of Artsakh and Armenia. Following this, we made our way to Capitol Hill where we went to all 440 congressional offices to inform and discuss the current situation of Artsakh.”

Givelekian also enjoyed the activities planned for the ANCA Summer Academy participants, particularly paddle boating, touring Washington D.C and Georgetown, and getting ice cream. 

“All in all, I had a very memorable experience, and I encourage everyone who seeks to join ANCA as a future intern or volunteer to take this opportunity,” Givelekian said.

The AYF “Hyortik” Chapter looks forward to seeing what Andrew and Aris bring back to the chapter and the New York community. We encourage other members to participate in this program after learning about Andrew and Aris’s positive experiences.

  •  Bio
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The AYF-YOARF New York “Hyortik” Chapter existed even before the AYF was founded in 1933 and works to unite Armenian youth and organize activities in Queens and Long Island. The chapter has a Senior and Junior chapter. The New York “Hyortik” Chapter sets out to achieve its goals and objectives throughout the year with events such as commemorating the Armenian Genocide every April 24th in NYC; fundraising for our homeland; hosting a fall festival and Christmas dinner with juniors; annual Super Bowl parties; and ski trips. The AYF-YOARF’s five pillars (athletic, cultural, educational, political, social) guide this chapter and help to keep its membership active and at the forefront of the Armenian cause at all times.


Arzakh (Nagorno-Karabakh): Warnings of genocide go unheeded

Aram Torosian
Italy – Aug 19 2023
19.08.23 – Bolzano, Göttingen 

The Associazione per i Popoli Minacciati (APM) ( Association for Threatened Peoples) reacted with dismay and anger to the news of the death of K. Hovhannisyan, 40, from Stepanakert in Arzakh. Arzakh Human Rights Ombudsman Gegham Stepanjan announced yesterday that Hovhannisyan had literally starved to death. He suffered from severe malnutrition and could no longer receive medical care. He thus became a victim of Azerbaijan’s eight-month-long blockade of the Lachin Corridor which was drastically tightened in mid-June 2023, cutting off the Armenian population of Arzakh from all supplies. Since the beginning of the blockade, human rights organisations, genocide researchers and currently also Luis Moreno Ocampo (first chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court 2003-2012) have warned of the consequences of the blockade in an expert opinion on international law. Ocampo confirms that the Armenian population of Arzakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) is at risk of genocide. The President of the Republic of Arzakh defines the situation as “genocide in a large concentration camp”. All of these warnings fell on deaf ears. We cannot stand by while more people die in Arzakh.

On several occasions, the Association for Threatened Peoples, together with other NGOs, has called on European politicians to initiate effective sanctions against Azerbaijan’s blockade, so that the International Court of Justice order of 22 February 2023 to lift this blockade is finally implemented. To date, however, these steps have not yet materialised.

The blockade of the Arzakh region, inhabited almost exclusively by people of Armenian ethnicity, has very serious existential consequences for all the approximately 120,000 inhabitants and now represents a real threat. Food is no longer available for 2,000 children under the age of 12 months. The number of premature births and miscarriages has tripled. A baby abortion was reported today as an ambulance was not available due to a lack of fuel. The consequences of the blockade are being felt especially in the health sector of Arzakh, affecting the most vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, the chronically ill and the elderly. Lack of food has led to malnutrition and starvation.

Armenpress: Ireland reiterates EU’s call for immediate reopening of Lachin Corridor

Aram Torosian

 20:30,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 11, ARMENPRESS. On August 11, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a telephone conversation with Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence of the Republic of Ireland Micheál Martin.

Minister Mirzoyan briefed his counterpart on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh resulting from Azerbaijan’s illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor highlighting that the situation is close to turning into a real humanitarian catastrophe, the foreign ministry said in a readout. 

The Foreign Minister of Armenia emphasized that since June 15, Nagorno-Karabakh has been under a total blockade, under the conditions of which the fundamental rights of 120,000 people of Nagorno-Karabakh, including 30,000 children, are being grossly violated. Particularly the acute shortage of food and medicine was mentioned. Ararat Mirzoyan stressed that by such actions, Azerbaijan continuously demonstrates its real intention: to implement ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Touching upon the principled positions of partners, including Ireland, voiced on international platforms so far, Ararat Mirzoyan stressed the importance of immediately lifting the blockade of the Lachin corridor in accordance with the legally binding Orders of the International Court of Justice of February 22 and July 6, as well as the need for consistent steps aimed at preventing the implementation of Azerbaijan’s intentions.

During the telephone conversation, the interlocutors also touched upon the issues of the Armenia-EU partnership, including the activities of the EU Civilian Monitoring Mission in Armenia.

Commenting on the call, Micheál Martin then posted a statement on social media platform X, stressing that he had an important call with the Armenian foreign minister regarding the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, during which he reiterated the EU’s call for an immediate reopening of the Lachin Corridor and ensuring access of ICRC aid. Martin added that Ireland calls on everyone to participate in the comprehensive, sustainable peace talks.