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Author: Arsine Chaltikian

Azeri president threatens force to open corridor through Armenia

Arsine Chaltikian
Iran Front Page
Dec 7 2021

By IFP Editorial Staff -December 7, 2021

The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan has once again threatened to use force to establish a corridor through southern Armenia to connect his country with the Autonomous Nakhchivan Republic.

“Armenia and the whole world saw during the war that no one could stop us. I asked them to give a date for the return of our lands. I say the same thing now. Tell us when the Zangezur corridor opens without any problems,” Ilham Aliyev told Radio Free Europe.


In a statement, the Armenian Foreign Ministry condemned Aliyev’s remarks as a threat to Armenia’s territorial integrity. The statement said that the latest comments by the Azeri president contradict the understanding reached between Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during talks hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi on November 26.


The concept of a new corridor called Zangezur between Nakhchivan and the Republic of Azerbaijan has become a bone of contention between Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.


Armenia insists that it will not allow any change in regional borders and has categorically rejected the idea of creating new corridors in the southern parts of the Caucasus.


Tensions are simmering between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia. The two neighbors agreed to a ceasefire at their border on November 16 following the deadliest clash since the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict which resulted in the liberation of the Republic of Azerbaijan’s territory from Armenian occupation.

Artsakh State University president delivers a talk on the future of the university

Arsine Chaltikian
December 6, 2021 The Society for Armenian Studies Non-Profit 0

Armen Sargsyan, Artsakh State University president

On Saturday, November 20, the Society for Armenian Studies (SAS) sponsored a talk via Zoom by Prof. Armen Sargsyan, president of Artsakh State University (ArSU), on the past, present and future of the university. The SAS and ArSU recently signed a memorandum of understanding that deepens the links with the Republic of Artsakh.

During his talk, Sargsyan presented an outline of the history of the university, which starts with the foundation of the Pedagogical Institute of Shushi in 1939 and its move to Stepanakert in 1953, becoming a branch of the Pedagogical Institute of Azerbaijan in 1969. After a failed move to the Kirovakan (nowadays Vanadzor) Pedagogical Institute in 1988 that lasted a few months due to the earthquake of December 1988, a branch of the Kirovakan Pedagogical Institute was opened in Stepanakert. In 1992 the government of Armenia decided to combine the branches of the Kirovakan Pedagogical Institute and the Polytechnic Institute in Stepanakert into the Mountainous Karabagh State University, renamed Artsakh State University in 1996. ArSU has five schools and 24,000 graduates, which compose more than 80 per cent of government employees today.

Over the years, the Karabakh wars have taken their toll from the university student body. The 1990-1994 war cost the lives of 27 students, three more died during the four-day war of 2016, and 26 students were killed in 2020. Many students currently serve in the army both as regular and reserve soldiers.

Artsakh State University

While the university worked online during the pandemic, Sargsyan noted, it went back to traditional teaching in December and by January 2021, 96 percent of students and faculty (two faculty members died of Covid-19) were back. The university lost 380 students in September 2021 with relation to September 2020. The new wave of pandemic forced to resume online classes in early November with a participation of about 70 percent of students and faculty. Poor internet connection and electricity services effect negatively on the operation.

Sargsyan noted that the current situation of the university is stable, but contingent to the situation in Artsakh and Armenia. He noted that the university received a four-year accreditation from Armenia on October 22, 2021, after this had been postponed twice due to the pandemic and the war. He said that the biggest challenge is the requirement to have foreign exchange of students and professors. ArSU tries to fill this gap as much as possible, although there are no relations with foreign universities, other than some links with Hungary, Slovenia and Russia, and now with California State University at Fresno via SAS. In the absence of links, the university is trying to bring foreign experience to the local level.

Professor Sargsyan thanked the Diaspora for its support, with special mention to philanthropist Gerald Turpanjian, who sponsored the construction of the main building with capacity for 6,500 students, and Professor Barlow Der Mugrdechian, who donated a computer lab to the university. Among future needs and projects, he mentioned the opening of a language institute, the enlargement of the furniture collection, the development of knowledge sources, and the developing of the university library.

According to SAS president Prof. Bedross Der Matossian, the Society is going to help ArSU in increasing its library collection of books.

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The Society for Armenian Studies is an international body, composed of scholars and students, whose aims are to promote the study of Armenian culture and society, including history, language, literature and social, political and economic questions; to facilitate the exchange of scholarly information pertaining to Armenian studies around the world; and to sponsor panels and conferences on Armenian studies.


China hopes Armenia and Azerbaijan will resolve disputes through dialogue

Arsine Chaltikian

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 15:46,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Beijing expressed hope that Armenia and Azerbaijan will resolve disputes through dialogue and maintain regional stability.

Commenting on the trilateral Putin-Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting in Sochi, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a press conference that China welcomes Russia’s efforts in maintaining regional peace and stability, TASS reports.

He added that Beijing hopes that Armenia and Azerbaijan will “resolve disputes through dialogue and consultations and will together maintain regional peace and stability.”

 

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Turkish press: Unilateral actions should be avoided in runup to Dec. 24 Libyan elections: Turkish National Security Council

Arsine Chaltikian
Zafer Fatih Beyaz   |25.11.2021


ANKARA

Unilateral actions should be avoided in Libya to ensure the Dec. 24 elections there take place in a lawful and peaceful atmosphere, said Turkey’s National Security Council on Thursday.

The international community should also oppose actors who try to exploit the Libyan election process for their own interests, said a council statement after a meeting in the capital Ankara chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey and Libya are bound together by both historical ties and security and territorial agreements signed in November 2019.

Nearly 100 candidates have registered to run in Libya’s Dec. 24 presidential elections, including transitional Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, putschist renegade Gen. Khalifa Haftar, and former strongman leader Muammar Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, who was disqualified Wednesday by a Libyan court over committing war crimes.

Libya’s presidential and parliamentary elections are set to take place under a UN-sponsored agreement reached by Libyan political rivals during meetings in Tunisia on Nov. 15 last year.

The application deadline for those wishing to run for the presidency was Nov. 22, while nominations for parliamentary polls remain open through Dec. 7.

Libyans hope that the upcoming elections will help end an armed conflict that has plagued the oil-rich country for years.

South Caucasus region

The council statement also touched on recent developments in the South Caucasus region, the scene of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in which Azerbaijan – Turkey’s historic ally – liberated a group of lands from Armenian occupation just over a year ago.

“It is important for Armenia to consider the hand of peace extended to it as an opportunity, to cooperate, and to fully comply with the cease-fire” that ended the conflict last November, the council said.

After new clashes erupted last Sept. 27, Azerbaijan and Armenia were embroiled in a 44-day conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, or Upper Karabakh, which ended with a Russian-brokered agreement on Nov. 10, 2020.

During the faceoff, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and 300 settlements and villages that had been illegally occupied by Armenia for almost 30 years.

This January, the leaders of the three countries agreed to develop economic ties and infrastructure for the benefit of the entire Caucasus region.

In recent months, Armenia has launched numerous attacks on the Azerbaijani border area, including the area which lies on an energy route close to the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey corridor.

Instability in this region has the potential to directly affect the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan crude oil pipeline, Southern Gas Corridor, and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway – all three including Turkish territory.

This Tuesday, the Kremlin announced that the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia will hold a trilateral meeting Friday in the Russian resort city of Sochi.

Economic policies

“Challenges and threats that Turkey has faced and may face in the process of implementing investment, production, employment, and export-oriented economic policies in line with its objectives on the solid infrastructure it has built, have been evaluated,” the National Security Council statement also said.

The determination to reach the centennial anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey in 2023 with a strong economy has also been reiterated in the meeting.

It was underlined that all kinds of necessary efforts, especially along the country’s borders, will continue without compromise against terrorist organizations.

The statement also stressed that any support to the unlawful activities of KCK/PKK, PYD/YPG terror groups — which are a clear violation of international law — are expected to be terminated as soon as possible.

“Our strong support for Iraq’s struggle to clear its lands from terrorist organizations has been reaffirmed, and it has been strongly emphasized that the steps taken for combating terrorism should not lead to consequences that would disrupt social peace, especially in regions that are sensitive in terms of ethnic and sectarian balances.”

Evaluating the latest developments in the Balkans, a region where Turkey has strong historical and cultural ties, the statement stressed the importance of maintaining the peace and tranquility established with great sacrifices, and pointed out that all actors should act responsibly for this purpose and refrain from attempts that destabilize the situation in the region.

It went on to say that Greece’s insistence on not fulfilling the requirements of good neighborly relations with its aggressive rhetoric, actions, and stance that violates its obligations arising from international agreements will adversely affect stability and peace in the region.

“Powers that encouraged Greece to take further steps by supporting its attitude against international law and good neighborly relations were invited to abandon their approach that would disturb the peace of the region and take a position in the direction of justice and peace,” it said.

Two more Armenian soldiers’ remains found after search operations in Jrakan

Arsine Chaltikian
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 23 2021

Artsakh rescuers found the remains of two more Armenian soldiers as a result of their search operations for the 2020 Artsakh war casualties on Tuesday, November 23.

The remains were retrieved from the Jrakan (Jabrayil) region occupied by Azerbaijan, the State Service of Emergency Situations of Artsakh’s Interior Ministry reported.

Their identities will be established after a forensic medical examination, it said.

Since the end of hostilities, the bodies of 1,700 servicemen and civilians have been found during the search operations or handed over to the Armenian side.

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office concerned about reported incidents along Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Arsine Chaltikian

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 16:49, 16 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Ann Linde has expressed her full support to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs who made a statement on November 15 over the incidents along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

“Share deep concern of Minsk Group Co-Chairs regarding reported incidents in the region, including those along Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Express my full support for their efforts and call on sides to de-escalate immediately and take steps to resolve outstanding issue”, Ann Linde said on Twitter.



Azerbaijani press: Azerbaijan agrees on meeting between President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan – MFA

Arsine Chaltikian
14:55 (UTC+04:00)
582

By Trend

Azerbaijan has agreed on a meeting between President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Brussels, the head of the press service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Leyla Abdullayeva said, Trend reports on Nov. 20.

Abdullayeva was commenting on the proposal of the President of the EU Council to hold a meeting of the heads of Azerbaijan and Armenia within the framework of the upcoming summit of the Eastern Partnership countries.

“The Azerbaijani side is always open to political dialogue and welcomes such contacts,” Abdullayeva said.

She reminded that the position of Azerbaijan in the context of the realities of the post-conflict period was repeatedly voiced by the head of state and on international platforms.

“We believe that the Brussels summit and the meeting to be held within its framework will create additional opportunities,” Abdullayeva noted.

Armenia’s foreign ministry confirms Pashinyan’s readiness to meet Aliyev

Arsine Chaltikian
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 20 2021

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan is ready to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on December 15 within the framework of the Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels, foreign ministry spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan confirmed to TASS news agency. 

“Armenia gave its consent to holding such a meeting,” the spokesperson has told the agency. 

To remind, earlier, the European Council issued a statement on an agreement of its President Charles Michel with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to meet in Brussels within the framework of the Eastern Partnership summit on December 15. 

Turkish press: Turkey prepares road map for homegrown engine development

Arsine Chaltikian
 ANKARA DEFENSE 
NOV 06, 2021 2:54 PM GMT+3

Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) head Ismail Demir (R) and the head of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), Mahmut Faruk Akşit, inspect the T700-TEI-701D engine production in the TUSAŞ factory in Eskişehir, Turkey, May 14, 2019. (AA Photo)

The Turkish defense industry continues to work on domestic engine and transmission technology for land and air vehicles, with the country preparing a road map that will take it toward this ultimate goal.

Sources told Anadolu Agency (AA) that as part of the road map, numerous projects are being conducted to end the foreign dependence for the parts that the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) needs for Turkey’s homegrown vehicles.

The plan consists of two types of engine projects – internal combustion and turbine.

Among internal combustion engines, there are several types, from 170-horsepower drone engines to 1,500-horsepower engines for tanks.

Currently, engine research for the armored vehicles Kirpi 2 and Pars is ongoing, with development tests having been completed.

Work on the engine and transmission of the Firtina howitzer and next-generation light armored vehicles also continues.

Regarding turbine engines, defense industry teams are working on many projects for turbojets, the combat aircraft Turkish Fighter X and various missiles.

The KTJ-3200 engine’s development tests are complete, with the engine to be used in Atmaca and SOM missiles.

Progress is also being made on the Gökbey helicopter and Turkish Fighter X’s engines.

Karabakh forced migrants demand to be recognized as refugees in Armenia

Arsine Chaltikian
Caucasian Knot, EU
Nov 9 2021

In Yerevan, participants of a protest action have claimed that the Armenian authorities do not react to the demands of forced migrants to recognize them as refugees and do not try to organize their return to Nagorno-Karabakh.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that migrants from the regions of Nagorno-Karabakh that came under the control of Azerbaijan more than once held protest actions in front of the building of the Armenian government. In particular, on October 27, the protestors held a rally and then a march with the demand to officially recognize them as refugees.

Today, migrants from Nagorno-Karabakh have held a protest action in front of the Armenian government building with a demand to solve their social problems and grant them the refugee status, the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent reports.

Until July 2021, each forced migrant received a monthly allowance in the amount of 68,000 drams (about 142.8 US dollars) and 30,000 drams (about 63 US dollars) for each family member to pay for rent of housing. However, starting from July, the authorities stopped paying the allowances and reduced the amount of compensation for rent of housing to 25,000 drams (about 52.5 US dollars), the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent was informed by Levon Airyan, the head of the public organization “In the Name of Gadrut”.

Besides, according to him, the authorities are not trying to organize the return of migrants to Nagorno-Karabakh. “The authorities promise that the refugees will be returned and that conditions will be created for them. But they did not discuss any conditions with us,” Levon Airyan said.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 9, 2021 at 02:45 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

See earlier reports:

Migrants from Karabakh demand refugee status from Armenian authorities, Authorities report on progress in post-war reconstruction works in Nagorno-Karabakh, Refugees in Nagorno-Karabakh complain about difficulties in obtaining housing.

Author: Tigran Petrosyan; Source: CK correspondent

Source: 
© Caucasian Knot