Author: Badalian Vardan

MI-24 CRASH OPEN WAR CHALLENGE – ARMENIAN POLITICIAN

12:49 * 14.11.14

The downing of the MI-24 helicopter by the Azerbaijani armed forces
can be described as nothing more than an invitation of war, according
to Hakob Tigranyan, the head of the Social Democrat Hnchakyan Party’s
(SDHP) central office.

At a news conference on Friday, the politician called attention to the
political component of Azerbaijan’s latest aggressive act, stressing
the importance of adopting new approaches to the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict settlement talks. “But the question’s political content is of
importance here. The SDHP is confident that it is necessary to urgently
suspend the official Yerevan’s involvement in the negotiations as long
as Nagorno-Karabakh’s legitimate authorities are not a full-fledged
party to the process. Any negotiations with [Azerbaijani President
Ilham] Aliyev are pointless after this crime.

The SDHP condoles with the pilots’ families and expresses hope that
their death will not go unpunished,” he said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

EUFOA: DOWNING OF THE ARMENIAN HELICOPTER NULLIFIES AZERBAIJAN’S COMMITMENTS

10:32, 14 Nov 2014

Nagorno-Karabakh helicopter went down in flames on November 12,
killing all three crew members, after Azerbaijani forces claimed it
was violating their airspace and shot it.

Azerbaijan has awarded the servicemen who downed the helicopter with
a third degree medal for “distinguished military service.”

“We condemn the new outbreak of violation. We state that as always,
it is the Azerbaijani authorities that are responsible for it
again. This provocation nullifies Azerbaijan’s commitments. We hoped
Baku would adopt a more rational and constructive behaviour after
Armenia-Azerbaijan meeting on 27 October in Paris. Breaking the
promise to France only a few days ago, the Azerbaijani leadership
showed that it’s not a reliable partner in the region,” said Mr
Francois Rochebloine, French MP and Member of EuFoA’s Europe-Armenia
Advisory Council.

“It is clear to all international organisations that the Azerbaijani
administration established a totalitarian regime based on fear, lies
and repression. Therefore, it also tries to neutralise any attempt of
freedom and rule of law in the region, attempting in vain to threaten
also the population of Nagorno Karabakh and their strong commitment to
democracy and fundamental rights by shooting down unarmed helicopters,
or murdering civilians as it was the case a few weeks ago. Last but
not least I would like to pass my deepest condolences to the families
of the helicopter crew,” added EuFoA Director Mr Eduardo Lorenzo Ochoa.

International organisations and Members of the European Parliament
have also expressed their worries.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS REFUSE TO VOTE TO RECOGNIZE KARABAKH INDEPENDENCE

Interfax, Russia
Nov 12 2014

YEREVAN. Nov 12

The members of the Armenian parliament refused to vote to recognize the
self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s independence on Wednesday.

A bill titled ‘On concepts of military-political foundations of
security of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and the Republic of Armenia’
was once again submitted by the opposition faction Heritage.

The bill, which envisions the recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh’s
independence, was supported by only eight out of 131 parliamentarians.

The Heritage faction has submitted a bill on the recognition
of Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence several times. However, the
parliamentary majority has insisted that this would be inappropriate at
present as it could torpedo the negotiations on settling the conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh.

The other opposition parliamentary factions also voted against
the bill.

The leadership of the Nagorno-Karabakh parliament had also signaled
earlier that it opposed Nagorno-Karabakh’s unilateral recognition
by Yerevan.

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE IS CONCERNED ABOUT DOWNED MILITARY HELICOPTER

10:52 13/11/2014 >> SOCIETY

NATO Secretary General special representative to the South Caucasus
and Central Asia James Appaturay left a message on his Facebook page,
expressing concern over the military helicopter shot down in Nagorno
Karabakh by the armed forces of Azerbaijan.

“Whatever the circumstances of the incident, both sides should remain
calm and pursue a diplomatic resolution,” noted James Appaturay.

As NKR Defense Ministry press service reported earlier, today, Nagorno
Karabakh Air Forces’ Mi-24 helicopter was shot by the Azerbaijani Armed
Forces during military training flight in the airspace in the eastern
section of Karabakh – Azerbaijan Line of Contact around 1:45 pm. The
land, on which the incident occurred, is in close proximity to the line
of contact. Opponent after the incident continued intense bombardment
scene from weapons of different caliber. The place where the helicopter
was shot is close to the Line of Contact. The enemy continued to fire
shots from weapons of different calibers after the incident.

Meanwhile, the press secretary of Armenian Defense Minister Artsrun
Hovhannisyan wrote on his Facebook page that Azerbaijani Armed Forces
have carried out an unprecedented provocation on the border with the
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh; this has also led to escalation of the
situation. In the same time the fabrications of the Azerbaijani side,
as if the Armenian helicopters had attacked their positions and they
allegedly had merely responded to this step, are senseless. “The study
of the wreckage of the helicopter will confirm that he was not armed.

The escalation of the Azerbaijani side has continued even after
the helicopter fall down. Moreover, the Azerbaijani side continued
shelling, not allowing even to get closer to the pilots. The
consequences of this unprecedented escalation will be very harmful
for the Azerbaijani side and will remain as a stain on the conscience
of the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan. Captain of the
helicopter was Major Sergei Sahakyan. Information about the fate of
the crew will be given later,” Artsrun Hovhannisyan stated.

RELEASED VIDEO PROVES KARABAKH HELICOPTER WAS UNARMED – DEFENSE MINISTRY

11:26 * 13.11.14

The footage featuring the deadly shootdown of the Nagorno-Karabakh
military helicopter demonstrates clearly that the aircraft was unarmed
while performing its combat maneuvers.

In a Facebook post, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense,
Artsrun Harutyunyan, says the footage released by the Azerbaijani
side proves the libelous nature of its earlier statement.

“The video footage proves yet another time that the helicopters
belonging to the Air Forces of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic did not
violate the border or commit an attack on a [military] position,”
reads his status.

Hovhannisyan notes that attacking helicopters normally use to different
tactical and technical means while performing the act or flying back
home subsequently.

The spokesperson also said in his post that the adversary continued
maintaining the tension high across the Line of Contact overnight,
preventing the Armenian side from approaching the drowned aircraft.

The Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army reported Thursday morning that
the Azerbaijani forces had violated the ceasefire across 250 time
since the attack, firing bullets against Armenian defense guards from
weapons of different calibers.

INDEFINITE SIT-IN IN FRONT OF PRESIDENTIAL PALACE, PROTESTING PARENTS DEMAND A FAIR TRIAL

11.12.2014 17:12 epress.am

Today, November 12, HSBC Bank employee and three-year imprisoned
Ashot Arushanyan’s parents have begun an indefinite sit-in and
hunger strike across the street from the Presidential Palace, near
the Marshal Baghramyan Metro.

They brought a couch and armchairs to the site of the sit-in, placing
their posters next to the furniture. Yesterday, the Arushanyans and
their supporters conducted a protest near the Presidential Palace,
demanding that President Serzh Sargsyan secure a fair investigation
for their son.

In June of this year, Ashot Arushanyan was sentenced to 5 and a half
years imprisonment. According to the most recent accusations, on
November 21, 2011, the defendant, Edgar Karakeshishyan, organized to
steal 56 million AMD ($135,000) from the car of Manana Grain company’s
deputy director Armen Manukyan, while information about the transfer
of money was given by Arushanyan. Karakeshishyan was sentenced to 7
years imprisonment. Artashes Galustyan was also charged, but was set
free and subsequently found dead after committing suicide in his home.

According to Ashot Arushanyan’s father, Lavrenti Arushanyan, the only
proof against his son is a testimony obtained through torture.

AZERBAIJAN SETS NEW LOW FOR COUNCIL OF EUROPE: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

18:23, 12 Nov 2014

“Azerbaijan’s six-month chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s
Committee of Ministers comes to an end this week, and not a moment
too soon. It can be said without exaggeration that Azerbaijan’s
tenure represented an assault on the institution and everything it
stands for,” Giorgi Gogia, senior South Caucasus researcher at Human
Rights Watch

“Azerbaijani leadership spoke out on progressive youth policies,
while back home young activists were being jailed; it hosted a
high-level conference on the European Court of Human Rights, while
Azerbaijan’s leading lawyer was arrested on bogus tax-related charges;
it also failed to implement the court’s judgment finding Azerbaijan
in violation of the European Convention for imprisoning an opposition
activist on politically motivated charges,” he added.

“When President Ilham Aliyev came to Strasbourg to speak to
the Parliamentary Assembly in June, he wasunrepentant. He didn’t
acknowledge any human rights problems in Azerbaijan and called anyone
who challenged him liars. I was shocked listening to him, and feared
for my colleagues and friends who criticized him at home and abroad.

My worst fears came to pass: the Azerbaijani colleagues who came to
the assembly to publicize Azerbaijan’s atrocious human rights record
now either languish in Azerbaijani jails, are in hiding, or have fled
the country fearing prosecution.”

“Perversely, over the six months Azerbaijan headed the council it
actually stepped up its crackdown, which included the arrest of at
least 11 people and conviction of at least nine others on politically
motivated charges, sentencing them to various prison terms following
flawed trials.”

“These include the country’s most prominent human rights defenders,
including Leyla Yunus, and her husband, the historian Arif Yunus,
Rasul Jafarov, and Intigam Aliyev. All four are in pretrial detention
on spurious charges, ranging from tax evasion to treason.”

“Azerbaijani authorities have also used restrictive new laws regulating
nongovernmental organizations and other strong-arm tactics to try to
starve independent groups of their funding in order to silence them.”

“During its chairmanship, the Azerbaijani government has caused a human
rights crisis in the country and in the Council of Europe. It has put
to the test the council’s standing as Europe’s foremost human rights
body. The Council of Europe’s leadership should condemn Baku’s behavior
in the strongest possible terms and make clear that there cannot be
business as usual until those imprisoned on politically motivated
charges are freed and the crackdown brought to an end,” Gogia said.

FRENCH AMBASSADOR: CURRENT SITUATION IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT CAN’T LAST FOR A LONG TIME

APA, Azerbaijan
Nov 12 2014

[ 12 November 2014 15:59 ]

Baku – APA. The current situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
can not last for a long time, newly appointed Ambassador of France
to Armenia Jean-Francois Charpentier told reporters, APA reports
quoting panorama.am.

“We want Armenia and Azerbaijan to find a mutually acceptable solution
as soon as possible, which will comply with the wishes of the peoples
of conflicting countries,” said Mr Charpentier. The envoy noted that
this is not his position, but the position of his country. Being
committed to this approach, the French president organized an
Armenian-Azerbaijani presidential meeting in Paris.

ARMENIAN HELICOPTER SHOT DOWN ON FRONT LINE – DEFENSE MINISTRY

APA, Azerbaijan
Nov 12 2014

[ 12 November 2014 16:53 ]

Baku. Hafiz Heydarov – APA. An Armenian helicopter has been shot down
on the front line.

During the recent exercises conducted by the Armenian Armed Forces,
Armenia’s military aircraft have been implementing provocative flights
over the frontal area for three days, Azerbaijani Defense Ministry
told APA.

The enemy military aircraft, performing combat maneuvers over the
Azerbaijani positions, today attempted to open fire at our positions.

On November 12 at about 1:45 pm, the Mi-24 helicopter of the Armenian
Armed Forces flying 1700 meters north-east of Kangarli village of
Aghdam region attacked the Azerbaijani positions. The enemy helicopter
was shot down with return fire.

The remains of the downed helicopter fell on the opposite territory
500 meters away from the front line.

OSCE SAYS IT IS CONCERNED OVER INCIDENT INVOLVING ARMENIAN HELICOPTER

Trend, Azerbaijan
Nov 12 2014

12 November 2014, 19:51 (GMT+04:00)

Trend:

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is concerned
over the developments around the helicopter crash on the contact line
of Armenian and Azerbaijani troops, and believes that such incidents
can expand the scope of the crisis, the OSCE Secretary General Lamberto
Zannier said Nov. 12, RIA Novosti news agency reported.

Such catastrophes can lead to a broader crisis in the context of a
situation that is increasingly unstable, Zannier said at a hearing
at the European Parliament.

On Nov. 12, at 13:45 (UTC/GMT +4 hours) a Mi-24 helicopter flying 1700
meters northeast of the Kengerli village of Aghdam district attacked
the positions of the Azerbaijani army. The helicopter was shot down
by the Azerbaijani side.

The debris of the downed helicopter fell on an area, located 500
meters away from the frontline.

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, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied
20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and
seven surrounding districts.

The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently
holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions
on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.