Author: Badalian Vardan

Azerbaijan Helped: Fast Response by Yerevan and Tehran

Badalian Vardan
Lragir, Armenia
Jan 19 2019

10:12 19.01.2019                                

The Armenian Ministry of Defense informed a few days ago that the meeting of the head of defense policy Levon Aivazyan met with the military attache of the Iranian Islamic Republic Mahdi Vejdani at the ministry. Aside from issues relating to bilateral relations on defense, the upcoming activities, they dwelled on the statement by the Chief of Staff of the Iranian army Mohammad Baghiri in Baku, as reported by the Azerbaijani press.

According to the Azerbaijani press, Baghiri stated that the territories of Artsakh are Azerbaijani territories. This information was also reported by the Russian-language news of IRNA, the Iranian national news agency, with a reference to the Azerbaijani press and was removed after some time.

According to the statement of the Ministry of Defense, during the meeting with the head of the Department of Defense Policy the Iranian military attache in Armenia “reaffirmed” Iran’s balanced position on the Artsakh issue that has been expressed multiple times, highlighted that it has not changed, and information in press and multiple comments on it distort it. Underlining the high-level political relations between the two countries, the sides expressed confidence that there will be mutual high-level visits and there will be innumerable occasions to express official positions on different issues.

The traditional Azerbaijani distortions of the Iranian general’s statements overlapped with a careless statement by one of the members of parliament of the My Step majority in the Armenian parliament, triggering certain “distortions” in Armenia. Different circles of the former ruling system used this for an information offensive on the new government, presented the statement ascribed to the Iranian general as an answer to the mistake by the Armenian member of parliament.

It is beyond doubt that what happened was a mistake, quite careless and untimely, and such mistakes must be practically ruled out. At the same time, it will be an unserious approach, first of all towards Iran, to say that after this statement the chief of staff of the Iranian army answered.

First of all, it would be unserious in the sense that Iran with its centuries-old state, political, geopolitical traditions, style and philosophy is able to distinguish worrying tendencies from mistakes. Hence, Tehran is a quite serious actor to answer such mistakes with such statements which may, in deep, contradict to Iran’s strategic interests.

Hence only with an unserious opinion about Iran would it be possible to conclude that someone’s slip of the tongue in Armenia would instantly get answered with a statement by the chief of staff of Iran’s army in Baku. Moreover, later it became known that the statement had been ascribed to him.

At the same time, this ascription was in some sense assistance to Armenia and Iran to discuss the situation together and eliminate at least theoretical risks of misunderstanding and lack of understanding.

In this sense, official Yerevan was adequate and fast, organizing a meeting at the Ministry of Defense with the military attache to prevent continuation of both internal and external manipulative developments.

At the same time, there is an important acknowledgement of high-level political relations between the two countries and an announcement about upcoming mutual high-level visits which will be an occasion to express official positions on different issues.

In a deeper sense these must be an occasion to refresh the Armenian-Iranian agenda.

“Classical Armenian as the pillar of the independent Armenian civilization”

Badalian Vardan

Friends,

Happy New Year and Christmas.

Enjoy watching “Classical Armenian as the pillar of independent Armenian civilization“ video of the presentation by clicking on the following:
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Not apart with complications: How Russia will build relations with its closest neighbors in 2019

Badalian Vardan
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
January 9, 2019 Wednesday
NOT APART WITH COMPLICATIONS: How Russia will build relations with its closest neighbors in 2019
 
by Vladimir Solovyov
Source: Kommersant, N1, January 9, 2019, pp. 1, 4  
 
Armenia. Idol to your home
 
“Velvet Revolution”, arranged by Nikol Pashinyan, made the whole world search for this country on the map and figure out what is happening there.
 
Bloodless change of power was highly appreciated in the West, while the Russian authorities cautiously watched the Armenian revolution and its leader. And almost for the first time in modern history, the official reaction of Moscow, which has always been negative towards any protest movement, whether in their territory or on their neighbors’, was definitely neutral, if not benevolent.
 
“We are committed to the continuation of joint work on strengthening and developing multifaceted mutually beneficial Russian-Armenian cooperation and allied cooperation in the interests of the peoples of both countries,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
 
Belorussia. Bridal ceremony
 
In the Belarusian direction, nothing unexpected has happened. Pre-New Year quarrels in Minsk and Moscow became a tradition that was not violated this time either. However, the degree of confrontation between the countries has increased.
 
Georgia. We do not expect changes
 
In Georgia, 2018 was marked by a sad anniversary for Tbilisi – ten years ago in August 2008, the country lost the war with Russia. Its result was Moscow’s recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In both partially recognized republics, the Russian military are deployed, and the chances that this status quo will change are zero.
 
Although the diplomatic relations between Moscow and Tbilisi are severed, the parties are engaged in sluggish negotiations on trade and customs issues.
 
Moldavia. The pro-Kremlin star is shining
 
For Moldova, 2018 was a pre-election year. February 2, the country will elect a new parliament. In the country whose population is roughly equally divided into those who sympathize with Russia and those who want to get to Europe, any elections in recent years fit into a simple scenario. The parties that call themselves pro-European declared the vote to be a decisive battle of the enlightened West with the darkness coming from the East. Pro-Russian politicians did the same, – however, according to their version, Russia sows sane, good seeds, while Brussels and Washington send hostile vortexes, bringing corruption, cosmopolitanism and homosexuality.
 
The first scenario is worked out by the ruling Democratic Party, headed by the extremely unpopular oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc. During each election campaign, the Democrats announce the hunting season for “agents of the Kremlin.”
 
In order to become declared a “hand of Moscow,” it is enough to speak out with criticism of the Democratic Party or Mr. Plahotniuc.
 
The Socialist Party and its leader – Moldovan President Igor Dodon, – are working out the second option, .
 
Ukraine. A bloody dispute
 
Ukraine also lives in the pre-election regime: there, they will elect president in March. Petro Poroshenko is unpopular, but he is still in control of the situation and he is tearing up one by one agreements with Russia, which he considers the enemy. In September, he signed a decree on the termination of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership with the Russian Federation. The head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Pavel Klimkin, has counted that Kiev had already broken 48 agreements with Moscow and intended to do the same with another four dozen treaties.
 
The post-Soviet space is a source of constant problems for Russia. In 2018, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine were the leaders. The Kremlin has conflicts of varying degrees of severity with each country, and it does not matter whether the latter is in an alliance with Moscow like Minsk, or is its open opponent like Kiev. Relations with the above five states will obviously generate new scandals in 2019.

Conscripts allowed to keep cell phones, but not smartphones

Badalian Vardan

Conscripts allowed to keep cell phones, but not smartphones

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14:39, 8 January, 2019

YEREVAN, JANUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. At the defense minister’s order, during the ongoing winter conscription new recruits are allowed to keep mobile phones, but with certain limitations in the device’s characteristics.

Military Commissar of Armenia Henrik Muradyan told reporters today that new conscripts can keep phones that do not have cameras or internet accessibility.

“The majority already have these kinds of cell phones,” he said.

Muradyan said the commanding staff of each military base will supervise that all requirements are met.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Ombudsman tackles prison subculture in special report/concept

Badalian Vardan

Ombudsman tackles prison subculture in special report/concept

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16:11, 28 December, 2018

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan has released a concept, in the form of an extraordinary report, of combating criminal subculture in correctional facilities in Armenia.

The Human Rights Defender’s Office said they studied and monitored the prison subculture and its affect in the relations between incarcerated individuals and the prison system.

The goal of the concept is to identify possible pathways for ruling out favorable conditions for the subculture’s existence, minimizing its effect and preventing its distribution, and to make recommendations for solving the problems.

Both practical and legislative complex recommendations requiring direct resolutions are included in the report.

The office said it attaches importance to the stance of the justice ministry in this issue.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Azerbaijani press: President Aliyev: 2018 was a successful year for Azerbaijan

Badalian Vardan
1 January 2019 00:26 (UTC+04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 1

Trend:

2018 was a successful year for Azerbaijan, said Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev in his congratulation to the Azerbaijani people on the occasion of the Solidarity Day of World Azerbaijanis and New Year.

“Dear compatriots.

Year 2018 is nearing the end. It is possible to say with certainty that 2018 was a successful year for our country. Our country has developed successfully in all directions. Azerbaijan has asserted itself as a strong country in the world. Our international positions have consolidated further. This year I have made 16 foreign trips. Sixteen heads of state and government have visited our country, which shows how widespread our bilateral relations are. At the same time, Azerbaijan has been successfully operating within international organizations. We have managed to secure a worthy place in the international arena.

Our relations with neighboring countries have risen to an even higher level. This is very important for each country, including Azerbaijan. The work we are doing in the political, economic and other spheres together with our neighbors strengthens stability in the region. As for stability, I can say that tensions, risks and threats are rising in the world, but Azerbaijan is a place of stability. In 2018, our people lived in peace and stability. The main reason and source of this stability is the unity between the people and the government.

We have further strengthened our relations with the European Union. The Partnership Priorities document signed between the European Union and Azerbaijan this year is a manifestation of the high level of these relations. This document clearly states thoughts on the territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of our borders and shows again that the European Union adheres to the right position on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Our role in Islamic solidarity issues is growing. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation gives a high assessment to our policy in this area and we can say with full confidence that Azerbaijan has strengthened its strong role in the Muslim world. The attention, respect and sympathy we enjoy in the Muslim world shows that Azerbaijan has achieved great success in this area as well.

This year, the issue of the legal status of the Caspian Sea was also resolved. This is a historic achievement. As you know, this issue remained unresolved for years. However, it has now been resolved and Azerbaijan has made a valuable contribution to that.

We remain committed to our principled position on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Our position is fair. Our position is fully consistent with the norms and principles of international law. Nagorno-Karabakh is ancient Azerbaijani land. The whole world recognizes the territorial integrity of our country. The Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be resolved only within the territorial integrity of our country. The resolutions of the UN Security Council must be fully implemented and the occupying forces must unconditionally withdraw from our lands.

I can say that Azerbaijan made very serious steps to resolve this conflict in 2018. As you know, the regime of criminal and corrupt junta that which remained in power in Armenia for 20 years has collapsed and this represents a complete failure of Armenia’s aggressive policy against Azerbaijan. I can also say that our thought-out, focused and principled policy against Armenia has yielded fruit. We have isolated Armenia from all regional and international projects, and our share in the collapse of the Armenian economy is quite large. I think there is a new situation for the settlement of the conflict today. I do hope that 2019 can be a breakthrough year in this area.

Along with this, of course, I think that our strong military potential is a key factor for the resolution of the conflict. In recent years, we have significantly enhanced our military power. Today, the Azerbaijani army is among the strongest armies in the world. This year’s military parade in our country shows our strength, the great potential of strong army. The Azerbaijani army has the most modern weapons and equipment, a very high combat potential, and we proved this again this year. The Azerbaijani army has carried out a successful operation in the Nakhchivan direction of the Azerbaijani-Armenian border and is now in control of 11,000 hectares of land. The takeover of strategic heights enables us to exercise full control over important communications and routes passing through Armenia.

We will continue to increase our military power. We want to settle the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peacefully, and our participation in the negotiations is a clear proof of that. However, everyone knows and should know that the military factor plays a special role for the solution of the conflict, and we will increase our military power further.

A great deal has been done for the IDPs this year. New homes and apartments for 5,800 IDP families were built and made available to them. This is a record figure in recent years. A total of 626 apartments were given to martyr families and those handicapped in the Karabakh war, and we will continue this policy next year.

Of course, all this requires a strong economy, which we do have. Today, Azerbaijan does not depend on anyone in terms of economic development. Azerbaijan’s economy is independent and represents a factor that strengthens our independent policy. This year, the gross domestic product has grown, the non-oil sector has grown, industrial production has grown, and the non-oil sector has grown by more than 9 percent. Our exports grew by about 40 percent. $10 billion has been invested in the country’s economy. The World Bank’s latest “Doing Business” report ranks Azerbaijan 25th in the world. This shows that our reforms, transparency and major economic transformation are producing results, and the World Bank appreciates it.

We attach great importance to modern technologies. This year, our third satellite was launched into orbit. This is a great event. Azerbaijan is a member of a limited club of space-faring nations and we are strengthening our positions in this field.

This year, the Southern Gas Corridor was officially opened. In May, we celebrated this magnificent event. This is a great and historic achievement. At the same time, TANAP project was officially opened in June this year, and thus great opportunities were ushered for the completion of the Southern Gas Corridor. It is our historic achievement and the people of Azerbaijan will benefit from these projects for decades to come.

This year, we celebrated the opening of the Alat Trade Seaport. This is also a historic project. Azerbaijan is becoming a very important transport hub not only of the region but also of Eurasia. The North-South and East-West corridors pass through our territory. A very strong transport infrastructure will enable us to use our transit capabilities with great efficiency.

As you know, by my order earlier this year, year 2018 was declared a Year of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. We extensively celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic both in our country and in many foreign states. The present-day Azerbaijan is the successor of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. Azerbaijan has never been so strong and so independent in history. Azerbaijan has never been so liberal.

This year, the presidential election was held in our country. The Azerbaijani people once again showed confidence in me and gave a high assessment to my work. Over the past 15 years, I have been working as President and serving my people with dignity. I will try to do my utmost for the further development of Azerbaijan, for the strengthening of Azerbaijan and for the prosperity of the people. I have one mission: to build a strong Azerbaijani state and serve the people with dignity.

It is the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis today. Taking this opportunity, I extend my greetings to all Azerbaijanis, to all our compatriots living in the world, and wish them every success.

Dear fellow countrymen, dear sisters and brothers.

I sincerely wish you a Happy New Year and the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis.

Happy Holidays!” – said President Ilham Aliyev in his congratulatory address.


Letter to the Editor of the Lowell Sun (MA):Turkey: An unreliable ally

Badalian Vardan
Lowell Sun (Massachusetts)
Saturday
Turkey: An unreliable ally
 
 LETTER TO THE EDITOR; Editorials
  
The revelations from the indictment of Michael Flynn’s Turkish business partners expose what has been hidden from the general public — that the autocratic government of Turkey has long been illegally meddling in American domestic politics.
 
Flynn has now admitted that before he was appointed national security advisor, he was secretly lobbying for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, one of the world’s leading violators of human rights. Turkey plotted with Flynn to kidnap cleric Fethullah Gulen from Pennsylvania despite the fact that for years Erdogan and Gulen were allies conspiring to continue the unacceptable and unjust denial of Turkey’s perpetration of the genocide against its Armenian citizens during World War I.
 
Turkey’s protests over the despicable murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi are a smokescreen to cover the fact that Turkish jails hold more journalists than any other country on earth. In Syria, Turkey repeatedly undermined the battle to defeat ISIS by bombarding and assaulting America’s most dependable ally in the country, the Syrian Democratic Forces, because for Erdogan it is more important to eliminate U.S. allied Kurdish forces than ISIS radicals.
 
It is well past time for Washington to speak out against the pernicious influence of a Turkish government that has warped policies in Congress, the Pentagon, and the State Department by posing as a reliable ally.
 
ARA A. JEKNAVORIAN
 Chelmsford,
 Co-chair,
 Armenian National Committee, Merrimack Valley

Planète Géo. Le Haut-Karabakh, jardin noir du Caucase

Badalian Vardan
Franceinfo
30 dec 2018
 
 
Planète Géo. Le Haut-Karabakh, jardin noir du Caucase
 

franceinfoSandrine MarcyRadio France
C’est une région du sud Caucase dont on parle peu : le Haut-Karabakh. Ce petit territoire autonome, peuplé majoritairement d’Arméniens, veut s’ouvrir au tourisme.
 
Le Haut-Karabakh a proclamé son indépendance en 1991 mais il n’est pas reconnu par la communauté internationale. Haut Karabakh signifie littéralement « le jardin noir » du Caucase. Pour s’y rendre, il faut partir d’Erevan, la capitale de l’Arménie et suivre l’une des deux routes qui vous mènent dans cette contrée enclavée en Azerbaïdjan.  
 
Coincé entre l’Arménie et l’Azerbaïdjan
 
 Dans le magazine Géo, Patrick BOITET nous raconte son périple à travers ce territoire pas plus grand qu’une région comme l’Ile de France mais qui ne compte que 150.000 habitants.
 
Pour y aller, il faut partir d’Erevan, la capitale d’Arménie : deux routes servent de lignes de vie à cette région enchâssée dans les sommets du Caucase.
 
La route par le Nord inaugurée en 2017, passe par la ville arménienne de Varde­nis. Après avoir longé le lac Sevan. “Passage au col Amour, après trois heures de route depuis Erevan, on atteint l’une des frontières les plus épi­neuses de cette partie du monde… pour atteindre Stepanakert, petite capitale de 50.000 habitants”.
 
 
Une terre de résistance
 
Sous son aspect bucolique avec ses montagnes, ses vergers et ses monastères, la région enclavée du Caucase du Sud autrefois soviétique, lutte pour son indépendance depuis 27 ans.
 
Cette région peuplée majoritairement d’Arméniens, chrétiens, appartient toujours à l’Azerbaïdjan, pays à majorité turcophone et chiite.
 
Le Haut-Karabakh était une “région autonome” au sein de la République socialiste soviétique d’Azerbaïdjan  Autoproclamée indépendante à la chute de l’URSS en 1991, elle n’est pas, à ce jour, reconnue par la communauté internationale.
 
Un cessez-le-feu a été signé en mai 1994 entre l’Azerbaïdjan, l’Arménie et le Haut-Karabakh mais, à ce jour, aucun règlement politique n’a été trouvé. Depuis le cessez-le-feu de 1994, elle est toujours sur le qui-vive le long de la frontière avec l’Azerbaïdjan. en 2017, le Haut-Karabakh s’est rebaptisé république d’Artsakh, nom qui désignait jadis la dixième province du royaume d’Arménie. Volonté de cet Etat de s’arrimer à la “mère patrie” et chargé d’histoire, le coeur de la résistance nationale.
 
Des paysages bucoliques
 
“Des montagnes veinées de rivières, qui font du Haut-Karabakh un jardin, c’est vrai, fertile et ensoleillé, où tout pousse en abon­dance, avec des produits meil­leurs qu’en Arménie car ici ils sont bio.
 
Chaque village des environs possède son tonir, un four en terre cuite, souvent enterré.
 
Avec ses monastères, la région est aussi un lieu de pèlerinage .
 
S’ouvrir sur le monde
 
Aujourd’hui, ce morceau d’Arménie veut donner l’image d’un pays accueillant et développer le tourisme… mais surtout pas le tourisme de masse, avis aux amateur de trekking !
 
  L’autre idée, c’est de miser sur l’apprentissage du numérique parmi les jeunes ; l’école Tumo installée dans la capitale du Haut-Karabakh  dispense une formation numérique gratuite, pour tous les jeunes.
 
“La dias­pora arménienne a largement soutenu la reconstruction pendant les années qui ont suivi la guerre, et investit activement dans l’éco­nomie locale. Exemple avec le centre Tumo créé en 2011 à l’initiative de grosses fortunes de la diaspora ; il est dédié à la création numérique pour les 12-18 ans. On vient de loin pour étudier ce modèle (la maire de Paris Anne Hidalgo a inauguré un centre Tumo à Paris)”.
 
La fierté pour cette région autonome : un taux de croissance annuel moyen de 10% au cours de la dernière décennie.
 
En attendant, le conflit avec l’Azerbaïdjan n’est toujours pas réglé, des accrochages se produisent encore sur la ligne de front séparant ce territoire particulier de l’Azerbaïjan, le blocus économique est de rigueur.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Artsakh reports more Azerbaijani ceasefire violations over past week

Badalian Vardan
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 29 2018

The Azerbaijani armed forces violated the ceasefire along the Artsakh-Azerbaijan Line of Contact more than 150 times in the past week.

In the period from December 23 to 29, the adversary fired around 1,500 shots towards the Armenian defense positions from firearms of different calibres, the Artsakh Defense Ministry told Panorama.am.

The Defense Army’s frontline troops keep the situation in the contact line under full control, confidently fulfilling their military tasks.   

Syrian-Armenians, other compatriots hold campaign in Yerevan, oppose closure of Diaspora ministry

Badalian Vardan

Syrian-Armenians, other compatriots hold campaign in Yerevan, oppose closure of Diaspora ministry

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11:50,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Syrian-Armenians, other compatriots, who have resettled in Armenia, are holding a campaign outside the Diaspora ministry: they are protesting against the closure of the ministry, reports Armenpress.

The campaign participants stated that Armenia doesn’t have diplomatic representatives in all countries, but the Diaspora ministry has been in contact with the Armenian communities of numerous states and made their voices heard in the Homeland. In addition, the ministry has presented different proposals in the government as a result of which the issues of Diaspora-Armenians in Armenia have been solved or simplified. They express concern that the significant works carried out by the ministry so far are just being ignored. This is in case when great number of Armenians live abroad. The campaign participants plan to submit a letter to the acting Prime Minister to present their concerns.

Levon Antonyan, head of the department of the Armenian community of the Middle East, told reporters that numerous Diaspora-Armenians have joined the call to preserve the ministry.

“During those days we receive multiple telephone calls from the Armenian communities of different countries of the world. The representatives state that the ministry should continue its activities. Preserving the ministry is a very important task. We met with the minister who is trying to discuss this issue with the acting PM. A discussion is expected tomorrow. We think that not having an institute in general will have a serious consequence. Moreover, the pre-election program of My Step alliance contains points relating to the Diaspora”, he said, adding that they need to carry out a concrete common policy on the Diaspora.

A group of ministry staff members together with the campaign participants walked to the government’s building to give the letter. A government official accepted the letter.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan