Author: Boshkezenian Garik

Apple warns multiple Armenians of notorious Pegasus spyware attacks, expert points finger at Azerbaijan

Boshkezenian Garik

 15:27, 1 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Apple has warned multiple iPhone users in Armenia that they’ve been targeted in attempted state-sponsored espionage attacks, including through Pegasus, the infamous spyware developed by the Israeli cyber-arms company NSO Group designed to be covertly and remotely installed on mobile phones.

Information security expert Samvel Martirosyan said on November 1 that this recent wave of warnings from Apple is the continuation of other cases. There’ve been several waves of similar hacking attacks since the 2020 war unleashed by Azerbaijan, Martirosyan said at a press conference.

“These days, numerous citizens in Armenia are receiving such notifications. The warnings don’t mention who was behind the attack. I can say that most of the studied cases pertain to Pegasus spyware attacks targeting mobile phones. It is a spyware developed by a private Israeli company, which is sold to state agencies of several countries. Reality shows that dictatorships use it against the civil society. The most active user is Azerbaijan. And this case related to Armenia is highly unusual in terms of Azerbaijan factually using this program as a cyberweapon against Armenia with permission from the Israeli government,” Martirosyan said.

CyberHUB-AM co-founder Artur Papyan warned Android users that if they haven’t received any warnings, it doesn’t mean that they haven’t been targeted.

Once the phone is infected with Pegasus, those behind the attack can get access to the entire information on the device.

Apple users are advised to install the latest updates for security reasons and use the Lockdown Mode if they suspect they are targeted.

Several hundreds of people have been targeted in Armenia, according to Martirosyan.

“These waves appeared during the war. This process has been taking place for over two years. Those targeted include both current and former government officials, oppositionists, journalists, staffers of various state bodies, and employees of foreign organizations working in Armenia. 30% of the cases that have applied to us were unsuccessful attacks, but the rest were successful. Some people have received such notifications several times. The phones of these people and their family members are infected,” he said.

The use of Pegasus is rather expensive, and targeting only one phone through the spyware costs the hackers somewhere between 20,000 to 60,000 dollars.

Ottawa: ‘Everything is on the table’ [Canadian FM] Joly says of potential Azerbaijan sanctions, at Armenian embassy opening

Boshkezenian Garik
Canada – Oct 28 2023
YEREVAN – 

Ottawa opened its first-ever embassy in the distant Republic of Armenia on Wednesday, making history as Canada's first in the South Caucasus region.

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Foreign Minister Melanie Joly was on hand for the event, visiting Armenia to both officially open the embassy and for a raft of meetings with Armenian officials.

"Canada stands by the people of Armenia and supports their sovereignty and independence," Joly said at a press conference with her Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan. "We believe in your democratic aspirations and are ready to work with you to make them a reality," she said.

Joly's visit to Armenia comes in the wake of a humanitarian crisis following the influx of 100,000 refugees from the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region last month.

Internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh had been de facto independent for more than three decades, with multiple wars in that span. Following a nine-month blockade, Azerbaijan attacked the territory again on Sept. 19, leading to a mass forced displacement(opens in a new tab) of nearly the entire ethnic Armenian population to Armenia.

Canada and Joly had regularly called for Azerbaijan to lift its blockade, and were "gravely concerned" by Azerbaijan's assault last month. Speaking in Yerevan, Joly announced an additional $1 million of aid for refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh.

The minister also hinted that more consequences for Azerbaijan, including sanctions, could be on the table from Canada if the country's aggression against Armenia itself continues.

"Everything is on the table," said Joly, in response to CTV News' question regarding the possibility of sanctions against Azerbaijan. "We expect that Armenia's sovereignty will be respected, and we are closely watching this," Joly said.

The embassy in Armenia is Canada's first in the South Caucasus region, which was previously covered by the Canadian embassy in Moscow. Neither of the other two regional countries — Georgia and Azerbaijan — host a Canadian embassy.

The choice of Armenia as Canada's entry to the region was a pointed one. Countries with embassies in only one of the South Caucasus countries usually choose Georgia, with both its longtime pro-Western orientation and ability to cover all three regional countries. But democratic backsliding there, as well as Armenia's strong pro-Western turn in the past year, made Armenia a more attractive option.

"This is the only democracy in the region," said Stephane Bergeron, the Bloc Quebecois MP for Montarville, Que. and one of two MPs besides Joly on the trip. "So they need support. And this is why I think it's important to intensify the relations between Canada and Armenia," Bergeron said.

Lyndsay Mathyssen, in attendance as the NDP MP for London-Fanshawe, Ont. echoed these sentiments.

"This is a historic moment, one that the Armenian diaspora and politicians have been working on for many, many years now," Mathyssen said. "For our [two] countries, economically, politically, there's a lot going on. We can certainly benefit from strengthening the relationship between Canada and Armenia, and this is a wonderful way to do that," she said.

Canada's commitments in Armenia have already gone beyond the establishment of a permanent diplomatic mission and humanitarian aid.

In July, Global Affairs Canada announced that Canada would be joining the European Union's Mission in Armenia (EUMA), becoming the first third-party country to do so.

The mission was established in February to observe the country's border with Azerbaijan in the wake of a two-day Azerbaijani offensive into Armenia last September that saw Azerbaijani troops occupy a swathe of Armenian territory. Joly visited the Armenian town of Jermuk, close to last year's fighting, on Thursday, observing Azerbaijani military positions on Armenian territory alongside the EUMA.

That attack by Azerbaijan, as well as last month's assault on Nagorno-Karabakh, has fuelled fears of further Azerbaijani military offensives against Armenia itself. While Azerbaijani officials have denied any territorial designs on Armenia, regular belligerent statements by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, as well as irredentist claims against Armenia itself, have cast doubt on these.

Bergeron underscored the need for consistency in Canada's foreign policy and support for a fellow democracy under attack by an autocratic neighbour in his support of the embassy opening.

"Very often [Canada] decides to chastise a country that attacks another one, [but we were] silent when Azerbaijan not only attacked Nagorno-Karabakh, but also the sovereign territory of Armenia," Bergeron said. "We were all together to support Ukraine, so I don't understand why we're not together to support Armenia that was attacked by Azerbaijan.

"I think it's time to impose sanctions against the leaders of this country [Azerbaijan], because an aggression is an aggression, no matter which country [does it]," Bergeron said.

For Sevag Belian, the executive director of the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANC), the opening of the embassy and Joly's visit were a good start – but hopefully just the beginning.

"I think that Canada is pivotal in terms of supporting the physical integrity of Armenia," Belian said. "Having a Canadian presence here…is a message that I think Canada is trying to project, that Armenia is a country that needs help, in the face of aggression by Azerbaijan," he said.

As Canada establishes itself in the region, Belian hopes that additional pressure on Azerbaijan by Ottawa can help restore stability to the South Caucasus.

"For the last three years, since the 2020 war and especially over the last month, we've [ANC] been very clear, asking the Canadian government to take decisive action [against Azerbaijan]," Belian said. "Sanctions are one way, but there are many levers that [Canada] can use. We'd like to see real, tangible results, and we're confident that the [Canadian] government is moving in that direction."

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/everything-is-on-the-table-joly-says-of-potential-azerbaijan-sanctions-at-armenian-embassy-opening-1.6620208

Armenia and Hungary Committed to Rebuilding Relations

Boshkezenian Garik
Hungary Today
Oct 27 2023
MTI-Hungary Today 2023.10.27.

Hungary remains committed to rebuilding relations with Armenia, and after a ten-year diplomatic hiatus, the parties are working to establish cooperation that serves the interests of both nations, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said in Yerevan on Friday.

At a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan, the minister stressed that this visit “marks the end of a long journey,” as there had been no diplomatic relations between the two countries for ten years. He recalled that last year, the two sides decided to normalize relations.


He said that the strong common ground of Christianity is a great help in this, as both Hungary and Armenia have a long Christian heritage. He added that the Armenian Christian Church has played an important role in rebuilding the relationship.

he said.

He also stressed that the government had provided 116 million forints (EUR 300,000) in aid to families resettling from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia and 100,000 doses of vaccines during the coronavirus epidemic. “Hungary remains committed to rebuilding these links,” he said.


As a sign of this, he said, another 40 million forints (EUR 90,000) will be provided to families moving from Nagorno-Karabakh, and Hungary is ready to participate in the medical treatment of the resettled families and to offer summer camps for the children of the affected families next year.


Szijjártó also announced that a cooperation agreement on higher education will be signed, allowing thirty Armenians to study at Hungarian universities on scholarships every year. He also touched on the Armenian minority in Hungary, stressing that the budget support for the community has been increased fourfold over the last thirteen years. He said that he had asked his Armenian counterpart to authorize the establishment of a Hungarian consular representation in Yerevan.
He said that the government would encourage WizzAir to add Budapest as a destination for flights from Yerevan. “Then the direct link could really be physically established. I think that after ten years, this is not a bad step forward for a meeting,” he said.

The minister also underlined that the Caucasus is extremely important for Europe, both because of its proximity and because the region can help to overcome the continent’s energy crisis, and there is a realistic possibility of obtaining new resources from there.
“This is precisely why we Hungarians want Azerbaijan and Armenia to be able to sign a peace agreement as soon as possible, which will then guarantee that people in this region can live in peace and tranquillity for the next decades, and which will enable the next years and decades to be about peaceful economic development in the region,” he said.

The relationship between Hungary and Armenia was severely damaged when in 2004, an Azerbaijani army officer, Ramil Safarov, had murdered his Armenian colleague stationed in the same dormitory while both taking place in an education program in Budapest. During his trial at a Hungarian court, Safarov’s Azerbaijani defender had argued that in their native country, killing an Armenian does not count as a crime. The perpetrator was eventually sentenced to 30 years in prison.

In 2012, on the basis of a bilateral agreement, Safarov was allowed back home with the Azeri authorities’ promise that he would serve the rest of his sentence in a domestic prison. On his return, however, President Ilham Aliyev had granted Safarov immediate mercy. In a reaction to this, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan then announced that his country would sever all diplomatic and official relations with Hungary.

https://hungarytoday.hu/armenia-and-hungary-committed-to-rebuilding-relations/

Armenpress: Deputy Speaker of Parliament Arshakyan lauds Canada’s decision to open embassy in Armenia as sign of stronger ties

Boshkezenian Garik

 09:53,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hakob Arshakyan and his delegation held a meeting with Canadian Senator, member of the Canadian delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Salma Ataullahjan within the framework of the IPU 147th Assembly.

Arshakyan lauded the friendly ties based on mutual respect and trust between Armenia and Canada ever since establishing diplomatic ties and appreciated the significant contribution of the Armenian community of Canada in strengthening bilateral cooperation, the parliament’s press service said in a readout.

The Deputy Speaker said that the opening of the Canadian embassy in Armenia is yet another important step in strengthening bilateral ties and that it can be considered as the result of the productive joint work of the governments of the two countries.

Arshakyan presented the situation resulting from the September 19 Azeri attack against Nagorno-Karabakh which has led to the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population.

Azerbaijan’s aggressive policy against Armenia’s territorial integrity resulting in the occupation of over 150 square km of Armenian territory was also discussed.

“Armenia has adopted an agenda of peace and expects the international community’s support in this issue,” Arshakyan said. He presented the idea of the Crossroads of Peace initiated by Armenia, stressing the importance of a roadmap for regional peace. A number of issues related to the regional situation and cooperation between the two countries were also discussed.

Members of Parliament Tsovinar Vardanyan and Arsen Torosyan are part of the Deputy Speaker’s delegation.

No one disputes Armenia’s territorial integrity – lawmaker

Boshkezenian Garik

 12:58,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The territorial integrity of Armenia is understandable for all parties and no one is disputing it, Member of Parliament Vagharshak Hakobyan told reporters.

“The negotiations process is difficult,” Hakobyan, the Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Regional and Eurasian Integration Affairs said about the Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations.

“But I assure you, the positions of Armenia in the negotiations process is rather normal today. We’ve been able to ensure our country’s security in this period of a collapsing world order. I find this to be a big achievement, that in a tense situation the borders of Armenia are calm, and by being fully involved in the talks we are representing Armenia’s state interests,” he said.

Neither the superpowers nor Armenia’s adversaries are disputing the territorial integrity of Armenia, he said.

“The territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia is understandable for all parties. Yes, in the negotiations process we must achieve for this all to be recorded in clear numbers, borders, taking into account every single nuance,” the MP said.

Visa rules eased for UAE tourists to travel to Armenia

Boshkezenian Garik
Khaleej Times, UAE
Oct 24 2023
by 

Published: Tue 24 Oct 2023, 6:00 AM

Last updated: Tue 24 Oct 2023, 4:44 PM

Armenia has made travel more accessible for tourists from the UAE with streamlined visa regulations. The mountainous country has simplified visa requirements for Emiratis, with UAE passport holders now enjoying visa-free travel for up to 180 days within a year.

Visa regulations are also simplified for those with UAE residency visas.

Sisian Boghossian MBA, head of Tourism Committee of Armenia, Ministry of Economy, told Khaleej Times: “Citizens from more than 50 countries, including Egypt, India, Iraq, Morocco, the Philippines, and Saudi Arabia, may obtain a visa at the Armenian border (on-arrival or by e-visa) if they hold a valid resident card issued by GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) member states, which includes the UAE.”

The new visa rules aim to encourage cultural exchange, tourism, and deeper connections between the two nations, Armenia’s tourism body said. “As Armenia opens its doors to UAE tourists, there has never been a better time to explore this gem of the Caucasus.”

Located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, the country has seen a “significant upswing” of travellers from the UAE. “The short direct flight (three hours) and affordability make it an attractive choice for those looking for a memorable but convenient getaway. The variety of activities, from ziplining and water rafting to paragliding and winter sports, provides a well-rounded experience for visitors,” said Boghossian.

“Overall, Armenia's visa facilitation, proximity, affordability, rich culture, delicious cuisine, and beautiful landscapes make it a popular choice among UAE travellers seeking a unique and unexplored destination.”

Many travellers from the UAE explore regions beyond capital Armenia, she added. “Armenia's appeal to UAE tourists is further enhanced by its picturesque winter landscapes and a range of snow-related activities, ensuring year-round tourism. Moreover, the affordability and variety of Armenia's tourism offerings align well with the desire of UAE visitors to experience new and exciting activities.”

The country is home to hidden gems like a grape spa in Ararat Valley that offers grape-based treatments. Scenic getaways include Lake Sevan and the stunning peaks of the Armenian highlands. Armenia also boasts a rich cultural heritage, with ancient monasteries, churches, and historical sites.

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/travel/visa-rules-eased-for-uae-tourists-to-travel-to-armenia?_refresh=true

India-Bangladesh ‘Land Pact’ Key Solution To Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict In Nagorno-Karabakh: OPED

Boshkezenian Garik
         Oct 20 2023

OPED By Maj. Gen. (Dr) Ashok Kumar (Retd)

The world has been a place of unfair responses since time immemorial, and the current trend continues to date, albeit with more intense manifestations. When Russia commenced its special operations in Ukraine in the last week of February 2022, most countries supported Ukraine.

Even those countries in the world who supported Russia for reasons have also voiced concerns about the civil population of Ukraine, highlighting their displacement from their native location and the sufferings encountered in the process.

The nations and international organizations also rallied against Russia in support of Ukraine, so much so that the Human Rights Council of the United Nations voted to suspend Russia’s membership, with 93 countries supporting the suspension, only 24 voting against the suspension, while 58 countries abstained.

This was the action against a superpower like Russia, otherwise a permanent UN Security Council member.

Most nations and international organizations’ response to support the Ukrainian indigenous population is not a one-off event. Still, the same manifests in the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel.

While countries have taken their positions in favor of Israel or Hamas based on their national policies and interests, two things have emerged clearly. One is that Hamas terrorism unleashed on Israel has been condemned by most nations. Still, Gaza residents suffering significant casualties and forced evacuation have also drawn support from countries opposing Hamas.

The sufferings and migrations of the ethnic population from Gaza drew positive support from several quarters and have become an important discussion point on the geopolitical scan of the world. None of the above responses came up when close to 100,000 ethnic population of Nagorno-Karabakh was forced to migrate to Armenia due to offensive actions by Azerbaijan in September 2023.

Regional and other world countries did not respond at the level of their anticipated response on such a significant event in Nagorno-Karabakh, ethnic cleansing by all standards.

India can understand the pain of the ethnic population of Armenian people much better as it suffered significant pain related to the migration of large scale people at the time of partition between India and Pakistan when large scale population moved between both the nations.

It was not only a mere re-location of the people but also resulted in large-scale killings and suffering. India has, therefore, been supportive of Armenia and its native population, whether they are located in mainland Armenia or the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.

There are historical, geographic, and ethnic reasons for this conflict, apart from the fight for rich mineral deposits.

The ethnic composition of Armenia is predominantly Christian, including those staying in the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. Contrary to this, the natives of Azerbaijan are primarily Muslims, including those staying in the Nakhchivan enclave of Azerbaijan.

While the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave is quite close to Armenia, it was not physically connected till Armenia won the first Nagorno-Karabakh war spanning from 1988 to 1994, during which Armenia won decisively, including capture of the mountain pass and creating the Lachin corridor for physical geographic connectivity between Armenia and its Nagorno-Karabakh enclave.

Azerbaijan also has a similar geographic connectivity issue with its Nakhchivan enclave, which is physically located in the West of Armenia, with Iran in the south and southwest with a small boundary with Turkey.

Azerbaijan has failed to get the desired corridor through Armenia. Currently, Azerbaijan is trying to connect through Iran and Turkey, the outcome of which, along with implications, will be known later.

The geographic and ethnic complexity has to be resolved through politico-diplomatic discussions, keeping the interest of the ethnic population in mind.

Land border settlement between India and Bangladesh resulted in enclave exchanges between the two neighbors. Still, the people residing in these enclaves could either stay in India or Bangladesh.

The corridor of Teen Bigha was also given to Bangladesh on a long-term lease to address the concerns of its population.

If a political settlement or resolution of the issue is reached as a consequence of direct negotiation between both countries, it will be an ideal solution; however, given the distrust and continued background of the conflicts between both nations, support of regional and other countries of the world may need to be taken.

At the same time, it is a must for Armenia to build up its military strength. Armenia, having less than half the size of Azerbaijani defense forces, got the decisive win in the first Nagorno-Karabakh war spanning over six years from 1988 to 1994.

But it suffered reverses from 2008 in the military conflict, losing substantial geographic control to Azerbaijan in the second Nagorno-Karabakh war of 2020. Finally, almost the entire enclave was lost in September 2023, resulting in a mass exodus of the ethnic Armenian population from Nagorno-Karabakh.

A strong defense force is essential for Armenia should Azerbaijan thrust the war again to get the geographic connectivity with its Nakhchivan enclave, as the following fault lines may develop into a significant conflict.

At this juncture, India can help a lot for the Armenian resurgence. However, it faces Chinese transgressions on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh and collusive threats from China and Pakistan.

Despite this, India can strengthen the defense forces of Armenia to a large extent. Besides providing the warlike stores, which it is already doing, it can establish a ‘Training Team’ for empowering the Armenian defense forces.

It will, however, depend on the national interest of Armenia to go in for such an arrangement, given its domestic political compulsions and world views on the matter. The co-operation can be further expanded based on the mutual national interests of both countries.

  • Major General (Dr) Ashok Kumar, VSM, (Retd), is a 1999 Kargil war veteran, visiting fellow of the New Delhi-based Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), and defense & strategic analyst with a special focus on China. He tweets @ChanakyaOracle. VIEWS PERSONAL OF THE AUTHOR
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/india-bangladesh-land-pact-key-solution-to-armenia-azerbaijan/

Georgia Might Become a New Mediator between Azerbaijan and Armenia

Boshkezenian Garik
Modern Diplomacy
Oct 13 2023

Published

 15 hours ago 

on

 

By

 Naghi Ahmadov

On October 8, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev paid a working visit to Georgia and met with the Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. During the meeting various issues relating to the strategic cooperation between the two countries were discussed. Cooperation in the areas of energy, transport, and logistics was among them. Following the one-on-one meeting, the leaders made joint statements for the press. Commenting on the results of President Aliyev’s visit PM Garibashvili noted that Azerbaijan and Georgia are exploring joint opportunities in trade, energy, sustainable and infrastructure development.

One of the important points that the leaders touched on was the normalization between Azerbaijan and Armenia and Georgia’s possible role in the mediation process.  “Georgia has always held a neutral, unbiased position in this process and we stand ready to make our humble contribution through mediation or facilitation – establishment of a friendly format in general,” said by the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili adding that “Tbilisi is always ready to take part in this process. Our future should be peaceful, stable and we – all three countries of the South Caucasus – should be able to decide on our own about the regional affairs and our development ahead.”

In response to this issue, President Aliyev stated: “We must work hard on the peace treaty to be signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan. If we succeed in that, and I hope we will, then a completely new political situation will emerge in the South Caucasus”. He further claimed that the South Caucasus countries can start cooperating in a trilateral format in many fields – transport, energy security, trade, mutual investment. Ilham Aliyev, in his speech, reminded that several countries and international organizations are in the role of facilitators in the process of normalization. However, according to President Aliyev, Georgia should participate in the normalization of relations between Baku and Yerevan as it holds an unbiased position regarding the territorial integrity of the countries. He also emphasized that if Armenia expresses consent, then bilateral and trilateral meetings will immediately can begin in Georgia.

During the last 30 years, Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict has sadly turned the region into a hostage of the interests of great powers. Now the fact is that the main problem of the South Caucasus has already been resolved. Azerbaijan has managed to completely restore its territorial integrity and sovereign rights over the Karabakh region. Thus, the major element of Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict – “Nagorno-Karabakh” issue which prevented the signing of the peace agreement no longer exists.

It is worth mentioning that until now, the negotiation process has taken place in different places through the mediation of Russia and the West. The later one is called the “Brussels format” and mainly involves meetings mediated by EU Council President Charles Michel. It is true that, at different times, within that format quadrilateral meetings were also held in the United States personally with the mediation of State Secretary Antony Blinken, as well as five-party meetings with the participation of France and Germany. Unfortunately, all these formats have practically failed in achieving a peace deal mainly owing to geopolitical competition among the major mediators that want to dictate their interests in the South Caucasus.

Such platforms, where Russia and the West, which have belligerent relations, are jointly represented, cannot play any role other than the function of geopolitical division. The past proved it. Therefore, it should be noted that due to the France’s destructive position, recently President Aliyev had canceled his visit to Granada, Spain, where a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was to be held with the participation of leaders of the European Union, France, and Germany.

However, Georgia is relatively a small country that does not involve geopolitical ambitions. Both historical-cultural and geographical proximity should be specially evaluated too. Moreover, Tbilisi is no stranger to the negotiation process. Some time ago, the meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Jeyhun Bayramov and Ararat Mirzoyan took place in Georgia.

In this regard, the continuation of the negotiation process in Georgia and the organization of discussions around the peace agreement will definitely change the landscape in the South Caucasus. Unlike the parties that focus on their foreign policy interests rather than solving the problem, Georgia can host thematic negotiations and substantive discussions more effectively.

Georgian Vice Parliament Speaker Gia Volski also said that Tbilisi could “successfully facilitate” talks for peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia due to its “very high reputation”.

Another point that should be regarded in favor of Georgia as a mediator is the fact that many people of Armenian and Azerbaijani origins live in harmony in Georgia. This is an important factor makes Georgia the best venue for negotiations between the parties.

As well known that Azerbaijanis are the single largest ethnic minority in Georgia and they live compactly in five districts in Georgia. Also, ethnic Georgians living in Azerbaijan preserve their identity like other ethnic groups. This itself plays a big role in successfully establishing bilateral relations. To some extent, this model can be applied between Azerbaijan and Armenia after ethnically cleansed Azerbaijani people’s right to return ensured.

To conclude, the South Caucasus is about to enter a new stage. Now the region has got a chance to start a period of peace and stability. If the parties succeed in this endeavour, it will pave the way for the development prospects of the South Caucasus. And as a result, the entire region will become a different geo-economic space. In this regard, Baku sees the current situation as a real opportunity and a decisive moment not only for Azerbaijan, but also for the whole region to establish a new regional order.

In brief, considering the fact that the physical proximity to the conflict zone is a crucial factor affecting Georgia’s genuine interest in peace and urging it to take on specific responsibilities, its mediation initiative must be supported by the international community. As Azerbaijan has already positively responded to this offer, the ball is now in Armenia’s court.

Turkish Press: EU reaffirms bloc’s commitment to Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization process ahead of Brussels talks

Boshkezenian Garik
Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Oct 8 2023

EU reaffirms bloc’s commitment to Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization process ahead of Brussels talks

Charles Michel reiterates 'need for mutual respect of territorial integrity & sovereignty, and for advancing on border delimitation'

Handan Kazanci  |08.10.2023 – Update : 08.10.2023

ISTANBUL

European Council President Charles Michel expressed the bloc’s commitment Saturday to the Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization process ahead of a trilateral meeting in Brussels.

Michel “expressed EU’s commitment to Arm Az normalisation process” in a telephone call with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, he wrote on X.

He also “reiterated the need for mutual respect of territorial integrity & sovereignty, and for advancing on border delimitation” and stressed the “need to ensure Karabakh Armenians’ security & rights, also over the long term.”

On Thursday, the EU invited Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders for peace talks in Brussels by the end of October.

“We believe in diplomacy and political dialogue. This is why we invite Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for the meeting,” Michel said following a quadrilateral meeting with Pashinyan on the sidelines of the European Political Community meeting in Granda, Spain.

Aliyev did not attend the meeting in protest of France’s recent military and diplomatic moves in support of Armenia.

The long-awaited meeting between the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Germany, France and Michel was canceled following the latest diplomatic spat.

Hikmat Hajiyev, foreign policy advisor of the Azerbaijani president, said Baku had proposed the participation of Türkiye and Spain in a planning meeting, but that proposal was also rejected by France.

The meeting was scheduled to be held on the sidelines of the third summit of the European Political Community, which was an initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron to which leaders from more than 40 European countries were invited.

Azerbaijan regained full control over its territory of Karabakh last month after taking counter-terrorism actions, which resulted in the surrender of illegal armed groups, ending a decades-long conflict.

Authorities have repeatedly said that they will protect the rights and ensure the security of the Armenian residents in Karabakh, in accordance with Azerbaijan's law.


Inside the Matenadaran, the Stone Fortress Protecting the World’s Most Precious Manuscripts

Boshkezenian Garik
Popular Mechanics
Sept 29 2023

Since the Middle Ages, scriptoria throughout the world have preserved manuscripts for future generations. Armenia’s Matenadaran continues that tradition.

BY DARREN ORFPUBLISHED: SEP 29, 2023

Ancient manuscripts connect us to our distant past. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to understand our histories, traditions, and knowledge gleaned from many lifetimes of experience. But there’s a big problem: paper and parchment aren’t known for longevity. The reason we can read about the plays of ancient Greeks, understand the wisdom of Eastern philosophies, or even glimpse the yellowing founding documents of entire nations is thanks to legions of archivists throughout history who’ve meticulously restored, protected, and preserved these old (and prone to crumbling) manuscripts for future generations.

Throughout the Middle Ages, scriptoria around the world served as repositories of human knowledge, and in Yerevan, Armenia, the museum and research institute known as the Matenadaran continues that tradition.

Visit the Matenadaran today and you’re greeted by a grand, fortress-like building constructed from gray basalt stone. At the building’s entrance is a large statue of Mesrop Mashtots, a medieval Armenian linguist who’s credited with developing the Armenian alphabet. This imposing structure denotes the importance of the delicate treasures found inside—23,000 manuscripts, with some dating back 1,500 years. Although the Matenadaran is home to the largest collection of Armenian manuscripts in the world, it also houses ancient texts from other civilizations throughout history.

“Matenadaran means the ‘repository of manuscripts,’” Vahe Torosyan, a scientist secretary at the Matenadaran, tells Popular Mechanics. “However, the Matenadaran is not only a storehouse of manuscripts but a research institute and a museum where manuscripts are stored, cared for, restored, studied scientifically, and displayed.”

Albert Mityaev

Restoring these manuscripts requires an intense level of artistry and dedication. Before restorers can even begin repairing battered manuscripts, they first need to clean the surfaces of pages and miniatures (the small illustrations that often accompany medieval texts). This means removing any dust, candle wax, insects, dirt, stains and more that might’ve adhered to the brittle pages over the centuries. Paper and pigments are also examined under a microscope to make sure that paint layers are solid before cleaning can begin.

Restorers then use a special, handmade Japanese paper created from the bark of mulberry trees to repair the pages, whether a small tear or a gaping rip. Using this specialized paper—in various thicknesses and shades—restorers can create a seamless transition between the original document and the restored parts.

“Japanese paper is a unique material and has a special structure,” Gayane Eliazyan, head of the department of restoration, tells Popular Mechanics. “The edges of the paper have long fibers that are easy to connect with the original paper, and the passage from the original manuscript material to the Japanese paper occurs very smoothly.”

Although preserving ancient texts is a centuries-old profession, 21st century technology provides the ultimate protection for these fragile objects. When a document contains undertext, which is writing that’s been replaced by existing text, the Matenadaran uses multi-spectral imaging to capture the manuscript in 28 distinct frames—each frame representing a range of the visual spectrum as well as UV and infrared light. These various light spectra can capture the hidden words hidden beneath the work.

With these digital recreations along with digital scans of other manuscripts, physical texts never leave the safety of the Matenadaran itself.

Preserving this book block is only one part of the restoration process; the restorers also bring that same level of exacting attention to mending a manuscript’s binding, leather cover, and endband (the woven decorative parts found at the upper and lower edges of the book’s spine).

Eliazyan says that the restoration department of the Matenadaran also has a biological laboratory, and like many laboratories around the world, it faces funding challenges. The department needs new equipment to keep up with new restoration techniques.

As Armenian universities still do not have educational programs for certifying restorers, the Matenadaran serves as a teaching center and school for this specialization. Eliazyan hopes that continued support from grantors or the Armenian government will help train the next generations of specialists eager to be keepers of the heritage of human knowledge—past and present.

Darren lives in Portland, has a cat, and writes/edits about sci-fi and how our world works. You can find his previous stuff at Gizmodo and Paste if you look hard enough.