Author: Chmshkian Vicken

Nagorno-Karabakh: ‘Disastrous’ blockade chokes essential supplies

Chmshkian Vicken
India – Aug 16 2023
TbilisiEdited By: Manas Joshi

Internationally, Karabakh is recognised as a part of Azerbaijan. However, the population of 120,000 is predominantly ethnic Armenian. The enclave has one remaining land link to Armenia, the Lachin corridor, which is policed by Russian peacekeepers, was first disrupted in December


Residents of Nagorno-Karabakh have said that Azerbaijani blockade of the breakaway region is choking supplies of food, medicines and other essential supplies. The blockade has dragged on in its ninth month. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is slated to discuss the blockade on Wednesday (August 16). A former International Criminal Court prosecutor this month said this month that blockade may amount to a “genocide” of the local Armenian population. Azerbaijan’s lawyers have said that these claims are unsubstantiated and inaccurate. 


Internationally, Karabakh is recognised as a part of Azerbaijan. However, the population of 120,000 is predominantly ethnic Armenian. The enclave has one remaining land link to Armenia, the Lachin corridor, which is policed by Russian peacekeepers, was first disrupted in December.

Reuters quoted Karabakh residents who said that basic foodstuffs, fuel and medicine were not only in short supply but were almost exhausted.

“It’s been a very long time since I’ve eaten any dairy produce, or eggs,” said Nina Shahverdyan, a 23-year-old English teacher quoted by Reuters. 

“It’s been disastrous because we don’t have gas. We have electricity blackouts.” 

After the blockade, Karabakh’s population has tightened its belt and has preferred to eat what can be produced locally.

The residents said even food produced within Karabakh itself is delivered only sporadically to Stepanakert, the region’s capital, as farmers lack fuel to bring their products to market.

The crisis is also being taken as an indication that Russia struggling to project its influence in post-Soviet states especially after start of the Ukraine war.

Karabakh was claimed by both Azerbaijan and Armenia after the fall of the Russian Empire in 1917, and broke away from Azerbaijan in a war in the early 1990s. 

In 2020, there was another conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia post which Azerbaijan retook territory in and around the enclave. The war ended in a Russian-brokered ceasefire.

The agreement required Russia to ensure that road transport between Armenia and Karabakh remained open.

Since the ceasefire, road links between Armenia and Karabakh hinged on the Lachin corridor, which was blockaded in December by Azerbaijani civilians identifying themselves as ecological activists, while Russian peacekeepers did not intervene. In April, Azerbaijani border guards installed a checkpoint on the route, tightening the blockade.

(With inputs from agencies)

Blockaded Nagorno-Karabakh struggles to utilize containment measures against African Swine Fever due to shortages

Chmshkian Vicken

 15:12,

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) authorities have launched containment measures to stop the spread of African Swine Fever, a highly contagious viral disease of domestic and wild pigs, amid various confirmed cases.

Two African Swine Fever clusters have been discovered in Askeran region, Radik Gevorgyan, the Head of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department at the Ministry of Agriculture of Nagorno-Karabakh told ARMENPRESS.

55 infected pigs have been destroyed so far, he added.

“All municipal veterinarians have been notified on the problem and are vigilant to prevent the spread of the disease in case of detecting it,” he said.

The ongoing Azeri blockade creates problems for properly organizing the containment measures because there are widespread shortages of essential products, including the necessary materials and measures, Gevorgyan said.

In addition, the inspection agencies are having difficulties in carrying out active visits for supervision due to the shortage of fuel.

African swine fever (ASF) is not a danger to human health, but it has devastating effects on pig populations and the farming economy. There is currently no effective vaccine against ASF.




Armenpress: Nagorno-Karabakh healthcare authorities report blockade-induced rise in morbidity and mortality rates

Chmshkian Vicken

 10:21, 8 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. As a result of Azerbaijan’s ongoing blockage of the only road linking Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and Armenia, the Lachin Corridor since 12 December 2022, there has been a severe shortage of medications and food, along with constant stress among the population, the Nagorno-Karabakh Ministry of Healthcare said Tuesday.

The consequences of the blockade have led to an increase in the rate of diseases and complications.

“Among the total number of deaths over the seven months (January-July), there has been a recorded increase in mortality from cardiovascular diseases by more than 2 times. This includes a 66% increase in mortality from acute and chronic heart failure, a 20.8% increase in mortality from acute myocardial infarction, and an 8.8% increase in mortality from brain paralysis.

“The mortality rate from cardiovascular diseases further increased in July, reaching a preliminary 2.6 times compared to July of the previous year. This includes 2.5 times increase in mortality from acute heart failure, 4 times increase in mortality from acute myocardial infarction, and 3 times increase in mortality from brain paralysis.

“Over the course of seven months, the number of deaths caused by malignant neoplasms has increased by 15.9%. Among the reasons for the increased mortality, factors such as the shortage or absence of necessary medications, changes in quality of life, severe limitations on adequate medical assistance and reduced viability are highlighted.

“During the same period, there has been an increase in new cases of acute cerebrovascular accidents (stroke) and acute myocardial infarctions among the population by 26% and 9.7% respectively.

“From January to July, there has been a recorded increase of 24.3% in newly diagnosed cases of malignant neoplasms.

“From January to July, compared to the same period of the previous year, the level of anemia among pregnant women under medical observation has reached around 90%. This is due to inadequate nutrition and the absence or insufficiency of appropriate medications.

“Although there was no increase in the overall number of abortions during the first half of the year, there was a sharp fourfold increase in the number of medically indicated abortions in July. Stress, improper nutrition and the lack or absence of medications worsen the already distressing situation.

“In July, there has been an increase in cases of fainting (collapses) reported by the Republican Emergency Situations Service. Compared to July of the previous year, cases of fainting have increased by 91%. Very often, there are cases where a person faints, but before the arrival of emergency medical assistance, the individual regains consciousness, and the incident is not actually documented.

“In July, there was also a sharp 5.6-fold increase in emergency calls for cases of high blood pressure compared to the same period last year.

“The increase in the mentioned and other indicators of mortality and morbidity is due to serious health problems caused by the blockade and subsequent complete siege of Artsakh. This includes the shortage or absence of medications and medical supplies, inadequate nutrition of the population, stress, suspension of scheduled surgeries and examinations, restricted access to medical care in Armenia and abroad, and so on.

“The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Artsakh warns that in the event of the continued full siege of Artsakh by Azerbaijan, the mentioned and other indicators will further worsen, leading to the loss of many lives or a deterioration in their health.

“The healthcare system is doing everything possible to mitigate the consequences of the serious problems it is facing. However, the complete blockade of movement of persons, vehicles and cargo through the Lachin Corridor makes it simply impossible to provide systemic and comprehensive healthcare solutions,” the Nagorno-Karabakh Ministry of Healthcare said in a press release.

Hundreds of rabbis to join conference in Azerbaijan as Jewish ties flourish

Chmshkian Vicken
European Jewish Press
Aug 2 2023
 By YOSSI LEMPKOWICZ

By Etgar Lefkovits, JNS

Hundreds of European rabbis from across the continent will be gathering in Azerbaijan this fall to discuss Jewish affairs in the first such convention in a Muslim nation.

The planned event comes amid burgeoning relations between Israel and Azerbaijan that developed from a centuries-long affinity between the two nations into an unprecedented strategic partnership.

The biennial convention of the Conference of European Rabbis is scheduled to take place in Baku between Nov. 12-15 at the invitation of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, who will serve as the honorary host, with about 500 rabbis expected to attend the event.

The primary Orthodox rabbinical alliance in Europe, the organization unites more than 700 religious leaders from communities across Europe. Founded in 1956, it works to defend the rights of Jews in Europe, with freedom of religion and matters related to the Jewish communities expected to be front and center at the conference.

“Azerbaijan is a place with a special memory for the Jewish people, and is home to one of the most unique Jewish communities in the world,” said Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the Conference of European Rabbis who met with Aliyev earlier this year.

“The developing ties between Israel and Azerbaijan are of great importance in today’s Middle East,” he added.

The Zurich-born Goldschmidt, who served as chief rabbi of Moscow for nearly three decades, left Russia last year following the invasion of Ukraine and then resigned from his position. His subsequent public criticism of the war led him to be branded by Russia as a “foreign agent.”

 

‘It is just the right place’

The selection of secular Shi’ite Muslim Azerbaijan as the venue for the conference is also highly symbolic and comes full circle since it is believed that indigenous Jews arrived on the territory of Azerbaijan following the Babylonian destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem in 586 BCE.

“The fact that this European rabbinical conference will be held here in Baku is recognition of people feeling safe here; it is just the right place,” said Elchin Amirbayov, representative to the president on special assignments.

“It is a good precedent,” he added.

Indeed, at a time of heightened anti-Semitism across the globe, Azerbaijan is considered free of such animus with the country’s 25,000 to 30,000 Jews living in harmony with their predominantly Muslim neighbors.

“It is truly a privilege to work with Jews from so many diverse backgrounds who live together with a special nation and leadership that honors us and greatly respects us,” said Shneor Segal, who serves as Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Community of European Jews in Baku.

Segal is one of seven Chabad emissaries to Azerbaijan, including five in the capital Baku. The city also has three synagogues, two Jewish schools, a newly opened kosher restaurant and hotels that cater to strictly kosher groups.

Historically, Azerbaijan is home to three distinct Jewish communities: European Jews, who settled in the area during the late 19th to early 20th centuries, and during World War II; Jews from the former Soviet Republic of Georgia, who settled mainly in Baku during the early part of the 20th century; and Mountain Jews, the most sizable and ancient group.

The conference will include a visit to the historic ancient Jewish town of Quba in Azerbaijan, which was home to Mountain Jews for centuries.

“People are always asking where you can see the Mountain Jews when, in fact, they are often sitting right next to you at a Shabbat service,” he said.

https://ejpress.org/hundreds-of-rabbis-to-join-conference-in-azerbaijan-as-jewish-ties-flourish/

Blinken’s Chance in the South Caucasus

Chmshkian Vicken

By Timothy Jemal on July 28, 2023

On June 27, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken resumed peace talks in Washington between an increasingly western-oriented, democratic Armenia and an autocratic Azerbaijan. A lasting, durable peace brokered by the U.S. in the South Caucasus could pave the way for the entire region to commit to democracy, religious and cultural freedom, and the protection of human rights.  

At the center of grievances is the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. It has its own government, educational system and defense forces. Thousands of cultural and religious monuments dot the region. The legal case for Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence is strong. Freedom House rates its government as more democratic than Azerbaijan’s.

The negotiations offer Secretary Blinken an opportunity to reconsider the U.S. approach to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Successive U.S. Administrations have embraced Azerbaijan’s dictatorship, banking on the stability he ostensibly ensures. 

In 2019, during the Trump Administration, U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan increased to $100 million. Despite raising eyebrows on Capitol Hill, that military assistance helped fuel the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War where Azerbaijan, with major support from Turkey and foreign mercenaries, captured a large swath of Nagorno-Karabakh.

With the military balance shifted in Azerbaijan’s favor, Aliyev is now pursuing a maximalist position in peace negotiations demanding Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh submit to all of its conditions.   

The Lessons of Yalta

The 1945 Yalta Summit can provide Blinken with guidance in brokering peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and avoiding the dangerous mistakes that plunged the South Caucus region into decades of repression, authoritarian rule and irreversible destruction of cultural and religious sites. 

At the Summit, President Franklin Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin met at the Yalta resort in then-Soviet Crimea to finalize a post-war peace agreement. Roosevelt got Stalin to support a Declaration of a Liberated Europe which included an agreement on the rights of the people of central and eastern Europe “to choose the form of government under which they will live – the restoration of sovereign rights and self-government to those peoples who have been forcibly deprived to them by the aggressor nations.” 

The Soviets never honored the agreement, which proved disastrous for central and eastern Europe and Baltic states: a betrayal of U.S. values and the brutal imposition of Soviet rule for forty-five years.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Poland Dan Fried, who worked for the Clinton, Bush, and Obama Administrations, warned that peace brokers need “to take care when negotiating documents based on general language of principles, like Yalta’s Declaration of Liberated Europe, with a leader who shares neither your values nor your underlying purposes.”

Blinken should stop accepting weak and vague assurances on the “rights and securities” of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians from an autocratic ruler like Aliyev who publicly boasts about ethnic cleansing and more military attacks on Armenia. Aliyev sent that message by launching an attack that killed four Armenian servicemen as peace talks occurred in Washington. An agreement where Azerbaijan makes no concessions and the people of Nagorno-Karabakh are left at the mercy of a kakistocracy would be a humanitarian and cultural disaster. 

Recent stumbles include Blinken’s bizarre endorsement of Aliyev’s “amnesty” offer to the elected leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh which is akin to Putin making a similar offer to Ukrainians in Donetsk.   

A snap peace after decades of conflict and Aliyev’s ongoing campaign of hate is not possible. A better approach is to pursue confidence-building measures including immediate lifting the Azerbaijani blockade of the Lachin Corridor, the only route connecting Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians to Armenia.  Additional confidence-building measures include the return of all Armenian POWs and captured civilians and withdrawal of all Azerbaijani military personnel and installations from Armenia proper.  

During a June 21st hearing before the congressional Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback warned Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh are “another historic Christian population that’s going to get driven out if we don’t take some policy moves . . . you can see that’s what’s taking place in Nagorno-Karabakh, that Azerbaijan’s going to squeeze the place – just force the people to leave.” 

Selective sticks must be used with Azerbaijan. Section 907 sanctions should be applied to Azerbaijan for their blockades and offensive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Magnitsky designations must be considered against Azerbaijani officials for egregious human rights violations including the Lachin Corridor blockade. 

Carrots are plentiful which include bolstering economic and security ties and fostering greater American investment in sectors beyond oil and gas. The opportunity to bring the South Caucasus region closer to the U.S. and EU based on common values as Russia self-destructs would be one of the most significant foreign policy accomplishments in decades. 

Blinken has the tools to avoid the mistakes of Yalta and achieve real peace. It’s time to use them.  

Armenian Christians face ‘religious cleansing,’ say rights activists

Chmshkian Vicken

Azerbaijan is ‘strangling’ the conflict-torn Nagorno-Karabakh region with blockade, they alleged

The existence of Christians in a disputed border region is under threat due to ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, rights activists say.

Muslim-majority Azerbaijan’s invasion of Armenia and its ongoing blockade of the Nagorno-Karabakh region is the latest attempt at “religious cleansing” of the Christian nation, said Sam Brownback, a U.S. politician and former ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.

Brownback issued his statements to air concerns about Armenian Christians on July 18, Catholic News Agency (CNA) reported.

His responses were delivered days after he visited Armenia on a fact-finding trip with the Christian human rights group, Philos Project, the report stated.

Brownback, a Catholic, said that Islamic Azerbaijan is “strangling” the conflict-torn region.

“Azerbaijan, with Turkey’s backing, is really slowly strangling Nagorno-Karabakh,” Brownback said. “They’re working to make it unlivable so that the region’s Armenian-Christian population is forced to leave, that’s what’s happening on the ground.”

He warned that if the United States does not intervene, “we will see again another ancient Christian population forced out of its homeland.”

Brownback called for Congress to pass a “Nagorno-Karabakh Human Rights Act” to establish basic security guarantees for the Nagorno-Karabakh population.

He also called on the U.S. to reinstate previously used sanctions on Azerbaijan should it continue its blockade.

While persecution of Christians in the near east is common, the latest one has a new dimension.

This time the religious cleansing is being “perpetrated with U.S.-supplied weaponry and backed by Turkey, a member of NATO,” he said.

Bordered by Muslim-majority Turkey and Azerbaijan, Christian roots of Armenia date to ancient times.

About 90 percent of Armenia’s estimated 2.8 million people are Christians, the U.S. State Department reported in 2019.

Conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region since 1990s after both nations gained impendence after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Both former Soviet states laid claims on the region, leading to the First Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1994. Armenia gained primary control of the territory following the war. 

Tensions sparked again in September 2020 when the two nations engaged in military conflict after Azerbaijani troops moved in to gain control of the disputed region.

The armed conflict lasted for about two months, ending with a peace deal brokered by Russia in November that year.

A study published in the Population Research and Policy Review estimates that 3,822 Armenians and at least 2,906 Azerbaijanis were killed during the 2020 conflict. 

Following the conflict, Azerbaijan gained control of large swathes of the region and imposed blockade.  A thin strip of land called the “Lachin corridor” is now Armenia’s only access point to Nagorno-Karabakh.

Now, an Azerbaijani blockade of the Lachin corridor, in place since December, is crippling Armenian infrastructure in Nagorno-Karabakh, rights activists say, CNA reported.

“The situation is extremely urgent and existential,” Philos Project President Robert Nicholson said. “This is the oldest Christian nation facing again for the second time in only about a century the possibility of a genocide.”

He was referring to the deaths of up to 1.5 million Armenians more than a century ago in waning years of the Ottoman Empire. The U.S. has recognized the killings as genocide, but Turkey has repeatedly denounced the characterization.

Nicholson said there are 500 tons of humanitarian equipment “unable to get into Nagorno-Karabakh because of the blockade that Azerbaijan has placed upon that region.”

“There has been no natural gas flowing since March and other energy supplies, [such as] electricity, are spotty at best,” Nicholson added. “Families have been separated. Surgeries have been canceled. The 120,000 people inside [Nagorno-Karabakh] are really desperate for help.”  

https://www.ucanews.com/news/armenian-christians-face-religious-cleansing-say-rights-activists/102048

Greece, Cyprus, And Armenia Are Increasing Military Cooperation And Upgrading Their Armed Forces

Chmshkian Vicken
 Forbes 
July 9 2023
Paul Iddon

Contributor

I write mostly about Middle East affairs, politics and history.

Greece, Armenia, and Cyprus held trilateral defense consultations on July 5. The meeting comes as the armed forces of all three nations are undergoing substantial changes.

During that meeting, held in Cyprus, officials from the three countries discussed security issues of mutual interest and reaffirmed aims to strengthen their respective defenses and security. They also signed a cooperative plan for a series of events they will hold on each other’s territories over the next year.

The meeting coincided with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s conservative government securing a second term. Mitsotakis reiterated that his government’s “priority is to safeguard the country” and will continue with its multi-billion euro military buildup.

Greece has already ordered 24 Dassault Rafale multirole fighters from France as part of that buildup. The bulk of the Hellenic Air Force F-16 fleet is also being upgraded to the most modern Block 72 standard. And most significantly, Athens is ordering at least 20 fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, and has the option to buy 28 more.

These acquisitions are proceeding despite a thaw in tensions with Turkey. Heightened tensions and standoffs with Ankara in 2020 at least partially prompted this ongoing buildup, the most expansive in decades.

Mutual fear and opposition to Turkey’s ambitions in the Eastern Mediterranean and South Caucasus undoubtedly helped motivate increased military cooperation between Athens, Nicosia, and Yerevan.

While Greece’s ongoing military buildup is much more significant than that of either Armenia or Cyprus, the East Mediterranean island nation’s current procurements are noteworthy in other ways.

Between 1987 and 2020, the United States had Cyprus under a strict arms embargo aimed at preventing an arms race on the partitioned island. It began lifting that embargo in 2020.

As with its ally Armenia, the Cypriot military consists primarily of Russian hardware. Nicosia bought T-80U/UK main battle tanks and BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles from Moscow in the mid-1990s. Its attempts to acquire longer-range S-300 PMU-1 air defenses during that period ignited a crisis with Ankara. A possible war on the island was averted when the advanced batteries were diverted to Greece. Nicosia ultimately received medium-range Buk and short-range Tor missiles for its air defense.

Like Mitsotakis, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides is determined to strengthen his country’s military. In March, he vowed to allocate at least 2 percent of the Cypriot gross domestic product to defense spending, stressing that “without a strong defense, your say in foreign policy matters is clearly limited.”

In June, Cyprus was one of five European countries that signed a letter of intent to purchase short-range French Mistral air defense missiles. In early 2020, Nicosia reportedly signed a 240 million euro contract (approximately $263 million) for Mistrals and Exocet anti-ship missiles.

While Cypriot-French defense cooperation isn’t new, there have been increasing signs over the past year that Cyprus intends to buy more Israeli military hardware. To date, Nicosia has only purchased a handful of Israeli Aerostar and Searcher surveillance and reconnaissance drones and small arms.

In August 2022, Greek media reported that the Cypriot Defense Ministry had already begun to “implement the government’s decision to purchase” Israel’s well-known Iron Dome air defense system and that agreements were already signed.

However, there have been no further details since, and it’s unclear when and how many Iron Dome batteries Cyprus will ultimately procure.

On the other hand, this June, sources in both Cyprus and Israel confirmed to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that both countries are discussing a sale of Israeli Merkava tanks. Cyprus will become the first European country to field the Israeli main battle tank if the deal goes through.

Even if it takes delivery of the Merkava and Iron Dome, the current Cypriot government may still oppose transferring its T-80s, BMPs, or Buk/Tors to Ukraine. In a June press conference, Christodoulides unequivocally ruled out sending any of this equipment in exchange for more modern Western replacements. He stressed that Nicosia remains committed to “increasing defense spending, strengthening the deterrence of the Republic of Cyprus and reaching 2 percent of the budget.”

(Christodoulides’ ruling out transferring T-80s may suggest that Cyprus aims to replace its older French-built AMX-30 tanks with the Israeli Merkavas and keep those bigger Russian tanks in service for a little while longer.)

Out of these three countries, Armenia’s defense buildup is less significant. Nevertheless, Yerevan is taking notable steps to diversify its defense acquisitions and lessen its heavy reliance on Russia.

An enormous 94 percent of Armenia’s “imports of major arms” in 2011-20 came from Russia. Now, Yerevan is seeking alternatives and doubtlessly hopes to markedly reduce that 94 percent.

Two major events undoubtedly spurred this decision. Firstly, Armenia’s devastating defeat by the Azerbaijani military, equipped with modern Turkish and Israeli drones, during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. Secondly, the ongoing Russian war on Ukraine and the consequent supply issues.

In June, the Secretary of the Armenian Security Council, Armen Grigoryan, said Yerevan is in talks with “many countries” on arms sales.

“It means that if Armenia has a problem, it is looking for alternative options to resolve the problem in relations between Armenia and Russia in what concerns weapons supplies,” he told Armenian television. “We see the reality. It is Russia’s war in Ukraine. So, we understand that Russia has not so many possibilities to export weapons.”

In recent years, Armenia has sought closer defense ties with India. As noted by Armenian media, Yerevan’s interest in Indian military hardware predated the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. Earlier that year, for example, Armenia signed a $40 million arms deal for four Indian radars designed to track incoming enemy projectiles and locate their firing positions and launchers. In June of that year, Armenia also negotiated buying drones and other weaponry from India.

Armenia became the first foreign buyer of India’s Pinaka multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) in a $250 million deal for at least four batteries revealed in September 2022.

Going forward, Armenian-Indian defense ties look set to expand exponentially. In May, Yerevan appointed a defense attaché to its New Delhi embassy in light of “strong interest shown recently by state structures, private organizations and companies of the military-industrial complex towards bilateral cooperation.”

Transitioning from Russian to Indian weaponry may prove relatively straightforward for Armenia, given the similarities in many systems. India has a long and successful track record of producing and customizing Russian origins systems locally. As previously speculated in this space, New Delhi’s experience locally producing the Su-30MKI fighter jet could make it an ideal candidate for customizing Armenia’s modest Su-30SM fleet, the only fighters in that country’s air force. India could potentially even provide Armenia with unique and advanced weapons for these aircraft, possibly including the air-launched version of its supersonic BrahMos cruise missile, which could greatly enhance their strategic value for Yerevan.

Time will ultimately tell on that front. But what is already abundantly clear is that, as they forge closer defense ties, the armed forces of Greece, Cyprus, and Armenia are undergoing some notable transformations.

Asbarez: International Court of Justice Reaffirms Ordering Azerbaijan to Open Lachin Corridor

Chmshkian Vicken
by Asbarez Staff

 

 July 7, 2023

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

The International Court of Justice on Feb. 22


Baku Says ICJ Ruling Justifies Illegal Checkpoint at Lachin Corridor

The International Court of Justice reaffirmed its February 22 ruling, in which it ordered Azerbaijan to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.”

The Friday ruling was in response to Armenia’s application regarding the illegal checkpoint Azerbaijan installed at the Lachin Corridor in April.

The ICJ said that at this moment it did need to amend its February 22 ruling.

The United States, European Union and Russia have all spoken out against the blockade and urged Baku to comply with the ICJ ruling. Yet Azerbaijan’s leadership not only has not heeded those calls, it has complicated matters by escalating the blockade, leaving the Artsakh population on the brink of a humanitarian crisis, which its authorities say is part of a systematic plan to ethnically cleanse the Armenian population there.

Baku on Friday reacted by welcoming the ICJ decision and declaring that the court opting not to issue a new ruling confirmed Azerbaijan’s right to control its “sovereign rights,” seemingly giving Baku the green light to tighten the blockade of Artsakh.

“We welcome the court’s ruling that has reconfirmed Azerbaijan’s right to control its borders, and that Armenia’s request on removal of the Checkpoint was unfounded. Thus, misinterpretation by the Armenian side of the latest decision is nothing more than a desperate attempt,” said a statement issued by Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry.

“Azerbaijan’s decision to establish its border checkpoint at the entrance of the Lachin road was in keeping with its sovereign rights to secure its border. (…) Azerbaijan (…) will continue to hold Armenia accountable for its ongoing and historic grave violations of international law,” the statement added.

4 Armenian servicemen killed in Azerbaijan shelling: media

Chmshkian Vicken
MEHR News Agency
Iran –

TEHRAN, Jun. 28 (MNA) – According to Armenian media reports, four servicemen were killed in an artillery and drone attack by Azerbaijan on Armenian positions in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

4 servicemen were killed when Azerbaijani forces began bombarding Nagorno-Karabakh positions with artillery and drone strikes in the early hours of Wednesday, the Armenpress news agency reported, citing the Nagorno-Karabakh military officials.

According to the report, at 1:30 a.m. (0:30 a.m. Moscow time) on Wednesday, “Azerbaijanian military units opened fire against the Armenian positions toward Martuni and Martakerta, using artillery.”

Four Armenians were killed in the attack, the report added.

The Republic of Azerbaijan has not yet reacted to these reports.

The report came as the meeting of Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov, and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken was held in Washington.

Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, 2020, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Karabakh.

On November 9, 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Karabakh.

Later, the three leaders adopted several more joint statements on the situation in the region. Thus, on January 11, 2021, they agreed to set up a working group at a level of deputy foreign ministers to focus on establishing transport and economic ties in the region.

MNA/PR

News Code 202563

ANIF could be an incredible useful tool to bring international ESG standards into Armenia – Isidoro Lucciola

Chmshkian Vicken

 13:19,

YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. ANIF has already participated in several successful financing activities even though it’s only been four years since it was established, ANIF Member of the Board of Directors Isidoro Lucciola told ARMENPRESS.

Mr. Lucciola joined the Board of Directors of Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF) as an Independent Member in 2019, the same year ANIF was launched.

ANIF’s mission is to support and empower Armenia’s economic development potential by to consolidating and effectively managing the ownership of Armenian state-owned enterprises, promoting export growth and investments in Armenia by providing co-financing in large-scale projects at their initial stage of development.

Lucciola, a pre-eminent Italian banker and entrepreneur, told ARMENPRESS in an interview that there is still a lot that needs to be done but if ANIF and Armenia continue to follow this path, a lot of other great opportunities for new successful stories will open up in many more different sectors.

– Mr. Lucciola, please tell us, what is the connection between you and Armenia and, in this context, how did your cooperation with Armenian National Interests Fund begin? How did you become a member of the ANIF Board of Directors?

 

I have always been charmed by this part of the world and especially by Armenia. Its history, its culture and its people continue to be an incredible source of inspiration for me, when it comes to the cohesion and resilience of the Armenian community. During the course of my life, I have had the fortunate chance to know several Armenians around the world and to observe how smart, thoughtful and strong they are. Not to forget also the multiple historical and cultural connections between Armenia and my country, Italy. This is why I accepted without hesitations the proposal David Papazian made me in 2019. Joining the Board of Directors of the Armenian National Interests Fund has turned out to be an amazing opportunity to learn even more about Armenia and to do something really meaningful for this country. I suppose that my experience, both in managing an Italian development government-owned entity and in arranging investments of several international Sovereign Wealth Funds, has been a choice criterion to receive the invitation to join ANIF.

 

– How important is the role of sovereign wealth funds in the modern world for the economies of countries? Is it attracting of the investments, economic empowerment or something else?

 

Nowadays sovereign wealth funds play a fundamental role in modern economies. ANIF credibility and seriousness is evident when we look at all the amazing people Mr. Papazian has chosen to be part of this project. In this sense, the whole staff has clear in mind the goal of a sovereign wealth fund: to strategically develop and shape its own country’s economy while increasing the population’s well-being. To do this, some of the possible strategies include helping the country prioritize development clusters and shape the investment agenda, being an intermediate between the government and the investors and having a financial stake on the table. Following these steps is really helpful also in the case of potential foreign investors that still know little about Armenia.

 

– Mr. Lucciola, what investment opportunities do you think Armenia has? What kind of attractiveness and offer does it have from an investment perspective?

 

I really believe that investing in Armenia is a great opportunity in a plethora of sectors because, apart from everything else, your human capital is what makes you so much valuable. Starting from this powerful asset and considering the improvements in the political risk and in the economy, more visibility on the international investment environment could be the boost the country needs. In this sense, I strongly reckon that, project after project, Armenia will be recognized as a place to be.

 

– Within this context, what is the role and importance of ANIF in Armenia?

 

As I already said, one of the essential premises to secure ANIF’s role in Armenia is to showcase the country as a safe, promising and successful place to invest. Even though I may be taking sides, I strongly believe that several of ANIF’s projects can and will serve this purpose. On top of that, I must refer again to the incredible and highly skilled team who is helping ANIF paving the way for successful investments while always being a partner for foreign investors who seek professional expertise, support and the comfort of having the state’s stake in a joint venture.

 

– ANIF has been engaged in activities for some time and has already managed to implement successful projects. How would you rate ANIF’s activities?

 

Even though we are talking about a quite brief period of time, ANIF has already participated in several successful financing activities. Just to mention one of them, Armenia is going to have its first industrial size solar plant developed thanks to the joint venture between ANIF and Masdar signed in 2020. Another fortunate project is Fly Arna, the national airline born in 2021 thanks to an agreement with Air Arabia furnishing the aircrafts. In these and in many more other activities, ANIF’s contributions has been enhanced by some of the smaller scale local businesses financing the projects who have brought international names to the country. Obviously, there is still a lot that needs to be done but I think that, if ANIF and Armenia continue to follow this path, a lot of other great opportunities for new successful stories will open up in many more different sectors (e.g. medicine and entertainment).

 

– The International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds (IFSWF) has awarded Armenian National Interests Fund the status of an associate member. What kind of opportunities will this give Armenia?

 

In answering this question, I must underline that Sovereign Wealth Funds, with direct assets under management exceeding 12.4 trillion US dollars, can now be considered the most influential institutional investors in global financial markets and their activism is growing. They have the main mission of developing the economy of their country and generating wealth for future generations. Being appointed associate member of IFSWF, a growing international influential institution, give not only visibility to ANIF and Armenia but also the opportunity to share best practices and create further connections for co-investments. However, the associate membership represents both a success and an obligation for ANIF to do even more to gain the full membership, continuing on the path taken by ANIF of sustainable and “impact” investments as the ones we mentioned before.

 

– There is also a sustainability event organized by the IFSWF ANIF attended last month in Italy and you were also present. Is sustainability important for the agendas of the sovereign funds?

 

It is, indeed. Just consider the IFSWF’s event topic: “The Sustainability Footprint of Sovereign Wealth Funds”. Sustainability is a real goal for the Sovereign Wealth Funds. They are the most active players in supporting initiatives to combat climate change globally, by reducing emissions and developing renewable energies and innovative technologies, and to improve the social impact through the adoption of increasingly selective investment criteria in terms of sustainability. The activity of sovereign institutional investors with a long-term vision, not innately attracted by the glitter fashion of greenwashing, it is leading them to be more effective than governments in terms of effective adoption of policy for the virtuous management of all ESG areas. ANIF is promoting sustainable investment and it is also committed to push and help the businesses it invests in to comply with the ESG best practice. I also believe that there is still a lot to be done in this sense, but I am also confident that ANIF could be an incredible useful tool to bring the international ESG standards into the country. The global supply chain scrutiny is becoming stricter and stricter on ESG topics and Armenian business partners need to catch up quickly in being compliant with the relevant criteria. For this reason, it is evident that ANIF’s responsibility in promoting and supporting the endorsement of sustainability for a better Armenia is huge but also possibly leading to an enormous success.