Author: Eduard Nalbandian

168: Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Right: What’s Next?

Eduard Nalbandian
| 11:56 | January 4 2019
Categories
Politics
World

I was having a nightmare, so I woke up and discovered that reality is worse than a bad dream.(Bergman – The Egg of the Serpent).

December 10 marked the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As a result of the intense job and campaign enforced by Eleanor Roosevelt (USA), René Cassin (France), Peng-Chan Chung (China), John P. Humphrey (Canada) and Hernán Santa Cruz (Chile), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights established universal that serves a ground for the world to recognize a common and universal platform for dialogue, reflected by 30 human rights and, at least theoretically, could avoid new tragedies such as the two world wars (1914-1918 and 1939-1945).

Although the Declaration was not characterized as a binding international legal instrument, it is known that it presents “jus cogens” and international customary law fundamental principles. Fortunately, its list of rights has expanded significantly to such an extent that, one might say, the classic image of Eleanor Roosevelt reading the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on a large print page would now certainly require a larger one.

Even though 70 years have passed since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it yet has not succeeded in becoming a major important established achievement of the world civilization after the Nazi rule period and the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide and the colonization and indigenous massacres in the Americas, Africa and Asia. There is no doubt about that. The central question debated around the declaration and the elephant in the room remains its effectiveness: besides its validity, does it really work? Does it recognize past atrocities and prevent new ones from happening?

Cataclysms such as the Korean war, ones in Vietnam, Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Sudan and, more recently, Myanmar; ones such as terrorism and poverty, lack of literacy, medicines, access to education, child soldiers, modern slavery, violence against women, against children and teenagers, racism and human trafficking, lack of access to clean water and destruction of the ecosystem, forced migration and refugees, among other humanitarian issues, highlight the fact that more could have been prevented if more was recognized and educated.

A mere document by itself does not have the capacity to make a big change against human oppression and despair. The application of the Universal Declaration depends on spheres of politics of states, their commitment to those values, which in their turn would produce education and training prioritizing human values for the formation of a mentality to make such positive changes. From the point of view of international relations, usually the minimum common platform established by the Declaration is not a priority when it comes to geopolitical interests. This phenomenon occurred in relation to the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948), which also marked its 70th anniversary on December 9th, when economic, geopolitical and local political interests in Rwanda not only allowed the commitment of one of the most terrible genocides in the history of humanity, but also allowed many leading perpetrators to escape unpunished.

The International Criminal Court has been subjected to multiple attacks in the form of criticism by countries that suffered by the rulings and of the mentioned court and the way cases were handled, as a form of protest against the efficiency of that court. The universal model, which marks the essence of the septuagenarian declaration, used to work in the postwar period, however, nowadays it seems not to be working as it was supposed to do – the entire structure that was more or less stable was shattered by certain cases of resurgence of nationalist and fascist political movements and parties in certain countries, Brexit and Russia’s exit from the International Criminal Court, as well as by the rise of populistic political powers that oppose to human rights, putting democratic systems at risk. All these changes affect the vision and undermine the values of the Universal Declaration.

Notwithstanding agendas of political powers and populistic support, human rights compose a civilizational agenda that can not be held hostage by ambitions of authoritarian and dictatorial political parties that oppress the rights of women and minorities. The practice of elimination of the “other” in certain political systems of the world these days is not acceptable, and this is the line between debate and barbarism that should not be crossed. Thus, acts that are against the rights of religious minorities, indigenous people and sexual minorities that are not putting at par with the rest of their societies should be fought all over the world, if we want to respect human rights in complex but not selectively. Educational processes should educate children and young people around the world about the danger of the feeling of superiority of human groups over others, which also include discrimination of minorities. The “serpent will always seek to get out of the egg”.

For new tragedies not to happen again, chanting “never again” will not help; it takes more than that – it takes real commitment to all human rights values, with no exception, established the Human Rights Charter of 1948.

Destruction of democracy, and eventually its consequences for human beings are silent and devastating. The human rights that arise from the Universal Declaration must be carried out in each street and district of all countries to make the world a better place, if we don’t want to awake from a nightmare and find ourselves in a worse reality.

2018 marked historical change and transition in Armenia that resulted in a new political system in the country after a revolution and change of government. This is an opportunity, which, if used wisely, can become a golden opportunity for Armenia, or, if not, consequences may be disappointing, resulting in even more emigration from the country. As the Armenian people embraced democratic values and bid for democratic change by bringing a new government to power through revolution, now it is time for the Armenian people to reform its society and walk through the path of development. For Armenia to develop through the path of democracy, its society should embrace the democratic and human rights values that allow everyone to be free and happy under the protection umbrella of its state, notwithstanding people’s gender, sexual orientation and ethnic background – ultimately, human rights cannot be applied selectively, and inclusiveness is the key to a happy society.

Flávio de Leão Bastos Pereira & Kamo Mayilyan

Flávio de Leão Bastos Pereira (PhD)

Professor of Human Rights and Constitutional Law – Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo (Brazil).

Member of the Roster of Experts of the International Nuremberg Principles Academy.

Egress of the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies – IIHRGS (University of Toronto / Zoryan Institute – Canada).

Associated to the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS).

Visiting Professor at the Department of History of the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil.

Six pairs of twins born simultaneously in Armenian medical center

Eduard Nalbandian
PanArmenian, Armenia
Dec 20 2018
– 16:35 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Six pairs of twins were born at the same time at the Research Center of Maternal and Child Health Protection in Armenia, Med Practic reports.

Two of the twins were conceived through in vitro fertilisation (IVF), while the other four were conceived naturally.

“We are currently taking care of six pairs of twins, which is something unprecedented,” says neonatologist Anaida Asatryan, who heads the neonatal resuscitation and intensive therapy at the center.

WJC Jewish Diplomat in Armenia: Israeli resilience following the Holocaust is a key factor to its success as a nation

Eduard Nalbandian
World Jewish Congress
December 18 2018
WJC Jewish Diplomat in Armenia: Israeli resilience following the Holocaust is a key factor to its success as a nation
 
 
World Jewish Congress Jewish Diplomat Ruth Ouazana (Israel/France) delivered a speech on Israel’s revival following the Holocaust on behalf of the WJC at an event organized by the Jewish Community of Armenia.
 
The Jewish Community of Armenia together with the Armenia-Israel Forum hosted a scientific session on Friday titled “From national catastrophes to state revival.” The session aimed to explore Armenia’s and Israel’s revivals following their respective national catastrophes and to strengthen the Armenia-Israel bilateral relationship by sharing best practices and key lessons.
 
Participants at the event included the adviser to the President of Armenia, Armenia’s Ambassador to Israel and other known Armenian and Israeli scientists, state officials, national minority leaders, members of the Jewish community of Armenia, journalists and businessmen.
 
WJC Jewish Diplomat Ruth Ouazana spoke about how the resilience of the Jewish people and Israel following the Holocaust helped shape Israel into the country it is today – a modern and thriving democracy that has become one of the most innovative countries in the world today. See excerpts of her speech below:
 
“I want to speak to today you as a French Jew, as an Israeli Jew, as an NGO leader and as a leader of the Jewish Diplomatic Corps of the World Jewish Congress.
 
The World Jewish Congress, founded in Geneva in 1936, is the umbrella organization representing Jewish communities in 100 countries to governments, parliaments and international organizations. We are commonly described as the diplomatic arm of the Jewish people.
 
The WJC Jewish Diplomatic Corps is the flagship diplomacy program of the World Jewish Congress and a worldwide network of over 250 Jewish professionals from 50 countries acting in the fields of diplomacy and public policy on behalf of world Jewry.
 
As an Israeli Jew, I will be happy to give you insights into the Israeli society today, how its education and state of mind has very possibly been shaped in constructive ways by the catastrophe of the Holocaust and how it helped the country become one of the most innovative countries in the world today.
 
As an NGO leader and a leader of the WJC Jewish Diplomatic Corps, I feel a responsibility to make the world a better place. And as a leader of the Jewish Diplomatic Corps of the World Jewish Congress, I feel proud and honored to be with you here today to be able to share ideas and knowledge.
 
For the first part of my remarks I will introduce the notion of resilience, and we will see how it applies to Israelis in their everyday life. In the second part I will discuss the achievements of Israel as a state, and how Jews might have used the characteristic of resilience to create a State different from most other states.
 
… Resilience is different to resistance to stress. Consider the differences between steel and rubber as an example. A steel bar is resistant to stress and is capable of maintaining its form while bearing large loads. But steel is susceptible to shearing and completely breaking. A rubber brick, on the other hand, will bend easily under even small loads, but it’s extremely difficult to snap or break. Moreover, once the load is removed from the rubber, its flexibility returns it to its original form.
 
Boris Cyrulnik, being himself the son of a Holocaust survivor, introduced to France the psychological notion of resilience, based on the observation of survivors of the Holocaust.
 
… Every day, on behalf of over 100 Jewish communities that we represent, the World Jewish Congress tirelessly works to support and defend the rights of the Jewish State, especially in the international arena.
 
As the flagship program of the WJC, members of our program are equally committed to these efforts. Just at the UN Human Rights Council alone, members of the WJC Jewish Diplomatic Corps have delivered over 70 statements in the past 4 years in defense of the Jewish people, the Jewish state, and universal human rights.
 
Our members conduct diplomatic meetings around the world advocating for the security and welfare Israel. We engage in viral social media campaigns to spread the truth about Israel. We publish articles in the local and international media to balance the often unfair treatment of Israel in the media. Standing with Israel is one of the World Jewish Congress’ most crucial priorities.
 
As we see, it is vital to be able to bend in front of catastrophes, either as a person or as a group. Being able to use the hard times we face as a springboard to decide to create something bigger and better. To become stronger from our weaknesses.
 
To create a state that looks like the dream we want to achieve. As wrote Theodor Herzl in the foreword of Altneuland, “If you will it, it is no dream…”
 
We have our dreamers, we have our builders, we have our critics; let’s use all of them to create a state that will be better each and every day – for its citizens, its neighbors, and for the rest of the world!”

Verelq: RA has two versions of the contract with Russia regarding foreign troops in the territory of the country

Eduard Nalbandian
  • 18.12.2018

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Russian political scientist Ajar Kurtov, commenting on the statement of the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov on the preparation of a document guaranteeing the absence of foreign military personnel in Armenia, noted that, according to everything, we are talking about those countries to which Armenia does not have any contractual obligations either in multilateral or bilateral formats.

“Theoretically, another option is also possible, according to which Armenia will refuse the presence of any country, including the CSTO member states and even the Russian military. But I’m more inclined towards the first option. This may be due to the fact that in recent years the geopolitical rivals of the former Russian Empire and the countries that were part of the USSR are increasing their activity and trying to win those countries over to their side by any means, including promises to make them NATO members,” Kurtov said in an interview with rusarminfo.ru.


According to the analyst, the very fact of refusing the presence of foreign military can make such programs of third countries difficult to implement.

Armenpress: Promotion of investments, development of Army, poverty reduction: Pashinyan outlines government’s upcoming actions

Eduard Nalbandian

Promotion of investments, development of Army, poverty reduction: Pashinyan outlines government’s upcoming actions

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11:28,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. During today’s Cabinet meeting acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan touched upon the results of the recent snap parliamentary elections and stated that the citizens gave a serious mandate to the My Step alliance to govern the country in the next five years, reports Armenpress. Pashinyan said this speaks about the fact that the government’s actions are still ahead, which means that the executive has managed to do certain things which served a base to give a mandate to continue the activities of the current government.

The acting PM outlined several key actions of the government for the future. “The first one, of course, is the promotion of investments in the context of economic revolution. We should record that there is a great investment interest towards Armenia which will continue growing in the future. I want to draw the attention of all public officials in Armenia and task them to create all conditions and not to create any barrier for investments. I hope I will not receive any signal that there are some obstacles for any program”, Pashinyan said, adding that the procedures must be simplified as much as possible in order to avoid any artificial obstacle.

“Among the upcoming actions, the important is the promotion of investments and creation of favorable environment for all potential investors so that investment plans turn into investments. The second one is the development of the military-industrial complex, and I link the solution of this issue with our vision to make Armenia a technological country and the imperative to develop the engineering, technical mind. The next key task is to raise the combat readiness of the Armed Forces, and I have stated that we must be able to invest nearly 2.5 billion AMD for the development of the Armed Forces in the next five years. In order to find these funds, additional actions are needed, the talk is about the additional funds, some of which must be directed for improving the social condition of the servicemen”, Nikol Pashinyan said.

The acting PM said the next key direction is the field of education, to bring the high educational system to a qualitatively new level and strengthen its ties with the economic needs. “We have talked about the necessity to unite the higher education system, there is a great misbalance between the university and departmental systems.

Our next important task is to carry out major reforms in healthcare sector with the goal to ensure the access of services to the broad layers of the public. These services must be really and completely implemented.

We also attach importance to the issue of upgrading the public administration system and raising its effectiveness. As a solution to this we must perceive the recording of the significant changes in the citizens’ social condition and welfare level. Our task is to eliminate extreme poverty in Armenia and significantly reduce poverty rate. We have the mandate of the citizens and must be able to solve these issues first of all by the promotion of work and creation of necessary conditions for this work”, Nikol Pashinyan said.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan




Closed and hard-passable roads in Armenia

Eduard Nalbandian
  • 10:12 | December 12,2018 | Official
  • Armenian:

The Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Armenia informs that on December 12, at 08:30, there are closed and hard-passable roads in Armenia.

Vardenyants Pass is closed for trucks.

Spitak’s roads are almost impassable to pass for trucks.

There is black ice on Sotk-Karvachar highway.

There is snow in the Amasia region of Shirak province.

Drivers are advised to travel only through the winter tires.

According to the Georgian Interior Ministry’s Emergency Situations Ministry, Stepantsminda-Lars highway is closed for trucks.

The established partnership between Armenia and NATO is important

Eduard Nalbandian
  • 05.12.2018

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On December 4, the meeting of RA Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan with NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoller took place at the NATO headquarters.


Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Rose Gottemoller valued the partnership relations established between Armenia and NATO in various fields within the framework of the NATO-led Alliance. The Deputy Secretary General of NATO highly appreciated Armenia’s active participation in peace-making operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo. Acting Minister Mnatsakanyan highlighted Armenia’s contribution to international peacekeeping efforts.


At the request of NATO’s deputy head of state, the head of the Armenian foreign policy department presented the priorities of the Armenian side in the settlement of the Karabakh problem, emphasizing that the main beneficiaries of the solution are the people, and the core of the problem lies in ensuring their vital security.


The interlocutors also exchanged ideas on increasing the role of women in establishing peace within the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and finalizing Armenia’s national action plan for the implementation of the resolution.

Turkish press: Go gift-hunting at Istanbul’s holiday markets

Eduard Nalbandian
LEYLA YVONNE ERGIL
ISTANBUL
Published23 hours ago

Why not get your holiday shopping done early at some of the wonderful seasonal bazaars that showcase artisans and their handicrafts, with most bazaars donating proceeds to good causes.

‘Marché de NOËL’ at the French Institute

The French Institute of Turkey, which is located near Taksim Square on İstiklal Avenue, will be hosting a “Marchè de Noël” in other words a noel market, in its courtyard on Saturday, Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Organized by the Istanbul Accueil, the city’s Francophone association, there will be stands where you can purchase handmade holiday gifts as well as a full program of entertaining events for the kids. Amongst these include the showing of four short films for children, a puppet show, workshops such as singing Christmas carols and a Christmas cake contest.

Annual Christmas fair at the German School

Every year, the private German high school, the Alman Lisesi, hosts a charity Christmas fair in conjunction with the German Consulate. This year will mark the 56th edition of this tradition, which will take place on Saturday, Dec. 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Şişhane.

‘New Year’s Boutique’ at the Ramada Plaza in Şİşlİ

The Şişli Sports Club will be organizing their annual “New Year’s Boutique” which takes place this year on Saturday, Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ramada Plaza Istanbul in Pangaltı. Held in conjunction with Eleos Restaurant, there will be jewelry, accessories, clothing stands along with lots of stands with a variety of gift choices, as well as yummy snacks.

‘IWI Winter Festival 2018’ at Marriott Hotel Şİşlİ

The International Women of Istanbul will be hosting their annual “Winter Festival” on Sunday, Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Marriott Hotel Şişli. This member-based organization of the city’s foreign women holds two big charity fundraisers a year with their Winter Festival being one of them. A great opportunity to shop for holiday gifts while checking out this excellent organization and mingling with the expat crowd, there will be stands selling international cuisine, handmade crafts, books, clothing and souvenirs. Tickets are TL 10 ($1.90) and will be available at the door and admission is free for children 12 and under.

‘Portobello Christmas Bazaar’ at Casa d’Italia

Circolo Roma, the Italian Cultural Center housed in the Casa d’Italia in Tepebaşı will be hosting their annual “Portobello Christmas Bazaar” on Wednesday Dec. 5 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Whether you go to find gifts or just to gorge on scrumptious Italian food, this is a great opportunity to stock up on Italian products such as parmesan, panettone, sauces, pandoro, pastas, homemade jams and lots of homemade treats. There will also be the opportunity to dine on traditional dishes and espresso at their Ristorante Italia guilt-free as all proceeds will be donated to charities.

Caritas ‘New Year Bazaar’ at Church of St. Mary Draperis

On Saturday, Dec. 8, the Istanbul edition of Caritas, which is an international organization to assist the disadvantaged and impoverished, will be hosting a holiday market where refugee women will be able to sell their handmade crafts. There will be food and music from different cultures and a raffle at the end of the day. The event will take place between 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Church of St. Mary Draperis located in the Tom Tom neighborhood of Beyoğlu.

Ash Istanbul hosts designer holiday fair

Ash Istanbul is the catering center for the Armenian restaurant Jash, which has locations in Cihangir and Kınalıada, and is popular with the expat crowd. Ash Istanbul will be hosting a “Noel Panayırı,” in other words, a holiday fair with dynamic and creative designers setting up stands that will be taking place on Sat. Dec. 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at their location in Pangaltı.

Handmade Istanbul Holiday Market

One of the most highly anticipated holiday markets will be held by Handmade Istanbul, a collective of foreign and local Istanbul residents who produce handcrafts. The annual “Handmade Istanbul Holiday Market” will take place on Sunday, Dec. 9 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Helena Chapel in Tepebaşı. Entrance is free and proceeds from the market will go to assist the St. George Hostel for U.N. registered refugees.

Bomontİ Kermes to support ‘Little Sisters of the Poor’

The Little Sisters of the Poor will be holding a “Xmas Bazaar” on Saturday, Dec, 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Held annually as a charity event by the Little Sisters of the Poor in Bomonti to maintain their elderly home, there will be handcrafts, gifts as well as cakes and cookies and food from all over the world.

Speech Bubbles puts on Christmas Pantomime

The English language theater company Speech Bubbles will be staging their traditional English pantomime on Dec. 7 and 9 at Arti Sahne in Torun Center in Mecidiyeköy. Every year, this multicultural theatrical troupe that also doubles as a performing arts school, puts on a holiday pantomime and this year’s production will be Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.

There will be a total of three performances over the weekend with the first taking place on Friday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. followed by two matinee performances on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 12 p.m. and at 4 p.m. Tickets can purchased online from speechbubbes.org or at the door and are TL 40 for adults and TL 35 for children. All proceeds from the show will be going to Mor Çatı, a charity dedicated to victims of domestic abuse.

Leader of Karabakh Armenians touring OSCE countries – what does Azerbaijan have to say?

Eduard Nalbandian
JAM News
Nov 27 2018
JamNews, Baku
JAMnews | Baku
November 27, 2018

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry is protesting while experts are trying to figure out Sahakyan’s plan

The de-facto president of Nagorno Karabakh, Bako Sahakyan, has been traveling around the countries of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – the main body responsible for finding a peaceful solution to the Karabakh conflict.

Azerbaijan is not happy about this.

“The tour of the head of the illegal formation [Karabakh] to the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries may lead to an unexpected development of the situation around the conflict. If this happens, the entire responsibility will fall on the Armenian side,” the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

• Azerbaijani government protests against French delegation’s visit to Nagorno-Karabakh

• My Karabakh – Part III: Summer of 1988, Yerevan demands Karabakh be returned

• How the game of war is played in Armenia and Azerbaijan

Sahakyan is on a working visit to Moscow. Azerbaijan has lodged a complaint with the Russian authorities, saying that in receiving Sahakyan, Moscow is “violating the friendship, cooperation and mutual security agreement between Russia and Azerbaijan”.

Azerbaijan says that the two countries have an agreement for “the parties not to support separatist movements, and also prohibit and suppress the activities of individuals against state sovereignty, independence and the territorial integrity of the other party”.

Prior to that, Sahakyan visited France and the USA. France received a letter of protest from Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry, while the United States and Russia only received statements.

The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is an unrecognised republic in the South Caucasus, populated by ethnic Armenians. Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding areas came under Armenian control as a result of hostilities in 1991-1994. The conflict is considered “frozen”, though shootings and flareups frequently break out along the line of contact which result in casualties on both sides.

The OSCE Minsk Group is a group of member countries leading the search for a peaceful resolution to the Karabakh conflict.

Sahakyan’s visit to Moscow was made public on 24 November by his press service. No details regarding his visit have been reported.

Azerbaijani pundits say that Sahakyan’s visits indicate an intention to have the Karabakh Armenians as a party in the negotiations on the Karabakh conflict.

JAMnews’ political commentator Shahin Rzayev:

“There is nothing new in the visits of the leader of the Karabakh Armenians to the countries of Europe and Russia. This has been their practice since the beginning of the conflict in the 90s.

“The main purpose of these visits is not political, but rather humanitarian. Their voices have already been heard, because the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group regularly visits Khankendi [ed. Stepanakert, the de-facto capital of Karabakh]. During these visits, the leaders of the Karabakh Armenians meet with various charitable foundations and agree on donations to ease the already difficult life in the self-proclaimed republic.

“Why has Azerbaijan’s reaction been stronger than before? Probably because of the change in power in Armenia, The new leader, Nikol Pashinyan, has also proposed to accept the Karabakh Armenians as a party to the conflict and to negotiate with them directly. This annoys Baku.

“France came first as Sahakyan began his tour in Paris. Then he went to Washington and Moscow, and the reaction softened a bit. One can only guess the reasons, but the US and Russia are probably more respected by our government and are far more afraid of them than they are of France.”

Azerbaijani Press: The OSCE Minsk Group to put Nagorno Karabakh as a side to negotiations – version of Saakyan’s visits

Eduard Nalbandian
Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijani Opposition Press
November 26, 2018 Monday
The OSCE Minsk Group to put Nagorno Karabakh as a side to negotiations – version of Saakyan’s visits
 
 Contact.az
 
 
In response to the trip of the head of the separatist regime in Nagorno-Karabakh, Bako Sahakyan to the United States, France and Russia, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry handed a note to Washington and Paris, and sent an official protest to Moscow. He flew to Moscow on November 24th. What did Saakyan talk about in three capitals? Neither Yerevan nor Khankendi reports, it remains to be assumed, based on recent events in the region. For Baku, Saakyan”s meetings in Moscow are especially important, since it is believed that the keys to the Karabakh settlement are in the hands of V.Putin.
 
RIA “Novosti” puts forward a version of Saakyan”s fear against internal enemies intending to overthrow him before the end of the “presidential term”. Saakyan said that in 2020 he will not run for the post of head of the regime. “… since the presidential and national assembly elections will take place, I, as the current president, will take all the necessary measures within my mandate so that both presidential and parliamentary elections are free, fair and transparent,” said Bako Sahakyan. It was made against the background of the protests that took place in Khankendi since the beginning of June. The participants of the protest action demanded to punish all the perpetrators of the fight with the participation of employees of the Karabakh national security service, as well as to dismiss the head of the police and the National Security Service. The political radicalist Sefilyan, also threatened to come to Nagorno Karabakh (NK) and evict Bako.
 
Bako Sahakyan, who has been ruling the Armenian community of Karabakh for 11 years, got the right to run for a new term in 2020, when the local “presidential elections” are held, according to the new “constitution”.
 
The news agency Regnum interviewed Saakian, in which he did not explain the purpose of the trip to Moscow, but claimed about the danger of resuming the war with Azerbaijan, which had accumulated a lot of weapons. “An important factor is the position of the international community, especially the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries, which have a consolidated approach and constantly declare the unacceptability of any kind of military solution to the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict. Taking into account the strength of the military potential accumulated on both sides, launching a war in such a strategically important region as the South Caucasus, is indeed fraught with unpredictable consequences,” Saakyan said to the chief editor of Regnum M. Kolerov.
 
Therefore, Saakyan could ask Moscow for a double service: to protect against internal enemies and prevent a war with Azerbaijan.
 
Political scientist Elkhan Shainoglu is surprised that Sahakyan visited three countries that are co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group. If the co-chairmen need this to clarify the position of the NK in the negotiation process, then the co-chairs in Yerevan and Khankendi are sufficient for this clarification. Shainoglu warns that behind these trips lie more dangerous threats for Azerbaijan. “By inviting the separatist to Moscow, Washington and Paris, the co-chairmen are trying to put Saakian against Baku in order for Azerbaijan to recognize the separatist as a party to the conflict. Three countries are trying to implement the plan that Yerevan has been promoting for years.
 
“We need to find a way out of the current situation. In fact, the Center for Strategic Studies under the Presidential Administration should deal with this, prepare various scenarios and proposals. But what they have been doing lately, no one but them knows. If they cannot perform such tasks, let, at least they will invite specialists from the outside. But the doors of the Center for third-party experts are closed,” Shainoglu writes.
 
Political analyst Rasim Musabekov linked Sahakyan”s trip to Moscow with the intention of knocking out more money from the Russian-Armenian diaspora during the next All-Armenian Marathon. This year, the Armenians donated to Yerevan, a record lower amount of funds for projects in Nagorno-Karabakh – 11 million 109 thousand dollars.
 
“According to information spread by Armenian media, the “head” of the separatist regime created in the occupied territories of the Azerbaijan Republic arrived in the Russian Federation,” the press service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said on Saturday evening.
 
The entry permit for a representative of the illegal separatist regime to the territory of the Russian Federation undermines efforts to advance the negotiation process and contradicts Russia’s mediation obligations as co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group.
 
This step of the Russian side does not correspond to the high level of current relations between Azerbaijan and Russia and contradicts the legal framework of bilateral relations, in particular the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Security between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan, the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan said in a statement.
 
According to this document, “the parties undertake not to support the separatist movements, and also prohibit and suppress the activities of individuals against the state sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the other Party.” “This kind of voyage by the “head” of the illegal regime in the OSCE MG co-chair countries can lead to an unpredictable development of the situation around the conflict. In this case, the entire responsibility will be on the Armenian side, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry”s press service said.