Author: Ekmekjian Janet

 10:19,

YEREVAN, 11 JULY, ARMENPRESS. At this moment, we are witnessing the emphatic diplomatic behavior of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the last years of his tenure. Turkey is either getting closer to Russia or a little closer to the West. This is also characteristic of Turkey’s comprehensive foreign policy of the last period. They conduct this policy with the intention that Ankara will get the dividends it seeks for a long time.

In an interview with ARMENPRESS, Ruben Safrastyan, Turkologist-academic, Counselor of Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, expressed said this, referring to the changes in the relations between Turkey and the West.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that Turkey agreed to confirm Sweden’s membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and Turkish media noted that after that the Turkish government received full support from the West in lifting sanctions and liberalizing the visa regime.

“The supply of modernized American F-16 aircraft is also extremely important for Turkey. That issue was raised again two days ago during a telephone conversation with US President Joe Biden organized by Erdogan’s initiative, and probably the Turkish leader received certain promises. The financial and economic support of the West is certainly important for Turkey, especially since after the devastating earthquake, the Turkish economy and especially the financial system is in a very difficult condition,” Safrastyan said.

According to him, the situation of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has major role in that matter. It should not be forgotten that he received higher education and has experience in the USA and has been involved in the works carried out with NATO for many years. Fidan has a more pro-Western mentality, in contrast to Çavuşoğlu, and represents the circle of the Turkish political elite that is more pro-American.

According to Safrastyan, Ankara once again raised the issue of EU membership, especially since the process has been suspended by the EU in recent years. If Turkey supports Sweden in becoming a member of NATO, the latter has promised to support Turkey in European integration, although it is a rather difficult and long process. Regardless of everything, Erdogan is trying to turn the situation to its advantage in return for once again showing reverence to the West and realizing his long-standing goals.

Safrastyan reflected on the statement of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, according to which Sweden’s membership in NATO cannot be connected with Turkey’s European integration, and emphasized that the EU will never allow this issue to become a subject of negotiation.

“This problem is related to fundamental phenomena. The EU has set demands for Turkey, and only after fulfilling them, the latter can become a member of the European Union, while Ankara has no intention of fulfilling those demands. The demands include the protection of human rights in that country, the repressions that still exist, therefore, at this stage, Erdogan’s purpose to join the European Union is not serious, it is just a part of a big plan. “The Turks understand that it is not possible to become EU member by non-fulfillment of demands. The contradictions are very deep,” said the Turkologist-academic.

Speaking about the Turkish mediation efforts in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Safrastyan said that although Turkey, violating the agreement with Moscow, returned 5 commanders of the “Azov” battalion to Ukraine with Vladimir Zelensky, who had visited Turkey, however, even that step should not be considered as a sharp turn of policy towards Russia.

“That is also calculated. Ankara and Moscow understand very well that the current level of relations is of great benefit to the parties. Turkey does not join the sanctions against Russia, taking into account the implementation of large joint projects in various areas. Even in case of demarches and tough position from Moscow, the two countries will not abandon a very high level of interaction. On the other hand, Turkey has resources to resort to deceptive maneuvering actions between Russia and the West, despite the fact that its range is relatively small. The reason is that Turkey is strategically an inseparable part of the West, an ally of the USA and a loyal member of NATO,” explained Safrastyan.

He did not exclude the point of view circulating among experts that the above-mentioned political course of Ankara with its expected new manifestations may gradually cause problems in relations with Moscow, which will have a certain impact on the situation in the South Caucasus.

“Judging from the current stage of the processes, it can be concluded that in our region there may be a certain hardening of Russia’s positions towards the Turkish-Azerbaijani duo. But this will not lead to big changes or drastic shifts in Russian policy towards Turkey. As for the Armenian-Turkish relations, Ankara definitely connects this process with the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and here Ankara will never change its attitude towards Armenia. If the Armenian side agrees to the maximalist demands of Azerbaijan, on the basis of which some agreement will be signed, then Turkey will take some positive steps, but not complete. Otherwise, it is not worth expecting anything from Ankara,” concluded the Turkologist.

Manvel Margaryan

 15:36,

YEREVAN, JULY 12, ARMENPRESS. The European Union strongly supports the activities of the ICRC as the only major humanitarian organization present in the South Caucasus, the statement made by the EU Spokesperson on ICRC activities in Southern Caucasus says.

“The EU strongly supports the activities of the ICRC as the only major humanitarian organization present in the South Caucasus. It is providing crucial humanitarian assistance and protection to those in need, in accordance with the humanitarian principles of neutrality, independence and impartiality.

Their work along the Lachin corridor has been exclusively focused on providing the essential needs for the Armenian population in Karabakh and much needed humanitarian assistance. It is the responsibility of the Azerbaijani authorities to ensure that ICRC can continue its operations and prevent a potential humanitarian crisis.

The EU strongly supports the crucial role of the ICRC in the region, and reiterates its call for Azerbaijan to ensure the unrestricted movement of people and goods via the Lachin corridor”, the statement says.

 11:49, 8 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS. Artak Beglaryan, adviser to the Minister of State of Artsakh, referred to the July 6 decision of the UN International Court of Justice regarding Armenia’s application over the installation of an Azerbaijani checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor.

“What does the July 6 decision of the UN International Court of Justice mean regarding Armenia’s application over the installation of an Azerbaijani checkpoint in the Kashatagh (Lachin) corridor?

First, the Court confirmed its decision of February 22, 2023, by which it obliged Azerbaijan to take all measures to ensure uninterrupted movement of citizens, vehicles and cargo in both directions through the Lachin Corridor. This confirmation already means the position of the court that Azerbaijan has not fulfilled that decision and is obliged to fulfill it.

Second, the Court found that there is no need to supplement the judgment of February 22, 2023. In other words, it is assumed that the court did not prefer to delve into various political and technical issues. In any case, the details of this decision will be clear when the reasons for it are published in a few days.

Thirdly, it is obvious that this decision does not mean the legitimization of the illegal Azerbaijani checkpoint, but it can also have a contradictory interpretation, as it confirms the presence of obstructed traffic. The court did not address the means by which the Azerbaijani side obstracts the traffic (checkpoint, army, concrete barriers, activists-terrorists).

It remains for the international community (first of all, the UN Security Council) to take comprehensive and urgent measures for the proper implementation of the court’s February 22 judgment, especially in the conditions of the complete suspension of humanitarian supplies from June 15”, Beglaryan wrote on Twitter.

 12:06, 7 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS. Catholicos Karekin II of the Armenian Apostolic Church has paid a “surprise visit” to the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy in Kolkata, India.

The Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy has been functioning for over 200 years.

During a meeting with the clergy, school managers, teachers and students, Karekin II thanked them for their dedicated work and great contributions in educating and raising the children.

The Catholicos thanked the members of the administrative board and board of trustees of the Armenian Holy Church of Nazareth, in person of Mrs. Susan Ruben and Mr. Sunil Sobti, for ensuring excellent care and attention to Armenian churches and various Armenian institutions in Kolkata. Karekin II urged the students to study well and achieve success.

In the age of international awareness and cultural respect, a group called Disney out in an effort to stop a new series from reaching the air, citing the glorification of a “genocidal killer.”

The show in question is the forthcoming Disney Atatürk Series. It’s a historical piece slated for release on October 29, coinciding with the centennial anniversary of the Republic of Turkey. After seeing the trailer, a prominent Armenian-American committee (ANCA), called Disney out for its glorification of “a dictator and genocide killer.”

The ANCA went on to claim that “Half of Turkish Twitter is desperately denying Atatürk was a genocidal killer. The other half is joyfully celebrating that Atatürk was a genocidal killer.”

The claims that Emma Watson is reportedly cast in the film are even more alarming.

 16:17, 1 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 1, ARMENPRESS. The Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan has published documents debunking the Azerbaijani claims alleging that Armenia has troops in Artsakh.

Armenia does not maintain any military presence in Nagorno Karabakh but Azerbaijan is falsely accusing it of having troops there.

The most recent false accusation happened after the June 28 Azeri attack in Nagorno Karabakh, which left four Nagorno Karabakh troops dead. Azerbaijan falsely claimed that two of the four fallen troops were members of the Armed Forces of Armenia. 

Stepanyan published documents proving that the troops were Nagorno Karabakh Defense Army servicemen, and made the following post:

“The request of the parents to transport the bodies of Samvel Torosyan and Yervand Tadevosyan, two of the four soldiers who died as a result of Azerbaijan’s aggression (օn the night of June 27-28, 2023) against Artsakh, to Armenia and bury them in Yerablur, and the circumstances of their transportation by the ICRC are used by the Azerbaijani propaganda machine to claim that Armed Forces of Armenia are allegedly deployed in Artsakh.

“With this claim, Azerbaijan is openly preparing an information ground for initiating new attacks against Artsakh, which is already being discussed in the Azerbaijani media․

“Azerbaijan’s claims are false and have nothing to do with reality. In order to prove it, with the permission of the relatives of the fallen servicemen, we are publishing the facts collected by the Human rights defender of Artsakh.

“Samvel Tigran Torosyan was born in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic on December 16, 2003 (Picture 1: Samvel Torosyan’s birth certificate).

He attended Stepanakert No. 7 primary school. He continued his education in the secondary vocational educational program (college) of the Shushi Technological University with the qualification of urban cadastre (Picture 2: Samvel Torosyan’s diploma).

He was receiving higher education at the Faculty of Economics and Law of Mesrop Mashtots University in Stepanakert, majoring in information systems (Picture 3: Samvel Torosyan’s student card).

Samvel Torosyan was a citizen of the Republic of Artsakh, registered in the city of Stepanakert (Picture 4: Samvel Torosyan’s passport).

He was drafted into the army from the military commissariat of Stepanakert. The family and relatives permanently live in Stepanakert.

“Yervand Hovhannes Tadevosyan was born on May 27, 2003 in the city of Berdzor, Kashatagh region of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (Picture 5: Yervand Tadevosyan’s birth certificate).

He attended secondary school No. 2 named after V. Zatikyan of Berdzor. He completed primary education in 2018 (Picture 6: Yervand Tadevosyan’s primary education certificate).

Yervand Tadevosyan was a citizen of the Republic of Artsakh, he was registered in the city of Berdzor (Picture 7: Yervand Tadevosyan’s passport).

He was drafted to army from the military commissariat of Kashatagh. After the 2020 war, Yervand Tadevosyan’s family, as a forcibly displaced family, found refuge in the Ararat province of the Republic of Armenia, continuing to maintain the citizenship of the Republic of Artsakh.

“To prevent possible speculations about the presented documents, we remind that the identity documents of all citizens of the Republic of Artsakh are issued by the Republic of Armenia, with the difference of their registration address. It is a well-known approach, which is used due to the non-recognition of Artsakh, so that Artsakh residents can travel and exercise their rights in other countries as well. This approach is applied to citizens of almost all unrecognized states in the world, taking into account the gaps in international law and international relations with regard to human rights protection.

“Samvel Torosyan and Yervand Tadevosyan’s parents decided to bury their children in the “Yerablur” military memorial-pantheon of the Republic of Armenia in accordance with their rights. It is noteworthy that this is not a new approach, and in previous years, many servicemen of the Artsakh Republic were also buried in Yerablur, taking into account the nationwide importance of that pantheon.

“Regarding the false claims of Azerbaijan about the military service of RA citizens (residents) in the ranks of the Artsakh Defense Army, the continuous fact-finding efforts of the Human rights defender prove that since 2021, only citizens and residents of the Republic of Artsakh perform military service in Artsakh. Hence, we draw the attention of the responsible actors of the international community to the fact that the Azerbaijani side, encouraged by the impunity for the blockade of Artsakh and its military aggressions against it, is looking for new justifications to carry out new criminal actions against the people of Artsakh.”