Author: Ekmekjian Janet

EU could review Azerbaijan ties if crisis worsens – document

Ekmekjian Janet
Reuters
Oct 3 2023
By Andrew Gray and John Irish

BRUSSELS, Oct 3 (Reuters) – The European Union could review ties, including financial aid, with Azerbaijan and sanction individuals if the situation worsens following Baku's military takeover of the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, according to an EU diplomatic service paper.

The paper said the EU could reconsider political engagement, financial assistance and sectoral cooperation, without being more specific. It does not mention Azerbaijan's energy sector.

Azerbaijani forces seized control of the enclave – populated mainly by ethnic Armenians – last month, triggering an exodus of more than 100,000 people to Armenia.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and many leaders of the 27-nation bloc condemned the operation. But diplomats say there are disagreements among EU countries over whether to take firmer diplomatic or political action.

The EU's search for a response is complicated by its moves to rely more on Azerbaijani oil and gas as it has moved away from Russian energy due to Moscow's war in Ukraine.

The paper, prepared by the European External Action Service and seen by Reuters, outlines further possible reaction but is cautious in tone.

It says that if the situation deteriorates, the EU could consider a review of its relations with Azerbaijan "on the basis of a gradual approach".

"In case serious human rights violations are committed, restrictive measures against individuals responsible for such violations could be envisaged," the paper said.

Decisions on EU sanctions generally require unanimity among member countries.

A diplomat from a country favouring a tougher stance toward Azerbaijan, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the document "reflects a balance of different positions of member states: We want more, but others do not want anything at all."

Diplomats say France, Germany and the Netherlands are among those pushing for strong signals of disapproval toward Baku while others such as Austria and Hungary are at the opposite end of the spectrum.

A second diplomat said the EU may not end up doing much more than condemning Azerbaijan's action and instead focus on supporting Armenia, economically and possibly with military aid.

The paper suggested the EU consider "political and economic actions to further support the democratically elected authorities of Armenia, including in the area of security and resilience, and the continuation of the democratic reforms".

Reporting by Andrew Gray and John Irish; writing by Andrew Gray, Editing by Angus MacSwan

https://www.reuters.com/world/eu-could-review-azerbaijan-ties-if-crisis-worsens-document-2023-10-03/

Foreign Intelligence Service mission is to effectively respond to modern-day threats, challenges – PM’s spokesperson

Ekmekjian Janet

 09:42, 4 October 2023

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s spokesperson Nazeli Baghdasaryan has commented on Kristinne Grigoryan’s appointment as Director of the new Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS).

In an interview with Armenpress, Baghdasaryan also spoke about the mission of the new intelligence agency.

Armenpress: Ms. Baghdasaryan, Prime Minister Pashinyan has signed an order on appointing Kristinne Grigoryan as the Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service. This appointment marks the inception of the Foreign Intelligence Service. What functions will the service carry out?

Baghdasaryan: The main objective of the service is to predict the foreign threats and opportunities facing our state and society and to provide political decision-makers with the relevant reliable, trustworthy and applicable intelligence data that will have applied significance in terms of managing and preventing possible threats and existing challenges. This is essentially a function carried out by any country’s foreign intelligence service. I have to mention that the service is a politically neutral body, with a mission to serve exclusively for the state interests. The FIS will also closely cooperate with other bodies and actors of Armenia vested with intelligence [gathering] functions, for strengthening the independence, sovereignty and security of the Republic of Armenia. With this purpose the FIS will also establish cooperation with international partners.

Armenpress: What is the reason that the new foreign intelligence agency is being opened in this particular period? Why now?

Baghdasaryan: The launch of the Foreign Intelligence Service is envisaged in the government action plan. The creation of the new service is an important part of the government’s ongoing strategic reforms in the security sector. The law on the Service was adopted and took effect back in December 2022, so the creation of the service is the result of a normal process. The government has been consistently preparing for the practical launch of the establishment of the service over the course of the past nine months.

Armenpress: And does the service already have a physical location, a headquarters? Where can citizens apply to for possible recruitment?

Baghdasaryan: After the appointment of the Director, the law envisages a certain period of time for institutional formation, including its location, as well as adoption of by-laws regulating operational issues of the service.

These questions will have the answers as soon as the service becomes functional and the necessary information will be provided additionally. Certainly, the complete establishment of the service will take some time.

Armenpress: The Prime Minister has appointed former Human Rights Defender Kristinne Grigoryan as the Director of the FIS. Is Grigoryan the right candidate for this position given the fact that she doesn’t have any experience in the field?

Baghdasaryan: The Director of the new service has the objective to create an intelligence service that would effectively respond to modern-day challenges, that will have a strong institutional foundation and will be able to serve the vital interests of the Republic of Armenia. We are certain that Kristinne Grigoryan’s experience in public administration is sufficient to solve the abovementioned objectives.

Armenpress: And which Western service model is chosen as the foundation of the service?

Baghdasaryan: I’d like to emphasize that neither a Western, nor Eastern, nor Northern and nor Southern model was chosen. In our discussions, we were guided exclusively by the principles of assessing the security challenges and foreign intelligence needs of the Republic of Armenia and developing a modern foreign intelligence service quintessential to a democratic society. Reasonably, the analysis of accessible information on various professional services having the capacity to effectively respond to modern-day challenges has an important role in the FIS works, which will be assessed according to the degree of applicability in Armenia.

EIB Global provides €70 million to support SMEs under the EU’s Economic and Investment Plan

Ekmekjian Janet

 10:47, 4 October 2023

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS. The European Investment Bank (EIB), the lending arm of the European Union, will provide a loan of €70 million to the Central Bank of Armenia to increase access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-caps in Armenia, the Central Bank said in a press release. 
This initiative is part of the EIB’s Armenian Economic Resilience Programme, with backing from the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+). The programme is designed to facilitate access to financing for businesses in Armenia, contributing to economic growth and resilience. 
The funds, channelled through the Central Bank of Armenia, will be directed to eligible companies via commercial banks and universal credit organisations, ensuring a streamlined approach to financing. Like its predecessors, the Programme, will be implemented by the German-Armenian Fund, and will support an estimated 1 200 enterprises and sustain 1 500 jobs. Eight partner financial institutions are already confirmed to take part in the Programme. 
This strategic partnership underscores the European Union's commitment to promoting economic growth, resilience and sustainable development in Armenia, fostering a brighter future for its SMEs and mid-caps. It also emphasises the support for a sustainable, innovative and competitive economy, as one of the five main pillars for Armenia under the European Union’s Economic and Investment Plan for the Eastern Partnership. 
The loan is complemented by technical assistance financed by the Eastern Partnership Technical Assistance Trust Fund (EPTATF). The EIB’s advisory services will help businesses implement green projects, further social inclusion and pursue digitalisation.
Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Ambassador Vasillis Maragos added, “This loan reaffirms the EU's commitment to Armenia's resilient economic growth. It is an initiative that decisively contributes to the EU's Economic and Investment Plan target of mobilising €500 million in investments for Armenia's private sector and supporting 30 000 SMEs. Let us remember, though, that this initiative is much more than mere numbers. It is about real impact. We are prioritising balanced regional growth, empowering women entrepreneurs and promoting green projects, all in line with EU values and a steadfast commitment to supporting Armenia as it builds a sustainable, innovative and competitive economy – and most importantly, we stand with Armenia in difficult times.”
The Deputy Prime-Minister of the Republic of Armenia Mher Grigoryan, said: “The development of small and medium-sized enterprises has a critical role for inclusive and sustainable economic development, boosting innovation, improving economic resilience as well as structure of the economy.  Taking into account the current complicated developments in the region, it is especially critical today to do the utmost to provide with all necessary prerequisites for sustainable and continuous development of the private sector. The Program designed with joint efforts serves the goal to support the Armenian small and medium-sized enterprises to have easy access to local currency financing.”
EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska, responsible for operations in Armenia, remarked, “Today, amid a challenging period for the country, with the support from the European Union, we are extending further financing to the Central Bank of Armenia, a well-established partner of the EIB. This fourth EIB loan will boost economic resilience through the smooth flow of funds to small businesses, with a particular focus on women entrepreneurs and green projects in line with the EU Economic and Investment Plan for the Eastern Partnership for Armenia. Supporting underserved SMEs, it will contribute to an inclusive and sustainable Armenian economy.” 
Martin Galstyan, Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia, explained, “Financial cooperation between the EIB and CBA started in 2014, and has been very successful. It has greatly enhanced the development of Armenia’s private sector through financial institutions and, due to the programme requirements, has dramatically improved SMEs and brought international best standards to financial institutions and the private sector as a whole. Within the scope of the cooperation many important and impactful projects have been financed. With the new loan facility of €70 million, ambitious targets have been set to support SMEs and mid-caps as they invest in green projects, empower women and promote digitalisation.”
With this loan, the EIB and CBA are continuing their cooperation, building on three previous successfully intermediated loans totalling €150 million. This model has allowed many smaller financial institutions to participate in the programme and channel EIB funding to SMEs, improving these companies’ access to long-term finance in local currency on favourable terms. The previous EIB loans provided to the Central Bank of Armenia supported more than 1 300 enterprises, and created 2 000 jobs in the third phase alone, particularly in the agri-processing and tourism sectors.
Background information
About the Economic and Investment Plan for the Eastern Partnership
In 2021, the European Union launched the Economic and Investment Plan for the Eastern Partnership countries — aimed at supporting, among others, the development of resilient, sustainable and integrated economies in the region.
The plan contains a set of flagship initiatives for each of the partner countries. These are concrete priority projects with tangible results, identified jointly with the partner countries and taking into account their priorities, needs and ambitions.
The Armenian Economic Resilience Programme supports a sustainable, innovative and competitive economy as one of the five flagship initiatives for Armenia under the European Union’s Economic and Investment Plan for the Eastern Partnership.

Ratification of Rome Statute has nothing to do with Russia relations, says Armenian MP

Ekmekjian Janet

 13:52, 3 October 2023

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 3, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is taking all steps to ensure its security in various ways, MP Sargis Khandanyan told reporters after parliament ratified the Rome Statute.

He said the move is in the national interests of Armenia and has nothing to do with its relations with Russia.

“The ratification of the Rome Statute is purely in the interests of Armenia. The Republic of Armenia takes all steps to ensure its security in various ways, including in terms of legal security, and the Rome Statute is one of its components,” Khandanyan, the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs said.

He said that the ratification of the Rome Statute and its consequences shouldn’t be exaggerated.

“The government has been continuously working and continuous to work with Russian colleagues, and the ratification of the Rome Statute has nothing to do with the Armenian-Russian relations,” he added.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 03-10-23

Ekmekjian Janet

 17:08, 3 October 2023

YEREVAN, 3 OCTOBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 3 October, USD exchange rate up by 11.24 drams to 413.45 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 9.24 drams to 433.09 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.10 drams to 4.17 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 9.57 drams to 498.54 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 178.14 drams to 24366.23 drams. Silver price down by 11.00 drams to 287.39 drams.

"A gross political mistake by the Karabakh Armenian community". View from Baku

Ekmekjian Janet
Sept 29 2023
  • JAMnews
  • Baku

Haji Namazov on self-dissolution of unrecognized NKR

In two months, the unrecognized NKR will become history. The Armenian population of Karabakh is leaving the region en masse and heading to Armenia. Political observer Haji Namazov calls this “a gross political mistake of the Karabakh Armenian community”. “After all, if we are quite objective, no one threatened them after the end of the counter-terrorist operation,” he says.

  • “Nearly half of young people in Georgia say they are neither working nor in school” – FES survey
  • The unrecognised NKR will cease to exist on 1 January by its own decision
  • Azerbaijani court arrests Ruben Vardanyan

According Namazov, “the decree of the leader of the separatist regime in Karabakh on self-dissolution was one of the demands of official Baku. By accepting this condition, the unrecognized republic was able to stop the counter-terrorist operation, which could have ended deplorably for all its so-called leaders.”

“It is true that since yesterday some political analysts have been trying to convey to their public that Shahramanyan’s decree was illegal, saying that the independence of the separatist regime was declared by referendum, and supposedly should be also abolished by referendum.

This narrative did not appear by chance, as if with a plan for the future. But it is doomed to fail. Why? If the Armenians had remained on the territory of Karabakh in the number of several tens of thousands of people, then perhaps, decades later, the conflict could have arisen again. But most of the Armenian community decided to leave for the country of which they are citizens,” Namazov says.

The self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, which is not recognized by any country in the world, will cease to exist

“This is a gross political mistake, which will have an effect on the Armenians of Karabakh. After all, to be quite objective, no one threatened them after the counter-terrorist operation was over. Armenians lived quietly side by side with Azerbaijani policemen and soldiers. But it’s all over now. The Armenian community in its overwhelming majority decided to leave Karabakh and move away.

I will not be original if I assume that a small part of them will return in the near future — within 2-3 years. It is not easy to get used to living in a different, unfamiliar place. Especially if you know for sure that, contrary to official propaganda in Armenia, there is nothing threatening you in Karabakh.

What did the Armenian community of Karabakh get as a result of the “miatsum” announced in 1988? Nothing. Figuratively, it can be compared to Alexander Pushkin’s well-known fairy tale about the fisherman and a fish. Only at the end of the fairy tale the old woman is left at a broken trough; in our case there is not even this trough.

In other words, what started with a huge political mistake ended with another, no less gross political mistake,” he said in conversation with our correspondent.

Ruben Vardanyan, former State Minister of the unrecognized NKR, sentenced to 4 months’ imprisonment for the period of investigation

“As for the very process of Karabakh Armenians moving to Armenia, the falsification is visible to the naked eye.

So far, official Baku has not publicized the number of Karabakh residents who crossed the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia these days. But experts are analyzing with interest the figures appearing in Armenian sources.

So, the number of Karabakh Armenians who moved to Armenia is growing with enviable stability. This growth has neither decreased nor increased over the past few days. Although we know for sure that on September 27 at noon Azerbaijani border guards closed the Lachin checkpoint for a short period of time to honor the memory of those killed in the second Karabakh war. But even this had no effect on the rate of growth.

It is clear that Armenia achieves two goals at once by this. First, for a long time Armenian officials and sources have been saying that 120 thousand Armenians lived in Karabakh. Although Baku and Russian peacekeepers have mentioned other figures, much smaller – from 30 to 50 thousand. Secondly, the greater the number of displaced Armenian citizens, the more assistance will be provided by international humanitarian organizations and other countries that sympathize with Yerevan,” Namazov said.

Talking to Deutsche Welle, Hikmet Hajiyev said that the relocation of Armenians from Karabakh is “a personal and individual decision” of the residents

“The predictions of those experts who believed that Azerbaijani security forces would not be able to enter Khankendi have not quite come true. Yesterday and today everyone saw video footage of Azerbaijani Interior Ministry vehicles moving through the streets of the center of the former NKAO.

I think that the process of establishing the power of official Baku on the whole territory of Karabakh will not be delayed even until January 1, when formally there will be no separatist regime. Because the situation is changing hour by hour, and I am sure that in early October the flag of Azerbaijan will be flying over the departmental buildings in Khankendi.”

https://jam-news.net/a-gross-political-mistake-by-the-karabakh-armenian-community-view-from-baku/

‘Whenever territory has changed hands’ in Karabakh conflict, ‘ethnic cleansing has taken place’

Ekmekjian Janet
France 24
Sept 29 2023
Ethnic Armenian separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh on Thursday agreed to dissolve their government by the end of the year and become a full part of Azerbaijan in the wake of Baku’s lightning offensive. The dramatic announcement came moments after it became clear that more than half of the rebel region’s population had fled the advancing Azerbaijani forces. It drew the curtain on one of the world’s longest and seemingly most irreconcilable “frozen conflicts” — one that successive administrations in Washington and leaders across Europe had failed to resolve in ceaseless rounds of talks. But it also stoked anger in Yerevan. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan accused Azerbaijan of conducting “ethnic cleansing” and called on the international community to act. As Karabakh separatists disband, following surrender to Azerbaijan, FRANCE 24’s Mark Owen is joined by Dr. Laurence Broers, Caucasus Programme Director at the international peacebuilding organization Conciliation Resources. He is also a research associate at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, and an associate fellow at the Royal Institute for International Affairs at Chatham House.

Watch the video at https://www.france24.com/en/video/20230929-whenever-territory-has-changed-hands-in-karabakh-conflict-ethnic-cleansing-has-taken-place

RFE/RL Armenian Service – 09/29/2023

Ekmekjian Janet 
                                        Friday, 
Karabakh Seeks Safe Exit For Leaders
        • Ruzanna Stepanian
Residents gather next to buses in central Stepanakert before leaving 
Nagorno-Karabakh, September 25, 2023.
The outgoing authorities in Stepanakert are trying to convince Azerbaijan to let 
Nagorno-Karabakh’s current and former leaders leave the region along with its 
tens of thousands of ordinary residents, a Karabakh official said on Friday.
The official, who did not want to be identified, told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service 
that Samvel Shahramanian, the Karabakh president, is personally negotiating with 
the Azerbaijani side on the issue. He said Shahramanian’s three predecessors -- 
Arayik Harutiunian, Bako Sahakian and Arkadi Ghukasian -- as well as a former 
Karabakh foreign minister, Davit Babayan, are among those who risk being 
arrested if they flee to Armenia through the Lachin corridor.
It is not clear whether the issue was on the agenda of a second meeting of 
Azerbaijani and Karabakh representatives held in the Azerbaijani town of Yevlakh 
later in the day.
Babayan, who is now an adviser to Shahramanian, said on Thursday that Baku wants 
to arrest him. He said he will turn himself in because he does not want to 
jeopardize the evacuation of other Karabakh Armenians remaining in the region. 
Babayan’s whereabouts were not known as of Friday afternoon.
Nagorno Karabak - Former and current Karabakh leaders attend Christmas Mass in 
the Stepanakert cathedral, January 6, ,2023.
Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian-born tycoon who served as Karabakh premier from 
November 2022 to February 2023, was arrested at the Azerbaijani checkpoint in 
the Lachin corridor on Wednesday. Vardanyan was taken to Baku to face a string 
of serious criminal charges.
According to media reports, a number of other former Karabakh officials have 
also been caught by Azerbaijani security services since then. Karabakh sources 
confirmed on Friday that they include Levon Mnatsakanian, a general who 
commanded Karabakh’s Armenian-backed army from 2015-2018,
The Azerbaijani authorities announced shortly afterwards the arrest of Davit 
Manukian, another Karabakh general who used to be the Defense Army’s deputy 
commander. They said Manukian will be prosecuted on “terrorism” charges. His 
brother, Gegham Manukian, is a prominent Armenian opposition politician.
Citing an unnamed diplomatic source, the Reuters reported on Thursday that Baku 
has drawn up a list of about 200 prominent Karabakh Armenians subject to arrest 
and prosecution. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Azerbaijani 
President Ilham Aliyev to grant the Karabakh Armenians “broad amnesty” when they 
spoke by phone earlier this week.
Baku is currently gradually restoring full control over Karabakh as a result of 
the Azerbaijani army’s September 19 offensive. A Russian-brokered ceasefire that 
stopped the fighting on September 20 commits it to permitting Karabakh’s 120,000 
or so ethnic Armenian residents to leave their homeland. More than 91,000 of 
them have taken refuge in Armenia as of Friday afternoon, according to the 
Armenian government.
Armenian Defense Chief Shuns Meeting In Russia
        • Karlen Aslanian
Armenia - Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikian greets U.S. generals watching 
a U.S.-Armenian military exercise, September 15, 2023.
Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikian declined to attend a meeting of top 
defense officials of ex-Soviet states held in Russia on Friday, underscoring 
Yerevan’s deepening rift with Moscow.
A spokesman for Papikian gave no reason for his decision. Nor did he say whether 
the Armenian Defense Ministry sent other officials to the annual session of the 
Council of Defense Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
The Russian Defense Ministry said earlier in the day that military delegations 
of eight CIS countries, including Armenia, will attend the meeting in the 
Russian city of Tula. It said the participants include Russian Defense Minister 
Sergei Shoigu and his Azerbaijani counterpart Zakir Hasanov.
Papikian similarly shunned in May this year a meeting in Belarus of a smaller 
number of ex-Soviet states making up the Collective Security Treaty Organization 
(CSTO). Yerevan has repeatedly accused Russia and the Russian-led military 
alliance of not fulfilling their obligation to defend Armenia against 
Azerbaijani attacks.
Russian-Armenian relations deteriorated further this month after Prime Minister 
Nikol Pashinian declared that the alliance with Russia cannot guarantee his 
country’s national security. Pashinian went on to send his wife to Ukraine with 
a batch of humanitarian aid and to press ahead with parliament ratification of 
the founding treaty of an international court that issued an arrest warrant for 
Russian President Vladimir Putin in March.
Moscow condemned those “unfriendly” actions. It warned on Thursday the 
ratification of the Rome Statute expected next week would be an “extremely 
hostile” move on the part of Yerevan. Armenian opposition groups likewise said 
that it could have severe consequences for Armenia.
In another development bound to irk Moscow, Armenian parliament speaker Alen 
Simonian on Friday made a point of meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Ruslan 
Stefanchuk on the sidelines of an international conference of parliamentarians 
in Dublin. The Armenian parliament’s press office said they discussed prospects 
for closer ties between Ukrainian and Armenian lawmakers.
It also said Simonian briefed Stefanchuk on the grave humanitarian consequences 
of Azerbaijan’s September 19-20 military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh which 
forced its ethnic Armenian residents to flee their homeland. Ukraine’s current 
and former governments have always backed Azerbaijani efforts to regain control 
of Karabakh.
Fugitive Blogger Set To Decide Outcome Of Yerevan Mayoral Race
        • Astghik Bedevian
A screenshot of YouTube video posted by Vartan Ghukasian, May 25, 2023.
A U.S.-based video blogger wanted by Armenian law-enforcement authorities could 
determine who will be the next mayor of Yerevan following municipal elections in 
which his obscure political party did unexpectedly well.
According to official results of the September 17 elections, no political group 
won a majority of seats in Yerevan’s 65-seat municipal council empowered to 
appoint the mayor. The ruling Civil Contract party came in first with 32.5 
percent of the vote that earned it 24 seats in the council.
It was trailed by a small party represented by former Mayor Hayk Marutian (19 
percent) and the radical opposition bloc Mayr Hayastan (15.4 percent) that will 
control 14 and 12 seats respectively. The Public Voice party of blogger Vartan 
Ghukasian won 7 seats, giving the three opposition contenders a narrow majority 
in the city council and thus putting them in a position to jointly install the 
mayor.
However, they have failed to agree on a common mayoral candidate primarily 
because of various conditions set by Ghukasian. Marutian said on Thursday that 
even if they reached such a deal they would not have enough votes because the 
man topping Public Voice’s electoral list is in jail while the number two figure 
on the list is on the run.
The ex-mayor said he and his allies therefore decided to try to force a repeat 
election of the city council. Mayr Hayastan made the same decision.
Armenia - A woman votes in municipal elections in Yerevan, Setpember 17, 2023.
Under Armenian law, such a vote will have to be held if Yerevan’s newly elected 
Council of Elders fails to make a quorum during its inaugural session scheduled 
for October 10. This will happen if all five council members representing Public 
Voice and remaining at large boycott the session together with Marutian’s party 
and Mayr Hayastan.
Ghukasian did not disclose his position on the boycott in his latest online 
video. Instead, he kept setting more conditions for helping Marutian regain the 
post of mayor. Local government jobs demanded by him for his loyalists include 
the post of a director of one of Yerevan’s cemeteries.
The Yerevan council will make a quorum if at least one of its members affiliated 
with Ghukasian’s party shows up for the October 10 session. In that case, Civil 
Contract’s mayoral candidate, Tigran Avinian, would need only 27 votes to become 
mayor. Avinian would almost certainly be backed by the pro-establishment 
Hanrapetutyun party that will hold the remaining 8 council seats.
A former police officer nicknamed Dog, Ghukasian emigrated to the United States 
about a decade ago. He has since attracted large audiences with his hard-hitting 
and opinionated comments on political developments in Armenia. He has been 
notorious for using profanities in his videos posted on YouTube.
Earlier this year, law-enforcement authorities issued an international arrest 
warrant for Ghukasian and arrested his associates in Armenia on charges of 
blackmail, extortion and fraud strongly denied by them.
Karabakh Refugees Look For Missing Relatives
        • Naira Bulghadarian
Armenia - Ethnic Armenians who fled Nagorno-Karabakh embrace upon their arrival 
in Kornidzor, September 26, 2023. (Stepan Poghosyan/PHOTOLUR Photo via AP)
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has pledged to help 
residents of Nagorno-Karabakh fleeing to Armenia search for their relatives who 
went missing after Azerbaijan’s September 19 military offensive.
The resulting brief but fierce fighting left hundreds of Karabakh Armenians dead 
and unaccounted for and separated many others from their loved ones. This is 
especially true for families that lived in communities cut off from the rest of 
the region by advancing Azerbaijani troops.
The humanitarian disaster was compounded by Monday’s powerful explosion at a 
fuel depot outside Stepanakert. At least 68 people died and more than 100 others 
went missing as a result of the blast.
The blast is the reason why Anzhela Hovannisian lost touch with one of her sons 
and 14-year-old grandson before fleeing to Armenia along with tens of thousands 
of other people.
“I don’t know their whereabouts. My heart is being cut into pieces,” the elderly 
woman told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service shortly after crossing the Armenian border.
“What’s the point of coming here without my kids?” she asked, crying.
RFE/RL correspondents have heard in recent days similar stories from dozens of 
other refugees. The ICRC, the only international aid organization allowed to 
operate in Karabakh, is now trying to help such people.
Vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) transporting 
humanitarian aid for residents of Nagorno-Karabakh drive towards the 
Armenia-Azerbaijan border along a road near the village of Kornidzor, Armenia, 
September 23, 2023.
“If you have a family member who went missing or you think was arrested [by 
Azerbaijani authorities] or if you had to leave behind a loved one or their 
body, please contact us,” the ICRC’s Yerevan office said in a written notice.
“We get dozens of phone calls every day,” said the office spokeswoman, Zara 
Amatuni. “People also visit our office.”
Red Cross workers collect their data before checking with other ICRC offices in 
the region and contacting Armenian and Azerbaijani authorities, said Amatuni. 
She did not specify how many missing Karabakh residents have been identified or 
found by the ICRC so far.
Visiting Armenia on Tuesday, the head of the U.S. Agency for International 
Development (USAID), Samantha Power, said part of $11.5 million allocated by the 
United States to Karabakh refugees will support “efforts to reunite families.”
“There are many unaccompanied children who have crossed into the Republic of 
Armenia and it is absolutely urgent that they be reunited with their families,” 
Power said after talking to refugees in the border town of Goris.
According to the Armenian government, the total number of refugees who have 
entered Armenia since September 24 reached almost 98,000 on Friday evening. The 
figure accounts for over 80 percent of Karabakh’s estimated population.
Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2023 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Ethnic Armenians to leave Nagorno-Karabakh following Azerbaijan victory, local official says

Ekmekjian Janet
CNN
Sept 24 2023
By Alex Stambaugh, Josh Pennington, Heather Chen and Hafsa Khalil, CNN

The ethnic Armenian population in the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region will leave for Armenia after Azerbaijan reclaimed the territory in a brief offensive, a local official says.

“Our people do not want to live as part of Azerbaijan. Ninety-nine point nine percent prefer to leave our historic lands,” David Babayan, an adviser to Samvel Shahramanyan, the president of the self-styled Republic of Artsakh, told Reuters. The region is known as Artsakh to Armenians.

“The fate of our poor people will go down in history as a disgrace and a shame for the Armenian people and for the whole civilized world,” Babayan said, adding that those responsible will have to answer before God.

Azerbaijan’s short offensive this week ended in a Russia-brokered ceasefire in which separatist Armenian fighters agreed to surrender and lay down their arms. The truce apparently marked the end of a conflict that has raged on and off for three decades.

Although internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, the landlocked mountainous region is home to 120,000 ethnic Armenians, who make up the majority of the population, and have created their own de facto government, rejecting Azerbaijani rule.

Azerbaijan says it will guarantee the rights of those living in the region. But Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and international experts have repeatedly warned of the risk of ethnic cleansing of Armenians in the enclave.

Babayan’s comments come as the first aid reached Nagorno-Karabkh Saturday since the ceasefire began.

The convoy consisted of nearly 70 metric tons of humanitarian supplies including wheat flour, salt, dried yeast and sunflower oil, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The aid had been transported along the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, the ICRC said.

The road has been blockaded since December 2022 by Azerbaijan, making it inaccessible to civilian and commercial traffic.

The ICRC added that it carried out the medical evacuation of 17 people who were wounded during fighting and had delivered medical supplies and body bags as aid.

“Given the scale of humanitarian needs, we are increasing our presence there with specialized personnel in health, forensics, protection, and weapons contamination,” the ICRC said.

Azerbaijan has reclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh. What does that mean for the tens of thousands living there?

Russia – the traditional regional power broker – has delivered 50 tons of aid, including rations and basic necessities, to Stepanakert, the region’s capital, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported Saturday.

At least 200 people were killed and over 400 others wounded in Azerbaijan’s military operation, officials said.

US Senator Gary Peters, who is currently in Armenia leading a US Congressional Delegation, said he viewed the blockade at the Lachin corridor with the US ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien and governor of Armenia’s Syunik province, Robert Ghukasyan.

“I’ve talked to many people who are very concerned about their loved ones, families and what has happened to them,” Peters told reporters on Saturday.

“They know they have been suffering as a result of the blockade over many months, shortages of food, medical supplies, basic gasoline and petrol,” he added. “It’s a dire situation from what I have heard and I’m very concerned.”