Author: Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS

Outcomes of the Brussels Process between Azerbaijan and Armenia

Emil Lazarian
   

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 15 hours ago 

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 Cavid Veliev

The sixth meeting within the framework of the ongoing peace talks series between Azerbaijan and Armenia was held in Brussels between President of the European Council (EC) Charles Michel, President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Both President Ilham Aliyev and the EC president declared the Brussel process productive. Few days after the meeting Pashinyan said that parties couldn’t agree all issues.

Meeting ended without signing any agreement, but at the same time, the statement made by Michel actually reflected the content of the meeting between the two leaders. From his statement, it was seen that the meeting between the two leaders consisted of seven sub-topics: (1) sovereignty and territorial integrity; (2) border delimitation; (3) connectivity; (4) humanitarian supplies; (5) rights and security; (6) detainees; and (7) Next meeting.

It is important for both states that the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty are in first place in Michel’s statement. This is a red line for Azerbaijan in the peace negotiations. Nikol Pashinyan has several times declared in his statements that he recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and later, upon the demand of President Ilham Aliyev, he recognized the territorial integrity of 86,600 km2 of Azerbaijan, including Karabakh. These statements of Pashinyan were later confirmed in the fifth and sixth Brussels meetings.

One of the agenda items of the meeting is the opening of regional transportation links. According to Michel’s statement, the parties agreed that transportation and connections should be opened in accordance with the principles of soveregnity, jurisdiction, and reciprocity of the states. This statement shows that, if Armenia renounces its corridor claims regarding the Lachin road, Azerbaijan may also give up its corridor claims against Armenia. However, after the announcement, it turned out that the parties agree on opening the railways forthwith. At this point, it is planned to complete the Azerbaijan part of the Zangezur Corridor by the end of this year. It is necessary to construct a railway within the borders of Armenia to a distance of 44 km.

In the previous meeting held in Brussels on May 14, it was stated that the rules of the International Customs Organization would be valid in this regard, but this was not repeated by Michel on this occasion. However, it was stated that the EU was ready to provide financial support for the construction of the Armenian part of the railway. Considering that the railways in Armenia are under the control of the Russian State Railways, the construction of the Zangezur Corridor with the financial support of the EU is an important development.

One of the most remarkable subtopics was humanitarian supplies. As we know, in the post-war period, the Lachin road between Armenia and the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan remained temporarily open in order to meet humanitarian needs. However, it was revealed that this road, which was under the supervision of Russian peacekeepers according to the November 10 Trilateral Declaration, was used for arms transportation and that foreign citizens were allowed to cross into Azerbaijan illegally. As a result, Azerbaijan established a border post on the Lachin road. Armenia then applied to the International Court of Justice for the removal of this customs point, but this application was rejected. Humanitarian aid was transported from this customs point through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), but after a period of time it was revealed that there were undeclared goods among the cargoes brought from Armenia by the ICRC. In its statement of July 11, the ICRC noted that it does not support the activity of transporting undeclared goods and had terminated employment contracts with the drivers of vehicles carrying such goods, and this is commendable.

In order to prevent the Lachin road from being used for illegal purposes, the Azerbaijani side proposes that the ICRC provide supplies to the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan via Aghdam. For this purpose, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ceyhun Bayramov, met the Head of the ICRC Office in Azerbaijan, Dragana Kojic, and highlighted Azerbaijan’s position. In his statement Michel underlined both the use of the Lachin road and providing humanitarian supplies via Aghdam. This step will lead to more effective results for the integration of Karabakh Armenians into Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is also insistent on transporting supplies to the Russian peacekeeping troops in Karabakh via Aghdam.

One of the most important talking points between the parties is the issue of rights and security. Regarding this subtopic, Michel expressed the EU’s encouragement for direct dialogue between Baku and representatives of Armenians living in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. This statement supports direct talks between Baku and Karabakh Armenian representatives without any mediation. This means that those Armenians who want mediation by the Russian peacekeepers have been given a red light by Brussels.

Continuing to explain that this dialogue should provide much-needed confidence for all those involved, Michel also gave a red light to Armenia’s demand for an “international mechanism” for Karabakh Armenians’ security and rights.

According to reports in regional media, the issue of the return to Armenia of Azerbaijanis who were expelled between 1987 and 1990 was also on the agenda between the parties. Before this meeting, this issue was also discussed at the meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Arlington, Virginia, US, on May 1–4. This is one of the issues that Azerbaijan keeps on the agenda, and at the beginning of this year, Azerbaijanis deported from Armenia in 1987 to 1990 created an NGO and applied to international organizations to return to their homeland.

The last two sub-topics are important in terms of normalizing relations between the two countries and ensuring mutual trust. First, According to Michel, the leaders reconfirmed their commitment to the “gentlemen’s understanding” that the release of soldiers who inadvertently crossed to the other side would be facilitated. A few months ago, two Azerbaijani soldiers accidentally crossed into Armenia and were arrested, tortured, and imprisoned. This statement is a reminder that the gentlemen’s agreement should be implemented for the return of these two soldiers. The importance of ensuring increased cooperation in addressing the fate of missing persons and on demining was also discussed. During his statement Michel called on the sides to exchange as much information as possible. Around 4,000 Azerbaijanis disappeared during the First Karabakh War, and Armenia has not yet provided the necessary information to find these missing persons.

In summary, the fact that six meetings have been held in Brussels for the normalization of relations and the signing of a peace agreement shows that the parties attach importance to the Brussels process. However, it cannot be said that all the commitments made in these meetings have been implemented. For example, although Michel’s declared the intention to do so in the May 14 meeting, no steps were taken regarding the Zangezur corridor or the release of the arrested Azerbaijani soldiers. Moreover, it is apparent that there are some issues that were not agreed upon in the last meeting. In particular, illegal Armenian military groups still remain in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and withdrawing these groups was not included in Michel’s statement. Michel has expressed his opinion on some issues and it is unclear whether the parties will abide by the agreements. But at the same time, although it can be said that the two countries differ on fundamental issues, it seems that they are willing to move towards peace, step by step.

https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2023/07/23/outcomes-of-the-brussels-process-between-azerbaijan-and-armenia/

Ilham Aliyev: "International law works selectively"

Emil Lazarian



  • JAMnews
  • Baku

Aliyev on the situation with Karabakh Armenians

The President of Azerbaijan commented on the situation between official Baku and the Armenian population of Karabakh. “We still have not lost hope that the sensible part of society that lives in Khankendi and its environs will still understand the futility of such ignoring of Azerbaijan and common sense will prevail. Otherwise, I think that only the naive can count on the fact that someone will come and fight for them,” Ilham Aliyev said.

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On July 21-22, the Shusha Global Media Forum was held on the topic “New Media in the Era of the 4th Industrial Revolution”. President Aliyev attended the opening ceremony and answered questions from journalists from different countries.

In response to a question from a Georgian journalist, the President of Azerbaijan commented on the situation in relations between official Baku and the Armenian population of Karabakh:

“Unfortunately, the junta that seized power in Karabakh and which calls itself “presidents”, then “ministers”, then “deputies”, causing laughter from everyone, took hostage those who now live in the territory where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily stationed.

We took the initiative, I appointed a special representative who was supposed to deal with representatives of the Armenians of Karabakh, and in order to establish these contacts, he was sent to Karabakh. The first meeting took place there, in the village of Khojaly, on the basis of the Russian peacekeeping contingent. After that, we invited representatives of the Armenians of Karabakh to come to Baku to continue the dialogue. But they refused, and defiantly. After some time, we invited them again, maybe there was some kind of mistake – it happens – a misfire, in order to make sure that they really either want or don’t want. And again there was a refusal. But then I said that there would be no third invitation. They don’t want to, so they don’t want to.

What happened next, you probably know well – the establishment of a border checkpoint on the state border of Azerbaijan and Armenia. If you trace the chronology of all our actions, even if you go to the beginning of the second Karabakh war, you will see the logic and very strong argumentation of your innocence. We didn’t do anything for which we would be ashamed or we would say: “Yes, we are wrong here.” We did everything right.

We gave them a chance, including to the Armenian leadership before the start of the second Karabakh war, for two years, but they did not take advantage of it. We gave them a chance at a time when the Lachin-Khankendi road was just a “passage yard” through which Armenia transported mines that were produced in Armenia in 2021. And we opened these mines, we found them. We invited representatives of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, as well as representatives of the Russian-Turkish monitoring center, which is located in Aghdam, and demonstrated and asked: “How did these mines get into Karabakh? Who brought them? And who watched? But it is impossible for us to die after the victory on our territory, because Armenia continues the terror!

So all our steps were logical, justified, legitimate, competent and sufficiently courageous. Therefore,the establishment of a border checkpoint on the border is an important stage in the post-conflict situation, which has largely changed the situation. And also the fact that these actions were fully accepted, although not immediately and not quite willingly by all the actors, but as a result were perceived as legitimate, was also a message. But how many times should we send messages, how many times can we hint? But was it not enough? And the Farrukh operation, and the situation on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan in May 2021, and the situation on the border in September 2022, and the border checkpoint. Are they so clueless?

Now the issue of reintegration depends on when the Armenian residents of Karabakh will be able to get rid of these fetters, from this junta that took them hostage and exploited them as slaves. And now it is also exploiting, because when eco-activists came to the Lachin-Khankendi road, then the Armenian leadership, the so-called in Khankendi, did not allow ordinary citizens to use this road. They set up a roadblock, then accusing us of the blockade. Today they again put concrete slabs on the Aghdam-Askeran road. When we said: “Why should the products be delivered from another country? After all, Karabakh is Azerbaijan.” So right? So after all. Does everyone recognize this? Everyone recognizes. Does anyone say it’s not? No. And why should goods be delivered from another country? This is illogical. But instead of accepting this gesture, concrete blocks are placed there. So who is blocking whom? So that’s the whole point.

And today this comedy show, when they sit in a tent and protest against someone, it’s just a joke, you know. To protest against people who call themselves “presidents”, a sit-down strike – some journalists here joke: probably, the next stage will be a “lying” strike. Then I don’t know which one, but it won’t help the case. We are ready to follow the path of reintegration, respecting the rights and security of the Armenian minority in Karabakh, within the framework of our Constitution and within the framework of the good practice of how these issues are resolved in Azerbaijan as a whole.

Azerbaijan is a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional state, and this is our strength. All representatives of ethnic groups who live in Azerbaijan have the same rights and obligations, the same level of security. And why some ethnic group should stand out against this background is also not entirely clear to me.

Here is our approach. We still have not lost hope that the sane part of society, which lives in Khankendi and its environs, will nevertheless understand the futility of such ignoring of Azerbaijan and common sense will prevail. Otherwise, I think that now only the naive can count on the fact that someone will come and fight for them. They had several stages when they had to understand and come to terms with the realities.

They appealed to different authorities, to different countries, starting with neighboring ones, ending with some countries that are located further away. But no one is with us on the territory of Azerbaijan instead of them, I think that in their right mind they will not fight. Therefore, they must eventually understand and accept these realities. I have already said, I was told many times by mediators during the occupation, that “the first Karabakh war ended like this, you must accept the realities.” But I did not accept them and did not accept them. But now I say again: here, accept these realities, and already changing these realities will only and only – if it happens – not to the benefit of either Armenia or the Armenian minority in Karabakh. I hope that they will hear these words and draw the right conclusion.”

“We have been dealing with this for many years. We raised our voice, calling to take into account the four resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council and demanding the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian troops from our lands. But these resolutions are not being implemented.

And now this trend is spreading. When international law does not work, when signatures mean little, the only guarantee of peace is force,” he stressed.

Answering a question from a Russian journalist, the Azerbaijani president noted that the declaration of alliance signed in February 2022 is a stage in the development of relations between Russia and Azerbaijan.

“Those small rough edges that we see in the Russian media in relation to Azerbaijan, and in the Azerbaijani media in relation to Russia, they have no influence on the policy of Azerbaijan and Russia.”

“Today there are three international actors that provide their assistance – the United States, Russia and the European Union.

And in three areas, Azerbaijan is acting in good faith and with a focus on results. But so far there are no results, because Armenia needs to take one of the last steps.

They have already taken several steps after the war, I would say that these steps were not voluntary. Over the past two and a half years, there have been several episodes that clearly showed Armenia that if our territorial integrity is not recognized, we will not recognize their territorial integrity either. And what this will mean for them is more or less clear.

They have already publicly acknowledged that Karabakh is Azerbaijan. Now they need to put their signature under the document. This is one of the last steps, but more needs to be done,” Ilham Aliyev stressed.

In the course of answering one of the many questions, Aliyev said that a trilateral meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan, Armenia and the Russian Federation would be held in Moscow in the coming days.

According to him, a peace treaty between the two countries can be signed before the end of 2023:

“If Armenia agrees to a clause where it completely refrains from any territorial claims against Azerbaijan, I think it will be really possible to sign a peace treaty by the end of this year.

If not, well, I have said many times that if they do not want to have a peace treaty with us, we cannot force them. We could not force them to comply with international law for 28 years. We have achieved this only by force. But in this case there will be no peace. In general, this is not the best scenario for the region.”

https://jam-news.net/ilham-aliyev-international-law-works-selectively/

Russia urges Armenian parliament to “study the consequences of joining the Rome Statute”

Emil Lazarian

Armenia - 

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Deputy Speaker of the Russian Federation Council, co-chairman of the Armenian-Russian inter-parliamentary commission Yuri Vorobyev considers that “the Armenian National Assembly should study the consequences of joining the Rome Statute.”

Speaking at the session of the inter-parliamentary commission in Irkutsk, Yuri Vorobyov commented on the March 24 decision of the Constitutional Court of Armenia that the Rome Statute does not contradict the country’s constitution, TASS reports.

“As we understand it, this means that Armenia recognizes the jurisdiction of the Hague Tribunal with regard to all the cases it is studying. We assume that this step by our Armenian colleagues does not have an anti-Russian context, nevertheless, in practice, it tangibly harms Russian-Armenian relations. We urge our allies to once again scrutinize the consequences of joining the Rome Statute and assess possible risks to allied relations with Russia,” Vorobyov said. He noted that a dialog between the Foreign Ministries of Russia and Armenia is currently underway.

Asbarez: Yerevan and Moscow Discuss Azerbaijan’s Ongoing Artsakh Blockade

Emil Lazarian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

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

Azerbaijan installed a concrete barrier on the Lachin Corridor on June 22


The Russian Foreign Ministry’s special representative on Armenia and Azerbaijan talks Igo Khovaev visited Yerevan on Friday and held meetings with Armenian government officials regarding the ongoing — more than seven-month-long — Azerbaijani blockade of Artsakh.

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan spoke about the imperative to address the rights and security issues of the people of Nagorno Karabakh under the international mechanism was emphasized.

Khovaev and Mirzoyan “thoroughly discussed the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh resulted by the illegal blocking of the Lachin Corridor. The need for Azerbaijan to immediately lift the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, in accordance with the tripartite declaration of November 9, 2020 and the rulings of the UN International Court of Justice of February 22 and July 6,” the foreign ministry said.

Mirzoyan also discussed Yerevan’s approaches regarding the establishment of comprehensive stability in the South Caucasus and key issues in the process of regulating relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Khovaev, who is also the Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, also met with Armenia’s National Security chief Armen Grigoryan, who emphasized the need for Azerbaijan to honor its obligations and implement the provisions of the November 9, 2020 agreement.

Grigoryan told Khovaev the Lachin Corridor blockaded continued a violation of that agreement.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan warned the visiting Russian diplomat of the deepened humanitarian crisis emanating from the blockade and emphasized the need for addressing the dire situation immediately.

Aliyev Says 150,000 Will Be Settled in Occupied Artsakh, Threatens Armenia

Emil Lazarian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

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

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev speaks to reporters in occupied Shushi on Jul. 21


President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan on Friday again threatened military action against Armenia and announced that his government plans to settle more than 150,000 people in Artsakh territories currently being occupied by Azerbaijan.

The decision to settle those territories goes counter to the provisions of the November 9, 2020 agreement signed by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia.

Speaking at a media forum organized in occupied Shushi, Aliyev promised to “return more than 150,000 people to the Karabakh and East Zangezur regions” over the next three years.

According to Aliyev, “the return of 140,000 people is envisioned by 2026 in the Karabakh region alone.” Azerbaijani authorities say the settlement will begin from Shushi.

In a message that seemed to be directed at world leaders, Aliyev said that in the absence of implementation of international legal provisions, Azerbaijan is ready to use force, as it did in Artsakh in 2020.

“In today’s conditions, when the norms of international law are grossly violated and applied selectively, Azerbaijan must be ready for any scenario and therefore strengthens its armed forces,” Aliyev
.
“To this end, as soon as the Karabakh war ended, we showed our great victory and immediately started implementing deep reforms in the field of defense,” he continued, assuring that “today the Azerbaijani army is even stronger than three years ago.”

“When the international law does not work, when the signature is not so important, only force is the guarantee of peace,” Aliyev emphasized.

He also turned his threats of military aggression toward Armenia, once again, saying that if the authorities in Yerevan know what is good for them, they will immediately sign the peace treaty.

“I think that Armenia should take the final step. They have already taken a number of steps after the war, and I would not say that they were taken voluntarily. During the last two and a half years, there were several moments that clearly showed Armenia that if they do not recognize our territorial integrity, then we will not recognize theirs. It’s clear what that means to them. They have already recognized that Karabakh is Azerbaijan, they openly declared this, and now the stage of signing the document has begun. This is an extremely important last step,” Aliyev said,. 

“However, if this [signing of peace treaty] does not happen, then there will be no peace. And this is not a good scenario for the region, it will not bring stability and security. At the same time, given the very sensitive geopolitical situation, this will create difficulties in the future,” Aliyev added.

The price of Russian migration

Emil Lazarian


Last year, several hundred thousand people fled Russia due to war and mobilisation. This has become a major economic stimulus for Russia’s neighbouring visa-free countries, like Georgia and Armenia — so major that their GDP growth predictions had to be increased several times.

On the other hand, the arrival of Russian nationals led to inflation and rental prices rising. Novaya Gazeta Europe has attempted to estimate what impact the newcomers had on the economies of the countries hosting them.

In 2021, the global economy started to emerge from the recession caused by the pandemic, the World Bank experts reported. The same analysts speculated the South Caucasus GDP would increase by 4.2% by the end of the year, but in practice it grew by 7%.

The economists could not have predicted the mass migration from Russia following the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to different estimates, between several hundred thousand and a million people left Russia last year. Usually, Russians would depart for less wealthy countries or nations with lenient migration policies, economist and former president of Russia’s New Economic School Ruben Enikolopov says.

Russians had the biggest impact on Armenia’s economy. According to the World Bank forecast, by the end of 2022 Armenia’s GDP was supposed to increase by 4.8%, instead it grew by 12.6%, as per the data provided by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This is one of the highest results in the world.

In a conversation with Novaya-Europe, economist Suren Parsyan confirms that the growth is related to the arrival of Russians, in particular those who work in IT. In total, Russians transferred $1.75 billion to Armenia in 2022.

Georgia ranks second on the list of countries with the biggest difference between the forecast and the actual growth of GDP. According to the data published by the National Bank, the country received around $3.6 billion from Russians via money transfers, tourism, and export of goods — this number makes up 14.6% of all Georgian economy. As a result, Georgia’s GDP grew by 10.1%.

In Kyrgyzstan, real indicators of economic growth reached 7%. The country also documented a growing cash flow due to the arrival of Russians. By the end of 2022, the total sum of bank transfers from Russia amounted to $2.8 billion, as per the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan.

According to the University of California professor Oleg Itskhoki, the growth of GDP in all of these countries demonstrates that the Russians who came there had savings; they were, on average, wealthier than the local residents. The emigrants created demand in the market of goods and services which in turn impacted GDP.

Kazakhstan was the only country where the growth of GDP did not differ from the forecast. As the Renaissance Capital chief economist for Russia and CIS Sofia Donets told Russian media outlet RBC, this result has to do with the size and structure of the Kazakh economy. For example, GDP equals $6,600 per capita in Georgia, $6,500 in Armenia, but $11,400 in Kazakhstan. Furthermore, Kazakhstan’s authorities put their stake on the industries and not on the service sector.

Serbia was the only country popular among Russian emigrants that saw its GDP go below the World Bank forecast. The expected economic growth of Serbia was 4.5%, however, according to the IMF and the National Statistics Bureau, it ended up being 2.5%. Enikolopov and Itskhoki believe the decline happened in part due to energy prices rising eight- or ninefold. Another thing to consider is that fewer Russians moved to Serbia compared to Georgia and Armenia.

However, if it wasn’t for emigrants, the country’s GDP would’ve crashed, Itskhoki says. The local authorities also confirmed the impact of Russian nationals on the economy. Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić said that “qualified” software engineers who had previously worked in foreign companies moved to Serbia.

The difference between forecasts and the actual numbers was noticeable in other countries, too. For example, Turkey’s GDP was 5.6% — the estimates put it at 2%. The Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey calculated that Russians had registered over 1,300 companies in Turkey in 2022 (which is almost eight times as many as in 2021).

Still, it’s hard to determine what impacted the local economies more — the mass arrival of migrants or the increased trade with Russia. All of these countries became hubs for the re-export of various goods to Russia because of the sanctions introduced due to the war in Ukraine, Itskhoki says (for example, the export of goods from Turkey quadrupled). He estimates that the emigrants and parallel imports had about an equal impact on the growth of GDP.

Another consequence of the flow of Russians has been the rise in prices for goods and services. Among the countries that Russian citizens migrated to most often, Turkey has recorded the highest level of inflation. By the end of 2022, according to the World Bank data, the inflation rate amounted to 72.3%. But in Turkey’s case, Russian immigrants weren’t the reason why. The experts believe the inflation rate is connected to the weak Turkish lira and the low interest rate remaining unchanged by the Central Bank.

In Kyrgyzstan, the 2022 inflation rate was 14.7%. As per the National Bank, the figure was impacted by the announcement of an upcoming rise of utility prices.

When it comes to Georgia, Serbia, and Armenia, the situation is more ambiguous. Georgia’s National Office reported a 12% inflation rate. Economist and member of the Girchi political party Alexandre Rakviashvili says that this rate of inflation was a trend that started in 2019 and that Russians had no impact on it.

However, the migrants’ impact on inflation can be tracked down to the rise in prices on various goods and services that they consume, Enikolopov says. For example, alcohol, tobacco, and housing prices increased in Georgia, flat equipment and restaurant prices grew in Serbia, while food and clothes became more expensive in Armenia.

All the countries that Russians moved to saw an increase in rental prices, Itskhoki says. For example, rental prices increased by around 70% in Tbilisi in 2022 compared to 2021, according to analysts of the TBC Capital Bank. This data is confirmed by the Numbeo statistics, which demonstrate that, on average, renting a flat in Georgia now costs $779.1.

Rental prices increased by 57% in Armenia. The average price of renting in this country was the most expensive in our sample — $956.5.



By the end of 2022, the inflation rate in Armenia reached 8.6%. Economist Narek Karapetyan ties the reasons for inflation to the influx of Russians: this led to a rise in utilities, services, and real estate prices.

In both Serbia and Kazakhstan, the price of renting increased by 24%. It costs over $600 per month to rent a place in these countries now.

Somehow, rental prices increased the least in the country with the biggest inflation rate. Turkish landlords raised their prices only by 16.4% (on average, up to $369.7 per month).

Following 24 February 2022, the authorities of host nations had to face not only the short-term influx of money into their countries but also think about the future. As a rule, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and other Central Asia countries are thought of as “transit points” by Russians, which is confirmed by the statistics published by the local Ministries of Internal Affairs and statements by politicians. This means that if the Russian migrants leave, the local economies could shrink again.

The prices of rent and various services go down, but so will the general demand impacted by the migrants.

The government of Kyrgyzstan is trying to attract Russian IT employees through the Digital Nomad programme which offers tax benefits. The local Ministry of Economy and Commerce justified the initiative by saying it’s an opportunity for “investment prospects and creating new jobs”. However, only around a thousand of foreigners had received the nomad status by February 2023. The other countries housing Russians are basically not taking any concrete steps to keep the migrants there.

Ruben Enikolopov believes that mass departure of Russian migrants could be the biggest risk for the economies of the countries they had fled to. According to him, their potential return home will depend on what’s going to happen in Russia which is “impossible to predict”. The economist speculates that only highly qualified professionals will be able to leave these countries for others, seeing as no one is really waiting for them in Western Europe and the USA.

Still, the economic impact of last year’s migration is more of a positive one, the economists agree.

“It may seem that 2022 was the ‘boom year’ and that 2023 will be even worse. But if we take a look at people’s collective wealth, then this was a positive shock to these countries,” summarises Itskhoki.

Plans to Open International Robotics Center in Armenia

Emil Lazarian

Fagen wasanni

ALL ABOUT XXI CENTURY TECHNOLOGIES

 Chelsea Johnson

A proposal to establish an international robotics center in Armenia has gained significant support from Dr. Karen Eguiazarian, a professor of Signal Processing at Tampere University in Finland. Dr. Eguiazarian, who attended the annual conference of the Armenian Society of Fellows (ASOF) in Dilijan, believes that this initiative can address the pressing challenges faced by Armenia in the aftermath of the 2020 Karabakh war.

The ASOF, which consists of 253 scholars, scientists, artists, and entrepreneurs of Armenian descent from around the world, aims to elevate Armenia’s educational and research institutions to a global level. Recognizing the need for immediate action, the organization has made the decision to open an international robotics center in Armenia as early as this fall.

One of the key areas that Dr. Eguiazarian identifies for development is the research sector, especially in information technology (IT). He emphasizes the importance of pragmatism and the application of research to address Armenia’s existing problems and support its economy. Dr. Eguiazarian believes that the establishment of the robotics center will facilitate the integration of knowledge from ASOF members and Armenian universities, fostering collaboration and innovation.

The scientist envisions Armenia becoming a regional leader in robotics, building upon its historical contributions during the Soviet era. He highlights the need to reverse the brain drain that occurred after the collapse of the Soviet Union, calling for the return of Armenian scientists who have studied abroad, particularly in the field of robotics. Dr. Eguiazarian stressed the interdisciplinary nature of robotics, which can play a crucial role in the advancement of artificial intelligence.

Drawing inspiration from Finland, a country with similarities to Armenia in terms of population and lack of oil resources, Dr. Eguiazarian suggests that Armenia can follow Finland’s model of focusing on human resources development. The IT sector in Armenia has the potential to drive scientific and research advancements, aligning with Western standards. By establishing the robotics center and the planned Center for Economic Research, the ASOF aims to facilitate positive changes in Armenia’s scientific and economic landscape.

To achieve their goals, the ASOF members are encouraged to contribute their knowledge and expertise to the project by dedicating one or two months each year to work in Armenia. This collaboration between international experts and local talents is expected to stimulate the growth of the robotics sector and propel Armenia as a research and innovation hub.

In summary, the ASOF’s proposal to establish an international robotics center in Armenia has gained enthusiastic support from Dr. Karen Eguiazarian. He believes that this initiative can address Armenia’s challenges and elevate its research institutions to global standards. By focusing on the IT sector and leveraging the expertise of ASOF members, the center aims to position Armenia as a leader in robotics and foster economic development. Drawing inspiration from Finland, the ASOF seeks to emulate its success in human resources development. The establishment of the robotics center and the planned Center for Economic Research are crucial steps towards realizing this vision.

https://fagenwasanni.com/news/plans-to-open-international-robotics-center-in-armenia/68605/

Armenia PM Accuses Azerbaijan of Karabakh ‘Genocide’, Warns of New War (+Links)

Emil Lazarian

Published By: Pritha Mallick

AFP

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan warned Friday of the risk of a new war with Azerbaijan, accusing Baku of “genocide" in the breakaway Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Baku and Yerevan have fought two wars over the mountainous enclave and the signature of a peace treaty remains a distant prospect.

Talks under the mediation of the European Union, United States, and Russia have brought about little progress.

“So long as a peace treaty has not been signed and such a treaty has not been ratified by the parliaments of the two countries, of course, a (new) war (with Azerbaijan) is very likely," Pashinyan told AFP.

Tensions escalated earlier in July when Azerbaijan temporarily shut the Lachin corridor, the sole road linking Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia.

The closure sparked concerns over a humanitarian crisis in the region, which experiences shortages of food, medicines, and energy.

“We’re talking not about a preparation of genocide, but an ongoing process of genocide," Pashinyan told AFP in an interview, referring to the Karabakh crisis.

The growing diplomatic engagement of the European Union and United States in the Caucasus has irked traditional regional power broker Russia.

As the latest round of peace talks on July 15 in Brussels failed to bring about a breakthrough, Pashinyan said that both the West and Russia needed to increase pressure on Baku to lift its blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh.

“If, according to the logic of some circles in the West, Russia is not meeting all of our expectations because it is not fulfilling its obligations, similarly Russia also tells us (the same) about the West," he said.

Nagorno-Karabakh has been at the centre of a decades-long dispute between the two countries, which have fought two wars over the mountainous territory –- in the 1990s and in 2020.

In autumn 2020, a Russian-brokered ceasefire deal saw Armenia cede swathes of territories it had controlled for decades, while Moscow deployed peacekeepers to the Lachin Corridor to ensure free passage between Armenia and Karabakh.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - AFP)

https://www.news18.com/world/armenia-pm-accuses-azerbaijan-of-karabakh-genocide-warns-of-new-war-8395849.html

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Lioness believed to be on loose in Berlin

Emil Lazarian

 13:34,

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS. Residents on the south-western outskirts of Berlin are being urged to stay indoors after overnight sightings of a “loose, dangerous animal”, suspected to be an escaped lioness, the Guardian reports. 

Brandenburg police advised people living in the districts of Kleinmachnow, Stahnsdorf and Teltow on the borders of the German capital to refrain from walking in the woods and to keep pets or farm animals indoors on Thursday. Nurseries were allowed to open but were urged to avoid letting children play outdoors.

Authorities are using helicopters, drones and thermal imaging cameras to track down the big cat, which police believed was resting in a wooded area. 

Police said at a midday press conference that two officers had seen the animal in two separate instances overnight, but that there been no further sightings since. Reports of a sighting in the Zehlendorf district, inside Berlin’s borders, had turned out to be a false lead.

Fire services in Brandenburg said the large animal was “presumably a lioness”. However, the director of a circus in the Teltow area told local media he was not aware of any lions being held in circuses or private zoos in the area and said the animal could be a misidentified Caucasian shepherd dog.

Int’l community must either intervene or accept they are shareholder of ethnic cleansing – diplomat on Nagorno Karabakh

Emil Lazarian

 11:42,

YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. On a daily basis Azerbaijan is proving that it is not even capable of ensuring the narratives it's been formulating in front of the eyes of the international community, Armenia’s Ambassador-at-Large Edmon Marukyan said in a tweet on Wednesday.

“On a daily basis Azerbaijan is proving that it is not even capable of ensuring the narratives it's been formulating in front of the eyes of the international community. For instance, Azerbaijan claimed that they want to integrate the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh and that they are their citizens. The international community demanded Azerbaijan to take confidence building measures and start direct talks with the representatives of Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh by introducing an international mechanism with guarantees of rights and securities for Nagorno Karabakh Armenians. In response to this, prior to integrating Christian Armenians, Azerbaijan kills them by organizing various sabotage activities, then destroys Christian churches and monuments of Christian heritage, consequently, Azerbaijan has no plan to integrate Christian Armenians. Moreover, for about 7 months, it cuts off the gas and electricity supply, keeps the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh under siege, and cases of children dying of starvation have already been recorded. Naturally, with these steps, Azerbaijan is resorting to an international criminal offense, making clear to everyone that it is not taking measures to build confidence. In the contrary, it shows that the implemented policy is not meant to integrate Armenian people but to subject Nagorno Karabakh to ethnic cleansing, eventually assuming a piece of land without a people. Under the pressure of these overt evidence, already proven by the circumstances, the institutions of liberal democracy of the international community must either accept that they are the shareholders of the starvation, killings and ethnic cleansing of 120,000 and 30,000 children of Nagorno Karabakh Armenians, or take clear steps in the form of international intervention to stop these crimes against humanity. Otherwise, the 21st century will be marked by yet another massive violation of human rights, more specifically an international criminal offense, which may be still prevented by the international community,” Marukyan tweeted.