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

IntelBrief: On Shaky Ground: Washington Talks Marred by Renewed Violence in Nagorno-Karabakh

Emil Lazarian
 THE SOUFAN CENTER 

Bottom Line Up Front

  • Tensions remain high between Armenia and Azerbaijan after violent skirmishes in the historically disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh left four Armenian servicemen dead amidst peace negotiations hosted in Washington D.C.
  • Despite Moscow’s role in mediating the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, its intentions have long been suspect to regional experts who believe that Russian interests benefit from the ongoing nature of this frozen conflict.
  • Many analysts have noted Russia’s displeasure with increased Western intervention in the dispute; peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan aligns with Western interests, as it could significantly bolster energy security and potentially curb Russia’s influence over the South Caucasus.
  • With growing involvement from the West and Russia, Nagorno-Karabakh could act as another proxy battleground for escalation, complicated by existing tensions related to Ukraine and other geopolitical flashpoints.

Amidst U.S.-led peace talks in Washington D.C., violent skirmishes in the historically disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh erupted again between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops toward the end of June. Tensions between the two countries remain high after the violence, which left four Armenian servicemen dead. These attacks followed allegations by Azerbaijan of an Armenian assault that wounded one of its soldiers, while Armenia reported breaches of the ceasefire by Azerbaijan. This tit-for-tat escalation is not new in a region that has remained a hotbed of conflict dating back to the 1990s. Despite the fighting, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated that further progress has been made toward a peace agreement during the negotiations. Azerbaijan and Armenia’s foreign ministers provided vague comments echoing Blinken’s sentiment, stating that the countries have an advanced mutual understanding of a draft agreement. These statements have stoked skepticism among experts about the feasibility of achieving a successful settlement between the two states and longtime adversaries. Admittedly, Blinken also acknowledged that substantial work lies ahead. Armenia aims to delimit the territory’s border based on 1975 Soviet-era maps, a position at odds with Azerbaijan’s, which advocates for the “analysis and examination of legally binding documents instead of relying on a particular map.” Further, Armenia has consistently maintained a hard line surrounding international mechanisms to ensure the rights of Armenians in the territory, while Azerbaijan argues that these are internal issues, and as such, refuses to consider these demands.

The Washington-held negotiations came on the heels of Moscow’s own peace talks on May 25th, where Russian President Vladimir Putin also touted further progress toward a peace agreement, with both countries publicly recognizing each other’s territorial integrity. Both Russia and, more recently, the U.S. continue to be major players in this frozen conflict, a term used to describe this and three other unsettled disputes in the South Caucasus. The U.S.’s growing role in peace negotiations has reportedly increased tensions with Russia, which has historically acted as a mediator. Nagorno-Karabakh, a de jure territory of Azerbaijan, is predominantly populated by ethnic Armenians. Although the region is internationally recognized as belonging to Azerbaijan, it is governed by the unrecognized Republic of Artsakh, referring to the Armenian name of the territory. This conflict spans several centuries but was reignited during the Soviet era due to its “nationalities policy,” which designated the region as an autonomous oblast, strengthening the ethnic identity of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh while situating them within the borders of Azerbaijan and assimilating them under the Soviet Union’s hegemony. Many historians believe that this was a deliberate policy designed to increase the territory’s vulnerability and dependency on Moscow. This peace proved fragile, however, demonstrated by the dissolution of the Soviet Union. As former Soviet republics sought to define borders and reaffirm national identities, the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh flared anew, resulting in two deadly wars between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 1994 and 2020. In between these wars, the conflict remained in an unstable or “frozen” state, with sporadic episodes of violence mediated by Russian peacekeeping troops.

Despite Moscow’s role in mediating the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, its intentions have long been suspect to many regional experts, who believe that Russian interests benefit from the ongoing nature of this frozen conflict. Russia has been a key player in the region, in charge of administering peacekeeping troops, but has never been considered impartial. Armenia is a close ally of Russia, while Azerbaijan has long been wary of Russia’s hegemony over the South Caucasus, often closely aligning with Türkiye. Despite Russia’s lack of neutrality, Armenia has recently experienced little advantage from its alliance. Nikol Pashinyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia, has been a vocal critic about the perceived shortfall in support Armenia received from Moscow during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. Recently, fresh tensions have emerged between the Armenian government and the Russian-backed state minister of the Armenian separatist region in Nagorno-Karabakh. The separatists had called on the Armenian government to halt negotiations in Washington following the violent clashes and held Pashinyan responsible for the attacks. It is widely believed that Russia benefits from a loyal but weak and dependent Yerevan. Easing border restrictions with Armenia’s neighbors, Azerbaijan and Türkiye, would likely introduce new trade and energy opportunities for Armenia, a country that currently relies heavily on Russian exports. Notably, the presence of Russian peacekeepers in the territory further solidifies Russia’s influence over its “backyard” and traditional sphere of influence in the region.

On the other hand, Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine has presented an opportunity for Western nations, primarily the U.S., to increase its involvement in Nagorno-Karabakh. Peace in this region aligns with Western interests, as it could significantly bolster energy security, particularly for Western Europe, which has recently struggled with energy supply issues after heavily reducing its dependency on Russian oil. Rising energy costs have served as a flashpoint in Europe, causing political instability and providing fodder for far-left and far-right populist messaging. Peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan would also potentially curb Russia’s influence over the South Caucasus and quite possibly deter further invasions similar to Ukraine. Many experts have noted Russia’s displeasure with increased Western intervention in the dispute. They suspect any peace agreement will favor Azerbaijan, which has acted unfavorably to Moscow, such as constructing a checkpoint in the Lachin corridor. This corridor, a perennial conflict flashpoint that connects Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh, falls under the jurisdiction of Russian peacekeepers as per the November 2020 ceasefire agreement. By closing the corridor, Azerbaijan directly violated the agreement. Moreover, Armenia, increasingly frustrated with Moscow’s perceived lack of intervention, requested the deployment of an EU monitoring mission to the shared border with Azerbaijan, which became operational in February. At the same time, Armenia postponed the deployment of forces from the Russian-backed Collective Security Treaty Organization.

However, even with increased negotiations, the recent eruption of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh during the Washington-led talks does not inspire confidence in the prospect of sustainable peace between the two nations. The lack of further substantial progress since May contributes to a ubiquitous ambiguity surrounding peace, as many experts agree that these intermittent violent escalations will persist until a formal peace agreement is reached. With Russia’s role in this conflict prompting questions among observers, and the West’s growing involvement in negotiations raising tensions, Nagorno-Karabakh could very well be another proxy battleground for escalation, complicated by existing tensions related to Ukraine and other geopolitical flashpoints.

https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-july-14/

Memories of Armenia: The Wings of Tatev

Emil Lazarian
Queens Gazette, NY

BY CATHERINE TSOUNIS

Who holds the record for Longest non-stop double track cable car in the world? It is in a country struggling to maintain its independence . A poor nation materially, the first Aryans or “Ancient people”, Armenia has  the longest reversible aerial tramway built in only one section at the Tatev monastery. Its majestic view is unforgettable.

I remember Tatev because I was the only person of the Holy Martyrs 2018 Pilgrimage who was not warned and drank poisonous juice that landed me in a hospital without adequate plasma. A life experience that had a happy ending, because Father Abraham  Malkhasyan  sang an Armenian religious hymn, blessing me at the hospital. It was destiny for me to experience all, overcome and remember “The Wings of Tatev” in 2023. Every traveler has an experience that changed their life. Seeing historic Armenia helped me appreciate my Greek heritage. It is the longest reversible aerial tramway built in only one section the Aegean and Western Anatolia because of the courageous Orthodox Armenian people, the backbone of the Byzantine education, spiritual and military establishments.

Flying over the gorge located at the Syunik region, south of Yerevan, presented a once in a lifetime view. The manufacturer is the Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group of Austria/Switzerland. In the middle of nowhere, the Caucasus mountains, one sees Western technology. “The Wings of Tatev” was built within the framework of the Tatev Revival Project. The project was conceived  by Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend. The aerial tramway was officially launched on 16 October 2010., where it set the Guinness World Record   for the longest non-stop reversible aerial tramway.1

The Tatev Gateway  is noncommercial. It has one goal: the restoration of Tatev Monastery and the development of the local community. – Tatev, that means “give wings.”2  Flying across the gorge was like having wings.

Special appreciation to Rev. Dr. Abraham  Malkhasyan  of Holy Martyrs Apostolic Armenian Church in Bayside, NY, the  Pilgrimage leader Aram Ciamician and photographer Lara Ciamician, Zarmi Megherian and Armenian mentors scholar Mardo Anastasian and community activist Carol Anastasian.

  

  

For more pictures, click on the link below:
https://www.qgazette.com/articles/memories-of-armenia-the-wings-of-tatev/


Baku’s shooting at factory being built in Yeraskh will be viewed as political decision – US investors

Emil Lazarian

 21:20,

YEREVAN, 14 JULY, ARMENPRESS․ The American companies “VIRTUAL FUNDING” and “CSE GLOBAL INVESTMENTS” JSC, owners of the iron smelting plant under construction in Yeraskh, issued a statement regarding the shootings by Azerbaijan, noting that the companies did not violate any provisions of the international conventions pointed out by Azerbaijan and are ready to demand compensation for the investments, the loss incurred and profit not earned in international legal platforms. And in the case of firing again at unarmed workers, the companies will see it as a direct blow to American capital without any environmental motive, but a purely political decision.

ARMENPRESS reports, the statement reads as follows,

“Earlier this June, Azerbaijan announced that in the Yeraskh settlement of Armenia, a metallurgical plant is being constructed, which will generate environmental problems for their country. In its statement issued on June 08th, “GTB Steel” LLC, the Company we founded in Armenia, stated that the Company received a positive conclusion on the environmental impact with the relevant expertise requirements, which comply with all international standards.

Five days later, on June 13, Azerbaijan started shootings in the direction of the plant that we are constructing. The shootings continue to this day. During this time, our two employees suffered serious injuries. Тhe Company’s tractor, crane, and truck had been damaged and are no longer operational. We have published the photo and video footage thereof. Ambassadors, diplomatic representatives, international observers, and journalists from different countries have also documented the foregoing facts.

We believe it is relevant to point out the following essential points:

  1. The claims that the plant being constructed in Yeraskh will create ecological problems for Azerbaijan are false. Our plant is not a metallurgical, where metal is extracted from ore, but rather a metal smelter, where through casting the finished metals we will get rebar. In this case, there are no harmful emissions to the atmosphere or the environment and tailings. No waste either. A similar plant, i.e. “Baku Steel Company”, is now operating in the capital of Azerbaijan. That company casts 4 times more iron per year than is planned to be cast in our plant, and is located 400 meters away from residential houses.
  2. The residential houses in the Yeraskh community are located about 300 meters away from our plant, and the nearest Azerbaijani village Hyderabad is 1,8 km away. Therefore, there can be no intention to generate an environmental problem for Azerbaijan. A similar plant is located in Charentsavan city of Armenia, which covers the entire city and surrounding villages with tens of thousands of citizens within a radius of 1.8 km.
  3. The plant will operate with a water cooling system, assuming that used water is in closed circulation and will not discharge the plant area. It’s like the coolant used in vehicle engine that never discharges from the vehicle. Azerbaijan also emphasizes the possible pollution/contamination of the river Araks, which, is 6 km away from the plant. Even if we intend to pollute the river, it would be impossible for us.
  4. The furnace chimney of our plant will be of 33 meters height and equipped with a three-stage filtration system, thus the air rising through the chimney will have no negative impact on the environment. This was confirmed during the EIA examination, which lasted more than 6 months.

Thus, we have not violated any provisions of the international conventions that Azerbaijan points out, as the type of plant and productivity of the plant we are constructing will not cause any cross- border impact. To prove these claims, we are ready to discuss them with international experts both in person and remotely. The foregoing will be followed by our actions in international legal authorities. We will spare no efforts and will claim for investments made, the loss incurred, and profit not earned. Let us mention that we have all grounds, including those documented by the diplomatic representatives of about 40 countries.

In case our statement is ignored, and shootings in the direction of our unarmed workers continue, we will consider this as a direct attack on American capital without any environmental motive, but rather upon a political decision”

Azerbaijan violates ceasefire in Shushi by using 60 mm mortar

Emil Lazarian

 16:17,

YEREVAN, 14 JULY, ARMENPRESS: On July 14 at 2:00 p.m. Azerbaijan violated ceasefire in Shushi by using a 60 mm mortar.

As ARMENPRESS was infomred from the Defense Ministry of Artsakh, the Armenian side has suffered no casualties.  

The ceasefire violation was reported to the command of the Russian peacekeeping troops.

Earlier today, at around 11:00 a.m. the Ministry of Defense of Artsakh reported that Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire in Shushi, in addition to firearms, using 82 mm mortar and RPG-7.

Artsakh’s President addresses international players with urgent appeal to prevent the impending catastrophe

Emil Lazarian

 17:28,

YEREVAN, 14 JULY, ARMENPRESS: President of the Republic of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, has sent letters to heads of all UN Security Council member states, the UN Secretary General, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, the President of the European Council, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, as well as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, urging them to fulfill their international obligations and promptly implement effective measures to halt the illegal and complete blockade imposed on Artsakh by Azerbaijan, and to put an end to the systematic mass crimes and acts of terrorism against the people of Artsakh.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the office of the President of Artsakh, the letter not only conveyed the expectations of the Republic of Artsakh from each recipient but also provided an overview of the current situation. The main part of the letter reads as follows:

“As the President of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), I urgently appeal to the international community on behalf of the government and people of Artsakh. I wish to draw your attention to the escalating security and humanitarian crisis in Artsakh, which is rapidly evolving into a full-blown disaster. This dire situation is a direct result of the following criminal actions committed by Azerbaijan:

– On December 12, 2022, as a result of Azerbaijan’s illegal blockade of the Lachin (Kashatagh) Corridor, which connects Artsakh with Armenia and the outside world, approximately 120,000 residents of Artsakh found themselves under siege. Furthermore, about 30,000 citizens of the Republic of Artsakh were deprived of the opportunity to exercise their right to return to their homeland;

– Since then, humanitarian movement of people and cargo through the Lachin Corridor has been exclusively carried out by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Russian peacekeeping forces, with very limited capacity and certain periodic disruptions, while the movement of vehicles belonging to the residents of Artsakh has been completely prohibited;

– Since January 9, 2023, Azerbaijan has disrupted the supply of electricity through the sole high-voltage line between Armenia and Artsakh, which has caused significant energy and humanitarian problems in Artsakh over the past 185 days. There have been daily six-hour power outages, a 48% decrease in electricity consumption, and depletion of local electricity production and supply systems. Starting from December 13, 2023, Azerbaijan periodically, and since March 21, almost continuously, has been interrupting the only gas supply from Armenia to Artsakh (for a total of 148 days), thereby deepening the energy and humanitarian crisis;

– On April 23, Azerbaijan established an illegal checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor at the border between Artsakh and Armenia, officially and openly imposing strict and arbitrary military control over all movements;

– Since June 15, Azerbaijan has imposed a complete blockade on the Lachin Corridor, prohibiting the transportation of any individuals or goods (including food, medicine, hygiene items, and fuel) in both directions even by the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers;

– From June 25 to July 10, the transportation of patients with urgent medical needs to medical centers in Armenia, along with the import of some medicines into Artsakh, were resumed in a very limited capacity only through the Red Cross. However, starting from July 10, the movement of the Red Cross has been blocked again;

– Throughout this entire period, Azerbaijan has been using force and the threat of force against the people of Artsakh, with clear manifestations of ethnic hatred and terrorism, and with the evident goal of ethnic cleansing;

– By using force and the threat of force, Azerbaijan continues to obstruct agricultural activities on approximately 10,000 hectares of land adjacent to the contact line, which constitutes a significant portion of the total cultivated land;

– The suspension of all humanitarian supplies since June 15, coupled with the utilization of limited domestic stocks, has resulted in a worsening humanitarian situation, in particular:

  • The food shortage is worsening, especially considering that prior to the blockade, around 90% of all consumed food was imported from Armenia;
  • Due to the diminishing availability of fuel and other essential resources, approximately 70% of planned agricultural work has been halted, while the impact on other sectors of the economy is even more significant;
  • Due to the same reason, internal public transportation has been reduced by approximately 50%, while private transportation has nearly come to a standstill;
  • The growing shortage of medications, medical supplies and hygiene items, coupled with the ban on transporting medical patients to Armenia, poses an increasing threat to people’s lives and well-being;
  • Daily power outages and fuel shortages have severely impacted the operation of medical equipment, leading to a decrease in the volume and quality of healthcare services;
  • Due to the lack of essential food and vitamins, approximately 2,000 pregnant women and around 30,000 children are struggling to survive under conditions of malnutrition.

The daily power outages, fuel shortages, and lack of other essential items are causing significant disruptions in water supply and telecommunication infrastructure in many populated areas.

The blockade and disruptions in the supply of electricity and gas have rendered over 12,000 people unemployed and deprived of their livelihoods, which represents over 60% of the private sector workforce.

The complete blockade of the Republic of Artsakh and its isolation from the outside world, pursued with the intermediate goal of forcibly subjugating the people of Artsakh, deepens the humanitarian crisis and sets the stage for the transformation of Azerbaijan’s ongoing crimes against humanity into the crime of genocide. Through these actions, Azerbaijan deliberately creates unbearable conditions for the people of Artsakh, with the clear intention of depopulating the region and annihilating its people.

The aforementioned and many other security and humanitarian issues pose an increasing threat to the survival of the people of Artsakh. The current situation is highly volatile and has the potential to rapidly transform into a full-fledged catastrophe, not only for the people of Artsakh but for the entire region.

Regrettably, Azerbaijan continues to demonstrate a willful disregard for its international obligations, repeatedly violating the provisions of the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020, the ruling of December 21, 2023, from the European Court of Human Rights, the orders issued by International Court of Justice on February 22 and July 6, 2023. Azerbaijan’s actions persist despite the demands and appeals of numerous international organizations and states. Furthermore, Azerbaijan’s aggressive and criminal activities have been fueled by the prevailing sense of impunity within the international community”.

Yerevan and Baku narrowed down the scope of unresolved issues during the Washington negotiations: Matthew Miller

Emil Lazarian

 10:21,

YEREVAN, JULY 13, ARMENPRESS. During the last meeting held in Washington, the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov, narrowed down the scope of the issues that still remain unresolved, ARMENPRESS reports the spokesperson of the US State Department, Matthew Miller said.

“When we say that (peace-ed.) is close, we mean that they have made significant progress on a number of issues. Even during the last meeting, they narrowed down the scope of the issues that remain unresolved. So we think that given the reduction in the number of issues to be resolved, agreement is close,” said Matthew Miller.

The diplomat stressed that in order to reach a peace treaty, both sides must have willingness for compromise.

As for the next negotiations between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Miller noted that such a meeting is not planned for now.

Pashinyan-Aliyev-Michel trilateral meeting scheduled on July 15 in Brussels

Emil Lazarian

 11:15,

YEREVAN, JULY 13, ARMENPRESS. A tripartite meeting of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and European Council President Charles Michel is scheduled for July 15 in Brussels, ARMENPRESS reports, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced at the Cabinet meeting today.

“On July 15, my meeting with the President of the European Council and the President of Azerbaijan is scheduled in Brussels. I confirmed my participation in that meeting. I hope to make progress in the peace treaty negotiations during that meeting,” Pashinyan said.

The message spread by Azerbaijan is disinformation. Artsakh’s Defense Ministry

Emil Lazarian

 16:06,

YEREVAN, JULY 13, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan has again spread disinformation, ARMENPRESS reports, the Defense Ministry of Artsakh said.

“The message issued by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan that on July 13, at 11:15 and 14:10, the Defense Army units carried out fortification works in the Askeran and Karvachar regions of the Republic of Artsakh, which were allegedly stopped by the Azerbaijani forces stationed in the occupied territories of the said regions, it is another disinformation”, MoD Artsakh said.

Armenpress: The project concept of the Academic City discussed at Government

Emil Lazarian

 19:41,

YEREVAN, JULY 13, ARMENPRESS. Chaired by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, a consultation was held in the Government, during which the project concept of the Academic City was discussed, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan noted that the State Education Development Program has set important targets for the period until 2030, among which are having 4 universities in the top 500 universities of the world, at least doubling the number of foreign students through increasing the international reputation of the higer education system, etc. “In terms of content, this implies a reform within the framework of the process of enlargement of universities and unification with scientific research organizations,” said the Minister, reminding that for this purpose, by the decision of the Prime Minister, a working group was formed last year, which performed relevant analytical works. As a result, 6 main directions were identified, which assume that universities and research organizations should be enlarged.

“These directions include: the Classical direction, the so-called classical university, which should mainly include fundamental sciences in social and humanitarian fields. At this stage, it is not planned to be included in the Academic City. The second is the medical field, which includes medical and life sciences fields. We assume that there is no need to relocate it to the Academic City at this time either.

The last 4 directions are the universities that are planned to be located in the Academic City. The technological, which mainly includes the fields of applied sciences and engineering, including materials science, modern equipment manufacturing, agro-technological field, construction technologies. The educational direction, which includes the fields of education and related sciences, Arts, which can include both arts and culture majors and the direction for officers, which includes the educational and research programs related to internal and external security systems,” Zhanna Andreasyan noted.

According to the Minister, the concept of the Academic City was developed based on this content description. “In other words, the above-mentioned 4 enlarged universities should be located here, with relevant scientific and research orientation,” she noted.

It is believed that the Academic City should meet the requirements to become an environment guaranteeing modern research, innovative activities, where university education will be inseparable from research. It is also planned to have opportunities for the commercialization of the knowledge gained there. “It should act as an intellectual and entertainment environment, and there should be adequate infrastructure. Here we should also have the necessary environment for innovative and experimental solutions, such as, for example, experimental programs in the agricultural sector,” said Zhanna Andreasyan.

For the implementation and further operation of the Academic City project, the “Academic City” Foundation was formed, which will act as the main agent for the implementation of the project.

It is also planned to have a separate legal regulation for the Academic City, taking into account the international experience.

Next, the possible locations of the Academic City, the course of the design work carried out with the German GMP company, infrastructural and other issues were discussed.

Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized the importance of the Academic City construction project and added that it has strategic importance. At the same time, the Prime Minister noted that the possibilities of further development and expansion of the city should be taken into account when carrying out the design works, the necessary infrastructure for the practical phase of training, green areas and other important issues should be planned.

Based on the results of today’s discussion, the Prime Minister instructed to finalize the project concept and submit it for the Government’s approval.