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

Armenia joins over 65 nations in Malta to chart course for ending war in Ukraine

Emil Lazarian
Oct 28 2023
The New Voice of Ukraine

Armenia has taken part for the first time in a meeting on the Ukrainian Peace Formula, which this time is being held in Malta, the Armenian service of Radio Liberty reported on Oct. 28.

The meeting at the level of foreign policy and national security advisors was attended by Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan.

Read also: Yermak and Sullivan discuss joint defense production and upcoming Ukraine Peace Formula meeting in Malta

International support for the Ukrainian Peace Formula is growing, and more and more states are joining its implementation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief-of-staff Andriy Yermak noted. In particular, both Western countries and countries from the Global South are represented at this event.

"The large number of countries from the Global South involved in the meeting is a confirmation of this (growing support for the Peace Formula),” Yermak wrote on a post in Telegram.

Read also: In call with Qatari emir, Zelenskyy expresses gratitude for Doha's help in repatriating Ukrainian children abducted by Russia

“This is indeed a demonstration that the world is interested in justice and Ukraine's victory," he said, adding that Russian claims about a loss of interest in Ukraine were not true.

The head of the President’s Office also provided details of the issues to be discussed in Malta, noting that this meeting is "about specifics."

The gathering will present and discuss "concrete plans" for the implementation of five points of the 10-point Peace Formula: nuclear safety, energy security, food security, humanitarian issues (release of prisoners and deportees), and the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity and world order.

These plans were developed by working groups that included representatives of the embassies and experts from different countries, Yermak said.

The goal is to hold a Global Peace Summit at the level of state leaders.

On Oct. 28 and 29, Malta hosts the third meeting on the Ukrainian Peace Formula at the level of advisors to the heads of state. Previous meetings were held in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Ukraine also intends to organize a global summit on the Peace Formula.

In November 2022, at the G20 summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented a 10-point peace formula, which includes, among other things, the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops, the release of all prisoners, a tribunal for those responsible for aggression, and security guarantees for Ukraine.

Read also: Zelenskyy discusses Peace Formula, grain exports with South African leader

The ten points of the Ukrainian Peace Formula are as follows:

  1. Radiation and nuclear safety;

  2. Food security;

  3. Energy security;

  4. Release of all prisoners and deportees;

  5. Implementation of the UN Charter and restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity and world order;

  6. Withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities;

  7. Justice, i.e., a tribunal for those responsible for the aggression and compensation for damages;

  8. Immediate protection of the environment;

  9. Security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent escalation;

  10. Confirmation of the end of the war.

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Turkish Press: Russian, Azerbaijani foreign ministers discuss preparation of Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty

Emil Lazarian
Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Oct 29 2023
Elena Teslova

MOSCOW

Russian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers discussed preparation for an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty in a telephone call Saturday.

Sergey Lavrov and Jeyhun Bayramov confirmed the need to step up efforts to normalize relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

They also spoke about unblocking transport communications and delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

The Azerbaijani army initiated an anti-terrorism operation last month in Karabakh to establish constitutional order in the region, after which illegal separatist forces in the region surrendered.

Azerbaijan, having now established full sovereignty in the region, has reiterated its request to the Armenian population in Karabakh to become part of Azerbaijani society.

AW: Worcester & Whitinsville show up strong for Victoria Atamian Waterman’s book launch week

Emil Lazarian
 Guest Contributor Community News, Literary Corner, Diaspora 0

Book release for Victoria Atamian Waterman’s debut novel Who She Left Behind at the Worcester Historical Museum (Photo: Ken Martin)

WORCESTER, WHITINSVILLE, Mass.—Over 75 friends, family members and fans from both the Armenian and Worcester communities gathered to celebrate the release of Who She Left Behind, the debut novel by Victoria Atamian Waterman. The event, held at the Worcester Historical Museum, was hosted by Valerie and Steve Loring and Judy King, renowned philanthropists and cherished friends of the author.

Pictured at the book release event in Worcester (l-r): Steve Loring, Val Loring, Jim Waterman Victoria Atamian Waterman and Judy King (Photo: Ken Martin)

Kicking off the event, King introduced her sister, Val Loring, a dedicated supporter of causes that empower women and girls in Worcester. It was through their shared commitment to these causes that they crossed paths and formed a close friendship with Victoria and her husband, Jim Waterman. Loring delivered a stirring and emotional introduction, emphasizing how the motto of a magnet she had left behind in Massachusetts when she moved to Maine aptly describes how Waterman has embraced opportunities and pursued her passions: “Carpe Diem – Seize the Day!”

Book Release for Who She Left Behind by Victoria Atamian Waterman’s First Novel, at the Worcester Historical Museum.

The program took on a fireside chat format, skillfully guided by the author’s longtime friend and colleague Alicia O’Connell Rogers, who serves as the youth librarian at Worcester Public Library. Their engaging conversation began with Rogers’ inquiry about the book’s themes and its portrayal of family. Waterman explained that the prologue and epilogue of the book are set in present-day North Burial Ground in Providence, Rhode Island, while the pages in between vividly recount the journey of her family’s survival during the 1915 Armenian Genocide and their subsequent relocation to Massachusetts and Rhode Island to build new lives.

Waterman then shared that her favorite part of the book is found in the very first chapter. She recounted how, as children, she and her cousins used to concoct plans to follow their grandmothers’ instructions to uncover the treasures they had buried under a tree back in Gurin, Armenia, believing they would one day return. Waterman emphasized that burying gold and small valuables was a common practice among many Armenian families facing deportation in 1915, but her great-aunts’ poignant treasures were the dolls they had hidden under the tree. A collective “aww” was heard through the room, and the author continued, explaining her deep-rooted intention to memorialize this touching memory. Throughout the book, she weaves a recurring theme of dolls and doll-making, crafting a meaningful thread that runs through the heart of the story.

The conversation then explored the significant connection between the Worcester Historical Museum and the vital role Worcester played in Armenian history. Waterman elaborated on how Worcester was home to the first Armenian church in the western hemisphere. She also highlighted the invaluable documents held in the museum’s library, which are often challenging to locate elsewhere.

Waterman spoke about her commitment to respectfully representing the historical context that supports the fictional characters in her novel. To achieve this, she conducted thorough research, digging into a wide range of scholarly works and resources. These included memoirs, history books, historical fiction, firsthand accounts, oral histories and more. She shared an example of her diligent efforts, noting her desire to depict a fictional friendship between her Aunt Vicky and Alice Stone Blackwell, a renowned feminist and humanitarian who brilliantly translated Armenian Poems. This translation was of immense significance and had strong ties to Worcester, as it played a pivotal role in raising funds for Armenian causes. Notably, Blackwell was the daughter of Lucy Stone, a leading reformer and advocate of women’s rights, who spoke at the first National Woman’s Rights Convention held in Worcester in 1850. Stone’s portrait adorns the walls of historic Mechanics Hall in the city. Unfortunately, Aunt Vicky and Blackwell were not in Worcester in the same decade, and the fictional friendship ended there.

Waterman then discussed how she infused her personal experiences from her career in girls’ and women’s leadership into her writing. In the initial stages of her writing journey, she grappled with uncertainty regarding the storyline and the message she wished to convey. However, as she searched for stories and narratives that demanded recognition, she experienced breakthrough moments that profoundly resonated with her. She discovered a disheartening truth—that over 70-percent of historical accounts are authored by men and predominantly focus on male perspectives, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of history. She said it became crystal clear that she had a commitment to fulfill—to tell a story that would pay tribute to the voices that had been overlooked for far too long. It was of paramount importance that she portrayed the stories of women as strong and resilient individuals rather than as powerless victims. 

This sense of purpose became the driving force behind her writing and led her to become a student of Karen Jeppe and the Rescue Home of Aleppo, whose extraordinary heroism she incorporated into her narrative. Waterman holds Jeppe in the highest regard, describing her as a mission-driven leader who employed her business acumen and humanitarian spirit to rescue Armenian women trapped in horrifying circumstances and providing skills to empower self-sufficiency.

The author signing books and speaking with guests at the Worcester Historical Museum (Photo: Ken Martin)

The conversation would have been incomplete without connecting the historical events in the story to current headlines. Waterman’s tone turned somber as she discussed the recent developments, particularly the fall of Artsakh, which unfolded in a matter of weeks while the world watched in silence. Approximately 120,000 people were forcibly displaced by Azerbaijan following a 10-month blockade that prevented food and medical supplies from reaching severely malnourished individuals in desperate need. She expressed her frustration that this story has gone largely unnoticed in the news. She urged the audience to remain aware of the ongoing humanitarian crisis affecting Armenians worldwide and not to simply scroll past these mentions in their newsfeeds. Victoria emphasized the reality of generational trauma and the lasting impact it has on people, stating, “Your Armenian friends are not okay.”

The author also pointed out the recent events in the past week where terrorist groups, such as Hamas, invaded Israel, resulting in the tragic loss of thousands of lives, including barbaric acts against the Jewish and Palestinian communities. 

As the session neared its conclusion, a lively Q&A unfolded, during which more of Waterman’s remarkable research findings were revealed. Before wrapping up, Rogers posed a crucial question: How could the audience contribute to the success of the novel? According to Victoria’s publisher, Historium Press, the initial 30 days following the book’s release are pivotal to its success. To support her goal, she encouraged the audience to help her garner 50 favorable reviews on platforms like Amazon and Goodreads by November 16. These reviews need not be extensive; even a simple 5-star rating and some positive comments would be greatly appreciated if readers found the book deserving.

Waterman also requested that people spread the word among their friends and networks and consider inviting her to participate in group meetings, book clubs, speaking engagements and other events. She emphasized that the book has much more to offer beyond its exploration of Armenian culture, and she welcomed opportunities to share these diverse facets with a wider audience.

What lies ahead in the author’s literary journey? She’s already hard at work on her second book, which explores her grandfather’s incredible story of survival and chronicles his upbringing in a Greek orphanage and the miraculous reunion with his father and cousin in Providence, Rhode Island.

On a lighter note, for those with connections in the film industry, Waterman wants to put in a good word that she envisions she and her husband being portrayed by Amal and George Clooney, though her husband humorously leans more toward the idea of Danny DeVito.

The guests enjoyed an elegant evening with celebratory spirits and Middle Eastern-inspired hors d’oeuvres artfully provided by Struck Catering. Eager readers lined up to purchase books from TidePool Bookshop and have them personally signed by the author. Special thanks for capturing the moments go to Kenneth Martin for the photographs and Craig Martin for the videography.

Victoria Atamian Waterman and Rev. Fr. Mikael Der Kosrofian during the blessing of the book service (Photo: Ken Martin)

The congregation of the Armenian Church of Whitinsville, St. Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church, gathered on the first Sunday of the book’s release to participate in the book blessing service. Rev. Fr. Mikael Der Kosrofian and Deacons Raffi Samkiranian and Jeff Kalousdian officiated the service with the tradition of pouring Armenian red wine over the pages of the book while praying: “Lord God, Omnipotent and Almighty, giver of all goodness and prosperity, you are a forgiving Lord, and we turn to you for strength. Guide Victoria to continue to be an example for women of all ages. Bless this book O Lord, Who She Left Behind, and inspire those who will read the untold stories of the brave and resilient women who became the pillars of reconstructed communities after the Armenian Genocide. Lord Jesus, from the abundance of your mercy, enrich Victoria and safeguard her. Inspire her to author new works. Strengthened by your blessings, may we always be thankful to you and bless you with unending joy, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Future Book Signing Events in MA & RI:

Nov. 12, RI – Providence, by AHARI Armenian Historical Assoc. of RI
Nov. 13, RI – North Smithfield Public Library
Nov. 15, MA – TidePool Bookshop, Worcester
Nov. 18, MA – Tatnuck Bookseller, Westborough
Dec. 9, RI – Warwick Public Library
Dec. 12, MA – Watertown Public Library and Armenian Museum of America

Local readers can pick up a copy of Who She Left Behind at TidePool Bookshop, 327 Chandler Street, Worcester, MA,  and Tatnuck Booksellers, Westborough Shopping Center, 18 Lyman Street, Westborough, MA. Or, buy a book online and contact Waterman on her website with personalization and mailing address. The author will mail you a personalized bookplate to insert in the front cover. Join the subscriber list and enter to win a free signed book.




Armenian OnOff studio signed memorandums of cooperation with French and Lithuanian companies at the “ReA” Festival

Emil Lazarian

 10:14,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS. In the framework of the 15th anniversary of the ReAnimania International Animation Film & Comics Art Festival of Yerevan, a momentous and unprecedented event has unfolded in the modern history of Armenian Animation.

On October 25, at the National Cinema Center of Armenia, the Armenian OnOff studio signed a memorandum of cooperation with two international companies at once, thus entering the international co-production platform. This achievement represents a significant milestone in Armenian animation history, which will contribute to the development of the animation film art and bolster Armenia's unique standing in the field.

OnOff Studio's first memorandum was signed with Lithuania's Broom Films for the co-production of the feature-length animated film "ZAKO," directed by Tigran Arakelyan, the co-founder of OnOff. The memorandum was signed by Susanna Khachatryan, Executive Producer at OnOff, and Juste Michailinaite, the director of Broom Films.

According to Vrej Kassouny, Founder & Director of the ReA International Animation Film & Comics Art Festival, these collaborations represent a significant achievement for Armenia, Armenian Animation, and Armenian Cinema.

"It is a great honor for us to see that the 'ReAnimania' festival, founded 15 years ago, is fulfilling its purpose. Today, we are pleased to witness that the festival has become a bridge connecting international companies and Armenian creators, Armenian companies. Animation is a complex art form, and its development in Armenia has been progressing steadily but with measured and smooth steps. I am confident that thanks to such partnerships and achievements, this process will accelerate. This is a momentous achievement for all of us."

Susanna Khachatryan, Executive Producer at OnOff, underscores the importance of foreign partners taking the initiative in forging such collaborations.

“We have created and developed a unique VR application technology that has garnered attention from various companies and individuals in the animation world. Our Projects, not yet fully realized, are already in high demand. International co-productions are vital for the development of the animation art in Armenia, and these collaborations hold significant value for all of us”.

Khachatryan also emphasized that the collaboration with French companies is a major milestone, particularly because France is experiencing a boom in animation development.

The second memorandum with French leading TCHACK company, was signed by Susanna Khachatryan and Barbara Vougnon, producer at TCHACK.

“We are very delighted for this collaboration, the new connections we have made and warm welcoming. We would also like to extend our gratitude to Vrej Kassouny for providing us with this exceptional opportunity," said Vougnon.

Within the framework of the memorandum, the Armenian and French companies will cooperate in the production of two films. The short animated film "LONG LIVE THE HOLIDAYS" and the feature- length animated film "MARYAM & VARTO" will be developed and produced, authored by Gorune Aprikian and directed by Luciano Lepinay and Gorune Aprikian.

"We are thrilled to embark on this collaboration with OnOff. The OnOff team employs exceptional techniques in their creative work, which play a crucial role in the animation industry. This partnership goes beyond mere production and technical cooperation; it is a creative venture, and that is what truly matters. Together, we aim to contribute to the creation of a valuable piece of work, not just another movie," said Gorune Aprikian.

Film production is scheduled to start at the end of this year.




Canada is the first country outside of EU joining EUMA – Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly in Jermuk

Emil Lazarian

 10:33,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly has visited Jermuk.

Joly’s first stop in the Armenian town was the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA) operating base.

“It is a pleasure to be here in Jermuk, looking forward to learning more about the work that has been done by the EU mission which Canada is joining. Canada is the first country outside of EU joining this mission. So, we’ll be talking about the logistics, how we can integrate this important mission which is important to address the humanitarian issues in the region but also the fact that it is important to bring much peace and stability,” the Canadian FM said during a meeting with EUMA observers.

Joly will then visit Armenian military outposts.

She will also meet with forcibly displaced persons of Nagorno-Karabakh.

India considers sending Armenia more weapons – The Economic Times

Emil Lazarian

 10:26,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. India is mulling over supplying a fresh batch of military equipment to Armenia after the successful delivery of the first batch of weapons over the past year, The Economic Times reported citing people with knowledge of the matter.

A senior Armenian official visited Delhi recently and held discussions in this regard, people with knowledge of the matter told ET. India has emerged as a credible weapons supplier as per Armenia's requirements, they said. Details of fresh supplies are not known yet but the consignment could include equipment that would help to create a deterrence amid the conflict-like situation with Azerbaijan, according to observers in Armenia, who did not wish to be identified.
The ET report described Armenia as India’s “strategic ally in Caucasus.”

In 2022, Armenia became the first foreign buyer of the Indian Pinaka long-range rocket-artillery system.

Pashinyan held informal meeting with Azerbaijan’s Prime Minister on sidelines of 4th Tbilisi Silk Road Forum

Emil Lazarian

 12:36,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had an informal meeting with Azerbaijan’s Prime Minister Ali Asadov on October 26 in Georgia, the Prime Minister’s Office said Friday. 

Prime Minister Pashinyan visited Georgia on October 26 to participate in the 4th Tbilisi Silk Road Forum. Azerbaijan’s PM Ali Asadov also participated in the event.

“After the banquet, an informal contact took place between the prime ministers of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

Armenia nets approval for cash ban on online gambling transactions

Emil Lazarian
SBC News, UK
Oct 27 2023

Ted Menmuir

The government of Armenia is set to implement a ban on cash payment options for online betting and gaming operators.

Last week, the National Assembly of Armenia urged all relevant agencies to adopt new rules on the management of gaming accounts, aimed at ‘strengthening the fight against gambling addiction’.

In May 2022 the Assembly approved the new restrictions by 67 votes, denying national consumers the option to conduct transactions via electronic cash and payment terminals to top up online gambling accounts.

These new directives serve as a comprehensive ban on all cash transactions. Consequently, Armenian consumers cannot deposit or withdraw funds in Dram.

Per the directives given to the appropriate agencies, online gambling accounts can only be topped up via nationally-licensed banks that offer card services.

The proposal for this cash ban was initially crafted by Civil Party MPs Tsovinar Vardanyan and Gevorg Papoyan in 2022. It was designed as a protective measure for “socially vulnerable citizens”, especially those battling existing addictions, by curbing their easy access to betting platforms.

Though approved in 2022, the measures of the cash ban required examination by the National Assembly’s Finance Committee, as restrictions would alter existing rules related to Armenia’s management of financial, credit and budgetary issues.

As documented on 16 October, following a consultation, the Central Bank of Armenia submitted a positive recommendation for government agencies to adopt an  ‘updated legislative package’ related to amendment on online gambling transactions.

The regulatory proceedings of 2022 and 2023, have seen Armenia tighten its laws on gambling to align with stringent standards of other eastern European countries, including Georgia, Latvia, Estonia and the Czech Republic.

High impact measures have focused on enhancing age verification and customer ID requirements, enforcing checks across land-based gambling venues to ensure no one under the 21 is allowed to gamble.

 

 

The Past And Future Of Karabakh And South Caucasus Security – Analysis

Emil Lazarian
Oct 28 2023
  

By Robert M. Cutler

The Karabakh conflict and the relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan are often clouded by misinformation. To address this, it is crucial to highlight some historical facts. Despite claims to the contrary, ethnic Armenians began settling in Karabakh following Russia’s decisive triumph over the Persian Empire in the Russo-Persian Wars of the early nineteenth century. Following the 1828 Treaty of Turkmenchay, Christians from Persia were permitted and invited to relocate to the Russian Empire. It so happens that they were predominantly Armenians. They were settled not only in Karabakh but also in other South Caucasus regions like Javakheti in Georgia.

Since then, the fact of Armenian demography has served the interests of Imperial Russian, then Soviet, and now again Russian Federation influence in the South Caucasus. What took place between ethnic Armenians and the Ottoman Empire during World War I is an understandably emotional subject, yet it is essential to note that Azerbaijanis—although a Turkic people—were never part of the Ottoman Empire. Armenians nevertheless often simply call the Azerbaijanis “Turks,” conflating them with the Anatolian Turks, with whom they have cultural, historical, and even linguistic differences. Some observers see racist overtones in such a willful confusion, particularly given the more-than-scorn with which the term is used.

Recent Background and Questions of “Ethnic Cleansing”

As explained below, Armenians were not ethnically cleansed from Karabakh, despite claims by the Armenian diaspora to the contrary. By their own testimony, they were subject to no violence and chose on their own to leave. However, recent discussions about ethnic cleansing in the region necessitate a look back to 1987–1988. During those years, the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan initially erupted, in southern Armenia, even before the First Karabakh War of the early 1990s. It erupted as the Armenians expelled from southern Armenia about 180,000 Azerbaijanis who had resided there for generations, in what is historically the western part of the ancestral lands that they call Zangezur. Much of contemporary Armenia was for centuries under the sway of Azerbaijani khanates before these were absorbed into the Russian Empire.

The events of 1987–1988 were actually the fourth such expulsion of Azerbaijanis by Armenians in the twentieth century. Previous occurrences took place toward the end of Stalin’s rule (late 1940s and early 1950s) under the guise of Soviet administrative law, and also much more violently during the “re-Armenianization” military campaign in the years of the Russian Civil War (1917–1921), as well as during ethnic clashes earlier in the century (1905–1907). Nevertheless, during the Soviet period, the two peoples lived mostly harmoniously together, with innumerable interpersonal friendships, legendary cultural exchange, and significant degrees of intermarriage. This changed dramatically under Gorbachev’s glasnost and perestroika policies, when the opening of the Soviet Union to the world gave the international Armenian diaspora the chance to intervene in domestic Armenian affairs.

What Is the Present Situation?

This diaspora had overtly conserved for nearly a century all the divisive and xenophobic sentiments that were mostly repressed in Armenia proper under the Soviet regime. They supported an assassination campaign against Turkish diplomats in the 1970s and 1980s, and they constituted a main support of Karabakh separatism in the early 1990s and of the Karabakh leaders in power in Yerevan in subsequent years. It was this diaspora that has publicized around the world the false reports of recent ethnic cleansing of Karabakh. The prime minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, has himself publicly stated that there was no such cleansing and that the recent “antiterrorist operation” by the Azerbaijanis did not involve attacks against Armenian civilians.

To recall, this operation was the final phase of putting an end to the Armenian military occupation of sovereign Azerbaijani territory (this status underscored by four UN Security Resolutions in 1993), which began with the First Karabakh War in the early 1990s. In the fall of 2020, Azerbaijan launched the Second Karabakh War to dislodge those forces, which the European Court of Human Rights had found were not “local self-defense” forces but indeed supplied, managed, and directed from Yerevan, including soldiers and commanders from the main body of Armenia. Armenians who left the area following the recent antiterrorist operation consistently indicated, in interviews with local Armenian media, that they were treated respectfully and chose to leave voluntarily.

A mission of the United Nations to the region found literally no reports of violence against them, and no evidence that civilian objects had been targeted during Baku’s antiterrorist operation. Many Armenians who left shared with their interviewers, after they arrived in Armenia, that it was their own local Armenian authorities who advised—or ordered—them to depart. This would reasonably represent a failed attempt to demonstrate the impossibility of cohabitation. For there are Armenians who stayed—mainly born and raised during the Soviet era—and they were neither harmed nor persecuted, but rather supported by their newly arrived Azerbaijani neighbors and old friends in Baku, as well as by the government.

A significant factor in the prolonged unresolved conflict is the residual control exerted by Karabakh leaders, Robert Kocharyan (President of Armenia, 1998–2008) and Serzh Sargsyan (President of Armenia, 2008–2018), over the Armenian state apparatus. These Karabakhi leaders kept the Armenian population in poverty, enriching themselves and their associates. Pashinyan, who has been active in Armenian politics for over 25 years, rose to power in 2018 through popular street protests, opposing the long-standing rule of the Karabakh leaders. However, his leadership has been inconsistent, often swaying with political pressures from revenge-seeking forces within Armenia and the influential diaspora.

What Does the Future Hold?

Pashinyan has lately been going in all directions all at once, issuing one statement looking for peace in the morning followed by a bellicose one in the afternoon and an anodyne waffle in the evening. This seems to be a survival-habit learned from the whole of his political career, which in the past has been nevertheless marked by political courage and tactical, even sometimes strategic, intelligence. Now, however, he would seem to lack a unique foreign-policy strategy. He gives the impression, indeed, of having several different general visions that are not necessarily compatible, and all of which he pursues at the same time. This would explain why his short-term tactical moves have never, in the past five years, appeared to be integrated into a long-term plan.

Georgia’s Mikhael Saakashvili—who was president when Russia invaded his country in 2008 and is now imprisoned under the Russian-oriented government that subsequently took power in Tbilisi—has publicly advised Pashinyan to stop vacillating and equivocating. Pashinyan, Saakashvili says, needs to seize the opportunity while Putin is concerned with Ukraine and distracted. But can Pashinyan succeed? Russian state companies own the Armenian natural-gas distribution system as well as the Armenian state railroads company, and they are very highly influential in the banking system. Russia operates the Metsamor nuclear-power electricity-generating plant, and the Border Guard Service of Russia’s FSB provides security for nearly all of Armenia’s international frontiers.

This litany does not even mention the Russian military base at Gyumri with 3,000 soldiers and another air base with a squadron of attack helicopters at Erebuni Airport five miles from central Yerevan. Yet the signature of a peace treaty with Azerbaijan would, at a minimum, open the way for badly-needed fundamental changes in Armenia’s domestic and foreign policy. But can Pashinyan really withdraw from the Russian-led Commonwealth of Independent States, Collective Security Treaty Organization, and Eurasian Economic Union? Even if he can, still he is in no position yet to submit applications to the EU and NATO, as Saakashvili would have him do, since these organizations have their own rules and standards for even considering third parties to be members. 

However, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey are all ready to offer him support, like they have been since the late 2000s, when the Karabakh clique led by Kocharyan and Sargsyan refused it. Pashinyan, if he continues to trying to sit on two stools at the same time (Russia and the West), risks falling between them as the distance between them relentlessly increases. The first, absolutely necessary step is to sign a comprehensive peace treaty with Azerbaijan before the end of the year. Without this facilitating condition, nothing else is possible.

Robert M. Cutler was for many years senior researcher at the Institute of European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, Carleton University, and is a past fellow of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.

https://www.eurasiareview.com/28102023-the-past-and-future-of-karabakh-and-south-caucasus-security-analysis/

Georgia’s main goal is to establish peace between Armenia, Azerbaijan–Georgian parliament speaker

Emil Lazarian

 20:16,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili has noted that the main goal and task of Georgia is to establish peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"I am glad that there are positive developments in this regard for the signing of a peace agreement. I hope that it will be implemented as soon as possible, as it is in our shared interest to make our region an area of peace and security," Papuashvili said, reports Sputnik Georgia.

According to Georgian parliament speaker, Georgia has always been a country that has given friendly Armenia and Azerbaijan an opportunity to meet for substantive discussions, maintaining neutrality towards both countries.