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

Russia protests to Armenia over comments by speaker of Armenian parliament

Emil Lazarian
Sept 8 2023
Reuters 

Russia on Friday summoned the Armenian ambassador to protest grievances including comments made by the speaker of the Armenian parliament about Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, the ministry said in a statement.

The statement also criticised what it said were a number of “unfriendly moves” by Armenia, including planned joint exercises with the U.S. and humanitarian aid shipments to Ukraine.

https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/2586724-russia-protests-to-armenia-over-comments-by-speaker-of-armenian-parliament

Russia issues ‘harsh’ protest to Armenia over range of ‘unfriendly’ actions

Emil Lazarian
Reuters
Sept 8 2023

Sept 8 (Reuters) – Russia on Friday summoned the Armenian ambassador for a “harsh” protest about a list of what it termed “unfriendly steps”, the latest sign of strain between Moscow and the small ex-Soviet republic in a region Russia considers its back yard.

In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry listed these as Yerevan’s decisions to sign up to the International Criminal Court and to host a military exercise with the United States, as well as a visit to Ukraine by the Armenian prime minister’s wife to deliver humanitarian aid.

The ministry said a “harsh representation” had been made to the ambassador, Vagharshak Harutyunyan, also complaining of “offensive statements” allegedly made by Alen Simonyan, chair of the Armenian National Assembly, about ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Armenia, which hosts a Russian military base and relies almost entirely on Russia for its defence supplies, has complained bitterly in recent months that Russian peacekeepers have failed to end an Azerbaijani blockade of supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan.

It has also openly questioned whether to remain in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a Russia-led military alliance of six former Soviet republics.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview published on Sunday that Armenia’s policy of relying solely on Russia to guarantee its security was a strategic mistake.

He said Moscow, distracted by its war with Ukraine, had been unable to deliver and was winding down its role in the South Caucasus.

Moscow responded by insisting that it intended to remain the principal guarantor of security in the Caucasus, which also includes Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other on Thursday of moving troops close to their joint border as tensions over the future of the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave rose.

A foreign policy adviser to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev told Reuters his country was ready to allow Red Cross aid from Armenia into Nagorno-Karabakh if Red Crescent aid from Azerbaijan was let in at the same time.

The ICC issued an arrest warrant in March for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of war crimes in Ukraine.

The Kremlin has dismissed the idea that Russia’s actions in Ukraine could be war crimes and noted that Russia does not recognise the court.

Reporting by Reuters; writing by Kevin Liffey; editing by William Maclean and Mark Heinrich

Kim Kardashian Petitions Joe Biden For Help Preventing A Second Armenian Genocide

Emil Lazarian
PEREZ HILTON
Sept 8 2023
Home » Kim Kardashian » 

In her latest appeal to the government — after successfully getting Donald Trump to commute the sentence of Alice Johnson — she’s trying to get the US to use its immense power to ensure there will never be a repeat of the Armenian Genocide.

As followers of history should know, the Armenian people suffered a massacre at the hands of their neighbors in the Ottoman Empire, in present-day Turkey, early in the 20th century. According to a new open letter penned by the Kardashians star and Dr. Eric Esrailian for Rolling Stone, Armenians all over the world are worried it could happen again.

In the piece released on Friday, the reality TV star warns that a land dispute and border blockade occurring with Armenia’s other neighbor, Azerbaijan, could soon lead to more strife and bloodshed.

The blockade centers on the breakaway region of Artsakh. There, per Kim’s letter, “indigenous Christian Armenians” are hemmed in by Azerbaijan and its 99% Muslim population on all sides. These Artsakh residents are being forced to go through checkpoints when going out of their region to Armenia and elsewhere. Plus, with the war between Russia and Ukraine, many countries in that region of West Asia and beyond are relying on Azerbaijan for oil. That economic push is worrying Armenians, as the Azerbaijanis may push the Christian Armenian population out of the region entirely — or worse.

The open letter from the SKIMS founder notes that one ceasefire agreement reached after a 2020 conflict has thus far not been upheld. Further, they demand Biden and other government officials — both in the United States and around the world — cut off foreign aid to Azerbaijan and boycott international events that are scheduled in that country.

Kim and Dr. Esrailian write:

“The collective silence or inaction by individuals, governments, and governmental organizations like the United Nations and European Union has perpetuated the crisis. Every passing day puts more lives in danger. American taxpayer dollars are now facilitating and enabling this behavior by providing foreign aid to an oil-rich nation. Through economic sanctions, cutting off foreign aid to Azerbaijan, boycotting international events in Azerbaijan (such as concerts and sporting events like soccer and Formula 1), and through proceedings in international courts, we can collectively achieve results, but this process has been too slow and time is running out. As citizens, we are appealing to leaders such as President Biden, Secretary of State Blinken, and their colleagues to take a stand immediately. They must pressure Azerbaijan to open the corridor without preconditions.”

Kim and the doctor go on to note they would continue to sound an alarm until action is taken:

“We are just two people. We have been working behind the scenes to support our Armenian brothers and sisters, but this diplomatic approach has not yielded meaningful results. This crisis will clearly not be remedied by individuals, but we will continue to do what we can to use whatever influence we have. We are not politicians or government leaders, and despite our own diplomatic efforts, this humanitarian crisis has persisted with no clear end in sight — except for the potential for ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population. We will continue to use our voices to amplify the truth.”

And they conclude by begging for help so the people of Artsakh may “live in peace” free from fear of genocide:

“The people in Artsakh want to live in peace. Now is the time for true leadership. We need for those who have a meaningful role in these affairs to immediately demand that the Lachin Corridor is opened to stop another genocide. We want to draw more attention to the crisis and appeal to those in our own government who truly care about humanity to intervene. The United States has the ability to mobilize a response. Leaders who are effective and help our people will be remembered for their heroism. Even if well-meaning, the ones who are inert and ineffective will be remembered for allowing a genocide to take place under their watch. The choice is theirs.”

The entire open letter dives into far greater detail about the situation ongoing in Artsakh. You can read the full thing HERE.

[Image via Nicky Nelson/MEGA/WENN]

https://perezhilton.com/kim-kardashian-petitions-joe-biden-for-help-preventing-a-second-armenian-genocide/

Uruguay’s ruling National Party condemns Azeri blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh

Emil Lazarian

 13:10, 7 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Uruguay’s ruling party, the National Party, has adopted a declaration condemning Azerbaijan’s blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and expressing solidarity with the people of Artsakh.

In the declaration, the National Party said that Azerbaijan is violating human rights and disregarding international documents, such as the 9 November 2020 trilateral ceasefire statement and the International Court of Justice ruling ordering it to lift the blockade.

National Party stressed the need to put an end to the constant encroachments against the Armenians of Artsakh in conditions of an ongoing genocidal policy by Azerbaijan.  “Neither can the international community allow this situation, nor can it remain indifferent.”

“Together with the Armenian community of Uruguay, we express full solidarity with the people of Artsakh in its struggle. We unequivocally condemn the blockade of Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, which poses a threat to the existence of 120,000 people. We call on the legislative and executive authorities of our country, as well as the international community, to demand Azerbaijan to respect public international law and humanitarian law, and end this extremely grave situation,” reads an excerpt from the declaration.

Nagorno-Karabakh asks the free world to save it from genocide amid depleted food reserves

Emil Lazarian

 13:18, 7 September 2023

STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Foreign Minister Sergey Ghazaryan has called on the UN and world leaders to display political will and prevent the genocide of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh perpetrated by Azerbaijan.

In an interview with the French Ouest-France newspaper, Ghazaryan said the total blockade by Azerbaijan has led to a humanitarian disaster in Nagorno-Karabakh.

He said that farmers are unable to carry out harvest because they don’t have any fuel due to the blockade. Moreover, the Azerbaijani military is targeting on a daily basis the farmers to “obstruct any kind of economic activity in Artsakh and further deepen the famine.”

“Our reserves are depleted. We have reserves of bread and flour left only for a few more days. The cause of every third death in Artsakh is now starvation and malnutrition. Imagine what could happen if this blockade doesn’t end. Urgent measures are required, or else it will be too late,” Ghazaryan warned.

He said that Azerbaijan is deliberately subjecting Artsakh to starvation.

“Leading international experts are describing the situation as genocide. Azerbaijan is using starvation as a method to destroy Armenians,” the Nagorno-Karabakh Foreign Minister said.

Asked how the genocide could be prevented, Ghazaryan said that world leaders and the UN should display political will and act.

“World leaders and the United Nations must display political will. The international community has an obligation and the capacity to prevent genocides. The relevant international organizations are properly informed on the ongoing situation in Artsakh. They must issue an objective assessment to that. The UN Security Council can adopt a relevant resolution and call on Azerbaijan to end the blockade. International organizations must impose sanctions against those responsible for the blockade and send humanitarian aid by all possible ways, including airlift. We are calling on the free and civilized world to protect human rights the rights of nations. Let’s not waste time, because, after all, this is about genocide prevention,” FM Ghazaryan said.

Azerbaijan violates Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire, targets agricultural equipment

Emil Lazarian

 15:38, 7 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces on Thursday violated the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh, targeting farming equipment, the Nagorno-Karabakh authorities said in a statement.

The Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Ministry of Defense said the Azeri forces opened fire around 12:20, September 7, at a combine harvester working in the fields of Sarushen village.

No one was hurt in the shooting.

The incident has been reported to the Russian peacekeepers.

Armenpress: Armenian Foreign Minister meets with Emirati counterpart in Abu Dhabi

Emil Lazarian

 21:53, 7 September 2023

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan on September 7 met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.

FM Mirzoyan and his Emirati counterpart commended the strong and dynamically developing cooperation during the 25 years of diplomatic relations based on the traditionally warm ties between the two friendly nations, the foreign ministry said in a readout.

Mirzoyan underscored that the UAE is one of the important partners for Armenia in the region and expressed readiness to continue the mutually-beneficial dialogue in various areas through joint efforts.

Speaking about enhancing political dialogue and sustainable progress of cooperation, the ministers attached importance to carrying out mutual high-level visits and regular consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries.

In the context of further intensifying trade-economic ties and implementing various investment projects, the importance of the effective activities of the Armenian-Emirati Intergovernmental Commission was noted.

The FMs also emphasized that the weekly 30 flights between the two countries are significantly contributing to the intensification of business ties, tourism, cultural and decentralized cooperation. In this regard, the ministers commended the upcoming Armenia-UAE Business Forum in Yerevan.

The areas of high technologies, digitization, cybersecurity and innovation were pointed out as promising directions for partnership. The inclusion of new areas of interest in the bilateral agenda was also discussed.

Issues of regional and international importance were also addressed.

FM Mirzoyan briefed the UAE Foreign Minister on the current security situation in the South Caucasus and Armenia’s vision to achieve peace and stability in the region.

Speaking about the ongoing, nine-month-long blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, FM Mirzoyan underscored that Nagorno-Karabakh’s population of 120,000 is facing grave humanitarian challenges incompatible with dignified life, which can cause irreversible consequences. FM Mirzoyan underscored the need for the implementation by Azerbaijan of the ICJ rulings.

Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since late 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.  Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. The ICJ reaffirmed its order on 6 July 2023.

Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medication. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno Karabakh, with officials warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing against Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. Hospitals have suspended normal operations.




AW: Congressional Hearing: President Biden complicit in Azerbaijan’s genocide against Artsakh

Emil Lazarian
September 7, 2023 ANCA ANCA News 0

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Former International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo called out U.S. President Joe Biden’s complicity in Azerbaijan’s ongoing genocide against Artsakh’s 120,000 indigenous Christian Armenians, in powerful remarks delivered before a congressional hearing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC), reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

“President Biden or Secretary Blinken can officially tell Mr. Aliyev to remove tomorrow, unconditionally, the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, or we consider you responsible for genocide. […] And, of course, that will trigger a lot of consequences,” stated Ocampo, speaking in a packed Rayburn House Office Building hearing room.

Ocampo pushed back against arguments that Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations may be hampered by the proper characterization of genocide to describe Azerbaijan’s over 260-day blockade of Artsakh. “The negotiation is between a genocider and his victims. You cannot ask for a negotiation between Hitler and the people in Auschwitz. It’s not a negotiation. You have to stop Auschwitz and then discuss negotiation. And that, I think, is the secret here,” stated Ocampo. The former ICC prosecutor went on to note that “knowing that President Aliyev is using genocide and trying to deny the genocide, the U.S. assistance to deny the genocide could be considered complicity.”

Former ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo described Azerbaijan’s 260+ day Artsakh blockade as a “an ongoing genocide. It’s happening now,” in powerful remarks delivered at the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearing, titled “Nagorno Karabakh: Update”

ANCA executive director Aram Hamparian echoed Ocampo, underscoring, “Today’s hearing put President Biden on public notice that he is – according to the spirit and the letter of the Genocide Convention – complicit in Azerbaijan’s genocide against the 120,000 indigenous Christian Armenians of Artsakh – citizens of an at-risk democracy blockaded by an oil-rich dictatorship.”

Rep. Chris Smith: “This horrible crime, this crime of genocide, was planned, tested and imposed by the government of Azerbaijan.”

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission co-chair Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) – a longtime champion of human rights around the world and leading voice in the decades-long effort to secure U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide – was outspoken in his characterization of Azerbaijan’s genocide in Artsakh.

“There are 120,000 ethnic Armenians who have been sealed off from food and medicine and are being starved to death by the government of Azerbaijan. […] This horrible crime, this crime of genocide, was planned, tested and imposed by the government of Azerbaijan; that is to say, by President Aliyev who rules Azerbaijan with an iron fist as a dictator,” stated Chairman Smith in his opening remarks of the hearing.

He went to slam Biden administration officials for not responding to repeated invitations to participate in today’s hearing. “This hearing has two empty chairs. Two. Those of the U.S. Department of State and USAID. I requested that they both provide a witness for this hearing. Despite repeated requests by phone and email, neither responded. Not even a response. Since 1995, I have chaired hundreds of hearings with State Department or USAID witnesses. This is a unique case of absolute nonresponse,” stated Chairman Smith.

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission co-chair Chris Smith (R-NJ) called Artsakh’s integration into Azerbaijan a “death sentence” during the September 6 emergency hearing

“It speaks volumes about the bankruptcy of the Biden-Harris administration’s genocide-aligned policies on Artsakh that they refused Chairman Smith’s repeated requests to send even a single U.S. State Department or USAID witness to today’s hearing,” noted the ANCA’s Hamparian.

Chairman Smith highlighted the Biden administration’s failure to adequately respond to Azerbaijan’s escalating aggression and blockade against Artsakh.  “Requests in bland bureaucratic language do not count, not when people are being subjected to genocide,” stated Rep. Smith. “Today, the State Department issued a readout of Secretary Blinken’s September 1 call with President Aliyev, where [they expressed] ‘concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation, reiterated our call to reopen, underscored the need for a dialogue and compromise.’ This is completely inadequate, and I believe it is insulting. One side is committing genocide against the other, and the State Department expresses concern urging the victim to dialogue and to compromise.”

David Phillips: “By being silent, by not acting, the Biden administration is making a statement that it values Azeri oil and gas more than it does the lives of Armenians in Artsakh”

David L. Phillips, the director of Columbia University’s Artsakh Atrocities Project and adjunct professor at Georgetown University, offered powerful testimony citing atrocities committed by Azerbaijani government officials against Armenians in the Republics of Artsakh and Armenia and calling for concrete U.S. sanctions against both Azerbaijan and its top leadership.

“Azerbaijan does not have a diversified economy. It relies on oil and gas resources. The levels of corruption by the Aliyev family are well documented. Freezing accounts and financial resources of officials and corrupt leadership responsible would be more effective in Azerbaijan than it would be elsewhere,” argued Phillips. “If the situation is not dramatically reversed soon, the U.S. and its allies should give the Armenians the means to defend themselves and exercise of the duty to prevent genocide, lest history repeat itself.”

Phillips went on to criticize the international community for not imposing sanctions against Azerbaijan sooner. “The international community failed to sanction individuals who committed crimes after the wars in 2016 and 2020. Its message of failure sent a communication to the government of Azerbaijan that it can act with impunity and escape repercussions for its crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing and acts of genocide,” stated Phillips. “This signals Azerbaijan, as well as other regimes around the world, that they can escape consequences for violating international humanitarian law and committing crimes against humanity.”

Columbia University director of the Artsakh Atrocities Project David L. Phillips argued that the international community’s failure to sanction Azerbaijan sent the clear message that they can act with impunity

The September 6 emergency hearing on Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) followed the June 22 hearing hosted by TLHRC co-chairs Chris Smith (R-NJ) and James McGovern (D-MA), which included remarks by Congressional Armenian Caucus co-chairs Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ). Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) also submitted a written statement for the record. Titled “Safeguarding the people of Nagorno Karabakh,” the hearing included testimony by former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback, former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Michael Rubin and Columbia University’s Phillips.

The ANCA streamed the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearing live on its social media channels. The complete video is available on the Commission’s website.

The ANCA has launched a national call-in campaign asking Senators to place a hold on all of President Biden’s State Department nominees until he takes decisive action to stop Azerbaijan’s genocide against Artsakh. To learn more and take action, visit www.anca.org/hold.

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The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.


Baku concentrates troops on border with Armenia, near Nagorno-Karabakh — Armenian PM

Emil Lazarian
 TASS 
Russia – Sept 7 2023
Nikol Pashinyan urged the international community and UN Security Council member countries to take serious steps to prevent another explosion of tensions in the region

YEREVAN, September 7. /TASS/. Azerbaijan has amassed its troops on the border with Armenia and the demarcation line with Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told a Cabinet meeting as he described the situation as explosive.

“In the past week, the military-political situation in our region has deteriorated. This is because, in the past few days, Azerbaijan has been amassing troops along the line of engagement in Nagorno-Karabakh and on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Anti-Armenian rhetoric and hate speech have intensified in the Azerbaijani press and on propaganda platforms,” the Armenian premier said.

Pashinyan urged the international community and UN Security Council member countries to take serious steps to prevent another explosion of tensions in the region. “Armenia is ready and willing to sign a peace agreement with Azerbaijan and we reiterate our commitment to the global agenda on the basis of agreements [signed] in Brussels and Prague as well as the tripartite agreement (between the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia – TASS),” he added.

Armenian security service arrests pro-Russian blogger, Sputnik Armenia reporter

Emil Lazarian
 TASS 
Russia – Sept 7 2023
“On September 6 and 7, seven people, including Mika Badalyan and Ashot Gevorkyan, were arrested and handed over to the Investigative Committee under justified suspicion of illegal possession of firearms,” the spokesman said

YEREVAN, September 7. /TASS/. The National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia arrested pro-Russian blogger Mika Badalyan and Sputnik Armenia journalist Ashot Gevorkyan, Armenian Investigative Committee Spokesman Gor Abramyan said.

“On September 6 and 7, seven people, including Mika Badalyan and Ashot Gevorkyan, were arrested and handed over to the Investigative Committee under justified suspicion of [illegal possession of firearms], initiated by the NSS. And investigative group has been established. Investigative actions are underway. The Investigative Committee of Armenia will make an additional statement later,” Abramyan said on social media.