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

EU conducts conference on crime prevention in Armenia

Emil Lazarian
Feb 23 2023

On 22 February, the EU Delegation to Armenia conducted a conference on crime prevention. 

The conference aimed to initiate a professional discussion among members of parliament, CSOs, government, law enforcement agencies, academics and lawyers from state institutions and legal professions on European/regional trends in crime prevention practices and reforms, and then to discuss opportunities for the smooth implementation of crime prevention mechanisms in Armenia.

As noted by Silja Kasmann, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Armenia, the aim is to draw the attention of justice sector stakeholders to the effectiveness and benefits of crime prevention mechanisms and the need for a policy document (strategy) to define priorities and concrete action plans aimed at preventing crime.

The event was organised in the framework of the EU-funded Technical Assistance for Budget Support Programme ‘Support to Justice Sector Reforms in Armenia’’, in cooperation with the Council of Europe and the Armenian Ministry of Justice.

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Press release

Turkish Press: Azerbaijan says it will not hold talks with ‘representatives’ from outside Karabakh

Emil Lazarian
Anadolu Agency
Turkey – Feb 23 2023
23.02.2023

ISTANBUL

Azerbaijan has said that it will not hold talks with those who present themselves as representatives of the Armenian population living in Karabakh but are, in fact, from outside the region.

“The Azerbaijani side declared that it is ready to hold a dialogue with the representatives who have the right to represent the Armenian residents, and not with those who come to the Karabakh region from outside and present themselves as representatives of the Armenian residents,” a statement by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry read on Wednesday.

The statement was released in response to comments made during a joint press conference between Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Luxembourgian counterpart Jan Asselborn.

It added that Yerevan should not interfere in Baku’s internal affairs and act in accordance with the norms and principles of international law, as well as the Prague and Sochi agreements.

The statement also criticized Asselborn’s comments as “biased”, “ignorant” and “completely contrary to the relevant principles of international law,” noting that “the rights and security of residents of Armenian origin living in the (Karabakh) region will be ensured in accordance with the constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan and its legislative acts.”

“With its statement, the Armenian side demonstrates once again that it is not interested in peace in the region,” the statement said.

It further added that Yerevan’s rejection of Baku’s proposal to establish a border checkpoint to stop the misuse of the Lachin road, connecting Armenia to the Karabakh region, shows the country’s intent to repeat its claims that the protests have created a “blockade” and a “tense humanitarian situation” in the region.

It said the evaluation of Azerbaijan’s proposal to establish a border checkpoint by Armenia as “an application of force” demonstrates that Yerevan is “not interested in providing transparency on the Lachin road.”

Relations between the former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

In the fall of 2020, during 44 days of heavy fighting, Azerbaijan liberated a significant part of Karabakh, and a Russian-brokered peace agreement was subsequently signed.

The peace agreement has not, however, ended conflict along the border and other disputes between the two countries.

Armenian expert on the decision of the Hague court

Emil Lazarian
Feb 23 2023
  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

International Court of Justice decision

“Azerbaijan’s second failure in the Hague court,” Ara Ghazaryan said of the second decision of the International Court of Justice on the application of interim measures against Azerbaijan. An expert in the field of international law, he believes that the court’s decision cannot be called a victory, but is rather “a soft instrument that dictates the situation in the political arena” as a whole.

On February 22, the court ordered Azerbaijan to ensure unimpeded traffic along the Lachin corridor, the only road linking Nagorno-Karabakh with the outside world. Armenia also demanded Azerbaijan restore uninterrupted supply of natural gas to NK. However, this requirement was not satisfied.

Also, by a unanimous decision of the judges, Azerbaijan’s claim against Armenia was rejected, in which it was required to oblige Armenia to “stop mining and transporting mines through the Lachin corridor.”

According to Ghazaryan, the rejection of Azerbaijan’s claim is even more important than the partial satisfaction of Armenia’s claim.

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“According to its obligations under the convention, Azerbaijan is obliged to take all measures in its power to ensure the uninterrupted movement of people, vehicles and goods along the Lachin corridor in both directions,” the court concluded.

The decision states that since December 12, 2022, the connection between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia along the Lachin corridor has been disrupted and the import of vital goods hindered, as a result of which there is a shortage of food, medicines and other items “to save lives” in NK.

“Damage can be considered irreparable when the persons concerned find themselves in life-threatening and health-threatening circumstances,” the Hague court noted, emphasizing the urgency of taking action to change the situation.

On December 28, 2022, Armenia filed a petition with the court demanding to oblige Azerbaijan

  • to open the Lachin corridor,
  • restore uninterrupted supply of natural gas.

The International Court of Justice rejected the second claim, maintaining that there were not enough arguments to prove that Azerbaijan was to blame for the interruptions in gas supply.

On December 7, 2021, the court made another decision at the request of Armenia to apply interim measures against Azerbaijan. With this decision, the court ordered Baku

  • refrain from violence and infliction of bodily harm on all those held captive in connection with the 2020 conflict, ensure their equality before the law and safety,
  • prevent discrimination against Armenians, including by officials and state institutions,
  • take measures to prevent and punish manifestations of vandalism in relation to objects of the Armenian cultural heritage.

All petitions were submitted to the Hague Court within the framework of the suit Armenia against Azerbaijan in connection with violations of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. A similar lawsuit against Armenia was filed by Azerbaijan.

Hearings in the Hague on Nagorno-Karabakh – Armenia continues to demand interim measures related to Azerbaijan’s actions

Azerbaijan’s demand to oblige Armenia to “stop mining and transporting mines through the Lachin corridor” stated that the Armenian side violated the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by planting mines.

“Azerbaijan has not presented evidence to the court that would indicate that the alleged behavior of Armenia regarding mines is aimed at infringing on the rights of people of Azerbaijani origin,” the Hague court said in a decision.

Official Baku has already reacted to this decision, stating that it is “unreasonable”, and Azerbaijan will continue to demand that Armenia be held accountable for “serious violations of human rights.”

Political scientist Suren Surenyants on a new MEP report regarding Azerbaijan’s policies

The Armenian authorities welcomed the decisions of the International Court of Justice.

The Prime Minister of Armenia stressed that the decision of the Hague court is binding and “the absence of specific actions on the part of Azerbaijan to open the Lachin corridor can and should lead to specific international consequences.”

Referring to the political aspect, Nikol Pashinyan stated that with its decision the court has recognized Azerbaijan’s deception of the international community. Pashinyan said that “for a long time, Baku has been insisting on all international platforms that the Lachin corridor is not closed,” and the court’s rejection of Azerbaijan’s petitio means that “groundless accusations against Armenia about mines have collapsed” at the international level.

“The court clearly recorded the presence of the unit Nagorno-Karabakh according to the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020. In accordance with this decision, the trilateral statement and its provisions also received international legal significance, as well as the fact of the existence of Nagorno-Karabakh and the line of contact,” Pashinyan stated.

The reaction of the Armenian Foreign Ministry emphasizes that by its decision the court

  • “fixed the imminent threat of irreparable damage to the rights of Armenians,
  • refuted false accusations that Armenia planted mines in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas,
  • ordered to end the blockade of NK by Azerbaijan.

The Foreign Ministry called on international partners to “take active steps to ensure that Azerbaijan immediately implements the court’s decision.”

Arayik Harutyunyan, president of the unrecognized republic, assessed it as an “important achievement” and vowed that, together with Armenia, NK would continue to use all international legal mechanisms to protect people’s rights.

“This decision is another indisputable international legal basis that the people of Artsakh, subjected to racial discrimination and hatred, simply cannot live as part of Azerbaijan,” Harutyunyan wrote on Facebook.

The European Court rejected the Azerbaijan’s demand that interim measures be taken against Armenia, and upheld its decision on Armenia’s own application

Lawyer Ara Ghazaryan, who specializes in international law, said the court’s decision was predictable because there was “obvious evidence” of the blockade. Armenia provided irrefutable evidence that the Azerbaijanis are not only impeding the movement of people and goods, but also the duties of Russian peacekeepers.

Ghazaryan called the court’s decision “a historical fact that will be a heavy burden on Azerbaijan as long as this trial continues.”

As for the obligation to comply with the court decision, Ghazaryan warns that “Azerbaijan will be forced to spend more resources on maneuvers, invent new legends, new reasons for not opening the road.” The Hague court has already recognized that Azerbaijan has closed the road, and with its next steps Armenia must show that “the blockade is an instrument of war that Azerbaijan uses against the civilian population.”

Ghazaryan believes that if legal processes continue in this spirit, Azerbaijan can be recognized as an aggressor state.

Regarding the rejection of Armenia’s second claim, the restoration of gas supply, Ghazaryan believes that “the court approached it with reservations”, since only assumptions were presented:

“The court was careful so as not to be accused of prejudging a future verdict or of partiality.”

According to Ghazaryan, the rejection of Azerbaijan’s demands to apply interim measures against Armenia was extremely important. Accusing Armenia of placing mines prohibited by humanitarian law in peaceful settlements, Baku sought to “create the impression and legal grounds that Armenia had committed war crimes.”

Ghazaryan explains that in this way Azerbaijan is trying to “prepare the grounds for justifying its further offensive actions.”

Ghazaryan recalls that in December 2021 Azerbaijan made the same arguments and then also received a refusal. Azerbaijani lawyers claimed “new facts have appeared.” But the motion was rejected unanimously, meaning an “apparently unfounded act” was presented.

“Such judicial decisions destroy the stereotype that Azerbaijan achieves great success by spending great resources, and there is a conspiracy against Armenia. The court decision proved that consistent work bears fruit,” Ghazaryan said.

According to the lawyer, Azerbaijan’s mirroring strategy cannot work inasmuch as it is the offensive, and not the defensive party.

https://jam-news.net/international-court-of-justice-decision/


ICJ asks Azerbaijan to guarantee free movement between Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh

Emil Lazarian
Feb 23 2023

A group of “environmental activists” have been camping at the Lachin Corridor—the sole land link between Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh—since December, raising fears of re-emergence of armed conflict in the region

 by Peoples Dispatch

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in a judgment on Wednesday, February 22, asked Azerbaijan to guarantee free passage of goods and people through the Lachin Corridor linking Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.    

Disposing of complaints filed by Armenia against Azerbaijan and vice-versa earlier this year, the court in a 13-2 majority verdict asked Azerbaijan to “take all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions,” AP reported.  

In December, hundreds of Azerbaijani protesters began camping at the Lachin Corridor to oppose what they claimed was illegal mining of gold and other mineral resources in Nagorno Karabakh by Armenia. The protesters claimed that Armenian mining was harming the region’s environment.  

The court agreed with the Armenian claim that the road blockade hampered the movement of people, particularly medical patients, from Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia, as well as the movement of goods including medicines and food supplies. 

However, the court rejected Armenia’s plea that Azerbaijan end its support to all the protests in the region and resume supplies of natural gas to Nagorno Karabakh, claiming there was insufficient proof that Azerbaijan was involved in these activities. 

Armenia had raised the issue and accused Azerbaijan of supporting the blockade. However, Azerbaijan has denied any links with the protesters. It has also refuted the Armenian claim that the protesters are causing a complete blockade of supplies of essential commodities to Nagorno Karabakh.  

After the ICJ verdict on Wednesday, Azerbaijan issued a statement claiming that it has always undertaken steps to guarantee safe movement along the Lachin Corridor, AP reported.   

Nagorno Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. However, ethnic Armenians, who constitute the majority population in the region, had declared themselves a part of Armenia in 1988, when both Armenia and Azerbaijan were parts of the Soviet Union (USSR), and drove out most of the Azeri population during the war in 1994.   

Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two wars (1994 and 2020) over the territory since the dissolution of the USSR. In the last war, more than 6,500 people were killed, but Azerbaijan made significant territorial gains. A ceasefire was achieved following mediation by Russia, which also deployed a peace keeping force in the region. 

https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/02/23/icj-asks-azerbaijan-to-guarantee-free-movement-between-armenia-and-nagorno-karabakh/

Armenian President awards Mkhitar Gosh medal to Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister

Emil Lazarian

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 15:35,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn was awarded the Mkhitar Gosh medal by Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan for his significant contributions in strengthening the friendly ties between Armenia and Luxembourg and defending universal values.

FM Asselborn was awarded today, during his meeting with President Khachaturyan in Yerevan, Khachaturyan’s Office said in a press release. 

“The relations of our countries are on a very high level and are dynamically developing, as a result of which we have a friendly country in the European Union which is with us in these difficult conditions, which appreciates our country’s policy, our adopted values based on democratic principles, where the development of democratic institutions is a priority. We don’t imagine our future in any other way. 30 years ago, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, when Armenia declared independence, we took this direction at once. After some deviations, we are now clearly headed on that path. I am sure that our cooperation will be to the benefit of the development of these democratic institutions in Armenia as well,” the Armenian President said.

FM Asselborn said he visited Armenia back in 2018 as well. “As a result of my meetings during this visit with the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and representatives of the public sector I can say that the changes which have been done over these years are noticeable,” he said.

Steps and programs aimed at fostering cooperation both bilaterally and within the framework of the EU were discussed.

Regional issues were also discussed, such as the urgent need to unblock the humanitarian Lachin corridor and the importance of a peaceful and negotiated solution to existing conflicts.

BREAKING: Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan sacked

Emil Lazarian

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 16:24,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Arayik Harutyunyan fired State Minister Ruben Vardanyan.

On February 23, President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan chaired a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers.

Harutyunyan presented the military political and socio-economic situation developed in the republic as a result of the blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan, as well as the measures taken by the authorities aimed at the solution of the emerging issues.

During the meeting, President Harutyunyan also publicized the decree on the dismissal of Ruben Vardanyan from the position of State Minister. He highly appreciated Vardanyan’s efforts both in raising international awareness of Artsakh and solving numerous domestic problems during the blockade, Harutyunyan’s office said in a press release.

“Ruben Vardanyan and I have been together during this whole time, following the events and developments happening both in Artsakh and in the outer world on a daily basis, we have constantly exchanged ideas about finding solutions to the current situation. I am grateful to Mr. Vardanyan for his eagerness to always share the responsibility with me to the maximum extent in both friendly and partnership relations and did not try to put it on me referring to the constitutional norms. But on the other hand, he approached with awareness and understanding to the scope and extent of my personal responsibility for the situation created in Artsakh and all future problems,” Harutyunyan said, according to the read-out. 

Arayik Harutyunyan noted that he proposed Prosecutor General Gurgen Nersisyan to assume the responsibilities of the State Minister, taking into account his professional and human qualities, professionalism, fairness, principled stance and statehood-orientedness.

The President informed that all executive bodies will be in the sphere of coordination of the new state minister, except for the law enforcement agencies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 23-02-23

Emil Lazarian

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 17:38,

YEREVAN, 23 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 23 February, USD exchange rate down by 0.40 drams to 390.08 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.55 drams to 413.41 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 5.20 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 2.20 drams to 469.54 drams.

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

Gold price down by 37.41 drams to 23022.81 drams. Silver price up by 0.78 drams to 274.15 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.

Jerusalem police meet with members of Armenian church and community

Emil Lazarian

Feb 24 2023


By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Police officers from Jerusalem’s David precinct met with members of the Armenian church and community this week.

The meeting, led by Superintendent Aleh Harev, the Christian community policing liaison officer in the Christian Quarter, was held at the Armenian Patriarchate as part of preparations for a 2023 Easter event.

At the meeting, issues were discussed such as the need to address “friction” in the Armenian Quarter, as well as preparations for Easter and the Holy Fire.


The discussions emphasized maintaining public order amid incidents targeting Armenians and locating and prosecuting perpetrators of anti-Armenian crimes.

The Jerusalem Post reported last week that incidents of harassment of Armenians – such as spitting at, cursing at and pushing Armenian priests – have become commonplace.


“Any damage to religious institutions and sites is serious and harms the unique and delicate fabric of life that exists in the city of all religions.”

Israel Police

The report noted that concern is growing among members of the community because of the failure of authorities to address the problem.

“We no longer want to file complaints with the police every time there is an attack because it’s clear to us that they won’t do anything about it anyway,” Armenian restaurant owner Miran Krikorian told the Post.

“As the police of all residents and visitors to Jerusalem, whether they are Jews, Muslims or Christians, we work against violence and acts of all vandalism, especially those that hurt religious sentiments,” representatives of the Israel Police said. “Any damage to religious institutions and sites is serious and harms the unique and delicate fabric of life that exists in the city of all religions.”

Several members of the community who attended the event expressed their gratitude toward the police.

The police vowed to continue to maintain security and order.

Peggy Cidor contributed to this report.

The peace process in the South Caucasus stands at a crossroads SHARE:

Emil Lazarian
 eureporter 
Feb 24 2023

The peace process in the South Caucasus is at a crossroads. Russia is seeking to place obstacles in the way of peace with the goal of continuing with the freezing of conflicts that have existed for over three decades. The EU – supported by the US – is seeking to end the frozen conflicts and bring peace to the three nations in the South Caucasus, writes Dr. Taras Kuziuo.

Nikol Pashinyan is central to the question of peace in the region. Pashinyan came to power in a colour revolution uprising in 2018 that ousted corrupt post-Soviet Armenian leaders. Pashinyan’s instincts are those of a political leader seeking to build a democratic society in Armenia and re-orientate the country from its over-reliance on Russia to Europe.

Pashinyan is the first Armenian leader who is not from the Karabakh region and has no links to the large diaspora.  He is therefore distrusted by the pro-Russian lobby in the Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs and by the Kremlin which has always distrusted leaders who have come to power in colour revolutions. The Kremlin has always viewed colour revolutions as CIA-backed conspiracies seeking to undermine Russia’s sphere of influence in Eurasia.

Pashinyan is the first Armenian leader who recognises that Armenia can only develop economically if it is at peace with its neighbours. Peace treaty has been negotiated – but not yet signed – with Azerbaijan accompanied on a parallel track of the normalisation process with Turkey. The signing of the peace treaty would reduce Russia’s influence in the South Caucasus and facilitate greater integration with Europe.

Pashinyan faces domestic pressure to not agree on Karabakh becoming part of Azerbaijan. There is though no alternative to them as international borders for former Soviet republics must be based on internal boundaries that had existed between them. Of the fifteen former Soviet republics, only Russia and Armenia have baulked at transforming internal republican boundaries into international borders.

In the Soviet Union, Karabakh was part of the Azerbaijani Soviet republic and the UN adopted several resolutions declaring the region to be part of Azerbaijan’s sovereign territory. Emotions and nationalism about where Karabakh should belong need to be replaced by pragmatic steps towards peace that include safeguards and guarantees for the Armenian minority that has declined over the years of occupation and especially after the 2020 Karabakh war to approximately 50,000.

Armenia could resume its negotiations, which it ended under Russian pressure in 2013, with the EU for an Association Agreement. Armenia would be able to also join Georgia and Turkey in benefitting economically from the energy corridors in the South Caucasus emanating in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan would be able to expand its energy supplies to Europe, which partially offset those which used to be imported from Russia. With peace on its western border secured, Azerbaijan would be able to focus on countering the major threat to its national security from Iran.

Russia’s war in Ukraine provides opportunities for the EU to expand its influence into a region that is strategically important to its energy security. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has severely undermined its image as a military power and reduced its ability to project power into its self-declared Eurasian sphere of influence. With Pashinyan seeking to sign peace treaties with Armenia’s neighbours, Armenia is a weak link in Russia’s sphere of influence. Peace treaties would end the need for Russia’s ineffective so-called “peacekeepers.”

Russia’s last card is to parachute into Karabakh oligarch Ruben K. Vardanyan to oppose Karabakh being included inside Azerbaijan and eventually to replace pro-Western Pashinyan with a pro-Russian puppet. Vardanyan made billions in Russia in the 1990s at a time when this was impossible to do without breaking laws that allowed Russian intelligence services to collect damning kompromat on you. The Kremlin has a long record of using kompromat to blackmail oligarchs and state officials to implement its goals.

The South Caucasus stands at a crossroads. Although pre-occupied by the war in Ukraine and China, the US needs to back up the EU’s brokering of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This would in turn facilitate the normalisation process between Armenia and Turkey. The resultant decline in Russian influence would improve the West’s energy security that has now become independent of Russia.

The US, Israel and Turkey have strategic interests in curbing Iranian Islamic extremism and military aggression. Azerbaijan has long been a target for Iranian extremism – as seen in the recent terrorist attack on its Embassy in Tehran. Iran’s military alliance with Russia is a threat to Western backing for Ukraine in its war with Russia from which it is receiving sophisticated weaponry and possibly nuclear weapons technology.  Israel and Ukraine are the only two countries in the world threatened by Iran and Russia respectively with being wiped off the face of the earth.

Dr. Taras Kuziuo is a professor of political science at the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy and author of the just published Genocide and Fascism. Russia’s War Against Ukrainians.

https://www.eureporter.co/world/armenia/2023/02/24/the-peace-process-in-the-south-caucasus-stands-at-a-crossroads/



United States Ambassador Kristina Kvien visits Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial

Emil Lazarian

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 14:26,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. United States Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien paid her respects to the victims of the Armenian Genocide at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial, the United States Embassy said on social media.

“Ambassador Kvien visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial at Tsitsernakaberd where she laid flowers to pay her respects to the victims of the Armenian genocide,” the United States Embassy said on Facebook.