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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

Azerbaijani press: Azerbaijani analysts discuss Armenian PM’s frequent change of defense ministers

Emil Lazarian
17 November 2021 09:52 (UTC+04:00)
544

By Trend

Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan has appointed a new defense minister – fourth during his four-year ruling as Armenia’s Prime Minister.

Suren Papikyan has been appointed the new Defense Minister, with his predecessor being Arshak Karapetyan.

“Arshak Karapetyan was remembered for his provocative actions, his illegal trips to the Azerbaijani lands liberated from the Armenian occupation and provocations against Azerbaijani servicemen in Lachin district and the recent aggravation of the situation,” Azerbaijani MP, political analyst Rasim Musabayov told Trend.

He said that the frequent appointment in the Armenian Ministry of Defense and the Foreign Ministry shows that Pashinyan’s regime cannot properly regulate power.

“Karapetyan committed many provocative actions, all this was a problem for Pashinyan,” Musabayov added. “I think that Russia did not like such behavior of Karapetyan.”

The Azerbaijani MP said that all these factors forced Pashinyan to appoint new people in the defense ministry.

“It is difficult to say how well the new minister will be able to control the situation,” Musabayov said. “This will depend on his skills, willpower, Pashinyan’s support, including an assessment of the real situation and adequate behavior.”

Military expert Adalat Valiyev told Trend that the dismissal of Karapetyan is connected with the tough position of the Azerbaijani side after his illegal visit to Karabakh region on November 6-8.

“It is known that after the victory in the second Karabakh war, two high-ranking Armenian officials, namely, ex-foreign minister Ara Ayvazyan and ex-defense minister Arshak Karapetyan visited Karabakh region,” Valiyev said.

He added that the fact that after these illegal trips, both were immediately dismissed from their posts, openly demonstrates Pashinyan’s position in connection with trips to Karabakh region.

Valiyev noted that the fact that the current minister of defense is a civilian rather than a military man shows that Pashinyan has no choice.

“New Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan was appointed Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia three months ago,” Valiyev said. “He was a peaceful official.”

The expert said that apparently, Pashinyan has no other option but to appoint a civilian to this position because the Armenian military elite consisting of 60 people signed an appeal against Pashinyan.

“The appointment of one of the generals who signed this appeal would mean Pashinyan’s defeat in front of the military elite,” Valiyev said.

According to the Armenian media, new Armenian Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan taught history in one of Yerevan’s schools in 2010-2016. Moreover, Papikyan, known as the “asphalt tycoon”, has a criminal record. A criminal case was filed against him for stabbing a commander while serving in the army.

Suren Papikyan, found guilty of a criminal act, was imprisoned for 2 years and 3 months on March 27, 2006. He was released as part of amnesty on February 23, 2007.

US Secretary of State urges Armenia, Azerbaijan to take steps to reduce tensions on border

Emil Lazarian

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 10:05, 17 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a statement following the November 16 Azerbaijani attacks on Armenia at the eastern parts of the border.

“The United States is deeply concerned about reports of intensive fighting today between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We urge both sides to take immediate concrete steps to reduce tensions and avoid further escalation.  We also call on the sides to engage directly and constructively to resolve all outstanding issues, including border demarcation.

As noted in the Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ statement on November 15, the recent increase in tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan underscores the need for a negotiated, comprehensive, and sustainable settlement of all remaining issues related to or resulting from the Nagorno Karabakh conflict”, the statement says.

Iran says current tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is harmful for region

Emil Lazarian

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 10:29, 17 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. Iran is concerned about the reports of new military actions on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Foreign ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said, calling on the two countries to show restraint.

He emphasized the need for the two countries to respect the internationally recognized borders and urged them to solve the issues through dialogue and peaceful means.

Saeed Khatibzadeh said that the current tension is harmful for the peace process and regional development. He once again stated that Iran is ready, like before, to assist both sides resolve the disputes and establish stability and security in the region.

Armenia, Azerbaijan in attendance at Moscow CIS Security Council Secretaries meeting

Emil Lazarian

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 10:59, 17 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The 9th annual meeting of the CIS Secretaries of Security Council has kicked off in Moscow, with the secretary of security councils of the 9 member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States in attendance, including Armenia’s Armen Grigoryan and Azerbaijan’s Ramil Usubov.

Just yesterday, the Azerbaijani military launched a massive deadly attack on Armenia from the eastern border. 

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan

Parliament debates 2022 state budget draft

Emil Lazarian

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 11:01, 17 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Parliament is debating the 2022 state budget draft during today’s session.

The budget draft set security issues, education system and inclusive infrastructure development as a key target for 2022, Minister of Finance Tigran Khachatryan said during the debate.

“The solution of these issues must create grounds for the high economic results of the coming years, which in turn will ensure conditions for programs directed to health and social insurance, settlement of public life and other key issues”, the minister said.

Minister Khachatryan said that the government is targeting long-term high economic growth, at least 7% annually, and in case of a favorable external environment – 9%.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Azerbaijan appreciates Vatican’s balanced position on conflict with Armenia — ambassador

Emil Lazarian
TASS, Russia
Nov 17 2021
According to Rahman Mustafayev, the Vatican leadership pointed to the need to settle problems through a dialogue, based on respect for international law

ROME, November 17./TASS/. Azerbaijan greatly respects the position of the Vatican on the settlement of the post-conflict situation between Azerbaijan and Armenia and recognizes its important role in that process, Azerbaijani Ambassador to France and the Vatican Rahman Mustafayev told TASS on Wednesday.

“The issue of the post-conflict settlement and the Azerbaijani-Armenian relations is being brought up during contacts of Azerbaijan and the Vatican,” the ambassador said. “We note the very balanced position of the Vatican. Its leadership points to the need to settle problems through a dialogue, based on respect for international law, and this approach coincides with the position of Azerbaijan,” Rahman Mustafayev went on to say.

“We respect and trust the Pope and the Holy See and see the Vatican as an important partner,” the ambassador stressed.

Azerbaijan believes the Vatican could play a major role as a mediator to restore trust and mend ties between Azerbaijan and Armenia, he said. “The position of the Vatican in this context is unique, since this state is close to Christian Armenians, but at the same time it emphasizes the necessity of respecting the rules of international law. Besides, the Vatican pays great attention to the humanitarian aspects of the settlement. We value this position very much,” the ambassador stressed.

He also said that the government of Azerbaijan intended to allocate up to one billion dollars a year for the restoration of the regions of Nagorno-Karabakh that had returned under the control of Azerbaijan.

Intense clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, 2020, in Nagorno-Karabakh. On November 9, 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in the conflict zone, which facilitated a complete cessation of hostilities. According to the document, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides maintained the positions that they had held, while several regions came under Baku’s control and Russian peacekeepers were deployed along the contact line and the Lachin Corridor.

Intense fighting erupted between the armed forces of Armenia and Azerbaijan in the border districts of Armenia’s Syunik region on November 16. Yerevan said that the Azeri troops had launched an offensive into Armenian territory. The highway that links Armenia’s capital with the southern regions and Iran was jeopardized.

Meanwhile, Baku blamed Armenia for the fighting, accusing the Armenian armed forces of provoking the situation. As the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported, the Armenian troops attacked Azerbaijan’s army posts.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held separate telephone talks with his counterparts from Armenia and Azerbaijan, Suren Papikyan and Zakir Hasanov. The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that following the conversations, the Armenian and Azerbaijani defense chiefs took measures to stabilize the situation on the border.


Republican Party of Armenia spokesperson: Nikol Pashinyan gave a confessional testimony in parliament yesterday

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia
Nov 18 2021
21:58, 18.11.2021

The person by the name of Nikol Pashinyan gave a confessional testimony in the National Assembly of Armenia yesterday. This is what Spokesperson of the Republican Party of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov told reporters today, commenting on Pashinyan’s statement on the order ‘to not open fire’.

Sharmazanov recalled that Pashinyan had described the order as ‘state treason’.

“Pashinyan declared that if soldiers don’t open fire and don’t show resistance, that is state treason. This is the remark of a person who, during the Azerbaijanis’ invasion of Armenia’s sovereign territory, declared that there is no need to wage a war for 30% of Sev Lake. Also, this is the remark of a person who, on December 17-18, 2020, gifted Azerbaijan tens of thousands of kilometers of Armenia’s territory, and through a verbal agreement at that,” Sharmazanov stated.

Azerbaijani press: Armenia shells Azerbaijani positions in Tovuz

Emil Lazarian
18 November 2021 11:47 (UTC+04:00)
643

By Vafa Ismayilova

Armenia’s armed forces have shelled the Azerbaijani army positions in western Tovuz region on the border with Armenia, the Defence Ministry reported on November 18.

From 1754 to 2252 on November 17, the Armenian armed forces’ units fired at the Azerbaijani army positions in the direction of Tovuz region’s Munjuglu, Aghbulag, Gosha, Kokhanebi and Asrik Jirdakhan villages, the ministry said.

The Armenian troops fired from the direction of Shamshaddin region’s Chinarli and Mughanjig villages.

The opposing side was suppressed by retaliatory fire, the report added.

It should be noted that seven Azerbaijani servicemen were killed and 10 wounded in armed clashes with Armenian troops on the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border in Kalbajar and Lachin regions on November 16.

Armenian military releases identity of killed soldier

Emil Lazarian

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 10:29, 18 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ministry of Defense released the identity of the soldier who was killed in action during the November 16 Azerbaijani attack on Armenia and whose body was transported from Baku to Yerevan by the Russian military.

The fallen soldier is identified as Senior Lieutenant Taron Sahakyan of the Armenian Armed Forces, born 1990. The transfer was mediated by Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov, the Deputy Commander of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces.

The Armenian military said they continue working in direction of finding the missing troops and returning the captives.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan