Author: Frangulian Shushan

U.S. welcomes Armenia-Azerbaijan prisoner swap

Frangulian Shushan

 10:43,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. The United States has welcomed the exchange of prisoners between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“This is something that we have encouraged, actively encouraged in talks with both governments. We welcome the return of the Armenian and Azerbaijani detainees earlier today and reports that additional confidence-building measures are being discussed,’’ Miller said during the press briefing in Washington DC.

“We will continue to work with Armenia and Azerbaijan to move the process forward. We continue to believe that peace is possible if both parties are willing to pursue it”, Miller added.

Portantino Honors ANCA-WR Board Member Anahid Oshagan with Senate District 25 ‘Woman in Law’ Award

Frangulian Shushan
by Contributor

 

 

 

in Community, Latest, News, Top Stories

Sen. Anthony Portantino presents award to ANCA-WR Board Member Anahid Oshagan


Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region Board Member Anahid Oshagan, Esq., was honored with the prestigious “Woman in Law” Award at the 2023 California Senate District 25 Women in Business Awards, presented by Senator Anthony Portantino on December 6.

This accolade recognized Oshagan for her exemplary contributions not only within the legal realm but also for her active engagement in various community-building efforts.

Serving a commendable eight-year tenure on the ANCA Western Region Board of Directors, Oshagan has passionately engaged in a wide range of both regional and local community endeavors.

Her unwavering commitment extends to her roles within the ANCA Western Region Education Committee, where she has been a valuable contributor to the committee’s efforts to advocate for initiatives such as the inclusion of Armenian Genocide education programming and community representation in educational institutions.

Additionally, her involvement with the ANCA Western Region Community Outreach Committee has underscored her ability to foster unity and garner support across diverse communities–both Armenian and non-Armenian–to advance Hye Tahd (the Armenian Cause).

Oshagan’s service extends beyond the ANCA Western Region, encompassing over six years of dedicated commitment to the Glendale Library Foundation Board. In this capacity, she has championed the representation of all communities and amplified diverse voices throughout Glendale.

Oshagan’s distinguished work was also previously acknowledged in 2009, when she was presented the “Women in Law” Award by the Armenian American Chamber of Commerce.

“As a valued member of the ANCA Western Region Board of Directors, we take pride in the well-deserved recognition bestowed upon Anahid for her noteworthy contributions,” said Nora Hovsepian, Esq., Chair of the ANCA Western Region Board of Directors. “Anahid, as a legal professional and lifelong advocate for the Armenian-American community, exemplifies an unwavering commitment to justice, proving instrumental not only to the advancement of Hye Tahd but also to the community at-large.”

“I have known Anahid Oshagan for two decades and have always appreciated her commitment to the community, her talent as a lawyer and her passion for the arts,” Portantino remarked. “I was pleased that she was nominated and excited to honor her.”

“I am truly humbled and honored for this award,” said Oshagan. “I know that Senator Portantino had a tremendously long list of outstanding and deserving nominees to choose from. That makes this award so much more special.”

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

Armenia in favor of Ukraine and Moldova accession to EU

Frangulian Shushan

 11:48,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS. On December 11, in Brussels, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan participated in the EU Eastern Partnership Ministerial meeting.

The foreign ministry released the transcript of the FM's remarks which are presented below:

“Excellencies,

ladies and gentlemen

dear colleagues,

 

I am very pleased for this opportunity to meet and openly discuss the recent developments in the EaP region and share our ideas on the future of this format. Given the diverse challenges the Eastern Partnership region has been facing for the last couple of years, including the shake of the security architecture and humanitarian issues, the consistency of the EaP Ministerial meetings is quite welcoming.

Since EaP was launched, it has aimed to strengthen the ties of the partners with the EU and EU Member states based on common values, deepening economic and political cooperation and support for the reform agenda.

The Eastern Partnership has contributed to the democratic transition of my country, which made a clear decision to take an irreversible path of democratization and reforms. Despite all the challenges we had during the recent couple of years the democratization process and implementation of the ambitious reform agenda did not stop in Armenia for a single moment. And Armenia is resolute in continuing this journey with the substantial support of the European Union. The most recent manifestation of our determination is the ratification of the Rome Statute by Armenia. By joining the ICC Armenia contributed to the strengthening of the international legal order while at the same time reclaiming its sovereign right of taking decisions based on its national interests.

My government warmly welcomes the European Commission’s decision to recommend the European Council to open accession talks with Moldova and Ukraine and to grant candidate status to Georgia. This decision is welcomed not only by the Government of Armenia but also people of Armenia, who also have European aspirations.

We think that this new development should not be the cause for further weakening of their interest in EaP, but rather it should serve to transform the welcome progress of the trio into an additional bridge for those partners who have the firm intention and resolve to come closer to the European Union.

We are not only committed to continuing this path, but even coming closer to the European Union to the extent the EU will deem it possible.

Dear colleagues,

As you are well aware Armenia is currently facing enormous challenges. The efforts of my government and all the competent authorities are focused on addressing the humanitarian situation of the forcibly displaced Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, who, within a week, had to abandon their houses and run as a result of use of force.

In this regard, we are grateful to the EU and its member States for humanitarian assistance to Armenia in response to the mass influx of people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Distinguished colleagues,

ladies and gentlemen,

The Government of Armenia has political will for building sustainable and lasting peace in the region. We are ready to move forward to that end on the basis of the principles adopted in Granada by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia, President Michel of the European Council, President Macron of France and Chancellor Scholz of Germany. The same principles about mutual recognition of territorial integrity, mutual recognition of borders, opening of communications, transport infrastructures, that were previously acknowledged during the trilateral meetings of leaders in Brussels.

On numerous occasions, we have demonstrated our willingness and determination to establish long-lasting peace and stability in our region through the normalization of relations with our neighbors, where all countries will live with open borders and be connected by active economic, political and cultural ties. My government has recently presented our vision for the future named "The Crossroads of Peace" as a part of the peace agenda. At the core of this project is the development of regional communications by means of renovating, building, and operating roads, railways, pipelines, cables, and electricity lines. Moreover, the joint statement recently adopted with Azerbaijan regarding the exchange of detainees and Armenia’s agreement on the COP29 is yet another demonstration of our determination to reach peace and stability in the South Caucasus. We do hope that after this positive impulse Azerbaijan will adhere to the peace process.   

Dear colleagues,

We believe that this format and initiatives we are engaged in should serve the ultimate goal of bringing us closer to our partners and neighbors. We feel the need to reiterate that all of the EaP partner states should adhere to the same values and principles, as without respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, without a secure and peaceful environment any endeavor is doomed to failure.

Thank you.”




RFE/RL Armenian Service – 12/07/2023

Frangulian Shushan 
                                        Thursday, December 7, 2023


Yerevan, Baku Announce Prisoner Deal


Armenia - A French military plane with eight Armenian prisoners of war freed by 
Azerbaijan on board is seen at Yerevan airport, February 7, 2022.


Azerbaijan will free 32 Armenian prisoners of war in exchange for the release of 
two Azerbaijani soldiers detained in Armenia and Yerevan’s support for Baku’s 
bid to host the COP29 climate summit, the two sides announced late on Thursday.

In a joint statement, the offices of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and 
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said the deal is the result of 
negotiations held by them. They pledged to discuss “more confidence-building 
measures in the near future.”

“The two states reaffirm their intention to normalize relations and negotiate a 
peace treaty based on respect for the principles of sovereignty and territorial 
integrity,” said the statement.

Baku did not immediately identify the Armenian POWs that will be repatriated by 
it. A similar number of Armenian soldiers as well as eight current and former 
leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh will remain in Azerbaijani captivity.

The Azerbaijani servicemen to be freed by Yerevan are apparently the conscripts 
who were detained in April after crossing into Armenia’s Syunik province from 
Azerbaijan’s Nakhichevan exclave. One of them was charged with murdering a 
Syunik resident one day before his detention. Armenia’s Court of Appeals 
sentenced him to life in prison earlier this week.

The latest prisoner deal followed U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James 
O’Brien’s visit to Baku. O’Brien’s discussed with Aliyev U.S. efforts to 
kick-start talks on the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty. In what may have been 
a related development, a U.S. special envoy for the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace 
talks, Louis Bono, met with Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan on 
Thursday.




Head Of Armenian Anti-Graft Watchdog Removed From Office

        • Astghik Bedevian

Armenia - Haykuhi Harutiunian, head of Commission on Prevention of Corruption, 
speaks at a seminar in Yerevan, February 8, 2023.


The Armenian parliament effectively fired on Thursday the head of a state 
anti-corruption body who has investigated many pro-government lawmakers 
suspected of illicit enrichment, conflict of interest or other corrupt practices.

Haykuhi Harutiunian was elected by the previous National Assembly as chairwoman 
of the Commission on Prevention of Corruption for a four-year term in November 
2019. Armenia’s government and ruling Civil Contract party were expected to back 
her reelection until recently.

However, Armenian media reported last month that during a meeting with 
Harutiunian held behind the closed doors some parliamentarians affiliated with 
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s party complained about the commission’s actions 
taken against them, their relatives or friends.

Speaking in the parliament on Wednesday, Harutiunian said that “up to 25” Civil 
Contract deputies have been investigated for possible conflict of interest or 
inaccurate asset declarations submitted to the commission.

Many pro-government deputies openly attacked Harutiunian during a two-day heated 
debate on her candidacy. Some of them claimed that members of her own family did 
not file such declarations for two years, while another said Harutiunian 
arranged for her sister to hold a “seminar” for the anti-graft watchdog’s 
members and staffers.

“My sister has never participated in any activity financed by the commission,” a 
visibly angry Harutiunian insisted on Thursday.

Armenia - Deputies from the ruling Civil Contract party talk on the parliament 
floor, Yerevan, March 1, 2023.

She was also attacked by Arsen Torosian, another Pashinian ally who was 
investigated in 2020 in his then capacity as health minister. Harutiunian 
accused Torosian at the time of conflict of interest stemming from a lucrative 
procurement contract awarded by him to a company owned by his wife. Other 
commission members disagreed with her at the time.

Torosian claimed on Thursday that the probe was politically motivated. “Ms. 
Harutiunian, if that campaign continues -- and it appears to be continuing -- 
please look for other heroes,” he said.

“You are not my hero,” shot back the anti-corruption official. “I’m afraid you 
can never become one.”

Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers defended Harutiunian. One of them, Artsvik 
Minasian, praised her “political will” to fight against corruption and accused 
the authorities of seeking to “usurp” the body scrutinizing the declared assets 
of the country’s leading state officials.

Not surprisingly, the parliament’s pro-government majority blocked Harutiunian’s 
re-appointment by boycotting an ensuing vote.

Several Armenian civic organizations expressed serious concern over such a 
prospect earlier this week. In a joint statement, they urged Civil Contract’s 
parliamentary group not to “succumb to the desires of a few members driven by 
self-interest” and to delay the vote.

Pashinian has repeatedly claimed to have eliminated “systemic corruption” in 
Armenia. However, members of his entourage are increasingly accused by media 
outlets of enriching themselves or their cronies and breaking their 
anti-corruption promises given during the 2018 “velvet revolution.” There are 
also growing questions about integrity in public procurement administered by the 
current government.




European Court Rules Against Ousted Armenian Judges

        • Naira Bulghadarian

France - A view of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, Janury 26, 
2023.


The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has dismissed an appeal filed more 
than three years ago by the former chairman and three other members of Armenia’s 
Constitutional Court against their dismissal engineered by Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian.

The judges came under strong government pressure to resign in 2019, with 
Pashinian accusing them of maintaining close ties to Armenia’s former government 
and impeding his “judicial reforms.” They did not bow to the pressure, leading 
Pashinian’s administration to enact controversial constitutional amendments a 
year later.

The amendments extended a 12-year term limit to all nine members of the 
Constitutional Court, thereby mandating the immediate dismissal of three court 
justices who had taken the bench in the 1990s. They also required Hrayr 
Tovmasian to quit as court chairman while allowing him to remain a judge.

Tovmasian and the three ousted judges -- Alvina Gyulumian, Felix Tokhian and 
Hrant Nazarian -- said the amendments are null and void because they were not 
sent to the Constitutional Court for examination prior to their passage. The 
Armenian opposition also accused Pashinian’s political team of violating this 
legal requirement.

Armenia -- Constitutional Court Chairman Hrayr Tovmasian reads out a court 
ruling, Yerevan, March 17, 2020.

Tovmasian, Gyulumian, Tokhian and Nazarian went on to appeal to the ECHR, saying 
that they were forced out in violation of several articles of the European 
Convention on Human Rights. One of those articles guarantees their “access to 
court.”

In its long-awaited ruling made public on Thursday, the Strasbourg-based court 
refused to invalidate or challenge in any away their ouster, saying that it 
resulted from the constitutional changes “not directed against them 
specifically.” It claimed to have found no “evidence of the authorities singling 
out any of the applicants with negative remarks about their professional 
performance, personality or moral values.”

Pashinian and his political allies never made secret of the fact that the 
amendments are designed to help them get rid of Constitutional Court members 
installed during former Presidents Serzh Sarkisian’s and Robert Kocharian’s 
rule. The prime minister stated in 2019 that they must resign because they do 
not “represent the people.”

The ECHR ruling also cited statements on the issue made by the Venice Commission 
of the Council of Europe in 2020. While largely backing the constitutional 
amendments, the commission criticized the Pashinian administration’s refusal to 
introduce a transitional period that would “allow for a gradual change in the 
composition of the court in order to avoid any abrupt and immediate change 
endangering the independence of this institution.”

Tovmasian and his sacked colleagues did not immediately react to the ruling. 
Siranush Sahakian, a lawyer representing them, told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service 
that she is now examining the text and will comment later.

Armenia -- Supporters of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian block the entrance to 
the Constitutional Court building in Yerevan, May 20, 2019.

As a result of the 2020 amendments, two more Constitutional Court members 
resigned in the following years. The vast majority of the court’s current judges 
have been handpicked by Armenia’s current political leadership and confirmed by 
the parliament loyal to it.

The Pashinian government has also installed virtually all members of the Supreme 
Judicial Council (SJC), a powerful body overseeing Armenian courts. The judicial 
watchdog is now headed by Karen Andreasian, Pashinian’s former justice minister 
who was affiliated with the ruling Civil Contract party until September 2022.

Over the past year, the SJC has fired a number of respected judges and launched 
disciplinary proceedings against others, stoking opposition allegations that 
Pashinian is seeking to further curb judicial independence in Armenia under the 
guise of Western-backed “judicial reforms.” Opposition leaders have accused the 
West of turning a blind eye to this for geopolitical reasons.




Armenia, Azerbaijan ‘Not Discussing’ New Date For U.S.-Mediated Talks

        • Shoghik Galstian

U.S. - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosts talks between Foreign 
Minsters Ararat Mirzoyan of Armenia and Jeyhun Bayramov of Azerbaijan in 
Arlington, May 4, 2023.


Armenia and Azerbaijan have not yet agreed on a new date for fresh talks between 
their foreign ministers in Washington, Armenian parliament speaker Alen Simonian 
said on Thursday.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was scheduled to host the talks on 
November 20. However, Baku cancelled them in protest against what it called 
pro-Armenian statements made by James O’Brien, the U.S. assistant secretary of 
state for Europe and Eurasia.

Speaking during a congressional hearing in Washington on November 15, O’Brien 
condemned Azerbaijan’s September 19-20 military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh 
and warned Baku against attacking Armenia to open a land corridor to its 
Nakhichevan exclave.

Blinken telephoned Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani 
President Ilham Aliyev before sending O’Brien to Baku this week. The latter 
described his talks with Aliyev and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov 
as “positive and constructive.”

“As I told President Aliyev … Secretary Blinken looks forward to hosting foreign 
ministers Bayramov and Mirzoyan in Washington soon for peace negotiations,” the 
U.S. diplomat tweeted early on Thursday.

Simonian insisted that Yerevan and Baku are not even discussing yet possible 
time frames for those negotiations.

“We have said that we are not refusing any meetings,” he told reporters. “The 
Azerbaijani side has declined at least three invitations [from Western 
mediators.] We hope that it will become more constructive.”

Aliyev twice cancelled meetings with Pashinian which the European Union planned 
to organize in October. The two leaders were due to try to bridge their 
remaining differences on an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty.

Aliyev cautioned on Wednesday that the treaty alone would not guarantee a 
lasting peace between the two South Caucasus nations. He said he wants to secure 
safeguards against Armenian “revanchism.”

“In order to prevent revanchism, he should form a peace agenda together with 
us,” countered Simonian. “There is no other way.”



Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2023 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

India ready to participate in infrastructure development projects in Armenia

Frangulian Shushan

 14:20, 5 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. The centuries-old relations between Armenia, India and Iran are a strong foundation for cooperation in present days, Ambassador of India to Armenia Nilakshi Saha Sinha has said.

Speaking at the New Regional Reality and the Crossroads of Peace forum in Yerevan, the Indian Ambassador said that Armenia and India have historic ties, and Iran is a bridge that has contributed to the development of the relations.

“India and Iran are closely cooperating as part of the North-South international transport corridor initiative, which connects the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf with the Caspian Sea, towards Russia and Europe. We are ready to work with Armenia to understand how the country can benefit from the opportunities of this corridor,” the ambassador said.

Speaking about the Crossroads of Peace project developed by the Armenian government, the Indian ambassador said that this initiative presented by Prime Minister Pashinyan seeks to promote connectivity in the Caucasus, including railways, roads and power transmission lines, through the development of infrastructures.

“Armenia is currently developing its road infrastructure, from the southern border with Iran to the northern border with Georgia. Certain Indian companies have displayed interest towards this project. We are ready to participate in infrastructure development projects in Armenia,” the Indian ambassador said.

[see video]

Travel: Discover the Rich History and Cultural Tapestry of Armenia: Yerevan and Gyumri

Frangulian Shushan
EnergyPortal.eu
Dec 2 2023
  • Post authorBy Daniel Hall

When you think of Armenia, what comes to mind? Perhaps the stunning beauty of Mount Ararat or the vibrant city life of Yerevan and Gyumri. This small country nestled amidst the peaks of the Caucasus Mountains is steeped in history, with evidence of human habitation dating back to ancient times. Let’s explore the captivating stories and cultural treasures of Yerevan and Gyumri.

As you step into Yerevan, its rosy capital, you are transported to a time where history whispers from every corner. The city’s delightful pink hue owes itself to Tuff, a robust stone that has withstood the test of time. Yerevan is like a living time capsule, frozen in the Soviet era, with its imposing Soviet structures coexisting seamlessly with modern cafes and bustling markets.

As you wander through Yerevan’s streets, you can’t help but feel the nostalgic echo of the Soviet charm. The art museums and theatres, with their gilded interiors and velvet curtains, are a testament to the rich artistic heritage that blossomed under Soviet patronage. Republic Square, with its grand neoclassical buildings, is the center of the action, where locals and visitors gather to bask in the glorious sunshine and enjoy the melodies of the musical fountains.

Venturing into Gyumri, Armenia’s second-largest city, is like stepping back in time. With a history stretching back thousands of years, Gyumri is an archaeological trove where history serenades you from every stone. The city’s architecture, from intricate churches to charming old houses, showcases the craftsmanship of generations past. Museums tucked away in historic homes offer a glimpse into Gyumri’s rich history and cultural tapestry.

When exploring these cities, be sure to immerse yourself in the flavors of traditional Armenian cuisine, visit vibrant flea markets, and sample exquisite local art. Armenia’s cultural tapestry is a symphony of flavors, colors, and stories, waiting to be discovered.

FAQ

Q: How old is Yerevan?
A: Yerevan’s genesis dates back to 782 BC under the reign of King Argishti I, making it one of the world’s most ancient cities.

Q: What is Tuff?
A: Tuff is a robust stone that gives Yerevan its delightful pink hue. It is lightweight yet capable of bearing the weight of history and the colors of picturesque sunsets.

Q: Where can I visit museums in Gyumri?
A: Gyumri is home to fascinating museums such as the Dzitoghtsyan Museum, the Museum of Urban Life and Culture, and museums within the homes of renowned authors Hovhannes Shiraz and Avetik Isahakyan.

Sources:
– https://www.armenia.travel/

https://www.energyportal.eu/news/why-armenia-should-be-your-next-travel-destination/553319/#gsc.tab=0

How the Hamas-Israel war impacts the South Caucasus Iran

Frangulian Shushan
Amwaj
Nov 24 2023
Iran/Security - Fuad Shahbazov

The war between Hamas and Israel war has triggered strong anti-Israel sentiments in the region and heightened fears of a broader conflict engulfing actors such as Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. Worried that the conflict in Gaza could escalate into a regional confrontation, the US has dispatched two aircraft carrier strike groups within range, including additional troops and military advisors.

But alongside tough rhetoric, the violence in Gaza has renewed apparent pragmatism by important regional states such as Iran and Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has openly slammed Israel's bombings of the Palestinian coastal enclave. On the other hand, Ankara has avoided issuing direct threats against Tel Aviv and, in an apparent unusual move, allegedly distanced itelf from Hamas in the aftermath of the Palestinian movement’s surprise attack on Israel last month.

Iran and its regional allies such as Lebanese Hezbollah and Yemen’s Ansarullah movement—better known as the Houthis—have adopted more hostile stances. Both Hezbollah and the Houthis have directly attacked Israel. However, Tehran itself has focused on the political track, pushing for Muslim countries to embargo Israel amid its campaign to galvanize anti-Israeli sentiment in the region. The call for an embargo has gained momentum in light of some Muslim countries’ decisions to downgrade ties with Israel—raising fears among some of Israel’s regional partners.

 

Gaza war puts pressure on Israel’s partners

The mounting criticism of Israel in the region has boosted fears among Tel Aviv’s main Muslim partners, including Azerbaijan. The conflict in Gaza is particularly relevant for Baku, as Tel Aviv’s top energy and military associate in the South Caucasus.

Some 40% of Israel's oil imports of around 300,000 barrels per day were sourced from Iraqi Kurdistan in the first quarter of 2023. That trade has been halted following Turkey's decision to stop oil flows through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline in March over a dispute with Baghdad. To fill the gap, Israel has reportedly turned to African producers and Brazil. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan meet more than half of Israel's demand for oil.

Propelled by military cooperation, the partnership between Azerbaijan and Israel gained a new level of momentum in 2020, when Azerbaijani forces heavily relied on Israeli-made weaponry to regain control over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Baku continues to rely on such arms to maintain military superiority over Armenia.

Following the recapture of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Baku-Tel Aviv partnership has morphed into a new geopolitical alliance. Important political steps have been taken, such as Azerbaijan’s opening of an embassy in Israel in March. This has raised eyebrows in neighboring Iran, particularly as an attack on the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran earlier this year led Baku to shutter its diplomatic mission amid broader tensions.

In parallel with strengthening ties with Israel, Azerbaijan has developed strategic partnerships with leading Muslim countries—including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. While this is mainly due to Baku’s desire to pursue a balanced foreign policy strategy, Tehran has been wary of the deepening relations between its northwestern neighbor and a widening array of its regional rivals.

 

Continued cooperation despite pressure

Unlike Azerbaijan, the Christian countries in the South Caucasus—namely Armenia and Georgia—generally do not have strong ties with Muslim states. Armenia’s strong relations with Iran are an exception to this broader trend. Indeed, the ruling Georgian government has strongly criticized the Palestinian surprise attack on Israel. Tbilisi has also expressed its unwavering support for Tel Aviv—largely mirroring the pro-Israeli public sentiments in Georgia.

To avoid possible criticism from Muslim countries, Azerbaijan has denounced the harm inflicted on civilians in the Gaza Strip, underlining its full support for all relevant UN resolutions on the Israeli-Palestinian issue—including the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside a Jewish state. This stance is not new; Azerbaijan has insisted on these principles since the early 1990s. Perhaps surprisingly, this balanced approach has never been a catalyst for tension in the bilateral relationship with Israel.

Amid the fighting in Gaza and Iran’s resulting calls for an embargo on Israel, Baku has continued to maintain a close partnership with Tel Aviv—albeit while keeping a lower profile on the regional stage.

For instance, at the end of October, Azerbaijan reportedly shipped a tanker loaded with over one million barrels of crude oil to Israel's southern Red Sea port of Eilat. This was after the Ashkelon port on the Mediterranean Sea came under rocket fire from Hamas. Moreover, on Oct. 30, Israel awarded a consortium consisting of BP, NewMed Energy, and the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) a license to explore offshore natural gas deposits in the Mediterranean. The move notably came shortly after the Israeli government temporarily shut down the Tamar offshore gas field amid rocket attacks launched by Hamas from Gaza.

 

Looking ahead

The authorities and state media in Azerbaijan have not highlighted the recent significant milestones in the bilateral partnership with Israel for several reasons.

Undoubtedly, Azerbaijan believes that explicit deep engagement with Israel and praise of such an approach in state media amid the ongoing war in Gaza may provoke a reaction from Iran, a staunch supporter of Hamas. Conversely, the Israeli military campaign against Hamas and the ongoing domestic political turmoil in Israel may have geopolitical ramifications, such as a revival of assertive Iranian policy in the South Caucasus.

The bigger picture is that the violence in Gaza is diverting the west’s attention. As a result, regional powers like Iran and Russia may maneuver to fill the vacuum in places like the South Caucasus. To Azerbaijan, the potential strengthening of Iranian influence is hardly a positive factor, particularly amid Baku’s efforts to ink a peace agreement with neighbouring Armenia.

In addition to the regional power dynamics, the Hamas-Israel war puts the Azerbaijani government in an uncomfortable position at home. As recently as Nov. 17, Azerbaijani security forces arrested an armed suspect near the Israeli embassy in Baku who reportedly planned an attack. As a Muslim country, Azerbaijan is expected to demonstrate more profound solidarity with Palestine. However, Baku is—as in the past—acting on the basis of realpolitik, with a focus on relations built on shared interests.

Hence, even though Iran may adopt bellicose rhetoric against Azerbaijan for maintaining strategic ties with Israel amid the Gaza war, it is unlikely that Tehran will deliberately jeopardize its relationship with Baku, which is slowly recovering after years of mounting tensions. The recent diplomatic thaw between Azerbaijan and Iran has renewed the intraregional partnership and paved the way for new forms of cooperation, such as a new transit route linking Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave via Iran.

All in all, while Azerbaijan is not likely to concede to any renewed pressure from Iran, a lengthy war in Gaza may diminish Israeli influence in the South Caucasus to some extent. In the meantime, Baku appears poised to steer clear of active diplomacy on the regional turmoil, maintaining a low profile and avoiding antagonizing Muslim countries.  

 

“Who She Left Behind” captures the soul and strength of the Armenian woman

Frangulian Shushan
 Esther Kalajian Literary Corner, Reviews 0

Victoria Atamian Waterman’s debut novel Who She Left Behind has captured the soul and strength of the women who survived the atrocities and brutality inflicted on the Armenian people by the Ottoman Turks in 1915. The author further exposes the stain of guilt for those who survived and began their lives in the diaspora. 

Beautifully crafted in this vibrant historical fiction is the description of how exiles established roots in America. The Armenian communities in Worcester and Providence offered a wall of protection and a sense of comfort to the survivors. These enclaves were also a beacon of opportunity – a chance for the new arrivals to reinvent their fractured lives. To survive in the new land, each immigrant bears a story that, in their mind and for their healing, must remain hidden from the American public. The silence is deafening, but also, as the story’s main character Aunt Vicky explains, necessary: 

“No one spoke of what she’d been through. After a few months, the physical pain was mostly  gone, though she was often weak and tired easily. It was easier for her family to show support than to speak of it. With the advantage of distance and time, Vicky saw that their silence was a legacy of the march through the desert and the horrors around that time. She couldn’t blame them. Mayrig set the tone all the way back to Hamidieh Camp: there was nothing to go back to, so why speak of it?” (160)

Waterman’s affinity and advocacy for women and girls, as displayed through her career and her TEDx talk titled “Today’s Girls are Tomorrow’s Leaders,” is on full display in her novel. Growing up in a multicultural and multilingual household in Rhode Island with her Armenian Genocide survivor grandparents served as the foundation for the novel. She described how a visit to her Aunt Vicky’s gravesite in the North Burial Ground in Providence, Rhode Island, and the mysterious flowers she discovered there one day in May, served as the starting point for Who She Left Behind. Through the novel, Waterman “aims to shed light on the often-overlooked stories of courageous women who not only survived but resisted the atrocities of the Armenian Genocide, becoming the pillars of reconstructed communities after the war.”

Who She Left Behind weaves a generational exploration of the strength the female characters of the novel don’t even know they possess. The heroine in this expressive historical fiction imparts on the reader that love triumphs over tragedy, and ancestral ties, even though severed, are never extinguished. Aunt Vicky, like all Armenian ancestors, faced immeasurable suffering, but the overarching theme of this literary work is hope and healing for future generations.

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Esther Kalajian is an Academic English Language professor at Bryant University and is its ESL Specialist. She is currently co-chair of the Genocide Education Project, RI Branch and serves as a professional development committee member of the Rhode Island Holocaust and Genocide Education Commission.


Third Anniversary of the Second Karabakh War: How It Changed the South Caucasus?

Frangulian Shushan
Modern Diplomacy
Nov 8 2023

By: Dr. Vasif Huseynov
On November 8, Azerbaijan celebrates the third anniversary of the Second Karabakh War, also known as the 44 Day War, which the country fought with Armenia to liberate its occupied territories [the Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts of Azerbaijan]. The war, which lasted 44 days from September 27 to November 10, 2020 resulted in the liberation of significant part of the Azerbaijani territories that had been occupied by Armenia in the early 1990s.

Azerbaijan took care to conduct the military operations against the occupying forces of Armenia without jeopardizing the lives of the civilian population of the Karabakh region. As opposed to the Armenian side that intentionally targeted civilian areas in the Azerbaijani cities that were far from the combat zone and killed 100 civilians, Azerbaijan did not attack against the civilian population. Thanks to this humanist approach of the Azerbaijani government, there were minimal casualties amongst the Armenian civilians (60 civilians) in Karabakh during the 44 Day War. According to the expert reviews, the civilian casualty rate in this war was unprecedented (below 2 percent) which is significantly lower than other conflicts of the recent decades.

The implications of this war were multifaceted, extending their influence not only for the conflicting sides but also throughout the broader region. These consequences were not limited solely to the political or geopolitical sphere but also encompassed various other domains, including the economy, connectivity, and regional integration. Three years later, it is safe to assert that the 44 Day War has ushered in a new era for the South Caucasus.

The war shattered the long-standing impasse in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, paving the way for a comprehensive resolution.

Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in protracted peace negotiations for nearly three decades leading up to the Second Karabakh War. This period was marked by sporadic escalations and the loss of both military personnel and, at times, civilian lives on both sides. Armenia’s strategy was straightforward: its leaders aimed to prolong the negotiations as much as possible while the separatist regime in the occupied territories solidified its control over the region and facilitated the settlement of illegal residents from Armenia and the Middle East. Concurrently, the international community failed to exert pressure on Armenia to adhere to the United Nations Security Council resolutions from 1993, which called for the immediate withdrawal of occupying forces from Azerbaijani territories. Acknowledging the erosion of the negotiation process, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan publicly criticized the international mediators and condemned Armenia’s destructive approaches on July 6, 2020, declaring that the peace process had become “meaningless.”

The 44 Day War broke the impasse in the process but fell short of producing full resolutions. Armenia refused to implement the critical provisions of the trilateral [Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia] statement signed on November 10, 2020 that ended the war. Most importantly, Yerevan rejected the Azerbaijani demands to withdraw its armed forces from the territories of Azerbaijan where Russia’s peacekeeping mission was deployed in accordance with the trilateral statement. Armed Forces of Armenia, together with the illegal units of the local separatist regime in Russia’s peacekeeping zone, posed military threats to Azerbaijan’s national security. The problem remained even after Yerevan officially admitted the presence of its troops on the Azerbaijani soil in July 2022 and pledged to withdraw them. At the same time, the leaders of the separatist entity in Karabakh ignored Azerbaijan’s calls for peaceful reintegration of the Armenian residents in Karabakh to Azerbaijan’s constitutional framework.

This process was negatively affected by biased policies of the French government and some other political circles in the West who indirectly emboldened the separatist leaders and encouraged them into uncompromising position against Azerbaijan.

This situation led to a deterioration of relations, even though Yerevan officially acknowledged Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, including Karabakh, on multiple occasions after following the 44 Day War. In September 2023, Azerbaijan’s one-day anti-terror operation against the separatist regime in Karabakh marked the decisive blow for the separatist leadership. Confronted with no alternative, the separatist leaders were compelled to capitulate and fully accept Azerbaijan’s conditions.

The operations resulted with the mass exodus of the local Armenian population from the Karabakh region. International organizations, including the United Nations that sent an observer mission to Karabakh in the aftermath of the anti-terror operations in September, dispelled the claims regarding the forced displacement and ethnic cleansing. Armenians who fled Karabakh reported no coercion or maltreatment. They acknowledged that it was their own leaders who instructed them to leave Karabakh after the region came under control of the Azerbaijani side. Nevertheless, Baku has launched various reintegration projects to bring back the Armenian people and offered them Azerbaijani citizenship, social benefits, and other rights.

Thus, the collapse of the separatist regime in Karabakh marked the conclusive end of the so-called “Nagorno-Karabakh” project, initially established in 1923 by the Soviet government as a tool to exert pressure on Azerbaijan and utilized by Armenia to carve up a part of Azerbaijani lands.

The war opened up opportunities for regional integration.

The territorial conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the occupied territories of the latter posed a significant obstacle to the rapid economic progress of both nations and also hindered regional economic and political integration in the South Caucasus. Over the past three decades, since the re-establishment of independent statehood in the early 1990s, the region missed out on numerous opportunities. The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict destabilized regional peace and security, generated unnecessary additional expenses for various regional economic initiatives, presented challenges to the transformation of the entire South Caucasus into a key transportation hub for the broader region, and discouraged investments from flowing into the area. As a result, the South Caucasus has not fully realized its economic development potential and connectivity projects over the past thirty years.

The trilateral statement signed on November 10 by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia was not a mere ceasefire agreement; it went beyond that by providing a framework for the region’s post-war development. Notably, the 9th article of the statement focused on the re-establishment of regional transportation and communication links, which had been closed off since the First Karabakh War in the early 1990s. This article stipulated the full restoration of these links, including the establishment of a transportation corridor that would enable unobstructed movement between mainland Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenia’s Syunik region, also known as the Zangezur corridor.

In a similar way to the negotiations over the withdrawal of the Armenian troops from Karabakh, Armenia refused to honor its commitments under the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020. Therefore, the talks over the Zangezur corridor have yet to deliver practical results. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan has succeeded to obtain an alternative to this corridor via the Iran territory and hence lost interest in the trans-Armenia passage. Nevertheless, we can assume that the Zangezur corridor will be opened soon as it is beneficial to Yerevan and it will help Armenia to overcome self-isolation in the region and integrate into regional transportation networks. Notably, this road has been included in the “Crossroads for Peace” project announced by the Armenian government in October 2023, which envisions more integrated connectivity channels in the South Caucasus with Armenia part of it.

The resolution of the conflict created a good chance also for the regional integration both within the region amongst the three countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia) and around the region together with Russia, Iran, and Turkiye. It is important to note that there were meetings amongst the high-level representatives of those countries on both tracks in October, a month after the collapse of the separatist regime in Karabakh. These developments take place in parallel with the intensification of peace treaty talks between Baku and Yerevan.

That said, the resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict has been a historic movement for the South Caucasus and brought about various opportunities that is set to contribute to peace and stability in the South Caucasus. It is therefore high moment for the international community, including the European Union and the United States, to support the peace and regional integration efforts in the region. The South Caucasus cannot afford to miss the present opportunity.

Armenpress: Armenia hosts World Sambo Championships 2023

Frangulian Shushan

 09:43,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. More than 500 athletes from 70 countries will compete at the World Sambo Championships 2023 in Yerevan, Armenia on November 10-12.

The opening ceremony will take place at 16:30 in the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex on Friday.

Athletes will compete for medals in eight weight categories.

The number of visiting delegation members is over 2500.