Author: Hagop Kamalian

Consequences of the ongoing blockade in Nagorno-Karabakh

Hagop Kamalian
May 4 2023
  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Ongoing blockade in NK

The humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh has worsened after the installation of an Azerbaijani checkpoint on the Hakari bridge, with movement along the Lachin corridor becoming more difficult even for Russian peacekeepers.

On the 138th day of the blockade, Azerbaijanis who declare themselves environmental activists stopped their protest in the Lachin corridor. According to reports from the unrecognized republic, they were replaced by “Azerbaijani police forces”. Baku continues to insist that the road is not closed, although free movement has been stopped since December 12, 2022. It is reported that 190 times fewer people moved along the highway connecting the Armenian city of Goris with NK. All trips along the road took place with the mediation of the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers.

The Armenian authorities have repeatedly announced that they do not intend to conduct “negotiations” with Azerbaijan on new regulations for the regime of the Lachin corridor, saying this was already done, and the result of those negotiations are enshrined in a tripartite statement signed by the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan in 2020.

  • Armenian-Azerbaijani talks in Washington, but what comes next?
  • Azerbaijan installs checkpoint at entrance to Lachin road. Information and comments from Baku and Yerevan
  • “We will live in our Motherland”: reaction to Aliyev’s speech

On April 23, Azerbaijan established a checkpoint near the Khakari bridge. The former commander of the Russian peacekeeping contingent Andrei Volkov personally participated in the negotiations to unblock the bridge. However, they did not give results. The negotiations, which Alexander Lentsov, who replaced him, have been conducting since his appointment to the post, have also proved fruitless. On May 2 Azerbaijani media reported that an American-made Smiths Detection X-ray scanner was installed at the checkpoint.

On May 3 group of NK residents set up tents on the road and announced an indefinite protest — “No to the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh”. They demand the removal of the checkpoint. Prior to this, local young people were collecting signatures for the petition “No to the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh.”

Opposition member of the Armenian parliament Taguhi Tovmasyan supported this initiative and started collecting signatures in Armenia. She has been holding a rally with the same slogan in the center of Yerevan since May 3.

From the unrecognized republic it is reported that as a result of the blockade, 3,900 people, including 570 children, have not yet been able to return home.

The message once again emphasizes that, according to the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020, the unhindered movement of people, goods and vehicles along the Lachin corridor is stipulated. Meanwhile, only cars of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers are moving along the road:

“In general, the movement of cars on the motorway has decreased by 53 times than it could have been if there had been no blockade.”

Change of route in NK. For a week now, Armenia has been actively discussing the situation that has developed on the Armenian border due to a change in the route of the road

Planned operations have not been carried out here since December 12 last year. According to the latest information from the information headquarters of the NK, during this period, about 1,175 citizens lost the opportunity to be operated on.

For surgical intervention, patients are forced to move to Armenia with the mediation and accompaniment of the International Committee of the Red Cross. To date, about 400 people have received this opportunity.

“In addition, the transportation of patients lying down is impossible, since the Azerbaijani side prevents the movement of resuscitation vehicles of the local emergency service along the road, and the Red Cross does not have such vehicles. In this regard, the transportation of all patients is carried out by ordinary vehicles in a sitting position, ”the information headquarters reports.

To make medical services more accessible, the We Are Our Mountains agency decided to create mobile teams. Residents of rural areas will have the opportunity to be examined thanks to the mobile ambulance service.

“We are talking about therapeutic examination, general screening studies, detection and control of infectious and non-communicable diseases, as well as laboratory studies,” the agency said.

From December to the present, about 13 times less essential goods have been imported into NK, during the blockade it was not possible to smuggle 57 thousand tons.

The situation has become more complicated since the end of April, with the establishment of the checkpoint. On April 28, Azerbaijani border guards held the cars of the Russian peacekeeping contingent with humanitarian cargo from Armenia for almost 14 hours. The trucks were carrying food and basic necessities. They were let through only after negotiations with the military command of the RCC.

A new procedure for leaving NK for Armenia stipulates “only in case of an emergency” after dozens of Armenians were denied entry on April 4

The damage to the economy is about $270 million. About 30 percent of the projected annual GDP ($903 million) will not be generated.

Due to the inability to work under the blockade, 860 businesses (20.1% of the total) have suspended their activities. The rest work partially or with state support.

“According to preliminary estimates, about 10,300 people have lost their jobs and sources of income since the beginning of the blockade.”

Azerbaijan is periodically completely or partially stopping gas supply to NK. Electricity has not been supplied from Armenia for 115 days. According to Artsakhenergo, Azerbaijan is not allowing repairs on a high-voltage line by which electricity is supplied from Armenia. The accident occurred on the territory under the control of Azerbaijan. Local resources are not enough to supply electricity to the population around the clock:

“This has resulted in daily rolling blackouts and additional emergency shutdowns, as well as the closure or reduction of activities of many institutions.”

https://jam-news.net/ongoing-blockade-in-nk/

Armenia is ready to deepen relations with the Czech Republic in all spheres

Hagop Kamalian

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 20:30, 4 May 2023

YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is ready to deepen relations with the Czech Republic in all areas of mutual interest, the correspondent of ARMENPRESS reports from Prague, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said at the “Armenia’s democracy in the troubled region: Security and stability needs” discussion held at the Prague Center for Transatlantic Relations.

“My visit coincides with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. In the last 30 years, Armenia and the Czech Republic have formed a serious bilateral agenda, addressing various fields, including active politics. Today I would like to talk about Armenia’s path to democracy in a region full of challenges,” said Nikol Pashinyan.

He informed that after the 2018 revolution, Armenia is implementing comprehensive reforms in the fight against corruption. The Prime Minister emphasized the free _expression_ of citizens’ will in the electoral process. Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that the page of vote rigging has been closed in Armenia. As a result of a series of reforms, Armenia was able to record an impressive economic growth. In particular, 7.6 percent economic growth was recorded in 2019, 5.7 percent in 2021, and 12.6 percent in 2022.

[see video]

AW: The Hairenik in conversation with ARF leader Ishkhan Saghatelyan

Hagop Kamalian
May 2, 2023 Weekly Staff Interviews 0

Ishkhan Saghatelyan speaking to fellow ARF members, April 15, 2023

“Change of power in Armenia will change the current situation… And for that reason, Armenians should not be dismayed.” — Ishkhan Saghatelyan

Ishkhan Saghatelyan, representative of the Supreme Body of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) of Armenia and representative of the “Armenia Alliance” opposition faction of the National Assembly of Armenia, visited the Greater Boston community last month and was interviewed at the Hairenik Building. The text of the interview, translated from Armenian by Weekly contributor Ara Nazarian, appears below.

Hairenik Staff (H.S.): Welcome to the editorial office of the Hairenik, which has been in publication since 1899. For the last five years, our homeland has been facing a series of troubles. How does the opposition evaluate the situation before and after the war?

Ishkhan Saghatelyan (I.S.): The Hairenik is one of our oldest publications, and it has played a very important role in the Diaspora in preserving Armenian identity and maintaining our political direction. I am very pleased to participate in this interview.

In 2018, a colorful revolution took place in Armenia, more precisely, a change of power. The new cadre who came to power promised love, tolerance, justice, security, well-being, but within a short period of time, they demonstrated only the opposite. Today, we are witnessing a period of profound hatred and division in Armenia. From a security perspective, we have been a complete failure; the enemy is within the territory of Armenia, 75-percent of Artsakh is under enemy occupation and what remains of Artsakh has been under siege for the past four months. And it is unnecessary to talk about democracy and justice, because they do not actually exist.

With those mottos, people assumed power; however, they moved away from their declared goals. But even so, there was excitement in Armenia and the Diaspora regarding the change of power, given the promises that were made and the widespread belief on part of the population. There is great disappointment now. What did the opposition do? The work of the opposition before the war was very difficult, because people unconditionally believed in the authorities, where no criticism or any dissenting views registered with the population.

In 2019, the ARF was the first entity to organize a public rally against these authorities. The rally was dedicated to Artsakh and carried the slogan “Develop without compromising,” during which time, the threats emanating from the Armenian authorities were voiced in public.

That rally was held on May 23, 2019, when an alert was issued against the Armenian authorities. However, this did not resonate with the public, given the prevailing euphoria surrounding the authorities.

The situation changed after the war. It was clear that the ruling elite needed to leave, to end the cycle of defeat and have a chance to recover, regain our dignity and change the nation’s course.

Unfortunately, the government did not have the foresight to relinquish power. We opted to get on the streets with the people. In that regard, we implemented three initiatives. First, we initiated the “Homeland Salvation Movement,” which was the consolidation of 17 opposition parties and the nomination of a unified candidate for the post of prime minister. Second, during the elections, we turned to the Armenia Alliance and considered the possibility of removing the prime minister, and third, we established the resistance movement, the people’s movement.

The resistance movement is one of the largest and longest-running movements in the modern history of Armenia. The resistance movement addressed important problems: that the current government has no right to lead the country to new concessions; that the surrender of Artsakh is unacceptable to our people; and that there is a resistance movement in the country. However, the resistance movement did not achieve its most important goal, which was to change the government and prevent all this. The opposition must reevaluate its previous path and start fighting anew with more effective means.

H.S.: During the first weeks of the war, was there really an expectation that the authorities of the day would extend a hand of cooperation? Because after the unleashing of the war, an announcement was made that there was no more opposition, simply because the country was at war and there was a protest against the issue of life and death. Did you feel any change during that period, or was it the same situation that continued?

I.S.: During the war, the opposition’s position was very clear. On the first day, all the opposition forces confirmed that they would put aside all differences and stand in solidarity with the state. The opposition showed exceptional unity and solidarity in those days. On October 16, we held a meeting with the initiative to create an emergency response center with the participation of former presidents, prime ministers, defense ministers and foreign ministers of the republic to unite their forces and fight for our homeland with a united front. In other words, the opposition demonstrated an exemplary attitude, but unfortunately its outstretched hand was not met by the government.

H.S.: Does the Supreme Body of the ARF, having reviewed the events in the past three years after the war, believe that different results could have been achieved should there have been other authorities leading the homeland during the war, having demonstrated a different approach and managed the affairs of the nation differently?

I.S.: Definitely. Nikol Pashinyan will always say that regardless of who was in power, the outcome of the war would have been the same. Even after the war, whoever was in power would not have had the opportunity to change anything. Of course, Mr. Pashinyan has been engaged in deception. Had we had a national government, we would not have been saddled with the results of the war, as we are today, and had Mr. Pashinyan been removed from power and replaced with a normal government, then we would not have had the losses of the past two and a half years. The defeated government is unable, and at times does not even have the desire, to organize the security of our country and its citizens.

H.S.: Is there a difference in the attitudes and mentality between the population of Yerevan and the border villages regarding the developments that have happened in Armenia and Artsakh?

I.S.: Border residents with the enemy in close proximity feel the danger on their skin. In Yerevan, there is a significant conscious segment of the society that understands the dangers, but there is also an indifferent segment that does not believe any misfortune will befall them. The population in the regions who have already lost their pastures and have shown resistance against the enemy and have survived certainly feel that danger.

H.S.: Recently, some Azerbaijani soldiers reached the vicinity of Sisian. They have moved kilometers into Armenia, and no one has noticed. Fortunately, no harm was done to the family whose door the infiltrators knocked on, but the concern is whether we have come to a point where our borders are unprotected, and the residents of Yerevan, happily enjoying life, do not realize what is happening.

I.S.: Unfortunately, this government has abandoned its mission to protect the borders of the Republic of Armenia and asks the people to meet all the wishes of the enemy in order to achieve peace. Of course, the enemy is not coming in peace, rather planning a new genocide.

We referenced this during the days of the resistance movement in July. Since then, we continuously discussed that if the Berdzor region is surrendered to the enemy again, then they will reach Tegh village, where a new frontline needs to be built.

It is necessary to be ready for that day. To begin with, the lands should not be handed over, and if they must be handed over, then the border line should be fixed, whereas the government of the day has done nothing to that effect. That is why the enemy has strolled into Armenian territory, for which only the government of the day is guilty and responsible.

H.S.: The western world has gradually started to show more interest in Armenia and Artsakh and wants to enter the political process at any cost. We are also informed that you will have meetings with major states, especially the ambassadors of France and other key countries. Do we expect any tangible results from these meetings?

I.S.: The purpose of these meetings is to present our points of view and listen to theirs. In the course of our foreign relations, we present our views and ideas in detail. However, in this situation, it is very important that the state leads the state policy. We present an alternative point of view and fight for it; however, they must be followed by the state, and unfortunately, the points of view between us and the state or the government of the day are vastly different.

H.S.: How do you imagine the ARF’s participation in the current government and after?

I.S.: The ARF has ruled out becoming a part of the Pashinyan government, as this is impossible. At one time, in 2018, we did that experiment. We emphasized that the people have a demand and an expectation, and that’s why we decided to be a part of the government, and we tried to fulfill those demands with our capabilities. That mission lasted only four months, and it became clear to us that Mr. Pashinyan had a very different agenda.

Now, it is impossible, as our ideas are completely different, especially in terms of the future of the country; therefore, we will not be able to work with this government.

I confirm the statements that it is necessary to unite; however, it is impossible to do so with Mr. Pashinyan, as he has shown no desire to fight for our country. This is a Turkophile government, and in this situation, it is impossible for us to be a part of this government.

H.S.: The latest incidents in Yerevan serve to obfuscate the main issue. Do the recent issues with Mher Sahakyan, Karen Mkrticyan and the despicable behavior of the Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Alen Simonyan resonate with the population? Do they not realize that the current government needs to be removed from power?

I.S.: These people always talk about democracy and the need for government officials to behave with proper decorum, yet their behavior has breached all boundaries of decency and normal, dignified behavior. Their arrogance has no bounds. This government has demonstrated brazen disregard, for in its behavior and glory, it has brought calamity and loss of life to Armenia, yet it continues to remain in power. They are not spitting in the face of a single soul, but in the face of a millennia-old people. 

H.S.: We probably have the youngest yet lifeless district in the world in Yerablur. The families of those in this lifeless district are alive and number in the thousands. Would they come together to express their anger and demand justice?

I.S.: This is a profound question. Not everyone in Armenia thinks Mr. Pashinyan is the cause of these misfortunes and disasters and that there will be an opportunity to solve these problems after removing the current regime. The trouble is that he has been able to deceive people with his propaganda machine, falsifications and fraud that he has done everything within his powers. He has convinced the people that he is not guilty and that the war would have had no other outcome, in the sense that whoever was in power would have gotten the same result.

In other words, there is an extremist segment of the population that strongly believes in Mr. Pashinyan. Additionally, the whole society is still not of the opinion that he is the one who has brought this level of loss and tragedy to Armenia. Therefore, we have a responsibility to inform the people.

H.S.: Armenia has turned into a police state where the police are stronger and better paid than the army. Do you think you are being followed at all times?

I.S.: Opposition figures in Armenia are subjected to serious pressure from the authorities. The government is working against us and our families, friends and the party. However, none of this will hinder us. We know who we are dealing with and what we are fighting for. Therefore, those pressures are transitory and will not last long.

H.S.: How big is this externally orchestrated conspiracy against Armenia, and how can we dismantle this and address our issues?

I.S.: The first step to call the hands of all the players is to change the government. These external forces make their calculations in coordination with the current government in Armenia. Once there is a change of power in Armenia, everyone’s playing cards will be reshuffled, and the prevailing atmosphere will also change.

I repeat again that the government continuously tries to convince the people that they are weak, incapable, defenseless, that the world is against them and they should acquiesce to the enemy, meet all their demands and hand over everything they demand.

We reject this approach and propose to fight. We are not alone in our struggle. We have allies and sources, and we also believe that the only way to achieve peace is to fight for it.

If there is a change of power in Armenia, the agreement between external forces and Mr. Pashinyan will be null and void, and the situation will change in favor of our state and our people. 

H.S.: Besides financial support, how else can the Diaspora establish close ties with Armenia?

I.S.: The Diaspora has great potential, and today Armenia is consistently pushing the Diaspora away from it. You hear the _expression_ that they are responsible only for the Republic of Armenia and the citizens of the Republic of Armenia; that is, they have put aside the pan-Armenian spirit and the Armenian nation. The Diaspora should respond and confirm that it stands up for its homeland, that this homeland belongs to them as well, not just the citizens of the Republic of Armenia living in Armenia, but also for 10 million Armenians worldwide. Of course, this assumes both rights and duties. The Diaspora should have full access to those rights and obligations. There are many ways to help the homeland: political, economic and the defense of the nation. It is necessary to work on all these fronts.

H.S.: In light of your current visit, what do you have to convey to American Armenians?

I.S.: I had an interesting and full agenda during this visit to the eastern and western US in 10 short days. I had meetings in all regions; the most important were meetings with my fellow party members, where I had the opportunity to reflect and explain the current situation in Armenia and Artsakh, as well as listen and answer questions.

I held important public meetings, as well as political meetings with the ANCA. I try not to be away from Armenia for more than two or three days, but America was an exception. The Diaspora’s work is important to me and part of my visit agenda: how we should consolidate our forces, how we should focus and how we should take control of our homeland.

There is a question of re-evaluating the Diaspora after the war with a new vision, because the Diaspora is very different before and after the war. The Commissioner of the Diaspora is entrusted with the duty of dividing the Diaspora and not to carry out real work in the Diaspora. The Diaspora has serious work ahead and a number of difficulties to overcome.

Armenia and its Diaspora should strengthen each other. Together, with 10 million Armenians, we must move forward with the vision of restoring the trinity of Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora.

I would like to thank our compatriots in the Diaspora and repeat that the authorities in Armenia do not represent the nation, and given the prevailing situation, we should not be disappointed in Armenia. We should not lose hope, as these are all temporary, and we must support the homeland.

Ishkhan Saghatelyan with ARF-ER Central Committee members and ARF members from New England, April 15, 2023

Azeri government tells fake eco-activists to stop ‘protest’ because now they have checkpoint in Lachin Corridor

Hagop Kamalian

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 17:04,

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. The fake Azeri eco-activists who have been blocking the Lachin Corridor since December 12, 2022 under made up environmental pretexts announced Friday that they will end their ‘protest’ at 18:00, April 28, according to the Azerbaijani Azertag news agency.

They were told to stop their demonstration by the Azeri government.

The Azerbaijani presidential envoy in Shushi, Aydin Kerimov, met with representatives of the so-called eco-activists and told them that there is a new situation with the Azerbaijani checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor, and they were offered to stop their activities.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 28-04-23

Hagop Kamalian

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 17:18,

YEREVAN, 28 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 28 April, USD exchange rate up by 0.21 drams to 386.64 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 2.16 drams to 424.69 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.11 drams to 4.85 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.09 drams to 481.83 drams.

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

Gold price down by 202.15 drams to 24683.15 drams. Silver price up by 3.83 drams to 312.57 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.

Turkish Press: Russia says US, France failed as ‘honest brokers’ in Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement

Hagop Kamalian
Anadolu Agency
Turkey –
Elena Teslova  |27.04.2023 

MOSCOW

Russia on Thursday said the US and France have failed to be “honest brokers” in the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.

Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said recent remarks by the US and French officials show that their real motives in the South Caucasus are aimed at undermining Russia’s position in the region.

In their recent statements, Washington and Paris blamed Moscow for the establishment of an Azerbaijani border checkpoint on the Lachin corridor, which links Armenia and Karabakh.

“The US and EU representatives, in particular France, positioned themselves as “honest brokers” in the process of Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization. They seem to fail … Attempts by French and American colleagues to convince that they are guided solely by the interests of achieving peace in the South Caucasus are disavowed by their regular anti-Russian attacks,” Zakharova said.

The new checkpoint has been operational since Sunday on the Lachin-Khankendi road (Lachin corridor), a road Armenia has used to access the Karabakh region.

Relations between the two former Soviet republics have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Karabakh, which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

Most of the territory was liberated by Baku during a war in 2020 fall, which ended after a Russian-brokered peace agreement and opened the door to normalization.

Zakharova also said Moscow is making efforts through the Russian peacekeeping contingent on the ground and at the political level to resolve the situation around the Lachin corridor and return to the 2020 trilateral agreements.

She further said the Russian side also considers it “fundamentally important that Armenian authorities contribute to the search for mutually acceptable solutions.”

Commenting on remarks by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who said he informed the Russian side about the progress in the implementation of the Russian part of the Black Sea grain deal, Zakharova said he spoke about “progress in attempts” to implement it while Moscow would like to see “progress in results.”

As for the possibilities for Ukraine to acquire nuclear weapons or create a “dirty bomb,” – an explosive device with nuclear parts, any signs of such activity are closely monitored by the relevant Russian agencies, she said.

About the US reaction to a phone talk between Chinese and Ukrainian presidents, Zakharova said Washington’s statements are contradictory.

“In deeds the US is doing everything to continue the conflict – increasing arms supplies, financing the Kiev regime and its crimes. They are certainly those who consider themselves beneficiaries from the continuation of hostilities,” she stressed.

In response to a question about the Group of Seven plans to ban any export to Russia, the spokeswoman said trade restrictions undermine the generally accepted principles of multilateral trade and competition, and completely devalue the norms of sovereign equality and mutually beneficial cooperation.

“The US does not care about the reverse losses, because the losses primarily concern the EU countries, and who in Washington does think about some other states?” she said.

“If new sanctions are imposed, we will react, but react, as always, thoughtfully, carefully, and guided by the tasks of protecting our interests,” she said.

Zakharova also said Russia is working with BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – on expanding payments in national currencies as part of countering sanctions.

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/russia-says-us-france-failed-as-honest-brokers-in-armenian-azerbaijani-settlement/2883198





Azerbaijani checkpoint in Lachin Corridor is gross violation of 2020 statement – Pashinyan

Hagop Kamalian

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 11:19,

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani checkpoint installed in the Lachin Corridor is a gross violation of clause 6 of the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the April 27 Cabinet meeting.

“Azerbaijan is continuously escalating the situation in the region, this time by installing a checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor linking Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia. And if so far the Lachin Corridor was closed under the pretext of an environmental campaign, now it is already officially closed by Azerbaijan. This provocative step is aimed at not only increasing the tension in the region but also worsening the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh,” Pashinyan said.

The Armenian Prime Minister noted that this time the international community has given a clear assessment to Azerbaijan’s actions.

PM Pashinyan said the true and far-reaching goal of these actions, as well as preceding actions, is to perpetrate ethnic cleansing and genocide of Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh.

“The next issue which gets worse with the installation of the checkpoint in Lachin Corridor is the following, to what extent does Azerbaijan feel obliged to fulfill its internationally assumed obligations? The installation of a checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor is a gross violation of clause 6 of the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement. Azerbaijan has been violating basically every single clause of the statement ever since it was signed,” Pashinyan said.

Is Armenia ready to recognize the Treaty of Kars? Comments

Hagop Kamalian
  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Armenia and the Treaty of Kars

Armenia’s renunciation of territorial claims to Turkey and Azerbaijan, cited by Nikol Pashinyan as a condition for peace in the region, looks like a willingness to agree to the 1921 Kars Treaty and the borders defined by it, something that Armenia has not yet recognized.

Some Armenian experts draw this conclusion from Pashinyan’s statements on April 18, on the same day as statements made by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

Aliyev demanded that Armenia officially recognize Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan.

Pashinyan stated that peace in the region is possible if recognition of Armenia’s ownership of a territory of 29,800 square kilometers – the territory of Soviet Armenia, within which Armenia gained independence in 1991 – is clearly established.

Pashinyan said Armenia renounces territorial claims to other countries, ameaning Turkey and Azerbaijan.

“Aliyev is trying to cancel the negotiation process mediated by America,” Azerbaijani expert Tatevik Hayrapetyan said of a recent interview given by the President of Azerbaijan.

The Kars Treaty of Friendship between the Armenian, Azerbaijani and Georgian SSR on the one hand and Turkey on the other was concluded with the participation of Soviet Russia (RSFSR) on October 13, 1921 in the Turkish city of Kars. The treaty went into effect on September 11, 1922, without any stipulation as to duration.

The Treaty of Kars defined new borders between the Soviet Union and Turkey. The cities of Kars, Surmalu and Ardagan went to Turkey. Mount Ararat also ended up in Turkey. Nakhichevan was established as part of the Azerbaijan SSR, and the Adhara region with its largest city of Batumi was part of the Georgian SSR. The border passed along the Araks and Akhuryan rivers.

The Caucasian Knot publication invited Armenian political scientists to comment on the possible development of events.

  • How Armenian tourists went to Turkey by train some 27 years ago for the first and last time
  • Closed railway of my childhood and the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict
  • “For 70 years you couldn’t even look in that direction” – the tragedy that divided villages between Turkey and Georgia
  • Armenia-Turkey: same old or new opportunities? Interview with Thomas de Waal

“Armenian-Turkish relations can be normalized. The question is whether Turkey agrees to establish diplomatic relations and open the border. If Turkey continues to put forward preconditions, it is doubtful that this will be achieved.”

“No Armenian government will forego international recognition of the Armenian genocide and the international community would regard such a refusal as coercion. The genocide has already been recognized by dozens of countries around the world, in particular the United States and France. To exclude any speculation on issues of national importance, such as the Armenian genocide of 1915-1923 and the fate of the First Republic, it is necessary to enshrine in the constitution the recognition of the Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire and Turkey, as well as the rejection of the Treaty of Kars.

Armenia was occupied by Kemalist Turkey and Bolshevik Russia, as a result of which Armenia lost its sovereignty and the illegal Kars Treaty was imposed on it.”

“Not a single Armenian politician will talk about the ratification of the Kars Treaty. Armenian-Turkish relations, at best, can be at the level of Greek-Turkish relations. The border will be opened and it is possible that Armenia will join the bloc of Western countries. But hostility will continue.

And like Greece and Turkey, we will prepare for war. There are relationships between them in hundreds of areas, but enmity persists. The same will happen with Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Relationships will improve in small steps. First the border will be opened, then something else, and all steps will be accompanied by the signing of documents for each specific case.”

“Changes in the region depend on the geopolitical context. Today, like 100 years ago after the First World War, a regional alignment is occurring. Changes will have to fit into a common geopolitical paradigm. And without an international geopolitical consensus, it is impossible to confirm the new borders of Armenia.”

Türkiye and Armenia do not maintain diplomatic relations, the border between the republics having been closed since 1993. On October 10, 2009, the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Turkey signed protocols on the development of bilateral relations and on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries in Zurich.

But in 2015 Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan withdrew these protocols from the country’s parliament. On March 1, 2018, he stated that the protocols were annulled after many years of no progress toward their ratification, and because of conditions put forward by Turkey.

In February 2023, after the terrible earthquake in Turkey, Armenia sent rescuers and humanitarian aid. The land border between the countries was opened for the first time in 30 years to let these trucks through. On February 14, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said that at a meeting with Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, he discussed the readiness to “improve bilateral cooperation, fully regulate relations with Turkey, establish diplomatic relations and fully open borders between countries.”

https://jam-news.net/armenia-and-the-treaty-of-kars/

AP: Armenia says soldier killed, but Azerbaijan rejects claim

Hagop Kamalian

Armenia’s defense ministry says that one of its soldiers was killed by an Azerbaijani sniper near the border

By The Associated Press
, 7:09 PM

Armenia’s defense ministry said Sunday that one of its soldiers was killed by an Azerbaijani sniper near the border, but Azerbaijan denied the claim and separately reported that its soldiers had come under fire from Armenia in another part of the border area.

Tensions further rose on Sunday when Azerbaijan announced it had opened a checkpoint at the start of the road that leads from Armenia to the ethnic Armenian region of Nagorno-Karabakh that is within Azerbaijan. Armenia claimed that such a checkpoint violates the pact that ended fierce fighting between the countries in 2020.

Nagorno-Karabakh, which had substantial autonomy under the Soviet Union, came under control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by the Armenian military in 1994 at the end of years of separatist fighting. Armenian forces also took sizable territory surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh itself.

Azerbaijan regained most of the surrounding territory and pieces of Nagorno-Karabakh itself in the six-week 2020 war that killed about 6,800 soldiers. Under a Russia-brokered armistice, transit along the so-called Lachin Corridor road that connects Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia was to continue under the guarantee of Russian peacekeepers.

But in December, traffic obstructions began when protesters claiming to be enviromental activists blocked the road. Since then, Nagorno-Karabakh has suffered food shortages and sporadic loss of electricity and gas.

At least seven soldiers were killed in clashes between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces earlier in April.

Armenia claimed a sniper killed one of its soldiers near the village of Sotk. Azerbaijan denied that and said Armenians opened fire with small arms on its forces, who returned fire.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly alleged that Armenians have used the Lachin Corridor to bring weapons and ammunition into Nagorno-Karabakh.

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/armenia-soldier-killed-azerbaijan-rejects-claim-98787039

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The incident has nothing to do with safety of athletes – Ministry of Education of Armenia

Hagop Kamalian

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 13:52,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia issued a statement, considering the decision of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan to stop further participation of Azerbaijani athletes in the European Weightlifting Championship in Yerevan on April 15-23 as worrying from the point of view of sports ethics.

“From the beginning, the Republic of Armenia has ensured all safety standards, and no problems related to the safety of the weightlifters who arrived in Yerevan to participate in the championship have arisen and could not have arisen.

The incident that happened during the opening ceremony, which was resolved very quickly, has nothing to do with the safety of the athletes and ensuring their normal competitions. All necessary conditions were fully provided.

The Republic of Armenia remains committed to fulfilling its commitments to the International Weightlifting Federation and reaffirms the readiness to hold the European championship 2023 at a high level”, ARMENPRESS reports, reads the statement issued by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan and the National Olympic Committee of that country made a decision to return the Azerbaijani athletes to their homeland after the incident of burning the Azerbaijani flag at the opening ceremony of the European Weightlifting Championship on the evening of April 14 at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex in Yerevan, citing that the Azerbaijani athletes were subjected to psychological pressure.