Author: Hagop Kamalian

Armenian Ambassador briefs UK MPs on Azerbaijan’s ongoing aggression

Hagop Kamalian
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 20 2021


, 22:03

 1 minute read

Armenia’s Ambassador to UK Varuzhan Nersesyan met with Catherine West and James Murray, members of the Labor Party of the House of Commons and the UK-Armenia All-party parliamentary group.

During the meeting, the Ambassador first thanked the MPs for their constant support to Armenia and Artsakh, especially during the war, and for voicing and supporting Armenia’s approaches in the UK Parliament.

The ambassador presented in detail the latest regional developments, Azerbaijan’s ongoing aggressive actions against Armenia, and the possibilities of resuming the negotiation process.

Varuzhan Nersesyan attached special importance to the issue of repatriation of POWs, who are kept in Azerbaijani prisons contrary to all international humanitarian norms. The Ambassador also presented the need to preserve the Armenian historical and cultural heritage of Artsakh, emphasizing the importance of expressing a clear position of international partners in this issue.

The parties also discussed the Turkish factor and the negative impact on the region, which was vividly reflected in Turkey’s direct involvement in last year’s war against Artsakh.

The Ambassador and the members of the UK House of Commons highlighted the development of the Armenian-British relations, emphasizing the role of parliamentary diplomacy in that process and the intensification of ties between the parliaments of the two countries, the organization of mutual visits and cooperation on various issues.

Armenia tells World Court Azerbaijan promotes ethnic hatred

Hagop Kamalian
EuroNews, EU
Oct 15 2021
By Reuters  •  Updated: 15/10/2021 - 11:10
   -   Copyright  Thomson Reuters 2021

THE HAGUE – Armenia on Thursday told judges at the World Court in The Hague that Azerbaijan promotes ethnic hatred against Armenians and asked the court to stop what its lawyers call a cycle of violence and hatred.

Armenia’s assertions, which Azerbaijan denies, are part of a case it filed at the World Court last month that says Azerbaijan has violated the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, to which both states are signatories.

Thursday’s hearing does not go into the merits of the case but instead deals with Armenia’s request for emergency measures to stop the alleged violations, while the court considers the claim.

After Armenia’s claim was made public Azerbaijan filed a counterclaim accusing Armenia of violating the anti-discrimination treaty. Azerbaijan is also seeking that the court order protective measures while the case is ongoing. Azerbaijan will address the court later on Thursday.

Lawyers for Armenia accused Azerbaijan’s authorities of fostering ethic hatred and a culture where murder and torture of ethnic Armenians were “systematic”.

“Generations upon generations are indoctrinated into this culture of fear and hate of anything and everything Armenian,” Yeghishe Kirakosyan said.

In fighting last September to November, Azeri troops drove ethnic Armenian forces out of swathes of territory they had controlled since the 1990s in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh region, before Russia brokered a ceasefire.

The world court, formally known as the International Court of Justice, is the United Nations’ court for resolving disputes between countries. The court has yet to determine whether it has jurisdiction in this case.

(This story was refiled to fix typo in headline)

Baku handed back all Armenian POWs to Yerevan, Azeri leader affirms

Hagop Kamalian
TASS, Russia
Oct 15 2021
Ilham Aliyev pointed out that "members of a sabotage group consisting of 62 people" had been sent from Armenia's Shirak Province to Azerbaijan at the end of November 2020

BAKU, October 15. /TASS/. Baku has returned all Armenian prisoners of war to Yerevan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev reported on Friday at a meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the CIS in an online video conference.

"Baku had handed over all [Armenian] prisoners of war taken during the conflict earlier than Yerevan had given back Azerbaijani prisoners of war to us," the head of state emphasized. He pointed out that two weeks after inking the trilateral statement on the complete cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh on November 9, 2020, members of a sabotage group that were sent behind the lines of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces and subsequently detained by Azerbaijani servicemen, "cannot, according to international conventions, be considered prisoners of war."

Aliyev added that "members of a sabotage group consisting of 62 people" were sent from Armenia's Shirak Province to Azerbaijan at the end of November 2020.

Intense clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, 2020, with fierce battles raging in the disputed region of 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 Nagorno-Karabakh. 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.

Yerevan demands from UN International Court of Justice to close the trophy park in Baku

Hagop Kamalian
Caucasian Knot, EU
Oct 16 2021

At the session of the International Court of Justice of the United Nations, where the claim against Azerbaijan on racial discrimination was considered, an official representative of the Armenian government asked the Court to take measures to close the trophy park in Baku and drew attention to the exposition of helmets and dummies of Armenian soldiers therein.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 12, 2021, a war trophy park was opened in the Khatai District of Baku, which contains 300 exhibits; the park's exposition sparked indignation in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

On October 14, the UN International Court of Justice began hearings on the claim of violations by Azerbaijan of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. During his speech in court, which was broadcast on the Court's website, Egishe Kirakosyan, the Armenian government's representative at the Hague Court, asked, on behalf of Armenia, to take a number of urgent measures, including the closure of the "trophy park" and the return of Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) and other persons held by the Azerbaijani party, "Caucasian Knot" correspondent who watched the live broadcast has reported.

"We are trying to prevent and correct the cycle of cruelty and hatred against ethnic Armenians; Armenia is trying to protect the rights of ethnic Armenians," Mr Kirakosyan has stated.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on at 11:28 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

See earlier reports:

European Parliament calls on Baku to release Armenian POWs, Exposition of Baku Trophy Park provokes indignation in Armenia and Karabakh, Baku protesters accuse Russia of striking Shusha with "Iskanders".

Author: Armine Martirosyan; Source: CK correspondent

Source: 
© Caucasian Knot

Pashinyan: Armenia ready to hand over minefield maps to Azerbaijan in exchange for captives

Hagop Kamalian
News.am, Armenia
Oct 15 2021
17:50, 15.10.2021

Armenia is ready to hand over the minefield maps to Azerbaijan in exchange for the captives. Nikol Pashinyan. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this during Friday’s online meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the CIS member countries.

The PM added with regret that, contrary to the eighth point of the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, Azerbaijan has not yet returned all the Armenian captives.

He stressed that this issue concerns not only prisoners of war, but also civilians who are illegally detained in Azerbaijan.

Pashinyan reiterated Yerevan's readiness to provide Baku with the minefields maps that do not harm Armenia's security interests.

"This is a purely humanitarian issue, and we expect a solution as soon as possible," added the Armenian premier.

In international court, Armenia accuses Azerbaijan of stoking ethnic hatred

Hagop Kamalian
Los Angeles Times
Oct 14 2021

A Russian peacekeeper walks past his armored personnel carrier in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan.
(Alexander Nemenov / AFP/Getty Images)
BY MIKE CORDER
ASSOCIATED PRESS

OCT. 14, 2021 4:46 AM PT

THE HAGUE — 

Armenia accused neighboring Azerbaijan of systematically promoting ethnic hatred against Armenian citizens, as the two nations — which fought a six-week war last year — faced off in international court Thursday.

Armenian representative Yeghishe Kirakosyan made the accusation as a hearing opened at the International Court of Justice into a request by Armenia for judges to impose urgent interim measures to prevent Azerbaijan from breaching an international convention to stamp out ethnic discrimination.

The case stems from the longstanding enmity between the two nations that boiled over into last year’s war over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which left more than 6,600 people dead. The region is recognized internationally as belonging to Azerbaijan but had been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since the end of a separatist war in 1994.

At The Hague on Thursday, Kirakosyan said Armenia wasn’t asking the court to rule on the root causes of the war, but “seeks to prevent and remedy the cycle of violence and hatred perpetrated against ethnic Armenians.”

Lawyers representing Azerbaijan were scheduled to address the court later Thursday. Azerbaijan also has filed a similar case alleging discrimination against its citizens by Armenia and requested the world court to impose interim measures. Hearings in the Azerbaijan case are scheduled to start next Monday. Rulings on both requests will likely be issued in coming weeks.

Both nations’ cases, which allege breaches of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, will likely take years to reach their conclusion at the court.

Last year’s war ended when Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a Russian-brokered cease-fire agreement that granted Azerbaijan control over parts of Nagorno-Karabakh as well as adjacent territories occupied by Armenians.

Armenia says more than 3,700 Armenians and Nagorno-Karabakh residents died in the war. Azerbaijan said it lost 2,900 people.

Kirakosyan told the court that, despite the deal that ended last year’s conflict, “Azerbaijan continues to espouse and actively promote ethnic hatred against Armenians.”

He said that Azerbaijan has “captured, tortured and arbitrarily detained numerous members of Armenian armed forces and civilians of ethnic Armenian origin” and “continues to destroy Armenian cultural heritage and religious sites or negate the Armenian character, and the territory’s economic controls.”

Indicted former defense minister denies wrongdoing

Hagop Kamalian

Save

Share

 10:59,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Former Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan has publicly denied any wrongdoing.

The indicted ex-minister’s lawyers released a statement saying that Tonoyan denies all accusations.

“After being relieved of duties as Minister of Defense, Davit Tonoyan refrained from making comments taking into account classified information and the interests of the Armenian national security and the inter-state relations. Today also Mr. Tonoyan is putting these interests above personal ones and doesn’t use the large volume of information he possesses for his own defense in the public dimension. Mr. Tonoyan is sure that the results of the examination conducted by specially skilled persons will give substantiated and impartial answers to the allegations on “poor-quality” and “not meeting technical requirements” armaments for the Armenian military,” the statement said.

Through his lawyers Tonoyan said he will fight for justice and to restore his reputation.

Former Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan is under arrest on charges of embezzlement in an ongoing investigation into abuse of power and falsifications committed in the supplies process for the military allegedly during his tenure. 

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Novaya Gazeta’s editor and Filipino-American journalist

Hagop Kamalian

Save

Share

 14:25, 8 October, 2021

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 8, ARMENPRESS. This year’s Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Russian independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta’s Editor in Chief Dmitry Muratov and Filipino-American journalist Maria Ressa “for their efforts to safeguard freedom of _expression_”, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

“Ms. Ressa and Mr. Muratov are receiving the Peace Prize for their courageous fight for freedom of _expression_ in the Philippines and Russia,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee, the award-giving body, said in a statement on October 7.

“At the same time, they are representatives of all journalists who stand up for this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions”.

The prestigious Nobel Peace Prize is intended to honor an individual or organization that has “done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations”.

Pashinyan, OIF Secretary General sum up results of Armenia’s chairmanship at La Francophonie

Hagop Kamalian

Save

Share

 16:49, 5 October, 2021

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is completing its chairmanship at the International Organization of la Francophonie.

On this occasion Secretary General of the Organization Louise Mushikiwabo visited Armenia to sum up the results of the chairmanship and has been hosted by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the government’s headquarters.

Following their meeting, the Armenian PM and the OIF Secretary General delivered statements for the press. Pashinyan stated that Armenia attaches importance to its membership to the OIF and praised the country’s participation, role and level within this important international organization.

Photos by Hayk Manukyan

“As you know, in 2018 Armenia assumed the chairmanship in the Organization for a two-year term during the Francophonie summit held in Yerevan, however, because of the COVID-19 pandemic the 18th summit scheduled in 2020 was delayed, and during that time Armenia continues fulfilling its chairmanship. We assumed this important role with a great responsibility and willingness, however, I must regret over the fact that we had to cancel a large part of the programs approved during the summit in Yerevan which we were going to implement because of the pandemic. We attach importance to the proper organization and holding of the next summit of the Organization. As a chair country Armenia plans to participate in the event at the highest level and make active efforts for the drafting of documents to be adopted”, Prime Minister Pashinyan said.

During their meeting the Armenian PM and the OIF Secretary General have discussed a broad range of international and regional issues, particularly focusing on the topic of regional security and peace.

“We attached a special importance to the solution of humanitarian problems caused by the 44-Day war, in particular the immediate release of Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives, as well as we highlight the proper preservation of the Armenian historical-cultural and religious heritage”, Nikol Pashinyan said, expressing gratitude on behalf of Armenia to the OIF Secretary General for the support provided in autumn 2020.

“We are grateful for the solidarity that you, Mrs. Secretary General, have shown to Armenia and the Armenian people”, the PM said.

Pashinyan also thanked the OIF chief for sending an observer mission to Armenia for the 2021 June 20 snap parliamentary elections. According to him, this was the first case when representatives of Francophonie family were visiting Armenia to observe the parliamentary elections.

“Armenia is ready to continue the large-scale cooperation with the International Organization of la Francophonie especially in the teaching of French language both in schools and universities, as well as among the Armenian public servants”, he said, adding that Armenia also supports the reforms proposed by the Secretary General.

The International Organisation of la Francophonie (OIF/ Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie) is an international institution established in 1970 and aimed at strengthening and promoting the French language and universal values.

The organization has 54 full members, 7 associate and 27 observer states. In 32 of these countries, French language has the status of an official language or the second official language. The combined population of countries involved in the OIF is 900 million, of which 274 million are French speaking. The countries involved in the OIF are spread across the five continents. It should be noted, that more than one third of the UN Member states are members of this organisation (official website address: ).

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1064835.html?fbclid=IwAR3I-YVda52rPsoDgEIVWqe2E_QY52t2vLSttMvnceY5mfkXOkC38XHPTlk