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Author: Hagop Kamalian

Yerevan slams Aliyev and Erdogan’s visit to Nagorno-Karabakh’s Shusha

Hagop Kamalian
TASS, Russia
June 15 2021
These provocative actions clearly demonstrate the false nature of statements made in Ankara and Baku about normalization of ties with Armenia and Armenian people, the national Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday

YEREVAN, June 15. /TASS/. Armenia views the visit of Presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkey Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the town of Shusha located in Nagorno-Karabakh as a provocation aimed at undermining regional peace and security, the national Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

“We decisively condemn the joint visit of the Turkish and Azerbaijani presidents to the town of Shusha, Armenia’s historic and cultural center in Artsakh (unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic – TASS), which is currently placed under Azerbaijan’s occupation, on June 15 as an obvious provocation against peace and security in the region,” the statement reads.

The ministry noted, “it is noteworthy that this visit was preceded by destruction of religious, historic and cultural heritage of the forcibly relocated indigenous Armenian population, particularly during the war waged by Turkish and Azerbaijani forces against Artsakh, including the desecration of Ghazanchetsots Cathedral and the full destruction of the memorial honoring victims of the Armenian genocide”.

“These provocative actions clearly demonstrate the false nature of statements made in Ankara and Baku about normalization of ties with Armenia and Armenian people. We reiterate that the elimination of the consequences of the recent Turkish-Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh should be carried out as part of a comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict under the auspices of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group,” the statement adds.

Artsakh Foreign Ministry urges int’l community to condemn Turkey’s provocative actions

Hagop Kamalian
Panorama, Armenia
June 15 2021

The Artsakh Foreign Ministry on Tuesday issued a statement on the Turkish president’s visit to Shushi, an Artsakh town occupied by Azerbaijani forces during last year’s war. The full text of the statement is provided below.

“Accompanied by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his family, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his family members’ visit to the historic capital of Artsakh, Shushi, which was destroyed by Turkey and Azerbaijan in 1920 and 2020, is a clear manifestation of gross violation of international law, xenophobia, genocidal and terrorist policy.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh strongly condemns such visits to the occupied territories of Artsakh, considering them as a provocation, a clear-cut implementation of expansionist and extremist policy.

Turkey’s provocative actions must be condemned by the international community, as such visits, the ideas, statements, agreements reached and glorification of medieval expansionist policy voiced during them are a serious threat to international and regional security, a challenge to the entire civilized humanity, a blow to the reputation of all the organizations and structures, of which Turkey is a member.”

Turkish press: Stability in southern Caucasus crucial for region: Turkish FM

Hagop Kamalian
 ISTANBUL DIPLOMACY 
JUN 16, 2021 10:29 AM GMT+3

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu speaks at a news conference to inform press members about the upcoming Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Antalya, Turkey, June 16, 2021. (AA Photo)

Turkey believes stability in the southern Caucasus is crucial for the people of the region, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said Wednesday.

Speaking at a news conference ahead of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on June 18-20, Çavuşoğlu said that establishing stability in the southern Caucasus would also bring prosperity.

“Armenian people would especially benefit from this,” he told journalists.

Noting that the Armenian state has isolated itself in the region, Çavuşoğlu said the country has had hostile relations with most of its neighbors. He noted that the panel on the southern Caucasus will discuss opportunities for peace and stability in the region since the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“I hope Armenia learns a lesson from its experience and that peace and stability persist in the region,” Çavuşoğlu said.

“Azerbaijani lands were under occupation for 30 years. The heroic Azerbaijani army took its lands back with a struggle that lasted for more than 40 days. Azerbaijan persevered to solve this problem through diplomacy for many years. Now that the war is over, opportunities for regional peace will be discussed in this panel.”

“Everyone should respect its territorial integrity. We want this region to be a region of peace and stability,” he added.

Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but was under Armenian occupation since a separatist war there ended in 1994. That conflict left the predominantly Armenian populated Nagorno-Karabakh region and substantial surrounding territories in Yerevan’s hands. Heavy fighting erupted between Armenia and Azerbaijan in late September 2020 in the biggest escalation of the decades-old conflict, killing more than 5,600 people on both sides.

A Russia-brokered agreement ended the recent fighting in which the Azerbaijani army routed Armenia’s forces. The cease-fire deal stipulated that Yerevan hand over some areas it held outside Nagorno-Karabakh’s borders. Baku also retained control over the areas of Nagorno-Karabakh that it had taken during the armed conflict.

Meanwhile, Çavuşoğlu noted that Turkey will use the Antalya Diplomacy Forum as a means to strengthen the country’s diplomatic prestige both in the field and at the table.

The forum will consist of 15 sessions attended by world leaders, touching upon regional, global and thematic issues.

This year’s theme will be “Innovative Diplomacy: New Era, New Approaches” and aims to address diplomacy-related issues through a visionary liberal and innovative approach.

“Although most of our participants consist of officials, we do not expect them to make official statements,” Çavuşoğlu said, adding that they want the forum to be a liberal platform reflecting different perspectives.

Twelve heads of state, 43 foreign ministers, four former heads of state and around 50 representatives from international organizations have confirmed their attendance in the forum, according to Çavuşoğlu.

Armenia urged to ensure that the high standard set in the previous elections of 2018 is met or exceeded

Hagop Kamalian
Public Radio of Armenia
 

As the people of Armenia head to the polls to elect a new parliament this Sunday, envoys of international community partners providing electoral technical assistance in Armenia encourage all participants to ensure that the high overall standard set in the previous elections of 2018 is met or exceeded.

“Towards this end, we have continued to provide technical support to the Central Electoral Commission and other relevant entities to help promote a credible election process that is undertaken in a transparent and professional manner,” the diplomats said in a statement.

“We encourage all parties to contribute to a respectful and peaceful environment conducive to the free _expression_ of voters’ rights throughout this important step for the future of the country. We remain committed partners in support of peace and prosperity for all in Armenia,” the added.

Statement made on behalf of the following (in alphabetical order):

Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, Delegation of the European Union to Armenia
Ambassador John Gallagher, Embassy of the United Kingdom in Armenia
Ambassador Lynne Tracy, Embassy of the United States of America in Armenia
Ambassador Masanori Fukushima, Embassy of Japan in Armenia
Ambassador Dr. Michael Banzhaf, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Armenia
Ambassador Nico Schermers, Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in Armenia
Ambassador Patrik Svensson, Embassy of Sweden in Armenia
Mr. Shombi Sharp, Resident Coordinator, United Nations in Armenia
Ambassador Stefano Lazzarotto, Embassy of Switzerland in Armenia

UK Government responds to MP’s concerns over Azerbaijani incursion into Armenian territory, retention of POWs

Hagop Kamalian
Public Radio of Armenia

 

Tim Loughton MP has received a response from the UK government on their stance on Azerbaijan’s continued retention of Armenian POWs and illegally stationed troops along the Armenian border, the Armenian National Committee of UK informs.

“The UK Government is closely following the situation on the Armenia/Azerbaijan border, alongside domestic reactions from both countries. We have repeatedly made clear our concern at the OSCE in Vienna, most recently on 3 June, and will do so again as necessary,” Wendy Morton MP, Minister for the European Neighborhood and the Americas, said in a letter to Tim Loughton.

“We have urged Azerbaijan and Armenia to refrain from unhelpful rhetoric, to relocate troops away from the border and to instead engage in substantive, peaceful negotiations over the complex issue of border delimitation and demarcation,” Wendy Morton added.

“I spoke to Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Bayramov on June 14 where I noted the current tensions on the border and urged Azerbaijan to relocate their troops. I also raised the situation surrounding prisoners of war and detainees. Our Ambassadors in Baku and Yerevan have also been discussing the post-conflict situation with their host Governments and will continue to do so,” the Minister said.

She said the UK Government continues to urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to engage with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs France, the United States and Russia to settle all outstanding matters related to last year’s conflict and find a sustainable and peaceful settlement.

“We will continue to work closely with both Governments in the coming months, including on the question of what additional support the UK may be able to provide to help those affected by last year’s conflict,” she concluded.

 

Staff at Izmirlyan Medial Center demands the immediate release of Professor Charchyan

Hagop Kamalian
Panorama, Armenia

The staff at Izmirlyan Medical Center issued a statement on Saturday, demanding  the immediate release of the Director of the medical center, Professor Armen Charchyan. The latter was detained by Police on Friday, a move, opposition described as a political persecution. Charchyan, who heads Izmirlyan Medical Center and is a candidate for MP from the “Armenia” bloc, was arrested for allegedly forcing his employees to take part in Sunday’s snap parliamentary elections and to vote for the “Armenia” alliance.

“We deem the actions of the law enforcement as unacceptable against a person who worked through nights and days during the first and the recent 44-day Artsakh wars, operating and saving numerous injured soldiers, a man,  who personally organised and coordinated the uninterrupted work of the medical brigades of the Izmirlyan medical Center in Armenia’s and Artsakh hospitals. We demand the immediate release of Professor Charchyan and rule out the unlawful behavior of persecuting people for expressing their civic position,” the statement said. 

The Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction will examine appeal for Armen Charchyan’s preventive measure today. 

Nearly 47 Diaspora Armenian organizations call on voting for "Armenia" bloc during elections

Hagop Kamalian
News.am, Armenia
16:36, 18.06.2021

Nearly 47 Diaspora Armenian community, political, charitable, cultural, athletic, research, youth and student organizations and individuals have issued messages and statements endorsing “Armenia” bloc during the snap parliamentary elections to be held in Armenia on June 20.

The statement also states the following: “Describing the current difficult situation in the homeland, the representatives of the organizations believe that “Armenia” bloc, with its team, experience and proposed programs, is the political force that is capable of getting Armenia out of the current crisis, mitigating the consequences of the war and leading the country towards uplift, and call on citizens of Armenia to cast their votes in favor of the bloc.”

Among the signatories are representatives of chapters and organizations of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun political party, Diaspora Armenian organizations and the Armenian community of Qatar.

New resolution of Dutch parliament demands immediate release of all hostages

Hagop Kamalian

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 19:37,

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS.  The Dutch parliament adopted a resolution with an overwhelming majority of votes (147 for, 3 against), demanding the release of Armenian war prisoners and civilian detainees.

ARMENPRESS reports, the resolution reads as follows,

‘’Whereas a ceasefire was signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan through the Russian mediation, which includes the exchange of the bodies of victims, prisoners, hostages, other detainees,

Whereas the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners (III) obliges Armenia, Azerbaijan to release them immediately after the end of hostilities;

Whereas those countries have an obligation to treat prisoners with dignity; to protect detained civilians;

Recording that Azerbaijan has not yet released all Armenian captives,

The parliament urges the Minister to exert pressure on Azerbaijan at the (European) Council for an immediate release of all Armenian hostages and detained citizens’’.

People of Armenia gave us strength and confidence to continue leadership – Pashinyan

Hagop Kamalian

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 21:19,

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia, head of ‘’Civil Contract’’ Party Nikol Pashinyan thinks that during the campaign the people gave them strength and confidence to continue the leadership of Armenia, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan said in the concluding pre-election rally of the ‘’Civil Contract’’ Party at the Republican Square.

He emphasized that the last 8 months were the path to the hell. ‘’We started the pre-election campaign exhausted by the hellish path of the post-war period, ulcerated by a seemingly endless series of curses, insults, threats, slanders’’, Pashinyan said.

According to him, the people received them like they would receive their relatives coming back from captivity. ‘’ Thousands of mothers caressed us like our own mothers, thousands of fathers gave us strength like our own fathers, thousands of sisters and brothers stood with us like our own sisters and brothers. The People of Armenia gave us confidence and strength, they gave us love and power to continue the leadership of Armenia. And now it’s time to record this de-facto reality also de-jure’’, Pashinyan said.

Artsakh 2nd President: Armenian side dodged negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh, but didn’t explain why

Hagop Kamalian
News.am, Armenia
Artsakh 2nd President: Armenian side dodged negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh, but didn’t explain why
21:26, 14.06.2021

I had a feeling that the war in Nagorno-Karabakh was inevitable. This is what second President of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan said during a regular “Lazarev Club” meeting today.

According to him, it was clear that the incumbent authorities of Armenia had, in essence, frozen the process of negotiations.

“The Armenian side dodged the negotiations and, apparently, without a clear-cut explanation about the reasons. “When the cannons talk, the diplomats must be silent”,” he emphasized.