Author: Hagop Kamalian

Former army generals and officers join call of Armenia National Security Service high-ranking officials

Hagop Kamalian
News.am, Armenia
Dec 18 2020

16:12, 18.12.2020

Armenia’s borders are firm and under control of Armed Forces – minister

Hagop Kamalian

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 11:51,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. During today’s Cabinet meeting Minister of territorial administration and infrastructure Suren Papikyan said he is in constant touch with the Governor of Syunik province. He informed that the Governor is conducting works with the border service and the defense ministry representatives.

“At this moment the border troops and forces are being deployed along the borders of Armenia, and in order to avoid various comments and disinformation, I want to state that Armenia’s borders are firm and under the control of the Armed Forces”, the minister said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Scandalous recording of phone call between Artsakh president and former MP leaked on the internet

Hagop Kamalian
Panorama, Armenia

Dec 12 2020

Telegram channels have leaked a scandalous recording of a telephone conversation between Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan and former Artsakh lawmaker Ruslan Israelyan which was held after presidential spokesman Vahram Poghosyan announced about the capture of the fortress town of Shushi by the Azerbaijani armed forces.

In the recording, Arayik Harutyunyan says that he has been asking for help from Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan for 10 days, but to no avail.

Political scientist, researcher at the YSU Center for Strategic Studies Edgar Elbakyan shared a transcript of the conversation on his Facebook page, writing: “This telephone conversation between Artsakh Republic President Arayik Harutyunyan and Ruslan Israelyan, apparently, took place on November 4-9, 2020. Below is the transcript of the conversation without any comments, as they are superfluous.”

Incidentally, Ruslan Israelyan confirmed the authenticity of the leaked recording to Lurer.com. “Yes, this is my telephone conversation. Unfortunately, I don’t know who recorded it,” he said. 



Cultural Heritage Is Caught Up in the Conflict Over Nagorno-Karabakh

Hagop Kamalian
Atlas Obscura
Dec 11 2020
by Tom Mutch
The Dadivank monastery is an example of Armenian church architecture, located in Azerbaijan and watched by Russian peacekeepers. Stanislav KrasilnikovTASS via Getty Images
After being photographed with a cross in one hand and an automatic rifle in the other, Father Hovhannes became a viral sensation in Armenia. He says he never intended to become a symbol of defiance during the recent war over Nagorno-Karabakh, the region within Azerbaijan that has attempted to break away and declare itself the “Republic of Artsakh,” with the support of the Armenian government but no other forms of international recognition. “I was showing that we need both god and our weapons to defend our homes,” he says. “The book of our enemy allows them to take any land that they please.” He is the abbott of the stunning medieval monastery of Dadivank, within the disputed territory. He says he is prepared to die to defend it—but for the time being, he’s not able to be there at all.

Standing in the Monastery of the Holy Trinity on the outskirts of Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, Hovhannes is tall and broad-shouldered, with a thick white beard. His priestly collar pokes from the top of a thick black leather jacket, like a rock star who traded his guitar for the liturgy. His congregation treats him as such, crowding around him for blessings in place of autographs. Only his furrowed brow and downcast eyes betray his worries.

Dadivank, his monastery, is one of the greatest examples of Armenian church architecture, and dates to between 700 and 1,100 years ago. It is nestled in the forested ravines that make up Kalvajar region of Azerbaijan, around 125 miles away from where he stands. Until recently, it was controlled by forces loyal to Artsakh, but under the terms of a Noember 2020 peace agreement imposed after their bruising defeat in a war, it has been handed to Azerbaijani control.


Father Hovhannes gained widespread attention for his efforts to protect the church. Courtesy Tom Mutch

“Not only is the monastery holy, like any house of god, it is a symbol of our Armenian identity as Christians that stretches back two millenniums,” he says. It is a great point of Armenian pride to have been perhaps the first Christian nation, and it is said that this heritage comes from this monastery specifically, founded in the first century by Dadi, a disciple of Thaddeus, the apostle who spread the Christian faith to the region. It has persisted through Mongol, Persian, and Russian dominion, as well as the two more recent wars over Nagorno-Karabakh.

This site was long believed to be the burial site of Dadi himself. This claim was thought to be folklore, until an excavation in 2007 appeared to uncover his tomb. For the abbott, who had overseen a project of painstaking reconstruction since the region’s capture by Armenians in the 1990s in the first Nagorno-Karabakh War, the find was a vindication of his efforts and beliefs. It appeared, to many Armenians, to be a confirmation of their historical claim to the land.

Cross monuments called khatchars (left) and an apse (right) at Dadivank Monastery. Lusnyak93/Wikimedia (left); Emad aljumah/Getty Images (right)

Dadivank is the most significant of hundreds of Armenian churches and historical artifacts that are in the process of being handed over to Azerbaijan. Hovhannes has serious concerns about its future. After the 1915 genocide saw Armenians expelled from Anatolia, successive Turkish governments systematically razed Armenian sites there. In the aftermath of the first Nagorno-Karabakh War, Azerbaijan destroyed hundreds of khatchars (uniquely styled cross monuments), a medieval cemetery, and around 90 churches.

Astghik Pashinyan, a 29-year-old tour guide from Yerevan, made her last visit to Dadivank a few days before the handover. She describes the loss as “incredibly painful.” “The road was only recently fixed, so we have only just recently begun take tourists there,” she says. “They have all been so pleased with the beauty of the site and the hospitality of the locals. Now we believe the Armenian script and frescoes of the church will be destroyed.” She saw that Armenian soldiers had made preparations to move some of the church’s relics, including its bell and crosses, to Armenia to protect them.

An inscription in medieval Armenian script at the monastery. Courtesy Tom Mutch

Azerbaijani officials, including Culture Minister Anar Karimov, state—without specific evidence—that the church’s inscriptions, in medieval Armenian script, are fake, added in the 19th century. Instead, they claim that the site is a remnant of a little-known Turkic civilization called “Caucasian Albania,” which would make the region rightfully Azerbaijan’s. Most serious scholars find these tortuous explanations to be nonsense, as described in journalist Thomas de Waal’s Black Garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan Through Peace and War. Neil Hauer, a journalist and researcher who specializes in the region, called it a “a straight up lie.”

On the other hand, Cavid Aga, a respected Azerbaijani scholar of the heritage of the Caucuses, points out that Armenians have also failed to recognize legitimate Azerbaijani heritage. “In Armenian historiography the Azerbaijanis are a people that magically appeared in 1918, they do not accept us as an authentic nation,” he says. “They label all Azerbaijani heritage as Persian or Turkmen.” He points out that heritage sites such as the Mausoleum of Turkmen Emirs in southern Armenia and the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque in Shusha, Azerbaijan, not far from the Armenian border. He says they have been misleadingly labeled by Armenians as having been built by foreign invaders, even though the people who founded them were from the area, and are ancestors of modern Azerbaijanis. “Even though the state of Azerbaijan was created at the end of the Russian Empire, that does not mean its people are aliens to this land,” he says.

Armenians visit the Dadivank Monastery just before the handover of the region to Azerbaijani forces. ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images

In the moment, the preservation of heritage such as the church is less subject to competing claims than it is to the reality of power on the ground. For now, Russian troops are providing a temporary solution. The warring sides have agreed to a shaky deal whereby Moscow’s peacekeepers will protect the monastery and guarantee safe passage for worshippers. Every Sunday, Armenians who wish to visit can be picked up from the regional capital of Stepanakert and taken to the monastery under armed guard. It is an echo of the medieval Treaty of Jaffa, which ended the Third Crusade. Then, Saladin allowed Christian pilgrims to visit Jerusalem unharmed—in exchange for acceptance of Muslim control of the Holy Land.

Hovhannes does not believe the agreement with Azerbaijan, and its Turkish supporters, will hold. “Every bite they take just makes them hungrier. Now they want all of Artsakh.” he says. “Then they will come for all of Armenia!”

After speaking about his concerns in Yerevan, Hovhannes gathers his priests and the deacons for an evening service. Dressed in a variety of red, blue, and gold vestments, they recite prayers in melancholy voices in front of an image of the virgin and child. They read from Psalm 123: “Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, for we have endured no end of contempt. We have endured no end of ridicule from the arrogant, of contempt from the proud.”

Additional reporting by Ezras Tellalian.

Sports: Euro-2022: Armenia futsal team outscores Bulgarians after second match as well

Hagop Kamalian
News.am, Armenia
Dec 9 2020

The Armenia national futsal team outscored the Bulgarian team during the return match for the Euro-2022 qualifying play-offs as well and made it to the selective group stage.

During the return match in Varna, Armenia beat Bulgaria 3-1. Among the outstanding players were Davit Aslanyan, Saro Galstyan and Vladimir Sanosyan.

During the first match, Ruben Nazaretyan’s team defeated the opponent 4-0.


Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh cannot be placed under the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan – FM Ayvazian

Hagop Kamalian

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 21:11, 3 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Ayvazian gave a speech at the 27th Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council, noting that those few Armenians who remained in the territories that were captured by Azerbaijani armed forces were killed or tortured and expelled by Azerbaijani armed forces from their ancestral homeland.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia, FM Ayvazian particularly said,

‘’Ms. Chairperson, I would like to join colleagues and thank the Albanian Chairmanship, your team for tireless efforts and leadership of this Organization throughout the year.

The year 2020 has been marked and profoundly affected by the unprecedented challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet for the people of Artsakh and Armenia the large-scale war unleashed by Azerbaijan with the direct involvement of its allies – Turkey and foreign terrorist fighters and jihadists – added another dimension to the already dire situation.

During the 44 days of war Azerbaijan and Turkey, in a clear defiance of their international obligations and in violations of their commitments towards the OSCE, despite numerous calls made by OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair countries, despite three agreements to cease hostilities, despite persistent calls of international community, continued the offensive. The aggression was accompanied by numerous gross violations of the laws and customs applicable in armed conflicts, by war crimes including deliberate targeting of civilian population and critical infrastructure, executions, inhuman or degrading treatment of prisoners of war and civilian captives, beheadings, mutilation of dead bodies and other well documented crimes with the ultimate purpose of ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population from their ancestral lands.

In this context, we welcome the consensus reached on the draft Ministerial Council Decision on the Prevention and Eradication of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which we consider as the most important outcome of this Ministerial.

Today we should acknowledge the efforts of the Russian Federation and personal engagement of President Vladimir Putin in establishing a ceasefire and stopping war also through providing peace-keeping forces on the ground. We are also grateful to France and the US for their efforts and engagement to achieve a ceasefire.

The actions of Azerbaijan and its allies created new dangerous precedent for addressing conflict situations in the area of responsibility of the OSCE.

First, it is the recruitment, transfer and deployment of foreign terrorist fighters and jihadists from Syria and Libya in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone by Turkey which flagrantly violates the international obligations and OSCE commitments on combating the phenomenon of the foreign terrorist fighters. This is the first time ever that two OSCE participating States have deployed terrorist fighters and jihadists in support of their armed forces in the context of conflict in the OSCE area of responsibility, a fact that was acknowledged not only by a number of the OSCE participating states, but the relevant UN body.

Second, Azerbaijan’s aggression against Artsakh was greatly instigated and supported politically and militarily by the Turkish leadership in its pursuit of expansionist power projection into the South Caucasus and beyond.

Third, Azerbaijan and its allies unleashed the war against Artsakh falsely claiming the legitimate right to use force, which is a clear breach of international law. Furthermore, Azerbaijan and Turkey now insist that the situation resulting from the use of force, aggression and war, large-scale violations of international law, war crimes and ethnic cleansing, should be considered as resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We strongly condemn the use of force against the right of people of Nagorno-Karabakh to self-determination and we will not accept any attempt to deprive the people of Nagorno-Karabakh of their rights.

Despite assurances that have been voiced out today as well, Armenians have been ethnically cleansed from the territories of Nagorno-Karabakh recently occupied by Azerbaijan, those few who stayed were killed or tortured and expelled by Azerbaijani armed forces from their ancestral homeland. This reality clearly attests to the fact that Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh cannot be placed under the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan.

The comprehensive resolution of the conflict aimed at achieving lasting and sustainable peace in the region include:

  • Status of Artsakh based on realization of the right of self-determination, security of its people;
  • De-occupation by Azerbaijan of the territories of Nagorno-Karabakh;
  • Safe and dignified return to their homes of the recently displaced population of Artsakh;
  • Preservation of Armenian cultural and religious heritage on the territories that fell under the control of Azerbaijan.

Immediate and unconditional exchange of prisoners of war and hostages based on principle all for all, repatriation of remains should be implemented without any further delay.

The trilateral statement of November 9 should be considered without prejudice to the final political and durable settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Only political, negotiated settlement that will respect rights of all may bring peace and reconciliation to the South Caucasus region.

At the same time, to achieve this Turkey, whose genocidal record against Armenians is well known, should abandon its destabilizing policy and refrain from any actions which could further fuel tensions. In this context we call on all OSCE participating States to continue exerting pressure on Turkey to withdraw its military personnel from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, from the South Caucasus, together with its affiliated terrorist fighters. So far there is no sign that foreign terrorist fighters are being withdrawn from the conflict area. Quite opposite, there are persistent reports on further spread of terrorist fighters and mercenaries and plans to resettle them in areas of NK, which is currently occupied by Azerbaijan.

The lasting and sustainable resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be achieved through the negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, which is the only internationally mandated mechanism to deal with settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In this context we took positive note of the statement of heads of delegations of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Countries issued earlier today, which once again showed the unity and determination of the Co-Chair countries in pursuing negotiated comprehensive and sustainable settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

We also concur that all the foreign mercenaries, brought in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone by Turkey and Azerbaijan, should be withdrawn fully and promptly from the region.

In conclusion, I would like to welcome Sweden as incoming Chair and wish them every success.

Thank you’’.

Turkey, Russia seal deal for Karabakh ‘peacekeeping center’

Hagop Kamalian
Arab News
Dec 1 2020
Military vehicles of the Russian peacekeeping force move on the road outside Lachin on November 29, 2020, after six weeks of fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. (File/AFP)

  • The deal comes after days of talks between Turkish and Russian officials about how the two regional powers would jointly implement a Moscow-brokered cease-fire
  • Technical details for setting up the joint center were concluded and an agreement was signed
Updated
AFP
08:45
Follow @arabnews

ANKARA: Turkey and Russia have agreed to monitor a truce over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region from a joint peacekeeping center, Ankara’s defense ministry said on Tuesday.


 The deal comes after days of talks between Turkish and Russian officials about how the two regional powers would jointly implement a Moscow-brokered cease-fire signed this month between Armenia and Azerbaijan.


 Technical details for setting up the joint center were concluded and an agreement was signed, the defense ministry said in a statement, adding that it would begin work “as soon as possible.”
Turkey is a staunch ally of Azerbaijan and has fervently defended its right to take back the Nagorno-Karabakh lands Baku lost to ethnic Armenian separatists in a 1988-94 war.


 The truce deal ended more than six weeks of fighting that claimed more than 1,400 lives and saw ethnic Armenians agree to withdraw from large parts of the contested region of Azerbaijan.
The Turkish parliament voted this month to deploy a mission to “establish a joint center with Russia and to carry out the center’s activities.”


The deployment is set to last a year and its size will be determined by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.


 Russia has said repeatedly that Turkey will have no troops on the ground under the truce deal’s terms.


Azerbaijan Forces Enter Third District Under Nagorno-Karabakh Truce

Hagop Kamalian
Voice of America
Dec 1 2020
By RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service
09:18 AM

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – Azerbaijan says its forces have entered the Lachin district, the last of three handed back by Armenia as part of a deal that ended six weeks of fighting over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region.

"Units of the Azerbaijani Army entered the Lachin region on December 1" under the deal signed on November 9 by Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also released a video showing a tank flying the Azerbaijani flag and leading a column of trucks along a road at night.
 
Azerbaijan lost control of Lachin during a war with Armenia in the early 1990s as they transitioned into independent countries amid the breakup of the Soviet Union.
 
Lachin was a strategic link between Armenia's internationally recognized border and ethnic Armenian-held areas in Nagorno-Karabakh.
 
Armenia agreed to hand over three districts ringing Nagorno-Karabakh — Agdam, Kalbacar, and Lachin — after nearly three decades under Armenian control as part of the Russian-brokered agreement signed on November 9, halting military action in and around Nagorno-Karabakh following the worst fighting in the region since the 1990s.

Agdam was ceded on November 20 and Kalbacar five days later.

Almost 2,000 Russian peacekeepers have moved into the area as part of the truce deal, including along the Lachin Corridor, an overland route linking Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh.

The agreement also committed the parties to reopening their borders for trade but sets no time frame for that.
 
Ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh have been governing their own affairs, with support from Armenia, since Azerbaijan's troops and Azeri civilians were pushed out of the region in a war that ended in a cease-fire in 1994.
 
Russia has extensive relations with both Armenia and Azerbaijan but provides security guarantees to the former.


17th-century Armenian illuminated gospel book being auctioned at Sotheby’s

Hagop Kamalian
Public Radio of Armenia
Nov 29 2020

A 17th-century Armenian illuminated gospel book is being auctioned at Sotheby’s.

The manuscript is expected to be sold for 7,000 – 10,000 GBP. Twenty-two bids have been placed so far. The lot closes on December 1.

The Matenadaran depository of ancient manuscripts offers Armenian charitable and cultural organizations and benefactors, if possible, to purchase this valuable manuscript rich with miniatures.

“It is desirable that the manuscript remains in the national environment and, if possible, be housed in the most important center of Armenian manuscripts, the Mashtots Matenadaran,” reads a post on Matenadaran’s Facebook page.