Author: Hovhannisian John

Azerbaijani armed forces again breach ceasefire in Artsakh

Hovhannisian John

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 13:28, 9 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 9, ARMENPRESS. The situation at the line of contact overnight August 8-9 and as of 12:00 was relatively stable despite the remaining tension, the Artsakh Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

“In some sections the detachments of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces again violated the ceasefire, firing various-caliber small arms. Measures continue being taken together with the Russian peacekeeping contingent command in the direction of further stabilizing the situation,” the ministry said.

Congressional Armenian Caucus leaders condemn Azerbaijan’s latest attempt to ethnically cleanse Artsakh’s indigenous Armenians

Hovhannisian John
Public Radio of Armenia
Aug 4 2022
August 4, 2022, 11:18

 1 minute read

Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Jackie Speier (D-CA) called on the Biden Administration to press Azerbaijan to end its most recent attacks on Artsakh’s Lachin corridor connecting Armenia and Artsakh – assaults that killed two Artsakh defense army soldiers and injured over nineteen, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

In a tweet issued just hours after Azerbaijan’s attacks, Rep. Pallone noted “this is the latest example of Aliyev threatening the people of Artsakh over absurd demands like the closing of the Lachin corridor. I urge the @StateDept and @USOSCE to condemn these actions and use every diplomatic tool available to halt Aliyev’s dangerous actions.”  

Rep. Speier concurred, tweeting, “Aliyev will only stop his bloody drone strike campaign against the people of Artsakh if/when the U.S. shows leadership & strength. Pull all U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan immediately until it comes to the negotiating table.”  

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian issued a live call to action on the ANCA’s Facebook and Twitter platforms urging supporters of Artsakh freedom to call the White House and urge President Biden to enforce U.S. sanctions on Azerbaijan and stop sending U.S. military arms and aid to the brutal Aliyev regime.  Hamparian argued that U.S. taxpayers should not be funding Azerbaijan’s aggression against Artsakh’s indigenous Armenian population.  Hamparian also urged advocates to write their Senators and Representative by visiting https://anca.org/907 to unequivocally condemn Azerbaijan’s attack, stop military aid to Azerbaijan, and expand life-saving humanitarian assistance to Artsakh. 

“To be clear, the Azerbaijani army that is today ethnically cleansing Artsakh – launching rockets and drone strikes against its indigenous Christian Armenian population –  is getting U.S. military aid,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “These are our tax dollars – materially strengthening Azerbaijan’s military and morally emboldening the Aliyev regime. We are committed – as Americans and Armenians – to see this reckless program ended, Azerbaijani war crimes investigated, and Ilham Aliyev and his regime held to account.”

Azerbaijani MP admits Baku’s official state policy of ethnic cleansing against Nagorno Karabakh population

Hovhannisian John

 

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 15:31, 5 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. Human Rights Defender of Armenia Kristinne Grigoryan contacted her international colleagues, as well as the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) after Azerbaijani member of parliament Gudrat Hasanguliyev admitted that Azerbaijan is pursuing a state policy of ethnic cleansing against the population of Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Yesterday, Gudrat Hasanguliyev, a deputy of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan confessed about the Azerbaijani state policy aimed at the ethnic cleansing of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh”, Grigoryan said in a statement. “In particular, he stated that “Armenia should put an end to its territorial ambitions towards Azerbaijan and stop supporting the bloody separatism of Karabakh. Until this is not done, we should not recognize their (the population of Nagorno-Karabakh) right to life in peace”. Subsequently, the deputy stated that under the current situation, it is not possible for Armenians to live in Azerbaijan.

Another deputy, Fazil Mustafaev, echoing his colleague, also has directly threatened the physical existence of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh.

In reality, the examples and proves of the Azerbaijani policy of ethnic hatred and ethnic cleansing of Armenians are numerous, however, it is striking that the high-level officials representing the Azerbaijani leadership are making these announcements in the context of the provocations carried out by their armed forces in recent days, as a result of which two Armenian servicemen were killed and 19 others were injured.

It is a fact the right to life of the peaceful population of Nagorno-Karabakh is not guaranteed, and the Azerbaijani official is directly confirming that.

I have shared this information with my international interlocutors, as well as with the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), which in the coming days will review Azerbaijan’s periodic report on the implementation of the UN International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination”.

Russia, Armenia capable of clearing questions about Russian peacekeepers, Kremlin says

Hovhannisian John
Panorama
Armenia – Aug 4 2022

Close contacts at various levels between Russia and Armenia will help to clear questions, which Yerevan has in regard to Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

“There are trilateral agreements, which serve as the starting point,” TASS quoted Peskov as saying at a news briefing. “The most important is to implement all obligations, which the parties assumed under these documents.”

“If there are questions, they must be certainly answered,” he continued. “At the same time, all close contacts, which we enjoy at various levels with the Armenian side, will help us to clear all persisting questions.”

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said speaking earlier in the day at a government meeting that recent events in Nagorno-Karabakh raised a number of questions regarding activities of the Russian peacekeeping contingent.

Pashinyan said in particular that: “A number of events that have taken place in Nagorno-Karabakh since 2020, including those in recent days, evoke questions from the Armenian public about the content and nature of the peacekeeping operation in Nagorno-Karabakh. In this context, there is an urgent need to agree the details of the peacekeeping operation there.”

Pallone calls out UNGA President for “capitulating to pressure from Turkey” after visiting Armenian Genocide Memorial

Hovhannisian John

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 14:24, 2 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, ARMENPRESS. United States Congressman Frank Pallone called out the President of the United Nations General Assembly Abdulla Shahid for “capitulating to pressure from Turkey” and deleting his tweet on his visit to the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan.

“33 countries, including the United States, have formally recognized the Armenian genocide. The UN should not be complicit in Turkey’s rejection of history. UNPGA Abdulla Shahid was wrong for deleting his tweet and capitulating to pressure from Turkey,” Pallone tweeted.

While on a visit to Armenia in late-July 2022, UNGA President Abdullah Shahid visited the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan. He shared a tweet from his visit, but deleted it soon afterwards.

Asbarez: Invoking ‘Zangezur Corridor,’ Baku and Ankara Say They Want to Normalize Ties with Yerevan

Hovhannisian John
by Asbarez Staff

 

 August 2, 2022

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkey from left: Jeyhun Bayramov, Vladimir Norov and Mevlut Cavusoglu in Tashkent Uzbekistan on Aug. 2


The foreign ministers of Turkey and Azerbaijan on Tuesday reiterated their countries’ readiness to normalize ties with Armenia and emphasized the imperative of opening the so-called “Zangezur Corridor”—Baku’s scheme to have a land corridor through Armenia to connect mainland Azerbaijan with Nakhichevan and Turkey.

Azerbaijan’s foreign minister Jeyhun Bayramov touted the importance of the “Zangezur Corridor,” despite vocal opposition to the scheme by Yerevan. At the same time Turkey’s foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stressed that Ankara continuously coordinates all its efforts with Baku.

Cavusoglu and Bayramov were in the Uzbekistan capital of Tashkent on Tuesday where they met with that country’s foreign minister Vladimir Norov and signed a cooperation agreement between the three Turkic states.

Cavusoglu hailed Tuesday’s agreement as benefitting the “Turkic world and strengthen relations between Turkic-speaking countries.”

According to Azerbaijani press reports one of the provisions—point 11—of the agreement emphasizes the importance of the opening of the “Zangezur Corridor” as a means to expand international transport links.

“Azerbaijan has offered to normalize relations with Armenia based on the principles of international law,” Bayramov said, adding that the process is the key to achieving security, stability and prosperity in the South Caucasus.

He did not discuss the proposal presented by Armenia, which wants to determine the status of Karabakh and provide security guarantees and rights to the Armenians of Artsakh. Instead Bayramov emphasized the importance of opening regional transport links.

In his remarks, Cavusoglu claimed that with “the victory” in the 44-day war, a new geopolitical balance has emerged in the South Caucasus. At the same time, he emphasized that the countries that are in favor of “stability and cooperation” will benefit from this situation.

“We urge all parties to utilize this opportunity. We support negotiations on communication, border demarcation and peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We are also taking steps to normalize relations, we are moving forward with meetings by our special representatives and in consultation with Azerbaijan,” Cavusoglu emphasized.

Turkey’s foreign minister also said that his country’s relations with Azerbaijan have risen to a new level following the signing of the so-called Shushi Decleration—an alliance agreement between Ankara and Baku, which also stipulates military and defense ties.

No cases of monkeypox registered in Armenia – Healthcare Minister

Hovhannisian John

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 12:40, 28 July 2022

YEREVAN, JULY 28, ARMENPRESS. In Armenia, whenever monkeypox is suspected, testing is conducted, and so far the results of all tests have been negative, Minister of Healthcare Anahit Avanesyan told reporters after the Cabinet meeting today.

“We have received monkeypox test kits from the Russian Federation. The results of all tests conducted up to this moment have been negative, no such case has been registered in Armenia”, the minister said, assuring that testing is conducted for all suspected cases.

Final public discussion to be held on extending Armenia’s Meghrasar gold mine operations for nearly 7 years

Hovhannisian John
NEWS.am
Armenia –
12:41, 27.07.2022

The last fourth public discussion on the environmental impact assessment report on the open-cast mining at Armenia’s Meghrasar gold mine submitted by “At-Metals” LLC will take place in Syunik Province on August 3, EcoLur reported. 

Under the submitted project, the aforesaid company intends to extend the period of the mining permit for 6.76 years.

Under the project, the total area of land for mine operation is 73 hectares. The form of land use during construction and operation is laid down in the terms of the lease for a period of 7.5 years.

In the case of annual productivity of 50 thousand tons, the total amount of emissions will be 215.67 tons/year, out of which 82.15 tons/year will stem from explosions.

The company estimates the economic damage caused to the economy from emissions from the Meghrasar mine at ≈ AMD 34.43 million per year, and the stated amount does not cause any financial obligation. The impact on land resources caused by the economic activity of the enterprise is estimated at AMD 518.587 million per year, and the total economic damage from environmental pollution makes up AMD 554.93 million per year.

EU agrees deal with Azerbaijan to double gas exports by 2027

Hovhannisian John
July 19 2022
By Euronews  •  Updated: 19/07/2022

The European Commission signed a deal with Azerbaijan on Monday to double imports of natural gas by 2027.

The announcement came after European commission president Ursula von der Leyen visited Baku Monday morning for talks on increasing energy supplies to the EU. 

The deal, which intends to bring imports of Azeri natural gas to at least 20 billion cubic metres a year in 15 years, will help the EU reduce its reliance on Russian energy. 

“Today, with this new Memorandum of Understanding, we are opening a new chapter in our energy cooperation with Azerbaijan, a key partner in our efforts to move away from Russian fossil fuels,” von der Leyen said.

Monday’s announcement is part of a broader push by the EU to find alternative suppliers of energy since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Concerns in Brussels about a complete Russian gas shut-off grew last week after the Nord Stream 1 pipeline began scheduled maintenance, bringing supplies to a halt.

Work on the pipeline from Russia to Germany is due to continue until the end of this week, but the Russian Foreign Ministry has said that the future of the pipeline is linked to sanctions against Moscow. 

“Amid Russia’s continued weaponisation of its energy supplies, diversification of our energy imports is a top priority for the EU,” the European Commission said in a statement Friday ahead of the trip.

Moscow has denied it is using gas as a weapon against the EU, however Russian supplies have fallen by more than 60 per cent in recent weeks. 

The shutdown of Nord Stream 1, which is a crucial supply link for Russian gas to Germany and beyond, has added to concerns that Moscow could potentially end its supplies of gas to the bloc altogether.

According to a document seen by Reuters, the deal between Baku and the EU will increase gas flow into the bloc through the Southern Gas Corridor pipeline.

“The Sides aspire to support bilateral trade of natural gas, including through exports to the European Union, via the Southern Gas Corridor, of at least 20 billion cubic metres of gas annually by 2027, in accordance with commercial viability and market demand,” the document said.

Last year, the pipeline transported 8 billion cubic metres of gas into the EU.

The increase would require Azerbaijan to increase its domestic gas production.

Azerbaijan is already increasing deliveries of natural gas to the EU from 8.1 billion cubic metres (bcm) in 2021 to an expected 12bcm in 2022, the Commission said.

The country, which borders Georgia, Turkey, Armenia, Russia, Iran and the Caspian Sea, started exporting natural gas to Europe via the Trans Adriatic Pipeline at the end of 2020. 

At the time, Azerbaijan said it planned to send 10 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe every year, mostly to Italy, but also to Greece and Bulgaria.

 

"Armenia wants to push us against Russia" – Azerbaijani former Foreign Minister

Hovhannisian John

July 12 2022

Zulfugarov about the situation around Karabakh

Political forces in Armenia are eager to push Azerbaijan against Russia in Karabakh, said the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Tofik Zulfugarov. But, according to him, everything will be decided based on the results of the war in Ukraine. Zulfugarov is confident that if Azerbaijan decides to clash with Russian troops, it will do so together with Turkey.

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Tofig Zulfugarov

Arguing about the current state of the negotiation process between Baku and Yerevan, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Tofik Zulfugarov, noted that at the moment Armenia is actually refusing to negotiate.

“Literally – today, the topics of the peace treaty, delimitation and demarcation of borders are irrelevant. Armenia has already made its choice, and the authorities are not worried about these negotiations at the moment. The old policy remains in force. Why?

Because territorial claims remain in force. In Armenia, they believe that now Azerbaijan is not able to change anything in the region. In their opinion, the presence of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh gives them the opportunity to continue their old policy without problems in the current conditions. To be more precise, we are talking about the continuation of the policy of annexation.

Based on this situation, the main goal of Azerbaijan should be to pressure the peacekeepers and conduct negotiations with them. From their leadership, it is necessary to demand the fulfillment of the conditions of the three-party application from November 10, 2020″, Zulfugarov said.

While Russia is busy with the war in Ukraine, and it has no time for problems around Karabakh, the ex-Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan believes:

“With the outbreak of the war, Russia fell into the political trap of the West” – former Azerbaijani FM Zulfugarov’s assessment of the Russia-Ukraine war

“If Russia takes up the problem between Azerbaijan and Armenia literally now, then it will have to choose one of the two sides. And this will ultimately lead to the fact that Azerbaijan or Armenia will strengthen contacts with the West. It is for this reason that Russia is playing for time, as if adhering to the policy of “the wolves are fed and the sheep are safe.”

As for the position of Azerbaijan specifically in this situation, I think that Baku is preparing to take new steps in order to solve pressing problems.”

“A lot depends on the outcome of the war in Ukraine. It is important what policy Russia will follow in the South Caucasus”, Zulfugarov stressed.

In his opinion, Azerbaijan today does not want to go into confrontation with Russia:

“But this does not mean that Azerbaijan will not continue its policy on this issue. On the contrary, Baku will use the force factor. This can be expressed in two directions: diplomatic-political and direct force.

For example, we can witness the establishment of some posts in the Lachin direction, border control along this corridor, and so on. In this question, it is possible to use both of the pressure factors I have mentioned.

In fact, now there are opportunities for this. Because the West and Russia are currently in search of partners, trying to get closer to the countries of the region. It creates new opportunities”.

The former foreign minister of Azerbaijan noted that the general geopolitical trend in the region is changing in favor of Azerbaijan:

“This essentialy a reprint” – former Azerbaijani FM discussed similarities and differences of Shusha and Moscow declarations

“Today the tandem between Azerbaijan and Turkey is too strong. Moscow, in turn, prefers allied relations with Ankara. In addition, Russia’s position in the South Caucasus is weakening. Therefore, the general trend of processes is changing in favor of Baku.

Everyone understands that sooner or later Russia will leave this region. The question arises: who will take its place? Armenia wants the West to take this place. The West is also not opposed to such changes. But it is more than clear to everyone that Turkey is the real power in this region.

After what happened in Afghanistan, the US and French authorities are hardly ready for a military presence in the region. Yes, and France itself has enough problems in Ukraine, in Europe itself, and in northern Africa.

To be honest, if Russia leaves this region, it will want to surrender its positions to Turkey, and not to the West. This is also one of the possible scenarios”.

Answering the question about the possibility of Azerbaijan conducting a counter-terrorist operation in that part of Karabakh where Russian peacekeepers are stationed, Tofig Zulfugarov noted that if it comes to this, then Azerbaijan will not be alone.

“Now the main task of Armenia is the clash between Azerbaijan and Russian peacekeepers, i.e. with Russia. They are well aware that in the event of a violation of the ceasefire by one side or another, the responsibility lies with the peacekeeping contingent. Naturally, the provocations are aimed at clashing the Azerbaijani army with the peacekeepers.

According to the Armenians, in this case, the strategic advantage will go over to their side. Azerbaijan understands this too.

We sometimes hear questions about why Baku does not take decisive steps, the time has come, and so on. etc. It turns out that we should go for a clash with Russia, but here questions arise.

Of course, we will not go against Russia alone, but together with Turkey. But is Turkey ready for this now? And do Baku and Ankara need this at the moment? So far, the general opinion is that this is not the time for such steps.

This means that the most correct tactic is subtle political and diplomatic maneuvers along with pressure. At least at this stage. Let’s see how the situation changes. But I am sure of one thing, geopolitical changes will be in favor of Azerbaijan. But for now, we have to wait”, Zulfugarov summed up his words.