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Author: Hovhannisian John

Armenian experts treat reservists’ training as unprecedented

Hovhannisian John
Caucasian Knot, EU
Sept 12 2021

Armenia has launched the largest military training in 30 years. Azerbaijan and Turkey have deliberately opposed them with their military exercises in Nagorno-Karabakh, military experts assert.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on September 6-11, joint exercises with Turkey were held in the Lachin District of Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani-Turkish exercises demonstrated to Armenia the vulnerability of the Lachin Corridor that links Yerevan with Stepanakert and is controlled by Russian peacemakers, Armenian political analysts have noted.

On September 15, a three-month training session for officers and enlisted military personnel with the participation of 869 reservists will begin in Armenia, the Armenian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has informed. In parallel, another training session for 2169 reservists is held.

These are the largest military training sessions in the history of independent Armenia, Karen Ovannisyan, an expert has noted. Another peculiarity of the sessions is that reservists are busy on alert duty, he has added.

Mger Akopyan, another expert, has called the training sessions as unprecedented, explaining that after the defeat in the autumn war in Karabakh, retraining of reservists has become actual.

He also believes that the military training in Armenia and the Turkish-Azerbaijani exercises are interlinked. “The neighbours’ aggressive behaviour is obvious; and we should be ready for any scenario of events,” Mr Akopyan has stressed.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on at 08:45 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: 
© Caucasian Knot

Film: ‘Yeva’ to be screened in Armenian Association in Rostov-on-Don

Hovhannisian John
Mehr News Agency, Iran
Sept 11 2021

TEHRAN, Sep. 11 (MNA) – The film “Yeva” by Armenian-Iranian director Anahid Abad is to be screened in Armenian Association in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on September 26.

Yeva is a 2017 Armenian drama film directed by Armenian-Iranian filmmaker Anahit Abad.

The joint Iranian and Armenian produced film financed by the National Cinema Center of Armenia and Iran’s Farabi Cinema Foundation is Anahid Abad’s first long film feature.

The film, set in the village of Dadivank, a few years after the first Nagorno-Karabakh war, tells how war affects people’s destiny in the long term, bringing pain and suffering.

It tells the story of a young woman who flees Yerevan to the Artsakh Republic with her daughter to escape her in-laws, but events follow her there.

The film is about how the curfew affects human fates in the long term, causing pain and suffering.

It was selected as the Armenian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards held in 2018 but it was not nominated. It was also announced as the winner of the Audience Award at the 11th edition of the Rome Francophone Film Festival.

The film has also participated in various film festivals across the world.

HJ/5302010

Erdogan’s statements on readiness to normalize ties are from “fantasy genre”, warns Armenian researcher

Hovhannisian John

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 09:37, 31 August, 2021

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, ARMENPRESS. A senior researcher is warning that the latest statements of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Ankara’s willingness to “normalize” relations with Armenia are from a “genre of fantasy”.

Turkologist Hakob Chakryan told ARMENPRESS that Turkey actually continues its policy based on hostility and preconditions, and basically nothing has changed over this matter.

“Since 1991, Turkey has brought forward thee preconditions for establishing diplomatic ties with Armenia, undue in international practice. One of them – not to mention about 1915 [Armenian Genocide], second – make the Diaspora-Armenians stop their activities against Turkey, i.e. the efforts to achieve the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and third – to force the Armenians of Artsakh to accept Azerbaijan’s hegemony. Numerous governments changed since 1991 but the preconditions remained the same, they simply changed the wordings. To think that Erdogan would establish diplomatic relations with Armenia is not realistic,” Chakryan said.

According to Chakryan, Turkey doesn’t have an actual desire to establish diplomatic ties with Armenia because of its “old dream” of having a land connection with Azerbaijan through Armenia’s Meghri. “As long as this objective of theirs isn’t realized Turkey won’t establish relations with Armenia.”

The expert on Turkey underscores that nothing has changed in Ankara’s hostile policy against Armenia, which was most explicitly displayed with their unconditional military and political support to Azerbaijan in the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh war.

“Like before, Turkey continues to encourage Azerbaijan. When Davutoglu was serving as foreign minister he had adopted a political course of ‘zero problems with neighbors’. But today, Turkey doesn’t have a single neighbor with whom it doesn’t have problems, perhaps with the exception of Georgia. That is, the ‘zero problems with neighbors’ policy transformed into ‘zero neighbors without problems’. In these conditions how do you think it [Turkey] would treat Armenia when it [Turkey] is even unable to have normal relations with Arab countries. Thus, to believe what Erdogan is saying would be more than a fantasy genre,” Chakryan said.

The Pashinyan Administration’s 2021-2026 government program mentions that just like before, Armenia is still ready to normalize relations with Turkey without preconditions.

On August 26, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that after the 2020 Artsakh war “…..a new door of opportunity has been opened for the lasting peace in our region. If Armenia moves in line with this, Turkey will also act accordingly.”

A day later, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that he “sees some positive signals coming from Turkey in terms of regional peace.” Pashinyan said the Armenian government would evaluate those signals and respond in kind.

Then, on August 29, when asked by reporters to comment on the Armenian leader’s statements, Erdogan said that Turkey is willing to work in the direction of gradually normalizing ties with Armenia based on “respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty”. At the same time, he hinted “recent history should not be a source of hostility”.

“I wish the new government established in Armenia to be beneficial for the region. There is a need for new, constructive approaches in our region. Although there are differences of opinion and expectation, it will be a responsible course of action to make a sincere effort to develop good neighborly relations on the basis of trust, including respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Recent history should not be a source of hostility; constructive steps should be taken for sustainable peace and coexistence. Instead of one-sided accusations, forward-looking, realistic approaches should prevail. We can work to gradually normalize our relations with an Armenian government that has declared its readiness to move in this direction,” Erdogan told reporters, according to Independent Turkce.

 

Aram Sargsyan

Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Azerbaijan president: Current course of events shows that Karabakh conflict would never be resolved peacefully

Hovhannisian John
News.am, Armenia
Aug 30 2021
17:13, 30.08.2021

The post-war period, and the actions of international forces show that the Karabakh conflict would never be resolved through negotiations, said Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev, Interfax-Azerbaijan reported.

“As is known, the negotiation process lasted almost 30 years, but did not yield any results. The current course of events, the period of the Second Karabakh War, and the actions of international forces show that this issue would never be resolved through negotiations,” he said.

Aliyev stressed that the international community tried to present this frozen conflict as an option without an alternative.

“We [Azerbaijan] had a completely different opinion, and I never hid it. I was saying that if the issue is not resolved peacefully, we will restore our territorial integrity by military means,” the Azerbaijani president added.

26 British MPs support bill on Armenian Genocide recognition

Hovhannisian John
Public Radio of Armenia
Aug 26 2021

Twenty-six British MPs have cosigned the bill calling on the UK to recognize the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian National Committee of UK informs.

The bill was introduced by MP John Spellar (Labor – Warley) in July 2021.

The bill will have its second reading and be debated by the House of Commons on December 10. 

  

Armenian community says Azerbaijani troops continue to block road to Iran

Hovhannisian John
TASS, Russia
Aug 27 2021
According to head of the Kapan community Gevorg Parsyan, Thursday’s talks between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russian Border Service officials failed to produce any results and they are likely to continue today

YEREVAN, August 27. /TASS/. Azerbaijani troops continue to block two segments of the Goris-Kapan highway that connects Armenia with Iran, head of the Kapan community Gevorg Parsyan told reporters on Friday.

“The situation hasn’t changed, the Azerbaijanis continue to block the Karmrakar-Shurnukh and Goris-Vorotan sections, essentially cutting three Armenian settlements off from Armenia. Besides, as a result, we are losing contact with Iran because an alternative route through Tatev cannot provide for the movement of large trucks,” Parsyan pointed out.

According to him, Thursday’s talks between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russian Border Service officials failed to produce any results. “They are likely to be continued today,” Parsyan added.

Armenia’s National Security Service said on Thursday that on Wednesday night, Azerbaijani troops had blocked a segment of the Goris-Kapan interstate highway. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said later that the move violated agreements between Yerevan, Baku and Moscow. In accordance with thestatement adopted by the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan on November 9, 2020, seven districts adjacent to the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region were handed over to Baku with the exception of the Lachin Corridor connecting Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. The Karmrakar-Shurnukh and Goris-Vorotan segments of the highway connecting Armenia with Iran were also handed over to Azerbaijan but a Russian border post was set up there to ensure the free movement of people and vehicles.

U.S. Ambassador announces additional $192,000 funding for preservation of Armenia’s Sanahin Monastery

Hovhannisian John
Public Radio of Armenia
Aug 27 2021
 

U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy traveled to Lori and Tavush provinces August 24-26. Her agenda included visits to several sites supported by U.S. government assistance. Ambassador Tracy welcomed the opportunity to speak with local officials outside Yerevan, to meet with local assistance partners, and to hear from Armenian communities beyond the capital. “Yerevan as the capital is extremely important, but Armenia is much more than one city. We are proud of our partnerships with the Armenian government and the people of Armenia. Travel outside Yerevan is a great way to maintain ties, make new contacts, deepen our appreciation of Armenia’s rich history and culture and improve our understanding of the challenges Armenians are facing today,” she said.

On her way to Lori, Ambassador Tracy stopped in Tavush to meet with the newly appointed governor Hayk Ghalumyan and to visit a USAID-supported agricultural business in Achajur.

While in Lori, Ambassador Tracy, joined by Lori province Governor Aram Khachatryan and Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport Karen Trchunyan, visited the Sanahin monastery and announced an award of $192,000 – through the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation – to complete the preservation of the eastern part of the Sanahin monastery complex (Sepulcher of Zakharidi Princes and Sepulcher of Argutinski-Dolgoruki Princes). In 2019, the U.S. Embassy provided an initial $100,000 to the restoration and preservation of three separate monuments in the Sanahin monastery complex (St. Hakop Church, Memorial-khachkar of Grigor Tuteordi, and St. Harutyun Church).

In Dsegh, she toured the HovhannesToumanyan house museum. Ambassador Tracy was pleased to learn about the life and works of this remarkable writer. 

Ambassador Tracy also visited Alaverdi where she visited a USAID-supported milk processing unit. She met with community social workers and vulnerable families in Tumanyan and with young people in Margahovit.

US appeals court rejects Turkey’s attempt to dismiss lawsuit against Erdogan bodyguards

Hovhannisian John
Panorama, Armenia
July 29 2021

A US district appeals court in Washington, D.C., has rejected Turkish government motions to dismiss two lawsuits filed by protesters who were attacked by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan security guards in May 2017, Turkish Minute reported on Wednesday, citing local media.

The cases against Erdogan’s guards stem from an altercation on May 16, 2017, outside the residence of the Turkish ambassador in Washington. Demonstrators, mostly ethnic minorities of Kurdish and Yazidi descent, protesting the policies of the Turkish president were attacked by his bodyguards during a visit by — and within view of — Erdogan.

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday decided to allow both cases filed on behalf of over a dozen plaintiffs, the victims of Erdogan’s bodyguards’ attack, to proceed, upholding the district court’s decision of February 2020 that Turkey isn’t entitled to immunity under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.

Turkey alleges that the demonstrators posed an imminent threat to Erdogan’s safety, but video footage shows Turkish authorities and pro-Erdogan supporters running to attack the protestors, surrounding women and elderly men while punching, kicking and throwing them to the ground.

Armenia and Azerbaijan are fighting again, this is why

Hovhannisian John
The Indian Express

Azerbaijan said Armenian forces opened fire at its positions on the Kalbajar section of the border.

Aleksander Iskandaryan speaking about the political future

Hovhannisian John
JAM News

    JAMnews, Yerevan

Director of the Caucasus Institute, political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan speaking about the political future of Armenia, admitted the likelihood of repeated elections “in a year and a half” – despite the fact that early parliamentary elections were held in Armenia on June 20.

“I don’t think there can be any progress in the Karabakh issue in the near future. Azerbaijan practically refuses to discuss the Karabakh problem”, he said at a press conference. According to Alexander Iskandaryan, today and in the near future, the format of discussing the Karabakh problem itself is unlikely to appear.

The political scientist also commented on the process of returning Armenian prisoners of war who are still being held in Azerbaijan after the second Karabakh war. In his opinion, Baku is not inclined to return all Armenian prisoners, thus, “the bargaining will continue for a long time”.

  • Armenia to receive substantial financial assistance from the EU
  • Armenia’s Constitutional Court to assess validity of snap parliamentary elections

Alexander Iskandaryan began the press conference with the issue of the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. He stressed that the trilateral document on the armistice, which was signed by the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan in the fall of 2020, is not a solution to the Karabakh problem:

“It was an agreement on a ceasefire, a suspension of the war, nothing more. There is not a single word about status, guarantees, procedures, and negotiations – I mean about Artsakh”.

Accordingly, according to the expert, now the Republic of Armenia in its relationship with Azerbaijan faces several questions:

“This is the problem of borders, that is, those territories that Azerbaijan is slowly biting off from Armenia; the problem of stability on these borders, that is, ensuring security (apparently, the decision was made with the help of a third party, that is, Russia); the problem of roads, that is, the opening of communications around Armenia ”.

According to Iskandaryan, these were the issues discussed at the meeting of the acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which took place on July 7 in Moscow.

Putin congratulated Pashinyan on his victory in the elections, stressing that the elections in Armenia showed the people’s confidence in Pashinyan, and this is “the most important condition for the further development of the country”.

“In fact, if we translate from ‘Putin’s language’ into the common human language, Putin said that they are ready to work with the current government of Armenia”, the political scientist believes.

For the fourth day, the Constitutional Court of Armenia has been considering the issue of invalidating the results of the early parliamentary elections, which took place on June 20.

After the announcement of the final results of the voting, four political forces at once addressed the Constitutional Court with this demand.

Alexander Iskandaryan believes that the decision of the constitutional court “will not be able to change the political reality”. The opposition parties will nevertheless enter the parliament of the new convocation and will not boycott its mandates.

Moreover, formally, according to the political scientist, the alignment of political forces in it will be the same as in the past: one party received the majority, almost ⅔ of the votes, and there will be two more opposition parties – one of them has more mandates than the other:

“In reality, if you approach it not formally and look at the composition, then these two opposition parties are not at all what they were before. Before that, there were both parties that supported Pashinyan and his My Step during the 2018 revolution […]. These were the parties that posed as opposition but were associated with the Pashinyan regime”.

The new opposition, the political scientist believes, is “different”, and the parliament will now represent society more than it did before:

“There are a certain number of people in society who quite radically reject the power of Pashinyan and his associates, and they are represented in parliament. Society is paralyzed and split, parliament is paralyzed and split. Accordingly, they are unlikely to be able to influence politics in a serious way, but, of course, there will be discourses”.

According to Iskandaryan, “the next early elections” may take place in a year and a half:

“Because the political crisis has not gone anywhere, the Karabakh issue has not disappeared at all, Mr. Aliyev will continue to play in the Armenian internal political field, the split in society will remain and will not go anywhere, the power will fall, simply because it is power”.

After the second Karabakh war, one of the most acute problems in Armenian society is the return of prisoners of war who have been held in Azerbaijan for months. Moreover, in Baku, they are not considered prisoners of war but are treated as saboteurs and terrorists.

Alexander Iskandaryan believes that Azerbaijan is not inclined to return all POWs:

“Azerbaijan took them prisoner and is trading this factor, they are ready to make transfers in exchange for something [the last two times Baku returned 15 Armenian prisoners in exchange for mine maps of the territories that came under the control of the Azerbaijani side after the war – JAMnews].

This process is underway and, I think, will continue in approximately the same mode. I think that the process will be long – months if not years, because I cannot imagine that they will immediately give up all the prisoners of war. I would like to be wrong, but it seems to me that Azerbaijan is not inclined to give all of them up, since it would be logical for them to keep some number of prisoners and bargain for a long time”.