Author: Jalatian Sonya

Launch of large-scale project to eternalize memory of martyrs to be announced on September 21

Jalatian Sonya

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 18:01,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. The focus of September 21 events will be commemoration of the martyrs, ARMENPRESS reports Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said at the National Assembly, answering the question of MP Gegham Nazaryan about the Independence Day colorful events.

“I want to apologize to the people whose feelings I have somehow hurt by making such a statement. I said that our mood is not festive, but our Republic is 30 years old. The focus of the planned events will be the commemoration of the martyrs. The launch of a large-scale project to eternalize the memory of our brothers and sisters who lost their lives in the wars and during combat duties since independence from Artsakh and Armenia will be announced on September 21, over which we have been holding working consultations for nearly 6 months. The philosophy is the following – the martyrs fell so as to give life to Armenia’’, Nikol Pashinyan said.

Azerbaijan starts charging Iranian trucks supplying Armenia

Jalatian Sonya
EurasiaNet.org
Sept 14 2021

Heydar Isayev, Ani Mejlumyan Sep 14, 2021

Trucks ply the route near the village of Eyvazli. (photos: Joshua Kucera)

Azerbaijani police are stopping Iranian trucks transiting a key road through southern Armenia and charging them a fee for entering Azerbaijan.

Armenia’s National Security Service reported on September 12 that Azerbaijani police were conducting the checks on vehicles with Iranian license plates near the village of Eyvazli. Local media also reported that police were charging the Iranian vehicles a substantial fee.

The next day, an Azerbaijani official confirmed that the checkpoints had been set up. The territory in which drivers are being stopped is Azerbaijani territory and thus they “can be checked accordingly,” Elshad Hajiyev, a spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior Affairs, told BBC Azerbaijani. “If the fact that there is a police post at Baku-Yevlakh road is not surprising, then it shouldn’t be surprising that there are police posts on Azerbaijan’s liberated territories,” Hajiyev said, referring to two cities deeper inside Azerbaijan.

The same day, Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee released a statement confirming that it was collecting customs payments at the Goris-Kapan road. “According to the Tax Code of Azerbaijan, auto vehicles of foreign countries entering and leaving the territory of the Republic are subject to the road tax,” the statement read, adding that the vehicles are also subject to state fee for permit for international automobile delivery.

The road in question connects Goris and Kapan, the two major towns of southern Armenia. It also crosses through several small slices of Azerbaijani-controlled territory, and Baku has gradually been exercising its newly won sovereignty over that territory after retaking it from Armenia as a result of last year’s war.

Earlier this year it first set up border guard posts, flags, and signs reading “Welcome to Azerbaijan” on its sections. Then, in late August, it blocked the road for nearly 48 hours.

One Iranian driver, citing his fellow truckers stuck in southern Armenia, told RFE/RL on September 13: “They say the Azerbaijanis demand $120 from every truck for using the road.” Another driver told Armenia’s Fifth Channel that they were being charged twice on the road (and used the figure of $130) – once as they traveled north through it and a second time as they returned south.

“Two hundred sixty dollars is a lot of money for us,” the driver said. “If we can’t get that money reimbursed, I personally won’t come.” The driver added that the officers who stopped him were wearing uniforms of the customs service and that they told him to turn off his phone and not film the exchange.

The development follows a period of increased tension between Azerbaijan and Iran. In August. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry summoned Iran’s ambassador to Baku and presented him with a note of protest detailing “undesirable facts of Iranian trucks traveling to Karabakh.”

This is not the first time Azerbaijan has taken issue with Iranian trucks traveling to Nagorno-Karabakh, which is internationally recognized as Azerbaijani territory but which since the first war between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the 1990s has been controlled by Armenian forces.

In April 2020, following social media reports of Iranian trucks traveling to Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan’s deputy foreign minister telephoned his Iranian counterpart to express concern. Iran’s foreign ministry responded that the reports were “utterly false” and blamed “provocateurs.”

This time, Baku also has blamed Russian peacekeeping forces, which deployed to the region as part of the ceasefire agreement ending last year’s war, and which now patrol the road connecting Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh.

On September 12, Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry reported that it had sent letters to the Russian Defense Ministry as well as to the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Karabakh, asking them to stop the “illegal crossing of third-country vehicles into the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan where Russia’s peacekeepers are temporarily stationed.”

The checkpoints appear, however, to apply to trucks whether or not they are going to Karabakh. And they also appear to only be directed at Iranian vehicles, and not Armenian or any other vehicles entering Azerbaijan-controlled territory.

Iranian officials have not yet directly responded to the development.

“We are trying to use the resources of the Islamic Republic of Iran for regional development, peace and stability, with the participation of all neighbors. In particular, the relations with Armenia, as well as our other neighbors are on the agenda,” a spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said.

On September 14, Iran’s ambassador to Azerbaijan Abbas Mousavi tweeted a photo of a meeting with Hikmat Hajiyev, a senior adviser to Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, and reported that the two discussed “our bilateral ties and issues of common concern and interest.” Hajiyev responded, saying the two “had indeed fruitful discussions on the issues on our bilateral agenda and reviewed ways forward.”

Following the two-day closure in August, which also disrupted cargo traffic between Armenia and Iran, Iran’s embassy in Yerevan expressed concern and said it hoped that the Armenian government will speed up work on “alternative routes” for Iranian-Armenian trade. An alternative road is in fact under construction, through the towns of Aghvani and Tatev.

But that is not a short-term solution.

“Iranian trucks with large cargo can’t go through the alternative road in Tatev that is under construction,” the deputy mayor of Goris, Karo Kocharyan, told news website factor.am. Kocharyan said the checkpoint had been operating since September 10 and that drivers are being charged $130 for using the road, an additional $60 for larger trucks, and $500 for fuel trucks.

The Armenian government has not yet publicly responded to the reports, and the security service has not issued any more updates.

During a September 13 session of parliament, Vahe Hakobyan from the opposition “Armenia Alliance” and a former governor of the Syunik region where the road is located, raised the issue and said Armenia’s economy stands to suffer: “As you know, over 40 percent of our cargo turnover [with the world] is carried out through Iran.”

On September 14 Arstvik Minasyan from Armenia Alliance told Fifth Channel that “today or tomorrow” the parliament along with security organs of the country was planning to hold a closed-door discussion on the issue. 

 

Ani Mejlumyan is a reporter based in Yerevan.

Heydar Isayev is a journalist from Baku.

Iranian Foreign Ministry commented on the situation with trucks traveling to Armenia

Jalatian Sonya
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 14 2021

Saeed Khatibzadeh, the spokesman at Iran’s Foreign Ministry, stated on Tuesday that relations with neighboring countries are priority for Iran, which is reflected in the fundamental approach in the foreign policy of Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi. 

“We are trying to use opportunities of the Islamic Republic for the development, peace and stability of the region with involvement of all neighbors. In particular, relations with Armenia and other countries are on the agenda,” Khatibzadeh said, as cited by Pars Today. 

To remind, earlier the National Security Service of Armenia reported that the Azerbaijani police are inspecting trucks with Iranian license plates checkpoint on Goris-Kapan Highway, which are carrying goods and products from the Islamic Republic to Armenia.

New Belgian ambassador presents copy of credentials to FM Ararat Mirzoyan

Jalatian Sonya

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 13:34,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The new Belgian ambassador to Armenia Marc Michielsen presented the copy of credentials to foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan on September 11.

FM Mirzoyan congratulated the ambassador on assuming office and expressed conviction that Michielsen will contribute to advancing the Armenian-Belgian multi-sector cooperation, political dialogue and bilateral and multilateral agenda.

FM Mirzoyan and Ambassador Michielsen discussed possibilities for enhancing the trade-economic relations and boosting partnership in the high-tech sector. Re-launching the Yerevan-Brussels air communication was highlighted.

The Armenia-European Union cooperation was also discussed. Mirzoyan underscored that the effective implementation of the Armenia-EU CEPA – ratified by Belgium – as well as the implementation of inclusive programs as part of the Eastern Partnership format will contribute to deepening bilateral relations and sectoral partnership.

FM Mirzoyan and Ambassador Michielsen exchanged ideas over regional peace and security matters. Mirzoyan expressed conviction that a lasting and stable peace in the region can be achieved only through a comprehensive solution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmanship. The Armenian FM also welcomed Belgium’s position over this issue.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenia opens its sky for Azerbaijani aviation

Jalatian Sonya
Vestnik Kavkaza
Sept 8 2021
 8 Sep in 12:20

For the first time after the Karabakh war, the aircraft Boeing-737, on a passenger domestic flight in Azerbaijan, travelled over Armenia’s airspace, according to Flight Radar.

Turkish Airlines flight TK326 from Ganja to Nakhchivan was carried out on September 4, this information appeared today. The plane took off from Ganja at 9.57 (5.57 UTC) and landed in Nakhichevan at 10.32 (6.32 UTC), the flight duration was 35 minutes.

According to Flight Radar, tthe aircraft was shown flying over Goycha (Sevan) and Armenia’s Gegharkunik Province.

Tehran: Iran FM underlines need to respect borders in Caucasus

Jalatian Sonya
Tehran Times, Iran
Sept 1 2021
  1. Politics
September 1, 2021 – 18:51

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on Tuesday underlined the need to preserve internationally recognized borders in the Caucasus region days after clashes erupted between Azerbaijan and Armenia that led to the blocking of a strategic Armenia road used by Iranian merchants. 

The remarks were made during a phone conversation between Abdollahian and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov. 

The Azerbaijani foreign minister has telephoned his Iranian counterpart to congratulate him on winning Parliament’s vote of confidence to become Iran’s new top diplomat.

Abdollahian thanked Bayramov, saying Iran is ready to expand ties with the Azerbaijan Republic in all areas including assistance with reconstruction efforts in the liberated areas [in the Karabakh region].

Amir Abdollahian also stressed the need for respecting internationally recognized borders, according to a statement by the Iranian Foreign Ministry. 

He said all disputes in the Caucasus region should be resolved peacefully.

The Azeri foreign minister also called for increasing cooperation with Iran and asked for the Islamic Republic’s help with the rebuilding of the liberated areas [of Karabakh].

Bayramov also called for transit cooperation with Iran and briefed the Iranian foreign minister on the latest developments in the Karabakh region.

Abdollahian and Bayramov invited each other to visit Iran and the Azerbaijan Republic, respectively, in as short a time as possible. They expressed hope the visits will happen soon.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry issued a similar statement. “On August 31, 2021, a telephone conversation took place between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hossein Amirabdollahian. Minister Jeyhun Bayramov congratulated his Iranian counterpart on his appointment as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran and wished him success in his activities,” the Azerbaijani statement said. 

It added, “Minister Jeyhun Bayramov stressed the existence of relations based on the principles of friendship and cooperation that have deep historical roots, broad-spectrum bilateral cooperation agenda between Azerbaijan and Iran, and noted that a number of projects have been successfully implemented by the two countries. The sides also exchanged views on the current situation in the region and some issues of bilateral cooperation.”

Bayramov also invited his Iranian counterpart to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan, according to the statement. 

In July, Iran expressed concern twice over continued border clashes between Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, which claimed lives on both sides and aroused concerns in neighboring countries in the South Caucasus region.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh expressed concern over the continuation of border clashes between the border guards of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Khatibzadeh expressed regret over the deaths and injuries of the two countries’ nationals, and called on both parties to show self-restraint.

Armenia’s Defense Ministry said at the time that three of its troops were killed and two more were wounded in clashes with Azerbaijani forces on the border between the two ex-Soviet nations, which have been locked in a decades-long tug-of-war over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, AP reported. 

Azerbaijan announced that two of its troops were wounded. The two South Caucasus nations once again blamed each other for the latest flare-up which came on the heels of another clash a week earlier. Azerbaijan said Armenian forces opened fire at its positions on the Kalbajar section of the border. The Armenian military said its personnel was attacked by the Azerbaijani forces.

Khatibzadeh underlined the necessity of the peaceful settlement of border disputes between Baku and Yerevan.

He stressed that the two countries must overcome the tensions and clashes, and respect the internationally recognized borders.

The spokesman further emphasized the necessity of establishing sustainable peace in the South Caucasus region as soon as possible, and expressed Tehran’s preparedness to provide any kind of assistance for the establishment of sustainable peace in the region.

On July 27, a few days before the start of border clashes, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Azeri counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov had a telephone conversation.

During this phone call, the two sides conferred on the latest developments in bilateral relations and regional issues.

Earlier on July 27, Khatibzadeh expressed regret over the casualties resulting from sporadic border clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia, urging the two neighbors to exercise restraint. 

In reaction to the continuation of sporadic border clashes between border guards of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Khatibzadeh expressed sorrow over casualties on both sides, and called on the two countries to exercise restraint, according to a statement by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a deadly war last year in September over the Nagorno-Karabakh region which resulted in the latter retaking large swathes of the region. After the war, which lasted for 44 days and was ended thanks to a Russian-brokered ceasefire deal, Azerbaijan and Armenia clashed from time to time in border areas but the clashes soon subsided with both sides accusing each other of firing first.

Tensions between the two countries over the region have been simmering since the end of a war in the 1990s and last year’s escalation of violence was the deadliest in two decades. More than 5,000 people lost their lives and tens of thousands were displaced.

The peace deal brokered by Moscow saw Armenia forced to cede significant territory to Azerbaijan.

Both countries have repeatedly accused each other of violating the terms of the agreement since it came into force on November 10.

In addition to his conversation with Bayramov, Abdollahian also received a phone call from Croatia’s top diplomat Gordan Grlic Radman who has phoned Abdollahian to congratulate him on winning the Iranian parliament’s vote of confidence.

Abdollahian and Radman discussed Iran-Croatia ties and also the Islamic Republic’s relations with the European Union.

During the telephone conversation, the foreign ministers of Iran and Croatia underlined the need to expand ties between Tehran and Zagreb in all areas.

They agreed that deals signed by the two sides regarding investment, customs cooperation and also cultural cooperation must be put into practice.

Abdollahian also outlined Iran’s stance on the nuclear talks in Vienna. He said it’s not Iran’s policy to hold talks for the sake of talks, noting that any negotiations must exclusively focus on fulfilling the nation’s interests.

Abdollahian said the U.S. should know it can only use respectful language when talking to the Iranian people.

UK to help clear landmines in Nagorno-Karabakh

Jalatian Sonya
Sept 2 2021
By

 Deirdre Tynan

 –

2 September 2021 @ 14:15

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The UK has provided half a million pounds to help clear landmines in and around Nagorno-Karabakh, to make the area safe, prevent injuries and save lives.

The UK has provided half a million pounds to help clear landmines in and around Nagorno-Karabakh, to make the area safe, prevent injuries and save lives following last year’s conflict.

The funds given to the United Nations Development Programme will help with training and personnel to support mine clearance and make contaminated land safe for human use in and around Nagorno-Karabakh.

The UK was the first country to announce humanitarian support following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, with £1 million donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross to support those affected.

Now the UK is calling on other countries to support the UN initiative to help thousands of people affected by the conflict to rebuild their lives and return to the region after being driven from their homes by conflict or unexploded munitions.

Minister for the European Neighbourhood and the Americas, Wendy Morton, said, “The territories in and around Nagorno-Karabakh are amongst some of the most heavily mined in the world, with frequent reports of civilians losing their lives or suffering life-changing injuries.

“The UK’s donation will be used to harness the UN’s expertise and reduce the risk to civilian life in both Armenia and Azerbaijan through the provision of training and technical demining support to those helping make the area safer. But there’s more work to be done. That’s why we’re calling on our international partners to also support the collective effort needed if we are to ensure the safety of all people in the region.

“The funding will be used by the UN to deliver support with local and national de-mining organisations in Armenia and Azerbaijan including through technical, strategic and management support,” she added on September 2.

A significant number of landmines and unexploded ordnance remains across the region which poses an indiscriminate threat to life. The UK continues to encourage both Armenia and Azerbaijan to commit to sign the Ottawa Treaty that seeks to eliminate the use of landmines around the world.

​France reiterates full support for the people of Armenia: Le Drian congratulates Mirzoyan on appointment

Jalatian Sonya
Public Radio of Armenia
Sept 4 2021

France reiterates full support for the people of Armenia: Le Drian congratulates Mirzoyan on appointment

 September 4, 2021, 17:59 1 minute read

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian sent a congratulatory message to Ararat Mirzoyan on his appointment to the post of RA Foreign Minister. The message reads:

“Dear Mr. Minister,

I cordially send you my warm congratulations on the occasion of assuming the post of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, expressing my gratitude in advance for the prospect of working closely with you in an atmosphere of trust.

Your country has faced a number of security, economic and health challenges in recent months. I would like to reaffirm France’s full support for the Armenian people who are going through this difficult phase.

There are privileged relations between France and Armenia, based on deep historical and cultural ties, with a rich agenda. The quality of the Armenian-French political dialogue obliges us to deepen our economic cooperation in favor of, in particular, the unblocking and diversification of the Armenian economy.

France will continue to assist Armenia in overcoming the aftermath of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which has resulted in numerous casualties, and, as a co-chair of the Minsk Group, will continue to pursue a comprehensive solution to the conflict.

If the incidents of recent months underscore the need to work on the demarcation and demarcation of your country’s borders, we want the positive dynamics of the recent exchange of prisoner-of-war and mine maps to help restore trust between the parties. France acts as a player of peace in the South Caucasus region and stands by Armenia to achieve the expected peace.

Please accept, my Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. “

The war unleashed against Artsakh triggered a new round of challenging developments – Serzh Sargsyan

Jalatian Sonya
Panorama, Armenia
Sept 2 2021

Former President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has issued a message on the Artsakh Republic Day, marked on September 2. In his message, Sargsyan notes that thirty years ago, the document on the proclamation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic was adopted at the joint session of the NK central and Shahumyan regional councils in Stepanakert, which was the first important step on the way to ensuring the survival of the Artsakh-based Armenians in their historic homeland. Months later, that document was followed by the referendum on reinstating Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence.

“The Artsakh-based Armenians’ decision to take the once illegally annexed Autonomous Region of Nagorno-Karabakh out of Azerbaijan as the latter advocated and fostered Armenophobia was based on bitter lessons of history. None of us had forgotten that in 1921 another part of Armenia, Nakhichevan, was handed over to Azerbaijan in the same illegal manner resulting in pogroms, planned displacement and resettlement of Armenians in the Armenian-populated settlements of Azerbaijan and destruction of millenia-old Armenian monuments,” said Sargsyan. He recalls that the same sad fate of Nakhichevan, which had been purged of Armenians, would befell Artsakh, if we failed to form self-defense units, and later on the Artsakh Defense Army, dealt a heavy blow on the invaders and threw them out of our homeland. A remarkable state-building campaign was initiated in Artsakh, which rapidly developed with the support of all Armenians.

“The war unleashed against Artsakh in 2020 and the November 9 document stealthily signed by the Capitulator who still holds the office of Prime Minister in Armenia, triggered a new round of challenging developments in Artsakh and Armenia, the consequences of which we feel every day in our border settlements. The incumbent authorities which keep promising that we may enjoy peace and will benefit from unblocked regional infrastructures, sustainable and safe development, are meant to weaken our people’s vigilance, to sow fear and distrust in our strength and eventually undermine the safety of the two Armenian states. In the meantime, Azerbaijan’s President confessed on several occasions that he was being “urged behind closed doors to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence,” the message said. 

In Sargsyan’s words, they waged a challenging but victorious war in the 1990s. “I can insist today that at that time we managed to have the upper hand in a protracted, heavy and unequal war. Some say that Azerbaijan boasted more money, weaponry, ammunition and troops. That is right, but for me, the war was unequal because the strong fought against the weak, and we were strong. The freedom-lovers fought against the invaders, and we were freedom-lovers; the righteous fought against the unjust, and we were the embodiment of justice. We won because we believed in sanctity of our land and family. Similarly, we would have won the 44-day war, if the incumbent authorities had not squeezed our fighting spirit, ousted our best field commanders, mismanaged the war, failed to give vain promises of an imminent victory. As a result, part of our homeland was surrendered to the enemy, several thousands of our troops were killed and hundreds of Armenian prisoners of war were left unattended,” added the former president. 

“Thirty years ago, Artsakh made a historical decision, and its status is to live safely outside of Azerbaijan, which is the legitimate right of the Artsakh-based Armenians. Any talks on the status of Artsakh should seek to enshrine that fundamental right, to achieve legal and historical justice, and bearing in mind the events of not so distant past, to prevent Artsakh from being purged of Armenian. All this will come true, if we have a strong army, highly professional diplomats and a strong faith in national values, if we keep working hard, if we glorify our heroes and victories and hold firm to our national values,” according to the message.

Police special forces apprehend young man for shouting against Armenia PM

Jalatian Sonya
News.am, Armenia
Aug 27 2021
11:34, 27.08.2021

YEREVAN. – The Police special forces on Friday apprehended, from outside the main government building, a young man for shouting against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia.

The Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent reported from the scene that this young man was walking his dog at Republic Square in downtown Yerevan, then he turning toward the aforesaid building, he shouted “Nikol, leave!” several times.

The Police special forces immediately ran towards this young man, held him from his arms, put him in a police car, and took him away.

The police did not tell our reporter what the reason was for apprehending this young man.