Author: Jane Topchian

Deadly clash erupts in Nagorno-Karabakh amid Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks

Jane Topchian
Lilit Shahverdyan Jun 28, 2023

Early on June 28, the de facto government of Nagorno-Karabakh reported that four of its servicemen were killed overnight in a major Azerbaijani attack using artillery and drones.

The previous day, Baku claimed an Azerbaijani soldier had been wounded by firing from Karabakhi Armenian positions. Karabakh’s armed forces, the Artsakh Defense Army, denied this assertion and called in an attempt to “lay the informational groundwork” for Azerbaijan’s own attack.

The fatal incident followed two claims by Karabakh officials of ceasefire violations by Azerbaijan on June 27.

There have been numerous light escalations in the region recently, with both sides trading accusations that are recorded in the Russian peacekeepers’ daily bulletins. In several cases, the Armenian side reported civilians getting shot by Azerbaijani combat units while performing agricultural work in bordering villages. Azerbaijan denied targeting farmers.

A day earlier, on June 26, Azerbaijan’s defense minister talked tough on the Artsakh Defense Army, which is referred to in Baku as a collection of “illegal armed units”. 

“We do not rate the capabilities of the illegal armed units in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh Economic Zone particularly highly. We know their number, armaments, moral-psychological state, and we know what they can do,”  Zakir Hasanov told local CBC TV.

“If they resort to some kind of provocations or illegal actions, it will only take one corps of the Azerbaijani army – not even a whole one – to resolve the issue of these illegal armed formations.”

Armenia pledged to withdraw all its troops from Karabakh by September 2022. The de facto administration of Nagorno-Karabakh retains its own armed force, the Artsakh Defense Army, which prior to the Armenian defeat in the 2020 war was largely integrated with the army of the Republic of Armenia. Before the war, conscripts from Armenia were sent to serve in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. 

Azerbaijan has periodically justified its now 6.5-month-old blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh by citing the need to thwart supplies of weapons from Armenia to Karabakh’s Defense Army. 

Things escalated on the ground just as the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan were convening in Washington for talks on a comprehensive peace agreement aimed at ending the neighboring states’ decades-long rivalry. 

On June 27, US Secretary Anthony Blinken announced the start of the latest round of negotiations. “We support Armenia and Azerbaijan working together toward a durable and dignified agreement. Dialogue is key to lasting peace,” he wrote. 

Two separate tracks of talks, one mediated by the U.S. and EU and the other by Russia, have seemed to achieve little progress in recent months. 

After an EU-mediated meeting in May, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for the first time explicitly stated Armenia’s readiness to recognize Azerbaijan’s sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh.

The biggest sticking point in the talks is the fate of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia and Western mediators seek “international guarantees” for Karabakhi Armenians once they are under Azerbaijani rule. Baku has flatly rejected this demand claiming the issue is an internal affair. Many Armenians fear the establishment of Azerbaijani sovereignty will be tantamount to “ethnic cleansing.”

Baku has signaled recently that it is in no hurry to reach a permanent settlement with Armenia. 

Tigran Grigoryan, an analyst originally from Nagorno-Karabakh, said in a tweet that the timing of the latest incident held a clear message from Azerbaijan: “if you refuse to make concessions during the talks, we will force them on the ground.”

“There is another obvious reason why Baku started this escalation amid the talks in DC: they will use it to promote their agenda of disarming NK’s self-defense force,” he added. 

Karabakh and Armenia were sharply at odds on how to respond to the latest incident. Karabakh’s de facto parliament in a statement demanded that Yerevan “immediately stop the negotiations” until a full ceasefire can be put in place. Engaging in talks at such a time amounts to “encouragement of Azerbaijan’s aggressive actions,” it added.

Alen Simonyan, Armenia’s parliament speaker, said in response that there was no alternative to the negotiations and advised against making “hasty statements.”

Meanwhile, Nagorno-Karabakh has been totally cut off from the outside world for nearly two weeks, since Azerbaijan closed its checkpoint on the Armenian border to all traffic following a shooting incident. The region has effectively been under blockade since December 12, but until June 15 limited supplies could be brought in and emergency patients could be transported out through the Russian peacekeepers and the International Committee of the Red Cross. 

Lilit Shahverdyan is a journalist based in Stepanakert. 

Artsakh parliament calls on Armenian delegation to stop talks in the US

Jane Topchian
Armenia –

The statement of the Artsakh parliament, in particular, reads:

 

“The incident of regular violations of the ceasefire regime by Azerbaijan was recorded at a time when the next round of talks of the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan is underway in Washington, with the mediation of the US Secretary of State.

 

This once again confirms that in reality, the talks on the “peace treaty” are nothing but an imitation of the formation of an atmosphere of establishing lasting peace and stability in the region.

 

We appeal to the UN Security Council, the leaders of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries to take concrete practical steps and impose sanctions on Azerbaijan.

 

We also appeal to Russia to stop Azerbaijan’s anti-human, genocidal actions with the most severe measures within the scope of the peacekeeping mission.

 

We appeal on the Armenian delegation to immediately stop the talks in Washington until the establishment of a full ceasefire on the line of contact with Artsakh and on the borders of Armenia and providing documentary guarantees to observe it. Otherwise, the continuation of the talks will mean encouraging Azerbaijan’s aggressive behavior and providing it with “international privileges.”

https://mediamax.am/en/news/karabakh/51789/

EU condemns Azerbaijani ambassador’s ‘totally unacceptable’ threat regarding Armenia trip – OC Media

Jane Topchian

 10:14,

YEREVAN, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS. The EU has condemned an apparent threat to members of the European parliament by Azerbaijan’s ambassador to the EU, Vagif Sadigov.

Sadigov, who also serves as the country’s ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, tweeted on 23 June in response to a visit by a delegation of MEPs to Armenia which travelled close to the border with Azerbaijan.

An EU spokesperson told OC Media that they were aware of the tweet.

‘We condemn such behaviour which is totally unacceptable for an Ambassador accredited to the EU’, the spokesperson said.

Sadigov tweeted an image and description of an Azerbaijani-produced sniper rifle with the following caption:

‘They know what they are doing to protect themselves. The Istiglal IST-14.5 anti-materiel sniper rifle produced in Azerbaijan has the effective firing range of about 3,000 m. Guys, keep clear of Azerbaijani state border…’

Nathalie Loiseau, an MEP who chairs the European Parliament’s Security and Defence Subcommittee and who led the delegation to Armenia, reacted angrily to Sadigov’s tweet on Monday.

‘Is this a threat towards Members of the European Parliament? Does it really come from an [Azerbaijani] «diplomat»? To what level has Azerbaijan’s diplomacy fallen?’, she tweeted.

‘Disrespecting an ICJ decision and taking 120 000 human beings hostage, there is nothing to be proud of. Is it what makes you lose your nerves? We, Europeans with strong values, aren’t impressed. We will continue to support peace and respect for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.’

Arif Shahmarli, who served as Azerbaijan’s ambassador to the EU from 2000–2007, and to the Council of Europe from 2006–2012, also condemned Sadigov’s actions.

‘It is ridiculous and unacceptable for an educated and experienced diplomat like Vagif Sadigov to write such a tweet, it is a pity’, Shahmarli told OC Media.

‘Personally, I regret this kind of behaviour, because these kinds of steps will not bring good things to Azerbaijan. On the contrary, it is an action that will be used against Azerbaijan at a time when peace negotiations are ongoing.’

‘The fact that he uses the Azerbaijan-made İSTIGLAL sniper rifle in his rhetoric on Twitter is similar to President Aliyev’s rhetoric, in my opinion’, Shahmarli said. ‘Maybe this was an ordered post.’

‘It seems that Azerbaijani diplomats have already switched to harsh rhetoric’, he added.

Pashinyan lauds economic activity

Jane Topchian

 12:16,

YEREVAN, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS. Armenia continues to be positioned in a dimension of high economic activity, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the June 29 Cabinet meeting.

“I am pleased to note that Armenia continues to be positioned in the dimension of high economic activity. The 2023 May economic indicators have been published. And I have to note that we recorded 13,7% economic activity compared to May of last year. Industry grew 5,3%, construction grew 18,4%, trade grew 28,6% and services grew 12,3%,” he said, adding that the economic activity index of last year’s May was also high, at 10,8%.

Governor of Kansas Laura Kelly and Adjutant General Brigadier General Michael Venerdi to visit Armenia

Jane Topchian

 17:18, 21 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 21, ARMENPRESS.   Governor of Kansas Laura Kelly is visiting Armenia June 22-23, 2023, the U.S. Embassy announced.  The Governor’s visit will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Kansas-Armenia State Partnership, and strengthen ties between the State of Kansas and Armenia. 

Governor Kelly is joined by U.S. Brigadier General Michael Venerdi on his first visit to Yerevan since being appointed as Adjutant General for the State of Kansas.

Governor Kelly and Brigadier General Venerdi will meet with the Prime Minister and senior officials from the Armenian government, including the Minister of Defense, Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister for Education, and Minister of Economy.  They will also visit the 12th Peacekeeping Brigade, the Military Hospital, the National Defense Research University, Military University, and the Armenia National Agrarian University.

In 2003, the Republic of Armenia signed an agreement with the State of Kansas and the U.S. Department of Defense to establish the Kansas-Armenia State Partnership Program.  Under the program, the Kansas National Guard has worked closely with the Armenian Ministry of Defense, and other governmental agencies on joint initiatives including military training, emergency preparedness, law enforcement, business, medical, public health, educational and humanitarian exchanges.

Haigazian University holds 63rd Commencement

Jane Topchian
 Guest Contributor Diaspora 0

By Mira Yardemian, Public Relations Director

BEIRUT, Lebanon—Some 132 students from the various faculties of Business Administration & Economics, Humanities, Sciences, and Social and Behavioral Sciences at Haigazian University received their undergraduate and graduate degrees last Friday, June 9, 2023, thus bidding farewell to the four most challenging years of their lives.

The courtyard of the First Armenian Evangelical Church, next to the University campus, was full with a capacity audience of officials, family and friends gathered to applaud the graduating students amidst an atmosphere of cheer, sometimes mixed with moments of high emotion.

Haigazian University graduation ceremony 2023

This year, Haigazian University was honored by the presence of the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) leadership who came from the US to hold their annual meetings in Beirut. The delegation was headed by president Dr. Nazareth Darakjian and CEO Zaven Khanjian, as well as members of the Board of Trustees, headed by chair Dr. Hasmig Baran. The audience also included political, diplomatic, religious and corporate representation.

The auspicious ceremony began with the formal processional march on the notes of the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance” by Sir Edward Elgar, whereby faculty, led by Chief Marshall Dr. Najoie Nasr proceeded in their traditional academic regalia of caps, gown and hoods, followed by graduates. After the Lebanese national anthem, the prayer of invocation was offered by campus minister Rev. Wilbert Van Saane.

In his welcoming address, University president Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian expressed his pride in the graduating class and acknowledged the unwavering efforts and dedication of the administrative and teaching body, the students and their parents during these last couple of challenging years the country was facing, asking the audience to give them a hearty applause.

In his remarks, Haidostian tackled the contraction between the timely notions of “unlimited access to knowledge” and “human limitation,” considering the “limitless access to so much is often highlighted and celebrated, whereas accepting our limitations is usually disregarded.”

For this, he shared a word of advice with the graduates, telling them, “your limitations are not your end. They are your chance for a disciplined journey. They are your beginning. Awareness of limitations will give you the humility to be open for new learning. It will give you the right heart to turn inhibition into gratitude and growth.”

“Allow me to qualify you as Class of Heroes, because heroes are not only those who die on the battlefield; they are also ordinary individuals who find the strength to endure overwhelming challenges and emerge victorious,” said Dr. Baran in her inspiring keynote speech to the class of 2023.

Dr. Baran focused on three key perspectives, “success,” “attitude” and “resilience” to respond to topic she raised: How do you move forward amidst overwhelming challenges?

Since “success” is a relative term in general, Dr. Baran asked the graduates to first “define success.” “The feeling of success comes only when you achieve what is most important to you. True success is a personal feeling, not a manifestation that others perceive,” Dr. Baran noted.

As “attitude” matters in how we deal with challenges, Dr. Baran considered that it’s almost impossible to find satisfaction in negative feelings and behaviors. “We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but one thing we do know is that we have the choice as to how to respond to life. Let’s embrace a positive attitude and say, ‘I can do it!’ ‘It can be done!’ ‘I will do it!’” concluded Dr. Baran.

On “resilience,” Dr. Baran considered that emotionally resilient people are keener to deal with crisis situations. “Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving; we get stronger and more determined through resilience to go on to live a happy and fulfilling life,” she noted.

Dr. Baran concluded her speech by instilling a sense of pride in the graduates. “Consider yourselves fortunate to have had the opportunity to be educated at this unique institution of higher learning that prepared you academically and spiritually… Be a candle and shine a light on those who tumble in darkness. And make countless candles of them for a brighter world and future,” she said.

Next to speak was president of BASCO International LLC (a strategic consulting and business advisory practice), current board member and 1976 graduate Serge Buchakjian, who congratulated the graduates in the name of the university alumni and proudly shared his formative years at Haigazian University.

“I received the foundational knowledge, skills and traits imparted by this exceptional institution that have informed my life: compassion, tolerance, gratitude, true friendship, cultural sensitivity, service to community are a few qualities that come to mind,” Buchakjian said.

Buchakjian concluded his speech by offering a precious piece of advice to the youth: “Be the best that you can be and make a difference, be patient, and last but not least, never forget where you came from.”

With a sense of accomplishment, valedictorian Araz Pamboukian, a recipient of the Future Armenian Leadership Fund (FALF) scholarship, expressed her gratitude to the university for this opportunity and unique experience. Applauding the work ethic, motivation and perseverance of her fellow graduates, Pamboukian said, “The fact that you are standing here today is a testament to your tenacity. In the face of such fluctuating and varied adversities, you adapted, you persevered and you made it through.”

For her part, valedictorian Jana Abdulrahim gratefully acknowledged the determination and strong will of her fellow graduates in overcoming the economic and financial challenges of the country as they embark on a new phase of their lives. In very touching words, Abdulrahim paid homage to late professor Dr. Samih Azar, who passed away earlier this year, by dedicating her honor’s degree to his memory.

Finally, after singing the Alma Mater, and upon the benediction offered by former campus minister Rev. Nishan Bakalian, with waves of resounding cheers graduates threw their caps high into the air!

Haigazian University Class of 2023

Armenia hosts Fifth Zeldovich meeting organized by ICRANet

Jane Topchian

 17:15,

YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. The Fifth Zeldovich meeting, organized by ICRANet, an international conference in honor of Ya. B. Zeldovich, will be held in Yerevan on June 12-17.

The seminar opened on Monday with over 100 scientists from Italy, Germany, China, Russia, United States, UK, India, Iran, Czech Republic and Belarus participating in the event.

Armenian government officials, foreign diplomats, lawmakers and scientists from the Armenian National Academy of Sciences attended the opening ceremony.

The seminar will also commemorate the 80th anniversary of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia whose Members gave equally fundamental contributions to the field of Relativistic Astrophysics.

The topics covered at the meeting will include:

  • multimessenger astrophysics;
    • early universe, large scale structure, cosmic microwave background;
    • neutron stars, black holes, gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, hypernovae;
    • gravitational waves;
    • quantum and gravity.

Vice Speaker of Parliament Hakob Arshakyan delivered remarks at the event, highlighting participation of Armenian scientists in such programs, and emphasized the role of the National Academy of Sciences.

“I’d like to call for partnership upon the scientists who are today visiting Armenia, because it is obvious that otherwise the country can’t achieve big successes on its own. We must unite efforts in order for the modern scientific achievements to be served for humanity more efficiently,” Arshakyan said.

Deputy Foreign Minister Vahe Gevorgyan attached importance to the important role of ICRANet as a platform for international cooperation. He said that organizing the seminar in Armenia is an important step for the development of astrophysics not only in Armenia but all participating countries.

Russian scientist Marat Glifanov accepted the Marcel Grossmann Award on behalf of the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Space Research.

The award was presented by ICRANet Director Remo Ruffini for the Spektr-RG/eROSITA satellite.

ICRANet – Armenia Director Narek Sahakyan said that the meeting has special significance. He said that they are happy to organize the event especially this year, when the National Academy of Sciences is celebrating the 80th anniversary of its foundation. “Over the past 80 years, our academy encouraged and implemented fundamental and applied research in various scientific directions,” he said.

Leftist Agitators Attack Armenian Parents Protesting “LGBTQ+” Activities in Glendale, CA Schools

Jane Topchian
Legal Insurrection
June 7 2023

“Armenian and Hispanic families have been protesting the Glendale school board’s pride celebrations and the indoctrination of their children into radical gender ideology.”

Posted by Mike LaChance Wednesday, June 7, 2023 
  • Reddit
  • Email

    • Just a few days ago, a protest in North Hollywood, California, got heated when skirmishes broke out between parents and pro-LGBT protesters.

    Now something similar and even more chaotic has happened in Glendale, California, where members of the Armenian community were protesting LGBT content in schools. When Antifa showed up, things got ugly.

    An all-out brawl between Antifa and parents erupted outside a Glendale, California school board meeting on Tuesday.

    “Breaking: Armenian-American men fight against #Antifa & far-left protesters outside the Glendale (CA) school board meeting. Immigrant families have been furious that elementary schools are doing pride events. Antifa have gathered to oppose the parents” TPM Senior Editor Andy Ngo tweeted.

    Armenian and Hispanic families have been protesting the Glendale school board’s pride celebrations and the indoctrination of their children into radical gender ideology. Parents were there protesting, trying to work with Glendale Unified as to what will be taught during Pride Week.

    “Basically there’s some so called Antifa or hoodlums, anti social folks who were here, 20-30 folks, who segregated themselves w LGBTQ protesters, then they moved away and went to a parking lot, they met a group of Armenian men. One the Antifa attacked an Armenian man and the men fought back” a source on the scene told The Post Millennial.

    Over the years, this has been a pattern of behavior for the far left. They simply won’t allow anyone to protest an issue that they support. Only they are allowed to protest.

    https://legalinsurrection.com/2023/06/leftist-agitators-attack-armenian-parents-protesting-lgbtq-activities-in-glendale-ca-schools/

    Azerbaijan accuses Macron of ‘distorting’ Armenia peace talks after EU summit

    Jane Topchian
    POLITICO
    June 2 2023

    Spat comes amid warnings of the risk of renewed conflict in the South Caucasus.

    BY GABRIEL GAVIN
    JUNE 2, 2023 11:46 AM 
    An EU-backed effort to avert a new conflict in the South Caucasus has been overshadowed by a growing diplomatic row, with Azerbaijan accusing French President Emmanuel Macron of misrepresenting what was discussed during high-stakes peace talks with Armenia.

    Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met on Thursday evening on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit in Moldova for the latest in a series of negotiations on a potential peace treaty. Macron, along with European Council President Charles Michel and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, joined the sit-down as mediators.

    In a statement following the summit, the Elysée Palace said the “European leaders called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to respect all their commitments,” urging the two neighboring nations to release prisoners of war and avoid “hostile rhetoric.” In addition, Macron’s press service added, the three Western leaders “stressed the importance of defining rights and guarantees for the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh,” the breakaway region over which Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a brutal war in 2020.

    However, on Friday, Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada said “the statement made unilaterally by the French President about the meeting does not reflect and distorts the position of the parties. Unfortunately, this is not the first case of such behavior by France, and it does not make a positive contribution to the peace process.”

    Responding to the claims, the French foreign ministry said only that the press release issued by the presidency “set out the conclusions of yesterday’s meeting.” Hajizada, meanwhile, declined to elaborate on which parts of Paris’ version of events Baku believes are inaccurate.

    A senior EU official, granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive political issue, confirmed to POLITICO that “the question of rights and security, which has also been a prominent part of the recent discussions in Brussels, was addressed yesterday.” Michel separately commented on the issue in a brief statement to reporters following the talks.

    Armenia is pushing for an “international mechanism” to guarantee the safety of Nagorno-Karabakh’s ethnic Armenian population and, in a readout from Thursday’s meeting, said the issue had been brought up. In April, Pashinyan declared he is ready to recognize Azerbaijan’s sovereignty over the breakaway region, which has been governed autonomously by a Yerevan-backed administration since the fall of the Soviet Union, but questions remain over the fate of those living there.

    Aliyev has insisted local Armenians must lay down their arms and accept being ruled from Baku in exchange for an “amnesty.”

    In an open letter ahead of the talks in Moldova, the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention wrote to Macron urging him to help prevent a mass exodus of the population in Nagorno-Karabakh, which it describes as a potential “genocide.”

    Macron has been one of Armenia’s closest supporters in the EU, and has previously been the subject of derision in Azerbaijan.

    This article was updated with a statement from the French foreign ministry.


    Asbarez: Moscow Confirms Upcoming Meets on Opening Transport Routes

    Jane Topchian
    by Asbarez Staff

     

     

     

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

    The Armenia-Azerbaijan border


    Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Alexey Overchuk on Wednesday confirmed that he will meet with his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts to discuss the opening of transport routes between the two countries.

    He told reporters that on Wednesday that three deputy prime ministers, who are tasked with mapping out the transport route opening process, will meet in the near future.

    “Today, we came very close to talking about restoring the railway transport between the western regions of Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan. At the same time, Armenia also will get the opportunity to unblock and move through Nakhichevan, through Azerbaijan to Russia, to other EAEU countries,” Overchuk told reporters, according to the Tass news agency.

    “Indeed, the decisions that we are preparing within the framework of the tripartite working group are undoubtedly of great importance for the stabilization of the situation in the South Caucasus region and unblocking of Armenia,” Overchuk added.

    He said that the issues that will be considered at the upcoming meeting “really concern technical details related to the modalities of crossing the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia․”

    “We are talking about passport and customs control, and all other types of control that exist at international borders,” he added.