Author: Jane Topchian

Armenpress: We have some small but encouraging signs of moving forward. Pashinyan about Armenian-Turkish relations

Jane Topchian

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 23:22, 2 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 2, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is ready for a full normalization of relations with Turkey, to establish diplomatic relations, the correspondent of ARMENPRESS informs, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced in his opening speech at the discussion at the German Council on Foreign Relations.

“Another aspect of Armenia’s vision of regional peace is the normalization of relations with Turkey. We are ready to fully normalize relations with Turkey, to establish diplomatic relations. We hope to fully open our common border, which was unilaterally closed by Turkey in the early 90s.

We have some small but hopeful signs that we are moving forward. Special Representatives of our countries agreed upon establishing air cargo transportation and opening interstate borders for third-country citizens in July 2022”, the Prime Minister said.

Pashinyan reminded that in January the ban on direct air cargo transportation between Turkey and Armenia was lifted, expressing hope for the speedy implementation of the opening of the border for third-country citizens. 

“Armenia reacted rapidly after the recent devastating earthquake in Turkey. I called up President Erdogan with condolences and proposed our support. After that we sent humanitarian aid and rescue team to the affected areas. It is very important to state that two convoys of humanitarian aid entered into Turkey through the border bridge which had been closed for 30 years. Our rescue team returned to Armenia through that bridge as well.  

Armenian Foreign Minister visited Türkiye, met his counterpart and reiterated our readiness and willingness to fully normalize relations. Though the last interactions were, of course, of purely humanitarian essence, we, however, would be glad to have the political outcomes”, Pashinyan concluded.

AW: Law professor Milena Sterio to discuss the Artsakh conflict in ANC of Boston lecture

Jane Topchian
March 2, 2023 Ara Nazarian, PhD Announcements 0

WATERTOWN, Mass. – The Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Boston is hosting a webinar on the current situation in Artsakh. This free and open online event will be held on Thursday, March 9, at 7:00 PM. Registration is required.

This online presentation, hosted by Ms. Ani Zargarian, will feature Professor Milena Sterio, the Charles R. Emrick Jr. – Calfee Halter & Griswold Professor of Law at Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Professor Sterio’s presentation will be entitled “The Artsakh Conflict: International Law, Self-Determination and Remedial Secession.”

International Law establishes that specific groups are entitled to self-determination; that they have the right to auto-determine their political fate. The right to self-determination clearly applies to colonized and subjugated peoples; it is possible to argue that this right also applies to oppressed groups whose rights have been severely violated by their parent state. Self-determination is typically exercised through secession, whereby the relevant group secedes from the territory of its parent state to join another state or to form its own independent state. Professor Sterio will discuss the right to self-determination as well as the process of secession in the context of Artsakh, and she will analyze whether the people of Artsakh are entitled to the exercise of the right of self-determination through remedial secession.

The Managing Director of the Public International Law and Policy Group (PILPG), Professor Sterio is a leading expert on international law, international criminal law and human rights. She is one of the six permanent editors of the prestigious IntLawGrrls blog and a frequent contributor focused on international law, policy and practice. In the spring of 2013, Professor Sterio was selected as a Fulbright Scholar, spending the semester in Baku, Azerbaijan, at Baku State University. In Baku, she had the opportunity to teach and conduct research on secession issues under international law related to Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh). She has participated as an expert at hearings of the International Criminal Court on various international criminal law issues. Serving as a maritime piracy law expert, she has participated in meetings of the United Nations Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia as well as in the work of the United Nations Global Counterterrorism Forum. She is a graduate of Cornell Law School and the University of Paris I, and was an associate in the New York City firm of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton before joining the ranks of academia full time. She has published seven books and numerous law review articles. Her latest book The Syrian Conflict’s Impact on International Law (co-authored with Paul Williams and Michael Scharf) was published by Cambridge University Press in 2020.

The audience will have the opportunity to engage the speaker in a Q&A session following the presentation. For all questions and additional information, please contact the ANC of Boston at [email protected].

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Ara Nazarian is an associate professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a degree in mechanical engineering, followed by graduate degrees from Boston University, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and Harvard University. He has been involved in the Armenian community for over a decade, having served in a variety of capacities at the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center, Armenian National Committee of America, St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.


U.N. Secretary General Calls on Baku to Comply with ICJ Ruling on Artsakh Blockade

Jane Topchian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

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

Azerbaijanis, claiming to be environmental activists, have been blockading the Lachin corridor since Dec. 12


The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Azerbaijan to comply with the decision of the International Court of Justice, which last week compelled Baku to ensure “unimpeded movement” along the Lachin Corridor.

“He [Guterres] recalls that decisions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are binding and trusts that the parties will implement its Orders, including the Order related to measures to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions,” a spokesperson for Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, said in a statement over the weekend..

“The Secretary-General expresses the hope that Armenia and Azerbaijan will continue working to improve their bilateral relations and strongly encourages a constructive dialogue,” added Dujarric, who also said that Guterres welcomed “the trust that the Governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan have placed in the ICJ by asking it to resolve their differences.”

The ICJ, in 13 to 2 decision, compelled Azerbaijan to open the Lachin Corridor, saying Armenia’s request for what is known as provisional measures was warranted. On the same day, the ICJ unanimously rejected Azerbaijan’s claim accusing Armenia of illegally setting landmines in Azerbaijani territory.

“The Lachin Corridor is still being blockaded by Azerbaijan” Yegishe Kirakoryan Armenia’s representative on international legal matters told a press conference on Monday, Armenpress reported.

He explained that while the ICJ ruling does not set timeframes for fulfilling its rulings, it does clearly mention that the decision is binding, which means that a country must take action from the moment the ruling is published, echoing the reminder issued by the UN secretary-general.

“Unfortunately, international law doesn’t envision an institution dealing with enforcement of decisions. The body which has some responsibility for the fulfillment of the ICJ rulings and decisions is the UN Security Council, which will be entitled to intervene when the issue becomes contentious,” Kirakosyan said.  “We realize that an intervention by the Security Council is complicated. Although there are many other measures to maximally gain from the legal process.”

The Representative of Armenia on International Legal Matters noted that the Foreign Ministers of various countries, as well as the UN Secretary-General, issued statements citing the ICJ ruling after it was released.

“These are important processes. The pressure must be maximally increased in this direction. By the way, this ruling is highly important in political-legal terms. Now, it turns out that apart from the trilateral statement we also have one more international legal document which stipulates unimpeded movement along the Lachin corridor or Azerbaijan’s obligation to ensure it,” Kirakosyan said.

Armenia’s representative emphasized that every time that Armenia submits an claim for provisional measures within international courts, Azerbaijan files a counter claim agains Armenia in an effort to “create controversy to diminish the impact of Armenia’s requests.”

“But I can say that Azerbaijan is not succeeding. I am saying this based on concrete results. For example, the latest result, when the International Court of Justice rejected Azerbaijan’s request, while granting Armenia’s request. The decisions adopted by [other] international organizations also attest to this,” Kirakosyan said.

Violation of ceasefire in Martakert district of Karabakh recorded

Jane Topchian
News.am
Armenia – Feb 21 2023
20:56, 21.02.2023

A ceasefire violation has been recorded in the Martakert region of Nagorno-Karabakh. This is reported in the information bulletin of the Russian peacekeeping contingent.

It is noted that there were no casualties.

“The command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent and the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides are investigating the incident,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.

It is also reported that Russian peacekeepers continue negotiations on resuming unimpeded vehicular traffic on the Stepanakert-Goris road.

Patrols were conducted along four routes in the Martakert, Martuni, Shushi districts and Lachin corridor.

The Russian Defense Ministry informs, a convoy with humanitarian aid was escorted along the Goris-Stepanakert route.

Armenian Foreign Minister arrives in Syria

Jane Topchian

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 11:47, 23 February 2023

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. The delegation led by Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan arrived in Syria, ARMENPRESS correspondent reports.

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FM Mirzoyan was welcomed at the Damascus airport by Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad.

FM Mirzoyan and FM Mekdad are now holding a meeting.

The Armenian FM is scheduled to have a meeting with the President of Syria Bashar al-Assad.

He will then travel to Aleppo to supervise the delivery of the third batch of humanitarian aid. 

Photos by Hayk Manukyan




Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, EU’s Toivo Klaar discuss Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement

Jane Topchian

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 15:24,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar held phone talks on February 21 at the initiative of the EU, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced.

Galuzin and Klaar discussed the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement topic, according to a read-out issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

“Galuzin noted that Brussels’ decision to deploy a so-called civilian EU mission in Armenia has a clear geopolitical subtext, which doesn’t contribute to real stabilization in Transcaucasia. The absence of consensus between Baku and Yerevan around this initiative was underscored,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Armenian Deputy FM, newly appointed Ambassador of Georgia discuss a wide range of issues of deepening relations

Jane Topchian

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 21:14,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. On February 24, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Vahan Kostanyan received the newly appointed Ambassador of Georgia to Armenia Giorgi Sharvashidze on the occasion of handing over the copy of his credentials.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from MFA Armenia, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, congratulating the newly appointed Ambassador, wished success in the difficult and responsible work. The interlocutors highly appreciated the dynamics of development of relations between Armenia and Georgia, discussed a wide range of bilateral issues aimed at deepening them.

The Deputy Minister presented to the newly appointed Ambassador the efforts of the government of the Republic of Armenia to establish stability and peace in the region. The Ambassador was provided with information about the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh resulted by Azerbaijan’s illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor.

The Hague Court will announce the decision on the issue of unblocking the Lachin Corridor on February 22

Jane Topchian

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 19:24, 17 February 2023

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. The International Court of Justice notified that the decision on Armenia’s request to apply a temporary measure regarding the unblocking of the Lachin Corridor will be published on February 22, at 19:00 Yerevan time, at a public hearing, ARMENPRESS reports the Office of the Representative of Armenia on International Legal Matters informed.

On the same day, later, the decision on the request to apply a temporary measure submitted by Azerbaijan will also be announced.

Armenia, Azerbaijan leaders discuss peace at first meeting in months

Jane Topchian
Feb 18 2023
By Reuters

Armenia and Azerbaijan held talks with the United States in Munich on Saturday, the first meeting between the leaders of the South Caucasus nations since October amid heightened tensions over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Tensions have escalated over a two-month blockade of the Lachin corridor, the only land route giving Armenia direct access to Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenia said the progress of work on a draft peace treaty was discussed during Saturday’s talks between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, which took place during the three-day Munich Security Conference.

“Prime Minister Pashinyan reaffirmed the determination of the Armenian side to reach the signing of such an agreement that will truly guarantee long-term peace and stability in the region,” said a statement on the prime minister’s website.

It said there had also been discussion about the unblocking of regional transport infrastructures and the implementation of delimitation between the two countries.

“I think Azerbaijan and Armenia need to demonstrate that the transition from long-lasting standoff, mutual hatred and hostility must end,” Aliyev said on a panel discussion.

“I think (the peace agreement) could be a good example of how countries which had serious, historical disagreements can get together and turn the page of hostility.”

Russian news agencies reported that Aliyev said Baku had proposed creating checkpoints on the border with Armenia.

Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, but its 120,000 inhabitants are predominantly ethnic Armenians and it broke away from Baku in a first war in the early 1990s.

Azeri civilians identifying themselves as environmental activists have been facing off since Dec. 12 with Russian peacekeepers on the Lachin corridor.

Yerevan says the protesters are government-backed agitators. Baku denies blockading the road, saying that some convoys and aid are allowed through.

Saturday’s meeting was the two leaders’ first face-to-face encounter since late October, when Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted talks in the Black Sea city of Sochi. A Dec. 7 meeting in Brussels was scrapped.

MSC2023: PM Pashinyan to participate in panel discussion alongside Azeri, Georgian leaders and OSCE Secretary General

Jane Topchian

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 01:04,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is scheduled to participate in a panel discussion alongside Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the Secretary General of the OSCE Helga Schmid at the Munich Security Conference.

The Moving Mountains? Building Security in the South Caucasus panel discussion will be moderated by the Chairman of the Munich Security Conference Christoph Heusgen.