Author: Jane Topchian

Armenia, Azerbaijan: Leaders to Intensify Border Delimitation Commission Meetings

Jane Topchian
Stratfor
Dec 1 2023

Dec 1, 2023 | 18:13 GMT

What Happened: A meeting of the commission on border delimitation and security between Armenia and Azerbaijan, chaired by the countries' respective deputy prime ministers, was held at the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, Eurasianet reported on Dec. 1. 

Why It Matters: Intensifying meetings in this format, and the subsequent demarcation of the border, is likely a necessary precondition to the conclusion of a peace agreement. However, border clashes remain possible even as these talks progress, and Armenia and Azerbaijan still need to resolve other disputes, most notably regarding regional transit, before a peace agreement can be finalized.

Background: This is the first time Armenia and Azerbaijan have held a meeting in this format since July, as contacts stopped following Azerbaijan's seizure of the Nagorno-Karabakh region in September. They have held five meetings since the border commissions first met in May 2022. 

Read More: 

  • Assessing the Prospect of Azerbaijan Invading Armenia (Oct. 19, 2023)
  • What's Next for the South Caucasus After Azerbaijan's Seizure of Nagorno-Karabakh (Sept. 20, 2023) 
  • Azerbaijan Maintains the Upper Hand in the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict (Sept. 15, 2023) 
  • Deep Divisions Set the Tone For Georgia's Geopolitical Future (Sept. 1, 2023)

Armenia, UAE sign Memorandum of Understanding "On Cooperation in the Field of Cybersecurity"

Jane Topchian

 20:09, 1 December 2023

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Within the framework of the COP28 – the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on December 1, the Ministry of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia and the UAE Cyber Security Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding “On Cooperation in the Field of Cybersecurity”.

According to the Ministry of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia, the memorandum has been ratified by First Deputy Minister of Armenia’s High-Tech Industry Gevorg Mantashyan and Head of the Cyber Security Council of the United Arab Emirates Government Mohammed Al Kuwaiti.

ARF of Eastern USA Central Committee meets with Catholicos Aram I

Jane Topchian
 Weekly Staff Diaspora 0

ARF of Eastern USA Central Committee with His Holiness Catholicos Aram I (l-r): ARF CC member Steve Mesrobian, Vicar of the Eastern Prelacy Very Rev. Fr. Sahag Yemishyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy H.E. Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Catholicos Aram I, ARF CC members Ani Tchaghlasian and George Aghjayan, ARF Executive Director Maral Choloyan and Relations Committee member Hrair Baronian

NEW YORK—The Central Committee of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) of Eastern USA met with His Holiness Catholicos Aram I on Tuesday, November 21 before his departure from New York.

During the meeting, the ARF CC members and the Catholicos discussed the genocide in Artsakh and its aftermath, including the internal political situation in Armenia and lack of governmental support for the displaced people from Artsakh. Additionally, there was an emphasis on the toll that the war, the loss of Artsakh and the domestic political situation have taken on the diaspora, along with the need to reinvigorate diaspora communities.

The ARF members discussed continuing efforts in support of Artsakh and its displaced Armenian population through political advocacy (Hai Tahd) and humanitarian relief. Catholicos Aram I outlined the Holy See of Cilicia’s endeavors on behalf of Artsakh, focusing on his political efforts, including with the Vatican.

Finally, the group discussed possible areas of collaboration, including aid to the displaced people of Artsakh and the need to reorganize and refocus diasporan communities, in particular communities in the eastern region.




Armenian Security Council, EU countries’ ambassadors discuss issues of expanding security cooperation

Jane Topchian

 19:35,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. The Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan on Wednesday held a meeting with EU resident and non-resident ambassadors accredited to Armenia, the head of the EU delegation. The parties discussed the latest regional security developments, Grigoryan’s office said.

Armenia’s Security Council Secretary presented the negotiation process for the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, highlighting the possibilities of achieving a peaceful settlement. Armen Grigoryan presented the 'Crossroads of Peace' project to the ambassadors.

According to the source, at the meeting issues pertaining to the development of Armenia-EU bilateral cooperation, expansion and strengthening of cooperation in the field of security within the framework of the European Peace Facility were discussed. The issue of the diversification of the Armenian economy was also touched upon.

U.S. developing record of what happened in Nagorno-Karabakh, says State Department official

Jane Topchian

 10:39, 16 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The United States is developing a record of what happened in Nagorno-Karabakh and is working on support for Armenia, James O’Brien, Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, announced during a congressional hearing on Wednesday, RFE/RL’s Armenian service reported.

During the hearing on “The Future of Nagorno-Karabakh” held by the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Europe, James O’Brien noted that the subject of investigation is not only what happened in Nagorno-Karabakh during September when the region’s virtually entire ethnic Armenian population fled their homes within a matter of days after a lightening military operation launched by Azerbaijan, but also during the months preceding it.

“We have commissioned independent investigators, we have our own investigators working in the field. There is information available from international non-governmental organizations and other investigators. And as we develop the record of what happened, we will be completely open about what we are finding. I can’t put a timeline on this investigation, but we will inform you as we go forward,” RFE/RL’s Armenian service quoted O’Brien as saying.

“The second thing we are working on is support for Armenia… I am very impressed by the Armenian government’s commitment to reforms and diversifying relationships that it has – economic, political, energy and security – particularly in the Trans-Atlantic community. And I think we owe it to the people of Armenia to help them through this difficult situation so that those choices they have made very bravely are able to help them to make them have a more secure, stable and prosperous future,” the U.S. diplomat added.

Speaking on behalf of the Department of State, O’Brien said that Washington insists that Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians have complete access to the territory, on the protection of the property and culture and that they receive adequate information “so that they can make real choice about their future.”

Armenian delegation presents Crossroads of Peace project at Reykjavík Global Forum – Women Leaders

Jane Topchian

 15:16, 16 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. An official delegation from Armenia participated in the Reykjavík Global Forum – Women Leaders conference November 12-14.

Delegate Tatevik Gasparyan, a Member of Parliament representing the Civil Contract Party, presented the Armenian government’s Crossroads of Peace project at the conference, which received positive reactions.

The delegation members also held meetings with delegates from Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Canada and other countries.

Gasparyan said that despite Azerbaijan’s unconstructive and aggressive stance, Armenia remains committed to establishing sustainable peace in the region.

Hanan Al-Ahmadi, the Vice Speaker of the Saudi parliament, proposed the Armenian delegation to hold a separate meeting. Gasparyan said that the Saudi official displayed great interest towards Crossroads of Peace project and said that they attach importance to connectivity and intensification of relations between Armenia and Saudi Arabia.

Separate meetings with other delegations were also held.

Armenia was represented at the event by MPs Tatevik Gasparyan, Arusyak Manavazyan and Lilit Kirakosyan.

US senate votes unanimously to suspend Azerbaijan’s military assistance

Jane Topchian
Nov 17 2023
The Biden administration has balked at authorizing additional military assistance to Baku in the wake of the September Nagorno-Karabakh war, and lawmakers are pushing for a two-year moratorium.

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers in the US Senate on Thursday voted unanimously in favor of a bill that would halt US military aid to Azerbaijan for the next two fiscal years.

If passed by the House and signed by the president, the bill, known as the Armenian Protection Act of 2023, would block the State Department’s ability to issue a waiver required under existing law in order for the United States to send military aid to Baku.

The measure, introduced by Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), received bipartisan support.

Why it matters: The vote is Congress' clearest move yet to block US military assistance to Baku in the wake of its swift military takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh in September.

Last month, 91 lawmakers from both chambers penned a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling for economic sanctions against Azerbaijani government officials for Baku’s “military attacks and brutal blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh.”

Chairman of the Senate’s Armed Services Committee Jack Reed (D-RI) and the then-chair of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Menendez (D-NJ), urged Blinken in their own letter not to extend the administration’s waiver in response to Azerbaijan’s invasion of the until recently predominantly ethnic Armenian enclave on Sept. 19. 

The Biden administration has balked at renewing the waiver, known as a Section 907, for the October 2001-enacted exemption to a 1992 law restricting US government aid to Azerbaijan until it takes “demonstrable steps to cease all blockades and other offensive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh."

On Thursday, the State Department's top official for European and Eurasian Affairs, Ambassador James O’Brien, told House lawmakers during a hearing that the Biden administration had no plans to issue a new Section 907 waiver.

US administrations have repeatedly issued the waiver since the exemption was introduced in 2002, citing national security concerns. From 2002-2020, Washington provided about $164 million in security assistance to Azerbaijan, according to the US Government Accountability Office.

What happened: Azerbaijan invaded the Nagorno-Karabakh region following a 10-month blockade of the Lachin corridor connecting the Armenian-majority enclave to Armenia.

The modern roots of the conflict date back at least to 1920, but it was largely frozen during the rule of the Soviet Union. Armenia took control of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Lachin corridor in 1994, though the disputed territory is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.

More than 100,000 people fled toward Armenia in the span of a week amid Azerbaijan's assault in September. The move was widely condemned, including by the United States and members of the European Parliament. Armenian officials and Western experts characterized the result of the invasion as ethnic cleansing. 

“The Armenian Protection Act of 2023 is simple: It would hold Azerbaijan accountable for these actions,” Peters said Thursday. “As a result of Azerbaijan’s failure to meet the terms of our agreement, it would prevent the United States from sending military aid for a period of two years.”  

“The [Biden] administration already has the authority to cut off this support, but as this conflict has unfolded, they have not taken public action,” he said.

Know more: Read Amberin Zaman's dispatch from southern Armenia in the immediate aftermath of the exodus from Nagorno-Karabakh in October.


Armenpress: Yerevan Municipality initiates development of new master plan

Jane Topchian

 21:31,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Yerevan Municipality has initiated the development of a new master plan. With the support of partner structures, all necessary data in the city will be collected and compiled, which will become the basis for implementing the project, the Municipality said.

''The master plan serves as the cornerstone for the strategic development of the city. Following today's discussion, we will promptly consolidate all our efforts to realize the envisioned development of Yerevan," said Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan.

Asbares: Baku will Skip Planned Talks with Yerevan in Washington

Jane Topchian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Latest, News, Top Stories

Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington on May 4


Azerbaijan will not participate in a planned meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan scheduled for November 20 in Washington.

The Azerbaijani foreign ministry reacted angrily to a statement made by James O’Brien, the Assistant Secretary of State on Eurasian affairs, who signaled, during a Congressional hearing on Wednesday, that Washington’s ties with Baku have cooled since Azerbaijan’s attack on Artsakh in September.

“We’ve made clear that nothing will be normal with Azerbaijan after the events of September 19 until we see progress on the peace track. So we’ve canceled a number of high-level visits, condemned the action,” O’Brien said, adding that the State Department will not seek a waiver of Section 907 “until such time that we see improvement.”

Baku accused Washington of committing “mortal sins,” calling O’Brien’s statement “one-sided and biased,” as well as “counterproductive, baseless, and unacceptable,” and a blow to Azerbaijani-American relations.

In the strongly-worded statement, Baku also accused O’Brien, personally, and the entire U.S. diplomatic apparatus of ”ignoring the main issue that led to Azerbaijan’s actions,” referring to Azerbaijan’s attack on Artsakh in September.

Official Baku has taken a defensive tone toward the U.S. and Europe. It condemned France, last week, for supplying arms to Armenia, per an agreement signed between Paris and Yerevan last month.

Turkish Press: Turkish parliament extends mandate of troops deployed in Azerbaijan for 1 more year

Jane Topchian
Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Nov 15 2023
Ertugrul Subasi and Kemal Karadag

ANKARA

The Turkish parliament on Wednesday extended for one more year the deployment of troops sent to Azerbaijan in the wake of a fall 2020 conflict with neighboring Armenia over the Karabakh region.

The extension under a presidential motion will start on Nov. 17.

Ismail Ozdemir, a lawmaker, said that with the support of Türkiye, Azerbaijan managed to end the Armenian occupation of its lands.

Ozdemir said that the will of the Turkish people signifies a guarantee of peace and emphasized their opposition to activities that escalate tensions in all regions.

Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

Most of the territory was liberated by Azerbaijan during a war in the fall of 2020, which ended after a Russian-brokered peace agreement and also opened the door to normalization.