Author: Janet Ekmekjian

Azerbaijani press: OSCE MG must be abolished as Nagorno-Karabakh problem no longer exists – French senator

Janet Ekmekjian
15:33 (UTC+04:00)
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By Trend

Since the Nagorno-Karabakh problem no longer exists, the OSCE Minsk Group (MG) must be abolished, French Senator Nathalie Goulet told Trend and Lagazetteaz.

"This group must be abolished. It is useless. Because in any case, this institution did not have a balanced policy, and for almost 30 years it has not achieved anything. Consequently, the OSCE MG should be abolished. The Nagorno-Karabakh problem no longer exists, Azerbaijan has liberated its territories from the Armenian occupation," said Goulet.

The senator said that she had arrived in Azerbaijan to participate in the discussions of the International Center of Nizami Ganjavi on the topic ‘South Caucasus: Regional Development and Prospects for Cooperation’.

"I will also make a trip to the liberated territories and express my support for Azerbaijan. Because there are no so many officials in France who support Azerbaijan. Let me remind you that only I voted against the recognition of the "independence" of Nagorno-Karabakh in the French Senate," she said.

Goulet also commented on the publications of the French president on social networks regarding tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, artificially created by Armenia.

According to the senator, France adheres to an ambivalent position on this issue.

"As is known, the president of the French Senate leaves for Armenia with a large delegation. Earlier it was not so that a delegation of such a level made a visit to Armenia, and then did not visit Azerbaijan. Even President Nikolas Sarkozy, after spending one night in Yerevan, then came to Baku. Now, for reasons related to the upcoming elections, the parliament is pursuing a different policy. Today, there are points of view in France that differ from the official one. Thus, today France is clearly on the side of Armenia, and I regret it. Unfortunately, there is no balance anymore," said Goulet.

The official also expressed her attitude to the plundering of Azerbaijani lands by the Armenian invaders, their destruction of all the monuments of Muslim culture.

"Azerbaijani MPs in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe have been raising these issues for many years, so we are well aware of this," the senator emphasized.

Goulet also assessed the prospects for increasing the role of Azerbaijan as a transport hub in the region.

"Azerbaijan is an island of stability in the region. Azerbaijan is also an energy and transport hub for the South Caucasus," the official added said.

Azeri troops advanced 1,5 km into Armenian territory, threatened Armenian soldiers – Prosecutor’s Office

Janet Ekmekjian
Panorama, Armenia

A criminal case has been opened over a brawl between the Armenian and Azerbaijani troops near the village of Khoznavar in Syunik Province on Thursday, the law enforcement authorities said.

In a statement on Friday, the Prosecutor General's Office said on May 20, at around 10am, a group of Azerbaijani servicemen illegally crossed the state border of Armenia, advancing some 1,5 kilometers towards Khoznavar village in Tegh community.

They positioned themselves in the area and threatened to use force against the Armenian servicemen approaching them and to open fire at them, saying the territory allegedly belonged to the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Eventually, the Armenian military managed to push the Azeri soldiers back to their initial positions.

However, later on Thursday, at around 9:10pm, a group of Azerbaijani soldiers again crossed the state border of Armenia in the same area without proper permission and engaged in a brawl with Armenian troops on duty. As a result, 11 Armenian servicemen suffered injuries, however the Azeri troops were again forced to return to their positions.

The criminal case has been launched under Article 329 (illegal state border crossing), Article 300.2 and Article 112 of Armenia's Criminal Code, the Prosecutor’s Office said.

Political analyst: I guess Armenian Foreign Ministry will also be called ‘Azerbaijani agent’ soon

Janet Ekmekjian
Panorama, Armenia
See also Foreign Ministry spox: Armenia rejects fake agenda of so-called ‘disputed territories’

Political analyst Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan has reacted to the latest remarks of Armenian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anna Naghdalyan.

In a public post on Facebook on Friday, he called the response of the Foreign Ministry “a slap in the face for the traitor capitulator.”

"… The processes of border delimitation and demarcation between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan should be part of the comprehensive peaceful settlement of the conflict, within the framework of which issues of de-occupation of the territories of the Republic of Artsakh and determination of the final legal status of Artsakh under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship should be addressed first,” he quoted the spokeswoman as saying.

“It was rather impressive. They can start considering ordering #antinikol T-shirts. I guess the ministry will also be called an “Azerbaijani agent” soon,” the analyst said.

Azerbaijan continues violating international humanitarian law and human rights – Armenian FM

Janet Ekmekjian

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 19:27,

YEREVAN, MAY 21, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Ayvazian gave a speech at the 131st session of the CoE Committee of Ministers, during which he referred to the necessity of adequate international reaction to the behavior of Azerbaijan.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia, Ayvazian said in his speech, ''This year was remarkable in terms of the 20th anniversary of Armenia's membership to the Council of Europe. During these years the CoE contributed and continues to contribute to the strengthening of democracy in Armenia. We are committed to the ideologies and values of the Council of Europe.

But, on the other hand, in the broader context of European democratic security, we are witnessing the decline of those values and the moral defeat.

Last year Azerbaijan unleashed a bloody war against the people of Artsakh. The war was accompanied by massive violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. Those violations have been properly documented not only in Armenian but also in international sources, by organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Freedom House. The European Court of Human Rights has taken interim measures against Azerbaijan regarding hundreds of captives, whose captivity was confirmed by that country, demanding information about them, which, however, was not received. The Court even informed the Committee of Ministers in a public notice that Azerbaijan does not cooperate.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe also expressed deep concern  during the last plenary session. By refusing to return POWs, Azerbaijan continues to violate international humanitarian law and human rights''.

Highlighting the role of the CoE in addressing numerous humanitarian, cultural and religious issues in Artsakh, Ara Ayvazian said, ''So far, the Committee of Ministers has not adequately responded to the  blatant violations of statutory and conventional obligations by Azerbaijan.

The lack of a tough response to the massive and gross human rights violations in Nagorno-Karabakh encouraged Azerbaijan to pursue the same policy toward the Republic of Armenia in an attempt to occupy border areas and deprive the local population of its livelihood.

Mr. Chairman, the Council of Europe was established to build greater unity among its member states. In this regard, the Council of Europe has managed to unite almost all of Europe under one roof, to develop legal standards that guide cooperation between member states in various fields. However, there is a deep chasm between some Member States. And as long as perpetrators of atrocities are allowed to be on an equal footing with those who continue to believe in the values of democracy and human rights, that chasm will only deepen. If we do not give new impetus to our efforts to ensure democratic security throughout Europe, our most important goal of greater unity in Europe will remain an illusion, especially for those living in conflict zones''.

Armenia National Security Service refutes news about group crossing Armenian-Turkish border from Armavir sector

Janet Ekmekjian
News.am, Armenia
20:28, 13.05.2021

The National Security Service of Armenia refutes news that a group of foreigners have allegedly crossed the Armenian-Turkish border from the Armavir sector and that the National Security Service and Russian peacekeepers are conducting search operations.

In response to Armenpress news agency’s inquiry, the press center of the National Security Service reported that the news is inaccurate.


Armenia regional governor: Azerbaijani army tried to ensure advancement in some border sectors of Vardenis

Janet Ekmekjian
News.am, Armenia
23:14, 13.05.2021

On May 12, the adversary, guided by the agreement of November 9, 2020, carried out border adjustment works in the sectors of the Vardenis region where it hadn’t managed to carry out the border adjustment works due to unfavorable climate. This is what Governor of Gegharkunik Province of Armenia Gnel Sanosyan wrote on his Facebook page, adding the following:

“The mentioned works continued on May 13 in the same sectors, but in the afternoon, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces tried to ensure advancement in certain border sectors of Vardenis, saying they are “adjusting borders”.

As stated in the press release issued by the Ministry of Defense of Armenia, as a result of the operations of the Armed Forces of Armenia, the advancement was suspended, the Azerbaijani side was demanded to immediately leave the territory and return to their starting positions.”


Over 610 Palestinians injured in clashes with Israeli police in East Jerusalem

Janet Ekmekjian

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 10:05,

YEREVAN, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS. The number of Palestinians injured in clashes with Israeli law enforcers in East Jerusalem exceeded 610, TASS reports citing Palestinian daily Al-Quds.

“At least 612 Palestinians sustained injuries in the course of the day in the area of Temple Mount and the Old City of Jerusalem”, the daily cited its source as saying.

Al-Quds reported earlier that the violence erupted on Monday after Israeli police entered Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem and used rubber bullets, tear gas and stun grenades against people inside the building. Hundreds of Palestinians were reported to be injured in the following clashes with the Israeli police force in East Jerusalem.

Shortly before midnight, Israeli media sources reported that Palestinian militants fired about 150 rockets into the territory of Israel and dozens of them were intercepted by air defense systems. Israel launched in return missile attacks against Palestinian militants on the territory of Gaza.

Live transmission cameras expected to be installed at polling stations

Janet Ekmekjian

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 16:20,

YEREVAN, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS. The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) is working to install video cameras for live transmission in at least 1500 polling stations at the snap election of parliament scheduled for June 20, the CEC Chairman Tigran Mukuchyan said when asked by reporters on the issue.

“Work is underway at this phase. The installation of cameras during elections is done through an organization selected by the government. We are aware that at this phase works are being done,” he said.

Mukuchyan said that during the last election cameras were installed in 1500 out of 2009 polling stations where the overwhelming majority of voters cast their ballots.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

MP Edmon Marukyan urges former authorities to withdraw from electoral processes

Janet Ekmekjian
Panorama,  Armenia
    

Opposition lawmaker Edmon Marukyan, the leader of the Bright Armenia Party, reiterated his call for Armenia’s former authorities to withdraw from the election race to pave the way for a change of government in the country.

“Nothing has changed. I reiterate that if the former authorities want a change of government in the country, they must withdraw from the electoral processes,” the MP told a parliamentary briefing on Monday.

In Marukyan’s words, as a matter of fact, all political forces planning to participate in the snap parliamentary elections announce that they are going to win the elections.

“No force says during the campaign that it is vying for 6th place, have you seen such a force? In this regard, I would like to say that the content offered to the people is very important. We must realize that in 2018 the people rejected not just one person, Serzh Sargsyan, but stood up against an entire system. That is, there can be no return to the past, an alternative is needed,” he said.

Marukyan said the statements made by his party are very clear.

“In its 30 years of independence, this country has been ruled by the former authorities for 27 years, while Nikol Pashinyan has ruled it for 3 years. Now, over these 3 years, Nikol Pashinyan has proved that he cannot govern the country and conduct an effective personnel policy, therefore, an alternative is necessary,” he said.

Separately, Marukyan referred to the media, stating many of them do not invite him to an interview, while journalists noted that he habitually turns down such proposals.

“I usually accept them, rather than reject,” he said. 

Lavrov chides statements contradicting Karabakh agreements as not being alternatives

Janet Ekmekjian
TASS, Russia
May 6 2021
Any issues, which might run counter to the agreements of the three leaders cannot be perceived as an alternative to what had been agreed on, the Russian top diplomat said

YEREVAN, May 6. /TASS/. Any statements running counter to the agreements between the Russian, Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders on unblocking economic ties in Nagorno-Karabakh cannot be viewed as an alternative to the current agreement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday commenting on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s remark on creating the Zangezur corridor.

"As for trilateral cooperation at the level of deputy prime ministers, this mechanism was created based on the decision of the Russian and Azerbaijani presidents and the Armenian prime minister following their January 11 meeting in Moscow. This mechanism provides for agreements that can be entirely voluntary, mutually beneficial and in no way imply anything other than diplomatic consent and solutions that would allow economic relations to be completely unblocked. Any issues, which might run counter to the agreements of the three leaders cannot be perceived as an alternative to what had been agreed on," Lavrov told a news conference after talks with Armenia’s top diplomat Ara Ayvazyan.

The Zangezur corridor is set to link Azerbaijan’s mainland with Nakhichevan through Zangezur (Armenia’s Syunik Province). On April 20, Aliyev said in an interview with Azerbaijan’s state television that Baku would achieve the creation of the corridor regardless of Armenia’s wish and in the event of its resistance it would be ready to iron out the issue by force. The Armenian Foreign Ministry condemned the statement, noting that it dealt a serious blow to regional peace and stability. Moscow called on the sides to refrain from revanchist and militarist rhetoric, which "could again put the region on the verge of war.".