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Author: Karakhanian Suren

Turkish press: Turkey ready to lend any kind of support for Afghanistan unity: Erdoğan

Karakhanian Suren
  • 14:29:00

Turkey is ready to lend all kinds of support for Afghanistan’s unity but will follow a very cautious path, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said, reiterating it will first wait to see what sort of an administration the Taliban would establish to run this country with 40 million population.

“As Turkey, our objective is that Afghanistan should quickly recover. The Afghan people can no longer bear such a burden. It has a population of around 40 million and is a huge country. We are ready to give all kinds of support for Afghanistan’s unity and solidarity. As long as we see that approach in this sense from Afghanistan,” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told journalists accompanying him on his return from Montenegro on Aug. 29.

The Taliban’s initial statements are moderate, but there are still doubts and Turkey will follow a very cautious policy, Erdoğan said, adding, “Look, around 200 people were killed unexpectedly. There are Taliban members among the death toll. The intelligence says DAESH-Khorasan is behind. We should therefore follow a cautious line.”

Turkey will first see how the Taliban will run the country in the coming period, Erdoğan said, recalling that Turkey has been supporting Afghanistan in the past 20 years concerning the country’s infrastructure and urban superstructure. “But, you see, for instance, the Taliban inflicted serious damage in northern Afghanistan. For instance, [General Rashid] Dostum, who is also a Turk, had to leave Afghanistan because he was under threat. Now, these are thought-provoking developments. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow,” he stressed.

Turkey is willing to help but the doors should be open to this end, Erdoğan underlined, repeating that the Turkish intelligence is continuing its talks with the Taliban. On a question, Erdoğan said Turkey may mull over making a deal with the Taliban for running the Kabul airport should the group make a proposal to Turkey.

Defense Minister presents security environment around Armenia to first deputy chief of CSTO Joint Staff

Karakhanian Suren

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 15:22, 27 August, 2021

YEREVAN, AUGUST 27, ARMENPRESS. Defense Minister of Armenia Arshak Karapetyan received today the delegation led by Lieutenant-General Hasan Kaloev, first deputy chief of the CSTO Joint Staff, the defense ministry told Armenpress.

Lieutenant-General Hasan Kaloev has arrived in Armenia on a working visit.

At the meeting defense minister Karapetyan presented the current security environment around Armenia.

Mr. Kaloev reported the Armenian defense minister about the plans for joint operational expansion of the CSTO collective response forces.

The meeting sides also exchanged views on decision-making within CSTO and improvement of mechanisms of using collective forces.

During the visit in Armenia, Lieutenant-General Hasan Kaloev also got acquainted with issues relating to the combat preparedness of the Armenian units included in the CSTO collective response forces.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenia’s Journalists Union condemns actions of National Security Service against journalist Nairi Hokhikyan

Karakhanian Suren
News.am, Armenia
Aug 2 2021
Armenia’s Journalists Union condemns actions of National Security Service against journalist Nairi Hokhikyan
00:08, 03.08.2021

The Union of Journalists of Armenia condemns the actions of the National Security Service against journalist Nairi Hokhikyan and calls on the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia to investigate and give a public assessment on the act of the state power structure against the journalist. This is stated in the statement issued by the Union of Journalists of Armenia.

“On July 29, 2021, member of the Union of Journalists of Armenia, journalist and TV commentator Nairi Hokhikyan was summoned to the National Security Service (NSS) for an interview as a witness, during which the mobile phone of the journalist was seized.

Hokhikyan offered to voluntarily provide the investigative body with the facts at his disposal, but the officers of the National Security Service neglected the journalist’s willingness and seized his mobile phone in which there were several pieces of personal and professional information. In this sense, the investigative body de facto hindered implementation of the professional activities of the journalist as well.

It should be mentioned that Nairi Hokhikyan has publicized a documentary on the 44-day war that took place in 2020 and several facts that became a topic for wide public discourse, after which the Armenian authorities have de facto started persecuting the journalist who is carrying out his professional activities. Summoning a journalist to an interview as a witness without familiarizing him or her with the specifics of the particular criminal case and committing acts against him or her that are specific to the status of a suspect (asking accusatory questions, seizing personal items) are unlawful acts and pressure against the journalist.

Nairi Hokhikyan has disclosed several details of his conversation with Jewish blogger Alexander Lapshin which shed light on the dark pages of the 44-day war, contain de facto evidential base, but the NSS have seized the mobile phone of the journalist.

The Union of Journalists of Armenia condemns the actions of the National Security Service against journalist Nairi Hokhikyan and calls on the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia to investigate and give a public assessment on the act of the state power structure against the journalist,” the statement reads.

Kremlin spox didn’t comment on idea of deploying Russian border patrol posts along Armenia- Azerbaijan border

Karakhanian Suren

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 15:28, 29 July, 2021

YEREVAN, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS. Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has not commented on Armenian caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s idea on deploying Russian border patrol posts along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, reports TASS.

“The contacts with Yerevan continue, I have nothing more to add”, the Kremlin spokesperson said.

He stated that Russia has made a lot of efforts to restore the ceasefire regime on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, adding that the works continue.

“Yesterday escalation was reported on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. You know that the representatives of Russia have made a lot of efforts in order to restore the ceasefire regime. The works continue, Russia continues its contacts with Yerevan and Baku in order to fully ensure the implementation of the trilateral statements”, Dmitry Peskov said.

During today’s Cabinet meeting Armenian caretaker PM Nikol Pashinyan touched upon the possibility of deploying Russian border guard posts along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, stating that it would allow to carry out demarcation and delimitation works without the risk of military clashes.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Azerbaijan’s military forces must withdraw from Armenian lands – Congresswoman Katherine Clark

Karakhanian Suren
Public Radio of Armenia
 

Today, Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-5) issued the following statement on Azerbaijan’s escalation of violence along its border with Armenia that took place earlier this week. Azerbaijani forces attacked Armenian positions in Gegharkunik Province along the northeastern sector of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Tree Armenian soldiers were killed and four were injured as a result of the attack.

“Azerbaijan’s military forces must withdraw from Armenian lands immediately and stop the violence that has already cost multiple lives. This violation of Armenia’s sovereignty is yet another dangerous and provocative action taken by Azerbaijan’s increasingly authoritarian government to undermine any path to peace and stoke further regional instability. I unequivocally condemn this act of aggression and am proud to have voted for Congressman Pallone’s amendment to cut off military funding to Azerbaijan and hold this regime accountable for its destabilizing actions. Now more than ever, we must strengthen our strategic relationship with Armenia by providing economic assistance and finally recognize the people of Artsakh’s right to self-determination,” she said.

 

Caucasian Knot | Armenia claims shelling on border with NAR

Karakhanian Suren
Caucasian Knot, EU
Aug 1 2021

Azerbaijani militaries have opened fire on Armenian positions in the Ararat Region and damaged a military logistics service vehicle, the Armenian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has informed.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on Saturday (July 31) the Armenian MoD announced the shelling of its positions in the vicinity of Eraskh from the Azerbaijani enclave – the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (NAR). Azerbaijan has refuted this statement.

The situation on the NAR-Armenian border escalated in July. In the opinion of Armenian analysts, the shelling is caused by Azerbaijan’s desire to take control over the strategic road to Iran.

According to the Armenian MoD, its militaries managed to suppress the enemy’s fire, avoiding losses. The Azerbaijani MoD denies the fact of shelling, the APA reports.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on at 11:41 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Tigran Petrosyan; Source: CK correspondent

Source:
© Caucasian Knot

Caucasian Knot | Armenian analysts suggest reasons for local hostilities near Gegarkunik and Eraskh

Karakhanian Suren
Caucasian Knot, EU
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Intensive shootouts in the direction of Gegarkunik on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border are caused by weak fortification of this area; while those in the direction of Eraskh are caused by Azerbaijan’s desire to take control over the strategic road to Iran, Armenian analysts have suggested.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on July 28, hostilities began on the border of the Gegarkunik Region of Armenia with Azerbaijan. It was reported that there were wounded servicemen on both sides; and three Armenian soldiers perished. The parties agreed, mediated by Russia, to a ceasefire, but the following day they blamed each other of violating the ceasefire.

“The goal of the escalation in the direction of Eraskh is a strategic road to Iran, which Azerbaijan seeks to control,” Vitaly Mangasaryan, an analyst, has stated, adding that by means of local clashes, Azerbaijan is trying to weaken Armenia’s position and extract the maximum benefit for itself. The expert also noted that Azerbaijan began using reconnaissance drones on Armenian border.

Azerbaijan has used a chance to advance on the Black Lake and entrenched itself in the territories that it considers controversial, Mger Akopyan, a military analyst, believes.

“Eraskh has a symbolic meaning for Azerbaijan. This is where the first battles for the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh began. Besides, it is the closest point to Yerevan,” Mr Akopyan has noted, adding that Armenian authorities are trying to avoid clashes on Azerbaijani border for fear of scaling the conflict.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on at 07:58 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

See earlier reports:

OSCE calls on Baku and Yerevan to abide by ceasefire agreement, Human rights defenders call on Armenian authorities to ask for UN and OSCE assistance, Military experts exclude Russia’s interference in Armenian-Azerbaijani border conflict.

Author: Tigran Petrosyan; Source: CK correspondent

Source:
© Caucasian Knot

CivilNet: International Criminal Law and the Karabakh War

Karakhanian Suren
CIVILNET.AM

14 Jul, 2021 08:07

Nine months after the 2020 Karabakh War, jurist and international criminal law specialist Eduardo Toledo shares with CivilNet his view of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. Toledo discusses the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, the channels that exist through international law, and the obstacles that prevent international bodies from addressing human rights violations and war crimes. 

Masdar Expands Global Renewables Footprint with a Solar Project in Armenia

Karakhanian Suren
The Triple Pundit

Words by Leon Kaye

JUL 12, 2021

When international organizations and nonprofits launch projects worldwide, usually they are in regions such as India, Africa and some parts of Latin America. The reasons are all over the map: an opportunity to show some “doing good,” a recognition that renewables can work as a leapfrog technology when there is no reliable grid in the first place – and quite frankly, sometimes the driver is white savior complex.

Meanwhile, other areas that could use such investment, such as parts of rural Latin America, the Balkans and the Caucuses, are often overlooked.

One organization that has gone against the grain when it comes to investing in renewables is Masdar. Abu Dhabi’s renewable power and sustainable urban development initiative has long invested in such regions as the United Kingdom and western Africa. But the company’s clean power projects have also landed in places as diverse as the Seychelles, Jordan, Egypt, Afghanistan and the South Pacific.

Now, add the tiny country of Armenia, a little larger than Massachusetts but smaller than Maryland, to that list. The landlocked nation of 3 million people, long roiled by conflict with its neighbor, Azerbaijan, along with corruption within its government (though in fairness that has improved in recent years) has selected Masdar to take the lead on a 200-megawatt solar plant located a hour’s drive west of Yerevan (pictured above), the country’s capital and major population center.

According to an emailed news release from Masdar, the total amount invested in this solar installation will reach $174 million. The 500-hectare complex will be the largest clean power investment in Armenia’s history, according to Armenian National Interest Fund (ANIF), which will have a 15 percent ownership in this venture. Long-term plans also call for Masdar to deploy another 200 megawatts of solar power in the country.

Data from IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency) suggests Armenia’s solar power capacity is largely untapped. That’s not surprising, as much of the country is bathed in sun, which helps to explain the country’s rich legacy of agricultural products. But only about 15 percent of Armenia’s land is arable. On that point, the communities of Talin and Dashtadem, where this first Masdar-led solar installation is slated for development, scores plenty of sun but the surrounding land is not a prime candidate for farming.

Like many countries with a sizable global diaspora, Armenia’s economy had long depended on remittances, though the country’s surging GDP pre-pandemic saw that share fall from 20 percent in 2013 to 11 percent in 2019. That largess coming from Armenians living and working abroad has also been met by investments and philanthropic projects in the country within a wide range of industries including renewables. The diaspora’s focus on the motherland, especially in communities with a large Armenian population such as Boston and Fresno, have helped launch new investments since the country scored independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991. Over the years, in fact, Armenia frequently ranked as one of the fastest growing economies on the planet.

On the renewables front, Masdar can help scale up renewables in Armenia – and assist the country in weaning itself away from its primary sources of power, natural gas and nuclear. Currently, 11 percent of the country’s energy supply comes from renewables – and currently that slice of the pie is almost equally divided between biofuels and hydropower.

Image credit: Levon Vardanyan/Unsplash


    

Our goal is to sow the seeds of trust – Austrian Foreign Minister speaks about the need for Armenian-Azerbaijani reconci

Karakhanian Suren

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 17:10, 26 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 26, ARMENPRESS. The South Caucasus region is in dire need of trust between publics at the moment, ARMENPRESS reports the Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Alexander Schallenberg during a press conference at the EU Delegation in Georgia.

He referred to the meetings with caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan and the president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Baku and the intensive discussions during the meetings.

“Our goal was to understand the means by which trust can be built. This visit reaffirmed what we already knew: trust is the most important resource the region needs and lacks. Our goal is to sow the seeds of that trust. We know that the wounds caused by the Nagorno-Karabakh war are still open, but we need a healing process. This visit showed that the parties realize that there is a real need for this process, they need partners to start this process. The European Union is ready to assist in any way possible way,” Schallenberg said.

He noted that they highly appreciate Georgia’s role in this issue with the mediation of which the release of Armenian POWs by Azerbaijan and the handing over of maps of mined areas by Armenia became possible.

“I think this trilateral cooperation is beneficial for all parties,” said the Austrian Foreign Minister, noting that the EU fully supports such processes.