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Author: Karapet Navasardian

CSTO sees situation in the south of Armenia as a “border incident” with Azerbaijan

Karapet Navasardian
Public Radio of Armenia
July 3 2021
 

The aggravation of the situation in the south of Armenia in connection with the establishment of a new border with Azerbaijan is a “border incident” and does not fall under the provisions of the CSTO charter on collective defense. Secretary General of the organization Stanislav Zas told journalists.

“You have to understand that the potential of the CSTO is used only in the event of an aggression, an attack [on one of the member countries]. Here we are dealing, in fact, with a border incident. Thank God, there are no casualties, there is no shooting there. This is a border incident, it must be solved, and we are in favor of solving it peacefully,” he said.

According to him, there is no escalation of the conflict. “Actually, we cannot speak about any escalation of the situation there. This is already good, this is already a result. There is a lot of work ahead on the border issue, the resolution of all these controversial issues, but they need to be resolved at the negotiating table” Zas pointed out.

The CSTO Secretary General also informed that after the May appeal of Armenia, the organization held consultations on the situation in the border regions of the country. “Such consultations were held at the level of defense ministers, secretaries of security councils, and I contacted both the Armenian foreign minister and the defense minister. We discussed this situation. In addition, we already had a general discussion of this situation during the Ministerial Council [Council of Ministers Foreign Affairs of the CSTO] in Dushanbe,” he said.

Zas assured that the CSTO is constantly monitoring the situation in the south of Armenia. “The decision to form a monitoring group was not made, although, of course, the situation is being monitored,” the secretary general said. The organization receives the necessary information from many sources, including the Armenian side and Russian peacekeepers, Zas added.

The situation in border areas of Armenia’s Syunik and Gegharkunik provinces escalated after the Azerbaijani troops infringed into the sovereign territory of Armenia and tried to carry out engineering work,

 

Armenian Assembly Statement on Snap Elections in Armenia

Karapet Navasardian
Washington, D.C. – The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) congratulates the winners of Armenia’s snap parliamentary elections and the new members of the parliament. We welcome the preliminary findings of the International Election Observer Mission that the elections were “competitive and generally well-managed,” that “fundamental rights and freedoms were generally respected,” as was the freedom of _expression_, which is guaranteed by Armenia’s constitution.
The Assembly commends the electorate of the Armenian Republic for its continued and consistent commitment to democracy and the rule of law.
This positive assessment of the democratic elections and established culture of democracy in Armenia was shared by the U.S. Department of State: “The United States is committed to strengthening our partnership with Armenia based on shared democratic values. We commend Armenia for the progress it has made with respect to reforms and anti-corruption efforts and encourage Armenia to continue along this path, in line with the aspirations of the Armenian people, as expressed in the spring of 2018.”
We note the transparency of the Armenian Central Election Commission and its work over time as well as the 250 OSCE-ODIHR election observers. In light of the decades-long effort by Turkey and Azerbaijan to isolate Armenia and undermine democracy, the Assembly praises the Armenian people for exercising their fundamental democratic rights. Armenia and Artsakh’s democracies stand in stark contrast to those of Turkey and Azerbaijan.
This election took place under traumatic circumstances after the Fall 2020 war initiated by Azerbaijan with the full backing of Turkey, and Armenians passed the test. We are especially glad to see that only legal means are being planned to challenge the results. Now that the elections are over, it is imperative that the parties come together for the common good of the nation and its people.
The Assembly is committed to helping on a non-partisan basis, and like so many others in the diaspora, looks forward to a brighter future where the threat of genocide is eliminated, human rights are respected, and people are free to reach their full potential with a sense of security and prosperity for all.
We wish the new government every success as we all continue our work for the betterment of the Armenian people.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
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MEPs call on all political forces in Armenia to acknowledge election results

Karapet Navasardian

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 14:01, 22 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 22, ARMENPRESS. Chair of the Delegation for relations with the South Caucasus, MEP Marina Kaljurand, and the European Parliament’s Standing Rapporteur on Armenia, MEP Andrey Kovatchev, have issued a joint statement on the early parliamentary elections held in Armenia on June 20.

Armenpress presents the full text of the statement:

“Early parliamentary elections took place in Armenia on June 20. We congratulate the Armenian people on this important show of democracy despite the difficult context.

This is a pivotal moment for Armenia and we hope that the clear election result opens a new positive chapter for the country. After a very emotional campaign, what the Armenian society now needs most is to restore unity and rally behind a common goal to build a better future.

Due to its travel restrictions related to the pandemic, the European Parliament was unable to send observers. However, an international election observation mission was conducted by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). We note that the mission found the elections to be competitive and generally well-managed and that it concluded that voters were provided with a broad range of options and fundamental rights and freedoms were generally respected.

We call on all political forces to acknowledge the election results and to refrain from any divisive rhetoric and actions. Any allegations of irregularities must not be used to stoke tension, but need to be dealt with under the appropriate complaints and appeals procedures.

We look forward to working with the newly elected National Assembly on further developing EU-Armenia relations for the benefit of our citizens”.

Tevan Poghosyan: Our enemy sees the peace in the borders drawn in 1994 without any Armenians living there

Karapet Navasardian
Panorama, Armenia

Executive Director of the International Center for Human Development Stevan Poghosyan reflected on Facebook on different perceptions about peace. 

“Our enemy perceives the peace in the  borders drawn n 1994 with no Armenians living in Armenia. One can find a peace in a cemetery as well. Our fell and living heroes wanted peace also likewise soldiers and commanders who did their best to have a victorious peace. We are obliged to reach a victorious peace whenever it comes for the sake of our Yerablur. and for the sake of the long-term security of our children. This is necessary to prevent the peace perceived by our enemies dominating us,” Poghosyan wrote. 

The political scientist added that peace can be reached either through victory or the enemy will manage to send us to a cemetery, turning the last page of the Armenian history. 

PACE Committee says problem of political prisoners in Azerbaijan ‘neither recognized nor adequately addressed’

Karapet Navasardian

PACE Committee says problem of political prisoners in Azerbaijan ‘neither recognized nor adequately addressed’

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 15:37,

YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS. The problem of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, as identified and described in a January 2020 resolution of the Assembly, “has been neither duly recognised nor adequately addressed by the authorities, let alone resolved”, according to a follow-up report, PACE reports.

The follow-up report, prepared by Thorhildur Sunna Ævarsdóttir (Iceland, SOC) and endorsed by the Assembly’s Legal Affairs Committee at a meeting yesterday, said most provisions of the resolution “have not been implemented” by the authorities.

In a separate statement, the Legal Affairs Committee endorsed the report and expressed “particular disappointment” at the failure of the Azerbaijani delegation to the Assembly to cooperate with the rapporteur in the exercise of her mandate, as well as the continuing failure of the Azerbaijani authorities to implement fully the relevant, binding judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.

New Persian-Armenian dictionary unveiled by Sadi Foundation

Karapet Navasardian
Tehran Times, Iran
June 15 2021
  1. Culture
June 15, 2021 – 18:54

TEHRAN – A new Persian-Armenian dictionary compiled by Tigran Davtyan has been published by the Sadi Foundation.

The Armenian-Persian Dictionary will be useful for Iranologists, translators, students, journalists, businessmen and a wide range of readers.

The book was introduced during a meeting at the Writer’s Union of Armenia in Yerevan, the foundation announced on Tuesday.

Speaking at the meeting, Iranian cultural attaché Seyyed Hossein Tabatabai congratulated Davtyan for compiling the lexicon and elaborated on the role of culture and literature in the expansion of relations between the countries. 

“We appreciate the great efforts Davtyan made in compiling this dictionary and we hope that in the next editions transliteration and pronunciations can also be added,” he added. 

Davtyan who also attended that the meeting expressed his hope that his work would be a step towards introducing Iranian culture, art and literature to the Armenian people.

Hasmik Kirakosian of the Yerevan State University also described the spread of Persian culture in Armenia as a valuable step in the development of Iranian studies in Armenia.

Iranian-Armenian poet, translator and journalist Edward Haghverdian, Iranian-Armenian Persian literature scholar Khoren Aramuni and several other academics also delivered speeches during the meeting.

Davtyan, who is also chief editor of the department of the Persian program broadcast for foreign countries of Armenian Public Radio Broadcasting, published an Armenian-Persian dictionary in Yerevan in 2011.

The book sums up Davtyan’s long experience of using both languages, as well as new words used in the press and everyday life.

The first Persian-Armenian dictionary was published in Armenia in 1987 by Georgy Nalbandian, a well-known Armenian Iranologist. 

Photo: Copies of the Persian-Armenian Dictionary compiled by Tigran Davtyan were unveiled at the Writer’s Union of Armenia in Yerevan. 

MAQ/MMS/YAW
  

Vladimir Putin – Joe Biden meeting ends

Karapet Navasardian

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 20:02, 16 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. The narrow and broad format talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden ended in Geneva, lasting a total of 4.5 hours, including a break, ARMENPRESS reports, Ria Novosti informed.The meeting of the two leaders took place at La Grange Villa in Geneva.

Prior to the summit, Putin had a brief conversation with Swiss President Guy Parmelin, after which the leaders of the three countries were photographed together.


View from Moscow: In anticipation of Moscow`s support, Yerevan is negotiating with Baku behind the scenes

Karapet Navasardian
Arminfo, Armenia

ArmInfo.The current situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border seems to be a logical consequence of the Karabakh war lost by Armenia. An expert on the South Caucasus,  Andrei Areshev, expressed a similar opinion to ArmInfo.

“It is clear that the events on the eastern borders of Armenia in the  period after May 12 are a rather serious problem, including for  Russia. Taking into account the responsibility for the protection of  the Armenian borders. However, the same order to the Armenian  military not to shoot at border violators raises certain questions in  Moscow to those people who are addressing Russia and the CSTO with  calls for intervention.  Security for Yerevan is a key priority  issue, which it cannot solve without trusting interaction with  Moscow. In this light, the restoration of trusting ties that existed  in the 2000s between Armenia and Russia, primarily in the security  sector, seems to have no alternative, “he stressed.

Against this background, Russian priorities in the region, according  to Areshev, are by no means limited to Armenia. As an ally of Armenia  in the CSTO, Russia is the co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group. And it  is quite a serious partner for Azerbaijan. Noting the significant  decline in Russian influence in Azerbaijan as a fact, the expert  attributed this fact to the constant deepening of the agenda of  relations between Baku and Ankara. And the “Shusha Declaration”  signed by Erdogan and Aliyev is the latest evidence of this.

According to the expert, the Caucasian policy and the Armenian agenda  are undoubtedly important in the foreign policy of Russia, but not  the main one. And for the Armenian agenda to come to the fore on the  agenda of Moscow, Armenia, in his opinion, needs to acquire  subjectivity. “We understand very well that, in anticipation of  Russian intervention in the situation on the Armenian side, Yerevan  is holding behind the scenes certain negotiations with Baku. In this  light, for obvious reasons, Moscow cannot have sufficient reasons for  active intervention in the situation,” he stressed.

“I think that the issue can and should be resolved through the  restoration of mutually beneficial trusting relations. The  institutions of the Armenian statehood have lost a lot since 2018,  however, there is certainly a chance of restoring both these  institutions and relations with Russia. It is also possible to return  to negotiations within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group, of  course, in worse positions for Armenia than those that existed before  September 27, 2020. There are also chances for the return of Hadrut  and the solution of the Shushi issue. All this is due to the prospect  of a change in the leadership of Armenia following the results of the  upcoming elections. Because the current leadership has left the  solution of the Karabakh issue to the mercy of fate. It simply  stepped back, leaving Karabakh at the disposal of Russia, Turkey and  Azerbaijan, “the Russian expert summed up. 

Kremlin comments on Erdogan’s statement about creating a Turkish military base in Azerbaijan

Karapet Navasardian
Panorama, Armenia

Russia keeps a close eye on the information that Turkey may create a military base in Azerbaijan, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday, according to TASS report. 

“Beyond any doubt, this is an issue of our close attention,” the Russian presidential spokesman said, commenting on the information. “We are interacting with the Turkish Republic in stabilizing the situation in the South Caucasus,” the Kremlin spokesman added, as quoted by the source. 

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier said he did not rule out that a Turkish military base could be created on Azerbaijani territory under the so-called Shushi declaration recently signed with Azerbaijan.

Dmitry Peskov also noted that “Russia maintains close contact with Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan on the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.” 

“We are in close contact with Ankara, Baku and Yerevan as we believe that all steps should facilitate efforts to further stabilize the situation in the South Caucasus, boost infrastructure and logistics, as well as to improve the overall situation, and should not include any elements that may raise tensions,” Peskov pointed out.

Pashinyan invites citizens to meeting at Republic Square

Karapet Navasardian

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 16:26,

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, who is leading the Civil Contract party’s electoral list for the June 20 early parliamentary elections, is inviting citizens to a rally today at the Republic Square, stating that the most important during this meeting must be the participation of everyone, the recording of a political will, unity.

“4 hours have been left for our final pre-election meeting which must become our biggest event during this pre-election campaign”, the caretaker PM said live on Facebook.

He reminded the time and the venue of the meeting, which will start at 20:00 today.

Pashinyan will deliver a program speech and will talk about their plans.

“But the most important of today’s event should become the presence of each you at the Republic Square and the recording of a political will, unity in Armenia through which we must undoubtedly record that there is future Armenia. And the people will definitely and undoubtedly win the upcoming parliamentary elections”, he said, adding that he is looking forward to seeing everyone in the Republic Square.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan