Author: Maghakian Mike

Budapest: FM Szijjártó: Hungary to Assist in Rebuilding War-torn Nagorno-Karabakh

Maghakian Mike
Hungary Today, Hungary
Jan 15 2021

Hungary Today 2021.01.15.                    

    
FM Szijjártó: Hungary to Assist in Rebuilding War-torn Nagorno-Karabakh

Hungary will assist in rebuilding in the territories retaken by Azerbaijan in the recent Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced on Thursday.

He posted on Facebook that he had held a video conference with Minister of Labor Sahil Babayev, who is the co-head of the Hungarian-Azeri economic mixed committee.

Besides the coronavirus pandemic, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was clearly another important event in the international press in recent weeks, he said.

“Hungary has always stood up for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, and we support the resolution of conflicts through talks,” he said. He added that his talks with Babayev focused on ways for Hungarian companies to participate in the rebuilding of former war-torn areas.

Despite the frequently-expressed Christian values and the defense of Christianity across the world, the Hungarian government has consistently supported Azerbaijan in what many now dub the ‘Second Nagorno-Karabakh War,’ begun by Azeri forces in September. The Orbán government argued that “as Nagorno-Karabakh lies within the borders of Azerbaijan,” Hungary stands by “the territorial integrity” of Azerbaijan. The conflict ended with Azerbaijan’s victory, resulting in the recapture of several territories and the displacement of tens of thousands of Armenians. According to recent claims, both parties were involved in violations of international humanitarian law.

Szijjártó said that it was a realistic target for Hungary to buy Azeri gas starting from the mid-2020s.

Szijjártó said that gas supplies were critically important for central Europe. “It is important for us that we are able to buy gas from as many sources as possible,” he added. A direct gas transport link has been established between Azerbaijan and Europe, and Hungary’s MVM has started preparing contractual ties with the Azeri gas company. It is realistic to expect that Hungary will buy gas from Azerbaijan from the middle of the current decade, he added.

Exim Bank has opened a 100 million dollar credit line for Hungarian companies that wish to participate, he noted, adding that the Hungarian government has offered a 25,000 euro contribution for clearing landmines in the country.

Hungarian companies have increased their presence in the Azeri market to a large degree in the recent period, with oil and gas company MOL having carried out a record investment, Wizz Air ready to relaunch flights, Hell holding 25 percent of the Azeri market, while beef exports have been relaunched, he said.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 01/07/2021

Maghakian Mike 
                                        Thursday, 
Yerevan Rejects Azeri Criticism Of Karabakh Trip
Nagorno-Karabakh -- Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazian (L) meets with 
Karabakh President Ara Harutiunian, Stepanakert, January 5, 2021.
Armenia rejected on Thursday Azerbaijan’s strong criticism of Foreign Minister 
Ara Ayvazian’s latest visit to Nagorno-Karabakh, saying that it did not run 
counter to the Russian-brokered ceasefire in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict 
zone.
Ayvazian travelled to Stepanakert earlier this week for talks with Karabakh’s 
leaders. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev condemned the trip as “provocative” 
in televised remarks aired on Thursday.
Aliyev said Armenian officials must stop visiting Karabakh without Baku’s 
permission. “Let them not forget about the war,” he said, according to the TASS 
news agency.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry claimed earlier that Ayvazian’s trip violated 
the ceasefire agreement that stopped the war in and around Karabakh on November 
10.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Anna Naghdalian, dismissed the claim 
as “completely baseless.”
In written comments to the Interfax news agency, Naghdalian insisted that the 
truce agreement “does not place any restrictions on contacts between Armenia and 
Karabakh at various levels.” Nor does it specify Karabakh’s status, she said.
Naghdalian said that Baku itself is violating a key provision of the agreement 
by refusing to free dozens of Armenian soldiers and civilians that were captured 
during the six-week war.
The deal brokered by Russian President Vladimir Putin calls for the exchange of 
all prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians held by the conflicting sides. So far 
54 Armenians have been freed and returned home.
A senior Azerbaijani official reportedly said on Monday that only two Armenians 
POWs and three civilians remain in Azerbaijani captivity.
Siranush Sahakian, a Yerevan-based human rights lawyer dealing with the 
prisoners, dismissed that claim when she spoke to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service on 
Wednesday. Sahakian said that the Armenian side possesses evidence of at least 
120 Armenian captives still being held by Baku.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s press secretary, Mane Gevorgian, warned on 
Thursday that Baku’s reluctance to free them will seriously complicate the 
implementation of another key term of the ceasefire accord: the opening of the 
Armenian-Azerbaijani border for cargo and passenger traffic.
The accord specifically commits Yerevan to opening a transport link between the 
Nakhichevan exclave and the rest of Azerbaijan, which would pass through 
Armenia’s southeastern Syunik province. Gevorgian said that contrary to Aliyev’s 
statements it would not serve as a permanent “corridor.” She also stressed that 
Baku will have to allow, for its part, Armenia to use Azerbaijani territory as a 
transit route for cargo shipments to and from Russia and Iran.
French, Armenian Leaders Again Discuss Karabakh
FRANCE -- French President Emmanuel Macron (R) shakes hands with Armenian Prime 
Minister Nikol Pashinian during a bilateral meeting as part of the Paris Peace 
Forum, in Paris, November 12, 2019
French President Emmanuel Macron and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian 
have again discussed the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone 
following the recent Armenian-Azerbaijani war stopped by a Russian-brokered 
ceasefire.
They spoke by phone late on Wednesday one day after a transport plane chartered 
by the French government delivered more humanitarian aid to Armenian victims of 
the conflict. The aid included medical supplies and clothing collected by the 
French-Armenian Aznavour Foundation.
“The President of the Republic expressed his determination to strive for a 
balanced political process in order to find a lasting political solution after 
the ceasefire agreement of November 9,” Macron’s office said in a statement on 
the phone call issued on Thursday.
“In this context, the President of the Republic pledged to support the ongoing 
efforts to allow the release of all prisoners and to support the economic 
development of Armenia,” it added.
For his part, Pashinian was reported to thank Macron for the “attention and 
support shown by him during this difficult time for the Armenian people.”
An Armenian government statement said the two leaders also discussed 
French-Armenian economic ties. It gave no other details.
France co-chairs the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and 
Cooperation in Europe together with Russia and the United States. The three 
world powers tried hard to halt the war in and around Karabakh that broke out on 
September 27. The hostilities stopped only after Moscow brokered a fresh 
Armenian-Azerbaijani truce agreement on November 9.
Macron and his foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, have repeatedly discussed 
the agreement’s implementation with their Russian counterparts, Vladimir Putin 
and Sergei Lavrov.
The French president criticized Azerbaijan and accused Turkey of recruiting 
jihadist fighters from Syria for the Azerbaijani army shortly after the outbreak 
of the war. Le Drian reiterated last month French calls for “the departure of 
the Syrian mercenaries” from the conflict zone.
Turkey has denied sending members of Turkish-backed Syrian rebel groups to fight 
in Karabakh on Azerbaijan’s side. Azerbaijan also denies the presence of such 
mercenaries in the Azerbaijani army ranks. Both Ankara and Baku accuse Paris of 
pro-Armenian bias.
France is home to an influential Armenian community. The latter was instrumental 
in the recent passage by both houses of the French parliament of resolutions 
calling on Macron’s government to recognize Karabakh as an independent republic. 
The government ruled out such recognition, saying that it would be 
counterproductive for France and the Karabakh negotiating process.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2021 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Armenian economic, trade delegation to visit Iran next month

Maghakian Mike
MEHR News Agency, Iran
Jan 5 2021

TEHRAN, Jan. 05 (MNA) – A high-level delegation from the public and private sectors, headed by the Armenian Minister of Economy, will travel to Tehran early next month to advance trade and economic goals, announced an Iranian official at TPO.

Mojtaba Mousavian, an official at Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPO), made the announcement, saying that negotiations on the further development of goods in the Eurasian Economic Memorandum, banking and transit agreements, and coordination for holding a special exhibition of Iran in Yerevan are among the goals of this trip.

He added that the Armenian trade delegation will also visit several production and industrial centers and review the joint production and export of products to other countries.

Yerevan government suspended the import of Turkish–made goods to Armenia for six months in response to Turkish military support for the Republic of Azerbaijan.

This ban was adopted on October 20, 2020, and came into force on January 1, 2021.

An official from the Iranian Trade Promotion Organization announced that Armenia has announced that it is to replace 2,250 Turkish products with Iranian goods.

“Due to Turkish sanctions, Armenia intends to replace Iranian goods with 2,250 items imported from Turkey,” the Iranian official said.

ZZ/IRN84174303


Yerevan Declares Position on Border Demarcation Process

Maghakian Mike

December 30,  2020



Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Border demarcations are successive bilateral international processes that require the existence of a joint commission and within the framework of which professional discussions and negotiations are held. A prerequisite for the above-mentioned processes is the existence of normal bilateral relations, including diplomatic relations, between the neighboring states, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry said about the process, which has become a point of contention since the signing of the November 9 agreement.

The foreign ministry released its position in response to an inquiry from Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan, who published the statement on social media.

“Following my visit to the Syunik province of Armenia, I sent an official inquiry to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in connection with the demarcation processes, taking into account the direct impact of these processes on human rights in the current situation,” Tatoyan explained.

Excerpts of the statement are presented below.

In international practice, a bilateral intergovernmental commission (chaired by representatives of the foreign ministries of the countries) is formed to carry out demarcation and demarcation processes between neighboring countries, consisting of representatives of state stakeholders (foreign policy, defense, security), experts (particularly in the field of geodesy cartography).

The first stage of the work of such commissions, as a rule, ends with a separate bilateral agreement on the legal basis of the demarcation, and later, after the demarcation, on the joint implementation of the demarcation process.

Upon successful completion of the bilateral process, the Commission concludes an agreement on the border between the two countries, which stipulates that all border issues have been resolved.

Prior to the commencement of the above-mentioned processes, “their successful completion, the deployment of armed forces or border troops to conduct combat duty along the state border is a purely defensive” security measure, in areas actually under the control of the parties, negotiated directly or indirectly between representatives of the armed forces.”

Therefore, the implementation of the current measures is not related to status issues, cannot be interpreted as a final agreement on demarcation, or mechanical approval of existing administrative boundaries”.

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia has established effective cooperation and reliable cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the mentioned issues, as well as on various other issues, especially with our country’s permanent representatives in international structures and our ambassadors to a number of countries.”

Armenia MFA issues official position over demarcation processes in response to Ombudsman’s inquiry

Maghakian Mike

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 10:20,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. The Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia informs that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued an official position in connection with the demarcation processes, in response to the inquiry of Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan.

Ombudsman Tatoyan made a respective post on social media on this:

“Following the results of my visit to the Syunik province of Armenia, I sent an official inquiry to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in connection with the demarcation processes, taking into account the direct impact of these processes on human rights in the current situation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued an official position. I publish it in full below (citation):

“Demarcations are successive bilateral international processes that require the existence of a joint commission and within the framework of which professional discussions and negotiations are held. A prerequisite for the above-mentioned processes is the existence of normal bilateral relations, including diplomatic relations, between the neighboring states.

In international practice, a bilateral intergovernmental commission (chaired by representatives of the foreign ministries of the countries) is formed to carry out demarcation and demarcation processes between neighboring countries, consisting of representatives of state stakeholders (foreign policy, defense, security), experts (particularly in the field of geodesy cartography).

The first stage of the work of such commissions, as a rule, ends with a separate bilateral agreement on the legal basis of the demarcation, and later, after the demarcation, on the joint implementation of the demarcation process.

Upon successful completion of the bilateral process, the Commission concludes an agreement on the border between the two countries, which stipulates that all border issues have been resolved.

Prior to the commencement of the above-mentioned processes, “their successful completion, the deployment of armed forces or border troops to conduct combat duty along the state border is a purely defensive” security measure, in areas actually under the control of the parties, negotiated directly or indirectly between representatives of the armed forces.”

Therefore, the implementation of the current measures is not related to status issues, cannot be interpreted as a final agreement on demarcation, or mechanical approval of existing administrative boundaries”.

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia has established effective cooperation and reliable cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the mentioned issues, as well as on various other issues, especially with our country’s permanent representatives in international structures and our ambassadors to a number of countries”.

Azerbaijan hinders visit of UNESCO mission to Nagorno Karabakh

Maghakian Mike
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 21 2020

UNESCO is awaiting Azerbaijan’s Response regarding Nagorno-Karabakh mission, says Ernesto Ottone, Assistant UNESCO Director-General for Culture.

In its press release of 20 November, UNESCO reiterated countries’ obligation to protect cultural heritage in terms of the 1954 Convention for the Protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict to which both Armenia and Azerbaijan are parties. The Organization proposed to carry out an independent mission of experts to draw a preliminary inventory of significant cultural properties as a first step towards the effective safeguarding of the region’s heritage.

The proposal received the full support of the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group and the agreement in principle of the representatives of both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Meeting at UNESCO on 10 and 11 December 2020, the members of the intergovernmental Committee of The Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Second Protocol (1999), welcomed this initiative and confirmed the need for a mission to take stock of the situation regarding cultural properties in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. The Committee requested each of the parties to render the mission possible.

Since 20 November, UNESCO made proposals and led in-depth consultations with a view to organizing the mission which, in the terms of the Convention, requires the agreement of both parties.

Ernesto Ottone, Assistant UNESCO Director-General for Culture, said: “Only the response of Azerbaijan is still awaited for UNESCO to proceed with the sending of a mission to the field. The authorities of Azerbaijan have been approached several times without success so far. Every passing week makes the assessment of the situation concerning cultural property more difficult, not least due to the weather which is expected to become harsher in the coming weeks. The window of opportunity that was opened by the cease fire must not be closed again. The safeguarding of heritage is an important condition for the establishment of lasting peace. We are therefore expecting Baku to respond without delay so that the constructive discussions held over recent weeks can be turned into action.”

Four rescuers killed in Artsakh war awarded posthumously

Maghakian Mike
Public Radio of Armenia
Dec 21 2020

Four rescuers of the State Emergency Service of Artsakh have died performing their professional duty during the war.

Hovik Aghajanyan has been posthumously awarded the “Gratitude” medal.

Harutyun Atajanyan, David Dolukhanyan and Arayik Hakobyan have been posthumously awarded the “Courage” medal.

By the decree of the director of the service, Major-General Karen Sargsyan, Hovik Aghajanyan has been posthumously awarded the “Cross of Glory-Noy” commemorative medal.

​Armenia Police: 69 demonstrators apprehended

Maghakian Mike
News.am, Armenia
Dec 24 2020
 
 
 
Armenia Police: 69 demonstrators apprehended
14:49, 24.12.2020
 
YEREVAN. – Sixty-nine demonstrators who joined the Homeland Salvation Movement initiative gathered near the government building were brought to the police. The information department of the Police of Armenia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am about this.
 
To note, the participants of this demonstration had blocked the entrances of the main government building since Thursday morning, during which the citizens were apprehended.
 
But as a result of the disproportionate actions of the police, one woman had fainted, and another woman had sustained a severe blow to the head.
 
 
 
 

Goris Mayor accused of illegal exploitation of mineral resources

Maghakian Mike

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 19:10,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS. The General Department of Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of Armenia is carrying out an investigation into a number of cases related to Goris Mayor Arush Arushanyan that have been merged into one case. Arushanyan is accused of abuse of official powers, organizing illegal business, violating the rules of subsoil protection and use, intentionally causing moderate damage to health, organizing a rally in violation of the law, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Investigative Committee of Armenia.

With the combination of sufficient evidence, a decision was made to involve Arush Arushanyan as a defendant. A motion has been filed to the court to chose detention as a precautionary measure.

American leadership needs to be felt again in places like Nagorno-Karabakh: Brian Harper

Maghakian Mike
Cleveland.com, Ohio
Dec 20 2020
Updated Dec 20, 2020; Posted Dec 20, 2020


By Guest Columnist, cleveland.com

OCALA, Florida — In articles in The New Yorker and The Atlantic magazines, two renowned foreign affairs commentators have outlined President-elect Joe Biden’s foreign policy agenda. Both writers — Robin Wright and Tom McTague, respectively — agree: Biden plans to assert and revitalize U.S. leadership in many global areas of concern.

Even though, as Wright put it in her Nov. 11 New Yorker article, “there is an undercurrent of relief in many parts of the world that American leadership is back,” conflicts in which U.S. forces are not directly engaged provide case studies for the challenges that lie ahead for globalist-minded American foreign policy practitioners.

The conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, controlled until recently by Armenia, is just one crisis that requires American attention. In the recent conflict, the United States was unable to influence the outcome or control its allies, signs that the supposed “relief” at the return of U.S. leadership may be temporary.

Periodic fights sparked into all-out war in late September 2020, and Azerbaijan won. Its military killed a reported 2,317 Armenian soldiers and its forces seized new territory by maneuvering to cut off the Lachin Corridor, Armenia’s main line of communication to the disputed region.

At first glance, this conflict may have appeared to be localized. But, in fact, the recent conflict was a global challenge to America’s supposedly impending revitalized leadership.

Turkey, a NATO member; Israel, a U.S. stalwart; and Russia, a regular competitor, all converged in Nagorno-Karabakh and showed how strained U.S. influence has become.

Contrary to previous U.S. government warnings, as the Associated Press reported it, that Turkish-trained Syrian mercenaries sent from Libya to the fight could “degrade security and generate backlash from the Libyan public” when they are deployed, the military of Azerbaijan received and utilized Syrian mercenaries. These mercenaries were equipped for, and transported to, the conflict by Turkey.

Furthermore, oil wealth from Caspian Sea-based pipelines enabled Azerbaijan to purchase Israeli-manufactured drones, which were used with devastating effect. One Armenian combatant noted the futility of continuing the conflict, exclaiming that the war is “rifles against drones.” Azerbaijan’s use of drones was so effective that the government of Azerbaijan provided daily video of successful (and deadly) bomb strikes. These bombings ultimately crippled Armenia’s war effort.

Russia brokered a tenuous cease-fire agreement, which became effective on Nov. 10. The agreement was unique because it was the global community’s fourth attempt at a cease-fire and it did not include the United States as a signatory. Russian peacekeepers are now deployed to the Armenian-Azerbaijan border to prevent any further escalations.

Russia reestablished its dominance in the region and earned itself a space in any future negotiations as a peace mediator. In contrast, the United States failed to end hostilities by treaty and failed to rein in two allies that were contributing to the bloodshed.

For the U.S. president-elect, this tragic episode demonstrates that recommitting to global leadership will not be easy. A globalist and inclusive foreign policy agenda is good, if your country is relevant. Right now, in Nagorno-Karabakh, the United States is irrelevant.

The incoming administration’s foreign policy team must create and implement a strategy for a U.S. leadership presence in conflict zones like Nagorno-Karabakh. If not, the United States will continue to lose influence to Russia and it may continue to see some allies act against U.S. interests.

Brian Harper, an Ashland University graduate originally from Cleveland, is a military veteran with deployment experience who now works in Florida.