Author: Nahapetian Samvel

Azerbaijani military again opens fire at farmers in Nagorno Karabakh

Nahapetian Samvel

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 17:17,

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS. Azeri forces have again opened fire on Armenian farmers in Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh).

The Nagorno Karabakh Ministry of Internal Affairs said “a group of citizens carrying out pruning work in the vineyards of Machkalashen community of the Martuni region” were targeted by Azerbaijani fire on March 23 and March 24.

In a statement issued Friday, the Ministry of Internal Affairs also denied the Azerbaijani accusations on having used the Stepanakert-Ghaibalishen-Lisagor road to transport military supplies.

“The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan continues to spread disinformation that the Armenian side is allegedly using the Stepanakert-Ghaibalishen-Lisagor road to transport military supplies.

Advancing this [narrative], the Azerbaijani side is misleading the international community, preparing the ground for another provocation against the civilian population of Artsakh.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs considers it necessary to emphasize once again that the movement of civilians and the transportation of humanitarian goods are carried out along the forest and mountain road bypassing Shushi, accompanied by Russian peacekeepers.

Taking into account the geographical location of that road, the traffic is organized by large and [high-clearance] vehicles, which the Azerbaijani side misrepresents as military transport.

While Azerbaijan falsely accuses the Armenian side of transporting weapons and ammunition, yesterday, March 23 and this morning, Azerbaijani combat positions targeted and opened fire with weapons of various types and calibers at a group of citizens carrying out pruning work in the vineyards of Machkalashen community of the Martuni region.

No casualties were registered. Agricultural work has been suspended,” the statement reads.

Council of Europe is pressuring Azerbaijan to comply with ICJ ruling, says Justice Minister

Nahapetian Samvel

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 14:53, 13 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, ARMENPRESS. The Council of Europe is pressuring Azerbaijan to comply with the binding ruling of the International Court of Justice ordering it to open the Lachin Corridor, the Minister of Justice of Armenia Grigor Minasyan told reporters.

He said that the toolkit for enforcing the ICJ rulings is a political one.

“Unlike national courts, when a bailiff is sent to enforce the court verdict and when there’s a state agency in charge of enforcing the ruling, the toolkit for enforcing the rulings in international courts is a political one. And our international partners, particularly the Council of Europe, is already using its political toolkit, putting pressure in order for the party to fulfill the obligations which have been assigned to it,” Minasyan said.

The United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan on February 22 to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. The Lachin Corridor is blocked by Azerbaijan since 12 December 2022.

Economy minister: We don’t think Meghri road will be opened sooner than that from Armenia to Iran via Nakhichevan

Nahapetian Samvel
News.am
Armenia – March 15 2023
18:02, 15.03.2023

The calculations that as a result of unblocking the communication channels in the region, Armenia’s GDP will grow by 30 percent is a forecast that takes into account many factors. Of course, no one predicted what kind of fragmentation would occur in the world, that different economic blocs would separate from each other, Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan said in an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am

“We also have our plans: the construction of the North-South route, now the issue of building a fast transport route between Armenia and Europe is being discussed quite intensively. You also know that we are moving forward quickly in the Gyumri dry port project. All of this is to help us get those economic benefits from de-blockage of the region. Today I can say that if before we assumed it would be 30 percent, now we can expect even more. The world is fragmenting and we want to be a bridge among those fragments,” said the minister.

When asked if there is any research to claim such a thing, he answered: “We’re updating that research right now, the task force is working, we’ll have more recent research on our potential in the next few months.”

As for if only the Meghri railway is opened, what will it give to Armenia, especially considering that the country has to spend $200 million to repair that section, Kerobyan responded: “The Margara checkpoint [on Armenia’s border with Turkey] was opened first—albeit, temporary. There is already an agreement that in June the border will be opened for tourists, for third countries, there is an agreement to restore the Ani bridge.

Now we are in such a turbulent situation that various changes, exacerbations, reversals of some agreements are possible. But today, the first communication that we imagine should be opened is the tourist section of the Armenian-Turkish border.

With the opening of the road you mentioned, the direct road from Armenia to Iran will be opened near Yeraskh [village], which is also a very important road for us in terms of railway and motor vehicle transport. We do not think that the road to Meghri will be opened sooner than the road from Armenia to Iran via Nakhichevan. And if we compare those two with each other, then our economic benefits will be very big,” Kerobyan emphasized.

Music: Pianist and Alum Kariné Poghosyan Honors Armenian Composer at The Soraya

Nahapetian Samvel
California –
  • on  
Kariné Poghosyan ’03 plays an Alumni Concert at The Soraya with a program that featured works 
by Armenia’s best-known composer, Aram Khachaturian. Photo by Luis Luque, Luque Photography.

Armenian American pianist Kariné Poghosyan ’03 (Music Keyboard/Piano Performance) returned to her alma mater March 8, honoring her heritage with an intimate performance of works by Armenia’s best-known composer, Aram Khachaturian, and surrounded by fans seated on The Soraya stage.

Poghosyan, who made her solo Carnegie Hall debut at age 23, is known for her stylistic flair and the emotions she uncovers in the works she performs. She recently performed two sold-out recitals at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, including a CD release concert of her “Rachmaninoff and Stravinsky” recording on Centaur Records.

The first half of her sold-out show at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian for the Performing Arts featured several of Khachaturian’s compositions, including two excerpts from his ballets and a rarely performed piano sonata. Poghosyan performed her own adaptation of his piece “Oror” — which means “Lullaby” — from his ballet “Gayaneh.” She also honored Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff’s 150th birthday with the 1931 rewritten version of his beloved “Piano Sonata No. 2.”

This was the first alumni concert hosted by the Younes and Soraya Center for Performing Arts since the COVID-19 related closure of the theater. Poghosyan’s performance was underwritten by Milt Valera ’68 (Journalism) and Debbie Valera, including support for tickets for students and alumni across campus.

At a reception after the show, Poghosyan met students and faculty from CSUN’s Armenian Studies program in the College of Humanities and members of the CSUN Armenian Alumni Association. The day before the performance, she also conducted a master class for piano students in the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication.

https://csunshinetoday.csun.edu/arts-and-culture/pianist-and-alum-karine-poghosyan-honors-armenian-composer-at-the-soraya/

Putin, Assad meet in Moscow

Nahapetian Samvel

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 19:57,

YERERVAN, MARCH 15, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin is conducting negotiations with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the Kremlin, ARMENPRESS reports, Ria Novosti informed. According to the source, the head of Syria arrived in Moscow in the evening of March 14. On the morning of March 15, he laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

During the meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that they are in constant contact and that the relations between the two countries are developing.

“Dear Mr. President, I am very happy to see you in Moscow. Thank you for accepting our invitation. We are in constant contact and our relations are developing,” Putin said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad are expected to discuss issues of further development of Russian-Syrian cooperation in the political, commercial, economic and humanitarian spheres, as well as the prospects for a comprehensive settlement of the situation in Syria.

The last time Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad met was in September 2021, when the Syrian president visited Moscow.




Azerbaijan Open Fire on Armenian Soldiers; Again Cuts off Gas to Artsakh

Nahapetian Samvel
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Main, Latest, News, Top Stories

A soldier on the frontline


Azerbaijani forces opened fire on Armenian military positions on Monday in the Verin Shorzha region of the Gegharkunik Province, defense authorities reported. This attacks follows a similar one late last week, after which Azerbaijani authorities, once again, cut off the gas supplies to Artsakh, continuing its violations of human rights and the ceasefire.

The attack on Monday happened between 7 to 7:30 p.m. local time, with Armenian authorities reporting no casualties.

On Friday, Azerbaijan again halted the gas supply to Artsakh, it what has become a norm during the three-month long blockade of the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Artsakh to the outside world.

Artsakh presidential adviser David Babayan lamented that the International Court of Justice “did not see” Azerbaijan’s intermittent halting of the gas supply as a deliberate action by Baku.

“It is interesting to know what the distinguished judges of the UN International Court [of Justice] think about this. And what do they think about the fact that in Baku they don’t just ignore, but mock the [court’s] decision to ensure unhindered movement through the Lachin corridor? Dear judges, isn’t it insulting?” Babayan added.

In speaking to News.am, Babayan, who has been stuck in Yerevan since the December 12 blockade of Artsakh, said that negotiations between Stepanakert and Baku would be possible only under conditions that the sides have equal footing in the talks.

This was in direct response to Azerbaijani officials, who have extended an invitation to Artsakh authorities to discuss, in Baku, ”integration of the population within Azerbaijan,” a topic that has been rejected as an agenda item by Artsakh.

“With this ‘proposal’ conveyed through the media, Baku once again is demonstrating that it is not even going to hold negotiations. First, as for the negotiation process, Artsakh has always been in favor of negotiations and peaceful settlement. But the negotiations can take place only between equal parties, with the participation of international mediators—in the person of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. The Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Armenia format was specified back in 1994,” said Babayan.

“Let us remind Baku that there is no ‘Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh.’ The Artsakh Republic is a state, even if it is unrecognized. And being unrecognized for Azerbaijan is not an obstacle at all, as evidenced by its ties with the so-called ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ and Taiwan,” added Babayan, who emphasized that invitations to such negotiations are not extended through the media.

He also called for international mediation in Artsakh, reiterating that Baku is scoffing at the decision by the International Court of Justice.

United States Ambassador meets governors of Vayots Dzor, Syunik to discuss economic and security situations

Nahapetian Samvel

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 17:03,

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, ARMENPRESS. United States Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien discussed the economic and security situations in Vayots Dzor and Syunik with the governors of the provinces, the embassy said in a statement on Friday.

“Ambassador Kvien met with Vayots Dzor governor Ararat Grigoryan and Syunik governor Robert Ghukasyan to discuss the economic and security situations in these regions. She pledged continued U.S. support for Armenia’s sovereignty and independence,” reads the US embassy statement posted on social media.

BREAKING: Armenia renounces CSTO Deputy Secretary-General quota

Nahapetian Samvel

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 13:17,

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has submitted a proposal to the CSTO on relinquishing its quota of Deputy Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Armenian Foreign Ministry confirmed Friday.

“Indeed, we’ve presented a respective proposal to the CSTO,” foreign ministry spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan told ARMENPRESS when asked to either confirm or deny media reports claiming that Armenia has formally renounced its quota of Deputy Secretary-General.

Iran warns Turkey that it is uncomfortable with Israel’s presence in the Caucasus

Nahapetian Samvel

by Levent Kenez

Levent Kenez/Stockholm

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian stated at a press conference on Wednesday that Israel’s presence in the Caucasus is a threat to peace in the region, following a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, to whom he paid a visit to show solidarity with Turkey due to devastating earthquakes that struck the country on February 6.

Beginning his speech by applauding March 8, International Women’s Day, Abdollahian said women are the main element of society in Iran.

Stating that both countries should be sensitive to and careful about security in the region, the Iranian minister claimed that the most important reason for the crisis in the Caucasus was the presence of Israel in the region.

“We see the presence of the Zionist regime in the region as a major threat to peace and stability. Wherever this regime is involved, there has been insecurity and crisis. The Islamic Republic of Iran warns the parties to pay close attention to the behavior of the Zionist regime. They should not allow its presence in the region,” said the Iranian minister.

The basis of what Abdollahian implicitly expressed is no doubt the growing cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan, a close ally of Turkey. Iran sees Israel’s presence in Azerbaijan as part of its encirclement by the West. Tehran has long claimed that Israel is conducting intelligence operations by using Azeri elements in Iran and that it has succeeded in carrying out some sabotage and assassinations.

Israel had maintained a balance in relations with Armenia during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020; however, it at the same time provided tacit support to Azerbaijan. A significant number of the military vehicles and drones that led Azerbaijan to victory were purchased from Israel. Armenia protested this support by withdrawing its ambassador, whom it had appointed only two weeks earlier, in October 2020. In addition, during celebrations held after Azerbaijan’s victory, some Azerbaijanis waved the Israeli flag along with the flags of Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Turkish media reported that according the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), 26.6 percent of arms sales to Azerbaijan between 2011-2020 were from Israel. It is estimated that 17 percent of Israel’s total arms sales are directed to Azerbaijan. Israel is Azerbaijan’s third largest trading partner with exports of $1.33 billion, meeting 40 percent of Israel’s oil needs. Israel was the source of 69 percent of Azerbaijan’s arms purchases between 2016 and 2020.

Another issue that came to the agenda during the Iranian minister’s visit is Tehran’s insistence on playing an active role in the normalization of relations between Turkey and Syria.

The first high-level bilateral contact between Ankara and Damascus since the civil war that started in Syria in 2011 took place on December 28, 2022. Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Undersecretary Hakan Fidan met with Syrian Defense Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas and head of intelligence Ali Mamlouk, hosted by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Çavuşoğlu said he told his Iranian colleague that there was no problem with Iran’s participation in the next  meeting that will be held between foreign ministers, adding that the only mechanism for Syria that exists at the moment is the Astana Process, the quartet platform comprising Turkey, Syria, Iran and Russia.

Noting that work for a Turkish-Syrian-Russian foreign ministers meeting is under way, Çavuşoğlu said, “We’re planning to have all four parties involved. The Russians offered to hold a meeting at the technical level for the preparation of a possible foreign ministers meeting for next week. We’ll send our deputy minister to Moscow. The Iranian side will also participate,” he said.

https://nordicmonitor.com/2023/03/26020/ 

Azerbaijan puts into circulation new term: ‘conventional border’ with Armenia

Nahapetian Samvel
News.am
Armenia – March 9 2023
17:54, 09.03.2023

Azerbaijan has put into circulation a new term: “conventional border” with Armenia.

Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov met with Mustafa Oguz, Chief of Staff of the NATO Allied Land Command, who is on an official visit to the Azerbaijani capital Baku, Azerbaijani media report, citing the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, Hasanov informed the guest about the reforms being carried out in the Azerbaijani army, the work being carried out in the occupied Armenian territories, as well as “the current situation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian conventional state border and the economic region of Karabakh.”