Author: Tambiyan Samvel

USA ready to assist Armenia in overcoming post-war difficulties – Ambassador

Tambiyan Samvel

Save

Share

 18:24, 9 December, 2020

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS.  Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia Vahram Dumanyan received on December 9 the delegation led by Ambassador of the USA to Armenia Lynne Tracy.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Ministry, issues referring to the educational, scientific and cultural programs between Armenia and the USA, as well as issues referring to the possible expansion of the cooperation were on the agenda.

Greeting the guests, Minister Dumanyan emphasized the importance of the activities of the U.S. Embassy and its joint programs with the Ministry. Focusing on the Azerbaijani policy of eradicating the Armenian historical-religious heritage during and after the war, Vahram Dumanyan proposed to observe the possibilities of expanding cooperation in the sphere of culture.

‘’At the moment the Armenian cultural and religious monuments that have passed under the Azerbaijani control are being destroyed and distorted. Azerbaijan’s policy of cultural genocide violates international norms and contradicts universal values’’, Minister Dumanyan said, adding that he expects the assistance of also the U.S. Embassy in protecting Armenia’s material and mom-material heritage.

Thanking for the reception, Ambassador Lynn Tracey noted that they are ready to expand cooperation and help Armenia overcome the difficulties of the post-war period as soon as possible.

Other issues of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting.

Putin, Merkel discuss Donbas, Nagorno-Karabakh and vaccines

Tambiyan Samvel
Ukraine Inform
Dec 7 2020
07.12.2020 16:35
Ukrinform
Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed, among other things, the settlement in Donbas.

According to the Kremlin website, the two leaders had a phone conversation on December 7.

“During the exchange of views … it was stated that, in general, the truce, introduced in accordance with the measures to strengthen the ceasefire regime signed by the Contact Group in July, is being respected,” the report says.

It was also emphasized that there is no alternative to the Minsk agreements as the basis for a settlement. The parties confirmed their intention to continue joint work in the “Normandy format”, including with the help of political advisers to the leaders of Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine.

In addition, Putin told Merkel about mediation efforts to end hostilities, about the activities of Russian peacekeepers deployed along the contact line and the Lachin corridor. The readiness for cooperation on this matter within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group was expressed.

The interlocutors also touched upon the issues of interaction in the fight against the spread of coronavirus. An agreement was reached on contacts between the Health Ministries of the two countries, in particular, on vaccines.

​Strategic Inferences from Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict 2020, post Ceasefire

Tambiyan Samvel
Modern Diplomacy
Dec 6 2020
 

Strategic Inferences from Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict 2020, post Ceasefire

 
on December 6, 2020                                                        
 
By Gen. Shashi Asthana                  
 
Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a ceasefire deal to end the war for control of Nagorno-Karabakh enclave last month,after a series of Azerbaijani victories in its fight to retake the disputed enclave. The deal also guarantees a land corridor linking Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, which will be monitored by Russians(2000 peacekeepers and 100 armoured personnel carriers), besides staggered withdrawal of Armenian forces from Azeri districts surrounding the enclave by December 1.
 
The agreement is much to the displeasure of Armenian people, although it has prevented many innocent killings in the crossfire for the time being. The conflict is one of latest ones, with effective use of some modern arsenal like drones and a mix of Hybrid Warfare combined with political powerplay. It has many strategic and military inferences/lessons applicable globally in modern warfare. It also generates some questions, which global bodies and some countries will find it difficult to answer.
 
Armenia-Azerbijan
 
The deal marks an end to six weeks of fierce clashes over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian region of Azerbaijan that broke away from Baku’s control during a bitter war in the 1990s.Karabakh declared independence nearly 30 years ago, but the declaration has not been recognised internationally and it remains a part of Azerbaijan under international law. The dispute has continued to simmer over decades as the majority of inhabitants in the enclave are Armenians.
 
Azerbaijan and Turkey may have some reasons to celebrate, but with mounting anger in Armenia and dissatisfied residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, the duration of peaceful period remains uncertain. Understandably Armenian leadership was left helpless, with no choice but to save further casualties, after loss of region’s strategically vital town Shusha, so located that it overlooks Nagorno-Karbakh’s main city Stepanakert and the main road linking Armenia to the enclave. Armenians feel let down by poor response from its allies and Russia and find themselves plunged in internal turbulence.
 
Strategic Implications: External Players
 
The conflict exposed the weakness of NATO and European Union to help its ally at the time of crisis. The most important strategic impact has been a boost to radicalised Islam, emerging out of Erdogan’s overambition to grab Islamic leadership to become Caliph, besides reviving Ottoman Empire and seek control of oil and gas pipelines in the region. Although the region had history of hostilities, but the recent one was allegedly triggered by active support of Erdogen.
 
The fact that he openly supported it with conventional weapons and transported non state actors from like-minded countries like Pakistan and Syrian mercenaries/terrorists, to fight on behalf of Azerbijan, which helped it to win the conflict makes Erdogen’s position stronger in countries and groups believing in radicalised version of Islam. The immediate impact is visible in EU getting into the grip of radicalisation faster than they thought, as it watched the massacre of Armenian Christians, without punishing Turkey so far.
 
The conflict exposed NATO as a divided house, incapable of taking decisive action against threat to its allies. Notwithstanding the strategic location of Turkey and NATO assets deployed there, its time to put its house in order, by punishing its problem child, Erdogan. NATO failed to even give a  threat of expulsion to Turkey, despite its actions in this conflict and opening friction point with Greece in Mediterranean Sea. With US and France embroiled in internal affairs, NATO seemed leaderless and directionless. This raises a bigger question whether the era of alliances is over in interconnected world, and the viability of democracies getting together in other regions like Indo-Pacific to counter Chinese threat to world has a chance or otherwise?
 
The biggest loss of reputation is for Russia, which chose to play neutral, selling arms to both the parties to the conflict, despite a military pact with Armenia and a base there. It insisted not to get involved in the conflict with Azerbaijan, unless Armenian territory itself came under threat. It exhibited its weakness to control Erdogan, stop genocide of people of its erstwhile states and induction of various radicalised non state actors of Syria fighting against Christians in the region. Promoting one sided peace agreement and deploying Russian peacekeepers in the disputed Caucasus territory guaranteeing linking land corridor to Nagorno-Karabakhh (besides protecting Russian oil and gas pipelines), coupled with Armenian withdrawal  is a response, too little, too late.
 
China, which was playing neutral, as both countries are partners in BRI, could emerge as one of the main beneficiaries by gaining a new route for the BRI, besides leverage over Iran during crucial negotiations. The corridor between Nakhchivan and Azerbaijan would offer Beijing a second route to Europe in the South Caucasus bypassing Iran.
 
Military Lessons
 
TheArmenia-Azerbaijan conflict highlighted that Hybrid war is a reality, even in conflicts between states.  The idea of  hiring mercenaries/terrorist on religious lines is viable, as exhibited by Turkey and Pakistan; hence having a terror industry makes sense with adequate takers to hire their services. Recently Human Right Watch has reported ill treatment of Armenian Prisoners of War, in violation of Geneva Convention, which is quite normal, when terrorists are involved. This is a dangerous trend which must be checked by global community.
 
The conflict highlighted the air battle being influenced maximum by use of drones. The precision strikes by drones on all types of targets were game changers. The future wars will demand much higher reliance on drones to achieve desired effects without fear of human casualties. Drone warfare including countering drone threat from adversaries, has to be an essential component of technological warfare. Drone swarming, drone surveillance and many such uses including strategic bombing may be possible through drones in future. In Indian context a major effort to boost these capabilities will be required.
 
Although President Putin said: “the agreements reached will create the necessary conditions for a long-term and full-format settlement of the crisis”, but I have my doubts because dissatisfied Armenians and unpunished Turkey, cold shouldering by EU and NATO, is a recipe for further troubles, although the guns are silent for the time being.
 
 
 

Turkish Armed Forces sappers arrive in Karabakh

Tambiyan Samvel
JAM News
Nov 30 2020

    JAMnews, Baku

Specialists of the Turkish Armed Forces in the disposal of mines and improvised explosive devices have begun to provide assistance to the Azerbaijani army in the territories that passed into Azerbaijani control during the Second Karabakh War.

The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan says the Turkish military specialists will carry out demining work and clearing the territories from explosive devices, and will also organize training sessions for Azerbaijani engineering units.

The Turkish parliament approved the decision of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to send Turkish troops to the territory of Azerbaijan.

According to the agreement, the servicemen of Turkey and Russia, within the framework of the joint monitoring center, will monitor the work of the peacekeeping forces in Karabakh, as well as the observance of the ceasefire by the parties.

So far, the date of sending Turkish troops to Azerbaijan is unknown.

Involvement of armed terrorists and mercenaries is proved by sufficient evidence – Prosecution

Tambiyan Samvel

Save

Share

 16:16,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The organized and coordinated involvement of armed terrorists and mercenaries is proved by sufficient evidence obtained in time of the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh and Republic of Armenia, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Armenia said in a statement.

The military and political leadership of the Republic of Azerbaijan violated the requirements of numbers of international treaties on September 27, 2020, unleashed aggressive war against the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh; preliminary investigation was initiated on the case, data were obtained on use of mercenaries, members of various terrorist groups specially recruited by Azerbaijan from the first day of the war. The latter carried out international terrorism in order to destabilize the internal state of a foreign state, by means of organizing and carrying out actions such as explosions, arson and other similar actions, continued killing people, destroying buildings, structures, roads, means of transport and communication or other property.

On that basis, according to the materials obtained on October 12, 2020, a criminal case was initiated under Article 389 of the RA Criminal Code and joined to the criminal case initiated on the case of unleashing an aggressive war against the Republic of Artsakh.

During the preliminary investigation, on suspicion of committing crimes under Article 389, Article 390, Part 1, Point 1 and Part 3, Points 1 and 2, Article 395, Part 3 of the RA Criminal Code, mercenaries: Muhhrab Muhammad Al Shkher, a resident from the village of Atmi, near the city of Sarmad, a citizen of the Arab Republic of Syria, born in 1988 and a citizen of the Arab Republic of Syria, Yusef Alabet Al Haji, born on 03.05.1975 in Edlib region, Jser Al Shahur city, village Al Ziedie participating in the aggressive war unleashed by the Republic of Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh were arrested on October 31, 2020 by the body conducting the proceedings.

In the scope of proper judicial procedure with sufficient evidence obtained Muhhrab Muhammad Al Shkher was charged under Article 389, Articl 34-390, Part 1, Point 1 and Part 3, Point 1, Article 395, Part 3 of the RA Criminal Code and Yousef Alabet Al Haji was charged under Article 389 of the RA Criminal Code, Article 34-390, Part 1, Point 1 and Part 3, Point 1, Article 395, Part 3 of the RA Criminal Code. Detention was chosen as a preventive measure against them.

In the course of the preliminary investigation, factual information was obtained about the participation of a number of other mercenaries in the actions unleashed by the military and political leadership of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in particular Ahmad Al-Tayebi /35 years old, citizen of the Syrian Arab Republic, residence of Reyhany, Turkey/, Abu Stef Al-Hindavi /35 years old/, about Abu Diab Halabi / 30 years old/.

Decisions were made by the body conducting the proceedings on the involvement of the above- mentioned persons in a criminal case under Article 389, Article 390, Part 3, Point 1, Article 395, Part 3 of the RA Criminal Code and detention was chosen as a preventive measure against the latter and they were declared wanted.

During the further preliminary investigation and in the result of operative-investigative measures undertaken, as well as urgent investigative and other judicial actions, factual data was obtained on the leader of the international terroristic group called “Sultan Suleyman Shah”, Muhammad Al-Jasimin, titled “Abu Hamsha”, arab national /born in 1985/ for recruiting more than two thousands mercenaries in the Syrian Arab Republic for material compensation and transporting them to Azerbaijan to involve in the war against the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh, including for leading operations in place.

Based on the above, a decision was made օn November 8, 2020 regarding Muhammad Al-Jasimi to initiate a criminal case against him under Article 38-389, Article 390, Part 3, Points 1 and 2, Article 395, Part 3, Points 1 and 3 of the RA Criminal Code. Detention was chosen as a preventive measure against the latter, he was declared wanted. The preliminary investigation is underway.

Objective evidence prove the presence of extremist terrorists and mercenaries, members of international terrorist groups during the whole time of the war in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, their active participation in the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and war crimes against the people of Artsakh. After the adoption of a joint trilateral statement on finishing the military actions by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, there is no information about their withdrawal from the conflict zone.

Moreover, according to the published information, measures are being undertaken to locate the terrist groups and the mercineries living in the northern part of the Syrian Arab Republic to the territories occupied by Azerbaijan. If this information is true, it may be assessed as a step aimed at concentrating terrorist groups in the region, thereby increasing the threats against the population of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh, as well as against the security, stability and relative peace of all countries in the region.

The Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Armenia reaffirms its readiness to expand cooperation in both bilateral and multilateral forms in order to prevent new terrorist acts and establishment of new terrorist centers in the region, as well as it tries to detect such attempts and identify the persons involved in them to make them liable.

Armenian PM, ICRC delegation discuss the search for the missing, work done to ensure return of PoWs

Tambiyan Samvel
Public Radio of Armenia
Nov 27 2020

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) led by the head of the ICRC delegation to Armenia Claire Meytraud.

The Prime Minister expressed concern over the scope of work to be done to ensure the return of the captives and the search for the missing and bodies of the dead. Nikol Pashinyan stressed the need to increase the ICRC’s resources, including human resources, and noted that the Government of the Republic of Armenia is ready to make every effort to promote the most effective and rapid implementation of the above-mentioned work. The Prime Minister noted the need for the ICRC to provide regular information on the condition, health and detention conditions of detainees.

Claire Meytraud briefed the Prime Minister on the progress of their work, provided information on meetings with Armenian captives. The head of the ICRC delegation in Armenia expressed satisfaction with the cooperation of the Nagorno Karabakh authorities with the Russian peacekeepers, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia.

At the same time, Ms. Meytraud especially emphasized the importance of the map provided by the RA Ministry of Defense with the markings of specific places, which increases the efficiency of the search. She cited the existence of mined areas as well as bad weather conditions as an obstacle to speeding up the search.

During the meeting the interlocutors discussed a number of issues related to the effective cooperation on the above-mentioned issues, the process of work on the exchange of prisoners.

Sports: UEFA Nations League: Armenia beat North Macedonia 1-0

Tambiyan Samvel
Public Radio of Armenia
Nov 18 2020
UEFA Nations League: Armenia beat North Macedonia 1-0
Armenia beat North Macedonia in an UEFA Nations League C league Group 2 match.

Hovhannes Hambardzumyan scored the only goal in the 55th minute.

Armenia thus picked up the much-needed 3 points to top the group. The winner of Group C2 gains promotion and move up in the tiers.

Armenia played without Sargis Adamyan, Gevorg Ghazaryan, Andre Calisir and Grigor Meliksetyan as they have tested positive for Covid-19.

Captain Henrikh Mkhitaryan was not allowed to join the team. Roma asked the Armenian Football Federation to relieve the player of his duties in the national team given the tense situation with Covid-19.


The situation in Armenia is the domestic issue of that country – Putin

Tambiyan Samvel

Save

Share

 22:24,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the situation in Armenia following the signing of the declaration on ending the Nagorno Karabakh war is the domestic issue of that country, ARMENPRESS reports the Russian President told Russia-24.

”As refers to the domestic political situation, it’s not our business, it’s Armenia’s business. Armenia is an independent, sovereign state and has the right to solve its domestic issues in the way it finds necessary”, Putin said.

How Turkey’s use of military power furthers Erdoğan’s ambitions

Tambiyan Samvel

President Erdoğan is asserting Turkey’s military hard power to bolster himself politically. But he also sees restoring Turkey’s regional standing as his calling.

– Amelia

Turkish Presidency/AP
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrives to address the lawmakers of his ruling party at the parliament, in Ankara, Turkey, Nov. 11, 2020, following Turkey’s decisive support for Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia.

It’s been able to do so because around the region, the United States and the Europeans have increasingly absented themselves. But using that power – decisively, in the case of supporting Azerbaijan against Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh – also means potentially coming into conflict with a great power like Russia.

Turkey’s economy can be another limiting factor, but the temptation to act is great, not only to improve President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s political standing, but to improve the nation’s self-image.

“There is clearly a resurgent Turkey – one that has more self-confidence – [that] defines its role in the world as having a military footprint outside of its borders,” says Aslı Aydıntaşbaş, an expert with the European Council on Foreign Relations.

“Turkey wants to be a regional hegemon, and to get to that it understands it needs to be an active player in conflict zones,” Ms. Aydıntaşbaş says. “President Erdoğan himself feels that … it’s his calling in life to make sure Turkey emerges as a great power.”

Artsakh President calls on Armenia’s political forces to visit Stepanakert for discussions

Tambiyan Samvel

Save

Share

 14:57, 10 November, 2020

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan has applied to Armenia’s parliamentary and extra-parliamentary political forces proposing to visit Stepanakert for discussions, the President said in a statement on Facebook.

“The current complex political situation has automatically formed a new agenda in our reality. In order to discuss it with the main role-players of the Armenian political field and present the whole existing information I apply to Armenia’s parliamentary and extra-parliamentary forces to visit Stepanakert and hold discussions at the scene.

Tomorrow, on November 11, I am ready to host the executives of political parties represented in the Parliament of Armenia. Then, I am ready to continue the series of meetings also with the extra-parliamentary forces as envisaged”, he said.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan