Author: Torgomian Varazdat

Commander of Russian airbase in Armenia: Ready to perform tasks as intended

Torgomian Varazdat
News.am, Armenia
Nov 21 2021
17:02, 21.11.2021

All aircraft that are at the Erebuni airfield are ready to perform their intended missions, the commander of the Russian airbase stationed at the Erebuni airfield in Yerevan, Colonel Alexander Petrov, told journalists.

“We are very actively cooperating with the Armenian Defense Ministry and with the Aviation Department of the Armenian Defense Ministry. Also with the commanders of the regiments, who are stationed at the Erebuni airfield and in Gyumri,” said Colonel Petrov.

Unspecified number of Armenians to be evacuated from Afghanistan

Torgomian Varazdat

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 13:51,

Last updated: 16:13 (GMT+4)

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. An unspecified number of Armenian citizens are among 380 people who are being evacuated from Afghanistan by the Russian military, TASS reported citing the Russian Ministry of Defense.

According to the report, three Russian IL-76 military transport planes are en route to Afghanistan to evacuate more than 380 people – citizens of Russia, as well as other CSTO members – Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. The evacuees include also Ukrainian and Afghan nationals.

The planes are carrying more than 36 tons of humanitarian cargo.

Updates: 16:13 (GMT+4) The Armenian foreign ministry reported that according to preliminary information there are two Armenian citizens in Afghanistan. 

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

CSTO closely monitors the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border – Zakharova

Torgomian Varazdat

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 20:16,

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. Russia takes its bilateral and multilateral obligations seriously, ARMENPRESS reports the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said during a briefing with journalists, referring to the question about the Armenian-Russian bilateral agreement of 1997.

“Russia takes its bilateral and multilateral obligations seriously. Relevant bilateral consultations are held. As for the CSTO, according to our information, they are closely monitoring the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border”, Zakharova said.

Armenia, Azerbaijan: Yerevan Abandons Territory in Biggest Border Clash Since War

Torgomian Varazdat
Stratfor
Nov 18 2021

Nov 16, 2021 | 20:32 GMT

What Happened: Armenia abandoned two domestic military positions in the deadliest flare-up between itself and Azerbaijan since last year’s war over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, Eurasianet reported Nov. 16. Armenian sources reported that at least 15 soldiers were killed and 12 taken prisoner, and the number of Azerbaijani casualties is unclear.
 
Why It Matters: This escalation prompted Armenia to formally appeal to Russia for military assistance under the 1997 bilateral defense treaty, and Russian troops stationed in Armenia were allegedly moved to full combat readiness. The seizure of Armenian land appears to be a long-planned Azerbaijani provocation intended to pressure Armenia into favorable terms as the two nations reportedly finalize long-awaited border and transportation agreements. In combination with Armenia’s already-precarious domestic security situation, Azerbaijan’s strategy may be effective.
 
Background: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan claims Azerbaijani armed forces have occupied 41 square kilometers of Armenia’s territory since May as part of a pressure campaign. Azerbaijan is reportedly using the road it seized last year, which runs from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh, as a bargaining chip to gain customs-free access to the corridor connecting the country to its Nakhchivan exclave. In February, Pashinyan averted an “attempted military coup” when military leaders called on him to resign following months of protests over his widely criticized handling of the war. Russia brokered a ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan last year, which resulted in Armenia’s evacuation of most of the disputed region and the deployment of Russian peacekeepers. 

Opposition MP: Pashinyan’s statements confirm authorities have nothing to do with army-building

Torgomian Varazdat
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 8 2021

MP Tigran Abrahamyan from the opposition With Honor faction has reacted to Nikol Pashinyan’s statements made in an interview to the Public TV Company on Sunday.

“We have to admit that we have, in fact, failed the army-building work in the sense that the army must have met the challenges that existed around the Republic of Armenia,” Pashinyan said.

“In addition to again shifting the responsibility for the war outcome to the military, Nikol Pashinyan, in fact, reaffirmed that his government has nothing to do with the issue of army-building,” the MP wrote on Facebook on Monday.

“I think there are two reasons for it. First, Aliyev refuses to let Pashinyan to do that, constantly warning that he will consider it as revenge. Second, the military-political leadership of Armenia, even in case of a great desire, lacks the necessary political, professional and ideological abilities.

“After all, building and reforming the security system is not just about drafting a document. Therefore, Pashinyan came to tell us not to get our hopes up in vain,” Abrahamyan said.

Artsakh will never be part of Azerbaijan – Foreign Ministry

Torgomian Varazdat
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 9 2021

The Foreign Ministry of the Artsakh Republic issued a statement on the one-year anniversary of the ceasefire declaration on November 9. The full text of the statement is provided below.

“One year ago, on 9 November 2020, thanks to the active mediation efforts of the Russian Federation, a trilateral statement was signed by the President of the Russian Federation, the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of Azerbaijan. The signing of the trilateral statement made it possible to put an end to the 44-day war of aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh with the direct military involvement of Turkey, as well as international terrorists and mercenaries from the Middle East, and laid the ground for the entry of Russian peacekeeping forces into the territory of Artsakh to maintain peace in the zone of the Azerbaijan-Karabagh conflict. The trilateral statement also plays an important role in ensuring the post-war rehabilitation of the Republic of Artsakh.

As a result of the aggression and the devastating war that lasted 44 days, significant territories of the Republic of Artsakh, including the town of Shushi, the historical and cultural center of Artsakh, were occupied by Azerbaijan. During the hostilities, the Azerbaijani army committed numerous war crimes, including deliberate attacks on civilian objects, torture and extrajudicial killings of prisoners of war and captured civilians, ethnic cleansing, deliberate destruction of historical and cultural monuments and churches, the use of indiscriminate weapons prohibited by international law.

Even after the signing of the trilateral statement on 9 November 2020, Azerbaijan has not stopped its internationally wrongful acts and continues its offensive and aggressive actions, including capture of military personnel and civilians, carrying out deliberate killings, destruction of Armenian churches and cultural heritage in the occupied territories.

In this regard, it should be emphasized that the situation resulting from the illegal use of military force by Azerbaijan, flagrant violation of its international obligations, systematic and massive violations of human rights and international humanitarian law cannot serve as a basis for the settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabagh conflict.

It is well known that the norms of international law prohibit the recognition of any territorial gains as a result of the threat or use of force. Moreover, the use of force cannot abolish one of the fundamental principles of international law, the equal rights and self-determination of peoples, enshrined in the UN Charter and other fundamental international documents.

The position of the official Stepanakert and the will of the people of Artsakh remain unchanged. Artsakh will never be part of Azerbaijan. Respect for the inalienable right to self-determination realized by the people of Artsakh and de-occupation of the territories where they created their independent statehood through self-determination and developed it are the cornerstone of a comprehensive settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabagh conflict and establishment of a sustainable and lasting peace in the region.”

Armenpress: Due to the incident at the crossroad near Shushi, the traffic in that area is suspended

Torgomian Varazdat

Due to the incident at the crossroad near Shushi, the traffic in that area is suspended

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 17:54, 8 November, 2021

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS. An Azerbaijani soldier opened fire on the employees of the Water and Sewerage CJSC, which was repairing water pipes, at the crossroad near the city of Shushi on November 8 at about 15:00.

“As a result of the shooting, one died, three others were hospitalized with gunfire injuries”, the Prosecutor’s Office of Artsakh said, adding that no one’s life is under risk.

For finding out the circumstances of the incident, revealing the real reasons, giving a legal assessment, the operative groups of the National Security Service, the police operative groups and the investigators of the Investigative Committee carry out urgent investigative and judicial actions on the spot.

Considering that investigative actions are being carried out at the scene, the traffic in that area has been suspended for a short time.

Expert: Whole world should be assured that any unblocked transport route will be exclusively under Armenia’s sovereignty

Torgomian Varazdat
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 27 2021

The presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkey have attended groundbreaking ceremonies for the construction of a new highway in the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) territories temporarily placed under Baku’s control as a result of the 44-day war, orientalist Armen Petrosyan said on Wednesday.

“In terms of propaganda, this move has at least three purposes: the project is presented to their own societies and the international community as the launch of the implementation of the “Zangezur corridor” linking Azerbaijan with Nakhichevan and Turkey, at the same time getting on the Armenian people’s nerves and playing with their emotions,” the expert wrote on Facebook.

“Now, what is our task? We should in no way be overwhelmed by the Turkic propaganda, and should assure the neighbors and the whole world that any possible unblocked transport route on the territory of Armenia will be exclusively under the sovereignty of Armenia. The issue of naming it is also a topic for discussion,” Petrosyan said.

Armenian violinist Sergey Khachatryan performs in Prague

Torgomian Varazdat
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 23 2021
, 13:58

 Less than a minute

World-famous Armenian violinist Sergey Khachatryan performed at the Rudolfinum Concert Hall in Prague, the Armenian Embassy in the Czech Republic informs.

He was joined by the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Alexander Liebreich.

The concert titled “Sergey Khachatryan plays Brahms”, was dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. It was held under the auspices of the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the Czech Republic Ashot Hovakimian.

Following the concert, Ambassador Hovakimian hosted the artists, representatives of Czech public and political circles, the diplomatic corps and the Armenian community in the Czech Republic.

Turkey’s role in the 44-day war has reduced trust in NATO – Defense Minister receives NATO official

Torgomian Varazdat

Turkey’s role in the 44-day war has reduced trust in NATO – Defense Minister receives NATO official

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 18:57,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Defense of Armenia Arshak Karapetyan received on October 21 NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia Javier Colomina Píriz.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MoD Armenia, Arshak Karapetyan presented the security environment and existing challenges created following the termination of hostilities in Artsakh, spoke about the participation and role of a NATO member state, Turkey, in the 44-day war, as a result of which the trsut in NATO for ensuring regional stability and peace has declined.

The interlocutors also discussed issues related to regional security and the prospects of Armenia-NATO cooperation.