Monday,
More Refugees Return To Karabakh
• Sargis Harutyunyan
• Gevorg Stamboltsian
ARMENIA -- Ethnic Armenians look out from a bus window as they return to
Stepanakert from Yerevan, Novemebr 16, 2020
Hundreds more ethnic Armenian refugees have returned to Nagorno-Karabakh nearly
one week after a Russian-brokered ceasefire agreement stopped the
Armenian-Azerbaijani war.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, on Sunday alone 475 of them arrived
in Stepanakert from Yerevan in a convoy of 19 buses escorted by Russian
peacekeeping forces deployed in the Karabakh conflict zone in line with the
agreement.
Like other refuges, they were bused through one of the two main highways
connecting Armenia to Karabakh. It passes through the Kelbajar district that has
been Karabakh Armenian control since 1993.
Under the truce accord announced on November 10, Kelbajar was due to be placed
back under Azerbaijani control by Monday. Baku said at the weekend that it has
agreed to delay Armenian withdrawal from the mountainous district until November
25.
An RFE/RL correspondent witnessed on Monday numerous cars, buses and trucks
moving along the Kelbajar road. They transported refugees and their possessions
back to Karabakh.
There were also signs of a return to normality in Stepanakert and other Karabakh
towns and villages severely damaged by Azerbaijani air strikes and shelling. The
streets of Stepanakert were visibly filled with more people than during the
six-week war.
NAGORNO-KARABAKH -- A Russian military helicopter Mi-8 patrols military vehicles
of the Russian peacekeeping forces as they move on the road toward Stepanakert,
November 14, 2020
After Kelbajar’s handover to Azerbaijan the other highway passing through the
Lachin district will become Karabakh’s sole overland link with Armenia. Its
sections close to the Karabakh town of Shushi (Shusha) were the scene of fierce
fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces in the final days of the war.
The Russian peacekeepers are being deployed along the Lachin corridor and the
current Armenian-Azerbaijani “line of contact” in and around Karabakh. The
Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday that they have started clearing the road
from landmines and wreckage of military hardware destroyed during the fighting.
“The road is being prepared for the return of the refugees,” said Colonel Alexei
Polyukhovich, the deputy commander of the Russian peacekeeping contingent.
Armenian Prime Minster Nikol Pashinian predicted, meanwhile, that the Lachin
road will likely be reopened to traffic “in the coming days.” Pashinian also
said that more than a thousand Karabakh refugees have returned home in the last
several days.
According to authorities in Stepanakert, the war displaced at least 90,000
Karabakh Armenian civilians making up around 60 percent of the territory’s
population. Most of them took refuge in Armenia.
Another Oppositionist Freed
• Naira Bulghadarian
Armenia- Vahram Baghdasarian speaks to journalists after his release from
custody, Yerevan,
A court in Yerevan ordered on Monday the release of another opposition figure
arrested on coup charges at the weekend.
The suspect, Vahram Baghdasarian, is a senior member of former President Serzh
Sarkisian’s Republican Party of Armenia (HHK).
Baghdasarian, former National Security Service (NSS) Director Artur Vanetsian
and another man, Ashot Minasian, were charged with plotting to assassinate Prime
Minister Nikol Pashinian and overthrow Armenia’s government following the war
with Azerbaijan. They all reject the accusations as politically motivated.
The court refused to allow the NSS to keep Baghdasarian under arrest pending
investigation into the alleged coup plot. Vanetsian was freed by another judge
late on Sunday.
By contrast, Minasian was remanded in pre-trial custody. The NSS claimed on
Saturday to have found large quantities of weapons in a property belonging to
him.
The security service went on to publicize what it described as audio of
Minasian’s wiretapped phone conversations with Baghdasarian and another
oppositionist, during which they blamed Pashinian for the unsuccessful war and
seemingly discussed ways of assassinating him and seizing power.
Speaking shortly after his release, Baghdasarian claimed that the recordings
were doctored and “taken out of context” by investigators.
“I have nothing to hide and made this clear in the court,” he told reporters
before joining another anti-government rally held in Yerevan’s Liberty Square on
later in the day.
The former ruling HHK and Vanetsian’s Hayrenik (Fatherland) party are among 17
opposition groups that launched on November 10 street protests against the terms
of a Russian-mediated ceasefire agreement that stopped the Karabakh war. They
accuse Pashinian of capitulating to Azerbaijan and demand his resignation. The
prime minister has dismissed the accusations.
Armenian Foreign Minister Sacked
RUSSIA -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov welcomes his Armenian
counterpart Zohrab Mnatsakanian (L) during a meeting in Moscow, October 21, 2020
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said he has decided to sack Foreign Minister
Zohrab Mnatsakanian as the Armenian parliament discussed on Monday his
administration’s handling of the war with Azerbaijan.
Pashinian gave no clear reason for the move as he spoke at an emergency session
of the National Assembly boycotted by opposition lawmakers. He did not say who
will replace Mnatsakanian.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Anna Naghdalian, indicated shortly
afterwards that Mnatsakanian himself has decided to step down. She posted on her
Facebook page a copy of a letter of resignation signed by Mnatsakanian.
Earlier in the afternoon, Naghdalian publicly contradicted Pashinian’s comments
on Shushi (Shusha), Karabakh’s second largest city captured by Azerbaijani
forces during the war stopped by a Russian-mediated ceasefire on November 10.
Speaking at a news conference in the morning, the prime minister claimed that
peace proposals made by U.S., Russian and French mediators in recent years
called for the restoration of Azerbaijani control over Shushi.
“The issue of giving up [Karabakh Armenian control of] Shushi was not raised
during any stage of the peace process,” Naghdalian wrote on Facebook.
Mnatsakanian himself did not immediately comment on his unexpected exit. He
spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov by phone as recently as on
Sunday. They discussed the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.
Mnatsakanian, 54, is a career diplomat whom Pashinian appointed as foreign
minister after coming to power in the “Velvet Revolution” of April-May 2018. He
is the first member of the Armenian government to lose his post after the
six-week war.
The terms of the truce brokered by Moscow sparked street protests in Yerevan,
with Armenian opposition groups accusing Pashinian’s government of capitulating
to Azerbaijan and demanding his resignation. They were due to continue the
protests on Monday.
Pashinian again rejected the opposition demands. Speaking during the
question-and-answer in the parliament, he also skirted a question about the
possibility of snap general elections in the country.
Pashinian Under Fire Over ‘Inflammatory’ Appeal
• Lilit Harutiunian
ARMENIA -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian speaks during his address to
the nation in Yerevan, Armenia November 12, 2020.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has provoked a storm of criticism and defections
from his political alliance with what critics see as a call for a violent
response to opposition groups demanding his resignation.
In a late-night Facebook post, Pashinian praised Armenian soldiers remaining on
the Nagorno-Karabakh frontlines and voicing vocal support for his administration
amid opposition protests in Yerevan sparked by the outcome of the war with
Azerbaijan.
“Guys, you are right. I am waiting for you in Yerevan,” he wrote, calling on
them to help him “sort out” his “whimpering” detractors.
Opposition and public figures were quick to condemn the statement. Armenia’s
human rights ombudsman, Arman Tatoyan, added his voice to the condemnations on
Monday.
Tatoyan noted that in recent days pro-Pashinian combatants, most of them
mobilized army reservists and volunteers, have circulated video messages
containing death threats and hate speech against the prime minister’s political
opponents. Pashinian effectively endorsed those threats with his Facebook
statement, he said.
Armenia -- Deputies from the My Step bloc attend a parliament session in
Yerevan, September 9, 2019.
The statement also prompted three pro-government members of the Armenian
parliament to announce overnight that they will leave Pashinian’s My Step
alliance.
“Our political team is making one mistake after another,” one of the lawmakers,
Taguhi Tovmasian, wrote on Facebook. “Instead of admitting and correcting our
mistakes, mitigating the situation through dialogue and thereby trying to ease
tensions in our country, we are taking steps undermining foundations of the
state.”
Pashinian’s controversial appeal also led to the resignation of Varag Siserian,
the top aide to Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinian. Siserian said he has also
decided to terminate his membership in the ruling Civil Contract party, the
dominant component of My Step.
Pashinian responded by accusing critics of misinterpreting his statement.
Speaking at a news conference held on Monday morning, he insisted that he did
not advocate any violent acts and simply wanted to show his appreciation to the
soldiers staunchly supporting his administration.
ARMENIA -- People attend an opposition rally to demand the resignation of
Armenian Prime Minister following the signing of a deal to end the military
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, in Yerevan, November 13, 2020
Pashinian said he plans to meet those servicemen in Yerevan in an effort to end
opposition allegations that his decision to accept a Russian-mediated ceasefire
agreement with Azerbaijan amounted to high treason. “I must also say that nobody
returning from the frontlines with weapons,” he added in that regard.
The premier went on to accuse the Armenian opposition and Tatoyan of not
condemning violent mobs that ransacked government buildings in Yerevan and
severely beat up parliament speaker Ararat Mirzoyan immediately after the
announcement of the ceasefire agreement early on November 10.
The truce stopped the six-week war during which Azerbaijan made significant
territorial gains in and around Karabakh. It also triggered street protests by
Armenian opposition groups demanding Pashinian’s resignation.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2020 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
Category: 2020
Cultural erasure may spark next Nagorno-Karabakh war
Asia Times
If Azerbaijan truly wants peace in Artsakh it should allow Armenians
to keep five sacred Christian monuments
By Simon Maghakyan
Azerbaijan’s recent 44-day war on Armenia-backed Artsakh, better known
by its Soviet name of Nagorno-Karabakh, resulted in a Moscow-brokered
deal earlier this week that effectively ends millennia-old Armenian
existence in much of the region.
In addition to land already lost on the battlefield, the deal dictates
Armenians to cede to Azerbaijan many more territories by December 1.
As they evacuate these lands, traumatized Armenians are leaving behind
hundreds of sacred sites. Given Azerbaijan’s terrible record with
cultural erasure, long-term peace may seem hopeless.
Over the past 15 years, I have been researching cultural erasure as an
understudied aspect of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. My research
was prompted in December 2005 when, as a 19-year-old, I watched a
newly-taped video of 100 Azerbaijani soldiers deliberately destroying
Djulfa, the world’s largest medieval Armenian cemetery that at its
height housed 10,000 medieval khachkars (cross-stones).
Within a year, I produced a short film about the destruction. Last
year, my conclusive report, co-authored with historian Sarah Pickman,
demonstrated that Djulfa’s erasure was the grand finale of a
systematic, covert, and total destruction of 28,000 medieval monuments
that represented the indigenous Armenian past of the Nakhichevan
region.
According to Azerbaijan’s authorities, Armenians’ ancient past is fake
news. A top Azerbaijani diplomat has dismissed my research as “a
figment of Armenia’s imagination.” The 89 medieval churches, 5,840
cross-stones and over 22,000 historical tombstones of Nakhichevan
never existed in the first place because, Azerbaijan insists,
Armenians are not indigenous to the Caucasus.
[Photo: A young woman lights candles in a church in the
self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Photo: Maksim Blinov /
Sputnik via AFP]
Until 1997, however, Azerbaijan had largely preserved these monuments
after relabeling them “Caucasian Albanian.” Since the 1950s, in order
to challenge Armenian antiquity and to create a myth of
indigenousness, Azerbaijan has “Albanized” medieval Armenian
Christianity by proclaiming it the stolen heritage of “Caucasian
Albania,” a kingdom nowhere near Nakhichevan that existed until the
7th century.
Despite its Turkic roots in Central Asia, Azerbaijan prefers to be
seen as the Islamized heir to the long-extinct Caucasian Albanians.
In practice, Azerbaijan’s “Albanization” of Armenian monuments is an
inevitable erasure. In the short term, a medieval Christian monastery
stripped of its unique Armenian lettered inscriptions may be preserved
in Azerbaijan as “Caucasian Albanian,” but likely not permanently so.
“Albanization” certainly did not prevent the destruction of even
Agulis, the most culturally-rich town in Nakhichevan, where all sacred
Armenian sites, including the Saint Thomas Cathedral that, per
tradition, was originally founded as a chapel by a disciple of Jesus,
were methodically destroyed by Azerbaijan’s military starting in 1997.
The destruction of Agulis (Azerbaijani spelling Yukhari Aylis) was
witnessed by its most prominent native son Akram Aylisli, the
Azerbaijani novelist that currently lives under house arrest in the
capital Baku, in part, for protesting this cultural erasure.
Right now, hundreds of sacred Armenian sites are in the process of
being transferred to Azerbaijan. Some were already captured on the
battlefield, especially in the Hadrut region and in the prominent city
of Shushi (Azerbaijani spelling is Shusha).
Many others are in the process of being ceded to Azerbaijan under the
ceasefire agreement. In light of how Azerbaijan erased 28,000
monuments in Nakhichevan, Armenians and cultural rights defenders
rightfully fear a similar fate for the sacred sites of Artsakh.
If history is a guide, this is how Azerbaijan will treat the sacred
sites of Artsakh.
First, it will destroy the numerous medieval statuesque khachkars that
are nearly impossible to “Albanize” given their rich Armenian
inscriptions. One of the most prominent khachkars at grave risk is the
14th century Angels and the Cross in the Vank village of Hadrut
region, which Azerbaijan captured last month.
[Photo: The Gandzasar Monastery, an outstanding monument of Armenian
culture, on the left bank of the Khachen river near the village of
Vank in Nagorno-Karabakh. Photo: AFP via Sputnik/R Mangasaryan]
Second, Azerbaijan is likely to swiftly destroy all lesser-known
medieval Armenian churches, as well as medieval inscriptions on
secular structures, especially those already under its control in the
Hadrut region. In fact, video evidence suggests that Azerbaijani
soldiers are already desecrating sacred sites.
Third, the best-known Cathedrals will likely be “Albanized” and
preserved in the short-term, although “Albanizing” the majestic
Dadivank Monastery, for instance, will be a particular challenge given
its over 100 Armenian inscriptions. Again, in light of what happened
in Nakhichevan, Albanization of major sites is an unlikely hope for
long-term preservation.
Finally, for public relations and to underscore the myth that
Armenians are not the indigenous peoples of Artsakh, Azerbaijan will
likely restore the Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Cathedral of Shushi it
air bombed twice on October 8.
Although Azerbaijani forces further vandalized the Cathedral after
Shushi’s capture, the 19th century structure’s age fits Azerbaijan’s
anti-Armenian historical narrative perfectly; a church of similar age
has been similarly preserved in Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku for that
very purpose.
The likely token restoration of Shushi’s Holy Savior should not give
anyone false hope: the monuments in real danger are the numerous
medieval sacred sites that attest to the region’s indigenous Armenian
past, especially if they are not well known.
[Photo: The Azerbaijani military’s destruction of the medieval Djulfa
cemetery in December 2005 as seen from Iran’s territory. Photo: Arthur
Gevorgian]
Cultural erasure and desecration are heartbreakingly painful for
Armenians. Some Armenian families are literally digging up the burials
of their ancestors to evacuate with them as they leave the lands that
will soon be transferred to Azerbaijan.
One day, perhaps, Armenians may reconcile with the idea that most of
their early heritage has been erased. However, five ancient Artsakh
monuments are particularly sacred for Armenians, their erasure would
permanently scar generations to come:
· Amaras, founded in the 4th century upon Armenia becoming the first
Christian nation, preserves a 5th century mausoleum to a local saint.
It is located in the Martuni region. As of this writing, it is unclear
who controls the area.
· Dadivank, the origins of which date back to a 1st century chapel
founded by the earliest preachers of Christianity, was built into a
monastic complex between the 9th and 13th centuries. Over the past few
days, hundreds of Armenians have been flocking to the majestic
monastery to light a candle one last time. It is located in the
Kelbajar region.
[Photo: A general view of the Dadivank Monastery in Nagorno-Karaakh.
Photo: Dr. Hamlet Petrosyan]
· Gtichavank, rebuilt in the 13th century, was a key Cathedral for the
autonomous principality of Khachen and its Melikdom successors that
relentlessly compromised with Arab, Mongol, Persian, and Turkic
conquerors to ensure Armenian existence, even if it meant adopting
Islamic names. (My mother’s own ancestral Armenian Christian family
included names like Aziz, Manuchar, and Sultan.) It is located in the
Hadrut region that Azerbaijan captured last month.
· Tigranakert is a Hellenistic Armenian city likely founded by the
Greek-speaking Armenian emperor Tigranes II and also preserves
newly-excavated early medieval Christian temples. It is located in the
Agdam region and has been recently shelled.
· Tsitsernavank is one of the first basilica churches in the world.
Some of its unique architectural features suggest that it may have
been founded as a pagan temple before the year 301. It is located in
the Lachin region.
All of these sacred Armenian sites are within several kilometers of
the current or upcoming Armenian-Azerbaijani line of contact. None of
them are located in strategic areas. Having lost the 1990s Karabakh
war and now won the second one this month, Azerbaijan should deeply
consider preventing a third war.
As painful as the loss of people, homes, lands, mountains, numerous
khachkars and many lesser-known churches may be for Armenians, being
allowed to keep Amaras, Dadivank, Gtichavank, Tigranakert, and
Tsitsernavank may help Armenians heal.
I am not asking for mercy. I am suggesting a potential path to peace.
*
Simon Maghakyan is a lecturer in International Relations at the
University of Colorado Denver and a human rights activist.
The California Courier Online, November 19, 2020
1 – ‘Statement’ on Artsakh War by Armenia,
Azerbaijan & Russia Should be Rejected
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2- Pashinyan Signs Agreement to End War, Surrenders
Territories Including Shushi
3 – Armenia continues to fight COVID-19 pandemic
4- Los Angeles Angels make Perry Minasian general manager
5- Armenia confirms death of 2,317 soldiers in Artsakh war
*****************************************
******************************************
1 – ‘Statement’ on Artsakh War by Armenia,
Azerbaijan & Russia Should be Rejected
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
The leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia signed an agreement,
calling it a “Statement,” on November 9, 2020 to stop the 45-day war
in Artsakh and return to Azerbaijan the territories previously
belonging to Armenians.
This shocking announcement was made by Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinyan creating distress and despair among Armenians worldwide.
There are four reasons why Armenians reacted with such pessimism and
grief:
1) After 45 days of constantly hearing from Armenian officials that
“We are winning,” all of a sudden we are told that we have in fact
suffered a devastating defeat. Even the number of our dead soldiers
was underreported, according to the latest announcement of the
Armenian Health Ministry. Regrettably, the final toll is expected to
be in the thousands.
2) This was probably the greatest loss since the Armenian Genocide of
105 years ago. Armenians are demoralized and deceived by their own
leaders. It shook the very essence of their souls. This was a
humiliating capitulation. The descendants of the Armenian Genocide,
who still carry in their genes the transgenerational trauma of that
greatest tragedy, are deeply affected by this enormous defeat,
exposing their long unhealed wounds.
3) The thousands of young Armenian soldiers killed in the battle have
deeply saddened all Armenians. Many are wondering if their sacrifice
was in vain.
4) Armenians lost a large portion of their historic territories along
with their homes, churches, monuments and cemeteries. Just like the
effects of the Genocide a century ago are still raw in today’s
generation, this latest disaster will have a lasting effect on the
psyche of all Armenians.
A huge controversy has been raging in Armenia and the Diaspora after
the release of this problematic “Statement.” The Armenian people, who
were united like one person throughout the war, all of a sudden have
been divided and at each other’s throats. There have been many ugly
incidents in Yerevan which will hopefully not spill into the Diaspora.
No Armenian should commit an act of violence against any other
Armenian or destroy any property. Even though we have a very serious
problem, attacking each other will not solve anything. At the same
time, those who are engaged in peaceful protests in Yerevan should be
allowed to do so without any harassment by the government. People’s
right to free speech should be respected especially by a leader who
came to power touting democratic rights and values.
The next controversy is identifying those responsible for this
debacle. Here again we have two opposing camps. Prime Minister
Pashinyan and his supporters acknowledge that he had no choice but to
sign the tripartite “Statement” in order to avoid the loss of more
territories to Azerbaijan and save thousands of Armenian soldiers who
may have been captured or killed. Those supporting this point of view
have blamed the previous presidents for enriching themselves at the
expense of the nation and not strengthening the military. Pashinyan
said that if he had refused to sign the “Statement,” the consequence
would have been much worse for the Armenian nation. Azerbaijan would
have taken over the rest of Artsakh.
Those opposed to Pashinyan’s position state that the Prime Minister is
merely dumping responsibility for the defeat on his predecessors. They
point out that Pashinyan made the decision to sign the “Statement”
unilaterally, consulting only with the President of Artsakh and the
military leaders. Pashinyan did not inform the President of Armenia,
the Foreign Minister who just resigned or the Armenian Parliament.
They all found out about this ill-fated announcement from the media.
This was not expected from a Prime Minister who came to power as a
defender of democracy and transparency. Not even France and the United
States, the two other mediating members of the Minsk Group, were
consulted. Pashinyan also did not respect the promise he had made on
August 17, 2018, in front of the 300,000 people at the Republic
Square, announcing that he “will not sign secretly any paper on
Artsakh.” He added that “if there is such a situation, I will come and
stand here, present to you all the details, and you will decide if we
are going to accept that option or not.” Pashinyan now claims that
this “Statement” is merely a ceasefire, not an agreement on the
Artsakh conflict. Obviously, the signed “Statement” is much more than
a ceasefire. It is the return of the seven regions in addition to
giving up a large portion of Artsakh. As a result, Pashinyan’s
opponents seek his resignation.
In my view, there is a much simpler explanation. Ever since the 1994
ceasefire, Armenians in and out of Armenia were totally opposed to
returning the liberated territories to Azerbaijan, as were the leaders
of Armenia and Artsakh. The only exception was Pres. Levon
Ter-Petrosyan who wanted to make territorial concessions to
Azerbaijan, as a result of which he was forced out of office. The
subsequent Presidents of Armenia knew well that the Armenian people
would not accept any kind of territorial concessions regarding
Artsakh. Ever since the 1994 ceasefire, there have been dozens of
fruitless meetings between the foreign ministers and heads of Armenia
and Azerbaijan, mediated by the Minsk Group of France, Russia and the
United States. The Armenian position was that we will consider
returning some of the territories around Artsakh, if Azerbaijan
recognized Artsakh’s independence. Armenians wanted a package deal
rather than a step-by-step solution. The reason was that should
Armenians give up the surrounding territories first, Azerbaijan would
then be in a position to take over Artsakh itself.
In the meantime, Armenians and the rest of the world repeatedly stated
that there is no military solution to the Artsakh conflict which
should be resolved through peaceful negotiations. However, Pres.
Aliyev kept threatening to use military force to recover the lost
territories. Using its huge oil income, Azerbaijan bought billions of
dollars of sophisticated weapons from Israel, Russia and others.
Armenia also bought some weapons, but did not have the resources to
match Azerbaijan’s military buildup. Armenians did not take Aliyev’s
threats seriously. Finally, Azerbaijan secured the support and
participation of the powerful Turkish military and recruited several
thousand Islamist terrorist mercenaries to fight on its side. The
highly technological war with remote control drones and missiles
devastated the Armenian military and conquered what Armenia and
Artsakh was not willing to give up, despite the heroic efforts of the
Armenian soldiers.
Therefore, rather than asking who is to blame for this fiasco,
Armenians need to acknowledge that we paid the price for being unable
to counter the powerful weapons of Azerbaijan and Turkey which has the
second most powerful military in NATO. As Prime Minister Pashinyan
acknowledged, if he had conceded some of the territories around
Artsakh earlier, there would not have been this capitulation. However,
if we had given up these areas without an agreement on the final
status of Artsakh, Azerbaijan would have then attacked and captured
Artsakh itself.
There are two basic facts that we must all admit:
1) The powerful side always wins in a war, no matter how just the
weaker side’s cause is. Armenians did not use the last 26 years to
turn Artsakh into an impenetrable fortress. They should have had a
defense system to shield Artsakh from drone attacks.
2) When you are weak and rely on others to save you, you would be
disappointed and defeated. Armenians kept saying that we were left
alone. This is not surprising. All countries make decisions based on
their own national interests.
The “Statement” signed by Pashinyan is devastating. We need to find a
way to minimize our losses. Besides losing the territories in and
around Artsakh, we should not have agreed to provide a corridor
through Armenia to Azerbaijan to connect with Nakhichevan. This would
allow Turkey to cross Armenia by land and link with Azerbaijan and
beyond to other Turkic republics. This is the realization of Turkey’s
Pan-Turanian dream which we should not permit at all cost.
Finally, the text of the “Statement”, which is the equivalent of a
treaty according to Armenia’s constitution, should be submitted to
Armenia’s Constitutional Court and the Parliament for ratification.
Otherwise, it would have no legal value. Armenia should also involve
France and the United States, the other two Minsk Group of mediators,
in the negotiation process to get a better deal.
Even though Pashinyan acknowledged that as Commander-in-Chief he is
responsible for Armenia’s defeat, he refuses to resign. Therefore, a
referendum should be held to see if the Armenian public approves or
rejects the “Statement.” If they reject it, Pashinyan would have no
choice but to resign. The elected new leader, hopefully not one from
the discredited previous regimes, would then try to negotiate a
revised agreement considering the one signed by the ousted Pashinyan
to be null and void. This option, however, carries the risk of a fresh
attack on Artsakh by Azerbaijan.
I hope Armenia’s new leaders will go through this traumatic experience
with sound judgment and concentrate their energies on building a
powerful military so they can counter any future attacks by Azerbaijan
and Turkey.
Finally, this is the right time for Armenia to recognize Artsakh’s
independence or its unification with Armenia, thereby introducing an
unexpected new factor in the negotiations with Azerbaijan.
************************************************************************************************************************************************
2- From Duxov to Defeat: Pashinyan Addresses Nation to Explain
Trilateral Deal
In an address to the nation, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on
Thursday, November 12 offered his reasons for signing a trilateral
agreement with the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan on November 10
ending the Karabakh war.
The agreement that stipulates the surrender of territories in Artsakh,
including Shushi, as well as establishing a transport corridor between
Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan through Meghri, among other provisions.
Earlier, Pashinyan met with President Armen Sarkissian to discuss the
current situation. No specifics were reported from the meeting.
According to Pashinyan, he signed the trilateral agreement because
reports from Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan indicated that the
Artsakh Defense Army was outmanned and outgunned—and that Stepanakert,
by and large defenseless, could have been lost within days, if not
hours. If the agreement hadn’t been signed, Pashinyan said Martakert
and Askeran would have also been lost—and then the second, third,
fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh defenses of the Defense Army would be
under siege by Azerbaijan, “which means that more than 20,000 Armenian
troops and officers could find themselves surrounded by enemy troops,
inevitably facing the prospect of being killed or captured. Under
these conditions, of course, the fall of Karvachar and Kashatagh
regions would be inevitable, leading to a complete catastrophe.”
Pashinyan said that up until the very moments leading to signing of
the trilateral agreement, he had believed that the Arstakh Defense
Army could have repelled or defeated Azerbaijan. Yet the situation on
November 9 proved calamitous.
“With this in mind, I signed the notorious document, and when I signed
that document, I realized that I was facing the threat of my personal
death, not only in a political but also in a physical sense. But the
lives of 25,000 soldiers were more important, I think, for you too.
Therefore, it was time for the commander to risk his own life for the
sake of these soldiers, both physically and politically. It was time
for the homeland to make sacrifices for those soldiers who spared
nothing for the sake of the homeland, and I signed that document with
this in mind,” said Pashinyan.
Pashinyan said he did not resign before signing the agreement because
it would have been seen as “desertion,” and “it would mean shaking off
my share of responsibility and putting it on someone else’s shoulders,
hoping that later people would say that Prime Minister Pashinyan was
so patriotic as not to sign that humiliating document. And also
because, as I said, decisions had to be made within hours, otherwise
the wheel could spin, which could no longer be stopped in any way,”
said Pashinyan.
Pashinyan said he did not consult with the nation before signing the
agreement for tactical reasons. “When talking to the people, I would
have presented the objective situation, which meant providing the
enemy with detailed information about the situation, moreover,
presenting a detailed plan to block our 25,000 soldiers for hours,
with all the ensuing consequences.”
Pashinyan said the trilateral agreement “only implies cessation of
hostilities” and that “the Karabakh issue was not resolved before the
signing of the aforementioned statement, nor has it been settled after
it. There is still much to be done in this respect.”
Pashinyan said that fighting the war—rather than signing an agreement
within the first days of the war—was an issue of national morale.
“There were two reasons for this. First, we had to hand over seven
districts, including Shushi, without fighting, and second, the
military situation instilled the hope that by involving new resources,
we would be able to defy the challenge with superhuman efforts.”
Pashinyan said this is why he and President Harutyunyan continued
their calls for people to enlist for the defense of the homeland; and
continued to encourage the soldiers fighting on the frontline, without
giving Azerbaijan too many details about Armenia’s problems.
As for the content of the document itself, Pashinyan said “it is
really bad for us, but we should not make it worse than it is in
reality.” He said Armenia would not be ceding Meghri. “It is only a
matter of unblocking the transport routes in the region, including
from Azerbaijan to Nakhichevan, but this means that the transport
routes from Yerevan to Nakhichevan through Syunik should be unblocked,
including the railway communication between Armenia and the Islamic
Republic of Iran, which can boost our country’s economic development.”
Pashinyan said “Nagorno-Karabakh, or rather the part under the control
of the Artsakh authorities, the Lachin corridor from Goris to
Stepanakert will see uninterrupted functioning after the deployment of
Russian peacekeepers.” He said peacekeepers will also ensure the
security of the border in this part of Artsakh, “so the residents of
the settlements within the perimeter of the peacekeepers’ deployment
need to return to their homes as soon as possible. The governments of
Armenia and Artsakh will do everything possible to eliminate the
impact of destruction as soon as possible and provide all necessary
conditions.”
Pashinyan said the final settlement of the Karabakh issue and the
status of Artsakh is of fundamental importance. “In this regard, our
task has not changed: the international recognition of the Artsakh
Republic is becoming an absolute priority, and in fact, there are now
more weighty arguments for the international recognition of Artsakh,”
he said.
Pashinyan said the priority now is to restore stability and security
in the country. He said the government would not concede to the
“provocations of rebel groups sponsored by the former authorities.” He
said “the organizers of the riots and many of the active participants
have been arrested, many are hiding, but they will definitely be found
and brought to justice.”
Pashinyan called on Armenians to “unite around a government that is
determined to live up to the task of getting the country out of this
situation, while guaranteeing that no one can usurp the people’s
legitimate power against plundering the country and returning it to a
whirlpool of corruption.”
He said the outcome of this trilateral agreement was sown by previous
administrations. “We are reaping the bitter fruits of robbery and
corruption, when for many decades the country’s wealth and income used
to go into the pockets of well-known individuals and not to the
development of the army,” said Pashinyan.
Pashinyan said Armenia has a future and that this difficult juncture
is a time to learn from collective mistakes. “I urge all of us to
focus on what we can do to strengthen our country. This will be our
best service to the memory of our martyrs, our wounded and disabled
servicemen, their relatives, families, mothers, fathers, wives, and
children,” said Pashinyan.
In closing, Pashinyan said the compatriots and relatives of those who
died may ask why their loved ones perished. “The answer to this
question is one, first of all, to save the people of Artsakh from
genocide, to protect our people’s right to survival. By reviving and
developing the country, we will value the blood they shed for the sake
of the homeland, the future of their children, their unwavering
devotion. Our homage implies daily creative work and education that
should improve our country,” said Pashinyan.
************************************************************************************************************************************************
3 – Armenia continues to fight COVID-19 pandemic
Armenia continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic as the country is
reeling from the news that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a
trilateral agreement brokered by Russia to end the war with with
Azerbaijan, in which much of Artsakh was ceded to Azerbaijan.
Thousands have taken to Republic Square in Yerevan to protest and
demand the resignation of Pashinyan. According to the Ministry of
Health, there were 40,233 active coronavirus cases in Armenia as of
Monday, November 2. The Ministry has recorded 117,886 coronavirus
cases and 1,788 deaths; 75,865 have recovered.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************
4- Los Angeles Angels make Perry Minasian general manager
Perry Minasian, an assistant general manager with the Atlanta Braves,
was named the new GM of the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, November
12.
The Angels signed Minasian to a four-year contract. In a statement,
Angels owner Arte Moreno said Minasian’s “background in scouting and
player development, along with his unique understanding of roster
construction, were the leading factors in our decision.”
Minasian, who will replace Billy Eppler, was among five candidates who
advanced into the second round of interviews this week and was seen as
the clear front-runner as of Wednesday night.
Minasian, 40, comes from a deep-rooted baseball family and has spent
more than three-quarters of his life in the major leagues, beginning
as a bat boy for the Texas Rangers when he was 8 years old.
Minasian, whose father, Zack, was the Rangers’ longtime clubhouse
manager, served as a bat boy and a clubhouse attendant for 15 years,
then spent the next six years as an advanced scout and a staff
assistant for former Rangers manager Buck Showalter.
From there, Minasian spent nine seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays,
six of which came as director of pro scouting. In the last two years
of that run, from 2015 to 2016, the Blue Jays made back-to-back trips
to the American League Championship Series.
Minasian was initially hired as a top aide for former Braves GM John
Coppolella in September 2017, about a month before Coppolella was
forced to resign amid rules violations in the international market.
When Alex Anthopoulos took over as the new president of baseball
operations, one of his first tasks was elevating Minasian to vice
president of baseball operations and assistant GM. Minasian spent the
next three seasons working closely with Anthopoulos, his former boss
with the Blue Jays, helping to build the Braves into a perennial
contender that has an abundance of young talent.
With the Angels, Minasian is expected to augment a scouting department
that was hit especially hard by furloughs, an industry source told
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel.
Seattle Mariners assistant GM Justin Hollander, Chicago Cubs senior
vice president Jason McLeod and Arizona Diamondbacks assistant GMs
Jared Porter and Amiel Sawdaye joined Minasian in advancing into the
second round of interviews for the Angels’ GM vacancy. The initial
wave included nearly 20 applicants, including former GMs such as
Michael Hill, Dan Jennings, Bobby Evans and Ruben Amaro Jr. Throughout
the process, the Angels also spoke to longtime scouting director Eddie
Bane and longtime broadcaster Victor Rojas.
The Angels, who fired Eppler after a five-year run as GM at the end of
the 2020 season, have qualified for the postseason only once since
2009 and are trying to get back into contention with Mike Trout
approaching his age-29 season.
Minasian, whose hiring was first reported by The Athletic, has a
brother, Calvin, who is the clubhouse coordinator for the Washington
Nationals and another brother, Zack Jr., who is the pro scouting
director for the San Francisco Giants.
************************************************************************************************************************************************
5- Armenia confirms death of 2,317 soldiers in Artsakh war
As of November 16, the forensic medical examination of Armenia has
confirmed 2,317 dead servicemen (including unidentified ones) in
Artsakh, according to the press secretary of the Ministry of Health of
Armenia Alina Nikoghosyan.
At the same time, Nikoghosyan stressed that the final death toll is
not yet known, since the process of exchanging the bodies of the dead
between Armenia and Azerbaijan continues.
Azerbaijan, citing wartime censorship, has not yet reported data on
losses in its ranks.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan reported that several
bodies of killed Armenian soldiers were handed over to Armenia. The
ministry clarified that they are talking about the servicemen who died
in the battles for the newly ceded city of Shushi.
Armenia and Azerbaijan signed an agreement on the end of the Artsakh
war on the evening of November 9. The exchange of bodies of dead
servicemen began on November 14.
***********************************************************************************************************************************************
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Pashinyan highlights ruling out violence for restoration of public solidarity
14:46,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan highlights ruling out and condemning violence in the domestic political life for the restoration of public solidarity.
“The most important point for the restoration of public solidarity is to rule out and condemn violence in the domestic political life. Provoking violence, especially armed violence, is ruled out in the tools of the Armenian government”, he said during a Q&A session in the Parliament.
Earlier today Pashinyan has stated that he is expecting a statement from the opposition on ruling out violence and use of weapons in political matters, noting that his political team rules out use of violence.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Erdogan’s decree on sending troops to Azerbaijan concerns the monitoring center – Kremlin
15:09,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decree on sending troops to Azerbaijan relates to ensuring the operation of the joint monitoring center of Turkey and Russia, Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, reports TASS.
“There will be a monitoring center in the territory of Azerbaijan, the Turkish military will be sent there. This is an implementation of an internal procedure envisaged by the internal legislation of Turkey”, Peskov said, adding that this is the internal matter of Turkey.
As for the creation of a joint monitoring center in Azerbaijan, Peskov said it is a result of a bilateral agreement between Russia and Turkey.
On November 9 Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a statement on a full ceasefire and cessation of all military actions in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone since 01:00 Yerevan Time on November 10. Russian peacekeepers are being deployed to Nagorno Karabakh.
The memorandum on creating Russian-Turkish joint monitoring center for controlling the ceasefire regime has been signed on November 11.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
National Assembly Council to debate motion on asking high court to oust Tsarukyan as lawmaker
15:36,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. A meeting of the Council of the National Assembly will debate a motion on applying to the Constitutional Court with the request of suspending opposition Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan’s duties as Member of Parliament.
Prosperous Armenia Party lawmaker Naira Zohrabyan published a letter by Vice Speaker Lena Nazaryan informing Tsarukyan that the session will take place on November 16 at 16:00, and requesting him to make an appearance.
Tsarukyan is stripped of immunity since June 2020.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Pashinyan sees need for continuation of activity of OSCE MG Co-Chairmanship
16:36,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sees need for continuation of the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.
“This is one of the key issues of the agenda. We are in contact with the President of France on this topic, we also discuss that situation and possibility with the Russian President. In my view, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship’s activity should continue”, the PM said during a Q&A session in the Parliament.
He said the activity of the Co-Chairmanship format should continue in order for all issues to be solved properly.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Former First Lady Rita Sargsyan hospitalized in critical condition
16:40,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Former First Lady of Armenia Rita Sargsyan, the spouse of 3rd President Serzh Sargsyan, is hospitalized at the Nairi Medical Center in Yerevan.
The hospital’s director Anatoly Gnuni told ARMENPRESS that Sargsyan is in critical condition.
“Her health condition is critical, she is under intensive care, I am not authorized to release other details,” Gnuni said.
According to unconfirmed media reports Rita Sargsyan is hospitalized for COVID-19 complications.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Armenian PM assures Russia’s position on NK conflict has not changed in past five years
15:39,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan assures that the rumors according to which something has changed in the Armenian-Russian relations, that’s why that solution took place over the Artsakh issue, are a myth.
“Myth number one according to which something was not good in the Armenian-Russian relations, therefore such solution took place. I officially state that in the past 5 years Russia’s position on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict has not changed. The second myth is that there was an opportunity for me to resign, and to change the course of war, but I didn’t use that opportunity, preferring power from the favorable course of the military operations”, the PM said during a Q&A session in the Parliament.
He stated that he has received these messages. “And I had a direct talk to the people with whom that conversation could have taken place whether it could lead to any change in the situation and whether there is such a component in that story”, he said, adding that this issue has been discussed quite openly.
As for the Armenian-Russian relations, the PM assured that these relations have been, are and will be strategic, allied, and no one doubts that.
On November 9 Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a statement on a full ceasefire and cessation of all military actions in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone since 01:00 Yerevan Time on November 10. Russian peacekeepers are being deployed to Nagorno Karabakh.
Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine shows nearly 95% protection
17:33,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. A new vaccine that protects against Covid-19 is nearly 95% effective, early data from US company Moderna shows, reports BBC.
The results come hot on the heels of similar results from Pfizer, and add to growing confidence that vaccines can help end the pandemic.
Both companies used a highly innovative and experimental approach to designing their vaccines.
Moderna says it is a “great day” and they plan to apply for approval to use the vaccine in the next few weeks.
However, this is still early data
The trial involved 30,000 people in the US with half being given two doses of the vaccine, four weeks apart. The rest had dummy injections.