2020 – Page 194 – Armenian Directory & News

Declaration on ending war is not a political document of NK conflict settlement – PM Pashinyan

November 16, 2020March 12, 2026 David Nargizian

22:14, 13 November, 2020

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan emphasizes that the declaration on ending the war in Nagorno Karabakh is not a political document of the settlement of the conflict. According to the PM, there are formulations and sentences in that document that must be interpreted and get political content, ARMENPRESS reports the PM said in an interview with Public TV.

”In fact, discussions must still start and it will be diplomatic discussion. And I think those discussions will last for a long period. I want to pay the attention of everyone on the fact that this is a document on stopping the military operations. The discussions will be possible and they will take place’’, Pashinyan said.

Referring to the question that the opposition says there is still time to cancel the declaration, but the PM does not listen to them, Pashinyan answered, ”Personally I never heard how it can be cancelled. I can say something else, we can take that paper, tear it and throw away. But we should also understand the consequences of such an act. It means we will return to the situation when that paper was signed. And what does it mean? It means that we say that let our 30 thousands soldiers be blockaded’’.

The PM said that the circumstances when that document was signed should be considered. ‘’As I have already said, I made that decision based on the analysis of the military situation on the ground. I told in my yesterday’s speech that the key factor that resulted in my signing of the document is that in fact, Stepanakert city had no defense following the fall of Shushi. And if we could not stop the war very quickly, within hours, Stepanakert would have fallen, Askeran and Martakert would fall automatically. This means that 20-30 thousands of our soldiers, depending on the scenario, would find themselves in a blockade. It’s also very important that those soldiers that would have appeared in a blockade would be unable to have any impact on the situation. Why? Because they were standing on the front line, but the blockade that could have happened would be from the rear. And this was no the case when an all-around-defense could be possible, since the front line would collapse and we would have such a situation’’, PM Pashinyan said.

Referring to the question why the issue was not discussed at the National Assembly with the opposition, Nikol Pashinyan said that it was in the logic of the operative management of the military operations. ‘’Because it’s nearly the same as, for example, when one of our units retreated from one place or decided to attack in another place, why that issue was not discussed at the National Assembly, was not discussed with the opposition?’’, he said.

PM Pashinyan added that at that time military operations were going on, and those were extremely critical operations. ‘’I again want to say that now it’s often discussed the issue what we surrendered with that signature. But the reality is that this document is not or at least is not only about what we surrendered, but what we managed to preserve’’, Pashinyan said, adding that the lives of nearly 30 thousands soldiers were under risk when the document was signed.

Russia’s position on NK remained unchanged during last 4.5 years – PM Pashinyan

November 16, 2020March 12, 2026 Karakhanian Suren

Russia’s position on NK remained unchanged during last 4.5 years – PM Pashinyan

22:44, 13 November, 2020

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan referred to the discussions that Russia would have provided better assistance to the Armenian side during Nagorno Karabakh war, if there was other Government in Armenia, since the present leadership was unable to ensure proper relations with Russia. ARMENPRESS reports in an interview with Public TV PM Pashinyan emphasized that it’s about the position on Nagorno Karabakh issue, recording that Russia’s position on Nagorno Karabakh issue has not changed in any way during the last 4.5 years.

”I mean today Russia’s position on Nagorno Karabakh issue is the same as it was 4.5 years ago. And in today’s state of affairs there are realities that are in line with that position, particularly, the presence of the Russian peacekeepers’’, Pashinyan said, adding that it’s not about the relations between the authorities of Armenia and Russia, but the position of Russia.

To the question if they are not linked with one another, PM Pashinyan said, ”You can be fully confident that in this war they are in no way linked. Because if they were linked, there would have been some changes in that position following May, 2018 and would be different from the position of pre-2018. But that position has not changed and I official announce it. But on the other hand, I can say that there are, have been and will be normal working relations between the authorities of Armenia and Russia’’.

To the question referring his relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pashinyan said, ”Working, very good”.

We want Armenia-Iran railway to operate through Nakhichevan – PM Pashinyan

November 16, 2020March 12, 2026 Yeghisabet Arthur

23:01, 13 November, 2020

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan says that there are conceptualizations about the issues that will be discussed during the negotiations following the declaration of ending the war in Nagorno Karabakh, ARMENPRESS reports PM Pashinyan said in an interview with Public TV.

”What do we want? We want, for example, that Armenia-Iran railway should operate through Nakhichevan. We are speaking about the unblocking of transport communications”, Pashinyan said.

To the question if it refers also to Turkey, Pashinyan said, ”No. Turkey is not a party to this agreement. We want to have a number of roads to Russia, instead of one. And if during the negotiations we manage to achieve our tasks, imagine what a turning point it will be for Armenia, if for example, railway finally becomes a reality for us that will link us with the Persian Gulf and Russia. These are also goals that can become a reality based also on this document”, Pashinyan said.

To the question if there is a preliminary agreement on that, Pashinyan said, ”Not a preliminary agreement, but understanding. If it’s present in the document, it means there is an understanding. But naturally, it’s a matter of negotiations that still must happen”, Pashinyan said.

Pompeo to arrive in troubled Caucasus region with diminished stature, credibility

November 16, 2020March 12, 2026 Maghakian Mike

Coda Media
Pompeo to arrive in troubled Caucasus region with diminished stature,
credibility
The U.S. Secretary of State takes a trip to the other Georgia
By Natalia Antelava
13 November, 2020
After America’s top diplomat Mike Pompeo promised a smooth transition
to a “second Trump administration,” he booked himself on a foreign
trip, presumably, to get away from the toxic atmosphere of Washington
D.C. Next week, he will be swinging through France, Turkey, Israel,
the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Georgia, the
country, not the state, where he will spend two days.
When he arrives in the capital Tbilisi, Pompeo will find a situation
eerily similar to the one he may be trying to escape: rising Covid-19
numbers and big street protests over a bitter, disinformation-mired
election dispute. And while Pompeo is a lame duck diplomat in much of
the world, his visit to the small South Caucasus nation could alter
history.
On October 31, Georgians voted in a highly contested parliamentary
election. After eight years on the political sidelines, the opposition
thought it stood a chance of at least diluting the power of the ruling
Georgian Dream party.
But according to the opposition, the game was rigged from the start.
The election was marred by disinformation and allegations of vote
buying. And once the ballots were cast, evidence of fraud began to
emerge. In over a hundred polling stations, for example, no one voted
for the opposition  — a statistical impossibility in a politically
divided Georgia. In some areas, the vote totals cast for the ruling
party were greater than the number of people who actually voted.
The ruling party is run by the Bidzina Ivanishvili, the country’s
richest man, an oligarch with ties to Russia who, over the years, has
successfully managed to keep the opposition weak and fragmented.
The international community — the usual arbiter between the Georgian
government and the opposition — has been distracted by the pandemic
and the turmoil in the U.S. While there has been some criticism of the
government, overall the response has been muted and government-backed
media channels cite Pompeo’s upcoming visit as a validation of the
election’s outcome.
For years Georgia, an ally of the U.S., has been held up as a model
for the region. This election further erodes the country democratic
stature and is likely to come at a geopolitical cost for the West.
The “Ivanishvili government has hired lobbying firms in Washington
while embracing Russian disinformation narratives and Russian tactics
at home,” says Giorgi Kandelaki, an opposition politician. “Retreat of
democracy here harms the United States interests and works to Putin’s
benefit”
As America’s top diplomat, Pompeo often urges free and fair elections
and peaceful transitions of power. But his two-day visit to Georgia
does not include a meeting with the country’s opposition, and his
apparent refusal to accept election results in his own country makes
him a deeply compromised interlocutor.
Upping the stakes is a massive geopolitical tremor in the region. The
South Caucasus — which includes Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan — is a
key global transit route and a strategic gem that Washington and
Moscow have been at loggerheads over for years. This week, its map was
redrawn, literally, when Azerbaijan scored a military victory over
Armenia in a war over the long-disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.
It was a conflict much of the world didn’t even notice, but regional
powers Turkey and Russia filled the vacuum created by a distracted
America. Over the past six weeks, Ankara provided key military support
to Azerbaijan, while Moscow stood back, allowing Azerbaijan to crush
Armenia, Russia’s most loyal ally. This week, after Azerbaijan took
key territories, the Kremlin stepped in, negotiated a truce and was
invited by Azerbaijan to maintain stability. Moscow is sending troops
to act as peacekeepers.
Who the ultimate geopolitical winner of this situation is in dispute.
Azerbaijan is the obvious one. But Russia now has boots on the ground
and new leverage over both Azerbaijan and Armenia. Turkey, too, has
come out ahead.
Losers are much easier to identify. Armenia: a devastated nation now
sinking into a political crisis that will take years to overcome. And
the United States: for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet
Union, Washington is suddenly not even a player in a Great Game that
it only recently led.
As Mike Pompeo leaves the election chaos at home to embark on his
foreign tour, the Caucasus provides a striking destination to showcase
America’s diminished role on the global stage.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 11/13/2020

November 16, 2020March 12, 2026 Adrine Hakobian

                                        Friday, November 13, 2020
Armenia Urges Azerbaijan To Stop Racial Discrimination
November 13, 2020
An Armenian woman cries as she visits for the last time a medieval monastery in 
Kalbajar before Armenian forces withdraw from the area adjacent to 
Nagorno-Karabakh on November 15
Armenia has called on Azerbaijan to cease its “discriminatory practices” against 
ethnic Armenians as Baku prepares to take control of several districts around 
Nagorno-Karabakh following a Russia-brokered truce in the latest armed conflict.
Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement that Armenia signed on November 10 in 
the wake of a series of military defeats by ethnic Armenian forces in 
Nagorno-Karabakh in a six-week war with Azerbaijan, Armenians, in particular, 
must gradually withdraw from three districts by December 1.
As Russian peacekeepers are being deployed in the region as part of the 
agreement Kalbajar will become the first district that Azerbaijan will regain on 
November 15 according to an agreed timetable.
The road leading from Kalbajar to the Armenian town of Vardenis is full of 
trucks these days as thousands of Armenians who have lived in the district for 
decades are trying to move their belongings to Armenia.
An RFE/RL Armenian Service correspondent witnessed local residents dismantling 
roofs, doors and whatever else they could from their houses to take with them to 
Armenia. One resident explained that the construction materials would help them 
build some makeshift housing in Armenia to somehow survive the coming winter.
A woman is crying near a road sign welcoming people to Nagorno-Karabakh in 
Kalbajar as Armenians prepare to hand the district over to Azerbaijan as part of 
a ceasefire agreement. November 12, 2020.
Some videos posted on social media also showed some residents in Kalbajar 
burning their houses before leaving their villages.
Meanwhile, many Armenians bid farewell to their cultural heritage in the area, 
including Dadivank, a 9th-century monastery located in Kalbajar.
In a statement issued on November 13, Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said 
that earlier this week Yerevan sent a letter to authorities in Baku noting that 
Azerbaijan’s “actions and policies adopted during the last decades are in gross 
violation of the 1965 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms 
of Racial Discrimination.”
“Among other things, Armenia urgently called on Azerbaijan to cease its 
discriminatory practices and other continuous violations with regard to Armenia 
and ethnic Armenians, including but not limited to dissemination of 
anti-Armenian sentiment; failure to take effective measures to eliminate 
anti-Armenian propaganda; permitting public authorities or public institutions 
to promote or incite racial discrimination with respect to Armenians; 
discriminatory deprivation of the individual rights of ethnic Armenians, such as 
the right to security of person, the right to property, and the rights to access 
and enjoy cultural heritage; failure to provide ethnic Armenians with effective 
protection and remedies through competent national tribunals and other State 
institutions; and engaging in the practice of ethnic cleansing against 
Armenians,” it said.
The ministry said that in its letter dated November 11 Armenia urged Azerbaijan 
“to comply with its obligations under the Convention and invited the latter to 
address its violations of the Convention and their consequences through 
negotiations.”
“Should the Government of Azerbaijan reject Armenia’s invitation or fail to 
respond to it within the fixed timeframe, Armenia reserves its right to seek to 
settle this legal dispute in accordance with the procedure set forth in the 
Convention,” the statement concluded.
Macron Says France Ready To Help Build ‘Lasting Solution’ To Karabakh Conflict
November 13, 2020
A Russian peacekeeper shouts "No pictures!" at a checkpoint outside 
Nagorno-Karabakh's main city of Stepanakert on November 13, 2020.
(RFE/RL) With a Russia-brokered truce between Armenia and Azerbaijan continuing 
to hold in Nagorno-Karabakh, French President Emmanuel Macron says he is ready 
to help build a lasting and balanced solution for all sides in the conflict.
The peace deal, announced early on November 10, came after Azerbaijani forces 
made major battlefield gains in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. Three previous 
cease-fires signed since fighting broke out on September 27 had failed to hold.
While ending fighting that has killed more than 2,000 soldiers and civilians on 
both sides, the deal has been rejected by many Armenians because it allows 
Azerbaijan to keep a sizable chunk of the small mountain region, along with the 
surrounding areas captured during the fighting.
The deal includes the deployment of about 2,000 Russian peacekeepers in the 
region.
France, part of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation 
in Europe (OSCE) -- co-chaired by Russia, France, and the United States -- has 
found itself somewhat sidelined by Moscow's efforts in the conflict.
While Macron has been careful not to back one side or the other in the dispute, 
he also has to be wary with some 400,000 to 600,000 people of Armenian origin 
living in France.
French President Emanuel Macron (foreground) made his comments in a statement 
detailing a call with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian. (file photo)
"The President expressed his satisfaction with the end of the fighting, recalled 
his friendship for Armenia and its people as well as his readiness to build a 
fair, lasting and acceptable political solution for all parties in 
Nagorno-Karabakh," the French presidency said in a statement detailing a call 
with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian late on November 12.
Speaking on November 13, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed criticism 
raised in Armenia that Russia, a key ally and military supplier to Yerevan, 
failed to offer the country considerable support in the conflict.
“The accusation that Russia allegedly did not support Armenia enough is 
absolutely baseless. Russia has never abandoned its commitments as part of the 
Collective Security Treaty Organization. Had anyone attacked Armenia, Russia 
would do everything to protect its ally,” Peskov said.
Peskov also said that Russia has accepted Baku’s apology over the downing of a 
Russian military helicopter that left two crew members dead and one injured.
"The instant reaction of the Azerbaijani president and the declared readiness of 
Azerbaijan to carry out an impartial inquiry into the circumstances and to 
punish the culprits allowed [Moscow] to accept those apologies," Peskov said in 
an interview with Russian-government funded TV network RT.
Earlier, Azerbaijan said the comment made by Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia 
Polad Bulbuloglu concerning the November 9 incident was “inappropriate." 
Buldbuloglu had said that "War is war, anything can happen."
“This case cannot do harm to the relations between Azerbaijan and Russia," 
Azerbaijani presidential aide and head of the presidential administration's 
foreign policy department Hikmet Hajiyev said in a statement.
Anti-Government Protests Continue In Armenia
November 13, 2020
Demonstrators at a rally in Yerevan demand the resignation of Armenian Prime 
Minister Nikol Pashinian. November 13, 2020.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Yerevan’s central Liberty Square on 
Friday for the fourth day of anti-government protests sparked by Armenia’s truce 
agreement with Azerbaijan signed mostly on Baku’s terms following a bloody 
six-week war in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Representatives of nearly two dozen opposition parties demand that Prime 
Minister Nikol Pashinian resign over what they view as an act of surrender.
Under the terms of the Russian-brokered deal, by December Armenian forces are to 
gradually withdraw from three districts held since the 1994 ceasefire agreement, 
while Azerbaijan will keep the territory in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding 
areas captured during the conflict.
Armenians will also forfeit the Lachin region, where a crucial road connects 
Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. The agreement calls for a 5-kilometer wide area in 
the so-called Lachin Corridor to remain open and be protected by around 2,000 
Russian peacekeepers.
The agreement also calls for Russian border services to monitor a new transport 
corridor through Armenia connecting Azerbaijan to its western exclave of 
Nakhijevan, which is surrounded by Armenia, Iran, and Turkey.
Under the timetable of withdrawals Armenian forces are due to leave the first of 
the three districts, Kalbajar, by November 15.
The road leading from Kalbajar to the Armenian town of Vardenis is full of 
trucks these days as thousands of Armenians who have lived in the district for 
decades are trying to move their belongings to Armenia.
Armenians pack their belongings as they leave their house in the town of 
Kalbajar, November 12, 2020
An RFE/RL Armenian Service correspondent witnessed local residents dismantling 
roofs, doors and whatever else they could from their houses to take with them to 
Armenia. One resident explained that the construction materials would help them 
build some makeshift housing in Armenia and somehow survive the coming winter.
Some videos posted on social media also show some residents in Kalbajar burning 
their houses before leaving their villages.
Speakers at tonight’s rally in Yerevan accused Pashinian of “handing over 
Artsakh (the Armenian name for Nagorno-Karabakh)” to Azerbaijan. They said he 
must resign as soon as possible so that “some points of the document could be 
renegotiated.”
Armenian Prime Minster Nikol Pashinian
Meanwhile, in an interview with Armenia’s Public Television on Friday Prime 
Minister Pashinian responded to some of the criticism heard from his opponents.
Opposition parties, in particular, criticize Pashinian for keeping the public in 
the dark about the document that he was going to sign with Azerbaijan despite 
his earlier promise that any document on Nagorno-Karabakh would first be 
discussed with people.
“I want to draw the attention of everyone to the fact that this is a document on 
the cessation of hostilities. This is not a document about a political 
settlement, and there are terms, sentences that need to be interpreted to become 
political content. And it is at that stage that discussions will become 
possible, and these discussions will take place,” Pashinian said.
The police detained several demonstrators during the Friday rally at the end of 
which the opposition promised to continue street protests.
Armenian law-enforcement authorities have warned people that political 
gatherings are banned in conditions of martial law that was put in place at the 
start of hostilities in late September.
Earlier on Friday several opposition leaders, including Prosperous Armenia Party 
leader Gagik Tsarukian, Homeland Party leader Artur Vanetsian, Armenian 
Revolutionary Federation leader Iskhan Saghatelian, Republican Party of Armenia 
member Eduard Sharmazanov and others were freed by courts after being arrested 
on charges of organizing mass disorders.
Some of them, including Saghatelian, were later summoned for questioning by the 
National Security Service.
The opposition parties claim the cases against their leaders and activists are 
politically motivated.
Russia Calls ‘Unfair’ Accusations From ‘Some Armenian Circles’
November 13, 2020
        • Armen Koloyan
Two soldiers attaching a flag on the Russian peacekeeping forces' military 
vehicle as they move on the road towards Martuni in Nagorno-Karabakh. November 
13, 2020.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has called criticism in Armenia of Russia’s 
stance on Nagorno-Karabakh “unfair.”
“The accusation that Russia allegedly did not support Armenia enough is 
absolutely baseless. Russia has never abandoned its commitments as part of the 
Collective Security Treaty Organization. Had anyone attacked Armenia, Russia 
would do everything to protect its ally,” Peskov said.
The spokesman for the Russian president said it was unfair of some circles in 
Armenian society to say that “Russia has betrayed Armenia.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov
Russia, Peskov stressed, simply did not have the right to send troops to 
Nagorno-Karabakh.
“We did it only after it was approved by the parties to the conflict. Otherwise 
Russia would not have been able to do so under international law,” Peskov said.
Six weeks of Armenian-Azerbaijani hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict 
zone ended on November 10 in a trilateral statement brokered by Russia that put 
an end to military operations mostly on Baku’s terms.
The agreement also envisages the deployment of nearly 2,000 Russian peacekeepers 
to ensure the security of the ethnic Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The deal that was negotiated in the wake of a series of military defeats by 
ethnic Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh sparked protests in Armenia, with 
opposition parties branding it as an act of surrender and demanding Prime 
Minister Nikol Pashinian’s resignation.
Throughout the course of the armed conflict Russia, as one of the three chief 
international mediators along with the United States and France, showed 
neutrality concerning the hostilities taking place within what internationally 
are recognized as Azerbaijan’s borders.
On October 31, Pashinian formally asked Russia, as its ally, to consider 
rendering military assistance to Armenia. Russia responded the same day by 
reaffirming its commitments to Yerevan “if military operations take place 
directly on the territory of Armenia.”
Lawmaker Quits Pro-Government Faction Over Nagorno-Karabakh Crisis
November 13, 2020
Vardan Atabekian
A lawmaker elected to the Armenian National Assembly on the slate of an alliance 
led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has announced his quitting the 
pro-government faction over the ongoing political crisis over Nagorno-Karabakh.
In a statement released late on Thursday Vardan Atabekian said that while he 
leaves the My Step faction, he will keep his mandate in order to work towards 
ending the crisis.
Atabekian said that “like the overwhelming majority of the people it was from 
the media that I learned about the statement signed by the leaders of Armenia, 
Russia and Azerbaijan regarding Nagorno-Karabakh.”
The news of the Russian-brokered agreement with Azerbaijan putting an end to six 
weeks of deadly fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh mostly on Baku’s terms sparked 
disturbances in Armenia on November 10 followed by a political crisis as the 
opposition began to stage rallies and demand Prime Minister Pashinian’s 
resignation and annulment of the deal.
A loose alliance of 17 opposition parties also demanded a special session of 
parliament to be convened over the crisis. It also urged members of the majority 
My Step faction which refused “to take part in any sessions aimed at 
destabilizing the situation” to join the movement aimed at removing Pashinian 
from power.
Atabekian said that he will not give up his mandate and will continue to serve 
as a member of parliament not affiliated with any faction.
“In my further activities I will focus on efforts to quit the current situation 
with as few losses as possible and solve problems of Armenians of 
Nagorno-Karabakh. It is due to this that I am not giving up my mandate,” the 
lawmaker explained.
Meanwhile, the opposition has vowed to continue its rallies despite warnings 
from authorities that political gatherings are banned under the current martial 
law.
In what Pashinian critics view as political persecution over a dozen opposition 
leaders were arrested earlier this week mainly on charges of organizing mass 
disorders.
Courts later ruled that several of the arrested politicians, including 
Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukian and Homeland Party leader Artur 
Vanetsian, be released.
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.

ANN/Armenian News – Week in Review – 11/08/2020

November 16, 2020March 12, 2026 Hambik Zargarian

Armenian News Network / Armenian News

Armenian News: Week in Review

ANN/Armenian News

November 8, 2020

Asbed Kotchikian
Emil Sanamyan
Yeghia Tashjian

Hovik Manucharyan
Asbed Bedrossian

Hello, and welcome to the Armenian News Network, Armenian News, Week in Review for Sunday November 8, 2020. In this episode we continue to discuss various topics around the War in Artsakh. We’ll be talking to our panel about the following major topics:

Six weeks of war
What is Russia thinking?
To recognize or not to recognize?

Our guests for this episode were:

Emil Sanamyan, a senior research fellow at USC’s Institute of Armenian Studies specializing in politics in the Caucasus, with a special focus on Azerbaijan.

Yeghia Tashjian, a regional analyst and researcher based in Beirut, with expertise in China, Iran and the Persian Gulf. Tashjian is the Regional Officer of Women in War, a gender-based think tank, and hosts a weekly radio program called “Turkey Today”.

and

Asbed Kotchikian, a senior lecturer of political science and international relations at Bentley University in Massachusetts where he teaches courses on the Middle East and former Soviet space.

This episode was recorded on Saturday, November 7, one day before Nikol Pashinyan along with Ilham Aliyev and Vladimir Putin signed a ceasefire treaty, which some would say is a capitulation for Armenia.

YouTube Apple Google Spotify Facebook

The war has been ongoing for six weeks.

During the past week, Russia has stressed its discomfort with the presence of terrorists in Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh at multiple layers. President Putin has said it, foreign minister Lavrov, as well as foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Many governments worldwide (including that of the US, France, Iran) have also confirmed this news.

Yet, Aliyev continues to deny:

“I regret that high-ranking officials of the countries that should be neutral and act on the basis of the mandate given to them by the OSCE use these unconfirmed ‘information’ and rumors,” Aliyev said, reiterating that there are no mercenaries on the territory of Azerbaijan. (Azatutyun)

It was in response to this statement that director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Sergey Naryshkin, re-affirmed that they have very high confidence in their intelligence. In addition to this, Naryshkin also claimed that Turkish intelligence or special ops units are active in Artsakh.

Earlier today, Russia’s foreign minister Lavrov and his French colleague had a telephone conversation where the main topic was the fight against “terrorism in all its forms”. During this meeting, they also raised their concern about Syrian and Libyan extremists fighting in Artsakh.

Does Russia seem to be building some sort of a case for taking action against the war in Artsakh in some form or another, perhaps with the full cover of international legitimacy and support? What do you think Russia is strategizing?

Iran has moved significant armed forces and weaponry to its border with Azerbaijan and also Armenia. It also has expressed concern about terrorism at multiple layers of its top leadership. What are its concerns, why does it need so many army assets on its northern border?

Let’s come back to Yerevan for a moment.

That concludes our program for This week’s Armenian News Week in Review. We hope it has helped you understand some of the current issues. We look forward to your feedback, and even your suggestions for issues to cover in greater depth. Contact us on our website, at Armenian News.org, or on our Facebook Page “ANN – Armenian News”, or in our Facebook Group “Armenian News – Armenian News Network”.

Special thanks to Laura Osborn for providing the music for our podcast. I’m Hovik Manucharyan, and on behalf of everyone in this episode, I wish you a good week. Thank you for listening and we’ll talk to you next week.

Armenia, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Karabakh Negotiations, Geneva, Iran, Turkey

Additional: Suren Sargsyan, Asbed Kotchikian, Russia, France, United States, OSCE Minsk Group, Ceasefire, Aliyev, Pashinyan, Abbas Araghchi, Robert Kocharyan, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Gagik Tsarukyan, Putin, United Russia, Bargavach Hayastan, Prosperous Armenia

It seems that the vacuum of a strong north-south relationship – between Pashinyan & Putin, – created a pathway for the east-west relationship between Aliyev & Erdogan to rise, and for the latter to project power into the South Caucasus.

Nagorno-Karabakh – Statement by Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs (10 Nov.2020)

November 16, 2020March 12, 2026 Emil Lazarian

France Diplomatie

Nov 11 2020

Terms of the Karabakh truce – corridors, boundaries and peacekeepers

November 16, 2020March 12, 2026 Aram Torosian

JAM News

Nov 13 2020

Key points of the agreement
What did Armenia and Azerbaijan get as a result of the agreement?
What remains to be clarified?
Access from Karabakh to Armenia
Will there be Turkish peacekeepers be in Karabakh?
Access from Armenia to Iran – and a corridor from the Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan to mainland Azerbaijan
• What names and whose state symbols will be in Karabakh?

What are the provisions of the trilateral agreement signed on November 10, 2020 between Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia, which stopped the 45-day war between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Karabakh – and caused massive protests in Armenia.

• Armenia and Azerbaijan stop at the positions they occupied by the moment of the signing of the agreement.

• Russian peacekeepers – 1,960 servicemen – will be stationed along the contact line in Nagorno-Karabakh. They will remain there for five years with automatic renewal for the same period if neither side requests their withdrawal.

• A timetable has been agreed upon, according to which Armenia should withdraw its troops to return control to Azerbaijan in the regions adjacent to Karabakh: by November 15 – Kelbajar region, by November 20 – Aghdam region, by December 1 – Lachin region.

• Refugees are to return to the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent areas, this process will be under the control of the UN.

• The parties must exchange prisoners of war.

• All economic and transport links in the region are to be unblocked. Control over transportation and transit will be carried out by the border service of the FSB of Russia.

‘We got the most we possibly could’ – comments from Baku politicians, observers
Op-ed: who will replace Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan?
‘I take personal responsibility for this’ – Armenian PM on situation in Karabakh

• Receives all areas around Nagorno-Karabakh.

• Gains several districts of Nagorno-Karabakh itself – but does not gain control there over the capital Khankendi / Stepanakert and those districts that were under the control of the Armenian forces at the time of signing the agreement, including over the cities of Martuni and Mardakert.

• Receives a transit land corridor along the southern border of Armenia with Iran, which will connect the Azerbaijani autonomous republic of Nakhichevan and mainland Azerbaijan.

• The Azerbaijani army remains in the regions around Karabakh and in those regions of Karabakh itself, which it occupied before the conclusion of the agreement – including in the strategically important city of Shusha. At the same time, the Armenian side is obliged to completely leave these territories.

• Receives a corridor for transport links between Karabakh and Armenia, 5 kilometers wide, which will be ensured by Russian peacekeepers for at least 5 years.

• Reserves formal sovereignty over the border area in the south of the country, along which the transit corridor between Nakhichevan and Azerbaijan will pass. Russia will ensure the security of the corridor.

• For the first time in modern history, it will receive a transit land corridor with Azerbaijan – through the territory of Armenia and through the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan.

Map of Karabakh and adjacent regions of Azerbaijan following the results of the war. Purple – territories that have not been transferred to Azerbaijan, and what will happen to them further is unclear [more on this below].

The main points that should be clarified by the parties at the official level, but for now have become the subject of speculation by experts and on social media:

Until now, this road was the Lachin corridor, which passes through the city of Shusha / Shushi. The agreement says that there will be no more travel to Armenia through Shusha and in the next three years a road should be built bypassing the city, which will be controlled by Russian peacekeepers. What will happen before the appearance of this road – there is no answer to this question.

The text of the agreement on the website kremlin.ru refers only to Russian peacekeepers.

This was also confirmed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Vladimir Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov.

However, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev claims that Turkish peacekeepers will also be stationed on the territory of Karabakh.

The official website of the President of Azerbaijan published a video recording of the conversation between Aliyev and Putin, in which the President of Azerbaijan clearly speaks of ‘the joint peacekeeping mission of Russia and Turkey’ – and there are no objections from Putin.

Two corridors will run in the south of Armenia – from Armenia to Iran and from Nakhichevan to Azerbaijan. And the only checkpoint between Armenia and Iran – Agarak-Norduz – is located just a few kilometers from Nakhichevan.

Will a new road be built for the Nakhichevan corridor? The agreement says nothing about this.

If the existing road is used on this section, it will be a source of constant tension for all parties, including Iran.

Here is a map showing a transit land corridor from the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (bordering Turkey) to Azerbaijan with a white dotted line.

The gray color on the map shows the territory of Iran, with which Armenia has close economic ties.

What will be the names of the cities in Nagorno-Karabakh: Khankendi or Stepanakert? Khojavend or Martuni?

Which country’s flags will be on the administration buildings in Karabakh?

What currency will be used there?

Who will be the heads of cities and villages?

What citizenship will those who live there have?

These are all questions that are unlikely to be answered soon.

• The ‘Second Karabakh War’. From September 27 to November 10, 2020, the Azerbaijani and Armenian armies fought fierce battles in the Karabakh conflict zone using armored vehicles, artillery and drones. Several thousand people were killed among the military and civilians on both sides. An armistice was declared three times during this time – on October 10, 18 and 26, but each time it was immediately violated. The war was stopped by a trilateral agreement signed on November 10 by Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia

• Karabakh war 1991-1994. Armed conflict between Armenians and Azerbaijanis that took place in 1991-1994 on the territory of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region of Azerbaijan and the surrounding regions.

Since the signing of the ceasefire in 1994 and until November 2020, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has existed as a de facto independent republic, not recognized by any state in the world, including Armenia. The Azerbaijani population left this territory and only ethnic Armenians lived there. Azerbaijan has always considered Karabakh and the territories around it occupied during the war as occupied and demanded their return.

Over the years, negotiations on a settlement of the conflict with international mediation have yielded no results.

The previous outbreak of full-scale hostilities – the so-called April War or Four-Day War – occurred in April 2016. As a result, dozens of people died on both sides.

https://jam-news.net/who-and-what-will-control-in-karabakh-news-maps-agreement-peacekeepers-regions-azerbaijan-armenia/

Op-ed: who will replace Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan?

November 16, 2020March 12, 2026 Lilit Nahapetian

JAM News

Nov 12 2020

Tornike Sharashenidze, Tbilisi

Following the cessation of fighting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian armies in the Karabakh conflict zone on November 10, protests broke out in Armenia which continue at the time of publication of this article, demanding the resignation of PM Nikol Pashinyan and annulment of the truce.

‘I take personal responsibility for this’ – Armenian PM on situation in Karabakh
‘We got the most we possibly could’ – comments from Baku politicians, observers

Karabakh truce, protests in Armenia, chronicle of events, November 10-11, 2020

Georgian expert Tornike Sharashenidze, Doctor of International Relations and professor of GIPA on what has changed for the three countries of the South Caucasus – Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, after the 45-day ‘second Karabakh war’.

I never expected it would go this far.

I thought Russia would continue to supply Armenia with weapons, but it looks like the drones have changed everything. Azerbaijan destroyed Armenia’s equipment, which it had in large quantities. The drones showed that there was a revolution in the military sphere. So I think that for Russia, at least to some extent, this was all a surprise.

Now the most important question is what will happen in Armenia—who will replace Pashinyan, whose days as prime minister are clearly numbered?

Will the old pro-Russian regime return to power, or will a more Western-oriented government come to power? But where would this pro-Western government come from? Should it have a leader? We’ve seen what happened to the last one. After Pashinyan, no one would dare to claim this type of leadership. This country is now in a state of shock.

The same cannot be said about Azerbaijan. Today Azerbaijan is much stronger than it was, and this changes many things in the region.

Yes, Azerbaijan is our partner, but it’s one thing to have a close partner with equal power to us, and another to have a close partner who is much stronger than you in all respects. Georgia must take this reality into account.

As for Turkey and Russia – apparently, at this stage, they have made some kind of deal. Russia intervened in the situation in Syria, which was considered a zone of Turkish influence, and in return Russia allowed Turkey to intervene at a certain level in the situation in the Caucasus.

Georgia clearly avoided a worst-case scenario—those of us who followed this situation feared that in the event that the conflict escalated, Russia would require a corridor through Georgia to move troops. This didn’t happen, and that’s good for us.

It is in Georgia’s best interests that this agreement leads to peace in the region. This is important for us from an economic point of view, if only because we are dependent on transit.

I do not agree with the opinion that Georgia’s transit potential is under threat. On the contrary. I believe our transit position will be further strengthened. Now Azerbaijan has more chances to implement its projects. For example, the Trans-Caspian project, that is, the construction of a gas pipeline from Turkmenistan across the Caspian Sea, which will feed into the Shah Deniz gas pipeline and strengthen our position as more gas is transported.

This way, we can get to the point when Shah Deniz will be used to its full potential, and we will get gas practically for free.

As for the presence of Russia in the Caucasus, this is already a fait accompli. The Kremlin already had influence in the region: it already has military bases here, including on our territory, 40 kilometers from Tbilisi. So Russia deploying a military contingent in Karabakh does not really strengthen its position.

Even more remarkable is the fact that Karabakh has created a precedent in the region, stating that territories lost in war can be returned through war. This precedent should inspire particular concern for Sukhumi and Tskhinvali (Abkhazia and South Ossetia).

Turkish Press: Turkey slams report of UN experts over Karabakh dispute

November 16, 2020March 12, 2026 Emil Lazarian

Anadolu Agency, Turkey

Nov 13 2020

Turkey slams report of UN experts over Karabakh dispute

Dilara Hamit | 13.11.2020

ANKARA

Turkey on Friday slammed a report by the UN Human Rights Council accusing Ankara of recruiting men from its local allies in Syria to fight for Azerbaijan in Upper-Karabakh, where weeks of armed clashes with Armenia recently ended with a peace deal.

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy stated that the claims were unfounded and disconnected from on-ground reality.

He said the only reason for circulating this “fake news” is to ignore the unlawful occupation of Armenia and build its image as a victim.

“It has been proven that Armenia took videos of the members of the Syrian National Army and published it on the internet as supposed evidence. These fake videos and the words of these people, who spoke in exchange for money have no credibility or validity,” Aksoy said.

He also questioned the credibility of the UN Special Procedures Mechanism for releasing a press statement on the basis of fake images and news, without waiting for a response from Turkey.

“What is expected from this mechanism is that it conducts its work transparently and taking into account the views of all relevant parties, rather than making biased and misleading statements,” he added.

“It is well known that Armenia deployed PKK/YPG terrorists from Syria in Upper Karabakh. In fact, many PKK members, whose names are known to us, were neutralized by the Azerbaijani army in the conflicts,” Aksoy said.

Armenian fighters

Aksoy also repeated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Vovayi Pashinyan’s words saying that large number of ethnic Armenians, citizens of third countries from the diaspora, participated in the conflict in Upper Karabakh.

Aksoy condemned the lack of mention of Armenia when the statement stood on the deliberate attacks on civilians.

“As Prime Minister Pashinyan’s military adviser explained, Armenia has deliberately attacked civilian settlements in Azerbaijan with banned cluster bombs and committed war crimes in order to create chaos among the people,” he said.

Aksoy stressed that Armenia’s violation of international law has also been recorded by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

The UN statement had previously said Azerbaijan and Turkey had relied on Syrian fighters at the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone and that the fighters had appeared to be motivated by private gain.

It stated that Turkey engaged in large-scale recruitment and transfer of Syrian men to Azerbaijan through armed factions, some of which were affiliated with the Syrian National Army.

Relations between the former Soviet republics have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Upper Karabakh, a territory recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

On Monday, a Russia-brokered peace deal ended fresh clashes that erupted on Sept. 27.

The Turkish leadership welcomed the truce, terming it a “great victory” for Azerbaijan.