Category: 2020

 18:39,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 14, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Sergei Ryabkov does not rule out face-to-face contacts between Russia and the USA over the situation in Nagorno Karabakh, ARMENPRESS reports, Ryabkov told TASS.

‘’Contacts with the USE over Nagorno Karabakh conflict will continue. I think face-to-face contacts are fully possible, depending on the situation in the region, including before the presidential elections in the USA’’, he said.

According to the Deputy Minister, the comments of the U.S. Department of State over Nagorno Karabakh in no way mention Russia or the role of Russia in bringing the conflicting sides to an agreement.

‘’We have recorded it as a fact, but it will not hinder the dialogue with the United States on the substantive side of the issue’’, Ryabkov added.

Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan

 18:48,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 14, ARMENPRESS. 40 alumni of the Professional Fellows Program funded by the U.S. Department of State addressed a letter to the Ambassador of the USA to Armenia Lynne M. Tracy, with a call to prevent the Azerbaijani-Turkish aggression against the civilian population of Artsakh. ARMENPRESS reports, the letter runs as follows,

Honorable Lynne M. Tracy,

It is with the extreme concern we, the Professional Fellows Program Armenia alumni network, write you this letter to one more time bring to your attention the unprovoked ignition of war by  Azerbaijan and Turkey against Artsakh Republic and its civilian population, and call upon the United States to take all possible actions to cease the Azerbaijani-Turkish aggression.

Since the start of the war late September Azerbaijan with the direct support of Turkey has been using cluster munitions and indiscriminately attacking civilians, civilian objects and entire cities and villages of Artsakh Republic. All these violent acts have caused the death of the peaceful population of Artsakh Republic and brought about grave human rights violations, destruction of homes, and infrastructures. The direct targeting of civilians, the repeated bombardment of cities of Artsakh, including the spiritual and ethnic symbol of Armenians – the Ghazanchetots cathedral in Shushi – leaves us with no doubt that the Azerbaijani-Turkish army, backed by thousands of terrorist mercenary groups from Syria, pursue a clear objective of ethnic cleansing of Artsakh from Armenians. That being said, we witness yet another genocide of Armenians, this time in Artsakh.

As you know, Azerbaijan broke the cease-fire agreement reached in Moscow on the 10th of October, and as of October 12 almost all the civilian settlements of Artsakh are again the target of Azerbaijani-Turkish terrorist forces. The situation is on the brink of humanitarian crisis and requires immediate intervention of the international community to contain Azerbaijan’s and Turkey’s genocidal war against Armenians.

As part of the Armenian youth, we are firm, both in Armenia and Artsakh, in our choice of building Armenian statehood that hinges on democracy, rule of law, respect for human dignity, rights and freedoms which was even more strengthened during our fellowships in different parts of the United States. But today, not only massive violations of international human rights and humanitarian law are taking place in Artsakh, but also the very existence of Armenians is under imminent threat. This war is not only a threat for us, Armenians, but is also a global threat as we are dealing with international terrorism, obvious violation of human rights, and crimes against humanity.

Recalling our experiences in the United States, the necessity to bring and implement best practices and values and seeing your commitment, as a US Ambassador to Armenia, to the sustainable and democratic development of our country, we are hopeful  that United States will

-take immediate and vigorous action to stop the aggression of Azerbaijan and Turkey against Artsakh Republic and the Armenians,

-recognize the independence of the Republic of Artsakh, respecting the right of self-determination exercised by the people of Artsakh,

-call into questions the direct support of terrorism and aggression by Turkey, a member of NATO.

The letter is an individual initiative of Professional Fellows Program Alumni and does not represent the opinion of American Councils or the PFP Program

 19:32,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 14, ARMENPRESS. Turkey is supporting Azerbaijan in Nagorno Karabakh conflict and Washington urges Turkey not to do so. ARMENPRESS reports, citing TASS, Secretary of the U.S. Department of State Mike Pompeo said in a briefing.

‘’I talked to President Trump this morning. We are watching what’s taking place there. We have rejoined our European partners and many countries of the world, said that the ceasefire should be the start of the solution of the conflict. We have watched the reporting of civilian deaths. We have watched Turkey begin reinforce Azerbaijan. We have called on all international players to stay out of the region and not to continue reinforce trouble. We use all our diplomatic toolkit to reach a ceasefire and an outcome of the solution based on the international law’’, Pompeo said.

 19:13,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 14, ARMENPRESS. Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II addressed the nation over the Turkish-Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh.

ARMENPRESS reports His Holiness said, ‘’We are living decisive days for our Motherland. We are fighting to the death for the right of our people in Artsakh to a free and independent life. Azerbaijan, ignoring the ceasefire agreement, continues military operations against Artsakh, bombing also civilian settlements and civilians population, our monuments and sanctuaries, Ghazanchetsots Cathedral of Shushi. Bordering communities of the Republic of Armenia have also been targeted.

This process by Azerbaijan shows it has failed the negotiations, aims to expel the people of Artsakh from their Motherland and exterminate them. There is no and can be no security guarantee for Artsakh inside Azerbaijan. The war is not the choice of our people. We have been obliged to self-defense as the only way to preserve our life, freedom and dignity as facing the violence and the brutality. We address all the countries that value human lives, peace and justice, particularly the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair states, to take more decisive measures to prevent the Azerbaijani genocidal actions with direct involvement of Turkey and mercenary-terrorists, force it to stop the war and pursue a final solution through negotiations. The safe life of the people of Artsakh, stable peace in Artsakh is vital imperative for preventing atrocities and humanitarian disaster in the region’’, Karekin II said, calling all Armenians, living in the Motherland or elsewhere, to consolidate for the sake of the Motherland, for protecting Artsakh and for establishing justice. ‘’We have to be consolidated and unbreakable, continue our support to Artsakh, our efforts aimed at the international recognition of the Republic of Artsakh’’, the Catholicos said.

The Catholicos of All Armenians raised prayers for the brave officers, soldiers and volunteers, who are the guarantor of the Armenian statehood, free Armenia and free Artsakh. ‘’God help our Motherland Armenia and Artsakh, our nation’’, Karekin II concluded.

Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan

 20:50,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 14, ARMENPRESS. President of Russia Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, ARMENPRESS reports, citing the press service of the Kremlin, the sides discussed the situation in Nagorno Karabakh in detail.

The sides highlighted the implementation of the humanitarian ceasefire. They supported the the measures for the activation of a political process, particularly based on the principles developed by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs.

Putin expressed deep concerns over the participation of militants from the Middle East in Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

The Russian President hoped that Turkey, as an OSCE Minsk Group member, will have a constructive role in the de-escalation of the conflict.

Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan

 21:45,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 14, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of Artsakh has published a new list of servicemen killed in action. ARMENPRESS reports 23 names are included in the list.

In total, the Armenian side has reported 555 military casualties. Azerbaijan keeps number of casualties secret, but according to the estimates of the Armenian side, they have nearly 5500 casualties, including regular army servicemen and terrorists.

Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan

 22:39,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 14, ARMENPRESS. Turkey has banned the delivery of 100 tons of US humanitarian aid to Armenia through its airspace, ARMENPRESS reports High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan said in a press conference.

‘’During these days nearly 700 tons of humanitarian aid have been delivered to Armenia from different counties – Russia, the USA, France, Ukraine, European countries, Javakhk, Tbilisi and this assistance is ongoing.  There is another 100 tons of humanitarian aid, ready to be delivered from the USA, but Turkey has banned delivery of even humanitarian aid through its airspace, as a result of which that flight is being delayed’’, Sinanyan said.

In addition to political support to Azerbaijan, Turkey also supports it in the battlefield, by using its air force and sending thousands of terrorists to fight against Armenians.

Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan

 23:39,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 14, ARMENPRESS. Representative of the Defense Ministry of Armenia Artsrun Hovhannisyan informed that there are Azerbaijani war prisoners in the Armenian side, but did not mention the number.

‘’There are war prisoners but I have no information on their number, place and situation’’, ARMENPRESS reports Hovhannisyan said in a press conference.

Referring to the 2 Armenian war prisoners on the Azerbaijani side, Hovhannisyan said that Azerbaijan provides no information about them.

‘’Unfortunately, I cannot provide any information about our soldiers. You know that the Azerbaijani side never provides such information, does not cooperate with the Red Cross. Moreover, the Azerbaijani side does not even try to take out the bodies of its soldiers. In the recent period we observe extremely inhuman attitude towards their own victims. We had never seen such a thing’’, Hovhannisyan said.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has demanded Azerbaijan to immediately present information about the two Armenian military servicemen who have been captured during the ongoing war launched by Azerbaijan against Artsakh.

The families of servicemen Areg Sargsyan and Narek Amirjanyan had filed the application to the ECHR on October 11, requesting an urgent measure to oblige Azerbaijan to act in accordance to the Customary international law and in accordance to the October 10, 2020 cessation of hostilities agreement that included exchange of prisoners of war, and to return the captives to the Armenian authorities under the auspices of the ICRC, as well as to ensure their physical and psychological inviolability and duly medical treatment.

The court lodged the application on October 12 and the Azeri government has been notified.

The ECHR has given Azerbaijan until October 22 to provide information about the conditions of the two servicemen’s detention, their health, the possibility of exchanging them in accordance with the humanitarian cessation of hostilities agreement.

Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan