Category: 2020

Threat to target nuclear power plant violates the nuclear taboo

Emil Lazarian

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 15:33,

YEREVAN, JULY 23, ARMENPRESS. During the military operations targeting civilian population and non-military infrastructure is prohibited by international law. Recently the spokesperson of Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan announced, that Azerbaijani army is ready to strike Armenian Metsamor Nuclear Plant, which can be described as a real threat for international security and peace. On this issue Professor Dr. Heinz Gärtner, the chair of the advisory board of International Institute for Peace and professor at University of Vienna interviewed by ‘’Haiastani hanrapetution’’ newspaper․

-Dear Professor, Dr. Gaertner, we testimony that turbulent situation in the World affairs is getting tense. What do you think which confrontations can stand real threat for peace and trigger major conflicts where nuclear issues can play decisive role? 

– The world today moves towards more global and regional polarization without multilateralism. We witness the breakdown of multilateralism, the emergence of nationalistic and ethnic xenophobia, demonization of adversaries, depreciation of international institutions, the withdrawal of international agreements and treaties and arms race. This happens on the background of a pandemic, and global economic crisis with increasing poverty accompanied and increasing climate damages.

– Can we draw some comparisons between the strike with nuclear weapons and/or strike on Nuclear plant? In which way you will evaluate the official announcement of Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense with which it is threatening to strike Metsamor Nuclear Plant in Armenia?

– Although the threat to target a civilian nuclear power plant is not the same as the threat to use a nuclear weapon, it would violate the nuclear taboo and dangerously cross a red line. I entails an uncontrollable spiral escalation. Involving potential casualties with nuclear means is a kind of first use and goes beyond any deterrence policy.

-What kind of steps must implement the International community for preventing the strikes on nuclear plants, even in the time of wars as it can stand real catastrophe for entire world security? Are there any regulations?

– A Nuclear Plant can be considered a civilian object. An attack on civilian targets are illegal according to the Additional Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and 1977. It also states that that damage against civilians should not be disproportionate to the direct military advantage. The destruction of a civilian nuclear power plant violates definitively the principle of proportionality. A nuclear power plant is no “legitimate military target”.

-International Institute for Peace (IIP) was established in 1959 in Vienna it is doing great job for strengthening peace and security in the World. As a well know scholar in the field of nuclear issue and the chair of IIP what you will suggest to both sides for strengthening peace and security in the South Caucasus?

– I would suggest to look at a successful historical analogy. The Helsinki Final act and the subsequent process could provide a guideline for resolving the conflict, without copying it. The Final Act recognizes the indivisibility of security in Europe as well as the common interest in the development of cooperation throughout Europe. The participating States pledged to refrain from any form of armed intervention or threat of such intervention or any other act of military, or of political, economic or other coercion against another participating State. Accordingly, they would refrain from direct or indirect assistance to terrorist activities. The participating states reaffirmed their will to intensify such cooperation between one another, irrespective of their systems. They consider that their frontiers can be changed, however, only “in accordance with international law, by peaceful means and by agreement”. The Final Act also recognizes the right “to be or not to be a party to treaties of alliance; they also have the right to neutrality”.

The CSCE-Helsinki Final Act of 1975 is the document which expresses best European values. In spite negotiated on the height of the Cold War it does not identify enemies, not even opponents or adversaries. It requests cooperative security and analyses that security is indivisible. The Final Act is not only a guideline to reduce the tensions in Europe but can be model for other conflict areas in the world, for example for strengthening peace and security in the South Caucasus.

Interview by Lusine Mkhitryan




Azerbaijani press: Jews in Bulgaria issue statement on Armenia’s latest provocation against Azerbaijan

Chakrian Hovsep
POLITICS 13:22 (UTC+04:00)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 23

Trend:

The Zionist Federation of Bulgaria has issued a statement about the military provocation committed by the Armenian army on the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border in the direction of Azerbaijan’s Tovuz district, Trend reports.

“The position of the Zionist Federation of Bulgaria reflects the position of Jews and representatives of other nationalities who oppose aggression and oppression, who stand up for democracy, human rights, who support the sovereignty and dignity of all peoples,” the statement said.

Concern about the latest act of violence against the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan, the attack of the Armenian army on Azerbaijan in the Tovuz direction, as a result of which 12 Azerbaijani servicemen and one civilian resident of Azerbaijan were killed, was expressed in the document.

“Profoundly concerned about the latest provocations of Armenia on the border with Azerbaijan, we, the Zionist Federation of Bulgaria and supporters of the Israeli state, demand an immediate cessation of all military operations and the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. The aggravation of the struggle in the region in recent days is the result of the fact that the international community cannot influence the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Armenia has violated international humanitarian law by showing disrespect for peace and stability in the region,” noted the statement.

“We look forward to the end of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the restoration of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within the internationally recognized borders,” the statement said.

Following continuous ceasefire violations of Armenia’s armed forces, the country launched another military provocation against Azerbaijan on July 12. Grossly violating the ceasefire regime, Armenian armed forces opened fire in the direction of Azerbaijan’s Tovuz district.

As a result of the appropriate measures, the Armenian armed forces were silenced. The tensions continued on the border, July 12 night. During the night battles, by using artillery, mortars and tanks, the Azerbaijani armed forces destroyed a stronghold, army vehicles.

The fighting continued in the following several days as well. Azerbaijan lost several military personnel members, who died fighting off the attacks of the Armenian armed forces. As a result of the shelling, many houses in the Tovuz district’s border villages were damaged.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

Azerbaijani press: Deputies of Latvian Saeima condemn Armenia’s provocations against Azerbaijan

Chatinian Lara
NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT 17:38 (UTC+04:00)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 23

Trend:

The latest Armenian provocations, committed in the direction of Azerbaijan’s Tovuz district on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border, were condemned by the deputies of the Latvian Saeima, the Azerbaijani Embassy in Latvia told Trend.

Condolences were expressed to the Azerbaijani people in an open letter in connection with the death of Azerbaijani servicemen as a result of artillery shelling by the Armenian armed forces. The letter was written on behalf of 15 members of the group for promoting cooperation between the Latvian Seim and the Parliament of Azerbaijan, and sent to the Azerbaijani-Latvian inter-parliamentary working group.

The parties also expressed serious concern about the military escalation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border and called on the sides to resume peace talks.

The members of the group highlighted the occupation by the Armenian armed forces of parts of the Azerbaijani territories and expressed their hope that Armenia will be active in their liberation, which will allow people to return to their historical lands.

Following continuous ceasefire violations of Armenia’s armed forces, the country launched another military provocation against Azerbaijan on July 12. Grossly violating the ceasefire regime, Armenian armed forces opened fire in the direction of Azerbaijan’s Tovuz district.

As a result of the appropriate measures, the Armenian armed forces were silenced. The tensions continued on the border, July 12 night. During the night battles, by using artillery, mortars and tanks, the Azerbaijani armed forces destroyed a stronghold, army vehicles.

As a result of the shelling, many houses in the Tovuz district’s border villages were damaged.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

Azerbaijani press: Azerbaijanis hold rally as sign of protest in Texas against Armenia’s fascist actions (PHOTO)

David Nargizian
POLITICS 19:23 (UTC+04:00)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 23

Trend:

The Azerbaijanis living in Houston, Texas held a rally as a sign of protest against the military provocations committed by Armenia against Azerbaijan, the continuation of the aggressive policy, Armenian barbarism and atrocities against the Azerbaijanis, Trend reports on July 23 referring to the Azerbaijani State Committee on Work with Diaspora.

“About 100 cars were involved in the rally organized by the Azerbaijan-American Cultural Alliance under the slogan “Stop the occupation policy of Armenia!” the message said.

“The flags of Azerbaijan and the US, the slogans “Stop the aggressive policy of Armenia!”, “Karabakh is Azerbaijan!” were stuck on these cars,” the message said.

“These cars were moving along the streets of Sugar Land, Katy, Memorial and Houston cities during more than two hours, bringing the truth about the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the atrocities of the Armenians to Texas people,” the message said.

“At the end of the rally, the protesters sang the Azerbaijani national anthem in the city center, chanted the patriotic slogans, expressing support for Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani people and army and our compatriots who raised their voices these days against the fascist actions of Armenians in foreign countries,” the message said.


Turkish press: What is behind Armenia’s military provocation on Azerbaijan’s border?

Emil Lazarian
 OP-ED 
JUL 24, 2020 12:05 AM GMT+3
Azerbaijani men living in Turkey wave flags of Turkey and Azerbaijan during a protest following clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia, in Istanbul, July 19, 2020. (Reuters Photo)

The fierce skirmishes that broke out on July 12 around Tovuz, along the Azerbaijani-Armenian border, which claimed the lives of many, have caused enormous unease in the international community. Repeated appeals from Russia, the U.S., Iran, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Minsk Group, authoritative international organizations and other groups calling on all parties to show restraint and refrain from any threat of force have so far had no effect.

In these difficult days for the Azerbaijani people – who heroically repelled the military provocation by Armenia, losing many noble sons in the process – it is gratifying to observe not only the solidarity of our citizens but also the support from our brothers in Turkey. Turkish F-16 fighters have made maneuvers along the border with Armenia in a show of support for Azerbaijan.

It is our brother Turkey that is the only country that has repeatedly made statements in support of Azerbaijan in an open form, threatening Armenia with retaliation for attacks on the Tovuz region. This will never be forgotten in Azerbaijan and is highly appreciated.

However, the situation on the border of the two conflicting countries remains very tense, because if the fighting continues for several more days, there is a risk of transferring the theater of military operations to the Karabakh front, in which case, the local conflict may eventually turn into a regional conflict. This is an outcome that officials in Baku have no interest in. It seems that Yerevan is determined to continue hostilities in order to involve regional players – Russia, Iran and even the CSTO – in this conflict.

Russia and Iran have made it clear that they support neither party. Armenia’s plan to involve the CSTO in the border conflict has also failed miserably – the organization called on both sides to end hostilities and does not support Armenia for the simple reason that Baku has fairly good relations with member states of the organization. In addition, CSTO member states – Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan – are well aware that in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict Baku is a victim, and Yerevan is an occupier that has blatantly ignored four Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its troops from Azerbaijani territories – namely Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions.

The escalation of the conflict at the border was preceded by several important developments.

First, a year ago a decision was made in Azerbaijan to transfer the state border with Armenia to the State Border Service (SBS). Before this, units of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry were stationed here.

And thus, officials in Baku decided to reduce tension in these sections of the Azerbaijani-Armenian border – yet this provided the Armenian side with a good opportunity to organize a military provocation against the border guards. A year after the decision on the Azerbaijani side, Yerevan has implemented its long-awaited plan to provoke fighting in the Tovuz area of Azerbaijan. But why Tovuz?

Several strategically important pipelines pass not far from the site of hostilities – namely the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Baku-Supsa oil pipeline and the Southern Gas Corridor, which play an important part in ensuring Europe’s energy security. Almost two months before the Armenian provocation – as part of the test launch of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) built to transport Azerbaijani gas to Europe – the first batch of gas from Azerbaijan reached the territory of Albania. In fact, this is an open provocation against oil and gas projects that meet the national interests of not only Azerbaijan but also Turkey.

With the launch of the oil and gas pipelines, Armenia was completely removed from all regional projects, including the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project. Since the transport blockade by Azerbaijan and Turkey impedes the economic development of Armenia, the latter decided to try to lessen the economic opportunities Baku could enjoy through a military provocation in the Tovuz direction.

Secondly, after coming to power, Armenian Prime Minister Pashinian began to make exaggerated claims to his strategic ally Russia and the CSTO. Suffice it to recall the scandal with the arrest in Yerevan of the CSTO Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov and the many months Yerevan obstructed the process of electing a new secretary-general. The Armenian leadership tried to get the CSTO to openly support the country in the conflict with Azerbaijan. However, Pashinian was clearly made to understand that the military actions in Karabakh were a domestic issue for Azerbaijan according to international law and that this was not part of the CSTO’s responsibilities.

He then realized what former Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan’s main mistake was – and that it would be necessary to advance military clashes not on the Karabakh front, but on the state border. I would like to note that military clashes with Azerbaijan took place just three days after the Pashinian’s son Ashot Pashinian completed his military service. This coincidence is not accidental since over the past two years Pashinian’s son has been in the enlisted army, the situation on the front line has been a little calm.

Of course, there is another reason for the Armenian provocation. The fact is that the military actions in Karabakh are perceived by the Armenians as taking place on foreign territory, far from the borders of Armenia.

Despite the large-scale propaganda work of Armenia, Armenians still deep down understand that Karabakh is a foreign land and that military operations have nothing to do with their security.

But the hostilities on the state border are still a threat designed to make Armenians forget about everything else – including the country’s deep economic crisis, rising unemployment, poverty and the negative consequences of the pandemic for the economy.

Summing up the above, I will add that clashes on the border and on the Karabakh front would continue until the Armenian diplomats sit at the negotiating table and agree to conduct substantive negotiations with the Azerbaijani side on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The only solution to the conflict is compliance with the four relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions. Meanwhile Baku, in turn, is ready to provide Nagorno-Karabakh with wider autonomy under the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan with a guarantee of the full provision of civil, socioeconomic and cultural rights of Armenians living there in accordance Azerbaijani and international law.

*Director of the international expert club EurAsiaAz and editor-in-chief of Azerbaijan-based news agency Vzglyad.az.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
*Director of the international expert club EurAsiaAz and editor-in-chief of Azerbaijan’s news agency Vzglyad.az.

Turkish press: Turkey to continue to stand by Libya, says National Security Council statement – Turkey News

Emil Lazarian
  • 10:16:00

Turkey will continue to stand by people of Libya against all kinds of tyranny, according to a National Security Council statement on July 22. 

Libya has been torn by civil war since the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

The country’s new government was founded in 2015 under a U.N.-led agreement, but efforts for a long-term political settlement failed due to toa military offensive by warlord Khalifa Haftar’s forces, backed by Egypt and the UAE.

Libya’s legitimate government has been under attack by Haftar’s forces since last April, and more than 1,000 people have been killed in the violence.

The U.N. recognizes the Libyan government headed by Fayez al-Sarraj as the country’s legitimate authority as Tripoli battles Haftar’s militias.

The government launched Operation Peace Storm against Haftar in March to counter attacks on the capital Tripoli, and liberated strategic locations, including the Al-Watiya airbase and city of Tarhuna.

Haftar has the support of the UAE, Egypt, and Russia while the U.N.-recognized government is backed by Turkey.

Turkey also reiterated its support to Azerbaijan against Armenian border attacks, according to the statement. 

Turkey called on Armenia to stop its aggression and withdraw from Azerbaijani lands it is occupying, the statement said following the council meeting headed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the Turkish capital Ankara.

Ankara also strongly condemned the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territory, the statement added.

On July 12, the Armenian army violated a cease-fire and attacked Azerbaijani positions with artillery fire towards the Tovuz border district, withdrawing after losses following retaliation from the Azerbaijani army.

During its aggression, Armenia killed 12 Azerbaijani soldiers, including high-ranking officers, and one civilian, besides wounding four troops.

Since 1991, the Armenian military has illegally occupied the Upper Karabakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) region, an internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan.

On the long-divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus, the council said Turkey will not allow any attempt that could harm peace and stability on Cyprus.

Last May, Turkish-flagged drillships began offshore drilling operations in areas off the island of Cyprus. The areas fall entirely within the Turkish continental shelf registered with the U.N. and in permit licenses, the Turkish government in previous years granted to Turkish Petroleum Corporation, the country’s national oil company.

Turkey sees energy as an incentive for political resolution on the island and peace in the wider Mediterranean basin, not a catalyst for further tensions.

Turkey is a guarantor nation for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and has consistently contested the Greek Cypriot administration’s unilateral drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean, asserting that the TRNC also has rights to the resources in the area.

In 1974, following a coup aimed at the annexation of Cyprus by Greece and amid ethnic violence against Turkish Cypriots, Ankara had to intervene as a guarantor power. In 1983, the TRNC was founded.

The decades since have seen several attempts to resolve the Cyprus dispute, all ending in failure. The latest, held with the participation of the guarantor countries- Turkey, Greece, and the U.K.- came to an end without any progress in 2017 in Switzerland.

Asbarez: Soldier, Wounded Last Week, Dies

Adrine Hakobian
July 23,  2020

Private Artur Muradyan died Thursday after being injured last week defending Armenia’s border

A soldier of the Armenian Armed Forces, who was gravely injured on July 14, while defending the border against brazen Azerbaijani attacks on Armenia’s Tavush Province, died on Thursday at the Central Clinic Military Hospital.

Armenia’s Defense Ministry said Private Artur Muradyan (born 2001) was severely injured at a maintenance station of the military units in the northeastern Armenia and was transferred to the Military Hospital in critical condition.

Muradyan’s death brings the total Armenian fatalities to five. Last week, the Defense Ministry reported that four soldiers of Armenia’s Armed Forces died during the heavy fighting on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Major Garush Hambardzumyan, Captain Sos Elbakyan and privates Smbat Gabrielyan and Grisha Matevosyan died last week during the clashes.

Asbarez: Artsakh Aid Amendment Passed By House

Alex Nanijanian
July 23,  2020

The U.S. House voted to continue sending aid to Artsakh, standing strong against an Azerbaijani government-driven, State Department-supported effort to end Artsakh’s de-mining program.

ANCA-Backed Measure Adopted Over Heavy Opposition

WASHINGTON—The U.S. House cast a powerful vote in support of Artsakh aid Thursday, adopting a bi-partisan ANCA-backed amendment led by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Jackie Speier (D-CA), Representatives TJ Cox (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and more than 35 of their House colleagues to continue life-saving de-mining assistance, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Thursday’s vote represents a powerful rebuke to the Azerbaijani government-driven, State Department-supported effort to end Artsakh’s de-mining program, despite its remarkable record of having removed tens of thousand of landmines and saving countless lives.

“Saving lives and limbs in Artsakh – that is what Congress did today – with the united effort of thousands of ANCA supporters around the country,” said ANCA Chairman Raffi Hamparian.  “The ANCA thanks Congresswoman Speier and her colleagues – Democrats and Republicans – who faced down a blizzard of vicious attacks by Azerbaijan and its allies.”

“Moving forward – we will press ahead in the Senate and make sure the U.S. Agency for International Development completes America’s noble de-mining mission. The ANCA will not rest, we will not retreat, until Artsakh is landmine free,” continued Hamparian.

The bi-partisan Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) aid amendment to H.R.7608 was adopted as part of a larger “en bloc” group of amendments backed by the House majority.  As is often the case in the U.S. House, this “en bloc” was approved on a party line vote.

The Artsakh amendment calls for $1.4 million in U.S. aid for the continuing life-saving de-mining efforts of The HALO Trust. House members joining Representatives Jackie Speier (D-CA), TJ Cox (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) in advancing the amendment were: Representatives Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI), Gil Cisneros (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Danny Davis (D-IL), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), John Garamendi (D-CA), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Jim Langevin (D-RI), Susie Lee (D-NV), Andy Levin (D-MI), Joe Kennedy (D-MA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Dan Lipinski (D-IL) Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Devin Nunes (R-CA), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Max Rose (D-NY), Harley Rouda (D-CA), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Janet Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Lori Trahan (D-MA), and Juan Vargas (D-CA).  No other amendment to the FY2021 Foreign Aid Bill had as many co-sponsors.

House Rules Committee Jim McGovern’s leadership to allow a vote on the amendment – over strenuous objections by the pro-Azerbaijan lobby – was key to House passage of the measure.

Continued aid to Artsakh to support de-mining and rehabilitation efforts has been a key part of the ANCA’s 360-degree policy priorities to ensure Artsakh security and freedom. The United States has been funding humanitarian programs in Artsakh since 1998, providing clean water to rural communities, support for maternal and child health, and life-saving de-mining assistance.  Through ANCA-supported Congressionally-mandated U.S. assistance, The HALO Trust has been de-mining in Artsakh since 2001. Since then, they have cleared 61,000 landmines and explosive hazards and transformed 62,000 acres of former minefields into land available for productive use and recreation. Just as importantly, U.S. assistance has provided mine risk education to each student in Karabakh since 2003.

Artsakh aid has been long under attack by Azerbaijan’s Aliyev regime, and over the past two years, aggressively targeted by the Trump Administration, even as it ramps up U.S. defense and security aid to Baku.

Over 10,000 advocates have contacted Congress in support of continued U.S. de-mining assistance to Artsakh through the ANCA’s online action portals. ANCA Leo Sarkisian and Maral Melkonian Avetisyan Summer program participants have been rallying nationwide constituent outreach in support of continued Artsakh aid. Countless more have used ANCA advocacy tools to connect with their U.S. legislators.

The Artsakh aid amendment was strongly supported by the Hellenic American Leadership Council and In Defense of Christians.

The ANCA is currently working with Senate leaders to include Artsakh aid in their version of the FY2021 Foreign Aid Bill, yet to be taken up by the Appropriations Committee.  Pro-Artsakh advocates can contact their Senators by visiting anca.org/alert. Constituents can be directly connected to their Senators by phone through the ANCA’s Quick Connect system by visiting anca.org/call.

Grassroots outreach to Congressional offices will continue until the FY2021 Foreign Aid Bill is finalized.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 07/23/2020

Frangulian Shushan 
                                        Thursday, 
Russia Urges Turkish Restraint On Karabakh Conflict
RUSSIA -- Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Russian Foreign Minister 
Sergei Lavrov arrive for a meeting in Moscow, January 13, 2020
Russia urged Turkey on Thursday to exercise restraint in its reaction to the 
deadly hostilities on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border which has been strongly 
condemned by Armenia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut 
Cavusoglu discussed the clashes between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces during a 
telephone conversation.
“In connection with the recent escalation of violence between Armenia and 
Azerbaijan, the Russian side emphasized the need for a balanced approach and 
containment of the parties involved in the conflict to prevent the further 
aggravation of the situation, ensure security on the Armenian-Azerbaijani 
border, and intensify efforts for the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process,” the 
Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“They agreed to develop cooperation between Moscow and Ankara to stabilize the 
region,” added the statement. It gave no further details.
Turkey has blamed Armenia for the fighting which broke out on April 12 and 
continued for several days, leaving at least 17 soldiers from both sides dead. 
It has pledged to continue to strongly support Azerbaijan in the 
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, including with military assistance.
The Armenian government has decried the Turkish reaction, accusing Ankara of 
trying to destabilize the region, undercutting international efforts to resolve 
the conflict and posing a serious security threat to Armenia. Prime Minister 
Nikol Pashinian said earlier on Thursday that Ankara’s increasingly “aggressive” 
pro-Azerbaijani stance is necessitating a rethink of Armenia’s foreign and 
security policy. He did not elaborate.
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said last week that the Armenians “will 
certainly pay for what they have done” to Azerbaijan, his country’s main 
regional ally. Such statements have fuelled speculation about Turkey’s 
intervention in the Karabakh conflict on Azerbaijan’s side.
Analysts believe Moscow would strongly oppose Turkish military presence in the 
former Soviet region regarded by it as a zone of Russian geopolitical influence.
Russia is allied to Armenia and has thousands of troops stationed in the South 
Caucasus state.
European Court Seeks Information About Armenian Captive In Azerbaijan
        • Susan Badalian
FRANCE -- The building of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, 
September 11, 2019.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ordered Azerbaijan to provide 
information about the whereabouts and condition of an Armenian man who was 
detained in its Nakhichevan exclave earlier this month.
Authorities in Nakhichevan reported the arrest of the 30-year-old man, Narek 
Sardarian, on July 15 one week after he went missing while grazing cattle in a 
border village in Armenia’s southeastern Syunik region.
Sardarian was shown on local television saying that he fled Armenia and wants to 
live in Azerbaijan or a third country. His family believes that he crossed the 
Armenian-Azerbaijani border by accident and was forced by the Azerbaijani 
security services to give a different reason for entering Nakhichevan.
A lawyer representing the family, Artak Zeynalian, asked the ECHR last week to 
help ensure that Sardarian is safe and sound and can communicate with his wife, 
sister and parents.
Armenia - Narek Sardarian.
The Strasbourg-based court agreed to issue such an injunction on Thursday. 
According to Zeynalian, it specifically ordered the Azerbaijani authorities to 
reveal the place and conditions of Sardarian’s detention and report whether he 
is facing any criminal charges, has access to a lawyer and can receive or send 
letters.
Baku must provide this and other information before the end of this month, 
Zeynalian told RFE/RL’s Armenian service.
Armenia’s human rights ombudsman, Arman Tatoyan, discussed Sardarian’s 
disappearance at a July 14 meeting with Claire Meytraud, the head of the Yerevan 
office of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). It is not clear 
whether officials from the ICRC office in Baku have since been allowed to visit 
Sardarian.
Zeynalian, who served as Armenia’s justice minister from 2018-2019, suggested 
that the ECHR took into account the tragic fate of other Armenian civilians who 
had strayed into Azerbaijani territory in similar circumstances.
In September 2010, a 20-year-old resident of a border village in Armenia’s 
Gegharkunik province, Manvel Saribekian, crossed into Azerbaijan and was 
immediately accused by Baku of planning to carry out terrorist attacks.
Saribekian was found hanged in an Azerbaijani detention center one month later. 
Azerbaijani officials claimed that he committed suicide. But in a January 2020 
ruling, the ECHR backed Armenian forensic experts’ conclusion that young man was 
tortured to death.
Azerbaijan -- Armenian captive Manvel Saribekian is paraded on Azerbaijani TV, 
17Sep2010
Another Armenian villager, Karen Petrosian, was pronounced dead in August 2014 
one day after being detained in an Azerbaijani village across the border. The 
Azerbaijani military claimed that he died of “acute heart failure.” The Armenian 
authorities believe, however, that Petrosian was murdered or beaten to death.
Sardarian is not the only Armenian national currently held in an Azerbaijani 
prison. Karen Ghazarian, a resident of the Tavush province, was captured in July 
2018.
In February 2019, an Azerbaijani court sentenced Ghazarian to 20 years in prison 
on charges of plotting terrorist attacks and “sabotage” in Azerbaijan. Yerevan 
condemned the ruling and demanded Ghazarian’s immediate release.
No Azerbaijani villagers are known to have died in Armenian captivity. One of 
them entered Armenia from Azerbaijan’s Gedabey district as recently as on June 
12 and remains in detention.
Government Names High Court Nominee
        • Artak Khulian
Armenia -- Vahram Avetisian, Yerevan, 
The government nominated on Thursday a candidate to replace one of the three 
members of Armenia’s Constitutional Court who were controversially dismissed 
last month.
The nominee, Vahram Avetisian, heads a civil law chair at Yerevan State 
University. He has previously worked in the Office of the Prosecutor-General and 
the private sector.
“I believe that I have necessary professional skills, experience and integrity 
to properly perform the duties of a Constitutional Court judge,” Avetisian told 
reporters after the announcement of his candidacy.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s government enjoys a comfortable majority in the 
National Assembly, making Avetisian’s appointment to the Constitutional Court 
all but a forgone conclusion. The nominee said that if elected by the parliament 
he will strive for judicial independence and “harmonious” activities of the 
judicial, legislative and executive branches of government.
President Armen Sarkissian and an assembly of the country’s judges are due to 
name two other nominees for the high court.
The parliament approved last month constitutional amendments calling the gradual 
resignation of seven of the court’s nine installed before April 2018.Three of 
them are to resign with immediate effect. Also, Hrayr Tovmasian must quit as 
court chairman but remain a judge.
Tovmasian and the ousted judges have refused to step down, saying that their 
removal is illegal. They have appealed to the European Court of Human Rights 
(ECHR) to have them reinstated.
Pashinian Wants Armenian Policy Response To ‘Turkish Threat’
Armenia -- Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian speaks at a cabinet meeting in 
Yerevan, .
Armenia needs to review its foreign and security policies in response to 
Turkey’s increasingly “aggressive” support for Azerbaijan in the 
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said on Thursday.
Echoing statements by other Armenian officials, Pashinian charged that Ankara 
has sought to heighten tensions in the conflict zone by blaming Yerevan for this 
month’s deadly hostilities on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and promising 
military aid to Baku.
“The only country that attempted to provoke greater violence, rather than calm 
the situation down, [during the flare-up] was Turkey,” he said at the start of a 
weekly cabinet meeting in Yerevan.
“Given that country’s destabilizing and aggressive policy towards a number of 
neighboring regions and traditional anti-Armenian policy, evidenced by its 
justification of the [1915] Armenian genocide, Turkey’s stance did not come as a 
surprise,” he said. “But its increased aggressiveness is creating the need for a 
certain revision of our policy, including in terms of the scale of our 
participation in international formats for curbing Turkey’s aggressiveness.”
Pashinian did not specify whether he thinks Armenia should forge even closer 
military ties with Russia, its main ally, or step up security cooperation with 
the West.But he did single out Russia’s role in international efforts to stop 
the Armenian-Azerbaijani border clashes that broke out on July 17.
Azerbaijan -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, and Azerbaijani 
President Ilham Aliyev walk before a meeting in Baku, October 14, 2019
The deadly clashes provoked last week a bitter war of words between Ankara and 
Yerevan, with the two sides accusing each other of trying to destabilize the 
South Caucasus. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other Turkish leaders blamed 
Armenia for the violence that left at least 17 soldiers dead. For its part, the 
Armenian Foreign Ministry branded Turkey a “security threat to Armenia and the 
region.”
Turkey’s National Security Council condemned the Armenian “aggression” on 
Wednesday in a statement issued after a meeting chaired by Erdogan. It said 
Ankara “will support any decision by Azerbaijan.”
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar vowed on July 16 that Armenia will be 
“brought to account” for its “attack” on Azerbaijan. He did not elaborate.
Akar spoke at a meeting with a visiting Azerbaijani military delegation headed 
by Deputy Defense Minister Ramiz Tahirov. The delegation also met with Ismail 
Demir, the head of a state body overseeing the Turkish defense industry. Demir 
tweeted afterwards that Ankara is ready to provide Baku with military drones and 
missiles.
Successive Turkish governments have lent Azerbaijan full support throughout the 
Karabakh conflict, reflecting close ethnic and cultural ties between the two 
Turkic nations. They have made the establishment of diplomatic relations with 
Armenia conditional on a Karabakh settlement acceptable to Baku.
Armenia, which is allied to Russia politically and militarily, has always 
rejected this precondition.
EU Mediates Talks Between Armenia, Azerbaijan
Belgium -- EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep 
Borrell at a press conference in Brussels, July 12, 2020.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has urged Armenia and 
Azerbaijan to avoid further ceasefire violations and resume peace talks during a 
trilateral phone call with the foreign ministers of the two South Caucasus 
states.
Borrell phoned Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanian and his newly appointed 
Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov late on Wednesday to again discuss the 
July 12 outbreak of deadly clashes on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, which 
left at least 17 soldiers dead. It was Mnatsakanian’s first conversation with 
Bayramov, who replaced Azerbaijan’s longtime Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov 
last week.
“I urged both sides to reaffirm their commitment to a ceasefire and undertake 
immediate measures to prevent further escalation,” Borrell tweeted after the 
phone call.
In a separate statement, the EU cited Borrell as saying that the parties to the 
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should “refrain from action and rhetoric that provoke 
tension, in particular from any further threats to critical infrastructure in 
the region.”
“He also stressed the need for meaningful re-engagement in substantive 
negotiations on the key aspects of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement 
under the auspices of the [OSCE Minsk Group] Co-Chairs; both ministers concurred 
on this,” read the statement.
Baku and Yerevan blame each other for the border clashes which appear to have 
subsided over the past week. Mnatsakanian and Bayramov were reported to stand by 
their governments’ diametrically opposite versions of the events.
According to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Mnatsakanian “emphasized the 
importance of implementation of the previous agreements on reducing tensions, 
restoring and strengthening the ceasefire.” The confidence-building agreements 
reached in 2016-2017 called for the deployment of more OSCE monitors in the 
conflict zone and international investigations of truce violations happening 
there.
For his part, Bayramov said that while Azerbaijan remains committed to a 
peaceful Karabakh settlement it wants further negotiations with Armenia to 
produce “concrete results.”
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has threatened in recent weeks to withdraw 
from the negotiating process, saying that it has been “meaningless” so far. He 
has said the U.S., Russian and French mediators co-heading the Minsk Group 
should do more to make the talks “substantive” in addition to trying to prevent 
violence.
Meanwhile, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian insisted on Thursday that 
Azerbaijan itself hampers progress towards the conflict’s resolutions with its 
“maximalist” position that preludes any compromise peace accord. He said Baku 
must not “talk to us from the position of force.”
“Azerbaijan should publicly renounce the use of force and take credible steps to 
end its anti-Armenian rhetoric,” Pashinian added during a weekly cabinet meeting 
in Yerevan.
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.

CivilNet: In Bordering Choratan, Villagers Repair a Water Pipeline Damaged by Azerbaijani Shelling

Karagyozian Lena
CIVILNET.AM

20:15

On July 12, a new wave of clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan escalated in Tavush Province in Armenia’s northeast. Azerbaijani gunfire and shelling in nearby villages damaged homes, kindergartens, and other infrastructure. 

CivilNet is in the bordering village of Choratan where the water pipeline that provides irrigation to the village was damaged by a shelling. The team followed the villagers through the forest in their journey to repair the water pipeline.