Category: 2021

ANKARA 

The US voiced concern Tuesday over the increased tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“The United States is deeply concerned about reports of intensive fighting today between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We urge both sides to take immediate concrete steps to reduce tensions and avoid further escalation,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement.

“We also call on the sides to engage directly and constructively to resolve all outstanding issues, including border demarcation,” he added.

“As noted in the Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ statement on November 15, the recent increase in tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan underscores the need for a negotiated, comprehensive, and sustainable settlement of all remaining issues related to or resulting from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” statement said.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Tuesday in a statement that Armenian forces have carried out “large-scale provocations” against the combat posts of the Azerbaijani army in the Kalbajar and Lachin regions of the state border, while two Azerbaijani soldiers were wounded in the attacks.

The Azerbaijani army immediately carried out an emergency operation, the statement said, adding the movement of the Armenian forces was blocked and its forces and means were damaged.

Azerbaijan and Armenia took steps to stabilize the situation on their borders, said a statement by the Russian Defense Ministry later in the day.

It said the clashes in Karakilise have ceased and the situation is currently back to normal and under control.

“As of 5.30 p.m. (1330GMT), with the mediation of Russia, a cease-fire was declared on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border,” the Armenian Defense Ministry said.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the tensions on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Putin and Pashinyan agreed to stay in contact, the Kremlin said in a statement.

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

During a 44-day conflict that started in late September last year, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and 300 settlements and villages that were illegally occupied by Armenia for almost 30 years.

ANKARA

France has no right to comment on Turkey’s military presence in Libya, which is part of Ankara’s deal with the legitimate Libyan government, the Turkish foreign minister said on Wednesday.

In a strong rebuke to Emmanuel Macron, Mevlut Cavusoglu said the French president’s recent call for withdrawal of Turkish and Russian troops from Libya was “disrespectful to the sovereignty of Turkey and Libya.”

“We have an agreement with the legitimate government of Libya. France has no right to speak on this matter,” he told reporters in the Turkish capital Ankara.

Such matters can only be discussed by the sovereign states that are parties to an agreement, he added.

“France has an old habit of commenting on what others are doing. For Turkey, France or any other country holds no relevance in this matter; we only speak to Libya,” said Cavusoglu.

Turkey stands with Azerbaijan against Armenia’s ‘terror attacks’

Cavusoglu reaffirmed Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia, condemning Armenia’s recent “terror attacks” on Azerbaijani territories.

“Azerbaijan is not and will never be alone,” the Turkish foreign minister said at a joint news conference in Ankara with his Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.

He was responding to a question about an Armenian attack that killed 10 Azerbaijani soldiers and wounded seven others earlier this week.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry also accused Armenian forces of carrying out “large-scale provocations” in the Kalbajar and Lachin regions.

Cavusoglu called on Armenia to realize that such provocations “are futile and will amount to nothing.”

He criticized Armenia for pursuing an antagonistic policy at a time when Baku and Ankara are keen to work for the region’s stability and development.

“We would like to turn a new page and normalize our relations (with Armenia), but look at what Armenia continues to do despite our overtures,” he said.

Relations with Bahrain

On Turkey’s ties with Bahrain, Cavusoglu said the two countries have shown “a common will to re-energize and revitalize their relations.”

He said talks with the Bahraini foreign minister and his delegation were “fruitful,” with the two sides agreeing on the need for more regular engagement and bilateral visits.

Turkey and Bahrain will keep channels of dialogue open for all matters, according to Cavusoglu.

Al Zayani also spoke about the “good relations between the two friendly countries,” saying Bahrain’s ruler sent a letter to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan acknowledging their nations’ “strong friendship.”

He said regional developments and their potential impact on Turkey and Bahrain, as well as possible solutions, were discussed during his meetings in Ankara.

Turkey and Bahrain are eager to enhance bilateral cooperation in all sectors, he added.

On the issue of visas for Turkish citizens, Al Zayani said Bahrain has been working to improve its current mechanism and would ensure that “our brothers in Turkey are given priority in the new system.”

The Bahraini foreign minister also shared details of the virtual Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) ministerial meeting that he attended along with Cavusoglu earlier on Wednesday.

He said the participants “reiterated the importance of the ACD forum in increasing cooperation between all Asian countries and enhancing efforts to achieve their joint aims and objectives.”

The meeting saw the group’s chairmanship, held by Turkey since September 2019, handed over to Bahrain.

The ACD also declared central Nevsehir province – the gateway to Turkey’s picturesque Cappadocia region – its tourism capital for 2022, the year which marks the group’s 20th anniversary.

Turkey, as always, stands by Azerbaijan, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told his Azerbaijani counterpart Zakir Hasanov in a phone call late Tuesday to discuss the recent Azerbaijan-Armenia tensions.

Hasanov informed Akar about the recent friction at the Armenian border, stressing that Armenia’s “provocation was prevented,” according to a statement by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

Seven Azerbaijani service members were killed and 10 more were wounded in clashes with Armenia on the border between the two ex-Soviet nations, the ministry said Wednesday.

“The situation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border has stabilized since the evening of Nov. 16,” the statement read. “The provocation and military adventurism committed by Armenia on the state border completely failed.”

“We strongly condemn Armenia’s continuing military provocations out of vengeance. The military-political leadership of Armenia is directly responsible for the escalation of the situation in the region and for preventing the implementation of the tripartite statement,” Baku also said.

It added “all kinds of threats and military provocations against the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within the internationally recognized borders” will be responded to accordingly.

Earlier, the ministry said Armenian forces carried out “large-scale provocations” against Azerbaijani army check posts in the Kalbajar and Lachin border regions.

In response, the Azerbaijani army launched an emergency operation, a statement said, adding that the movement of Armenian forces was blocked.

Armenian officials reported one casualty and said 13 of their troops were captured during Tuesday’s hostilities, while 24 more have gone missing.

The Armenian Defense Ministry accused Azerbaijan’s military of opening fire on Armenian positions.

The fighting ceased on Tuesday evening after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke on the phone with his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts and urged them to stop.

The Russian-brokered cease-fire was holding Wednesday at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, officials said, a day after deadly clashes between the archrivals sparked fears of another flare-up in their territorial dispute.

Azerbaijan and Armenia took steps to stabilize the situation on their borders, said a statement by the Russian Defense Ministry later in the day.

It said the clashes in the region have ceased and the situation is currently back to normal and under control.

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

During a 44-day conflict that started in late September last year, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and 300 settlements and villages that were illegally occupied by Armenia for almost 30 years.

On Nov. 10, 2020, the two countries signed a Russian-brokered agreement to end the fighting and start working toward a comprehensive resolution of the dispute. The Russia-brokered truce allowed Azerbaijan to reclaim control over large parts of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas that Armenia occupied for nearly three decades.

Two months later, the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a pact to develop economic ties and infrastructure to benefit the entire region. It also included the establishment of a trilateral working group on Karabakh.

A joint Turkish-Russian center was also established to monitor the postwar truce. Russia deployed nearly 2,000 peacekeepers for at least five years to monitor the peace deal.

Since last year’s war, both Armenia and Azerbaijan have reported occasional exchanges of fire.

The new clashes appear to be the worst outbreak of hostilities between the two countries since a six-week war last year over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh that killed some 6,600 people.

Tensions on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border have been building up since May, when Armenia protested what it described as an incursion by Azerbaijani troops into its territory. Azerbaijan has insisted that its soldiers were deployed to what it considers its territory in areas where the border has yet to be demarcated. Clashes have been reported ever since.

Armenia appealed to its Russian ally for military support under the Collective Security Treaty Organization pact, which obliges Moscow to protect it in the event of a foreign invasion.

“Given that there was an attack on Armenia’s sovereign territory, we appeal to the Russian Federation to protect Armenia’s territorial integrity,” Armenia’s Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan said Tuesday.

The same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian by phone, the Kremlin said in a statement, and agreed to “continue contacts” on the matter.

Before the cease-fire was announced, the European Union and the United Nations called on both sides to cease hostilities.

European Council President Charles Michel on Twitter called for a “full cease-fire,” while the U.N. urged Baku and Yerevan to “exercise restraint.”

EU chief Charles Michel urged the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to call a “full cease-fire” after escalation on the border.

Michel, the president of the European Council, said he had spoken to President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian of Armenia.

Michel did not apportion blame for the “challenging situation in the region,” but demanded an “urgent de-escalation and full cease-fire.”

“EU is committed to work with partners to overcome tensions for a prosperous and stable South Caucasus,” he tweeted.

The United Nations also urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to “exercise restraint” after border clashes.

At the U.N., deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said: “We urge all sides to exercise restraint … and address any related concerns peacefully through dialogue.”

“We want to avoid any return to the sort of escalation we had earlier,” Haq added.

The French Foreign Ministry in a statement expressed its “deep concern” and called on all parties to respect the agreements that were reached in November 2020.

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Wednesday described Armenia’s recent provocations targeting Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity as terrorist attacks.

Holding a joint press conference with his Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani in the capital Ankara, the minister said: “Azerbaijan is not alone. Turkey will not leave Azerbaijan alone.”

He added that they will all take steps together for the stability of the region and peace.

“Let’s look at the steps taken by Azerbaijan, which took back its own lands. Very important projects have been implemented for the stability of the region. (The country) proposed a comprehensive peace agreement,” he said and underlined that Armenia must see that these provocations are futile and it will never yield any results.

Seven Azerbaijani service members were killed and 10 more were wounded in clashes with Armenia on the border between the two ex-Soviet nations, Baku said Wednesday.

The fighting ceased on Tuesday evening after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke on the phone with his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts and urged them to stop.

The Russian-brokered cease-fire was holding Wednesday at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, officials said, a day after deadly clashes between the archrivals sparked fears of another flare-up in their territorial dispute.

Family Rescue Fund leaders with ARS Western U.S. representatives during the event

The Family Rescue Fund this year dedicated its annual event to those who defended the homeland and on Thursday, November 11—Veterans’ Day—in partnership with the Veterans of Armenia organization a fundraising event was held, during which nearly $500,000 was raised for a new Veterans Hospital in Armenia.

The goal for this event was to raise funds for the new Veterans’ Hospital in Armenia in support of the wounded soldiers of the Artsakh Wars.

As a result of the last war in 2020, approximately 11,000 soldiers received various injuries, and around 1,500 were recognized as permanently disabled. It has been identified that a specialized hospital for these veterans is urgently needed to provide a comprehensive care. Initiated by the Zinvori Tun Rehabilitation Center, The Veterans’ Hospital is set to be built in Armenia.

The event, held at the Grand Venue Banquet Hall in Los Angeles, brought together hundreds of Armenians from a wide variety of backgrounds, professions, and occupations to support a common cause and continue the long journey of providing for the well-being of our homeland and our people.

The night was heralded by an interactive program that included performances by both beloved and well-known artists, such as Armenchik, Arthur Khachents, Alina Aroustamian, Lilu, Aram Ayrumyan, Karo Ayrumyan, and Tata Simonyan. An auction featuring artwork created by veterans of the 44-Day Artsakh War with Armenian- themed rare collectibles, and paintings such as rugs from the Shushi Rug Factory.

The event was successful in raising $425,000 with pending donations for the new Veterans’ Hospital project by the Zinvori Tun NGO. As a cornerstone for future cooperation and philanthropy, the gala night embodied the organizers’ motto of “Unity” and “No Soldier Left Behind.”
About:

The Family Rescue Fund was established seven years ago to help improve the quality of life in Armenia by supporting underprivileged families through health, social and educational programs. Over the years, the organization was able to expand its commitments in supporting schools, churches, and hospitals.

After the Artsakh war, the Founding Members of the organization made it a priority to deliver immediate aid to our wounded soldiers. FRF focused most of its efforts on restoring the health of the defenders of our homeland. To date, through tireless efforts of FRF and partnerships in

Armenia, hundreds of wounded soldiers have recovered and received social and educational assistance. In cooperation with the Soldier House Rehabilitation Center, an intensive care department was opened in Armenia for soldiers with life threatening injuries.

The Veterans of Armenia is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization formed by a group of friends seeking to enable everyone around the world to create meaningful impacts in the motherland. The mission of their organization is to support veterans and their families. This includes assisting the veterans with reacclimating to civilian life by combating PTSD, providing physical therapy, and building an adaptive environment to secure and preserve their dignity and independence. Their motto is “No Soldier Left Behind,” and 100 percent of all donations from the community are directed toward impacting the lives of our veterans and soldiers. All administrative costs are paid for by the members.

Armenia’s Defense Ministry on Wednesday said that after Azerbaijani forces attacked Armenia’s eastern border in the Syunik Province on Tuesday, they captured 13 Armenian soldiers, while another 24 have gone missing.

The ministry confirmed that one soldier, Meruzhan Harutyunyan (b. 1991), was killed during the attack.

The Defense Ministry added that “negotiations are currently underway with the mediation of the Russian side for the resolution of the situation and the repatriation of the captured servicemen. Intensive work is underway to establish the whereabouts of the servicemen who went missing.”

The defense ministry also confirmed that as a result of the attack Armenia lost two “combat positions” that are currently controlled by Azerbaijani forces.

The statement also said 70 Azerbaijani soldiers were killed or wounded during the fighting, with Azerbaijani forces losing number of armored vehicles, trucks and other military hardware.

Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday that seven of its soldiers were killed and 10 others wounded during Tuesday’s military operations.

European Parliament

Members of the European Parliament slammed Azerbaijan for its attack on Armenia and condemned what they called “borderization” since Azerbaijan incursion into Armenia in May.

The chair of European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with the South Caucasus, Marina Kaljurand, the European Parliament’s Standing Rapporteur on Armenia, Andrey Kovatchev, and the European Parliament’s Standing Rapporteur on Azerbaijan, Željana Zovko released a joint statement following the Azerbaijani attack on Armenia on November 16. 

Below is the text of the statement.

We are seriously concerned by yesterday’s heavy fighting, which followed the recent increase in tension on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The military operation launched by Azerbaijan in response to alleged provocations amounts to the worst violation to-date of last year’s November 9 ceasefire agreement, leaving an as yet unconfirmed number of killed, wounded and captured soldiers.

We urge the rapid de-escalation of the situation and welcome the engagement of European Council President and the reported Russian-mediated ceasefire. We reiterate that any possible disagreements about the border must be addressed through negotiations in a border delimitation and demarcation process, not through the use of force and unilateral actions.

We condemn any attempts at “borderisation”, as observed since the incursion of Azerbaijani troops into Armenian territory on May 13. We support and call for the opening of economic and transport connections as foreseen in the November 9 ceasefire agreement, which would be highly beneficial for the entire region.

This includes the connection between the western regions of Azerbaijan and the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic.

To succeed, the parties should follow the text of the agreement and avoid a too extensive interpretation.

Moreover, we are concerned by reports of hindered traffic on roads that connect Armenian towns and villages through Azerbaijani territory and believe that such behavior contradicts the spirit of this agreement and unduly hampers the lives of local citizens.

We also regret that despite numerous calls from the international community, including the European Parliament resolution of May 20, 2021, many Armenian detainees held in connection with the conflict have yet to be released, and we renew our appeal to the Azerbaijani authorities on this issue. We also reiterate our call to exchange all up-to-date maps of minefields to permit civilians to return to former conflict regions

Once again, we recall the EU’s commitment to support confidence-building measures and to address any issues at the negotiating table, in particular through the resumption of negotiations on a lasting conflict settlement and the future status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region in the process led by Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

A soldier at an Armenian position on the borderThe Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said that Moscow takes its bilateral and multilateral obligations seriously, presumably in response to Armenia’s National Security Chief Armen Grigoryan, who said that the Armenian authorities expect Russia to step up and provide Armenia with military and diplomatic assistance.

The Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Wednesday emphasize Moscow’s commitments when asked about the Armenia-Russia strategic agreement signed in 1997.

“Russia takes its bilateral and multilateral obligations seriously. Relevant bilateral consultations are held. As for the CSTO, according to our information, they are closely monitoring the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border,” Zakharova added referring to Azerbaijan’s attack of Armenia’s border on Tuesday.

Grigoryan, Armenia’s National Security chief, also mentioned the 1997 agreement telling the Russian Kommersant newspaper that Yerevan’s expectations from Moscow stemmed from the same treaty.

“This [Azerbaijan’s attack on Tuesday] is an act of aggression. In 1997 Armenia and Russia agreed to help one another in such cases. This is exactly why we applied to Russia,” he said.

“We are in favor of a diplomatic solution to the matter. But if not possible to resolve the matter through diplomacy, then the issue must be resolved militarily,” added Grigoryan.

“But if a solution isn’t found we will start considering other options,” Grigoryan told Kommersant.

Zakharova told the press that through Moscow’s mediation efforts, a ceasefire was established on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.

“We call on both sides to show restraint, not to allow new incidents, to resolve all disputes exclusively through political-diplomatic means,” Zakharova said.

“Recent events confirm the need for an immediate start of the demarcation and subsequent delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, as well as the commencement of the work of the relevant commission on the basis of previously submitted Russian proposals,” added Zakharova. She also called on the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to urgently organize a visit to the region.