Category: 2021

MOSCOW

Armenia’s prime minister on Friday said normalizing ties with Turkey would help establish lasting peace in the region and implement the agreements reached last year on the Upper Karabakh region.

Speaking at a meeting of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) country leaders, Pashinyan stressed that normalization between Yerevan and Ankara could accelerate settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“Starting a conversation with the aim of normalizing our relations with Turkey is another factor that could play the role of a catalyst in this issue,” he said, referring to the implementation of agreements on Upper Karabakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh.

He also stressed the importance of restoring transportation channels as a major milestones towards normalization with Azerbaijan and the implementation of the agreements on Karabakh.

“We hope to achieve concrete results in the near future. This means that Armenia will receive railway and automobile communication with Russia and Iran through the territory of Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijan will receive railway and automobile communication with the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic through the territory of Armenia,” he said.

All these steps would serve to lay the groundwork of signing a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Pashinyan noted.

“Of course, the main issue is the signing of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan. To this end, we consider it important to restore the negotiation process within the framework of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) Minsk Group co-chairmanship. In recent months, the co-chairs have repeatedly noted in their statements the need to resume the peace process for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” he said.

Liberation of Karabakh

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

When new clashes erupted on Sept. 27, 2020, the Armenian army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces and violated several humanitarian cease-fire agreements.

During the 44-day conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages from the nearly three-decade occupation.

Despite a Nov. 10 deal last year ending the conflict, the Armenian army several times violated the agreement and martyred several Azerbaijani soldiers and a civilian, and wounded several others, according to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

ISTANBUL

With the addition of the Arslantepe Mound earlier this year, Turkey currently boasts 19 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, including 17 cultural and two mixed.

As of 2021, UNESCO lists 1,154 cultural and natural sites worldwide on its World Heritage List.

Selimiye Mosque and social complex in Edirne

Added to the UNESCO list in 2011, the Selimiye Mosque and its social complex in Turkey’s northwestern province of Edirne was constructed by Sinan, the most renowned Ottoman architect in the 16th century.

Its complex includes madrasas (Islamic schools), a covered market, a clock house, an outer courtyard, and a library.

“The square Mosque with its single great dome and four slender minarets, dominates the skyline of the former Ottoman capital of Edirne,” according to UNESCO’s website.

Adorned by tiles from the town of Iznik renowned for its ceramics at “the peak period of their production,” the organization says the mosque “testifies to an art form that remains unsurpassed in this material.”

Pergamon and multi-layered cultural landscape

Located in Turkey’s Aegean province of Izmir, Pergamon and its surrounding multi-layered cultural landscape was added to the list in 2014.

As the capital of the Hellenistic Attalid dynasty, the acropolis of Pergamon was a major center of learning in the ancient world, says UNESCO.

“Monumental temples, theatres, stoa or porticoes, gymnasium, altar, and library were set into the sloping terrain surrounded by an extensive city wall,” it adds.

It is possible to see the remains of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires in and around the modern town of Bergama.

Ephesus

Also in Izmir province, the world-renowned ancient city of Ephesus was added to the UNESCO list in 2015.

The UN body celebrates “grand monuments of the Roman Imperial period” including the Library of Celsus and the Great Theater, which have been unearthed in excavations.

“Little remains of the famous Temple of Artemis, one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World,’ which drew pilgrims from all around the Mediterranean.” The House of the Virgin Mary, a chapel close to Ephesus has also become a place of Christian pilgrimage, it says.

Historic areas of Istanbul

Turkey’s largest city Istanbul has been associated with major political, religious, and artistic events for more than 2,000 years, the UN has said.

“Its masterpieces include the ancient Hippodrome of Constantine, the 6th-century Hagia Sophia and the 16th-century Suleymaniye Mosque.”

However, it has warned that all these sites are now “under threat from population pressure, industrial pollution, and uncontrolled urbanization.”

Istanbul was added to the list in 1985.

Bursa and Cumalikizik

In northwestern Turkey, the city of Bursa and nearby village of Cumalikizik were added to the UNESCO list in 2014 as a serial nomination of eight component sites.

“The site illustrates the creation of an urban and rural system establishing the Ottoman Empire in the early 14th century,” it says, adding that the area “embodies the key functions of the social and economic organization” of the Ottomans’ first capital, which “evolved around a civic centre.”

The village of Cumalikizik is the only rural area “to show the provision of hinterland support for the capital.”

City of Safranbolu

Added to the UNESCO list in 1994, the City of Safranbolu, a typical Ottoman town, is located in northern Turkey.

From the 13th century to the advent of the railway in the early 20th century, Safranbolu was “an important caravan station on the main East-West trade route,” UNESCO says.

It features an Old Mosque, Old Bath and the Suleyman Pasha Medrese, which were built in 1322. “During its apogee in the 17th century, Safranbolu’s architecture influenced urban development throughout much of the Ottoman Empire.”

Hattusha

Hattusha, the capital of the Hittites — one of the most ancient Anatolian civilizations — was added to the UNESCO list in 1986.

The city’s remains, located in present-day central Turkey, is “notable for its urban organization, the types of construction that have been preserved,” including temples, royal residences, fortifications.

UNESCO also notes the rich ornamentation of the Lions’ Gate and the Royal Gate into the city’s interior, as well as the “ensemble of rock art at Yazilikaya.”

“The city enjoyed considerable influence in Anatolia and northern Syria in the 2nd millennium BC,” it adds.

Great mosque and hospital of Divrigi

The distinguished 11th-century Great Mosque and Hospital of Divrigi are located in central Turkey. It was added to the UNESCO list in 1985.

With its single prayer room and two cupolas, the mosque exhibits a “highly sophisticated technique of vault construction, and a creative, exuberant type of decorative sculpture — particularly on the three doorways, in contrast to the unadorned walls of the interior,” it describes the “unique features of this masterpiece of Islamic architecture.”

Arslantepe Mound

Located in eastern Turkey, the 7,000-year-old ancient mound of Arslantepe was added to the UNESCO list just earlier this year.

The site was occupied from at least the sixth millennium BC until the late Roman period, says UNESCO, citing archeological evidence.

“The earliest layers of the Early Uruk period are characterized by adobe houses from the first half of the 4th millennium BCE.”

“The site illustrates the processes which led to the emergence of a State society in the Near East and a sophisticated bureaucratic system that predates writing … Exceptional metal objects and weapons have been excavated at the site, among them the earliest swords so far known in the world, which suggests the beginning of forms of organized combat as the prerogative of an elite, who exhibited them as instruments of their new political power.”

Diyarbakir fortress and Hevsel Gardens cultural landscape

The Diyarbakir Fortress, Hevsel Gardens, and its surrounding cultural landscape in Eastern Turkey were added by UNESCO in 2015 as a single listing.

The area “has been an important center since the Hellenistic period, through the Roman, Sassanid, Byzantine, Islamic, and Ottoman times to the present, the UN agency explains.

“The site encompasses the Inner castle, known as Ickale and including the Amida Mound, and the 5.8 km-long (3.6 miles) city walls of Diyarbakir with their numerous towers, gates, buttresses, and 63 inscriptions.”

Archaeological site of Troy

The legendary ancient city of Troy is located in the western province of Canakkale and was added to the list in 1998. “Troy, with its 4,000 years of history, is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world,” according to UNESCO.

“In scientific terms, its extensive remains are the most significant demonstration of the first contact between the civilizations of Anatolia and the Mediterranean world.”

“The siege of Troy by Spartan and Achaean warriors from Greece in the 13th or 12th century BC, immortalized by Homer in the Iliad, has inspired great creative artists throughout the world ever since.”

Aphrodisias

Added by UNESCO in 2017, the archaeological site of Aphrodisias in present-day southwestern Turkey comprises of a temple to the Greek goddess Aphrodite that dates from the third century BC, along with a city constructed a century later.

“The wealth of Aphrodisias came from the marble quarries and the art produced by its sculptors,” adds UNESCO. “The city streets are arranged around several large civic structures, which include temples, a theatre, an agora, and two bath complexes.”

Hierapolis-Pamukkale

Pamukkale, a natural landmark known for its mineral-rich thermal waters and white travertine terraces, has long been a major tourist attraction in southwestern Turkey and was added to the list in 1988.

It is “an unreal landscape, made up of mineral forests, petrified waterfalls and a series of terraced basins,” according to UNESCO.

The adjacent site of Hierapolis was established at the end of the second century BC by the Attalid kingdom as a thermal spa. “The ruins of the baths, temples, and other Greek monuments can be seen at the site.”

Xanthos-Letoon

The ancient city of Xanthos-Letoon was added to the UNESCO list in 1988.

Serving as the capital of the ancient Lycian kingdom in current-day southwestern Turkey, it “illustrates the blending of Lycian traditions and Hellenic influence, especially in its funerary art,” the UN agency underlines.

“The epigraphic inscriptions are crucial for our understanding of the history of the Lycian people and their Indo-European language.”

Neolithic site of Catalhoyuk

Dating back 9,000 years, prehistoric Catalhoyuk is located in what is today central Turkey and was added to the list in 2012.

The site testifies “to the evolution of the social organization and cultural practices as humans adapted to a sedentary life,” according to UNESCO.

“The western mound shows the evolution of cultural practices in the Chalcolithic period, from 6200 BC to 5200 BC. Catalhoyuk provides important evidence of the transition from settled villages to urban agglomeration, which was maintained in the same location for over 2,000 years … It features a unique streetless settlement of houses clustered back to back with roof access into the buildings.”

Goreme National Park and rock sites of Cappadocia

UNESCO describes Cappadocia as “a spectacular landscape,” adding the site to its list in 1985.

The site is “entirely sculpted by erosion,” it says, adding that the Goreme valley and its surroundings contain “rock-hewn sanctuaries that provide unique evidence of Byzantine art in the post-Iconoclastic period.”

Gobeklitepe

The famed ancient site of Gobeklitepe is located in Turkey’s southeastern Sanliurfa province and was added to UNESCO’s list in 2018.

It “presents monumental round-oval and rectangular megalithic structures erected by hunter-gatherers in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic age” between 9,600 and 8,200 BC, according to UNESCO. “These monuments were probably used in connection with rituals, most likely of a funerary nature.”

“Distinctive T-shaped pillars are carved with images of wild animals, providing insight into the way of life and beliefs of people living in Upper Mesopotamia about 11,500 years ago.”

Mt. Nemrut

Located in the Kahta District of the Adiyaman province, Mt. Nemrut, towers 2,134-meters (7,001 feet) high and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987.

“The mausoleum of Antiochus I (69–34 BC), who reigned over Commagene, a kingdom founded north of Syria and the Euphrates after the breakup of Alexander’s empire, is one of the most ambitious constructions of the Hellenistic period,” says the UN agency.

“The syncretism of its pantheon, and the lineage of its kings, which can be traced back through two sets of legends, Greek and Persian, is evidence of the dual origin of this kingdom’s culture.”

Archaeological site of Ani

Ani, a medieval Armenian city that is often called “the City of 1,001 Churches,” is situated in the eastern Kars province on the Armenian border. The site was added to the UNESCO list in 2016.

The site “combines residential, religious and military structures, characteristic of a medieval urbanism built up over the centuries by Christian and then Muslim dynasties,” UNESCO says. “The city flourished in the 10th and 11th centuries CE when it became the capital of the medieval Armenian kingdom of the Bagratides and profited from control of one branch of the Silk Road.”

“The Mongol invasion and a devastating earthquake in 1319 marked the beginning of the city’s decline … The site presents a comprehensive overview of the evolution of medieval architecture through examples of almost all the different architectural innovations of the region between the 7th and 13th centuries CE.”

ANKARA

Following victory during last year’s Karabakh War, Azerbaijan prevented drug trafficking from Iran to Armenia, and further to the European countries, Azerbaijan’s president said Friday. 

“Over the past year, after Azerbaijan had regained control over the 130-kilometer (81-mile) section of the state border with Iran, which was under the control of Armenia for about 30 years, and thereby blocked a drug trafficking route from Iran through the Jabrayil district of Azerbaijan to Armenia and further to Europe, the volume of heroin we have seized in other sections of the Azerbaijan-Iran border has doubled compared to the same period of previous years. This suggests that for about 30 years, Armenia, in collusion with Iran, used the occupied territories of Azerbaijan to carry out drug trafficking to Europe,” Ilham Aliyev said while addressing the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Heads of State Council’s session via videoconference.

Aliyev emphasized that during the years of occupation by Armenian forces, he repeatedly said the occupied territories were being used “for drug trafficking and training of international terrorists.”

“It is a proven fact today,” he said.

Touching on the so-called “Armenian prisoners of war,” Aliyev said his country handed over all prisoners of war who were detained during the war “earlier than Armenia handed over Azerbaijani prisoners of war” to Baku. “More than two weeks after the signing of the Trilateral Statement (between Moscow, Baku and Yerevan), in late November last year, a sabotage group of 62 people infiltrated the rear of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces in the already liberated territories from the Shirak region of Armenia to commit subversions. It was disarmed and captured by Azerbaijani servicemen. In accordance with international conventions, these saboteurs cannot be considered prisoners of war,” he said.

He said the war and conflict “belong to the past,” and Azerbaijan is ready to start negotiations with Armenia on the delimitation of the border on the condition of mutual recognition of territorial integrity.

“We are also ready to launch negotiations on a peace agreement with Armenia. Azerbaijan, as a victorious country, is ready to normalize relations. We do hope that the Armenian leadership will not pass up on this historic opportunity,” he said.  

Mine clearance

Aliyev highlighted primary problems Azerbaijan is facing are related to the clearance of mines in liberated territories and the restoration of destroyed infrastructure, buildings, houses and historical sites of Azerbaijanis.

“Since the war ended, more than 150 Azerbaijani citizens have been killed or seriously injured by landmines. Armenia refuses to provide us with complete maps of the minefields. The few such maps that have been given to Azerbaijan have an accuracy of about 25%,” he said.

The president said that almost all buildings and historical sites in the liberated territories have been destroyed in almost 30 years of occupation.

“Of the 67 mosques in liberated territories, 65 have been completely destroyed. The remaining two, both in run-down condition, were used by the occupiers to keep pigs and cows, thus deliberately insulting the feelings of Muslims.”

He underlined that in Shusha — known as the pearl of Karabakh — Armenia destroyed 16 of 17 mosques that were there before the occupation.

“One mosque was left to demonstrate ‘tolerance,’ and there was an attempt to portray it as Persian with complicity from so-called specialists from Iran,” he said.

“Houses and public buildings were taken down brick by brick and sold to Armenia and Iran. This is the legacy of Armenian vandalism perpetrated in the territories of Azerbaijan,” said Aliyev.

The Azerbaijani leader also noted that “immense damage” has been caused to nature as around 60,000 hectares of forests have been “cut down, sawn and sold to Armenia and Iran.”

Illegal exploitation was carried out on Azerbaijan’s gold deposits and other natural resources, he said. 

Liberation of Karabakh

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.

New clashes erupted Sept. 27 last year that saw Armenia launch attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces and violate several humanitarian cease-fire agreements.

During the 44-day conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages that were occupied for nearly three decades.

A Nov. 10, 2020, cease-fire deal mediated by Russia also included future efforts for a comprehensive resolution to the dispute.

The cease-fire is seen as a victory for Azerbaijan and a defeat for Armenia, whose armed forces withdrew in line with the agreement.

Before the victory, about 20% of Azerbaijan’s territory had been under illegal occupation.

On Jan. 11, Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia leaders 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.

Savey Tufenkian

BY MARY NAJARIAN

On September 9, at UACC, I attended the funeral of a dear friend, Savey Tufenkian. Three Los Angeles Bishops performed a beautiful memorial service. It was a touching and emotional experience to hear the personal stories read by her teary eyed grandchildren.

I got to know Savey when Medical Outreach brought 14 earthquake victims ages 2-14 to Los Angeles for surgeries, and prostheses. Savey took over the care of the seven children at Centinela Hospital. She slept at the hospital as the children needed a translator, and a counselor. All fourteen children had lost one.. two and some had lost all family members to the infamous Spitag earthquake of December 7,1988 which took the lives of 25,000 Armenians..

After six months in Los Angeles, the children had received their prostheses. Savey and I took the children back to Armenia. Our plan was to bring another fourteen children who needed prostheses.

Savey and I stayed ten days in Yerevan, visited different hospitals and finally went to the Orthopedic Hospital in Nor Marash where most amputees were. With the advice of the local doctors, we decided on 14 more patients to bring to Los Angeles.

It took a week to get the children ‘s passports and then their exit visas. As soon as the formalities were done, we made the travel arrangements to fly from Yerevan to Moscow, then a stopover in New York, and then to Los Angeles.

We knew the children needed visas to enter the USA, and the only American consulate which could issue an entry visa was in Moscow. In our previous experiences, we would typically go to the American Consulate, get the visas, and stay overnight in Moscow. On this occasion, I was afraid we might have difficulty finding a hotel, and perhaps end up staying longer than overnight. If that happened, I was afraid we would miss our flight to New York creating a very painful situation for the children.

To avoid such a possibility, we decided to get the visas at the customs in Los Angeles. So we got on the plane in Yerevan and after a short stopover in Moscow we flew to New York. We arrived at the airport at 3pm. We had a two hour stay before the flight to Los Angeles.

We got into the long customs line. The people waiting were kind enough to let our children in their wheel chairs, walkers and canes go to the front of the line.

I handed my passport to the officer in the booth, then Savey handed hers and then the children with passports in their hands came forward.

The first child handed her passport. The officer went through the pages, looked at us and said, Where is her entry visa? He looked through other passports and none of the children had visas.
“We were planning to get their visas here at the customs. ” I said.
The officer shook his head and made a telephone call.
Within seconds two policeman came and asked us to follow them. We were taken to a large room where there were several other police officers.

The one officer, the captain of the group, came over and asked with a stern voice. “You mean you are bringing these children to America with no entry visas? Don’t you know no one can enter USA without a visa? “Who are these children? Where are their parents?”

“They are Armenian children, earthquake victims. “ said Savey “ We are bringing them to USA for medical treatment.”

The captain asked us to follow them to another room while the children stayed with a female officer. All of a sudden over half a dozen more policeman with their guns and hand cuffs walked into the room. By this time we were scared and knew something was wrong.
The captain in charge looked straight first to Savey and then to me and asked.
“You know that you are smuggling 14 under age children to USA?”

Savey very self-confident answered, ”Sir, these are earthquake victims. We are taking them to LA for surgery, for treatment and prostheses. They don’t have proper medical care in the Soviet Union. We are Armenians and trying to help these Armenian children.”

“Madam, first of all, you don’t have power of attorney from their parents to take these children out of their homeland. Second ,you do not have entry visas. This looks very suspicious.…..As far as I can see this is a clear case of child trafficking.”
Savey turned to me and asked , “what is child trafficking”?
“ It’s bad. Don’t ask.” I murmured.

Two officers still with their hands on their guns, stood by the door and the rest went inside the adjoining room. We could hear the telephone conversation but did not know what was being said. After some time the captain came and in a firm voice said,
“ I have listened all that was said and you have two choices, ”You either get on the next plane with the fourteen children and go back to Armenia, or your second choice is to go to jail and wait for the immigration judge to resolve the situation .”
“What is our third choice?” Savey asked.
“Lady, you don’t seem to understand what I said. You are talking to an FBI agent. You have only two choices and you better decide on one.”

By now we realized the mess we were in, and could not hold back our tears.

I swallowed my tears and said. “This is not the first time we are bringing children. We brought fourteen children six months ago. Seven of them stayed at Shriners and the other seven at Centinela hospital. After six months , they all received their prostheses we took them back to Armenia. Now the two hospitals in LA know about these children are prepared to take care of them free of charge.” It looked like they were not interested in what I was saying.
I turned to Savey and said, “What are we going to do?”

“Mary, let’s take the second choice, it’s better to go to jail than return those children to Armenia. “
She turned to the officer and said, “ Sir ,we‘ll go to jail but please take care of the children. They must be admitted to the hospital immediately. “

After we had given our decision, the officers went back to the next room. We could hear there was a long discussion, more telephone calls, and after a while the captain walked towards us, and this time with a kind voice said, “We have checked and we do believe you two ladies are bringing the children for treatment. Your intention is virtuous but I hope you realize you did break the law.”

Another officer came and stamped entry visas in the children’s passports. And handed them to us. The captain shook our hands and wished us luck.

We got out of the room. Savey and I hugged and kissed and cried, but this time we cried from
joy.

Outside in the lobby a group of New York Armenians with gift bags of candy and toys welcomed the children. They had been waiting over three hours.

Savey’s tearful statement, was what touched the officer’s heart and convinced them that we were telling the truth.

“ Yes sir, we will go to jail but please take care of the children, they must be admitted to a hospital.”

Yes Savey, you were as always very kind and courageous. You were willing to go to jail as long as the Armenian children got their treatment.

An Azerbaijani soldier aims his gun at Artsakh Defense Army positions on Oct. 14 (Screen capture from video released by Artsakh NSS)

Artsakh security forces released surveillance video on Friday showing how an Azerbaijani serviceman is breaching the ceasefire and opening gunfire at Armenian positions, while laughing.

The National Security Service of Artsakh said in a statement that since the beginning of October Azerbaijani military forces have definitely changed course and specifically have begun targeting civilians in their more active and intentional ceasefire violations. The NSS said that the provocations started in Martakert, where a civilian was killed and have continued, with the latest attack that injured six Artsakh soldiers on Thursday evening (local time).

Artsakh’s Defense Army reported that Azerbaijani forces opened fire at a military ambulance at 9 a.m. (local time) on Friday in Artsakh northeastern sector.

Azerbaijani forces opened fire at an Artsakh Army military ambulance on Oct. 15

The Artsakh Defense Ministry said there were no injuries, adding that the incident was reported to the Russian peacekeeping command.

The video from Thursday’s shooting that injured six soldiers shows an Azerbaijani soldier firing an AK-74 assault rifle at Armenian positions while another Azeri soldier is hiding behind the barracks. After firing several rounds, the shooter can be seen laughing before resuming his attack.

The NSS explained that in the past Azerbaijani forces would fire shots as warnings, not aiming at Artsakh Defense Army personnel. “However, in recent days the direction of the shots has changed dramatically, with civilians being targeted,” the NSS. said.

“Yesterday, Azerbaijani troops deployed in a position near the Nor Shen community of Martuni region shelled a nearby Armenian position set up to protect the population of the village. The nearly point-blank range shots were fired so explicitly that surveillance cameras of the Armenian side caught it on video,” the NSS said, stressing that the images prove that the Artsakh Defense Army continues to adhere to the ceasefire agreement, whereas the Azerbaijani side is intentionally violating it.

Artsakh’s State Minister Artak Beglaryan on Friday said that three of the six injured soldiers have had surgery to treat their wounds.

The Artsakh Foreign Ministry, in a statement issued on Friday, said that Azerbaijan’s policy of terrorism is aimed at intimidating the Artsakh population so they will leave the country.

“In the recent days, Azerbaijan has been trying to artificially escalate the situation in the region, and this is taking place while high-level meetings are underway,” the Artsakh foreign ministry said, adding that Azerbaijan wants Armenians to leave Artsakh, through its intimidation.

“This policy is also an affront to Russia and the Russian peacekeeping mission,” said the Artsakh foreign ministry.

“We once again reiterate that Artsakh will not be threatened by such actions. The Armenians of Artsakh are determined to live in their historical Homeland and defend their sovereignty and dignity,” added the Artsakh foreign ministry.

Armenia’s Foreign Ministry on Friday condemned what it called “the gross violation” of the ceasefire by Azerbaijani forces. The statement pointed to the shooting Thursday that resulted in the injury of six soldiers, as well as the killing of Aram Tepants, a farmer who was shot on October 9 in the same vicinity.

Emphasizing that Thursday’s incident was the second serious attack that has resulted in civilian and military casualties.

Azerbaijani forces set 8,000 stacks of dried grass on fire in Armenia’s Yeraskh region on Oct. 15

The Yeraskh region of Armenia’s Ararat Province has been under “day and night attack” by Azerbaijani forces who are shooting from positions in Nakhichevan, warned Armenia’s Human Rights Defender’s Office.

In a statement, the Human Rights Defender’s Office reported ongoing shelling in Yeraskh on Friday, adding that Azerbaijani forces set ablaze 8,000 stacks of dried grass, stockpiled for use in the winter months to feed livestock. The fire spread to the roof of a nearby residence. Firefighters were able to extinguish the residential fire, preventing further structural damage.

Armenia’s Defense Ministry confirmed the reports, adding active shooting began at around 3 p.m. on Friday.

Armenia’s Human Rights Defender was alerted to the situation by residents who contacted his office, sounding the alarm on the escalating situation.

“Taking into consideration that the Azerbaijani positions are located in the immediate vicinity of the village, it is evident to the Azerbaijani servicemen know that their actions are harming residents, destroying their property and violating their rights to life and property,” the Human Rights Defender’s office said.

“The process of creating a demilitarized security zone around the borders of Armenia with Azerbaijan and the removal of the Azerbaijani armed forces form the vicinity of the villages and from the roads between the communities of Armenia should start immediately,” urged the Human Rights Defender’s office, whose proposal was included in a resolution passed on September 27 by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

“It is evident that the basis of these criminal harassments and the gross violations of human rights is the same: The policy of Armenophobia and enmity, and of ethnic cleansing and genocide by the Azerbaijani authorities,” said the Human Rights Defender’s office. “This policy has institutional roots, and until the perpetrators are punished, the violations will not end, and the security of the people will not be guaranteed.”