Category: 2021

Alvina Aghababyan: Re-liberation as a national goal

Mary Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 14 2021

Alvina Aghababyan, the head of the Center for Strategic Studies, reflected on the history of Artsakh’s Handaberd fortress which fell under Azerbaijan’s control as a result of the 2020 war, stating, “you can’t beg for peace, you have you impose it.”

“Handaberd was one of the most important defense structures of Artsakh. The oldest structures were built back in the 5th century. Each subsequent local prince expanded and strengthened the fortress with new and even more powerful walls and fortification constructions,” she wrote on Facebook on Thursday.

“In the first half of the 9th century, during the reign of Prince Atrnerseh Smbatian Handaberd was a powerful defense center, which had accompanying fortresses – observation points on the neighboring mountain peaks.

“Artsakh princes didn’t beg for peace, they strongly defended their land, moreover, they imposed peace on those who wanted to invade our country. That’s why when we lost our statehood in almost all parts of Greater Armenia (Mets Hayk), the Armenian statehood in Artsakh was preserved in the form of melikdoms up to the 19th century.

“Handaberd, Shahumyan region, Artsakh. Since 2020 it has been occupied by Azerbaijani forces,” Aghababyan said, adding the hashtag “re-liberation as a national goal”.

Comprehensive settlement of the Karabakh conflict would contribute to lasting peace in the region – FM

Lilit Nahapetian
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 14 2021


, 16:28

 1 minute read

The comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict would greatly contribute to the establishment of lasting peace in the region, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said at the sitting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the CIS member states convened in Minsk, Belarus.

During the event, which was held in a narrow and then expanded format, the Foreign Ministers of the CIS member states, exchanged views on regional and international issues, discussed in detail issues of political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation within the CIS.

The Foreign Ministers summarized the work carried out over the past thirty years, the programs implemented, the prospects for the development of the CIS, and the priorities of its activities.

Referring to the further development of the structure, Minister Mirzoyan stressed the principle of sovereignty, equality of peoples and the right to self-determination, inviolability of state borders, non-use of force, and peaceful settlement of disputes by peaceful means.

The above was stressed in the context of the military aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh. Considering the provisions of the November 9 trilateral statement, in particular the immediate release of Armenian prisoners of war and other detainees, the need to preserve the Armenian cultural and cultural heritage in the territories under the control of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, Minister Mirzoyan stressed that a comprehensive settlement of the conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship, would greatly contribute to the establishment of lasting peace in the South Caucasus.

A number of statements were adopted, which will be submitted to the CIS Council of Heads of State for approval. During the sitting, they also agreed on the 2022 multilevel consultations between the foreign ministries within the CIS.

Six soldiers wounded in Azerbaijani attack on Artsakh, Armenia’s Ombudsman says

Chmshkian Vicken
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 14 2021
, 23:22

 1 minute read

Six servicemen were wounded in Azerbaijani attack in Artsakh, two are in critical condition, Armenia’s Human Rights defender Arman Tatoyan informs.

The incident was registered in Nor Shen community of Artsakh, in the immediate vicinity of which the positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces are located. Shots were fired in the direction of several other civilian settlements in the south of Artsakh, the Ombudsman said.

Artsakh’s Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan is visiting a military hospital to find out the details.

“This is a direct result of the genocidal, fascist policy of the Azerbaijani authorities. The presence of the Azerbaijani armed forces in the vicinity of Armenian civilian settlements is a serious threat to the security and peace of the people, a violation of their right to life..” Arman Tatoyan said in a Facebook post.

“Given that the positions of the Artsakh Defense Army in the immediate vicinity of Nor Shen and other communities protect the lives and safety of civilians, it is clear that the Azerbaijani armed forces are directly responsible for their criminal actions, that led to harm to the health of the soldiers,” he added.

Artsakh Defense Army denies shooting Azerbaijani serviceman

Hambardsumian Paul
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 14 2021


, 22:03

 Less than a minute

Artsakh’s Defense Ministry has dismissed the reports of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, claiming that serviceman of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces was killed by a shot fired by the Defense Army units on October 14 at around 18:15.

The Ministry said the reports are false and have nothing to do with reality.

“During the mentioned period, sounds of heated argument and fighting were heard by the Defense Army forces In the eastern part of the Artsakh Republic (Norshen village), which were followed by shots,” the Ministry said.

Expecting an impartial investigation, the Azerbaijani Defense Army command states that it is abiding by the agreements reached and strictly observing the ceasefire regime.



Armenian, Russian, Azerbaijani FMs discuss implementation of trilateral statement

Dabaghian Diana
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 14 2021
, 18:32

 1 minute read

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan held a meeting in Minsk on October 14.

The Foreign Ministers discussed issues related to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, including the implementation of teh trilateral statement of November 9, 2020.

Minister Mirzoyan commended the Russian mediation efforts aimed at the ceasefire, and in the context of ensuring the security of the Armenians of Artsakh, emphasized the presence of the Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno Karabakh.

At the same time, Minister Mirzoyan drew the parties’ attention to the fact that some provisions of the November 9 statement are yet to be implemented. In this context he stressed the need for immediate and unconditional repatriation of all Armenian prisoners of war.

Referring to the meeting held in New York with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Minister Mirzoyan reaffirmed that the comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict should be carried out within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs on the basis of elements and principles known to the parties.

In international court, Armenia accuses Azerbaijan of stoking ethnic hatred

David Nargizian
Los Angeles Times
Oct 14 2021

A Russian peacekeeper walks past his armored personnel carrier in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan.
(Alexander Nemenov / AFP/Getty Images)
BY MIKE CORDER
ASSOCIATED PRESS

OCT. 14, 2021 4:46 AM PT

THE HAGUE — 

Armenia accused neighboring Azerbaijan of systematically promoting ethnic hatred against Armenian citizens, as the two nations — which fought a six-week war last year — faced off in international court Thursday.

Armenian representative Yeghishe Kirakosyan made the accusation as a hearing opened at the International Court of Justice into a request by Armenia for judges to impose urgent interim measures to prevent Azerbaijan from breaching an international convention to stamp out ethnic discrimination.

The case stems from the longstanding enmity between the two nations that boiled over into last year’s war over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which left more than 6,600 people dead. The region is recognized internationally as belonging to Azerbaijan but had been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since the end of a separatist war in 1994.

At The Hague on Thursday, Kirakosyan said Armenia wasn’t asking the court to rule on the root causes of the war, but “seeks to prevent and remedy the cycle of violence and hatred perpetrated against ethnic Armenians.”

Lawyers representing Azerbaijan were scheduled to address the court later Thursday. Azerbaijan also has filed a similar case alleging discrimination against its citizens by Armenia and requested the world court to impose interim measures. Hearings in the Azerbaijan case are scheduled to start next Monday. Rulings on both requests will likely be issued in coming weeks.

Both nations’ cases, which allege breaches of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, will likely take years to reach their conclusion at the court.

Last year’s war ended when Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a Russian-brokered cease-fire agreement that granted Azerbaijan control over parts of Nagorno-Karabakh as well as adjacent territories occupied by Armenians.

Armenia says more than 3,700 Armenians and Nagorno-Karabakh residents died in the war. Azerbaijan said it lost 2,900 people.

Kirakosyan told the court that, despite the deal that ended last year’s conflict, “Azerbaijan continues to espouse and actively promote ethnic hatred against Armenians.”

He said that Azerbaijan has “captured, tortured and arbitrarily detained numerous members of Armenian armed forces and civilians of ethnic Armenian origin” and “continues to destroy Armenian cultural heritage and religious sites or negate the Armenian character, and the territory’s economic controls.”

Artsakh dismisses Azerbaijani claims of having captured Armenian drone

Talar Tumanian
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 14 2021
, 19:48

 Less than a minute

Artsakh’s Ministry of Defense has refuted the reports of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense claiming that a drone belonging to the Artsakh Defense Army conducting reconnaissance flights, was allegedly detected and confiscated by the units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.

“We officially declare that this is misinformation that has nothing to do with reality,” Artsakh’s defense Ministry stated.

FUSD Vote Renames First School for Member of the Armenian Community

Emil Lazarian
Oct 14 2021
Posted on 

(Photo courtesy – Fresno State)

[KMJ) – For the first time in its history, the Fresno Unified School Board votes to rename one of its schools for a prominent Valley Armenian-American.

In a unanimous vote Wednesday, the Fresno Unified School Board voted to rename Forkner Elementary School to Roger Tatarian Elementary.

Tatarian, a Fresno native, was considered a world-renowned journalist. He was the former editor-in-chief at United Press International, where he worked for 34 years. And he also taught journalism at Fresno State.

Tatarian was recently considered — but was passed over — when naming was being considered for Fresno Unified’s newest campus, now under construction in Southeast Fresno.

But, Fresno Unified says this name change will not take effect immediately Instead, the District will not be able to begin using the name Tatarian Elementary until the 2022-23 school year, at the soonest.

​Armenia tells World Court Azerbaijan promotes ethnic hatred

Chalian Meline
The National Post, Canada
Oct 14 2021

Armenia tells World Court Azerbaijan promotes ethnic hatred

Reuters
Oct 14, 2021  

THE HAGUE — Armenia told judges at the World Court in The Hague on Thursday that Azerbaijan promotes ethnic hatred against Armenians and asked the court to stop what its lawyers call a cycle of violence and hatred.

Armenia’s assertions, which Azerbaijan denies, are part of a case it filed at the World Court last month that says Azerbaijan has violated the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, to which both states are signatories.

Thursday’s hearing does not go into the merits of the case but instead deals with Armenia’s request for emergency measures to stop the alleged violations, while the court considers the claim.

After Armenia’s claim was made public Azerbaijan filed a counterclaim accusing Armenia of violating the anti-discrimination treaty. Azerbaijan is also seeking that the court order protective measures while the case is ongoing.

Lawyers for Armenia accused Azerbaijan’s authorities of fostering ethic hatred and a culture where murder and torture of ethnic Armenians were “systematic.”

“Generations upon generations are indoctrinated into this culture of fear and hate of anything and everything Armenian,” Yeghishe Kirakosyan said.

Azerbaijzan’s deputy foreign minister Elnur Mammadov told the court via video link later on Thursday it was actually Armenia which was involved in “decades-long ethnic cleansing.”

Lawyers for Azerbaijan dismissed Armenia’s complaint as “obviously hopeless” and accused it of using the United Nation’s highest court to score political points.

In fighting late last year, Azeri troops drove ethnic Armenian forces out of swathes of territory they had controlled since the 1990s in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh region, before Russia brokered a ceasefire.

The World Court, formally known as the International Court of Justice, is the United Nations’ court for resolving disputes between countries. The court has yet to determine whether it has jurisdiction in this case. It will take years before judges reach a final ruling in the Armenia versus Azerbaijan case, but they could rule on possible emergency measures in a just weeks. (Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg, Editing by William Maclean and Giles Elgood)

Russian, Azerbaijani, Armenian top diplomats discuss implementation of Karabakh agreements

Jagharian Tania
TASS, Russia
Oct 14 2021
The Foreign Ministry underscored that Russia welcomed the pronounced mutual intent of Armenia and Azerbaijan to normalize the bilateral relations

MOSCOW, October 14. /TASS/. The trilateral meeting of Foreign Ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia took place in Minsk Thursday with Russia’s mediation, Russian Foreign Ministry said in its statement.

“Considering the upcoming anniversary of the November 9, 2020, trilateral statement of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on full ceasefire and end of all hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict area, the sides reviewed the implementation of the trilateral agreements. The sides stated that the majority of clauses of the statements are being implemented successfully. The sides agreed to ramp up the work on the remaining issues,” the Ministry said.

The Foreign Ministry underscored that Russia welcomed the pronounced mutual intent of Armenia and Azerbaijan to normalize the bilateral relations.

“Russia confirmed its readiness to facilitate this process, both as a nation, and as a co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group,” the Foreign Ministry said.

The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh escalated on September 27, 2020. On November 9, 2020, Vladimir Putin, Ilham Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on full cessation of hostilities. The sides stopped at their positions at the moment, a number of districts went under Baku’s control, and Russian peacekeepers were deployed at the contact line and at the so-called Lachin corridor.