2022 – Page 17 – Armenian Directory & News

Iran president talks to Pashinyan amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border clashes

September 14, 2022September 14, 2022 Lara Chatinian

TEHRAN TIMES, Iran

Sept 13 2022

– 17:8

TEHRAN – Iranian President Ayatollah Seyed Ebrahim Raisi had a telephone conversation on Tuesday with the Armenia Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, amid reports of deadly clashes on the Armenia-Azerbaijan borders.

“The prime minister provided details about the provocative and aggressive actions carried out by the armed forces of Azerbaijan in the direction of the sovereign territory of Armenia,” the Public Radio of Armenia said of the call.

The Armenian prime minister’s office also issued a statement about the call. “Ebrahim Raisi noted that a new war in the South Caucasus region is unacceptable and Iran is carefully following the developments. The President of Iran emphasized that all conflicts in the region should be resolved peacefully and Iran's position regarding the territorial integrity of states is clear,” the statement said.

It added, “The President of Iran recalled the words of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei, according to which Iran's connection with Armenia should not be endangered, and the communication channels should be under the sovereignty of the states. Ebrahim Raisi stressed that his country is ready to support the establishment of peace in the region, adding that the issue of Armenia's security is important for Iran.”

Heavy border clashes broke out on Monday night between Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, with each side accusing the other of starting the fighting.

Following the escalation of tensions, Pashinyan chaired a session of the Security Council with the participation of President of the Republic Vahagn Khachaturyan and the President of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan in addition to the Security Council members.

“Further steps aimed at counteracting the aggressive actions by Azerbaijan against the sovereign territory of Armenia that started at midnight were discussed at the meeting,” the Armenian prime minister said in a separate statement.

The statement added, “A decision was made to officially apply to the Russian Federation for the implementation of the provisions of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, to the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the UN Security Council regarding the aggression against the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia.”

On the other hand, the Republic of Azerbaijan accused Armenia of starting a “large-scale” attack against Azerbaijan.

“On , starting at late night, the units of the armed forces of Armenia held large-scale provocations in the directions of Dashkasan, Kalbajar and Lachin of Azerbaijan-Armenia state border,” the Azerbaijani foreign ministry said in a statement.

The statement added, “According to the information provided by the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the sabotage groups of the armed forces of Armenia using the mountainous relief of the area and existing valley gaps carried out planting landmines on the areas between the positions of the units of Azerbaijan’s army and the supply roads in different directions. In addition, the Armenian armed forces fired intensively at the positions of the Azerbaijani Army in Dashkasan, Kalbajar and Lachin regions with different types of weapons, including mortars. As a result, there are casualties among the personnel of our armed forces, damage was inflicted to the military infrastructure.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani has expressed concern about escalation of border tensions and clashes between the Republic Azerbaijan and Armenia, calling for restraint and resolution of disagreements between the two countries through peaceful means and based on international law.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman once again reiterated that the Islamic Republic considers any change to the borders between the Azerbaijan Republic and the Republic of Armenia as unacceptable.

Kanaani underlined that the Islamic Republic of Iran is closely watching the relevant developments, stressing the need for respect for the territorial integrity of both Azerbaijan and Armenia.

He expressed Iran’s readiness to provide any assistance needed to resolve the disagreements between its two neighbors.

During the 2020 Karabakh war, Iran presented a peace initiative to Yerevan and Baku. And Iranian diplomats traveled to both capitals in a bid to peacefully solve the conflict. Iran’s initiative centered around the need to protect the territorial integrity of the countries of the region. Iran has said that it does not accept any changes in international borders in the South Caucasus region.

11th-Hour “Lawyer” Confession Delays FBI Agent’s Trial Over Armenian Mob Leaks

September 14, 2022September 14, 2022 Edgar Tavakalian

Sept 13 2022

Edgar Sargsyan “confessed to the prosecution team that he was never a California lawyer,” according to a motion filed late Monday night

Michele McPhee

Edgar Sargsyan, who ran Pillar Law Group from a Rodeo Drive office, “confessed to the prosecution team that he was never a California lawyer,” according to the motion written by Steven Gruel, who is defending former FBI agent Babak Broumand. The late Monday night admission is the latest twist in a winding case mired in Hollywood-style turnabout.

Sargsyan, a prolific political fundraiser from Calabasas who moved in tony Beverly Hills circles, paid Henrik Mosei, a former partner at Pillar Law, $20,000 a month to study for the bar exam and even procured a fake California driver’s license to present to bar officials, Gruel said. In February 2015, Mosei drove to a Sacramento bar testing location “to use the phony identification documents to fool the test’s security system,” then “intentionally smeared his fingerprint,” at the testing location, the motion states.

When Mosei passed the grueling exam, Sargsyan was so ecstatic he gave him a Rolex watch, the filing states. Months later, the duo and another partner, Art Kalantar, drove to the Bay Area to have Sargsyan sworn in as a California attorney. Sargsyan admitted to prosecutors that he said at the time, “this secret must die” with the three partners.

Sargsyan, a cooperating witness currently at the center of multiple federal prosecutions—including the convictions of a former Glendale narcotics detective and a federal Homeland Security Investigations agent, along with a sprawling billion-dollar biofuel scheme run by an Armenian crime lord and his partners in a Mormon polygamist cult—hid his California Bar fraud from the government because “he was concerned his wife would find out” he wasn’t really a lawyer.

The wild confession that came on the eve of Broumand’s federal trial also portrays the entire Pillar Law Group as a hotbed of corruption. Sargsyan pleaded guilty to running a massive credit card scheme that ran up millions of dollars in debt in the names of J-1 visa holders, but on Monday night he also admitted he was cutting his partners in on 20 percent of the profits, Gruel says.

Sargsyan also told the government his “partners misused client trust account funds by borrowing from the funds,” according to the motion.

Mosei is still practicing law in Glendale while Kalantar maintains a practice in Beverly Hills. Mosei even represented Sargsyan in a civil lawsuit brought by the reputed boss of the Armenian Mafia, Levon Termendzhyan, who claims Sargsyan, his former (phony) attorney embezzled millions of dollars and a private plane from him. Sargsyan, his lawyers say, began feathering his nest for retirement after Broumand looked up his client’s name in top secret FBI databases and learned he was at the time the target of a federal investigation. Prosecutors confirm that one of Broumand’s corrupt acts on behalf of his Armenian underworld employers was looking up Termendzhyan’s name and using it to try and pass Sargsyan off as a confidential FBI informant who was providing intel on fellow mobsters.

Messages left for Mosei and Kalantar by LAMag on Tuesday were not immediately returned. It’s unclear if Monday’s revelations will affect Sargysan’s cooperation deal with the government, but Gruel said the U.S. Attorney’s witness should be remanded into custody for his lies.

“Apparently a criminal cooperator can lie for over 5 years to the Los Angeles United States Attorney with impunity,” Gruel wrote. “Certainly the California State Bar and the California State Attorney General need to be contacted to fully investigate the admissions of state bar fraud and stolen client funds.”

Sargsyan, he adds, remains a free man and given the new criminal charges he could be facing for lying to the government he should be considered a flight risk.

Broumand’s trial is now slated to begin Sept. 20. The US Attorney’s Office declined to comment.

Asbarez: At Macron’s Urging, U.N. Security Council to Address Armenia Crisis Tomorrow

September 14, 2022September 14, 2022 Vicken Chmshkian

by Asbarez Staff

in Armenia, Artsakh, Latest, News, Top Stories

The U.N. Security Council

The United Nations Security Council will convene a special session on Wednesday to address the current military standoff at the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.

The situation at the border escalated when shortly after midnight on Tuesday Azerbaijani forces launched a large-scale attack against Armenian targets in Gegharkunik, Syunik and Vayots Dzor provinces and attempted to breach Armenia’s sovereign borders. Officials estimated that 49 Armenian soldiers were killed and three civilians were injured in the attack.

According to Armenia’s Defense Ministry, the situation on the border remained tense despite a ceasefire brokered by Russia that went into effect at 9 a.m. local time on Tuesday. Azerbaijani forces continued their attempts to advance their positions within Armenia, the defense ministry said.

A source confirmed to the Russian Tass news agency that the U.N. Security Council will discuss the Armenia-Azerbaijan border issue.

Reuters reported that President Emmanuel Macron of France had said that France would bring up the issue to the U.N. security body.

“President Macron is ready to support the sides in order for all issues relating to or stemming from the conflict to be resolved exclusively through negotiations,” Macron’s office said in a statement on Tuesday. “He will continue actively supporting this together with all partners and interested parties.”

Macron was briefed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan about Azerbaijan’s latest aggression against Armenia.

According to Pashinyan’s press service, Macron viewed the further escalation of tension unacceptable and stressed the need to de-escalate the situation.

The Council of Europe on Tuesday called on Azerbaijan and Armenia to refrain from any steps that might worsen the situation in the region.

Simon Coveney, Ireland’s Foreign Minister and the Chair of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, was joined by Tiny Kox, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe made a joint statement regarding the escalation of the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

“The use of military force is totally unacceptable in settling disputes between Council of Europe member states. We therefore call on Azerbaijan and Armenia to pull back from any further steps which might worsen the situation, to respect international agreements and to engage in peace talks without further delay,” said the statement.

“We urge both member states of the Council of Europe to abide by their commitments taken upon accession, notably, to settle the conflict by peaceful means. The Council of Europe is ready to support them in this effort,” they said.

AW: The Ups and Downs in Iran Nuclear Deal Negotiations

September 14, 2022September 14, 2022 Emil Lazarian

Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan Opinion 0

Since April 2021, Iran and other signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal (commonly known as JCPoA) have been engaged in active negotiations to restore it. President Biden’s administration declared its intention to move forward in that direction almost immediately after coming to power in January 2021. Many representatives of the Obama administration, who were personally involved in the negotiations from 2013 to 2015, received new positions in the Biden administration, and their desire to restore what they achieved in 2015 was quite understandable. Besides personal motives, the two and half years of the “maximum pressure campaign” against Iran launched by President Trump did not bring any tangible results. The Iranian economy did not collapse, and there was nothing close to “regime change.” Meanwhile, Iran started to enrich uranium in higher percentages in mid-2019 and, at the beginning of 2021, was much closer to the capabilities to create its first nuclear bomb.

The Biden administration stated its intention to finish the negotiations by the next presidential elections in Iran, hoping that the outgoing administration of President Rouhani would be ready to reach the new deal. However, this assessment was quite optimistic and not entirely in line with the complex reality of Iranian domestic politics. As conservatives were going to win the presidential elections, they had no motives to provide President Rouhani with another opportunity to claim foreign policy success. When Ebrahim Raisi won the June 2021 elections, the new administration asked for time to fully assess the situation. The sides returned to the negotiation table in November 2021, and in March 2022, the deal seemed imminent. Even the start of the war in Ukraine and Russian demands that Western sanctions should not restrict Russian ability to fully utilize the sanctions relief did not ruin the negotiation process.

However, in March 2022, Iran put forward a new demand to remove the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from the foreign terrorist organization list. The US placed the IRGC on its “Foreign Terrorist Organizations” list in 2019. The designation was part of the “maximum pressure” campaign then-President Trump imposed on Iran after pulling the United States out of the nuclear deal.

Another contentious issue was Iran’s demand to provide guarantees that future American administrations will not withdraw from the agreement, repeating the move taken by President Trump in May 2018. Meanwhile, the Republicans in the US House of Representatives and Senate pressured the Biden administration on Iran’s issue. On March 14, 2022, 49 Republican Senators signed a statement claiming they would not support the revived Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran.

However, after months of deliberations, in late May 2022, President Biden decided to keep Iran’s IRGC on a terrorist blacklist. Tensions increased on June 8, 2022 when the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted a resolution criticizing the Islamic republic for failing to cooperate. The resolution – the first to criticize Iran since June 2020 – was approved by 30 members of the IAEA board of governors, with only Russia and China voting against it.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian meets with Josep Borrell Fontelles, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Tehran, June 25, 2022 (Photo: Twitter/ @JosepBorrellF)
Jun 25

It seemed negotiations were at an impasse, and there was no way forward. However, as the primary mediator, the EU made additional efforts to revitalize the process. Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, met Hossein Amir-abdollahian, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iran on June 25, 2022 in Tehran. Iran and the United States launched another round of indirect talks in Qatar, mediated by the EU. The talks, which were held on June 29-30, did not bring any results. However, they paved the way for a new round of talks in Vienna in early August 2022. On August 8, 2022, the EU presented “the final draft” of the agreement, calling on Iran and the US to accept it. Then the ping pong diplomacy started. Iran sent its remarks to the US via the EU, and the US presented its views to Iran through European mediators. Iran dropped its demand to remove IRGC from the foreign terrorist list. However, the biggest hurdle was Iran’s demand that the IAEA close its three-year investigation into unexplained uranium discovered at several of the country’s old but undisclosed nuclear sites. As Iran sent its comments on the US’s latest suggestions in early September 2022, the US officials called Iran’s response “not constructive.”

The diplomatic crisis between Iran and Albania, triggered by alleged Iranian cyber attacks against critical Albanian infrastructure, added additional tensions to the situation. Albania severed diplomatic ties with Iran on September 7 and gave its diplomats 24 hours to leave the country.

It should be noted that the July 15 attack occurred ahead of a planned conference by the Mujahedeen e-Khalq (MEK), an Iranian militant party in exile that relocated to Albania in 2016 with US financial support. Tehran considers the MEK, which critics have described as a Marxist-Islamist cult, a terrorist organization, while the US removed the organization from the foreign terrorist organization list in September 2012, changing the decision made by President Clinton’s administration in 1997. On September 9, 2022, President Biden imposed new sanctions on Iran over the cyberattack against Albania. The two reports released by IAEA in early September added additional complications to the negotiations. One report criticized Iran for the lack of cooperation in an ongoing investigation of the uranium found on undeclared sides. A separate report showed that Iran had expanded its enrichment and stockpile of highly-enriched uranium beyond the limits of the 2015 nuclear deal. Iran has called both reports baseless.

The last move in this long drama was the September 10 joint statement by Germany, France and the UK. The three states claimed that while the sides were edging closer to an agreement, Iran reopened separate issues related to its legally-binding international obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and its NPT safeguards agreement with IAEA. According to the statement, this latest demand raised severe doubts about Iran’s intentions and commitment to a successful outcome on the JCPoA. Germany, France and the UK stated that Iran must fully and, without delay, cooperate in good faith with the IAEA, and it was up to Iran to provide technically credible answers to the IAEA’s questions on the whereabouts of all nuclear material on its territory. The three states argued that the JCPoA could in no way be used to release Iran from legally-binding obligations essential to the global non-proliferation regime.

After almost two years of negotiations, the restoration of the Iran nuclear deal has seen many ups and downs. However, time is ticking, and if no deal is reached by the end of 2022, it would be impossible to revive the JCPoA. As Iran prepares to become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the failure to restore JCPoA will bring Iran closer to China and Russia in the emerging multipolar world.

Bio
Latest Posts

Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan is the founder and chairman of the Center for Political and Economic Strategic Studies. He was the former vice president for research – head of the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense Research University in Armenia. In March 2009, he joined the Institute for National Strategic Studies as a research Fellow and was appointed as INSS Deputy Director for research in November 2010. Dr. Poghosyan has prepared and managed the elaboration of more than 100 policy papers which were presented to the political-military leadership of Armenia, including the president, the prime minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Poghosyan has participated in more than 50 international conferences and workshops on regional and international security dynamics. His research focuses on the geopolitics of the South Caucasus and the Middle East, US – Russian relations and their implications for the region, as well as the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. He is the author of more than 200 academic papers and articles in different leading Armenian and international journals. In 2013, Dr. Poghosyan was a Distinguished Research Fellow at the US National Defense University College of International Security Affairs. He is a graduate from the US State Department Study of the US Institutes for Scholars 2012 Program on US National Security Policy Making. He holds a PhD in history and is a graduate from the 2006 Tavitian Program on International Relations at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

AW: Congressional leaders condemn Azerbaijani attack on Armenia; demand Biden cut all military aid to Azerbaijan

September 14, 2022September 14, 2022 Andranik Taslakhchian

The Armenian Weekly ANCA News 0

WASHINGTON, DC – Just hours after the Azerbaijani government launched a heavy artillery attack on Armenian military and civilian sites, Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and leaders of the Congressional Armenian Caucus issued powerful rebukes against President Aliyev’s aggression and demanded an end to US military aid to the brutal dictator, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

“The rapid Congressional condemnation of Azerbaijan’s attack on Armenia needs to be followed by the immediate cessation of all US arms and aid to oil-rich Azerbaijan’s corrupt and violent Aliyev regime,” stated ANCA executive director Aram Hamparian. “Today – more than ever – it’s clear that Azerbaijan deserves the harshest of sanctions, and not another US tax dollar.”

The ANCA has issued a nationwide call to action for President Biden and Congress to: 1) condemn Azerbaijan’s latest attack against Armenia; 2) zero-out all appropriations or authorizations of US aid to Azerbaijan; 3) enact statutory restrictions on US military aid to Baku; and 4) strike or significantly tighten the waiver provision of Section 907. Similar efforts have been launched by the network of ANC offices worldwide. The Hellenic American Leadership Council immediately posted a statement of solidarity with the ANCA against Azerbaijani aggression.

Senate and House leaders demanded clear US leadership and Azerbaijani accountability. “Deeply concerned by reports of Azerbaijani attacks on Armenian territory,” stated Chairman Menendez in a Tuesday evening tweet. “Shelling Armenian towns and innocent civilians is illegal & unacceptable. The world must stand up to authoritarian brutality. The US must end all security assistance to Azerbaijan now.”

House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) concurred, noting, “Azerbaijan has reportedly shelled the homes of innocent civilians in Artsakh and is now attacking Armenia’s border. An egregious violation of the ceasefire and direct attack on Armenia’s sovereignty. The US must halt all assistance to Azerbaijan – immediately and permanently.”

Congressional Armenian Caucus co-chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) stated, “I strongly condemn Azerbaijan’s reckless military attack on southern Armenia. Aliyev must end his aggression immediately. The @StateDept and @SecBlinken must work with the @OSCE Minsk Group to secure peace in the region.”

Outraged by reports of heavy and coordinated Azeri artillery strikes on peaceful Armenian towns, Armenian Caucus co-chair Jackie Speier (D-CA), who is of Armenian heritage, explained: “To be clear: these are internationally recognized Armenian towns, NOT disputed territory. It’s unconscionable that the US continues to provide Aliyev w/military aid.”

Central Valley California Congressman David Valadao (R-CA), a Republican co-chair of the Armenian Caucus noted, “I strongly condemn this unprovoked attack on Armenia. The pattern of ongoing aggression from Azerbaijani forces is unacceptable and must end immediately.” Fellow Central California Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA) demanded Azerbaijani accountability. “I condemn Azerbaijan’s unprovoked attack on Armenia. My heart goes out to the people of Armenia and I stand strong with them. Azerbaijan has been unwilling to comply with the peace process and we must hold them accountable,” stated Rep. Costa.

At about 12:05 a.m. on September 13, Azerbaijani forces launched a heavy artillery attack using mortars and drones on Armenian military and civilian infrastructure in Sotk, Vardenis, Goris, Kapan, Artanish, and Iskhanasar, located on Armenia’s eastern border with Azerbaijan. The number of casualties and wounded has not yet been confirmed. The attack is the largest on Armenian territory since the 2020 Turkey and Azerbaijan-led 44-day war against Artsakh and Armenia, which claimed over 5,000 Armenian lives.

While Congressional reaction decisively condemned Azerbaijani action, statements from US State Department stopped short of unequivocally condemning President Aliyev’s actions. “The United States is deeply concerned about reports of attacks along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, including reported strikes against settlements and civilian infrastructure inside Armenia. As we have long made clear, there can be no military solution to the conflict. We urge an end to any military hostilities immediately,” stated Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 9/13/2022

September 14, 2022September 14, 2022 Vardan Badalian

                                        Tuesday, 

Armenia Appeals To Russia For Military Aid


Armenia - Russian soldiers march at Yerevan's Victory Park during an official 
ceremony to mark the 77th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, 9 
May, 2022.


Armenia appealed to Russia for urgent military intervention on Tuesday in 
response to what it called Azerbaijani aggression against its sovereign 
territory.

During an emergency meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, Armenia’s 
Security Council decided to ask Moscow to invoke and “put into action” relevant 
articles of a Russian-Armenian treaty on mutual defense.

It also requested assistance from the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty 
Organization as well as the UN Security Council.

The appeal followed Pashinian’s phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin 
during which they discussed heavy fighting that broke out at various sections of 
the Armenian-Azerbaijani border shortly after midnight. Russian Foreign Minister 
Sergei Lavrov and his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan also spoke by phone.

The Armenian military accused Azerbaijani forces of shelling its border 
positions and trying to advance towards Armenian territory “in some directions.” 
Baku claimed, for its part, that its troops are thwarting cross-border sabotage 
attacks by Armenian army units. Yerevan strongly denied that claim.

Russia has a military base in Armenia. Some of its troops were redeployed closer 
to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border following the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Kremlin did not immediately issue a statement on Putin’s latest conversation 
with Pashinian.

Putin and Pashinian met last week on the sidelines of an economic forum held in 
the Russian city of Vladivostok. Speaking at the forum, the Armenian premier 
warned that Azerbaijan could provoke another escalation in the Nagorno-Karabakh 
conflict zone soon.



U.S. Urges Halt To Fighting Between Armenia, Azerbaijan


UKRAINE – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to media before departure 
at the railway station in Kyiv, September 8, 2022.


U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for an immediate end to heavy 
fighting that broke out on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border early on Tuesday.

“The United States is deeply concerned about reports of attacks along the 
Armenia-Azerbaijan border, including reported strikes against settlements and 
civilian infrastructure inside Armenia,” Blinken said in a statement.

“As we have long made clear, there can be no military solution to the conflict,” 
he said. “We urge an end to any military hostilities immediately.”

The statement followed Blinken’s phone call with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian. According to the official Armenian readout of the call, the top U.S. 
diplomat expressed Washington’s readiness to help “stabilize the situation.”

Pashinian was reported to inform Blinken about his administration’s decision to 
appeal to Russia, the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization and 
the UN Security Council for help. He also said Yerevan expects “adequate” 
international reaction to what it sees as Azerbaijani aggression against Armenia.

The hostilities were also discussed by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan 
and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Karen Donfried in a separate call.

The fighting coincided with the ongoing visit to the South Caucasus by Philip 
Reeker, the recently appointed U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group. Reeker 
held talks with Pashinian and Mirzoyan late last week. He is due in Baku later 
this week.



Russia Reports Another Armenian-Azeri Truce


Armenia - Armenian soldiers take up positions on the border with Azerbaijan, 
August 2, 2022.


Russia claimed on Tuesday to have brokered another Armenian-Azerbaijan ceasefire 
agreement to stop heavy fighting that raged on the border between the two South 
Caucasus states overnight and in the morning.

“We expect that the agreement, reached as a result of Russian mediation, on a 
ceasefire from 9 a.m. Moscow time (10 a.m. Armenian time) on September 13 of 
this year will be carried out in full,” read a statement released by the Russian 
Foreign Ministry.

Armenia and Azerbaijan did not immediately confirm the announcement.

A senior Russian lawmaker, Grigory Karasin, said that the situation on the 
Armenian-Azerbaijani is now “relatively calm.” He said President Vladimir Putin 
personally intervened to halt the hostilities after a phone conversation with 
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.

Speaking in the Armenian parliament at 11:30 a.m. local time, Pashinian said 
that while the “intensity” of the hostilities has decreased Azerbaijani troops 
are continuing to attack Armenian army positions at “one or two sections” of the 
frontier.

The Armenian Defense Ministry reported early in the afternoon a “considerable 
decrease in the intensity of shelling.” Still, it said Azerbaijani forces are 
making more attempts to seize or advance towards its border posts in Gegharkunik 
and another province, Syunik.

“Armenian army units are continuing to accomplish their combat tasks in full,” 
the ministry added in a statement.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Suren Papikian spoke with his Russian counterpart 
Sergei Shoigu in the morning. According to the Armenian Defense Ministry, the 
two men agreed to take “necessary steps to stabilize the situation.”

Shortly after Pashinian’s phone call with Putin, Armenia formally appealed to 
Russia and the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) for 
urgent help in the face of what it described as a large-scale Azerbaijani attack 
on Armenian territory.

Moscow did not publicly side with Armenia, its main regional ally. The Russian 
Foreign Ministry statement said “problems between Armenia and Azerbaijan must be 
resolved only by political-diplomatic means.”

Pashinian revealed that at least 49 Armenian soldiers were killed in the 
fighting that broke out at several sections of the border shortly after 
midnight. The Azerbaijani side did not release any casualty numbers as of 
Tuesday afternoon.

Armenia - A house in the border village of Sotk destroyed by Azerbaijani 
shelling, .

Azerbaijani forces reportedly shelled not only Armenian border posts but also 
Armenian villages close to the border. At least three civilian residents of 
those communities were wounded and many others evacuated as a result, according 
to authorities in Yerevan.

The conflicting sides continued to blame each other for what was the worst 
fighting in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone since the 2020 
Armenian-Azerbaijani war. Yerevan shrugged off Baku’s claims that it retaliated 
against Armenian special forces that launched cross-border sabotage attacks.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry also claimed that Yerevan is trying to delay 
the signing of an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty which Baku says must uphold 
its sovereignty over Karabakh.

Pashinian likewise linked the escalation to discussions on the treaty. He said 
Baku is trying to force Yerevan to accept the Azerbaijani terms of such a deal. 
They are highly unfavorable for the Armenian side and would not even guarantee 
Armenia’s territorial integrity, he said.

The issue dominated Pashinian’s August 31 talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham 
Aliyev in Brussels.



Iran Repeats Warnings Over Border With Armenia


Armenia/Iran - The Arax river separating Armenia and Iran.


Iran again warned against attempts to strip it of direct access to Armenia when 
it reacted to heavy fighting on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian telephoned Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to 
brief him on the hostilities that broke out along several sections of the 
frontier shortly after midnight. One of those sections is close to Iranian 
territory bordering Armenia’s southeastern Syunik province.

Raisi expressed serious concern over the escalation, saying that “the region 
cannot tolerate another war.”

“The historical borders of Iran and Armenia are considered the bedrock of 
prosperity, convergence and security of the region,” he was quoted by his office 
as telling Pashinian.

In this regard, the Iranian Foreign Ministry emphasized the importance of 
respecting the territorial integrity of both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Any change 
to the border between the two South Caucasus states is unacceptable to Tehran, 
said a ministry spokesman.

Syunik is the sole Armenian province bordering Iran. Baku has been pressing 
Yerevan to open an exterritorial corridor connecting Azerbaijan to its 
Nakhichevan exclave through the province. The Armenian government rejects these 
demands while expressing readiness to restore Armenian-Azerbaijani transport 
links.

Iranian leaders are also strongly opposed to the land corridor, fearing a loss 
of the common border with Armenia.

“The Islamic Republic will not tolerate policies or plans that lead to the 
closing of the Iran-Armenia border,” Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali 
Khamenei, warned in July.

According to the Armenian government’s press office Raisi recalled Khamenei’s 
warning during the phone call with Pashinian. The Iranian president also said 
that Armenia’s national security is important to Iran, added the office.



Fighting Continues On Armenia-Azerbaijan Border


Armenia - Defense Ministry spokesman Davit Torosian at a news briefing in 
Yerevan, .


Fighting reportedly continued along Armenia’s long border with Azerbaijan on 
Tuesday evening despite a ceasefire agreement announced by Russia in the morning.

The Armenian Defense Ministry said that there has only been a significant 
decrease in the “intensity of shelling” at various sections of the heavily 
militarized border which began on the night from Monday to Tuesday.

“Using special forces, the enemy has been trying to secure positional advances, 
notably towards [the villages of] Nerkin Hand, Verin Shorzha, Artanish and 
Sotk,” said the ministry spokesman, Davit Torosian.

Nerkin Hand is located in Armenia’s southeastern Syunik province while the three 
other communities are part of Gegharkunik province. Both regions border western 
Azerbaijan.

Gegharkunik Governor Karen Sargsian confirmed that there has been no letup in 
“intensive combat” in his region.

“In the morning gunfire stopped for about 40 minutes but then resumed and is 
still going on,” Sargsian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.

He said that the provincial administration helped to evacuate some local 
residents, mostly children and women, and took others to bomb shelters.

In this image taken from a YouTube footage released by Armenian Defense Ministry 
on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, shows Azerbaijanian servicemen crossing the 
Armenian-Azerbaijani border and approaching the Armenian positions.

The Defense Ministry accused the Azerbaijani army of deliberately targeting 
civilian areas. At least one of the Gegharkunik villages, Sotk, was seriously 
damaged by shelling.

The ceasefire deal announced by the Russian Foreign Ministry was supposed to 
take effect at 10 a.m. local time. It was not officially confirmed by Armenia or 
Azerbaijan.

The conflicting sides continued to blame each other for the bloodiest 
hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone since the 2020 
Armenian-Azerbaijani war. In particular, Yerevan says that Baku is thereby 
trying to force the Armenian side to make unilateral concessions in peace talks.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is doing its best to help stop 
the fighting which left at least 49 Armenian soldiers dead.

The United States and the European Union similarly called for an immediate end 
to the violence. Senior U.S. and EU officials held a series of phone calls with 
Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

Belgium - EU Council President Charles Michel meets with Armenia's and 
Azerbaijan's leaders in Brussels, August 31, 2022.

“There is no alternative to peace and stability - and there is no alternative to 
diplomacy to ensure that,” tweeted European Council President Charles Michel.

Michel announced that the EU’s special envoy to the South Caucasus, Toivo Klaar, 
will travel to Baku and Yerevan to “work on preventing further escalation.”

Michel has hosted four face-to-face meetings between Pashinian and Azerbaijani 
President Ilham Aliyev over the past year. They most recently met in Brussels on 
August 31. Michel said right after that summit that Aliyev and Pashinian agreed 
to intensify negotiations on an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty.

Also urging “strict respect for the ceasefire” was French President Emmanuel 
Macron. He spoke with Pashinian by phone overnight. A statement released by the 
presidential Elysee Palace also cited Macron as calling for “respect for the 
territorial integrity of Armenia.”

“France will take the matter to the United Nations Security Council, of which it 
currently holds the presidency,” added the statement.



Putin, Pashinian Talk Amid Fighting On Armenian-Azeri Border


Russia - Russian Preisdent Vladimir Putin greets Prime Minoster Nikol Pashinian 
during a forum in Vladivostok, September 7, 2022


Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian telephoned the presidents of Russia and France 
early on Tuesday shortly after the start of what Armenia described as 
large-scale shelling of its territory by Azerbaijani forces.

An Armenian government statement said Pashinian presented to Russian President 
Vladimir Putin details of Azerbaijan’s “aggressive and provocative” actions that 
began shortly after midnight.

“Nikol Pashinian found the Azerbaijani side’s actions unacceptable and stressed 
the importance of adequate reaction from the international community,” said the 
statement. “The interlocutors agreed to be in operational contact.”

Putin and Pashinian met last week on the sidelines of an economic forum held in 
the Russian city of Vladivostok. Speaking at the forum, the Armenian premier 
warned that Azerbaijan could provoke another escalation in the Nagorno-Karabakh 
conflict zone soon.

The two leaders held four phone calls last month. They spoke twice in the space 
of a week in early August amid an upsurge of violence in Karabakh.

The government’s press office released a similar readout of Pashinian’s call 
with French President Emmanuel Macron.

“President Macron found a further deepening of the tensions unacceptable and 
stressed the need to deescalate the situation,” it said.



Heavy Fighting Reported On Armenia-Azerbaijan Border (UPDATED)


ARMENIA -- An Armenian flag flies at an Armenian army post on the border with 
Azerbaijan, June 18, 2021


The Armenian military said early on Tuesday that Azerbaijani forces are using 
artillery, combat drones and automatic weapons to strike its positions along 
various sections of Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan.

The Defense Ministry in Yerevan said that the “intensive” shelling began shortly 
after midnight.

“The exchange of intensive gunfire is continuing,” the ministry spokesman, Aram 
Torosian, said an hour later.

In another update, Torosian said that the fighting continued unabated as of 4 
a.m. local time. “The Armenian armed forces are giving [the enemy] an adequate 
response and fully accomplishing combat tasks set for them,” he said.

Torosian added that they suffered casualties but did not give any numbers. He 
also said that “in some directions” Azerbaijani troops are trying to advance 
towards Armenian territory.

Residents of several Armenian border communities told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service 
that they are hearing powerful explosions and gunfire. The mayor of, Verin 
Shorzha, a border village in eastern Gegharkunik province spoke of “intensive 
gunfire” coming from Azerbaijani army positions across the local section of the 
long border.

According to a former local government official, several shells landed in 
another Gegharkunik community, Sotk, forcing some parents to evacuate their 
children to safer locations.

Another, serving Gegharkunik official was quoted by news.am as saying that some 
residents of the nearby village of Norabak are fleeing their homes.

The fighting also affected communities in Armenia’s southeastern Syunik 
province. In the local village of Karashen, an Azerbaijani shell hit a wedding 
hall, eyewitnesses said, adding that nobody was hurt as a result.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry accused the Armenian side of launching 
a “large-scale provocation” along three border districts in western Azerbaijan.

In a statement, the ministry claimed that Armenian commando units crossed those 
border sections to try to put landmines near Azerbaijani army posts there. The 
Azerbaijani side, it said, hit Armenian military infrastructure and took other 
“urgent measures” in response to those raids.

Torosian, the Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman, flatly denied those claims, 
insisting that the fighting was initiated by “Azerbaijan’s military-political 
leadership.” He said that the Azerbaijani military laid the “information 
groundwork” for it in recent days.

Baku has alleged Armenian truce violations along the frontier on a daily basis 
following the August 31 meeting of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and 
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian held in Brussels.

Yerevan dismissed those claims as “disinformation.” Some Armenian commentators 
suggested that Baku may be preparing the ground for another escalation in the 
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.

Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2022 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

CivilNet: Azerbaijan attacks southern Armenian towns in deadliest escalation since 2020 war

September 14, 2022September 14, 2022 Maral Chavushian

CIVILNET.AM

13 Sep, 2022 07:09

Just after midnight Tuesday (late Monday evening), Azerbaijani troops launched simultaneous attacks on a number of towns and villages in Armenia proper, leaving at least 49 Armenian soldiers killed in action and three civilians injured, one critically.

Wide-scale fighting within Armenia marks an unprecedented escalation in hostilities between Yerevan and Baku, and the death toll makes Tuesday the single deadliest day in the region since the outbreak of the Karabakh war almost two years ago.

RFE/RL Azerbaijani Service – 09/13/2022

September 14, 2022September 14, 2022 Vanyan Gary

By RFE/RL's Armenian Service
RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service

Damage reportedly caused by Azerbaijani shelling in the Armenian village of Qarashen in Syunik Province on September 13.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said it lost 50 troops in overnight clashes with ethnic Armenian troops after Yerevan said that at least 49 of its soldiers were killed in the fighting — the deadliest since Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a six-week war in 2020 over the breakaway Azerbaijani region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

"Fifty Azerbaijani servicemen died as a result of Armenia's large-scale provocation," the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said in a statement, referring to border clashes that erupted early on September 13.

Russia said it had brokered a cease-fire between the two sides, but Azerbaijan accused ethnic Armenian forces of violating the agreement.

"Despite the declaration of a cease-fire since 09:00 (0600 GMT), Armenia is intensively violating the cease-fire along the border by using artillery and other heavy weapons," Baku's military said.

Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Aram Torosian denied the accusation, calling it "obvious nonsense." Torosian said the Azerbaijani armed forces had not stopped shelling the positions of ethnic Armenian troops, settlements, and infrastructure "for a single minute." But he said the shelling in some directions had significantly weakened.

Earlier, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said that its forces were responding to Armenian "provocation" and denied claims that they were hitting civilian infrastructure.

"Azerbaijani armed forces are undertaking limited and targeted steps, neutralizing Armenian firing positions," it said in a statement.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Ceyhun Bayramov spoke by phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said.

Source: RFE/RL's Armenian and Azerbaijani services
Lavrov emphasized the need to avoid conflict in the region, as well as the importance of the full implementation of the declarations signed between the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia ending the fighting in 2020.

Armenia appealed earlier to world leaders after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said Baku had attacked Armenia's positions overnight and that fighting was ongoing.

"For the moment, we have 49 (soldiers) killed and unfortunately it's not the final figure," Pashinian told parliament.

Calls For De-Escalation

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by phone with Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. His spokesman said Washington would "push for an immediate halt to fighting and a peace settlement" between the neighbors.

Blinken said he told Aliyev and Pashinian that the fighting was "in no one's interest" and "urged them to do everything possible to pull back from conflict and get back to talking about a lasting peace."

Blinken said there were "always concerns" about Moscow's role in the peace process but added: "If Russia can actually use its own influence to calm the waters…that would be a positive thing."

The Armenian government said earlier that it would invoke a cooperation agreement with Moscow and appeal to the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) — a regional security bloc — as well as the United Nations Security Council.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to urgently de-escalate tensions, calling on the two sides "to exercise maximum restraint and resolve any outstanding issues through dialogue and within existing formats," according to spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

France will raise the clashes at the UN Security Council, the office of President Emmanuel Macron said.

The Kremlin said on September 13 that Russian President Vladimir Putin was doing everything he can to help de-escalate hostilities.

"The president makes every effort to contribute to the de-escalation of tensions at the border. These efforts continue," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a news briefing.

Asked whether Moscow intends to do something in connection with Yerevan's appeal for help to the CSTO, Peskov declined to give details.

"I would not like to say more now. Since the work, various agreements and so on, I would not like to announce something before the approval process is completed," Peskov said.

Turkey, Azerbaijan's traditional ally, blamed Armenia for the latest flare-up, urging Yerevan to "cease provocations" against Baku.

"Armenia should cease its provocations and focus on peace negotiations and cooperation with Azerbaijan," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted after a phone call with Bayramov.

The CSTO, which includes Armenia but not Azerbaijan, met virtually on September 13 to discuss the situation.

After the meeting the press service of the Belarusian president reported that the secretary-general of the CSTO may go to the conflict zone. The trip was proposed as one of the steps that could be taken immediately to diffuse the situation.

CSTO Secretary-General Stanislav Zas would use the trip to prepare a detailed report. Another proposal would create a working group from the staff of the CSTO Secretariat and the CSTO Joint Headquarters to analyze the situation and develop proposals, a CSTO statement said.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, dpa, and AFP

Discussion in National Assembly Committee: Armenia plans to allow purchase of weapons for self-defense

September 5, 2022September 5, 2022 Emil Lazarian

NEWS.am

Armenia – Sept 5 2022

16:02, 05.09.2022

Armenian citizens should be granted the right to own weapons for self-defense. The statement was made by Vilen Gabrielyan, one of the authors of the legislative initiative and an MP from the ruling Civil Contract Party, at the sitting of the parliamentary standing committee on defense and security, during the discussion of the package of bills "On regulating arms circulation" and amendments to 15 related laws in the National Assembly today.

He noted that the current legislation is essentially a repetition of the Soviet period regulations. Thus, citizens are allowed to own only hunting and sporting weapons.

"Weapons intended for self-defense can be possessed only by law enforcement officers," Gabrielyan explained.

In place of the existing strict rules, the authors of the bill proposed to give this right to persons over 18 years of age. So, according to the legislative initiative the right to purchase civilian combined or long-barrelled firearms will be available only to citizens over the age of 21. Civilian weapons of another type, after obtaining the appropriate permit for its purchase from the police, will be able to afford the persons over the age of 18 years.

In this case, each citizen will be allowed to purchase 10 units of civilian weapons with a permit to keep and carry, as well as an unlimited number of weapons to create a collection of weapons or their demonstration.

"It will be allowed to register these weapons only within 10 days after their purchase," said the deputy.

Foreigners in Armenia will also be able to buy weapons.

According to Gabrielyan, this legislative package will also set the aspects of self-defense. That is to say, in cases when a citizen has the right to use arms.

The legislative initiative also stipulates the basis of training for the use of weapons. However, there is a group of citizens who will not undergo this training.

"So, citizens who have served or are serving in the state military organizations of Armenia for at least 5 years, and who have not graduated from service early will be exempt from training," said the parliamentarian.

Rules of purchasing, keeping, carrying, displaying and collecting weapons will be set for individuals and legal entities.

The order of granting and withdrawal of licenses and permits for the production, import, export, sale of weapons, as well as the activities of shooting galleries will be set. Stricter liability will be provided for violations of the established procedure.

After relatively heated discussions, the legislative initiative of pro-government deputies received a positive conclusion of the specialized parliamentary commission.

Minister about intention to transfer universities to Ashtarak

September 5, 2022September 5, 2022 Maral Takmazian

NEWS.am

Armenia – Sept 5 2022

16:44, 05.09.2022

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a government session on September 1 that an academic campus will be built in Ashtarak, Aragatsotn province, where the universities, which are being merged and renovated, will eventually move.

Today, Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Vahram Dumanyan explained the decision to move the higher educational institutions to Ashtarak by their expediency, linking it with many factors.

Among them, he mentioned the infrastructure, because "there have been scientific institutes there for a long time.

"We will provide the level of education that we will provide. Do you think it is determined by geographical location?" the Minister expressed bewilderment.

At the same time, the official could not name a specific timeframe for moving the universities to Ashtarak. Opponents of the idea suspect that the authorities intend to sell the university buildings.