Category: 2022

Red Cross chief to discuss consequences of Karabakh conflict in Moscow

Hagop Kamalian
panorama
Armenia –

The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer, arrived in Moscow on Wednesday to continue the ICRC’s ongoing humanitarian discussions with the Russian authorities, the ICRC reported.

Mr Maurer plans to speak about the pressing humanitarian issues to be addressed to alleviate suffering of people affected by the conflict in Ukraine.

“The devastation caused by the conflict in recent weeks, as well as eight years of conflict in Donbas, has been vast. There are practical steps guided by international humanitarian law that the parties must take to limit the suffering. I was in Kyiv last week and I’m in Moscow this week to continue the discussion with the authorities on these steps,” said Mr Maurer.

Humanitarian issues in places such as Syria or in relation with the consequences of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict are also on the agenda, a continuation of a long-running dialogue.

Mr Maurer plans to meet with representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense. He will also meet with the chairman of the Russian Red Cross, which is doing significant work providing assistance to those who arrived in Russia after fleeing from their homes in Donbas.

The ICRC is seeking to increase the respect of international humanitarian law and work within its mandate as neutral and impartial intermediary to address humanitarian issues and facilitate dialogue between all sides.

Opposition MP: Armenian authorities trying to completely ‘wash their hands’ of Artsakh

Garnik Tadevosian
panorama
Armenia –

An Armenian opposition MP on Thursday denounced the pro-government majority in the parliament for rejecting two key opposition initiatives.

One of them was a bill calling for criminalization of all statements questioning Armenia’s territorial integrity. The second measure proposed the parliament to adopt a statement condemning the ongoing Azerbaijani and Turkish aggression against Armenians.

“As you know, we demanded an urgent sitting; closed discussions took place, where, unfortunately, this initiative was also voted down. In the statement, we wanted to record Azerbaijan’s aggression against Armenia and Artsakh and draw the international community’s attention to the steps taken against the two Armenian states,” Deputy National Assembly Speaker Ishkhan Saghatelyan, an MP from the main opposition Hayastan faction told a briefing.

The lawmaker also highlighted that the ruling Civil Contract faction MPs had earlier rejected an opposition request to set up a parliamentary standing committee on Artsakh issues, arguing that an inter-parliamentary committee was dealing with the matter.

“The inter-parliamentary committee has held no meetings for eight months now,” the opposition MP stressed. He also recalled that the ruling team turned down a draft resolution condemning the anti-Armenian provisions of the Shushi Declaration signed between Turkey and Azerbaijan.

“All this gives the Hayastan faction MPs grounds to assume that the incumbent Armenian authorities are trying to completely wash their hands of the Artsakh issue, renouncing their responsibilities as the guarantor of Artsakh’s sovereignty and security,” Saghatelyan said. 

“In this sense, we have deep concerns,” he noted.

MP Abrahamyan: Failure to solve mounting problems may lead to exodus of Armenians from Artsakh

Bedik Zaminian
panorama
Armenia –

Artsakh is facing a humanitarian crisis and a security catastrophe amid the disruption of gas supplies by Azerbaijan, MP Tigran Abrahamyan from Armenia’s opposition With Honor faction told a briefing on Thursday.

The MP said although talks on the resumption of gas delivery are underway with the mediation of Russian peacekeepers, “unfortunately, this stage of the negotiations does not guarantee that there will not be new crisis situations in Artsakh in the future.”

“Azerbaijan has increased its instruments of pressure on Artsakh, and no solution is in sight in the long run,” the lawmaker stressed.

Referring to the Armenian government’s programs to alleviate the situation, which Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan spoke about on Wednesday, but which have not yet been implemented, Abrahamyan said that in the post-war period Armenia implemented certain programs in parallel with the interstate loan provided to Artsakh.

“At the moment I don’t know about the measures stemming from this specific situation. The government website has a section on Artsakh, assistance programs are available, but as far as I understand it is not conditioned by the current situation in Artsakh. It has more to do with the problems that arose in Artsakh in the post-war period. I will try to get some clarifications on the matter in the near future,” he said.

Abrahamyan admits the current situation is not a simple one, stating, however, there are some issues that require urgent solutions.

“In the long run, we need to understand what we are actually doing, not only in case of gas supply disruptions, but also in case of other threats, which are already visible now, it’s clear what could happen,” he said.

“The government must develop comprehensive programs also taking into account the security component, because the failure to solve the mounting problems can lead to two major consequences: either a large-scale exodus of Armenians from Artsakh or a new war,” Abrahamyan stressed.

Pashinyan appeals ruling on defamation suit to higher court

Jagharian Tania
panorama
Armenia –

Nikol Pashinyan has appealed the ruling of a first instance court on a defamation lawsuit filed by Hrayr Tovmasyan, the former chairman of Armenia’s Constitutional Court, to the Court of Appeals.

The appeal was lodged with the higher court on March 21, Panorama.am learned from the judicial portal Datalex.am. It has been assigned to judge Ani Mkhitaryan.

Tovmasyan filed the defamation lawsuit two years ago after Pashinyan announced that the chief judge “offered his services” to him starting from May 2018.

The Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction partially granted the lawsuit earlier in March, ordering Pashinyan to refute his claims.

Pashinyan was entitled to appeal against the ruling within one month after its delivery.

Baku seeking to finish ethnic cleansing in Artsakh, Armenia`s premier states

Arbi Tashjian
ARMINFO
Naira Badalian

ArmInfo.Azerbaijan’s actions have brought Artsakh to a humanitarian disaster Armenia’s Premier Nikol Pashinyan stated at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday.   

“For three days the Artsakh people has been without gas supply. It  happened due to Azerbaijan’s interference. Under various pretexts,  Azerbaijan did not allow the gas pipeline to be repaired, and did the  repair work itself. As a result, according to the information at our  disposal, a valve was installed on the gas pipeline. On March 21, the  gas supply to Artsakh was cut off again. Thus, without blowing the  pipeline up, Azerbaijan tuned off the vavle thereby proving it was  they that blew it up on March 7,” the premier said. 

Mr Pashinya emphasized the fact that the gas supply was disrupted in  most unfavorable weather. 

“I have no doubts that the heroic population of Artsakh will survive  the hardship as well. With its actions, Azerbaijan is rendering a  service to Artsakh, as this episode is a clear explanation of the  Artsakh problem to the international community. It is irrefutable  evidence of Azerbaijan’s policy toward Artsakh Armenians – making  their life in their Homeland impossible. Their task is to spare no  effort to complete ethnic cleansing in Artsakh,” Mr Pashinyan said. 

A regards the Azerbaijani foreign office’s statement that gas supply  to Nagorno-Karabakh is Azerbaijan’s domestic affair. Interpreting the  diplomatic language, it means that Baku demands that the  international community should not interfere in the ethnic cleansing  in Artsakh. 

Armenia’s authorities and public must inform the international  community of the ongoing developments in Artsakh by means of social  media. As regards the criticism against the Armenian authorities’  policy of “epoch of peace” in the region. 

“I would like to state there is no alternative to this policy.  However, Azerbaijan, resorting to provocations, is trying to distract  us from this agenda, cause a new escalation and war in the region.  But w must to succumb to these provocations. I have said we need iron  nerves to implement this policy,” Mr Pashinyan said. 

Yerevan proposes withdrawal of troops at Yeraskh section to Baku

Lilit Nahapetian
ARMINFO
Naira Badalian

ArmInfo.Yerevan is awaiting a response to the proposal for a reciprocal withdrawal of troops at the Yeraskh section, Armenia’s Premier Nikol Pashinyan stated at a  Cabinet meeting on Thursday.  

In the context of the global and international tensions, he said: “We  are responsible for defusing these tensions and finding fundamental  solutions. In this context, we believe that Armenian-Azerbaijani  peace talks must be started as soon as possible. We should point out  a need to speed up the border demarcation and delimitation and steps  to enhance border security and stability,” Mr Pashinyan said. 

He recalled the proposal for reciprocal withdrawal of troops based on  the de jure borderline between Soviet Armenia and Azerbaijan. 

“Besides, we also proposed local withdrawal and are now waiting for  Azerbaijan’s answer. Specifically, at the Yeraskh section we proposed  reciprocal withdrawal from several positions. Thus, we will resolve  the problem of the hottest spots in the last year and a half. As I  have said, we are waiting for Azerbaijan’s response,” Mr Pashinyan  said.  After a number of recent events, Yerevan cannot understand if  Baku wants unblocking of regional communications. 

“If so, our proposal hold good and we are ready to put them into  practice at any moment. I have on several occasions spoken of the  Armenian Crossroads project, but I do not see a need to go into  details now,” Mr Pashinyan said. 

On March 17, the invitation of pre-qualifying tenders for the  construction of the Sisian-Kajaran section of the North-South  motorway was announced. 

Mr Pashinyan stated that discussions on unblocking regional  communications resulted in the North-South project being reorganized  into the North-South-East-West project. Armenia’s premier hopes the  project will be implemented in a short period.

“It means that one of the byways of the North-South-East-West  motorway, or the Armenian Crossroads, will connect Armenia with Iran,  another byway will connect Armenia with Azerbaijan and, later,  Nakhichevan with Turkey. We hope to find a construction company by  the end of this year. The design stage of East-West project has not  yet been completed, but we will promptly complete it under political  agreements,” Mr Pashinyan said.

Artsakh people to international community: We exist and we want peace for our children on our own land

Jalatian Sonya
ARMINFO
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo.Protests were held in Yerevan and Stepanakert in connection with the inhumane actions of Azerbaijan against the civilian population of Nagorno-Karabakh.

So, today, on March 24, children and women gathered in front of the  children’s hospital in Stepanakert, who protested in connection with  the inhumane actions of Azerbaijan, which has been terrorizing the  civilian population since March 8, by obstructing the gas supply to  Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Dear friends, what is happening now in Artsakh can only be called a  humanitarian catastrophe. Deliberate damage and blocking with illegal  installation of a gas pipeline valve on harsh, snowy days, leaving  the civilian population without heat, is an act of terrorism. If not  us, ordinary citizens, then who instead of us will inform the world  about how the Azerbaijani authorities are mocking the people of  Artsakh? We have gathered here and are holding a peaceful rally for  the right to life in our own home. We want to show the world with  this protest action that we exist and we want peace for our children  in own land,” the participants of the rally said.

The participants of the peaceful rally also recalled that the  population of Artsakh has the same rights as the population of other  states, which is stated in the UN Charter. In this vein, an appeal  was made to the international community to take steps to curb the  aggressive actions of Azerbaijan.

At the same time, a similar action was held in Yerevan in front of  the UN office building. The protesters demanded that the UN stop the  policy of double standards and respond to the humanitarian crisis in  Artsakh, caused by the fact that Azerbaijan cut off the gas supply to  Nagorno-Karabakh.  The protesters came with banners “Warm the  children of Artsakh”, “Right to a safe life”, “Aliyev terrorist”,  etc

Forecast: New military conflicts in the South Caucasus are not excluded at all

Nahapetian Zhanna
ARMINFO
David Stepanyan

ArmInfo.New military conflicts in the South Caucasus are not excluded at all. Today it seems that we can speak about it quite definitely. Russian political scientist,  expert on the Caucasus Andrei Areshev, expressed such an opinion to ArmInfo.

“In the context of the current tension in Ukraine and around Ukraine,  one can clearly see the desire of Baku to use the situation for its  own purposes. It is clear that the latter consists in obtaining the  maximum possible concessions from Yerevan. The desire of the Armenian  leadership to resolve the situation and curb Azerbaijani appetites  through the West is also obvious. I’m afraid that the hopes for  Western help will not come true and in return the Armenian society  will only receive another assurance of friendliness,” he said.

In any case, Areshev sees Armenia’s desire to diversify its foreign  policy. Which, in his opinion, in the current geopolitical realities  can lead to strengthening relations with Turkey rather than with the  West. The political scientist believes that Armenia has recently been  quite actively moving in the Turkish direction.

According to the political scientist, gainst this background, Moscow  is pursuing a fairly balanced policy between Yerevan and Baku, an  example of which was the recent signing of the allied declaration of  the Russian Federation-Azerbaijan. Taking into account Armenia’s  participation in joint integration projects with Russia and  high-level bilateral relations, this document, in his opinion, will  not have a negative impact on Russian-Armenian relations.

“It is important to understand that against the backdrop of a  constantly changing geopolitical situation, both Armenia and  Azerbaijan are important regional partners for the Russian Federation  in terms of ensuring regional security. I think that Moscow will  continue to work towards achieving peace and stability in the region.  The main indicator of which may be an agreement to continue the  mission of Russian peacekeepers in Artsakh,” he stressed.

According to Areshev, the latter, among other things, also requires  the successful development of a dialogue between the Russian  Federation and Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation and Armenia,  including in the direction of development of economic and  communication cooperation. According to his forecasts, accordingly,  the more predictability and openness of Moscow-Baku relations, will  lead to stabilization of the situation around Artsakh, under the  control of the peacekeepers of the Russian Federation. 

Artsakh InfoCenter: Azerbaijani Armed Forces violated the line of contact in the direction of the village of Parukh, Askeran region

Chakhmakhchian Vatche
ARMINFO
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo. The Artsakh Information Center reports a violation of the line of contact by  Azerbaijani forces.

“As of 4 pm on March 24, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces violated the  line of contact in the direction of the village of Parukh, Askeran  region. Representatives of the Defense Army and the Russian  peacekeeping contingent stationed in the Republic of Artsakh are  trying to stop the further advance of the enemy through negotiations  and return him to his original positions.

We inform you that for security reasons, women and children of the  Hramort community of the Askeran region have been evacuated at the  moment.

We urge the population to remain calm, the situation is currently  stable in all other sections of the contact line.

Information on further developments will be periodically provided,”  the Infocenter said in a statement.

Statement of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia

Ara Felekian
ARMINFO
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo.Today at around 16:00, the Azerbaijani armed forces violated the line of contact with Nagorno-Karabakh in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping mission and infiltrated into the village of Parukh in Artsakh.

These aggressive actions of Azerbaijan once again demonstrate that official Baku continues to grossly violate the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020, according to which the hostilities were ceased, the sides stopped in their positions and peacekeeping forces of the Russian Federation were deployed along the line of contact in Nagorno-Karabakh.

These actions were preceded by Azerbaijan’s complete disruption of the only gas pipeline supplying Artsakh, the targeting of civilian infrastructure with large-caliber weapons, terrorising threats towards the Armenians of Artsakh, and other steps aimed at ethnic cleansing. Moreover, along with the drastic escalation of the security situation in Europe, such actions by Baku seriously endanger regional stability and peace.

We expect that the Russian peacekeeping forces in whose area of responsibility the provocation takes place will undertake measures to ensure that the Azerbaijani troops immediately return to their initial positions and adhere to the commitments undertaken under the November 9 Trilateral Statement.

We call on the international community to make a clear assessment of Azerbaijan’s provocative actions aimed at undermining the peace process and to support efforts for establishing peace in the South Caucasus and achieving a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.