Monday,
Karabakh Leader Again Fuels Talk Of Resignation
• Artak Khulian
Nagorno-Karabakh - Arayik Harutiunian and Ruben Vardanyan meet in Stepanakert,
September 8, 2022.
A former political ally of Arayik Harutiunian has accused Nagorno-Karabakh’s
president of reneging on his pledge to resign.
Fresh rumors about Harutiunian’s impending resignation began circulating last
week amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Karabakh caused by Azerbaijan’s
eight-month blockade of the Lachin corridor. One of his top loyalists flatly
denied the rumors on Friday.
Nevertheless, Ruben Vardanyan, a former Karabakh premier, claimed over the
weekend that Harutiunian told him and several other individuals “early this
week” that he has already decided to step down and will not change his mind.
“Some of the eight individuals present at that meeting did not believe your
words, while others thought that maybe you are telling the truth this time
around,” Vardanyan said in video appeal to Harutiunian posted on Facebook. He
gave no other details of that meeting.
Vardanyan, who was sacked by Harutiunian in February, went on to brand the
Karabakh leader as a liar who is “wrecking state institutions.”
Harutiunian pointedly declined to respond to his former top minister. His press
secretary told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service on Monday that he will not comment on
the allegations.
Meanwhile, Harutiunian’s Free Fatherland party issued a statement accusing
Vardanyan and “some groups” of trying to force the elected president to resign
for the sake of their “parochial interests.” But it did not explicitly deny the
resignation pledge allegedly made by Harutiunian.
Harutiunian already fueled speculation about his impending exit early this year.
In January, he signaled his desire to force snap elections in Karabakh despite
the Azerbaijani blockade. In March, he helped to enact a constitutional
amendment that empowered the Karabakh parliament to elect an interim president
in case of his resignation.
Vahram Atanesian, a local pundit, claimed on Monday that Karabakh’s three main
opposition parties increasingly cooperating with Vardanyan are trying to force
Harutiunian to quit and install a new president allied to them. None of those
parties has publicly called for his resignation.
An opposition leader, Davit Ishkhanian of the Karabakh branch of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), was elected parliament speaker
earlier this month. Lawmakers representing Harutiunian’s party voted for him.
Yerevan Downplays Lack Of UN Security Council Action On Karabakh
UN - UN Security Council discusses the humanitarian situation in
Nagorno-Karabakh, New York, August 16, 2023.
The Armenian government downplayed on Monday the United Nations Security
Council’s failure to formally demand an end to Azerbaijan’s blockade of
Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of an emergency meeting held last week.
Armenia initiated the session in a bid to drum up stronger international
pressure on Baku. Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan attended and addressed it,
saying that Yerevan expects the Security Council to condemn Baku, demand the
immediate reopening of the Lachin corridor, send a fact-finding mission to
Karabakh and provide humanitarian aid to the region’s struggling population.
Although most of its members, notably the United States and Russia, urged the
lifting of the Azerbaijani blockade, the Council stopped short of adopting a
relevant resolution or statement. This fact led some in Armenia to question the
wisdom of initiating the meeting and sending Mirzoyan to New York.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry countered that the format of the meeting did not
“presuppose the adoption” of any such document.
“Besides, only the 15 (permanent and non-permanent) members of the UN Security
Council have the right to draft UN Security Council resolutions and initiate
voting. Armenia, not being a member of the UN Security Council, does not have
such authority,” the ministry spokeswoman, Ani Badalian, said in written
comments to the press.
Badalian insisted that the Security Council session was worth it because the
international community could now pay more attention to “possible catastrophic
consequences” of the worsening humanitarian situation in Karabakh. She also said
Yerevan will continue to “work actively in the UN and other platforms” with the
aim of achieving the reopening of Karabakh’s land link with Armenia and the
outside world.
The United States, the European Union and Russia have repeatedly called on
Azerbaijan to allow renewed commercial and humanitarian traffic through the
Lachin corridor. Baku has dismissed their appeals.
Armenian Mining Output Shrinks Amid Economic Growth
• Robert Zargarian
Armenia - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian visits a mining enterprise in Agarak,
August 18, 2023.
Mining and metallurgy, the key manufacturing subsector of the Armenian economy,
contacted significantly in the first half of this year despite continued robust
GDP growth reported by the country’s government.
First-half data released by the government’s Statistical Committee shows a more
than 7 percent decrease in the production of metal ores and ore concentrates
which totaled 218 billion drams ($566 million). The production of copper,
molybdenum and other base metals was down by as much as 16 percent year on year,
at 74.4 billion drams.
This was one of the reasons why overall Armenian industrial output, worth about
1.2 trillion drams ($3 billion), was practically stagnant, contrasting with a
roughly 10 percent increase in GDP recorded by the Statistical Committee in
January-June 2023.
Economic growth continued to be primarily driven by double-digit gains in trade
and other services resulting from massive cash inflows from Russia sparked by
Western sanctions against Moscow. Armenia’s trade with Russia has skyrocketed
since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Armenian mining industry remains oriented towards Western markets. The South
Caucasus country’s largest metallurgical enterprise, the Zangezur
Copper-Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC), is also its number one corporate taxpayer.
Based in Kajaran, a town in Armenia’s Syunik province, ZCMC employs about 4,000
people. The State Revenue Committee (SRC) collected a total of 35 billion drams
in various taxes from ZCMC in the first half 2023, compared with 105 billion
drams last year.
A smaller company mining copper and molybdenum near another Syunik town, Agarak,
was seventh in the SRC’s 2022 tax rankings. Now it is not even among the
country’s 100 leading taxpayers.
Armenia - An ore-processing facility at the Chaarat Kapan, September 6, 2018.
Some analysts blame these sharp decreases on a recent fall in global metal
prices. A significant strengthening of the Armenian dram, another side effect of
the Western sanctions, may be another factor.
The British-registered parent company of another Syunik-based mining enterprise,
Chaarat Kapan, singled out the exchange rate fluctuation in an August 16
statement announcing its decision to sell Chaarat Kapan to another firm for over
$55 million.
Chaarat Kapan has about 1,000 workers. Hundreds of them went on strike last year
to demand better pay and working conditions. The company management said at the
time that it cannot afford pay rises because of the stronger dram and other
unfavorable global developments.
Also, Armenia’s largest gold mine located on the border with Azerbaijan was
largely shut down this spring due to systematic cross-border gunfire targeting
its workers and production facilities. A Russian company operating the Sotk mine
stopped open-pit mining there and put many of its 700 workers on unpaid leave.
“Unless new mines are opened, the mining industry will start slowly declining,”
said Hrant Mikaelian, an analyst with the Yerevan-based Caucasus Institute. “As
far as I know, the creation of new mines has been very slow in recent years.”
Flights To Armenian Border Town Go Ahead Despite ‘Azeri Gunfire’
• Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenia - A plane carrying Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian lands at Kapan
airport, August 17, 2023.
An Armenian airline began regular commercial flights to Kapan on Monday after
what Armenian officials described as cross-border gunfire from Azerbaijan
targeting the border town’s airport.
The Kapan airport reportedly came under fire on Friday less than 24 hours after
a plane carrying Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian landed there. According to
Armenia’s state border guard service, three gunshots were fired from Azerbaijani
army positions overlooking the facility, damaging its roof and one of the
windows.
Another shooting incident was reported on Saturday. Karen Balian, an aide to the
governor of Armenia’s Syunik province, of which Kapan is the capital, said on
Monday that airport employees heard gunfire several minutes after a plane
carrying other senior officials from Yerevan touched down on the runway.
Balian accused Azerbaijan of trying to disrupt the first post-Soviet flight
service between Yerevan and Kapan launched by the NovAir airline. While
acknowledging apparent security risks involved, he urged travellers to fly to
and from Kapan.
“We must not succumb to these provocations and must carry out the regular
flights which are very important for Syunik,” the official told RFE/RL’s
Armenian Service.
The inaugural 50-minute flights went ahead as planned on Monday morning, with
NovAir using small L-410 aircraft capable of carrying up to 17 passengers.
A spokeswoman for the Armenian government’s Civil Aviation Committee told
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service that there were only two passengers on each of those
flights. They included Syunik Governor Robert Ghukasian’s deputy and adviser,
according to the provincial administration.
The private carrier plans to carry out such flights twice a week.
Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2023 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
Category: 2023
From Armenia to Greece: India’s Geopolitics Unsettles Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Pakistan triad
Financial Express
Aug 21 2023
India’s growing ties with Armenia and Greece are unsettling for Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Pakistan. These three countries have been working together to strengthen their military capabilities and to counter India’s influence in the Middle East and Central Asia.
India’s decision to sell arms to Armenia and to upgrade its strategic partnership with Greece is seen as a direct challenge to these countries. Armenia is a traditional ally of Russia, and Greece is a member of NATO. By strengthening its ties with these countries, India is sending a strong message to the informal triad led by Turkey.
Growing ties with Armenia and Greece are also part of India’s larger strategy to diversify its partnerships in the region as it is no longer content to rely on its traditional allies, such as Russia and Iran. It is now looking to build new partnerships with countries that share its interests, such as Greece and Armenia.
India & Armenia
Relations with Armenia have been growing steadily since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992. In 2019, India and Armenia signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, which has led to increased cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, defense, and culture. India has also been providing military assistance to Armenia, which is at odds with Azerbaijan.
Relations with Greece have also been growing in recent years. In 2020, the two countries signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement, which has led to increased cooperation in areas such as defense, trade, and energy. India has also been providing military assistance to Greece, which is at odds with Turkey.
The three countries are likely to be rattled by India’s growing ties with Armenia and Greece. The alliance is already facing challenges from within, as Turkey and Azerbaijan have been at odds over the issue of the Eastern Mediterranean. India’s move is likely to further strain relations within the alliance and could lead to increased tensions in the region.
However, India is not aggressively countering these countries. Instead, it is taking a more subtle approach, building ties with them one by one. This approach is likely to be more effective in the long run, as it will make it more difficult for them to unite against India.
India is also benefiting from the fact that the alliance is not a monolithic bloc. There are differences of opinion within the alliance, and India is exploiting these differences to its advantage. For example, India has been able to build closer ties with Greece, even though Greece is a member of NATO, which is a major ally of Turkey.
India’s strategy of quietly but steadily building ties with Armenia, Greece, and Iran is a smart move. It is a strategy that is likely to pay dividends in the years to come.
India’s growing ties with Armenia and Greece are also a sign of its increasing strategic interests in the Mediterranean region. The region is becoming increasingly important to India’s energy security, as it is a major source of oil and gas. India is also looking to expand its trade and investment ties with the region.
India’s ties with Armenia and Greece are also a way to counter China’s growing influence in the region. China has been expanding its economic and military presence in the Mediterranean region, and India is looking to balance China’s influence.
Overall, India’s growing ties with Armenia and Greece are a significant development that is likely to have a major impact on the geopolitics of the region. India’s growing ties with Armenia, Greece, and Iran are a sign of its changing geopolitical priorities. India is no longer content to be a passive player in the region. It is now actively seeking to expand its influence and footprint across the globe. This is likely to lead to some hectic geopolitics in the region in the years to come.
Sharings his views with Financial Express Online on the forthcoming visit of PM Modi to Greece, Ambassador Anil Anil Trigunayat says: “It is indeed a highly significant visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Greece which for an inexplicable reason happens to be after a hiatus of four decades after that of Mrs Gandhi in 1983. Fortunately, given the historic and civilizational connection, we have had other high level exchanges including by Presidents Pranab Mukherjee and Ram Nath Kovind.”
However, “In recent years exchanges have acquired good interactive frequency especially at the ministerial levels and security and defence sectors. Trade and investments are also witnessing a positive swing and with the PM ‘s visit greater security cooperation can be expected.”
“Moreover Sweden has always supported and empathized with Indian concerns starting from our nuclear tests where despite western sanctions Greece signed defence cooperation agreement,” he opines.
In his view, on the Kashmir issue and Pakistan sponsored terrorism Athens has stood by India. Greece is also looking for greater Indian investments and could help steer the FTA with EU.
According to him, “Greece is a Mediterranean power and it fits well in India’s Maritime strategy and collaboration, from hydrocarbons to navigation to security. Hence this relationship has a multifaceted collaborative opportunity including countering the vitriolic influence of some not so friendly powers.”
https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence-from-armenia-to-greece-indias-geopolitics-unsettles-turkey-azerbaijan-and-pakistan-triad-3217127/
Armenpress: Azerbaijani disinformation campaign again falsely accuses Armenia of border shooting
10:17,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan continues its disinformation campaign with false accusations targeting the Armenian military, the Ministry of Defense warned Tuesday.
The Azerbaijani authorities once again falsely accused the Armenian Armed Forces of opening gunfire across the border.
“The statement of the [Ministry of Defense] of Azerbaijan that the units of the Republic of Armenia Armed Forces opened fire on the Azerbaijani combat positions located in the southwestern and southeastern parts of the frontier zone between 22:50 p.m. and 02:05 a.m. on August 21 and 22 does not correspond to reality,” the Armenian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
Armenpress: Azerbaijani military again targets Armenian outposts with cross-border gunfire
09:38,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani military has once again targeted Armenian border outposts in the Gegharkunik Province, the Armenian Ministry of Defense said Wednesday.
“On August 23, between 01:05 a.m. and 02:00 a.m., Azerbaijani armed forces units fired from fire arms towards the Armenian combat outposts nearby Verin Shorzha,” the Ministry of Defense of Armenia said in a statement.
Azerbaijan earthquake felt in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh
10:27,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. A magnitude 4,6 earthquake that struck south-eastern Azerbaijan in the early hours of Wednesday was also felt in Armenia and in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian seismic protection agency reported.
The quake hit 52km south of the Azeri city of Neftchala at 01:23, August 23.
It was felt in Armenia’s Syunik Province at a weak intensity of 2-3 on the MSK scale, and 3 in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Azeri fake news campaign again falsely accuses Armenia of border shooting
10:35,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani authorities have once again falsely accused Armenia of cross-border shooting in an ongoing disinformation campaign, the Armenian ministry of defense warned Wednesday.
“The statement disseminated by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan that allegedly on August 23, at around 02:10 a.m., units of the Armenian Armed Forces discharged fire against the Azerbaijani combat positions located in the eastern part of the border, does not correspond to reality,” the Armenian ministry of defense said in a statement.
U.S. denies claims on pressuring UNSC members not to sign resolution on Nagorno- Karabakh
13:50,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. The United States has denied claims that it is pressuring UNSC member countries not to sign a resolution on the Nagorno-Karabakh humanitarian crisis following the emergency meeting on August 16.
In written comments in response to an ARMENPRESS inquiry, the United States Embassy in Armenia said that the United States has ‘not seen a draft resolution, and claims that the U.S. is pressuring member countries not to sign a resolution are completely false.’
ARMENPRESS: Does your country plan to submit a draft resolution following the UN Security Council urgent meeting of August 16 regarding the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh?
United States Embassy: At the United Nations Security Council meeting last Wednesday on the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh, led by our Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the Council discussed key issues related to the current humanitarian situation.
We have not seen a draft resolution, and claims that the U.S. is pressuring member countries not to sign a resolution are completely false.
As noted in our statement at the UNSC session, we remain deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in NK and we’re encouraging the Azerbaijani government to open the Lachin Corridor to humanitarian, commercial and private traffic expeditiously.
Central Bank issues collector coin dedicated to 30th anniversary of national currency
11:48,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. On , the Central Bank of Armenia introduced the “30 Years of National Currency” silver collector coin into circulation.
The collector coin is dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the national currency, the Central Bank said in a press release.
The national currency of the Republic of Armenia, the dram, is one of the symbols of independent statehood. The dram was put into circulation on November 22, 1993. During 30 years of the dram existence, several series of circulating banknotes and coins, as well as other types of currency of the collectors’ interest – circulating commemorative coins, collector banknotes, collector and investment coins – have been issued.
The first collector coin of the Republic of Armenia was issued in 1994. Since then, the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia has issued more than 440 names of collector coins made of gold, silver and copper-nickel, dedicated to prominent Armenians and landmark historical and cultural events. Banknotes and coins of the Republic of Armenia are produced with the use of state-of-the-art technologies offered by security printing and mintage, and meet modern international standards of quality and security.
The consistent and purposive work on improving the quality of the banknotes and coins of the Republic of Armenia has brought in many awards and high appreciation at prestigious international numismatic contests.
Personal Representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office visits Armenia
13:56,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan on August 22 met with Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.
Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk has arrived in Armenia at the instruction of Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE Bujar Osmani to visit the Lachin Corridor and brief him on the current situation.
During the meeting the Armenian Foreign Minister and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office discussed issues related to regional security, the foreign ministry said in a readout.
Speaking about the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh resulting from the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, the Foreign Minister of Armenia emphasized the imperative of taking urgent and effective steps by the international community, including by the OSCE, in order to prevent the impending humanitarian disaster and its irreversible consequences.
FM Mirzoyan reiterated the importance of addressing the issues of the rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh under effective international mechanisms.
Speaker of Parliament, French Ambassador discuss steps to overcome Lachin Corridor crisis
14:08,
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. On August 23, the Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan received the newly appointed Ambassador of France Olivier Decottignies.
Alen Simonyan congratulated the Ambassador on assuming office and expressed conviction that the latter will make maximum efforts to deepen the relations between the two countries, the parliament’s press service said in a readout.
The Speaker said that the Ambassador’s very active start of activities confirms that France is a great friend to Armenia. In response, the Ambassador mentioned that his first visit as ambassador was to Syunik province, which contains an important message. Simonyan reaffirmed that France is a reliable partner for Armenia today.
The active cooperation between the Armenian and French parliaments and Simonyan’s Paris visit on July 10-13 were discussed at the meeting.
They also discussed details on the security situation in the region and exchanged opinions on the steps to overcome the Lachin Corridor crisis.
Both sides expressed willingness to continue further cooperation.