Category: 2023

France expresses concern about Azeri shooting targeting EU monitors in Armenia, announces extra funding for ICRC in NK

Suren Karakhanian

 12:51,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. France will provide an addition €3,000,000 to support the humanitarian activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Nagorno-Karabakh, the French foreign ministry said in a readout of the call between the Armenian and French foreign ministers.

Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, expressed deep concern about the fact that the population of Nagorno-Karabakh has been suffering for more than eight months as a result of the blockade of Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan.

Colonna noted with regret that Azerbaijan continues its blockade, which contradicts its obligations within the framework of the ceasefire agreement and harms the negotiations process.

Reiterating her call made during her April 27 and 28 trips to Azerbaijan and Armenia, she said that outstanding issues can only be solved through negotiations, which would give the chance to achieve just and lasting peace.

The French Foreign Minister reiterated her call on restoring the free movement of people and goods in both directions along the Lachin Corridor and uninterrupted gas and electricity supplies to the population.

FM Colonna said that Azerbaijan must fulfill its international obligations, particularly comply with the ICJ February 22 binding order.

The ministers also discussed the Azerbaijani cross-border shooting that happened on the Armenian border on August 15 during an EU monitoring patrol. The French foreign minister expressed concern about the shooting and expressed full support to the EU mission.

Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since late 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.  Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. Moreover, Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medication. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno Karabakh, with officials warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing against Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh. Hospitals have suspended normal operations.

On July 26, Armenia sent a humanitarian convoy carrying emergency food and medication for Nagorno-Karabakh, but Azerbaijan blocked the trucks at the entrance of Lachin Corridor.




Photos show bullet-riddled tractor after latest Azeri shooting targeting farmers in Nagorno- Karabakh

Arsine Chaltikian

 13:20,

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. A farmer in Nagorno-Karabakh came under Azerbaijani gunfire on August 15 while working in the grain fields, the Nagorno-Karabakh police said in a statement.

The farmer was working with his combine harvester in grain fields Tuesday evening in the village of Avdur when Azerbaijani troops opened small arms fire from adjacent outposts.

The farmer, who escaped unharmed, is a resident of Myurishen village.

The combine harvester was hit multiple times. Police released photos of the bullet-riddled vehicle.

The farmers had to suspend agricultural work due to the shootings.

Nagorno-Karabakh authorities said they’ve notified the Russian peacekeepers on the shooting.




On-duty reservist suspected of going AWOL

Hagop Kamalian

 13:32,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. A reservist of the Armed Forces of Armenia serving active duty in a military post as part of training musters has presumably gone AWOL, authorities announced Wednesday.

“On August 16, reservist G. V., according to preliminary information, voluntarily left his combat outpost. Search operations are underway to find the participant of the training musters,” the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

Armenian military releases video debunking Azerbaijani fake news on sabotage infiltration attempt

Yeghisabet Arthur

 16:04,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ministry of Defense has released a video showing the moment when Azerbaijani troops approached a lost Armenian reservist to detain him, debunking Baku's false accusations of sabotage. 

[SEE VIDEO]

The reservist, identified by his initials G.V., went AWOL and got lost in the terrain before accidentally crossing into Azerbaijan. But Azerbaijan falsely accused Armenia of attempting what it described as a “sabotage infiltration attempt.” This was denied by the Armenian authorities.

“The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia presents video footage showing how a group of servicemen of the Azerbaijani armed forces approaches the reservist G. V., who appeared on the Azerbaijani side in yet unclarified circumstances, first, talks to, then apprehends him and takes by car to an unknown direction,” the Armenian Ministry of Defense said in a statement. “This video footage refutes the falsehood of the MoD of Azerbaijan as if the group of the Armed Forces of Armenia attempted a sabotage infiltration in the eastern part of the frontier zone, whose "actions were stopped by shooting." All the circumstances of G.V. disorienting in the terrain and appearing on the Azerbaijani side are being investigated,” the ministry added.

Armenia denies Azeri accusation of sabotage infiltration attempt

Bedik Zaminian

 14:42,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. The statement disseminated by the Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan that the Armenian Armed Forces launched a sabotage infiltration attempt in the eastern part of the frontier zone is an absolute falsehood, the Armenian Ministry of Defense has announced.

Prior to this, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia made a statement regarding the reservist and participant of the training assembly G. V., who had left the combat position according to preliminary information, the defense ministry added in a statement on social media.

A possible version and all the circumstances of the reservist appearing on the Azerbaijani side are being investigated.

Intellectuals from Turkey unite to break Nagorno-Karabakh blockade and avert potential genocide

Tambiyan Samvel

 16:40,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. Politicians, writers, and human rights advocates from Turkey have united to issue a plea to the global community, urging immediate intervention to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh caused by Azerbaijan's blockade, Gercek News reports.

The heart of the appeal lies in the conviction that waiting for a humanitarian disaster to unfold before acting is unacceptable.

“As the blockade imposed by Azerbaijan on the Lachin corridor enters its eighth month and the once-vibrant region of Nagorno-Karabakh is teetering on the brink of a dire humanitarian crisis, a group of Turkish intellectuals, writers, politicians, and human rights advocates has united to issue a compelling appeal to the global community, urging immediate intervention to alleviate the suffering and prevent a potential catastrophe.

“The relentless blockade, endorsed by the Baku government and bolstered by Ankara's support, has not only isolated the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh but has also instilled concerns of a looming genocide. This grave situation has prompted a group of influential Turkish figures to raise their voices, advocating for international action to halt the blockade and offer a lifeline to the beleaguered residents.

"It is evident that essential supplies are unable to reach Karabakh, and residents are trapped without access to urgent medical care. As the crisis deepens and in confirmation of international concerns, Baku's dictator Ilham Aliyev continues to openly and continuously threaten the people of Karabakh. To such an extent that the former Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo, published a significant article characterizing Aliyev's actions in Karabakh as genocide,” the statement by the group said and called on all states, international organizations, particularly the United Nations and the International Red Cross, and the international public to take a proactive stance.

Drawing a historical parallel from the World War II, “Just as the Berlin blockade was broken through airlifts in 1948-49, we call for the breaking of the Karabakh blockade through air supply routes, thus putting an end to this humanitarian tragedy," the statement added.

The signatories are:

Abdullah Demirbas, Abdulhakim Das, Adnan Canguder, Adnan Celik, Ahmet Aykac, Ahmet Konuk, Akin Atauz, Akin Birdal, Alev Er, Alex Koskeryan, Ali Gokkaya, Ari Gunter, Asli Erdogan, Attila Tuygan, Ayse Hur, Ayse Yildirim, Aysegul Devecioglu, Baskin Oran, Bayram Kaya, Celal Baslangic, Cengiz Aktar, Cengiz Arin, Denis Dreisbusch, Dogan Ozguden, Emrah Cilasun, Erdal Dogan, Erdogan Kahyaoglu, Eren Keskin, Ergun Babahan, Erol Ercan, Eser Budak, Esra Mungan, Fatime Akalin, Fikret Baskaya, Garo Kaprielyan, Gencay Gursoy, Gungor Senkal, Gurhan Ertur, Hacer Ansal, Hasan Burgucuoglu, Hatice Yildiz, Hidir Celik, Hovsep Hayreni, Huseyin Habip Taskin, Ibrahim Seven, Inan Gedik, Inci Tugsavul, Ira Tzourou, Kemal Bilget, Kemal Hur, Kemal Yalcin, Kenan Yenice, Mahmut Konuk, Mehmet Ali Balta, Nafiz Ozbek, Necati Abay, Nedim Kibar, Nesim Ovadya Izrail, Nesrin Nas, Nevzat Onaran, Nurcan Baysal, Nurten Kirmizigul, Okan Kucukersan, Osman Okkan, Oya Baydar, Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, Omer Madra, Racho Donef, Ragip Duran, Ragip Zarakolu, Ramazan Gezgin, Recep Marasli, Sait Cetinoglu, Sait Oral, Selahattin Kocak, Selay Ertem, Selma Kociva, Serdar Kocman, Sibel Yigittekin, Saban Iba, Sakir Bilgin, Samil Altan, Sanar Yurdatapan, Sukriye Ercan, Taner Akcam, Ulku Cevik, Viktorya Ciprut, Yalcin Ergundogan, Yasemin Gedik, Yasar Kucukaslan, Yavuz Aydin, Yavuz Baydar, Yetvart Danzikyan, Yildiz Aydin, Yusuf Kose, Zarife Atik, Ziya Ozder.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 16-08-23

Lena Karagyozian

 17:37,

YEREVAN, 16 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 16 August, USD exchange rate down by 0.69 drams to 385.97 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.34 drams to 421.36 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.06 drams to 4.00 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.48 drams to 491.73 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 40.99 drams to 23625.30 drams. Silver price down by 4.41 drams to 278.09 drams.

Turkish Press: Azerbaijan rejects allegations on targeting EU observers’ vehicles

Anna Tamamian
DAILY SABAH
Turkey – Aug 15 2023

Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry rejected Armenia's claims that its forces fired on EU observers' vehicles in the Karabakh region on Tuesday.

"On August 15, at around 12:20 p.m. (0820GMT), the information spread in Armenian media resources about the shooting by the units of the Azerbaijani Army in the direction of EU observers and their car in the area of Yukhari Shorja settlement of Basarkechar district is not true," said a statement issued by the ministry.

The statement said the allegations made were "another disinformation" attempt by the Armenian side.

The time, route, and registration number plates of the cars used by the EU mission were shared with Azerbaijan in advance, and Baku was aware of the mission's trips, it added.

"For this reason, it is theoretically and practically impossible for such a situation to occur as claimed by the Armenian Ministry of Defense," the statement concluded.

The European Union's border monitoring mission in Armenia said Tuesday one of its patrols had come under fire on the volatile border.

"No EUMA member was harmed," the EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) said on social media, confirming its personnel were "present to the shooting incident in our area of responsibility."

The EU established a civilian mission in Armenia on the country's border with neighboring Azerbaijan back in February.

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

In the fall of 2020, Azerbaijan liberated several cities, villages, and settlements from Armenian occupation during 44 days of clashes. The war ended with a Russia-brokered peace agreement.

Despite ongoing talks over a long-term peace agreement, tensions between the neighboring countries rose in recent months over the Lachin corridor, the only land route giving Armenia access to Karabakh.

EU says ‘no Armenian military buildup’ on Azerbaijan border

Yeghisabet Vorskanian
Aug 15 2023
 

ByAni Avetisyan
The EU monitoring mission in Armenia. Image via Twitter.

The European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA) has denied Azerbaijani claims of an Armenian military buildup on their border.

EUMA’s statement came after Baku accused Yerevan and Stepanakert of ramping up their military presence along their borders with Azerbaijan, as well as of building of Armenian military infrastructure within Nagorno-Karabakh.

EUMA is a civilian monitoring mission deployed on the Armenian side of the Armenia–Azerbaijan border.

‘In recent days, there has been a large concentration of weapons, military equipment and personnel along the state border in order to carry out another military adventure’, Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry claimed.

On Monday, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry dismissed Azerbaijan’s statements as ‘fake’ and accused it of attempting to drive attention away from its blockade of the Lachin Corridor.

‘It is also evident that one of the objectives of Azerbaijan’s disinformation campaign is to divert the international community’s attention from the escalating humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, which is intensifying day by day, and from its steps to implement ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh through provoking a humanitarian catastrophe’, read the statement.

While Nagorno-Karabakh has been under Azerbaijani blockade since December, the humanitarian crisis in the region deepened further in mid-June when Azerbaijan barred the Russian peacekeeping forces stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh from using the Lachin Corridor to supply the region.

Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan have also been growing, with the two countries continuously accusing each other of ceasefire violations.

Upon Armenia’s request, the UN Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting for Wedesday to discuss the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azerbaijan has criticised Armenia’s appeal to the Security Council, accusing it of ‘deliberately and intentionally [obstructing] all the efforts made through international partners to find a balanced, law-based, and reasonable solution on the ground’.

In an Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry statement, Baku argued that ‘what Armenia cynically seeks’ from the UN Security Council was within reach had it and Stepanakert agreed to supplying Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijani-held territory in Aghdam in late July.

Last week, former International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Ocampo has called on the Security Council to adopt a resolution on the situation in the blockaded region to allow the tribunal to investigate Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for genocidal intentions.

[Read more: Former ICC prosecutor accuses Azerbaijan of ‘genocide’ in Nagorno-Karabakh]

However, despite international condemnation, Azerbaijan continues to deny that Nagorno-Karabakh is under blockade, and maintains that the region is not facing a humanitarian crisis.

 For ease of reading, we choose not to use qualifiers such as ‘de facto’, ‘unrecognised’, or ‘partially recognised’ when discussing institutions or political positions within Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and South Ossetia. This does not imply a position on their status.


Azerbaijan’s blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh claims first starvation victim – distressing images

Talar Tumanian
Aug 15 2023

Azerbaijan's 8-month-long blockade of the historically and ethnically Armenian region of Nagorno-Karabakh has sadly claimed its first starvation victim.

According to the Human Rights Defender's Office and the research conducted by its Staff, a resident of Stepanakert, K. Hovhannisyan, born in 1983, died due to chronic malnutrition, protein and energy deficiency.

"The catastrophic consequences of the ongoing 8-month-long blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan are more than noticeable in the public health sector, which primarily affects the health situation of the most vulnerable groups of the society – children, pregnant women, people with chronic diseases, people with disabilities and older persons," the Artsakh / Nagorno-Karabakh Human Rights Ombudsman wrote in a social media post.

"The catastrophic food situation caused by the blockade and especially the 2-month-long complete siege, leading to the malnutrition of people and the threat of hunger, the lack of necessary medicines and the inability of the full functioning of the healthcare system create direct and undeniable threats to 120,000 population of Artsakh," the Ombudsman statement added.

Warning: Distressing images

The U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting Wednesday in response to a call from Armenia saying the mainly Armenian-populated region is blockaded and 120,000 people are facing hunger and “a full-fledged humanitarian catastrophe," AP reported.

Armenia’s U.N. Ambassador Mher Margaryan asked for the meeting on the dire situation in Nagorno-Karabakh in a letter to the ambassador of the United States, which holds the Security Council presidency this month.

The U.S. Mission to the U.N. said Monday the emergency open meeting will take place on Wednesday afternoon.

In his letter to Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Margaryan said Azerbaijan’s complete blockade since July 15 of the Lachin Corridor – the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia – has created severe shortages of food, medicine and fuel.

“The deliberate creation of unbearable life conditions for the population is nothing but an act of mass atrocity targeting the indigenous people of Nagorno-Karabakh and forcing them to leave their homeland,” he said, stressing that this constitutes “an existential threat to them.”

Margaryan asked the Security Council, which is charged with ensuring international peace and security, “to prevent mass atrocities including war crimes, ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity and genocide.”

He accused Azerbaijan of violating the Russian-brokered armistice and international humanitarian law as well as orders by the International Court of Justice in February and July. The U.N.’s highest court said in its orders that Azerbaijan should “take all measures to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directors,” the Armenian ambassador said.

Last week, the former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court warned that Azerbaijan is preparing genocide against ethnic Armenians in its Nagorno-Karabakh region and called for the Security Council to bring the matter before the international tribunal.

Luis Moreno Ocampo said in a report requested by a group of Armenians, including the country’s president, that as a result of the blockade “there is a reasonable basis to believe that a genocide is being committed.”

He said the U.N. convention defines genocide as including “deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction.”

https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/08/16/azerbaijans-blockade-starvation/