Category: News

Artsakh reports 1,150 shots from Azeri side overnight

Rose Khoyetsian

More than 85 violations of the ceasefire regime by the Azerbaijani side were registered at the line of contact between the armed forces of Artsakh and Azerbaijan last night.

The rival fired over 1,150 shots in the direction of the Armenian positions, the Artsakh Defense Ministry reports.

More intensive firing was reported in the eastern, northeastern and northern directions of the line of contact.

The front troops of the Artsakh Defense Army confidently continue with their military duty and resort to response actions, if necessary.

Artsakh MoD: Bodies of Azeri soldiers recovered from no man’s land

Emil Lazarian

The bodies of the dead Azeri soldiers were evacuated from the no man’s land at about 17:00 under an agreement reached between the parties with the mediation of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Artsakh Defense Ministry reports.

The operation was carried out with the participation of the Field Assistants of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICTC).

Armenian Americans protest in New York and Washington DC against Azerbaijani aggression

Antranik Varosian
Armenian Americans protested escalating Azerbaijani aggression against the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) and Armenia in New York City and Washington, DC in recent days, in the wake of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s largest attacks since his April, 2016, 4-day offensive that claimed several hundred lives, reported the Armenian National Committee of America – Eastern Region (ANCA-ER).

“President Aliyev’s latest attacks this weekend represent a continuation of the pogroms in Sumgait, Kirovabad, and Baku from 1988-1990 and 25 years of escalating ceasefire violations that culminated in the April 2016 atrocities – the worst violence seen in decades,” said ANCA-ER Board Member Audrey Mardoian.  “We continue to witness the cost – in innocent lives – of the refusal by the U.S. and the international community to clearly and unequivocally condemn President Aliyev’s aggression and put in place clear measures to stop his violence.”

The demonstrations, organized by the ANC of New York and ANC of Greater Washington, in cooperation with the local Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) and Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) chapters, were held on February 24th and 26th, respectively, and coincided with the 29th anniversary of the Azerbaijani pogroms against the Armenian population of Sumgait.  Those massacres set the stage for similar attacks in Baku in 1990 and a cycle of violence that continues to this day.  In Washington, DC,  Vice-President Mike Pence’s motorcade passed within feet of protesters.  At the end of demonstration, Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church pastor, Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian, led DC-area protesters in a prayer in memory of those who have perished as a result of Azerbaijani aggression.

Also on Sunday, February 26th, the ANC of NY organized a special commemoration of the Sumgait-Baku massacres, hosted by the St. Gregory Mission Parish of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church – Eastern U.S. and held at the Brooklyn Armenian School, with remarks provided by the ANCA Eastern Region’s Artur Martirosyan.

A small group of Azerbaijani counter-protesters converged in both cities, many brandishing the sign of the Grey Wolves, a Turkish terrorist organization.

According to reports by the Republic of Artsakh Defense Army, on February 25th, Azerbaijani forces carried out two attacks at the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact in the direction of Martakert and Akna.  Artsakh forces successfully repelled the strike, with no casualties reported.  Azerbaijani authorities have confirmed several deaths as a result of their military action.  Just a day earlier, on February 24th, Azerbaijani forces shelled the Artsakh village of Talish, which had been a primary target during the April 2-6, 2016 Azerbaijani incursion, the worst violence since the 1994 ceasefire.

Over the past two years, U.S. Congressional leaders, including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA), Ranking Democrat Eliot Engel (D-NY), Senior Member Brad Sherman and over 90 colleagues have called for the implementation of the Royce-Engel proposals – a concrete plan to reduce aggression in the region, calling for the 1) removal of snipers 2) increase of Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) monitors at the line of contact and 3) the deployment of a gunfire locator system to clearly identify aggressors.  Armenia and Artsakh have approved the plan.  Azerbaijan, to date, continues to obstruct their implementation.

The latest violence raises additional concerns about reports of Azerbaijan’s impending purchase of the Israeli made “Iron Dome” missile system, which includes sensitive U.S. technology.  The ANCA has called on the US State Department to exercise its right to oppose the sale, noting that it will only further embolden President Aliyev to increase his aggression.

“We are here to protest Azerbaijan’s most recent attacks and its pattern of violence going back more than a quarter century,” said AYF Central Hai Tahd Council Chair Lara Ozdemirci.  “As Americans, we can and must contribute to peace by challenging Azerbaijan’s aggression, cutting off military aid and arms sales to Baku, deploying gunfire locators along the line of contact, and imposing sanctions on Aliyev and his inner circle.”

From 1988 to 1990, the Armenian population in Soviet Azerbaijan was the target of racially motivated pogroms against Armenians in the cities of Sumgait (February 27-29, 1988), Kirovabad (November 21-27, 1988) and Baku (January 13-19, 1990).

At the time, Members of Congress condemned these premeditated and officially-sponsored attacks against Armenian civilians and passed amendments and resolutions demanding respect for the democratic aspirations of the people of Nagorno Karabakh.

These pogroms set the stage for two decades of aggression by Azerbaijan, during which it launched and lost a war against Nagorno Karabakh, and later used its oil wealth to buy a massive military arsenal that its leaders, to this day, vow to use to renew their attempts to conquer a Christian people that has lived on these lands for thousands of years and, after great challenges, has flourished in freedom from Soviet oppression for 25 years.

President Sargsyan meets EPP President in Brussels

Emil Lazarian

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and European People’s Party President (EPP) Joseph Dole discussed the perspectives of development of Armenia-EU relations as they met at EPP Headquarters in Brussels today.

The interlocutors referred  to the process of ongoing reforms in Armenia, including the transit to a new system of governance after the Constitutional changes, the steps towards future development and reinforcement of democratic institutions, preparations for the parliamentary elections scheduled for April 2.

Serzh Sargsyan and Joseph Dole discussed Armenia’s cooperation with EPP partners on the international arena, issues related to common issues and challenges. They also exchanged views on the reinforcement of inter-party relations.

President Sargsyan attached importance to the continuous deepening of cooperation between the European People’s Party and the Republican Party of Armenia and expressed gratitude for the willingness to support Armenia and RPA and for the practical assistance.

Serzh Sargsyan briefed Joseph Dole on the Armenian approaches towards the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, the situation at the line of contact between Artsakh and Azerbaijan, the periodic violations of the ceasefire regime by Azerbaijan, its provocative actions and the escalation of tension.

Noting that the Karabakh issue remains a most serious challenge for both regional and European security, President Sargsyan underlined that Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries see no alternative to a peaceful resolution. “Unlike Azerbaijan, we are unwilling to see the region engaged in the nightmare of war once again,” he said.

Serzh Sargsyan reiterated that “Armenia will spare no effort to reach an exceptionally peaceful solution.”

Oscars mistake: Moonlight wins best picture after announcement mix-up

Jirair Kafian 
Photo: Reuters

Moonlight has won best picture at the Oscars – but only after Faye Dunaway initially announced La La Land had won, the BBC reports.

Dunaway’s co-presenter Warren Beatty said “Emma Stone, La La Land” had been written in the envelope he was given.

The team from La La Land were in the middle of their acceptance speeches when the mistake was discovered.

La La Land won six Oscars including best actress for Emma Stone. Damien Chazelle, director of La La Land, became the youngest filmmaker to win a best director Oscar, at the age of 32.

Stone, who won the coveted best actress prize, said backstage: “I’m so excited for Moonlight. Of course it was an amazing thing to hear La La Land and I would love to win best picture. But we are so excited for Moonlight. I think it is one of the best films of all time.

“Is that the craziest Oscar moment of all time? Cool! It’s going to be history.”

Host Jimmy Kimmel said after the show that Beatty had been given the wrong envelope.

Winners list in full

Best film – Moonlight

Best actress – Emma Stone (La La Land)

Best actor – Casey Affleck (Manchester By The Sea)

Best director – Damien Chazelle (La La Land)

Best supporting actress – Viola Davis (Fences)

Best supporting actor – Mahershala Ali (Moonlight)

Best original screenplay – Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester By The Sea)

Best adapted screenplay – Barry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight)

Best cinematography – Linus Sandgren (La La Land)

Best original score – Justin Hurwitz (La La Land)

Best original song – Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land)

Best sound editing – Sylvain Bellemare (Arrival)

Best foreign language film – Asghar Farhadi (The Salesman)

Best film editing – John Gilbert (Hacksaw Ridge)

Best visual effects – Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew R. Jones and Dan Lemmon (The Jungle Book)

Best production design – David Wasco and Sandy Reynolds Wasco (La La Land)

Best sound mixing – Kevin O’Connell, Andy Wright, Robert Mackenzie and Peter Grace (Hacksaw Ridge)

Best documentary Feature – Ezra Edelman and Caroline Waterlow (O.J.: Made in America)

Best animated film – Byron Howard, Rich Moore and Clark Spencer (Zootopia)

Best animated short film – Alan Barillaro and Marc Sondheimer (Piper)

Best documentary short subject – Orlando von Einsiedel and Joanna Natasegara (The White Helmets)

Best live action short film – Kristof Deak and Anna Udvardy (Sing)

Best make-up – Alessandro Bertolazzi, Giorgio Gregorini and Christopher Nelson (Suicide Squad)

Best costume design – Colleen Atwood (Fantastic Beast and Where To Find Them)

Iran says Karabakh conflict should be solved through dialogue and negotiations

Emil Lazarian

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi has called on Azerbaijan and Armenia to exercise self-restraint, saying that dialogue and negotiations are peaceful channels for settlement of disputes, Isna reports.

Qasemi said, “Iran invites its two northern neighbors to self-restraint and recommends both sides to do their best to stabilize the situation on the ground through dialogue and negotiations.”

He also hoped that innterational institutes shouldered with ending the struggle would perform their responsibility to end the conflict.

The spokesman also voiced Iran’s readiness for the establishment of peace and security in the region with the help of both sides.

Co-Chiars urges sides to Karabakh conflict to refrain from the use of force

Mary Lazarian

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Igor Popov of Russia, Stephane Visconti of France and Richard Hoagland of the United States of America, released the following statement:

According to reports from  the Ministries of Defense of Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as other sources, in the early morning of February 25  there was a serious breach of cease fire on the Line of Contact, resulting in casualties. Several bodies remain in the no-man’s land. The Sides accuse each other of an incursion attempt.

The Co-chairs call upon the Parties to keep heavy military equipment, which had been moved earlier close to the LOC, in its present positions and to allow recovery of the dead, as it was agreed upon yesterday under mediation of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chaiman-in-Office.

The Co-chairs remind the Parties of their commitments to refrain from the use of force.

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs informed of the Azerbaijani offensive: Armenia MFA

John Hovhannisian

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have been informed about the Azerbaijani offence attempt.

“Armenia informed OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing countries on Azerbaijan offensive attempt,” the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a Twitter post.

The Azerbaijani side used special equipment as it in the southeastern and eastern directions of the line of contact at 03:00 and 04:00 respectively

Azeri forces launch offensive, incur losses: Artsakh MoD

Hovsep Chakrian

The Azerbaijani side used special equipment as it launched an offencive in the southeastern and eastern directions of the line of contact at 03:00 and 04:00 respectively, the Artsakh Defense Ministry reports.

“The attempt was a complete failure,” the Ministry said, adding that, as usual, the Azeri side tried to ascribe its actions to the Armenian side.

In particular, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry issued a statement, claiming that the Artsakh forces had undertaken an attack with a view of improving their positions and noting that the Azerbaijani side had incurred losses in the “defensive.”

Press Service of the  Artsakh Defense Ministry declares that the claims have nothing to do with reality. The Ministry adds that the defending side could not have left losses in the neutral zone.