10:06, 4 August 2023
YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, ARMENPRESS. Armenian sprinter Yervand Mkrtchyan has become the first-ever Armenian athlete to win a medal in athletics at the FISU World University Games.
Mkrtchyan won bronze in the Men’s 1500 final with a mark of 3:40.68.
France’s Benoit Campion took gold with a mark of 3:38.61 and Algeria’s Oussama Cherrad took silver with 3:40.64.
10:10, 4 August 2023
YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, ARMENPRESS. Former US President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to charges related to conspiring his 2020 election defeat, BBC reported.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to all 4 counts of indictment, among them conspiracy to defraud the US, tampering with a witness and conspiracy against the rights of citizens.
The former president was given several conditions, including not to communicate with anyone who is a witness in the given case or to communicate only through a lawyer.
The court hearings were held in the same court building where the cases of around 1000 defendants who participated in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 were examined.
During the hearing, a group of Trump supporters gathered in front of the courthouse, as well as those who protested against him.
The next court hearing of the former US President will take place on August 28.
After leaving the court, Trump described the case against him “persecution of a political opponent”. Donald Trump has nominated his candidacy to participate in the 2024 presidential elections, in which he may compete with his rival in the previous elections, the current US President Joe Biden.
The former US president is standing before the court for the third time in the last 4 months. In the other two cases, Trump is accused of violating the rules on handling classified documents and paying porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet and falsifying business reports because of it.
09:55, 4 August 2023
YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, ARMENPRESS. An attempt to hastily conclude a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan at the expense of careful preparations and planning will only lead to more conflicts in the future, Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Fourth CIS Department Denis Gonchar told TASS in an interview.
“A hastily concocted, raw peace treaty will not be able to bring about a lasting peace in the region. On the contrary, it will create potential grounds for new conflicts and future tragedies. It is not speed that should be viewed as a priority, but, instead, a careful preparation of balanced and mutually acceptable solutions,” the diplomat said.
Gonchar noted that a number of Western countries claim that Baku and Yerevan may sign a peace treaty almost as early as in coming weeks or months.
In the Russian diplomat’s opinion, the timeframe for the signing should be determined by the sides themselves.
“A responsible mediator’s task is not to expedite the negotiating process for the sake of timeserving considerations, but to facilitate solid and long-lasting agreements,” Gonchar added.
10:23, 4 August 2023
YEREVAN. AUGUST 4. ARMENPRESS. On August 3, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Vahe Gevorgyan participated in and delivered remarks at the open debate on “Famine and conflict-induced global food insecurity” organized by the United States under the agenda item “Maintenance of international peace and security” of the UN Security Council.
The open debate was chaired by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The United Nations Famine Prevention and Response Coordinator Reena Ghelani delivered a briefing.
In his remarks, the Deputy Foreign Minister Vahe Gevorgyan particularly noted:
“I would like to express my appreciation to the United States for convening this open debate on such a pertinent topic. I thank Ms. Reena Ghelani, UN Famine Prevention and Response Coordinator and other distinguished briefers for presenting their views on the ways to prevent and address famine by strengthening food security in conflict situations.
Starvation has been repeatedly used as a method of warfare and perpetration of genocide throughout history. But today, I am not going to recall examples from the past or assess future risks of famine in the context of the conflict. Instead I would bring to the attention of the Council a situation which is happening right now, a situation wherein people do not know whether today they will be able to find milk formula for their babies, loaf of bread for their children or provide medicines to critically ill relatives.
As we meet, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh face threat to their very existence resulting from the complete blockade, imposed by Azerbaijan. For more than seven months Azerbaijan continues to block the Lachin corridor, a humanitarian lifeline connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with the outside world. This illegal and inhumane action is in blatant violation of the order of the International Court of Justice of 22 February 2023 reconfirmed by July 6 order, norms of the international humanitarian law and the Trilateral Statement of 9 November 2020.
The complete halt of any humanitarian supplies by Azerbaijan since 15 June this year has led to a critical shortage of food, medical supplies and other essential goods, creating a full-fledged humanitarian crisis. Disruption of electricity and gas supplies has been paralyzing social and healthcare services and the transportation system, depriving the besieged population of their fundamental human rights.
The blockade has a particularly devastating impact on the most vulnerable segments of the population. Due to the lack of essential foods and vitamins, approximately 2,000 pregnant women, around 30,000 children, 20,000 elderly persons and 9,000 persons with disabilities are struggling to survive under conditions of malnutrition, absence of basic supplies and medicines.
Motive, Azerbaijan continuously targets civilians conducting agricultural works, augmenting its manifest intent to impose starvation on the population.
These warning signs have already been communicated by the ICRC which remains the only international humanitarian mission in Nagorno-Karabakh. In its July 25 news release the International Committee of the Red Cross expressed concern over growing humanitarian needs and emphasized that it is not currently able to bring humanitarian assistance to the civilian population through the Lachin corridor, while stressing that its humanitarian aid convoys are a lifeline for the population in the area. After 3 days of this communication Azerbaijan arrested 68-year-old Vagif Khachatryan, a person who was being transported by the ICRC from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia for medical treatment. The arrest of a person under the ICRC protection whose transfer was preliminary agreed with Azerbaijan is not merely perfidious act but well-calculated obstruction of the ICRC work in Nagorno-Karabakh.
To address life-saving needs of the most vulnerable, on 26 July the Government of Armenia decided to deliver a consignment of around 360 tons of essential goods, mainly food and medical supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh. We appealed to the peacekeeping forces of the Russian Federation to organize the delivery of the humanitarian assistance to those in need which was established practice throughout past months. However, up until now, the humanitarian cargo remains at the entrance to the Lachin corridor due to obstruction and denial by Azerbaijani side of its transfer.
The dire humanitarian situation on the ground and the risks of evolving hunger in Nagorno-Karabakh require efficient and timely response by the international community to ensure full and unconditional implementation of the ICJ decisions and full respect of international human rights and international humanitarian law.
We hope that yesterday’s statement of the UN Secretary-General wherein he expressed deep concern on the humanitarian situation and emphasized the need of the implementation of ICJ orders for ensuring unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along Lachin corridor will be the first step towards full UN engagement on the ground. This engagement is as needed as ever. The cost of inaction is too high to be sustained and this mass atrocity being perpetrated through starvation should and can be prevented and stopped.
We call on the UN and its Security Council to undertake urgent measures to ensure full adherence of Azerbaijan to its legally binding obligations under the ICJ orders and the international humanitarian law, immediately restore the freedom of movement across the Lachin corridor and allow safe and unimpeded humanitarian access of the UN agencies and the ICRC to Nagorno-Karabakh.”
11:40, 4 August 2023
YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, ARMENPRESS. During the trilateral meeting between Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan in Moscow the Russian side has made some suggestions to Armenia and Azerbaijan on how to de-escalate the tension, Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Fourth CIS Department Denis Gonchar told TASS in an interview.
“The last contacts at the level of foreign ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia that took place in Moscow on July 25 happened amid an extremely difficult situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. Without revealing sensitive details, I can say that we have proposed compromise solutions for de-escalation of tensions, which the parties have taken ‘to study at home.’ We hope that humanitarian considerations, caring for ordinary people will prevail over the political differences between Baku and Yerevan,” he said.
The official drew attention on the fact that Russia actively participated in the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at all stages and reminded about the trilateral agreements signed in 2020-2022 with the mediation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Gonchar also noted that the Russian side continues active mediation efforts in all directions, including the unblocking of economic and transport communications in the region, the start of the process of delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the finalizing of a peace treaty between Yerevan and Baku, the development of dialogue between public representatives and experts.
“Not everything is going as fast as we would want to, but it is understandable, taking into account the series of problems and contradictions that have accumulated during the years of the conflict,” Gonchar added.
12:00, 4 August 2023
YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Azerbaijan still have to find solutions around a number of difficult issues, a senior Russian foreign ministry official has said.
In an interview with TASS news agency, Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Fourth CIS Department Denis Gonchar said that the commitment of Armenia and Azerbaijan to swiftly achieve peace doesn’t mean that the two countries are ready to agree to any condition.
“We still have to find solutions around a number of difficult topics,” Gonchar said.
He added that the “protection of the security and universally recognized rights of the Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh within the framework of Azerbaijan’s legislative framework” is one of the most important tasks.
“The sides decided the relevant logic after mutually confirming the effectiveness of the 1991 Almaty Declaration. We also need an international support mechanism for the implementation of the agreement that wouldn’t question the sovereignty and political independence of Armenia and Azerbaijan,” Gonchar said, adding that Moscow is actively supporting the parties in preparing the peace treaty.
The Russian foreign ministry official also said that there’s been significant progress in the talks on coordinating the methods of transport connection unblocking between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
In particular, the parties have a common understanding on the specific steps for restoring the Yeraskh-Julfa-Meghri-Horadiz railway, Gonchar said.
Russia seeks to ensure that all agreements on this topic are on an equal basis, he added.
12:15, 4 August 2023
YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, ARMENPRESS. US Congressman Frank Pallone has welcomed the position of the UN Secretary-General regarding the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh).
“Glad that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is recognizing the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh,” Pallone posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. “Now the international community must act together to ensure Aliyev ends his blockade of the Lachin Corridor & allows essential aid & goods into Artsakh again.”
On August 3, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern on the ongoing blockade of Lachin Corridor, describing it as ‘continued challenges related to the freedom of movement along the Lachin Corridor’, and called for urgent steps to facilitate access for the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to 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. The ICJ reaffirmed its order on 6 July 2023.
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.
12:50, 4 August 2023
YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, ARMENPRESS. Russia is actively preparing to open a Consulate General in Kapan, Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Fourth CIS Department Denis Gonchar said in an interview with TASS news agency.
“We are actively preparing for the opening of the Russian Consulate General in Kapan, Syunik province, in full format. This initiative was approved by our leaders at a meeting held in Moscow on May 25. Already in September, Russian diplomats will visit the region to immediately deal with operational issues on the ground.”
Gonchar added that there are many proposals related to the establishment of fraternal relations between the cities of Russia and Armenia, and the 10th Interregional Forum is planned in Armenia in the fall.
13:22, 4 August 2023
YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Vahan Kostanyan has reacted to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s recent Euronews interview where the latter said “to win the war was the mission of my life, of my political life.”
Kostanyan said that the international community should take “immediate action to prevent ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh.”
“Statement of President of Azerbaijan that “winning war was mission of his life, of his political life…” clearly demonstrates how impunity gives green-light for new atrocity crimes. Intl community should take immediate action to prevent ethnic cleansing in Nagorno Karabakh,” the Deputy FM said in a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
14:17, 4 August 2023
YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, ARMENPRESS. A group of Armenian NGOs have asked members of the UN Security Council to urgently intervene in relation to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh caused by the total blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan.
In the urgent call for action, the Armenian NGOs warned that the blockade aims to create unbearable living conditions for the ethnic Armenians of the region and push them out from their homes, and that the Nagorno-Karabakh people are now facing the imminent threat of starvation.
Below is the Urgent Call for Action by the UN Security Council to Address the Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis in Artsakh signed by the Armenian NGOs:
“Dear Representatives of States – Members of the UN Security Council,
We appeal to the States – Members of the UN Security Council, as to the primary mandate holder for international peace and security and call for your urgent intervention in relation to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh caused by the total blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan. The Lachin Corridor is the only lifeline that connects the local Armenian people to the Republic of Armenia as well as to the rest of the world. The blockade aims to create unbearable living conditions for the ethnic Armenians of the region and push them out from their homes. In recent days the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh has deteriorated further, with its people now facing the imminent threat of starvation.
As you know, since 12 December 2022, Nagorno-Karabakh people have been under siege because of the blockade of the Lachin Corridor. On 23 April 2023, the Azerbaijani government installed an official checkpoint on the end of the bridge over the Hakari River that separates Armenia and Azerbaijan. Since 15 June 2023, Azerbaijan completely banned all kinds of humanitarian transportation in both ways blatantly violating its obligation towards ensuring the safe and unhindered passage through the Lachin corridor under the Trilateral Statement of 9 November 2020.
For almost 230 days under siege, the rights of indigenous Armenian people in Nagorno-Karabakh have been systematically violated. Their lives are endangered because of frequent ceasefire breaches by the attacks of Azerbaijani armed forces, shootings in the direction of civilians, houses and schools, usually preceded by aggressive disinformation campaigns creating false narratives that Armenians are the ones violating the ceasefire. Movement of people and vehicles from and to Nagorno-Karabakh is completely banned with rare emergency exceptions for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). There is no gas, and there are rolling blackouts of electricity (for 6 hours per day). A few days ago, the operation of all the public transportation came to a halt given the lack of fuel. There is poor tele-communication and access to information, which contributes to the spread of misinformation from the Azerbaijani side. Azerbaijan’s banning the international media from accessing Nagorno Karabakh prevents any broadcasts on the situation. Most recently, the European Federation of Journalists stated that “it was the Azerbaijani army that prevented us from crossing, in accordance with government orders.”
People in Nagorno-Karabakh are facing a shortage of medication, products of hygiene, clothing and access to medical services. Only the patients in a critical state are transferred by ICRC to the hospitals in Armenia to get the due treatment. The number of early-stage miscarriages has nearly tripled in the past month due to high stress among pregnant women and inability to access a balanced diet amid the blockade.
Farmers are neither able to cultivate their farmland due to shortage of fuel nor feed their cattle given the frequent shootings by the Azerbaijani military, who also damage the agricultural equipment and steal the cattle. The Sarsang reservoir – a major source of irrigation – has almost dried up, making it unable to compensate for water shortages and generate more electricity necessary for the people’s survival.
ICRC’s recent statement says: “The civilian population is now facing a lack of life-saving medication and essentials like hygiene products and baby formula. Fruits, vegetables, and bread are increasingly scarce and costly, while some other food items such as dairy products, sunflower oil, cereal, fish, and chicken are not available. The last time the ICRC was allowed to bring medical items and essential food items into the area was several weeks ago.”
All the above mentioned are part of Azerbaijan’s broader strategy aimed at ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. It is important to stress that any presence of Azerbaijani armed forces as well as checkpoints on the Lachin corridor poses an imminent threat to the security of the Armenians passing through the corridor either to or from Nagorno-Karabakh given the fear of being kidnapped, murdered, imprisoned, tortured or humiliated, as proved in the last two years. Such fears make it practically impossible for the local indigenous people to enjoy any safety, to exercise their fundamental rights and freedoms, to develop in their homeland.
In December 2021, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) adopted an order of provisional measures, stating that the Republic of Azerbaijan must “take all necessary measures to prevent the incitement and promotion of racial hatred and discrimination, including by its officials and public institutions, targeted at persons of Armenian national or ethnic origin.”In August 2022, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) published its findings on Azerbaijan, where it confirmed Azerbaijan’s coercive tactics and its hateful and antagonistic rhetoric towards Armenia, and stated that the Committee is “deeply concerned about allegations of grave human rights violations committed by the Azerbaijani military forces against prisoners of war and other protected persons of Armenian ethnic or national origin.”
In February 2023, ICJ adopted another order demanding that Azerbaijan shall, in accordance with its obligations under CERD, take all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.On 23 July 2023, Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention issued a Red Flag Alert for genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh. On July 25, ICRC reported: “Despite persistent efforts, we are currently unable to deliver aid via the Lachin corridor & other routes, including Aghdam. With these convoys blocked, our concern is that the humanitarian situation will further deteriorate.”Freedom House issued a statement: “We urge Azerbaijan to allow @ICRC to provide vital humanitarian assistance to Nagorno Karabakh & immediately work to ensure freedom of movement by opening the Lachin corridor, guaranteeing unrestricted movement of individuals, vehicles & cargo.”
It is crucial that the United Nations Security Council takes the responsibility to protect the Armenian people of Nagorno-Karabakh from the ethnic cleansing as well as from genocide, which is actually underway through the forced starvation.
The Security Council shall particularly:
Pass a resolution that condemns the blockade and demands to urgently open the Lachin corridor for unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo, in line with the ICJ interim measure.
Take urgent measures to ensure international peacekeeping mandate inside Nagorno-Karabakh and Lachin corridor to ensure the security of the Armenian population beyond November 2025, i.e. the end of mandate of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, prescribed in November 10, 2020 trilateral statement, until the durable settlement of the conflict is achieved;
Request the UN Secretary General to commission a fact-finding mission to the region to assess the situation on the ground; and to appoint Secretary General’s Special Representative on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to ensure longer-term presence in the region;
Request the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to deploy a fact-finding mission to Nagorno-Karabakh to assess the situation on the ground and present a comprehensive report to the UN Security Council; and to utilize all pertinent UN human rights mechanisms, including Special Advisors and Special Rapporteurs, to promptly generate reports on the human rights, humanitarian, and human security conditions in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Condemn Azerbaijan’s policy of ethnic hatred against Armenians, which puts at risk any efforts aimed at establishment of peace and security in the region.
Signed by:
Democracy Development Foundation
Transparency International Anticorruption Center NGO
Public Journalism Club NGO
Law Development and Protection Foundation
Protection of Rights without Borders NGO
Helsinki Citizens Assembly – Vanadzor
“For Equal Rights” NGO
“Peace Dialogue” NGO”