20:35,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Iran have agreed to increase the bilateral trade turnover to 3 billion dollars annually, the Head of the Organization for Planning and Budget Davoud Manzour said, IRNA reports.
At the closing of the 18th meeting of the Iran-Armenia Joint Economic Commission, the Republic of Armenia and the Islamic Republic of Iran signed an agreement on economic cooperation covering 19 areas.
21:31,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan on February 14 met with Claude Wiseler, President of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg. Members of the Luxembourg parliament's bureau and the committee on foreign affairs also participated in the meeting, the foreign ministry said.
During the meeting, the parties emphasized the role of parliamentary diplomacy in the dynamic development of high-level political dialogue between Armenia and Luxembourg.
The Armenian Foreign Minister presented the latest events regarding the security situation in the South Caucasus. A detailed reference was made to Armenia’s approaches to the key issues of the draft agreement on the regulation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which are based on fundamental principles well-known to the civilized world.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia emphasized the importance of steps to restrain the destabilization of the situation in the region. Parliamentarians highly appreciated the decision of the Armenian government to open a diplomatic representation in Luxembourg, describing it as an _expression_ of close friendship.
SYDNEY—The New South Wales Legislative Council has debated and unanimously passed a motion calling on Australia’s largest state’s government to expand Holocaust education to include the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides and establish a Museum to create further awareness, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).
The motion, presented to the Legislative Council in the last sitting week of 2023 by Chris Rath MLC, was debated on Wednesday, February 7.
Members from across the political aisle spoke on the historic motion, including Daniel Mookhey MLC (ALP), Dr. Amanda Cohn MLC (GRNS), Susan Carter MLC (LIB), Mark Buttigieg MLC (ALP), Jacqui Munro MLC (LIB), Anthony D’Adam MLC (ALP), and Stephen Lawrence MLC (ALP).
In particular, powerful statements were made in support of expanding genocide education to incorporate the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocide in the curriculum and establish a museum to create awareness about the genocide, by Rath, Munro, Cater and Buttigieg.
Rath, the youngest ever member of the NSW Legislative Council – appointed in March 2022 – said, “All of us as Australians—students and children—know a lot about the Holocaust, and rightly so. Many, many years later I learnt about the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocides. They are still not well known and not well taught, which is a very sad thing and exactly what the motion is about.”
ANC-AU Executive Director, Michael Kolokossian welcomed the historic undertaking by the NSW Upper House.
“The Armenian-Australian community thanks Mr. Rath and his colleagues in the Legislative Council for ensuring New South Wales continues to lead the way after being the first state legislature to recognise the Armenian Genocide and the Republic of Artsakh,” Kolokossian said. “The teaching of the darkest chapter of Armenian history is the next step to ensuring we have a more vocal citizenry when future attempts to exterminate our race – as we witnessed with the recent ethnic cleansing of Artsakh – are attempted by criminal autocratic regimes.”
Artak Beglaryan and Gegham Stepanyan participated in a panel at George Washington University
WASHINGTON – Republic of Artsakh Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan and former State Minister Artak Beglaryan concluded a two-week advocacy mission to Washington that called on U.S. Congressional leaders, Administration officials, and a broad array of faith-based and human rights groups to hold Azerbaijan accountable for the genocide against Artsakh’s 150,000 indigenous Armenian Christians and to provide support to refugees as mechanisms are explored to ensure their safe return to the homes from which they were forcibly displaced.
Artsakh Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan with Rep. Chris Smith Rep, Ted Lieu received a briefing about Artsakh
Amb. Rashad Hussein Rep. David Valadeo with Artak Beglaryan Sen. Gary Peters with Artsakh reps. Sen. Armed Service Committee chair Jack Reed Sen. Gary Peters
Rep. Barbara Lee
The Armenian National Committee of America joined with Stepanyan and Beglaryan in over 60 meetings and briefings with Congressional offices, coinciding with the introduction of two resolutions that would cut military aid to Azerbaijan’s genocidal regime, holding Azerbaijan accountable for its crimes.
In the Senate, Senators Ed Markey (D-MA) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced a bipartisan resolution (S.Res.540) that would require the State Department to provide a detailed description of widely documented human rights abuses perpetrated by Azerbaijan, pursuant to Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, which could block all military aid to the genocidal Aliyev regime.
U.S. Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY) was joined by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and House Foreign Affairs Committee member Gabe Amo (D-RI) in introducing the House counterpart (H.R.7288) of the Senate’s unanimously-adopted “Armenian Protection Act,” (S.3000), which would block US security aid to Azerbaijan for two years.
Stepanyan and Beglaryan offered eye-witness accounts of the brutal realities of Azerbaijan’s ten-month blockade of Artsakh, which culminated in the September 2023 genocidal attack that forcibly emptied Artsakh of its indigenous Armenian population. In addition to the passage of the latest legislation urging an end to U.S. support for Azerbaijan’s genocidal actions, the Artsakh people’s advocates urged:
— Sanctions on Azerbaijan, including the enforcement of Section 907 and the application of Magnitsky sanctions on Aliyev government officials for war crimes and ethnic cleansing committed during the 2020 Azerbaijan-Turkey attacks against Armenia and Artsakh and subsequent genocidal aggression.
— U.S. aid for Artsakh’s forcibly displaced Armenians, including housing and job placement assistance, until a secure mechanism can be put in place through international oversight and mediation with Artsakh authorities to guarantee the safe and dignified return of forcibly displaced Armenians to their Artsakh homes.
— Expanded U.S. and international efforts to help secure the immediate release of Artsakh leaders, POWS, and all the other captured persons illegally held by Azerbaijan since the 2020 Azerbaijan/Turkey attacks and the 2023 aggression.
— Preservation of Artsakh’s Armenian cultural and religious heritage already vandalized or under threat of destruction by Azerbaijan.
Stepanyan and Beglaryan stressed that without international efforts to address the Artsakh people’s right to safe return, dignified life in Artsakh, and justice for the crimes committed, it will be impossible to establish sustainable peace in the region. They also emphasized that the systemic anti-Armenian hatred fomented by the Azerbaijani Government must be eradicated to ensure an enduring settlement of the conflict and regional stability.
While in Washington, Beglaryan and Stepanyan participated in the International Religious Freedom Summit, co-chaired by Ambassador Sam Brownback, the U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom (2018-2021) and Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights.
During a presentation made to a diverse group of faith-based organizations and US government officials, Stepanyan explained, “I speak before you today not just as the human rights defender (Ombudsman) of my people but as a witness and a survivor of genocide.” He stressed that the world is witnessing the systematic erasure of “the Christian and world heritage of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), of its ancient churches and hallowed cemeteries, now standing silent under the shadow of occupation and desecration by the dictatorial Aliyev regime of Azerbaijan.” Stepanyan urged faith leaders and government officials to rally together and serve as “the shield that protects the vulnerable, the voice that speaks for the silenced and the light that pierces the darkness of cultural erasure. Only then can we ensure that the soul of Artsakh, its ancient and sacred Christian heritage, is not lost forever.”
“Artsakh’s rights were center stage these past two weeks in Washington, DC, as two of the Republic’s most eloquent voices – Artak Beglaryan and Gegham Stepanyan – made the case to U.S. legislators and international religious freedom leaders for the safe return of indigenous Armenians to their ancient homeland,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “Over the course of dozens of Congressional meetings, legislators heard first-hand about the Artsakh Genocide and explored the concrete U.S. steps needed to restore this integral part of the Armenian homeland.”
Beglaryan and Stepanyan’s visit was part of a 120,0000 Reasons coalition effort, supported by the Tufenkian Foundation and the Philos Project, and over 20 human rights, faith-based, and ethnic organizations, calling on the US Government to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its genocide against Artsakh’s Armenian population and to prevent further aggression against Armenia.
The Artsakh people’s representatives also participated in a fireside chat, organized by the George Washington University Armenian Law Students’ Association, where they shared the ongoing challenges facing Artsakh’s displaced and the need for concrete political and legal action. They also shared their powerful message of survival and issued an international call to action during a series of press interviews
In addition to educational efforts in the nation’s capital, the trip also included a robust series of meetings with international organizations and community leaders in New York. While in Washington, they met with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Earlier, Stepanyan and Beglaryan participated in meetings with California state and local government officials, various university law programs, and community forums organized through the Armenian Bar Association, in conjunction with their annual meeting.
An Armenia border patrol soldier in Gegharkunik
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday warned that Azerbaijan might be planning a “large scale attack” on Armenia and rejected Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s continued demand for changes in Armenia’s laws.
Pashinyan said that a series of statements from Baku in recent days about the legislative framework of Armenia are a violation of Armenia’s sovereignty and can been seen as “interference in our country’s internal affairs.”
“Attempts to interpret whether there is any provision in Armenia’s legislation preventing the signing of the peace treaty [with Azerbaijan] have nothing to do with reality,” Pashinyan said, after Aliyev, a day earlier, again called for changes to Armenia’s laws.
“Armenia and Azerbaijan have succeeded in reaching an agreement on a number of articles; and one of them is that the parties cannot refer to their legislation in order to refuse to fulfill any provision of the peace treaty. Therefore, there is no provision in the legislation of Armenia preventing the implementation of the peace treaty. This is not only a political, but also an expert assessment,” Pashinyan explained.
He also accused Baku of deliberately dragging out the delimitation and demarcation of the border process, saying that Baku was undermining this process in order to launch a military attack “in some parts of the border” with the aim of instigating an all-out war with Armenia.
Aliyev’s latest threats were made a day after Azerbaijani forces attacked Armenian position in Syunik, killing four soldiers and injuring another.
Pashinyan detailed the steps taken by Yerevan to advance the border delimitation process, all based on agreements reached by the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Yet he accused Baku of undermining the process.
“Our analysis shows that there can only be one reason for this, and the reasons could be their [intentions] to launch military actions in some parts of the border with the prospect of turning the military escalation into a large-scale war against the Republic of Armenia. This intention is read in all statements and actions made by Baku,” Pashinyan said.
President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran hosts Armenia's Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan in Tehran on Feb. 15
President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran said Thursday that his country is ready to ensure the strategic security of the Caucasus region, keeping in mind the “red lines” that Tehran has advocated regarding its opposition to any changes in regional borders.
During the past several weeks, Iranian officials have reiterated their strong opposition to a scheme advanced by Baku — and backed by Ankara — on the creation of a land corridor through Armenia to Nakhichevan.
Tehran views this as a “red line” in its regional policy.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has welcomed the peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, expressing Iran’s readiness to ensure the strategic security of the Caucasus region given the red lines of the Islamic Republic in this regard.
Raisi made the remarks on Thursday during a meeting with Armenia’s Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan. The Iranian leader also warned about “outside forces” attempting to sway matters in the region under the pretext of assisting to overcome crisis, essentially referring to the West’s recent interest in Armenia.
He added that not only does the involvement of “outsiders” not yield solutions, but it brings about more severe challenges, the IRNA news agency reported.
Raisi welcomed the peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, expressing Iran’s readiness to assist in that process.
He voiced his country’s full support for the implementation of all agreements between Tehran and Yerevan.
Armenia and Iran have signed agreements on economic cooperation in 19 different sectors during their intergovernmental commission meeting, IRNA reports.
NEW YORK—On February 4, 2024, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Central Committee’s Public Relations Committee organized an “Artsakh Update” roundtable featuring distinguished guests Artak Beglaryan and Gegham Stepanyan. The meeting was graciously hosted by His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian of the Armenian Prelacy of the Eastern USA, marking a significant gathering of community leaders and organizations at a time of critical importance for Artsakh.
ARF Central Committee Public Relations Committee member Hrair Baronian, Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh Gegham Stepanyan, His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Former Artsakh State Minister Artak Beglaryan, ARF Central Committee chair Ani Tchaghlasian and Very Rev. Father Sahag Yemishyan
Ani Tchaghlasian, ARF Central Committee (CC) Chair, opened the roundtable by welcoming the leaders of various Armenian community organizations, including the Armenian Relief Society (ARS), Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), Homenetmen, Hamazkayin, Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), Armenian Bar Association and the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA). Razmig Boyadjian of the ARF CC’s Public Relations Committee introduced Beglaryan and Stepanyan, highlighting their roles and dedication to the human rights and welfare of the people of Artsakh.
ARF Central Committee Public Relations Committee member Razmig Boyadjian, Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh Gegham Stepanyan, Former Artsakh State Minister Artak Beglaryan and ARF Central Committee member Ani Tchaghlasian
Beglaryan served as the State Minister of the Artsakh Republic until early September 2023. Before that, he served as the Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh from October 2018 to December 2020. Beglaryan brought a wealth of experience and insights to the discussion. His extensive educational background, including a Ph.D. in political science and various international research and training programs, has equipped him with a deep understanding of Artsakh’s geopolitical and human rights issues.
Stepanyan was elected as the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Artsakh Republic in March 2021 and continues to serve in that role. Stepanyan also shared his perspective during the roundtable, based on his broad foundation in international relations and political science. His experience in the Artsakh National Assembly and his academic contributions have made him a key figure in the ongoing struggle for Artsakh’s rights and recognition.
A capacity crowd listening to His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian deliver his message
In his opening remarks, Boyadjian eloquently stated, “Artsakh is the pride and dignity of the Armenian people. The fight for Artsakh and our nation’s survival will continue until achieved.” He underscored the critical role of the Diaspora in supporting Artsakh, especially in these challenging times.
Beglaryan and Stepanyan emphasized that Artsakh is not lost – if collective support and determination persist. They highlighted the dire needs of the people of Artsakh, particularly regarding the right of return, housing, employment and the lack of adequate support from the current Armenian regime. To this end, Beglaryan and Stepanyan have engaged in advocacy work with an international dimension. Before visiting New York, they spent a week in Washington, D.C. in meetings with members of Congress and government officials organized by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
AYF Central Executive members Niree Kaprielian, Alec Soghomonian and Isabel Hagopian, New York and New Jersey AYF members, Former Artsakh State Minister Artak Beglaryan and Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh Gegham Stepanyan
His Eminence Archbishop Tanielian’s closing remarks focused on the collective struggle for Artsakh, affirming its central place in Armenian identity. He called for increased political, financial and moral support for the people of Artsakh during these dark times. The event concluded with blessings from Archbishop Tanielian and the clergy, followed by further discussions among the community leaders and guest speakers.
The “Artsakh Update” roundtable served as a powerful reminder of the resilience of the Armenian spirit and the critical role of the global Armenian Diaspora in supporting Artsakh. Through informed dialogue, shared commitment and strategic action, the event demonstrated the importance of unity in the face of adversity and the ongoing struggle for the rights and recognition of the people of Artsakh.
His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian blessing the table
On September 19, 2023, the Armenians of Artsakh were subjected to genocide through ethnic cleansing. This egregious act of violence was compounded by a preceding 10-month blockade imposed by the Azerbaijani government, effectively isolating the population and severing essential lifelines for food, medicine and energy. This dire humanitarian crisis unfolded under the indifferent gaze of the international community, which largely remained passive, betraying the fundamental principles of human rights and dignity. The silence and inaction of global powers in the face of such blatant aggression not only underscore the vulnerabilities of international diplomatic mechanisms but also serve as a grim reminder of the challenges Armenian communities face in preserving their existence and autonomy against overwhelming odds.
The event concluding the “Armenian Students for Artsakh” Research Competition held at the ARF Aram Manukian Youth Center, Yerevan, February 1, 2024 (Photo: Hakob Kolyan)
YEREVAN—On February 1, the concluding event of the “Armenian Students for Artsakh” Research Competition took place at the ARF Aram Manukian Youth Center in Yerevan. The event was organized by the ARF Bureau Youth Office of Affairs under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Sports of the Republic of Artsakh.
The program, initiated in 2023, aimed to harness the professional abilities of Armenian students across various fields to address the Armenian cause, particularly the Artsakh issue. It sought to make the conducted studies available for effective utilization by influential institutions engaged in pro-Armenian activities. In the long term, the initiative strives to analyze issues objectively, foster analytical thinking and develop approaches crucial for mature political thought and activity.
The event was graced by the presence of the Artsakh Republic’s Minister of Education and Culture Norik Mkrtchyan, Artsakh National Assembly deputies Vahram Balayan and Metakse Hakobyan, as well as RA National Assembly deputies Armenouhi Kyureghyan, Christine Vardanyan and Garnik Danielyan.
At the event, top-performing students participating in the program delivered speeches presenting their studies, while their mentors provided testimonials. Twelve individual students and one student group from Armenia, Artsakh, Lebanon, Iran and the United States dedicated themselves to the project.
Special appreciation was accorded to the following two articles, distinguished by their importance and relevance.
The following students were recognized as winners.
At the conclusion, all participants were presented with certificates and gifts.
The organizers and winners of the “Armenian Students for Artsakh” Research Competition (Photo: Hakob Kolyan)
The ARF Bureau Office of Youth Affairs extends sincere thanks and gratitude to the donors and mentors of the project.
ARF Bureau member Hovsep Der Kevorkian (Photo: Hakob Kolyan)
In his remarks, ARF Bureau member and liaison to youth affairs, Hovsep Der Kevorkian, emphasized the three main focal points of the project: the students, the studies and the institutions dedicated to safeguarding Armenian rights. He highlighted that these studies serve not only as sources of information but also as platforms for recommendations and prospective action. Der Kevorkian underscored the strength of the Armenian people, particularly its students, portraying this project as a modest contribution toward consolidating their potential and enhancing their involvement in national affairs through innovative methods.
He added that some studies delve into how, over the years, Azerbaijan has leveraged various means to achieve its current successes, including stonewalling, diplomatic maneuvers, alliances and other strategies. The pressing question today, he argued, is how Armenians can strengthen the state and halt the gradual erosion of their positions, transforming this trend into a path of growth and recovery leading to new triumphs.
To rally Armenian students around this crucial issue, the ARF Bureau Office of Youth Affairs will continue its mission to encourage their engagement in pro-Armenian activities, prioritizing support for Artsakh and the protection of the rights of Artsakh Armenians.
Thursday,
Iran Again Warns Against ‘Outside Powers’ In South Caucasus
Iran - Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi meets Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher
Grigorian, Tehran, .
In what appeared to be a fresh warning to Armenia, Iranian President Ebrahim
Raisi told a visiting senior Armenian official on Thursday that Tehran remains
strongly opposed to the geopolitical presence of outside powers in the South
Caucasus.
Raisi’s office singled out the issue in its readout of his meeting with Deputy
Prime Minister Mher Grigorian reported by Iranian news agencies. The
intervention of “outsiders” in regional disputes could only exacerbate, rather
than resolve, them, he said in a clear reference to the United States and the
European Union.
Raisi made the same point in a December phone call with Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinian. In recent years, Pashinian’s government has increasingly pinned its
hopes on U.S. and EU efforts to broker an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty.
Russia is very critical of those efforts, saying that they are primarily aimed
at driving Moscow out of the region and could only spell more trouble for the
Armenians.
“The future of the South Caucasus should be decided by the countries for which
this region is a common home. Neither the United States, nor France, nor the
European Union are among such countries,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister
Mikhail Galuzin told the Moscow daily Izvestia in an interview published on
Thursday.
“Therefore, we believe that the involvement of extra-regional forces,
representatives of the West in this region, something towards which official
Yerevan is unfortunately inclined, is not useful,” said Galuzin.
Amid Armenia’s unprecedented rift with Russia, Pashinian’s government has
pledged to “diversify” the South Caucasus country’s foreign and security policy
through closer links with the Western powers. Last September, it hosted a
U.S.-Armenian military exercise criticized by both Moscow and Tehran.
Despite his clear warning to Yerevan, Raisi on Thursday described Iran’s current
relationship with Armenia as “friendly” and “constructive.” He called for the
“full implementation” of economic agreements reached by the two neighboring
states.
An Armenian delegation headed Grigorian visited Tehran for a regular session of
an Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation.
Iran backs Armenia in its rejection of Azerbaijani demands for an
extraterritorial corridor that would connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan
exclave through Syunik, the only Armenian region bordering the Islamic Republic.
According to an Armenian government statement, during his meeting with Raisi,
Grigorian praised Tehran’s stance on “the inviolability of Armenia’s territorial
integrity and sovereignty.”
Pashinian Warns Of ‘Large-Scale’ Azeri Attack On Armenia
Russia - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijan's President
Ilham Aliyev listen to a guide during a visit to the Catherine Palace on the
sidelines of the CIS summit in St. Petersburg, December 26, 2023.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Thursday rejected Azerbaijan’s continuing
demands for legislative changes in Armenia and said that Baku may be planning
“large-scale” military aggression against his country.
Pashinian complained that despite his readiness for compromise, the Azerbaijani
leadership is pursuing a “policy of military coercion” in an effort to clinch
more Armenian territory and other concessions from Yerevan. He said that it is
reluctant to delimit the long border between the two states where four Armenian
soldiers were killed in an Azerbaijani ceasefire violation on Tuesday.
“Our analysis shows that there may be one reason for this and that reason may
be, for example, the launch of military operations at some sections of the
border with the prospect of turning the military escalation into a full-scale
war against Armenia,” he said during a weekly cabinet meeting in Yerevan.
Pashinian went on to reject Azerbaijani statements regarding the Armenian
constitution and other legislative acts, saying that they constitute a violation
of Armenia’s sovereignty and interference in its internal affairs.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev reiterated on Wednesday that he will not sign
a peace treaty discussed by the two sides “if Armenia does not bring its
legislation to a normal state.” He said that legislation contains territorial
claims to Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is sworn in for a new term in
office, .
Aliyev said on February 1 that Armenia should remove from its constitution a
reference to its 1990 declaration of independence which in turn mentions a 1989
unification act adopted by the legislative bodies of Soviet Armenia and the then
Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast.
Pashinian countered on Thursday that during their peace talks and written
exchanges last year two sides agreed to make sure that they “cannot refer to
their respective laws to refuse to comply with any provisions of the peace
treaty.”
“Therefore, there are no legal provisions in Armenia that prevent the
implementation of the peace treaty,” he said.
Pashinian himself declared last month, before Aliyev’s statements on the issue,
that Armenia needs a new constitution reflecting the “new geopolitical
environment” in the region. His political foes and other critics say that he did
so under Azerbaijani pressure. They also maintain that Pashinian’s appeasement
policy will not stop Azerbaijan from demanding further Armenian concessions and
resorting to military action for that purpose.
Pashinian has denied that he wants to scrap the current Armenian constitution at
the behest of Baku. Still, he has said that peace with Azerbaijan will be
impossible as long as the constitutional reference to the 1990 declaration
remains in place.
Aliyev on Wednesday also indicated that he still has no intention to resume
peace talks with Armenia mediated by the European Union and the United States.
“We don’t need mediators to normalize relations with Yerevan,” he said after
being sworn in for a fifth term in office.
Karabakh Official Unconvinced By Russia’s Calls For Return Of Refugees
• Shoghik Galstian
Nagorno-Karabakh - Russian peacekeepers help ethnic Armenian civilians to take
shelter at their base near Stepanakert, September 21, 2023
Nagorno-Karabakh’s human rights ombudsman dismissed on Thursday Russia’s offers
to help Karabakh Armenians displaced by last September’s Azerbaijani military
offensive return to their homeland.
Gegham Stepanian insisted that they will not go back even if Moscow offers them
additional security guarantees.
“I believe that international guarantees are needed instead,” he told a news
conference in Yerevan. “The track record of the Russian peacekeeping contingent
deployed to Artsakh after 2020 shows that that guarantee is not enough to ensure
security in Artsakh.”
Armenia has denounced the Russian peacekeepers for their failure to prevent or
stop the September 19-20 assault that restored Baku’s full control over Karabakh
and forced the region’s practically entire population to flee to Armenia.
President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have rejected the criticism.
The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said on Wednesday
that Moscow is now discussing with Baku the possibility of the safe return of
the more than 100,000 Karabakh refugees. Earlier this week, Russia’s Deputy
Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin similarly called for “creating conditions” for
their repatriation.
Armenia - Gegham Stepanian, Karabakh's human rights ombusdman, at a news
conference in Yerevan, .
Galuzin also claimed that the Karabakh Armenians left their homeland willingly.
Stepanian condemned the claim.
“The Russian peacekeeping contingent should have been the first to certify that
people left under real threat of physical annihilation,” said the ombudsman
exiled in Armenia along with other Karabakh leaders.
Moscow is not known to have contacted any of those leaders so far to discuss the
repatriation issue. It did not prevent Azerbaijani security services from
arresting eight former political and military leaders of Karabakh during the
mass exodus.
The 2,000 or so Russian peacekeepers remain stationed in Karabakh despite the
fact that only a few dozen ethnic Armenians are reportedly left there. A senior
Russian diplomat said in October that their mission “will also be necessary in
the future.”
Fired Armenian Minister Indicted
• Robert Zargarian
• Naira Bulghadarian
Armenia - Economy Minister Vahan Kerobian speaks in the Armenian parliament,
December 6, 2023.
One day after being relieved of his duties, former Economy Minister Vahan
Kerobian was indicted and detained on Thursday in an ongoing corruption
investigation criticized by him.
Armenia’s Investigative Committee implicated him in the alleged rigging of a
procurement tender which was organized by the Ministry of Economy and
invalidated by a court last June.
Kerobian entered the committee headquarters in Yerevan early in the afternoon
and remained there as of 9 p.m. local time. His lawyer, Tigran Yegorian, said
later in the evening that the law-enforcement agency has asked a court to remand
his client in pre-trial custody on charges of abuse of power. Kerobian denies
the accusations, Yegorian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.
A U.S.-registered software company, Synergy International Systems, initially won
the tender despite submitting a much higher bid, worth 392 million drams (about
$1 million), than the other bidder, Harmonia. In a statement issued on Thursday
evening, the Investigative Committee said a group of ministry officials colluded
with senior Synergy executives to illegally disqualify Harmonia and ensure
Synergy’s victory “at any cost.”
The statement said that the unnamed officials planned on granting the
procurement contract to Synergy even after the Ministry of Economy reluctantly
declared Harmonia the winner of the tender in August. It did not accuse them of
bribery or give any reasons for the preferential treatment allegedly enjoyed by
Synergy.
The committee spokesman, Gor Abrahamian, confirmed that Kerobian is among five
ministry officials indicted in the case. But he did not elaborate on the charges
brought against the ex-minister.
The investigators rounded up the four other officials, including Kerobian’s
deputy Ani Ispirian, on January 31. They all were set free or moved to house
arrest in the following days.
Also arrested two weeks ago were Synergy’s founder Ashot Hovanesian and two
current and former employees. The latter were set free on Monday. Hovanesian’s
lawyers on Tuesday condemned his continuing detention as “illegal and
discriminatory.”
Another ministry official was arrested in a separate corruption inquiry jointly
conducted by the Investigative Committee and the National Security Service. It
stems from the alleged misuse of government aid meant for private entrepreneurs
setting up intensive fruit orchards.
Kerobian repeatedly criticized both criminal cases before losing his job,
arguing that the investigators did not charge his subordinates with bribery or
embezzlement of public funds. He complained last week that the inquiries have
“paralyzed the work of the entire state system” as many government officials are
now not sure that “their honest work will not be punished in the end.”
Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2024 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
Last week, Ilham Aliyev won the presidential elections held in Azerbaijan. The victory was given to him quite easily, without any upheaval and he will continue his presidency in the following years. Now, nothing prevents Aliyev from continuing his aggressive actions against Armenia. In particular, he will try to bring to life the so-called “Syunik Corridor” (or “Zangezur Corridor”) project.
This is a project that the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem had in mind since the collapse of the USSR and, no matter what the official statements are now, it is hard to believe that the two countries have changed their geopolitical priorities. Turkey needs this corridor for its aspirations to unite and lead the Turkic world, and Azerbaijan needs to provide a direct connection with Nakhichevan. At the same time, the implementation of this project is also necessary for Russia, because the settlement of Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations will mean that it will no longer make sense for Russia to have a military presence in Artsakh (there are no Armenians there but there are Russian troops still there) or on the territory of Armenia against Turkey (the Russian military base in Gyumri). Therefore, Russia needs this project if it is to ensure the security of the corridor, routes and communications, as well as its physical military presence on the ground. Actually, an agreement about the implementation of this project was reached with the statement of November 9, 2020 and it can be assumed that the Armenian authorities have given their consent to the project verbally, despite the fact that this statement is just a piece of paper.
When we talk about outside players, we also need to talk about those who will oppose this project. It is important to understand Iran’s position and it is unequivocally negative. Iran will not want to lose its regional transit position, and at the same time it will not want to lose or reshape its external border with Armenia which provides it an exit to Georgia, the Black Sea, etc. Yet another player is the United States, which opposes this project because Washington’s number one priority is to contain Russia, and with the implementation of this project, Washington will not be able to push Russia out of the South Caucasus region.
It is also important to understand which player is ready for what kind of actions to implement or to oppose the project. It is natural that the problem should be solved militarily so that the Armenian authorities can justify what happened in their own country and the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem will also give Russia a solid opportunity to move its troops from Nagorno-Karabakh to Syunik and deploy them right there in Syunik as the only security guarantor of Armenians.
In this scenario, everything may seem too logical. But there is also another important factor, which is adroitly chosen timing. Timing is crucial. It could happen when there is a tense pre-election or post-election processes in the USA and no one in Washington is particularly interested in what is happening in the South Caucasus – just as it happened during the 2020 elections.
Of course, this is not the only scenario for developments, but at the moment it seems the most possible one, to which Armenia cannot be an obstacle. But here, Iran and the United States, which surprisingly have common interests on this issue, can hinder Azerbaijan’s plans.