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War Criminal Pashinyan Virtually Rules Out Military Intervention if Baku Attacks Artsakh

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Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan today gave a somewhat circuitous answer when asked if the country’s armed forces would come to the defense of Artsakh if attacked by Azerbaijan.

Pashinyan, during a televised press conference today, said Armenia’s military is constitutionally obligated to ensure the country’s territorial integrity and security.

Pashinyan said Nagorno Karabakh has its own defense force given Azerbaijan’s continued aggression, adding that the rights and security of Armenians there much be ensured in a format that they regard as trustworthy.

Pashinyan has called for direct talks between Stepanakert and Baku under international supervision. Artsakh government officials today called for a UN presence in the region.

Pashinyan avoided a Hetq reporter’s question that the Armenian military, before and during the 2020 war, actively participated in the defense of Artsakh.

“We do not want a new war and we must do everything to prevent a new war. We must do everything to restore the territorial integrity of Armenia through the peace process, in the logic of demarcation and delimitation,” Pashinyan replied.

Serj Tankian’s Hypocrisy… Who is he appealing to for help? Artsakh is in dire need of assistance

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Who is he appealing to for help? Why doesn’t he approach his favored individual Nikol Pashinyan? Armenians worldwide are in dire need of assistance for Artsakh, but there seems to be a lack of attention toward removing the individual responsible for ceding Artsakh to Azerbaijan. As long as Armenia’s own prime minister continues to undermine the right to self-determination and subjugates them to Azerbaijani control, any external aid won’t be sufficient to truly rescue Artsakh. he can easily go to Armenia to demand Pashinyan’s resignation…

Is there ethical media left in the world?

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By Wally Sarkeesian,

Yes and No, However, even in such environments, there are often brave journalists and media organizations that strive to maintain ethical standards and provide accurate and unbiased information. These journalists may face considerable risks, including harassment, intimidation, imprisonment, or even violence for their work in the case of the example of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey just to name just a few. Despite the challenges, they continue to play a crucial role in exposing corruption, human rights abuses, and other injustices.

The responsibility of the media is multifaceted and plays a crucial role in society. It can be summarized into the following key points:

  1. Informing the Public: One of the primary responsibilities of the media is to provide accurate and reliable information to the public. This includes reporting on current events, issues, and developments both locally and globally. The media acts as a bridge between the events happening in the world and the people who need to be informed about them.
  2. Promoting Transparency and Accountability: The media plays a vital role in holding individuals, organizations, and governments accountable for their actions. Investigative journalism and in-depth reporting help shed light on corruption, abuses of power, and other unethical practices, thereby promoting transparency and helping to maintain a just and fair society.
  3. Educating and Providing Analysis: Media outlets should strive to educate the public by offering in-depth analysis and context on complex issues. Through well-researched articles, documentaries, and interviews, the media can help citizens better understand the world they live in.
  4. Safeguarding Democracy: An independent and responsible media is crucial for a functioning democracy. It enables citizens to make informed decisions and participate actively in the democratic process. By reporting on political activities and providing diverse viewpoints, the media contributes to a healthy and robust democracy.
  5. Respecting Ethical Standards: Responsible media organizations adhere to ethical guidelines and principles. These standards include accuracy, impartiality, fairness, and respect for privacy. Upholding ethical practices is essential to maintaining credibility and trust with the audience.
  6. Promoting Diversity and Inclusivity: The media should strive to represent and include diverse voices and perspectives from various communities. This fosters a broader understanding of different cultures, experiences, and opinions, leading to a more inclusive society.
  7. Avoiding Sensationalism and Misinformation: Responsible media outlets should avoid sensationalizing news and spreading misinformation or disinformation. Sensationalism can distort the truth and mislead the public, while misinformation can have harmful consequences on public perception and decision-making.
  8. Providing a Platform for Public Discourse: The media serves as a platform for open dialogue and debate on various issues. It allows people with differing viewpoints to express their opinions and engage in constructive discussions.

Overall, the media’s responsibility lies in serving the public interest, being a watchdog for society, and contributing to the overall well-being of communities and nations. Responsible and ethical media plays a vital role in shaping public discourse, knowledge, and awareness.

A human and professional call To the participants of the Global Media Forum taking place in occupied Artsakh Shushi by Azerbaijan

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A human and professional call To the participants of the Global Media Forum taking place in occupied Shushi by Azerbaijan By the community of journalists of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Dear journalists and participants of the Global Media Forum, · Given that you, from over 120 media and 50 countries, have visited Azerbaijan upon the invitation of its dictatorial regime, ·

Given one of the most negative records of Azerbaijan in ensuring freedom of speech in the world, including the numerous journalists currently under imprisonment and oppression, · Taking into account Azerbaijan’s long-term experience of manipulations, falsifications and illegal influence on international media, · Considering the Azerbaijani policy of falsifying the history and culture of the indigenous Armenian people of Nagorno-Karabakh, including Shushi, ·

In light of the anti-Armenian ethnic hatred and discriminatory state policy of Azerbaijan, with numerous examples recorded by international courts and human rights organizations, · Inviting attention to the fact that there has been a more than 7-month-long blockade and 5-week-long total siege of the Nagorno-Karabakh 120,000 people by Azerbaijan without any supplies of food, medicine, fuel and other essentials, · Being highly concerned about the deteriorating acute humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, with high risks of starvation, a doubled mortality rate among newborn and unborn babies, 90% of anemia among pregnant women, stopped public transportation, agricultural, and other economic activities, sharply increased levels of unemployment and poverty, ·

Taking into consideration Azerbaijan’s refusal to implement the legally binding acts of the UN International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights on ensuring unimpeded two-sided movements of persons, vehicles and cargo through the Lachin Corridor, connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia and the rest of the world, · Given the impediments by Azerbaijan to any international fact-finding missions, international journalists and humanitarian organizations to access Nagorno-Karabakh and record and report the real situation here, We, the journalists of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, call on you to take the following steps:

1. To stop reporting only one-sided information and narratives on Nagorno-Karabakh, the blockade and the general conflict,

2. To stop supporting dictatorial flagrant violations against freedom of speech and the Nagorno-Karabakh people,

3. To come to our communities, a few kilometers away from you, to cover the real life of our people and the real face of those who invited and feed you in Shushi,

4. To stay committed to your mission as journalists to present the truth and protect human rights and dignity,

5. To refrain from becoming a tool in dictatorial hands and promoting the policy of ethnic cleansing; otherwise, you are bearing a heavy responsibility for this ongoing crime against humanity. Reporting on a false heaven just next to a hell is neither human, nor professional, nor legal. We believe that you can make a change in the world and save the human lives of our people. We expect your human and professional support for the truth, human rights, freedoms and dignity.

This seems to be the typical fear-mongering that led @NikolPashinyan to power, Armenian PM: War is likely

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Armenian PM: War is likely unless a peace treaty is signed,

“This seems to be the typical fear-mongering that led @NikolPashinyan to power, and it’s also the reason why Armenia finds itself in such turmoil. To move forward, it is essential to remove this individual and subject him to trial. Only then can Armenia have a chance to reclaim stability and progress.”

Until a peace treaty is signed and ratified by the parliaments of both countries, war is very likely, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview with Agence France-Presse.

“Azerbaijan’s obvious aggressive rhetoric, hate speech is added to this, the current geopolitical situation is added to this, where essentially the world order that some time ago was presumed to somehow exist, we now see it doesn’t exist by and large. This is also contributed by the breaching of the military balance between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and so on and so forth,” he noted.

“And of course new escalations, new wars are always likely, which does not mean that it is going to happen, but it also does not mean that it is not going to happen. By the way, every day, literally, violations of the ceasefire regime occur on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. During my term as Prime Minister, in more than five years, there might have been a maximum of three days during which the ceasefire wasn’t violated,” Pashinyan added.

Turkish Consul in Los Angeles Lobbies Elected Officials to Ignore Armenian-American Concerns

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In late June 2023, Turkish Consul General in Los Angeles, Sinan Kuzum, disseminated a letter to California lawmakers in an attempt to highlight “positive developments in the Turkish and Armenian relationship,” referring to the ongoing negotiations between Armenia and Turkey, and the participation of Armenia’s Prime Minister in the inauguration of Turkey’s President. In his inflammatory letter, Kuzum accused the Armenian Diaspora in Los Angeles of attempting to hamper the goodwill and spirit of peaceful negotiations between Armenia and Turkey, urging lawmakers to be mindful of the ongoing negotiations before they speak on matters concerning Armenian-Turkish relations.

The Turkish Consul General’s letter is just the latest example of the Turkish government’s efforts to silence the Armenian diaspora’s voice and effectiveness in advocating for a just US foreign policy in the region. Furthermore, the consul general’s letter is indicative of a larger problem that should be of grave concern to Americans and policymakers alike–a foreign principal actively engaged in efforts to bend local, state, and federal policymakers to the will of a foreign country, in direct conflict with their constituents’ interests and needs.

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region responded to the Turkish Consul General’s letter, condemning their deception and distortion of facts. The Turkish government has a long history of denying the Armenian Genocide and, more recently, supplied Azerbaijan with weaponry and personnel during the 2020 Artsakh War. 

“The Turkish Consul General’s letter is a desperate attempt to deflect attention away from the Turkish government’s own obstructionism on the path to normalization of relations,” said ANCA – Western Region Board Chair Nora Hovsepian Esq. “Whitewashing its history of genocide and human rights violations is nothing new for Turkey. We will continue to hold the Turkish government accountable until it fulfills its historical obligations to the Armenian people. The Armenian diaspora will not be silenced, and we will continue to fight for justice for the Armenian Genocide and the crimes Turkey has been actively committing against Armenia, Artsakh, and the Diaspora as a whole. We trust that our elected officials will continue to prioritize the concerns of their own Armenian-American constituents over the shameless lobbying of a foreign government trying to dismiss those legitimate concerns.” 

The Armenian National Committee of America Western Region is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots advocacy organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

The True Meaning of Ataturk’s Legacy | Opinion

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STEPHAN PECHDIMALDJI , PUBLIC RELATIONS PROFESSIONAL 

Later this year, Turkey will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its republic, founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, one of the most revered figures in modern Turkish history.

While there will be much praise and accolades paid to Ataturk as a leader who led Turkey to independence after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and paved the way for democracy, for Armenian American families like mine, it is a stark reminder of how Ataturk continued the genocidal actions of the Young Turks, who were responsible for the 1915 Armenian genocide.

For years, Armenian Americans have fought for recognition of the genocide, when more than 1.5 million Armenians were systematically exterminated by the Ottoman Turks—a crime that Turkey denies to this day. And while Ataturk is credited with turning Turkey into a progressive nation-state, he shared the same hate and animosity toward minority communities including Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians. He saw these groups as a threat to the Turkification and Islamification of Asia Minor and embarked on a campaign to drive these communities out of the country, which culminated in the burning of Smyrna in 1922 by Turkish forces, which destroyed the city and drove its residents—many of whom were Greek and Armenian—into exile.

In many ways, Ataturk tried to finish what the Young Turks started in 1915, and even went a step further to ensure that history would judge him and his country favorably. It is one of the reasons why he founded the Turkish Historical Society as one of his last acts right before he died, which was responsible for guarding and maintaining the state’s official history. It was his way to make sure that Turkey’s role and responsibility in committing these crimes against humanity would somehow be forgotten or swept away into the dustbin of history.

That mentality and mindset has carried on throughout the last 100 years with Turkey still trying to control its narrative and history. It is why the Turkish government spends so much money today on lobbyists to manufacture and shape its image. And it’s also why Turkey’s current authoritarian president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has taken exception to any country that recognizes the Armenian genocide or holds them accountable for human rights violations. The image-conscious leader has even gone as far as rebranding the world’s perception of Turkey by officially changing the country’s name to Türkiye to part ways with any bird comparisons.

Turkey’s anniversary also comes at a very precarious time for the Armenian people. In the fall of 2020, Turkey’s ally, Azerbaijan, launched an unprovoked war against ethnic Armenians living in their ancestral homeland of Nagorno-Karabakh. The war which lasted 44 days, has been followed by a campaign to ethnically cleanse Armenians from the region.

For Armenians around the world, they see what is happening in Nagorno-Karabakh through the lens of their painful history. They see these latest acts of aggression, with the help of Turkey, as a continuation of the Armenian genocide and an existential threat to their very existence.

Ataturk’s legacy and the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh are not mutually exclusive. To a large extent, history is happening again. By disavowing its history, Turkey is essentially giving Azerbaijan a level of confidence that it can say or do anything they want, without consequences.

Supporters of then-Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, now president, hold a poster with his picture (R) and that of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern day Turkey, as they await his arrival at Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul on June 6, 2013.OZAN KOSE/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

That type of self-assurance allowed Azerbaijan to launch their war against Armenia and has given them license to illegally block the only road linking more than 120,000 Armenians to the outside world for more than seven months without any accountability.

Additionally, the rhetoric stemming from Azerbaijan today harkens back to the final days of the Ottoman Empire and the beginning of the Republic of Turkey, which is rooted in the same type of xenophobia and racism felt toward Armenians.

So, while the messenger might be different, the message is the same. Azerbaijan is taking a page right out of Turkey’s history book and promoting a climate of hate toward Armenians. That hate has manifested itself through words and actions. In recent speeches, we’ve heard Azerbaijan’s president, Ilham Aliyev, unequivocally claim that Armenia is their historical land, while calling Armenia “Western Azerbaijan.”

We have seen this hate carried out through the treatment and torture of Armenian POWs and blatant execution of captured Armenian soldiers. And Azerbaijan continues to plant seeds of hate by enacting a state policy that hatred toward the Armenian people be taught to school children across the country.

Azerbaijan is taking its cues from Turkey and proving once again that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. That is why Turkey should use the upcoming anniversary and festivities as a moment in time to fully reckon with its history and accept and formally acknowledge its role and responsibility in the Armenian genocide, and stop with its genocide denial campaign which started under Ataturk.

They need to put an end to this type of historical whitewashing and revisionism. It’s dangerous and irresponsible, and it’s costing lives. If Turkey is to be the model moderate Muslim-majority country that it wishes to be, it should come to terms with its past.

The Armenian people deserve it.

Stephan Pechdimaldji is a communications strategist who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. He’s a first-generation Armenian American and grandson to survivors of the Armenian genocide.

Source: https://www.newsweek.com/true-meaning-ataturks-legacy-opinion-1813119

Breaking News: Statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry in connection with the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh

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1429-15-07-2023
In October 2022 and May 2023, at the summits under the auspices of the European Union, Armenia recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as part of the territory of Azerbaijan.

We respect the sovereign decision of the Armenian leadership, however, this radically changed the fundamental conditions under which the Statement of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia of November 9, 2020 was signed, as well as the position of the Russian peacekeeping contingent deployed in the region.

We believe that under these conditions, responsibility for the fate of the Armenian population of Karabakh should not be shifted to third countries. It is necessary to immediately start preparing a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan, based on the previously reached agreements.

We proceed from the fact that an integral part of this agreement should be reliable and clear guarantees of the rights and security of the Armenians of Karabakh, as well as the strict implementation of the entire set of trilateral agreements between Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, including the unblocking of transport communications and the launch of the process of delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

In view of the foregoing, the Russian side confirms its intention to actively contribute to the efforts of the international community to restore the normal life of Nagorno-Karabakh. We are ready to organize a trilateral meeting of foreign ministers in Moscow in the near future to discuss ways to implement the agreements at the highest level, including the issue of agreeing on a peace treaty, followed by going to the Russian-Azerbaijani-Armenian summit in Moscow to sign the said document.

It is a matter of concern that today the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh is developing according to a negative scenario. The humanitarian crisis in the area is deepening. The local population is experiencing an acute shortage of food, medicine, basic necessities, and is practically deprived of electricity and gas supply. This may entail the most dramatic consequences for the Karabakh Armenians – ordinary residents of the region.

We strongly urge the Azerbaijani leadership to take urgent measures to immediately unblock the Lachin corridor, resume the unhindered movement of citizens, vehicles and goods in both directions along it, as well as supply energy to the region.

Source: https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1897041/?fbclid=IwAR3us7xtw44RVEFHEhuN6OwTpmu4UZWO5HLZFQgF02hVmD5ixMldbe5caj0