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Karabakh has grounds to believe Azerbaijan uses Islamic terrorists on the frontline
The Spokesman of the President of Nagorno Karabakh Republic David Babayan says, Stepanakert has grounds to believe that Azerbaijan has recruited mercenaries from the Turkish “Grey Wolves” organization and “Islamic State” terrorist organization.
STEPANAKERT, APRIL 4, ARTSAKHPRESS: “Although facts have yet to be finally confirmed, there are reliable grounds to believe that mercenaries have appeared in the Azerbaijani army. Generally this is typical to Azerbaijan, mercenaries have always been there. During the 1988-1994 war, many mercenaries from Afghanistan, “Grey Wolves”, Chechen mercenaries and Al Qaeda terrorists were recruited by Azerbaijan. And during the post-war years, until recently Al Qaeda terrorists were relaxing and recovering in Azerbaijan,” Babayan noted in an interview with “Armenpress”.
According to David Babayan, the brutal and violent executions of the civilians in Talish are the actions of these types of people.
Babayan says, the relations between the mercenaries and the Azerbaijani population of the bordering villages, are tense.
“The population of the bordering villages of Azerbaijan are in panic and have left their homes, while these mercenaries are looting their houses, and there are even reports of murder and rape cases in that region. This is enough ground to say that there are mercenaries and terrorists from “Grey Wolves” and “Islamic State” on the frontline”, Babayan said.
3rd day of deadly fighting between Armenians and Azerbaijanis in Nagorno-Karabakh
Baku, April 4, 2016 (AFP) – Azerbaijan said on Monday the death of three of its soldiers in fighting with Armenian forces in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, the third day of clashes continue despite calls the quiet of the international community.
At least 33 soldiers of both sides and three civilians have been killed since the resumption Friday of hostilities, the deadliest since the cease-fire established between Yerevan and Baku in 1994. More than 200 soldiers and civilians were wounded.
This conflict, whose sources date back centuries but which has crystallized in Soviet times when Moscow attributed this mainly Armenian territory to the Soviet Socialist Republic of Azerbaijan, involved in the strategic Caucasus region for the transport of hydrocarbons near Iran, Turkey and the gateway to the Middle East.
Military escalation is also involved when Russia, which has good relations with Armenia and Turkey, traditional ally of Azerbaijan, through a serious diplomatic crisis over war base in Syria.
On the ground, three Azerbaijani soldiers were killed by “mortar and grenade launchers from the trenches” occupied by Armenian forces along the front line, according to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.
“If the Armenian provocations continue, we will launch a magnitude operation all along the front line and we will use all our weapons,” said the spokesman of the ministry, Vagif Dargahly.
The troops of Baku “intensified their bombing Monday morning on the positions of the army of Karabakh, using 152mm mortars, rocket launchers and tanks”, for their part, said the authorities of the breakaway region, supported by Yerevan.
Armenian forces “have greatly advanced in some areas of the forehead and took new positions,” assured the spokesman for the Armenian Defense Ministry, Artsrun Hovhannisyan.
Azerbaijan has denounced as “false” the claims, ensuring in turn control since Saturday several strategic heights in Karabakh, he now intends to “strengthen” after Sunday announced his intention to “unilaterally cease hostilities”.
Backed by Armenia, the Nagorno-Karabakh authorities said they were “ready to discuss a truce proposal” provided to recover the lost positions and territories in the region, recognized as belonging to Azerbaijan by the international community .
– Political Reason ‘-
“Major violations of the cease-fire in Nagorno-Karabakh tend not to be accidental, but rather to have a political motive,” said Thomas de Waal, an analyst with the Carnegie Foundation, which estimates that more than 20,000 the number soldiers on each side of the front line.
Russia tries to maintain an uncertain balance in its relations with the two former Soviet republics, which it sells weapons. It remains the historical ally of Armenia, where it has two military bases recently strengthened.
Turkey engaged in a standoff with Moscow since the destruction of a Russian bomber in November, for its part announced that it would support Azerbaijan “to the end” and “praying that (his) brothers Azerbaijanis triumph “.
After a war which have 30,000 dead and hundreds of thousands of refugees, mainly Azerbaijani, Nagorno-Karabakh came under the control of separatist forces near Yerevan. The area is now populated mainly by Armenians.
No peace treaty has been signed and after a period of relative calm, the region has experienced in recent months a sharp escalation of tensions. Yerevan estimated end of December we had returned to the “war”.
Baku, whose only defense budget is some years more important than the whole budget of Armenia, often threatens to take by force the Nagorno-Karabakh if diplomatic negotiations fail.
“Azerbaijan understands that he can not rely purely on military force to change the status quo, especially because of the Russian presence in Armenia. However, it can maneuver diplomatically and militarily for concessions, “said the center of American thinking Stratfor.
“But despite the original intentions of Baku, this strategy may cause a broader conflict in which none of the belligerent is not prepared,” he considers.
Emil Guliyev with Mariam HARUTYUNYAN in Yerevan
Monday, April 4, 2016,
Stéphane © armenews.com
Stéphane © armenews.com
Azerbaijan knows Nagorno-Karabakh will never be its part – Vazgen Manukyan
Chairman of the Public Council of Armenia Vazgen Manukyan believes that Azerbaijan’s offensive was to be expected.
“Azerbaijan is well aware Nagorno-Karabakh will never be persuaded into forming part of Azerbaijan by means of negotiations. The only thing it can do is to use military means. However, the point is that they have actually unleashed war, and if they had succeeded it would have escalated into a full-scale war. But they failed,” Mr Manukyan said.
The enemy was thrown back, suffering heavy losses.
“I think that along with this tragedy, with people killed and blood spilled, it has proved to Azerbaijan it cannot resolve the problem in the near future, which leads us to a period of peace. Large-scale hostilities failed,” Mr Manukyan said.
As regards international reaction, he said, “We have both friends and enemies.”
It is common knowledge Azerbaijan launched an offensive because Nagorno-Karabakh did not need such an action at all. However, it is difficult for them to admit the fact and make relevant assessments.
“The most important thing is that our soldiers, commanders and leaders on the frontline succeed,” Mr Manukyan said.
He believes that the armies of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh are the most efficient structures in the countries.
Azerbaijani president embarks on gamble, afraid of further steps – David Babayan
The situation remains somewhat tense now, but it is under control, David Babayan, Spokesman for the President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), told Tert.am.
The enemy tried to intrude into the Nagorno-Karabakh territory and was thrown back in all the directions, suffering heavy casualties. The Armenian side put five Azerbaijani tanks out of action.
Time will show how long the situation will last.
“Aliyev has fallen into a bad trap, sacrificing hundreds of human lives, dozens of pieces of military equipment. He has lost 20 tanks, four or five drones. They have hundreds of wounded servicemen. How are they going to explain the purpose of this gamble to their people?”
Speaking of international calls, Mr Babayan said:
“Of course, we highlight such calls. Bu we are expecting a tougher international approach, particularly by the OSCE Minsk Group, as Aliyev’s conduct is inadmissible and it will be a disgrace unless a harsher reaction follows this all.”
This harsh response may not be in public, but it is necessary.
“But we do not let Azerbaijan to take strategic initiative in its hands,” Mr Babayan said.
Organization of American States Condemns Azerbaijan for Attack on Karabakh
WASHINGTON—The Secretary General of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro, issued a declaration Sunday condemning Azerbaijan for violating the Nagorno-Karabakh cease-fire, calling it “a serious violation of international law.
The Organization of American States is the world’s oldest regional organization, dating back to the First International Conference of American States, held in Washington, D.C., in 1889. The moderns iteration was established in 1948 in Bogota, Colombia,
“The OAS brings together all 35 independent states of the Americas and constitutes the main political, juridical, and social governmental forum in the Hemisphere,” explained the organization’s website.
Below is the complete text of the declaration
Declaration of the Secretary General of the OAS, Luis Almagro, regarding recent events in Nagorno Karabakh
April 3, 2016
Stability and peace, and the achievement of peaceful solutions to conflicts between nations are values that go beyond our hemisphere.
Therefore, the use of military action by Azerbaijan is particularly serious because it constitutes a manifest violation of the ceasefire established in 1994 as well as well as a violation of the principle of good faith negotiations in the framework of the Minsk Group.
We condemn the serious violation of the principles of international law.
Moreover, taking civilian objectives as military targets in these attacks is a complete violation of the most basic rules governing armed conflict. These practices must be banished.
Any act of violence to resolve a territorial dispute is inadmissible and when such acts of violence cause civilian deaths they are acts of barbarism.
We urge the Azeri authorities to resume meetings have been postponed with Minsk Group authorities.
The basic principles for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh are based on the Helsinki Final Act (1975), and are:
– The non-use of force,
– Territorial integrity as well as
– Equal rights and
-the self-determination of peoples.
We demand the fullest respect for these principles.
ICIJ: Azerbaijan president has offshore gold mining companies
Визит президента Азербайджана Ильхама Алиева в Германию
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) reporters have found out that Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev has offshore companies to conceal his shares in gold mining and London real estate.
Accordingly, relatives of the Azerbaijani president have used foundations and companies registered in Panama to hide his shares in gold mining companies and real estate market. This is said in an ICIJ press release, according to RBC news agency of Russia.
ICIJ has obtained the documents of Panama-based Mossack Fonseca law firm, which is suspected of establishing fake firms and corporate organizations to conceal asset owners. Even though the press release does not specify the makeup of the Aliyev family property, the Azerbaijani president was already at the ICIJ focus three years ago. At the time, the journalists had found out that he and his family have secret offshore companies.
According to the documents which are under the ICIJ disposal, in 2003, Aliyev and his wife, Mehriban Aliyeva, had purchased a company in the British Virgin Islands. Aliyev, who was noted as the director and co-owner of this company, was an MP at the time, but he became President of Azerbaijan in October of the same year. According to the ICIJ data, this company had a legitimate legal status until May 2004. In actual fact, Aliyev was violating the Azerbaijani law which prohibits the members of parliament and the president from engaging in business activities, the attorneys explained.
In 2008, according to the ICIJ data, Aliyev’s daughters, 19-year-old Arzu and 23-year-old Leyla, purchased Arbor Investments, LaBelleza Holdings Limited, and Harvard Management Limited companies likewise in the British Virgin Islands. The first company was “registered” under Arzu’s name, and the rest—Leyla’s. The respective business transaction was concluded two months after Aliyev’s reelection as President.
At the time, the ICIJ could not find out the type of activity of these companies, but it had noted that, apparently, the Azerbaijani leadership had made considerable efforts to hide these companies from the public.
The ICIJ had informed that the head of all these three companies is Azerbaijani entrepreneur Hassan Gozal. According to the ICIJ data, Gozal, together with his brother Abdolbari, had at least ten companies in Intersun Holding, where Abdolbari was president and Hassan—vice president. According to the documents which are under the ICIJ disposal, Intersun had received several major contracts from Azerbaijan’s state-owned oil company, where Aliyev was first vice president before becoming President of Azerbaijan. In addition, the Gozal brothers’ companies had won state construction contracts in and around Azerbaijani capital city Baku, and totaling some $4.5 billion.
Azerbaijan “punishment” forces “penalize” fleeing soldiers
YEREVAN. – Azerbaijan uses retaliatory detachments that are punishing the servicemen who choose to back away from the fight, spokesperson for the Armenian Defense Ministry wrote on Facebook.
“According to confirmed sources, the combat efficiency of the Azeri troops has fallen so drastically that even hired mercenaries with vast terrorist experience are unable to help. At this moment, in these territories, Azerbaijan uses forces of punishment by death to those servicemen who choose to back away from the fight,” Artsrun Hovhannisyan wrote.
The situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone dramatically escalated on Saturday night. From regular shootings and frequent sabotage-reconnaissance attempts, Azerbaijan has now moved to large-scale attack all along the Line of Contact, using a variety of weaponry as well as artillery, armored vehicles, and air force. Both sides have suffered losses.
Baku announced a unilateral cease-fire, Armenia Deny as Azerbaijan propaganda
Yerevan, April 3, 2016 (AFP) – Azerbaijan said on Sunday morning a “unilateral cease-fire” but conditional Nagorno Karabakh Friday and Saturday theater of the bloodiest clashes since the end of the war in 1994, but Yerevan as the fighting continues.
The cease-fire announced by Baku – who claims to have taken over Friday and Saturday several strategic positions – was also subject to conditions, warning that if Armenian forces did not stop “provocations”, “Azerbaijan” liberate all the territories occupied by Armenians “.
Baku also expressed decided to “strengthen” strategic positions “liberated”. And denied that the separatist forces of Karabakh (western Azerbaijan) have, as they have announced Sunday morning resumed the strategic height of Lala-Tepe.
The separatists, backed by Armenia, took control of the region in the early 1990s after a war that left 30,000 dead and hundreds of thousands of refugees, mostly Azeris. It is now populated mainly by Armenians
Despite the signing in 1994 of a cease-fire, no peace treaty has been signed, and after years of relative calm, the region has experienced in recent months a sharp escalation of clashes. Yerevan had estimated the end of December we had returned to the “war”.
Nagorno-Karabakh is still internationally recognized as belonging to Azerbaijan.
– Helicopter shot down –
In the night from Friday to Saturday and in the day Saturday, azerbaïdjnaises and Armenian forces clashed with artillery, tanks and helicopters Azerbaijani side. The fighting left 30 dead among the soldiers – 18 Armenians and 12 Azerbaijanis – and killed two civilians.
Azerbaijan has recognized that one of its helicopters was shot down, and said his troops had taken control of several strategic heights of a village – what Yerevan denied.
After a brief stabilization Saturday night and despite appeals for calm from Moscow and the West, fighting had resumed, although less violent during the night from Saturday to Sunday.
“The Armenian armed forces have violated the cease-fire 130 times during the night, firing mortars, grenade launchers and machine guns with large caliber” and “Azerbaijani army replied,” announced Sunday morning the Ministry Azerbaijani Defense.
Yerevan stated in turn that fighting continued Sunday morning “in the south”, while the Armenian separatists in Karabakh Azerbaijanis suffer saying “bombing artillery and tanks on our positions.”
Soon after, Azerbaijan announced its “unilateral cease-fire”
– Russia and Turkey in the background –
Russia and the West had on Saturday called for a return to calm, Putin demanding an “immediate cease-fire” while US Secretary of State John Kerry called on both parties to return to the negotiating table, reiterating that there was “no military solution to this conflict.”
On a visit to Washington this week, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev demanded Wednesday before Mr. Kerry, that Armenia withdraw “immediately” its troops from the disputed territory.
After thanking Washington “for his efforts to find a way to resolve the protracted conflict”, he claimed that it is the “on the basis of a resolution of the UN Security Council demands the immediate withdrawal and unconditional Armenian troops from our territories. “
Azerbaijan, rich in oil and whose only defense budget is larger than the entire budget of Armenia, periodically threatens to take by force the breakaway region if the negotiations fail.
Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan assured that Turkey will support Azerbaijan “to the end” in the conflict.
“We pray that our Azerbaijani brothers triumph over these fights with the least possible losses,” Erdogan said. “We will support Azerbaijan to the end”, he added.
Azeris are culturally and linguistically very close to the Turks.
Armenia, supported in turn by Russia, says she could face any offensive.
Sunday, April 3, 2016,
Armenia Accuses Turkey of Supporting Azerbaijan’s Actions in Karabakh
Ankara supports the aggressive actions of the Azerbaijani side in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan said Sunday.
YEREVAN (Sputnik) — On Saturday, Armenia and Azerbaijan noted a sharp escalation of the situation in the mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh area, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire that has been in place since 1994.
In a statement on Saturday, Turkey condemned shelling of Azerbaijani territory by Armenia and called on Yerevan to immediately cease fire and comply with the truce.
“It’s a pity that for Turkey the importance of human lives is determined by the nationality. With such racist statements, Turkey encourages the continuation of the aggressor’s action against the self-proclaimed Nagorno- Karabakh Republic,” Kocharyan said, commenting on the reaction of the Turkish authorities to the deterioration of the situation in the Karabakh conflict zone.
The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988, when the Armenian-dominated autonomous region sought to secede from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, before proclaiming independence after the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. In September 2015, the conflict escalated, with the sides blaming each other for violating the truce.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 over its support for Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The relations between the two countries have also been strained due to Turkey’s refusal to recognize the Armenian genocide by the Ottoman Empire.
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