Armenia Slams Azerbaijan in Minsk Group Meeting

October 18, 2014 By administrator

YEREVAN—Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian harshly criticized Azerbaijan for its “destructive position and unwillingness to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” as he met with the US, Russian and French co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group on Friday in Yerevan.

The Armenian foreign ministry said in a statement that the meeting was held in preparation of another meeting to be held between the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in late October in Paris.

Nalbandian was said to have drawn the attention of the co-chairs to the fact that Azerbaijan has again raised tension along the border with Armenia and the line of contact in Nagorno-Karabakh ahead of the Paris meeting. He said Baku has made this a tradition.

According to Nalbandian, Azerbaijan on the one hand is trying to push the negotiations to another ground, while on the other hand trying to disrupt the processes mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group which is aimed at the harmonization of fundamental principles of the settlement, backed by statements made by the heads of the co-chairing countries.

Nalbandian reiterated Armenia’s readiness to continue joint efforts with the OSCE Minsk Group for an exclusively peaceful settlement of the Karabakh issue.

Azerbaijan shells Armenian border village

October 14, 2014 By administrator

Azerbaijan’s armed troops opened fire on the north-eastern border village of Chinari (Tavush region) on Tuesday, Tert.am has learned from the community’s governor.

Samvel Sahhoyan said that the gunshots, heard early in the morning, did not fortunately cause any damage or loss.
“The gunshots were in the morning. They have stopped now; we don’t have any damage or ruin,” he told our correspondent.

Azerbaijan, Places New Restriction on Conflict Zone Reporting

October 8, 2014 By administrator

BAKU—Azerbaijani journalists who report from areas near front lines facing Armenian forces will be subjected to new restrictions, reports the Institute for War and Peace Reporting. The government of Azerbaijan says this is because reporters are getting things wrong and giving away state secrets, but critics of the move say it will silence attempts to find out what is going on in under-reported parts of Azerbaijan.

Plans for stricter regulation of the press were announced by President Ilham Aliyev in August, with an order to prevent confidential information on defense matters being published in the media, including the internet. He also called for the prosecution of anyone engaged in “leaking state secrets.”

Finally, he instructed the government to come up with new rules to govern the way journalists are given accreditation to report from front-line areas.

Aliyev’s instructions came after a sudden rise in violence in the Karabakh conflict zone. The increased level of violence seen this summer has since subsided, but it seems to have left the government in Baku much more concerned about controlling the flow of reporting and other information from frontier zones.

Defense ministry spokesman Vaqif Dargahli said the president was right to be worried about national security given what he called “unprofessional, illegal activities – sometimes serving Armenian interests – on the part of some of the media, and particular internet resources and social media users.”

Alleged breaches of secrecy have also been cited as justification for a plan to make internet users register so that all comments are posted under their real names.

The authorities have also accused prominent human rights defenders Leyla and Arif Yunus and journalist Rauf Mirqadirov of passing secret information to Armenia.

Afgan Mukhtarli is a journalist who regularly reports from front-line areas, and he points out that if security precautions are so poor that a reporter is able to spot an arms shipment on the move in Azerbaijan, the Armenians can probably find out about it anyway.

“I don’t think journalists need to protect defense secrets – that isn’t our job,” he said, arguing that the restrictions the government was planning were unconstitutional and contrary to international law.

Furthermore, he said, “The defense ministry conceals information on the deaths of soldiers both in combat and in non-combat situations as it believes it is not in the national interest for that to get out. But the reverse is true – the ministry should be giving the public accurate information.”

Mukhtarli fears that tighter regulations will leave journalists reliant on whatever the defense ministry and other security service choose to make public.

For people who live in front-line villages, curbs on journalists visiting them will make it harder for them to get their voices heard.

“We aren’t heard anyway – we don’t get sensible coverage in the media. And now comes this ban,” said Ilgar Mustafayev, a villager from the northwest Qazakh district close to Armenia. “The authorities just want to ensure that our countless problems don’t get out. Frontier and front-line villages aren’t secret installations for journalists to be banned from going there and gathering material unhindered.”

Head of Freedom House and ex-US ambassador to Azerbaijan call for applying sanctions against Baku

October 5, 2014 By administrator

As the West has turned its attention to the Islamic State and the Ukraine crisis, the government of President Ilham Aliyev has expanded its crackdown on dissenting voices in Azerbaijan. Even American citizens and international NGOs have bet caught up in the widening net of repression. These actions demand a response. This is stated in the article of the head of the international human rights organization Freedom House, David Kramer and ex-US ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Kauzlarich published on the website of the American edition of The American Interest.

“After an accelerating series of arrests, Aliyev’s government now holds nearly 100 political prisoners, roughly double the number in Belarus and Russia combined. Beyond the raw numbers, Azerbaijan’s authorities are also getting more thuggish in their handling of critics, journalists, and opposition figures—as well as Westerners. Statements of concern and criticism from Western and international officials and organizations have fallen on deaf ears in Baku. Even President Obama’s recent criticism of Azerbaijan’s treatment of NGOs made no impact. To the contrary, there are now credible reports that the Azerbaijani authorities plan to arrest investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova when she returns to Baku from a trip abroad. The best way to try to reverse this disturbing trend is to impose penalties on the Aliyev regime for its outrageous treatment of its own people,” the article reads.

Among the most egregious abuses are the July 30 arrests of civil society activists Leyla and Arif Yunus, accused of spying for Armenian secret services, journalist Ilgar Nasibov was savagely beaten into a state of unconsciousness, the article reminds. Local offices of American and international NGOs suffered too – IREX, NDI, Transparency International and Oxfam, the article reads.
As noted in the article recently departed U.S. Ambassador Richard Morningstar was subjected to various personal attacks by Azerbaijani government representatives, including the Chief of the Presidential Administration, Ramiz Mehdiyev. Senate staffers during a visit to Baku earlier this year were called “spies”. Any individual or organization that criticizes the authorities is viewed as hostile. Mehdiyev has characterized independent media as “anti-Azerbaijani forces” financed from abroad.

The Council of Europe’s human rights chief, Nils Muiznieks, slammed the Azerbaijani government earlier this month for the “totally unacceptable” human rights situation, which, he said, “flies in the face of the human rights obligations undertaken by Azerbaijan” as a member of the Council. UN human rights envoys also accused the prosecution of the activists.

For years, Azerbaijan’s oil and gas reserves insulated the country from exposure for its abysmal human rights record. The West’s attention lately has been focused on the Russia-Ukraine crisis and the challenge of the Islamic State, giving the Aliyev regime a sense that it can get away with its crackdown. At last month’s NATO summit it offered to take part in investment and reconstruction projects in Afghanistan, betting that contributions to the allied effort would buy it a pass on its internal situation, the publication reads.

Azerbaijani authorities often argue that they live in a tough neighborhood—sandwiched between Russia and Iran and with an unresolved conflict with Armenia—and that this should excuse them for their behavior. Geopolitics, however, shouldn’t shield Azerbaijan from criticism for treating its citizens and Western organizations as criminals. It’s time, therefore, for the United States to apply a law modeled on the 2012 Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law and Accountability Act to authorities in Baku. A number of Azerbaijani activists have called for such measures, it says.

At a time when Russia is continuing aggression against Ukraine, some will argue that, for geopolitical reasons, this is not the time for the United States to get tough on Azerbaijan. “There is never a good time to take such steps, but the situation inside Azerbaijan demands a response now. The Aliyev regime must understand that there are consequences for its abuses,” the authors write.

Source: Panorama.am

Turkish university announced anti-Armenian contest

October 5, 2014 By administrator

A Turkish university has announced a contest for the best poster depicting cruelty of Armenians.

The results of contest will be declared on January 19 — the death anniversary of Hrant Dink, Agos newspaper reported.

The contest is organized by the department of fine art at Gazi University with the support of Azerbaijani embassy in Ankara. The statement issued by organizers said the links between two nations were allegedly cut because of betrayal of the Armenians.

The aim of this exhibition is to sober international community that ignored “massacres of Turks” by Armenians during the First World War, professor Alev Cakmakoglu said.

Sadness among defenders of human rights in Azerbaijan

October 2, 2014 By administrator

For citizens of Azerbaijan who have exhausted all the possibilities of justice in the country, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) may offer a last resort.

When they decide to take the case to the Strasbourg court, they are often guided by a specialized non-governmental group in legal advice and human rights. But the opportunity to request such assistance is dwindling rapidly because these organizations disappear from the landscape.

An organization that has contributed to the presentations of the ECHR, the Legal Education Society, closed its doors recently after its leader was arrested. On August 8, a court ordered qu’Intiqam Aliyev should be kept in detention while prosecutors built a case against him for tax fraud, abuse of power and illegal business activities. He denies all charges.

Another blow came with the closure of the Media Rights Institute, who also worked on cases before the ECHR. In a statement on August 15, its president Rashid Hajili said he had been forced to take this step because the organization was in financial trouble.

“There are problems in relations with donors who support the activities of the Institute of Media Rights recently, and no solution is in sight,” said Hajili. “This means that the Institute of Media Rights may not be able to continue working on court cases.”

The loss of the institute will have a serious impact on people like journalist Mukhtarli Afgan, who six cases currently before the ECHR.

“The organization [Institute of Media Rights] has provided legal assistance to 150 legal cases against journalists” Has he said. ‘He defended my interests in all these [six] cases. Now back to me and if there is no one to defend my rights. There are very few independent lawyers. Many lawyers are afraid to file a complaint against the government of Azerbaijan to the ECHR. “

Friends and admirers of the work of the Institute suspect it was forced to close for political rather than financial reasons, but it just is not able to say so openly. Khadija Ismayilova, an investigative journalist foreground, is among those that the Institute of Media Rights helped.

“I am grateful for the help they have given me so far,” she said.

She told IWPR that it was obvious that the Institute had been under strong pressure.

“The pressure from the government is why the Institute of Media Rights has stopped working,” she said. “The accounts of the Institute have been frozen, and his head [Hajili] emigrated long ago. Then he came back and suddenly announced that the institute was closed and as he had never been involved in a case involving political prisoners …. In this difficult situation, the Institute has clearly decided not to the struggle. We have no choice but to respect that decision. “

Ganimat Zahid, editor Azadliq, an opposition newspaper, agrees that the Institute was forced to close rather than choosing to do so. “The policy of persecution of the authorities must have an impact on NGOs’ Has he told IWPR. “The Institute of Media Rights has taken a firm stand on matters of principle, and was one of those organizations that the government has always been in the crosshairs. I think if she had not stopped working, his head Rashid Hajili was arrested. The organization has clearly stopped its activities to avoid imminent arrest. “

Five days before the Institute has announced its closure, one of the staff members made a statement in support of President Ilham Aliyev. After the NGOs and political prisoners have expressed dismay Elchin Sadigov, a lawyer, wrote on Facebook that he was the victim of a witch hunt. Hajili came to his defense, also on Facebook, but did not answer the questions that were posted on the reasons why the institute was closed.

Management of Azerbaijan continues to reject any suggestion that it is behind the arrests in series of his critics and the closure of their organizations.

“It is unfortunate that these NGOs and individuals – and some journalists – fall back on foreign forces who fund and consider themselves above the national law, by refusing to declare their grant-funded project accounts, to pay taxes and comply with other legal requirements set by the government, “said Ali Hasanov, head of Political Affairs of the presidential administration, the news agency AzerTas. “In these areas, appropriate measures that the institutions of the state have taken are unfortunately described as” pressure on civil society “and” restrictions “on the operation of NGOs and the media. This is a campaign to blacken the reputation of Azerbaijan. “

Leyla Mustafayeva is a freelance journalist in Azerbaijan.

Institute for War & Peace Reporting

Azerbaijan: “I would kill this Armenian woman (Leyla Yunus) and I would drink his blood”

October 2, 2014 By administrator

Hallucinatory statements, racist and barbaric mysogynes the head of the Azerbaijani Police

In an interview with Yeni Musavat (Azeri newspaper), the head of the Azerbaijani Police Mr. Asadov said about the opponent Leyla Yunus in response to a question about why they were not escorted to the bathroom by police women and was humbled to defecate in front of men’s open door: “There are women in the Azeri police, but they sleep quietly at home, because they are good women Azeri unlike Leyla Yunus.”

Then he continued, “I gave him a police man because Yunus is not a woman any more than Azerbaijan.” For the record, Ms. Yunus is formally charged with spying for Armenia for opposing the dictatorship of President Aliyev.

“I would never go after Armenian (by appointing Ms. Yunus) in a toilet, but I would kill her and I would drink his blood” and enter “Ms. Yunus should love Azerbaijan and not Armenia.”

“So this is how prisoners are treated by the Azeri Police in 2014,” responded the director of the BFCA, Harout Mardirossian. “That’s how Karen Petrosyan was foully murdered in prison by Azeri. M.Asadov is a barbaric as Ramil Safarov as terrorists Daesh. All international organizations of human rights paint a damning indictment of the regime of Mr. Aliev became untenable and beyond the pale. We must therefore end impunity of Aliev dictatorship in international forums. This plan and his statements must be condemned by France, which decorated Ms. Yunus of the Legion of Honour and must therefore be protected. This is also why it is necessary that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe condemns and suspend Azerbaijan and for this we appeal to the French delegation. “Concluded Harout Mardirossian.

French Bureau of the Armenian Cause

17, rue Bleue 75009 Paris Tel: 01 44 83 July 02

Nalbandian: Azerbaijan tries to move negotiation process to other formats

September 29, 2014 By administrator

Azerbaijan tries to move the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiation process to other formats, where there is no deep understanding of that problem, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said at a joint press conference with UNDP Administrator Helen Clark.

“Azerbaijan is not ready for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on the norms and principles of international law,” the Minister said.

The OSCE Minsk Group is not among the organizations named by Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister in his speech at the 69th session of the UN General Assembly, Nalbandian noted, adding that the organizations mentioned by the Azerbaijani FM
not only do not have that mandate, but they do not deal with such issues.

Azerbaijan quake felt in Armenia and Karabakh

September 29, 2014 By administrator

YEREVAN. – According to preliminary data, the earthquake, which hit Azerbaijan on Monday, also was felt in the Tavush Region of Armenia and in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, where it measured 3 magnitude.

Information was received from the Armenia Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) National Seismic Protection Service, at 8:40am, that a 5.1-magnitude earthquake had occurred in Azerbaijan, at 6:38am local time, 23 km southwest of Quba city, the MES Rescue Service informed.

The quake measured 7 magnitude at the epicenter, and its hypocenter was 15 km beneath the surface.

But there are no reports on casualties, injuries, and material damage.

Azeri democracy: “historic truth” at a bargain

September 24, 2014 By administrator

Several days ago, Alberta Azerbaijani Cultural Society planted a tree in a park of Calgary, Canada, with a plaque at the bottom of it commemorating the victims of so-called “Khojaly Tragedy.” Also, a bench, carrying an identical plaque, was installed in the park.

However, according to Armenian media, the Calgary municipal authorities disallowed the anti-Armenian accusatory inscription from appearing on the plaques, with the latters simply reading “Khojaly Tragedy.”

As might be expected, the move drew fervent response among the country’s media, which hurried to dub it a victory of Azeri diplomacy.

In reality, though, the bench and the tree fall short of signaling the triumph of Azeri diplomacy – it’s much simpler: the items are a part of social program made available for private persons as well as organizations for $3500 and $500-$800 respectively. Thus, “the victory of Azeri democracy” came at a ballpark price of $4000.

Azeri propaganda continues misleading the international community and its own people by falsifying the essence and the history of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict: Baku’s sparing no money in spreading propagandist literature, releasing fake documents and photos to impose its version of the Khojalu events.

It’s public knowledge that Azeri ex-president Ayaz Mutalibov accused his political opponents with murders in Khojalu. In an interview, he stated, “Why would Armenians need to open fire after leaving a humanitarian corridor for people to escape – especially on the territory of Aghdam, where help was easily accessible. As Khojaly survivors assert, the move was orchestrated to prompt my resignation, by forces aiming to discredit the president.”

Much later, Azerbaijani journalist and human rights activist Eynulla Fatullayev said, “several years ago I met some refugees from Khojaly, temporarily settled in Naftalan, who openly confessed to me that, on the eve of the large-scale offensive of the Russian and Armenian troops on Khojaly, the town had been encircled [by those troops]. And even several days prior to the attack, the Armenians had been continuously warning the population about the planned operation through loudspeakers and suggesting that the civilians abandon the town and escape from the encirclement through a humanitarian corridor along the Karkar River. According to the Khojaly refugees’ own words, they had used this corridor and, indeed, the Armenian soldiers positioned behind the corridor had not opened fire on them…

Having crossed the area behind the Karkar River, the row of refugees was separated and, for some reason, a group of [them] headed in the direction of Nakhichevanik. It appears that the National Front Army battalions were striving not for the liberation of the Khojaly civilians but for more bloodshed on their way to overthrow A. Mutalibov [the first President of Azerbaijan] …”

So the bitter truth is: no amount of plaques and benches will make the international community believe in the Azeri-generated “Khojaly genocide” myth, no matter how much Baku is willing to splurge to show itself in a good light.

Marina Ananikyan/ PanARMENIAN.Net, Photo: Vesti.az