Armenia “has not wish to seize Baku, but can cause irreparable losses”

November 26, 2016 By administrator

Serzh Sargsyan re-elected Republican Party’s leader

Armenia has no intention to occupy Baku, but can cause irreversible losses,President Serzh Sargsyan said Saturday, November 26 during the ruling Republican Party’s convention in Yerevan.

“Azerbaijan keeps bragging about imposing its will through the use of force and violence,”Sargsyan said commenting on Baku’s offensive unleashed against Nagorno Karabakh.

Azerbaijan on April 2 attacked Karabakh positions and settlements, as a result of which hundreds were killed on both sides. The parties reached an agreement on the cessation of hostilities on April 5.

“Azerbaijan’s aggression was a serious blow to the negotiation process,” Sargsyan said.

“Just like before the events in April, our stance remains unchanged, Armenia and Karabakh have no reason to go to war. And this is the most essential difference with Azerbaijan’s approach.”

Sargsyan said he is deeply convinced that the conflict can be solved only through peaceful talks, adding that the sides should give a clear and realistic assessment of the existing balance of forces.

“We don’t pursue the task of capturing Baku and calling capitulation, but we do understand the scale of irreparable loss we can cause our rivals,” the President said.

“I don’t think I need to go into more details.”

“I see no sense in engaging in arms race, as no weapons and armor can solve the outcome of a military action,” he added.

“Our efforts should be aimed at enhancing the morale, professional skills and tactical capabilities of our armed forces.”

Iranian Studies specialist: Tehran made it clear to Baku that it will not tolerate military solution to Karabakh conflic

August 20, 2016 By administrator

tehran-baku YEREVAN. – Iran has made it clear to Azerbaijan that it will not tolerate a military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Iranian Studies specialist Karen Mkrtchyan noted at a press conference on Saturday.

When asked how the normalization of Iranian-Azerbaijani relations can impact the resolution of this conflict, the Armenian specialist responded: “If the Iranian side is against any military action, it means it is in favor of maintaining the status quo.

“With such viewpoint, this is certainly beneficial to the Armenian side [in the conflict]. Furthermore, the Iranian side has always said that it is for resolving the problem solely through peace talks.”

Mkrtchyan recalled that during the Russian, Iranian and Azerbaijani presidents’ meeting in Azerbaijan’s capital city of Baku, President Hassan Rouhani had stated that resolving the Karabakh conflict through negotiations is very important to Iran.

“In doing so, Tehran made it very clear to Baku that it will not tolerate a military solution to the Karabakh conflict,” concluded the Iranian Studies specialist.

Italian newspaper: War in Karabakh showed that Baku sponsors ISIL

May 4, 2016 By administrator

Italian news paper The war in Nagorno-Karabakh showed that Azerbaijan is a state which behaves like ISIL. This has already been confirmed by the presence of the caliphate ex-fighters in the conflict zone. And this proves that the republic governed by dictator Aliyev is the most genuine sponsor of the Islamic State terrorists, Italian newspaper Sponda Sud writes.

The article reads:

“There exist no principles which can be followed during killings in war, but there are unwritten military rules: soldiers fight against other soldiers, but respect them and do not mistreat their bodies. Moreover, they do not open fire at civilians.

Azerbaijan showed that it neither follows the international values nor respects them. What does Europe do? Europe, the symbol of civilization which always fought against terrorism, is doing nothing now. When Armenians were burying their soldiers, the UN spoke about the union between civil societies at the VII International Humanitarian Forum, which was ironically held in Baku.

Apparently, there can be no ties between the civilization and beheading of a soldier. And after all this, Aliyev even awarded the soldier who did this, showing his army that this is the path to awards.

It is not the first time Baku has awarded killers. We recall Ramil Safarov. This name is associated with heroism and glory in Azerbaijan. Whereas Safarov axed sleeping Armenian soldier Gurgen Margaryan to death.

Azerbaijan supports terrorism. This is dangerous not only for Armenia and its Diaspora, but also for the entire Europe. Baku’s actions aimed at supporting terrorism should be stopped. Humanism is not merely words. It is not merely a topic of international conferences. It is first of all support to the countries which struggle for liberty and refuse violence.”

Karabakh Update: Baku confirms death of Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel

April 11, 2016 By administrator

Baku confirmed the death of a Lieutenant Colonel from the Azeri Special Forces, Haqqin.az reports.

Baku’s attempts to conceal the number of fighters killed in the course of clashes between Karabakh and Azerbaijan since April 2 proved ineffective.

According to Azerbaijani media outlets, the body of Murad Telman oğlu Mirzayev, who was killed in recent clashes with Karabakh, will be transported to Baku by helicopter.

Mirzayev was reportedly killed “in a special combat mission.”

The parties to the Karabakh conflict agreed on a bilateral ceasefire along the contact line which came into force at midday, April 5.

Prior to that, on the night of April 1-2, Azerbaijani armed forces initiated overt offensive operations in the southern, southeastern and northeastern directions of the line of contact with Nagorno Karabakh.

As of April 5, the Azerbaijani side has lost 26 tanks and 4 infantry fighting vehicles, as well as 1 BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, 1 engineering vehicle, 2 military helicopters and 14 unmanned aerial vehicles. The Azerbaijani side has admitted the loss of 31 fighters, 1 helicopter and 1 unmanned drone, whereas the Armenian side’s photo and video materials show dozens of killed Azerbaijani troops, 1 helicopter and 3 UAVs. Opposition media outlets, however, reported on the death of 93 Azerbaijani soldiers, stating that 33 more have been wounded. According to Karabakh authorities, 300 Azerbaijani soldiers were killed in clashes.

14 Karabakh tanks have been neutralized since April 2.

Related links:

http://haqqin.az/news/67762

Armenian pogroms in Baku started 26 years ago on this day

January 13, 2016 By administrator

Armenian 1990 Pogroms of the native Armenian population of Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, had begun on January 13, 1990, exactly 26 years ago on this day.

Several thousand power-striving savage supporters of the Azerbaijani National Front had organized the mass killings of the Armenians in the city.

When the pogroms had started, the leadership of Azerbaijan SSR had almost completely lost control of the situation. And the Soviet military units in Baku were locked in their barracks

The leadership of Soviet Azerbaijan had officially accepted the fact that these pogroms were carried out on ethnic grounds.

The logic of these tragic events in Baku, however, does not fit in the “logic” of modern-day Azerbaijan’s state propaganda machine, which the country’s ruling Aliyev clan has taken under its supervision.

On this day, Armenia mourns for the fallen and the maimed of these pogroms. Azerbaijan, on the other hand, either does not remember them, or disseminates respective cynical and apparent falsehood, especially through its state-subject media.

From Baku Pogroms to Elected Office in Maine

November 18, 2015 By administrator

BY RUPEN JANBAZIAN

From The Armenian Weekly

WESTBROOK CITY, Maine (A.W.)—“Coming to the United States as a refugee in 1992, I was always fascinated with the electoral process, the judicial system, and the way of life here. I love this country. I voted the minute I could vote after getting my citizenship at 19,” says Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte, who became Westbrook City’s youngest and only female city councilor on Nov. 3, with 64 percent of the vote.

Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 1978, Turcotte fledto the United States with her family after a wave of Azerbaijani aggression towards Armenians in 1990. “I never thought I would run for any office, but what’s amazing about this country is that anyone can, and anyone who wants to should.” She explained that her first presidential election vote was absentee, and that she still has the little pencil they sent in with the ballot packet.

Turcotte’s background is in legal and risk management, and she had no real political experience or knowledge of what running a campaign involved. But with guidance from her friends and help from her family, she ran successfully for the position against an incumbent and another candidate. Running as a Democrat, she beat out long-time city councillor Paul Emery and Republican Susan Rossignol in a landslide victory in Westbrook City’s Ward 3. She secured 308 votes to Emery’s 88 and to Rossignol’s 83.

“I ran the textbook grassroots campaign,” she says. Turcotte went to City Hall, obtained a map of her ward, and knocked on the door of every house of her section of the city with her kids after work and school. “They were on bikes and scooters, and I was with a stack of palm cards knocking on doors and describing my qualifications, my family background, and my vision for the city’s future. On weekends, my husband joined us. We met many wonderful people along the way…and got some exercise too.”

Turcotte credits the success of her campaign to face-to-face interactions. “Yes, sure, they can see my interview in the local paper, but they get to see much more when they meet me and know that I’m a real person with a real family in this city. And we are all in it together. We had fun as a family doing it for about five to six weeks,” she says. “I am terrified of dogs, and it seems everyone has a dog, so it was not easy for me on many different levels, but so rewarding.”

Having children has prompted Turcotte to become more invested in the success of Westbrook City. “I believe the success of the city directly contributes to the success of my children and their friends. I am not the type of person who can comfortable sit back and observe things from the sidelines,” she says.

Turcotte has been volunteering with various organizations and has been a tireless voice advocating for increased U.S. aid for Nagorno-Karabagh. She also recently published her memoirs, titled Nowhere, a Story of Exile, which tells the story of her life in Baku and the Azerbaijani brutality that shattered her childhood.

Recently, Anna’s husband John suggested that she should run for public office. “I thought he was crazy, but he is my biggest fan and supporter, always believing in me,” she says.

Turcotte believes the election results reflect the people’s need for a change in the city and their trust in her. “I encourage fellow Armenians to become more politically active in their communities. And on a personal note, I want my daughter and son to see their mama succeed in various aspects of life, whether it’s the kitchen, the business, writing and publishing books, or running for office. Children need more examples of women being out in the world, making their own way, just as they want it.”

The Council of Europe ends its cooperation with Baku on Human Rights

October 8, 2015 By administrator

Strasbourg, 7 October 2015 (AFP) -The Council of Europe said Wednesday it was ending its cooperation on human rights with Azerbaijan because of the “deterioration” of the situation of fundamental rights in this country.

The Secretary General of the pan-European organization, Thorbjørn Jagland, informed the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe of its decision to withdraw from the joint working group on human rights set up in order to improve dialogue with Baku in the subject, he said in a statement.

This working group is composed of 18 activists of human rights, members of parliament and government, and representatives of the Council of Europe. The meetings were very episodic.

A representative of the Council of Europe are participating since October 2014 “to revive the dialogue between civil society and the authorities. Despite this initiative, the general situation of human rights activists has deteriorated, “the organization said in a statement.

“More and more human rights activists have recently been imprisoned, and the Council of Europe has received disturbing reports about unacceptable prison conditions,” according to the same statement. Among the members of this working group included including investigative journalist and activist Azerbaijani anti-corruption Khadija Ismailova, recently sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.

During September, a young opposition journalist Shirin Abbasov, was arrested for “resisting the police”. In August, a couple of activists for human rights, Leyla and Arif Yunus, has been sentenced to long prison terms in a case denounced by NGOs as orchestrated by the government.

President Ilham Aliev, 53, denies any accusation of breach of human rights, and his government denounced the criticism as a smear campaign against the country, a member since 2001 of the Council of Europe.

Thursday, October 8, 2015,
Ara © armenews.com

Armenian Seda Tutkhanyan Wins Gold at Baku Games

June 17, 2015 By administrator

Seda Tutkhanyan

BAKU—Seda Tutkhanyan, a native of Gyumri, who is competing on behalf of the Russian team won a gold medal Tuesday in the gymnastics team competition during the European Games.

The Russian team beat out the German and Dutch team to ascend to the gold. Tutkhanyan competed alongside her teammates Viktoria Komova and Aliya Moustafina.

Tutkhanyan has also advanced to the personal gymnastics competition finals and remains in the competition in the lead.

The 15-year-old Tutkhanyan is a junior Olympics champion and the daughter of world champion Gourgen Tutkhanyan. She began training in the sport when she was seven.

Baku European Games: Simon Clegg hopes for cheers not jeers for Armenians

June 13, 2015 By administrator

The hostile reception given to Azerbaijan’s bitter enemies Armenia at the lavish opening ceremony of the inaugural European Games in Baku will hopefully not be repeated in the sporting arena, the Games’ chief operating officer Simon Clegg said on Saturday. report zeenews.india

Baku: The hostile reception given to Azerbaijan’s bitter enemies Armenia at the lavish opening ceremony of the inaugural European Games in Baku will hopefully not be repeated in the sporting arena, the Games’ chief operating officer Simon Clegg said on Saturday.

Clegg’s desire that “people will appreciate athletic performances irrespective of which country competes” will be sorely tested later on Saturday as Armenian veteran Greco-Roman wrestler Roman Amoyan faces off against Azeri Elman Mukhtarov in the bronze medal play-off in the 59 kilogramme category.

Indeed the 31-year-old Armenian — who among many medals has accrued an Olympic bronze in 2008 and also silver at the 2009 world championships — was jeered and booed in his morning bouts.

This followed hot on the heels of the fiery reception spectators gave the small Armenian delegation when they entered the Olympic Stadium on Friday.

The two Caucasus countries have been locked in conflict since a bloody war in the early 1990s following the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Clegg, one of British sport’s most experienced administrators and who was integral to London’s successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics, said the fact Armenia were at the Games at all was an achievement in itself.

“Bearing in mind the difficulties between the two countries it demonstrates the power of sport that Armenia is here participating,” said Clegg.

“To have all 50 European NOCs (National Olympic Committees) marching sent an incredibly positive message.

“I recognise there were some reactions from elements of the public to the marching of certain delegations.

“But we have spent some time looking at a range of scenarios,” added the 55-year-old.

The decision by the Armenians to compete was a considerable diplomatic coup for European Olympic Committee president Pat Hickey who laboured long and hard to persuade them to come.

He even earned praise from a European parliamentarian for managing the feat as she had failed to even get their diplomatic representatives to meet in her office after years of trying.

The Armenia team had been anticipating a ‘warm’ welcome and they duly got it as their delegation — seemingly comprising not athletes but officials — was jeered.

Some spectators chanted ‘Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan’ and brandished the national flag.

Their enmity dates back to the early part of the 20th century before being cut short by them becoming part of the Soviet Union.

However, once the Soviet Union disappeared, violence reared its head again and Yerevan-backed ethnic Armenian separatists seized control of Nagorny Karabakh during the 1990s conflict that left some 30,000 dead.

Despite years of negotiations, the two countries have not signed a final peace deal following a shaky 1994 truce, and clashes have intensified over the past year along the Karabakh frontline.

The predominantly Armenian-populated region is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan.

Baku, whose military spending exceeds Armenia’s entire state budget, has threatened to take back the disputed territory by force if negotiations fail to yield results.

Backed militarily by Russia, Armenia says it could crush any offensive.

AFP

Azerbaijan European leaders ignore opening of Baku games

June 12, 2015 By administrator

Leaders of the European countries ignored opening of the first European Games in Baku.

The opening ceremony will be attended by the presidents of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Montenegro, Turkey, chairman of the presidium of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Regents of San Marino, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, Prince of Monaco Albert, contact.az reported.

UK sent to the ceremony its Foreign Secretary for Relations with Parliament Tobias Evlud, and the Czech Republic will be represented by the head of the House of Deputies Jan Gamacek.

Thus, the leaders of the countries of Western Europe, except the leaders of dwarf states, have ignored the ceremony of the European Games.