NKR Defense Army retaliated to suppress the adversary’s aggressive activity

November 1, 2016 By administrator

On the night of October 31 – November 1 the Azerbaijani forces violated the ceasefire regime along the Line of Contact between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan for 55 times, firing around 840 shots from weapons of different calibers toward the Armenian positions.
As the NKR Defense Army reports, apart from firearms, the Azerbaijani forces applied RPG-7 grenade launchers (3 projectiles) in the northern direction of the Line of Contact.

Vanguard units of the Defense Army have retaliated to suppress the adversary’s activity and continued confidently implementing their combat duties, reads the statement.

VIENNA: Mayor Thierry Kovacs strengthens the bonds of his city with the Nagorno-Karabakh

October 31, 2016 By administrator

vienna-mayor-karabakh Thierry Kovacs, Mayor of Vienna, President of ViennAgglo and regional councilor, received officially at the Vienna City Hall on October 21, ahead of a conference at the MCA Vienna, Hovhannes Gevorkian, representative of the Republic of Karabakh in France, François Rochebloine, MP of the Loire and president of the friendship circle France-Karabakh and Loussiné Movsisyan, vice-consul of Armenia in Lyon, in the presence of representatives of the Viennese Armenian community.

On this occasion, Thierry Kovacs recalled the friendship between the City of Vienna and the Armenian people, fed by an old presence of Armenian survivors of the genocide in Vienna, and thus a common history that has contributed to the development and influence City and at the same time that the Viennese can remain indifferent today to all aspects of near or far to the Armenian cause.

This is so in respect of the fight karabaghtsi people’s right to live freely on their land, to exist as a sovereign nation and willing to build an exemplary democracy. A friendship charter had also been signed in February 2014 between Vienna and Hadrut in Karabakh in order to materialize this support Viennese residents of Karabakh.

This charter was challenged by the State representative in the department earlier this year and it was therefore ordered the Vienna mayor not to pursue this cooperation with the City of Hadrut.

On the occasion of this meeting with Mrs. Movsisyan, gentlemen Guevorkian and Rochebloine Thierry Kovacs has held in the name of friendship between Vienna and Armenia but also in terms of its numerous meetings with the French of Armenian origin as the Armenians of Armenia, to indicate that under no circumstances can be no question for him to yield to the dictates of the state and the French government.

Under what:

1 Thierry Kovacs announced that the Charter of friendship between the City of Vienna and Hadrut not only would not be removed but it is still relevant;

2 He officially requested the President Rochebloine who agreed to join the Friendship Circle France-Karabakh;

3 He said that during an upcoming trip to Goris, twin city of Vienna, he would visit the Nagorno Karabakh Hadrut and specifically to strengthen the bonds of friendship.

Monday, October 31, 2016,
Claire © armenews.com

Karabakh: Cross-stone monument opened in Talish in memory of the Sisian regimen freedom-fighters perished during four-day war

October 30, 2016 By administrator

karabakh-cross-stone-monument Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan visited on Saturday the Talish village in the Martakert region and partook there at a solemn ceremony of opening a cross-stone monument in memory of the Sisian regimen freedom fighters perished during the four-day April war.

As the Information department of the President’s Office reports, in his speech President Sahakyan noted that at this moment everybody was full of various emotions; on one hand we feel sorrow and sadness remembering our friends and relatives, on the other hand we are proud to have such hero warriors who defended the native country and people showing bravery and selflessness, for whom serving to the Motherland is most important mission in the life.

Artsakh President next underlined that residents of Syunik and Sisian, in particular, had always had an active participation in the defense of the Motherland and in this respect the Artsakh Liberation War was not an exception during which they struggled against the enemy bringing their inestimable contribution to carving our glorious victories.

NKR National Assembly chairman Ashot Ghoulyan, Armenian National Assembly deputy chairman Eduard Sharmazanov, other officials, representatives from Armenia and the Diaspora partook at the event.

German MP: Europe and Russia must work with Armenia and Azerbaijan to reduce tension

October 30, 2016 By administrator

german-pm-karabakh YEREVAN. — Europe and Russia must work with Armenia and Azerbaijan to reduce the cases of escalation in Karabakh conflict area, German Bundestag member, chairman of the Armenian-German forum Albert Weiler told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

He recalled that after the escalation in April Germany, as OSCE chairing country, held talks with the representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan, which led to easing tension. The politicians in Germany, and he personally, are trying to hold dialogue with both parties to find a joint solution, Mr. Weiler said, adding that it is not that easy.

Azerbaijani side launched diversionary penetration attempts on October 20 in easterly and southerly directions of the line of contact between the Karabakh and Azerbaijani opposing forces. The Defense Army vanguard units, however, detected the Azerbaijani special forces’ advance in timely fashion, and drew them back to their original positions, and also caused them to suffer casualties.

Best-preserved early Christianity monument is discovered in Karabakh

October 29, 2016 By administrator

christianity-monument The Amaras Monastery, which is located in Martuni Region of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh), is one of the best preserved monuments that were built during the early Christianity.

And as a result of archaeological excavations in the area of this monastery, the eastern entrance to the tomb of St. Grigoris—who was ordained as bishop of the Eastern Lands of Armenia, which included Artsakh—was discovered in the St. Grigoris Church, which was built in the early 4th century.

“Of course, the Azerbaijanis had conducted excavations [here] before us [i.e. Armenians],” said archeologist Hamlet Petrosyan. “We also found the 1959 bottle, where it was written that they [i.e. the Azerbaijanis] conducted excavations and found nothing. But we achieved the desired result.”

Petrosyan also noted that the discovered eastern entrance to this tomb has a slab floor, which is not seen in any other Christian structures.

The NKR Ministry of Economy has informed that the museumification of this newly-discovered tomb was conducted in the year past, and by way of installing a glass cover, which is a new phenomenon for post-Soviet Armenia and Karabakh.

The Amaras Monastery is among the sites of early period Armenian architecture in Artsakh.

Source: news.am

Karabakh: Azerbaijani fire kills Armenain soldier

October 26, 2016 By administrator

karabakh-soldiers-killed Armenian serviceman Gurgen Aivazyan (b. 1996) was killed this evening by Azerbaijani fire while on combat duty at one of the military units in the north-eastern direction of the Line of Contact, NKR Ministry of Defense reports.

An investigation into the incident is underway.

The Ministry extends condolences to the family and companions-in arms of the killed soldier.

The NKR Ministry of Defense also says that Azerbaijani troops continued ceasefire violations along the Line of Contact on Wednesday. Azerbaijani forces used an AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher and a SPG-9 tripod-mounted anti-tank gun in the northeastern direction (Talish).

Azeri leader ready for Karabakh meeting with Armenia President

October 22, 2016 By administrator

meeting Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has expressed readiness to meet with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan for discussing the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, the U.S. Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group said Saturday, October 22.

“I talked to President Aliyev in person,” RIA Novosti cited James Warlick as saying.

“He said he is committed to a peaceful settlement of the conflict and that he is ready to meet with Armenia’s leader Serzh Sargsyan for further negotiations. We have certain ideas to consider along with the organization of the next meeting of the Presidents on Karabakh.”

Sargsyan and Aliyev met on June 20 in Saint Petersburg to address the conflict, with Russian President Vladimir Putin mediating the talks. The Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents confirmed their commitment to the implementation of agreements reached at a Vienna-hosted meeting on May 16. To that end, they agreed to increase the number of international observers in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone. Also, they expressed satisfaction that the ceasefire was now holding. Prior to that, a meeting between both leaders was organized on May 16 in Vienna, with top diplomats from the MG co-chairing countries hosting the summit.

HALO Trust launches crowdfunding campaign to clear Karabakh minefield

October 21, 2016 By administrator

croud-funding In a global first, The HALO Trust, an international non-profit, has launched a $30,000 crowdfunding campaign to clear a minefield in the village of Myurishen, Nagorno Karabakh, the organization said Thursday, October 21.

It is a 1.8-acre minefield that endangers 500 people in Myurishen and the neighboring village of Vazgenasheg in Martuni region. Clearance would prevent accidents and allow the community to use the safe land to gather wood and graze animals.

At least five people have been injured in landmine accidents in Myurishen since 1995. The HALO Trust cleared three minefields in the village between 2007 and 2011, removing 38 anti-personnel mines, two anti-tank mines and three other explosive items. The minefield to be cleared through crowdfunding is the only minefield remaining (in the village – editor’s note).

The crowdfunding appeal is part of a larger campaign – Safe steps for the people of Karabakh – to clear all the landmines in Karabakh with an impact on civilians by 2020. An anonymous donor has pledged half of the $8 million required – if The HALO Trust can raise matching funds.

Andrew Moore, The HALO Trust’s Regional Director, said:”We are taking this new approach to fundraising because Karabakh’s Armenians have suffered from landmines for over 22 years. They are more likely to be victims of landmines than residents of almost any country in the world; a third of the victims are children.”

The HALO Trust, the world’s largest humanitarian mine action organization, has worked in Karabakh since 2000. It is the only agency clearing landmines and cluster bombs with a staff of 170 men and women who were recruited locally.

Nagorno-Karabakh can be autonomous republic – Aliyev

October 18, 2016 By administrator

Azerbaijan’s president has reiterated his country’s call for mutual concessions over Nagorno-Karabakh, promising to give the country the status of an autonomous republic.

“A reasonable mutual concession is possible,” Ilham Aliyev said in an interview with Rossiya Segodnya. “Azerbaijan is implementing different investment projects to ensure their regular daily life. and autonomy. Peaceful cooperation between the two peoples on condition of liberating the regions surrounding the Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous region – this is our vision of conflict settlement,” he said, ruling out the possibility of granting the country a full independence,

“Yet, we can agree on mutual concessions over local autonomy and the autonomy of Nagorno-Karabakh. We can have an autonomous republic if we want to,” he added.

Azerbaijani president’s statement blackmails USA, Armenian expert says

October 9, 2016 By administrator

political scientist Styopa Safaryan, Head of Armenian AIISA.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has claimed Azerbaijan is being pressed into recognizing Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence. He is blackmailing the United States, which has repeatedly stated that territorial solutions cannot be independent of the referendum results in Nagorno-Karabakh, political scientist Styopa Safaryan told Tert.am in response to a question as to which great power the Azerbaijani leader meant while saying that he is being pressed behind closed doors into recognizing Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence.

“Since James Warlick’s extensive interview has been misinterpreted because of words out of context and John Kerry’s rather interesting remarks have gone unnoticed, I can say that the United States insists on a comprehensive settlement of the problem, which implies a final status for Nagorno-Karabakh, a package settlement. And since Azerbaijan has always shown a selective attitude to the Helsinki Final Act and to the three principles for a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict – accepting the territorial integrity principle alone – it has repeatedly received messages by means of James Warlick and John Kerry that it is not going to be so,” Mr Safaryan said.

According to a statement by official Washington on Oct. 4, “a just settlement must be based on international law, which includes the Helsinki Final Act, the principle of non-use of force or the threat of force, territorial integrity, and self-determination.”

At the daily press briefing in Washington on October 3, Yusif Babanlı, a reporter for the AzerTag state-run news agency, put the following question to Ms Elizabeth Trudeau, Director, Press Office, US Department of State:

“So last week, Secretary Kerry was speaking at the Atlantic and Aspen Institute, and he was discussing various conflicts including Syria, issues with Iran. And he touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He said something to the effect of that the prospects for conflict resolutions are not there because the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan are not ready yet. Can you clarify what he might have meant, or more importantly, what would warrant such a statement?”

In response, Ms Elizabeth Trudeau said:

“Well, I won’t parse the Secretary’s words. I think they’re pretty clear. What I would reiterate, though, is that the U.S. supports a negotiated settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We continue to engage actively with the sides. You know we’re co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group. Our longstanding policy shared by the Minsk Group co-chairs is that a just settlement must be based on international law, which includes the Helsinki Final Act, the principle of non-use of force or the threat of force, territorial integrity, and self-determination.”

“The responsibility for peace rests on the leaders of both countries, and we would reiterate their importance in finding a negotiated peace,” she added.

In this context, President Ilham Aliyev, who is openly accused of lacking the political will in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, has to openly state his political attitude.

“It is blackmail against the United States to force it into changing its attitude,” Mr Safaryan said.

However, he does not think the US will change its position.

Moreover, the US position is in conflict with not only Azerbaijan’s wishes, but also Russia’s. This is the reason for the US Secretary of State’s hint that maintaining the status quo is the only alternative to a comprehensive settlement.