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Karabakh, Calls for peace through mutual concessions sound strange – Artak Zakaryan

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Artak Zakaryan, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, Parliament of Armenia, believes that call for reaching peace by means of ungrounded mutual concessions by some political forces are at least strange.

In response to Tert.am’s question concerning a “peace platform” proposed by leader of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) Levon Ter-Petrosyan – whether it is mere propaganda or sufficient steps are not being made to establish peace – Mr Zakaryan said:

“I do not think Mr Ter-Petrosyan and our partners from the ANC do not know our neighbor, Azerbaijan, well. And it is at least strange they are trying to justify their calls for peace with such ungrounded mutual concessions or concessions at all. Speaking of it today is tantamount to both derailing the peace process and the struggle we once launched,” he said.
Either negotiations or use of force can guarantee mutual concessions.

“However, regular ceasefire violations by Azerbaijan make any talks about mutual concessions illogical,” Mr Zakaryan said.

He cannot perceive phased concessions.

“Phased concessions are out of the question. What does ‘phased concessions’ mean? Are we to give in once, then twice and so on? I am well aware what mutual concessions actually mean. A start to mutual concessions is recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh’s rights to self-determination, with relevant documents signed. Azerbaijan is speaking of it thus obliging us to make relevant mutual concessions. But I am against return of lands without Nagorno-Karabakh’s self-determination,” Mr Zakaryan said.

With respect to the border tension, he said that Azerbaijan is sparing no effort to escalate the situation.

“And they are seeking to cause a deep crisis in the Minsk process.”

Nelly Lazaryan

Photos featuring the April war win a prize at international contest

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Photos taken during the April war in Nagorno Karabakh have taken the 2nd place of the Photo series at international photography contest LensCulture Exposure Guide – 2017, Artsakhpress reported.

The author of the series entitled “Military Mobilization” is Areg Balayan, who served as a volunteer on the frontline during the war days.

As the official website of the contest informs, selected by a diverse international jury, the award-winning photographers hail from 22 countries – five continents, representing an intriguing and inspiring cross-section of contemporary photography of out days.

International conference “Breaking the Siege of Stepanakert: 25 years later” kicks off in Yerevan

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International conference entitled “Breaking the Siege of Stepanakert: 25 years later” has kicked off in Yerevan on Wednesday that has brought together number of Armenian and foreign experts to reflect on the Artsakh war, deliver analysis on the inevitability of the break of Stepanakert city blockade in the winter months of 1992 as well as draw parallels with the military actions unleashed by Azerbaijan in April, 2016.

The event, which is organized by the Public Relations and Information Center State Non-commercial Organization, is attended by military reporters who used to work in Artsakh in 1991-1992 as well as experts of international law both from Armenia and abroad.

The Director at the Public Relations and Information Center Ara Saghatelyan noted in his opening remark that the conference is being held ten days earlier of the date when Stepanakert siege was broken aiming to disseminate the truth and the reality for the international community, to present the whole picture how the developments unfolded in Karabakh starting from 1987-88.

“We should present the wider picture and demonstrate that no alternative existed or could exist except the military operation in Aghdam direction,” Saghatelyan said.

In his words, the relevancy of holding the conference has been repeatedly stressed in private interactions and contacts, yet the conference has brought together the experts who had thoroughly studied the topic.

Mr. Saghatelyan reminded that the first film created by the Public Relations and Information Center produced in 2012 was about the Aghdam operation that partly covered the situation in Stepanakert.

“A new film is scheduled to be screened in the coming days that will comprehensibly showcase to the international community the essence of the humanitarian disaster that hit Karabakh and the capital city Stepanakert, in particular. I think whenever our neighbors try to speculate over the historical events in the future, people having access to the translated version of the film would at least have the understanding of the inevitability of the so-called Khojalu military operation in Aghdam direction,” Saghatelyan said.

Brief description

The siege of the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Region started in Autumn 1989, when Azerbaijan blockaded railroad lines to Armenia, while roads passing near the Azerbaijani settlements became extremely dangerous. As a response to the calls by Karabakh people for reunification with Armenia, the residents of Stepanakert were trapped by Azerbaijanis tightening of the blockade with all essential supplies, including water, electricity, food and medicines virtually cut off.

It was in these conditions of the total blockade that since September 2 1991 Azerbaijan additionally subjected adjacent settlements of Stepanakert to shelling and bombardments, including the airdrome near the Azerbaijani Khojalu village at a time when atrocities against Armenians were widespread.

To silence the Azerbaijani intensive and constant shelling, break the imposed blockade and save the starving the city population from annihilation, Armenian self-defense forces were compelled to get reorganized in late February, 2012 and liberate the Khojalu village (Ivanyan), while the Lachin (Berdzor) corridor was ultimately opened in May 18.

Two Azerbaijani reporters – Chingiz Mustafayev and Eynulla Fatulayev – who objectively documented and voiced the accurate record of the historical events had different fates.  Mustafayev was killed months after the operation while Fatulayev after serving his four-year imprisonment, was later freed and established a news portal committed to intensive praising and glorification of Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev.

 

Source Panorama.a

The Case of Lapshin Can Force Armenia Recognize NKR Independence

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ANNA KARAPETYAN
Political scientist

The case of blogger Aleksandr Lapshin is a new demonstration of the destructive policy of Azerbaijan, which aims to isolate Artsakh. And this case doesn’t get appropriate international reaction. The absence of international reactions creates an atmosphere of  impunity for the government of Azerbaijan, that becomes more and more courageous in its steps.

If  earlier everybody, who visited Artsakh was included in the “black list” of Azerbaijan and could never visit Azerbaijan, now Baku dares to demand extradition of a blogger, who visited Artsakh. In that way Baku tries to make international community understand, that from now on such visits to NKR will “cost much”.

It’s not excluded, that if this policy of Azerbaijan continues, one day Baku can decide “to punish” also Armenia and demand to arrest and send to Baku all Armenians, who have visited NKR. What will then happen?

In that case Armenia, and also other countries, who understand well the situation and don’t want to yield to the blackmailing policy of Azerbaijan, will think for mechanisms defending their citizens. The most reliable mechanism is to form a legal base, which means to recognize the independence of NKR. 

Source: http://armedia.am/eng/news/45177/the-case-of-lapshin-can-force-armenia-recognize-nkr-independence.html

Senor Hasratyan: The Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan is ultimately losing its ability to assess the reality soberly

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“Today the Azerbaijani agitprop has spread another disinformation according to which the Armenian side has attempted a sabotage infiltration and their forces prevented it in time,” NKR Defense Army’s Spokesman Senor Hasratyan has noted the aforesaid in a post on facebook.

“By the way, in order to make the fiction more colourful, the magicians of Baku, as usual, have decided to release a rather tasteless and unprofessional footage as an “”irrefutable proof” to the claims, and which won’t be possible to understand even after studying it thoroughly… Anyways, as it is said tastes differ, but in addition to all of this the fact that the Defence Ministry of Azerbaijan is ultimately losing its ability to soberly assess the reality is obvious…

And in the end, let me add something: pursuant to the official statement released by the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry on 12 February, “during the shootout aimed at preventing the shelling of the frontline positions by the adversary, contract serviceman of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, Junior Sergeant Fuad Farhad oghlu Gafarov died.”  We leave you with all the conclusions to be drawn from this,” Hasratyan added.

One Armenian serviceman killed, another wounded in Azeri firing

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Contract serviceman of the NKR Defense Army Gegham Manukyan (born in 1979) has been killed as a result of ceasefire violation by the Azerbaijani side in the northern direction of the Defense Army at about 11:00 today, the NKR Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Investigation into the details of the incident is under way.

“The NKR Defense Ministry shares the sorrow of the heavy loss and expresses support to the serviceman’s family and friends,” the Ministry said.

The Ministry said another soldier, private of the NKR Defense Army Koryun Kirakosyan (born in 1988) was heavily wounded in Azeri firing in the Martakert direction at about 12:00 today.

Azerbaijani dictator and Ukraine dictator ban imports from Nagorno-Karabakh and Donbas

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Ukraine and Azerbaijan have decided not to allow goods made on the territories that are not under control of Baku and Kiev to enter their territories without permits from official authorities, Ukrainian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Oleksandr Mischenko has told Interfax-Azerbaijan.
“During the visit of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to Baku the heads of the two states instructed chiefs of customs agencies of Ukraine and Azerbaijan to meet and discuss the issue of passing goods coming from occupied territories of the two countries. Heads of customs agencies met and drew up a mechanism, according to which goods from these territories can be supplied only if they are licenses by central authorities – Kyiv and Baku,” Mischenko said.
The diplomat said that goods made in Nagorno-Karabakh could cross the Ukrainian border only if Baku gives a permit. The similar scheme is applied by Azerbaijan to goods arriving from Donbas.
“For example, let’s take a label on sparkling wine. If it says Ukraine, Artiomovsk factory (Donbas) this is good. If it says Novorossiya or something like this, of course, Azerbaijan would not take it. The similar approach applies to goods from Nagorno-Karabakh,” he said.
“The rules took effect at once when the presidents issued the orders. We do not need to sign any international agreements here. The document was signed by the heads of customs agencies,” the ambassador said.

“The world can only applaud”: John Evans praises Artsakh treatment of the Azerbaijani saboteur

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US former Ambassador to Armenia John Evans

US former Ambassador to Armenia John Evans has commended the meeting of the Artsakh Republic Human Rights Defender with Azerbaijani saboteur, who had been captured on February 1 during the failed Azerbaijani subversive infiltrating attempt.

“The world can only applaud when captured/arrested are treated with dignity/respect. Needs to be mutual, though,” Ambassador has posted on Twitter in reaction to the Artsakh Ombudsman’s post about his visit to the Azerbaijani soldier.

To remind, Artsakh Republic Human Rights Defender Ruben Melikyan visited on Friday
the Azerbaijani saboteur Elnur Hussein Zadeh and handed him over the European Convention on Human Rights in Azerbaijani. The National Security Service of Artsakh earlier informed that the Azeri serviceman was arrested under the suspicion of attempting a sabotage infiltration and illegally crossing the NKR state border.

Karabakh army captures Azerbaijani saboteur

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The Nagorno Karabakh Defense Army on Wednesday, February 1 thwarted an attempted subversive attack by Azerbaijan in the north of the contact line, also capturing one of the saboteurs.

At around 3 p.m. local time, according to the Karabakh Defense Ministry, a battalion of Azerbaijani soldiers took advantage of foggy conditions and attempted to infiltrate the Karabakh-Azerbaijan border near the village of Talish.

Having timely identified the rival, Karabakh army border divisions launched a counter offensive, forcing the Azerbaijani units to retreat.

During the operation, an Azerbaijani saboteur, Elnur Hussein Zade (b. 1995) from the city of Barda was taken captive, the Karabakh Defense Army said.

At least one serviceman from the Azerbaijani side was wounded, a fact also reported by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

Azerbaijani troops attempted a subversive attack near the village of Chinari in Armenia’s Tavush province in the early hours of December 29. Three Armenian servicemen were killed in the attack. The Armenian Defense Ministry said it possesses undeniable evidence of violation of the state border by Azerbaijan, adding that up to seven Azeri troops were also killed. Armenia still holds the body of one of Azerbaijan’s soldiers, with ICRC engaged in negotiations over its return.

Source: http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/231514/

Rex Tillerson, President Trump’s pick for Secretary of State and Nikki Haley, Comment on Armenia, Artsakh

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Rex Tillerson (left), Nikki Haley

WASHINGTON—Senators Robert Menendez and Ed Markey submitted questions regarding the United State foreign policy vis-à-vis Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh to Rex Tillerson, President Donald J. Trump’s pick for Secretary of State and Nikki Haley, his nominee for US Ambassador to the United Nations, during their confirmation hearings.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved Tillerson’s nomination on January 23, paving the way for a full-senate confirmation and Haley was confirmed to her post on by the senate on Janurary 24.

Tillerson on Artsakh
Responding to a question from Markey regarding the stability in the Caucasus through peace in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well the holding Azerbaijan accountable for cease fire violations, Tillerson advocated for a peaceful resolution to the Artsakh conflict.

“If confirmed, I will work with the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan to find a peaceful, long-term solution that allows for stability and prosperity in the region. The first step in this process must be to build trust by ensuring that all agreements between the parties are respected,” said Tillerson, calling the “frozen” Nagorno-Karabakh conflict “a threat to stability in the region and U.S. national security interests.

Armenian Genocide Recognition, Relations with Turkey
On a question regarding US recognition of the Armenian Genocide and holding Turkey accountable for pursuing its current policy, Tillerson responded to Menendez (D-NJ) and Markey (D-Mass.) by saying, “The tragic atrocities of 1915 remain a painful issue in the relationship between Armenia and Turkey, and it is in the U.S. interest to ensure peaceful and stable relations between the two countries. If confirmed, I will support a full accounting of the historical events and an open dialogue between Armenia and Turkey in the interest of regional stability.”

Haley responded to Menendez’s inquiry about supporting a U.S. declaration calling the Armenian Genocide as such and whether “the failure to do so hereto speaks ill of our values and encourages the continuation of such crimes.”

“I will never shy away from calling out other countries for actions taken in conflict with U.S. values and in violation of human rights and international norms,” said Haley.

To Markey’s question about US efforts to urge Turkey to end the 20-plus-year blockade of Armenia, Tillerson said: “I will support the normalized diplomatic, economic, and civil society relations, between Armenia and Turkey in my ongoing discussions with the two parties. U.S. leadership and re-engagement in the region at large will help build the necessary trust to improve relations between Armenia and Turkey.”

Tillerson also touched on protection of religious minorities in Turkey, saying he would “ensure protection of religious minorities and their property rights, including the Armenian community in Turkey,” in response to question from Markey.

In response to a similar question from Menendez, Tillerson said he is “very concerned about many of the measures recently taken by the Turkish government.”

“Religious freedom is a core American principle and an important aspect of international peace and stability. If confirmed, I will work with Turkey to safeguard religious minorities and promote respect for their cultural heritages, including the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Halki Seminary,” added Tillerson.

US Armenia Relations
In response to questions from Markey, Tillerson discussed US-Armenia trade and the challenges facing Armenia due to the influx of refugees from Syria.

“It is in the interest of the United States to promote mutually beneficial trade between the United States and Armenia. If confirmed, I will work closely with the U.S. Trade Representative and other relevant parts of the U.S. government to explore the possibilities to expand trade and investment between the United States and Armenia in a way that creates U.S. jobs and economic growth,” said Tillerson.

“I recognize the tremendous challenges facing Armenia due to the influx of refugees. If confirmed, I will work with our European partners to to ensure cost-effective assistance to Armenia as part of a broader strategy for handling the Syrian refugee issue and protecting U.S. national security interests,” added Tillerson.