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[Yervant1]

The Jewish Press

March 10 2024

 

Azerbaijan Buys Israeli Advanced High-Altitude System to Detect Iranian, Armenian Missiles and Aircraft

By

 David Israel

Azerbaijan has purchased the Sky Dew high-altitude aerostat from Israel, equipped with a state-of-the-art long-range missile and aircraft detection system, the official news agency AZE.media reported last week.

Sky Dew (Tal Shamayim in Hebrew), or High Availability Aerostat System (HAAS), is a high-altitude missile defense aerostat used by the IDF since 2022. It flies using a tethered blimp, developed by the US TCOM company. The Sky Dew system was developed by the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) and the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The system is deployed on Israel’s northern and southern borders.

The primary mission of Sky Dew is to detect cruise missiles, drones, and other advanced aerial threats flying at low altitudes, providing early warning. To achieve this, the aerostat is equipped with an AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar capable of long-range detection.

Azerbaijan borders two countries that threaten its security: Armenia and Iran. It has engaged in two wars with Armenia since the 1990s, and has maintained a cool diplomatic relationship with Iran, which has been marred by provocations by Tehran.

The aerostat can maintain continuous surveillance for several days and is capable of tracking up to 500 targets with a detection range of over 250 km.

It is also able to avoid ground clutter interference, making the aerostat particularly useful for detecting low-flying threats. At the same time, its upper altitude limits far exceed those of ground-based radars, offering a much greater visibility range to the horizon.

https://www.jewishpr...aft/2024/03/10/

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

 

Spanish MP considers Azerbaijan's actions a gross violation of UN norms

 

 17:35, 11 March 2024

YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. According to the Spanish MP Jon Iñarritu,  the actions taken by Azerbaijan are a gross violation of the international norms and principles of the United Nations Charter.

In response to the observation by the Armenpress correspondent regarding Azerbaijani violations of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia since 2021, the MP said: “Those norms definitely prohibit the use of force and the violation of the territorial integrity of sovereign nations. Persistent violations committed by Azerbaijan not only undermine regional stability but also erode the foundations of trust and cooperation between neighboring states.’’

“Despite these worrying developments, the European Union has refrained from imposing sanctions against Azerbaijan or its leadership. Failure to address these violations not only encourages further aggression but also creates a dangerous precedent that threatens the peace and security of the entire region,’’ Jon Iñarritu said.

Referring to the issue of Armenian prisoners of war held illegally by Azerbaijan, including former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Spanish MP stated that they should be released to reunite with their families.

The handling of Azerbaijani political prisoners, dissidents and journalists under the Aliyev regime is well-documented, characterized by systemic human rights abuses and a gross disregard for due process. Therefore, all Armenian prisoners held illegally in Baku should be released and allowed to reunite with their families. Such reunification with their families is not only a matter of moral imperative but also an important step for détente in the region," concluded the MP.

 

 

https://armenpress.a...l8Zqhwr4R8w6Wog

[Yervant1]

Hollywood Proposed to Make Propaganda Films on Aliyev and Erdogan for a Price

 

By Harut Sassounian

Publisher, The California Courier

www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

 

2- Pashinian’s Party Avoids Campaign Funding Probe

 

3- Former Turkish Prime Minister Urges Turkey to Acknowledge Historical Wrongs, Apologize to Armenians

 

4- Life and Legacy of Joseph D. Beglar in India: Grandson of the Last Armenian Prince of Karabakh

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1- Hollywood Proposed to Make Propaganda Films on Aliyev and Erdogan for a Price

By Harut Sassounian

TheCaliforniaCourier.com

A team of investigative journalists from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) revealed that a Hollywood producer planned to make propaganda films that would glorify several authoritarian leaders for a payment of millions of dollars.

Igor Lopatonok, a native of Ukraine who is now a US citizen, in collaboration with Oscar-winning filmmaker Oliver Stone, initially produced two documentaries on Ukraine which were described as “pro-Kremlin propaganda” and a highly flattering eight-part mini-series on Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

In addition, Lopatonok planned to make several propaganda documentaries casting a positive light on the autocratic leaders of Azerbaijan and Turkey, among others. However, it is not clear if Stone would have been involved in any of these proposed projects. None of these documentaries were made.

OCCRP stated that Aliyev, Putin and Lukashenko “have all been accused of horrific crimes against the citizens of the countries they rule…. But where the world sees brutal dictators, Igor Lopatonok sees opportunity [to make money].” Since these authoritarian leaders were to pay for their propaganda documentaries, no mention would have been made of their brutal rule.

“One of Lopatonok’s glossy pitches, ‘Untitled Oliver Stone Documentary’ or ‘About Ilham Aliyev and Azerbaijan’, promises that Stone would ‘sit face to face’ with the Azerbaijani strongman [Aliyev] and cover not only ‘emerging of leader to the head of state rank, but all questions of colorful and fascinating history of Azerbaijan,’” OCCRP reported.

“Lopatonok seemed to have hit upon a promising formula. He had assembled a small team of screenwriters and producers who churned out film ideas to pitch to dictators, making an enticing offer: copious screen time with a world-famous director [Oliver Stone]. The key to ‘monetizing’ the process was simple, said an insider who worked on the team, and agreed to speak with reporters on condition of anonymity. Lopatonok had figured out how to offer powerful people something they couldn’t resist: Legitimacy on the world stage,” OCCRP wrote.

“In his pitch to Aliyev for the ‘Oliver Stone documentary,’ Lopatonok underscores that the planned film would ‘have a unique positive impact on publicity of the president and Azerbaijan.’ Although it’s unclear if Aliyev ever engaged with the pitch, an expert on Eurasia said it would be in line with the strongman’s previous efforts to present his regime as a dynamic, modernizing influence in the region. ‘I do see it as in line with all of these potential vectors of image washing -- culture, sports, those are the big ones, and global events, global conferences,’ said Alexander Cooley, a political science professor at New York’s Barnard College and an expert on Eurasian transnational networks.”

It is obvious that a documentary made by Hollywood filmmakers touting the greatness of Aliyev would have much more credibility than the cheap propaganda produced in Azerbaijan.

“When authoritarian leaders get a Hollywood glow-up, it often comes at the expense of the people they rule over, said Casey Michel, head of the Human Rights Foundation’s Combating Kleptocracy Program. The foundation has spent years campaigning for Hollywood stars to stop working with dictatorial regimes. ‘I can’t imagine how dispiriting it must be for citizens in places like Kazakhstan … to watch this American director come and turn into a propaganda mouthpiece for their dictators,’ Michel said. These people know how horrific these regimes truly are -- and then they watch this American parachute in, and gobble up all of the dictators’ talking points, without even bothering to push back,” OCCRP stated.

The funding to produce these documentaries is to be provided by the dictators “or people close to them.” In 2019, when Stone and Lopatonok produced the documentary “Qazaq: History of the Golden Man,” about Nursultan Nazarbayev, the President of Kazakhstan, a charitable foundation controlled by him paid the duo at least $5 million,” OCCRP reported.

Documents obtained by OCCRP reporters revealed that Lopatonok’s “team prepared synopses of potential films about at least six other authoritarian governments, including China, the United Arab Emirates, and the Russian republic of Tatarstan, alongside the pitches to Aliyev and Lukashenko, promising that Stone would interview their leaders and help tell their ‘true story.’”

Lopatonok’s team proposed that during his interview with Aliyev, Stone discuss “the country’s ‘success’ under the ‘dynastic rule’ of the Aliyev family, and its ongoing conflict with ‘an Armenia that is losing its stability and teetering on the edge of an abyss.’ A summary of the proposed film makes clear the tenor of Lopatonok’s approach: It describes Aliyev as a ‘true successor’ to his father, the previous president, who had taught him to be a ‘wise leader.’” The pitch asked: “Can you really call the existing state system in Azerbaijan a ‘Cult of Personality’? Or is it just a tribute of people’s respect to a leader who was able to turn the country from poverty into one of the developed, prosperous countries?” The film about Aliyev would cost $15 million, according to OCCRP.

 

Lopatonok told the Azeri media during his visit to Baku in 2021: “This country [Azerbaijan] has a very rich and colorful culture. When I was here in 2012-2013, I learned to distinguish the Karabakh carpets from all others, identifying [them] by their ornament. I would make a good film about Azerbaijan.”

There was another synopsis for a film on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, “offering him a chance to tout his defense of Turkish interests.” Here is what the synopsis said: “Erdogan is a Turk and hardly needs to be basing his actions on the interests of other countries. But what interests does he have? Can he restore the Great Silk Road? And does he really have expansionist plans? What is Erdogan trying to achieve? He should answer these questions himself. And only himself. We should not try to divine [Erdogan’s plans] from coffee grounds, even if it is magnificent Turkish coffee that they know how to make only in Istanbul.”

“In a 2018 interview, Ibrahim Kalin, then the spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, confirmed that they had received a pitch for a documentary about Erdogan around the same time Stone was in Turkey. ‘We are looking at it, we are evaluating it,’ he said,” OCCRP reported.

[Yervant1]

Asbarez.com

 

U.S. Warns that Baku’s Land Corridor Demand ‘Elevates Risks’ of Armed Conflict

by Asbarez Staff

 

 March 12, 2024

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

 

A military post along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border

The United States warned that Azerbaijan’s continued demand for a “land corridor” through Armenia to Nakhichevan will elevate the risk of armed conflict, saying that relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan will likely remain tense.

This assessment, made by the U.S. intelligence community, was made in the annual Worldwide Threat Assessment report presented to Congress on Monday by the leaders of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the CIA, FBI, the Defense Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency.

“Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan are likely to remain tense,” the report said.

“Nevertheless, the lack of a bilateral peace treaty, the proximity of their military forces, the lack of a cease-fire enforcement mechanism, and Azerbaijan’s readiness to use calibrated military pressure to advance its goals in talks with Armenia will remain,” the report added.

“The transition of N-K [Nagorno-Karabakh] governance from ethnic Armenians to Azerbaijanis and Azerbaijan’s demand for access to a land corridor linking Azerbaijan to its exclave will elevate the risk of armed confrontation,” the report emphasized.

Azerbaijan’s attack on Artsakh in September, that forced the mass exodus of its Armenian population, was also addressed in the report, with the U.S. intelligence agencies saying that “the rapid exodus of most of the region’s ethnic Armenian population and the planned self-dissolution of the government allowed Baku to advance plans to integrate the region with Azerbaijan, effectively removing this longstanding issue from the bilateral peace agenda.”

“Azerbaijan’s retaking of Nagorno-Karabakh has reduced volatility, and a military confrontation probably would be limited in duration and intensity,” the report added.

The report also contained an assessment of Armenia as it relates to U.S. policy on Ukraine, saying that Russia’s position in the region has been weakened.

“The renewed efforts of Armenia, Moldova, and some Central Asian states to seek alternative partners highlight how the war has hurt Moscow’s influence, even in the post-Soviet space,” the report said.

“Russia’s unwillingness to expend the resources and political capital to prevent Azerbaijan from reacquiring Nagorno-Karabakh from ethnic Armenians through a military offensive in September 2023 underscores how Moscow’s war in Ukraine has weakened its role as a regional security arbiter,” the assessment added.

 

 

https://asbarez.com/...KQnSWSpiezZ6rWk

 

[Yervant1]

March 15 2024

 

 

JF-17, Akinci Combo ‘Beats’ Su-35 For Baku’s Jet Deal; Azerbaijan Unhappy With French Backing Of Armenia

 

European Parliament’s resolution to forge closer ties with Armenia has angered Azerbaijan. Baku (Azerbaijan’s capital) said that the resolution contained “unfounded and biased” rhetoric.

 

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada said the resolution served as a “clear example of a recurrent double-standards approach against Azerbaijan.” Asserting that the resolution is supported by multiple entities in the European Parliament influenced by the Armenian lobby, Hajizada declared it part of a “smear campaign” against Baku.

The resolution “condemns” Baku’s “military incursions into the internationally recognized territory of Armenia and contends Azerbaijan threatened the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Armenia.

Meanwhile, Russia is likely to be stuck in a stalemate with Ukraine for the foreseeable future. Its erstwhile allies have ‘dumped’ it like a hot potato. Armenia and Azerbaijan have both abandoned Russia as the main source of their weapons and military platforms and are tapping other reliant defense suppliers.

 

Azerbaijan is opting for Turkish KAAN or Pakistan-Chinese JF-17 fighter jets over Russian Su-35s or the 5th-generation Su-75 ‘Checkmate’ jets. Armenia has also been gradually opting for Indian and French (a European superpower) weapons to boost its defenses.

Azerbaijan’s fighter jet fleet is predominantly Russian. In the late 2010s, Russia pitched Azerbaijan Su-30SM, Su-35, and MiG-35 fighters, all of which are 4.5-generation fighters.

But now, it isn’t likely that Baku will turn to Moscow for 4++ generation aircraft like the Su-35, and it is doubtful if Azerbaijan will invest in Russia’s fifth-generation Su-57 or Su-75 “Checkmate” jets.

Azerbaijan formally enrolled in Turkey’s TF Kaan fifth-generation fighter program last July, indicating a substantial possibility of acquiring the aircraft. Since the aircraft has already made its maiden flight, a possible acquisition may be on the table.

 

In late February, unverified reports emerged in the Azerbaijan and Pakistan media, asserting that Azerbaijan had signed an agreement with Pakistan to purchase an unknown number of JF-17C Thunder fighter jets for a sum of $1.6 billion.

The reports revealed that the deal encompassed pilot training and armament acquisition. Rumors have been going on for some time, but Azernews said that the export of JF-17 to Baku would take place after the completion of 62 fighter jets for the Pakistan Air Force by 2024.

The agreement calls for the delivery of eight fighter jets in the first tranche, with an option to acquire an additional eight JF-17s later on. The JF-17 Thunder combat aircraft is jointly developed by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corp.

If the report about the JF-17 acquisition is confirmed, Baku will eventually have a fourth-generation aircraft as well as the KAAN fifth-generation aircraft. Additionally, Azerbaijan also has the Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci drones (Turkish word for ‘raider’) acquired from Turkey that would plug the remaining gaps in its arsenal.

The TB2 drones have already proved their mettle against Armenia in the Nogorno-Karabakh conflict. The Bayraktar Akinci is a high-altitude, long-endurance drone that can be armed with weapons. It can fire various missiles, both air-to-air and air-to-ground, and is believed to exceed the capabilities of the TB2 UAV.

One thing that Armenia and Azerbaijan agree – they need to stay away from Russia. However, as Azerbaijan leans towards Turkey (Non-EU), Armenia is moving towards France (EU member). Both France and Turkey, however, are NATO members.

 

Armenia and Azerbaijan are preparing for further hostilities while holding fragile peace negotiations. The conflict has created two axes – one comprising Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Pakistan and another of Armenia, India, France, and Iran (Baku’s staunch and silent supporter). However, both Armenia and Azerbaijan have one thing in common: they have actively made efforts to wean themselves off their dependence on Russia.

In the latest ignominy, Armenia has asked Russia to move its forces from the Yerevan airport, which the Russian border guards have been protecting since 1992. The presence of Russian border guards at Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan has been constant for decades and has reflected Armenia’s military and political alliance with Moscow.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan announced that Russian border guards were no longer welcome at Yerevan’s Zvartnots airport, putting to rest any doubts about the estrangement between the two countries.

He insisted that the country now possessed the institutional capacity to independently manage border guard services at the airport, and as such, the posting of Russian guards was a temporary measure to support Armenian independence.

Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan told the media, “Armenia has a clear position on this issue, and it informed Russia in an official letter.”

Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict

The move comes amidst serious deterioration in relations between Yerevan and Moscow. Two weeks ago, Armenia suspended its membership in the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization. Armenia accused Russia of failing to ensure Armenia’s security during Azerbaijan’s military assault against Nagorno Karabakh in September 2023. The decision to remove Russian guards pertains specifically to the airport; those stationed at the Turkish and Iranian borders will remain unaffected.

Armenia has traditionally relied on Russia for the majority of its arms purchases spanning decades. However, in the wake of the Ukraine war, Russia failed to provide the country with ordered weapons worth US $400 million and did not return the money that Yerevan had already paid, triggering Armenia’s distrust in Moscow.

To build combat capability and effective deterrence against Azerbaijan, it has defied long-standing norms and turned to France and India as its major arms suppliers. A deal was reportedly signed between the Armenian Defense Ministry and the French defense group Thales for the purchase of three cutting-edge GM-200 radar systems in October 2023.

Later that same year, media reports indicated that France would also arm Armenia with 50 armored personnel carriers to bolster its ground forces. The carriers would provide Armenian armed forces with high-level protection and multi-mission capabilities. At least two dozen vehicles have allegedly been delivered to Yerevan.

Additionally, the three GM-200 radars and the night-vision equipment that the French Macron administration had promised to send to Armenia were reportedly slated for shipment on February 22. While the Armenian authorities have not acknowledged these claims, media watchers believe they may have received the delivery.

France, for one, has become Armenia’s quintessential arms supplier and is seen as dethroning Russia, once Armenia’s biggest exporter. However, it is not the only one.

Other than France, India has tapped into the South Caucasian market to sell arms. Armenia has inked several defense contracts worth at least $400 million with India since September 2022.

https://www.eurasian...5-for-bakus-je/

 

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

 

Azerbaijan, Armenia very close to signing peace agreement - Turkish FM

 

 18:48, 15 March 2024

YEREVAN,  MARCH 15, ARMENPRESS. We are now in a period where the global system is changing, according to the Azerbaijani media reports, the Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said during his speech at the 11th Global Forum in Baku.

“Azerbaijan and Armenia are now very close to signing a peace treaty. We fully support the peaceful progress of the negotiations,” he said.

"Azerbaijan has urged the OSCE Minsk Group to resolve the Karabagh conflict for 30 years. But the OSCE, on the contrary, tried to prolong the conflict," he added.

 

 

https://armenpress.a...Y653bZtIHpjL8nM

[Yervant1]

What he (Fake sultan) says in Europe, is different than at home!

 

 

March 18 2024

 

 

Azerbaijan’s President foresees closer peace with Armenia than ever before

 

 

• The South Caucasus neighbors have conducted numerous talks, including two days of negotiations in Berlin in February.
• The initial war in 1988 between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988.
• Azerbaijan recaptured Karabakh in September, leading to a mass exodus of ethnic Armenians to neighboring Armenia.

On Sunday, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev declared that his country is “closer than ever” to reaching a peace deal with Armenia, half a year after Azerbaijan regained control of its Karabakh region from its ethnic Armenian majority, leading to a mass exodus of ethnic Armenians.

“Today, we are in an active phase of peace talks with Armenia,” Aliyev said in remarks after meeting NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Baku, according to a transcript published on the Azeri leader’s website.

“We are now closer to peace than ever before.”

Stoltenberg expressed his welcome for the move toward peace between the two nations.

“I appreciate what you say about that you are closer to a peace agreement than ever before,” Stoltenberg said, according to a transcript published on NATO’s website.

“And I can just encourage you to seize this opportunity to reach a lasting peace agreement with Armenia.”

In December, the South Caucasus neighbors issued a joint statement declaring their intention to reach a peace deal and have since conducted numerous talks, including two days of negotiations in Berlin in February. Reuters’ request for comment on Aliyev’s statement was not immediately responded to by the press office of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

In 1988, Christian Armenia and mostly Muslim Azerbaijan initially engaged in war over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. After decades of enmity, Azerbaijan recaptured Karabakh in September, despite its ethnic Armenian majority controlling it since the 1990s, despite international recognition as part of Azerbaijan.

The offensive led to most of the region’s 120,000 ethnic Armenians fleeing to neighboring Armenia. Armenia characterized the offensive as ethnic cleansing, while Azerbaijan refuted the claim, stating that those who fled had the option to stay and be integrated into Azerbaijan.

Key elements in securing a treaty include demarcating borders and establishing regional transport corridors through each other’s territory. Armenia has also brought up the issue of determining control of ethnic enclaves on both sides of the border.

https://www.bolnews....an-ever-before/

 

 

[Yervant1]

News.am, Armenia

March 20 2024

 

Arif Yunus: Ukraine supplied weapons to Azerbaijan during war with Armenian side

18:32, 20.03.2024

 

 

Azerbaijanis are fighting against Russia on the Ukrainian side, including Azerbaijani citizens who are part of the Georgian Legion. Azerbaijani historian Arif Yunus, Head of the Department of Conflictology and Migration at the Azerbaijan Institute for Peace and Democracy, stated this during a roundtable discussion Wednesday on the South Caucasus as well as the trends and prospects in the context of the Ukrainian war.

Azerbaijan, in agreement with Turkey and Moldova, also supplied Bayraktars and other weapons to Kyiv. So far, 150 Azerbaijanis have been killed in the battles on the Ukrainian side, and 70 more are considered missing, Yunus said.

According to him, Azerbaijan supports Ukraine, which supplied weapons to Baku during its war with the Armenian side.

There are serious anti-Russian sentiments in Azerbaijan regarding all this. Azerbaijan, in turn, supported Kyiv during the Russian-Ukrainian war, Yunus emphasized.

https://news.am/eng/...google_vignette

[Yervant1]

March 21 2024

 

 

British Parliament debates Armenian issues and Karabakh refugees

• JAMnews

• Yerevan

 

“On Ukraine, we say that self-determination is right and destruction is wrong, so why can we not apply the same principles consistently here? [to Nagorno-Karabakh]” said Rupa Huq, a member of the British Parliament from the Labour Party.

According to her, the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh “want to return to their land, to the places that they have lived in for millennia, even though we see attempts to wipe out territories such as Artsakh from the map”.

These statements were made in the British Parliament during a discussion titled “International Support for Nagorno-Karabakh Refugees.” Members of the British Parliament declared “the ethnic cleansing in September 2023 as a crime similar to the Armenian genocide of the last century.” Several members of parliament called for sanctions against Azerbaijan.

• “Armenia has retreated from its own principles in negotiations with Baku.” Opinion
• “Stoltenberg’s visit aims to assess escalation risks” – Opinion from Yerevan
• “Armenia must not refrain from filing lawsuits against Azerbaijan.” Opinion

“Our voice must be louder in Armenia”

Rupa Huq stated that Armenia is a country that has suffered from pogroms and destruction for many years:

“Yet we talk here of a European near neighbour—a democracy—that has a hostile neighbouring territory in Azerbaijan, with its aggressions and ethnically motivated crimes against Armenians.

The figures are grim, with 10 months of illegal blockading of food, fuel and electricity and the forced displacement of 100,000 people.”

She reported meeting them when she visited Armenia as part of an Inter-Parliamentary Union delegation in February this year:

“We heard harrowing stories of human suffering—really touching stuff about people who fled on foot in the absence of fuel and took days and days to get over the border[…..] In this country, our voice should be stronger. In this Chamber in 2020, we debated the blockade of the Lachin corridor, but our weak response emboldened those actions.”

“Armenian territories remain occupied by Azerbaijan”

John Whittingdale, a representative of the Conservative Party, spoke about unlocking regional communications in the South Caucasus. He supported Armenia’s stance on this issue: roads passing through the country should remain under its control. Meanwhile, Azerbaijani authorities claim that “people and goods from Azerbaijan to Azerbaijan [referring to the road connecting Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhchivan] should pass without any checks.”

“However, despite the apparent opportunity that now exists to obtain a peaceful settlement—we heard repeatedly from Armenians their desire to do so—in the last few hours the Prime Minister has issued a statement saying that Armenia could be at war by the end of the week, because Armenians believe that Azerbaijan continues to have territorial ambitions not just to take back control of Nagorno-Karabakh, as it has done, but for Armenia itself. So it is a very fragile situation,” believes Whittingdale.

He shared that he met with members of the Azerbaijani delegation at the OSCE in Vienna. They assured him that “they have no aggressive intentions towards Armenia; it is propaganda from Armenia.” However, after that, the British parliamentary representative “encountered a different reality” when he arrived in Armenia:

“Yet even while we were in Armenia, four Armenian soldiers were killed in the continuing conflict around the border. We were also taken up to see territory that is undoubtedly Armenia but is still under occupation by Azerbaijan.“

“If peace comes, it will be fragile”

Carol Monaghan of the Labour Party believes that despite discussions around a peace agreement, tension remains.

She criticized Russian peacekeepers for failing to intervene and protect the population during the military actions in September 2023. According to Monaghan, Russian peacekeepers “were at best observers, and at worst actively supported the oppression of the local Armenian population.”

“As an aside, non-intervention by Russian peacekeepers sets a dangerous precedent that international humanitarian law can be breached without repercussions, and opens up the risk of future Azerbaijani incursions into Armenia, for example to secure a path to its exclave of Nakhchivan,” she stated.

Monaghan also highlighted the ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh, which many see as reminiscent of the Armenian genocide of 1915-1923. She pointed out that about 34 countries, including the USA, Canada, and France, have recognized the historical genocide, but the UK has not. “ In denying formal acknowledgement of the historic atrocity, the UK Government continue to delegitimise the collective pain endured by the Armenian community,” Monaghan concluded.

“Impose sanctions against Baku”

Tim Loughton, a member of the Conservative Party and chair of the Britain-Armenia friendship group, also believes that “Azerbaijan conducted a large-scale ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh.” As a result, he called on the British government to impose sanctions against Azerbaijan.

Loughton thinks Azerbaijan “is trying to erase the name, culture, history, and heritage of a people who have lived in Nagorno-Karabakh for centuries.”

The parliamentarian addressed Leo Docherty, the Minister for European Affairs of the UK, present in the chamber where the discussion was taking place, with questions:

“Will the Government investigate whether ethnic cleansing under the UN definitions has taken place? If so, what are the implications of that? Will the Government press for investigation in respect of both political and military prisoners who are still being held by the Azeris?

What will the Government do to put pressure on the Azerbaijanis to withdraw from the 4,400-square-kilometre territory within sovereign Armenian boundaries that they are still occupying—some 30 or so villages?”

Tim Loughton also mentioned that there are signals of a potential “military encroachment on the sovereign territory of Armenia” soon. He believes that “such violations of international law should be followed by sanctions.”

https://jam-news.net...ish-parliament/

[Yervant1]

                 March 23 2024

 

 

Statement on the Continued Imprisonment of Armenian Officials and Civilians of the Republic of the Artsakh by the Republic of Azerbaijan

 

The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention (Lemkin Institute) energetically condemns the continued and unlawful imprisonment of Armenian officials and civilians of the Republic of Artsakh (Artsakh) by the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan). Given the high risk of serious violations of human rights against these individuals, including the loss of life, the need for a strong international presence has never been more urgent. Consequently, the Lemkin Institute calls on the international community to take necessary steps to secure the prompt and safe repatriation of all Armenian prisoners of war (POWs), officials, and civilians held hostage in Azerbaijan.

The Lemkin Institute recalls its 27 October 2023 “Statement on the Ongoing Imprisonment of Armenian Officials of the Republic of Artsakh by the Republic of Azerbaijan,” detailing the detention and prosecution of eight high-ranking officials, namely: Mr. Ruben Vardanyan, former State Minister of Artsakh; Major General Davit Manukyan, former First Deputy Commander of the Artsakh Defense Army; Mr. Davit Babayan, former Adviser to the President and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh; Mr. Levon Mnatsakanyan, former Commander of the Artsakh Defense Army; Mr. Arkadi Ghukasyan, the second President of Artsakh; Mr. Bako Sahakyan, the third President of Artsakh; Mr. Arayik Harutyunyan, the fourth President and former State Minister of Artsakh; and Mr. Davit Ishkhanyan, the last President of the National Assembly of Artsakh.

These arrests occurred after Azerbaijan’s military aggression against the Nagorno-Karabakh region on 19 September 2023, and during the ensuing genocide against its civilian population. Many of these officials were apprehended at the illegal Hakari Bridge checkpoint, constructed by Azerbaijan in the Lachin Corridor in April 2023. The establishment of this checkpoint came four months after Azerbaijan’s unlawful blockade of the same corridor on 12 December 2022. This situation resulted in the deprivation of essential goods and services for the then 120,000 inhabitants of Artsakh, constituting a clear case of genocide-by-attrition, as observed by the former prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Mr. Luis Moreno Ocampo.

While the suffering of all Armenians currently detained by the dictatorial regime of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is deeply troubling, the Lemkin Institute is especially concerned about Mr. Vardanyan’s situation. The former State Minister, businessman, and philanthropist is particularly loathed in Azerbaijan due to his outspoken and unwavering support for Artsakh’s right to self-determination.

In this regard, the Lemkin Institute recalls its statements on “the Arrest and Detention of former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan by Azerbaijan” and “the Sentencing of former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan in Azerbaijan,” issued on 27 and 28 September 2023, respectively.

In its statement dated 27 September, the Lemkin Institute sternly warned that, “Vardanyan’s detention poses a very high risk of torture and extrajudicial execution or a show trial. As one of the most eloquent and outspoken advocates for the Republic of Artsakh, Vardanyan symbolizes to the regime of Azerbaijan President Aliyev the territory that it has long desired to annihilate. Vardanyan’s life and his body are therefore potent symbols of Armenian strength and sovereignty.” Additionally, it highlighted that, “[...] Concern for the life and safety of Vardanyan is especially warranted given the treatment that Armenian POWs have received in Azerbaijani captivity since 2020. They have been tortured, humiliated, murdered, disappeared, and subjected to show trials. This is well documented.” (Emphasis added)

In its statement dated 28 September, the Lemkin Institute protested against the sentencing of Mr. Vardanyan to four months of “preventive detention,” which was presumed to be followed by legal proceedings involving a variety of fabricated claims that could potentially lead to a 14-year prison sentence. According to the news outlet News.am, Azerbaijan accused Mr. Vardanyan of “financing terrorism, participating in the creation and activities of armed organizations or groups not provided for by the legislation of Azerbaijan, and organizing the illegal arrival of a foreigner or stateless person to Azerbaijan.”

On 10 November 2023, the Mayor of Paris, Mrs. Anne Hidalgo, together with Mr. Moreno Ocampo, European Parliament member Mr. François-Xavier Bellamy, and Co-President of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations in France, Mr. Mourad Papazian, demanded the “immediate” and “unconditional” release of 55 Armenian “political prisoners” from Nagorno-Karabakh, including the high-ranking officials from Artsakh. Moreover, they declared that all these individuals were being “held hostage” by Azerbaijan.

During the press conference held at Paris City Hall, Mr. Moreno Ocampo emphasized that, “these hostages need international protection because there is not a single Azerbaijani judge who would release them, no one can contradict President Aliyev.” According to the news outlet Le Point, the seasoned criminal lawyer was citing a 2022 report from the American State Department, mentioning that Azerbaijan lacked an independent judiciary system and “that prisoners are tortured and killed.”

On the other hand, Mr. Papazian denounced that these detainees “have had contact with their families twice, but nothing since.” “Thus, we do not know under what conditions of psychological [and] physical pressure they are currently being held,” he added.

In this context, the Lemkin Institute reflects on the recent passing of Mr. Alexei Navalny, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most formidable domestic opponents, on 16 February 2024. Mr. Navalny had been imprisoned since January 2021, following his return to Russia after recovering in Germany from Novichok poisoning – a potent nerve agent – which he attributed to the Kremlin. Since his apprehension by Russian authorities, President Putin had been resolute in making an example out of him, as noted by Mrs. Polina Polyakova, President and CEO at the Center for European Policy Analysis. The Lemkin Institute expresses its concerns regarding the possibility that President Aliyev’s regime could pursue a similar course of action with Mr. Vardanyan or any other of the high-ranking officials, given their symbolic and historic significance for Artsakh’s independence cause.

The Lemkin Institute recalls that irrespective of the existence of an armed conflict and, should its existence be confirmed, regardless of its legal character (international or non-international), States must, at all times, observe certain fundamental rights concerning the treatment of detained individuals under their jurisdiction, in accordance with international humanitarian law and human rights law. This includes the fundamental guarantees of humane treatment, non-discrimination, and due process, as well as protection from murder, torture and cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment; corporal punishments, enforced disappearance, and arbitrary deprivation of liberty, among others.

On 7 December 2023, Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia (Armenia) jointly announced a prisoner exchange agreement. Azerbaijan released 32 Armenian servicemen in exchange for Armenia freeing two Azerbaijani servicemen. According to the joint statement issued by both governments, this exchange took place as part of a series of “tangible steps towards building confidence between two countries.” Furthermore, it called on the international community to “support their efforts that will contribute to building mutual trust between two countries and will positively impact the entire South Caucasus region.” The exchange in question occurred on 13 December 2023 in the Ijevan-Gazakh border area and was celebrated as a significant breakthrough in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, including by European Council President Charles Michel. Despite this positive development, some observers remain cautious.

On 12 December 2023, over 100 prominent figures worldwide signed a letter demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the Armenian prisoners detained in Azerbaijan, including the high-ranking officials. According to the news outlet The Armenian Weekly, “While the December 7 release of 32 Armenian prisoners of war is a welcome first step, all of the others must be released. The failure of Baku to release the remaining eight political prisoners raises deep concerns over the motives by the Aliyev regime of their continued detention.” (Emphasis added).

At the time of publication of this statement, the letter has garnered over 3,500 signatures from more than 90 countries worldwide. Notable signatories include Mr. Frédéric Encell, writer; Mr. Simon Adams, President and CEO of The Center for Victims of Torture; Mr. Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever and Vice Chair of the United Nations Global Compact, Mr. Serj Tankian, activist, poet, and lead singer and songwriter for System of a Down; and Mrs. Mary Robinson, first woman President of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Right. According to The Armenian Weekly, Mrs. Robinson stated that, “The unjust detention of Ruben Vardanyan and so many others being held in Baku violates their basic human rights. For the government of Azerbaijan to be respected in the global community, it is critical they respect the rule of law, especially in light of the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh. They must release these detainees immediately.”

On 15 January 2024, an Azerbaijani court of appeals confirmed a lower court’s decision to sentence Mr. Vagif Khachatryan to 15 years in prison. As detailed in its 13 November 2023 “Statement on the Sentencing of Vagif Khachatryan in the Republic of Azerbaijan,” the 68-year-old ethnic Armenian was detained on 29 July 2023 at the Hakari Bridge checkpoint while he was being evacuated from Artsakh by the International Committee of the Red Cross for urgent medical treatment. “Upon his abduction, Mr. Khachatryan was immediately accused by Azerbaijani authorities of committing war crimes during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War in the 1990s, charges he has repeatedly denied and for which Azerbaijan has offered no independent evidence,” the statement mentioned.

In this context, the Lemkin Institute recalls its 27 October statement, where it described that, “At the present time, [Mr. Khachatryan] is on trial in Azerbaijan’s infamous judicial system, where violations of the fundamental guarantee of due process have become alarmingly common. In fact, according to one observer, Mr. Khachatryan’s statements are intentionally being mistranslated for Azerbaijani and Turkish audiences. Additionally, photos of Mr. Khachatryan have raised concerns about his potential mistreatment and deteriorating health.”

Additionally, in its 13 November statement, the Lemkin Institute explained that, “According to the news outlet News.am, the prosecution explained that Azerbaijani law does not allow Mr. Khachatryan to be sentenced to life imprisonment, as he is over 65 years old. According to another news agency, Mr. Khachatryan is scheduled to spend the initial five years of his 15-year sentence in prison, followed by 10 years in a high-security correctional facility.”

Finally, the Lemkin Institute emphasized that, “The law often serves to legitimize those in power, particularly within dictatorial regimes like the one led by [President Aliyev]. Given Mr. Khachatryan’s advanced age and heart condition, the latter being the cause of his emergency evacuation from Artsakh on 29 July 2023, his 15-year prison sentence amounts to a death penalty [...].”

On 25 January 2024, an Azerbaijani court extended the pre-trial detention of the high-ranking officials by four months. The Lemkin Institute notes that pre-trial detention can sometimes be exploited to unlawfully prolong an individual’s eventual prison sentence beyond the duration prescribed by domestic law. While the Lemkin Institute could not independently verify whether Azerbaijani authorities are utilizing this legal mechanism inconsistently with their obligations under international human rights law, it recalls that these individuals are being prosecuted within the notoriously corrupt Azerbaijani judicial system.

On 11 March 2024, Mr. Artak Beglaryan, former Minister of State and Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh, denounced that the officials imprisoned by Azerbaijan were being forced to give interviews. “Using hostages for propaganda [and] humiliation purposes is also a crime,” he added. Similarly, the “We Exist” initiative decried these acts of public exposure, as reported by the news outlet Panorama.am. In a statement issued on 12 March 2024, the entity emphasized that the interview “was yet another display of the egregious violation of human rights and a demonstration of power.” Moreover, it argued that these detainees should not be interviewed as they were being coerced and unable to express themselves genuinely. Finally, it argued that this situation contravened “the provisions of numerous international conventions and agreements,” and urged various international organizations “to take the necessary steps to safeguard the internationally guaranteed rights of detained persons.”

Lastly, the Lemkin Institute recalls the European Parliament's resolution on the “Situation in Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan’s Attack and The Continuing Threats Against Armenia,” issued on 5 October 2023. Among other things, the resolution called “[...] on Azerbaijan to release and commit to a broad amnesty for all the inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh who have been arrested since 19 September 2023, including former officials from the region, and for all others who were arrested before and after 19 September 2023.”

Azerbaijan has consistently demonstrated its complete disregard for a law-based international order, including its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law. With the threat of an all-out war in the South Caucasus, the need for a robust international presence in the region has never been more urgent.

In conclusion, the Lemkin Institute once again calls the international community to persuade President Aliyev’s regime into promptly releasing all Armenian civilians and POWs under its jurisdiction. Additionally, it exhorts the international community to refrain from providing any kind of assistance that could worsen the suffering of the victims of the Artsakh genocide or embolden Azerbaijan to perpetrate any unlawful act of aggression against Armenian territory. In this context, the Lemkin Institute welcomes the European Parliament’s February reports on “Common Foreign and Security Policy” and “Common Security and Defense Policy,” which, among other things, condemn “the pre-planned and unjustified attack by Azerbaijan against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh and the people who have remained in the region.”

 

https://www.lemkinin...K6sUmnIFPyRGDmi

[Yervant1]

Mediamax, Armenia
March 30 2024

Bayramov concerned about upcoming US-EU-Armenia meeting


Yerevan /Mediamax/. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov expressed concern over the upcoming April 5 meeting between the President of the European Commission, U.S. Secretary of State and Armenian Prime Minister.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reports that the minister said this at a meeting with ambassador on special assignments of the Russian Foreign Ministry Pavel Knyazev.

Bayramov stated that “countries far from the region are hindering Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization.”

“Bayramov expressed Baku’s concern regarding the US-EU-Armenia conference scheduled for April 5 in Brussels,” the news release reads.

Baku believes that such initiatives may encourage Yerevan for new provocations, Bayramov added.

https://mediamax.am/...gnpolicy/54368/

[Yervant1]

The fake accusations started again!

 

 

March 31 2024

 

 

Azerbaijan raises alarm over Armenian military buildup on border

World  |

Editor : Selin Atay

2024-03-31 18:06:14 | Last update : 2024-03-31 18:44:10

Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry cautions of heightened Armenian military activity along the border, pledging a firm response to any provocation

Azerbaijan issued a stark warning regarding Armenia's alleged significant military buildup along the border, stating that any provocative actions will be met with "resolute suppression."

The Defense Ministry highlighted that recent intense movements and military escalations were observed within the Armenian army.

According to the statement, there has been a notable concentration of manpower, armored vehicles, artillery installations and other heavy firepower along various points of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

The statement further underscored a recent surge in aggressive rhetoric and provocative actions by "revanchist forces." 

“Most recently, there has been a further activation of revanchist forces threatening Azerbaijan with war, the rise of aggressive rhetoric against Azerbaijan to a high level, and an increase of the number of provocative information focused on aggravating the situation in the information environment in preparation for sabotage attempts," the ministry added.

Azerbaijan warns of decisive response to Armenian military provocation

The ministry explicitly cautioned against any attempt at military provocation by the Armenian armed forces against Azerbaijan. 

“In case of any attempt of military provocation by the Armenian armed forces against Azerbaijan, it will be resolutely suppressed by the Azerbaijan Army," the ministry warned.

"We once again declare that Armenia and its supporters will bear full responsibility for any escalation of tensions and any potential provocation," the ministry asserted.

Azerbaijan-Armenia tensions persist 

Tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia have persisted since 1991 when Armenian forces occupied Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, territories internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.

Although Azerbaijan reclaimed much of the territory during the 2020 war, tensions remain high with sporadic incidents of violence and ongoing border disputes.

Azerbaijan solidified its sovereignty over Karabakh following an "anti-terrorism operation" last September, leading to the surrender of separatist forces in the region.

https://www.turkiyen...com/world/21300

 

 

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

 

EUMA denies Baku’s accusations about the military movements of Armenian armed forces

 

 18:35, 31 March 2024

YEREVAN, 31 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA) has also denied Baku’s false accusations about the military movements of Armenian armed forces. 

Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan disseminated information about the military movements of the Armenian armed forces on the border with Azerbaijan, which was immediately denied by the Ministry of Defense of Armenia.

"EUMA patrolled along the AM-AZ border all day long, everything is calm and quiet, no unusual movements observed. EUMA wishes everybody a peaceful Easter" wrote EUMA on X:

Toivo Klaar, the European Union (EU) Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, also responded to the post of the EU observation mission. " Good to have confirmation from  @EUmARMENIA that no unusual military movements have been observed. That is what the purpose of the mission is: to provide greater transparency and build confidence. It remains open to more engagement also with the authorities of Azerbaijan" wrote Klaar on X.

Later, the Mission made another post on X: " On 31 March, EUMA dispatched patrols on Armenian side of-border to monitor & report on any out of the ordinary military movements in the border area. All patrols reported that the situation has been calm & quiet & that no such movements have been observed" EUMA said.

 

 

https://armenpress.a...rBuU62kmfNK4zlg

 

[Yervant1]

Mediamax, Armenia
April 2 2024

Azerbaijan fires in the direction of Armenian positions

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian Ministry of Defense reports that Azerbaijani armed forces opened fire in the direction of Armenian positions on April 1 at 10:00 pm in Kut (Gegharkunik region) and on April 2 at 00:40 am in Tegh (Syunik region).

“The news release of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan that allegedly on April 1, between 22:00 and 22:10 pm, the units of the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire in the direction of the Azerbaijani positions located in the southwestern part of the border zone, does not correspond to reality.

No violations were recorded in the directions mentioned in the news release of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense,” Armenia’s Defense Ministry said in a news release.

https://mediamax.am/...mypolice/54379/

[Yervant1]

Al-Arabiya, UAE

April 3 2024

 

US calls on Azerbaijan to ease Armenia tensions

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Wednesday on Azerbaijan’s leader to ease tensions that have flared again with Armenia, ahead of a US-EU bid to support Yerevan economically.

In a phone call with President Ilham Aliyev ahead of the Armenia talks in Brussels, Blinken backed ongoing peace talks between the Caucasus adversaries which he said could bring “economic benefits to the entire region.”

 

Blinken “underscored that there is no justification for increased tension on the border and cautioned that aggressive actions and rhetoric from any side would undermine prospects for peace,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

The top US diplomat also pressed Aliyev to respect human rights at home and discussed climate change, Miller said. Azerbaijan, despite being a major fossil fuel extractor, is the host of this year’s UN climate summit.

Armenia and Azerbaijan on Tuesday traded accusations of opening fire across their border, renewing fears of conflict.

Azerbaijan last year seized the Nagorno-Karabakh region from Armenian separatists in a lightning military offensive.

But since then, Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have voiced hope for a comprehensive peace agreement.

 

Pashinyan will meet jointly in Brussels on Friday with Blinken and European Union leaders, with the West looking to solidify ties and economic support with Armenia as it seeks to shift from reliance on Russia

Armenia has a longstanding alliance with Moscow and was infuriated when Russia -- consumed by the Ukraine war and annoyed by Pashinyan’s overtures to the West -- failed to stop Azerbaijan’s military victory last year.

https://english.alar...rmenia-tensions

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

 

Azerbaijani armed forces units opened fire on Armenian combat positions

 

 18:51, 5 April 2024

YEREVAN, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS.  On April 5th, at 5:05 p.m. in Chinari village (Tavush Province) and at 5:30 p.m. in Verin Shorzha (Gegharkunik Province), the units of the Azerbaijani armed forces opened fire from small arms toward Armenian combat positions, the defense ministry said.

Simultaneously, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia clarifies that the statement issued by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan claiming that on April 5th, at approximately 5:25 p.m., units of the Armenian Armed Forces fired in the direction of Azerbaijani positions located in the northeastern part of the border, is another disinformation.

 

 

https://armenpress.a...HvbrKzTI1fkb5EE

[Yervant1]

ATLAS NEWS

April 6 2024

 

Clashes Across Two Days on Armenia-Azerbaijan Border

 

 

Further Reports

There has been a significant uptick in reports of fire being exchanged on the Armenia/Azerbaijan border, with both sides having claimed to have been fired upon multiple times over April 5th and April 6th.

The clashes mark yet more ceasefire violations on the historically volatile border that had been comparatively quiet for several months. Clashes had earlier occurred on April 2nd, and again in mid-February, after months without any such clashes.

The clashes also took place as (and following) Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was meeting with US and EU officials in Brussels, Belgium.

It is worth noting that neither side has reported any casualties from any of the clashes across the past two days.

Azeri Claims

Azerbaijan claims that they spotted Armenian forces preparing “to conduct work for the purpose of engineering improvement of a trench in front of the Azerbaijan Army positions,” further adding that “the conducted work was immediately stopped as a result of the urgent measures taken by the Azerbaijan Army Units.” They claimed the incident regarding the “engineering improvement” took place from 3:10 to 5:35 local time. They did not specify exactly what they meant by the “urgent measures” taken by Azerbaijan to halt the alleged engineering work, and if this means they fired upon Armenian units during this time.

They further added in the same statement a claim that Armenian units fired upon their positions, in a different area, at 5:25 local time using small arms fire. They reported no casualties from this incident.

Azerbaijan later on the morning of April 6th released a statement providing further claims of continuing fire from Armenian forces in varying areas of the border late into the night of the 5th. Their statement ends by saying that Azeri troops have been “subjected to fire at a total of 30 times” across the last day. The statement from Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defence reported fire from five different areas on the Armenian side.

Armenian Claims

Armenia counteracted Azerbaijan’s claims, claiming the statement “issued by the Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan claiming that on April 5th, at approximately 5:25 p.m., units of the Armenian Armed Forces fired in the direction of Azerbaijani positions located in the northeastern part of the border, is another disinformation.” They also claimed that Azeri troops fired upon their positions in the evening of April 5th in two separate locations.

In a later statement, Armenia claimed that fire from Azerbaijan resumed later into the night and carried over in some locations into the morning of April 6th. The statement from the Ministry of Defence reported fire from Azeri forces in six different locations.

Armenia further states that “assessing the situation, the units of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia refrained from actions that could contribute to further escalation, leading to the calming of the situation along the border.”

They additionally renewed accusations that Azerbaijan was attempting to spread misinformation, claiming they have “observed an increase in the dissemination of disinformation by the Azerbaijani press regarding Armenian media in recent days.”

According to Politico, Armenia made claims to the EU and the US prior to the tripartite meeting held between the three in Brussels that Azerbaijan was accumulating mass amounts of military equipment. The claim says that Azerbaijan has been receiving “on average, more than one arms shipment per day since the start of the year,” largely from Israel and Pakistan. Over the past several years, Israel has become Azerbaijan’s top military provider.

The reported claims of an Azeri military buildup come just a week after Azerbaijan claimed that Armenia was amassing military forces, heavy equipment, and constructing further fortifications in proximity to the border. Notably, the EU civilian monitoring mission in Armenia investigated the Azeri claims, patrolling the areas in question, and reported no unusual activity.

https://theatlasnews...rbaijan-border/

[Yervant1]

POLITICO

April 6 2024

 

 

Clashes reported on Armenia-Azerbaijan border hours after EU support announced

Brussels has pledged to boost Armenia’s ‘resilience’ as the US warns against renewed violence.

BY GABRIEL GAVIN

 

Major firefights broke out along the tense frontier between Azerbaijan and Armenia overnight Saturday, with heavy shooting reported by both sides amid Western efforts to bring peace to the war-torn South Caucasus.

In a statement Saturday, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported clashes “in many parts of the border” along with “the movement of dozens of military vehicles,” alleging that the neighboring country “has clearly pursued a provocative goal.”

However, according to Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry, Armenian troops have opened fire on its positions more than 30 times since Friday. Azerbaijan has said recent allegations — from EU countries including France — that it could be preparing to launch a new offensive against Armenia are “baseless” and “create a tension in the region and obstruct the peace process.”

 

Azerbaijan has reported Armenia is building up military equipment along the border, publishing footage that purports to show unarmored transport vehicles lining up close to the frontier. The claims have been denied by Armenia but shared widely in Russian state media, while Moscow has accused the West of attempting to “drag the South Caucasus into geopolitical confrontation.” Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought several bloody wars in recent years, with Azerbaijan emerging as the victor in each of them.

Later on Saturday, the EU’s civilian monitoring mission on the borders reported that the situation is now “stable and calm.” The bloc’s observers, deployed inside the territory of Armenia under the Common Security and Defense Policy, had previously said “no unusual movements” of troops have been observed.

On Friday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, with the EU pledging more than a quarter of a billion euros to support Armenia’s economy in the face of growing regional tensions and strained relations with its traditional ally, Russia. With anger building at the Kremlin for failing to support Armenia in its standoff with Azerbaijan, the Armenian government has effectively frozen its membership in Moscow’s military alliance, sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine and even hinted it could one day apply to join the EU.

“The European Union and the United States acknowledged the substantial progress Armenia has made since 2018 on democratic and justice reforms and the fight against corruption, and expressed a commitment to continue partnering with and supporting Armenia as it further strengthens its democracy and the rule of law, in line with our shared values and principles,” a joint statement from Blinken and von der Leyen said.

Azerbaijan last weekend marked the “Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis,” commemorating more than 100,000 Azerbaijanis who lived in Armenia prior to the fall of the Soviet Union and were expelled, with many more killed amid violence in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the 1990s. In September, following a year-long blockade of its supply routes, Azerbaijan conquered the unrecognized republic after three decades of de facto autonomy, sparking a mass exodus of its 100,000 Armenian inhabitants.

Ahead of the talks, Blinken told Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in a call “that there is no justification for increased tension on the border and cautioned that aggressive actions and rhetoric from any side would undermine prospects for peace.”

This article has been updated.

https://www.politico...port-announced/

[Yervant1]

Asbarez.com

 

After Aliyev Blasts U.S.-EU-Armenia Talks, Azerbaijani Forces Fire at Armenian Border Positions

by Asbarez Staff

 

 April 5, 2024

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

 

An Armenia border patrol soldier in Gegharkunik

 

After Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Friday blasted the United States and the European Union for holding high-level talks with Armenia, Azerbaijani forces opened fire at Armenian positions in Tavush and Gegharkunik provinces.

Just as Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan concluded a meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels, where more assistance was pledged by the American and European leaders, Azerbaijani forces opened fire at positions in Tavush’s Chinari village and Ghegharkunik’s Verin Shorzha region.

Armenia’s defense ministry reported that the attack on Armenian positions in Tavush took place around 5:15 p.m. local time, while at 5:30 p.m. local time, a similar attack was reported in Gegharkunik.

At around 5:25 p.m. local time, the Azerbaijani defense ministry issued a statement alleging that Armenian soldiers had opened fire at Azerbaijani positions. Armenia’s defense ministry called the statement disinformation.

Earlier on Friday, Aliyev, while meeting with former Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Baku, denounced the U.S.-EU-Armenia meeting in Brussels, saying that the talks were “directed against Azerbaijan.”

“Although high-ranking U.S. and EU officials tried to convince us during telephone conversations initiated by them in recent days that this meeting is not directed against us, we know that it is against Azerbaijan, against cooperation in the South Caucasus,” Aliyev said. “It aims to create dividing lines and isolate Azerbaijan.”

This was not the first time Baku had denounced the meeting. The Azerbaijani foreign ministry accused the U.S. and the EU of destabilizing the region. Blinken and von der Leyen spoke separately with Aliyev this week to convey that the meeting was to address assistance to Armenia and would not focus on the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks.

Despite these assurances, Baku blasted the meeting.

“We never felt it was our business to convince Azerbaijan about the conference,” James O’Brien, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for Europe and Eurasia, said, commenting on Aliyev’s claims. “We have been very clear about what we intended to do. We have done exactly as we said.”

“We are supporting the choices that the Armenian people have made and will continue to do that in a way that promotes peace and security and prosperity of the region as a whole,” O’Brien told Armenian journalists.

 

 

https://asbarez.com/...WDhgthQiL-REbn4

[Yervant1]

The European Conservative

April 8 2024

 

Azeri Backlash Fails To Halt EU Support for Armenia

 

Support for the besieged Christian nation could heighten divisions between Europe and Turkey.

• Thomas O'Reilly
• — April 8, 2024

 

The EU is forging firmer ties with Armenia following top-level meetings between the country’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, and top Eurocrats Friday—despite efforts of Turkey and Azerbaijan to derail the process. 

Due to the perceived failure of its traditional ally Russia to protect it, Christian Armenia is now looking to decouple from Moscow as soon as possible to prevent more land grabs by Islamic Azerbaijan. EU peacekeepers already monitor the Azeri border with France taking the initiative on bringing the country further into the EU’s orbit.

On Friday, Pashinyan used an ongoing EU-U.S. summit in Belgium to make the case for stronger economic ties with the West. The European Commission approved €270 million in economic support for the country, helping Armenia’s EU ambitions to take a crucial step forward. In her post-meeting remarks, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen was upbeat about the prospects of eventual Armenian candidate status.

Both Blinken and von der Leyen spoke on the telephone with Azerbaijan’s president Ilham Aliyev prior to the meeting with Armenia’s PM to reassure him of their continued commitment to existing partnerships with the country. Aliyev denounced the Brussels talks, saying they were “directed against Azerbaijan.”

Firefights were also reported from the Azeri-Armenian border Saturday after the EU’s announcement. 

Armenia is fighting for its survival after four years of disastrous border wars with the Turkish-backed Azeri army, which has resulted in the loss of the previously contested Nagorno-Karabakh region and the displacement of 100,000 ethnic Armenians. 

Meanwhile, Armenian diplomats presented intelligence of what they believe is a looming Azeri offensive. The country fears that Azerbaijan may seek to erode Armenia’s statehood in the coming decade.

Turkey warned that the EU and U.S talks with Armenia “undermine the neutral approach that should be the basis for the solution of the complex problems of the region”.

The general consensus among Western elites seems to favour fast-tracking Armenia into the European bloc as a geopolitical necessity. In a recent op-ed, former NATO boss Anders Fogh Rasmussen declared it is high time that the EU deleverage itself from Azerbaijan.

Regardless of the rhetoric, Armenia may soon be a testing ground for Western resolve against Turkish and Azeri aggression.

 

 

 

Thomas O’Reilly is an Irish journalist working for The European Conservative in Brussels. He has an educational background in chemical sciences and journalism.

 

 

 

https://europeancons...rt-for-armenia/