cease-fire violations by azeris

[Yervant1]

Greek City Times

Oct 12 2020

Pontian-Greek Society in the USA donates $100,000 for “Armenian brothers”by Paul Antonopoulos

The Pontian-Greek Society in the USA has announced in a Facebook post that they are donating $100,000 to Armenia as it continues its defense against the Turkish-sponsored Azerbaijani military/Syrian mercenary invasion attempt of Artsakh.

“We have the honor to announce that we, as the Pontian Greek Society in the USA, have collected $100.000 dollars from among our partners to join the efforts to support our Armenian brothers,” the organization said on Facebook, concluding “We continue to stand with you our Armenian brothers.”

Internationally, donations for Armenia is rising considerably.

Any donations people want to make to Armenia are encouraged to make it to the Hayastan All Armenian Fund, which to date has collected millions of dollars since the Turkish-sponsored invasion began on September 27.

A fake website created by Azerbaijan to steal money from well intended people wanting to support Armenia was brought down by hackers belonging to Anonymous Greece, as reported by Greek City Times.

In Facebook post, Anonymous Greece said:

“WARNING: Azerbaijani created a FAKE Armenia Fund website to steal money from Armenians and from all those who want to help. See the screenshots bellow and take care where are you browsing. Always use VPN and always trust websites with SSL ( HTTPS ).”

However, just a few hours later Anonymous Greece made an update from their Facebook account, announcing “Update: The FAKE ( Phishing ) Armenia Fund website has been successfully suspended,” which came with an accompanied photo.

https://www.facebook.com/anonopsgreece/posts/199262328268019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/10/13/pontian-greek-society-in-the-usa-donates-100000-for-armenian-brothers/

[Yervant1]

CIVILNET.AM

13 October, 2020 03:05

Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan confirmed in a press briefing that Azerbaijan's attempts to secure the southern town of Hadrut following the ceasefire announcement have so far not succeeded. The town is currently under Armenian control but intense fighting continues in the area and the Azerbaijani forces are not far.

Artak Beglaryan, Karabakh Human Rights Defender, noted that on the morning of October 10, Azerbaijani forces entered Hadrut for a period of time and killed two residents in a home, a mother and her disbled son.

“I condemn the ongoing atrocities committed by Azerbaijani forces against Karabakh’s population and I demand the international community to respond adequately to this issue and to pursue punishment for the perpetrators," Beglaryan said.

Responding to a question about whether the Israeli government knows that its weapons are targeted towards civilians, the Karabakh President said that, "In April 2016 War, Israel had sent experts with the weapons so I am certain that the government of Israel is well aware."

Armenia's Ministry of Defense further noted that hostilities are also intensifying in Martakert and the whole southern region.

"The intensity of artillery fire has been calmer since the ceasefire announcement, but there is no decrease in use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles by Azerbaijan," said Armenia's Ministry of defense.

Armenian Prime Nikol Pashinyan echoed his calls for the recognition of Karakh's independence.

"Artsakh [Karabakh] must become a symbol of justice. The world must recognize Artsakh's right to self-determination. If governments are unable to do so, then recognition must come from individuals and organizations. This must become a global movement uniting individuals and organizations."

On the Azerbaijani side, publicist Zabil Magerramov, a member of the Azerbaijany’s Talysh minority community, has told Civilnet that Azerbaijan intentionally sends individuals from national minority groups to the frontline, “which is part of Aliyev’s greater plan of attempting to get rid of the Talysh issue in Azerbaijan.”

Magerramov says that the Talysh community maintains strong neutrality in the ongoing war in Nagorno Karabakh.

“We support the negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia and have high hopes for Russia, which will make every effort to attain a peaceful and just settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," he noted.

https://www.civilnet.am/news/2020/10/13/Briefing-from-the-Frontlines/401197

[Yervant1]

Azerbaijan Doesn’t Retrieve Its War Dead;

Continues Shelling Civilians in Artsakh

By Harut Sassounian

Publisher, The California Courier

www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

Azerbaijan and Turkey kept insisting that they will not accept a
ceasefire until the Armenian armed forces vacate Artsakh. In other
words, they want to reoccupy Artsakh and eliminate the Armenian
presence there.

Turkey, an outsider, kept pouring fuel on the fire by stressing that
the war on Artsakh should not stop until Armenians return the land
back to Azerbaijan. However, as the Azeri and Jihadist terrorists’
losses mounted, Pres. Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan started softening his
stance by announcing last Friday that the “principles to settle the
Nagorno-Karabagh conflict, which had been put forward by the United
States, Russia and France, should form the basis for a settlement.”

That same day, at the invitation of Pres. Vladimir Putin of Russia,
the Foreign Ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia met for over
10 hours in Moscow and agreed to a humanitarian ceasefire starting on
Oct. 11, at 12 noon (local time), for the purposes of exchanging
prisoners of war and retrieving the bodies of dead soldiers. Under
Islamic law, a burial ceremony should be held within 24 hours of
someone’s death.

However, not surprisingly, Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan had no intention of abiding by the ceasefire. Azerbaijan
continued the shelling of civilian and military targets within few
minutes of the start of the ceasefire. Aliyev showed no respect for
the dead and their grieving families by refusing to make arrangements
to pick up the bodies of killed Azeri soldiers. He also showed no
respect for the strict Islamic burial time table as he is not a devout
Muslim.

The real reason Aliyev pretended to accept the ceasefire was to use it
as a cover to regroup its shattered armed forces and rush in new
military hardware from Israel. Meanwhile, Turkey continued to recruit
more terrorist mercenaries from Syria as they kept getting killed in
the field of battle.

The blatant Azeri and Turkish violations of the ceasefire should
finally wake up Pres. Putin from his slumber. The transfer of these
mercenaries to Azerbaijan is not only against the interests of Armenia
and Artsakh, but more importantly, against the national interests of
Russia. If Putin does not care about the killings of Armenians, he
should care about future acts of terrorism by the mercenaries who had
been fighting in Syria against the Russian forces. Armenia and Artsakh
are doing a big favor to Russia by eliminating hundreds of Islamist
Jihadists that were a menace in Syria and potentially in Russia. These
mercenaries could not fight well against Artsakh since they are not
trained soldiers, but are capable of committing suicide bombings and
blow up civilian targets in Russian cities.

Furthermore, Pres. Putin should feel embarrassed that a ceasefire he
had arranged between Armenia and Azerbaijan is being disrespected by
Aliyev and Erdogan. This may finally force Putin to take more decisive
measures against both Azerbaijan and Turkey. Otherwise, Russia’s own
prestige will go down the drain.

Russia also has to respect its commitment to the CSTO (Collective
Security Treaty Organization) with Armenia. It has to defend Armenia’s
borders since Azerbaijan has repeatedly shelled civilians inside
Armenia.

Even more concerned with these Islamist terrorists is Iran which has
been fighting them in Syria. To have thousands of terrorists on Iran’s
border is a serious security risk. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani
has repeatedly warned Azerbaijan and Turkey about the transfer of
these mercenaries to areas next to the Iranian border. Rouhani even
spoke with Putin about this threat. If the danger persists, Iran may
be forced to take military action against these foreign terrorists to
defend its own borders.

One thing that remains puzzling is the polite and civilized reaction
of the Armenian forces in the battle. Azerbaijan has kept shelling the
civilian population of Stepanakert, Artsakh’s capital, on a daily
basis, causing dozens of deaths and injuries both before and after the
ceasefire. However, it is not understandable why the Armenian forces
refrain from shelling Azeri cities and villages in return. The only
exception was the Armenian shelling of the airport of Ganja (Gantsak)
in Azerbaijan where Azeri and Turkish air force jets are stationed.

Armenians have every right to respond to Azeri targets. This is war.
When the enemy does not respect international law and commits war
crimes repeatedly, Aliyev should understand that Armenians will hit
back until he stops targeting Armenian civilians. Even the historic
Cathedral of Ghazanchetsots in Shushi came under Azeri missile attack
causing major damage to this house of worship. Unless such barbaric
Azeri attacks cease, Armenia should hit back all Azeri targets,
particularly Azerbaijan’s oil pipeline.

I was very pleased that on October 11, a massive protest was organized
by the Armenian community of Los Angeles in front of the Turkish
Consulate.

Erdogan, the delirious leader of Turkey, should be pressured to stop
its continuation of the genocide against the Armenian people. Armenian
communities around the world should organize similar demonstrations
against Turkish Consulates and Embassies and demand that all
governments pressure Turkey to stop its involvement in the war and the
recruitment of terrorist mercenaries. The war has unified 10 million
Armenians worldwide who are ready to support their homeland against
the pan-Turkic onslaught which is far more sinister than the
coronavirus pandemic. Everything must be done to foil Erdogan’s
attempt to stick his nose in the Artsakh conflict. Contrary to the
Turkish Foreign Ministry’s announcement, Turkey should have no
involvement either at the war zone or at the negotiating table.

Just as importantly, protests must be held in front of Israeli
Consulates and Embassies in various countries as Israel has sold and
continuous to sell billions of dollars of lethal sophisticated drones
and missiles to Azerbaijan, killing and maiming hundreds of innocent
Armenian men, women and children. A statement circulated on Facebook
appropriately describes this insane situation: “The grandchildren of
genocide perpetrators are killing the grandchildren of genocide
survivors with weapons provided by the grandchildren of Holocaust
survivors!”

Last week, a group of prominent Israeli intellectuals issued a joint
statement calling on Israel “to cease immediately the sales of arms to
Azerbaijan… aimed mainly against a people that like the Jewish people
suffered genocidal attacks in the twentieth century. We call upon
other Israelis to raise their voice on this important issue.” I am
pleased that among the signatories are Professors Yair Auron, Israel
Charny and Michael Stone, who have always defended the truth of the
Armenian Genocide and called for its recognition by the Israeli
government.

Since the Russian government has failed to take decisive action
against Azerbaijan and Turkey, I suggest that protests be organized in
front of Russian Consulates and Embassies in various countries,
particularly in Yerevan and Moscow to let Pres. Putin know that his
inaction in this war is causing Armenians everywhere to lose their
sympathy for Russia and its government.

Finally, the governments of Artsakh and Armenia have urged everyone in
the world to recognize the independence of the Republic of Artsakh.
This is a very sensitive subject with far reaching consequences.
However, given these tragic circumstances, Armenians have no choice
but to resort to such a measure, as a reaction to the Azeri and
Turkish attempts to annihilate the Armenians of Artsakh. The
recognition of Artsakh’s independence would be an adequate response to
Azerbaijan’s and Turkey’s war crimes. However, the first step should
be the recognition of the Artsakh Republic by the Armenian government.
Otherwise, when Armenians approach foreign leaders, they will be told
why should they be the first to recognize Artsakh, since Armenia
itself has not!

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

Defense Army continues countermeasures to neutralize Azeri raid team in Hadrut direction

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10:32, 12 October, 2020

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. The Artsakh Defense Ministry announced on October 12 that the Defense Army continues the countermeasures on blocking and neutralizing the Turkish-backed Azeri raid team that infiltrated in the direction of Hadrut.

The Artsakh Defense Ministry also refuted yet another fake report issued by the Azeri media.

“The Azerbaijani news media are spreading news claiming that retreating Defense Army units in the direction of Karmir Shuka have been hit with artillery strikes which resulted in serious losses. As usual, the Azerbaijani propaganda machine is distorting the reality in an attempt to prove at any cost Ilham Aliyev’s groundless statement claiming to have taken Hadrut under control. The Defense Army units continue to confidently fulfill their combat mission at the entire length of the frontline. At the same time the Defense Army units are successfully thwarting the offensive attempts of the Azerbaijani armed forces which are not observing the humanitarian ceasefire. The operation to block and eliminate the sabotage-reconnaissance team that infiltrated in the direction of Hadrut continues. The tactical situation is under the full control of the Defense Army. We call on our compatriots to follow exclusively official news,” the Artsakh Defense Ministry aid.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1031307.html?fbclid=IwAR1Zb_Qg3L79sXhZ5DMmkLYyPOnaSvnJ6gngOg-hvxCbwLp75t0oD2I5nGA

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

Pressured by Ankara, Baku is sabotaging Russian mediation over Karabakh, says Pashinyan top advisor

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13:20, 12 October, 2020

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Under the direct pressure of Turkey the Azerbaijani authorities are disrupting the Russian mediation mission around the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s chief advisor Vagharshak Harutyunyan told TASS in an interview.

Harutyunyan says that with these actions Baku is trying to increase Ankara’s role in the conflict settlement issue.

“Fierce battles are now taking place in Artsakh despite the fact that at the mediation of Russia an agreement on cessation of hostilities for humanitarian purposes was adopted in Moscow. This means that Ankara is pressuring by all means the Azerbaijani authorities, who in turn are disrupting Russia’s mediation mission in an attempt to increase Turkey’s role in the conflict settlement issue,” Harutyunyan said.

Harutyunyan noted Azeri president Ilham Aliyev’s numerous statements on increasing Turkey’s role in the conflict settlement as a testament to Baku’s sabotaging of the Russian mediation.

“It is becoming clear that this is a jointly developed strategic policy by Ankara and Baku, aimed at decreasing Russia’s role and in the end a complete expulsion from South Caucasus,” he said. Harutyunyan says Ankara and Baku can achieve their goal only in case of the duo succeeding in neutralizing Armenia in the region by using the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1031323.html?fbclid=IwAR19pnYkA30Sey3izzrkmj7otQDDqeFvuURGyzC2Z_56ZaV77Na95t8OrcE

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

WATCH: Azeri AN-2 bomber shot down in Artsakh airspace

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13:26, 12 October, 2020

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. The Air Defense units of the Artsakh Defense Army have shot down an Azerbaijani AN-2 unmanned bomber aircraft that had breached the airspace and was attacking Artsakh in the eastern direction on October 12.

The Defense Ministry of Artsakh released the video from the downing of the warplane.

The Azeri armed forces are ignoring the humanitarian ceasefire and have launched attacks at Artsakh. Fierce fighting is taking place in Hadrut as the Azeri forces are attempting an invasion.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

[see video]

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1031324.html?fbclid=IwAR3kDz8E5eO4QzWvqg9X2pvJaqiVbklNKo1DZ491nSQzo-yp70CGuctjdLY

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

Eric Esrailian urges all Armenians to continue providing humanitarian support to Artsakh

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13:50, 12 October, 2020

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Eric Esrailian, producer of The Promise film on the Armenian Genocide, commented on the Azerbaijani aggression launched against Artsakh, urging all Armenians in the world to present the truth. He also called on to continue providing the humanitarian support to Artsakh.

He thanked all Armenians on an Instagram post who continue to share true news.

“Please keep it going! It is making a difference and we have a chance for diplomacy now that governments, human rights advocacy organizations, journalists, and influential leaders around the world are paying attention and learning the truth. Please call for additional transparency, international attention & monitoring. Why would anyone want the opposite? Staying silent is not an option for many of us”, he said.

“I am praying for peace and that will only come if more of you speak out, contact your government leaders, peacefully march and do your part in any way you can”, he said, once again urging to continue providing the humanitarian support to Artsakh.

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1031326.html?fbclid=IwAR0O8bTW1xdePCvhWMmnOuEl4wqr7CfyKxvvT1f9Lb0x2NGVJbpcjfuHKhg

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Armenpress.am

First Artsakh War veterans brought into active duty amid continued Azeri ceasefire violations

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14:28, 12 October, 2020

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan said on October 12 that he is actively meeting with militia members and that veterans of the First Nagorno Karabakh War are brought into active duty.

“The situation remains critical,” Harutyunyan said on social media. “I am having active meetings with the militia. We must all rise up like one. The salvation of our country is at stake. We are involving the participants of the first Artsakh war in the struggle. I am grateful for our people’s willingness and unity to defend our native land,” he said.

The Azerbaijani military has breached the humanitarian ceasefire and is attacking Artsakh from different directions. Massive battles are taking place in Hadrut, the town in Artsakh that has come under a large invasion attempt.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1031330.html?fbclid=IwAR3MKansbAkLZ7eNUuB_DZVsFXZaLJeT5-VX2tZopaWoE-l82lAg4biz58M

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

Kylie Jenner expresses support to Armenia and Artsakh

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14:40, 12 October, 2020

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Famous TV star and model Kylie Jenner has expressed her support to Artsakh and Armenia, calling on her millions of followers to participate in the fundraising aimed at assisting Artsakh.

She shared the video address of her sister Kim Kardashian West on an Instagram story, where Kim again calls on everyone to assist Armenia and Artsakh.

From the very first days of the military operations unleashed by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh on September 27, the Hayastan All Armenian Fund has initiated “We Are Our Borders: All for Artsakh” fundraising campaign, aimed at assisting Artsakh. As of now, the donations made to the Fund comprise over 100 million USD. The Armenians worldwide have joined this fundraising. Kim Kardashian West (1 million USD), rock musician Serj Tankian (250,000 USD), as well as a number of other famous Armenians have provided donations to the Fund.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1031331.html?fbclid=IwAR12ZtjKpkMtLUzVTj84H4SkAezeQT0EUTl52-vkHTjd-yS4L2IkuJLSkYE

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh are not alone – Spanish writer sends open letter to Artsakh President

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14:42, 12 October, 2020

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Spanish writer, YSU Honorary Doctor Gonzalo Guarch has sent an open letter to President of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan.

In the letter the writer stated that during these days, when Azerbaijan is unleashing an aggression against Artsakh, many citizens of Spain stand by the Artsakh-Armenians.

“We are united by Christianity. Even those who do not follow all the church rituals, understand that we are bearers of a common Christian cultural heritage, that we are united by a long history during which the two peoples have fought for similar values, we are united by the Western approach of perceiving life, the same family values and similar characteristics. We have so much in common that we even can state that Armenians and Spanish people, who are very similar peoples, can be considered as members of one family on the way to the future which our two peoples need to pass together”, the writer said.

He stated that “the world understands that Nagorno Krabakh has always been an Armenian land”. “The Armenian people of Karabakh continue living in that same mountains”, he said.

In his letter the writer assured the Artsakh President that Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh are not alone, adding that both Spain, Europe and the West know the reality.

“Spain, Europe and the West know who stands behind this brutal attack, who has sent warplanes, heavy weapons, artillery, latest UAVs, who has sent thousands of mercenary jihadists to this region, most of whom were forced to. Those who have sent mercenaries perhaps do not know that the humanity doesn’t want war, but peace between the peoples, they also do not know that Armenians will come out of this conflict victorious as their enemies will never be able to defeat the Armenian people as the power of history and truth belongs to them”, he said, once again stating that Armenians will never be alone because millions of men and women stand by the Artsakh-Armenians.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1031333.html?fbclid=IwAR0-wqGM_ITfPSMW0829IMbe82oJTfDqwrML0sfmoBALSOk_r1osaP3Ebzc

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Armenpress.am

Artsakh shoots down SU-25 warplane amid Turkish Air Force F-16-supported Azeri aerial attacks

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15:22, 12 October, 2020

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. The Artsakh Air Defense units have shot down one Azerbaijani SU-25 attack aircraft as the Azeri military has deployed the warplanes in the attacks on Artsakh.

Armenian Defense Ministry spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan said the Azeri air force SU-25s are operating with the air support of Turkish Air Force F-16s.

“The Azerbaijani air force operates Su-25 fighter jets along the border with the air support of Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jets.

Air Defense units of Defense Army of Artsakh shot down one Su-25 attack aircraft in the north-eastern direction,” she said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1031340.html?fbclid=IwAR2Z4-BDVD-ZuYNoDvRf8ta3C1qcn-s9ZmqXTtzbeAmIenDLt5W9xzoKCtY

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Armenpress.am

‘Sending prayers to people of Armenia’ - Los Angeles Lakers basketball player

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15:25, 12 October, 2020

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. NBA star of the Los Angeles Lakers Danny Green has expressed his support to Armenia.

“Third World countries, other countries, our country, there’s so much going on …it’s tough. It’s been a tough year. There’s so many other things going on that we have to shed light on to help these people any way we can. Sending prayers to the people of Armenia. I know they are seeking peace and are under attack”, the basketball player said as quoted by The Star.

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1031342.html?fbclid=IwAR0XV_COdOJAMnkJBgUQvrnUkKTcCvQzC0QwDV9o8hqJX0pWCEQcF4pkZP4

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

INTERCEPTED AUDIO: Azeri army’s executions of own troops “astonishes” even TERRORISTS

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17:07, 12 October, 2020

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. The audio recording of radio communications between two Syrian mercenaries brought from Turkey to fight from the Azerbaijani side against Artsakh has surfaced online, shedding light on the current situation in the Azeri military and the growing discontent even among these mercenaries.

The two mercenaries, who identify themselves as Abu Ismail and Abu Hassan, are heard telling each other about the fighting.

Video Player

“Honest to God, our squad is gone, and now they [Azeris] are forcing us to advance again,” one tells the other, mentioning that they have many victims and that the Azeri military is using them as a human shield.

They start complaining that the Azeri military is not giving them food and not allowing them to go home and instead they are kept at the heated battle sections so that they get killed and the Azeris don’t have to pay them. One of them also says that the Azerbaijani army is standing behind them.

“Sometimes these Azeris don’t feed us, many of our guys have been wounded, these [expletive deleted] don’t send them back and dump them to die so that they wouldn’t pay them,” one of the mercenaries says. “Listen, we also haven’t been paid at all. They want us to take pictures of dead Armenians in order to pay us,” the other replies. The dead bodies of the mercenaries are shipped to Turkey, he said.

“Are we near Iran now?” the disoriented mercenary asks at one point.

One of these mercenaries says he was “astonished” to learn that the Azerbaijani military snipers have shot dead their own troops who attempted to surrender.

“Honest to God, we have all [expletive deleted] regretted coming here,” he says, mentioning that the Azeri troops are “drunk all day.”

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1031357.html?fbclid=IwAR3fEfL-f729oLqYYAhdQaD4yfiJh4iHWDPCKG9zEXFp7zLmfj4xWS-LnQI

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Armenpress.am

Issue of recognition of Artsakh’s independence under discussion – Vice Speaker of Parliament

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17:24, 12 October, 2020

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Vice Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Alen Simonyan says it’s very important for the independence of Artsakh to be recognized not only by Armenia, but also by the world.

“It’s clear that the independence of Artsakh is the most important issue for all of us. We are working with all our partners at all directions and move on the path of the recognition of Artsakh. We even raise this issue at the lowest level. It’s very important for Artsakh to be recognized not only by Armenia, but also by the world. This issue is under discussion, and yes, this is a crucial issue”, the Vice Speaker said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1031359.html?fbclid=IwAR1pPetr5X99L49_ObhNlLJHAcUCK5zUtcQSKlFOSrOtVgfcn5nd_kRGufg

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Armenpress.am

673 unexploded bombs of Turkish and Israeli production found in Artsakh’s Stepanakert

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21:49, 12 October, 2020

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. The mining specialists of the State Service of Emergency Situations of Artsakh continue the works to discover and neutralize the unexploded bombs and mines.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the State Service, only in Stepanakert they have already discovered 673 missiles, bombs and cluster explosives of Turkish and Israeli production.

By the instruction of the Head of the State Service Colonel Karen Sargsyan, the unexploded ammunition has been taken out of Stepanakert and neutralized in a safe zone.

Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1031396.html?fbclid=IwAR3qiymDqQUK29T88zds7o6ts8c2_cQOksYzcrpoT2FE9A4xgE98Y-CiQ1g

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Armenpress.am

Azerbaijani targeting of civilians has claimed lives of 31 in Artsakh

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21:11, 12 October, 2020

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. At least 31 civilians have died in Artsakh as a result of Azerbaijani strikes, ARMENPRESS reports Artsakh’s Human Rights Defender Artak Beglaryan twitted.

‘’In the recent days 3 civilians passed away in hospitals’’, Beglaryan wrote.

He also informed that, according to fresh information, as a result of the Azerbaijani bombings of the previous days another 3 civilians had died. ‘’They died different days, but we were able to clarify the information now. They were killed as a result of bombing or missile strikes’’, Beglaryan said, adding that the names of the victims will be published a little later.

The total number of civilian casualties in Artsakh is at least 31.

Azerbaijani bombing has also killed 4 civilians in the Republic of Armenia.

Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1031392.html?fbclid=IwAR0WQPp1bodiRPvfy7-J9T5kXNg0JLN58avBkSWpPU3bASCSr-ewxYLvDRw

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Armenpress.am

Azerbaijan’s manpower losses amount to 200 for October 12

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22:22, 12 October, 2020

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani side suffered nearly 200 manpower losses on October 12, ARMENPRESS reports representative of the MoD Armenia Artsrun Hovhannisyan said in a press conference.

‘’During the last hours 3 UAVs, 1 warplane and 3 armored vehicles were destroyed. The manpower losses of Azerbaijan is nearly 200’’, Hovhannisyan said.

Hovhannisyan mentioned that when publishing the losses of the Azerbaijani side, they mention only the number of destroyed equipment, while those captured from them undamaged are not listed.

Azerbaijan unleashed full-scale war against ARtsakh on September 27, directly supported by Turkey and terrorist groups sent by Turkey to the conflict zone. Azerbaijan indiscriminately bombs cities and villages of Artsakh, killing and injuring numerous civilians, damaging infrastructures. So far Armenia has reported 525 military casualties. Azerbaijan keeps secret the number of casualties, but according to the Armenian side, Azerbaijan has suffered nearly 5000 casualties, including regular army servicemen and terrorists.

On October 10 Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan reached an agreement on humanitarian ceasefire in Moscow, but Azerbaijan started violation of the ceasefire immediately after it was declared. Particularly, it continued bombing cities and launching attacks in the north-eastern and southern directions of the front line. Right now fighting continues nearby Hadrut city of Artsakh.

The ICRC said they will not start any humanitarian mission until the ceasefire on Azerbaijan-Artsakh contact line is fully respected.

Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1031400.html?fbclid=IwAR12ZtjKpkMtLUzVTj84H4SkAezeQT0EUTl52-vkHTjd-yS4L2IkuJLSkYE

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

Reporter of France24 says Azerbaijani authorities violate freedom of press

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22:57, 12 October, 2020

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani leadership is constantly monitoring Katherine Norris-Trent, a journalist of France24 TV, who traveled to Baku to cover the Artsakh conflict, ARMENPRESS reports she said during a Live broadcast.

Katherine Norris-Trent said that the Azerbaijani government constantly monitors their movement and violates their right to cover the developments. She added that someone accompanies them and immediately intervenes whenever they want to just talk with the citizens.

The Azerbaijani armed forces target journalists also in Artsakh. On October 1 two reporters of French Le-Monde were injured by a bombing. One of them was in critical situation but the doctors of Artsakh were able to save his life. Later they bombed Ghazanchetsots Church in Shushi town of ARtsakh from a high precision weapon. When reporters arrived at the scene to cover it, they bombed again and injured 3 Russian reporters, one of them is still in critical situation. Azerbaijan has also filed a criminal case against another Russian reporter WarGonzo’s Semen Pegov.

Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan

 

 

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[Yervant1]

“I’m not Jewish or Armenian. I’m Jewish and Armenian,” Rachel said.

It’s a heavy weight to carry, with the scars of history on both sides. But these days, in the midst of the war over Nagorno-Karabakh, being Jewish-Armenian is especially tough.

I don’t normally write about Jewish affairs; it’s outside of my coverage area and expertise. But when a Jewish friend came over my home in Yerevan, asking me to write up her voice, I had to say yes. She was in anguish. For all that’s been said about the commercial and military dimensions of this fight, she wanted to add the moral and personal ones.

Plus, it seemed so profoundly resonant of Jewish tradition and history: elevating a lone voice, a life caught up in the darkness of war.

It’s a mark of the moment that my friend was afraid to write this story herself. She promised her family she’d stay anonymous – not for fear of her safety in Yerevan, but for her relatives’ safety in Israel. Israel is the largest supplier of weapons to Azerbaijan, and those weapons, including missile-laden drones, are now being used on Armenian-majority civilian areas in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Those drones aren’t restricted to the "traditional" front lines but have brought the fighting deep into civilian territory, into the cities of Karabakh, contributing to an escalation that has now claimed civilian lives on both sides of the fight. The space occupied by the conflict is unprecedented, engulfing Azerbaijan’s second largest city of Ganja.

"It was the start of Yom Kippur when the war broke out," Rachel said. “I didn’t know if I could face going to synagogue, because I knew Israel was providing weapons to Azerbaijan and they were killing people. It was chaos inside of me,” she said.

"On Monday I got a phone call from a friend who works at Ben-Gurion Airport, checking on me," she said. Her friend could see the air traffic reports for Israel’s southern airfield, Uvda. "He told me there were an unusual number of Azerbaijani cargo planes landing and taking off."

As reported by Yossi Melman in Haaretz, four Azeri Ilyushin­­-76 freight planes landed and took off from Uvda in the space of week just before and after fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh broke out.

"I kept asking myself, how can Israel do this? How can they be selling the weapons for this to happen?"

After years of living in Tel Aviv, part of it facilitating and leading tours for Birthright Israel, Rachel felt the deep moral parallels between Jews and Armenians and a sensitivity to their historical connections. There has been a Jewish community in Armenia for 2000 years. According to national mythology, the Bagratuni dynasty, kings who founded the revered early medieval Armenian city of Ani, were of Jewish origin.

More recently, Jewish-Armenians like my friend live with the dual legacy of Holocaust and genocide; her great-grandparents narrowly survived the massacre of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey. She moved to Yerevan just over a year ago to live and breathe their cultural legacy.

One week after the war began Rachel called the local rabbi in Yerevan for support. "He told me to come to the sukkah [the temporary outside dwelling Jews build for the festival of Sukkot, or Tabernacles] to pray for peace. I sat there with my mask on to protect against COVID-19, next to a Lubavitcher rabbi, praying that Israeli bombs won’t fall on Armenian lives,” she said. "I thought, is this fiction or is it really happening?"

Living in Armenia, Rachel said, feels like living in Jerusalem. The depth of associations, the ubiquitous echoes of history.

"I feel Israel has a moral debt to pay, a principle of common memory. Israel has not yet recognized the Armenian genocide. Maybe we think that six million people lost in the Shoah outweigh 1.5 million Armenians lost in 1915. But the end was the same, the impact was the same: the near-annihilation of a people."

While acknowledging the strategic value of Israel’s relationship with Azerbaijan and its backers in Turkey, she is inherently suspicious of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ambitions for regional dominance.

"Erdogan wants to finish off the Armenian people," Rachel said. When Erdogan gave a speech earlier this year vowing to "fulfill the mission our grandfathers have carried out for centuries," he invoked the Turkic conquests that stretched from Western China to the edge of the Mediterranean. In doing so, he triggered for Armenia and its diaspora a frisson of dread.

"The whole world is silent because it is afraid of Erdogan," said Rachel. "He feels that everything that is Armenian rightfully belongs to them. They’ll take Karabakh, they’ll take Armenia, they’ll try to take assets in Jerusalem. Then the Armenians will be forgotten," she lamented.

"What has shocked me most is the silence of the Jewish Diaspora. Jews around the world who should be speaking up, not only the Israelis. The Armenians are David, defending themselves from Goliath," she said.

Now that defense includes fending off Azerbaijan’s vast military and technological advantages. That arsenal, paid for by massive oil and gas wealth, is bearing fruit after decades of long-term investment by the Aliyev family.

Consecutively President Ilham Aliyev and his father have held political power in Azerbaijan almost continuously since 1964, when Haidar Aliyev became deputy chairman of the Azerbaijani KGB, consolidating his rule in 1969 when he became leader of Soviet Azerbaijan.

Armenians can feel like upstarts in comparison, using their wits to defend themselves and their place in the region.

What does she want from fellow Jews, and from Israelis? Respectively, "A little bit of solidarity and fewer arms sales," she said. Resources and strategic heft may buy more influence for the Azerbaijani side of the conflict. But that doesn’t diminish the need to see and protect the humanity of the other.

Rachel’s family members in Israel and Europe are telling her to leave Yerevan in case the fighting comes here. But she’s not interested in changing her place in this moment.

As she describes it she’d rather bear witness to what is an existential struggle, doing what she can to ensure might does not make right in the rocky hinterland of the Caucasus.

Lara Setrakian is the CEO of News Deeply, published in collaboration with The New Humanitarian. She spent five years as a foreign correspondent covering the Middle East for ABC News and Bloomberg Television. Twitter: @lara

[Yervant1]

Azerbaijani military’s KIAs reach 5139 with heavy materiel losses

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10:22, 13 October, 2020

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS. 5139 Azerbaijani servicemen have been killed in action so far since Azerbaijan launched the large-scale attack on Artsakh beginning September 27, the Armenian Unified InfoCenter reported.

According to the updated information on adversary losses, the Azerbaijani military has lost 173 UAVs, 16 helicopters, 18 warplanes, 521 tanks and other armored equipment and 4 TOS launchers.

In the past day alone the Azeri armed forces lost 5 UAVs, 7 armored hardware, 1 warplane and 220 servicemen.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

[Yervant1]

Garry Kasparov: Starting point of Karabakh tragedy is Sumgait pogrom

October 13, 2020 - 20:45 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - 13th world chess champion and head of Human Rights Foundation Garry Kasparov – Russian-Armenian chess grandmaster born in Baku – has said that the starting point of the tragedy in Nagorno-Karabakh is the Sumgait pogrom, which targeted the Armenian population of the Azerbaijani town of Sumgait back in 1988.

Kasparov believes the Sumgait pogroms took history to a new dimension, followed by pogroms in Kirovabad (today's Ganja), and those in Baku.

“For me the issue definitely resonates on an emotional level. That is why many will see my point of view as biased. I try to be as objective as possible, though, obviously, what we’ve gone through in Baku and experienced living in Azerbaijan sets a mood of its own,” Kasparov has said in a conversation with Echo of Moscow (via Sport24).

“First: why the Turkish factor matters - because this problem was not purely an intra-Soviet one, but has in fact the Armenian Genocide perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire at its roots. This here is an important factor at the genetic level and is ingrained in the subconscious of every Armenian living in lands controlled by Turkic-speaking peoples.

“Next. In no way shall we re-examine the historical documents from thousands of years ago. This will certainly distract us. The only unbiased statistical evidence is from the census of the late 19th century Russian Empire, which records that the territory – which then had a different name – was mostly populated by Armenians.”

Kasparov then reminds how Lenin, who sought a major alliance with Turkey, handed two territories – Nakhijevan and Karabakh – to Azerbaijan which he says created “a minefield” in the Union: “In fact, Stalin would then do this regularly, creating minefields, redrawing the map in such a way that would ensure mine explosion in case of potential state exits.

“Now lastly. There is actually one detail that fundamentally separates the Karabakh problem from that of Crimea and many others. The thing is that, according to a Soviet law approved in 1990, quite a clear exit rule existed for union republics, which said that autonomous republics and densely populated regions of national minorities must vote separately, with an equal right for self-determination. This is a crucial point that many ignore. This is why the issue of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty remains questionable.”

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey and mercenaries deployed by Ankara, launched a large-scale offensive against Karabakh (Artsakh) in the morning of September 27, shelling Armenian positions and civilian settlements with large caliber weapons and rocket systems. The Armenian side has reported deaths and injuries both among the civilian population and the military. Foreign and local journalists too have been injured in Azeri shelling of towns and villages. Although a humanitarian ceasefire was supposed to begin on October 10, Azerbaijan has renewed hostilities along the line of contact.

Donations can be made to Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, which has launched a fundraising campaign to support Karabakh amid Azerbaijan's aggression.

[Yervant1]

Charny: Would Israel sell a drone to a Hitler?

October 12, 2020 - 13:31 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Prominent Jewish Genocide scholar Israel W. Charny has said he is ashamed of Israel's arming of Azerbaijan and its failure to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. In a fresh article he penned for The Times of Israel, Charny asks a question to his country: "Suppose the Nazis were not murdering Jews but were murdering "only", say, Slavs, Gypsies, and Jehovah’s Witnesses; and suppose our beloved State of Israel were in existence: Would you agree to our selling arms to the Nazis?"

Charny said he is ashamed that an Israeli drone in the hands of Azerbaijan was responsible for the deaths of six Armenians in Karabakh, and that Israel continues arming Azerbaijan even during the war.

"The Armenians were the victims of a major genocide 100 years ago. For many years now, we Israelis have insulted and hurt the Armenian people by failing to recognize their genocide officially and formally. Would we ourselves tolerate another government – say the U.S. or England – refusing to recognize the Holocaust because of their realpolitik interest with the perpetrator government?" the scholar says.

"In general, how willing are we Israelis to strengthen our economy by lucrative arms sales? Of course, “everyone” in the world is doing it, but do we have to also? An alternative principle could be that we build arms first and foremost for the defense of Israel, and that we supply arms only to underdog peoples who are facing mass destruction and to allies like the US that are essentially committed to shared democratic values and to peace. Of course we will still make some mistakes, but at least our conscience will be more clear that we have not delivered arms to the ‘Nazis'."

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey, launched a large-scale offensive against Karabakh (Artsakh) in the morning of September 27, shelling Armenian positions and civilian settlements with large caliber weapons and rocket systems. Armenia and Karabakh have introduced martial law and total mobilization. The Armenian side has reported deaths and injuries both among the civilian population and the military. International and local journalists too have been injured in Azeri shelling of towns and villages, as well as the iconic Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi. Before a humanitarian ceasefire could begin on October 10, Azerbaijan launched a new offensive and struck settlements both in Karabakh and Armenia.

[onjig]

We've trouble from the Azeri Turk more and again ~ God be with our brothers and sisters ```

[Yervant1]

turkey went after Christians (Genocide of Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians), then went after the Kurds when their use ended in the killing fields. Who says that one day it will not come after Israel?

Globes, Israel

Oct 13 2020

Israel's Turkish conundrum

Israel needs to confront Turkish neo-imperialism, but is economically and politically hamstrung.

Among its many other insidious effects, the coronavirus crisis is complicating various aspects of Israeli foreign relations.

Prior to the outbreak of the pandemic, the Israeli economy was in excellent shape, with good GNP and export growth, low unemployment, low inflation, and healthy agricultural, industrial and hi-tech sectors. The energy situation had improved greatly with the development of the off-shore gas fields, which not only strengthened domestic energy independence but also served as the basis for forging agreements with several regional countries.

Corona has changed much of that rosy situation: Unemployment has soared, deficits have grown exponentially, and sectors such as commerce and tourism have been decimated. All this has been accompanied on the regional scene by a dangerous increase in Turkish aggression, which has reached such dimensions that Turkey is arguably now a greater threat to Middle Eastern peace and stability than Iran.

Turkish imperialism has affected the entire region, from Libya to Iraq and Qatar, where Turkish troops are stationed to protect the regime. Threatening actions have been taken against Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus, and both Syria and Iraq have suffered military ground and air incursions from Turkey.

All this is well known. What has not been commented upon is the conundrum in which the Turkish diplomatic, propaganda, and military offensive has placed Israel, reeling from the economic effects of the pandemic and the economic decline stemming from it.

The Turkish regime of President Erdogan is openly antisemitic, but despite that and all the above-listed aggressions, official Israeli reaction has been muted to the point of being inaudible. Why? The answer is very simple: exports to Turkey are still an important element in Israel's international trade, and, with the collapse of the economy in general, are one of the few positive elements.

Turkey is also involved in the current fighting between Azerbaijan and the Armenian breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh). Again, a conundrum. Public sympathy is clearly on the side of the Armenians, who are undoubtedly the people whose history most closely resembles that of the Jews over the past many centuries, and who suffered a genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turks in 1915, cited by Hitler as foreshadowing his own holocaust against the Jews and others in the 1930s and 40s. Yet Jerusalem is silent. Why? Again, very simple: Israeli commerce with Azerbaijan is flourishing, with the added factor that much of Israeli exports to Azerbaijan consists of military equipment, which Israel is refusing to cut off, causing Armenia to withdraw its ambassador.

Turkey is beyond doubt a geopolitical threat to Israel and several of its allies. It is also grossly antisemitic, as mentioned. But it is commercially important. Most Israelis would love to support the Armenians in their conflict with Azerbaijan. If the Israeli economy were flourishing, as it was as recently as seven months ago, the policy choices would still be difficult, but there can be little doubt that Turkey would finally be confronted concerning its regional behavior, particularly because it is also directed at Israel's new Gulf friends. There is little doubt also, that arms sales to Azerbaijan would have been suspended.

Of the two conundra, that of Turkey is the more important. Israel needs to face up to the Turkish threat, trade or no trade. The Turkish market will be replaced, at least to some extent, by new markets in the Gulf. The threat is simply too great. Trade used to be flourishing with Iran, also, prior to the takeover by the Islamic regime. It was missed, but it was replaced, and now Israel can enthusiastically support economic/financial sanctions against the government in Tehran.

But of course, to correctly analyze any international situation and then to correctly choose a course of action would require a functioning government in Jerusalem. Swiftly, and in our days.

Dr. Norman Bailey is professor of Economic Statecraft at the Galilee International Management Institute, and adjunct professor at the Institute of World Politics, Washington DC. Dr. Bailey was a senior staff member of the National Security Council during the Reagan administration and of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence during the George W. Bush administration.

Published by Globes, Israel business news - en.globes.co.il - on October 12, 2020

https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israels-turkish-conundrum-1001345298?fbclid=IwAR2ZUcCz9B6IWnphopOO_Au5-g_OqoCaH6Wf5gzOoa_0llepQ5hwIl_1buw

 

[Yervant1]

Stanford Daily

Oct 12 2020

On the edge of empire: Armenians and the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh in context

A conflict with historical roots reemerges after nearly 30 years.

Two weeks ago, Azerbaijan restarted a military offensive to take back Nagorno-Karabakh, what Armenians call Artsakh, a region in the Caucasus Mountains disputed since the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. Forces have attacked civilians, including the predominantly ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, during this offensive, raising numerous humanitarian concerns.

Now, when the world is distracted, Turkey is openly supporting Azerbaijan and escalating the fighting with the population of Nagorno-Karabakh. The response from other global powers to this humanitarian crisis has been slow. On Friday, Russia brokered a ceasefire, but the violence continues. The United States, amid an election and a president with COVID-19, has been largely silent. As a result, protesters have taken to the streets, demanding accurate media coverage and political attention. Many protesters are descendants of survivors of the Armenian genocide — the massacres of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians in 1915-1916 by Ottoman Turks.

Since 1991, Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh — a de facto Armenian state but de jure region within Azerbaijan — have argued for the right to independence and self-determination on grounds equal to other post-Soviet republics. Azerbaijanis argue that Nagorno-Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan, since 100 years ago Joseph Stalin had separated the area from Soviet Armenia, giving it to Soviet Azerbaijan.

Earlier this year, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan replied in jest to Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev’s historical justifications for claims over Nagorno-Karabakh. Pashinyan points out that, if we go back to the first century BCE, we learn the Roman general Pompey allowed the Armenian Tigranes the Great to remain king of a territory which includes modern-day Nagorno-Karabakh.

 

The historical lessons over which Aliyev and Pashinyan spar selectively embrace and reshape history to elevate one angle over the other — encouraging the violence and brutality over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh.

The misuse and abuse of history also inspires Turkey. Their support of Azerbaijan’s attack on Nagorno-Karabakh is the culmination of a series of recent acts of aggression that symbolize President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s desires for a return to an Ottoman imperial past. In recent months, Turkey launched warships in Greek waters, drilled for gas off Cyprus’s coast and converted the Hagia Sophia from a heritage site into a mosque. These actions gamble Turkey’s relationships with Russia and NATO allies, including the United States.

The U.S. selectively appeals to Armenian history. Last December, the U.S. House and Senate voted to recognize the Armenian genocide. This is a major step toward historical justice for the Armenian people — including an estimated 11 million living in diaspora all over the world today. For the U.S., it was political punishment for Turkey attacking a U.S. ally — the Kurds living in Syria. This move infuriated Turkey, who has long denied the genocide.

 

Azerbaijan and Armenia on the one hand and Turkey and the United States on the other misappropriate history in attempts to settle political disputes, but in effect they invigorate division.

In the current fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh, what else can history offer?

Applying the history of Armenians’ long-lived position on the edge of empires to the current moment.

History can instead elucidate how Armenian people, since ancient times, have sat on the edge — both geographically and politically — between great powers and at the forefront of major geopolitical disputes. This current conflict is just one case in point. The people of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan fight in a political game that involves some of the world’s strongest global players — Turkey, Russia, the United States, the European Union and Iran — with deep conflicts of interest.

In modern-day Armenia, Armenians refer to themselves as hay and the country of Armenia as Hayastan. Already in the second millennium BCE, Hittite texts referred to a people “hay” inhabiting the land of “hayasa” — a vassal state allied to the Hittite Empire that extended over modern-day Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Cyprus.

 

The Persian King Darius the Great mentions “Armenians” as imperial subjects on a sixth-century BCE inscription placed at a prominent crossroads of the Persian Empire in modern-day Iran. In the West, Classical Greek and Roman writers often describe “Armenians” with respect to their relations among the great powers of the West and East.

From the first century BCE, Armenia served as a strategic ally and buffer for the Romans against the Parthian Empire. The Romans grew eastward and the Parthians westward — with Armenia sandwiched between them in the Caucasus. Armenians negotiated with both and were careful not to test the bonds with their imperial overlords.

This all is not to say that Armenians are attested to have lived in the region for thousands of years and therefore claim land rights, nor that ethnic Armenians today are direct descendants of the ancient “hay” or “Armenian” people. Rather, the deep history highlights the positions of Armenians as pawns in a political game between some of the greatest geopolitical powers the world has ever seen.

This overarching political game is what the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is about. The Sept. 27 attack and ongoing fighting are not simply the result of a territorial dispute between Azerbaijan and the ethnic Armenian people living in Nagorno-Karabakh. Larger powers are exploiting a decades-long conflict to serve their own ends. Armenians, and also Azerbaijanis, are caught up in the middle.

 

History is often misappropriated in geopolitical disputes, resulting in increased division and dehumanizing acts. In the ongoing events in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, history better illustrates how Armenians’ geopolitical position on the edge of empires has served the interests of these greater powers. It also brought the survival of Armenian culture long after the empires themselves disappeared. Now, the responses of the United States, Russia, Europe and others will determine the trajectory of not only the violence over Nagorno-Karabakh but more largely the influence and power of Turkey and other major geopolitical powers in the South Caucasus.

Contact Amanda Gaggioli at gaggioli ‘at’ stanford.edu and Hrant Gharibyan at hrant ‘at’ caltech.edu.

 

https://www.stanforddaily.com/2020/10/12/on-the-edge-of-empire-armenians-and-the-conflict-over-nagorno-karabakh-in-context/?fbclid=IwAR2f7kAtzR6bN1qnKxdig_wVM1b9hgmNQgjGlvUb87N6gIXPRYNrwbUnEfo