cease-fire violations by azeris

[Yervant1]

Panorama, Armenia

Nov 4 2020

Attitude towards Jews in Armenia is only positive, says Armenia's Jewish leader

Author Anna Mkrtchyan

The Azerbaijani propaganda machine has been spending millions of dollars on anti-Armenian propaganda and pushing ahead its own theses. One of such theses is that Azerbaijan is a "multicultural, multinational and tolerant country" in contrast to Armenia. The propaganda war uses well-known and unknown lobbying organizations, particularly American lobbyists, as well as journalists publishing anti-Armenian articles prepared and send by the Azerbaijani authorities on leading media platforms.

An article of The Armenian Weekly entitled “What’s behind all the pro-Azerbaijan articles?” presents in detail Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) filings by Azerbaijan’s lobbyists, which show how they approach almost every major outlet from Bloomberg to CNN, the Washington Post, the Jerusalem Post, the New York Times, NBC, Al-Jazeera, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, Haaretz, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal; the list is almost interminably long.

Another article recently published in The Jerusalem Post presents in short "how happily Jews live in Azerbaijan, again in contrast to Armenia, where antisemitism reigns." Such series of articles prove once again that being a Jew in Azerbaijan and not being persecuted is considered a serious achievement, whereas in Armenia there is not even such a matter for discussion.

A few words about the author of the article, Roman Gurevich, who introduces himself as a political analyst, expert, an observer in Azerbaijani elections, in other words, another "Ibrahim".

Armenia’s Jewish leader: I regret that those people represent Israel today

"The attitude towards Jews in Armenia is exclusively positive, which is announced at more serious settings, including at the White House, World Jewish Congress and European Jewish Congress. It is on such platforms that we voice our approaches and they are more important than what a rogue wrote in the Jerusalem Post,” the religious leader of Armenia's Jewish community, Rabbi Gershon Meir Burstein told Panorama.am in an interview.

Touching upon Armenia's refusal to get humanitarian aid from Israel, the rabbi said that they support Armenia’s position.

In an interview with the Jerusalem Post on Monday, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan replied bitterly to the question about whether Armenia would be interested in Israeli humanitarian aid. “Humanitarian aid by a country that is selling weapons to mercenaries, which they are using to strike a civilian peaceful population? I propose that Israel send that aid to the mercenaries and to the terrorists as the logical continuation of its activities,” he said.

"The Jewish community was one of the first to call on the Israeli government to suspend arms sales [to Azerbaijan]. This is done not only from abroad, but also from within [the country], by the Armenian youth in Israel. I regret that those people represent Israel today," said Rabbi Gershon Meir Burstein, criticizing the Israeli authorities and adding that “like attracts like”.

According to the religious leader, the second important factor is that the United States is home to larger Jewish community than Israel, adding they do not associate themselves with the government of Israel, but with the Jewish people.

"People and leadership are two different things. It pains me that this is the current Israeli leadership. Not only me, but also many Jews living in Israel say it," the rabbi said.

He noted that he was one of the first to appeal to the Israeli president in 2000, urging Israel to recognize the Armenian Genocide, which was repeated by Israel's chief rabbi in 2005, "but unfortunately today there is a big gap between Jews and Israelis."

"Jews should spread God’s truth, prosperity and peace in this world," said the religious leader, adding Israel's incumbent authorities have embarked on a different path which is alien to the Jewish people.

Talking about antisemitism in Armenia is simply ridiculous

"Talking about antisemitism in Armenia is simply ridiculous. There has never been antisemitism here, Jews have never faced persecution here," Rima Varzhapetyan, the head of the Jewish Community in Armenia NGO, told Panorama.am.

Varzhapetyan, however, expressed concern that due to Israel’s supply of weapons to Azerbaijan, the attitude towards Israel and Jews has changed to a certain extent.

Rima Varzhapetyan said that the reports on alleged antisemitism in Armenia are mainly authored by Azerbaijani lobbyists, who "have paid for everything and everyone."

"Of course we have denied and continue to deny those reports, but I would like to say that where there is a Jew, there is antisemitism. It seems to be following Jews like a shadow," she said.

Varzhapetyan mentioned that there are many mixed marriages among the Jews in Armenia, stressing Armenians have always shown positive attitude and have been tolerant towards Jews.

"People feel good and calm here, they hold various positions. There can be no talk of any antisemitism," Varzhapetyan stated.

There are 11 national communities in Armenia, one of which is the Jewish community, which is also provided with state support, including funding for organizing festivals and implementing programs. The Jewish community in Armenia has a cultural center, a Sunday school, a library and a newspaper.

https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2020/11/04/Jews-in-Armenia/2394538?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=d0ab9c8aa977a7c0ed49cc305d6e9f81e219b5c6-1604530840-0-AfmtYPj8-6h07ZH-aL_DWcTnxHI4JRZif6GeOKOzTnbkQJf4qmurX0oZIedUzoyHi2XpfYGUZjD4-Uel8QvOIxuUJLCqKY05xETTvFkeCWW8Bbk45w2xjHNhi0deuVceOoyfTbwNvMj04wyofgkoy8NqfrGuBnS7sc4AZIw_liMzBXuK038bnLtLzqB5jfE1y8UGCYMHhUMEPzP4Mn33XI4o24gx3J6DVOpj5Tl0r7lqzX2qSco41K_qjta4iqJSEDRy59I48-FgKs_qk9jPGSYZZoZtuhBkcwdOdkkn43ZGMuTUimIgS6mAq2tXI2MnVgEI_JcTDvNmsHnxvwqn2EI

[Yervant1]

Eventually he will be left all alone on his own!

 

News.am, Armenia

Nov 4 2020

Wargonzo: Azerbaijani Shiite army generals preparing to rebel against Turkish command

Army generals of Baku are preparing to rebel against the army after being actually removed from administration by the Turks. The Azerbaijani officers, who are Shiites, are outraged over the fact that their men are actually being governed by Turkey’s special services and the field commanders of pro-Turkish terrorist groups of the radical Sunni wing, Wargonzo Telegram channel reports, citing its sources in Istanbul.

“Aliyev is also losing control over the current situation in Azerbaijan. There is an intra-clan conflict. The clan of Aliyev’s wife (*****yevas) demand that Aliyev make a full transition to control of Ankara. Moreover, the clan demands that Aliyev do this now. As for Aliyev, he is trying to play a cleverer game, imitating dialogue with Moscow in order to avoid a sensational and radical disruption of relations with the Russian Federation. Moreover, Aliyev knows very well that he will have to lie under Erdogan in any case.

Basically, the leader of Azerbaijan is in a multi-vector situation,” writes the Telegram channel.

https://news.am/eng/news/611487.html

 

[Yervant1]

News.am, Armenia

Nov 4 2020

Trimble Navigation stops sales of GPS receivers for Turkish Bayraktars

The Armenian National Committee of America reports that Trimble Navigation has stopped sales of GPS receivers for Turkish Bayraktar unmanned aerial vehicles in response to complaints.

https://news.am/eng/news/611578.html

[Yervant1]

News.am, Armenia

Nov 4 2020

A country which reminded me a little bit of paradise: Renowned Austrian conductor Ernest Hoetzl about Artsakh

Renowned Austrian conductor Ernest Hoetzl has expressed his support to Artsakh and Armenia. He has made a video post, where he recalled his visits to Armenia and especially the excursion to Artsakh, where he “could experience a country, which reminded a little bit of paradise”.

The video message by the musician was posted on Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra’s Facebook page.

“My dear friends of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra. It really been saddened me deeply to hear about this terrible conflict that is going on in your country. I really recall with great pleasure and emotion all my many visits to your beautiful country and especially the excursions to Artsakh, where I could experience a country, which reminded me a little bit of paradise. And to see it devastated by this military conflict really strikes my heart. I really wish all of you and your families the very-very best, and may God help, that this conflict soon will end. God bless and all the very best!”, says the conductor.

https://style.news.am/eng/news/74748/a-country-which-reminded-me-a-little-bit-of-paradise-renowned-austrian-conductor-ernest-hoetzl-about-artsakh.html

[Yervant1]

News.am, Armenia

Nov 4 2020

Slovakia parliament adopts resolution on Karabakh conflict

The Parliament of the Slovak Republic has recently adopted a resolution on the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict—with 110 votes in favor and 2 abstentions. Hamazasp Danielyan, a member of the majority My Step parliamentary faction of Armenia, on Wednesday afternoon wrote about this on Facebook.

“The resolution essentially reaffirms the position of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs that there is no military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and calls for a ceasefire, as well as it reaffirms the three basic principles of the conflict resolution: the right of peoples to self-determination, territorial integrity and prohibition of threat or use of force.

During the preparation process of the resolution, thanks to the efforts of both Armenian diplomats and Armenians living in Slovakia and friends of Armenia, it became possible to neutralize the reflection of Azerbaijan's unconstructive and unbalanced approaches in this resolution.

As the Head of the Friendship Group Armenia-Slovakia, I appreciate the consistency and constant attention of my Slovak colleagues to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” Danielyan added.

https://news.am/eng/news/611512.html

[Yervant1]

News.am, Armenia

Nov 4 2020

Yerevan court grants motion, Syria citizen, mercenary Youssef Alabet Al Haji arrested

The Yerevan court of general jurisdiction today granted the motion filed by the body conducting proceedings for applying arrest as a pre-trial measure against Youssef Alabet Al Haji, who is of Arab nationality and a citizen of the Syrian Arab Republic.

As reported earlier, the citizen of the Syrian Arab Republic is charged with international terrorism, serious violations of international humanitarian law during armed clashes and mercenarism.

The Criminalistics Department of the Investigative Committee of Armenia continues preliminary investigation of the criminal case launched in relation to the aggressive war unleashed and led by the military-political leadership of the Republic of Azerbaijan along the entire length of the line of contact of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic), international terrorism, serious violations of the norms of international humanitarian law during armed clashes, issuance of criminal orders during armed clashes and mercenarism.

Information regarding the procedural decisions to be made on the basis of the obtained evidence will be provided on a regular basis.

https://news.am/eng/news/611539.html

[Yervant1]

The National Interest

Nov 3 2020

President Biden Must Shut Down Azerbaijan’s Sanctions Waiver on Day One

Azerbaijan has been used as a jumping platform for various counterterrorism operations. Additionally, the country has served as an important listening post as tensions mounted between the United States and Iran.

by Michael Rubin

The Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks brought a brief moment of unity to Americans but also ushered in a period of partisan foreign policy. During the Bush administration, Democrats drew partisan lines on the 2003 Iraq war, at least after they found little evidence that weapons of mass destruction existed. Republicans repaid the favor first on the Libya intervention, at least after the Benghazi debacle, and then on the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Israel and Saudi Arabia remain firmly within progressive crosshairs.

Joe Biden has made healing partisan discord a pillar of his campaign. Should the former vice president wish to carry that promise over to foreign policy, then he would find no better place to start than leading a bipartisan effort to stop the Azerbaijani assault on Nagorno-Karabakh, or Arsakh as locals call it. Nagorno-Karabakh is a mountainous region historically populated by Armenians. Soviet premier Joseph Stalin, however, transferred the region to Azerbaijani control as he sought to undercut nationalism in the Caucasus. Decades of communism imposed from afar were not enough to undo millennia of culture and history, however. As the Soviet Union crumbled, violence erupted between Armenia and Azerbaijan while Armenians in the mountainous region fought ethnic cleansing and sought to rejoin Armenia. In the fighting that followed, Armenians largely re-asserted control over Nagorno-Karabakh, and the region has acted as a de facto independent republic ever since.

Against the backdrop of the initial fighting and credible reports of ethnic cleansing, Congress passed the Freedom Support Act, Section 907 of which determined U.S. aid “may not be provided to the Government of Azerbaijan until the President determines, and so reports to the Congress, that the Government of Azerbaijan is taking demonstrable steps to cease all blockades and other offensive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.” Azerbaijan has long argued this sanction was unfair given that the U.S. State Department recognizes and affirms the Stalin-era border changes, but initially found little support in Congress or the White House.

This changed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Azerbaijani president Heydar Aliyev, father of current leader Ilham Aliyev and mastermind of the initial attempt to encircle Nagorno-Karabakh and drive out Armenians, allied himself with the United States in the wake of the Al Qaeda strikes and declared itself an ally in President George W. Bush’s “Global War on Terror.” Aliyev allowed Azerbaijan to be used for a number of counterterrorism operations, and the country also served as an important listening post as tensions mounted between the United States and Iran. The United Kingdom, perhaps motivated by British Petroleum’s interests in Azerbaijan, encouraged the rapprochement as did Israel, which Azerbaijan cultivated both directly and through Jewish organizations in the United States.

As a reward for Azerbaijan’s positioning itself as a U.S. ally in a time of need, Congress amended Section 907 to allow a presidential waiver of restrictions on aid to Azerbaijan if such a waiver “is necessary to support United States efforts to counter international terrorism; is necessary to support the operational readiness of United States Armed Forces or coalition partners to counter international terrorism; is important to Azerbaijan's border security; and will not undermine or hamper ongoing efforts to negotiate a peaceful settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan or be used for offensive purposes against Armenia.”

The current Azerbaijani offensive, however, violates each condition of the Section 907 waiver, most recently extended in March 2020 by Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun. Whereas first Heydar and then Ilham Aliyev once stood against Al Qaeda, Azerbaijan now works in conjunction with Turkish-backed Syrian mercenaries, many of whom previously served Al Qaeda-linked groups or the Islamic State. In essence, Azerbaijan is following the lead of both Turkey and Pakistan, both of which often depict themselves as counterterrorism partners while covertly supporting anti-Western terrorists. As the aggressor, Azeri forces further make a mockery of their own border security concerns and also act to undermine any pretense to a peaceful settlement.

Azerbaijan publicly denies its aggression, but it hemorrhaged its credibility when its defense ministry posted a statement on Twitter that accused Armenia of ceasefire violations on Oct. 26, a move reminiscent of the 2013 incident when Baku accidentally released election results before the polls opened. Baku has also denied the presence of Syrian mercenaries transported into the theater by Turkey even as Azerbaijan-friendly journalists have interviewed the Syrians.

Since 2018, the year popular revolution restored democracy in Armenia, the U.S. government has provided over $100 million in security assistance to Azerbaijan, even as that country continues its descent into authoritarianism. Rather than bring peace, this money now funds ethnic cleansing. On Oct. 28, Biden issued a statement calling on “the [Trump] administration [to] fully implement and not waive requirements under section 907 of the Freedom Support Act to stop the flow of military equipment to Azerbaijan, and call on Turkey and Russia to stop fueling the conflict with the supply of weapons and, in the case of Turkey, mercenaries.”

During presidential campaigns, it is easy to play the role of backseat driver and question every decision the incumbent makes but let us hope that Biden and his aides are not merely posturing for political advantage. The current waiver of Section 907 violates the law upon which it is based and should be revoked immediately. That the State Department has turned a blind eye to Azeri violations and maintains the waiver is an affront to all Congressmen, whether Democrat or Republican.

Azerbaijan has shown the insincerity of both its counterterror commitments and its pledge to pursue a peaceful resolution of its dispute with Armenia. If Biden is victorious, then he can prove his rhetoric about working across the aisle to be sincere by establishing a broad, bipartisan coalition to end Azerbaijan’s free pass and descent into terror complicity. As he rebuilds confidence across the aisle, he might then leverage that domestic coalition to restore consensus on other issues, from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Middle East to Asia. There is no stronger foreign policy than one rooted in bipartisan consensus and cooperation.

Michael Rubin is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

https://nationalinterest.org/feature/president-biden-must-shut-down-azerbaijan%E2%80%99s-sanctions-waiver-day-one-171872?fbclid=IwAR2s2z2Cdnr5Fx9pSddEIQ0kUGmjX8-B-eb-qoFgTLo7eZWTp5RYgXzoB_M

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

ISIS claims responsibility for Vienna shooting

Save

Share

11:30, 4 November, 2020

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. The Islamic State terrorist organization has claimed responsibility for the November 2 Vienna shooting which left 4 people dead in the central part of the Austrian capital, France24 reported.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz had called the shooting “a terror attack”.

According to authorities the attack was carried out by 4 gunmen. One of the perpetrators was shot dead by police. A manhunt is underway to apprehend at least one other suspect.

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1033856.html?fbclid=IwAR2TGKzuEiiyeI7C3tmIoHMKKQ4ohbYo0e_6NNU8s2Wj3KGSoHnAjcJFlyg

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

Armenian chief investigator personally leads volunteer company to frontline

Save

Share

13:37, 4 November, 2020

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. Around 180 investigators from the Committee of Investigations of Armenia have signed up for the military as volunteers and the Director of the Committee of Investigations Hayk Grigoryan has personnaly led the company to the frontline, his deputy Artur Melikyan told reporters.

“Grigoryan is personally leading the work of the committee’s volunteers on the ground,” Melikyan said.

He said that another company of volunteers from their agency will head to the frontline this week.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1033874.html?fbclid=IwAR2USMBDKZAptP0wJfhA0DTGqZhQW1YLG1t98aDAKRcC8jGup0P8VN_qock

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

‘In a sense Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh are fighting for security of Europeans’ – Sarkissian

Save

Share

13:44, 4 November, 2020

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian met with Armenian and foreign politicians and public figures, also representatives of authoritative international media from the Diaspora and various countries. They are in Armenia on the initiative of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), they will also visit Artsakh, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

At the meeting, the President was asked in particular about the military aggression against Artsakh which was unleashed by Azerbaijan assisted by Turkey, the role of the international community in the settlement of this conflict, and the support of the Diaspora.

Answering the question of a European journalist about starting a war, President Sarkissian emphasized that Azerbaijan waged war. "Armenians did not start this war, they did not start shelling civilian settlements. And there is no need to prove this, as the Armenians have no reason to start a war. How can you build schools, hospitals, roads and churches and then start a war? This is not logical. It is obvious that Azerbaijan and Turkey started this war."

The President stressed that Azerbaijan's claims that they were liberating their territories has, in fact, another internationally accepted formulation and is called "ethnic cleansing," as they seek to take over a territory by annihilating the ethnic Armenians who have lived there for thousands of years. "They are now destroying schools, hospitals, committing inhumane acts, taking away human lives: of the elderly, children and young people."

Touching upon Turkey's involvement, President Sarkissian noted that Turkey provides full military-political support to Azerbaijan, citing a number of factors, among them their ethnic brotherhood and the protection of international infrastructures. Whereas, in reality, Turkey's goal is to establish itself in the region, and to rule over the same international infrastructures. "By getting so close to Turkey, Azerbaijan is losing some of its sovereignty." There are more and more facts that decisions in Baku are taken on the advice of Turkey."

At the same time, the President of Armenia stressed that the people of Turkey and the Turkish government should be separated. "In 2007, when this government was not so strong, and Turkey was a different country, the famous Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was killed in front of his editorial office in Istanbul. I remember very well how on the day of his funeral hundreds of thousands of Turks took to the streets and declared that they were Hrant Dink. "I am talking about the current Turkish government and its policies."

President Sarkissian stressed the need to stop the war. "Now this is a war not only for our heritage, culture, survival, the people of Nagorno Karabakh, - said Armen Sarkissian, -In a sense, the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh are fighting for the security of Europeas well. If we do not stop Turkey's ambitions in Azerbaijan today, if Turkey rules in Azerbaijan, we will have a situation when Europe suffers as well.

I think that if it were not for the factor of Turkey's involvement, Armenia, Artsakh and Azerbaijan would have had a ceasefire. Each time the ceasefire was violated not by the Armenians, but by the enemy. "As President of the Republic, I think there is no military solution."

Answering the question what gives him hope in these difficult days, President Sarkissian said: "When you talk about hope, it seems like you do not know what you do, you just have hope. I work hard every day, I know what I do, I am sure that in the end Artsakh will win, because in our case the victory is to defend our own home, values and heritage. Thirty years ago, during the first war, many of our international partners said that the Armenians of Artsakh should stop fighting because Azerbaijan is large and has a great support from Turkey. But in 1994, the same people told me that Armenia has the most powerful army in the Caucasus. Therefore, I do not live with hope, but I work hard for that victory. "

In response to the question about the role of the Diaspora and its support, President Sarkissian emphasized that the strength of Armenia is the whole Armenian people. "Years ago and today, I am asked the same question: what was it that brought the Armenians to victory in the early 1990s, what did they have?" They did not have a large amount of weapons and energy resources, but what did they have? My answer is the following: we had each other. And that's the most powerful thing you can have. It is the human value that is always essential. You can have the biggest army, and a lot of money, but if you do not have people who believe in something together, you will never win. Thirty years ago we had each other, today it is so as well. "Now we have each other: the Armenians of Artsakh, the Armenians here, the Armenians of the Diaspora, and it doesn't matter if they are 8, 10 or 12 million."

President Sarkissian thanked all those who did their best in the Diaspora to support Armenia and Artsakh. "If you want to provide financial support to the Republic of Armenia and Artsakh for construction and not for war, do it through the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund. The potential of the Diaspora is much greater. We need organization, discipline and dedication, because all the other components are there. I hope that by winning this war, defending our homeland, and not allowing another genocide to be carried out, we will finally understand the power of the Diaspora, which includes the friends of Armenia and the Armenians as well. "We have the support of our true friends who are not Armenians, but share human values with us,- said the President of Armenia. - In our case, our victory in this war is not aggression, not occupying the land of others, it is the defence of our and your home.

Help us to defend our history, our culture, our faith and our heritage.”

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1033875.html?fbclid=IwAR1eQiDjzibcXEge3wOJ3ACuhIg2_q-GwBhouVzUQr7sY9yofeCBSEgYuTw

[Yervant1]

Vienna terrorism: Immigrants from Turkey are among those arrested

08:30, 05.11.2020

Region:World News
Theme: Politics

3

SHARES

Fourteen people have been arrested in connection with the terrorist attack in Vienna, Austrian interior minister Karl Nehammer said, DW reported.

All the arrestees are immigrants between the ages of 18 and 28, some of whom are Austrian citizens. An investigation is underway to find out their participation in the terrorist organization.

Vienna police chief Gerhard Purstl added that the arrestees include people with dual citizenship— including those originally from Russia, Turkey, Bangladesh, and North Macedonia.

Armenia News - NEWS.am

[Yervant1]

Spanish lawmaker calls on int’l community to prevent implementation of new genocide by AzerbaijanSaveShare4Spanish lawmaker calls on int’l community to prevent implementation of new genocide by Azerbaijan 15:28, 5 November, 2020YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Member of Congress of Deputies of Spain Jon Inarritu calls on the international community to take immediate steps to prevent the new genocide being committed by Azerbaijan and Turkey in Artsakh.“We are currently in front of the hospital in Stepanakert. It has been targeted this week, civilians and civilian infrastructure have also been targeted. The international community should take immediate steps to prevent the implementation of new genocide by Azerbaijan”, Jon Inarritu said in a video shot in Artsakh’s capital Stepanakert. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan Edited November 5, 2020 by Yervant1

[Yervant1]

As hundreds of Syrian militants flee Azerbaijan, Turkey sends more mercenaries to attack Artsakh

Save

Share2

16:34, 5 November, 2020

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. 342 militant mercenaries from Syria fighting against Artsakh for the Azeri side have fled Azerbaijan and returned to their home country, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). Meanwhile, Turkey has sent a new batch of Syrian mercenaries comprising 230 fighters to Azerbaijan.

According to the SOHR, nine additional Syrian mercenaries were killed by November 4. During this period, 240 mercenaries were killed, with 183 bodies being transported back to Syria, while the others remain in Azerbaijan. In addition, the Artsakh forces have taken two Syrian mercenaries captive.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

[Yervant1]

Several MPs of Czech Parliament express support and solidarity with Armenian people

Save

Share

16:14, 5 November, 2020

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. A number of deputies of the Chamber of Deputies, Parliament of the Czech Republic, expressed their support and solidarity with the Armenian people, condemning the aggressive artillery shelling and the use of prohibited weapons against the peaceful Armenian population and civilian objects in Stepanakert and other parts of Nagorno-Karabakh. The deputies condemned the involvement of members of terrorist organizations and Turkey in the conflict, and stressed their support for the provision of humanitarian aid to the peaceful population of Nagorno-Karabakh, Head of the Armenia-Czech Republic parliamentary friendship group Gayane Abrahamyan said on Facebook, posting the text of the statement.

“We, the undersigned deputies of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament, acknowledging that the Armenian people are the heirs of the first Christian kingdom that was often threatened by foreign enemies, recalling the 2017 resolution of the Chamber of Deputies on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, express our support and solidarity.

In regard with the resumption of the armed conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh initiated by the Azerbaijani army in late September and the double violation of the ceasefire regime between the two warring parties we

-condemn the aggressive artillery and air strikes, including the use of prohibited weapons against the Armenian population and civilian facilities in Stepanakert and other parts of Nagorno-Karabakh;

-feel that the current situation is disastrous and could become one of the biggest humanitarian catastrophes in recent years;

-understand that the involvement of members of the "Islamic State" or other terrorist organizations will endanger the security of the whole world;

-do not agree with Turkey's involvement in this conflict, as it could destabilize the situation in the entire Caucasus region; and we call upon the Turkish government to stop its military involvement in the conflict;

-call on all parties of the conflict to cease hostilities, to abide by ceasefire agreements, and to make dignified burial possible;

ask all actors to return to the ceasefire and peaceful negotiations, which will allow to find an effective, lasting solution to the mutual disputes;

-fully support the urgent need for humanitarian assistance to the civilian population of Nagorno-Karabakh;

-ask the Czech Government to be guided by the spirit of the above principles in the European Union, the UN and other international organizations”.

Gayane Abrahamyan expressed her sincere and heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Marek Benda, Chairman of the Armenian-Czech Republic Friendship Group, and all the other Deputies for their support and solidarity.

[Yervant1]

France threatens Turkey with new sanctions, condemns Erdogan’s “declarations of violence”

Save

Share2

17:18, 5 November, 2020

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has condemned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s hateful rhetoric against France and president Macron and raised the possibility of new sanctions against Ankara.

"There are now declarations of violence, even hatred, which are regularly posted by President Erdogan which are unacceptable," RFERL reported citing the French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian’s interview to Europe 1 radio.

“Turkey is taking aggressive actions in the immediate vicinity of Europe, in particular in Libya, in the eastern Mediterranean, in Nagorno-Karabakh and in northern Iraq. Now a new factor has emerged. In recent days, the tone of Erdogan’s statements addressed to France and Europe has changed. Erdogan regularly makes statements full of hatred and violence, including against French President Emmanuel Macron,” Le Drian said according to RFERL, adding that “Paris demands that Turkey abandon such behavior.”

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan

[Yervant1]

Russian Foreign Ministry surprised at Aliyev’s emotional response to Lavrov’s announcement

Save

Share

00:51, 6 November, 2020

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS. The Russian Foreign Ministry is surprised at the emotional response of Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev to the statement of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, ARMENPRESS reports a source at the foreign ministry of Russia told TASS.

‘’Frankly speaking, we do not understand the emotional reaction of honorable Ilham Heydarovich Aliyev to the comment of Sergey Lavrov’’, the source said, adding that maybe the aides of the Azerbaijani president have shown him something else or have presented their own comments.

‘’At the same time, we remain confident that the penetration of mercenary-militants to South Caucasus poses a threat to all the countries of the region, including stability and security of both Azerbaijan and Russia’’, the source said.

‘’We, of course, are concerned over the internationalization of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and the involvement of militants from the Middle East. We have repeatedly called on the external players to use their capacities to prevent the transfer of mercenaries whose number in the conflict zone is already reaching 2000 according to the existing data’’, Lavrov had said on November 3.

[Yervant1]

2 members of Bundestag demand Merkel to impose sanctions against Aliyev

Save

Share2

20:31, 5 November, 2020

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Co-chairs of Germany-South Caucasus Parliamentary Friendship Group Till Mansmann (Free Democratic Party) and Albert Weiler (Christian Democratic Union) sent an open letter to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel. ARMENPRESS reports they issued a joint press release, calling on Angela Merkel to impose sanctions in Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev, as well as other Azerbaijani officials.

Till Mansmann and Albert Weiler said, ''We cite the flagrant violations of the humanitarian law by Azerbaijan that have led to a humanitarian disaster in Nagorno Karabakh.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in an interview with the German Public TV at the end of October that the goal of the war unleashed by him is displacing the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh. This is an act of ethnic cleansing, which should be condemned as a war crime.

At the same time, prohibited cluster munitions were used against the civilians of Nagorno Karabakh, the footages of executing and beheading Armenian war prisoners were demonstratively promoted. They promised to the Syrian extremist mercenaries 100 USD for each beheaded Armenian.

Freezing of accounts, ban to entery to the EU, ban on using Euroopean airlines as well as severing the contracts of German and European banks should be applied as sanctions''.

[Yervant1]

Artsakh neutralizes Azerbaijani subversive groups in three locations

Save

Share7

20:00, 5 November, 2020

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Military operations continued in Artsakh on November 5, during which the Azerbaijani troops initiated attacks in different directions, which were neutralized by the counter-measures of the Defense Army of Artsakh, ARMENPRESS reports the Defense Ministry of Artsakh informed.

''Particularly, the small groups of the enemy were detected nearby Karintak and Lisagor villages, which were neutralized by snipers and other means of accurate fire. A gathering of armored vehicles of the adversary was detected in the direction of Shushi, which were also destroyed by the precise fire of the Defense Army.

At the moment the operations of detecting and neutralizing the subversive groups continues'', reads the statement.

[Yervant1]

Threat facing French-Armenians is a threat for France – Ambassador

Save

Share2

22:43, 5 November, 2020

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. Ambassador of France to Armenia Jonathan Lacote posted an article on his Twitter page about the enhanced patrol service at the Armenian college at Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes et du Rhône, noting that the threat facing the French-Armenians is a threat for entire France.

''Sad image, but this is a strong symbol of protection that our nation provides to all its citizens. The threat facing the French-Armenians is a threat for entire France'', ARMENPRESS reports Lacote wrote.

The authorities of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes et du Rhône decided to carry out enhanced patrol at the Armenian schools and cultural centers following the incidents of Armenians being persecuted by Turks in France.

[Yervant1]

Armenian Misha Melkumyan died in captivity in Azerbaijan as a result of violence

Save

Share3

19:04, 5 November, 2020

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. According to the preliminary conclusion of the forensic expert, Misha Melkumyan, 84, died in Azerbaijan while being held captive from traumatic brain injury, ARMENPRESS reports Head of the Department of Criminalistics of the Investigative Committee of Armenia Rafik Vardanyan said.

'' According to the preliminary conclusion of the forensic expert, the death occurred due to brain trauma as a result of violence'', Vardanyan said.

An 84-year-old Armenian man, Misha Melkumyan, who was detained as a civilian captive by the Azerbaijani military, died overnight October 29-30 in Azerbaijani custody, the Armenian Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan said on October 30.

“Taking into account all evidence and documented facts on the Azerbaijani military’s inhumane treatment and level of cruelty against Armenian captives, the reasonable and grounded assumption on what could have caused the death of our compatriot becomes obvious,” Tatoyan said.

Earlier on October 29, the Azerbaijani authorities spread disinformation claiming that the Armenian side refused to accept Melkumyan from the Azeris. The Armenian Human Rights Defender investigated and debunked the Azeri allegations. The investigation revealed that according to medical conclusions Melkumyan’s deteriorated health hindered the organization of his transfer and would’ve been unsafe for him, and the Azeri authorities were well aware of the issue. The Armenian authorities had expressed readiness to organize Melkumyan’s transfer as soon as his health condition would allow it.

[Yervant1]

Evo Morales expresses support for Armenia, Karabakh

November 5, 2020 - 16:38 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - One of the world's best-known indigenous leaders, former Bolivian President Evo Morales has expressed support for the Armenians of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

In a video published on Twitter, Morales is filmed asking for peace for Armenia and Artsakh, adding that the struggle for peace with social justice will always be important.

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey and terrorist mercenaries deployed by Ankara, started a war against Karabakh (Artsakh) in the morning of September 27. 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.

[Yervant1]

Trimble Navigation discontinues tech sales to Turkey's Baykar

November 5, 2020 - 14:56 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Trimble Navigation - the Sunnyvale, CA-based producer of GPS Receivers discovered in Turkish Bayraktar drones - has responded to a wave of protests by affirming, in writing (Senior VP and General Counsel Jim Kirkland), that Trimble has "discontinued any further sales to Baykar."

Battlefield evidence confirms that Turkey's Bayraktar Drones - deployed by Azerbaijan against Armenian civilians in Artsakh - contain parts and technology from U.S. firms, U.S.-based affiliates of foreign firms, and firms located in NATO ally countries (Canada, UK, France, Germany, Austrian, and Netherlands).

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is now working with many of those companies to have their shipments of drone tech to Turkey suspended.

Another American firm, Garmin, vowed to take steps to make sure that their GPS technology, which they said is not even designed or intended for use in drones, is not used "to kill innocent civilians in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh."

In a statement to ANCA the company said: It has been brought to Garmin’s attention that one of our products has been incorporated into drones that are being used in Bayraktar UAVs to kill innocent civilians in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh). The Garmin product used in these drones is a commercial, non-military product that is widely available for purchase. It is not designed or intended for military use, and it is not even designed or intended for use in drones. We are investigating how our products ended up in these drones, and we will take appropriate action following our investigation to guard against our equipment being used again in this manner."

The Armenian side has said Nagorno-Karabakh troops have downed a dozen Bayraktar drones, but only three of them have crashed on Armenian soil.

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey and terrorist mercenaries deployed by Ankara, started a war against Karabakh (Artsakh) in the morning of September 27. 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.

[Yervant1]

[Yervant1]

[Yervant1]