Statue of a Dictator (Aliyev Clan)

[Yervant1]

Lip service nothing more, it's time for sanctions! Fake sultan is not listening and taking you for a fool!

 

Armenpress.am

European Parliament resolution condemns Azerbaijan’s destruction of Armenian cultural values in Nagorno-Karabakh

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13:54, 1 February 2023

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. The European Parliament has adopted a Resolution “On the implementation of the New European Agenda for Culture and the EU Strategy for International Cultural Relations”.

The Resolution addresses issues of protection of cultural property in conflict zones and condemns the targeted destruction of historical, artistic and cultural heritage during recent conflicts, the Armenian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport said in a press release.

Based on the revision signed by the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Security and Defense of the European Parliament Nathalie Loiseau (Renew Europe/ France) and the member of the same faction Petras Auštrevičius (Lithuania), the continued policy of Azerbaijan on the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh is also distinctly condemned.

78 Paragraph of the Resolution, in particular, states:

“The European Parliament Asks the Commission to strongly condemn the destruction of historical, artistic and cultural heritage in recent conflicts, as well as the systematic and politically or ideologically targeted destruction of historical, artistic and cultural heritage, as well as the eradication of the identities and cultures of sovereign states, peoples or minorities, including Azerbaijan’s continued policy of erasing and denying the Armenian cultural heritage in and around Nagorno-Karabakh.”

The resolution was adopted in December last year and it is available at the following link:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2022-0444_EN.html

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1103055.html?fbclid=IwAR0D2oLDwrXvdbp-9JhgwsoYsEbvF19JEGjJHIIDsAKOIjY9v5TgKb4AE3Q

 

[MosJan]

 

It's sanctions stupid, sanctions!

 

 

 

good friend don't forget azerbejan exists because of UK. in 1918 UK made soviets create azerbejan & in early 1990s UK / BP sponsored azerbejan and made what it is today...

sooo don't expect UK or even europe to do much. atlist till spring arrives whan the snow melts

[MosJan]

[Yervant1]

NEWS.am

Armenia - Feb 2 2023

Dutch Foreign Ministry: Lachin corridor blocked by self-proclaimed eco-activists

22:05, 02.02.2023

The Lachin corridor has been blocked by Azerbaijani self-proclaimed environmental activists since December 12, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs said in his report to the parliament at a meeting of the EU Council on Foreign Affairs, the Federation of Armenian Organizations of the Netherlands (FAON) reported.

The Dutch Foreign Minister and a number of other European Union countries expressed their concern over the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The government of the Netherlands is continuing to take steps to encourage EU member states to jointly call on Azerbaijan to open the Lachin corridor in line with the Trilateral Statement of 2020.

The government is exploring ways to influence the Azerbaijani authorities to open the Lachin corridor.

The Netherlands has expressed support for the activities of the EU civilian mission in Armenia and is exploring ways to facilitate it.

https://news.am/eng/news/742728.html

[Yervant1]

UK - Feb 5 2023

Are we really asking Russia to ‘keep the peace’ in a completely different conflict?

The UN Security Council should step in and put a stop to Azerbaijan’s aggression, argues Geoffrey Robertson

by Geoffrey Robertson

Russia, Britain, the US, France and China have the power to stop a hostile second-rate authoritarian nation – Azerbaijan – blockading a country in order to starve its 120,000 occupants. The blockade constitutes a crime against humanity, and is contrary to a number of treaties, but the Azeris have gotten away with it for two months and counting.

The location of the dispute is a corridor that extends from landlocked Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, via the town of Lachin, surrounded by Azerbaijani territory. It is a vital link for 400 tonnes of essential goods conveyed each day to the Karabakh Armenians, as well as permitting the movement of citizens, schoolchildren, and ambulances. It would of course be faster by air, but the Azerbaijan government has threatened to shoot down any passenger or transport plane that tries to land at Stepanakert, the Karabakh capital.

The country is a prisoner of Azerbaijan, and of history. It originally belonged to Armenia, and has always been populated mainly by Armenians, renowned for their early Christian churches and unique carpets.

In the 19th century it was occupied by Russia, and in 1921 Stalin arbitrarily and wrongly included this Christian enclave as an independent oblast within Muslim Azerbaijan. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, its people demanded independence and fought a war to achieve it.

The Azeri siege of Stepanakert was Guernica writ small, as Azeri shells and gunfire targeted hospitals and schools and killed several thousand civilians. The open road through Lachin saved the city – it became a humanitarian corridor, protected as such in international law as a lifeline for people fighting for their lives.

The Armenians won in 1994, and enjoyed comparative peace until 2020, when Azerbaijan attacked and left 7,000 dead before a peace agreement could be reached. The agreement was guaranteed by Russia, which allocated 2,000 “peacekeepers” to patrol the corridor, but they have proved unable – or perhaps unwilling – to disperse self-styled environmental activists who have blocked the highway since 14 December, cheered on by a government that generally bans demonstrations and jails political protesters.

The “environmentalists” are of course nothing of the sort. Initially they fooled television crews (including the BBC), but soon they were identified as government servants and ex-soldiers, with some students who are given credits for protesting instead of attending lectures. They claim to be opposed to gold-mining in Karabakh; their objective, however, is not to close the mines but to transfer them to Azeri control.

Many of the protesters bear tattoos that stamp them as members of the “grey wolves” – a neo-fascist Azeri youth movement (the wolf is a Nazi mascot as well).

These protesters are encouraged by the local dictator, Ilham Aliyev, who salutes them as “the best of our youth” and urges them to stand fast against the Russians, who show no interest in dispersing them.

The UN Security Council met on 20 December, and members demanded that Russia should direct its troops to clear the corridor, and that Azerbaijan should call off its fake environmentalists. However, nothing happened until 18 January, when the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, belatedly contacted his Azeri counterpart and asked him to disband the demonstration.

He was told, in effect, to mind his own business – a startling indication of how much clout Russia has lost since invading Ukraine. Armenia, too, has woken up to the danger of Kremlin “support”: it has condemned the gumptionless Russian peacekeepers and is considering pulling out of a mutual defence pact with Russia.

These developments do nothing to help the hungry citizens of Karabakh. Aliyev has thus far avoided sanctions, despite strong commercial ties with Western corporations; the UK and the US in particular could exert pressure by this means. As for the UN Security Council, which shows signs of wanting to act over this dispute to make up for its inability to act over Ukraine, it could at least replace the powerless Russians with UN blue helmets tasked with clearing the corridor. It is somewhat absurd to ask Russia to keep the peace at a time when it is destroying the peace elsewhere.

Geoffrey Robertson KC is author of ‘An Inconvenient Genocide -Who Remembers the Armenians?’ (Biteback, 2014)

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/russia-azerbaijan-ukraine-conflict-peace-un-b2276066.html

[Yervant1]

It's time to use the stick, carrot won't do the job. Asking, requesting and telling isn't working!

 

Armenpress.am

France will continue contributing to the opening of Lachin Corridor – Emmanuel Macron

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20:15, 6 February 2023

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan had a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, ARMENPRESS was infomred from the Office of the Prime Minister.

The interlocutors discussed the difficult humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh resulted by Azerbaijan's blocking of the Lachin Corridor.

Emmanuel Macron emphasized the importance of the uninterrupted operation of the Lachin Corridor and underlined France's readiness to continue contributing to the solution of this problem.

The interlocutors exchanged ideas on the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the protection of the rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, and the activities of the EU civil mission in Armenia.

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1103470.html?fbclid=IwAR38r87ZgFHDLlxMdMU51c7ewc-6OUvpVBsq20sHdXc6fhO35rWHxhLSCKg

 

 

[Yervant1]

They will listen, talk but do nothing!

 

Armenpress.am

It is necessary to increase pressure on Azerbaijan to prevent ethnic cleansing in NK: Mirzoyan to Christoph Heusgen

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21:57, 6 February 2023

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with the Chairman of the Munich Security Conference Christoph Heusgen on February 6.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from MFA Armenia, the parties discussed a number of regional and international security issues.

Ararat Mirzoyan presented to the interlocutor the details of the crisis caused by the blocking of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, and in this context emphasized the imperative of clear steps of the international community towards its solution. The Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that Azerbaijan aims to subject the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh to ethnic cleansing, for the prevention of which it is necessary to increase the pressure on Azerbaijan.

The interlocutors also discussed issues related to cooperation within the framework of the Munich Security Conference.

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1103482.html?fbclid=IwAR29XspIxKnxbNtOrUY8h_qHw87pd0_PdmyoOJZ4WIG8tnhqnVWeVbkNXgI

 

[Yervant1]

More word salad!

 

Armenpress.am

German Foreign Minister calls on Azerbaijan and Russia to end blockade of Lachin corridor

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16:30, 7 February 2023

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan and German Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock discussed the situation in South Caucasus.

Speaking at a joint press conference after their meeting in Berlin, German FM Annalena Baerbock said that the situation in South Caucasus is difficult. She attached importance to the results of the quadrilateral meeting between the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, France and the President of the European Council Charles Michel in Prague, where the sides reaffirmed the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration, reciprocally recognizing each other’s territorial integrity. The German FM emphasized that this is an important decision for the region. “The Nagorno Karabakh conflict exists for over thirty years, and it has led to major disasters. Many lives were lost, many homes and buildings were destroyed. We know that wounds don’t heal quickly,” the German foreign minister said.

Speaking about the situation around Lachin corridor, the German FM said that the current difficult humanitarian situation in Nagorno Karabakh is one of the sad consequences of the conflict. She said that the Lachin corridor is blocked since mid-December 2022, which has led to shortages of food, medicine and other essentials in Nagorno Karabakh. She mentioned that educational institutions are shut down due to disruptions of energy and gas supply. “It’s important that the Lachin corridor blockade ends, and we believe that Azerbaijan and Russia must fulfill their obligations here,” FM Baerbock said.

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1103546.html?fbclid=IwAR0x5BRpDgtcWP4NriDRXUllJNmm9QdfrMUuJol4dvvSV6XWQuoFfzRCUNk

 

[Yervant1]

More lies from fake sultan!

NEWS.am

Armenia - Feb 8 2023

Aliyev-controlled media publishes provocative article about Armenia and Iran

20:46, 08.02.2023

The Azerbaijani government-controlled newspaper haqqin.az announced the active phase of creating an information base for another aggression against Armenia.

Today, the newspaper published an article "Armenia and Iran are preparing an attack on Lachin and Gubadli", citing "operational information" on the allegedly forthcoming aggression on the part of Armenia and Iran. We should remind that all such information is directly controlled and supplied from the apparatus of the president of Azerbaijan. We should also remind that all previous acts of aggression by Azerbaijan were accompanied by such dispatches of information.

The article quotes operational information from diplomatic sources, claiming that some provocation involving Armenia and a subversive group of 30 IRGC servicemen was prepared. The head of the operational group is an IRGC general whose name is known to the Azerbaijani government, the article claims. "According to the information received by haqqin.az, the subversive group is planning to organize two successive attacks in the direction of Lachin and Gubadli regions of Azerbaijan. The first attack on one of the posts of Azerbaijani army will be carried out by a group of servicemen in uniform of Armenian Armed Forces, whose task is "to destroy human strength of the enemy. The second group will attack one of the Armenian posts and destroy all the soldiers there. At that scenes of killing of Armenian soldiers, as well as speech in Azerbaijani language will be recorded on video... The main purpose of the planned sabotage - to collect evidence for the EU mission about another act of aggression of Azerbaijan and the atrocities of the Azerbaijani army," the newspaper writes.

https://news.am/eng/news/743820.html

 

 

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

Azerbaijan again cuts off gas supply into Artsakh

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16:20, 8 February 2023

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan has again shut down the only pipeline supplying natural gas from Armenia to Artsakh, the official Information Headquarters of Artsakh said.

“At this moment the gas supply in the republic is entirely suspended,” it said.

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1103660.html?fbclid=IwAR1xIrGkIcQvmZTUR7fIwby2LRNdfY61D6nurCMrdN3zIpHvxlrV8dOpn0k

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

EP President Roberta Metsola calls on Azerbaijani Speaker to take steps to avoid slanderous statements against MEPs

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13:56, 9 February 2023

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola expressed “strong disapproval” of the statements made in the Azerbaijani Parliament (Milli Majlis) by the Co-Chair of the EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (PCC) Tural Ganjaliyev on 20 December 2022.

Roberta Metsola wrote a letter to Speaker of Parliament of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova over the matter.

The letter was published by Member of the European Parliament, Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Partnership Committee, the EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee and the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee Marina Kaljurand. Ganjaliyev had re-tweeted an article with a direct personal attack against Marina Kaljurand, falsely accusing her of corrupt practices.

“Recalling the excellent cooperation established between our parliaments over the years, I am writing to express my strong disapproval of the statements made in the Azerbaijani Parliament by the Co-Chair of the EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (PCC), Mr Tural Ganjaliyev, on 20 December 2022.

As reported by Azerbaijani media, Mr Ganjaliyev accused the European Parliament of having “established a mechanism for financing Members of the European Parliament through corruption”. Without presenting any basis for his accusations, he claimed that “income obtained from looted gold deposits” in Nagorno-Karabakh “goes into the pockets” of Members critical of Azerbaijan’s actions. He also re-tweeted an article with a direct personal attack against the European Parliament Co-Chair of the EU-Azerbaijan PCC, Ms Marina Kaljurand, falsely accusing her of corrupt practices.

The European Parliament is committed to continue building good relations with the Milli Majlis, in the spirit of mutual respect. This may include – and often does – constructive criticism, which should however be based on facts and not on unsubstantiated and slanderous claims.

For this reason, I would be grateful if you could take all possible steps to avoid that similar incidents happen again in the future,” the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola wrote in the letter addressed to Speaker of Parliament of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova.

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1103749.html?fbclid=IwAR2dyVBSQ6UiThcWF9wCxPT1QZCXMZj51ogjor2GLvhGiYSTrOjiNRVnGWs

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

Some members of the Australian Parliament condemn Azerbaijan's blocking of the Lachin Corridor

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18:09, 9 February 2023

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. A number of members of the Australian Parliament condemned Azerbaijan's blocking of the Lachin Corridor, calling on Azerbaijan to immediately open the corridor, ARMENPRESS reports, citing the Armenian National Committee of Australia.

Australian senator Janet Rice announced in the upper house of the country's parliament that human rights must be respected in all countries.

"Closing the Lachin Corridor has serious humanitarian consequences for the Artsakh community and has caused great concern among the Australian Armenian community," the senator said, calling for the immediate opening of the Lachin Corridor.

The Armenian National Committee of Australia also informs about the speech of Jerome Laxale, a member of the House of Representatives of the Australian Parliament, the president of the Australia-Armenia intra-parliamentary union. Joining Senator Janet Rice, Laxale also condemned Azerbaijan's blockade of Artsakh Armenians.

"The Berdzor Corridor, which is usually called the road of life, is the only land connection of the self-determined Armenian population of Artsakh and the outside world... There are all signs that this blockade will become another tragic moment in the history of the Armenian people," the MP noted.

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1103796.html?fbclid=IwAR1Kbsj0VW6Yq1GLjGXOSK0jERV_SCifhec353KeQieohcHBEeD4KOO1wFY

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

New report of European Parliament condemns Azerbaijan, assesses Armenia as regional leader in terms of democracy

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20:53, 9 February 2023

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. The European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs has prepared a new report reviewing the EU's relations with Armenia, which calls on Azerbaijan to withdraw its troops from the territory of Armenia, emphasizes that any peace treaty must include the territorial integrity of Armenia, the rights and security of the Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh, the quick and safe return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes and praises the work done by Armenia in the direction of democratic reforms, as a result of which Armenia has become a leader of democracy in the region.

As ARMENPRESS was infomred from the website of the European Parliament, in the new report, the MEPs strongly condemn the large-scale military attack on Armenia by Azerbaijan in September 2022, which violated previous attempts to achieve peace and led to the occupation of the sovereign territory of Armenia by Azerbaijani forces.

Emphasizing that this latest aggression has nothing to do with the long-term conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, the report calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to withdraw troops from all parts of Armenian territory.

The report also urges the governments of both countries to work towards a comprehensive and mutually acceptable peace treaty, and urges the EU to continuously engage, mediate and effectively contribute to the peaceful resolution of the conflict.

The MEPs also reaffirm that for effectiveness, any peace treaty should include provisions that guarantee the integrity of Armenia's sovereign territory, the rights and security of the Armenian population living in Nagorno-Karabakh and other conflict-affected regions, and the swift and safe return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes.

The report welcomes the full entry into force of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement in March 2021 and Armenia's commitment to implementing it.

The MEPs also praise Armenia for the significant reforms implemented in recent years, the democratization process, as a result of which the country has become a leader of democracy in the region. The MEPs also call on the European Union and Armenia to work closely on the implementation of current and future reforms within the framework of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, stressing that it covers a wide scope of joint work.

The report also highlights Armenia's fight against crime and corruption, and encourages the government to continue reforms to strengthen democratic institutions, rule of law and judicial independence, despite the complex international context and challenges Armenia has faced.

Welcoming the improvements in terms of media freedom, the MEPs emphasize that the country's media environment is still polarized, the MEPs are concerned about the cases of hate speech and physical violence against journalists. They call for efforts to increase the diversity and media literacy of the country's media sector. Fully supporting the efforts of the Armenian government in the fight against disinformation, the MEPs noted that no measure should lead to restrictions on journalists' or freedom of speech.

"The report on EU-Armenia relations once again reaffirms the European Parliament's commitment to peace in the region and cooperation between Armenia and the EU in a number of important areas. As an important step in this direction, we welcome the deployment of the EU mission in Armenia and call on the government of Azerbaijan to guarantee the freedom and safety of movement through the Lachin Corridor, which has been blocked for almost 2 months," said rapporteur Andrey Kovatchev after the vote.

It is noted that the report was adopted with 55 votes in favor and 5 abstentions. Following the Committee’s vote, the text will be submitted to the European Parliament for approval.

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1103810.html?fbclid=IwAR27UJjgtDMmRtZ-zru1-lOmdo8K1LsjggLiTfY-i1OHL2FGkh9g_nrGsa4

[Yervant1]

UK - Press Release - Feb 9 2023

Azerbaijan: Ongoing blockade of Lachin corridor endangering thousands of lives 'must end now' - new research

Blockade in ninth week is a serious blow to human rights in Nagorno-Karabakh

Food, fuel and medicine shortages exacerbating humanitarian crisis

Since the blockade began the number of vehicles with aid has decreased from 1,200 to six trucks a day

Azerbaijani authorities and Russian peacekeepers failing to fulfil their obligations

‘With the blockade now in its ninth week, all eyes are on the Azerbaijani authorities and Russian peacekeepers’ – Marie Struthers

The ongoing blockade of the Lachin corridor is an unfolding humanitarian crisis blocking thousands of people’s access to health care, food and fuel in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, Amnesty International said today (9 February).

The road, which connects Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, has been inaccessible to all civilian and commercial traffic since 12 December last year after being blockaded by dozens of Azerbaijani protesters, widely believed to be backed by the country’s authorities. The situation has left some 120,000 ethnic Armenian residents in Nagorno-Karabakh without access to essential goods and services, including life-saving medication and health care.

Interviews conducted with health workers and residents in the region revealed the blockade’s particularly harsh impact on at-risk groups including women, older people, and people with disabilities.

Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said:

“The blockade has resulted in severe shortages of food and medical supplies, as humanitarian aid delivered by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers has been insufficient to meet demand. Disruptions to the supply of electricity, natural gas and vehicle fuel add up to extreme hardship, especially for groups who are vulnerable to discrimination and marginalisation. This must end now.

“The Azerbaijani authorities have internationally recognised sovereignty over these territories and exercise control over the area from which the blockade is being carried out. It is Azerbaijan’s obligation to ensure that people in Nagorno-Karabakh are not denied access to food and other essential goods and medications. For its part, the Russian peacekeeping mission is mandated to ensure the safety of the Lachin corridor. However, both parties are manifestly failing to fulfil their obligations.

“With the blockade now in its ninth week, all eyes are on the Azerbaijani authorities and Russian peacekeepers. We call on both parties to immediately take effective measures, in line with international human rights standards, to lift the blockade of the Lachin corridor without any further delay and end the unfolding humanitarian crisis.”

According to Nagorno-Karabakh de-facto officials, since the blockade began the number of vehicles arriving in the region has decreased from 1,200 a day to five to six trucks belonging to the Russian peacekeeping mission and the ICRC.

Lack of medicine and access to healthcare

Access to healthcare has become the most pressing issue in the blockaded region, with a deficit of medicines and medical supplies as well as insufficient fuel to enable outpatient care. The situation is particularly acute for older people and people with disabilities, many with chronic health conditions, whose access to healthcare services is severely limited or in some cases completely disrupted.

Vardan Lalayan, a cardiologist at a hospital in Stepanakert (Khankendi), saw 30 to 40 patients – almost all of them older people – a month before the blockade. Now he only sees five or six patients and usually only those requiring acute care after a heart attack. He told Amnesty that most patients in need of stenting checks are largely unable to get the care they need because of insufficient supply of stents and other medical supplies. He said:

“We are doing 10% of the procedures now. We simply do not have enough stents […] We will have a very big [number of] heart attacks at home. Every day we lose many people, many patients.”

Biayna Sukhudyan, a neurologist, told Amnesty:

“A week ago, we had a child [with epilepsy] who needed an urgent medication, and we did not have it, and no one had it, stock was empty. […] After one week, after negotiations with the Red Cross, they managed to send the child for treatment to Yerevan.”

According to Vardan Lalayan, the ICRC transfers only those in “stable condition” to facilities outside the region, where care might be available. Patients in a critical condition at his hospital had to remain in a health facility where appropriate care was not available, resulting in several preventable deaths. Many patients are also reluctant to use the transfer as it often means separation from their families for a prolonged, uncertain period of time, without the guarantee of return.

Women’s health and maternal health are also under serious threat due to shortages of medical supplies.

Meline Petrosyan, an eight-months pregnant woman from Martakert (Aghdere) town, told Amnesty:

“The maternity ward was full, while medicines, hygiene products and baby essentials, diapers, formula milk were in short supply. The hospital room was often cold because of the electricity shortage. They could only operate one incubator and three premature babies had to take turns using it. When I think about all the uncertainties of giving birth in these conditions, I feel terrified.”

Health workers, older people and people with disabilities said that medication for chronic conditions, including those to manage blood pressure; heart conditions; epilepsy, and asthma as well as pain medication and antibiotics had become much more difficult or impossible to access, with many pharmacies in Nagorno-Karabakh closed completely. When they were able to find medication, it was significantly more expensive due to the blockade, forcing people to reduce their use.

Food and fuel shortages

The blockade has caused a food shortage, which led the de-facto authorities to introduce a rationing system in early January. According to one resident: “each individual can get half a kilo of rice, pasta and one litre of oil and little sugar,” limiting products by one kilo or litre per month per person, regardless of age. Interviewees said that while those efforts had helped prevent spiking prices for essential food products, fresh vegetables and fruits have completely disappeared from store shelves, while long queues form for milk and eggs when they become available.

Based on Amnesty’s interviews with residents, it appeared that women typically prioritised giving food to other family members over themselves. Healthcare professionals interviewed noted a significant increase in cases of immunodeficiency, anaemia, thyroid disease, and worsened diabetes conditions among women and children, as a direct result of food shortages.

Nara Karapetyan, a mother of two, told Amnesty:

“We have not had any fruits or vegetables for over a month now. Whatever food I find I make sure my children get fed first, I simply do with what

is left over.”

Several healthcare workers in Nagorno-Karabakh told Amnesty that pregnant women were showing increased complications, and the numbers of miscarriages and premature births have grown, as expectant mothers were unable to access vital medication and the nutrients required during pregnancy.

People with disabilities, including those with limited mobility, said they were suffering more from isolation during the blockade, as they were unable to use either public or private transportation due to the lack of fuel. Yakov Altunyan, who uses a wheelchair since both of his legs were amputated after stepping on a mine in the 1990s, is effectively stuck in his apartment. He told Amnesty:

“

Even since I was injured, I always try to be outside and socialise, because for me being in these four walls means being in a prison. […] Not being able to drive, to communicate and socialise with others, makes my life very hard.”

Worsening humanitarian crisis

Among other dire consequences inflicted by the blockade is the violation of the right to education. All schools and kindergartens, attended by around 27,000 children, were temporarily closed due to the lack of heating and electricity shortages. Although schools partially reopened on 30 January this year, school time is limited to four hours a day.

Over 1000 residents of Nagorno-Karabakh have been left stranded outside of the region and unable to return home since the beginning of the blockade, including at least 270 children. They are accommodated in hotels or in the homes of relatives and volunteers in Armenia.

The shortage of gas and petrol is further exacerbated by frequent cuts to the supply of gas from Azerbaijan and electricity cuts that last an average of six hours a day.

War in 2020

In September 2020, a full-scale war broke out between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, during which both sides committed violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes. Following a 10 November 2020 tripartite agreement backed by Russia, Azerbaijan regained control over large parts of the self-proclaimed republic, successfully cutting its ties with Armenia. According to the terms of the ceasefire agreement, the so-called Lachin corridor remained the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia, the security of which was to be provided by the Russian peacekeeping contingent.

Amnesty’s research

Amnesty conducted 16 phone interviews with de-facto officials, healthcare professionals and residents, including older people and people with disabilities in Nagorno-Karabakh, a breakaway region of Azerbaijan inhabited mostly by ethnic Armenians, which proclaimed its independence as the Republic of Artsakh in 1991.

https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/azerbaijan-ongoing-blockade-lachin-corridor-endangering-thousands-lives-must-end-now

[Yervant1]

It's long been overdue! Get it done, the tyrant only understands force!

News.am

Armenia - Feb 9 2023

Senator Rethayo: Sanctions on Azerbaijan need, up to seizuring assets of country's leadership and embargo on oil,gas

18:02, 09.02.2023

By Mariam Levina

Interview with Bruno Rethayo, chairman of the French Senate Republicans faction, to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Senator Rethayo is a co-sponsor of the Senate Resolution on sanctions against Azerbaijan, which was passed by the Senate late last year.

Azerbaijan has blockaded Artsakh for nearly two months now. Nevertheless, there are calls but no sanctions against Baku. Do you think appeals are enough?

No, of course not. Messrs. Aliyev and Erdogan mock our accusations, which have never had any effect.These calls for de-escalation are all the more futile because they ignore the real nature of the confrontation between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

This is not just a local conflict. This is a new stage in Erdogan's imperialist strategy to achieve territorial continuity between different peoples with Turkish language and culture. This began with the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, will continue with the creation of a corridor between Nakhijevan and the rest of Azerbaijan. And I, for my part, refuse to let this end up as a challenge to Armenia as a state and a nation.

This is why I advocate that France and Europe finally choose the path of firmness, as they did with Russia. Armenia's sovereignty is worth as much as Ukraine's sovereignty! I support sanctions, up to and including the seizure of assets of the Azerbaijani leadership and an embargo on gas and oil imports from Azerbaijan until that country respects Armenian sovereignty.

Resolutions of the French Senate and National Assembly, in particular, provided for sanctions against Azerbaijan. Do French lawmakers intend to insist on application of sanctions? Will there be any other actions in parliament?

If necessary, we will take them. We will spare no effort for Armenia. In two years, the Senate and National Assembly have introduced and voted for several resolutions urging the government to recognize Nagorno Karabakh's independence and take steps to enforce the November 9, 2020 cease-fire agreement. Many parliamentarians visited Yerevan to witness to our solidarity and friendship with France. I myself visited Yerevan and Stepanakert in December 2021.

More than ever, the national perception supports Armenians and conveys the legitimate aspirations of the Armenian people to defend their sovereignty and identity. It is French society as a whole that mobilizes in favor of Armenia and pressures France and Europe to abandon the ineffectual position of near-neutrality. Many intellectuals publicly called upon the President of the Republic to intervene to save the 120,000 Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh threatened by Azerbaijan with ethnic cleansing. So many humanitarian and cultural actions are organized for Armenia by associations, municipalities or institutions.

I believe that many French people today see Armenia not only as a brotherly nation with which we have such close ties, but also as a courageous guardian of European civilization, the fragility of which we now appreciate.

Against the backdrop of Baku's criminal actions, the EU continues to buy gas and calls Azerbaijan a partner. Can we speak of double standards in morality? As you said yourself, lives of Ukrainians are not more expensive than lives of Armenians...

I actually pointed out the unacceptability of double standards. What we reject when it comes to Mr. Putin, Europe tolerates when it comes to Mr. Aliyev or Mr. Erdogan. But the crimes of the latter, and this is terrible, are in many ways equal to those of Putin's!

Europe must immediately reconsider the gas agreement that the commission negotiated and signed with Aliyev. The same gas that allows the Azerbaijani army and its Turkish accomplices to commit their criminal acts, including against civilians. This is a moral scandal, but also a strategic mistake, because by deliberately throwing itself into Aliyev's arms to get out of Putin's clutches, Europe is greatly enhancing Turkey's strategy of expansion and maintaining constant tension. One day we will pay for this.

The EU has decided to deploy a new mission on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Thanks to France for its great contribution to the decision-making process. Is 100 people enough to secure the border?

Anything that contributes to Armenia's security is welcome. But this mission can only be the first step, to be followed by others.

I hope that France will take the initiative to propose an international conference for Armenia to discuss, among other things, problems that were left out in the ceasefire agreements. I mean not only the international status of Nagorno Karabakh and the return of refugees, but also the issue of prisoners of war or the protection of the cultural and religious heritage of Nagorno Karabakh. This initiative can be continued up to the point where the world community would be invited to deploy a fact-finding mission between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the Western allies of France would be invited to strengthen Armenia's military capabilities.

https://news.am/eng/news/743985.html

 

 

[Yervant1]

Feb 10 2023

"Azerbaijan has occupied the territory of Armenia" - European Parliament report

• JAMnews
  

• Yerevan
  

Report from the European Parliament

MEPs believe that “Azerbaijan’s latest aggression against Armenia has no direct connection with the long-term conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh“, meaning September military operations on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in 2022. The European Parliament announced that this was a military attack that “violated previous attempts to achieve peace and led to the occupation of the sovereign territory of Armenia by Azerbaijani forces.” Thus reads a new report from the Committee on Foreign Relations, dedicated to the cooperation of the European Union with Armenia.

Armenian analysts consider European partners’ response very important, but do not have much optimism about the effectiveness of such documents. According to political scientist Suren Surenyants, they can have “only an illusory impact on Azerbaijan – until international organizations set the price of responsibility for Baku for its actions.”

• “There might not have been a conflict”: opinion on the Karabakh problem
  

• ‘Red Cross help is not enough’ – Amnesty International on NK blockade
  

• Corridor blockade continues; more than 5,000 in NK have lost their jobs
  

“Withdraw troops from the territory of Armenia”

The European Parliament appealed to the Azerbaijani authorities to withdraw its troops, condemning the “large-scale military attack of Azerbaijan on Armenia in September 2022.”

Regarding the peace treaty to be signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the European deputies stressed:

“To be effective, any peace agreement must include provisions guaranteeing

• territorial integrity of Armenia,
  
• the rights and security of the Armenian population living in Nagorno-Karabakh and other regions affected by the conflict,


• prompt and safe return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes”.

Fifty-five deputies voted for the adoption of the document, with none against and five abstentions. The text will now be submitted for approval by the European Parliament.

“We welcome the deployment of the EU mission in Armenia and call on the Azerbaijani government to guarantee freedom and security of movement along the Lachin corridor, which was blocked almost two months ago,” Andrey Kovachev, rapporteur on Armenia, said.

European Parliament welcomes reforms, but expects more

The document also says that the European Parliament welcomes the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between Armenia and the EU, which went into effect in March 2021, as well as the country’s commitment to seeing it through. The MEPs praise significant reforms and the process of democratization — “[T]he reforms of recent years thanks to which Armenia has become a leader in democracy in the region.”

However, the European Parliament calls on the government to continue reforms to strengthen democratic institutions, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, despite the difficult international context and challenges the country is facing.

European MPs also welcome an improvement in media freedom, but note that the media environment in Armenia is still polarized. The document expresses concern about cases of hate speech and physical violence against journalists. Supporting the Armenian government’s efforts to combat disinformation, the Europeans say that no measures should lead to restrictions on the work of journalists or freedom of speech.

"Phantom pain from the loss of the province": Armenian political scientists on Lavrov's interview

Several Armenian political analysts weigh in on Sergei Lavrov’s interview with RIA Novosti

A comment

Political scientist Suren Surenyants recalls that over the past two months there have been many statements about the need to unblock the Lachin corridor. A relevant resolution was adopted by the European Parliament. But, in his opinion, the Azerbaijani authorities “do not care about diplomatic assessments”, and the new report will also not have an impact.

“The situation is clear and simple. Azerbaijan will reconsider its behavior, its position only if sanctions are imposed on it, or making sure that by blockading the Lachin road or holding the occupied territories of Armenia, it will have to pay a high political price,” Surenyants told JAMnews .

Surenyants is confident that the documents will not yield any especial results until international organizations set the price of responsibility for Baku.

Surenyants considers it positive that the European deputies have called a spade a spade and “declared the September military actions an occupation and did not link this aggression with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.” On the other hand, Surenyants believes that Azerbaijan will not leave these territories in the near future if the country’s authorities do not have serious concerns about possible liability:

“Azerbaijanis are carrying out engineering work on the sovereign Armenian territory, equipping positions. Not a single international structure, not a single geopolitical center created a situation for Aliyev in which he would be forced to leave these territories.”

As for the emphasis made in the report on the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty, Surenyants believes that the separation of the resolution of relations between the two countries from the issue of the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh was on Baku’s agenda from the very beginning, and Yerevan agreed with this. However, Surenyants considers such a division dangerous:

“The agreement or document on the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations should contain at least an indication that an international Baku-Stepanakert dialogue mechanism is being created. If there is no such mention in the big agreement, Baku will not have any contractual obligations to ensure minimum conditions for the Karabakh people.”

According to Surenyants, Armenian diplomacy should try to take advantage of the favorable context of the new report.

https://jam-news.net/report-from-the-european-parliament/

[Yervant1]

Feb 9 2023

World stands by in the face of the Second Armenian Genocide

By Gerry Chidiac

Now is the time for the world to step in to supply and protect the population of Artsakh

The Armenian Genocide was rarely discussed throughout the Cold War to avoid offending descendants of the Ottoman perpetrators. Today, very few countries outright deny the brutality that took place. Unfortunately, two of the perpetrators, Turkey and Azerbaijan, surround the Armenian populations which remain in the south Caucasus region.

At this moment, the world stands by as they again progress toward extermination.

The topic of genocide is one that many of us try to avoid, perhaps because it reveals something uncomfortable about our human nature: we have the capacity to kill one another in mass numbers. What we don’t realize, however, is that our willful avoidance of collective self-reflection is itself one of the primary causes of genocide.

Gregory Stanton, former head of the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), has noted that there are 10 progressive stages of genocide, with mass extermination being stage nine and denial being stage 10. Stanton explains why genocide happens and how the movement toward mass killing can be halted at each stage. The earlier the intervention, the easier it is to stop genocide from happening.

To understand current tensions in the south Caucasus, it is essential to acknowledge the arrogance of the leaders of the Soviet Union, who created borders under the assumption that their empire would never fall. Azerbaijan and Armenia were both Soviet republics, but their borders intertwined with their populations. When the Soviet Union broke up, they fought a war to define their territories. It resulted in a tense standoff that continues today, with armed conflict flaring up from time to time, most notably in 2020.

Today, the most endangered Armenian population lives in the Artsakh region, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh. They are surrounded by Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijani leaders have made it clear that they want to annex this territory, even though the population voted 92 per cent in a referendum to remain separate.

If one examines the situation, one can see the steady progress toward extermination. In fact, the IAGS has strongly condemned recent actions by Azerbaijan.

The progressive stages of genocide begin with classification, symbolization, discrimination, dehumanization, organization, and polarization. There is a sentiment of “Armenophobia” in both Azerbaijan and Turkey; both were involved in the armed conflict in 2020. The Azerbaijani dictatorship has gained power through the sale of fossil fuels in recent years, built up its military, and backed a campaign of aggressive anti-Armenian propaganda, the most haunting being a postage stamp showing an exterminator spraying Artsakh.

After fighting broke out in 2020, Russia negotiated a settlement and sent peacekeepers to the region. Russia has grown less enthusiastic about keeping the peace in recent months, however, possibly to protect the covert sale of Russian fossil fuels, which may be flowing through Azerbaijan due to official sanctions against Russia after it invaded Ukraine.

Since December, Azerbaijan – with Russia’s acceptance – has blocked the only road bringing supplies between Armenia and Artsakh. This siege of ethnic Armenians has resulted in tremendous hardship for a population cut off from food and fuel throughout the winter months.

Stages seven and eight of genocide are preparation and persecution, respectively. Populations are isolated and forcibly starved of food and other resources. Given the historical patterns of mass violence, it is reasonable to assume that a military invasion of Artsakh is being planned.

Stanton not only illustrated how genocide progresses toward extermination, but he also explained how it can be prevented at each stage. Stages seven and eight require humanitarian aid to the victims and armed intervention to defend them if necessary.

Now is the time for the world to step in to supply and protect the population of Artsakh. If we choose not to act, if we knowingly sit back and watch them be destroyed, we will have to face the uncomfortable truth that we are all complicit in this genocide.

Gerry Chidiac specializes in languages, genocide studies and works with at-risk students. He is the recipient of an award from the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre for excellence in teaching about the Holocaust.

https://troymedia.com/crime/world-stands-by-in-the-face-of-the-second-armenian-genocide/

[Yervant1]

Feb 10 2023

French, US Foreign Ministers Discuss Ukraine, Iran, Nagorno-Karabakh Over Phone

Muhammad Irfan

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken held a phone conversation on Friday to discuss Ukraine, Iran and the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh, the French Foreign Ministry said

PARIS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th February, 2023) French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken held a phone conversation on Friday to discuss Ukraine, Iran and the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh, the French Foreign Ministry said.

"The sides have reaffirmed their joint resolve to support Ukraine's defense for as long as necessary," the communique read.

The two senior officials also discussed Iran, focusing on its nuclear program and stating that Tehran must comply with its obligations to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

During the phone call, Colonna and Blinken exchanged views on the situation between Yerevan and Baku. They agreed that it is essential that traffic through the Lachin corridor, the only road across Azerbaijan that links Armenia to the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, be restored immediately. The top diplomats also expressed their willingness to facilitate further contacts between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev regarding Azerbaijan's blocking of the Lachin corridor.

https://www.urdupoint.com/en/world/french-us-foreign-ministers-discuss-ukraine-1640586.html

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

Azerbaijanis living in Germany call for sanctions against Aliyev outside Munich Security Conference venue

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17:48, 18 February 2023

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani refugees living in Germany gathered outside the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich to protest against Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s regime, Azerbaijani media reported.

The Azerbaijani leader was to arrive at the venue of the Munich Security Conference for a trilateral meeting with the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken when the demonstration began.

The demonstrators were holding signs calling for sanctions against Aliyev. “Don’t sacrifice democracy for energy. Sanctions against Aliyev,” read one of the posters.

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1104479.html?fbclid=IwAR1ljkx7DAy0ujebKXPfC-kg7VBARQCARpgYp_3NE280gHDOwom8NlcNSXo

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

Azerbaijan creates humanitarian crisis with illegal and illegitimate blockade of Lachin corridor - former French PM

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11:24, 20 February 2023

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. The former French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe said that Azerbaijan is creating a humanitarian crisis for no reason with its “illegal and illegitimate” blockade of the Lachin corridor.

In an interview with ARMENPRESS, Philippe, who is now the Mayor of the French city of Le Havre, said that Azerbaijan must release the Armenian POWs. Regarding the Azerbaijani occupation of sovereign territories of Armenia, the former French PM, who is visiting Armenia, said that the territorial integrity of Armenia is not negotiable and must be protected.

ARMENPRESS: Mr. Philippe, first of all, I would like to ask you to introduce what agenda you are coming to Armenia with, what meetings and visits are expected?

Édouard Philippe: I come to Armenia with an open mind and an open heart. I want to see the situation with my own eyes, hear people’s concerns and initiatives and express solidarity with the Armenian people. I will go to Goris, for obvious reasons and have meetings in Erevan, with the Prime minister, the minister for Foreign affairs and members of the Parliament. I also intend to meet local authorities and am delighted to meet the Catholicos.

ARMENPRESS: Mr. Philippe, You are visiting Armenia at a difficult time for the country, Azerbaijan has blocked the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia, the Lachin corridor, the people of Artsakh are facing a humanitarian crisis. As a member of the international community, a representative of Armenia's friend France, what is your attitude towards this step by Azerbaijan?

Édouard Philippe: The current blockade, which has lasted already 70 days, is both illegal and illegitimate, Azerbaijan is creating a humanitarian crisis for no reason and Russia is doing nothing to solve the issue.

ARMENPRESS: As you know, Azerbaijan also occupied the sovereign territories of Armenia in 2021 and 2022, and continues to keep Armenian prisoners of war after the 2020 Artsakh war. According to you, what should the international community do, what steps are needed to force Azerbaijan to withdraw from the territory of Armenia, to return the Armenian prisoners of war, do you consider it possible to apply sanctions?

Édouard Philippe: The territorial integrity of Armenia is not negotiable and must be protected. For too long the EU was too distant. I am relieved that the EU mission to Armenia is being deployed and can have a positive role to reassure civilian populations. Prisoners of war must all be returned to their homeland and the fate of missing persons must be fully disclosed, I would add the necessity to fully preserve and protect the cultural heritage of the region.

ARMENPRESS: As the former prime minister of France, mayor of Le Havre, in what areas do you see prospects for deepening cooperation with Armenia?

Édouard Philippe: I will visit several cooperation projects, in the health sector and for support to displaced people. And I also intend to meet actors of the Tech sector, who participate in framing the future of Armenia. There are still many things to do to foster French Armenian relations and cooperation.

Interview by Anna Grigoryan

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1104524.html?fbclid=IwAR1jqwVNi148_QsQIGH0SQXVcpjboFI1diOJJCUki0xiM8ePSpthCV64E2Y

[Yervant1]

Feb 20 2023

Hopelessness grows as Azerbaijan’s blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh enters third month

Goris, as the last major settlement in Armenia before the border and the road to Karabakh, has become a base for Nagorno-Karabakh residents who cannot return to their homes. / Neil Hauer/bne IntelliNews

By Neil Hauer in Goris February 20, 2023

The sleepy southern Armenian city of Goris rarely finds itself at the centre of events. Nestled amid high mountains in Armenia’s southernmost province of Syunik, its elegant stone houses and broad central square have the relaxed air of a place where there is rarely much of importance taking place.

But these days, the town attracts a menagerie of foreign visitors: EU and UN cars drive by in small convoys, flags waving in the wind; Russian peacekeepers in their camouflage uniforms and enormous Kamaz trucks are omnipresent; alongside them are several hundred other civilians whose lilting, accented Armenian sets them slightly apart from the locals – Karabakh Armenians, trapped here for more than two months as Azerbaijan’s blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh grinds on.

Following its victory in the 2020 Second Karabakh War, in which it recaptured three-quarters of the territory held by the unrecognised Republic of Artsakh (also known as Nagorno-Karabakh), Azerbaijan has continued to seek control over the rump remainder of Karabakh.

These efforts have only intensified since Russia, whose peacekeepers in Karabakh guarantee the 2020 ceasefire agreement, invaded Ukraine a year ago, a move which has sapped Moscow’s strength and influence.

While most of Azerbaijan’s moves have come in the form of military offensives, Baku hit upon a new tactic in December, one less brazen and less likely to draw international ire. On December 11, a group of Azerbaijani ‘eco-activists’ set up a protest camp outside Nagorno-Karabakh’s capital Stepanakert, blocking the one road connecting the enclave with Armenia and the outside world.

The protesters, who have been linked to the Azerbaijani government, have stopped all traffic into and out of Karabakh, save for a handful of Russian peacekeeping and Red Cross vehicles. The result has been food shortages, power cuts and mass unemployment in Karabakh, as life comes to a halt for the 100,000 residents of the territory. Despite growing international pressure to reopen the road, Azerbaijan and its leader, Ilham Aliyev, have shown little sign they will end the blockade soon.

Goris, as the last major settlement in Armenia before the border and the road to Karabakh, has become the primary witness to this drama. Numerous hotels in the city are filled with Karabakh Armenians who were in Armenia at the time of the road closure and have been unable to get home ever since. The local government, supported by Yerevan, is putting them up as best they can.

“We have more than 300 people from Karabakh in Goris right now,” says Karen Zhabagiryan, an advisor to the city’s mayor. “Of these people, 60 are children. They are attending school [in Goris] now, because no one knows how long they will have to be here for,” he says.

The government has paid for the stranded Karabakhtsis to stay in local hotels for as long as they need, Zhabagiryan says. But while they are surviving, the psychological pressure of their situation is getting worse all the time.

“There are new problems arising constantly,” Zhabagiryan says. “People get sick, they miss their loved ones. They can’t even contact them [in Karabakh] very often, because of the power and communications cuts there. They can’t live like this forever,” he says.

Scenes at the blockade itself border on farce. While bne IntelliNews’ correspondent, like all others in Armenia, was unable to visit the protest camp itself, the photos and videos of the so-called protesters make it look more like a party than any sort of grassroots action.

The ‘demonstrators’ revel in comfortable conditions, with plentiful hot food and supplies brought from nearby Shusha, under Azerbaijan’s control; during the recent football World Cup, enormous viewing screens were erected for the Azerbaijani activists to enjoy the matches. All the while, tens of thousands of Karabakh Armenian civilians are shivering in the darkened streets of Stepanakert, just a few kilometres away.

Centre of displacement

The present situation as a displaced persons centre is a sadly familiar one for Goris. During the 2020 war, the city was overrun with Karabakh civilians fleeing the fighting there – “at least 10,000 people [from Karabakh],” according to Zhabagiryan, a startling figure given that Goris’s population is only 20,000. “We have already become professionals [at hosting them] as a result,” he says with a sad smile.

Venera and Oksana are two of them. Both in their mid-40s, they are now indefinite tenants at the Mina hotel, which has become a mini-Stepanakert at the northern end of Goris. Both were caught in Armenia when the blockade began.

“I came to Yerevan for a thyroid operation on December 12,” says Oksana, pointing to a recent scar on her neck. “By the time it was finished, the road was already closed. We drove down to see if it would clear, but it became obvious once we got near [the border] that we wouldn’t get to Stepanakert,” she says.

Venera had a similar experience, having gone to the Armenian capital to visit relatives. She now spends her days idling away at the hotel, waiting for the rare moments of steady internet and electricity in Karabakh to speak with her family there.

“We speak almost every day,” Venera says. “My nine-year old son is in our village, Berdashen [east of Stepanakert], and my daughter is in Stepanakert – she studies at university there. The stress is already unimaginable – the shops are empty, they have no fruit or vegetables for almost two months now. My son says to me, ‘mom, I’m tired of eating just grechka [buckwheat].’ What can I say to him?” she says.

There is another factor on everyone’s mind as well: Russia. While it is Azerbaijani protesters that have set up camp on the road itself, Russia’s 2,000 peacekeepers have made no attempt to remove them. Despite being obligated by the 2020 ceasefire agreement to ensure free passage of people and cargo along the road, Moscow’s servicemen have instead served as tacit enforcers of the blockade, establishing barriers separating the Azerbaijanis from any possible contact with the besieged inhabitants of Karabakh on the other side.

“We all understand that Russia is not fulfilling its mandate [as a guarantor of the road staying open],” says Zhabagiryan, the advisor to Goris’s mayor. “The road is supposed to be open, but it stays closed,” he says.

The two women are similarly torn over Russia’s role.

“Without Russia, I would not be here right now,” Oksana says. “[The Azerbaijanis] would have come into Stepanakert [in 2020] and killed us all. So we have to be grateful for that, but at the same time, there is a feeling now that the situation is different than what it was before,” she says.

“I have a question: why can’t the Russians just reopen the road?” Venera asks. “Why can’t they push these miserable people [protesters] out of the way? There are only 40 or 50 of them – it would be very easy for [the Russians] to do it, but this is some dirty political business,” she says.

The psychological terror of the situation is the hardest. No one knows when the road will reopen – and how long it would be until Azerbaijan simply closes it again. Venera admits that this has affected her thoughts on her family’s future in her homeland.

“My husband works in construction,” Venera says. “Because of the blockade, he has been out of work for weeks now. Even if I somehow get there [to Karabakh], how can I find a job and feed my family? Azerbaijan is subjecting us to pure terrorism: blocking our food and gas, shooting at our villages. It’s one thing for me to experience hardship – I am used to it by now. But how can I raise my children in these conditions?” she asks.

Oksana, by contrast, is unwavering.

“[Azerbaijan] does this so that we, the people of Artsakh, will leave Artsakh,” she says. “But we will not! I am an Armenian from Artsakh. My grandparents, great-grandparents lived there. This is our land! Our roots are deep. I lived there, I live there now, and I’ll keep living there. Azerbaijan doesn’t have a history, so they don’t understand this,” Oksana says.

“They just have oil,” Venera says. “That’s enough for the whole world to be silent while they choke us. Because the strong are always right, and money closes the mouths of others.”

https://www.intellinews.com/hopelessness-grows-as-azerbaijan-s-blockade-of-nagorno-karabakh-enters-third-month-270518/

[MosJan]

[MosJan]

it will do nothing to that SOB.

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

“We cannot sell our soul to have gas and oil” – Luxembourg FM on EU’s energy deal with Azerbaijan

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16:42, 22 February 2023

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn spoke about the EU’s energy cooperation with Azerbaijan during a press conference in Yerevan.

“You know that since the 24th of February last year Europe is in a need to have new energy sources from other parts in the world. I agree with you that we cannot sell our soul to have gas and oil, we have to pay a lot of attention if we have no other ways than to go to other dependence in some other parts of the world where human rights and values are not top priority,” FM Asselborn said when asked to comment on the EU’s gas deal with Azerbaijan.

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1104770.html?fbclid=IwAR0ZzwzrRlKFoiN7w7u7l7B7vcmPMbMTB46y7oWcq2OufJKwdsk-Du3tWyo

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

Azerbaijan assured in Munich that it will engage in internationally visible dialogue with Stepanakert – FM Mirzoyan

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17:07, 22 February 2023

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. During the Pashinyan-Aliyev-Blinken meeting in Munich the Azerbaijani side has assured that an internationally visible dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert will take place, the Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan said at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn.

FM Mirzoyan said that in the beginning, when discussions around a peace treaty were initiated with Azerbaijan, there was a perception and agreement to hold those negotiations in two tracks, one around the establishment and settlement of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, i.e. the peace treaty, and the other – a format where the rights and security of the Armenians living in Nagorno Karabakh must be discussed.

“And for a long time we see that Azerbaijan is maneuvering from being engaged in this conversation. And in Munich, by the way not only at the panel discussion but also during the Blinken-Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting, we received the Azerbaijani side’s readiness, assurance that an internationally visible dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert must take place,” Mirzoyan said.

At the same time, Mirzoyan said that on the other hand Armenia has continually witnessed how agreements and assurances are being breached over the course of the past years, including the signed agreements.

The Armenian FM expressed hope that this time Azerbaijan will remain committed to the readiness it expressed.

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1104776.html?fbclid=IwAR2jjOWtTJ43o2D7qJwH7zS3Ms-aSN0o-w-QjDJ0z4Z_s7BraLskMUdy_YM