Yervant1 Posted October 27, 2023 Report Share Posted October 27, 2023 I doubt that fake sultan would respect his own peace signature, I just don't trust the dictator!POLITICOOct 26 2023 Armenia on verge of signing peace deal with Azerbaijan, PM saysThe truce would come after weeks of warnings the two countries could be on the brink of a new conflict. BY GABRIEL GAVIN Armenia could agree terms on a comprehensive peace agreement with neighboring Azerbaijan, ending a bitter regional rivalry after three decades of hostilities, the South Caucasus country’s prime minister said Thursday.Speaking at a conference in Georgia, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that his government could sign “an agreement on peace and the establishment of relationships” with its neighbor “in the coming months.”At the same time, he unveiled a “Crossroads of Peace” project designed to reopen road and railway links that have been blocked for decades amid the simmering conflict with Azerbaijan and its close ally, Turkey.The announcement comes just weeks after Azerbaijan launched a lightning offensive to take control of the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which has been fought over by the two sides since the fall of the USSR. An estimated 100,000 ethnic Armenians living in the mountainous territory were forced to flee their homes as their unrecognized breakaway state collapsed after 30 years of de facto autonomy.On Tuesday, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said the decisive military action means there are now “real chances for the conclusion of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia within a short period of time.” At the same time, Azerbaijan’s foreign policy chief told POLITICO that his country had no plans to use force to seize territory across the internationally recognized border, despite claims a new conflict over transport routes could be imminent.Previous efforts to mediate between the two former Soviet republics by the U.S., the EU and Russia have failed to prevent violence in the past, with discussion on issues like transport connectivity and border demarcation ending in deadlock.“For long years, the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict has been the major stumbling block for the regional integration and the utilization of all the potential of the South Caucasus,” said Vasif Huseynov, head of department at Azerbaijan’s AIR Center think tank. “It has immensely increased the costs of the regional projects, both connectivity and energy pipelines. This is one of the reasons why it is in the interest of Baku to put an end to this conflict.”However expectations are more muted in Yerevan, according to Tigran Grigoryan, head of Armenia’s Regional Center for Democracy and Security.“There is too much importance put on the peace treaty,” he said. “It’s obvious for me the treaty isn’t the end of any process and even if something is signed, Azerbaijan will continue pursuing a maximalist approach and will keep pressuring Armenia to get everything it wants out of that process.”Last month, Pashinyan told POLITICO that Russian peacekeepers had failed in Nagorno-Karabakh, and that it was time to resolve issues with his country’s neighbors directly, rather than depending on Moscow for support. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, he reiterated the need to “diversify our relationships in the security sphere” and hinted that he no longer sees a purpose for Russia’s military bases on Armenian soil. https://www.politico.eu/article/armenia-peace-deal-with-azerbaijan-nikol-pashinyan/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted October 27, 2023 Report Share Posted October 27, 2023 Mint, India Oct 26 2023 Back Keen to expand defence ties with India, says Armenian deputy foreign minister 26 Oct 2023, 06:00 PM IST Shashank Mattoo New Delhi: Armenia is keen to expand its cooperation on defence with India, the country’s deputy foreign minister Mnatsakan Safaryan told Mint in an exclusive interview. In the aftermath of its bitter conflict with Azerbaijan, Armenia is looking to diversify its defence ties, with an eye on India. It has appointed a defence attaché to its embassy in New Delhi to scope out the potential for further cooperation. Armenia has purchased rocket launchers, phased array radars and ammunition from India, particular after 2020. Minister Safaryan also said that Armenia would like to expand cooperation on national security with India after the national security advisers of both countries met earlier this year. Safaryan thanked India for condemning Azerbaijan’s “aggression" towards Armenia and welcomed a greater Indian role in the region. What can you tell us about the recent outbreak of hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh? The best answer to this question would start with putting it straight that the language of “outbreak of hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia" is not correct from the beginning. There is a concrete perpetrator and the people of Nagorno-Karabakh who has been the victim. Let me give you the broader picture and some verifiable details. I am sure you have been following the situation in the region. After the 44-day war in 2020 in Nagorno-Karabakh, post-war humanitarian challenges remained acute, with overall situation in the region being unstable and carrying the risk of escalation. Under false pretexts the Azerbaijani armed forces not only continuously violated the ceasefire agreed to by the November 2020 Trilateral Statement between the leadership of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, but initiated acts of aggression against the sovereign territory of Armenia proper, occupying an area of around 150 sq.km of the territory of the Republic of Armenia. Again, under false pretexts, last December the Azerbaijani side, in blatant violation of its obligations under international humanitarian law and the Trilateral Statement, went even further and blockaded the Lachin corridor - the only lifeline-road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia and the outer world, which was further consolidated by the installation of an illegal check-point since April 23 and further - with the complete cessation of any movement, even for humanitarian aid through the Corridor since June 15. The blockade resulted in a severe shortage of food, medical supplies, fuel and other essential goods, almost depleting the resources necessary for the survival of the population. It was accompanied by deliberate disruption of electricity and natural gas supplies, further exacerbating the situation into a full-fledged humanitarian crisis. The use of starvation as a method of warfare, depriving people of their means of subsistence, obstruction and denial of humanitarian access to UN agencies, hindering the ICRC humanitarian activities, constitute early warning signs of an atrocity crime. Numerous international human rights organizations, independent lawyers, and genocide scholars have expressed concern about the existential threats that the people of Nagorno-Karabakh are facing, pointing out the risks of mass atrocity crimes. The ICRC, the only humanitarian organization present in Nagorno-Karabakh, in its statement expressed concern that it was unable to provide humanitarian assistance to the civilian population through the Lachin corridor. The continuous warnings from the Armenian side that Azerbaijan, with its deliberate actions, was planning to subject Nagorno-Karabakh to ethnic cleansing, did not lead to effective steps by the international community to prevent Baku's policy. Azerbaijan totally ignored calls of international community to end the blockade and disregarded legally binding rulings of the International Court of Justice “to take all measures to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin corridor in both directions". It was amid these conditions that on 19 September Azerbaijan, yet again under false, cynical pretext of an “antiterrorism operation" launched another large-scale unprovoked military aggression against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, targeting not just military, but civilian objects and settlements alike, which resulted in over 300 deaths, including civilians, and over 400 wounded. The over 100,000 Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, facing existential threats and fearing for the lives and safety of their families, were forced to leave their historical homeland and their ancestral homes, which resulted in Azerbaijan effectively culminating its long-standing policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. The policy and actions of Azerbaijan for the last 10 months, evidently demonstrated the pre-planned and well-orchestrated nature of this mass atrocity. Moreover, prior to the aggression on September 18, according to an already well-known pattern, the Azerbaijani side once again cynically / deliberately initiated a meeting with the representatives of the diplomatic corps to present its false narratives, which proved being a diplomatic preparation for its large-scale new military aggression and policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. Presently, the Azerbaijani authorities have embarked on their meticulously formulated next step, namely, to continue articulating explicit territorial claims against the sovereign territory of Armenia. How does Armenia see India’s role in the issue given that New Delhi has sold military equipment? Can India provide any emergency military assistance to Armenia in these circumstances? India is an important pillar of global and regional stability and a major power that rightly aspires for a bigger role in international affairs. India’s successful presidency in the UN Security Council is a vivid example to this end. Our countries have quite close interests regarding regional and international issues. Armenia values the balanced and stabilizing position of India in these times of global turmoil and we highly appreciate the statements and condemnation from the Indian side regarding the aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan against Armenia and the blockade of the Lachin corridor, as well as India’s support to the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. You have probably followed the ministerial level visit to India in October of 2022, Armenia has participated in several defense expositions in India, and collaboration has been established with the National Defense College of India, the delegation of which too recently visited Armenia in August of this year. At the same time our National Security Councils have started actively engaging in a dialogue, which too will boost our cooperation potential in the relevant fields. We have established a defence attache position in our embassy in New Delhi, which will also help to assess the needs and further collaboration in this area. We would like to see India’s increased presence in Armenia and in our region at large, be it trade and business ties or others. Given your country’s fast development, it will contribute to overall stability in our region, as well as India’s strategy to engage more in its neighborhood. A high-level delegation led by Armenian defence ninister Suren Papikyan visited India for Defence Expo in 2022. Are there any plans for additional purchases of defence equipment? As I mentioned, the delegation headed by our minister of defense Suren Papikyan visited India in October of 2022, during which the Minister had the chance to meet with his Indian counterpart Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh, during which both sides expressed satisfaction with the current level of cooperation in the field and discussed the possibilities of expanding the cooperation in areas of mutual interest. During his working visit to India, Minister Papikyan also visited the DEFEXPO exhibition in Gandhinagar and got acquainted with the presented exhibits in the Defense exhibition. If you have followed the news this year in March a delegation led by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, First Deputy Minister of Defense, Major-General Edward Asryan was in India on a working visit as well. The delegation participated in the Raisina Dialogue and had the chance to discuss a number of issues related to bilateral cooperation and regional security with his Indian counterpart Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan. Within the framework of his working visit, Major General Asryan also attended the discussions on Armenian-Indian defense cooperation and regional security, held by the office of the National Security Council of India, where he presented the security challenges facing Armenia. Armenia is diversifying its defense cooperation and this is a good opportunity to further enhancing Armenian-Indian ties in this field. Has the Armenian government requested humanitarian support from India of any form in the ongoing crisis? On October 2 a meeting was held with the heads of diplomatic missions and representatives of international organizations accredited in Armenia. During the meeting Minister Mirzoyan presented the current situation resulting from Azerbaijan’s large-scale aggression and ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh. Touching upon the willingness of various countries and international organizations to provide support in overcoming current humanitarian problems, the Minister expressed gratitude for the provided urgent support. Deputy prime minister Tigran Khachatryan who is coordinating the Humanitarian Centre established by the government of Armenia, briefed the diplomatic corps on the steps undertaken by the Government towards identifying and addressing the priority problems of more than 100,000 Armenians forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh and the activities undertaken with international partners towards the assessment of needs that will allow the development of targeted long-term assistance programs. The issue of providing the forcibly displaced people with places of residence was considered a priority, considering as well the imperative of providing them with employment, educational, medical and social services. The Government of Armenia has been able to provide the basic requirements and address the needs at this initial stage, however, this will surely be an ongoing process as Armenians who were forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh will need long term assistance to get their daily lives back on track. We hope all our international friends and partners will find ways to contribute to this ongoing effort. We recently had meetings between India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Armenian Security Council chief Armen Grigoryan. Was any Indian support requested during this meeting? As I mentioned, our National Security Councils are actively engaged in a dialogue. The Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan last visited India in August of this year, where he met with his counterpart National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Both sides expressed their satisfaction with the dynamics of the development of Armenian-Indian relations, discussed issues related to regional security developments, the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh, as well as, in the context of the successful mission of Chandrayaan 3, touched upon the possibilities of implementation of joint programs in the field of space industry. How would you assess the current state of bilateral relations between India and Armenia? Comprehensive deepening and development of cooperation with India is one of the foreign policy priorities of Armenia, and both sides are working towards developing multifaceted relations between our two friendly countries and securing tangible results and benefits for our citizens. Last year we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and India. Whilst traditionally warm relations and mutual support between our peoples have continuously been strengthening during the past 30 years, the last 2 years were marked by a tremendous upward trend in our relations, especially when speaking of political dialogue. India’s FM Dr. Jaishankar’s historic visit to Armenia in 2021 followed by Minister Mirzoyan’s visits to India in 2022 and this March set the ground for working out an ambitious agenda for further enhancing and strengthening cooperation, and we seem to be steadily heading towards the set goals. The 8th session of Armenian-Indian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economy, Technologies, Science, Education and Culture of the Commission held in Yerevan on July 4, 2022 was co-chaired from the Armenian side by foreign minister Mirzoyan. We have taken up the task of reinforcing parliamentary diplomacy as well and in 2021 a new parliamentary group of friendship with India was formed within the 8th convocation of the National Assembly. The vice Ppesident of the National Assembly Hakob Arshakyan heads the Group. We are aiming at increasing the current volumes of our bilateral trade in the coming years, and our efforts will be focused on intensifying B2B interactions. We have exchanged several business delegations during the last few years and have explored the possibilities of further collaboration. Armenia is a frequent participants of Raisina Dialogue, and we make good use of this excellent platform to boost our various interaction with Indian partners. On October 17-19, 2023 Armenian delegation led by Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia Gnel Sanosyan participated at Global Maritime India Summit for the first time and we appreciate partnering with other countries in this meeting as we strive to expand our connectivity through North-South corridors, INSTC and Persian Gulf – Black Sea transport corridor. We held productive discussions with Indian banks, logistic and infrastructure construction companies and invited Indian partners to participate in a number of infrastructure projects in Armenia. I would like to emphasize the humanitarian dimension, covering both educational and cultural aspects. Cooperation in the field of education is indeed a successful example of Armenian-Indian partnership. About 3000 Indian students study in Armenia, mostly in medical specializations, and we are discussing opportunities to improve and expand student exchange programs. Tourism is another field full of potential for cooperation between two historically friendly nations. Cooperation in the cultural field can as well be noted. We have a rich cultural heritage in India under state care, for which we are grateful to the Government of India. We are also working on the implementation of Armenian-Indian cultural exchange programs, as well as on the presentation of the magnificent examples of Indian culture in Armenia. https://www.livemint.com/politics/keen-to-expand-defence-ties-with-india-says-armenian-deputy-foreign-minister-11698319234706.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted October 28, 2023 Report Share Posted October 28, 2023 Goa Chronicle Oct 27 2023 Armenia can restore gas pipelines from Azerbaijan – Deputy Minister By:GC NewsDesk Yerevan: Armenia can restore gas pipelines from Azerbaijan after resolving problems between the two countries, Armenian Deputy Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Minister Hakob Vardanyan said at the Silk Road forum in Tbilisi. Vardanyan said that in the Soviet Union, Armenia received gas from Azerbaijan. Three large gas pipelines from Azerbaijan served this purpose, he said. “And now we can restore these gas pipelines if there are no unresolved political issues between our countries. We can also be a transit country for gas transportation from Azerbaijan to Europe, the same applies to electricity,” Sputnik Armenia quoted the deputy minister as saying. Yerevan, he said, is ready to restore all communications. “This could change the energy diversification of the region,” the deputy minister said. https://goachronicle.com/armenia-can-restore-gas-pipelines-from-azerbaijan-deputy-minister/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted October 28, 2023 Report Share Posted October 28, 2023 OpIndia Oct 27 2023 Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict: India considers sending second batch of weapons to Armenia in the face of rising tensions The decision comes after India successfully delivered the first batch of weapons to Armenia over the past year. Amid the ongoing Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, India is considering sending more military assistance to Armenia, its vital ally in the Caucasus, reports the Economic Times. This comes after India successfully delivered the first batch of weapons to Armenia over the past year. The article reported that India intends to send additional supplies some of which could consist of military hardware meant to strengthen Armenia’s deterrent might. The development came to light in the backdrop of serious tensions between Armenia and the Islamic country Azerbaijan, backed by Turkey and Pakistan. A top Armenian official recently was in Delhi to hold negotiations about the same, as per sources with knowledge of the situation. They asserted that India has emerged as a reliable source of weapons which is in line with their demand. However, specifics of the new shipments are undisclosed at this time and analysts in Armenia who want to remain anonymous stated that the cargo might comprise tools that could act as a deterrent amid the hostile environment with Azerbaijan. India sends first batch of weapons to Armenia India’s previous consignment to Armenia included Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers, anti-tank missiles, rockets, and ammunition. The weapons were reportedly delivered through Iran, a country with historical ties to Armenia. Iran, which has historical ties to Armenia had reportedly facilitated the delivery. The supplies had prompted protests from Azerbaijan. India, Iran and Armenia established a trilateral earlier this year to explore a transit corridor. The three nations underlined the potential for strengthening cultural and people-to-people ties as well as trilateral collaboration in several areas during a meeting in Yerevan in April. They further spoke about economic initiatives and regional communication channels. The decision was made to “continue consultations” in the format at that point. The usage of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) as a regional connectivity network was addressed as well at the summit. Armenia has been acquiring Pinaka systems mostly because of Azerbaijan’s drone utilisation, as the system’s “shoot and scoot” functionality allows it to avoid counter-battery fire. It is also an excellent armament system for the country due to its affordability and ease of application. Due to their familiarity with the Russian-made GRAD system, the Armenian army could quickly become proficient with the technique. The head of Armenia’s parliamentary committee on defence and security affairs, Andranik Kocharyan recently declared without mentioning India that the new arsenal supplied to the country is now being tested by their military, with “very satisfactory” results. Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is an ethnic and territorial conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, inhabited mostly by ethnic Armenians until 2023. The small nation of Armenia is nestled between Turkey and Azerbaijan. The Azeris share Turkish culture and religion since they are ethnic Turks. The Ottoman Empire colonized the predominantly Christian Armenians for a very long period. Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia were the three Soviet republics that split apart from Armenia after the Soviet Union annexed the country in the 1920s. Armenia and Azerbaijan gained independence in the 1990s with the fall of the Soviet Union. However, a small area that was home to ethnic Armenians continued to be a part of Azerbaijan. The name of this area is Nagorno-Karabakh. In the 1990s, tensions rose, leading this region to announce independence with Armenia’s assistance. The impasse lasted for over thirty years until Azerbaijan unilaterally breached the truce in 2020, backed by Turkey. The dispute saw a significant escalation after this. Six weeks of intense combat were reported to have claimed thousands of lives. Azerbaijan took over large swaths of land, and by the time both sides agreed to sign a peace deal negotiated by Russia in November 2020, it had grabbed all of the regions surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh controlled by Armenia since 1994. The terms of the deal obliged Armenian troops to leave these territories and they have since been limited to a smaller part of the region. The violence was momentarily stopped by the arrival of Russian soldiers, however, tensions had been building for months between the two nations. In September this year, the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia once again escalated as the Turkey-backed Azerbaijani forces launched a military offensive in the region. The onslaught that lasted for 24 hours claimed the lives of as many as 10 innocent civilians and left several injured. The following day, a cease-fire deal mediated by Russia was struck. The agreement stated that the military forces of Karabakh would be entirely disarmed and abolished. On September 20, the prime minister stated that Armenia was not a party to the deal, accusing Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan of attempting to draw Armenia into a confrontation. Amidst all this, over 1,20,000 ethnic Armenians living in the region started fleeing Muslim-majority Azerbaijan fearing persecution and ethnic cleansing by the Azeri authorities. https://www.opindia.com/2023/10/armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-india-considers-sending-second-batch-of-weapons-to-armenia/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted October 28, 2023 Report Share Posted October 28, 2023 Armenpress.am Sanctions are only way to stop Azeri aggressive actions against Armenia, says MEP Viola von Cramon-Taubadel 09:00, 27 October 2023YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. German Member of the European Parliament Viola von Cramon-Taubadel believes that sanctions are the only way to restrain Azerbaijan’s aggressive steps against Armenia.In an interview with Armenpress Brussels correspondent, the MEP spoke about possible assistance from Germany to Armenia, the opportunities for peace in South Caucasus and her latest visit to Armenia.Azerbaijan carried out ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh and it seems to be digested. The reaction and actions of the EU during the days of the attack and forced displacement did not go beyond deep concerns. To what extent do you see the EU's share of guilt in all of this, considering that financial support cannot alleviate the tragedy that happened?Absolutely. Well, I think this has three layers. First of all, there's only one guilty. This is Aliyev. Second of all, there's only one betrayer of Armenians and that is Russia, the so-called peacekeeping forces have not existed for the last three years. And third of all, for the EU it's very difficult because what we would like to see is that we work together with Armenia on a sustainable peace, and I think the whole intention why the EU has not gone for hard sanctions at that very moment against Azerbaijan, against Aliyev and his regime has deserved or have deserved that. We do not want the brokering, the mediation part to go to Russia or Turkey because we are very much afraid if we are now too tough and too biased, we give too much leverage or too much reason for Aliyev not to have a Brussels format. We've seen it already in Granada. We have seen it at other moments. And I think the EU has shown that the solidarity is fully with Armenia, that we will pay, that we will give financial contribution, that we will work on an economic plan, that we will make offers to bring Armenia closer to the EU, that we have an interest, that you can emancipate from Russia... But what I understand, and I wish we would have seen a tougher stand and a tougher formulation of sanctions and also deterrence to prevent Aliyev to go further because we don't know what he might have in mind. But the reason for this is understandable, is that if we kick ourselves completely out, the peace, hopefully soon, will be brokered by Turkey and Russia, and this is not in our interest. As you said we don't know whatever Aliyev thinks or wants, but one thing we know very clearly is his expansionist policy. Do you think that the EU has the measures to take care of the security of Armenia, of Armenians? Even if, as you say, Russian forces have failed, beside this, realistically, if today Azerbaijan attacks Armenian sovereign territory, what can the EU do? No, absolutely. And that is exactly this dilemma. I think if Aliyev knows that the next military attack he would provoke, be it on the enclaves or be it on the Zangezur corridor, he will face immediate sanctions, freezing his assets in London and Cyprus and Geneva wherever his family would not have access to all his real estate he had stolen over the years. I think this would make a difference, but since nothing is on the table, as you said, there's no deterrence. In fact, has the EU formulated anything else? I don't know. I mean, for me, on one hand i's a rich country. They live from the revenues of gas and oil export. But on the other hand, he also wants to be a legitimate leader, being accepted by the West. And we could hopefully behind closed doors make crystal clear: if you dare to think about attacking Armenia on their genuine territory, this must mean no more gas delivering to Europe. This would mean no more official contact. This would mean this and that. I do hope that this has taken place. But I'm not sure. During his visit to Armenia, the chairman of the Bundestag's foreign relations committee said that if the aggression of Azerbaijan continues and there are attacks on the sovereign territory of Armenia, sanctions will be implemented, which are in the process of being developed. Are you aware of what kind of sanctions we are talking about and how realistic they are?I was also surprised, positively surprised by that. And I know that my German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was also in favour. She was trying to build an alliance on the European level. She has actually called for sanctions. But I've heard that there was no unity in the German government. So yes, I could imagine there are a couple of colleagues in the Bundestag who would be in favour and also in the cabinet. But so far, not everyone. And that is a problem, and that's why it is difficult if you raise expectations and Aliyev knows that some people will never follow, so he is safe and we have to play it very smartly to make sure that we have a safe bid on Armenia, that there will be no further attack, that there will be any kind of a sanctioned package which would be in place immediately. And that we stay credible, but I don't know what the chair of the Committee for Foreign Affairs actually meant, whether he meant European? German? intergovernmental? So I don't know, but it's good that he was speaking about this. A few days ago, Armenia and France signed a military cooperation agreement, according to which France will provide Armenia with defensive ammunition. What can Germany do in case of aggression and attacks of Azerbaijan on the sovereign territory of Armenia?Germany is normally very good when it comes to humanitarian support. For example, after the 2008 aggression of Russia against Georgia, it was Germany's GIZ which built settlements for the new refugees. So, I see Germany more in this role than supporting militarily. But I don't think that Germany would be against including Armenia into the European peace facilities, which means we could also deliver weapons to Armenia directly. Well, so far, I see that Germany does a lot and I came across with many projects. But financially, for the wintertime, for the time being, I mean we have met with many refugees and it needs quite a lot of effort before the winter kicks in and I mean we speak about this 2000 meters high places. The snow will be there soon and there are some people in need of accommodation. There are holes in the walls, so we have to find something else and make this winterproof. For Aliyev, the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is over and there is nothing to discuss. For you, is this issue completely resolved or not?Well, not, I mean what he has done is the most humiliating way of showing that he has military might. To make sure that people, not ethnic Armenians, did not trust him at all, not a single millimeter. That they had all left or had to leave. But some of them have left everything behind and maybe they want to come back. Maybe they want to look after [their belongings]. Maybe they want to just get some stuff out of their apartments or their houses and so on. And so, for them there needs to be a very unbureaucratic way of returning. Finally, also this should be possible without becoming an Azerbaijani citizen, and these things need to be ruled out. They need to be a regulation as soon as possible. I mean, I was standing at this highest peak where you could see over the situation, you could see how the Azerbaijani troops are, not only troops, but also the construction companies building up fences, roads, pipelines, crossing points. It was like ants, like so obviously they invaded and at the same moment they started falsifying, fortifying the borders in a speed which is unimaginable. And here I think the international community should make sure, that people, first people, who lived in Artsakh they need to have a chance to return at any time. The tripartite meeting scheduled for the end of October in Brussels will not take place, Armenia has already announced that the postponement of the meeting was initiated by Azerbaijan. How would you interpret this behavior of Azerbaijan, taking into account the fact that Aliyev at the last moment refused to participate in the five-party meeting in Granada, which was also attended by Chancellor Olaf Scholz?I don't know. It's for the third time. I guess it's postponed and they're playing on that and they will see whether they can get more out, as I said before, on a different format. They dream about the 3 + 3.Do you think that this format matches better with Aliyev’s ambitions?Absolutely, I think for Aliyev it's better. I think for him it would be better and he personally counts that he can get more out of this than of the EU brokered peace deal. So that is a little bit the dilemma we are in. On one hand, we have to have a stick for deterring him not to go a step further, on the other hand, we need a carrot that he can agree on this EU brokered deal. How would this look like? We need to see!The EU’s agenda is much more focused on the possible Peace Treaty. How do you see this peace? How realistic is it for you? Can we really have the peace treaty with Azerbaijan?No, no, no. I think it was always being pushed by Pashinyan. I understand this government is different to all the other governments, and for the first time, is really speaking about that, it's not our agenda, it's the agenda of the Armenian Government. They see they are a landlocked country. They finally want to have a new set of buttons reset. They really would like to have open borders with Turkey. They really would like to have access to all the countries around. They really would like to trade on the same level and now they need a peace treaty which would be accepted by Azerbaijan, so that Azerbaijan can signal to its partner Turkey: “Please open the borders and let Armenia have free passage and free access”. But for me this is the salami tactics. So now since the Karabakh issue has settled, they find something else. They find the enclave, they find the "Zangezur Corridor", they find something just to keep Armenia in this economically very vulnerable situation. And that is for me, really, absolutely unacceptable and this needs to be also raised in the public sphere, but it's not my agenda to have a peace treaty. I think it's for the Armenian people and the Armenian people deserve finally peace and they want to develop their country, but with Iran on one side, and Georgia is also a bit unsecure, I think it is actually very strategically smart of the government to say ‘we are ready for a peace deal’. And last but not least, you were in Armenia recently with what kind of feelings are you back?I am full in admiration and I have a huge respect of everyone in Armenia who managed to integrate 100,000 people within four days through one entry point. I mean, nobody could ever imagine having this in Germany. And in Germany we speak about 84,000,000 and here we speak about, I don't know 3 million maximum. So people managed without foreign help only by themselves, by volunteers, by very, very engaged people. To get these people who are, I mean, they were traumatized, they were exhausted, they didn't have enough food for the last eight months, nine months, they had no medical treatment and these people came and they were welcomed and they found the housing. So, the overall atmosphere was ‘we are proud, we can be proud of what we have achieved, it's good that you come and watch this, but we managed by our own’ and I think this is really incredible. This is really something which the world should know and now the next steps will be, as I said, I mean giving them a winter proof accommodation. Make sure that people have a second chance, if they want to stay, they get a second career life or education. They can integrate into the labour market and so on. And make sure the European Union is there to support, to help. Some people would need psychological treatment and all this needs to be organized for the next months to come, and there I hope to see bilateral help from the US, from Germany, from other countries, but also the EU should be the first partner so that the Armenian people see there's somebody from the West. Second thing is that Armenia has done a lot of reforms. Armenia has moved a lot into democracy, of course, not fully functional, but much more advanced than some of the other countries. Especially of course much more than Azerbaijan, but I would say even compared to Georgia, they have done a lot and this should be awarded by the EU. I think we should do much more to show the people that we have seen the improvements and be it on visa liberalization, I think we should talk about this association agreement, which was declined in 2013, maybe to have a resumption on this, be it on deepening the trade relations. And many more things. So, I think it is up to the EU now to come up with offers to show the people of Armenia: ‘We want you, we see that you would be our next welcomed partner’, something like this. I had so many interesting talks and nobody there was not a single complaint and a situation where, at least in Germany, I saw last winter everyone was complaining about higher energy prices, this and that and too many refugees on them and Armenia where it is definitely difficult, much more difficult than in this rich Germany. Nobody had ever mentioned one complaint. So, I mean, this is a role model for resiliency. Moldova is similar, but Armenia in this neighborhood, it's very difficult to sustain and to be so brave. And so, I am proud and inspired at the same moment.Lilit Gasparyan https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1122890.html?fbclid=IwAR3RLQS1xLgUPgv6Nv7ws3fyCS_l7estUVaVYM3zotPB-6w9x-5LkOkILKs 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted October 29, 2023 Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 I do not believe anything that this minister says, it's all empty word salad!Canada - Oct 28 2023 'Everything is on the table' Joly says of potential Azerbaijan sanctions, at Armenian embassy opening YEREVAN - Ottawa opened its first-ever embassy in the distant Republic of Armenia on Wednesday, making history as Canada's first in the South Caucasus region. The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News AppForeign Minister Melanie Joly was on hand for the event, visiting Armenia to both officially open the embassy and for a raft of meetings with Armenian officials."Canada stands by the people of Armenia and supports their sovereignty and independence," Joly said at a press conference with her Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan. "We believe in your democratic aspirations and are ready to work with you to make them a reality," she said. Joly's visit to Armenia comes in the wake of a humanitarian crisis following the influx of 100,000 refugees from the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region last month.Internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh had been de facto independent for more than three decades, with multiple wars in that span. Following a nine-month blockade, Azerbaijan attacked the territory again on Sept. 19, leading to a mass forced displacement(opens in a new tab) of nearly the entire ethnic Armenian population to Armenia.Canada and Joly had regularly called for Azerbaijan to lift its blockade, and were "gravely concerned" by Azerbaijan's assault last month. Speaking in Yerevan, Joly announced an additional $1 million of aid for refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh.The minister also hinted that more consequences for Azerbaijan, including sanctions, could be on the table from Canada if the country's aggression against Armenia itself continues."Everything is on the table," said Joly, in response to CTV News' question regarding the possibility of sanctions against Azerbaijan. "We expect that Armenia's sovereignty will be respected, and we are closely watching this," Joly said.The embassy in Armenia is Canada's first in the South Caucasus region, which was previously covered by the Canadian embassy in Moscow. Neither of the other two regional countries -- Georgia and Azerbaijan -- host a Canadian embassy. 'THE ONLY DEMOCRACY IN THE REGION'The choice of Armenia as Canada's entry to the region was a pointed one. Countries with embassies in only one of the South Caucasus countries usually choose Georgia, with both its longtime pro-Western orientation and ability to cover all three regional countries. But democratic backsliding there, as well as Armenia's strong pro-Western turn in the past year, made Armenia a more attractive option."This is the only democracy in the region," said Stephane Bergeron, the Bloc Quebecois MP for Montarville, Que. and one of two MPs besides Joly on the trip. "So they need support. And this is why I think it's important to intensify the relations between Canada and Armenia," Bergeron said.Lyndsay Mathyssen, in attendance as the NDP MP for London-Fanshawe, Ont. echoed these sentiments. "This is a historic moment, one that the Armenian diaspora and politicians have been working on for many, many years now," Mathyssen said. "For our [two] countries, economically, politically, there's a lot going on. We can certainly benefit from strengthening the relationship between Canada and Armenia, and this is a wonderful way to do that," she said.Canada's commitments in Armenia have already gone beyond the establishment of a permanent diplomatic mission and humanitarian aid.In July, Global Affairs Canada announced that Canada would be joining the European Union's Mission in Armenia (EUMA), becoming the first third-party country to do so.The mission was established in February to observe the country's border with Azerbaijan in the wake of a two-day Azerbaijani offensive into Armenia last September that saw Azerbaijani troops occupy a swathe of Armenian territory. Joly visited the Armenian town of Jermuk, close to last year's fighting, on Thursday, observing Azerbaijani military positions on Armenian territory alongside the EUMA.That attack by Azerbaijan, as well as last month's assault on Nagorno-Karabakh, has fuelled fears of further Azerbaijani military offensives against Armenia itself. While Azerbaijani officials have denied any territorial designs on Armenia, regular belligerent statements by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, as well as irredentist claims against Armenia itself, have cast doubt on these. 'TIME TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS'Bergeron underscored the need for consistency in Canada's foreign policy and support for a fellow democracy under attack by an autocratic neighbour in his support of the embassy opening."Very often [Canada] decides to chastise a country that attacks another one, [but we were] silent when Azerbaijan not only attacked Nagorno-Karabakh, but also the sovereign territory of Armenia," Bergeron said. "We were all together to support Ukraine, so I don't understand why we're not together to support Armenia that was attacked by Azerbaijan."I think it's time to impose sanctions against the leaders of this country [Azerbaijan], because an aggression is an aggression, no matter which country [does it]," Bergeron said.For Sevag Belian, the executive director of the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANC), the opening of the embassy and Joly's visit were a good start - but hopefully just the beginning."I think that Canada is pivotal in terms of supporting the physical integrity of Armenia," Belian said. "Having a Canadian presence here…is a message that I think Canada is trying to project, that Armenia is a country that needs help, in the face of aggression by Azerbaijan," he said.As Canada establishes itself in the region, Belian hopes that additional pressure on Azerbaijan by Ottawa can help restore stability to the South Caucasus."For the last three years, since the 2020 war and especially over the last month, we've [ANC] been very clear, asking the Canadian government to take decisive action [against Azerbaijan]," Belian said. "Sanctions are one way, but there are many levers that [Canada] can use. We'd like to see real, tangible results, and we're confident that the [Canadian] government is moving in that direction."https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/everything-is-on-the-table-joly-says-of-potential-azerbaijan-sanctions-at-armenian-embassy-opening-1.6620208 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 Armenpress.am Armenia remains a beacon of democracy in the South Caucasus. US Ambassador 18:20, 28 October 2023YEREVAN, OCTOBER 28, ARMENPRESS. With the launch of the new patrol police, the residents of Syunik will have an opportunity to collaborate more closely with representatives of the law enforcement and justice system, thereby fostering a greater sense of security. The US Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia, Kristina Kvien said during her attendance at the event dedicated to the inauguration of the Syunik Police Patrol Service division."On behalf of the United States government, I am honored to join you today for this important event. I am aware that following this solemn ceremony, the patrol officers of Syunik will officially commence their duties throughout the entire region. This marks a significant milestone in the establishment of patrol police across the entire territory of the Republic of Armenia.Given the opportunity that I am here in Syunik, I want to tell you about the important work that you will carry out in Syunik. In the recent letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Armenia, President Biden reaffirmed the United States' unwavering support for Armenia's sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and democracy.First of all, this obligation is applicable and refers to the Syunik region itself, which has been particularly affected by the regional conflict and external aggression and the region of Syunik has recently received more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh.However, despite these difficulties and problems, the commitment of Armenia and Syunik region to strengthen the rule of law has remained unwavering.It is due to this commitment that Armenia continues to be a beacon of democracy in the South Caucasus," The US Ambassador emphasized.The US Ambassador noted that it was a great honor for the United States to collaborate with the Republic of Armenia in the implementation of this ambitious police reform program."I would like to commend the efforts of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Internal Affairs in leading the reform processes within the country.The United States is allocating an additional $1 million, in addition to the $15 million already provided by the United States to date, in support of police reforms."This additional funding will be used to conduct the next patrol police academy scheduled for 2024," Kvien said. https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1123060.html?fbclid=IwAR1y96LcOVTYDrXNle2GDeYT_gsaamMgMvSI5nAQEQxDnGa_KueTriPH2l8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 Armenpress.am Syunik is a symbol of Armenia's resistance and strength: EU ambassador 18:42, 28 October 2023YEREVAN, OCTOBER 28, ARMENPRESS. The European Union has extended its support for the establishment of a patrol service throughout Armenia by providing both technical assistance and expertise. The Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia, Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, who participated in the event dedicated to the start of the work of Syunik division of the Police Patrol Service said: "On behalf of the European Union, I would like to reaffirm our strong commitment and support in the framework of reforms that have been a cornerstone of democratic governance and the effective execution of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement over recent years.The rule of law and fundamental rights within the European Union will remain the foundation of our union.As a noteworthy testament to this commitment and the advancements in these reforms, I would like to emphasize the launch and full operation of the patrol service, with the final phase of implementation taking place today in Syunik, and, of course, the creation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in January 2023.The European Union has provided support for the establishment of a patrol service across Armenia, supporting its implementation and operation through the provision of technical assistance and expertise. Today, we are proud to present the integration of 75 newly purchased vehicles into the patrol service," said the EU Ambassador.Vassilis Maragos emphasized and welcomed the involvement and participation of the Government in all areas of the Ministry of Interior. "Of course, challenges exist, and I am confident that they will be effectively addressed through enhanced capacity building, ongoing education, heightened transparency, and increased accountability. This way, the new, reformed police service system can better meet the needs of citizens, "the EU Ambassador said.Vassilis Maragos in his speech mentioned that Syunik is a symbol of Armenia's resistance and strength."I would like to quote the words of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, during her statement following the meeting in Granada: 'The European Union stands by Armenia and is fully committed to supporting the negotiations,' " stated the EU Ambassador.Vassilis Maragos emphasized that, in addition to this project, the European Union supports the enhancement of resilience in the Syunik region through various other initiatives. "And one of those initiatives is the "Team Europe" initiative, within the framework of which more than 100 million euros have already been allocated for the development of the Syunik region. We expect to implement these projects and programs for the residents of this region, together with the government," the EU ambassador concluded. https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1123064.html?fbclid=IwAR1gRUK53fS_66R-wIBXDj0R630F6FEXcrDE4eR38Wva6ZtSEPtqCzv2SQA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 Armenpress.am PM Pashinyan reiterates plans to sign peace treaty with Azerbaijan and normalize ties with Türkiye 11:00, 30 October 2023YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that the Government of Armenia plans to sign a peace treaty and establish relations with Azerbaijan and normalize relations with Türkiye.“Signing a treaty on peace and normalization of relations with Azerbaijan, and the normalization of relations with Türkiye is in our plans. As much as we realize that this won’t be easy, moving forward with this plan is in the state interests of Armenia,” Pashinyan told Members of Parliament at a committee hearing on the 2024 state budget. In the collapsing world order, the only tool for ensuring security of Armenia is the identification of the homeland with the state, its territory, internationally recognized borders and territorial integrity, the PM said.“The key, practical issue stemming from this perception, as strange as it may sound, is the realization of the state’s geographic location, and before the global discussion on East-West, North-South, I find it important to realize that we are situated in the South Caucasian region, we have four neighbors, and all the main threats and possibilities that we could have are hidden in the relations with them. In this regard, the further deepening of the friendly and cooperative nature of relations with Georgia and Iran are also important,” Pashinyan said. https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1123099.html?fbclid=IwAR3Wd3Hz2HdUtCWzt3PbfVKj09pKLtfdSktKlxBU0mADHM7qSaWmZlWm_y4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 Armenpress.am Three main principles of peace and normalization with Azerbaijan are agreed upon – PM 11:03, 30 October 2023YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, ARMENPRESS. The three main principles of normalization of relations and peace with Azerbaijan are agreed upon and the signing of a peace treaty will be realistic if both the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides remain committed to these principles, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said.“Essentially the three main principles of normalization of relations and peace with Azerbaijan are agreed upon. And if the parties remain committed to these agreed principles, the signing of the treaty on peace and normalization of relations becomes realistic,” Pashinyan said at a committee hearing in parliament on the 2024 state budget.The principles are: the mutual recognition by Armenia and Azerbaijan of each other’s territorial integrity, with the understanding that Armenia’s territory is 29,800 square km and Azerbaijan’s 86,600 square km. These numbers are taken from the latest USSR encyclopedias. The demarcation and delimitation will be carried out during further discussions and agreements. The second principle is that the parties agree to carry out delimitation based on the Alma-Ata Declaration, which means that the administrative borders that existed between the Armenian SSR and Azerbaijani SSR have become the state borders between the two countries when the USSR collapsed. The inviolability of these borders is recognized by the parties based on the Alma-Ata Declaration.“The presence of maps recording the situation when the Alma-Ata Declaration was adopted is of key importance in the delimitation process. Essentially, the parties have the maps that reflect those realities. Thus, in case of political will by the sides it is possible to swiftly and effectively move forward in this process as well,” Pashinyan said.The third principle is the opening of the regional connections based on the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the sides, and the regional connections will function on the basis of reciprocity and equality. The Armenian government has presented its position in the Crossroads of Peace concept in this regard. https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1123101.html?fbclid=IwAR3p16GBi0BXPN7LvUKol_58w_k_StCNv67Qveyrv0-3m8ApfINabsS-ZEw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 Armenpress.am Prime Minister Pashinyan hopes for implementation of Armenia-Türkiye border opening agreement 11:13, 30 October 2023YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has expressed hope that the Armenia-Türkiye land border would soon be opened for citizens of third countries and diplomatic passport holders.“Speaking about the Armenia-Türkiye relations, I’d like to express hope that soon we will have the implementation of the agreements reached as a result of the discussions and negotiations between the special representatives, which pertains to the following: At this phase the Armenia-Türkiye border gets opened for citizens of third countries and diplomatic passport holders. Besides the political agreement, significant infrastructure work has been done. In particular, we worked in the Margara checkpoint in the direction of re-equipping and restoring it and in this regard, we are already ready for such developments. We hope that these agreements get implemented,” PM Pashinyan said at a committee hearing in parliament on the 2024 state budget. https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1123103.html?fbclid=IwAR2JntGZtn0rqYH0jzTjAfo4RBcuyAIMVWMgxNev6oWuG9t87eFmsYxj7Ks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 Armenpress.am Prime Minister Pashinyan vows crackdown on possible re-emergence of corruption 11:48, 30 October 2023YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has expressed ‘deep concern’ about reports on possible bribery and corruption still taking place on various levels in the country.Speaking at a parliamentary committee hearing on the 2024 state budget, Pashinyan reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to combating corruption.He said that no crisis, no turmoil or difficulty is able to anyhow weaken the government’s anti-corruption campaign.“As you’ve noticed, this is a matter of national security and national interests. At a recent discussion in the Anti-Corruption Committee and the Corruption Prevention Commission, I stressed that today, the fight against corruption is as important for Armenia as it was back in 2018 or 2019. We are deeply concerned about the perceptions that it is possible to solve various issues in Armenia with money and bribes in different places,” Pashinyan said, stressing that the authorities will continue unwavering fight against corruption.“Any similar case, regardless of it happening by the former or current government circles, must receive a strong, special, and certainly a lawful assessment,” Pashinyan said. https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1123108.html?fbclid=IwAR3zHKo1xv2UlK8Jg1KbArLkH6ySqz1cJlVYLaJuI-XSWFn96YctAxvHnNs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted November 1, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2023 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted November 3, 2023 Report Share Posted November 3, 2023 The National Interest Nov 1 2023 Armenia is an Isolated Democracy in Crisis If the United States and its democratic partners fail to stand with Yerevan and stand up to Baku, the broader consequences for the region could be dire. by Mark Dietzen Time is running out to protect the rule by law from rule by force in Europe’s southeastern frontier. Azerbaijan’s takeover of the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh—resulting in the mass exodus of its native Armenian inhabitants and the dissolution of the enclave’s institutions—signals a dangerous trend in the South Caucasus. Armenia now faces a dual threat of further external aggression and greater internal strife. Without support from the United States and other democracies, Armenia’s democratic gains may be at risk—and the government may be pulled further into the autocratic orbit of the Kremlin. A predominantly ethnic Armenian region that has been an object of contention for centuries, Nagorno-Karabakh, enjoyed special autonomous status within Soviet Azerbaijan. During the final years of the Soviet Union, Armenians fought to secede from Azerbaijan, winning the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, resulting in the formation of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, or Artsakh, the historical Armenian name for the region. The entity has never been internationally recognized. Over the next three decades, neighboring Armenia provided pivotal security assistance and economic access to the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, and the region existed as a de facto independent state within the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan. A tenuous ceasefire held for much of that time, albeit with frequent skirmishes along the border. In 2020, the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War broke out, claiming an estimated 7,000 lives over six weeks. This time, Azerbaijan emerged the victor, taking large swaths of territory and surrounding the remaining Armenian-controlled regions, save for a single corridor with Armenia. Russian peacekeepers oversaw a brittle ceasefire agreement, which included significant Armenian concessions. Two years later, Azerbaijan orchestrated a nine-month blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh, severing its access to Armenia and the rest of the world. Food, medicine, and other crucial supplies became critically low, forcing the population to live in increasingly dire conditions. Baku even blocked Red Cross humanitarian aid to Nagorno-Karabakh in breach of all international agreements. This was merely a prelude to September’s brutal seizure of Nagorno-Karabakh, undertaken in violation of the 2020 ceasefire agreement. Azerbaijan has demanded that the Armenians choosing to remain in Nagorno-Karabakh “reintegrate” into the Azerbaijani state, with President Ilham Aliyev claiming that “all their rights will be guaranteed.” Given Azerbaijan’s years of state-sponsored demonization of Armenians, the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh were not inclined to believe his promise. As a result, nearly all of the 120,000 Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh fled to Armenia over two weeks. The government of Azerbaijan has not only violated international law and established diplomatic agreements—its actions pose an existential threat to Armenia’s democracy. If the takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh is not met with an adequate global response, President Aliyev and fellow autocrats will be encouraged to continue to use force to achieve political ends. There are growing concerns in Armenia that Azerbaijan may again attempt to use force to install a so-called “Zangezur Corridor” across sovereign Armenian territory, which would link Azerbaijan with its landlocked region, Nakhchivan, which lies between Armenia, Iran, and Turkey. In addition to violating Armenia’s sovereignty, this could cut off Armenia from its southern border with Iran. There is precedent for this fear: In 2021, President Aliyev even went so far as to threaten to install such a corridor “whether Armenia likes it or not.” Crucially, Azerbaijan enjoys the backing of Turkey, while Russia—Armenia’s traditional protector—has been missing in action. This is due in part to the Kremlin’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and frustration with Armenia’s westward shift, as evidenced by Yerevan’s accession to the International Criminal Court last month in defiance of Moscow. During his speech at the UN General Assembly on September 19—the day Azerbaijan began its takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh—Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called on Armenia to open the “Zangezur Corridor.” Then, on September 25, Aliyev and Erdoğan met in Nakhchivan, where President Aliyev indirectly referenced a corridor through Armenia. This development would undoubtedly have wider geopolitical consequences. Armenia would risk losing access to its southern border with Iran since Azerbaijan would have the ability to close the corridor, as it did at Lachin in Nagorno-Karabakh. Such a scenario could leave just one of Armenia’s international borders—Georgia—open to trade. If this happens, Russia’s interest in the conflict could be reactivated, as the Kremlin is reluctant to lose its South Caucasus link to Iran, which could lead Russia to increase its military presence in Armenia. External threats combined with internal tensions could put severe pressure on Prime Minister Pashinyan, who has steered Armenia in a westward direction since taking office in 2018. The sudden influx of an enormous population of refugees poses major political and economic challenges for Armenia. Prime Minister Pashinyan’s government will no doubt face angry questions about why Karabakh was lost and must be prepared to offer reassurances that Azerbaijan will be held accountable for this outrage. Armenians will need affirmation that the government can provide for their security following Russia’s failure to stop Azerbaijan’s seizure of Karabakh despite the Russian peacekeepers stationed there. What’s more, there is a threat that a deteriorating security environment could erode the government’s progress in strengthening democratic institutions if illiberal voices can exploit the situation to win political power and restore Armenia’s dependence on Russia. The democratic world has a clear interest in ensuring that Armenia’s democracy survives this crisis and that Azerbaijan’s actions are justly punished. To begin with, robust humanitarian assistance must be provided for Armenian refugees. During a recent fact-finding mission to the region, USAID Administrator Samantha Power promised $11.5 million in humanitarian assistance. This is a good start, but significant humanitarian assistance will need to be sustained over the coming months—and even years—to help refugees transition to their new lives in Armenia. The United States and other democracies must also prioritize programs that support Armenia’s further democratic progress, including efforts to strengthen the rule of law, continue legislative reforms, and advance citizen-centered governance. Additionally, as Yerevan works to resettle tens of thousands of newly arrived refugees, support will be needed to assist them in preparing proper documentation of the human rights violations inflicted during their exodus from Nagorno-Karabakh. These records are vital to any future legal action against Azerbaijan. Washington and Brussels must also demonstrate their commitment to Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Holding Azerbaijan accountable for its outrageous violation of international law must be the first step. Punitive sanctions should be imposed on Azerbaijan, including its senior leadership, making it clear that aggression against Armenia will come at a high cost. U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan should also be suspended immediately. In the interest of a long-term settlement, the United States and EU should also dispatch senior envoys to Ankara to engage Turkey in international efforts to resolve outstanding issues between Armenia and Azerbaijan through political dialogue. Finally, the United States and its democratic partners should engage Yerevan in new strategic discussions, which include opportunities to deepen security cooperation, following the first-ever U.S.-Armenia bilateral military exercises in September. Russian troops will soon leave Nagorno-Karabakh, but their presence in Armenia will continue until Yerevan has reliable security alternatives. We must pursue a long-term strategy that reorients Armenia away from Russia and towards the community of democracies. Armenia’s democracy is in danger. If the United States and its democratic partners fail to stand with Yerevan and stand up to Baku, the broader consequences for the region could be dire. Strong political, economic, and security support will be crucial to ensuring that Armenia can continue on the path of democracy and that autocrats in Baku and beyond think twice before pursuing further acts of aggression. Mark Dietzen is the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) resident program director in Vilnius, Lithuania, where he leads IRI’s Belarus and Baltic-Eurasia Inter-Parliamentary Training Institute (BEIPTI) programs. He previously led non-profit, democratic development efforts in Nagorno-Karabakh. The views expressed are solely those of the author. https://nationalinterest.org/feature/armenia-isolated-democracy-crisis-207134 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted November 3, 2023 Report Share Posted November 3, 2023 First Post Nov 2 2023 Beyond Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: How India can help Armenia with military training Though reports are emerging towards a peace settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, even then, a strong Armenian defence force is a must in the national interest of Armenia, and India can fill this gap in the most effective manner Maj Gen Ashok Kumar The geopolitical landscape of the world is changing quite rapidly. It was the Russia-Ukraine war first, while it is now the Hamas-Israel war. US-China relations are also heating up on the issues of the Indo-Pacific, South China Sea, and Taiwan which may explode at any time. While adequate world attention is drawn to all these issues, a major conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, affecting 100,000 Armenians, has almost eroded from the memories of all world powers, despite the fact that almost the entire Armenian population was forced to move out of their native place to relocate themselves in Armenia. The September 23 operations were launched by Azerbaijan to capture this Armenian enclave, which it succeeded in. It succeeded as it had four times the superior forces as compared to Armenia. The relative ‘Nos’ alone don’t matter. The force structure, force organisation, command and control structure, equipment, warfighting doctrine and tactics, and the morale of the forces matter much more. It was probably because of these reasons that Armenia won the first Nagorno-Karabakh war, which concluded in 1994. It is therefore essential that the Armenian defence forces carry out a re-appraisal of their strengths and weaknesses. This will assist them in identifying the areas that need improvement. It will be a good idea if Armenia takes the assistance of some trusted country to help shape its defence forces, including imparting the training to make it more battle-ready. India could be the obvious choice to establish an ‘Indian Army Training Team (IATT)’ in Armenia, which can be co-located with the Force Headquarters of Armenia. IATT is more suitable due to the following reasons: Armenia faces two front threats. From Nakhichevan enclave of Azerbaijan on its West which can be activated by the forces ab-initio placed in the Nakhichevan enclave besides Azerbaijan reinforcing the location through Iran / Turkey. It can also establish a forced corridor through the Southern end of Armenia for a much wanted connectivity. In addition, Armenia’s Nagorno-Karabakh enclave in the East is surrounded by Azerbaijan from almost all the four sides. Armenia needs to be prepared and capable of fighting ‘two front war’. There could be no better country in the world as compared to India which can assist Armenia in its current geo-graphic conflict context as India has fought and won a two front war in 1971 and is handling the similar threat now on two fronts due to collusivity of China and Pakistan. India has a large and robust defence force structure. It has also the experience of establishing IATTs in other foreign countries successfully. It is therefore most suited to undertake this task. India has been exporting defence equipment to include surveillance equipment to Armenia . In addition, it has also exported the Pinaka rocket weapon system while Armenia has been fighting against its adversary, Azerbaijan. India has done so when Armenia has been at war with Azerbaijan. Armenia is probably the first country in the world to get this support while being at war. It clearly indicates the importance attached to Armenia by India in the latter’s international security calculus. Armenia has recently posted a Defence Attaché to its embassy in India who can interact with concerned stakeholders in Government of India at Delhi to work out a suitable structure and its early operationalisation. Given the importance attached to Armenia and the mutual national interests of both countries converging, India could be willing to respond positively to any such proposal from the Armenian side. The Armenian embassy in India and the Indian embassy in Armenia could play an important role in making this happen. While the exact structure, role, and tasks of IATT will emerge based on mutual consultation between both countries, some ingredients could be as follows: The structure should be adequate to provide the comprehensive support as requested by Armenia. If Armenia desires, this team can also suggest the force structure and equipment for arming the Armenian Defence Forces. The structures could be aligned to the threat perception Armenia faces so that it can respond to threats comprehensively and decisively. Armenia is importing the defence equipment primarily from Russia and erstwhile Soviet nations besides some new entrants. The sources of these imports are drying up due to the Russia-Ukraine war. In such a situation, India has been emerging as one of the main suppliers of defence equipment for the Armenian defence forces besides having the potential to maintain Russian supplied equipment . Indigenisation of defence equipment in India, export orientation and private sector participation is giving India new opportunities to equip the Armenian defence forces. IATT can train officers as well as other ranks in all possible domains as desired by Armenia. It will collaborate with training infrastructure and instructors from the Armenian Defence Forces for the optimum results. The syllabi can also be re-structured as per training needs of Armenia. Since Armenian defence forces have only two services to include Army and Air force and therefore the composition of IATT must factor the need to train both the Services .It should also train on equipment like drones and other such advancements. Though Armenia does not have its Navy being a landlocked country, capacity creation in this field is still essential. IATT can factor this requirement as well. Maintenance of the equipment in an operationally acceptable timeframe is also critical for winning the wars / battles. IATT will need to structure itself suitably to impart quality training to this facet as well. IATT will need to assist in setting the wargames and field exercises for the Armenian army in a near-conflict simulation environment and will have to assist in objective evaluation. The role, tasks, and areas to be covered for the training can be discussed by both countries to give it a practical shape. Though reports are emerging towards a peace settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, even then, a strong Armenian defence force is a must in the national interest of Armenia. India can fill this gap in the most effective manner by establishing a training team in Armenia early. The writer is a retired army veteran. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views. https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/beyond-nagorno-karabakh-conflict-how-india-can-help-armenia-with-military-training-13334832.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted November 3, 2023 Report Share Posted November 3, 2023 Nov 2 2023 When India gave Pinaka to Armenia, Azerbaijan got scared, Pakistan’s General Asim Munir came in tension by Ananya Dewan India Armenia: The enmity and tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan is well known. Meanwhile, due to the friendship between India and Armenia, Azerbaijan and its friend Pakistan are in tension. Now Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir is nervous after India supplied deadly weapons including Pinaka rocket to Armenia. Under tension, he has suddenly arrived on a tour of Azerbaijan. Pakistani Army Chief has announced to increase military and defense relations with Azerbaijan. The Pakistani Army issued a statement saying that General Munir’s visit is an important step towards increasing the strategic partnership between Pakistan and Azerbaijan. Pakistan Army said that during General Munir’s visit, he met Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, Defense Minister and Army Chiefs. During this, discussions were held on increasing defense cooperation between the two countries. Pakistan had openly helped Azerbaijan with arms during the Nagorno Karabakh war. Pakistani army supplies rockets and many other deadly weapons to Azerbaijan. It was on the strength of the weapons of Turkey, Israel and Pakistan that Azerbaijan snatched Nagerno Karabakh from Armenia. India supplies Pinaka missile to Armenia Pakistan’s General Asim Munir also met the soldiers of Azerbaijan. During this, he said that Pakistan will continue to support Azerbaijan’s army in future also. The Pakistani Army Chief has made this visit at a time when India has supplied Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher to Armenia, a victim of Azerbaijan’s bullying. The first consignment of Indian Pinaka system was sent to Armenia on 5 October. Know how dangerous is Pinaka missile? India did not openly reveal the name of the country but analysts say that it has been supplied to Armenia. Last year, Armenia had placed an order with India’s DRDO to purchase the Pinaka rocket system. This entire deal was worth Rs 2000 crore. Pinaka Mk-1 ER rocket system can hunt its targets up to a distance of 45 km. Whereas Pinaka Mk-2 rocket system is capable of hitting a distance of 75 km. India’s Pinaka system has reached Armenia via Iran. Azerbaijan was badly frightened by India’s delivery of this rocket. There is old enmity between Armenia and Azerbaijan The enmity between Armenia and Azerbaijan is not current but old. Both the countries have fought a fierce war for three months in 2020 over Nagorno Karabakh. In this war, Azerbaijan defeated Armenia on the basis of Israeli and Turkish weapons. Later a ceasefire was reached with the mediation of Russia. However, even after this, military clashes have taken place several times between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In such a situation, Armenia has tried to buy arms from outside countries by leaving Russia embroiled in the Ukraine war. This is the reason why Armenia has purchased Bharti’s Pinaka missile. https://www.connexionblog.com/2023/11/when-india-gave-pinaka-to-armenia-azerbaijan-got-scared-pakistans-general-asim-munir-came-in-tension/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted November 3, 2023 Report Share Posted November 3, 2023 Armenpress.am Any violation of Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would lead to serious consequences, says U.S. 10:10, 2 November 2023YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. The United States has reaffirmed its resolute support to Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Voice of America Armenian service reported citing the U.S. State Department.The Voice of America Armenian service asked the State Department to comment on the Lemkin Institute’s latest Red Flag alert for genocide due to the alarming potential for an invasion of Armenia by Azerbaijan in the coming days and weeks.In response, the U.S. State Department told VOA that ‘any violation of Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would lead to serious consequences.’“The United States resolutely supports Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We’ve stressed that any violation of this sovereignty and territorial integrity would lead to serious consequences. We regularly stress our expectations, such as the call against the use of force, and we continuously follow the situation. Armenia is a close partner and friend to the United States, and we expect to work with the Armenian authorities to strengthen Armenia’s political and economic security,” the State Department said. https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1123328.html?fbclid=IwAR2QLLXAowGnlIZSVKoFMLiDL8F8d-O6BgajhUrV79TIWIfGbxy6ZZNifm8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted November 3, 2023 Report Share Posted November 3, 2023 Armenpress.am Armenian authorities thwart terror plot, five suspects arrested 14:27, 2 November 2023YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. 5 suspects have been arrested in Armenia for allegedly plotting a terror attack, the National Security Service (NSS) has announced. The five suspects, together with unidentified accomplices plotted a bombing attack, seizure of government buildings and murder, the NSS said in a statement. The goal of the would-be terrorists was to dismantle the activities of government bodies.[see video]Authorities raided the apartments of the suspects and found firearms and ammunition, a drone and two gas cylinders supposedly intended as attachment, body armor, military fatigues, handcuffs, surveillance devices, computers, mobile phones, communication devices, ten unused SIM cards of Armenian and Russian communications operators and documents outlining the preparations of the terror attack and other items.The suspects had even come up with a codename of their plot – Northern Abscission.The suspects had opened Ukrainian and Moldovan telegram channels under the name of National Salvation Rebellion intended for “involving broader segments” in the terror attacks.The suspects had also acquired medical supplies and planned to move their families to Georgia before the attack.The terror suspects planned detailed moves for ambushing, surveilling and retreating from buildings. They even planned to distribute flyers and other procedures to involve accomplices and coordinate their actions.Authorities are working to identify other accomplices of the suspects. https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1123358.html?fbclid=IwAR2etutGEt4TYJ7x6k78TSHE9iFGTraAc5IrMVxhbT6ReJyupZa2rhx1I0k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted November 5, 2023 Report Share Posted November 5, 2023 MSN Nov 4 2023 DPA International Follow German top diplomat visits Armenia's border with Azerbaijani exclave German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock travelled to Armenia's border with the autonomous Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan on Saturday, the second day of a trip to the South Caucasus that comes after Azerbaijan recently seized Nagorno-Karabakh. Baerbock participated in a patrol by the civilian EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) around 70 kilometres from the capital Yerevan near the border with Nakhchivan, which neighbours Armenia to the south-west. EUMA is tasked with monitoring the security situation along the Armenian side of the border. Afterwards, Baerbock was planning to talk to refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh at a reception centre. EUMA began its work at the end of February, employing some 85 staff from 22 EU states by mid-September. Germany currently deploys the largest contingent with 16 members and a federal police officer as head of mission. The costs of the two-year mission are estimated at just under €31 million ($33.2 million). Baerbock said on Friday that she was in favour of increasing the size of the mission, adding that Germany is ready to become more involved. Azerbaijan, she said, would also benefit from more security due to the neutral observation mission. According to German government foreign policy expert Michael Link, Azerbaijan has increasingly threatened to seize Armenian territory, primarily to create a land link to Nakhchivan, which has some 400,000 inhabitants and is located between Armenia and Iran. It also shares a short border with Turkey. A strip of Armenian territory, some 40 kilometres wide, separates Nakhchivan from Azerbaijan in the east. The territory was declared autonomous within Azerbaijan at the beginning of the Soviet era. Azerbaijan has long been campaigning for a new road and rail link to its exclave. At the beginning of October, Azerbaijan's authoritarian government concluded an agreement with Iran on a transport link across Iranian territory. New border crossings into Iran are also planned. Baerbock, who travelled to Armenia on Friday to discuss the predicament of the more than 100,000 refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh, is scheduled to fly to Baku later on Saturday for talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. Nagorno-Karabakh is located on Azerbaijani territory, but was inhabited by a majority of Armenians until the most recent fighting. The region broke away from Baku in a civil war in the 1990s with help from Yerevan. Azerbaijan's army forced the surrender of the local forces in Nagorno-Karabakh on September 19, prompting more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians to flee the region. Baerbock on Friday urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to return to the negotiating table and seek a political solution to their decades-old conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/german-top-diplomat-visits-armenia-s-border-with-azerbaijani-exclave/ar-AA1jn0kA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted November 5, 2023 Report Share Posted November 5, 2023 Armenpress.am German FM praises Armenia’s effective integration of forcibly displaced population of NK 15:11, 4 November 2023YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s delegation was impressed to see how Armenia has been able to take in over 100,000 forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh in a matter of days, Artashat Mayor Karlen Mkrtchyan has said.Mkrtchyan was among other officials who accompanied Baerbock during her visit to Vostan, a village within Artashat Municipality in Ararat Province.Ararat Province has taken in 22,000 of the more than 100,000 forcibly displaced persons. 5,300 of them have been accommodated in Artashat.After her meetings in Ararat Province, the German FM was heard comparing the accommodation of the displaced persons with the situation in Ukraine, noting that Armenia has been able to integrate the forcibly displaced persons from NK more effectively than Ukraine its IDPs, particularly children. “Even in Ukraine it hasn’t been possible to ensure normal living conditions for persons, especially children [iDPs] and swiftly integrate them to a new environment, whereas in Armenia there’s a better picture in this regard,” the German FM told local officials.Artashat Mayor Karlen Mkrtchyan told Armenpress that he talked with the German delegation during the trip.The members of the German delegation were surprised how Armenia has been able to receive over 100,000 forcibly displaced persons in a few days, the Artashat Mayor said.“Mrs. Baerbock was really surprised that we were able to resolve essential organizational issues in a very short period of time. Everyone, children and adults, have harmoniously integrated into the new conditions and they have no problems of coexistence with the locals. We’ve accepted everyone like family,” Mkrtchyan said when asked to comment on the German FM’s statement. https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1123529.html?fbclid=IwAR3C9P8SWJ9LqYtvQpqpz8bMdh8-C1BjRWTourXdUbNffxJskVSLgJ1Tz2A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted November 6, 2023 Report Share Posted November 6, 2023 Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2023 09:54:13 +0200FP - Foreign PolicyNov 3 2023 Armenian-Azerbaijan Peace Might Finally Be on the Table Economic connections could rebuild a relationship wracked by war.By Eugene Chausovsky, a senior analyst at the Newlines Institute. As fighting rages in the Middle East and Ukraine, another conflict-ridden region adjacent to both war zones may be on the precipice of a long-elusive peace. That region is the South Caucasus, where diplomatic efforts are underway between Armenia and Azerbaijan to strike a peace agreement following Azerbaijan’s victory in the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. But the two are not operating in isolation: The conflict involves many of the same external players as both the Israeli-Hamas and Ukrainian conflicts—including Iran, Turkey, Russia, the European Union, and the United States. That makes the pathway to peace a challenging, interconnected road to maneuver.The road to peace here may be quite literal. On Oct. 26, while at a summit in Tbilisi, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced an initiative known as the Crossroads for Peace, which calls for building transport connections to each of Armenia’s neighbors—Georgia, Iran, Turkey, and Azerbaijan. The inclusion of the latter two is most notable, given that it was less than two months previous that Azerbaijan launched military operations to seize Nagorno-Karabakh with Turkey’s support, thus giving Baku complete territorial control over the long-disputed region.The South Caucasus is one of the world’s least connected regions, both for geographic and political reasons. Mountainous and on the fringes of larger powers, numerous local and regional conflicts have also stifled trade and connectivity. Armenia’s borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey have long been closed due to the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh, giving Yerevan only limited trade connections to Georgia, and by extension Russia, to the north and Iran to the south. In the meantime, Azerbaijan’s connections to its allies in Turkey and even its own exclave of Nakhchivan have been highly curtailed, with its western-bound exports of energy supplies relying exclusively on transit through Georgia.Now, the issue of territorial control over Nagorno-Karabakh is no longer functionally in play, with the vast majority of the region’s ethnic Armenian residents seeking refuge in Armenia proper, while the region’s self-declared government announced that it would “cease to exist” as of Jan 1. As challenging as that has been for Armenians from both a humanitarian and political standpoint, it has removed one of the largest obstacles to peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, especially as Yerevan’s primary security patron—Russia—has made clear it will not be coming to Armenia’s defense on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.This has unlocked the potential for both peace and the long-sought economic connectivity that both Armenia and Azerbaijan have been attempting to foster. Previously, those efforts were made separately and often in contradiction with one another’s aims, such as Azerbaijan’s pursuit of the so-called Zangezur corridor to build road, rail, and energy connections to both Nakhchivan and Turkey through southern Armenia without a political understanding with Yerevan. Armenia was opposed to such a route, and while the status of Nagorno-Karabakh was up in the air, this was a point of contention between Baku and Yerevan. This became a politically charged issue on the domestic front in both countries, one that was manipulated by external players such as Russia and Iran. Now, that calculus appears to have changed. Following Azerbaijan’s takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh, Baku appears more interested in following through with building economic connections than seizing more territory. In part, this is a legal and political issue—the same grounds that Baku used to justify its actions in Nagorno-Karabakh (which has been an internationally recognized part of Azerbaijan), would be undermined if it aimed to gain further territory in Armenia proper by force. But it is also a practical issue, as economic projects would be more secure with Armenia’s diplomatic cooperation and participation rather than they would be with resistance from Yerevan.This is what makes the unveiling of Pashinyan’s Crossroads for Peace initiative so important. The initiative both acknowledges the principle of territorial integrity, which would be crucial for any peace agreement between Yerevan and Baku, while also proposing specific connectivity projects, such as the construction and restoration of pipelines, road, rail, cables, and electricity lines between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and beyondPashinyan emphasized the mutual benefits of such an initiative to countries throughout the region, while the fact that high level figures from Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Iran were present at the summit, along with Armenian and Georgian counterparts, underscores the groundwork that has been laid on this issue. At the same time, Azerbaijan has dropped the Zangezur corridor proposal in favor of routes through Iran. No less importantly, Pashinyan stated during his speech that a normalization agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan could be “successfully completed in the coming months.”Nevertheless, there are many potential hurdles to this initiative and the broader peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan that underpins it. Notably absent from the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum were representatives from Russia. Relations between Yerevan and Moscow have significantly soured over Russia’s refusal to intervene on Armenia’s behalf in Nagorno-Karabakh. Since then, Armenian officials have explicitly criticized Russia’s stance in the war, refused to participate in several forums hosted by Russia, and signed agreements on military and security cooperation with France, a NATO member.This is significant, given that Russia would not be happy with projects in the Caucasus that exclude its participation, particularly in energy, since Azerbaijan has sought to increase its natural gas exports to Europe as the continent diversifies from Russia. And while Moscow has lost a lot of ground in the Caucasus amid its focus on the Ukrainian war effort and Turkey’s rise in the region, the Kremlin has proved to be willing and able to sow chaos and act as a disruptive force in theaters throughout Eurasia and beyond where its interests are not met.Besides the Russian challenge, other factors could prove disruptive to normalization efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan and connectivity efforts within the broader region. This could include political elements from within Armenia and its diaspora communities in countries such as France and the United States that are opposed to reconciliation with Azerbaijan, as well as any rhetoric from Azerbaijani officials that could perceived as threatening wider aggression. Additionally, there are thorny and politically sensitive issues for both sides, including border delimitation and mine clearance. Other conflicts could also spill into the region, especially given Russia’s prominent role there.Despite all of these potential hurdles, there is a real chance for a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which could significantly enhance the connectivity of the region to the benefit of millions of people. This, in turn, could unlock further connections to a Trans-Caspian corridor to Central Asia, which would only be strengthened by the participation and increased investment from key players such as the United States and EU, as detailed in a recently released New Lines Institute report.All of this will take delicate maneuvering and strategic decision-making by the leadership of Armenia and Azerbaijan to mitigate the risks and seize the opportunities at a critical time, both in their bilateral relationship and in their relationship with influential actors throughout the region. Eugene Chausovsky is a senior analyst at the Newlines Institute. Chausovsky previously served as senior Eurasia analyst at the geopolitical analysis firm Stratfor for more than 10 years. His work focuses on political, economic, and security issues pertaining to Russia, Eurasia, and the Middle East. https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/11/03/armenia-azerbaijan-peace-nagorno-karabakh-economic-connectivity/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted November 7, 2023 Report Share Posted November 7, 2023 Armenpress.am Armenia opts out of upcoming CIS meeting in Moscow 11:13, 7 November 2023YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan will not participate in the upcoming meeting of Secretaries of Security Council of CIS States scheduled to take place on November 8 in Moscow, Russia, his spokesperson Tatevik Petrosyan told Armenpress.“The Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan will not travel to Moscow and will not participate in the upcoming meeting of the Secretaries of Security Council of CIS states that is to take place on November 8 in Moscow, the capital of Russia,” Petrosyan said. https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1123650.html?fbclid=IwAR16QtMenP5SPDc4CQx2LEb7ZduZ2I30HYOictAs7v8JdKBN6nPgtRb0HFc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted November 8, 2023 Report Share Posted November 8, 2023 Nov 7 2023 After Pinaka Rockets, Armenia Buys Indian Anti-Drone System To Fight Azerbaijan’s Kamikaze UAVs By Ritu Sharma After importing rocket launchers and missiles from India, Armenia is now importing an anti-drone system from its South Asian friend. This has come when the conflict-ravaged country is keen to learn from India on how to modernize Soviet-era defense equipment. Even as a fragile peace holds between the Caucasian countries, New Delhi is contemplating the supply of a fresh batch of military equipment to Armenia. People who did not wish to be identified said Armenia has contracted to buy India-developed Zen Anti-Drone System (ZADS). The Indian Air Force (IAF) purchased this anti-drone system in 2021, and the Indian Army has ordered 20 units of C-UAS worth INR 2.27 billion (US$27.3 million). Delivery of the C-UAS to the Indian Army will commence in March 2024. Officials who did not wish to be identified confirmed to the EurAsian Times that Armenia has contracted the Hyderabad-based Zen Technologies for INR340 crore (US$41.5 million) for the anti-drone system order that includes both training solutions and an anti-drone system. “The Zen Technologies Anti-Drone System is a proven technology, having been inducted in the IAF and now the Indian Army opting for it. And Armenia realizes that once Indian armed forces induct it, it must be good,” the source said. The anti-drone system from Zen Technologies works on drone detection, classification, and tracking of passive surveillance, camera sensors, and threat neutralization through jamming drone communication. Zen Anti-Drone System, a Counter Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS), is a multi-layer multi-sensor Architecture that provides comprehensive security against drone attacks. The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict heralded the arrival of drones on the modern-day battlefield, with Armenia acknowledging that the Turkish Bayrakter TB-2 had made the difference, forcing them to concede defeat. The Bayraktar TB2, developed and manufactured by Baykar, a Turkish defense company, is the size of a small airplane and equipped with four laser-guided missiles. It has an endurance of 12 hours when operating 550 nautical miles from its base. This allows it to be ‘eyes in the sky’ for long periods. Zen Technologies Limited announced that at the board meeting held on October 28, 2023, it approved the establishment of a Branch office in Armenia to tap the business opportunity in that country, including providing sales, support, and service. Armenia, a small landlocked nation nestled in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia, has emerged as a strategic partner for India. In 2022, when India inked the deal to supply PINAKA multi-barrel rocket launchers (MBRL), anti-tank munitions, and ammunition worth US$250 million to Armenia, it was seen as New Delhi taking a position in the conflict. It was the first export of PINAKA by India. Armenia opted for Pinaka MBRLs, considered at par with the American HIMARs, for its shoot and scoot capability. The mobility is an advantage as adversary Azerbaijan has been deploying drones, including suicide drones. While India has not confirmed publicly that it is supplying the Akash SAM system to Armenia, Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) did announce it has received export orders from a friendly country. The weapons purchased by Armenia have proven to be “very satisfactory,” the chairman of Armenia’s parliamentary committee on defense and security affairs, Andranik Kocharyan, recently stated without naming India. “Our news media, our people are discussing all day long what weapons were brought, from what country, where it was tested. The relevant division of the defense ministry is also testing this weaponry, and the tests are very satisfactory,” said Kocharyan. “The list of the countries is that which is being discussed, perhaps a bit more or less. That’s not what matters; what matters is that the work in that direction is proceeding successfully.” Burgeoning India-Armenia Defense Ties A top Armenian security official and Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, Armen Grigoryan, visited New Delhi on August 28 to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. In light of this, it is said that India is contemplating the supply of a fresh batch of military equipment to Armenia. In 2022, India stepped up as a defense supplier to Armenia, embroiled in a protracted conflict with Azerbaijan. The first consignment of weapons was delivered last year via Iran. Armenia, reports the Economic Times, is keen to modernize its military arsenal, primarily of Soviet and Russian origin. The country wants to learn how to upgrade Soviet and Russian equipment in its inventory and integrate it with the Western system. The dialogue with India is not just about procurement but also about potential joint ventures for local assembly of equipment and training facilities for Armenian officers. “India possesses several Soviet and Russian-made defense equipment. It has successfully modernized Soviet and Russian-era defense items. This is very impressive,” Colonel Zhiriayar Amirkhanian, assistant to the chief of defense staff, was quoted by the Economic Times. “We in Armenia have several Soviet and Russian-designed equipment, and we want to learn from India’s experience.” Armenia is apprehensive that Azerbaijan may take advantage of chaos and conflicts in other parts of the globe and launch a fresh military assault against Armenia. France has also announced to send military aid to Armenia, the beleaguered country seeking to diversify its arms imports and find new allies after Russia failed to provide the nation with ordered weapons worth around US $400 million (it has not yet returned the money). Ritu Sharma has been a journalist for over a decade, writing on defense, foreign affairs, and nuclear technology. Article Republished https://www.eurasiantimes.com/after-pinaka-rockets-armenia-buys-indian-anti-drone-system/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted November 8, 2023 Report Share Posted November 8, 2023 Armenpress.am South Korea to open embassy in Armenia 10:51, 8 November 2023YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS. South Korea plans to open an embassy in Armenia, Korea JoongAng Daily reports citing the South Korean Foreign Ministry.Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan earlier said that Armenia wants to establish a resident diplomatic representation in Seoul.South Korea has in turn notified Armenia that it intends to establish a resident embassy in Yerevan in the first half of next year, Mirzoyan said. https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1123714.html?fbclid=IwAR29_8DxZhln9AeGDt63seCdXXUy340WPbCsWNckP_P9IGoDYPm5Q8ITBz0 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted November 8, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2023 Հնդկաստանը կօգնի ՀՀ-ին չոզոքացնել Ադրբեջանի անօդաչու սարքերի գրոհները Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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