The Armenian Weekly March 2014 Magazine:
Armenia’s Foreign Policy in Focus
According to the Karabagh Ministry of Defense, Junior Sergeant Armen L. Hovhannisyan was killed on Jan. 20, 2014 repelling an Azeri force engaged in a probing action against Karabagh defensive positions along the Line of Contact (LoC). In recognition of his exemplary action in protecting his country, President Bako Sahakian awarded Sgt. Hovhannisyan Karabagh’s Medal of Courage. He was buried with full military honors in the Yerablur Military Pantheon in Yerevan, Armenia.
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A big thank you to the author for shining light onto the persona of Sgt.Hovannisian. We should make clear that to everyone, especially the non-Armenian communities, that no one of our soldiers will fall without a consequence, particularly in a circumstance of a cease fire. And then follow suit.
I’m not a fan of the way the Israelis launch an entire PR campaign (with actual hollywood productions, books, etc.) trying to capitalize on each of their soldier’s passing or even kidnapping (we all know the few flagrant examples), but if there’s something that they have and we lack – it is universal familiarity with the respective claims and struggles. Everybody knows about Daniel Pearl, the killed Israeli-American journalist or the kidnapped, but released young soldier (his name evades me at the moment). NOBODY knows about Sgt. Hovannisian or any of the other quiet victims of the Azeri violations. Hell – most people haven’t heard of Karabagh or, yes, Artsakh – thank you for pointing that out as well.
Another point – could we please stop using phrases like “Azeri’s ability to REGAIN Artsakh” … “occupation of Azeri territory” … “holding onto that land”. Subconsciously perhaps, we are actually reasserting their own agenda. Artsakh is simply NOT Azerbaijani. Never has been. So, could we please discuss any Artsakh-related subject looking at it from that perspective – with the exception of a few decades, when it, along with both Armenia and Azerbaijan, was a part of the USSR, Artsakh has been, is and will be Armenian. That’s the mindset. The rest is jaw fitness.
I’m stating the obvious here, but even Crimea was a part of INDEPENDENT Ukraine for 20 years and had considerably more claims to belong to Ukraine! There’s also Kosovo, etc.
Artsakh was NEVER a part of Republic of Azerbaijan (any of the 25 years that the country EVER EXISTED – 2 before the USSR, and 23 after the USSR disintegrated)!!!
Let’s not forget that!
Right from the start these negotiations should have been conducted between Artsakh People and Azerbaijanis. No one else can do this to the Artsakh people then themselves. Or, otherwise to prove our point we have to go to another devastating war and than possibly force the Azeris than enough is enough.
These are all liberated territories & not an inch will be returned & not a single Azeri will return to Artsakh.And when the time is appropriate we’ll take back Shaumyan region.We want to live without Azeris & this way will avoid all future problems.Remember Nakhichevan?
Thank you Professor Mensoian for an excellent analysis.
I am surprised by your statement: “It is unfortunate that we have never sought to provide a properly documented legal basis to support the right of the Karabagh Armenians to declare their independence based on the Soviet Constitution in force at the time;”
Have we not presented this case? This is the absolute primordial point I present in any discussion on the Karabagh issue when I state: “I am totally in favour of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, but Karabagh was not legally part of Azerbaijan at the time the USSR was disolved. It was arbitrarily put as an autonomous region in Azerbaijan by Yossef Vissaryanovich and then, when the Karabagh troubles amplified, it was similarly put back under direct Moscow control.”
Dear Mr. Mensoian,
As the world has stood by and allowed Russian troops to annex Crimea in the interest of protecting citizens of Russian descent, so to has Armenia the right to protect Armenians within the bounderies of Azerbaijan.
Armenia should, although, keep in mind that the Azeris, with the help of other “oil starved countries” (including the U.S.), have built up their armed forces and war machinery. Apparently the Azeris have come to a point where they feel confident that they can defeat any attempt that “little Armenia” makes to further its influence in Armenian populated areas of Azerbaijan. Armenian and Karabagh military leaders must make sure they are militarily prepared for such a confrontation. They also must be sure they have the support of allies like Russia and Iran. Also important is the dedication of the diaspora and citizens of Armenia itself. A new war will bring many hardships to the people of Karabagh and Armenia and the people must be willing to accept this. I believe that these Azeri intrusions are an attempt by the Azeris to bring Armenians to a point where they will act before preparing. It’s like the matador and the bull, irritate him enough and he will attack. We all know how that plays out. God Bless Armenia!
yes Raffi Dimoian and others.Who does not know (ask avery) wehre these kochvors came from and occupied NK and adjacent lands????
But act like they do ..say O.K. we shall rule together Andorra Style..
You see the Catalan people who like Armenians popiulate mainlky Andorra ,more than 90% do not mind if the French say WE RULE ANDORRA TOGETHER…let a couple Azeri delegates into NK parliament 8fpormality) instead they will deliver Oil to us very low price and to pay on long terms.bring plenty Fish and caviar at low very low cost..etc.,
In Andorra, you can buy any product whethr Rench or japanese at veryu low cost.so thjey tourists come there for that.at least it was like that some yrs ago..and it prospered..
No more boasting it is French or Spain…Capiche
Especially when we have such a beautifull neighbour on the other side, that has entertained us so well, …..
and is at present by and by offering churches,etc., And btw did you know that Paremid Armenians not to say BARZAMID gladly go tour and make them richer not only from RA,(to sea shores9 but from U.s. Europe to interior where there grandparents lived for millenia.They have Nostalgia that cannot be restrained.
Adn great Turkey loves that..let more ermenis come and bring bucks and get saTISFIED BY CONDUCTIN MASS AT dIARBAKIRTA, COUPLE TIMES A YEAR.tHE KURDIE(ACTUALLY THERI MAN) MAYOR IS VERY FRIENDLY AND SAY come live with us brothers.yeah?????
YOu son of aB.ing BA.all the land mass occupied our homes confiscated and riches plunderd and now come live with us eh??
Do you kid??
RECOGNITION FIRST!!!!!!
oFFICIALLY BY BOTH THEM KURDS AND tURKS THEN RESTITUTION.i insist ,and want you to mark my word ON B L O O D M O N E Y FIRSST..ñland can wait ..we must get biliion cash from great Trukey.
They will say our coffers are mepty.no cash!!!
O.K. the Transit duty that those NICE PETRO COMPNIES THEM is (was) 8/9 yrs ago 1.6 billion dollars per annum asTRANSIT DUTY!!!!
if not all half that much to us.Because you did wrong to us by passing Armenian territory and Western Armenian territory btw..so cough up great Turkey .this as a starter!!!!!
WE can wait until, as one put in above, or on another thread these Turkophiles are well f…. up by them Turks and begin to esteem NOBLE PEOPLE LIKE THE ARMENIANS AND PERSIANS..yeah the latter are noble…go find out.BTW one kin long ago when great Turkey was pressing hard to enter EU, opine(rather to my surprise then) The should let them in..I asked how come.Said let them swarm Wurope and F.—them all up whther Germany,France belgium by their millions coming in and then once they ahve had real taste of these they will come to their senses..
brev hasgcoghin
Nice article. karabakhsecurityanalysis.wordpress.com also provides an interesting take on military activities (probing/recon/etc) on the Karabakh front line.