Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has warned that Azerbaijan is trying to create a “pretext for new military aggression against Armenia.”
“Azerbaijan is continuously attributing its own ceasefire violations to Armenia. Obviously, this is a creation of a pretext for new military aggression against Armenia,” Pashinyan tweeted on Monday.
The Defense Ministries of Armenia and Azerbaijan have accused each other of ceasefire violations every day in the past week. Pashinyan retweeted a report from the Armenian Defense Ministry on Tuesday that Azerbaijani units along the eastern border fire at each other and then at Armenian positions “as if in response to fire opened by the Armenian side.”
“The Azerbaijani armed forces create an impression that the Armenian side is firing in the direction of its positions, and then begins to open fire in the direction of the Armenian combat positions from different caliber firearms,” the MoD of Armenia said.
Pashinyan said the report proves that the Azerbaijani side is “creating fake news on ceasefire violations by Armenia.”
Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense said on Monday that the Armenian armed forces “assembled additional military personnel and four artillery pieces” using military vehicles near Azerbaijani military positions along Armenia’s eastern border on October 16.
“We declare that the Armenian military-political leadership bears the entire responsibility for the tension that may arise in the region,” the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said.
The MoD of Armenia responded that the buildup of artillery is a defensive response to the “movement and deployment of additional forces and equipment by the Azerbaijani armed forces.”
“If the Azerbaijani side withdraws the mentioned equipment from the given direction, the Armenian side will also withdraw its [equipment],” the Armenian Defense Ministry said. “The Armenian side is ready to negotiate on this issue.”
In response to ongoing border tensions, Pashinyan suggested the need for a “permanent international mechanism” to “maintain the ceasefire regime and provide border security.”
On October 14, the European Union (EU) sent a temporary monitoring mission to the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, following a decision reached during a quadrilateral meeting between Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, European Council President Charles Michel and French President Emmanuel Macron on October 6.
On October 17, the European Council officially confirmed the decision to send “40 EU monitoring experts along the Armenian side of the international border with Azerbaijan.” The monitors will be temporarily deployed from the EU Monitoring Mission to Georgia for no more than two months.
“This is another proof of the EU’s full commitment to contributing to the ultimate goal of achieving sustainable peace in the South Caucasus,” EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said.
“The 27 Member States have acted rapidly to respond to Armenia’s request,” EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Toivo Klaar tweeted on the day of the deployment on October 14. “The aim of the EU deployment will be to monitor the situation and support Armenia-Azerbaijan stabilization on the ground.”
During a speech on October 14, Aliyev said that the Azerbaijani side had “resolutely rejected” an attempt to send the EU observer mission to the Azerbaijani side of the border.
The quadrilateral meeting, hosted on the sidelines of a pan-European summit in Prague, was held following a two-day war within Armenia proper from September 12-13, resulting in over 300 deaths on both sides and the capture of 10 square kilometers of Armenian territory. The fighting marked the first time in this decades-long conflict that Azerbaijan has launched a large-scale attack within the internationally-recognized borders of Armenia.
Armenian authorities have expressed their dissatisfaction with Russia’s refusal to assign blame for the attacks and the failure of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a Russian-led military bloc, to provide Armenia with military support.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan on October 12 that the CSTO is also ready to send an observer mission to the Armenian border.
Lavrov said that these “recommendations have been in our hands for more than a month” since the CSTO sent a fact-finding mission to Armenia on September 20 following the latest border fighting. He suggested that Armenia had not accepted the recommendations.
Mirzoyan said that Armenia expects a “clear position” from Russia regarding Azerbaijan’s attacks and the continued presence of Azerbaijani troops within the Armenian border.
“Some countries with which there is no long history of friendship and strategic partnership made statements that more objectively and clearly reflect the situation that has developed on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border,” Mirzoyan told Lavrov.
The previous day, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova had dismissed the EU monitoring mission as “yet another attempt by the EU to interfere by any means in the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, to oust our country’s mediation efforts.”
Armenia and Azerbaijan have also traded barbs this week regarding the opening of regional transport and communication links. The November 9 trilateral ceasefire agreement ending the 2020 Artsakh War says that Armenia will provide “transport links between the western regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic in order to organize the unimpeded movement of citizens, vehicles and goods in both directions.”
Azerbaijani authorities have interpreted the ceasefire agreement to mean that Armenia should provide Azerbaijan with a corridor through its southernmost province Syunik free of passport or customs controls. The Armenian side has repeatedly denied demands for a corridor.
“Can anyone find any mention of a ‘corridor’ referring to the territory of Armenia in the 11/9 trilateral statement? Of course no!” Pashinyan tweeted on Tuesday. “Is there any mention of a ‘corridor’ in the 11/9 trilateral statement? Yes, and it’s the Lachin corridor to Nagorno-Karabakh. That’s the only one.”
“Is there any unilateral obligation of Armenia to construct new roads between west regions of Azerbaijan and Nakhijevan in the 11/9 trilateral statement? NO!” Pashinyan continued. “Could it happen upon agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. YES! Armenia is ready to do it according to its legislation. Positive reaction of Azerbaijan is needed.”
Is there any unilateral obligation of #Armenia to construct new roads btw west regions of 🇦🇿 & Nakhijevan in the 11/9 Trilateral statement? NO! Could it happen upon agreement btw 🇦🇲 & 🇦🇿 . YES! 🇦🇲 is ready to do it according to its legislation. Positive reaction of Az. is needed.
— Nikol Pashinyan (@NikolPashinyan) October 18, 2022
On Monday, Pashinyan tweeted that a draft decision on opening three checkpoints on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border to provide a connection between Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan “is being formally circulated for several months.”
“Government of Armenia is waiting for positive reaction from Azerbaijan,” Pashinyan said.
Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded that “Armenia should cease fake pretexts to evade its commitments under the trilateral statement of November 2020 to link auto/railroads through Zangezur corridor.”
“To suggest three unrealistic options of check points for connectivity ignoring 20 months-long discussions is not a good policy,” the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry tweeted.
Pashinyan responded that the Azerbaijani response proves that “no one can blame Armenia for avoiding its obligations.”
Armenian authorities submitted a draft bill to the National Assembly in August that would authorize the government to set up checkpoints near Karahunj in Syunik, Sotk in the eastern Gegharkunik province and Yeraskh near the border with Nakhichevan.
At the time, Pashinyan said the Armenian government is ready to provide transit connection between Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan “right today.”
“Let the Azerbaijanis say where they want to cross. We provide passport control, customs control, and of course, traffic security, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of the Republic of Armenia, also with the support of our Russian partners,” Pashinyan said on August 4.
Aliyev accused Armenia of failing to fulfill its obligations under the ceasefire agreement during his October 14 speech.
“We are still showing patience, but it is not unlimited,” Aliyev said, further stating that if Armenia does not provide Azerbaijan with a corridor, it “will be left with no other option but to act accordingly.”
Lillian Avedian
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Aliyev’s big nose is growing bigger and longer with his lies. At one point, it will be so long that it will fall on the ground.
I am certain many of these problems would disappear if he feared losing the next elections. It is likely that if there was a fair election in that country, the ‘war party’ would lose. They just lost 80 soldiers during their September invasion. and that’s only the official number. Do they really want to continue doing this? It’s two years now war war war.
Armenians would serve Armennia better if they put an end to constantly underestimating the enemy and overestimating themselves. As 2018 and 2020 showed, the cowards and the fools turned-out to be Armenians, not Turks, not Azeris. And last I checked, a majority of Armenians had big noses as well. Anyway, I suggest you people to get serious. Armenian-style arrogance, cognitive dissonance and political illiteracy is once again threatening Armenia’s existence…
It is amazing what the mods let pass here. If I said half the stuff our concerned “armenian” is so concerned with about another ethnicity, I’d probably be on a hate-speech watchlist in my country. Funny how his comments are getting increasingly vitriolic and fascist even if in a “self”-loathing manner recently. I’m all for sticking with Russia and Iran but if this is the level of argumentation and indeed thought, please just assimilate away into whereever you happen to live, assuming you’re not the obvious sockpuppet I think you are. Cheers.
Dear @ concerned Armenian, the constant tone of your posts is one of extreme national self loathing, self criticism is actually a good thing and can be a source of strength but to seemingly only find fault in Armenian people and be so full of adulation for Russia makes it apparent where your priorities are, along with the persistent sophistry when challenged about Russian/Soviet collusion with Turkey-Azerbaijan to Armenias detriment. Although you haven’t touted union with the Russian Federation lately which given the current global circumstances would attract ridicule. Armenia recent efforts to purchase weapons from India a nation with ancient links to Armenia will be related to the fact Russia cannot spare anything of substance given its massive losses in Ukraine, Georgia since 2008 won’t allow Russian weapons to transit overland and purchases of Russian weapons will attract US sanctions. Although likely to be blocked by US pressure Russia offer to help Turkey become a gas distribution hub once again shows that Turkey matters more to Russia than Armenia. Those who wonder why Nikol Pashinayan was reelected in 2021 after the N-K /Arktash loss might take a note from the 1945 election loss of British prime minister Winston Churchill dispite victory in the WW2. The people knew more of the actual circumstances than the public perception, and what they were publicly expected to say hence in private most Armenian people knew that Armenia was outmatched by the Turkey – Azerbaijan alliance and Russia’s limitations. For Britain at the time Churchill was not seen as having a vision of the future that reflected the general public opinion although was generally (although not as much as the contemporary propaganda…) popular as a national leader during the conflict
Gee I wonder why Armenia welcomed EU observers on their side of the border while Aliyev rejected them on the Azerbaijan side. Could it be that Aliyev does not want the EU to observe first hand what a pathological liar he is?
EU presence on the border is a direct threat to Iran and Russia. That’s why Baku is against it. Azeris are a lot smarter than Armenians.
It is quite interesting that you are more concerned about EU observer mission being a threat to Iran and Russia rather than it serving the interests of Armenia against our double-talking despicable enemy Azerbaijan which will expose all the lies they have been feeding the world and getting away with them just because they are pumping oil & gas to Europe and that they should take their lies and misrepresentations as facts. If Baku was against the EU mission then why didn’t artificial Azerbaijan’s chicken-hawk Ilham Aliyev say so unequivocally and disagree and reject the mission at the time when this was being discussed with the Europeans whether or not he would allow them on their side of the border or not?
Why complain about it after the fact? Because double-agent LIAR Aliyev has to give his tacit approval in order to kiss up to the EU for increasing Azerbaijani oil & gas imports by 30% making him wealthier to buy more weapons and to present himself as ‘loyal’ to his KGB boss in Moscow by denying his approval of this mission and try to throw everything back at the Armenians to make us look bad. But at the end of the day he must realize he is too much of a rookie to try to get one passed the former master KGB spy in Moscow.
Azeris are NOT smarter than the Armenians. It is just that they are cunning and know that such duplicitous behavior is accepted and deception is commonplace in the region and that at the end of the day the end result always justifies the means!
To say that Azeris are smarter than Armemians is nonsense. Their government is totalitarian, horribly corrupt, genocidal, and flagrantly racist. What do you expect the Armenians to do after Putin brokered deals with Erdogan and Aliyev and allowed the monsters to attack Artsakh? Then Russia did not fulfill their security guarantee after the Azeris attacked Armenia proper. Oh and by the way the Turks had to turn to an Armenian to invent their own modern alphabet. So don’t tell me Azeris and Turks are smarter than Armenians unless your definition of smarter is dishonest and ruthless!
To Gary and Ararat,
Wow! I don’t even know where or how to begin replying to what I just read from you. If your definition of “smart” is isolated, impoverished, pathetic, irrelevant, massacred, defeated and endangered, I rather be dishonest and ruthless.
Needless to day, unlike Armenians, Turks are brilliant politicians and statesmen. Turks do what they do for the benefit of their nation. All self-respecting nations, from North America to East Asia, do whatever it takes to serve their nation’s best interests. This obviously does not apply to Armenians. It was therefore quite expected that “smart”, not to mention “peace loving” and “democratic” Armenians are once again undermining the interests of their natural friends in the region, Russia and Iran, the ONLY ones on earth than can actually extend a helping hand in times of need, by looking for salvation in faraway North America and Western Europe. Amazing! Armenians are simply incapable of understanding history and politics. It must be genetic. This is why Armenians have failed at statehood for at least 2000 years. And this is why Armenians are ultimately the main authors of Armenia’s many tragedies.
Hey Gurgen! I see you dropped a BS comment, like a stink-bomb, and then decided to skedaddle. People are replying there, and they’re debunking your disgusting tribute to the criminally genocidal People of Azerbaijan. Just because Putin doesn’t like Pashinyan, doesn’t give him a license to break his word. Now that Russia attacked UN recognized Armenia, Putin has no excuse. The dishonored words & treaty signatures are a disgrace.
To ‘Concerned Armenian’
Wow indeed! You seem to have this morbid fascination with everything negative about the Armenians. Do you even comprehend all the damages the Soviets and the Russians have caused Armenians? Do you really think we would be in the situation we are in today, regardless of which incompetent Armenian leader was in charge of the country, if the Soviets did not take Armenian territories and handed them over to our fascist racial enemies? Are you even aware of the fact that of a few million Armenians living in Soviet Armenia over half a million participated in WWII and over half of them never returned? Who and What for? Any nation that had given even half as much to these Soviet criminals as Armenians had given, they would be protected and defended against all enemies instead of treating Armenian territories as their personal properties and handing them out to solve their own self-serving interests at our Armenia’s expense. If we were to take your advice we would end up being a province of your beloved Russia and slaves to her totalitarian dictators like those Russian provinces in Northern Caucasus. Guess what? If we had done what you are advocating, Armenian patriots instead of fighting and defending Armenia today, they would be fighting and dying needlessly for Russia in Ukraine for Russia’s imperialist adventures.
Nikol’s regime is relentless in its effort to give Russians reasons to conspire with Turks/Azeris against Armenia. If I was Russia’s leader, I would send reinforcements to fortify the 102nd base in Gyumri, the Erebuni airfield in Yerevan and the peacekeeping contingent in Artsakh. I would then simply cut Armenia off from all energy shipments and arms supplies, ban Russian tourism to Armenia, ban financial remittances from Russia to Armenia (which is essentially equal to the state GDP) and ban all Armenian products (a vast majority of Armenian products are sold in Russia). I would then sit back then wait for the Americans and the French to come to a rapidly collapsing Armenia’s aid. Naturally, Westerners will not step foot in Armenia, they will instead open their borders to Armenian refugees to “save” lives. This is what you wanted, so enjoy the show…
Dear Concerned Armenian, Russia in case you don’t realise is rather busy in Ukraine hence is not in much of a position to reinforce it’s Gyumri base or in Arktash or anywhere else in the world for that matter. Russia again needs to account for its Equipment losses in Ukraine so cannot be sparing much for Armenia. There is plenty of Russian tourisim in the shape of military service avoiders and people wary of the situation Russia is in. Many Armenians have returned to Armenia due to the deteriorating economic situation in Russia so not so much remittances now either. Russia will find Armenia useful due to its shrinking markets from the international sanctions imposed over its Ukrainian adventure more than Russia being of use to Armenia although some entrepot function which may risk secondary sanctions as pressure on Russia increases. In many ways the more ardently you denigrate Armenia and its people and the adulation for Russia makes one appear evermore tragic.
Laurence, have you considered Putin is punishing the people of Armenia not Pashinyan? Russia stopped the war in Artsakh. They had no obligation to but they did instead of letting Aliyev steam roll into Stepanakert and take everything. So what do citizens of Armenia do? The re-elect Pashinyan who double downs on anti Russia policies. Why should Russia directly help anymore? Who knows what would have happened if Pashinyan was ousted. History books will show that it was Armenia that lost Artsakh, and it will also show that the foolish Armenians that elected Pashiyan despite numerous warnings of it being orchestrated caused it. When the Russia peace keepers contract ends, say bye bye for good.
I still have some hope things will change, but enough already of the cringey anti Russia comments when the West have done absolutely nothing for Armenians, not even during the genocide when the US Congress did not care to have a mandate and protect Armenia. Oh, they sent some missionaries? I wonder what’s the point of sending evangelicals to a Christian nation since 301. Together with the British were busy with Baku oil for sure though. If it wasn’t for Russia, there would be no Armenia today. They could have just handed over Yerevan to Ataturk but they did not.
Before Armenians say x should do y for Armenia, you need to ask does x need Armenia? Who needs Armenia? The world needs Azerbaijan and Turkey who have valuable resources to provide. Armenia has bad geography and even bad diplomacy, and we need to be grateful for any support which historically comes from Russia and Iran. Who cares about Western propaganda! The West would love it if Armenia disappears tomorrow. Just one less problem they have to deal with to get what they want. Face reality, we are not living in the Armenian Empire ruled by a kings of kings. We are living in a world where a treasonous clown is leader of a modern republic with numerous obstacles.