War In Nagorno Karabakh Can Start At Any Moment

Korea

Azerbaijan and Korea. Both of them might find themselves involved in a war against "NK" (Nagorno Karabakh & North Korea)...


Minister: Azerbaijan has no other way to liberate occupied territories except by strengthening army

Jul 13, 2013


Azerbaijan has no other way to liberate its occupied territories except by strengthening its army, Azerbaijani Minister of Defense Safar Abiyev said today.

Abiyev was receiving a delegation from the Korean National Assembly, the ministry reported on Friday.

The sides expressed satisfaction with the diverse relations between the two countries and exchanged views on cooperation in the military sphere.

Abiyev informed the Korean guests about the tense military and political situation in the region.

The Korean MPs stressed their interest in the further development of relations with Azerbaijan and stressed the importance of establishing military cooperation between the two countries.

Troops from Afghanistan...


Kerry, Go Fix Karabakh!

As relations with Russia worsen by the day, however, Karabakh could also be used as a pawn against U.S. interests in a region bordering Iran, with important thoroughfares for the military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Tourism

Ancient ruins, medieval monasteries, 18th-century mosques, sniper fire, minefields and ghost towns.


Where on earth is Karabakh?

Tourists visit the 'Grandmother and Grandfather' monument outside the city of Stepanakert in Armenian-controlled Azerbaijani region of Nagorny Karabakh. AFP

Thu, 25 Jul 2013


Sniper fire, minefields, ghost towns: perched perilously on the verge of conflict, the disputed Armenian-controlled Azerbaijani region of Nagorny Karabakh may not sound the ideal holiday destination.

Soldiers along the heavily fortified frontline exchange gunfire almost daily, with both sides blaming each other for violating the ceasefire. So far this year some 20 soldiers from both sides have been killed.

Anyone visiting Nagorny Karabakh - which is only accessible by road from Armenia - risks being blacklisted by Baku, and moves to open a new airport that would boost Stepanakert's links to the outside world have brought threats of a return to war.

Despite the destruction of cultural heritage in the war, the region remains studded with testaments to its rich and diverse history - from ancient ruins to medieval monasteries and 18th-century mosques.

For some visitors though, that is not enough.

"There are those who prefer extreme tourism, who want to go to the frontline, but we have to explain to them that it can be dangerous as there are minefields," said Gohar Hovannisyan, a manager at tour firm Sati.

But both sides have radically different versions of what happened and inevitably it is the Armenian side of the story tourists hear when they visit.

Such is the case with the town of Agdam - a former Azerbaijani city of around 50 000 inhabitants outside Karabakh, which was one of several areas Karabakh Armenian forces overran in 1993.

It is now a bombed-out ghost town, its Azerbaijani population among the hundreds of thousands forced to flee the region.

US Karabakh assistance

US assistance to Nagorno Karabakh within the Fiscal Year 2014 Foreign Aid Bill.



U.S. House committee approves Karabakh assistance

July 25, 2013


The House Appropriation Committee on Wednesday, July 24, approved assistance to Nagorno Karabakh within the Fiscal Year 2014 Foreign Aid Bill, which, however, does not cite a specific level of aid to Armenia, reported the Armenian National Committee of America

“At the same time, we remain troubled that the version of the foreign aid bill moving through the House, for the first time since Armenia’s independence, does not cite a specific aid level for Armenia.”

Karabakh Armenian military announces further military buildup.


Karabakh Announces Further Military Buildup

July 26th, 2013


STEPANAKERT (RFE/RL)—The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s armed forces on Friday announced the acquisition of large quantities of heavy weapons and ammunition in the last two years.

“The position we are in, in terms of obtaining concrete weapons and military hardware, is unprecedented,” Nagorno-Karabakh’s top commander, General Movses Hakobian, told a news conference in Stepanakert.

Hakobian said the arms acquisitions have been so extensive that the Karabakh Armenian military has difficulty storing them and plans to build a new arms depot for that purpose.

Australian government supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.


Australia supports territorial integrity of Azerbaijan

29 July 2013


Azerbaijani Ambassador to Australia Rovsan Jamshidov held a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia, and expressed Baku's concern about the illegal travel by members of the Senate of the State of New South Wales to the occupied territories of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The ministry expressed regret over this trip. It was also pointed out that the Australian government supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

The Australian side has assured Azerbaijan that the leadership of the New South Wales will be properly informed and recommended to refrain from repeating such mistakes in the future.

Armenians are digging trenches and strengthening positions in Nagorno Karabakh.


Armenians strengthening positions at contact line: spokesman

July 29, 2013


“We are working at nights over security reasons, as the Azerbaijanis are firing at our positions,” spokesman for the NKR defense army Senor Hasratyan told PanARMENIAN.Net

German MP "demands liberation of Azerbajani lands".


German MP demands liberation of Azerbaijani lands

30 July 2013


"Germany supports the UN Security Council resolution on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in connection with which Armenia must withdraw its troops from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. UN has been demanding it for the past 20 years," he said.

Member of German Bundestag: “Armenia must withdraw its military from the occupied Azerbaijani territories”

30 July 2013


Germany is very interested in strengthening the regional role of Azerbaijan and promotes, for example, cooperation with the EU and NATO. Azerbaijan also maintains good relations with our partner Israel.

NATO and Israel...

Azerbaijani soldier killed by Armenian forces.


Armenian forces kill Azerbaijani soldier: Baku

16 hours ago


Armenian forces have killed an Azerbaijani soldier in the latest outbreak of border violence over the disputed Nagorny Karabakh region, the defence ministry in Baku said Tuesday.

"A soldier from the Azerbaijani army died as a result of a violation of the ceasefire from the Armenian side," Eldar Sabiroglu, spokesman for the Azerbaijani defence ministry, said.

According to the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan, Armenia is firing on Azerbaijani army from several directions.


Armenians fire on positions of Azerbaijani Army in several directions

31 July 2013


Armenian armed forces, which are keeping under occupation a part of Azerbaijani lands, continue violating ceasefire on the contact line of troops.

The enemy was silenced by retaliation fire.

Here's another link.


Armenian Armed Forces violate ceasefire in several directions

Azerbaijan, Baku, July 31


Armenian armed forces opened fire at positions of the Azerbaijani army in the village of Gizilhajili of Gazakh region from the positions in the village of Berkaber of Armenia's Ijevan region yesterday and last night.

The positions of Azerbaijani army were also subjected to the fire of Armenian armed forces from the positions situated near the villages of Gorgan, Ashagi Seyidahmedli of Fizuli region, Kuropatkino of Khojavend region and Tapgaragoyunlu of Goranboy region, the report of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan said on Wednesday.

The shooting was countered by return fire.

Azeri military expert says Armenia knows the hour of retribution is imminent, and that Azerbaijan will liberate its occupied territories.


Armenia knows the hour of retribution is imminent – military expert

31 July 2013


Military expert Uzeyir Jafarov has told this to 1news.az, commenting of the statement of Armenian military expert Arkady Grigoryan that "Azerbaijan will have to admit that it is not ready to go to war".

"Armenia is aware that the hour of retribution is imminent, and Azerbaijan will liberate its occupied territories.

He also noted that on 26 June, the military parade held in Baku showed part of military equipment of the Azerbaijani army, which aroused great enthusiasm among diplomats accredited in Azerbaijan.

Absolutely no information in the arms sales and transfers database on Karabakh, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdnestr.


Karabakh Armed Forces Claim Huge Weapons Acquisitions

July 31, 2013


Nagorno Karabakh's armed forces have been substantially strengthened by large deliveries of weaponry over the past two years, said the head of the armed forces of the breakaway territory, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

(Incidentally, the most authoritative source of real data on arms sales and transfers is the database of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which does a pretty complete (or, as complete as you can get) accounting of arms deals around the world. But remarkably, the database has absolutely no information on Karabakh, or the other ex-Soviet breakaway republics of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transniester, underscoring again what a black hole this part of the world is for verifiable information.)

Again, Azerbaijan accuses Armenia of breaking the ceasefire.


Armenia again breaks ceasefire with Azerbaijan

1 August 2013


Subunits of the Armenian Armed Forces shattered ceasefire with Azerbaijan in nameless hills of Gazakh region, Horadiz, Ashagi Seyidahmadli villages of Fuzuli region, Shikhlar, Shuraabad, Shirvanli, Javahirli villages of Agdam region, Gulustan, Tap Garagoyunlu village of Goranboy region, and Gizil Oba village of Terter region on July 31 and August 1.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported that Armenians were silenced with a retail fire.

The Azerbaijani foreign ministry has released a list of foreign nationals declared personae non grata in Azerbaijan.


Azerbaijan bans 335 foreign nationals over visits to Nagorno-Karabakh

August/02/2013


Azerbaijan on Aug. 2 banned 335 foreign nationals - including European lawmakers, journalists and academics - from entering the country over visits they allegedly made to the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Azerbaijani foreign ministry released a list - including several deputies from France's National Assembly, a member of the British House of Lords and a Spanish opera singer - of people declared personae non grata in the oil-rich former Soviet state. All those on the list had "broken the law on Azerbaijan's state borders and disrespected the national sovereignty and territorial unity of Azerbaijan," the ministry said in a statement.

Wikipedia: List of people declared personae non gratae in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan says Armenian forces is shooting civilians. Both sides claim the other side is violating the ceasefire.


Civilians in Azerbaijan fired upon from Armenia

2 August 2013


The Armenian Armed Forces opened fire at a Gazel truck on the Gazah-Gushchu Ayrim road in the village of Abbasbeyli in Azerbaijan.

The incident took place at about 16:00 yesterday. The driver was not harmed, but a passenger - a resident of Agkoynek, 27-year-old Iqbal Huseynov was shot in the back and taken to Gazakh diagnostic and treatment center, regional TV channel Turkel reported on Friday.

A Turkish shepherd has been killed by Russian frontier guards in Armenia. The Turkish Foreign Ministry has sent a note to Yerevan condemning Armenia. The Russians claim the Turkish shepherd opened fire at them. The Turks say he crossed the border to retrieve a lost sheep.


Russian border guard shot at Turkish shepherd who crossed into Armenian border

A Turkish shepherd who crossed the border into Armenia opened fire at Russian frontier guards, who responded by returning the fire, Sergey Grechin, from the Russian Border Department of the Federal Security Service, has said, according to the Russian Itar Tass news agency.

“It was a Russian border guard unit that was involved in the incident,” a senior official in the Armenian Foreign Ministry confirmed, along with a second source in the Armenian Defense Ministry.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry had sent a diplomatic note to Yerevan condemning Armenia for using “disproportionate force” after the incident.

The note, sent through Turkey’s embassy in Tbilisi as Ankara has no diplomatic ties with Armenia, explained how and why the Turkish national had illegally crossed into Armenia, and demanded an explanation for why “disproportionate force” was used to kill him.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with Azerbaijan, after Armenia occupied Azerbaijani lands in the Nagorno-Karabakh War.

“We strongly condemn the shooting of an innocent citizen for a simple border infringement apparently made very innocently,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in its statement on Aug. 1.

Turkish MFA still unaware that Russian troops protect Armenian-Turkish border?

The Turkish MFA issued a comical statement concerning the Turkish shepherd that trespassed into Armenia’s border and died as a result of the appropriate actions taken by the Russian border guards.

The statement makes accusations against the Armenian authorities, in the case when the troops from the Armenia Border Department of the Russian Federation (RF) Federal Security Service protect the Armenian-Turkish border.

Armenia says Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire about 250 times between July 28 to August 3.


Azerbaijan keeps intensively violating ceasefire regime

3 August, 2013


In accordance with the operative data of the Defense Army of Nagorno Karabakh, the rival violated the ceasefire regime for about 250 times on the line of contact of the Karabakh-Azerbaijani opposing armies in the period ranging from July 28 to August 3. Over 1200 bullets of different diameters have been fired towards the troops.

Demo in Baku calls for an end to all political and economic ties with Israel.


Quds Day demos turn violent in Azerbaijan, Kashmir

Aug 02, 2013


In Azerbaijan’s capital city of Baku on Friday, people gathered in front of the Israeli Embassy and called for its closure and an end to all political and economic ties with Tel Aviv.

The demonstrators, shouting slogans in support of Palestine and condemning the Israeli regime, were met with security forces who moved in and made several arrests.

Remember when Putin on the matter of Snowden said: "If he wants to stay here, there is one condition: he must stop his activities aimed at inflicting damage to our American partners, no matter how strange it may sound on my lips."? I wonder what he meant about that. How much help can Armenia expect from Russia in case of war? Russia has also sold weapons to Azerbaijan.


Can a Woman’s Robe Undermine Armenia’s Strategic Partnership with Russia? (July 24, 2013)

The robe, worn in court by 46-year-old Armenian truck driver, Hrachya Harutiunian, who is charged with causing the crash that killed 18 people and injured 30, has sparked a massive outpouring of anger in Armenia at what is seen as a deliberate humiliation by Russia, long touted as the country’s “closest friend.”

With his head buried in his hands, the weeping Harutiunian, a veteran of the Nagorno-Karabakh war with Azerbaijan, quickly became a symbol of other alleged recent affronts by Russia – in particular, Moscow’s $1 billion arms deal with diehard Armenian foe, Azerbaijan

Discontent has been growing for months against Russia for supposedly not treating Armenia as an equal, and, in this macho, conservative society, the sight of an Armenian veteran dressed in a woman’s robe proved the last straw for many.

The anger with Moscow began brewing in Armenian political circles last month, when it became known that Russia, which holds a 49-year lease on an army base in Gyumri, had sold $1 billion worth of armaments to Azerbaijan, including 18 powerful BM-30 Smersh multiple-rocket launchers.

John Kerry on Monday named a new envoy to mediate conflict over Nagorny Karabakh.


Kerry names new envoy to mediate conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh

August 06, 2013


U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday named a new envoy to mediate the long-running conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

James Warlick was tapped as the next U.S. co-chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, which comprises Russia and France as well.

"He is a first-rate diplomat, and I am confident that he will do a tremendous job in this critical post," Kerry said.

He said Warlick will assume his new post in September