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SHOOTING AND RHETORIC: AMERICAN DIPLOMATS' STATEMENTS COME AMID CONTINUING TENSIONS AT ARMENIAN-AZERI BORDERS
News | 10.07.14 | 16:24
GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Against the background of American officials' controversial statements
the situation remains tense on the Armenian-Azeri border. Last
night the Azeri side opened fire at the Chinari village of Tavush
Province for around five hours, and earlier an attempt by an Azeri
reconnaissance-sabotage group was made in the direction of the
Karavatchar district of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Head of Chinari village, Samvel Saghoyan, on Thursday told ArmeniaNow
that it has been several days the Azerbaijani side has kept the village
under fire. Fortunately, there are no victims, but village houses
are damaged and the villagers cannot engage in agricultural work.
On Wednesday news about an Azerbaijani subversive action toward
Karvatchar was spread. Specifically, two Azeris crossed the Armenian
border, one of them was caught, and the other one managed to escape.
Earlier, news about a 14-year-old boy missing in Karvatchar was spread,
however Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan denied the
information.
It is noteworthy that a day prior to these events American co-chair
of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick wrote on his Twitter account
informing that he will be meeting the other two OSCE co-chairs
to discuss further steps toward a peaceful resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and he mentioned that "the status quo becomes
"increasingly dangerous."
Earlier, in his interview with Asekose.am U.S. Ambassador to Armenia,
John Heffern, reflected on the conflict resolution, essentially saying
that an Armenian withdrawal from seven districts (except the corridor)
is important for an agreement, otherwise the conflict will last long.
But the Nagorno-Karabakh president's spokesman David Babayan commented
on the statement, saying: "There can be no return to the past for
Karabakh - neither in terms of borders, nor status. It is clear and
here we do not need to make even theoretical compromises. Any attempt
to return back the territories is fraught with unexpected consequences,
thus it is just impossible."
Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan at a meeting with reporters
on Wednesday also reflected on the American diplomats' statements and
the current border tensions, saying that the tension on the Armenian
and Karabakhi border is the result of the Azerbaijani government's
unconstructive work, and if the compromise is one-sided it becomes
a one-sided obligation.
"They had better work toward a peaceful solution of NK sovereignty
problem, restoration of the right for sovereignty in the historical,
ancient territories of NK. The rest, whatever the compromise is,
must all be a result of political, moreover military expertise,"
said the minister, adding that "if need be, our soldiers together
with the NK Defense Army and all Armenian population will stand up
for every inch of land."
There are opinions that recently Azeri activity is conditioned by the
Armenian Armed Force's progress toward south-east of the country. But
there are also opinions that Azerbaijan acts with Russian "permission",
because the latter tries to involve both Armenia and Azerbaijan in
the emerging Eurasian Economic Union. During the last couple of years
Russia has sold a large amount of weaponry to Azerbaijan which is a
cause of wide discussions and concern in Armenia where people believe
that a military ally should not behave like that.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, during his official visit to
Argentina, told the Argentine La Nacion that while Armenians are very
worried about Russia selling weapons to Azerbaijan, he is convinced
that Armenia has the power and ability to protect its borders.
http://armenianow.com/news/55956/armenia_karabakh_border_azerbaijan_status_quo
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
News | 10.07.14 | 16:24
GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Against the background of American officials' controversial statements
the situation remains tense on the Armenian-Azeri border. Last
night the Azeri side opened fire at the Chinari village of Tavush
Province for around five hours, and earlier an attempt by an Azeri
reconnaissance-sabotage group was made in the direction of the
Karavatchar district of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Head of Chinari village, Samvel Saghoyan, on Thursday told ArmeniaNow
that it has been several days the Azerbaijani side has kept the village
under fire. Fortunately, there are no victims, but village houses
are damaged and the villagers cannot engage in agricultural work.
On Wednesday news about an Azerbaijani subversive action toward
Karvatchar was spread. Specifically, two Azeris crossed the Armenian
border, one of them was caught, and the other one managed to escape.
Earlier, news about a 14-year-old boy missing in Karvatchar was spread,
however Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan denied the
information.
It is noteworthy that a day prior to these events American co-chair
of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick wrote on his Twitter account
informing that he will be meeting the other two OSCE co-chairs
to discuss further steps toward a peaceful resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and he mentioned that "the status quo becomes
"increasingly dangerous."
Earlier, in his interview with Asekose.am U.S. Ambassador to Armenia,
John Heffern, reflected on the conflict resolution, essentially saying
that an Armenian withdrawal from seven districts (except the corridor)
is important for an agreement, otherwise the conflict will last long.
But the Nagorno-Karabakh president's spokesman David Babayan commented
on the statement, saying: "There can be no return to the past for
Karabakh - neither in terms of borders, nor status. It is clear and
here we do not need to make even theoretical compromises. Any attempt
to return back the territories is fraught with unexpected consequences,
thus it is just impossible."
Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan at a meeting with reporters
on Wednesday also reflected on the American diplomats' statements and
the current border tensions, saying that the tension on the Armenian
and Karabakhi border is the result of the Azerbaijani government's
unconstructive work, and if the compromise is one-sided it becomes
a one-sided obligation.
"They had better work toward a peaceful solution of NK sovereignty
problem, restoration of the right for sovereignty in the historical,
ancient territories of NK. The rest, whatever the compromise is,
must all be a result of political, moreover military expertise,"
said the minister, adding that "if need be, our soldiers together
with the NK Defense Army and all Armenian population will stand up
for every inch of land."
There are opinions that recently Azeri activity is conditioned by the
Armenian Armed Force's progress toward south-east of the country. But
there are also opinions that Azerbaijan acts with Russian "permission",
because the latter tries to involve both Armenia and Azerbaijan in
the emerging Eurasian Economic Union. During the last couple of years
Russia has sold a large amount of weaponry to Azerbaijan which is a
cause of wide discussions and concern in Armenia where people believe
that a military ally should not behave like that.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, during his official visit to
Argentina, told the Argentine La Nacion that while Armenians are very
worried about Russia selling weapons to Azerbaijan, he is convinced
that Armenia has the power and ability to protect its borders.
http://armenianow.com/news/55956/armenia_karabakh_border_azerbaijan_status_quo
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress