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RFE/RL Report
U.S. Confirms Armenian-Azeri Summit
Hovannes Movsisian ## Artak Hambardzumian
13.05.2016
The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet in Vienna early
next week for talks that will be co-hosted by U.S. Secretary of State
John Kerry and his Russian and French counterparts, the U.S. State
Department said on Friday.
State Department spokesman John Kirby confirmed the meeting in a
statement that detailed Kerry's travel schedule for the next few days.
"Secretary Kerry will travel to Vienna, Austria, May 16-17 # Together
with Russia and France, the United States will also co-host a meeting
on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenian President [Serzh]
Sarkisian and Azerbaijani President [Ilham] Aliyev," Kirby said.
Plans for the Armenian-Armenian summit in Vienna were first announced
by senior Russian diplomats on Thursday. They said it will be
primarily aimed at bolstering the ceasefire regime along the Karabakh
"line of contact" following last month's heavy fighting between
Armenian and Azerbaijani forces deployed there.
Azerbaijan - Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov inspects
troops deployed near Karabakh, 10May2016.
Sarkisian's and Aliyev's offices did not confirm the upcoming meeting
as of Friday evening, however.
"We report on the visits and meetings of the president of the republic
in a proper manner and in due course," Sarkisian's press secretary,
Vladimir Hakobian, told RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). He
declined to comment further.
The Vienna meeting most probably topped the agenda of Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian's talks with France's Foreign Minister Jean-Marc
Ayrault and State Secretary for European Affairs Harlem Desir held in
Paris on Thursday and Friday respectively. Ayrault, Kerry and Russian
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will be present at the Aliyev-Sarkisian
talks.
According to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Ayrault and Nalbandian
agreed on the need to introduce a mechanism for international
investigations of truce violations and deploy more OSCE monitors in
the conflict zone.
Meanwhile, after several days of relative calm on the Karabakh
frontlines the warring sides accused each other of opening intensive
mortar fire there on Friday evening. The Karabakh Armenian army said
Azerbaijani forces fired about 120 mortar rounds on its positions in
Karabakh's northeast.
Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry, for its part, said the Armenian side
shelled an Azerbaijani village located several kilometers northeast of
Karabakh. It said its frontline troops are carrying out "retaliatory
strikes on enemy positions."
The ministry said earlier in the day that one Azerbaijani soldier was
killed at an unspecified section of "the line of contact" on
Thursday. The Karabakh Defense Army reported a combat death within its
ranks late on Wednesday.
The ceasefire seemed to be largely holding when an RFE/RL
correspondent visited Armenian positions southeast of Karabakh on
Friday morning. "There are few gunshots right now," one of the
soldiers deployed there said. "When the situation gets a bit more
tense we act so that they know that our guys stand firm here."
"We don't leave unanswered any action against us," another soldier
told RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).
Hovannes Movsisian ## Artak Hambardzumian
13.05.2016
The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet in Vienna early
next week for talks that will be co-hosted by U.S. Secretary of State
John Kerry and his Russian and French counterparts, the U.S. State
Department said on Friday.
State Department spokesman John Kirby confirmed the meeting in a
statement that detailed Kerry's travel schedule for the next few days.
"Secretary Kerry will travel to Vienna, Austria, May 16-17 # Together
with Russia and France, the United States will also co-host a meeting
on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenian President [Serzh]
Sarkisian and Azerbaijani President [Ilham] Aliyev," Kirby said.
Plans for the Armenian-Armenian summit in Vienna were first announced
by senior Russian diplomats on Thursday. They said it will be
primarily aimed at bolstering the ceasefire regime along the Karabakh
"line of contact" following last month's heavy fighting between
Armenian and Azerbaijani forces deployed there.
Azerbaijan - Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov inspects
troops deployed near Karabakh, 10May2016.
Sarkisian's and Aliyev's offices did not confirm the upcoming meeting
as of Friday evening, however.
"We report on the visits and meetings of the president of the republic
in a proper manner and in due course," Sarkisian's press secretary,
Vladimir Hakobian, told RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). He
declined to comment further.
The Vienna meeting most probably topped the agenda of Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian's talks with France's Foreign Minister Jean-Marc
Ayrault and State Secretary for European Affairs Harlem Desir held in
Paris on Thursday and Friday respectively. Ayrault, Kerry and Russian
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will be present at the Aliyev-Sarkisian
talks.
According to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Ayrault and Nalbandian
agreed on the need to introduce a mechanism for international
investigations of truce violations and deploy more OSCE monitors in
the conflict zone.
Meanwhile, after several days of relative calm on the Karabakh
frontlines the warring sides accused each other of opening intensive
mortar fire there on Friday evening. The Karabakh Armenian army said
Azerbaijani forces fired about 120 mortar rounds on its positions in
Karabakh's northeast.
Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry, for its part, said the Armenian side
shelled an Azerbaijani village located several kilometers northeast of
Karabakh. It said its frontline troops are carrying out "retaliatory
strikes on enemy positions."
The ministry said earlier in the day that one Azerbaijani soldier was
killed at an unspecified section of "the line of contact" on
Thursday. The Karabakh Defense Army reported a combat death within its
ranks late on Wednesday.
The ceasefire seemed to be largely holding when an RFE/RL
correspondent visited Armenian positions southeast of Karabakh on
Friday morning. "There are few gunshots right now," one of the
soldiers deployed there said. "When the situation gets a bit more
tense we act so that they know that our guys stand firm here."
"We don't leave unanswered any action against us," another soldier
told RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).
news.am
Analyst: Armenia should apply rebus sic stantibus principle
in regard to Karabakh conflict
13.05.2016
YEREVAN. - The April war radically changed the geopolitical situation
in the South Caucasus. The deconstructive policy and necrophilous
actions of the Azerbaijani authorities prove that they are not going
to substitute war paradigm for peace paradigm.
Political analyst Mariam Margaryan wrote the aforementioned on her
Facebook page, referring to the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group on
the possible meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in
Vienna next week.
“This leads to the conclusion that the Armenian sides should use the
rebus sic stantibus principle of international law (fundamental change
of circumstances) and adopt a policy of recognizing the current
borders of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR/Artsakh) based on the
people’s right to self-determination.
“The Azerbaijani deputy’s call to link Zangezour to Azerbaijan is a
vivid example of the deconstructive policy, necrophilia and predatory
ambitions [of that country],” she wrote.
According to the analyst, the Armenian ruling elite and all Armenians
face the following issues in the present circumstances:
1. Disagree to resume talks without an official NKR representative,
who will have equal rights with the participating sides.
2. Concede no territories, since this step will only “open the
appetite” of the Turkish-Azerbaijani alliance, creating serious
security issues for Armenians. Besides, what concessions can be
discussed if we have [already] conceded Western Armenia, Nakhijevan
and Eastern Karabakh?
3. Continue to actively raise the issue of liberating the Eastern
Karabakh occupied by Azerbaijan.
4. The statement mentions confidence-building, but the confidence
cannot be restored as long as the international community puts an
equal mark between the sides and Azerbaijan refuses to recognize the
NKR independence.
5. The mentioned condition should result in the recognition of NKR
independence by Azerbaijan.
“All the Armenians worldwide should not forget about their bitter
historical experience and realize that we are the guarantors of our
security,” Margaryan said.
13.05.2016
YEREVAN. - The April war radically changed the geopolitical situation
in the South Caucasus. The deconstructive policy and necrophilous
actions of the Azerbaijani authorities prove that they are not going
to substitute war paradigm for peace paradigm.
Political analyst Mariam Margaryan wrote the aforementioned on her
Facebook page, referring to the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group on
the possible meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in
Vienna next week.
“This leads to the conclusion that the Armenian sides should use the
rebus sic stantibus principle of international law (fundamental change
of circumstances) and adopt a policy of recognizing the current
borders of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR/Artsakh) based on the
people’s right to self-determination.
“The Azerbaijani deputy’s call to link Zangezour to Azerbaijan is a
vivid example of the deconstructive policy, necrophilia and predatory
ambitions [of that country],” she wrote.
According to the analyst, the Armenian ruling elite and all Armenians
face the following issues in the present circumstances:
1. Disagree to resume talks without an official NKR representative,
who will have equal rights with the participating sides.
2. Concede no territories, since this step will only “open the
appetite” of the Turkish-Azerbaijani alliance, creating serious
security issues for Armenians. Besides, what concessions can be
discussed if we have [already] conceded Western Armenia, Nakhijevan
and Eastern Karabakh?
3. Continue to actively raise the issue of liberating the Eastern
Karabakh occupied by Azerbaijan.
4. The statement mentions confidence-building, but the confidence
cannot be restored as long as the international community puts an
equal mark between the sides and Azerbaijan refuses to recognize the
NKR independence.
5. The mentioned condition should result in the recognition of NKR
independence by Azerbaijan.
“All the Armenians worldwide should not forget about their bitter
historical experience and realize that we are the guarantors of our
security,” Margaryan said.
arka.am
Details of Pope Francis’ visit to Armenia unveiled
YEREVAN, May 13. The press service of the Armenian president
has unveiled today the details of the upcoming visit to Armenia by
Pope Francis. The head of the Roman Catholic Church will begin his
visit to Armenia on June 24. After the official welcoming ceremony at
Yerevan Zvartnots airport, the Pope will head to Holy Etchmiadzin, the
seat of the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
The welcome ceremony will be held at the Etchmiadzin Cathedral. On the
same day, in the evening the Pope will have a meeting with president
Serzh Sargsyan’s at the presidential palace, and then with
representatives of the Armenian authorities, society and the
diplomatic corps.
The first day of the visit will be wrapped up by a meeting of Pope
Francis with the head of the Armenian Church, Catholicos of All
Armenians Karekin II.
In the morning of June 25 the Pope will visit the Tsitsernakaberd
Memorial to the victims of the Armenian Genocide and the Genocide
Museum. Then the Pope and the Catholicos of All Armenians will leave
for Gyumri, where a Divine Liturgy will be served at Vardanants
Square. In Gyumri, the Pope will visit the monastery of Our Lady of Armenia of
the Congregation of Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, as
well as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Virgin (Seven Wounds) of the
Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. After that Pope
Francis will visit the Armenian Catholic Cathedral Church of the Holy
Martyrs.
On the same day in the evening, at Republic Square in Yerevan an
ecumenical ceremony will be held and a prayer for peace offered.
On June 26, the Pope will meet with the bishops of the Armenian
Catholic Church; will take part in the holy liturgy and ecumenical
dinner with Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, archbishops and
bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Armenian Catholic Church
and representatives of the papal delegation. Then Pope Francis will
meet with delegates and benefactors of the Armenian Church.
The Pope and the Catholicos of All Armenians will sign a joint
statement. The two heads of churches will also pray in the monastery
of Khor Virap. On the same day the Pope will depart from Yerevan to
Rome.
YEREVAN, May 13. The press service of the Armenian president
has unveiled today the details of the upcoming visit to Armenia by
Pope Francis. The head of the Roman Catholic Church will begin his
visit to Armenia on June 24. After the official welcoming ceremony at
Yerevan Zvartnots airport, the Pope will head to Holy Etchmiadzin, the
seat of the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
The welcome ceremony will be held at the Etchmiadzin Cathedral. On the
same day, in the evening the Pope will have a meeting with president
Serzh Sargsyan’s at the presidential palace, and then with
representatives of the Armenian authorities, society and the
diplomatic corps.
The first day of the visit will be wrapped up by a meeting of Pope
Francis with the head of the Armenian Church, Catholicos of All
Armenians Karekin II.
In the morning of June 25 the Pope will visit the Tsitsernakaberd
Memorial to the victims of the Armenian Genocide and the Genocide
Museum. Then the Pope and the Catholicos of All Armenians will leave
for Gyumri, where a Divine Liturgy will be served at Vardanants
Square. In Gyumri, the Pope will visit the monastery of Our Lady of Armenia of
the Congregation of Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, as
well as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Virgin (Seven Wounds) of the
Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. After that Pope
Francis will visit the Armenian Catholic Cathedral Church of the Holy
Martyrs.
On the same day in the evening, at Republic Square in Yerevan an
ecumenical ceremony will be held and a prayer for peace offered.
On June 26, the Pope will meet with the bishops of the Armenian
Catholic Church; will take part in the holy liturgy and ecumenical
dinner with Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, archbishops and
bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Armenian Catholic Church
and representatives of the papal delegation. Then Pope Francis will
meet with delegates and benefactors of the Armenian Church.
The Pope and the Catholicos of All Armenians will sign a joint
statement. The two heads of churches will also pray in the monastery
of Khor Virap. On the same day the Pope will depart from Yerevan to
Rome.
armenews.com
EUROVISION
3 Armenians in 3 countries participating in the
Eurovision Song Contest 2016
The singer Iveta Mukuchyan represent Armenia at Eurovision 2016. She
participated in the first semi-final on May 10 with the song "Wave
Love".The song was composed by Lilith Navasardyan and Levon
Navasardyan and Iveta wrote the lyrics alongside Stephanie
Crutchfield.
It is interesting to note qu'Iveta Mukuchyan will not be the only
Armenian in the contest. Georgia will be represented by the Armenian
Nika Kocharov (center photo) and his group of young Georgian Lolitaz.
It should be noted that two of the three members of the band are also
Armenians and Dima Giorgi Hovhannisyan. In the contest, they will
perform the song "Midnight Gold". Nika Kocharov is the son of Valery
Kocharova, which is one of the pioneers of rock music in Georgia and
the founder of "Blitz", known in the Soviet Union with their covers of
the Beatles.
The representative of Ukraine Jamal (Susanna Dzhamaladinova full name)
is also Armenian side of his mother (the father is a Crimean Tatar).
Jamala began studying music since childhood. Musically Jamala was
taught arranger Gennady Astsaturyan that since childhood he learned
jazz. A Eurovision 2016 Jamala will sing the song "1944" which has
been the subject of various disputes.
The singer Iveta Mukuchyan represent Armenia at Eurovision 2016. She
participated in the first semi-final on May 10 with the song "Wave
Love".The song was composed by Lilith Navasardyan and Levon
Navasardyan and Iveta wrote the lyrics alongside Stephanie
Crutchfield.
It is interesting to note qu'Iveta Mukuchyan will not be the only
Armenian in the contest. Georgia will be represented by the Armenian
Nika Kocharov (center photo) and his group of young Georgian Lolitaz.
It should be noted that two of the three members of the band are also
Armenians and Dima Giorgi Hovhannisyan. In the contest, they will
perform the song "Midnight Gold". Nika Kocharov is the son of Valery
Kocharova, which is one of the pioneers of rock music in Georgia and
the founder of "Blitz", known in the Soviet Union with their covers of
the Beatles.
The representative of Ukraine Jamal (Susanna Dzhamaladinova full name)
is also Armenian side of his mother (the father is a Crimean Tatar).
Jamala began studying music since childhood. Musically Jamala was
taught arranger Gennady Astsaturyan that since childhood he learned
jazz. A Eurovision 2016 Jamala will sing the song "1944" which has
been the subject of various disputes.
news.am
Sociologist: Father of every third family in Armenia is abroad
14.05.2016
Several hundred thousand children in Armenia are growing up and are
being raised without a father, sociologist Aharon Adibekyan said at a
pres conference on Saturday.
“The father of every third family in Armenia is abroad,” Adibekyan
noted. “We [i.e. Armenians] are a nation belonging to the male
culture. The role of the father is very important in terms of the
spiritual and behavioral upbringing of the children.
“The strength of the Armenian family and the chance to raise a good
generation is threatened.”
a1plus.am
14 million dollars for new shopping center in North Avenue
May 14,2016
The underground sector of North Avenue will hereafter be a “shopping
gallery”. The opening ceremony of Tashir Street has taken place today.
Tashir company invested 14 million dollars for the construction of
“gallery”, which occupies 12.000 sq/m territory, “This sum also
includes the importation of several international brands into
Armenia,” says Narek Karapetyan, representative of Tashir Group of
Companies.
Shops representing 77 brands will operate at “Tashir Street” shopping
gallery, “More than 300 jobs will be created,” notes Mr Karapetyan.
The owners think that especially tourists visiting Armenia will be
interested in the gallery. For that reason a part of the center was
called Vernissage, and national, ethnic Armenian brands are
represented there.
horizon weekly.ca
Anti-Armenian Documentary Narrated By Actor Jeremy Irons
14.05.2016
Several hundred thousand children in Armenia are growing up and are
being raised without a father, sociologist Aharon Adibekyan said at a
pres conference on Saturday.
“The father of every third family in Armenia is abroad,” Adibekyan
noted. “We [i.e. Armenians] are a nation belonging to the male
culture. The role of the father is very important in terms of the
spiritual and behavioral upbringing of the children.
“The strength of the Armenian family and the chance to raise a good
generation is threatened.”
a1plus.am
14 million dollars for new shopping center in North Avenue
May 14,2016
The underground sector of North Avenue will hereafter be a “shopping
gallery”. The opening ceremony of Tashir Street has taken place today.
Tashir company invested 14 million dollars for the construction of
“gallery”, which occupies 12.000 sq/m territory, “This sum also
includes the importation of several international brands into
Armenia,” says Narek Karapetyan, representative of Tashir Group of
Companies.
Shops representing 77 brands will operate at “Tashir Street” shopping
gallery, “More than 300 jobs will be created,” notes Mr Karapetyan.
The owners think that especially tourists visiting Armenia will be
interested in the gallery. For that reason a part of the center was
called Vernissage, and national, ethnic Armenian brands are
represented there.
horizon weekly.ca
Anti-Armenian Documentary Narrated By Actor Jeremy Irons
To Air in Europe
May 12, 2016
A controversial documentary about the Khojaly incident will air on
Euro Channel (June 1). Directed by Lithuanian director Aleksandras
Brokas and narrated by British cinema legend Jeremy Irons, ''Endless
Corridor'' follows Lithuanian journalist Richard Lapaitis on a trip
back to Azerbaijan 20 years after he covered the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. This documentary distorts facts, alters reality, fabricates
evidence and jeopardizes its own status as a documentary. Executive
Producer of the documentary Gerald Rafshoon, was the White House
Communications Director under the Jimmy Carter administration. The
official website of the documentary is endlesscorridor.com.
Shot in English, the documentary was translated into Azerbaijani,
Turkish, French, Italian, German and Arabian on the initiative of
vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva. The film
was also shown on Turkey’s “Kanal 24”, “CNN Turk”, Israel’s “Channel
1” TV channels, and Albania’s National Television.
On February 26, 1992, a series of events took place in Aghdam, which
are now referred to as the “Khojaly massacre” by Azerbaijan. In
reality, the village of Khojaly was one of the Azerbaijani army’s
strongholds in the heart of Nagorno-Karabakh which for many months, as
Human Rights Watch put it, “pounded the capital of Nagorno Karabakh,
Stepanakert, and other Armenian towns and villages with shells and
grenades. The indiscriminate shelling and sniper shooting killed or
maimed hundreds of civilians, destroyed homes, hospitals and other
objects that are not legitimate military targets, and generally
terrorized the civilian population.” In this regard, suppressing the
Azerbaijani army’s fire had become a matter of survival for the people
of Nagorno-Karabakh.
As Azerbaijani journalist Eynulla Fatullayev stated, “And even several
days prior to the attack, the Armenians had been continuously warning
the population about the planned operation through loudspeakers and
suggesting that the civilians abandon the town and escape from the
encirclement through a humanitarian corridor. According to Khojaly
refugees’ own words, they had used this corridor and, indeed, the
Armenian soldiers positioned behind the corridor had not opened fire
on them.”
However, Fatullayev continues, “… part of the Khojaly inhabitants had
been fired upon by our own [Azerbaijani troops]… Whether it was done
intentionally or not is to be determined by investigators … [They were
killed] not by [some] mysterious [shooters], but by provocateurs from
the National Front of Azerbaijan’s battalions … [The corpses] had been
mutilated by our own …”
Ayaz Mutalibov, then the president of Azerbaijan, blamed his political
opponents for the killings in Khojaly. He stated in an interview with
Russia’s Nezavisimaya Gazetta in 1992 that “…the corridor, by which
people could escape, had nonetheless been left by the Armenians. So,
why did they have to open fire? Especially in the area around Aghdam,
where there was sufficient force at that time to get help to the
people. As the Khojaly inhabitants, who narrowly escaped, say, it was
all organized in order to have grounds for my resignation. Some forces
functioned for the effort to discredit the president.”
The fact that Khojaly inhabitants fell victim to fierce domestic
political fighting for power in Azerbaijan was confirmed also by then
Chairman of Azerbaijan’s Supreme Council Karayev, his successor
Mamedov, Azerbaijani Human Rights Activist Yunusov, and others.
According to a 1992 report by the Azeri newspaper Bilik-Dunyasi
Agency, Heydar Aliyev, then a presidential hopeful in Azerbaijan,
stated, “…the bloodshed will profit us. We should not interfere in the
course of events.”
Fatullayev, the Chief Editor of the Azerbaijani newspaper Realny
Azerbaijan spent many years in prison for alleged defamation of the
inhabitants of Khojaly. He appealed to the European court of Human
Rights, which ruled that the Azerbaijani government shall immediately
release Fatullayev. He was eventually released in 2011 and shortly
after confirmed to Radio Liberty that he has not changed his views on
the Khojaly events and that he held “Azerbaijani fighters, not
Armenians, responsible for the 1992 killings” of Khojaly inhabitants.
“I call on our partner parliamentarians from different states,
municipal and provincial councils to avoid the pitfalls of Azerbaijani
propaganda,” Zakaryan said in his speech in parliament. “Don’t buy
into false information and fictitious events. Keep clean the
parliamentary agendas and don’t let the Azerbaijani propaganda
penetrate there. If you are looking for those responsible for the
Khojaly events, look for them in Azerbaijan.”
May 12, 2016
A controversial documentary about the Khojaly incident will air on
Euro Channel (June 1). Directed by Lithuanian director Aleksandras
Brokas and narrated by British cinema legend Jeremy Irons, ''Endless
Corridor'' follows Lithuanian journalist Richard Lapaitis on a trip
back to Azerbaijan 20 years after he covered the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. This documentary distorts facts, alters reality, fabricates
evidence and jeopardizes its own status as a documentary. Executive
Producer of the documentary Gerald Rafshoon, was the White House
Communications Director under the Jimmy Carter administration. The
official website of the documentary is endlesscorridor.com.
Shot in English, the documentary was translated into Azerbaijani,
Turkish, French, Italian, German and Arabian on the initiative of
vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva. The film
was also shown on Turkey’s “Kanal 24”, “CNN Turk”, Israel’s “Channel
1” TV channels, and Albania’s National Television.
On February 26, 1992, a series of events took place in Aghdam, which
are now referred to as the “Khojaly massacre” by Azerbaijan. In
reality, the village of Khojaly was one of the Azerbaijani army’s
strongholds in the heart of Nagorno-Karabakh which for many months, as
Human Rights Watch put it, “pounded the capital of Nagorno Karabakh,
Stepanakert, and other Armenian towns and villages with shells and
grenades. The indiscriminate shelling and sniper shooting killed or
maimed hundreds of civilians, destroyed homes, hospitals and other
objects that are not legitimate military targets, and generally
terrorized the civilian population.” In this regard, suppressing the
Azerbaijani army’s fire had become a matter of survival for the people
of Nagorno-Karabakh.
As Azerbaijani journalist Eynulla Fatullayev stated, “And even several
days prior to the attack, the Armenians had been continuously warning
the population about the planned operation through loudspeakers and
suggesting that the civilians abandon the town and escape from the
encirclement through a humanitarian corridor. According to Khojaly
refugees’ own words, they had used this corridor and, indeed, the
Armenian soldiers positioned behind the corridor had not opened fire
on them.”
However, Fatullayev continues, “… part of the Khojaly inhabitants had
been fired upon by our own [Azerbaijani troops]… Whether it was done
intentionally or not is to be determined by investigators … [They were
killed] not by [some] mysterious [shooters], but by provocateurs from
the National Front of Azerbaijan’s battalions … [The corpses] had been
mutilated by our own …”
Ayaz Mutalibov, then the president of Azerbaijan, blamed his political
opponents for the killings in Khojaly. He stated in an interview with
Russia’s Nezavisimaya Gazetta in 1992 that “…the corridor, by which
people could escape, had nonetheless been left by the Armenians. So,
why did they have to open fire? Especially in the area around Aghdam,
where there was sufficient force at that time to get help to the
people. As the Khojaly inhabitants, who narrowly escaped, say, it was
all organized in order to have grounds for my resignation. Some forces
functioned for the effort to discredit the president.”
The fact that Khojaly inhabitants fell victim to fierce domestic
political fighting for power in Azerbaijan was confirmed also by then
Chairman of Azerbaijan’s Supreme Council Karayev, his successor
Mamedov, Azerbaijani Human Rights Activist Yunusov, and others.
According to a 1992 report by the Azeri newspaper Bilik-Dunyasi
Agency, Heydar Aliyev, then a presidential hopeful in Azerbaijan,
stated, “…the bloodshed will profit us. We should not interfere in the
course of events.”
Fatullayev, the Chief Editor of the Azerbaijani newspaper Realny
Azerbaijan spent many years in prison for alleged defamation of the
inhabitants of Khojaly. He appealed to the European court of Human
Rights, which ruled that the Azerbaijani government shall immediately
release Fatullayev. He was eventually released in 2011 and shortly
after confirmed to Radio Liberty that he has not changed his views on
the Khojaly events and that he held “Azerbaijani fighters, not
Armenians, responsible for the 1992 killings” of Khojaly inhabitants.
“I call on our partner parliamentarians from different states,
municipal and provincial councils to avoid the pitfalls of Azerbaijani
propaganda,” Zakaryan said in his speech in parliament. “Don’t buy
into false information and fictitious events. Keep clean the
parliamentary agendas and don’t let the Azerbaijani propaganda
penetrate there. If you are looking for those responsible for the
Khojaly events, look for them in Azerbaijan.”
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