Day: September 17, 2023

In order to know the current situation in Armenia and Garabagh,
where the separatist forces are still located, it is no longer
necessary to search for the Armenian press. The Senate of the
United States of America has almost become the daily newspaper of
Armenia – giving fresh tiding; whatever the situation is inside,
the same atmosphere exists in the Senate. There is only one issue
that the voices from the Senate are more excited and more
aggressive than those from Yerevan. For example, Senator Robert or
Bob Menendez, a 69-year-old American politician, is so excited
every time he stands in front of the tribune talking about Armenia
that he almost drowns in his own sweat. Bob is so pro-Armenian that
he would almost give the whole world a gift for Armenia. But
Menendez has one thing missing; it’s that he himself can’t
understand anything from what he’s talking about. Indeed, the old
senate has become so emotional that sometimes he either believes
the lies he tells himself, or because he is not aware of it, he
goes out of his conscious for a moment.

Menendez’s commitment to Armenians is as strong as Caroline
Cox’s in the British Parliament. In other words, Armenian blood was
injected into the blood of both fake armenophiles. The only
difference between the two characters is that Menendez is a bit
greedy, that is, avid for money. Bob Menendez also had an
interesting story in 2015 about his corruption issue in the court
just because of his greed. The senator, who is easily lured by
money and bribes, repeatedly poked his nose into an issue he did
not know deeply due to the money invested in his account from the
Armenian diaspora and lobbies. The fact that the senator, who has
never touched a step in Garabagh and has a simple understanding of
the Caucasus, presented false images to the Foreign Relations
Committee just for the sake of his work, is a clear proof of all
that has been said. Although Menendez is a lawyer, he does not know
the secrets of his position. Of course, without knowing the region,
how can making claims from thousands of kilometers away help
lobbyists pouring millions into the pockets of the corruptionists
likes of Menendez? Menendez just wins, because his mission is just
to care about his account but not Armenians even if he vehemently
shouts out of some sanctions. Who cares though? Because even though
he doesn’t know anything about Garabagh, he still knows this
business very well.

Thus, the situation in the United States does not directly
express Washington’s position towards Azerbaijan. On the contrary,
the United States tries to find a way out of such a situation at
many points. First of all, the United States will never want to
lose Azerbaijan, which is one of the most reliable allies of the
West, and cannot directly pressure Azerbaijan even on the most
critical issues related to Armenia. The final situation was
actually a momentary sabotage plan from the armenianized US Senate
aimed at the South Caucasus. Currently, the situation in the US
Senate is complicated. Because Yerevan and the forces working to
feed the separatists have put such a leash on the neck of people
like Menendez that neither the US State Department nor the White
House can speak out.

However, unlike them, Azerbaijan can always say its word.
Because the international laws written by the West are supreme for
Azerbaijan, even if they are worth the bribes they receive. No
matter how hard people like Robert Menendez try to impose tough
sanctions against Azerbaijan and its leadership, in the end,
Azerbaijan gets what it wants. And as it happened… Although the
Aghdam-Khankendi road was blocked by the separatists for a long
time, in the end it was not what they wanted, but what Azerbaijan
wanted.

First, they wanted to create an illusion, ostensibly there was a
starvation and humanitarian crisis in Khankendi. All Armenian and
pro-Armenian media outlets circulated the fabricated pictures and a
term of “genocide”, the one which Menendez tried to fake at the
tribune. Besides, the local residents said on social networks that
the leaders of the separatist gang took away products brought by
the ICRC or the Russian Peacekeepers to aggravate the situation
further. However, it did not work and first, the separatists were
obliged to step back and release extra meat products in Khankendi
on August 20. According to the so-called statement, on September 17
they were obliged to step back a second time against internal
pressure. The regime accepts that it is not always possible to
provide the daily 200 grams of bread available to a citizen under
the coupon system.

In general, there is only one option for separatist and
lobbyists in Garabagh, Yerevan, or the Senate: to take action
according to the demands and conditions of Azerbaijan. In fact, all
these processes could have been resolved a long time ago. It is a
fact that earlier, an agreement on the simultaneous opening of
these was reached on September 1. The separatists expediently
delayed this process.

Despite all their fruitless efforts, Azerbaijan’s principled
position once again prevailed.

Now there is a priority for them – to end the resistance, not to
rely on empty words from the US Senate and, finally, to take steps
for reintegration. Because this is the only way out for the
Armenian minority in Garabagh.

NEW YORK

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili at the Türkevi Center, or Turkish House, in New York City on Sunday, where they discussed the importance of implementing the Middle Corridor.

Erdogan highlighted the swift operationalization of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway as a key priority, according to the Turkish Presidency.

The Trans-Caspian East-West-Middle Corridor Initiative, also known as “the Middle Corridor,” which begins in Türkiye and passes through the Caucasus region via Georgia and Azerbaijan, crosses the Caspian Sea, traverses Central Asia and reaches China, is one of the most important components of efforts to revive the ancient Silk Road, according to Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During their meeting, Erdogan also thanked Georgia for its support after the major earthquakes in Türkiye in February, said a statement from Türkiye’s Communications Directorate.

Erdogan also stressed the importance of closing schools run by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) in Georgia and freezing their assets and
congratulated the Georgian administration for the steps taken on this issue, according to the statement.

The two leaders also stressed the importance of increasing the trade volume between Türkiye and Georgia from $3 billion to $5 billion.

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Tension persists on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and on the Artsakh contact line, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan told news outlet “Azatutyun.”

“Basically, we have always said that in case of such unpredictable behavior from Azerbaijan, tension should always be expected, both in Nagorno-Karabakh and on the borders of the Republic of Armenia,” Mirzoyan emphasized, continuing. “We have seen several invasions into the territory of the Republic of Armenia […] and the occupation of the territories of Armenia, and also constant threats, hate speech, also towards Nagorno Karabakh, brought the population of Nagorno Karabakh to the brink of a humanitarian disaster, and yes, we always expect tension.

Now you are wondering what we are doing. We are actively working with international partners, I’m sure you are keeping track of everything, you see statements, calls and, of course, legal decisions of the International Court. We must continue to work like this until Azerbaijan enters the constructive field, because we want peace, and we want long-term peace. We want recognition of territorial integrity, but at the same time a mutual recognition, since you know that Azerbaijan must recognize our borders, there is such an agreement, but so far the President of Azerbaijan refuses to make public statements on this matter […],” Mirzoyan said.

When asked whether the main, fundamental differences remain after Yerevan and Baku again exchanged options for a peace treaty, he replied: “Differences remain. Of course, it would be wrong to say that there is no progress from edition to edition, the text is being polished, I once said that all points are important, but nevertheless, the text can be conditionally divided into vitally important and not so vitally important points. But, of course, there are still fundamental disagreements on the most vital, most significant issues. We must continue to negotiate, continue to work.”

Regarding the introduction of an international mechanism into the Baku-Stepanakert dialogue, the head of the RA Foreign Ministry said, “We are confident that all issues related to Nagorno-Karabakh should be discussed between representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh and official Baku, and everyone else in the world can only play the role of facilitators. Why an international mechanism? We think that even if this dialogue begins between official Baku and Stepanakert, still, left alone in the same room, Baku will try to conduct this conversation in the form of an ultimatum, dictate demands and conditions. I don’t think there will be a big, real and sincere dialogue if there is no international presence, and even I may doubt the continuity of these meetings and dialogue. And this is where some kind of international mechanism is needed.”

When asked whether this international mechanism is a “red line” for Yerevan, the FM replied, “Principles are a red line. We want real solutions to be given to real problems, and we are confident that a dialogue is the best way to do this. Why under international auspices? To make dialogue more effective, that’s all. The red lines are the final results.”

Regarding the map, according to Ararat Mirzoyan, “a dialogue is taking place that did not exist before, in an atmosphere of greater mutual understanding.” “We see positive signals, at the same time I want to say again that not only are the exchange of ideas and specific agreements not being implemented, but the leadership of Azerbaijan is either changing its mind or is currently playing some kind of a diplomatic game,” he concluded.

Ukrainian soldiers prepare to fire from the 2C22 Bohdan self-propelled howitzer toward Russian positions in eastern Ukraine.

Kyiv said it was continuing offensive operations against Russian forces in the east and south as alarms sounded throughout Ukraine on September 16, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked Western and other allies for helping to make “significant progress” with “defense agreements and other support packages” for his embattled nation.

Meanwhile, Russia rejected Ukrainian claims of retaking a strategic village in the Donetsk region as its full-scale invasion of Ukraine approached its 20th month, while the Kremlin also said defense forces had shot down two drones outside Moscow overnight.

Separately, Washington confirmed plans for potentially crucial support-building meetings next week between Ukraine’s visiting president and U.S. political leaders.

RFE/RL’s Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia’s full-scale invasion, Kyiv’s counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL’s coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

Around midday, air alerts sounded in a number of regions of Ukraine as the country’s military warned of the threat of ballistic attacks on population centers.

The alarms blared in the capital, Kyiv, as well as in the Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Poltava, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolayiv, and Zaporizhzhya, and Odesa regions.

A series of blasts was reported in the Kharkiv region, although information on possible casualties or damages was initially unavailable.

The Ukrainian General Staff said on September 16 that its forces were conducting defensive operations in eastern and southern Ukraine and offensive operations around Melitopol and Bakhmut.

It claimed “success” in the Klishchiyevka area of the Donetsk region.

Ukrainian Digital Transformation Minister Mykhaylo Fedorov, who has participated in building up his country’s advanced fighting abilities, warned Moscow’s military that following recent attacks on Russian naval targets in the Black Sea, “There will be more drones, more attacks, and fewer Russian ships. That’s for sure.”

Governor Roman Starovoit of Russia’s Kursk region said on Telegram on September 16 that Ukrainian forces shelled a village in Russia’s Kursk region, killing a 30-year-old civilian.

He also said that 17 Ukrainian projectiles had struck a village in the Korenevsky District of the Kursk region, causing damage but no injuries.

The Ukrainian side routinely avoids commenting on the increasing number of attacks inside Russian territory by unmanned aerial vehicles.

Russian media outlet RBC said in late August that it had tallied more than 500 claims by Russian authorities of drone attacks inside Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began 18 months ago. In 110 cases, casualties or damage were reported.

Russia’s Defense Ministry also rejected the Ukrainian military’s claim from earlier in the week that Kyiv’s forces had recaptured the village of Andriyivka, near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, where a Russian-backed separatist group called the Donetsk People’s Republic operates.

“The enemy did not abandon plans to capture the city of Artyomovsk of the Donetsk People’s Republic and continued to conduct assault operations…unsuccessfully trying to oust Russian troops from the population centers of Klishchiyivka and Andriyivka,” the Russian ministry said in its daily briefing, according to Reuters.

RFE/RL can’t independently confirm battlefield claims by either side in areas of the heaviest fighting in Ukraine, and censorship and strictures on the media seriously hinder reporting in Russia.

Reports have suggested that pressure from the United States and other allies has mounted on Ukraine to demonstrate success in the ongoing major counteroffensive it launched in June. Zelenskiy and other Ukrainian officials have pushed back on criticisms about the pace of the Ukrainian military’s push to retake Russian-occupied areas of southern and eastern Ukraine.

Early this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced that he had replaced Ukraine’s defense minister because “new approaches” were needed.

In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy on September 16 thanked his nation’s allies for their continued support In the fight against the Russian invasion.

“This week, we’ve made significant progress in implementing existing defense agreements and other support packages,” Zelenskiy said.

“Denmark, thank you for the new defense package, which is already the 12th package. Equipment, ammunition, and missiles for our air defense,” he said.

“Germany, thank you for the new batch of military aid. Belgium, your participation in our pilot training is approved. Thank you! Norway, your decision to provide additional funding for Ukraine’s recovery. It’s crucial. Thank you!”

He also singled out the United States and South Korea for their support.

U.S. national-security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed on September 15 that President Joe Biden will host Zelenskiy in Washington on September 21 for what will be their third meeting at the White House.

WATCH: U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE Michael Carpenter tells RFE/RL how Zelenskiy could use a meeting with Biden next week to press the case for further military support.

Both Biden and Zelenskiy are slated to address the 78th session of the UN General Assembly next week, and Zelenskiy is expected to use his in-person appearance with U.S. and world leaders to rally support and plead for advanced weapons and ammunition to aid his country’s ongoing counteroffensive to retake Ukrainian territory occupied by Russian forces.

Sullivan also said Zelenskiy will visit the U.S. Capitol, where he can meet “congressional leaders from both parties to make the case that the United States has been a great friend and partner to Ukraine throughout this entire brutal war.”

The U.S. Congress is currently debating Biden’s request to provide as much as $24 billion in military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

U.S. Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters on September 16 that any help from Pyongyang is not likely to make a major difference in Moscow’s war effort.

“Would it have a huge difference? I’m skeptical of that,” Milley said, adding that while any weapons assistance would be of concern, “I doubt that it would be decisive.”

With reporting by Reuters

Georgia’s Weightlifting Olympic Champion, European Champion and
record-breaking athlete Lasha Talakhadze became a seven-time winner
of the World Championship on Sunday, after winning the event in
Saudi Arabia’s capital city of Riyadh, Azernews
reports, citing Agenda.

Talakhadze has claimed three gold medals in the +109 kg weight
category after lifting 220 kg in snatch, 253 kg in clean and jerk,
and 473 kg in total.

The Georgian athlete also became a seven-time European Champion
in April in Yerevan.

Talakhadze was named the 2022 European Weightlifter of the Year,
making him the first Georgian athlete to earn the honour.

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