Tag: diplomacy

EVN Report's Editor-in-Chief Maria Titizian speaks with Dr. Nerses Kopalyan, author of the monthly series "EVN Security Report" who explains the madman theory, a strategy in coercive bargaining, where the perceived extremism of an actor is leveraged to achieve one-sided outcomes. In this context, Kopalyan explains how Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s bargaining posture operates off of the logic that if his terms are not met, he reserves the right to wage war, thus anchoring the threat of destruction to force acquiescence from Armenia and the international community.

In EVN Report’s news roundup for the week of December 16: Artsakh continues to remain in a blockade after so-called Azerbaijani “environmental activists” shut down the Lachin Corridor; after international pressure, Azerbaijani authorities restore natural gas supply to Artsakh; Armenia’s parliament adopts bill on creating a Ministry of Internal Affairs and more.

In EVN Report’s news roundup for the week of December 9: A group of Azerbaijanis in civilian clothes block only highway linking Armenia and Artsakh for several hours citing “illegal exploitation of minerals”; Armenia’s Parliament approves the Government’s 2023 budget and adopts number of new laws including the establishment of a Foreign Intelligence Service; airlines registered in Armenia to remain on the EU black list and more.

In EVN Report’s news roundup for the week of December 2: Azerbaijani Armed Forces consistently violated the ceasefire with Armenia and Artsakh over this past week, injuring three Armenian servicemen; France’s parliament unanimously adopts a resolution supporting Armenia and calls for sanctions against Azerbaijan; Russia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov states that asking Moscow to reconfirm its offer regarding leaving the status of Nagorno-Karabakh to the future is not in the spirit of the negotiations.

In EVN Report’s news roundup for the week of November 25: The CSTO Summit and Collective Security Council Session takes place in Yerevan; Armenia’s PM Nikol Pashinyan refuses to sign final CSTO document, says text does not include appropriate assessment of the September Azerbaijani attack against Armenia; Azerbaijani Armed Forces continue to violate ceasefire with Armenia and Artsakh on a daily basis and more.

In EVN Report’s news roundup for the week of November 18: Azerbaijani Armed Forces violate the ceasefire several times in Armenia and Artsakh; France’s Senate adopts resolution calling on the French Government to sanction Azerbaijan for its aggression against Armenia and Artsakh; Russian President Vladimir Putin will be in Armenia taking part in the summit of the leaders of CSTO member states next week.

In EVN Report’s news roundup for the week of November 11: Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan meet in Washington, agree to expedite negotiations; Azerbaijani President makes egregious comments in Shushi triggering a retaliation by PM Nikol Pashinyan; the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention expresses grave concern regarding Aliyev’s speech; Russian President Vladimer Putin to visit Yerevan for the summit of CSTO leaders and more.

Հոկտեմբեր ամսվա հայաստանյան անվտանգության համատեքստը բնութագրող EVN անվտանգության զեկույցի ՁայնաԳիրը:

In EVN Report’s news roundup for the week of October 28: The Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization holds extraordinary session about potentially providing assistance to Armenia; Russian President Vladimir Putin says Armenia has two options for settling the conflict; leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia to meet in Sochi on October 31 and more.

In EVN Report’s news roundup for the week of September 30: Three Armenian servicemen killed after another attack by Azerbaijani Armed Forces this week; Prime Minister Nikol Pahsinyan meets with French President Emmanuel Macron; diplomats accredited in Armenia visit Gegharkunik region to assess damage to civilian infrastructure following Azerbaijani attack and more.

The 2020 Artsakh War exposed a number of myths and misconceptions in Armenia and among Armenians toward the West. Taline Papazian reviews some of those misconceptions and outlines current Western engagement in Armenia and the region.

Born in Artvin (today northeastern Turkey), Yakov Zarobyan and his family fled as refugees to Rostov-on-Don. Later, the young Zarobyan began his career as a worker in NEP-era Ukraine. Eventually becoming a Party activist, he became engaged in the affairs of Soviet Armenia and rose to the position of the republic’s First Secretary in 1960. It was from that position that Zarobyan forged greater ties between Soviet Armenia and the Diaspora, and advocated for the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Although his tenure in Armenia was short, it would truly have a lasting impact on the republic. The series is hosted by historian Pietro A. Shakarian and produced by Sona Nersesyan. Illustration by Armine Shahbazyan.

A disciple of Shahumyan, Anastas Mikoyan was a native of the village of Sanahin, in the historical Lori region of Armenia. A survivor from Il’ich Lenin to Il’ich Brezhnev, he became renowned both in the Soviet Union and internationally for his role as a consummate diplomat and for his management of foreign trade. However, less well known has been Mikoyan’s role in Armenian affairs. Although forced by Stalin to participate in the 1930s repressions in Armenia, he would later become the major force behind de-Stalinization in his native republic. He also worked behind the scenes as an informal lobbyist for Yerevan in Moscow, securing key support for Armenia from the Kremlin. The series is hosted by historian Pietro A. Shakarian and produced by Sona Nersesyan.

In EVN Report’s news roundup for the week of July 8: Azerbaijani Armed Forces open fire on Armenian villages twice in the Vayots Dzor region of Armenia; Artsakh authorities report that the Kanach Zham Church in Shushi is being converted to an orthodox church under the pretense of restoration work; Russia responds to Canadian embassy opening in Yerevan and more.

The impossible situation that Armenia finds itself in because of the Russo-Ukraine conflict can be mitigated through a policy known as strategic shirking, argues Nerses Kopalyan.

The strategic limitations of the last 30 years are no longer tenable, and there is an acute need for innovation, creativity and sophistication in creating a new chapter in U.S.-Armenia relations.

The recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the U.S. stemmed from its own interests. Other allied powers are considering following suit. Will Armenia be able to take advantage of this shift in global geopolitics?

Today marks the one year anniversary of the Tavush clashes. This article looks into the chronology of events as they developed, the subsequent narrative that was perpetuated in Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the consequent reactions of regional and international powers.

Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan said hope for a diplomatic solution is not viable at this stage as Azerbaijan is refusing to compromise. In fact, he said that Baku will not agree to anything less than the capitulation of Karabakh. Here is a chronology of official updates.

Justin Tomczyk traces the history of the Armenian-Turkish border spanning from Armenia’s incorporation into the USSR to the present day, touching upon the Zurich Protocols and reflecting on the viability of a future normalization process.

The Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) is slowly trying to climb its way out of isolation and one of the ways it hopes to achieve this is to produce and export ‘black gold' to the world. EVN Report visited the sprawling caviar production facility nestled in a quiet valley in this unrecognized state often referred to simply as a ‘conflict zone.’