Artsakh  Newsletter

VOLUME 4, No. 3-4

BRIEFLY...

Line of Contact, Ohanian said that the Karabagh armed forces were ordered not to respond with fire.  He also dismissed recent bellicose statements made by Azeri Defense Minister Safar Abiyev by saying: "Abiyev insists that we do not have an army.  He will understand that the Nagorno Karabagh Republic has an able army as soon as Azerbaijan tries making a step forward from current positions.   The enemy will face a powerful response.  If the Azerbaijani authorities were confident in the ability of their armed forces, they would have immediately initiated military actions against Nagorno Karabagh."

NKR Foreign Minister Met with French OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairman in Paris

Stepanakert, April 4-7.  Foreign Minister Naira Melkumian met with French Co-Chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Philip De Suremain in Paris and discussed the Karabagh conflict peace process.  On April 5 she gave a press conference for Armenian-French newspapers outlining Stepanakert's position on the Nagorno Karabagh conflict and answering numerous questions regarding NKR's foreign policy.  On the same day Melkumian met with the leadership of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations of France and discussed Nagorno Karabagh - Diaspora relations. 

Washington, DC.  April 18.  Dr. Amy E. Smithson, at the Washington, DC-based Henry L. Stimson Center strongly refuted Azeri allegations that her research, "Toxic Archipelago" suggests that "Armenia might become a base for biological and chemical weapons in the nearest five years."  The Office of the Nagorno Karabagh in the United States contacted Dr. Smithson regarding this issue.  "I deny that my research states that Armenia will become a potential base for biological weapons in the coming five years, as quoted by Azerbaijani Zerkalo newspaper. My research "Toxic Archipelago"

Armenian Doctors Visit Nagorno Karabagh

Stepanakert, April 19.  A group of physicians representing various medical institutions of Armenia visited Nagorno Karabagh upon the invitation of President Arkady Ghoukasian. Health Minister Zoya Lazarian said that Armenian doctors performed several complicated surgical operations and examined over one thousand patients during their four-day stay in Nagorno Karabagh.  During the visit an agreement was reached to train a group of Karabagh doctors in Yerevan. The visit was financed by the U.S.-based Pfizer pharmaceutical company, which also donated valuable medicines to Nagorno Karabagh.  During his meeting with President Ghoukasian, Pfizer representative Levon Kantarjian said that his company is prepared to support similar visits in the future and provide Nagorno Karabagh hospitals with medication. 

Throughout the entire WW II, Khanferyants was the Chief of Staff of the Soviet Air Force and in 1945 participated in the Crimea Conference of the Allies as an expert.  Subsequently he served as the Deputy Commander of the Air Force and Commander of the 12th Air Force Army. Khanferyants was awarded with the highest Soviet military decorations, including two orders of the Red Banner, orders of Suvorsov of the First and Second Degrees, the order of Kutuzov of First Degree and the order of the Red Star. 

Stepanakert, March 23.  Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the National Assembly Vahram Atanesian gave a press conference to the local mass media.  Atanesian blamed Azerbaijan for organizing the 1920 Shushi massacre on a government level with the assistance of the Turkish armed forces.  The murders and forced deportations of Armenians of Shushi culminated on March 23, 1920, when

20,000 Armenians were slaughtered.  By doing so, Azerbaijan tried to pressure Nagorno Karabagh to abandon its de-facto independence.  Atanesian said that Azerbaijani authorities continued genocidal actions against Armenians throughout the years of Nagorno Karabagh's subordination to Soviet Azerbaijan. As a result, few Armenians remained in Shushi and were ultimately driven out in 1988.