2023 September 11

Daily news wrap-up

Armenia's Indian weapons: Extended-range guided missiles, self-propelled artillery, enemy locators (designed for mountains) \\\ Interview with Pashinyan \\\ Analysts discuss Armenia-Russia relations \\\ Nagorno-Karabakh & Lachin blockade
by ar_david_hh

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12 minutes.

President of Argentina: The purpose of blocking the Lachin corridor is to punish Armenian people in its own territory

Alberto Fernández spoke about Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh during the G20 summit. Azerbaijan summoned the ambassador of Argentina to hand out a note of protest.

[source,](https://www.1lurer.am/en/2023/09/10/Purpose-of-blocking-Lachin-corridor-is-to-punish-Armenian-people-in-its-own-territory-President-of/992673) [source,](https://factor.am/686380.html)

the world doesn't recognize the presidential elections in Nagorno-Karabakh

Secretary General of the Council of Europe: So-called ‘presidential elections’ in Khankendi/Stepanakert have no legal ground. The humanitarian situation in the region & respect for international standards is key. We call on all sides to de-escalate tensions, engage in a dialogue, and restore peace. We are ready to support. //

Similar statements were made by foreign ministries of several countries.

Iran has reiterated its "longstanding stance" that it recognizes Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan.

[source,](https://twitter.com/MarijaPBuric/status/1700801648791093292) [source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/268638)

Europe to Azerbaijan: Agdam road is not a full substitute for Lachin corridor

The EU again called for Azerbaijan to open the Lachin corridor.

[source,](https://factor.am/685951.html)

U.S. State Department:

Humanitarian supplies are positioned near both the Lachin and Aghdam routes, and we repeat our call for the immediate and simultaneous opening of both corridors.

Any peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan must protect the rights and security of the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh.

We also encourage dialogue between Baku and residents of Nagorno-Karabakh. //

[source,](https://www.state.gov/urgent-need-for-humanitarian-supplies-into-nagorno-karabakh/)

Azerbaijan: movement of our troops near Armenia border is not for attack, we are moving troops to their positions in advance because this task is more difficult during snowy months

Armenia had complained to Iran about the Azeri troops, so Iran requested Azerbaijan for "clarification". That was the response of Azerbaijan. Armenia believes Azerbaijan is preparing a provocation amid an escalation in rhetoric and false reports about border incidents.

Iran also stated that special attention is necessary to protect the rights and security of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians.

[source,](https://www.civilnet.am/news/749673/ադրբեջանն-իրանին-հայտնել-է-որ-ռազմական-հարձակման-մտադրություն-չունի/) [source,](https://hetq.am/hy/article/159919)

interview with ex-PM Aram Sargsyan

REPORTER: The Nagorno-Karabakh parliament has elected Samvel Shahramanyan as the next president. What now?

SARGSYAN: Today the government of Nagorno-Karabakh is fully pro-Russian. They will follow Russia's orders. This was clear then, and even more clear now, amid the ongoing events [the new government has agreed to allow the entry of Russian trucks via Agdam road].

I don't like it but it's up to the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh. But they must realize that remaining in the Russian sphere of influence is the most dangerous option for Nagorno-Karabakh's future. Under Lavrov's plan, they will become ethnic minorities in Azerbaijan, like Talish people, without a border or special rights.

In comparison, the West only says "rights and security" but doesn't specify that Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians must have so few privileges and autonomy as described under Lavrov's plan. Russia is promoting Azerbaijan's position, while the West says "go negotiate and figure out what the final outcome will be". Russia's plan has already predetermined a negative outcome.

There will be no Armenians left if Russia's plan is enacted. Talish people do not have the same ethnic conflict with Azeris as Armenians do. Talish people can live as minorities, while Armenians cannot. Staying in the Russian lane is very dangerous for Nagorno-Karabakh.

REPORTER: Do the Nagorno-Karabakh elites not understand these dangers? Why are they choosing Russia?

SARGSYAN: They are hostages who have a bigger problem to worry about at the moment. They are trying to cooperate with the hostage-taker to end the ongoing humanitarian crisis. But this is a strategic mistake in the long term.

REPORTER: How do you explain the tensions on AM-AZ and NK-AZ border?

SARGSYAN: Azerbaijan does this ahead of every negotiation. The West will host a negotiation soon. Russia and Azerbaijan need to create and maintain a tense situation to discourage Armenia's participation or a scenario of the West strengthening its position as the mediator.

But Azerbaijan has chosen the diplomatic option to get what it wants from Nagorno-Karabakh. The only option in this case is appeasing the West. This is why Azerbaijan released the 3 kidnapped soccer players and made statements about allowing the entry of Red Cross and Azerbaijani Red Crescent trucks simultaneously via Agdam and Lachin. This is also a result of pressure from the West. Just a week earlier Azerbaijan was against the idea of opening Lachin and Agdam simultaneously for trucks.

I welcome the statement made by the U.S. today on the need to open the Lachin corridor "and other roads". They didn't even mention Agdam. The emphasis was the need to open Lachin as the primary route, and that the other roads aren't a full substitute.

[full,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wA6g4tXBco)

interview with analyst Arayik Kochinyan

REPORTER: Explain last week's diplomatic crisis between Armenia and Russia.

KOCHINYAN: The Russian media is peddling an anti-Armenian hysteria. They take a part of a story and exaggerate it. Armenia's regular rotation of its CSTO ambassador was presented as an anti-Russian move. The opinion of some NGO director was presented as Armenia wanting to join NATO. A small number of American peacekeepers are retraining a small number of Armenian peacekeepers, something that has been done many times in the past, and that's presented as anti-Russian.

The initiator of this campaign was Russia. Bits of information were collected from various stories and infused into a narrative to present it as an AM-RU crisis caused by Armenia. Even pro-Western analysts are playing into Russia's hands by spreading the same narrative.

REPORTER: Why was this media campaign launched?

KOCHINYAN: Russia wants to create an alibi for itself to defend its own future inaction if Azerbaijan attacks. *"You are pro-Western now, so why are you complaining about our inaction?"*

Only Russia equates the Agdam road to the Lachin corridor. The West clearly states that Lachin must open and that Agdam can open as a secondary route that is not a full replacement to Lachin.

[full,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWIg6rgVbFE?t=760)

exhange between Russian FM Lavrov and Armenian parliament president Alen Simonyan

LAVROV: Alen Simonyan's claim that Russia has surrendered Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan is false.

SIMONYAN'S OFFICE: Simonyan never said that. Nevertheless, we hope Russia will eventually be able to end the 273-day closure of the Lachin corridor, return the POWs and other captives that have been in Azerbaijani prisons for 3 years, and guarantee the implementation of the Nov. 9 paragraphs.

[source,](https://factor.am/686052.html)

Armenia's ruling party MP criticized Russian FM Lavrov

GAGIK MELKONYAN: Until now, we have pinned our hopes on Russia because they told us that we had a choice: Russia or Turkey. So we chose Russia.

But in reality, there are other countries with whom we should be friends: India, European countries, the U.S., and Iran.

There is no point in relying on the CSTO or Russia anymore. They did not react to Azerbaijani aggression against Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Russia has always decided for us, told us where to go, and who to be friends with. They are leading us to destruction now. //

[source,](https://arka.am/en/news/politics/pro_government_mp_accuses_russian_fm_of_pushing_armenia_towards_destruction/)

Russia will analyze the reasons why Armenia canceled military training with CSTO but scheduled one with the U.S.

Putin's spokesman: These are decisions that require a very, very deep analysis to understand what prompts Armenia to make such decisions and what goals are being pursued. We will analyze this through a close dialog with the Armenian side. //

[source,](https://arka.am/en/news/politics/russia_and_armenia_will_analyze_the_situation_around_armenian_american_military_exercises_peskov_/)

Armenia's government will oversee the export of dual-use goods

>The amendments enshrine the government's right to establish a procedure for the examination of controlled goods and intangible values.

The government will establish a list of goods, the transit and export of which may produce dual-use goods as a result of processing.

>these amendments will make Armenia a more reliable and transparent partner

[source,](https://arka.am/en/news/technology/armenian_government_to_oversee_exports_of_dual_use_goods/)

PM Pashinyan about Armenia-Russia relations

REPORTER: Describe the situation on the AM-AZ border.

PASHINYAN: The situation remains tense because Azerbaijan has certain accumulations on AM-AZ and NK-AZ borders.

REPORTER: [Last week] You spoke with leaders of Iran, Georgia, France, Germany, and others. Why didn't you call Russia first?

PASHINYAN: In reality my first calls about the situation were made to Putin [presumably a while ago]. Putin already knows the details surrounding Lachin. We've been in touch since the launch of the Lachin corridor blockade in December. Since nothing has changed since our last conversation, I didn't find it necessary to call him again [last week].

I found it necessary to call the other leaders to share important nuances about the situation that I thought they should be aware of.

REPORTER: Describe the quality of AM-RU relations. Our ambassador was summoned for a protest for the first time. You have launched a process to ratify the Rome Statue despite Russia's protests. Your wife visited Ukraine and sent humanitarian aid with her. The [AM-US military exercises have launched today](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxX4OMT3DeY). Why are we irritating Russia when the situation on the border is tense?

PASHINYAN: First of all, my wife's visit to Ukraine was not a political move. Anna has long been part of this international initiative by First Ladies. They meet in various countries. Last week it was in Kyiv. There will be a meeting in Armenia soon.

As for the AM-US military exercises in Armenia, there is nothing new there, not the first time.

The ratification of the Rome Statute began in December 2022. It's a lengthy process that sadly coincided with the Hague court's ruling against Putin. The ratification is not a message against AM-RU relations. Armenia needs the Statute in response to the border tensions.

REPORTER: According to you these are not gestures against Russia, but during the interview with La Repubblica you stated that it was a mistake for Armenia to place 99.9% of eggs in Russia's basket. It was a strategic mistake in our defense policy, you said. You believe Russia is leaving the region. You said Russians either don't want to or cannot open the Lachin corridor. It's no surprise that Russia responded critically to the aforementioned events. Are you not concerned that this will prompt Russia to make the situation even worse in Nagorno-Karabakh or AM-AZ border?

PASHINYAN: There was no ratification of the Rome Statute in September 2020 [when Azerbaijan attacked Nagorno-Karabakh while Russia watched], there were no AM-US military exercises, and my wife was not in Ukraine. None of this happened before the September 2022 attack on Armenia, either [when Azerbaijan invaded Armenia proper].

Today we are trying to use all available tools to introduce new security mechanisms. The Rome Statue has nothing to do with AM-RU relations. We need to ratify it in response to Azerbaijan's actions in September 2022 and May 2021 so the International Criminal Court can investigate.

We need this included because of CSTO's [Russia's] failure to carry out its contractual obligations. We cannot ignore their inaction. We need to involve additional security mechanisms.

REPORTER: Does Russia understand that these steps aren't being done against them?

PASHINYAN: That's why our MFA is working actively so Russia doesn't misread this. We have proposed a very specific solution to address every concern surrounding the Rome Statute.

... Pashinyan about the 1991 Alma-Ata agreement and recognition of territorial integrity

REPORTER: During the May 2023 meeting, besides recognizing Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, we also specified a number: 86,600 km^2. That means it includes Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia points to that as the reason why Azerbaijan can maintain the blockade of the Lachin corridor. He blames it on Armenia.

PASHINYAN: The Alma-Ata declaration was signed by Armenia in 1991 and ratified in 1992. The May 2023 statement was a reference to the existing law.

Moreover, our May 2023 recognition of Azerbaijan's 86,600 km^2 does not contradict Armenia's policy as of 1991 when it was signed. In 1991, after the signing of Alma-Ata, President Levon Ter-Petrosyan stated that the model of Russian autonomies was the desired outcome for Nagorno-Karabakh.

Our opposition criticizes us for "ignoring" the Nagorno-Karabakh-related reservations made by our Parliament during the ratification of Alma-Ata and recognition of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. These reservations, which are public, do not change the essence of what I just stated.

Moreover, the demonization of Alma-Ata is dangerous for Armenia because de-jure and somewhat de-facto Armenia and other ex-Soviet republics got our independence thanks to Alma-Ata, due to the agreement to recognize each other's borders.

On the other hand, we continue to insist that the security and rights of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians must be addressed to establish peace in the region.

REPORTER: Russia's Khovayev presented a plan to delay discussions around Nagorno-Karabakh's final status. But you went ahead and agreed to recognize Azerbaijan's territorial integrity in Prague.

PASHINYAN: (1) The Prague meeting took place after it became clear that Russia's proposal to delay status talks was dead. Azerbaijan had rejected Russia's proposal.

(2) When Russia's Khovayev made that proposal, Russia had already twice, at the highest levels, recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan.

(3) The Prague meeting never annulled the Nov. 9 Tripartite Statement and the obligations. Obviously, the Nov. 9 statement is still valid today. Moreover, the Nov. 9 statement did not cancel the 1991 Alma-Ata agreement. The issue of the Lachin corridor is regulated by the Nov. 9 statement. It describes the duties of each party.

Even prior to my Prague meeting, there were incidents in Khtsaberd, Parukh, Hin Tagher, and many ceasefire violations. [when Russia displayed inaction]

REPORTER: Russia believes you are trying to diminish Russia's role and instead solve the conflict through a Western platform.

PASHINYAN: No party has had a monopoly throughout the history of negotiations. [Russia's criticism began] after the OSCE co-chairs stopped cooperating due to the war in Ukraine. This has nothing to do with Armenia. The mediators may not want us to use the other party's platform, but that would be against Armenia's national interests.

... What is Armenia's goal today?

PASHINYAN: Today Armenia is promoting an architecture that's legitimate from the perspective of international law. This is extremely important but unfortunately hasn't always been done. The legitimacy of Armenia's stance must be impeccable. This is why we make the statements that we make. This is crucial for Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

... Pashinyan about the resignation of Nagorno-Karabakh president

REPORTER: Also, why didn't you congratulate the new president?

PASHINYAN: Arayik's resignation is unfortunate. Our working relations have always been healthy. As for the new president Shahramanyan, I don't think there is a lot of reason for "congratulations" because his job will be very difficult.

We must not allow the politicization of humanitarian aid to Nagorno-Karabakh. Doing so would be against our efforts to synchronize Armenia's stance on Nagorno-Karabakh with the international community's. We must focus our efforts to end the humanitarian crisis now. We must not allow the narrative to change from humanitarian to political.

... Pashinyan about the upcoming mayoral elections in Yerevan

REPORTER: There are 4 forces: Your candidate, pro-Western, pro-Russian, and Hayk Marutyan who claims you have abandoned the values of the 2018 revolution.

PASHINYAN: It's a strange claim coming from Marutyan because he has never once suggested that during our conversations. This is the first time in Marutyan's career as an actor that he was able to freely criticize the government without first requesting the "approval" of the venue owners and oligarchs.

Marutyan became the mayor with my help. He approached me and requested support to become a mayoral candidate [in 2018]. He received my support after expressing his willingness to become a member of the Civil Contrat Party (QP) and giving assurances that he is joining to strengthen the team.

During the "carefree" period [before the war and Nagorno-Karabakh crisis], Marutyan was doing everything possible to cozy up to me. He was trying to get even closer than the narrow group of closest party members. He even offered to become a Civil Contract party member for this. I never doubted his sincerity despite numerous warnings by our teammates that Marutyan was just a "gastralyor" who would leave quickly during times of hardship. I owe an apology to my teammates for not believing them. This was indeed a friendship of good times only.

REPORTER: Why aren't you campaigning with your candidate Tigran Avinyan on the streets?

PASHINYAN: Busy with defense-related issues.

[source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYBSnE_If5U) [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtLUAIyM3O0)

about the Indian weapons acquired by Armenia

Swathi radar systems were purchased in 2020 and arrived in 2021. This $43 million contract was Armenia's first weapons deal with India.

Leonid Nersisyan: The Swathi radar has great parameters. It can detect mortar positions in a 2-20 km radius, artillery in 2-30 km, and unguided missile launchers located up to 80 km away.

Compared to Russia's "Zoopark", it's a lot more compact. The Zoopark consists of multiple vehicles, is slower, easier to target, and more difficult to operate.

India has used Swathi on its borders with Pakistan and China. Its strength is its performance in mountainous regions. //

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Pinaka multi-barrier rocket launders will be delivered sometime this year. India designed those in the 1980s to replace Russia's GRAD. There are reports that the first batch has reached Armenia.

The contract was worth $245 million. Armenia has purchased presumably 24 launch stations (արձակող կայան).

Armenia has chosen the "extended range" version with guided missiles. The range is unknown because it's unclear which model of missiles was purchased.

Leonid Nersisyan: Pinaka did great during the Indian-Pakisitani clashes in [mountainous] Kargil in 1999. The Indian army won. //

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Armenia has also purchased "Konkurs" anti-tank missiles and 80mm mortars.

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The Indian press claims that Armenia has submitted a $155 million order to purchase 155mm self-propelled artillery made by Indian manufacturer Kalyani Strategic System (Bharat Forge). It'll be delivered within 3 years of signing the contract. It was signed last year.

These self-propelled howitzers are called MArG 155-BR (Multi-terrain Artillery Gun). There will be approximately 100 units.

There were also reports of Armenia buying 155mm "ATAGS" howitzers (Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System). You have to drag that one around, but it's more powerful and has a longer reach (48 km) than the self-propelled MArG 155-BR (24 km).

Armenia's ATAGS contract is worth $100 million. India will pay $1 billion to buy 307 pieces for its own army. You do the math.

[source,](https://hetq.am/hy/article/159908)

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/16gex1j/armenias_indian_weapons_extendedrange_guided/