MFA_Report_on_the_occupied_territories_March_2016_1

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Orientation for the newly arrived Syrian Armenians settled in the occupied town of Lachyn │Photo from www.artsakh.org.uk│27 May 2013 “Armenia Tree Project” provides fruit trees for the newly arrived Syrian Armenians settled in the occupied Lachyn district │Photo from www.armenianweekly.com│16 June 2015 As per other sources, as of 2015, the number of Armenian families from Syria settled in the occupied territories reportedly reached several hundreds. Given that, according to the Republic of Armenia’s Ministry of Diaspora, more than 16,000 Syrian Armenians have entered Armenia since March 2011, and at least 11,000 continue to reside in Armenia, the number of those settled in the occupied territories is likely to be much higher. They were allotted with either newly built homes or apartments in renovated buildings. Those families deciding to stay and adapt are promised the property ownership certificate. Regardless of how many Syrian Armenians currently reside in the occupied territories, their presence in those territories serves as an incentive for more their compatriots and relatives to move from Syria and from Armenia, given the continuing instability in Syria and dire economic conditions in Armenia. 176 The interest in settlement of Syrian Armenians in particular in Lachyn, Gubadly and Zangilan districts and in other occupied territories is driven by their experience in agriculture development that, as Armenia hopes, will be a significant boost to the colonization of those territories. For example, Vrej and Hovig Asmaryan brothers moved from Syrian Aleppo to the occupied territories in 2012. They set up a commercial enterprise, “Asmaryan Greenland”, and started a farm on 15 hectares of land in the fields of the newly established “Berkadzor” settlement in the occupied Khojaly district, where some 3,000 fruit trees of ten varieties and other vegetables are grown. They plan to import from Syria olive trees and plant them near the banks of the Araz River. Since moving from Syria, they have invested over $600,000 in farming. In 2015, they received a 40 million AMD contract to import mulberry saplings from Syria. 2,000 of them have already been ordered. 177 The Asmaryans informed that since they used to urban life, they have decided to stay in Khankandi, where they currently rent and buy property. They also admitted that “the government has suggested they move to the Kashatagh Province where they are promised housing”. 178 This is yet another indication of the deliberate efforts to settle Armenians in the Lachyn district and other occupied territories, depopulated of their Azerbaijani residents. Construction of houses for the Syrian Armenian families settled in the occupied town of Lachyn │Photo from www.hetq.am│02 September 2013 176 See “Mayissian: Armenia’s ‘Silent’ National Security Threat”, Armenianweekly.com, 03 January 2013 . 177 See “Stay or Leave? - Aleppo’s Asmaryan Brothers Attempt Agricultural Venture in Artsakh”, Hetq.am, 04 August 2015, . 178 Ibid. 35
The Asmaryan family from Syria set up greenhouse to grow cacti, citrus and gardenia imported from their home country │Photo by John Arterbury│www.roadsandkingdoms.com │2015 Land, agricultural loans with zero interest rate and equipment (tractors, seeders, disks, fertilizer distributors and pesticide sprinklers) have been provided to stimulate Syrian Armenians farmers to settle in the Zangilan district and elsewhere and become productive farmers. 179 According to so-called “governor” of the so-called “Kashatagh region” Souren Khachatryan, in 2013 around 20,000 hectares were cultivated. Most of the crop, wheat, barley and corn are transported across the occupied section of Azerbaijan - Armenia border to Armenia’s Syunik district. 180 Armenian diaspora actively participates in the resettlement of Syrian Armenians in the occupied territories. 181 Tufenkian Foundation, “The Assistance To Self-Determined Artsakh Charitable Foundation” and other organizations are channelling funds to support resettlement activities. Thus, the Armenian community of Boston (USA) raised $1.3 million for Syrian Armenians to settle in the occupied territories. The funds were transferred through “Artsakh Roots Investment” (“ARI”) company and were allocated to buy cattle and invite tenders for construction of houses. 182 Syrian Armenians plant citruses in a greenhouse in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan │Photo from www.emedia.am│2013 The Asmaryan family from Syria’s Aleppo was resettled and started a farm in the occupied Khojaly district of Azerbaijan │Photo from www.hetq.am│04 August 2015 The Government of Armenia also allocates preferential loans (up to 5 million drams at a 10 percent reduced interest rate for up to five years) to Syrian Armenian small and medium-sized business owners to finance small production facilities. 183 Syrian Armenians settled in Lachyn, Zangilan and elsewhere in the occupied territories are eligible for those loans, since no distinction is made between the programmes for Syrian Armenians remaining in Armenia and those resettling in the occupied territories. 184 179 See “Agricultural Project Supports Syrian Armenians in Nagorno-KarabakhRepublic”, Armenian General Benevolent Union, 16 January 2014, . 180 See “Kashatagh Governor: ‘29 Syrian-Armenian families live here now and another 40 are on a wait list’”, Hetq.am, 22 August 2013, . 181 See “Organization Encourages Armenians from West to Move to Armenia, Artsakh”, Hetq.am, 21 September 2011, . 182 See “Armenians of Boston raise $1.3 million for Syrian Armenians to settle in Karabak”, News.am, 18 August 2013, . 183 See “Syrian-Armenian businessmen: Preferential loan limit should increase”, News.am, 23 March 2015, . 184 See “Syrian-Armenian participants of Good Start course receive certificates and will be granted loans”, Ministry of Diaspora of Armenia, 26 February 2013, . 36
Page 2 and 3: ___________________________________
Page 4 and 5: Contents A. Introduction 5 B. Execu
Page 6 and 7: A. Introduction At the end of 1987,
Page 8 and 9: The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen co
Page 10 and 11: B. Executive Summary The examined e
Page 12 and 13: Armenian statistical information sh
Page 14 and 15: thus profit from and support the oc
Page 16 and 17: programmes that ultimately serve th
Page 18 and 19: the field commanders. 20 S.Ohanyan
Page 20 and 21: II. Continued attempts of Armenia t
Page 22 and 23: the country’s president.” 44 Ar
Page 24 and 25: the NKR.” 58 According to the Arm
Page 26 and 27: Armenian public to be a subsidiary
Page 28 and 29: planning, development of collaborat
Page 30 and 31: Settlement activities in the occupi
Page 32 and 33: and mechanical growth. 134 In 2001,
Page 34 and 35: the separatist regime Arthur Aghabe
Page 38 and 39: There are reports that Syrian Armen
Page 40 and 41: Armenia’s Dorozhnik LLC company i
Page 42 and 43: as of 2013. Thus, for example, whil
Page 44 and 45: X. Providing products, investments,
Page 46 and 47: in Armenia lack sufficient financia
Page 48 and 49: consists of public figures and busi
Page 50 and 51: percent shares of Armenia's Armswis
Page 52 and 53: Armenia’s Prime Minister Hovik Ab
Page 54 and 55: “Kataro” wine production facili
Page 56 and 57: It is difficult to determine the ac
Page 58 and 59: The Asmaryan family from Syria work
Page 60 and 61: Former Prime Minister Tigran Sargsy
Page 62 and 63: Bako Sahakyan visits agricultural f
Page 64 and 65: Armenia is particularly interested
Page 66 and 67: President of Armenia visits “Trgh
Page 68 and 69: Wheat and other crops harvested in
Page 70 and 71: Back in February 1995, the National
Page 72 and 73: Caterpillar heavy machines are used
Page 74 and 75: 270 tons 460 ). Extracted unprocess
Page 76 and 77: Unprocessed ore form Soyudlu gold m
Page 78 and 79: acquainted with the works there. 48
Page 80 and 81: Prime Minister of Armenia Hovik Abr
Page 82 and 83: As far as gold is concerned, Armeni
Page 84 and 85: protection) in the Bashitchay Natio
Page 86 and 87:
As of 2015, approximately 460 mines
Page 88 and 89:
Juma Mosque in the occupied city of
Page 90 and 91:
E. Obligations and Responsibility u
Page 92 and 93:
should follow the UN Guiding Princi
Page 94 and 95:
No exception or provision for derog
Page 96 and 97:
the invoked laws cannot be consider
Page 98 and 99:
“One of the cornerstones of the l
Page 100 and 101:
Serious breaches of obligations und
Page 102 and 103:
Nagorno-Karabakh was unilaterally d
Page 104 and 105:
A large number of domestic criminal
Page 106 and 107:
F. Urgent Measures to Cease and Rev
Page 108:
G. ANNEXES Original designations of
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