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NPR News: 01-26-2025 10AM EST

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Israel blocks thousands of Palestinians from returning to northern Gaza over ceasefire dispute

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Israel is stopping thousands of Palestinians from returning to the northern Gaza Strip. AP correspondent Donna Warder reports.

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Trump leans into his pledge to eliminate taxes on tips at a Las Vegas rally

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AP correspondent Julie Walker reports President Trump leans into his pledge to eliminate taxes on tips.

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The Zangezur Conundrum A Geopolitical Challenge in the South Caucasus

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Michael_Novakhov
shared this story
from Oilprice.com.

Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev appeared to ratchet up tension in the South Caucasus by unexpectedly reviving a demand for extraterritorial rights on a land corridor connecting Azerbaijan proper to its Nakhchivan exclave across Armenian territory. But some experts in Baku believe that the issue can be managed. 

Aliyev surprised regional analysts by seemingly tossing a diplomatic grenade into the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process during an early January interview with Azerbaijani journalists. He repeatedly referred to Armenia as “fascist” and restored the issue of what is known as the Zangezur corridor to the top of the negotiating agenda. In the months prior to Aliyev’s comments, both sides had sent signals that a peace deal seemed close.

Armenian and Azerbaijani officials announced last August that they had set aside the Zangezur issue, saying the two countries would first finalize a peace deal, then return to the corridor matter. From Armenia’s standpoint, the issue was problematic for two reasons; one, officials in Yerevan did not want to surrender sovereignty over the land route connecting two Azerbaijani territories; and two, Armenia was leery of allowing Russia to act as a guarantor of stability along the corridor. 

Yerevan’s relationship with Moscow has soured since Azerbaijan inflicted a decisive defeat of Armenia in the Second Karabakh War, which ended in late 2023: many Armenians believe Russia betrayed their country by not fulfilling treaty obligations to defend Armenian sovereignty. A 2020 agreement had enshrined a Russian peacekeeping role over the Zangezur corridor, but the August bilateral decision to defer the issue effectively froze Moscow out of any future presence.

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Russian officials at first bitterly complained about the Armenian-Azerbaijani move to defer Zangezur but eventually backed off after Iran forcefully supported shelving the corridor issue. 

In recent months, as Armenian-Russian relations have continued to spiral downward, the Armenian government’s interest in reducing the Russian presence in the country has taken on increased importance. A key for Armenia, then, is that Aliyev’s revival of the Zangezur issue doesn’t imply that Baku wants Russian peacekeepers along the route, independent analyst Shujaat Ahmadzade told Eurasianet.

“I think Azerbaijan is equally unhappy with [the idea of] Russian control [of the Zangezur corridor],“ said Ahmadzade, an expert in South Caucasus affairs, adding that Baku is content to leave Armenia to act as the main point of resistance because the issue is “more of an Armenian-Russian dispute.”

Aliyev’s early January interview served as a reminder to Armenia that while Zangezur may have been deferred, it would not be forgotten by Baku. At the same time, Ahmadzade indicated that there was potentially a certain amount of flexibility in Baku’s approach on the issue. Zangezur, in Baku’s view, is linked to the broader issue of expanding regional trade networks, he added. Over the past year, Azerbaijan has actively pursued projects with other neighboring states to boost East-West trade via the Middle Corridor route, including the restoration of a railway with Georgia and an ambitious plan with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to export electricity.

“There are three tracks [in the bilateral dialogue] – a peace agreement, borders, and connectivity – that both countries have disputes in, yet connectivity is the only space over which Armenian-Azerbaijani bilateral negotiations have not begun,” Ahmadzade noted. “I think at this point the parties are trying to recalibrate their stakes over this matter.”

Ahmadzade believes Azerbaijan wants to explore unblocking all bilateral connectivity routes. As for Zangezur, Azerbaijan doesn’t necessarily insist on Armenia sacrificing complete sovereignty over the corridor; Baku’s bottom line is it wants Azerbaijani vehicles traveling on the corridor between the mainland and Nakhchivan to move freely without any inspections. “I think this is where Armenia is resisting,” he said. 

By Eurasianet.org

More Top Reads From <a href=”http://Oilprice.com” rel=”nofollow”>Oilprice.com</a>


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Audio Posts: Selected Articles

The Zangezur Conundrum A Geopolitical Challenge in the South Caucasus

Spread the news


Michael_Novakhov
shared this story
from Oilprice.com.

Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev appeared to ratchet up tension in the South Caucasus by unexpectedly reviving a demand for extraterritorial rights on a land corridor connecting Azerbaijan proper to its Nakhchivan exclave across Armenian territory. But some experts in Baku believe that the issue can be managed. 

Aliyev surprised regional analysts by seemingly tossing a diplomatic grenade into the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process during an early January interview with Azerbaijani journalists. He repeatedly referred to Armenia as “fascist” and restored the issue of what is known as the Zangezur corridor to the top of the negotiating agenda. In the months prior to Aliyev’s comments, both sides had sent signals that a peace deal seemed close.

Armenian and Azerbaijani officials announced last August that they had set aside the Zangezur issue, saying the two countries would first finalize a peace deal, then return to the corridor matter. From Armenia’s standpoint, the issue was problematic for two reasons; one, officials in Yerevan did not want to surrender sovereignty over the land route connecting two Azerbaijani territories; and two, Armenia was leery of allowing Russia to act as a guarantor of stability along the corridor. 

Yerevan’s relationship with Moscow has soured since Azerbaijan inflicted a decisive defeat of Armenia in the Second Karabakh War, which ended in late 2023: many Armenians believe Russia betrayed their country by not fulfilling treaty obligations to defend Armenian sovereignty. A 2020 agreement had enshrined a Russian peacekeeping role over the Zangezur corridor, but the August bilateral decision to defer the issue effectively froze Moscow out of any future presence.

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Saudi Arabia to Cut Oil Supply to China Amid Weak Demand

Russian officials at first bitterly complained about the Armenian-Azerbaijani move to defer Zangezur but eventually backed off after Iran forcefully supported shelving the corridor issue. 

In recent months, as Armenian-Russian relations have continued to spiral downward, the Armenian government’s interest in reducing the Russian presence in the country has taken on increased importance. A key for Armenia, then, is that Aliyev’s revival of the Zangezur issue doesn’t imply that Baku wants Russian peacekeepers along the route, independent analyst Shujaat Ahmadzade told Eurasianet.

“I think Azerbaijan is equally unhappy with [the idea of] Russian control [of the Zangezur corridor],“ said Ahmadzade, an expert in South Caucasus affairs, adding that Baku is content to leave Armenia to act as the main point of resistance because the issue is “more of an Armenian-Russian dispute.”

Aliyev’s early January interview served as a reminder to Armenia that while Zangezur may have been deferred, it would not be forgotten by Baku. At the same time, Ahmadzade indicated that there was potentially a certain amount of flexibility in Baku’s approach on the issue. Zangezur, in Baku’s view, is linked to the broader issue of expanding regional trade networks, he added. Over the past year, Azerbaijan has actively pursued projects with other neighboring states to boost East-West trade via the Middle Corridor route, including the restoration of a railway with Georgia and an ambitious plan with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to export electricity.

“There are three tracks [in the bilateral dialogue] – a peace agreement, borders, and connectivity – that both countries have disputes in, yet connectivity is the only space over which Armenian-Azerbaijani bilateral negotiations have not begun,” Ahmadzade noted. “I think at this point the parties are trying to recalibrate their stakes over this matter.”

Ahmadzade believes Azerbaijan wants to explore unblocking all bilateral connectivity routes. As for Zangezur, Azerbaijan doesn’t necessarily insist on Armenia sacrificing complete sovereignty over the corridor; Baku’s bottom line is it wants Azerbaijani vehicles traveling on the corridor between the mainland and Nakhchivan to move freely without any inspections. “I think this is where Armenia is resisting,” he said. 

By Eurasianet.org

More Top Reads From <a href=”http://Oilprice.com” rel=”nofollow”>Oilprice.com</a>


Spread the news
Categories
Audio Posts: Selected Articles

The Zangezur Conundrum A Geopolitical Challenge in the South Caucasus

Spread the news


Michael_Novakhov
shared this story
from Oilprice.com.

Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev appeared to ratchet up tension in the South Caucasus by unexpectedly reviving a demand for extraterritorial rights on a land corridor connecting Azerbaijan proper to its Nakhchivan exclave across Armenian territory. But some experts in Baku believe that the issue can be managed. 

Aliyev surprised regional analysts by seemingly tossing a diplomatic grenade into the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process during an early January interview with Azerbaijani journalists. He repeatedly referred to Armenia as “fascist” and restored the issue of what is known as the Zangezur corridor to the top of the negotiating agenda. In the months prior to Aliyev’s comments, both sides had sent signals that a peace deal seemed close.

Armenian and Azerbaijani officials announced last August that they had set aside the Zangezur issue, saying the two countries would first finalize a peace deal, then return to the corridor matter. From Armenia’s standpoint, the issue was problematic for two reasons; one, officials in Yerevan did not want to surrender sovereignty over the land route connecting two Azerbaijani territories; and two, Armenia was leery of allowing Russia to act as a guarantor of stability along the corridor. 

Yerevan’s relationship with Moscow has soured since Azerbaijan inflicted a decisive defeat of Armenia in the Second Karabakh War, which ended in late 2023: many Armenians believe Russia betrayed their country by not fulfilling treaty obligations to defend Armenian sovereignty. A 2020 agreement had enshrined a Russian peacekeeping role over the Zangezur corridor, but the August bilateral decision to defer the issue effectively froze Moscow out of any future presence.

ADVERTISEMENT

Saudi Arabia to Cut Oil Supply to China Amid Weak Demand

Russian officials at first bitterly complained about the Armenian-Azerbaijani move to defer Zangezur but eventually backed off after Iran forcefully supported shelving the corridor issue. 

In recent months, as Armenian-Russian relations have continued to spiral downward, the Armenian government’s interest in reducing the Russian presence in the country has taken on increased importance. A key for Armenia, then, is that Aliyev’s revival of the Zangezur issue doesn’t imply that Baku wants Russian peacekeepers along the route, independent analyst Shujaat Ahmadzade told Eurasianet.

“I think Azerbaijan is equally unhappy with [the idea of] Russian control [of the Zangezur corridor],“ said Ahmadzade, an expert in South Caucasus affairs, adding that Baku is content to leave Armenia to act as the main point of resistance because the issue is “more of an Armenian-Russian dispute.”

Aliyev’s early January interview served as a reminder to Armenia that while Zangezur may have been deferred, it would not be forgotten by Baku. At the same time, Ahmadzade indicated that there was potentially a certain amount of flexibility in Baku’s approach on the issue. Zangezur, in Baku’s view, is linked to the broader issue of expanding regional trade networks, he added. Over the past year, Azerbaijan has actively pursued projects with other neighboring states to boost East-West trade via the Middle Corridor route, including the restoration of a railway with Georgia and an ambitious plan with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to export electricity.

“There are three tracks [in the bilateral dialogue] – a peace agreement, borders, and connectivity – that both countries have disputes in, yet connectivity is the only space over which Armenian-Azerbaijani bilateral negotiations have not begun,” Ahmadzade noted. “I think at this point the parties are trying to recalibrate their stakes over this matter.”

Ahmadzade believes Azerbaijan wants to explore unblocking all bilateral connectivity routes. As for Zangezur, Azerbaijan doesn’t necessarily insist on Armenia sacrificing complete sovereignty over the corridor; Baku’s bottom line is it wants Azerbaijani vehicles traveling on the corridor between the mainland and Nakhchivan to move freely without any inspections. “I think this is where Armenia is resisting,” he said. 

By Eurasianet.org

More Top Reads From <a href=”http://Oilprice.com” rel=”nofollow”>Oilprice.com</a>


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Trump says one and a half million people living in Gaza should move elsewhere

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Palestinians have expressed shock at his suggestion, but it’s been welcomed by the Israeli far-right. We will get reaction to what he said. Also on the programme: Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney on why the people who write songs should be the ones to derive the benefits from them, despite the needs of the AI industry, and as the sixty day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah comes to an end, we assess the current situation in southern Lebanon. (Picture: President Trump speaking to reporters on Air Force One. Credit: Reuters)

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The Global Story: Have we already found the fountain of youth?

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For centuries, people have pursued the dream of eternal youth. Researchers have been making progress in understanding what happens in our bodies as we age. We may soon be able to use drugs to slow or even reverse ageing.

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Mirzoyan congratulated his Indian counterpart

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On the occasion of India’s Republic Day.

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NPR News: 01-26-2025 8AM EST

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NPR News: 01-26-2025 8AM EST Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

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