Daily News Summary

Daily News Summary [13.03.2023]

Daily News Summary [13.03.2023]

Azerbaijan opened fire in the direction of Verin Shorzha: Armenian side has no losses On March 13, from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces opened fire from different caliber firearms toward the Armenian combat positions located in the direction of Verin Shorzha.There are no casualties from the Armenian side. As of 10:00 p.m., the situation on the frontline is relatively stable. The Azerbaijani side invites "Representatives of Armenians of Artsakh" to hold the second meeting in Baku The office of the President of Azerbaijan informs that the "representatives of the Armenians of Artsakh" have been invited to hold the second meeting in Baku in the coming days.  It is noted that contacts regarding the reintegration and implementation of infrastructural projects will continue at the meeting. It should be reminded that on March 1, the representatives of Artsakh and Azerbaijan had a meeting at the headquarters of the Russian peacekeeping troops stationed in the Ivanyan village of Artsakh. The Armenian side reported that the issue of restoring the unimpeded passage of vehicles through the Lachin Corridor and confirming the fact of the purposeful use of the corridor was discussed. On the initiative of the Armenian side, Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Nikol Pashinyan At the initiative of the Armenian side, Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.   During the telephone conversation, the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor was discussed.  In this context, Prime Minister Pashinyan referred to the sabotage attack carried out by Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh on March 5 and its consequences.  In the context of overcoming the crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Prime Minister of Armenia emphasized the appropriate response of the Russian Federation. The Prime Minister received the former Secretary General of NATO Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the founding chairman of the international political consulting organization "Rasmussen Global" and former Secretary General of NATO, and the delegation led by him. This was reported by the RA Prime Minister's Office. Nikol Pashinyan and Anders Fogh Rasmussen fondly remembered this year. meeting held on February 18 in the framework of the Munich Security Conference. The interlocutors exchanged ideas on regional developments and security challenges. Issues related to security and stability in the South Caucasus were discussed, and continuous efforts in this direction were emphasized on both sides. Other News Vahan Hunanyan dismissed from the post of Foreign Ministry spokesman - Ani Badalyan will replace him.    
23:49 - 13 March, 2023
Daily News Summary [11-12.02.2023]

Daily News Summary [11-12.02.2023]

Nagorno-Karabakh is turning into a news and information black hole: Reporters Without Borders The Lachin corridor linking Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh will have been blocked for three months on 12 March. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the Azerbaijani authorities and Russian peacekeepers to allow reporters freedom of movement so that they can cover this blockade and its serious humanitarian impact. Nagorno-Karabakh is turning into a news and information black hole because purported Azerbaijani environmental activists have been blocking all traffic along the Lachin corridor, the only road linking Armenia to the enclave, for the past three months, thereby causing a major humanitarian crisis. Only Azerbaijani journalists from state or pro-government media can cover the demonstrations on the corridor. The few independent local media are not allowed through the checkpoints. The few journalists who have been escorted to the point where the road is blocked have not been able to report freely. When David López Frías, a reporter for the Spanish newspaper El Periódico de España, visited Azerbaijan in late February, he spent an evening on the Lachin road accompanied by “guides” from Azerbaijan’s state-owned Global Media Group, who let him interview the protesting "environmentalists” without any problem, but not any Russian peacekeepers. It was not possible either to meet with any members of the Armenian population, on the other side of the Russian checkpoints. Armenia proposes Iran-Black Sea corridor for Indian traders: The Economic Times Armenia has proposed a Persian Gulf-Black Sea corridor to connect Indian traders with Russia and Europe, The Economic Times reports. The offer was made last week by a visiting Armenian team comprising senior officials and experts. It came at a time when Armenia's foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan was also visiting India. The proposed corridor-which will run parallel to the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)-will aim to connect Mumbai with Bandar Abbas in Iran and then Armenia and onward to Europe or Russia, bypassing Azerbaijan with whom India has lukewarm ties amid its close association with Turkey and Pakistan. Armenia, whose ties with India have witnessed an upswing in recent years buoyed by defense exports from here, has sought Indian investments for the corridor in the Armenian territory, sources in the Armenian government indicated to ET. Armenia’s natural beauty, unique cultural heritage – U.S. Ambassador shares impressions from Syunik, Vayots Dzor trip United States Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien shared her impressions from her trip to Syunik and Vayots Dzor. “While traveling to Syunik and Vayots Dzor, I had the chance to experience Armenia’s natural beauty and unique cultural heritage, taste some delicious regional foods, and meet some of Armenia’s talented artisans,” Ambassador Kvien tweeted. “I look forward to seeing more!” United States Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien traveled to Syunik and Vayots Dzor on March 10 to “discuss the economic and security situations in the regions” with the governors of the two provinces. Russian Ministry of Defense recorded a violation of the ceasefire The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation recorded one violation of the ceasefire regime in the Martakert region in the March 11 bulletin about the activities of peacekeepers in Artsakh. "There were no casualties or injuries. The forces of the Russian peacekeeping force are investigating this fact," the newsletter states. It is noted that patrolling was carried out along three routes in Shushi, Martakert, and Martuni. The army provided the escort of its convoy with humanitarian cargo on the Goris-Stepanakert route. It should be remembered that yesterday, on March 10, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan units in the northern direction of the contact line violated the ceasefire by using small arms. Other News  30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Malaysia.   An extraordinary extended session of the Security Council was held under the leadership of Arayik Harutyunyan.
22:14 - 12 March, 2023
Daily News Summary [10.02.2023]

Daily News Summary [10.02.2023]

Armenia renounces CSTO Deputy Secretary-General quota Armenia has submitted a proposal to the CSTO on relinquishing its quota of Deputy Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Armenian Foreign Ministry confirmed Friday. “Indeed, we’ve presented a respective proposal to the CSTO,” foreign ministry spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan told ARMENPRESS when asked to either confirm or deny media reports claiming that Armenia has formally renounced its quota of Deputy Secretary-General. Armenia is not interested in the transparent work of the Lachin Corridor - Bayramov  In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov wrote that "Armenia is not interested in the transparent work of the Lachin Corridor". With that letter, Bayramov responded to the February 22 decision of the International Court of Justice regarding the Lachin Corridor. "The Minister of Foreign Affairs stated in the letter that the Government of Azerbaijan bears no responsibility for the protest actions organized by representatives of the civil society on the road to Lachin and cannot forcefully limit their legal right to protest," the ministry said in a statement. At the same time, in his presentation, Bayramov wrote about "the cases of misuse of the Lachin Corridor by Armenia" and claimed that Azerbaijan guarantees the safety of the road. According to Bayramov, neither the government nor the protesters are obstructing traffic. Bayramov wrote to Guterres that the vehicles of the Red Cross and Russian peacekeeping troops pass on the road unhindered. He also wrote that Azerbaijan offered to install checkpoints on the Lachin road, "and the fact that the Armenian side rejected it proves that Yerevan is not interested in the transparent work of the Lachin corridor." The establishment of a checkpoint in the Lachin corridor connecting Armenia with Artsakh remains unacceptable for Yerevan. "Armenia's position has not changed," Vahan Hunanyan, the spokesperson of the foreign ministry, told "Azatutyun" earlier. After the Munich negotiations, Azerbaijani President Aliyev voiced the idea of setting up a checkpoint. In response, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ararat Mirzoyan, stated that the renegotiation of the Lachin Corridor is not acceptable to Armenia. Azerbaijani Armed Forces units violated the ceasefire in Artsakh by using small arms Today, between 19:10 and 19:40, the units of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire in the northern direction of the contact line by using small arms. There were no casualties from the Armenian side as a result of the ceasefire violation. The ceasefire violation was reported to the command of the Russian peacekeeping troops.Currently, the situation on the contact line is relatively stable. Russian peacekeepers did not record any violation of the ceasefire during the past day  The Russian peacekeeping contingent continues to fulfill its tasks in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation issued a message about this. It is noted that Russian peacekeepers are monitoring the situation at 30 observation points and monitoring the ceasefire. According to the report, three routes were patrolled in the corridor of Martakert, Martuni, and Lachin. During the past day, no violations of the ceasefire regime were recorded. The convoy escort of the Russian peacekeeping troops with humanitarian cargo along the Goris-Stepanakert route was provided. Humanitarian action was held to provide food packages to indigent families with many children in the Shushi region. The EU-Armenia Parliamentary Partnership Committee calls on Azerbaijan to immediately withdraw from the territories of Armenia As a result of the meeting held on March 9, the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Partnership Committee adopted a final statement. The Chairman of the Standing Committee on European Integration of the RA National Assembly, Arman Yeghoyan, wrote about this on his Facebook page, presenting several main provisions of the statement. "The Armenian Parliamentary Partnership Committee notes with satisfaction the very good relations between the EU and Armenia and reminds the role of the European Parliament and the National Assembly of Armenia in this matter, based on their democratic legitimacy. The Committee demands a comprehensive political settlement of the conflict in accordance with international law and based, in particular, on the non-use of force, territorial integrity, and equal rights and self-determination of peoples - the key principles of the Helsinki Final Act, as well as the OSCE Minsk Group 2009. On fundamental principles and elements."   Other News The appeal of the HRD of Artsakh to the ombudsman of Azerbaijan.   The USA supports the EU observation mission in Armenia - Kristina Kvien and Markus Ritter had a discussion.   On one hand, Aliyev keeps stating that they're ready to talk with NK Armenians, on the other hand, they attack - Edmon Marukyan.
00:05 - 11 March, 2023
Daily News Summary [09.03.2023]

Daily News Summary [09.03.2023]

Pashinyan referred to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict  With the Lachin Corridor closed for nearly three months, we have a new escalation of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced this during the Government session, recalling the sabotage attack that took place on March 5. Pashinyan emphasized that all three soldiers who died were born in Nagorno-Karabakh. "This circumstance becomes especially important considering the statement made by the President of Azerbaijan in Munich on February 18, 2023. He admitted that there is an international agreement according to which they should discuss with the representatives of Nagorno Karabakh the issue of their rights and security. However, the President of Azerbaijan emphasized that they are going to have these discussions with people born and living in Nagorno-Karabakh. On March 1, a meeting of representatives of NK and Azerbaijan took place at the headquarters of the Russian peacekeeping force in NK, and 4 days after that, Azerbaijan launched the provocation of March 5, which was nothing but a terrorist act," said Pashinyan. According to Nikol Pashinyan, the first goal of the March 5 terrorist attack is to disturb further negotiations with the representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh and to create the necessary background for a new military provocation. "In this regard, I must emphasize that the Foreign Ministry of Artsakh issued a statement yesterday, expressing readiness to continue the conversation with Azerbaijan, and this is an extremely important statement. I think it is necessary to create reliable international mechanisms so that an uninterrupted and institutional conversation between Baku and Stepanakert takes place, and this can become an effective guarantee of the implementation of the above-mentioned international agreement," RA Prime Minister said. The next goal of the March 5 provocation, according to Pashinyan, was to create false evidence that weapons and ammunition are being transported from Armenia to NK. RA Security Council Secretary met with the National Security Adviser of the Prime Minister of Greece On March 9, within the framework of his working visit to Greece, RA Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan met with the National Security Adviser of the Prime Minister of Greece, Thanos Dokos. Grigoryan expressed his condolences to Dokos on the March 2 fatal train disaster in Greece. Secretary Grigoryan presented the humanitarian crisis created in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of Azerbaijan's illegal blocking of the Lachin Corridor and the challenges of RA's foreign policy. In that context, Grigoryan emphasized the need to immediately send an international fact-finding mission to Nagorno-Karabakh and Lachin Corridor. Azerbaijan challenges efforts to establish peace in the region with continuous provocations. Mirzoyan to the UAE Minister of State Within the framework of the ministerial session of the Council of the League of Arab States, RA Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met with the Minister of State of the United Arab Emirates Khalifa Shahen Al-Marar on March 8 in Cairo. Referring to the security situation in the South Caucasus, Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized that the Azerbaijani side challenges efforts to establish peace and stability in the region with its continuous provocations and extremist aspirations. RA Foreign Minister presented to his colleague the humanitarian situation created in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of the blocking of the Lachin Corridor and emphasized the need to unblock the corridor without preconditions. In this context, the implementation of the legally binding decision made by the International Court of Justice on February 22 regarding the application of urgent measures against Azerbaijan was emphasized. In the context of interaction on international platforms, Minister Mirzoyan referred to Azerbaijan's manipulation of the religious factor, groundless attempts to undermine traditional warm relations between Armenia and the Armenian people and the Arab world, considering them unacceptable and expressing hope that the member states of the League of Arab States will oppose exclusively political and humanitarian measures on other international platforms and any further attempt to give a religious tone to the problems of nature. There is no obstacle to peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia - Aliyev President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has stated that there are no obstacles to achieving peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. According to the APA agency, the leader of that country made such a statement at the 10th global conference in Baku. "What was agreed between Azerbaijan and Armenia in October last year, in particular, regarding respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, actually shows that there is no obstacle to achieving peace," Aliyev said. Addressing the entire course of the Artsakh conflict, Aliyev claimed that "Azerbaijan tried to settle the conflict with Armenia peacefully". "Conflicts can be resolved in two ways: peacefully and non-peacefully. We tried very hard to settle the conflict with Armenia in a peaceful way, despite the fact that a humanitarian crisis has arisen in Azerbaijan as a result of the Armenian occupation," said Aliyev. According to him, the OSCE Minsk Group wanted the Artsakh conflict to remain frozen once and for all. Cabinet approves ratifying Armenia-Georgia simplified travel requirements The RA Cabinet approved on March 9 the bill on ratifying the agreement on introducing simplified visa-free travel document requirements between Armenia and Georgia whereby nationals of the two countries will have the opportunity to cross the border only with ID cards instead of passports. The agreement was signed on January 12, 2023. It will take effect after ratification by parliament. Search for solutions to the situation over Lachin Corridor underway, Zakharova The search for solutions to the situation around Lachin and Nagorno-Karabakh is underway, the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Maria Zakharova, said. Zakharova said that there is communication with Armenia and Azerbaijan in cooperation with the Russian Foreign Ministry and with the participation of the Russian peacekeeping force, without further elaboration.    Other News On March 8, the body of serviceman Andranik Ohanyan was found.   Defense units did not open fire in the direction of Azerbaijani positions- Artsakh Defense Ministry.   Ararat Mirzoyan and the Egyptian Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of maintaining the attention of the international community to the region.    
23:38 - 09 March, 2023
Daily News Summary [08.03.2023]

Daily News Summary [08.03.2023]

EU special representative for the crisis in the South Caucasus referred to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict The European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar was interviewed by APA Agency. "The objective is to help Armenia and Azerbaijan overcome the history of conflict. So, indeed, we have not had meetings in Brussels for some time. The understanding of President Charles Michel is that it will certainly be important to get the two leaders back to Brussels because it is not only about Brussels but there has not really been any meeting between leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan for quite a few months. And we believe that it is very important for them to meet on a regular basis and to really work on the substance of the outstanding issues, of which there are quite a few, and which will simply not be resolved without the leaders engaging and meeting in a substantive way as we have seen in Brussels. So, in that sense, President Michel is very much keen on having the leaders come to Brussels again. He met with the leaders in Munich a couple of weeks ago, I am here in Baku and I was in Yerevan last week to follow up on these meetings and now our open expectation will be that we can have the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders in Brussels in the very near future again," Klaar said. Armenian and Artsakh Foreign Ministries commented on the disinformation Azerbaijan spread The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia referred to yesterday's statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, denying its claims. "On March 7, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan spread another message with the aim of misleading the international community, as if on the same day, a convoy of military equipment of the RA Armed Forces accompanied by Russian peacekeepers passed the Stepanakert-Ghaibalishen-Lisagor road and that allegedly the same day the RA Armed Forces personnel transportation. We officially claim that this information is completely false, does not have and cannot have any factual basis, and does not correspond to reality. Artsakh Foreign Ministry also commented on the disinformation spread by the Azerbaijani side. "In this regard, we consider it necessary to emphasize that the information disseminated by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan does not correspond to reality and is another lie aimed at misleading the international community by the Azerbaijani side. The authorities of Azerbaijan also spread such misinformation about the transfer of so-called mines from Armenia to Artsakh, but on February 22, the International Court of Justice rejected that falsehood at a high level," the statement of the ministry reads. Aliyev expressed hope that Armenia will respond positively to Azerbaijan's comments on the proposals of the peace forum Azerbaijan has submitted its observations on the proposals of the peace conference to Armenia and is waiting for a response from Armenia.  President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev announced this today, March 8, during a press conference after the meeting with President of Latvia Egils Levits.  "Today, I presented the situation in the South Caucasus to the President of Latvia, especially regarding the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.  We hope that Armenia will respond positively to our observations regarding the peace agreement proposal," said Aliyev. Aliyev noted that some time ago they presented their proposal to Armenia, based on the norms and principles of international law.  "Then we received comments from Armenia and sent our observations on them.  The process is ongoing," he said. Azerbaijan is trying to give a religious tone to the Nagorno-Karabakh problem - Ararat Mirzoyan Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan delivered a speech at the 159th Session of the Council of the League of Arab States at the Ministerial level. "In the context of the blockade of the Lachin corridor, I would like to underline that on 22 February this year, the International Court of Justice issued a legally binding provisional measure against Azerbaijan. In the mentioned order, the Court has found that there is an imminent risk of irreparable harm to Armenians’ rights and ordered Azerbaijan to take all necessary measures to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles, and cargo along the Lachin corridor in both directions. Unfortunately, our neighboring Azerbaijan continuously manipulates Armenia-Azerbaijan relations and the Nagorno-Karabakh issue on various international platforms, especially those organizations where Armenia is not represented, such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Non-Aligned Movement, trying to give it a religious tone and using the delicate concept of Muslim solidarity. We expect that such attempts will be rejected and will not drag our friendly Arab countries into the field of religious discord. We should prevent any further attempt of giving a religious tone to the pure political and humanitarian disputes," he stated. Other News Louis Bono paid tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.   The Embassy of Armenia in Georgia denies the news spread in the Georgian media that special squads from the Republic of Armenia are being brought to Georgia to disperse the protests in Tbilisi.   Ararat Mirzoyan met with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Ṣafadī.
23:51 - 08 March, 2023
Daily News Summary [07.03.2023]

Daily News Summary [07.03.2023]

Armen Grigoryan emphasized the need for an international presence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the Lachin Corridor at the meeting with Brice Roquefeuil Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan today received Special Commissioner for South Caucasus Affairs, French Co-Chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Brice Roquefeuil. The interlocutors discussed the difficult humanitarian situation created around the Lachin Corridor and resulting from it in Nagorno-Karabakh. The parties emphasized the need to implement the legally binding decision made by the International Court of Justice regarding the opening of the Lachin Corridor. The Secretary of the Security Council drew the attention of his interlocutor to the terrorist attack carried out by the Azerbaijani armed forces in Nagorno-Karabakh on March 5 and emphasized the need for an international presence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the Lachin Corridor. Our most powerful weapons were not used during the 44-day war - Serzh Sargsyan In terms of ammunition and personnel, we used 50 percent in the 44-day war, so why didn't we use the other 50 percent? Serzh Sargsyan, the third president of the Republic of Armenia, stated in a conversation with journalists: "The rulers of the country often try to compare something with a car. Our army was not a "Mercedes", that's for sure, and it couldn't be, because today's "Mercedes" has a history of decades, but our army can be compared to a quality, good car that performed its duties. They say that the car was not good, but they forget that that car is driven not only by a person who doesn't have a driver's license but by someone who doesn't know how to drive at all. Inevitably, that car will fall into the valley and fall into the valley. Instead of understanding that they need to know how to drive, they say again that we didn't have an army," Serzh Sargsyan. The convoy of military equipment of the Armed Forces did not pass the Stepanakert-Ghaibalishen-Lisagor road: The Ministry of Defense denies the message issued by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia informs that the message spread by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan that the column of military equipment of the Armenian Armed Forces accompanied by the Russian peacekeepers passed along the Stepanakert-Ghaibalishen-Lisagor road on March 7 is not true. Spokesman of the Ministry of Defense Aram Torosyan wrote about this on his Facebook page. The claims of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan regarding the transfer of personnel of the RA Armed Forces and their rotation are also false. Azerbaijan claims that "arms were transferred from Armenia to Karabakh accompanied by Russian peacekeepers" "Today, the Russian peacekeeping troops accompanied the transportation of the military vehicles of the Armenian armed forces and illegal armed formations to Karabakh via an alternative ground route to the Lachin Corridor." This is claimed by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, declaring that "it was recorded by the means of technical observation of the Azerbaijani units deployed in that direction, and it is a gross violation of tripartite agreements, which must be stopped immediately." Armen Grigoryan emphasized the need for an international presence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the Lachin Corridor at the meeting with Brice Roquefeuil Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan today received Special Commissioner for South Caucasus Affairs, French Co-Chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Brice Roquefeuil. The interlocutors discussed the difficult humanitarian situation created around the Lachin Corridor and resulting from it in Nagorno-Karabakh. The parties emphasized the need to implement the legally binding decision made by the International Court of Justice regarding the opening of the Lachin Corridor. The Secretary of the Security Council drew the attention of his interlocutor to the terrorist attack carried out by the Azerbaijani armed forces in Nagorno-Karabakh on March 5 and emphasized the need for an international presence in Nagorno-Karabakh and the Lachin Corrido Baku made a similar statement about the bloody incident of March 5, but the Armenian side denied it. The situation is tense, what prevents the American and French co-chairs in the region from visiting Artsakh? - HRD of Artsakh Artsakh Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan made a post referring to the situation on the Lachin Corridor.  "Right now, American co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Louis Bono and French co-chairman Brice Roquefoy are in the region and are having meetings in Baku and Yerevan. Today is already the 86th day Artsakh is under siege, facing a humanitarian crisis situation and widespread violations of human rights. On March 5, a subversive group of the Azerbaijani armed forces carried out a terrorist operation against the Artsakh policemen, in which three policemen were killed and one was injured. The Azerbaijani side continues to issue threats, regularly resorting to military escalation. The situation is tense. What prevents the American and French co-chairs in the region from visiting Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) in order to express their determination to preserve the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group and resolve the conflict peacefully? In Artsakh, a group of citizens blocked the main entrance to the central location of Russian peacekeepers A group of people from Artsakh are protesting today near the main entrance of the central location of Russian peacekeepers. They had to block their exit and entrance for several hours. The protesters were waiting for a representative from the peacekeepers to come and present their demands, that is to ensure the peaceful and safe life of the people of Artsakh. There was an incident between the protesters and the peacekeepers because one of the protesters blocked the entrance with a car, and the peacekeepers were trying to remove it. RA Security Council Secretary emphasized the need to send an international fact-finding team to the Lachin Corridor and Nagorno-Karabakh at the meeting with the American Co-Chair of the ICRC On March 7, Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan received Senior Advisor on Caucasian Negotiations, American Co-Chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Louis Bono. The parties discussed the latest developments in the process of regulating Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. Reference was made to the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan and its consequences, within the framework of which the Security Council Secretary highlighted the need to send an international fact-finding team to the Lachin Corridor and Nagorno-Karabakh. It should be noted that today Armen Grigoryan also received the Special Commissioner for the South Caucasus, the French Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Brice Roquefeuil. The interlocutors discussed the difficult humanitarian situation created around the Lachin Corridor and resulting from it in NK. The parties emphasized the need to implement the legally binding decision made by the International Court of Justice regarding the opening of the Lachine Corridor. The meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States On March 7, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, who is in Cairo on a working visit, met with Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States. The interlocutors stressed that the relations between the Armenian and Arab nations are based on centuries-old friendship and mutual respect. In this context, the role of the Armenian communities in the Arab countries was also mentioned. The Ministers noted with satisfaction that the Armenian presence in the countries of the Arab world is one of the best examples of the coexistence of the Christian and Muslim nations. In this regard, Minister Mirzoyan underlined that the groundless attempts of the Azerbaijani side to artificially manipulate the religious factor in various platforms and to hamper the traditional foundations of the cooperation between Armenia and the countries of the Arab world should be rejected. The importance of regular contact and political dialogue in the framework of the League of Arab States as well as with the member states of the organization was highlighted.    
22:38 - 07 March, 2023
Daily News Summary [06.03.2023]

Daily News Summary [06.03.2023]

The Azerbaijani sabotage attack in Artsak: Latest updates The message spread by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan that allegedly the units of the Defense Forces opened fire on March 5 in the direction of the Azerbaijani positions located in the occupied territories of the Shushi region of the Republic of Artsakh is another misinformation.   It should be reminded that the police of the Artsakh Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that around 10:00 a.m. on March 5, a sabotage group of the Azerbaijani armed forces targeted and opened fire on the shift car of the police passport and visa department staff in the area called "Khaipalu".  As a result of the subversive infiltration, 3 police officers were killed, and another officer received a gunshot wound to the chest and is in the Republican Medical Center. Later today, the Russian Defense Ministry recorded the attack of the Azerbaijani subversive group on the car of the Artsakh police. Russian Foreign Ministry expressed serious concern regarding the increase in tension in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, calling on the parties to show restraint and take steps to defuse the situation. Javier Colomina, the special representative of the NATO Secretary General for the Caucasus and Central Asia,  referred to the shooting of a police car by the Azerbaijani armed forces and the death of people in Artsakh. “Very concerned with reports of the deadly incident in the vicinity of Stepanakert. This incident demonstrates the urgency to find solutions for outstanding issues at the negotiation table. NATO supports the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan”, Colomina wrote. Peter Stano, Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, also referred to the attack of the Azerbaijani sabotage group on the policemen in Artsakh. "The EU is sorry for the violence that broke out on the Karabakh contact line yesterday, which resulted in at least five victims. The circumstances of this fatal incident must be thoroughly investigated. We call on all interested parties to exercise restraint to prevent further actions that could further undermine regional stability and threaten the peace process," he said. Other News Ararat Mirzoyan to go on a working visit to Egypt.   The sabotage attack carried out in Nagorno-Karabakh was pre-planned by Azerbaijan: A meeting with the ambassadors was held at the Foreign Ministry.  
00:03 - 07 March, 2023
Daily News Summary [04-05.02.2023]

Daily News Summary [04-05.02.2023]

3 Armenian servicemen killed as a result of an Azerbaijani sabotage attack  March 5, a sabotage group of the Azerbaijani armed forces targeted and opened fire on the shift car of the staff of the police passport and visa department. As a result, 3 police officers were killed: lieutenant colonel Armen Babayan, major Davit Danielyan, and lieutenant Ararat Gasparyan. Another serviceman, Lieutenant Davit Hovsepyan, received a gunshot wound in the chest and is in the Republican Medical Center. As a result of the armed attack on the police officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh by the subversive group of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Artsakh early this morning, the Artsakh side did not suffer any territorial losses. Gurgen Nersisyan, Artsakh State Minister, wrote about this on his Facebook page, noting that the Azerbaijani side suffered casualties and retreated. Later, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan reported that 2 servicemen of the Azerbaijani army were killed as a result of today's sabotage attack by the Azerbaijani armed forces. The Armenian Foreign Ministry also commented on the ambush by Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh, stating that the actions of the Azerbaijani forces cannot be described as anything other than terrorism. In parallel to blocking the Lachin corridor and creating a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh for almost three months, Azerbaijan continues to terrorize the Armenians of Artsakh by creating inhumane conditions for living in their homeland with the ultimate goal of ethnic cleansing. Artsakh Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan referred to the incident, claiming that the aspirations of Azerbaijan and the goals of ethnic cleansing of Artsakh should be more than obvious to the entire international community, primarily the member states of the UN Security Council as a structure responsible for maintaining international peace, as well as the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group (Russia, USA, France). "After establishing the ceasefire on November 9, 2020, thousands of facts and testimonies were presented regarding Azerbaijani crimes, but the same template approach to the issue continues. Finally, it is necessary to get out of stereotyped approaches and formulations regarding the conflict, overcome the duality complex, and look at the situation as it is. Ignoring the calls of the international community and not fulfilling the decision made by the UN Court of Justice are clear indicators that the international community is dealing with a criminal regime that brazenly ignores and discredits international law, and the only way to convince it is to implement deterrent and punitive measures. In the conditions of the ongoing blockade and repeated attacks by Azerbaijan, an active and practical international involvement and presence in Artsakh remains a dire need," he stated. It should be noted that the Russian Ministry of Defense did not refer to the sabotage attack carried out by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces in Artsakh in the bulletin of today, March 5, although the servicemen of the Russian game guard troops were also at the place of the attack. The Prime Minister had a meeting with representatives of the German Eastern Business Association and leading German companies Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, as part of his working visit to the Federal Republic of Germany, had a meeting with representatives of the German Eastern Business Association and leading German companies. The meeting took place at SAP Data Space Berlin, a well-known company in the field of business management and information technologies, also operating in Armenia. Representatives of German state bodies, as well as private organizations engaged in agribusiness, digital technologies, pharmaceuticals, energy, aviation, and other sectors, took part in the discussion. The meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and India On March 4, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, who is in New Delhi for the “Raisina Dialogue” conference, had a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The interlocutors commended the dynamics of deepening the political dialogue between Armenia and India, in this regard, highlighting the role of high-level visits and regular contacts on various platforms. Issues on regional and international security were discussed. Minister Mirzoyan briefed his counterpart on the recent developments in the normalization process of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. The humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh resulting from the illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan was touched upon. In this context, the need to apply possible mechanisms toward the implementation by Azerbaijan of the decision made by the International Court of Justice on February 22 regarding the request for provisional measures was also stressed.    
21:42 - 05 March, 2023
Daily News Summary [03.03.2023]

Daily News Summary [03.03.2023]

Russian MoD records violations of the ceasefire regime in Artsakh The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation has recorded 3 violations of the ceasefire regime in the Martuni and Shushi regions, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation said in a message. According to the source, based on the existing facts, the command of the Russian peacekeeping force is conducting a joint investigation with the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides. The Artsakh Foreign Ministry commented on the violation of the cease-fire established by the Tripartite Declaration of November 9, 2020, by the Azerbaijani military units stationed in the occupied territories of the Askeran, Martakert, and Martuni regions of the Republic of Artsakh on the night of March 2 and the morning of the 3rd, noting that the illegal blockade of Artsakh against the background of the discussions held between the parties on humanitarian and infrastructural issues in the context of the need to immediately eliminate the situation, Azerbaijan's actions clearly indicate its unwillingness to unconditionally fulfill its commitments, including those arising from the decision of the International Court of Justice, regarding the unblocking of the Lachin Corridor. This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh. It should be reminded that on March 2 and on the night of March 2-3, the units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, located in the occupied territories of Askeran, Martakert, and Martuni regions of the Republic of Artsakh, violated the ceasefire by using small arms. Artsakh Ministry of Defense press service informs that there are no casualties on the Armenian side. The ceasefire violation was reported to the command of the Russian peacekeeping troops.  Currently, the situation on the contact line is relatively stable. Nikol Pashinyan meets the German president Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's working visit to the Federal Republic of Germany continues. Today, the Prime Minister was hosted in the Bundestag and had a meeting with the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee headed by Chairman Michael Roth. The latter welcomed the Prime Minister and noted that the visit is a good opportunity to discuss both the Armenian-German inter-parliamentary cooperation and the processes taking place in the South Caucasus region. "It has been more than 80 days that the Lachin Corridor has been closed, and during this time Azerbaijan insisted that the Lachin Corridor is not closed, it is open. The decision of the International Court of Justice is very important in terms of clarifying this issue because the court stated that the Lachine Corridor is closed and should be opened. During my visit, I heard some opinions that support the idea of sending an international monitoring or fact-finding mission to Nagorno-Karabakh and the Lachine Corridor to observe the humanitarian situation and see what is happening there, because it is a crisis that could have irreversible consequences, it can grow into a humanitarian disaster. I think we should work together to prevent the situation from getting out of control. But the most important question is why Azerbaijan is doing this. We are sure that Azerbaijan's goal is to carry out ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh and cleans Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. I think the latest statement of Azerbaijani president Aliyev proves this because Aliyev said that the Lachin Corridor is open for Armenians who want to leave Karabakh, which I think automatically means that the Lachin Corridor is closed for Armenians who live in Nagorno Karabakh and who want to live there. This is the core cause of Azerbaijan's actions," Pashinyan stated at the meeting. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Mrs. Anna Hakobyan visited the residence of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, where they met with the President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and his wife Elke Büdenbender. After the welcoming ceremony, Prime Minister Pashinyan and Mrs. Hakobyan made a note in the book of honored guests, then the Prime Minister had a private conversation with the President of Germany and Mrs. Hakobyan with Elke Büdenbender. The meeting between the Armenian Prime Minister and the German President continued in an extended format. Ararat Mirzoyan presented to Josep Borell and Sergey Lavrov the developments in the process of regulating Armenia-Azerbaijan relations Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, who is in New Delhi on a working visit, had a meeting today with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borell. They exchanged ideas on issues of the RA-EU partnership agenda and emphasized the deployment of the EU civilian monitoring mission in Armenia, which officially started its work on February 20. Reference was made to regional and international security issues. Ararat Mirzoyan also presented to the interlocutor the latest developments in the process of regulating Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. Referring to the humanitarian situation created in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of the blocking of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized the imperative to unblock the Lachin Corridor without preconditions,  in accordance with the provisions of the November 9 (2022) announcement. Mirzoyan also met the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and outlined the direction of the negotiations,"  Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Other News Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Sweden.        
23:36 - 03 March, 2023
Daily News Summary [02.02.2023]

Daily News Summary [02.02.2023]

The deployment of the EU mission in Armenia will play a crucial role in ensuring security there - Prime Minister Pashinyan The deployment of the monitoring mission of the European Union in Armenia will play a crucial role in ensuring local security and stability in the region, as well as in timely and reliable reporting on the current situation to partners in the EU and its member states. RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced this in the opening speech of the discussion at the Council of Foreign Relations of Germany. In his opening speech, the Prime Minister first expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Ralf Nickel, Vice President of the German Council on Foreign Relations, Director Guntram Wolf, and his team for organizing the event. He mentioned that today the world is living in a period when not only natural but also geopolitical tectonic shifts are taking place all over the world. The deepening geopolitical instability, growing tension, and unpredictability weaken the world order and the international security system, creating even greater challenges, especially for Armenia, making the country, which is a democracy in a complex region, more vulnerable. "We hope to fully open our common border, which was unilaterally closed by Turkey in the early 90s. We have some small but encouraging signs of moving forward. In July 2022, the special representatives of our countries agreed to establish air cargo transportation and open interstate borders for citizens of third countries. The ban on direct air cargo between Turkey and Armenia was lifted in January, and we hope that the border will soon be opened to third-country nationals. Also, I met with President Erdogan in 2022 within the framework of the European Political Community Summit in Prague, where we discussed the prospects for the normalization of relations. After the last devastating earthquake, Armenia reacted quickly. I called President Erdogan to express my condolences and offered our support. After that, we sent humanitarian aid and a rescue team to the affected regions," Pashinyan stated. The British ambassador highly appreciated Armenia's efforts in the direction of reforms in the justice sector RA Minister of Justice Grigor Minasyan received John Gallagher, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Armenia.   The Minister presented the reform agenda of the justice sector, in particular, he referred to the judicial reforms, the probation service, the creation of a new Arbitration Center, and the works aimed at the reforms of the mediation sector. Grigor Minasyan emphasized that the reforms of the legal sphere are aimed at reforming the judicial system and easing the overburdening of the courts. Speaking about public administration reforms, the minister noted that this reform is a benchmark for the country's development and is one of the Government's priorities. Authorities allocate additional expansion of the Yerevan metro amid the development of the new station The government of Armenia allocated 1,1 billion AMD for the blueprinting work of the new Ajapnyak metro station in Yerevan. Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Gnel Sanosyan said at the Cabinet meeting that the blueprinting work consists of three stages, with the first one already completed. The Yerevan City Hall already allocated 545,000,000 AMD for the work, while the total cost is over 1,8 billion. The remainder will be covered by the City Hall later on. PM Pashinyan, together with his wife, arrived in Berlin on a working visit Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is in the Federal Republic of Germany, Berlin, on a working visit with his wife, Anna Hakobyan. As part of the visit, the Prime Minister will have a meeting with Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz today. After the negotiations, the Armenian Prime Minister and the German Chancellor will meet with the media representatives to summarize the results of the meeting. On March 2, Nikol Pashinyan will visit the German Council on Foreign Relations. Prime Minister Pashinyan is scheduled to meet with the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, on March 3. A number of other meetings will also take place within the framework of the visit.
23:59 - 02 March, 2023
Daily News Sumary [01.03.2023]

Daily News Sumary [01.03.2023]

The monument commemorating the victims of March 1 was opened in Yerevan The monument commemorating the victims of March 1 was opened in Yerevan. The author of the sculpture is Albert Vardanyan, and it's called "Influence and Counteraction".  At the opening ceremony, RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan delivered a speech. "March 1 is not a day of mourning. Of course, we mourn the fact of victims and commemorate their memory, but March 1 has a wider context. The struggle for the life of our brothers who died that day is about something else entirely. The struggle and sacrifices of March 1 have reached their destination because today falsifying elections in RA has already turned a page from which there will be no return, and its guarantor is the RA people," Pashinyan said. It should be reminded that after the presidential elections held in Armenia on February 19, 2008, mass protests began in the country. The protests were led by Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the first president of RA.  he and his supporters did not agree with the results of the elections, according to which Serzh Sargsyan was elected president.  Demonstrators set up tents in Yerevan's Freedom Square and held marches and actions in different parts of the capital. On March 1, 2008, mass riots and clashes between protesters and the police took place, resulting in the death of 10 people. 2 of the victims were police officers. To date, 173 POWs have returned from Azerbaijan to Armenia As a result of the 44-day war and post-war events, the bodies (relics) of 422 dead Armenian servicemen were returned to the Republic of Armenia, of which 225 were killed in 2022, during the September events. The work of retrieving the bodies of 2 Armenian servicemen who died as a result of the September events continues. In addition, as a result of the combat operations that took place on September 13-14, 2022, 1 officer and 1 conscript soldier of the Jermuk military unit were taken out of the territory under the control of Azerbaijan. To date, 173 servicemen and civilians have been returned from captivity. Representatives of Artsakh and Azerbaijan met today with the mediation of the Russian side The question of restoring the unimpeded passage of cars through the Lachin Corridor and confirming the fact of the purposeful use of the corridor was discussed today at the tripartite meeting of the representatives of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh and the commander of the Russian peacekeeping force.  The "Artsakhpress" news agency was informed about this by the command of the peacekeeping troops stationed in Artsakh.  The parties also discussed the issues of the uninterrupted supply of electricity and gas.  In addition, within the framework of the meeting, the possibility of monitoring the environment by the representatives of the Azerbaijani side in the Drombon and Kashen mines was discussed.  Agreements were reached on further cooperation aimed at reducing tension and establishing peaceful life in the region. Later, the Artsakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented on the meeting of the representatives of Artsakh and Azerbaijan.  "The participants of the meeting did not discuss issues related to the political status of the Republic of Artsakh.  According to the results of the meeting, the comments made by the Azerbaijani side do not correspond to reality. The Republic of Artsakh remains committed to the choice of the path of self-determination and independence of its people, which was fixed in 1991 during the referendum. Similar discussions organized for the purpose of solving urgent issues, in particular, the lifting of the blockade of Artsakh, cannot replace full-fledged peace negotiations, which are necessary for the comprehensive settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict. We proceed from the need to restore the international mediation format as an important guarantee of the irreversibility of the peace process. We emphasize once again that the position of the Republic of Artsakh that the results of the illegal use of force and the threat of force by Azerbaijan cannot be a starting point for the establishment of peace, stability, and security remains unchanged," the statement of the Artsakh Foreign Ministry reads. Other News The Azerbaijani side opened fire at a tractor doing agricultural work in Berdashen - Artsakh Ministry of Internal Affairs.
23:58 - 01 March, 2023
Daily News Summary [28.02.2023]

Daily News Summary [28.02.2023]

Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan's speech at the Human Rights Council 52nd Session On February 28, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, who was in Geneva, participated in the UN Human Rights Council 52nd Session and delivered a speech. "We believe that the protection of the human rights of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh has been continuously overlooked. While we can appreciate the gravity of the situation elsewhere because of other conflicts and crises, there cannot be any hierarchies of suffering based on geopolitical considerations and interests. Against all odds, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh have been striving to exercise their human rights freely. This determination has not changed even after devastating repetitive waves of repression and aggression of Azerbaijan that killed thousands of people and ruined hundreds of towns and villages, civilian infrastructure, and cultural and religious heritage. The international community, however, remained largely inactive as Azerbaijan’s appetite was emboldened by impunity. The latter, then, attacked and occupied the sovereign territories of the Republic of Armenia. In the atmosphere of such total impunity, Azerbaijan continues to breach principles of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. It has been for around 80 days that Azerbaijan blocked the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia and the outer world. Azerbaijan has also disrupted the electricity and is regularly cutting the gas supply. As a result, the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh are on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan announced at the highest level that it can lift the blockade for all those who want to leave Nagorno-Karabakh. It is a creeping ethnic cleansing in making. In this context, I would like to underline that on 22 February the International Court of Justice issued a legally binding provisional measure against Azerbaijan in the proceedings brought by Armenia against it, while unanimously rejecting Azerbaijan’s requests made in the parallel proceedings with respect to alleged laying of mines by Armenia. In the mentioned order, the Court has found that there is an imminent risk of irreparable harm to Armenians’ rights under the Convention for Elimination of Racial Discrimination and ordered Azerbaijan to take all necessary measures to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles, and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. The ICJ provisional measures are legally binding, however, thus far Azerbaijan failed to lift the blockade of the Lachin corridor. Azerbaijan commits this crime amid the wide and truly global demand to open the Lachin Corridor, including by the UN Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights," Mirzoyan stated. Armenian Deputy PM presented to the US Ambassador the importance of a clear international response to the blocking of the Lachin Corridor The Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Mher Grigoryan received the newly appointed Ambassador of the United States of America to Armenia Kristina Kvien. As we learn from the message issued by the RA Government, welcoming Kvien, the Deputy Prime Minister congratulated her on her appointment to the position of ambassador and wished her effective work in her responsible mission. The interlocutors discussed the prospects for the development of trade and economic relations between the two countries. Lavrov commented on the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement In a joint press conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramov, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov referred to the mediation efforts of the EU in the South Caucasus, stating that the European Union is openly abusing its relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan. "As for the statements coming from Brussels, we cannot comment on them in detail. We see how the European Union is openly abusing its relations with Armenia, and Azerbaijan, including by promoting its so-called mission in the territory of Armenia, which raises serious doubts from the point of view of legitimacy, which raises many questions, including its functions, mandate, duration, as well as also from the point of view of the added value of that mission in efforts to regulate Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. However, it is the sovereign choice of the parties with whom to cooperate and with whom not," Lavrov said. Speaking about Russia's mediating role in the settlement process, Lavrov said that Moscow remains ready to organize a meeting of the RA and Azerbaijan foreign ministers for the purpose of discussing the peace treaty. According to him, Baku is ready, Yerevan has said that it is not against either, but does not give a final agreement. "I think, we will not offer our services too persistently, but they are very well known to both sides," concluded Lavrov. It should be reminded that in On December 23, 2022, a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan was scheduled in Moscow, but the Armenian side announced its decision not to participate in the meeting, stating that the reason was the blocking of the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia by Azerbaijan. Since independence, we are the closest to the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations - Alen Simonyan We have been ready to sign a peace treaty for a long time and we have said about it many times, but the new proposals presented by Azerbaijan and the new situations taking place on the border make it a problem for them to sign a peace treaty as soon as possible. But we will do our best and move as quickly as possible toward a peace treaty. RA NA Speaker Alen Simonyan said this in a conversation with journalists in the parliament. As for the journalists' observation of which country or structure will be the international guarantor that the Armenian side is talking about and which will ensure the rights and security of the people of Stepanakert and Nagorno-Karabakh, Simonyan answered: "Who will be able to implement it on the ground?" It is clear that all agreements should have some kind of guarantee, because now we have an agreement of November 9, with the implementation of which we are also dissatisfied, and the Azerbaijani side also expresses dissatisfaction. We think that a mechanism is definitely necessary," said the Speaker of the National Assembly. Commenting on the world court ruling, the Speaker said that Armenia will maximally make use of this decision in all international organizations. “We are achieving rather big success internationally and we will continue to work in this direction. I think that the closure of the Lachin corridor inflicted greater harm on Azerbaijan than on Armenia and Artsakh politically. Yes, we suffered, indeed, we are taking it hard, yes, our compatriots are blocked, and we have problems. But by my evaluation, politically Azerbaijan has appeared in a deadlock,” Speaker Simonyan said. Other News Our relations can be exemplary for many peoples of the world - Armenian President at the meeting with the Ambassador of Georgia.   Luxembourg lawmakers condemn the Lachin corridor blockade and express concern over the humanitarian crisis.   The meeting of the Foreign Minister of Armenia with the Director-General of UN Geneva took place.
22:12 - 28 February, 2023
Daily News Summary [27.02.2023]

Daily News Summary [27.02.2023]

RA senior officials pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Sumgait pogrom Today commemorates the anniversary of the Sumgait pogrom. In 1988, in the period between February 27 and 29, in the city of Sumgait of Soviet Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani authorities organized a massacre and mass deportation of the Armenian population of the city at the state level. President Vahagn Khachaturyan, along with the RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the President of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan, and the highest state leadership, visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial to pay tribute to the memory of the innocent victims of the tragic pogrom of Sumgait. They laid flowers at the khachkar, perpetuating the memory of the victims. The US Embassy in Armenia also commemorated the Armenians who were killed in the Sumgait pogroms in 1988.  "Today we join the Armenians in mourning and paying tribute to the memory of those who lost their lives in Sumgait in 1988," the message of the embassy said. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirozyan's visit to Geneva  Within the framework of his work visit to Geneva, Switzerland, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. The sides discussed issues on cooperation within the framework of the UN Human Rights Protection System. The interlocutors touched upon the process of democratic reforms in Armenia, and the steps and achievements of the Government of Armenia toward protecting human rights and strengthening the rule of law.  Issues on international and regional agendas were discussed. Mirozyan also had a meeting with Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The Foreign Minister of Armenia highly appreciated the years-long activity of the ICRC in Armenia aimed at solving humanitarian issues. In this context, the efforts of the ICRC towards returning Armenian prisoners of war and other civilians held in Azerbaijan, the cases of enforced disappearance, and the clarification of the fate of missing persons were appreciated. During the meeting, the sides discussed the details of the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh resulting from the blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan. Minister Mirzoyan highlighted that Azerbaijan grossly violates its commitments, as well as norms of international humanitarian law and protection of human rights. The importance of implementing the decision made by the International Court of Justice on February 22 regarding the request for provisional measures against Azerbaijan was also underlined. During his visit, Ararat Mirzoyan also met with the Foreign Minister of Iran Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Iran discussed issues on cooperation in a bilateral format, as well as on multilateral platforms. Both sides commended the high level of political dialogue between Armenia and Iran. The importance of putting joint efforts towards further developing cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including energy, transport, and infrastructure was highlighted. Meeting of Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Vahe Gevorgyan with the UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries On February 20-27, the United Nations Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, headed by Ravindran Daniel paid a working visit to Armenia. The aim of the visit of the Working Group was to explore the existing legal framework of Armenia after the ratification of the International Convention Against the Recruitment, Use, Financing, and Training of Mercenaries and measures undertaken for the effective implementation of the Convention. On February  20-22, the Working Group had meetings with different agencies in Armenia. Afterward, the representatives of the group had a working visit to the city of Kapan in the Syunik region, where they had meetings with the Head of the Syunik Regional Administration and representatives of the Office of the Ombudsman in Kapan. In a meeting with the US ambassador, Ruben Rubinyan spoke about the imperative to restrain Azerbaijan's aggressive and bellicose policy On February 27, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Ruben Rubinyan received the newly appointed US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Kristina Kvien. Congratulating on assuming the position, Rubinyan stated he believes Kvien will contribute to the deepening of Armenian-American cooperation with her activities. Issues related to bilateral partnerships and friendly relations were discussed at the meeting. It was noted that the format of inter-parliamentary cooperation occupies an important place in Armenian-American relations. Other News President Vahagn Khachaturyan’s message on the 35th anniversary of the tragedy in Sumgait.   Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the massacres of Armenians in Sumgait.
21:14 - 27 February, 2023
Daily News Summary [25-26.02.2023]

Daily News Summary [25-26.02.2023]

The situation around the Lachin Corridor requires immediate action: PACE co-rapporteurs urge to realize the great potential of cooperation between Armenia and Kuwait - Nikol Pashinyan  "The situation around the Lachin Corridor requires immediate action," emphasized Kimmo Kiljunen (Finland), co-reporters of the Armenian monitoring of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), who visited Armenia on February 17-19 to assess the situation around the Lachin Corridor and the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. and Boriana Åberg (Sweden) in a statement issued yesterday. "As of today, the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh cannot leave the region freely. Only the International Committee of the Red Cross and the vehicles of Russian peacekeepers are allowed to drive through that corridor, which is clearly insufficient to meet the needs of the population. Furthermore, it is vitally important that the products can be delivered in time for the sowing season,” the statement said. The co-rapporteurs, referring to the statement of November 9, 2020, emphasize that the free movement of all types of vehicles must be urgently restored. Mirzoyan and Klaar emphasized the importance of resolving the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh due to Azerbaijan's blocking of the Lachin Corridor On February 25, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, Toivo Klaar. As we learn from the press release of the Foreign Ministry, during the meeting the latest developments in the process of normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations were discussed. The imperative of resolving the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of the blocking of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan was emphasized. Bayramov discussed the "situation around Lachin road" with an ICRC representative in Azerbaijan Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met with the head of the representative office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Azerbaijan Dragana Kozić. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. According to the report, during the meeting "the situation around Lachin road was discussed". It is noted that Jeyhun Bayramov "expressed his satisfaction with the free movement of vehicles, including those of the ICRC, goods, and citizens on the Lachin road". The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan asserted that "taking into account the fact that in recent months, means of transport have passed through Lachin road, the Armenian side has no grounds to claim that Lachin road was closed by Azerbaijan and that a humanitarian crisis was created as a result." 5 patients transferred from Artsakh to Armenia Accompanied by the Red Cross, 5 medical patients were transferred to Armenia today. This was reported by Zara Amatuni, head of communication and prevention programs of the ICRC Armenia office. "Five medical patients and their companions were transferred to Armenia for examination and further treatment," said Amatuni. The Artsakh information center of Artsakh reports that 8 medical patients who were transferred to Armenia for treatment within the framework of the state order have returned to Artsakh with their companions. Planned surgeries continue to be suspended in the medical facilities operating under the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In the "Arevik" medical unit, 2 children are in the neonatal and intensive care units. At "Republican Medical Center" CJSC, 6 patients are in the intensive care unit, and 3 of them are in critical condition. Until today, 127 patients have been transferred from Artsakh to Armenia with the mediation and accompaniment of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The European MPs arriving in Armenia will convey information to their colleagues, reconfirming the closure of the Lachin Corridor The European MPs who arrived in Armenia on a fact-finding mission will convey information to their colleagues and confirm that the Lachin Corridor is still illegally closed today. European Parliament deputies Sylvie Guillaume and Francois Alphonse were in Armenia on February 21-24.
22:03 - 26 February, 2023
Daily News Summary [24.02.2023]

Daily News Summary [24.02.2023]

Toivo Klaar met PM Nikol Pashinyan and RA Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received Toivo Klaar, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia. The Prime Minister highly valued the cooperation between Armenia and the European Union and noted with satisfaction the fact of the institutional reforms being implemented in our country with the support of the EU. At the same time, Nikol Pashinyan emphasized the importance of the activities of the EU civilian mission in Armenia, which will contribute to stability and peace in the region. Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan also received Toivo Klaar, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and Georgia crisis. As reported by the Council of Ministers office, the interlocutors discussed the implementation of the agreements reached within the framework of the Brussels format of the Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations. They exchanged thoughts on issues related to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. It should be noted that Toivo Klaar announced earlier that he started a new regional visit to hold consultations as a result of the leaders' meetings in Munich. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands urged to implement the decision of the UN Court of Justice The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands referred to the decision of the International Court of Justice of the United Nations on the Lachin Corridor. “On Wednesday, the International Court of Justice issued interim measures in the case Armenia v. Azerbaijan. Important that this binding legal order is implemented and that the unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles, and cargo along the Lachin corridor will be ensured by Azerbaijan. The Netherlands hopes that the trilateral meetings between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the EU will resume shortly. We fully support the EU-led negotiation efforts,” reads the Twitter post of the Foreign Ministry of the Netherlands. Baku is ready for the "integration of Armenians living in Karabakh into Azerbaijani society" - Bayramov Baku is ready for "the integration of Armenians living in Karabakh into the Azerbaijani society", the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan stated. "Azerbaijan is talking about the peace agenda today, and this means that we have turned over the black pages of history for the sake of a bright future. In that context, we have announced our readiness for the social, political, and economic reintegration of Armenians of Karabakh origin," Bayramov told reporters. According to him, Azerbaijan has said from the very first day that it is ready to talk with the Armenians of Karabakh, and there were also positive results. "However, that person {referring to Ruben Vardanyan-ed.} who came or was sent to Karabakh from abroad, playing some games, cannot be a party to the negotiations for us. The people standing behind him realized that the Ruben Vardanyan project will not work," Bayramov emphasized. He also stated that Yerevan rejected the proposal to place checkpoints on the Azerbaijani-Armenian conventional border. "Yerevan did not consider it acceptable and did not give an explanation in this regard. Armenia avoids negotiations with Azerbaijan," Bayramov said. According to him, this refusal proves that Yerevan does not intend to fulfill the obligations assumed by the tripartite statement of November 10, 2020. According to the head of Azerbaijan's foreign ministry, "over the past two years, the Armenian side has repeatedly violated the agreements reached regarding the use of the Lachin corridor."   US Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien paid tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex. This was reported by the US Embassy in Armenia. "Ambassador Kvien laid flowers at the Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial Complex, paying tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide," the message of the embassy said. Other News A meeting of the Security Council was held under the leadership of Nikol Pashinyan.   Chief Prosecutor of Artsakh Nersisyan submitted his resignation.   The US ambassador paid tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide at the Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex.
22:01 - 24 February, 2023
Daily News Summary [23.02.2023]

Daily News Summary [23.02.2023]

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan's visit to Syria The delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan left for Syria today to deliver the third batch of humanitarian aid. The delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia was welcomed by the Governor of Aleppo Hussein Diab at the airport of Aleppo. RA Foreign Minister toured the earthquake zone. Later, he met with the Syrian President. The interlocutors discussed the situation in the disaster-affected regions of Syria and the works aimed at overcoming the existing problems. Issues of Armenian-Syrian bilateral relations were also on the agenda. Cooperation on international platforms was touched upon. Issues on regional and international security were also discussed. The Foreign Minister of Armenia briefed the President of Syria on the recent developments in the normalization process of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, as well as the dire humanitarian situation resulting from the illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan. Later, Ararat Mirozyan met the Foreign Minister of Syria. Ararat Mirzoyan expressed his condolences to his colleague and the friendly people of Syria in connection with the devastating earthquake of February 6, expressing the support of Armenia and the Armenian people. In this context, the Foreign Minister of Armenia noted that the rescue squads sent by the Government of Armenia were among the first in Syria, adding that three batches of humanitarian aid have already been sent from Armenia to the disaster-affected regions. Foreign Ministers also discussed issues on Armenian-Syrian cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats. The sides stated that the relations between the two countries are based on the centuries-old friendship between the Armenian and Syrian peoples. In this regard, it was emphasized that the Armenian community of Syria plays the role of a unique bridge between the two countries. French Foreign Ministry commented on the decision of the Court of Justice regarding the Lachin Corridor "France has duly noted the order of 22 February 2023 from the International Court of Justice regarding the situation in the Lachin Corridor. Pending a final decision, the Court – to which the case was referred on the basis of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination – asked Azerbaijan to take all measures at its disposal to ensure the unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles, and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. France reiterates its unwavering support for the International Court of Justice and the binding nature of its rulings, including in the indication of provisional measures”, the statement reads.  At least 33 Armenian POWs are still being held hostage by Azerbaijan - Alen Simonyan RA NA Speaker Alen Simonyan hosted the delegation led by Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn on February 23. The interlocutors referred to the active political dialogue between Armenia and Luxembourg. "On the way to democratic reforms, we attach great importance to cooperation with your country within the framework of the EU. We are happy to appoint a new non-resident ambassador to Armenia. I hope that in the future we will also have resident ambassadors in the capitals," said Alen Simonyan. Issues related to the security situation in the region were discussed at the meeting. The Speaker of the National Assembly thanked the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg for adopting resolutions related to the war unleashed against Artsakh in 2020, as well as the resolution regarding the repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians held in Azerbaijan. Ruben Vardanyan dismissed from the post On February 23, a government meeting was held under the leadership of Artsakh Republic President Arayik Harutyunyan. The head of the country presented the military-political and socio-economic situation created in the Republic as a result of Azerbaijan's blockade of Artsakh, and the measures taken by the authorities to solve the arising problems. At the government meeting, President Harutyunyan also published the decree on the dismissal of Ruben Vardanyan from the post of a state minister. He highly appreciated Vardanyan's efforts both in raising international awareness about Artsakh and solving many internal problems during the blockade. The President of Artsakh has suggested that Gurgen Nersisyan, the Prosecutor General of the Republic, take over the duties of the State Minister. We learn about this from the press release of the Artsakh president's office.   Other News 24 people from Artsakh were transferred to Armenia through ICRC mediation, and 19 others went to Artsakh from Armenia.   Suren Papikyan and the newly appointed US Ambassador to Armenia discussed issues related to the development of Armenian-American cooperation in the defense sector.    
20:41 - 23 February, 2023