OSCE Chairman-in-Office met with Armenian FM, PM and Artsakh Human Rights Defender

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received the delegation led by OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Foreign Minister of Poland Zbigniew Rau. The Prime Minister attached importance to the cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the OSCE, emphasizing the role of the organization in ensuring security and stability in the European region.

Nikol Pashinyan and Zbigniew Rau referred to the situation around Nagorno Karabakh and on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. The parties highlighted the comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs, noting the importance of protecting the fundamental rights of the people of Artsakh. Zbigniew Rau added that the OSCE will continue its efforts to contribute to the exclusively peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and to ensure stability and peace in the South Caucasus. The sides also exchanged views on the processes taking place in the international arena.

Assuming the presidency of the OSCE by Poland coincided with the serious security crisis in the European region – the ongoing military operations in Ukraine, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan said during a joint press conference with OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Poland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau in Yerevan. “It’s understandable that it takes most of the attention of the OSCE, but we expect that the issue of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict will remain in the OSCE agenda. This is important especially these days when Azerbaijan is using the geopolitical developments to continue its policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno Karabakh. The vivid evidence of this is the March 24 incursion of Azerbaijan into the village of Parukh, located in the responsibility zone of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno Karabakh. This incursion and provocation of military operations were preceded by regular shots in the direction of Armenian settlements and civilian infrastructure. Azerbaijan disrupted the operation of the main gas pipeline of Nagorno Karabakh and the gas supply in the strong weather conditions”, the FM said.

Foreign Minister Mirzoyan said this incursion is a pre-planned aggression by Azerbaijan, which openly ignores the commitments assumed by the 2020 November 9 trilateral statement. According to him, in such situation the clear response by the OSCE Chairmen-in-Office and the international community is an imperative, and the unhindered engagement of international humanitarian organizations in Nagorno Karabakh is urgent for preventing the humanitarian crisis. “We praise the fact that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries have already given a clear assessment to the latest escalation of the situation in Nagorno Karabakh, stating that it is a consequence of the movement of Azerbaijani troops”, Ararat Mirzoyan said.

On April 1, the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Artsakh Gegham Stepanyan met in Yerevan with the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Zbigniew Rau.

The Ombudsman presented the coordinated, systematic, and consistent ethnic-cleansing policy conducted by Azerbaijan aimed at the deprivation of the homeland of the people of Artsakh, as well as the manifestations of destruction and vandalism of Armenian cultural heritage in the occupied territories, malicious trials of Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives, other violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. Gegham Stepanyan referred to the current humanitarian situation in Artsakh, widespread violations of the rights of the people of Artsakh because of the anti-Armenian policy pursued by Azerbaijan, pointing out the problems caused by the deliberate disruption of gas supply and Azerbaijani military aggression in recent days.

The Ombudsman expressed regret over the lack of a clear and targeted response of the OSCE to the violations of human rights and fundamental principles of international law, emphasizing that in the current situation the international community shall act not only as a mediator but also as a guarantor of the protection of the rights of the people of Artsakh.

Some important hills of Karaglukh are under the control of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. President of Artsakh

A regular sitting of the Security Council under the chairmanship of President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan was held in an expanded format, the Central Information Department of the Office of the President of the Republic of Artsakh reports.

In his opening remarks, the President first and foremost noted that the frequent holding of Security Council sittings recently is conditioned by the military-political situation in the republic, especially by the developments in the eastern part of Artsakh.

Touching upon the carried out actions and future plans, President Harutyunyan expressed his appreciation to the Defense Army, other power structures and the volunteers, who managed to fulfill the set tasks in a short period of time, suspending the enemy's advance. "We understand that their goal was to capture the whole of Karaglukh. We should state that the main height of Karaglukh, the highest point, is under our control, but as of today some important hills are under the control of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. Our goal is to withdraw the Azerbaijanis to their original positions. Our demand and request to the peacekeeping troops was that the status quo stemming from the trilateral statement should be restored. "We will never change this claim," President Harutyunyan said.

Arayik Harutyunyan expressed confidence that the purpose of the provocation fomented by Azerbaijan was first of all aimed at discretization of the role of the Russian peacekeeping forces. "We consider that the Russian peacekeeping forces continue to carry out their mission, notwithstanding that episode," A. Harutyunyan said.

However, the Artsakh Republic President stressed that vigilance should be maintained at a high level until it is clear that Azerbaijan will not resort to such provocations again. "For that very reason, we will take radical and decisive steps in terms of our self-defense in the future," President Harutyunyan said.

Minister of Defense Kamo Vardanyan delivered a report on the current operative-tactical situation on the line of contact. During the discussion of the issues on the agenda, President Harutyunyan gave a number of instructions to the responsible officials of the relevant structures.

Nikol Pashinyan holds phone talk with Vladimir Putin

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a phone talk with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

The sides discussed issues related to the steps being taken aimed at ensuring security and stability in Nagorno Karabakh, the tense situation caused by the invasion of the Azerbaijani units into the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno Karabakh.

The need for full implementation of the agreements reached by the trilateral statements signed by the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan on November 9, 2020, January 11 and November 26, 2021 was reaffirmed.

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