Month: May 2021

Senator Bob Menendez has condemned the capture of six Armenian soldiers on Thursday.

“I unequivocally condemn the recent capture of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces. Azerbaijan’s aggression only exacerbates already heightened tensions. I demand the soldiers’ swift return,” Menendez said in a Twitter post.

The U.S. Department of State said late on Thursday it remains concerned by escalating developments along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.

“Movements along the border are provocative; the sides should relocate and cease fortification. We call on Azerbaijan to release all detainees immediately,” Department Spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

https://en.armradio.am/2021/05/28/sen-menendez-condemns-capture-of-armenian-soldiers-by-azerbaijani-forces/

Armenian people will undoubtedly embark on the path of building the country of our dreams, acting prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in a congratulatory message on Republic Day.

“With sober and well-balanced decisions, we will be able to stand up for the defense of our state, our sovereignty, independence; we will not let the enemy achieve its goals,” he said.

Nikol Pashinyan stated that sovereignty and independence can never be at stake.

The message reads:

Dear compatriots,

I congratulate us all on Republic Day.

This holiday marks our nation’s unwavering will power to fight for independence and freedom. It embodies our people’s age-old desire to have an independent statehood.

The Armenian people faced a mortal danger in those days of 1918. Catastrophe seemed inevitable. We seemed on the verge of being deprived of our legitimate right to building sovereign statehood on our native land and living in our homeland. In the meantime, inspired by Aram Manukyan’s fighting spirit and immense will power, the people’s overwhelming strength enabled us to check the enemy’s advance, reinstate once and for all our inalienable right to sovereign statehood in the heroic battles of Sardarapat, Bash-Aparan and Gharakilisa.

Dear compatriots,

The heroes of Sardarapat, Bash-Aparan and Gharakilisa – Aram Manukyan, Tovmas Nazarbekyan, Movses Silikyan, Dro, Nzhdeh, Daniel and Poghos Bek-Pirumyans, Yazidi cavalry unit commander Djahangir Agha, the Armenian Army, militia, and the clergy became the builders of Armenia’s independence. The inhabitants of our border villages continue the noble cause of Aram Manukyan, Tovmas Nazarbekyan, Movses Silikyan, Dro, who are standing firm on their native land.

In difficult times, the Armenian people have always been able to unite, to be one fist, to mobilize all their forces for the sake of defense, sovereignty and statehood.

I am convinced that today we must act with the same spirit, from Yerevan to the border villages, as one family for the safety of our dear Homeland.

With sober and well-balanced decisions, we will be able to stand up for the defense of our state, our sovereignty, independence; we will not let the enemy achieve its goals. Our sovereignty and independence can never be at stake. And as Aram Manukyan said in the days of despair in 1918, “Let us all get down to work and we will have the upper hand!”

Resolving the current situation is a priority today, after which the Armenian people will undoubtedly embark on the path of building the country of our dreams. So let us get to work together!

Armenia’s acting Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan took part in the sitting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the CIS member states in Minsk.

Addressing the participants, Mher Grigoryan draw attention to the events taking place on Armenian-Azerbaijani border, noting that the developments carry an obvious threats for the whole region.

The Acting Deputy Prime Minister also stressed that only the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the Azerbaijani armed forces from the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, as well as the return of Armenian prisoners of war, can create conditions for considering the emerging issues within the framework of political-diplomatic toolkit.

A new type of white Dutch tulip has been named after Aragats Mountain on the occasion of Armenia’s Republic Day and on the eve of the 30th anniversary of Armenia’s independence, the Armenian Embassy in the Netherlands informs.

The tulip has been developed and grown within seven years by Maveridge Floriculture Company. It symbolizes the snow peaks of Armenia’s highest mountain.

The flower-naming ceremony took place at the Maveridge headquarters, where Armenia’s Ambassador Tigran Balayan, Head of Pineacher Helps Armenia Fund Henry Boss, and Owner of Maveridge Klaas Peter De Geus signed the statement on flower-naming.

Ambassador Tigran Balayan toured the company, got acquainted with the latter’s activities and achievements. The possibilities of implementing new joint programs and establishing production in Armenia were discussed.

The Belgian Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution calling on Azerbaijan to immediately release all remaining Armenian prisoners, including civilians, in accordance with Article 8 of the November 9, 2020 statement on ceasefire and conventions, the Armenian National Committee of Belgium informs.

The Parliament strongly condemned the numerous allegations of torture of prisoners.

The Parliament called on the federal government to take appropriate measures to support the immediate, unconditional release and safe return of all remaining Armenian captives by Azerbaijan.

According to the European Court of Human Rights, 188 prisoners of war are still in Azerbaijan. The ceasefire agreement signed on November 9 provided for the immediate and full exchange of prisoners. However, Azerbaijan not only failed to release the captives, but also arrested other Armenian soldiers and civilians in the days following the end of the fighting. Armenia, in turn, released all prisoners of war as soon as the fighting ended.

In addition, on Thursday, May 27, Azerbaijani forces captured six more Armenian servicemen on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. This follows the recent incursions into the Armenian territory at several points of the border.

The Armenian Committee of Belgium calls on the government to back the request of the parliament and to intervene to ensure the immediate release of all Armenian prisoners.

Recent developments on the Armenia/Azerbaijan border are both dangerous and worrying, Peter Stano, lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said in a statement, adding that immediate de-escalation is needed.

“The European Union urges both sides to refrain from any further military deployment and actions. All forces should pull back to positions held before 12 May and both sides should engage in negotiations on border delimitation and demarcation. We continue to call on Azerbaijan to release all prisoners of war and detainees without delay. We welcome all efforts aimed at decreasing tensions, including proposals for a possible international observation mission,” the Spokesperson said.

“The EU is ready to provide expertise and help on border delimitation and demarcation, as well as to support much needed confidence building measures, in order to move towards sustainable peace and prosperity for the South Caucasus,” he concluded.

Canada has expressed concern over the capture of six Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces.

“Canada is concerned by the capture of six Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces and the ongoing tensions along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border,” Global Affairs Canada said in a Twitter post.

“We call for all issues to be resolved peaceful negotiations through the OSCE Minsk Group,” the Foreign Ministry added.

Six Armenian soldiers were captured in the border areas of Gegharkunik province on Thursday, while carrying out engineering work.