Month: May 2021

Azerbaijani forces remain on Armenian soil, Yerevan says

Garnik Tadevosian
TASS, Russia
The situation in the Syunik and Gegharkunik Provinces on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is unsolved, the Armenian Defense Ministry stated

YEREVAN, May 16. /TASS/. The situation in the Syunik and Gegharkunik Provinces on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is unsolved and Azerbaijan’s forces still remain there, the Armenian Defense Ministry stated on Sunday.

"The situation after provocations by Azerbaijan’s armed forces in certain border areas of Armenia’s Syunik and Gegharkunik Provinces as of May 16 remained unchanged. At night the Azerbaijani side tried to carry out works on the home front, which were curbed by the Armenian units. The situation is stable, the representatives of Azerbaijan’s armed forces are not carrying out any fortification works and are not trying to whip up tension," the statement said.

Azerbaijan kicks off military exercise amid border tension with Armenia

Albert Nalbandian
Big News Network

BAKU, May 16 (Xinhua) — Azerbaijan Sunday launched a large-scale military exercise as the country was in a border tension with Armenia, according to the country's defense ministry.

Over 15,000 military personnel, 300 tanks and other armored vehicles, 400 missiles and artillery systems and 50 military aircraft will involve in the drills, which will last till May 20 in the country, said the ministry in a statement.

The exercise, in accordance with a plan approved by the president of Azerbaijan, aims to improve the army's combat readiness, coordination and interoperability among different units, said the statement.

Earlier this week, Armenia accused Azerbaijani troops of crossing the southern border and advancing more than three kilometres into Armenia's Syunik region.

Azerbaijan denied the allegations, saying Azerbaijan was enforcing its own border and is committed to easing tensions in the region.

Both countries said the peaceful negotiations to deescalate the tension was still going on Sunday. 

Armenia asks Putin for military support

Aram Torosian
Business Recorder, India

AFP Updated
YEREVAN: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Friday he asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for military support after accusing Azerbaijani troops of crossing the country's southern border and trying to claim territory.

The United States urged an immediate pullback by Azerbaijan amid mounting international concern after last year's war between the arch foes over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Speaking at an extraordinary session of Armenia's parliament on Friday evening, Pashinyan said he had asked Putin "for the Russian Federation's assistance, including military assistance."

He also said that French President Emmanuel Macron "is considering the possibility of putting the issue on the agenda of the UN Security Council."

"France is ready to provide military assistance, to support international efforts aimed at resolving the issue," Pashinyan told lawmakers.

Armenia on Thursday accused Azerbaijan's military of crossing the southern border in an "infiltration" to "lay siege" to a lake that is shared by the two countries. Azerbaijan rejected the claims.

Last year Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a war over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Pashinyan earlier also made a formal request for the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, a Moscow-led security bloc, to hold consultations on supporting member Armenia.

Under the treaty, members of the bloc, which also includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, consider aggression against one member as aggression against them all.

The six-week conflict claimed some 6,000 lives and ended after Armenia ceded swathes of territory it had controlled for decades.

The United States, which maintains cordial relations with both rivals, said it understood Azerbaijan was pulling back and asked it to act without delay.

"Military movements in disputed territories are irresponsible and they are also unnecessarily provocative," said a State Department spokeswoman, Jalina Porter.

"We expect Azerbaijan to pull back all forces immediately and cease further provocation," she told reporters.

Pashinyan informed Putin of his decision to turn to the CSTO during a phone call late Thursday, his office said.

"The Russian side reaffirmed its readiness to continue exerting active mediation efforts with a view to ensuring stability in the region," it said.

The two "agreed that the situation should be settled by getting Azerbaijani troops back to their starting positions."

The Kremlin said Putin was calling on both countries to respect peace agreements, adding that Russia would continue "active mediating efforts".

"The Armenian side expressed extreme concern over the situation at the border," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "President Putin shared this concern."

Armenia’s first president to likely head ANC list if decision to participate in elections is made

Parkev Tvankchian
Aysor, Armenia

If the newly elected administration of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) decides to participate in the elections, first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan will more likely head the list.

“If the newly elected administration decides to participate in the elections, it is clear, that the commitment to head Congress’ list will “break” on my head. It will be difficult, but there is one truth – the presence of Congress in the parliament is necessary if only because in the spread atmosphere of cacophony, the light of common sense will not fade in our country,” Ter-Petrosyan noted.

Armenian acting PM, Kazakh President discuss situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border

Albert Nalbandian
Public Radio of Armenia


Armenia’s acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a telephone conversation with Kasim-Jomart Tokayev, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan , a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

The interlocutors discussed the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

Nikol Pashinyan considered inadmissible Azerbaijan’s encroachment on the sovereign territory of Armenia and attached importance to coordinating the positions of the CSTO partners to resolve the issue.

Canadian MP calls for withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces, return of Armenian POWs

Emil Lazarian
Public Radio of Armenia

Member of the Canadian House of Commons Fayçal El-Khoury has issued a statement, calling for withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from the sovereign territory of Armenia and return of Armenian prisoners of war. the statement reads:

I was deeply disturbed after learning that earlier this week, Azerbaijani Armed Forces illegally entered the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, once again attempting to disturb the already fragile peace in the region.

I denounce and condemn – in the strongest terms possible – Azerbaijan’s blatant aggression and violation of international law and I echo Minister Marc Garneau’s call for immediate de-escalation.

Following last year’s horrific aggression against the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), we must be ever vigilant and do all that we can to advocate for lasting peace and stability in the region.

Moreover, we must continue to multilaterally address the many post-war challenges facing the Armenian people, including the return of nearly 200 Armenian Prisoners of War illegally held by Azerbaijan, defending Armenia’s territorial integrity, safeguarding the centuries-old Armenian heritage and protecting Artsakh’s safety, security and right to self-determination.

In these uncertain and difficult times, I stand with the Armenian community in Laval-Les-Iles and across Canada and once again reiterate my strong stance for peace and justice.

 

Armenia hails France’s principled stance on inadmissibility of Azerbaijan’s encroachments on Armenian sovereign territory

Talar Tumanian
Public Radio of Armenia
 

Armenia’s acting Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian had a telephone conversation with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.

Discussions focused on the situation in the border regions of Armenia incited by Azerbaijani armed forces tand the steps taken to reduce the tension.

In this regard, the Armenian Foreign Minister praised France’s principled position on the inadmissibility of Azerbaijan’s encroachments on the Armenian sovereign territory.

Azerbaijani troops will withdraw from Sev Lake area in Armenia’s Syunik, talks to resume in two days

Lara Antonian
Public Radio of Armenia
   


According to the agreement reached during the talks in Syunik, the Azerbaijani forces will retreat from Syunik border, but will keep two checkpoints near the Armenian positions, Spatrak Minasyan, head of Akner community, told Public Radio of Armenia.

Commander of the Russian pecekeeping contingent in Artsakh, General Rustam Muradov participated in the talks.

Minasyan said he does not possess further information on the areas the movement of the positions will take place.

“They have to go back in some parts. Tents will be set up in our positions. The Azerbaijani side has not set up tents,” he said. The negotiations will continue in two days.

Goris deputy mayor Menua Hovsepyan told Public Radio of Armenia that the Azerbaijani side has put forward some preconditions.