Month: June 2022

ArmInfo.Not having a mandate for a mediation mission to resolve the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the EU has a clear plan in this process. A similar  opinion was expressed to ArmInfo by Fyodor Lukyanov, research  director at the International Valdai discussion club, member of  presidium of Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC).

"All three meetings in Brussels are part of this plan, the purpose  of which is to carry out a mediation mission in essence with the  accompanying goal of protecting the interests of the EU and the  United States in this settlement. And the very fact that none of the  co-chair countries denies their role in the OSCE Minsk Group  demonstrates that all three countries understand the situation in  which only the Minsk Group has the only mandate to mediate between  Yerevan and Baku," he said.

Based on the analysis of the statements made in Brussels, the analyst  singled out among them the intention to postpone the resolution of  the issue of the status of Artsakh for the future. According to him,  the EU is now exclusively interested in Armenia-Azerbaijan relations  in the regional context. And, in his opinion, the prospects for the  current process largely depend on how and when the war in Ukraine  ends and, of course, on what agreements were reached by Yerevan and  Baku earlier.  

In this light, Lukyanov considers the strengthening of the dialogue  between Armenia and Azerbaijan a possible task for the EU. First of  all, because it will allow Brussels not to constantly deal with the  conflict, but to work for its final settlement, of course, it would  be preferable without Moscow's participation.  

"If Russia and the EU are not involved in all this, by and large, it  does not matter how the conflict will be resolved. The main thing is  that its parties come to an agreement in the form of a peace  agreement.  This is the goal of Brussels. But whether it will happen,  depends on the outcome of the Ukrainian developments and how all this  will end for the Russian Federation. So the stakes are quite high,  which, among other things, is evidenced by the readiness of the EU to  implement social and economic assistance programs in the region. Not  to mention the positions of the parties to the conflict for which it  is not the solution of the conflict that is paramount, but on what  specific conditions it will be resolved," the analyst summed up.

ArmInfo.Tehran, is, no doubt, interested in a security platform with the participation of Armenia and Russia, Vardan Voskanyan, Head of the Chair of Iranian Studies,  Yerevan State University, said in an interview with ArmInfo. 

"It is not known if any specific steps are being made toward  establishing such trilateral cooperation. In any case, nothing like  that is on the open agenda. Interested in the South Caucasus, Tehran  is closely following all the regional processes for the primary  reason that they – and the Caucasus-related geopolitics – directly  concern Iran," the scholar said.  

Iran is the only state considering Armenia's territorial integrity to  be a redline for itself. And Tehran showed that not only by means of  political rhetoric, but also by specific steps, particular the recent  military exercise along the Iranian-Azerbaijani border. Iran will  never allow Turkish-Azerbaijani encroachments on the Armenian border. 

Mr Voskanyan does not rule out Armenian-Iranian consultations on the  "geopolitical impulses" in the region, particularly on the  Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. He notes that such consultations are  belated, and the Yerevan-Tehran cooperation needs higher efficiency. 

"One more all-important issue on the Armenian-Iranian agenda is the  North-South highway construction.  Many people view the project only  in its economic aspect, whereas the North-South is a most important  component of the entire region's security, to say nothing of its  geopolitical significance. Tehran is perfectly aware of that.  Evidence thereof is also Iran's statements that the  Goradiz-Meghri-Julfa-Ordubad-Yeraskh railway can by no means be  considered the trunk line between Armenia and Iran. Rather, it is the  North- South highway," Mr Voskanyan said. -t–  

ArmInfo.President of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan attended the Divine Liturgy at the Hakobavank monastic complex. Vrtanes Abrahamyan served the  liturgy, the Office of the Artsakh President reports. 

Mr Harutyunyan highlighted the restoration of the complex, stating  relevant instructions have been issued.  

ArmInfo.Tumo |Boxes have been opened in Martuni  and Askeran, Republic of Artsakh  (Nagoro-Karabakh). 

GOOD NEWS! Today we launched two new Tumocenter  Boxes in  Artsakh/NagornoKarabakh regions – Askeran & Martuni. Together with  Stepanakert center & Martakert box it is a strong network to be  expanded soon. Tech education is under our attention. Thanks to TUMO  team & donors!" Artsakh State Minister Artsak Beglaryan tweeted. 

About 1, 000 children can attend three Tumo Boxes in Martakert,  Martuni and Askeran. The Stepanakert Tumo Center will organize  practical training for 1,000 children in 14 fields. 

"With CEO Marie Lou Papazian have arranged to open another two Tumo  Boxes in large settlements," he wrote.  

Attending the opening ceremony of the Martuni and Askeran boxes were  Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan and Minister of Education Anahit  Hakobyan, President of the National Assembly Artur Tovmasyan,  regional governors, CEO Marie Lou Papazian, & head of development  Pegor Papazian.

In line with this mission, TUMO leadership and Artsakh officials  discussed plans to further expand the Artsakh educational network,  starting with a box in Karmir Shuka.

TUMO has established the foundation for its entire education network  in Artsakh. In addition to the Stepanakert center & the recently  opened Martakert box, the new TUMO boxes that launched today in  Martuni and Askeran will provide cutting-edge education to teens in  Artsakh. 

ArmInfo. The leaders of the Resistance Movement held a meeting with the leadership of the opposition political forces of Artsakh. This was announced by the  coordinator of the Movement, vice-speaker of the RA parliament from  the "Armenia" opposition faction, ARF member Ishkhan Saghatelyan.

"We discussed the challenges and threats facing Armenia and Artsakh.  We touched on the manifestations of the existing political crisis in  Armenia. We agreed to continue more organized meetings and  discussions on such a scale, as well as work in Artsakh, Armenia and  the Diaspora to expand the Movement," Saghatelyan said.

It should be noted that since May 1, the Resistance Movement has been  holding actions of disobedience throughout the republic demanding the  resignation of the current Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia  Nikol Pashinyan and his team. The Movement is convinced that the  current government in Armenia is pursuing a policy that is disastrous  for the Armenian state and Artsakh, and cannot represent the  interests of the country in the international arena.