11:09, 3 March 2023
YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met on Friday in New Delhi, India, the Russian TASS news agency reported.
The foreign ministry did not immediately release a read-out.
FM Mirzoyan is in New Delhi to participate in Raisina Dialogue, India’s premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics. The foreign ministry had said that during the trip FM Mirzoyan will have meetings with colleagues.
11:15, 3 March 2023
YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory message to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Galab Donev on the occasion of the national holiday, the Prime Minister's Office reported.
The message reads:
"Your Excellency,
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia and myself, I warmly congratulate you and the friendly people of Bulgaria on the occasion of the national holiday, Liberation Day.
I highly value the current level of relations with Bulgaria and attach importance to the further development of mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.
I am confident that with joint efforts we will contribute to the strengthening of Armenian-Bulgarian traditionally friendly relations for the benefit of both peoples.
We emphasize Bulgaria's support in the further development of the Armenia-EU partnership, as well as in the implementation of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement.
I wish you good health and success, and peace and prosperity to the friendly people of Bulgaria."
11:34, 3 March 2023
YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. The authorities of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) released details on the latest meeting with the Azerbaijani side which took place on March 1.
The Security Council of Artsakh issued a statement on Friday regarding the meeting. It said that Secretary of the Security Council Samvel Shahramanyan led the talks.
“We inform that in accordance with the decision made at the session of the Security Council of the Republic of Artsakh on February 28, 2023, a working group has been established, the purpose of which is to discuss URGENT humanitarian issues with the Azerbaijani side.
The head of the group is Samvel Shahramanyan, Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Artsakh.
In accordance with the agreement reached through mediation of the command staff of the peacekeeping troops of the Russian Federation deployed in the Republic of Artsakh, on March 1, 2023, at 11 a.m., a meeting was held at the headquarters of the peacekeeping mission with participation of the commander of the troops, Major General Andrey Volkov, which was attended by a similar working group formed by the Republic of Azerbaijan, headed by Ramin Mammadov, member of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan.
The following issues were on the meeting agenda:
In the opening remarks, the commander of the peacekeeping troops presented the participants of the meeting as parties of the Republic of Artsakh and the Republic of Azerbaijan. After that, the head of the Artsakh group clarified to the Azerbaijani side the powers of the group he leads, that is the discussion of the above-mentioned specific issues and finding solutions on them.
At the beginning of the discussions, the head of the Azerbaijani group tried to lead the conversation towards the need for integration of Artsakh people with Azerbaijan, presenting prospects of obtaining possible socio-economic benefits in that case. However, the head of the Artsakh group called for discussion on clearly defined issues. The latter also emphasized that these contacts on urgent humanitarian and infrastructural issues cannot address the main issues of comprehensive settlement of the conflict, and for this it is necessary to establish a format with broad international support.
It should be noted that the other members of the Azerbaijani group were engaged in the discussion of the above-mentioned four specific issues and the search for solutions, accordingly, the subsequent course of the meeting was fully complied with the framework defined by the agenda.
As a result of the discussion of all the above-mentioned issues, specific agreements were reached, which the Azerbaijani side undertook to report to the higher authorities, and in the coming days to inform the Artsakh side about the results through the peacekeeping mission.
During the meeting, an agreement was reached on establishment of the stable two-way communication mechanism between the parties.
At the meeting, the parties agreed to publish only general information for the time being, given that the process is still in the working stage. However, shortly after the meeting, the head of the Azerbaijani group gave interviews on various information platforms of his country, in which he spread disinformation, completely deviating from the actual content and process, in particular announcing that the meeting discussed "issues of the reintegration of the Armenian population of the Karabakh region into Azerbaijan." Unfortunately, some representatives of the Armenian media took this trick of Azerbaijani officials and media, thereby creating a false impression that issues related to the comprehensive settlement of the conflict are allegedly being discussed in Artsakh-Azerbaijani contacts. Meanwhile, as we mentioned, the meeting on March 1, in which the commander of the Russian peacekeeping troops participated as well, was dedicated only to the discussion of steps aimed at lifting the blockade of Artsakh and relating issues.
Another misinformation of Azerbaijan, according to which the next meeting of the official representatives of the parties "may take place in Ganja or Aghdam" and without the participation of the Russian peacekeeping troops, is without substance as well.
We urge the public not to succumb to the fabrications of the Azerbaijani propaganda machine and to be sure that the public will be given exhaustive information about the above-mentioned process and its results,” the statement reads.
12:27, 3 March 2023
YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Arayik Harutyunyan saluted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for backing Nagorno Karabakh’s right to self-determination.
On March 2, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for a peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict that would respect the territorial integrity of Armenia and Azerbaijan and the right to self-determination of the residents of Nagorno Karabakh.
President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan took to twitter Friday to welcome Scholz’s remarks.
“We welcome Olaf Scholz’s statement that the conflict should be settled peacefully on the basis of equal principles of [territorial] integrity & right to self-determination of the Nagorno-Karabakh people. Settlement is impossible without fully considering our fundamental/collective rights,” President Harutyunyan tweeted.
12:29, 3 March 2023
YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. Nine cancer patients requiring urgent surgeries were transferred from blockaded Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia on March 3 through the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the healthcare authorities announced.
This brings the number of ICRC-transferred patients to 144 since the blockade by Azerbaijan began on December 12, 2022.
The patients were taken to specialized hospitals in Armenia for treatment, the Ministry of Healthcare of Nagorno Karabakh said in a statement.
Meanwhile, seven patients who had been transferred to Armenia returned home together with their attendants.
The Ministry of Healthcare of Nagorno Karabakh added that planned surgeries are still on hold due to the blockade.
1 child is in the neonatal and intensive care unit at the Arevik clinic. Eight patients are under intensive care at the Republican Medical Center. Two of them are in critical condition.
13:04, 3 March 2023
YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement during their meeting in New Delhi within the framework of the Raisina Dialogue, the Russian foreign ministry said in a read-out.
FM Mirzoyan and FM Lavrov stressed “the urgency to intensify efforts in all directions of the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations,” according to the read-out released by the Russian foreign ministry.
“An exchange of ideas around regional issues took place. The urgency to intensify efforts in all directions of the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations in accordance with the 9 November 2020, 11 January and 26 November 2021 and 31 October 2022 agreements between the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan was stressed,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Relevant issues of the bilateral agenda were also discussed.
“The approaches for intensifying cooperation in international platforms as part of common integration unions were combined,” the ministry added. It said that the talks were held in an atmosphere of trust and friendship, and that an agreement on future diplomatic contacts was reached.
13:28, 3 March 2023
YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell met on March 3 in New Delhi, India.
Mirzoyan and Borrell “exchanged ideas around the Armenia-EU partnership agenda,” according to a readout issued by the foreign ministry. “Both sides attached importance to the deployment of the EU civilian monitoring mission in Armenia which was officially launched on February 20.”
Regional and international security issues were also discussed. FM Mirzoyan presented the latest developments in the Armenia-Azerbaijan settlement process.
Speaking about the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh resulting from the blockade of Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan, the Armenian foreign minister underscored the imperative of lifting the blockade without preconditions in accordance with the terms of the 9 November 2020 statement. In this context the international community’s hands-on involvement was highlighted in order for Azerbaijan to comply with the February 22 binding ruling by the International Court of Justice.
The United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice – ordered Azerbaijan on February 22 to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. The Lachin Corridor is blocked by Azerbaijan since 12 December 2022.
13:33, 3 March 2023
YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with members of the German parliament’s (Bundestag) Germany-South Caucasus Friendship Group led by the Chairman of the Group MP Johann Wadephul over a luncheon in Berlin.
PM Pashinyan attached importance to the continuous development of cooperation between Armenian and German parliamentarians, including in international platforms, according to a read-out issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
Prime Minister Pashinyan said that partnership with Germany in various directions, including political and economic partnership, is of key importance to the Armenian government.
Johann Wadephul said that the group plans to visit the region soon and emphasized the importance of strengthening inter-parliamentary relations with Armenia.
The Armenian PM and the German lawmakers also discussed bilateral ties and the developments taking place in South Caucasus, as well as the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh resulting from the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan. The international community’s continual and consistent attention and reaction were highlighted for overcoming the humanitarian crisis. The necessity for urgent implementation of the International Court of Justice ruling by Azerbaijan was underscored.
The United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice – ordered Azerbaijan on February 22 to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. The Lachin Corridor is blocked by Azerbaijan since 12 December 2022.
13:34, 3 March 2023
YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan will visit Greece on March 9, according to an official decree on the travel schedule approved by the Prime Minister.
The agenda of the visit wasn’t immediately available.
14:52, 3 March 2023
YEREVAN, MARCH 3, ARMENPRESS. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made fake statements about Armenia’s nuclear power plant during a meeting with the IAEA chief who himself visited the facility a few months ago and praised it’s safety and security conditions.
During a meeting on March 2, Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev complained to Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi about Armenia’s Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant, making fake claims that it “poses a big nuclear threat” to the entire region and even making fake accusations over what he described as “illegal trade of some nuclear materials”, apparently unaware that Grossi himself visited the plant a few months ago and praised its safety improvements.
In October 2022, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said he was pleased to see the safety and security improvements made to the Metsamor Armenian Nuclear Power Plant after conducting a visit.
“Armenia's economy relies on Metsamor NPP, and IAEA will continue to offer support, to help the plant provide low-carbon energy safely and securely. Pleased to see the safety and security improvements made to Metsamor and impressed with the commitment of its dedicated staff,” Grossi tweeted after visiting the plant on October 4.