Author: Alex Jidarian

Moscow ‘Closely Monitoring’ Turkey-Azerbaijan Military Drills

Alex Jidarian
July 30,  2020

Turkish and Azerbaijan tanks and armored vehicles line a field in Azerbaijan on July 30

“One Nation, Two States,” Says Turkey’s Defense Ministry

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that it was closely monitoring the Turkey-Azerbaijan joint military exercises currently underway on the borders of Armenia and Artsakh.

The exercises, which were announced Monday, are in their second day and come on the heels of Azerbaijan’s brazen attacks on civilian and military targets in Armenia’s Tavush Province, beginning on July 12.

The 13-day drills, involving jets and helicopters, will continue in Baku, Nakhchivan, Ganja, Kurdamir, and Yevlakh until Aug. 10. Ground exercises are scheduled to be held in Baku and Nakhchivan from August 1 to 5 with artillery, armored vehicles, and mortars striking simulated targets.

Turkey’s Defense Ministry Thursday, in a Tweet, shared a video of the military drills, accompanied by the slogan, “One nation, two states,” and emojis of Turkish and Azerbaijani flags.

Aleksey Zaytsev, a Russian foreign ministry spokesperson, said that Russia is closely monitoring the drills.

“We are closely following follow the regional situation, particularly considering the recent confrontation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. We strongly urge the sides to demonstrate restraint, including in their ongoing military activities,” Zaytsev said, reported the TASS news agency.

Aleksey Zaytsev is a Russian foreign ministry spokesperson

He also said that the Russian authorities have taken all necessary measures for preventing further escalation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border.

“Russia was greatly concerned about the border escalation between two of our allies—Armenia and Azerbaijan,” Zaytsev said during a daily briefing.

“We are confident that the long-lasting Karabakh conflict, as well as any other conflict will be solved exclusively peacefully through diplomatic talks. Our position is shared also by the other OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair countries, the U.S. and France, as well as the United Nations, the CIS and other international organizations,’’ added Zaytsev.

He added that Russian authorities have taken all the necessary measures for preventing future escalation, recalling that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has had conversations with his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts. ‘

“We are ready to continue efforts for establishing political dialogue between Yerevan and Baku,” he said.

After Azerbaijan announced the joint military drills with Turkey, President Vladimir Putin of Russian phoned his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and stressed the importance of avoiding any actions that would escalate tensions.

Turkish press: Azerbaijan’s foreign policy chief: Turkey is guarantor of trust and peace

Alex Jidarian
 ISTANBUL DIPLOMACY 
JUL 28, 2020 1:10 PM GMT+3
This aerial view shows destroyed houses during the fighting in Martakert province in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Azerbaijan, April 4, 2016. (AP Photo)

Turkey is the guarantor of trust and peace on both a regional and global scale, Hikmet Hajiyev, assistant to the president and foreign policy chief for Azerbaijan’s Presidency, said Tuesday.

Speaking to Demirören News Agency (DHA) in the Azerbaijani capital Baku, Hajiyev said Turkey is a proactive country that has become a global power on many fronts.

“At the same time, Turkey is an expansive state that provides peace in various regions. Azerbaijan is proud of Turkey’s successes in various fields. Turkey is a guarantor of trust and peace on both a regional and global scale. Thanks to Turkey’s strong political and military policies, terror elements such as the Daesh terror group have suffered a major blow. Turkey exerts great efforts in the name of peace and stability in many regions, including the Balkans, the Caucasus and Europe,” he added.

Touching upon joint military exercises planned between the Azerbaijani and Turkish militaries, Hajiyev said such actions would send a bold message to the country’s enemies.

“Turkey played a big part in the foundation of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. Military cooperation between our two countries serves the interests of peace in the region. These joint military exercises demonstrate the power of the Turkey-Azerbaijan partnership and solidarity between these two countries,” he said.

The Azerbaijani defense ministry on Monday announced that Ankara and Baku were going to launch large-scale military exercises as part of the Agreement on Military Cooperation between both countries.

“Azerbaijani-Turkish Live Fire Joint Large-Scale Tactical and Flight-Tactical Exercises will be held in our country with the participation of the Land Forces and the Air Force of both countries,” a written statement of the ministry said.

The statement added that the joint exercises would involve military personnel, armored vehicles, artillery mounts and mortars, as well as military aviation and air defense equipment belonging to the armies of the two countries.

“According to the plan, exercises involving the Land Forces will be held from Aug. 1 to 5 in Baku and Nakhchivan, while exercises joined by both country’s air forces will be held from July 29 to Aug. 10 in Baku, Nakhchivan, Ganja, Kurdamir and Yevlakh,” the statement added.

Turkey and Azerbaijan have been reiterating cooperation in every field, especially militarily, since an Armenian attack took place on Azerbaijan’s border on July 12.

Regarding recent military aggression by Armenia, Hajiyev said that the latter nation ought to act with sanity.

“The ongoing policy conducted by Armenia drags both Armenia and its people into a dead end. They cannot continue like this. Armenia has malicious designs on Turkey, as well as invasion plans targeting Azerbaijani territories. This is unacceptable. Armenia should learn to live in peace with its neighbors. The joint military exercises will give a strong message to such enemies,” he also said.

A recent rise in tensions was triggered when the Armenian army attempted to attack Azerbaijani positions with artillery fire in the direction of the northwestern Tovuz border district, withdrawing after suffering losses following retaliation from the Azerbaijani military.

Twelve Azerbaijani soldiers, including a major general and a colonel, were killed and four others were injured in border clashes.

Azerbaijan has blamed Armenia for the “provocative” actions, with Turkey throwing its weight behind Baku and warning Yerevan that it would not hesitate to stand against any kind of attack on its eastern neighbor.

A week after the attack, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, Azerbaijani Deputy Defense Minister Ramiz Tahirov and Kerem Mustafayev, army chief of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, an exclave of Azerbaijan bordering Armenia, Turkey and Iran, came together and discussed the recent situation.

Of the security of Azerbaijan and the region, Akar said Turkey and the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will continue to do what they have to do, adding, “No one should doubt that.”

The two ex-Soviet republics for decades have been locked in a conflict over Armenia’s illegal occupation of Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The territory was seized by ethnic Armenian separatists in a 1990s war that claimed 30,000 lives, though the recent fighting broke out on a northern section of their shared border far from Karabakh.

Turkey will not join Azerbaijan in unleashing large-scale aggression against Armenia – Armenian MP

Alex Jidarian

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 13:49,

YEREVAN, JULY 27, ARMENPRESS. Head of the ruling My Step faction of the Armenian Parliament Lilit Makunts thinks that Turkey will not join Azerbaijan in unleashing a large-scale aggression against Armenia.

“By clearly assessing the incapability of their armed forces, the Azerbaijani authorities do the utmost for Turkey to be engaged in this conflict. I think Turkey will not do that and will not act as a side in any way. When the talk is about Azerbaijan’s aggression on Armenia, Turkey’s becoming a side will be viewed by the world in the context of the Genocide. In case when many countries of the world have recognized the Armenian Genocide, and Turkey is engaged in different conflicts in various regions, its actions will not be perceived by many states”, Makunts said.

During the recent July military operations unleashed by Azerbaijan on the border with Armenia, Turkey’s foreign ministry issued a statement expressing its support to Azerbaijan.

Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan




Armenpress: Azerbaijan spreads fake news about losses of Armenian side – defense ministry issues statement

Alex Jidarian

Azerbaijan spreads fake news about losses of Armenian side – defense ministry issues statement

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 09:47,

YEREVAN, JULY 17, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan is spreading fake news about the losses of the Armenian side, Armenia’s defense ministry said in a statement.

“Dear users, since early morning the adversary is spreading another disinformation. The statement according to which the situation in the border is tense and the Armenian side has losses has nothing to do with the reality.

Dear citizens, the defense ministry has no connection with that statement, that is the adversary’s regular disinformation. Be careful, don’t give in to the provocations of the adversary”, the statement of the Armenian defense ministry says.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Russia will do everything possible to reduce tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan – deputy FM

Alex Jidarian

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 13:20,

YEREVAN, JULY 16, ARMENPRESS. Russia will do everything possible to reduce the existing tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Deputy foreign minister Andrey Rudenko said in an interview to TASS.

“I can only assure that we will do everything possible and will show the best qualities of the Russian diplomacy in order to settle not only the current conflict in the border, but also the relations between our brotherly countries – Armenia and Azerbaijan. Russia has such opportunities, we have used them for many times. I am confident that our opportunities will be used”, the deputy FM said.

The Azerbaijani armed forces launched an attack on an Armenian military base located in Tavush province since July 12, using artillery, mortars and UAVs. In addition, the Azerbaijani side also shelled the town of Chinari in the province with mortars, damaging civilian homes. On July 14 the Azerbaijani armed forces continued targeting the civilian infrastructures of the Armenian town of Berd, using an attacking drone.

Overnight July 16, at around 03:40, the units of the Armenian Armed Forces have noticed movement of the Azerbaijani side. Switching to all-round defense, the Armenian Armed Forces prevented the sabotage infiltration attempt of the Azerbaijani side. After a hot battle the adversary was pushed back suffering losses. Thereafter, at 05:20, the Azerbaijani forces started shelling Aygepar and Movses villages of Tavush province, firing mortars and D-30 howitzer.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 13-07-20

Alex Jidarian

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 18:30,

YEREVAN, 13 JULY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 13 july, USD exchange rate down by 0.19 drams to 486.54 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.09 drams to 550.71 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.02 drams to 6.86 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.53 drams to 613.24 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 151.86 drams to 28205.21 drams. Silver price down by 1.13 drams to 293.61 drams. Platinum price down by 333.72 drams to 13061.59 drams.

Asbarez: Kalashnikov Factory in Armenia to Make 50,000 Rifles Annually

Alex Jidarian
July 7, 2020

The Kalashnikov factory in Armenia, which began operations this month, will produce 50,000 AK-103 assault rifles annually, factory officials told Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Tuesday as he toured the facility.

Last month it was announced that the manufacturing plant will operate per a cooperation agreement signed by a company called Neytron GAM and the Russia-based Kalashnikov Concern, which was signed on May 15 for a 10-year term.

On Tuesday, Pashinyan and Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan visited the manufacturing plant and become acquainted with the production process. They were accompanied by Russia’s Ambassador to Armenia Sergei Kopyrkin

During the tour, it was announced that the factory will also produce nano-fibers, which will be used in various military equipment, such as optical-electronic devices and night thermal signs. The production will start after the full test and will meet the demand of the Armenian defense ministry within a year.

Pashinyan said the manufacturing plant was a testament to the close defense cooperation between Armenia and Russia.

The rifles manufactured at the plant are expected to be used by the Armenian Armed Forces. In the future the products will also be exported.

In its initial stages, the plant will employ at least 20 people, all of whom are Armenian Army reserve soldiers with experience in engineering and handling fire arms. A Kalashnikov official said last month that the staff has already been selected and they will be responsible for manufacturing, inspecting and ensuring quality control of the weapons.

Icelandair to Operate Charter Flights Between US and Armenia

Alex Jidarian
Iceland Review
  • Larissa Kyzer
  • July 9, 2020
  • Business, Travel, x News

Starting this month, Icelandair will begin operating a limited number of charter flights to transport about a thousand people from Los Angeles, US to Yerevan, Armenia, RÚV reports.

The initiative is being undertaken in order to repatriate Armenian citizens and residents who have been stranded in the US as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and is a collaboration between Icelandair, the Armenian government, the transportation company Cross Line, and the Icelandic consul in Armenia. Almost a million people of Armenian origin live in and around LA.

Per armeniatourinfo, the charter flights will be open to Armenian citizens, as well as foreign nationals who have the right of permanent residence in Armenia and/or a close relative (spouse, parent, or child) living in the country. Economy class tickets will be priced at $1,350 [ISK 189,067; € 1,191].

The exact number of flights has not been set yet, but the first will depart from LA on July 11. Each flight can accommodate 260 passengers and will be staffed with 9 – 12 crew members, according to Icelandair’s current operating procedures: two to three pilots and six flight attendants.

Icelandair CEO Bogi Nils Bogason remarked that the contract is a welcome addition to the airline’s cargo flights from China to Europe and North America: “Projects like this bring this company increased revenue and create work for employees, as the preparations and organization take place in Iceland. This is a good example of the flexibility that Icelandair and its subsidiaries have to take on short notice.”

https://www.icelandreview.com/business/icelandair-to-operate-charter-flights-between-us-and-armenia/




Armenia’s coronavirus cases top 30,000 on July 9

Alex Jidarian
Panorama, Armenia
July 9 2020
Health 11:44 09/07/2020Armenia

Armenia has confirmed 526 new coronavirus infections in a 24-hour period, bringing the national tally to 30,346 as of 11 a.m. Thursday, July 9, the Ministry of Health reports.

573 more patients have recovered from COVID-19 with the total number of recoveries now standing at 18,000.

The coronavirus death toll has increased by 14 to 535.

The latest victims were 83 (male), 82 (male), 65 (female), 61 (female), 74 (female), 70 (male), 82 (male), 64 (male), 68 (female), 90 (female), 81 (male), 52 (female), 65 (male) and 63 (female) years old. All had underlying chronic health conditions.

In addition, according to the ministry, 6 cases of death were recorded in the past 24 hours when the patients tested positive for COVID-19, but the cause of death was another disease. The total of such cases is 170.

The number of active cases is 11,641.

As many as 129,166 tests have been performed in the country since the disease outbreak.

Armenia deputy justice minister to be in charge of coordinating sphere of civil forfeiture of illegal assets

Alex Jidarian
News.am, Armenia
July 2 2020

21:27, 02.07.2020