Author: Arbi Tashjian

Armenia reports new border clashes with Azerbaijan forces

Arbi Tashjian

At least two Armenian forces have been wounded after Baku used drones in the direction of Sotk, according to Yerevan.

Renewed border clashes have erupted between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces, according to Yerevan, a day after deadly fighting threatened to derail European Union-led weekend peace talks between the Caucasus arch-foes.

Baku and Yerevan are locked in a decades-long territorial dispute over Azerbaijan’s Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh, over which they have fought two wars.

On Friday morning, “Azerbaijani Armed Forces violated the ceasefire in the direction of Sotk (eastern part of the state border) using UAVs”, the defence ministry in Yerevan said in a statement.

It said “two servicemen of the Armenian armed forces were wounded”, and one of them is in a critical condition.

Border clashes on Thursday left an Azerbaijani serviceman dead and four Armenian troops injured.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev are scheduled to meet on Sunday in Brussels for talks led by European Council President Charles Michel.

The rival leaders had also agreed to jointly meet the leaders of France and Germany on the sidelines of a European summit in Moldova on June 1, according to the EU.

Pashinyan on Thursday accused Azerbaijan of looking to “undermine the talks” in Brussels.

He warned there was “very little” chance of signing a peace deal with Azerbaijan at the meeting.

A draft agreement “is still at a very preliminary stage and it is too early to speak of an eventual signature”, Pashinyan said.

The EU-led diplomacy comes after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken brought the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers to Washington for negotiations in early May.

The West has stepped up mediation as the clout of Russia, historically the key powerbroker between the former Soviet republics, wanes due to its invasion of Ukraine.

Armenia, which has traditionally relied on Russia as its security guarantor, has grown increasingly frustrated with Moscow.

It has accused Russia of having failed to fulfil its peacekeeping role when Azerbaijani activists blocked Karabakh’s only land link to Armenia.

The two countries went to war in 2020 and in the 1990s over disputed territories, mainly Nagorno-Karabakh.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the two wars over the region.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/12/armenia-reports-fresh-border-clashes-with-azerbaijan-forces

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 11-05-23

Arbi Tashjian

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 17:01,

YEREVAN, 11 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 11 May, USD exchange rate down by 0.07 drams to 386.33 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.12 drams to 422.10 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 5.07 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.05 drams to 487.16 drams.

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

Gold price up by 81.76 drams to 25303.03 drams. Silver price down by 0.62 drams to 316.98 drams.

‘Tangible progress’ in Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks: U.S.

Arbi Tashjian
The Hindu
India – May 5 2023

05:44 am | Updated 05:44 am IST – WASHINGTON

AP

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that Armenia and Azerbaijan have made “tangible progress” in U.S.-hosted peace talks between the two former Soviet republics that have repeatedly clashed over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The four-day negotiating session did not produce a peace agreement, but Blinken said he believed a deal could be “within sight, within reach” and praised the two sides for coming together to try to find common ground.

He said reaching an agreement would be “not only historic but would be profoundly in the interests of the people of Azerbaijan and Armenia and would have very positive effects even beyond their two countries.”

The closed-door discussions were held far from the media spotlight at the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute in northern Virginia. The Armenian and Azeri foreign ministers, who led their delegations, did not speak at the closing ceremony.

U.S. engagement in the conflict could be seen as a challenge to Russia’s influence in an area it regards as being within its sphere of influence. Although Russia brokered the last significant deal between the two sides and now maintains troops in Nagorno-Karabakh, it has been more recently preoccupied by the conflict in Ukraine. And, while Blinken spoke of progress, there was no sign that a peace deal was at hand.

The mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is smaller than the U.S. state of Delaware, has significant cultural importance to both Armenians and Azeris.

It had a substantial degree of autonomy within Azerbaijan when it was part of the Soviet Union. As the USSR deteriorated, Armenian separatist unrest broke out, later turning into a full-scale war after the Soviet Union collapsed.

Most of the Azeri population was driven out by the end of the fighting in 1994. Ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia took control not only of Nagorno-Karabakh itself but of sizable surrounding Azerbaijani areas.

For the next quarter-century, Nagorno-Karabakh was a “frozen conflict,” with Armenian and Azerbaijani forces facing off across a no-man’s land and occasional clashes. In September 2020, Azerbaijan launched a full-scale assault to take the region. The fierce fighting lasted six weeks.

The war ended with a Russia-brokered armistice under which Azerbaijan regained control of parts of Nagorno-Karabakh and all the surrounding territory previously occupied by Armenians. Russia sent a peacekeeping force of 2,000 troops to maintain order, including ensuring that the so-called Lachin Corridor road that connects Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia remains open.

In mid-December last year, Azeris claiming to be environmental activists began blocking the road, saying they were protesting illegitimate mining by Armenians. Armenia contends the protests are orchestrated by Azerbaijan.

In turn, Azerbaijan alleges that Armenians have used the corridor to transport land mines into Nagorno-Karabakh in violation of the armistice terms.

Last month, at least seven soldiers were killed in clashes between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces. Armenia claimed a sniper killed one of its soldiers near the village of Sotk. Azerbaijan denied that and said Armenians opened fire with small arms on its forces, who returned fire.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly alleged that Armenians have used the Lachin Corridor to bring weapons and ammunition into Nagorno-Karabakh.

Nikol Pashinyan and Petr Fiala sign a joint Declaration

Arbi Tashjian

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 21:19, 4 May 2023

YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. Prime Ministers of Armenia and the Czech Republic Nikol Pashinyan and Petr Fiala signed a joint Declaration on the relations between the two countries after the meeting, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

The Declaration reads as follows,

“The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala (hereinafter referred to as the Sides) upon the completion of the high-level talks conducted in the framework of the official visit of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to the Czech Republic,

In the context of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Czech Republic,

Mindful of long-standing traditions of friendship and cooperation and a strong sense of solidarity between the Armenian and Czech peoples, a rich historical and cultural heritage, common values of democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms being in the core of the bilateral relations,

Aiming to raise the bilateral relations to a qualitatively new level as well as to enhance cooperation in multilateral dimensions,

Declare:

The Republic of Armenia and the Czech Republic note with satisfaction a steady development and broadening of the political ties and express their unwavering commitment to further intensify the existing high-level political dialogue and economic cooperation at the bilateral level, as well as in the framework of the United Nations, Council of Europe, OSCE, and other international and regional organizations;

The Sides express their readiness to reinforce and broaden cooperation within the framework of the European Union initiatives, including the Eastern Partnership, and in the context of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), including but not limited to the Armenia-EU political and security dialogue as well as political, economic and sectoral cooperation, based on shared values and strong commitment to democracy, human rights, media freedom, and rule of law. The Czech Republic supports EU’s strong determination to enhance cooperation with Armenia, commends the progress of Armenia on the chosen democratic path and the principles of good governance, encourages further progress, and reiterates its readiness to assist Armenia in its reform path;

The Sides underline the importance of democratic principles, promotion and protection of human rights and rule of law;

The Sides attach importance to sharing transformation experience and encouraging cooperation of civil society members and engagement of civil society in reform process;

The Sides underline necessity to reach a peaceful and lasting settlement of all outstanding issues between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The Armenian side highly appreciates the continuous efforts of the European Union towards creating an environment conducive to lasting peace in the South Caucasus;

The Sides regard the deployment of the European Union Mission in Armenia along the international border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, launched on February 20, as a substantial contribution to the strengthening of the security in the region; Armenia welcomes and highly appreciates a sizeable personnel contribution of the Czech Republic to the mission.

The Sides recognize the importance of maintaining international peace and security, inadmissibility of threat or use of force, and respect for international humanitarian law;

The Sides are mindful of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter that all states shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state and shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means. They stress the importance of all states inherent right to choose their policy course and alliances;

The Sides are aware that the question of future Visa Liberalization Dialogue between the Republic of Armenia and the EU is of the high importance;

The Sides consider the European Political Community as a useful format for the European Union and its partners. Armenia praises Czech Presidency in the Council of the EU for hosting the inaugural summit for EPC;

The Sides attach special importance to invigorating the activities of the Armenian-Czech Intergovernmental Commission, aiming at strengthening the mutually beneficial economic, financial, and scientific ties between the two countries;

The Sides express their support to the further development of cooperation and regular exchanges between the Parliaments of the two countries, including through the relevant friendship groups;

The Sides attach special importance to invigorating the decentralized cooperation and partnership between local authorities of the two countries, as an additional impetus for the development of bilateral relations;

Toward this end, the Sides express their strong determination to make every effort for effective cooperation in the areas outlined in this Declaration”.

Armenian Prime Minister arrives in Czech Republic on official visit

Arbi Tashjian

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 11:49, 4 May 2023

PRAGUE, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, together with his spouse Anna Hakobyan, has arrived in Prague, Czech Republic for a two-day official visit.

During the visit, the Prime Minister of Armenia will have a meeting with the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala. then, the Prime Minister will have meetings with the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, and the President of the Senate, Miloš Vystrčil.

Photos by Gevorg Perkuperkyan

PM Pashinyan will also visit the Center for Transatlantic Relations in Prague.

Yale Armenian Network holds vigil in remembrance of the Armenian Genocide

Arbi Tashjian
 Guest Contributor Diaspora 0

NEW HAVEN, Conn.—The Yale Armenian Network (YAN) held a candlelight vigil on the 108th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April 24 outside Sterling Memorial Library.

Each year on the date recognized as the beginning of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, YAN  holds a commemoration ceremony to honor the memory of the 1.5 million victims of the Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkish government and to remember the survivors. YAN is an on-campus student-led association that fosters and promotes Armenian culture and heritage. Its mission is to connect all Armenians at Yale in friendship and support. YAN aims to foster awareness of Armenian culture and issues.

YAN co-presidents Mariam Alaverdian and Pateel Jivalagian organized the commemoration. Alaverdian is a graduating senior at Yale College pursuing a degree in applied mathematics. Jivalagian is a graduating master’s student at the Yale School of Public Health. The event was made possible with the help of the YAN Genocide Commemoration Committee.

“As descendants of Armenian Genocide survivors, we recognize our duty to arrange a commemorative event for the Yale community in honor of the 1.5 million lives tragically lost and to acknowledge the lasting trauma endured by numerous survivors. Our objective for this event was not only to pay tribute to those affected but also to educate the public by sharing the personal stories of our members and shedding light on the atrocities committed against our nation,” stated Alaverdian and Jivalagian.

Rev. Fr. Archpriest Untzag Nalbandian from the Armenian Church of the Holy Ascension in Trumbull began the commemoration with a prayer service, assisted by subdeacon Kit Kaolian of Milford. “I appreciate that you, the Armenian students at Yale University organized this important event to remember our victims and also to educate others about the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Unfortunately, 108 years later we see how Armenian Artsakh is under blockade by the Azeri government, and the 120,000 Armenians living there cannot even go to Armenia, let alone any part of the world. And this is happening today in front of the eyes of the civilized world. We must raise our voice to prevent future genocides,” said Fr. Untzag.

The current blockade of the Berdzor (Lachin) Corridor, Artsakh’s only link to Armenia, began on December 11, 2022, threatening the very existence of 120,000 ethnic Armenians who are  unable to access water, food, medicine and fuel.

A number of members of YAN commented on the meaning of the Genocide and the obligation to remember through musical and poetic renditions and heartfelt comments.

Harry and Janice Mazadoorian of Kensington, Connecticut also attended the event. He is an alumnus of Yale College and Yale Law School. They stated that they were moved to hear the  penetrating comments of so many of the young people in attendance and enormously proud of their efforts to maintain the resilience of the Armenian spirit.

Dr. David J. Simon, assistant dean for graduate education at Yale’s Jackson School of Global Affairs and director of the Yale Genocide Studies program, was also in attendance. “Attending the event was a moving reminder of why commemoration matters. The Yale Armenian community expressed grief in the pain and loss endured by their ancestors, lamented the long legacy of pain and sorrow that later generations feel and demonstrated the resilience of Armenians in the world today,” said Dr. Simon. “The last point is especially poignant, given that genocide is essentially an effort to wipe out not just a large collection of individuals but the group to which they belong and the identity to which they subscribe. A moving _expression_ of community such as [this] event is a powerful way to show that for all of the pain it caused, those genocidal efforts ultimately failed to attain the worst of their goals,” he reflected.

Dr. Gregory Nikogosyan, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellow at the School of Medicine,   stated, “The Armenian Genocide commemoration is our continued pledge to never forget the atrocities that occurred 108 years ago. To this day, the Armenian Genocide is not recognized by the Republic of Turkey. Not holding others accountable for crimes against humanity has consequences. We should reflect that today Armenians are continuing to face atrocities and denial of the right to life in their indigenous lands of Artsakh. Today, here at Yale, we do not forget.”

“As I was growing up, I often pondered why Armenians faced so much hatred and denied their right to exist leading to genocide. Although I do not have a definitive answer to this question, I strongly believe that it’s crucial to remember our past. Ignorance towards history can lead to the perpetuation of terrible atrocities, while knowledge and memory can help prevent such tragedies from happening again,” observed Karen Agaronyan, post-doctoral associate at Yale University/Howard Hughes Medical Institute.   

, April 2023

AW: Armenian Genocide Education Act introduced

Arbi Tashjian
 ANCA ANCA News 0

Representatives Anna Eshoo (D-CA), David Valadao (R-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) are leading efforts to ensure U.S. schools have the resources to teach about the history and consequences of the Armenian Genocide

WASHINGTON, DC – Representatives Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Ted Lieu (D-CA) and David Valadao (R-CA) have re-introduced the Armenian Genocide Education Act – a bipartisan measure backed by the ANCA, which would allocate $10 million over five years to help educate American students about Ottoman Turkey’s 1915-1923 Genocide of Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriac, Arameans and Maronite Christians.

“The ANCA thanks Reps. Eshoo, Bilirakis, Lieu and Valadao and welcomes their introduction of this timely bill brought forward in the wake of official US recognition of the 1915 Genocide and amid renewed efforts by Azerbaijan and Turkey to complete this crime against the Armenian nation,” remarked ANCA executive director Aram Hamparian. “This federal legislation represents a necessary next step, building upon U.S. remembrance, alerting Americans to the ongoing threat of genocide, and ensuring that future generations benefit from the terrible lessons of this still unpunished crime. We will do all we can to support this bill and look forward to it being passed by Congress and signed into law by the President,” he added.

“By ensuring students have access to the resources necessary to understand why and how the Armenian Genocide occurred, the Armenian Genocide Education Act preserves the legacies of the victims, combats genocide denial, and ensures that future generations learn the lessons of this dark chapter of history,” said Rep. Eshoo, the lead author of the measure. “This legislation honors the memories of my ancestors and all those who perished at the hands of the Ottoman Empire.”

Representatives Eshoo, Valadao, Lieu and Bilirakis were joined by 38 of their House colleagues as original cosponsors of the Armenian Genocide Education Act, including Representatives: Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-CA), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), William Keating (D-MA), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Susie Lee (D-NV), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), James McGovern (D-MA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Joseph Morelle (D-NY), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Katie Porter (D-CA), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Lori Trahan (D-MA).

The lead Congressional advocates of the measure cited the key role that education plays in genocide prevention.

“Our darkest moments as a human race have come during times when those who knew better stood silently, making excuses for passivity and allowing injustice and persecution to reign. We must acknowledge the atrocities of the past so that we might hopefully prevent them in the future,” said Rep. Bilirakis. “One of the best ways to achieve this goal is through education and awareness, which is why I am proud to co-lead the Armenian Genocide Education Act again in the 118th Congress.”

Rep. Lieu concurred, noting: “The Armenian Genocide was one of the most horrific losses of human life in modern history. It resulted in the deaths of roughly 1.5 million Armenians, and even more were displaced and forced to start new lives from scratch. Remembering atrocities like the Armenian Genocide is crucial to ensuring they never happen again. A key part of that is education, which is why I’m proud to co-lead the Armenian Genocide Education Act with Representatives Anna Eshoo, Gus Bilirakis, and David Valadao. This bill honors the legacies of those who perished by helping to ensure future generations learn about, and never forget, the Armenian Genocide.”

Rep. Valadao stressed that, “people who fail to understand history are bound to repeat it, and education is one of the best tools we have to prevent repeating some of our darkest days. The Armenian Genocide Education Act preserves the memories of the 1.5 million Armenians who were killed at the hands of the Ottoman Empire, and ensures Americans have accurate information on why and how this horrific event happened.”

Congressional Armenian Caucus founding co-Chair Frank Pallone welcomed the introduction of the measure, stating, “education is one of the best ways we can honor the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide and ensure it never happens again. This bill will help keep the memory of this horrific genocide alive by ensuring future generations have access to historically accurate resources. Expanding access to educational tools moves us one step closer to fulfilling our obligation to speak candidly about the past that is directly tied to our moral responsibilities of the present.”

Congressional Armenian Caucus Vice-Chair Adam Schiff (D-CA) explained, “when we remain silent in the face of injustice, we dishonor the victims and make further tragedy inevitable. Through education, we can combat genocide denial and ensure that future generations learn the lessons of history. The Armenian Genocide claimed 1.5 million lives. It must never be forgotten. And it must never happen again. Not to the Armenians. Not to anyone.”

The Armenian Genocide Education Act was introduced on April 24th, the international day of Armenian Genocide commemoration. Building upon the 2019 passage of H.Res.296 and S.Res.150 – which specifically rejected any official U.S. association with Armenian Genocide denial – the Armenian Genocide Education Act seeks to counter discourse and propaganda that claims that Ottoman Turkey’s systematic and deliberate state-sponsored mass murder, national dispossession, cultural erasure, and exile of millions of Christians between 1915 and 1923 did not take place. A similar measure was introduced in the last session of Congress.

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The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.


Madrid: On the 108th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

Arbi Tashjian
Spain:
 

in Tribune

 

This year marks the 108th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the destruction of Armenian communities in the Ottoman Empire from the Mediterranean coast to Eastern Armenia, including the six provinces of historical Armenia within the Ottoman Empire: Van, Erzurum, Harput, Bitlis, Diyarbekir and Sivas. The massive raid against Armenian intellectuals in Constantinople – among them, for example, the great musician Komitas Vardapet – and the burning of Smyrna, symbolically mark the beginning and the end of what Armenians have called the “Aghet” or “the catastrophe”. The Young Turk regime, and in particular the triumvirate of the Union and Progress Committee formed by Enver Pasha, Kemal Pasha and Talat Pasha, put an end to the cultural, economic and political life of the first people to convert to Christianity. The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute puts the death toll at 1.5 million. The consequences – for example, the demographic imbalance caused by the massacre – persist to this day.

The path that led to the Genocide started with the “Hamidian Massacres” between 1894 and 1896 and went through the Adana Massacre of April 1909. The rise of nationalist doctrines such as Pan-Turanism and Pan-Turkism paved the way for genocide. Propaganda portrayed Armenians as traitors, enemies of the homeland and conspirators. The Syriac Christians and the Greeks of Pontus suffered similar fates. In the empire dreamed by the military and nationalist poets, the Christian minorities and, in particular, the Armenians were regarded as foreign bodies.

The entry of the Ottoman Empire into the Great War provided an opportunity to accelerate the process of destruction of the Armenians. In a combination of public and secret instruments, the means to exterminate a people were arranged: laws depriving them of their heritage under the pretext of “protecting” it, paramilitary units executing orders to kill, forced transfers of civilians who were then abandoned in the desert to die of hunger and thirst, massacres of intellectuals who could sustain the Armenian national identity, slavery and forced marriages for women, forced conversions to Islam… The Armenian Genocide prefigures the imaginary of the horrors of our time: platoons of soldiers razing villages to the ground, trains driving victims to certain death, detentions without guarantees or trial, starvation and thirst as effective forms of mass murder.

But the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire did not go to their deaths like sheep to the slaughter. Wherever they could resist, they fought bravely. The Armenian resistance in the summer of 1915 inspired Franz Werfel’s great novel “The Forty Days of the Musa Dagh” (1933). There were witnesses who recorded the horror that unfolded before their eyes; for example, German soldiers in the service of the Ottoman Empire, Christian missionaries and diplomats. There were also heroes who refused to witness the crime without acting. For example, Al Husayn Ibn Ali, hierife of Mecca, issued a decree calling for protection and aid to the Armenians. In Eastern Armenia, where resistance stopped the final Ottoman offensive at the battle of Sardarapat (1918), Armenian life was sustained.

In the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, in Persia, in France, in Argentina and in the United States, the survivors did not forget their suffering.

The Armenian Genocide, perpetrated 108 years ago, continues to cast its shadow over our times. It is the responsibility of the democracies of our time to prevent the history of genocide from repeating itself with this people or with any other.

​Second Azerbaijani soldier arrested in Armenia

Arbi Tashjian
April 13 2023

Second Azerbaijani soldier arrested in Armenia

Yerevan /Mediamax/. The second Azerbaijani serviceman was found and arrested in the territory of Armenia on April 13, the Ministry of Defense reports.

On April 10, the Ministry reported that another soldier of the Azerbaijani armed forces was arrested.

Speaking at the Armenian parliament on April 12, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that the Azerbaijani soldier arrested in the territory of Armenia “expressed no wish to return.”

We support all parties in using the negotiation table, not the battlefield for dispute settlement – OSCE CiO

Arbi Tashjian

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 15:42,

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Foreign Minister of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani is calling on Armenia and Azerbaijan to address the demarcation and delimitation and the opening of communication lines.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Osmani said that today, but also previously, they spoke about Armenia’s concern regarding the Lachin corridor and its effect on the lives and livelihoods of the population.

“The ongoing situation and the Armenian-Azerbaijani context in general remains a top priority for OSCE but also for me as Chairman-in-Office,” Osmani said.

Before visiting Armenia, Osmani traveled to Azerbaijan.

“I’m here today following meetings yesterday in Baku, and as chair we aim for peaceful, comprehensive and sustainable settlement of the disagreements that afflict and concerns Armenians and Azerbaijanis. We stand ready to continue our efforts through the OSCE existing mechanisms and structures and new ideas and approaches in order to achieve these goals. It is after all about people and this is why I will continue to encourage all parties to rely on dialogue and negotiation rather than force and coercion in resolving disputes. We stand behind any effort that provides positive dynamics in support of the full implementation of previously agreed measures and identification of new areas for agreement. I encourage addressing crucial issues such as demarcation and delimitation and the opening of communication lines. As OSCE Chairman-in-Office, I support any effort that leads to peace and all initiatives that facilitate dialogue, defuse tensions, boost trust and confidence leading to normalization of relations. Let me be clear and very open. I’m saying all this with the outmost humility of someone who has walked the walk, that’s because I come from a country that has gone through the ordeal of a conflict, country that had its share of open conflicts and open issues with neighbors. North Macedonia used multilateral negotiation platforms to resolve complex differences with its neighbors. In our experience the negotiation process can be complicated and difficult but the prospect of good neighborly relations and enduring stability and prosperity prevailed. We must look with hope to the future to see beyond our immediate concerns to glimpse the great things that can be achieved through strong leadership, good faith and political will. We are ready to share these experiences and support all parties in using the negotiation table, not the battlefield for dispute settlement,” Osmani said.

He reaffirmed the OSCE’s commitment to Armenia and its endeavors and aspirations to secure sustainable peace.  “Rest assured that as OSCE Chairman-in-Office I will work to strengthen and deepen our cooperation promoting peace and stability in today’s era of uncertainty,” he added.