Author: Arbi Tashjian

Armenia Deputy PM Tigran Avinyan’s Office explains why numerical data on POWs not released

Arbi Tashjian
News.am, Armenia
Jan 18 2021
Armenia Deputy PM Tigran Avinyan’s Office explains why numerical data on POWs not released  

The Office of Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Avinyan has given the following explanation stating why the numerical data on captives are not released:

“Armenia approaches any issue related to prisoners of war with full responsibility and refrains from making statements that may harm the process of quick and safe repatriation of our compatriots.

As far as the lists of captives presented by the Armenian side are concerned, taking into consideration the fact that the numerical data are confidential, it is necessary to inform that they have been presented on a regular basis, that is, in several stages and according to updates. Moreover, the full lists were transmitted to the Russian side and the International Committee of the Red Cross back in December 2020.

The numerical data on captives in Armenia and Azerbaijan are confidential and are not subject to publication, taking into consideration the fact that the issue is supersensitive.”

Turkish press: Azerbaijan dissatisfied with Russian peacekeepers’ pro-Armenia attitude

Arbi Tashjian
 ISTANBUL DIPLOMACY 
JAN 07, 2021 1:12 PM GMT+3
An Azerbaijani border guard raises the national flag during the opening ceremony of the frontier post in the village of Zangilan, Azerbaijan, Jan. 5, 2021. (AFP Photo)

The one-sided and partial attitude of Russian military elements deployed in the Karabakh region to monitor a cease-fire deal signed in November in favor of the Armenian side has raised eyebrows in Azerbaijan.

Deployed to the region as part of the Russia-brokered cease-fire deal signed on Nov. 10, Russian troops sometimes exhibit a pro-Armenia attitude instead of taking the required neutral stance for the implementation of the peace agreement, Azerbaijani officials say.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Azerbaijan’s state customs academy department chair, Araz Aslanlı, said Thursday that some discourse and practices of Russian elements do not contribute to the permanent solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue and cause doubts in Azerbaijan and Turkey about Russia’s good intentions.

Aslanlı said the long-awaited solution for the Karabakh issue could have strained Turkey-Russia relations. “However, this risk has been largely eliminated following the 44-day war and since cooperation possibilities between the two countries have increased. It is important to create multidimensional cooperation conditions in the region. For the stable future of the region, Russian elements should act with the awareness of they are taking part in Azerbaijani territory,” he said.

Caucasus International Relations and Strategic Studies Center (QAFSAM) Deputy Chair Nazım Cafersoy also told AA that Russian elements in the region are causing the continuation of the illegal military forces’ presence in the region rather than providing peace between Armenians and Azerbaijanis.

Cafersoy said it is wrong for Russian elements to recognize the separatist forces in the region as a legitimate actor, adding: “This situation that the so-called Armenian administration tries to use for their own interests is unacceptable. Russia does not give a good test in this process. Russian elements should exert effort for the implementation of the cease-fire in the region in line with their job description and should avoid any action against Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.”

Rustem Muradov, the commander of the Russian troops in the region, was pictured with senior figures of the separatist Armenian forces. Azerbaijanis also reacted against the presence of the so-called Armenian administration’s flag at Muradov’s meetings and events.

On another occasion, the Russian Defense Ministry in a news story published on its website used the phrase “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic,” referring to the separatist Armenian forces’ administration. After Azerbaijan objected, the ministry removed that part from the article.

Most recently, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that the Armenian foreign minister’s visit to the Nagorno-Karabakh region violated the conditions of November’s trilateral agreement that put an end to the conflict between the two countries.

“The illegal visit of Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyan to the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, where he met with representatives of the puppet regime and signed the ‘documents,’ contradicts the trilateral statement of Nov. 10 and does not comply at all with the framework of peace, security and cooperation in the region after the cessation of hostilities,” Leyla Abdullayeva, head of the Press Service Department of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement.

Abdullayeva added that the violation of the commitments by an Armenian official is a “provocation” and such actions catering to a domestic audience do not serve the normalization of the situation in the region.

Fresh clashes erupted between Armenia and Azerbaijan in late September, rekindling the Caucasus neighbors’ decadeslong conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. During the conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several towns and nearly 300 settlements and villages from the Armenian occupation. Fierce fighting persisted for six weeks before Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a Moscow-brokered peace deal.

The agreement came after Baku’s military overwhelmed the separatist forces and threatened to advance on Karabakh’s main city of Stepanakert (Khankendi). Following the deal, Russia deployed its troops to the region for monitoring the implementation of the deal.

Defense Ministry denies information about capturing Armenian serviceman by Azerbaijanis

Arbi Tashjian

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 18:10, 4 January, 2021

YEREVAN, JANUARY 4, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of Armenia says the information spread by a Telegram channel about capturing an Armenian serviceman by the Azerbaijani side from the positions of Davit Bek village in Syunik Province is disinformation.

”It’s disinformation. There is nothing like that”, ARMENPRESS reports the Defense Ministry said.

​Armenia Chamber of Advocates chairman addresses PM with questions about agreements with Aliyev and concessions

Arbi Tashjian
News.am, Armenia
Jan 3 2021
 
 
Armenia Chamber of Advocates chairman addresses PM with questions about agreements with Aliyev and concessions
19:48, 03.01.2021
 
Chairman of the Chamber of Advocates of Armenia Ara Zohrabyan posted the following on his Facebook page:
 
“As a citizen of the Republic of Armenia, I demand that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan immediately disclose all the written and verbal agreements reached with Azerbaijan that aren’t described in the document signed on November 9, 2020.
 
I also demand answers to the following questions:
 
– Is Nikol Pashinyan communicating with Aliyev in person or through a mediator?
 
– Will there be painful and unilateral concessions in other provinces of the Republic of Armenia, particularly Ararat, Tavush and Gegharkunik Provinces, just like the painful and unilateral concessions in Syunik Province?
 
– When will our prisoners of war be returned?
 
P.S.: I recommend that our compatriots also address these questions to the Prime Minister.”
 
 

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 29-12-20

Arbi Tashjian

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 17:26,

YEREVAN, 29 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 29 December, USD exchange rate down by 0.95 drams to 522.30 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.11 drams to 639.82 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 7.10 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 5.10 drams to 704.06 drams.

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

Gold price down by 57.27 drams to 31485.62 drams. Silver price down by 0.78 drams to 432.91 drams. Platinum price down by 30.82 drams to 16943.46 drams.

​Nikol Pashinyan: There is currently a dispute over 20 plots of lands

Arbi Tashjian
News.am, Armenia
Dec 27 2020
 
 
Nikol Pashinyan: There is currently a dispute over 20 plots of lands
23:26, 27.12.2020
 
 
Today, there is a dispute over nearly 20 plots of lands. This is what Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview with Armenian Public Television today.
 
Pashinyan stressed that the actions that took place these days have helped prevent a war in Syunik Province. “Moreover, today, the territory of Armenia is distributed in such a way that in case of an assault against Syunik Province, the Armed Forces of both Armenia and Russia will interfere. This doesn’t mean that there can’t be disputes over 1 or 2 or 12 homes. Today, there is a dispute over 20 plots of lands,” he said.
 
Pashinyan added that there is also a dispute over roads. “However, Armenia says there has to be a guarantee that the roads will operate. There are various options to stop the dispute. The fact remains that the territory of Armenia has been and remains intact.”
 
 
 

Russia delivers new batch of humanitarian assistance to Artsakh

Arbi Tashjian
TASS, Russia
Dec 20 2020
The cargo has been delivered to Stepanakert, the de-facto capital of the unrecognized republic. Later the aid will be distributed among the neighborhoods

MOSCOW, December 20. /TASS/. Russia’s Emergencies Ministry delivered another batch of humanitarian assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh by rail, the ministry’s press service told TASS on Sunday.

“On December 19, specialists of the Russian Emergencies Ministry’s joint grouping unloaded 17 rail cars with Russia’s humanitarian assistance. This is 300 cubic meters of lumber and a platform with a truck-mounted crane,” the press service said.

The cargo has been delivered to Stepanakert, the de-facto capital of the unrecognized republic. Later the aid will be distributed among the neighborhoods.

This is the second part of the humanitarian assistance delivered by the Russian Emergencies Ministry by rail. So far, nine out of 54 train cars have arrived.

Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up, but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them. Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group, led by its three co-chairs – Russia, France and the United States.

On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting from November 10. The Russian leader said the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides would maintain the positions that they had held and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region. Besides, Baku and Yerevan must exchange prisoners and the bodies of those killed. The Russian rescuers arrived in the region on November 16.

Police accumulate massive forces in Syunik province amid Pashinyan’s visit

Arbi Tashjian
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 21 2020

Police have deployed massive forces at the entry to Goris town in Syunik province to prevent citizens from protesting against PM Nikol Pashinyan’s scheduled visit to the town. Earlier, the local authorities called on the city residents to shut down the main entry to the town – Syunik gates. According to report by Tert.am, incidents of scuffle between law enforcement officers and demonstrators took place. Some 6-7 buses with security officers are deployed at the scene.  

In a Facebook post, Goris Mayor Arushan Arushanyan had called on locals to prevent the entry of the prime minister, ‘who gave away the Armenian lands and disrupted the inviolability of Syunik.’ Shortly after the call, Arushanyan was arrested. 


Iran Ready to Help Permanently Settle Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: Official

Arbi Tashjian
Iran Front Page
Dec 23 2020
By IFP Editorial Staff
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Iran has expressed its readiness to contribute to a permanent and definitive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Mahmoud Vaezi, the chief of staff of Iran’s Presidential Office, made the comment in a meeting with visiting Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev Abdulla oglu.

Vaezi said he was pleased to see the military conflict between the Azerbaijan Republic and Armenia has come to an end.

“Iran has always believed that differences between countries, especially neighbours, should be resolved through negotiations, and that war is, by no means, a replacement for political solutions,” he said.

He said holding multilateral meetings such as the trilateral session between Iran, Iran and the Azerbaijan Republic, or the five-way meeting between Iran, the Azerbaijan Republic, Russia, Turkey and Armenia will bring the countries closer together and contribute to the promotion of constructive and fruitful economic cooperation in the region.

“As the Azerbaijani president has stressed, Iran regards its borders with that country as a border of peace and friendship. Iran has always respected the territorial integrity of all countries and has asked other countries, too, to respect one another’s territorial integrity,” the Iranian official noted.

“Iran believes and has repeatedly emphasized that governments and neighbours should not allow foreign powers to meddle in their relations, and so far we have seen that foreign interference has only fueled differences and conflicts between neighbours and jeopardized peace and stability in the region,” Vaezi said.

“Any move or action which would result in misunderstanding and set the stage for straining relations with others should be avoided,” the Iranian official underlined.

He said officials of both countries are set to forge closer ties, which could expedite the implementation of joint ventures and further enhancement of economic cooperation as well.

The Azerbaijani official, in turn, conveyed warm greetings by his country’s president Ilham Aliyev for his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani.

He said Aliyev always regards borders between the two countries as serving peace and friendship.

The Azerbaijani official expressed gratitude to Iran for helping settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and supporting his country’s territorial integrity.

He added Baku regards its relations with Tehran as “strategic.”
Meanwhile, Vaezi told reporters after the meeting that new conditions have emerged in the region following the end of the military conflict between the Azerbaijan Republic and Armenia, “so it was necessary to have a meeting and discuss issues of mutual interest.”

He echoed remarks by the Azerbaijani president who had described borders between the two countries as frontiers for peace and friendship.

During his meeting with the Azerbaijani deputy prime minister, Vaezi further told reporters, the two sides agreed to hold a meeting of the Iran-Azerbaijan Joint Economic Cooperation Commission and speed up the implementation of joint projects on the construction of railways, dams and power stations.