Author: Christine Harutyunian

Syrian President Al-Assad Receives Armenia’s Foreign Minister

Christine Harutyunian
Lebanon – Feb 23 2023

NNA – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad received on Thursday the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan.

President  al-Assad voiced his gratitude for all what Armenia has sent of rescue teams and relief aids for the quake-affected people, stressing that the ties binding Syria with the Armenians all over the world are historical.

President  al-Assad considered that building good relationships and alliances among states with shared principles are important for overcoming the challenges and changes.

The guest minister Mirzoyan conveyed the condolences of Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and the Armenian people, asserting that his country can’t but stand by the Syrians and offer them aids, recalling that Armenia still remember Syria’s stance beside Armenians along with offering them assistance when the devastating earthquake occurred  there in 1988, as Syria was the homeland for thousands of Armenians who are still living here, in Syria. — SANA News Agency

https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/regional/596935/syrian-president-al-assad-receives-armenia-s-forei

Deputy Finance Minister: Eurozone Is Not a Mirage

Christine Harutyunian

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 15:32,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. “The eurozone is by no means a mirage and will not remain a mirage,” said Deputy Finance Minister Metodi Metodiev on the morning show of Nova TV. He was commenting on the statement of Finance Minister Rositsa Velkova Friday that Bulgaria will postpone its target date for joining the euro area.

According to Metodiev, Bulgaria must implement the reforms that it has committed to and that were submitted to the National Assembly as bills, and there should be a more sustainable trend of inflation reduction in order to reach the inflation criteria for eurozone entry.

“The government has done a lot of technical and political work so far, but we do not meet these two criteria. The National Assembly, with the actions it has taken regarding the legislative programme in the last month of its existence, has worked against its decision of October 27 to join the eurozone,” Metodiev clarified.

“The caretaker government will continue its work on the technical preparations for the euro changeover, this is also the agreement with our European partners from the European Commission and the ECB,” Metodiev said, adding that once Bulgaria has a clear horizon for a sustainable downward trend in inflation, it will submit a request for a convergence report and assessment.

According to the deputy finance minister, the next target date for joining the euro area is linked to the implementation of reforms and a sustainable inflation trend.

“I hope that the next parliament will have the Euro-Atlantic foresight to pass the necessary laws. The problem in the last parliament, in terms of changes to the eurozone laws, will be there in the next parliament because the government is determined to bring forward the same legislative proposals that were already rejected. Therefore, the political elite must have a clear idea of where and how fast Bulgaria wants to go on the path of its economic and political integration,” Metodiev pointed out.

FM Mirzoyan, U.S. Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations Louis Bono discuss Armenia- Azerbaijan developments

Christine Harutyunian

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 16:28,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met with the United States Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations, the United States Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Louis Bono within the framework of the Munich Security Conference.

FM Mirzoyan congratulated Louis Bono on assuming office and wished him success in his important mission, the foreign ministry said in a read-out.

Mirzoyan and Bono discussed the latest developments in the Armenia-Azerbaijan settlement process. FM Mirzoyan briefed the United States Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations on Armenia’s latest proposals regarding normalization of relations with Azerbaijan.

Armenia’s foreign minister on landmark visit to Turkey to normalize ties

Christine Harutyunian
PRESS TV, Iran
Feb 15 2023

Armenian foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan made a rare visit to Turkey on Wednesday, underlining a desire to “make peace” with the estranged neighbor in the wake of a devastating quake. 

Mirzoyan arrived in Ankara on Wednesday morning, along with his deputy Vahan Kostanyan and Ruben Rubinyan, Armenia’s special envoy for the normalization of relations with Turkey.

“I would like to once again reaffirm the readiness and willingness of Armenia to build peace in the region, and especially to fully normalize relations with Turkey, to establish diplomatic relations and fully open the border between Armenia and Turkey,” Mirzoyan said at a joint press briefing with Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. 

“I consider it symbolic that on Saturday, the Armenian-Turkish border, which has been closed for thirty years, was opened for Armenian lorries loaded with humanitarian aid heading to Adiyaman,” Mirzoyan said.

On Saturday, a border crossing between Armenia and Turkey opened for the first time in 35 years to allow humanitarian aid.

Mirzoyan also announced that the two countries had agreed to jointly repair the Ani bridge and take care of the relevant infrastructure ahead of the full opening of the border. 

For his part, Cavusoglu said Armenia had “extended a hand of friendship to our people,” thanking Yerevan for its humanitarian aid.

Cavusoglu said the two sides had discussed the normalization of relations and believed humanitarian cooperation would support the process. The minister said they had also discussed normalization between Armenia and Azerbaijan. 

It was Mirzoyan’s second visit to Turkey since March 2022, when he held talks with his Turkish counterpart on the sidelines of a diplomatic forum in Antalya. 

Following the Wednesday meeting, Armenia’s foreign minister visited the city of Adiyaman, which was devastated by the February 6 earthquake, and met with a team of Armenian rescuers working in the area.

The two governments previously held normalization negotiations in 2008. The talks broke down after Armenia refused to link the negotiations with the peace process with Azerbaijan or to allow Turkey a role in their discussions with Baku. 

Diplomatic relations between the two countries have long been hostile, as Turkey denies that a genocide of Armenians took place under the Ottoman Empire.

Relations were formally halted in 1993 during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, and have continued to be tense in recent years, particularly in light of Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2021.

Yerevan’s officially stated position is that normalization with Turkey should be unconditional, implying that issues relating to Nagorno-Karabakh or recognition of the Armenian genocide would not be a part of the discussion.

However, Turkey has suggested that the normalization of relations was contingent on the normalization of Yerevan’s relations with Baku, and has pushed for Armenia to sign a peace treaty offered by Azerbaijan.

Alen Simonyan: Azerbaijan wants Armenia and Armenians not to exist

Christine Harutyunian
NEWS.am
Armenia – Sept 16 2022
22:56, 16.09.2022

Azerbaijan wants Armenia and Armenians not to exist, Alen Simonyan, speaker of the Armenian parliament, said during an interview to the Public TV channel.

“They want everything, they want Armenia not to exist, they want Armenians not to exist, they want only them and Turkey in the region, and they do everything in that direction. As soon as we start discussing something, he gives up on it, steps forward and wants something else, and this way of working is combined with military steps, attempts at military pressure. Today we have shown that we will not go down that path anymore, and that is the struggle of our soldiers, and that is what our statements are about, that we are ready to discuss a peace agreement without preconditions, and nothing more,” Simonyan said.


Traffic along new Nagorno-Karabakh-Armenia road launched under peacemakers’ supervision

Christine Harutyunian
Caucasian Knot
Aug 31 2022
Traffic along new Nagorno-Karabakh-Armenia road launched under peacemakers’ supervision
Russian militaries have been deployed along the new route running from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, opened after the transfer of three settlements in the Lachin Corridor under Azerbaijan’s control.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on August 29, the Nagorno-Karabakh’s Security Council decided to start transport traffic with Armenia along the new route from 8:00 p.m. on August 30.

The traffic on the new road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia is open, the “News-Armenia” reported late at night, citing a report by the “Artsakh Television”.

Russian peacemakers are stationed along the new road; and traffic policemen of the Nagorno-Karabakh’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) are also on reinforced duty service there, the “News-Armenia” has added.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 31, 2022 at 11:17 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

See earlier reports:
Launch of a new road from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia scheduled for August 30, Azerbaijani analysts explain new tasks of peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijani military police posts set up in Lachin Corridor.

Author: The Caucasian Knot
Source:
© Caucasian Knot

Pashinyan, Aliyev discuss Karabakh, POWs, border delimitation

Christine Harutyunian
 TASS 
Russia – Aug 31 2022
The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan reached an agreement to continue substantive negotiations on the signing of a peace treaty at the level of foreign ministers

YEREVAN, August 31. /TASS/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev have held European Council President Charles Michel-brokered talks in Brussels to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh, prisoners of war and border delimitation.

“At the talks in Brussels, the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan discussed issues related to the release of prisoners of war and the fate of those missing, the delimitation and security of borders, the unblocking of regional supply links, the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and the Nagorno-Karabakh problem,” the Armenian government’s press-service said.

“The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan reached an agreement to continue substantive negotiations on the signing of a peace treaty at the level of foreign ministers. The meeting of foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan will take place within a month,” the news release says.

Also, according to the Armenian government, “the next meeting of the commission on border delimitation and security will take place in Brussels in November.” The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan will also meet in November.

The previous negotiations on the normalization of relations between the two countries were held in Brussels on May 22 with Charles Michel acting as a mediator. On May 23, the heads of state signed decrees on the creation of commissions for the delimitation and security of borders. The Armenian commission is led by Mher Grigoryan. His Azerbaijani counterpart is Shahin Mustafayev.

Arbitrary interpretation of negotiations creates an impression that Azerbaijan intends to undermine the peace process, Armenian FM says

Christine Harutyunian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia – Sept 3 2022
September 3, 2022, 13:19

 

The position of the Armenian side regarding the five provisions proposed by Azerbaijan remains unchanged, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has said.

“As we have stated before, we find nothing unacceptable in the proposals forwarded by Azerbaijan on March 10, 2022. Another thing is that these proposals do not address all issues of the Armenia-Azerbaijan comprehensive peace agenda. With our response forwarded to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries, we completed the agenda, and therefore, on that basis, we are ready for the continuation of peace negotiations,” the Foreign Minister said in a statement as he responded to speculations on the Brussels meeting of August 31st.

This was once again confirmed by Prime Minister Pashinyan during the recent discussions held in Brussels.

“Not listening or trying not to listen to this position gives the Armenian side a reason to question the sincerity of Azerbaijan’s intention in achieving peace. Moreover, the continued arbitrary, false interpretations of the negotiations and the avoidance to implement the agreements make an impression that Azerbaijan intends to undermine the peace process and continue its policy of ethnic cleansing through the use of force,” FM Mirzoyan stated.

Sports: Arsen Zakharyan’s move to Chelsea could still happen – report

Christine Harutyunian
PanARMENIAN
Armenia – Sept 1 2022
September 1, 2022 – 16:28 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Football Association of England is not blocking the possible transfer of Dynamo midfielder Arsen Zakharyan to Chelsea, Sport Express reports.

Negotiations are ongoing, and the decisive round will take place on September 1, the parties will discuss options for making the transition. Chelsea have not lost interest in the Russian player of Armenian origin.

Reports claimed earlier that Zakharyan’s move to Chelsea was unlikely. Zakharyan has just a £12.6m release clause. However, the deal will not go ahead because of sanctions on the Russian economy due to the war in Ukraine.

Daniel Raiskin: “I have been connected with Armenia and Armenian music for many years”

Christine Harutyunian

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 10:53, 25 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. During “Symphonic Yerevan” International Music Festival’s 12th concert there were featured the works of Edward Elgar, Samuel Barber, Tigran Mansurian, Alexey Shor, John Branning.

Guitarist Xuefei Yang has performed with the string section of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra. Xuefei is one of the few guitarists whose artistry connects with audiences far beyond the guitar fraternity. Her international success has led her to be invited to play in more than 50 countries at numerous prestigious venues, and is frequently invited to play with the world’s leading orchestras.

The concert was conducted by Daniel Raiskin who is the Music Director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Chief Conductor of the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as Principal Guest Conductor of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra.

Throughout “Symphonic Yerevan” Festival Daniel Raiskin conducted 5 concerts. According to maestro Rayskin, it’s not possible to fix contact with the audience, if there is no such contact with the orchestra and musicians. Speaking about the collaboration with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, the conductor notes that personal and professional contact with the orchestra was very easy. “Cultural generalities unite us. The school, especially the string school, is very close to my heart, I went through the same school myself. I have been connected with Armenia and Armenian music for many years, I studied with Kim Kashkashian, the outstanding violist of Armenian origin, I have many Armenian friends, I have performed many works of Armenian composers and have recorded Khachaturian’s concerts and rhapsodies. So, for me, this is a culture where I feel very comfortable,” says Daniel Raiskin.

To recall that the Symphonic Yerevan International Music Festival was held in Yerevan commencing on the 12th of August and running until the 25th of the month, co-organized by the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra and European Foundation for Support of Culture (, President Konstantin Ishkhanov). Alexey Shor is the Composer-In-Residence for the Festival.