Thursday,
Heavy Fighting Again Reported On Armenian-Azeri Border (UPDATED)
Azerbaijani (L) and Armenian army posts by the Sotk gold mine in Armenia's
Gegharkunik province, June 18, 2021/
Armenia accused Azerbaijan of trying to derail ongoing peace talks after heavy
fighting broke out at a section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border early on
Thursday.
The Armenian Defense Ministry said Azerbaijani forces began shelling its
positions near the border village of Sotk at 6 a.m. local time and four Armenian
soldiers were wounded as a result. Armenian army units are taking “appropriate
defensive-preventive measures” in response, said the ministry spokesman, Aram
Torosian.
The intensity of the fighting eased after 10 a.m. and the situation at the
border section was “relatively stable” early in the afternoon, Torosian reported
afterwards.
Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry blamed the Armenian side for the ceasefire
violation. It said that Armenian troops seriously wounded an Azerbaijani soldier
overnight before opening mortar fire at Azerbaijani army positions in the
mountainous area. Another Azerbaijani serviceman was killed in the morning
skirmishes, according to the ministry.
Tensions in the area have run high for the past month. Armenia’s largest gold
mine located near Sotk halted production operations in mid-April due to what its
management and workers described as cross-border Azerbaijani gunfire. The
village sustained heavy damage during more large-scale clashes that broke out at
this and other border sections last September.
The latest escalation came just three days before talks between Armenian Prime
Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev which European
Council President Charles Michel is due to host in Brussels.
Pashinian claimed that Baku’s “provocative” actions are aimed at torpedoing the
upcoming summit and “nullifying progress” made by the Armenian and Azerbaijani
foreign ministers during marathon talks held outside Washington last week.
“Experience shows that Azerbaijan needs the negotiation process only to get an
escalation and an excuse for war,” he charged during a weekly cabinet meeting in
Yerevan.
At the same time, Pashinian said that he still intends to fly to Brussels for
the planned trilateral meeting with Aliyev and Michel. He went on to stress that
they are unlikely to sign an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty.
For its part, the Armenian Foreign Ministry accused Baku of trying to “exert
pressure on Armenia” through the use of force.
EU Reaffirms Follow-Up Meeting Between Aliyev, Pashinian
• Heghine Buniatian
Belgium - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev begin talks in Brussels, August 31, 2022.
The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to meet not only in Brussels
on Sunday but also in Moldova on June 1 in the presence of French President
Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the European Union insisted
on Thursday.
The Brussels meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will be hosted by European Council President
Charles Michel.
Michel’s office announced on Monday that Aliyev and Pashinian will also hold
follow-up talks together with Macron and Scholz on the sidelines of a European
summit in Moldova’s capital Chisinau slated for June 1.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman, Aykhan Hajizade, said on Thursday
that there is still no “final decision” on the Chisinau summit. He said Baku
wants to make sure that the four-party talks do not replace the “Brussels
format.”
Michel’s spokesman, Barend Leyts, insisted, however, that Sunday’s summit in
Brussels “will be flanked by a meeting in Chisinau” to be attended by Macron and
Scholz.
“Following ongoing contacts with all sides, we have confirmed a political
commitment to these meetings and plan to convene them,” Leyts told RFE/RL’s
Armenian Service.
The planned Armenian-Azerbaijani summits will follow marathon talks held by the
foreign ministers of the two South Caucasus states outside Washington last week.
The U.S.-mediated talks focused on an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty.
According to the U.S. State Department, the ministers “made significant progress
in addressing difficult issues.”
Karabakh Patients Evacuated By Russian Peacekeepers
Azerbaijani troops are setting up a checkpoint on the Lachin Corridor, April 23,
2023.
Russian peacekeeping forces on Thursday transported nine critically ill
residents of Nagorno-Karabakh to hospitals in Armenia at the request of the
authorities in Stepanakert.
Such medical evacuations were carried out until this month by the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The ICRC stopped them on April 29 six days
after Azerbaijan set up a checkpoint on the Lachin corridor, further tightening
its blockade of the sole road connecting Karabakh to Armenia.
According to Karabakh authorities, Baku wants to impose passport controls on
Karabakh patients and Red Cross staff passing through the corridor.
The authorities said that because of “the obstacles created by the Azerbaijani
side” they asked the Russian peacekeepers to “transfer patients in urgent need
to Armenian medical institutions in order to save their lives.”
Twenty-one other Karabakh patients are now awaiting evacuation, the health
ministry in Stepanakert said, adding that Karabakh doctors are “taking every
possible measure to prevent further deterioration of their health.”
Azerbaijan claims that its checkpoint was set up to stop the transfer of weapons
from Armenia to Karabakh.
The Armenian side has strongly denied any arms supplies and accused Baku of
another gross violation of a Russian-brokered agreement that stopped the 2020
Armenian-Azerbaijani war. Russia and the United States have also criticized
Baku’s move.
Saudi Airline To Launch Flights To Armenia
SAUDI ARABIA -- Saudi women roll their suitcases at the departure hall of the
Jeddah Airport, August 6, 2019
A Saudi airline will reportedly launch first-ever commercial flights to Armenia
next month in another sign of rapprochement between the two states that have no
diplomatic relations.
Senior executives of Flynas, Saudi Arabia’s first low-cost carrier headquartered
in Riyadh, visited Yerevan and met with the head of the Armenian government’s
Tourism Committee, Sisian Boghossian, on Thursday.
“Flynas will be launching direct flights from Saudi Arabia to Armenia in June
2023,” the committee announced in a statement on the meeting.
It said that the two sides discussed “opportunities for cooperation in the
tourism sectors of Armenia and Saudi Arabia.”
Saudi Arabia has for decades refused to establish diplomatic relations with
Armenia due to its conflict with Muslim Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. The
oil-rich kingdom signaled a change in that policy after its relations with
Armenia’s arch-foe and Azerbaijan’s ally Turkey deteriorated significantly
several years ago.
Saudi Arabia - Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman talks to Armenian
President Armen Sarkissian during the Future Investment Initiative forum in
Riyadh, October 26, 2021.
The policy change was highlighted in October 2021 by then Armenian President
Armen Sarkissian’s visit to Riyadh. Sarkissian sat next to Saudi Arabia’s de
facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, at the opening ceremony of an
international conference held there.
Saudi Arabia signaled more overtures to Yerevan in February 2022 when its
Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and his Armenian counterpart
Ararat Mirzoyan held talks on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in
Germany. It was the first-ever face-to-face meeting of the top diplomats of the
two countries.
Armenia subsequently voiced support for Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the Expo 2030
world fair. It remains unclear, however, whether Riyadh is now ready for a full
normalization of Saudi-Armenian relations.
Armenia maintains cordial relations with other Gulf Arab monarchies, notably the
United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. Both nations have embassies in Yerevan.
Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2023 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
Author: Emil Lazarian
“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS
Asbarez: Putin Says No Talks in Light of Armenia-Azerbaijan ‘Border Tensions’
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan meets with presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan, Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev in Sochi on Oct. 31
President Vladimir Putin of Russia has said that in light of heightened tensions on the Armenia-Azerbaijan he did not anticipate talks with the leaders of the two countries, the Kremlin said on Thursday.
Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the RIA Novost news agency that Russia is a mediator in the Karabakh issue and called for restraint “from Armenia and Azerbaijan.” He said Moscow will continue its communications with Baku and Yerevan.
“”Literally the day before yesterday, Putin had a private conversation with the Prime Minister of Armenia [Nikol] Pashinyan, who was in Moscow on the occasion of Victory Day [anniversary],” Peskov said.
“Russia will continue to perform its functions that are provided according to the tripartite documents. We, of course, expect a restrained approach from the parties, and call on [them] not to take any action that could lead to an increase in tension,” Peskov told reporters.
There was no mention of whether a scheduled meeting between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov, scheduled for May 19 was still going to take place given Thursday’s attack on Armenia.
Germany aims at securing lasting peace in South Caucasus, says Ambassador Richter
14:35,
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. Germany supports the diplomatic efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan and its participation in the upcoming June 1 five-sided meeting in Moldova implies that it aims to secure significant results, the German Ambassador to Armenia Viktor Richter said on May 12 in Yerevan.
“We aim at ensuring lasting peace in South Caucasus. I am also talking about the opportunities for developing political, economic and interpersonal relations in the entire region. We are inclined to support the implementation of diplomatic efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The support by both the EU and the USA are aimed at ensuring lasting peace in this region. And in this regard we have planned meetings, I am talking about the June 1 European Political Community Summit in Chisinau. Germany’s participation there implies intentions to ensure rather significant results,” the Ambassador said at the presentation of the 30 Years of Armenian-German Diplomatic Relations book.
Speaking about the bilateral relations, Ambassador Richter noted that 2022 marked the 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties and that the relations have been developing and enhancing continually, and the political dialogue continues as well. Close ties have formed between the German Bundestag (parliament) and the National Assembly (parliament) of Armenia.
The Ambassador mentioned the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan’s visit to Berlin this year. “They had very productive discussions, which certainly impacted the potential of cooperation of our countries and underscored the directions of expanding cooperation. Technical and financial cooperation are among the directions of cooperation between Germany and Armenia. And here Germany has been supporting for many years the democratic reforms process in Armenia,” he said.
Armenia and Germany actively cooperated also in culture, science, education and other sectors, the Ambassador added.
He mentioned the German official recognition of the Armenian Genocide as one of the most significant moments in the relations, and said that it has also greatly contributed to the process of preventing such crimes across the world.
“Armenia has ensured big progress in its reforms agenda. We are very happy that Armenia is implementing with commitment the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement signed with the EU. And I think that the current program of the Armenian government is a good platform and framework for actively continuing the reforms in the future as well,” Ambassador Richter said.
Germany wants to form and expand bilateral partnership platforms, he added.
Wounded troops in Azeri drone strike in non-life-threatening condition, says defense ministry
15:35,
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. The two Armenian servicemen who were wounded in an Azerbaijani drone strike Friday morning are in non-life-threatening condition, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia reported.
As of 15:00 the situation on the frontline was relatively stable, it added.
Running order of 2023 Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final revealed, Armenia’s Brunette 17th
16:18,
YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Brunette will take the stage at the 2023 Eurovision final under number 17 on Saturday night in Liverpool.
For full details on how to watch the Grand Final and on how you can vote in it, you can read up on it all.
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1110794.html?fbclid=IwAR28zMJfi3RNFbezhVxtl4BwBvFg7PqOa-dImG5KqKhqNjphok2MEG_IsNQ
CSWC [Cigar Smoking World Championship ] ARMENIA
As been common the last few years there are several new countries on the Cigar Smoking World Championship circuit and Armenia was the first one out. First time judge Emil Frangyan was in charge of the tournament and founder Marko Bilic was pleased with the debut.
“We’re overjoyed by the great expertise demonstrated by Armenian smokers,” he says. “The winning time was excellent and we can’t wait to see the Armenian champion in person at the grand finale.”
David Ter Gulanyan was the man of the hour when he managed to become the first ever Armenian champion. He finished at 1 hour 52 minutes and 24 seconds, way ahead of Bagrat Dilanyan and Edvard Baghdasaryan in second and third place.
- David Ter Gulanyan 01:52:24
- Bagrat Dilanyan 01:04:59
- Edvard Baghdasaryan 1:03:19
Winner1: Winner David Ter Gulanyan pushing the limits of his cigar.
Winner2: Host Aren Mykolyan with David Ter Gulanyan, Armenia’s first CSWC champion.
Eurovision 2023 semi-final 2 results: Who got through last night and the full list of song contest finalists
iNews, UK
By Jaymi McCann
Now that the semi-finals are over the grand finale of Eurovision is almost here – and we know who will be starring in it.
This year’s song contest is taking place in the UK instead of in last year’s winner Ukraine, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
And Mae Muller, the British entry, will be hoping to emulate the success of Sam Ryder, whose second place in 2022 reversed a series of poor showings.
The remaining 10 finalists from the second semi-final on Thursday evening are:
- Armenia | Brunette – Future Lover
- Estonia | Alika – Bridges
- Belgium | Gustaph – Because of You
- Cyprus | Andrew Lambrou – Break A Broken Heart
- Poland | Blanka – Solo
- Slovenia | Joker Out – Carpe Diem
- Austria | Teya & Salena – Who The Hell Is Edgar?
- Albania | Albina & Familja Kelmendi – Duje
- Lithuania | Monika Linkytė – Stay
- Australia | Voyager – Promise
The final is on Saturday 13 May at 8pm, following semi-finals on Tuesday and Thursday.
As always, it will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with four hours of coverage coming to an end at midnight.
It will be hosted by singer and Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon, Ted Lasso actress Hannah Waddingham, and Ukrainian singer Sanina, as well as returning favourite Graham Norton. This year, the BBC chat show host will alternate on commentary duties with the actress Mel Giedroyc.
Scott Mills and Rylan will be providing additional commentary on BBC Radio 2.
Sam Ryder, last year’s Eurovision hero, will performing during the final. Other who will sing include Eurovision 2022 winner Kalush Orchestra, who will perform their powerful new track “Voices of a New Generation”, followed by their winning song “Stefania”.
Afterwards, several Ukrainian performers will sing during a Flag Parade:
- Go_A (Ukraine 2020 and 2021)
- Jamala (Ukraine 2016)
- Verka Serduchka (Ukraine 2007)
- Tina Karol (Ukraine 2006)
According to the official Eurovision website, fans can expect “a new twist on their Eurovision entries weaved with British classics”.
The BBC has also brought together six iconic past Eurovision acts: Italy’s Mahmood, Israel’s Netta, Iceland’s Daði Freyr, Sweden’s Cornelia Jakobs, Duncan Laurence from the Netherland – and Liverpool’s very own Sonia, celebrating 30 years since she came second at Eurovision in 1993.
In total, 26 countries will take part, out of a total of 37 entrants.
The UK, along with France, Germany, Italy and Spain – the “Big Five” – automatically qualify for the Grand Final due to making the biggest financial contribution towards the organisation of the event. Ukraine, last year’s winner, also qualifies automatically, and there are 20 countries from the two semi-finals.
The running order is:
- 1. 🇦🇹 Austria | Teya & Salena – Who The Hell Is Edgar?
- 2. 🇵🇹 Portugal | Mimicat – Ai Coração
- 3. 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Remo Forrer – Watergun
- 4. 🇵🇱 Poland | Blanka – Solo
- 5. 🇷🇸 Serbia | Luke Black – Samo Mi Se Spava
- 6. 🇫🇷 France: La Zarra – Évidemment
- 7. 🇨🇾 Cyprus | Andrew Lambrou – Break A Broken Heart
- 8. 🇪🇸 Spain: Blanca Paloma – Eaea
- 9. 🇸🇪 Sweden | Loreen – Tattoo
- 10. 🇦🇱 Albania | Albina & Familja Kelmendi – Duje
- 11. 🇮🇹 Italy: Marco Mengoni – Due Vite
- 12. 🇪🇪 Estonia | Alika – Bridges
- 13. 🇫🇮 Finland | Käärijä – Cha Cha Cha
- 14. 🇨🇿 Czechia | Vesna – My Sister’s Crown
- 15. 🇦🇺 Australia | Voyager – Promise
- 16. 🇧🇪 Belgium | Gustaph – Because Of You
- 17. 🇦🇲 Armenia | Brunette – Future Lover
- 18. 🇲🇩 Moldova | Pasha Parfeni – Soarele şi Luna
- 19. 🇺🇦 Ukraine: TVORCHI – Heart of Steel
- 20. 🇳🇴 Norway | Alessandra – Queen of Kings
- 21. 🇩🇪 Germany: Lord of the Lost – Blood & Glitter
- 22. 🇱🇹 Lithuania | Monika Linkytė – Stay
- 23. 🇮🇱 Israel | Noa Kirel – Unicorn
- 24. 🇸🇮 Slovenia | Joker Out – Carpe Diem
- 25. 🇭🇷 Croatia | Let 3 – Mama ŠČ!
- 26. 🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Mae Muller – I Wrote A Song
Armenia, Azerbaijan accuse each other of fresh crossborder attacks, days ahead of EU talks
Armenia and Azerbaijan on Thursday blamed each other for an exchange of fire along their restive border, which killed one person and wounded four, days ahead of EU-hosted peace talks.
The leaders of the two countries are due to hold talks in Brussels on Saturday as part of a push to resolve the three-decade territorial dispute between the two neighbours in the Caucasus.
The European Union-hosted meeting comes after the United States said "tangible progress" had been made at talks between foreign ministers in Washington last week aimed at ending the dispute over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. But on Thursday, both sides accused each other of shooting along their border.
"A soldier from the Azerbaijani army was killed after a provocation from the Armenian forces," Azerbaijan's defence ministry said, accusing Armenia of having "once again violated the ceasefire agreement" with "large-calibre weapons". Armenia said four of its soldiers were wounded in the clashes, which it blamed on Azerbaijan.
"Azerbaijani forces are shooting artillery and mortars at Armenian position in the Sotk region" in the east, Armenia's defence ministry said.
The incident comes just days before European Council President Charles Michel is to host Armenia's Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan's Ilham Aliyev for talks in Brussels.
The two 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 but added that he was still willing to attend. "I have not changed my mind about going to Brussels," the Armenia premier told his government.
He added however that there was "very little" chance of signing a peace deal with Azerbaijan at the meeting. The draft agreement "is still at a very preliminary stage and it is too early to speak of an eventual signature", Pashinyan said.
Majority-Christian Armenia and Azerbaijan, whose population is mostly Muslim, were both republics of the Soviet Union that gained independence in 1991, when the USSR broke up.
They have gone to war twice over disputed territories, mainly Nagorno-Karabakh, a majority-Armenian region inside Azerbaijan.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the two wars over the region, one lasting six years and ending in 1994, and the second in 2020, which ended in a Russia-negotiated ceasefire deal.
But clashes have broken out regularly since then. The Western mediation efforts to resolve the conflict come as major regional power Russia has struggled to maintain its decisive influence, due to the fallout from its war on Ukraine.
(AFP)
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20230511-armenia-azerbaijan-accuse-each-other-of-fresh-crossborder-attacks-days-ahead-of-eu-talks