Author: Emil Lazarian

 17:30, 6 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Alen Simonyan delivered speech at the session of the Council of CSTO Parliamentary Assembly in Yerevan on June 6.

Armenpress presents the text of the speech:

“Dear colleagues, I am glad to welcome you.

Colleagues, last year Armenia assumed the chairmanship of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). I would like to inform you, in general, about the procedure of the implementation of priorities of the chairmanship of the Republic of Armenia to the CSTO during 2021-2022.

Assuming the chairmanship of the Organization as a priority a problem was laid down to modernize the crisis response, monitoring, the forecast of crisis situations and the prevention mechanisms. I would like to mention with satisfaction that appropriate steps have been undertaken in these priority directions. I mean the crisis response mechanisms.

As you know, at the beginning of this year, taking into consideration the bid by the President of Kazakhstan Mr Tokayev, Armenia as chairing country to the CSTO, urgently initiated consultations with the heads of the countries of the organization, as a result of which Prime Minister Pashinyan announced about his decision of sending the CSTO peacekeeping corps. The results of the peacekeeping action assured the readiness of the Organization on taking measures on time in counteracting the security challenges and threats of the member states and showed the role of the CSTO in preserving the regional stability. We always considered that the CSTO crisis response mechanisms should work in a right way. Meanwhile, Armenia was in a situation, when we were waiting for the mechanisms to work, but unfortunately they didn’t work.

Armenia pays special attention to the deepening of the external political coordination and the mutual support for the elaboration of the agreed approaches over the international and regional issues, which touch upon the interests of the CSTO member states. I am fully convinced that such unity should be displayed towards any ally state of the organization.

This year considerable efforts are made to the improvement of the response system to the crisis situations in the regions of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the modernization of the mechanism of the adoption of the appropriate decisions, first of all, the normative-legal base development, as well as the establishment of cooperation within the framework of the crisis response centre.

The nest priority of the Republic of Armenia is the further development of the CSTO troops (collective forces), the preservation of their readiness for the fulfillment of the targeted tasks, taking into consideration the forecast of the dynamics and change of the military-political situations in the regions being in the immediate vicinity of the CSTO responsibility zone.

I would like to separately emphasize the role of the parliamentary measurement of the Organization on which our priorities are the rapprochement and harmonization of the national legislation of the CSTO member states in ensuring the security, taking into account the challenges and threats, including the digital, economic, financial and environmental spheres.

We also make efforts for the institutional continuous development and activation of the Parliamentary Assembly. In this context I consider important on time the proposal for the improvement of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly structure.

I shall note that the chairmanship of the Republic of Armenia passes in the hard transformation period of the security architecture of the world.

We witness that in the CSTO responsibility zone the situation is tense, and the member states of the Organization continue clashing with the new challenges and threats. The conflict potential continues growing along the perimeter of the allied states’ borders. The situation is hard and grave on the border of Tajikistan and Afghanistan. We hope that the problems existing between the conflicting countries will be resolved through diplomatic means. The situation also remains tense in Nagorno Karabakh. Unfortunately, Azerbaijan continues pursuing rather aggressive policy against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. The invasion of the Azerbaijani sub-divisions into the Russian peacekeepers’ responsibility zone in Nagorno Karabakh causes concern. We hope that the representatives of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, which have a key role in ensuring security of the Armenian population of the Nagorno Karabakh, will restore the status-quo of November 9, 2020 trilateral statement.

The Republic of Armenia is faithful to the implementation of all agreements and the next trilateral statements of the heads of the states. In the context of the created humanitarian problems because of 44-day war, the priority is the unreservedly and urgent return of Armenian prisoners of war and other civilians held in Azerbaijan, as well as the preservation of the Armenian religious and cultural heritage in the territories passed under the Azerbaijani control.

Dear colleagues, I would like to once again underscore that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is not a territorial dispute, but the issue of the right of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh to live safe in their homeland. We believe that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship should play a key role in the advancement of the peaceful process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. At the same time, we call on the leadership of Azerbaijan not to violate the steps aimed at ensuring the stability and peace in the South Caucasus with their bellicose and expansionist rhetoric.

Armenia is committed to the establishment of peace and welfare in the region and repeatedly recorded the willingness of beginning negotiations on the settlement of the relations with Azerbaijan. We filled in the agenda for reaching the comprehensive peace with our proposals and handed them over to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Concluding my speech, I would like to mention that no matter how up-to-date the priorities of the development of the Organization sounded by Armenia, we can reach results only due to the joint efforts directed to the further strengthening of the security system, constructive and effective cooperation and the dynamic development of the allied relations between the member states of the Organization.

Thank you for your attention”.

Armenia has received no official response from Baku on Armenia’s 6-point proposals – Deputy FM

 17:58, 6 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS. No official response has been received from Azerbaijan in response to Armenia’s 6-point proposals for normalization of relations with Azerbaijan, ARMENPRESS reports Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan said at a briefing with journalists at the National Assembly.

“We have not heard any official response, there were various speculations and opinions in the press, but personally I am not aware of any official position,” said the deputy minister.

Referring to the possible talks, he said that the purpose of the talks is to harmonize the approaches of the two sides. To what extent it will be successful will be seen during the course of the negotiations. No date of possible negotiations is known to the Deputy Minister.

“There is a preliminary agreement between the parties, but everything is still in the stage of negotiations, including the beginning, the day of the negotiations, and all the other elements,” Hovhannisyan said.

Referring to the question if the proposal of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the simultaneous withdrawal of the troops, after which the delimitation-demarcation works will start, is still being discussed, the Deputy FM said. “The issue is also under discussion, you know that the discussions have started, that proposal is on the table. A number of our international partners have expressed their positive position on this proposal. We will see how things will be during the talks.”

In March, Azerbaijan submitted its 5-point proposals, in response Armenia submitted its proposals a few days later.

 18:02, 6 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS. It is impossible to reach a settlement without taking into account the opinion of the Armenians of Karabakh, ARMENPRESS reports EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar said in a conversation with RFE/RL’s Armenian Service, answering the question whether the President of the European Council Charles Michel meant the participation of Armenians living in Nagorno Karabakh when he stated after the trilateral meeting in Brussels that for a lasting and fair peace there should be a discussion on all the key issues with the participation of all stakeholders.

“I think, after all, the Armenians of Karabakh are, of course, a party that must participate in the solution, no matter in what format. And it is very clear that the people of Karabakh have a fundamental interest in achieving a comprehensive settlement. I personally do not see how we can reach such a settlement without taking into account the opinion and point of view of those people,” he said.

However, after Nikol Pashinyan – Ilham Aliyev meeting, Charles Michel spoke only about the rights of ethnic Armenians in Karabakh, without mentioning anything about their future status, which has caused concern in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

“I think, in the end, the issue is that this should be a comprehensive settlement. And we all know how the conflict started, it must be finally closed. President Michel did not mention much in his statement. This was not a statement that covered all the issues that need to be addressed. But the fact is that we have always stressed that a comprehensive settlement of the conflict is necessary, we are working in that direction.”

In Yerevan, Toivo Klaar met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan, and Vice president of the National Assembly Ruben Rubinyan. The high-ranking European official is also scheduled to visit Baku in the near future.

Toivo Klaar receives generally positive messages from both capitals.

“The message I received is that the leaders’ meeting in Brussels a few weeks ago has yielded some concrete results. We had the first meeting of the border commissions. Then in Moscow a meeting was held between the Deputy Prime Ministers to discuss the opening of communication channels, which the leaders had discussed in Brussels. We are very excited. The response from Baku is that the assessment of both the Brussels meeting and its further course is positive. So, there is quite a positive momentum. And I think it can be developed”.

On the uncertain status of Nagorno-Karabakh, Toivo Klaar says the most important thing now is to try to move the process forward, responding to the observation that while Yerevan is talking about the Minsk Group, Baku insists that the Karabakh issue is closed and the Co-chairs’ format can be dissolved.

“The European Union does not claim to have copyright on anything. We are interested in seeing progress and supporting it, I think that is what President Michel was able to achieve through his three meetings with the leaders, as well as through his meeting with Presidents Macron, Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan. And that is what we want to do,” said the diplomat, reminding of other existing platforms, particularly the trilateral meetings at the highest level in Moscow and the Commission on unblocking infrastructures chaired by the Deputy Prime Ministers has restored its sessions.

“It’s great, it’s great if it takes us in the right direction. Thus, the sole interest of the European Union is to help the process and to achieve a lasting, comprehensive settlement.”

 18:05, 6 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS. The decision of the leaders of the member states to establish a Collective Security Treaty Organization has enabled the establishment of an effective system of interstate cooperation in the Eurasian space, which helps to meet the challenges and threats, ARMENPRESS reports the chairman of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly, Speaker of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Volodin said at the sitting of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly in Yerevan.

Volodin reminded that the meeting of the council is held in the context of the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Collective Security Treaty and the 20th anniversary of the decision to establish the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

“For the first time since the pandemic, we are gathering together here in Yerevan, with the in this particular format. And, of course, it is very important for us to gather in this format in the future, having the opportunity to look each other in the eyes, discuss issues and communicate around a round table, because trust is very important for the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly, and trust cannot be achieved without communication”, Volodin said.

Volodin stressed that the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly contributes to the security and ensuring of sovereignty of the states.

“Our main task is the rapprochement and harmonization of national legislations,” the CSTO PA President added.

Volodin reminded that during the entire work of the CSTO, 72 laws and proposals were adopted, which refer to terrorism, extremism, organized crime, drug trafficking, military-technical cooperation, and humanitarian aid.

According to the CSTO PA President, in practice the effectiveness of the CSTO has been confirmed by the activities of peacekeepers in the Republic of Kazakhstan in January 2022.

“The actions of the CSTO peacekeeping force, which included units of all member states, have allowed the Kazakh law enforcement agencies to focus their efforts on restoring the rule of law and eliminating threats to the country’s security,” Vyacheslav Volodin added.

According to the Speaker of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, based on this experience, it is necessary to continue working to improve the CSTO peacekeeping potential.

 10:10, 30 May 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. 1,006,554 full vaccinations against COVID-19 were registered in Armenia so far, the Ministry of Healthcare said.

Another 127,845 people received the first dose and 54,415 people received the booster shot.

 15:32, 30 May 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. International Boxing Association President Umar Kremlev praised the organizers of the Yerevan EUBC Men’s Elite European Boxing Championships.

“The European Boxing Championship is taking place on a high level. I want to say thank you to the Armenian people, thank you the government for such a wonderful championship. I see that Armenians love boxing, this year Armenia became the capital of European boxing,” Kremlev told ARMENPRESS.

Speaking about the controversial Narek Manasyan vs. Emmanuel Reyes semifinal bout that ended in the judges giving a UD 5:0 win to Spain’s Reyes, which prompted boxing fans accusing the judges in robbing Manasyan of the victory and Manasyan himself refusing to leave the ring in a sign of protest, Kremlev said that the judges have made mistakes.

“A special commission is carrying out an investigation. As of this moment it is obvious that the judges were wrong. The commission will investigate,” he said.

When Manasyan was protesting the decision, Team Ukraine representatives joined him on the ring, claiming that their athletes were also robbed in the bout against Great Britain’s boxers.