Author: Emil Lazarian

 11:16, 6 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met with US Senator, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Menendez during his working visit in Washington D.C., the foreign ministry said in a press release.

Member of the Committee, Senator Jim Risch also attended the meeting.

The sides touched upon the agenda of the Armenian-American relations, as well as the security situation around Armenia and Artsakh, and a number of issues relating to regional security.

The sides praised also the achievements registered in the Armenian-American diplomatic relations over the past 30 years. The Armenian FM highlighted the importance of the US support to Armenia’s ongoing reforms, strengthening of democracy, economy development, as well as touched upon the significance of the agreements reached during the visit.

At the meeting FM Mirzoyan also highly valued the contribution of Senator Menendez to the adoption of the Senate resolution on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

The Armenian FM also presented the humanitarian situation in Nagorno Karabakh and the position of Armenia over the peaceful settlement of the NK conflict. In this context the impermissibility of provocation of tension by Azerbaijan was emphasized.

The sides stressed the necessity for repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives held in Azerbaijan.

Ararat Mirzoyan also presented the latest developments in the Armenia-Turkey normalization process.

Ararat Mirzoyan handed over the Friendship Order to Bob Menendez, who was awarded on the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of Armenia-US diplomatic relations, for his significant contributions to the development and strengthening of the Armenian-American friendly relations.

 15:13, 6 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 6, ARMENPRESS. Mayor of Yerevan Hrachya Sargsyan had a meeting with Ambassador of France to Armenia Anne Louyot, the press service of the Yerevan City Hall said.

Highly valuing the role of France in the programs implemented in Yerevan so far, the Mayor expressed confidence that the warm relations with the Embassy will continue, which in its turn, he said, will contribute to the further expansion of the friendly and practical relations between Yerevan and French cities.

The French Ambassador thanked for the readiness to expand the partnership and said that she will do the utmost within her powers to assist all the initiatives aimed at strengthening the bilateral ties.

Today the Yerevan City Hall is cooperating with Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Nice and Île-de-France. The sides highlighted expanding this partnership.

Touching upon the next conference of decentralized cooperation to take place in Lyon this year in June, the Mayor of Yerevan and the French Ambassador expressed confidence that it will serve as a good occasion to discuss the vision and programs of future cooperation.

 13:08, 5 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Commenting on the question whether a new meeting is planned between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan told reporters today that there are still issues, and they will start discussing the potential meeting of Pashinyan and Aliyev only after having the answers to these questions.

Before the meeting with the assistant to the Azerbaijani president Hikmet Hajiyev in Brussels on May 2, Mr. Grigoryan said that if the meeting is held in a constructive environment, it will be followed by the meeting of Pashinyan and Aliyev.

“There are issues, and we will start discussing the possible meeting of the leaders of the countries only after their answers. We still continue the discussions. And when the discussions reach some stage and the possible meeting is outlined, a public statement will be made”, he said.

 14:12, 5 May, 2022

YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan says he hasn’t seen Azerbaijan publicly rejecting Armenia’s 6-point proposal.

Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Grigoryan reminded that Armenia submitted to Azerbaijan a 6-point proposal in response to Baku’s 5-point proposal.

“Azerbaijan’s proposed points were not unacceptable for Armenia. With its 6 points Armenia proposed that there should be a resolution also to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in order for comprehensive peace to be possible. Now, our approach is that these two packages, 5+6 points must be joined with each other and start negotiations over a peace treaty in order to find a long-term solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,” Grigoryan said.

He reiterated Armenia’s position on prioritizing a solution to the security, defense and rights of Armenians living in Artsakh and that the status of Nagorno Karabakh should be developed in accordance.

“I haven’t seen a public rejection of this package. There is an understanding in our discussions that these two packages should be joined and that negotiations should start. Both the Azerbaijani side and all other international partners have this understanding. Starting negotiations over the 5+6 points is a legitimate approach and we’ve seen that understanding,” Grigoryan said.