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

Ameriabank named the Best Bank in Armenia by Global Finance

Emil Lazarian

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 16:57,

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. Ameriabank has been named the Best Bank in Armenia by Global Finance magazine in its 30th annual awards for the World’s Best Banks.

When selecting the world’s top banks, Global Finance considered a range of criteria, including growth in assets, profitability, geographic reach, strategic relationships, new business development, and innovation in products. Other factors for selection included the opinions of equity analysts, credit rating analysts, banking consultants, and others involved in the financial industry throughout the world. This year’s awards were given to banks that attended carefully to their customers’ needs in difficult markets and accomplished strong results while laying the foundations for future success.

“As the banking crisis spreads from the US to other regions, identifying the best banks regarding services, stability and institutional knowledge is more important than ever,” said Joseph D. Giarraputo, founder and editorial director of Global Finance. “This year’s Best Bank Awards recognize the financial institutions that offer the broadest range of services as well as the reliability required for long-term financial relationships.”

Artak Hanesyan, Chairman of the Management Board, CEO at Ameriabank, commented: “We are delighted to receive the Best Bank Award from Global Finance, which serves as a testament to our robust growth in all business areas over the past year. As this is the ninth time we have received this prestigious award, it goes beyond just one year’s financial results and serves as a true recognition of our strong performance for more than a decade to reflect also the resilience and enduring strength of our long-term strategy. By accepting and celebrating this acknowledgement, we reinstate our commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our customers and introducing innovation in financial services with a strong focus on digitalization, financial responsibility and long-term sustainability.”

Ameriabank has been awarded the Best Bank of Armenia for the ninth time and the third consecutive year.

Ameriabank CJSC

Ameriabank is a leading financial and technology company in Armenia, a major contributor to the Armenian economy, with assets exceeding AMD 1 trillion. In the course of digital transformation, it has launched a number of innovative solutions and platforms going beyond banking-only needs of its diverse customer base, thus creating a dynamically evolving financial technology space. 

Ameria was the first in Armenia to create ecosystems for both businesses and individuals, which give one-window access to a range of banking and non-banking services, among them – Estate.ameriabank.am, Automarket.ameriabank.am, Business.ameriabank.am. 

As a truly customer-centric company, Ameria aims to be a trusted and secure financial technology space with seamless solutions to improve the quality of life.

The Bank is supervised by the Central Bank of Armenia.

About Global Finance

Global Finance, founded in 1987, has a circulation of 50,000 readers in 193 countries and territories. Global Finance’s audience includes senior corporate and financial officers responsible for making investment and strategic decisions at multinational companies and financial institutions. Its website — GFMag.com — offers analysis and articles that are the legacy of 36 years of experience in international financial markets. Global Finance is headquartered in New York, with offices around the world. Global Finance regularly selects the top performers among banks and other financial services providers. These awards have become a trusted standard of excellence for the global financial community.

Against all challenges, we should not deviate from the development agenda of Armenia for a single moment. PM Pashinyan

Emil Lazarian

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 17:15,

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received the President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, Laurent Wauquiez, and the delegation led by him, who were on a two-day visit to the Syunik Province, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

In his welcome speech, the Prime Minister particularly said,

“Dear Mr. Wauquiez,

I welcome you in the Republic of Armenia and I am glad to meet you again. We are also pleased to note that the relations between Armenia and France have high dynamics not only at the highest political level, but also in the level of decentralized cooperation.

Of course, we are in a very difficult period, and our country and the region are experiencing very difficult times. In this sense, such visits are also very important in terms of conveying moral strength and support, including political. I would like to emphasize the importance of your visit to the starting point of the Lachin Corridor and the Syunik Province and, of course, your messages regarding the existing situation.

I would also like to hear your impressions from the visit. I hope you have noticed that despite all the problems, we are making very serious investment projects in the republic, including in the Syunik Province. massive construction works are being carried out: roads, schools, kindergartens, other infrastructures, because our approach is that despite all the challenges, we should not deviate for a moment from the development agenda of Armenia. Recently, the European Union’s investment and economic plan was launched in Syunik Province, which is extremely important. We also hope that the presence of the EU civilian mission along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border will become an additional factor contributing to stability and security. I welcome you once again.”

The President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France said,

“Thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister.

This is the second time we are meeting, and I have the greatest respect for what you are doing for Armenia in this very difficult period. Last time I was very impressed with your strength and your will to move forward with very specific plans.

You are asking about my impressions from this visit. first of all, I want to say that it was very important for us to go to the Syunik Province and be the first French local authority to establish cooperation with the region, because we understand very well how important Syunik is for the territorial integrity of Armenia.”

The parties emphasized the consistent efforts of the international community towards stability and peace in the region.

The interlocutors also discussed the prospects for the development of multi-sector partnership and the expansion of trade and economic ties. In this regard, the signing of the Cooperation Agreement between the Syunik Province and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region on March 29 was highlighted.

The Prime Minister noted that the Armenian Government consistently continues the policy of balanced territorial development, and in this regard, attached great importance to the strengthening of decentralized cooperation with France and the exchange of experience between regions. Nikol Pashinyan referred to the reform agenda of the Government of Armenia, measures being implemented to improve the investment environment. Laurent Wauquiez thanked for the information, noting that French companies are interested in doing business in Armenia.

The sides exchanged ideas on opportunities for implementing joint projects in the fields of agriculture, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and renewable energy.

Armenia Signs Biden’s Democracy Summit Declaration with Reservations

Emil Lazarian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in the Summit for Democracy hosted by President Biden on March 29

Armenia has signed a declaration emanating from the Summit for Democracy that took place on Wednesday, however it expressed its objection over a portion of the document that specifically addresses the response of the participants to conflicts.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the the virtual summit, hosted by President Joe Biden. During his presentation Pashinyan pledged Armenia’s dedication to democracy and democratic principles. He also said that Armenia was committed in advancing a peace deal with Azerbaijan.

Armenia expressed reservation regarding a portion of the declaration known as the “preambular paragraph 3,” saying, “this paragraph does not comprehensively reflect all conflicts and crises and does not address the fact of the Azerbaijani aggression against, and occupation of parts of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia.”

Armenia, along with India and Mexico, endorsed the document as a whole, but expressed their reservations to the said paragraph.

The gist of the paragraph was the recognition of fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter, which says that “all states shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state and shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means.”

Yet the remainder of the preamble solely focused on condemning Russia for its “aggression” against Ukraine and did not address the violations of rights and democratic principles as it relates to other conflicts around the world, including the current state of Artsakh, which has been blockaded by Azerbaijan since December 12. The statement also does not make reference to other violations of sovereignty and does not call for the immediate release of prisoners of war elsewhere in the world, but Ukraine.

“We deplore the dire human rights and humanitarian consequences of the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, including the continuous attacks against critical infrastructure across Ukraine with devastating consequences for civilians, and express our grave concern at the high number of civilian casualties, including women and children, the number of internally displaced persons and refugees in need of humanitarian assistance, and violations and abuses committed against children. We are deeply concerned by the adverse impact of the war on global food security, energy, nuclear security and safety and the environment. We demand that Russia immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and call for a cessation of hostilities.  We also call for the parties to the armed conflict to adhere to their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law.  We call also for the complete exchange of prisoners of war, the release of all unlawfully detained persons and the return of all internees and of civilians forcibly transferred and deported, including children. We strongly support accountability for the most serious crimes under international law committed on the territory of Ukraine through appropriate, fair and independent investigations and prosecutions at the national or international level, and to ensure justice for all victims and the prevention of future crimes,” the paragraph in question stated in part.

Greece and Armenia sign military cooperation program for 2023

Emil Lazarian
 

By 

Athens Bureau

 10 hours ago

The “Greece-Armenia Military Cooperation Program” was signed for the year 2023 on Tuesday by the Director of the Directorate of International Relations of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (GEETHA), Brigadier Vasilios Tsami, and the Director of the Department of Defence Policy and International Cooperation of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia, Mr. Levon Ayvazyan.

The program for 2023 includes 21 activities, of which 15 will take place in Greece and 6 in Armenia, and concern:

  • Joint training of Special Forces – Special Operations Forces.
  • Co-training on Electronic Warfare.
  • Participation in the Multinational Training Centre for Peace Support Operations.
  • Exchange of experiences and lessons in Air Defence Systems.
  • Staff exchange and visits to schools and multinational schools, as well as seminars.
  • Staff meetings and talks on matters of mutual interest, with special emphasis on the field of Military Intelligence.
The signing of the Program confirms the strong military ties of the two countries and further strengthens the operational capabilities and the level of interoperability of their Armed Forces, contributing to the strengthening of the role played by Greece and Armenia in ensuring stability and security in the wider region.
 

Speaker Alen Simonyan might need second surgery on arm

Emil Lazarian

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 10:21,

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan might need a second surgery on his right arm, his spokesperson said Friday.

Simonyan fractured his right arm on March 20 while training. He underwent surgery for the injury and was seen wearing an arm brace during his March 28 visit to Germany.

“The Speaker of Parliament might undergo a second surgery,” Simonyan’s spokesperson Tsovinar Khachatryan told ARMENPRESS, adding that the Speaker is feeling well.

Whoever attacks Syunik will be attacking Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, says Laurent Wauquiez

Emil Lazarian

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 12:30,

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh’s (Nagorno Karabakh) fate is closely linked with Syunik’s fate, while Syunik is the key to Armenia’s integrity, the President of the Regional Council of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Laurent Wauquiez said on March 31 in Yerevan.

“That’s why we decided to have a cooperation agreement between our region and Syunik province. The agreement was signed in a very meaningful place, in the Tatev Monastery. Cooperation will relate to healthcare, agriculture and education. I’ve said that whoever attacks Syunik will be attacking my region,” Wauquiez said, repeating his statement made at the signing ceremony earlier.

He called on France and the international community to pay attention to Armenia and Artsakh amid the threats from Azerbaijan.

“This isn’t a dispute between two countries where borders aren’t clarified and it could last forever, this is a total disregard for human rights that are protected under all international conventions, this is a desire to destroy a nation, its culture and history, its memory. This is certainly Armenia’s struggle, Artsakh’s struggle, but this is also a bigger struggle, this is a struggle for all the values that we bear. This is a struggle for civilization and democracy. Protecting you means protecting all these values,” the French politician added.

He called for stronger reaction by the international community and international sanctions against Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

“It was decided not to buy Russian gas any more after the occupation of some parts of Ukraine, but is the Azerbaijani gas more acceptable? Why weren’t there any consequences for what happened, why are there no sanctions against the Aliyev regime? I share these questions with you and I am equally angered,” he said.

Wauquiez said that together with his 40-member delegation he visited Syunik province. “All members of my delegation can now say, I have been there, I have seen what’s happening, I know what’s happening. The Azerbaijani troops came and captured the parts from the sovereign territory of Armenia where we went just one day earlier.”

Existential crisis for Iran in South Caucasus

Emil Lazarian

OPINION

The question now is whether diplomacy will be enough to pull all sides back from the brink
By NIKOLA MIKOVICMARCH 30, 2023

Tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia are threatening to destabilize the South Caucasus, prompting some to worry that Iran could eventually be pulled into a wider regional conflict. But is Iran really prepared to invade its Shia-majority neighbor to protect Armenia, or are recent military moves little more than bluster?

While Azerbaijan’s military continues to capture parts of Nagorno-Karabakh – internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan despite being under Armenian control for three decades – leaders in the energy-rich country accuse the Islamic Republic of amassing troops near its exclave of Nakhchivan, on Iran’s northwestern border.

Tehran hasn’t denied the allegations. On the contrary, the al-Quds Force – one of five branches of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – has reported that its bases near the Armenia-Azerbaijan border are on high alert for a possible attack.

Heavy logistical movements of the Azerbaijani army raised concerns in Iran that an operation against Armenia was imminent, and IRGC commander Brigadier-General Mohammad Pakpour visited the area last Friday.

There are even reports that IRGC forces in Iran’s provinces of East and West Azerbaijan – where ethnic Azeris make up most of the population – have been ordered to full combat readiness. 

But despite the recent spike in tensions, the current situation in the South Caucasus remains manageable, and Iran’s calculations are more strategic than tactical. At least for now. 

Azerbaijan uses the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a way to pressure Armenia to build its section of the Nakhchivan corridor, a land route that would connect mainland Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan via southern Armenia’s province of Syunik. If built under Baku’s terms, the corridor would in effect cut off Iran from Armenia, something that Alireza Monadi, a representative of the Iranian city of Tabriz, said Tehran “will not allow.”

(Indeed, Mohammad-Reza Mirtajodini, Iran’s former vice-president for parliamentary affairs, has even called for Tehran to annex Nakhchivan in response.) 

The IRGC was even more direct. On its official Telegram channels, the Revolutionary Guard posted open threats to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev over his “hostile actions against Armenia.” Iran seems determined to prevent a potential Azerbaijani attack on southern Armenia, though it remains unclear how far it might go to avert such a scenario.

The reason for Iran’s concern is simple: Azerbaijan’s control over southern Armenia would jeopardize Tehran’s positions in the South Caucasus, and pose an existential threat to the Islamic Republic itself.

In the north, Iran would be completely surrounded by Turkic countries, and Tehran fears that Azerbaijan could eventually allow Israel to use its territory for attacks on the Islamic Republic. Already, Azerbaijan is strengthening its military and intelligence relations with Israel – Iran’s arch-enemy. 

If Tehran turns a blind eye to Azerbaijani-Israeli cooperation, such a move could be interpreted as a sign of weakness. That’s why Tehran is expected to continue flexing its military muscles in the region – aiming to demonstrate that the territorial integrity of Armenia is Iran’s red line.

Time may be on Iran’s side, as the only major incident recently was in Nagorno-Karabakh, where Azerbaijani forces took “urgent measures” to prevent the construction of a road to bypass the Lachin corridor – the only road connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh.

For now, diplomacy appears to be the desired course of action. On March 11, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador in Baku to protest against the presence of an Iranian warplane over the disputed area. 

Earlier this year, Azerbaijan closed its embassy in Tehran and evacuated staff and their families after a gunman stormed the diplomatic mission, killing the security chief and wounding two guards. Thus diplomatic relations between the two neighbors remain tense, and both sides occasionally add fuel to the fire.

The question now is whether diplomacy will be enough to pull all sides back from the brink. Azerbaijan has considered engaging ethnic Azerbaijanis living in Iran as instruments against the Islamic Republic.

Last November, President Aliyev stressed that Azerbaijan would “do everything to protect the rights, freedoms, and security of Azerbaijanis living abroad, including Azerbaijanis in Iran.” His statement was a direct message to the Islamic Republic, designed to show that Baku has significant leverage in, and over Tehran. 

Iran, for its part, could use the Shia factor as its trump card against Azerbaijan. But this could backfire, given that Baku frequently arrests members of Shiite groups that are allegedly planning to carry out acts of sabotage and disruption under the guise of religion.

If, however, Iran decides to raise the stakes and attack Israeli-backed Azerbaijan under any pretext, it risks an open confrontation with a country that will be strongly supported not only by Israel, but also by NATO member Turkey.

Thus policymakers in Tehran will have to think twice before taking any action in the South Caucasus. Direct confrontation can be avoided, but only if cooler heads prevail.

This article was provided by Syndication Bureau, which holds copyright.


Armenia threatens Putin ‘should stay in his country’ or face an arrest

Emil Lazarian
Maya Boddie

The Armenian government has threatened to arrest Russian president Vladimir Putin if he chooses to enter Armenia despite the countries’ allyship, The Daily Beast reports.

Per Reuters, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant to the Russian leader, “accusing Putin of the war crime of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine, a move condemned by the Kremlin as a meaningless and outrageously partisan decision.”

The Daily Beast reports:

Armenia is not alone, and other countries are banding together with plans to arrest Putin. Ireland, Croatia, Austria, and Germany have each said they will enforce the warrant.

“If Putin comes to Armenia, he should be arrested… It is better for Putin to stay in his country,” Gagik Melkonyan, deputy of the Armenian National Assembly, said. “If we enter into these agreements, then we must fulfill our obligations. Let Russia solve its problems with Ukraine.”

Reuters reports, “state Russian news agency, RIA, cited a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying that Moscow regarded Armenia’s ICC plans as ‘unacceptable,’ and The Daily Beast reports the institution confirmed “there would be ‘extremely negative’ consequences for Armenia moving forward.

“Moscow considers absolutely unacceptable the plans of official Yerevan to accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court against the backdrop of the recent illegal and legally void ‘warrants’ of the ICC against the Russian leadership,” a source said, according to The Daily Beast.

The Daily Beast reports:

Even though Armenia is technically a Russian ally—as part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)—Armenia’s decision is just the latest indication that the country is willing to take matters into its own hands and hold Putin accountable.


In Memory of Edmond Y. Azadian

Emil Lazarian
 Weekly Staff Obituaries 1

Edmond Y. Azadian

Following a brief illness, Edmond Y. Azadian passed away on March 25, 2023. 

Born in Beirut in 1935, Azadian was a leader in the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party. 

Azadian authored dozens of volumes and served as senior editorial columnist for the Armenian Mirror-Spectator, an association of more than four decades. He also was a member of the Union of Writers of Armenia and the Republic of Armenia’s Academy of Sciences, as well as an advisor to the Alex and Marie Manoogian Museum in Detroit, Michigan.

The Armenian Weekly Editorial Board and staff express sincere condolences to Mr. Azadian’s family and friends, as well as his colleagues at the Armenian Mirror-Spectator.




RFE/RL Armenian Report – 03/29/2023

Emil Lazarian 
                                        Wednesday, 
Moscow Seeks End To Armenia’s Spat With CSTO
RUSSIA - The Russian Foreign Ministry building is seen behind a social 
advertisement billboard showing Z letters and reading "For the World without 
Nazism," Moscow. October 13, 2022.
Russia hopes to end Armenia’s growing estrangement from the Collective Security 
Treaty Organization (CSTO), according to a senior Russian diplomat.
The Armenian government has cancelled a CSTO military exercise planned in 
Armenia and refused to appoint a deputy secretary-general of the Russian-led 
military alliance over what it sees as a lack of support in the conflict with 
Azerbaijan. Citing the same reason, it has also rejected other CSTO member 
states’ offer to deploy a monitoring mission to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
The unprecedented tensions have called into question Armenia’s continued 
membership in the organization. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian claimed on March 
16 that it is the CSTO that could “leave Armenia.” A Russian Foreign Ministry 
spokeswoman laughed off that remark, saying that she has trouble understanding 
its meaning.
“We expect that harmful discussions on the topic of ‘who leaves what’ will end 
and that all issues of interaction with Yerevan within the CSTO framework, 
including the deployment of the organization’s monitoring mission in Armenia, 
will be solved in a constructive and mutually beneficial manner,” Russia’s 
Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told RTVI, a Russian-language 
broadcaster.
“For our part, we reaffirm our readiness to implement plans to deploy a CSTO 
mission on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in the interests of ensuring 
Armenia’s security as well as other assistance measures,” said Galuzin.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also reaffirmed that offer when he met 
with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan in Moscow on March 20. Lavrov 
decried “undisguised attempts by Western countries to estrange Armenia from 
Russia.”
Tensions between Moscow and Yerevan have deepened further since then. Last 
Friday, Armenia’s Constitutional Court gave the green light for parliamentary 
ratification of the International Criminal Court’s founding treaty. The ruling 
came one week after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President 
Vladimir Putin over war crimes allegedly committed by Russia in Ukraine.
Moscow warned on Monday that Yerevan’s recognition of The Hague tribunal’s 
jurisdiction would have “extremely negative” consequences for Russian-Armenian 
relations. The Armenian government has still not publicly reacted to the stern 
warning.
Baku Slams Head Of EU Monitoring Mission In Armenia
        • Astghik Bedevian
Armenia - European Union monitors patrol Armenia's border with Azerbaijan, 
February 20, 2023.
Baku on Wednesday lambasted the head of European Union monitors deployed to 
Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan for essentially not ruling out the possibility 
of a fresh Azerbaijani military offensive there.
“Many Armenians believe there will be a spring offensive by Azerbaijan. If this 
doesn't happen, our mission is already a success,” Markus Ritter, the German 
head of the monitoring mission, told Germany’s Deutsche Welle broadcaster this 
week.
“We cannot interfere, we only have binoculars and cameras at our disposal,” he 
said.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Ritter’s remarks, saying 
that they are based on “false and slanderous statements made by the Armenian 
side.”
The Armenian government did not immediately comment. It has repeatedly claimed 
in recent weeks that Baku is planning a “new military aggression” against 
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
The conflicting sides have reported this month more frequent ceasefire 
violations on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the Karabakh “line of 
contact.” An Armenian soldier was shot and killed by Azerbaijani troops on March 
22.
The deployment in February of the 100 or so EU monitors was meant to reduce the 
risk of a serious escalation in the conflict zone. Foreign Minister Ararat 
Mirzoyan said last week that the Armenian government has no access to their 
confidential reports sent to Brussels.
Azerbaijan as well as Russia have criticized the two-year EU mission requested 
by Yerevan. Moscow said on February 21 that it is part of the West’s efforts to 
squeeze it out of the South Caucasus.
Pashinian Again Invited To U.S. ‘Summit For Democracy’
Armenia - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian participates in the second Summit for 
Democracy, .
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian is among 120 global leaders participating in the 
second Summit for Democracy organized by U.S. President Joe Biden and denounced 
by Russia.
The two-day virtual summit which began on Wednesday is designed to promote 
democratic governance around the world in the face of rising authoritarianism. 
Biden was due to pledge $690 million in U.S. government funding for democracy 
programs around the world.
“Worldwide, we see autocrats violating human rights and suppressing fundamental 
freedoms; corrupting -- and with corruption eating away at young people's faith 
in their future; citizens questioning whether democracy can still deliver on the 
issues that matter most to their lives,” The Associated Press quoted U.S. 
Secretary of State Antony Blinken as saying at a pre-summit virtual event on 
Tuesday.
Russia scoffed at the summit on Wednesday, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov 
saying it "can hardly be classified as some kind of serious event." Washington 
is still “aspiring to the role of global teacher of so-called democracy,” he 
told reporters.
“As regards those who chose to take part in this lesson, it’s their sovereign 
business,” Peskov said when asked about Armenia’s participation in the event.
Addressing the summit, Pashinian insisted that his government “continues to 
implement a democratic reform agenda.”
“As a result of that, our country has improved its positions in various global 
rankings,” he said.
Pashinian went on to mention the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and, in particular, 
Azerbaijan’s offensive military operations launched along the Armenian border 
last September.
ARMENIA - U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accepts a bouquet of flowers from 
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian in Yerevan, September 18, 2022,
“It was back in September that we felt the union of democracies and the clear 
condemnation of aggression against Armenia,” he said, referring to Western 
powers. “I want to take this opportunity and extend our gratitude to the United 
States and other partners that helped us stop the further incursion through 
diplomatic engagement.”
Pashinian and other senior Armenian officials have repeatedly complained about 
what they see as a lack of such support from Russia, Armenia’s main ally. 
Relations between Moscow and Yerevan have significantly deteriorated in recent 
months.
Pashinian also took part in the first Summit for Democracy held in December 
2021. The U.S. invitations extended to him highlight Washington’s largely 
positive assessments of his government’s human rights and democracy records.
Armenian opposition leaders have accused the U.S. as well as the European Union 
of turning a blind eye to the Pashinian administration’s pressure on the 
judiciary, the existence of “political prisoners” and other human rights abuses 
in the South Caucasus country. In May last year, they lambasted the then U.S. 
ambassador in Yerevan, Lynne Tracy, for seemingly touting the outcome of 
Armenia’s 2021 general elections won by Pashinian’s party.
In an annual report released on Monday, Amnesty International accused the 
Armenian authorities of using “excessive force” against opposition protesters 
and “unduly” restricting the freedom of expression.
“Criminal prosecutions over the legitimate expression of criticism of the 
authorities had a chilling effect on free speech,” said the global watchdog.
Azerbaijan Thanks Israel For Support During Karabakh War
Israel -- Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and his Azerbaijani counterpart 
Jeyhun Bayramov a joint press conference, .
Visiting Israel on Wednesday, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov 
thanked the Jewish state for supporting Azerbaijan during the 2020 war with 
Armenia.
“We are grateful to Israel for supporting the position of Azerbaijan,” 
Azerbaijani news agencies quoted Bayramov as saying after talks with his Israeli 
counterpart Eli Cohen. He said that Jews were among Azerbaijani soldiers killed 
during the six-week war in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Bayramov was due to inaugurate the Azerbaijani Embassy in Tel Aviv during his 
visit.
Israel has long been one of Azerbaijan’s main suppliers of weapons and other 
military hardware. Those supplies continued even after Azerbaijan launched a 
full-scale offensive in and around Karabakh on September 27, 2020.
Armenia recalled its ambassador to Israel in protest on October 1, 2020. 
According to the Armenian military, Azerbaijani forces heavily used Israeli-made 
attack drones and multiple-launch rocket systems throughout the hostilities 
stopped by a Russian-brokered ceasefire in November 2020.
Azerbaijani-Israeli military cooperation appears to have continued unabated 
since then. Nevertheless, Armenia sent a new ambassador to Israel in April 2022.
Last month, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with then Israeli Defense 
Minister Yoav Gallant on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. 
Israel’s Minister of Intelligence Gila Gamliel also underscored close security 
ties between the two countries when she visited Baku earlier this month.
Gamliel’s visit came amid heightened tensions between Azerbaijan and Iran. 
Iranian leaders have repeatedly warned Baku against advancing Israel’s 
geopolitical interests in the region and trying to strip the Islamic Republic of 
its border with Armenia.
Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
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