dpa international EU’s Borrell condemns renewed Azerbaijani-Armenian violence

yahoo!news
Feb 13 2024

The European Union's top diplomat on Tuesday condemned Azerbaijan's "disproportionate" response to alleged shooting by Armenian forces the day before.

"The Armenian shooting of the Azerbaijani soldier yesterday was deplorable, but the Azerbaijani response today seems to be disproportionate," Josep Borrell said.

Borrell was speaking at a press briefing in Brussels with Armenian foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan to mark the fifth meeting of the EU-Armenia Partnership Council, first held in 2018.

The meeting covered the "full spectrum" of EU-Armenian relations, Borrell said. "We discussed the regional situation and the Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization process, unhappily including the latest incident at the border."

Armenian and Azerbaijani troops exchanged fire on Monday and Tuesday in the latest skirmish of a long-running conflict the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

On Tuesday, the European Commission announced it was allocating €5.5 million in new humanitarian aid to support Armenians displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh.

The EU and Armenian delegations also discussed the potential for a "dialogue" on liberalizing the visa regime between the EU and Armenia, political reforms and human rights, as well as economic and trade cooperation.

"Armenia believes that all the necessary requirements have been met and it is time to launch the Armenia-EU visa liberalisation dialogue," Mirzoyan said. "It is a choice to be made to bring our peoples closer and to provide them with tangible outcomes of our cooperation."

The EU-Armenia Partnership Council is the product of an agreement signed in 2017 to deepen cooperation on a broad array of matters such as security, arms control, human rights, the environment, energy, migration, and combatting organized crime, terrorism, money laundering and drug trafficking.

In January 2023, EU member states agreed to establish a civilian mission to patrol and monitor the the region of Armenia near the Azerbaijani border, amid hostilities between the two countries.

In September, the EU condemned Azerbaijan's military campaign against ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.

In November, Mirzoyan said Armenians "have European aspirations" in a speech welcoming the EU's decision to open membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova and to recognize Georgia, Armenia's neighbour, as an official candidate for EU membership.

But the EU and Armenia have taken different positions on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While the EU has provided money and weapons for the Ukrainian war effort, Armenia has abstained on UN General Assembly resolutions against the invasion.

Armenia is also a member of the Common Security Treaty Organization, a Russian-led military alliance.

Armenia has however sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine, which in September provoked the Russian government to summon the Armenian ambassador in Moscow.

Armenian soldiers killed by Azerbaijani fire in biggest skirmish since exodus (+Links)

Reuters
Feb 13 2024
  • Armenia accuses Azerbaijan of killing four soldiers
  • Azerbaijan says Armenia injured one of its soldiers
  • Peace talks to end decades-old conflict stagnating
TBILISI/BAKU, Feb 13 (Reuters) – Armenia said on Tuesday that four of its soldiers were killed by Azerbaijani fire along the two countries' heavily militarised border, the first fatal incident since they began negotiating a deal to end more than 30 years of intermittent war last year.
Fatal exchanges have been common along the closed, roughly 1,000 km (620 mile) frontier since 1988 when Christian Armenia and mostly Muslim Azerbaijan first went to war over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, but the situation had calmed amid peace talks in recent months.
Tuesday's incident was the biggest since hundreds died when Azerbaijan retook Karabakh in September, prompting an exodus of the region's ethnic Armenian population.
Armenia's Defence Ministry said in a statement that the four soldiers were killed and another wounded at a combat post near the southern Armenian village of Nerkin Hand.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that its attack on the Armenian position had been in retaliation for an Armenian "provocation" the previous day that it said wounded one of Baku's soldiers in the area.
Baku said it had no intention of further escalation.
"Azerbaijan is committed to the peace process, and calls on the Armenian side to refrain from military escalations that would jeopardise the efforts to that end," it said.
Azerbaijan's Defence Ministry said earlier that Armenian forces on Monday evening fired at Baku's positions near Nerkin Hand, and at another point along the border, around 400 km (250 miles) to the north. It said one Azerbaijani serviceman had been wounded in the first incident.0
Armenia said it was investigating the Nerkin Hand shooting, and denied the incident Baku reported further north.
In a statement, Armenia's Foreign Ministry said that Azerbaijan had been looking for a "pretext" to attack Armenia, and accused Baku of deliberately jeopardising the peace process.
"The Azerbaijani leadership is consistently trying to thwart the efforts of actors interested in the stability and security of the South Caucasus to resume negotiations aimed at resolving relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan," it said.
The Kremlin, which is formally allied to Armenia but also has close ties with Azerbaijan, called for restraint on both sides. A Russian peacekeeping contingent remains in Karabakh and its border guards help patrol Armenia's frontiers.
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said during a press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Brussels that Armenia's shooting of an Azerbaijani soldier was "deplorable", but called Azerbaijan's response "disproportionate".
The EU's relations with Azerbaijan have sharply deteroriated since September, as Armenia has deepened ties with the bloc.
The Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan had a mostly ethnic Armenian population which won de facto independence after a lengthy war during the collapse of the Soviet Union.
But Azerbaijan in September retook Karabakh in a lightning offensive, prompting a rapid exodus of almost all of the territory's ethnic Armenian population of more than 100,000, and a renewed push from both sides for a deal to end the conflict.
Both Armenia and Azerbaijan have said they want to sign a peace treaty, but disagree over issues including precise demarcation of their border and control over several small territorial enclaves.
Azerbaijan also wants a customs-free transport corridor through Armenian territory, connecting Azerbaijan's mainland with its Nakhichevan exclave. Armenia has said it must retain control over any transport links on its soil.
Talks have in recent months appeared to stagnate, with both sides accusing the other of sabotaging the diplomatic process.

Reporting by Felix Light in Tbilisi, Nailia Bagirova in Baku and Dmitry Antonov in Moscow; editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Andrew Cawthorne and Nick Macfie

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/two-armenian-soldiers-killed-by-azerbaijani-fire-first-major-incident-since-2024-02-13/

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Azerbaijan, Armenia exchange blame after deadly border skirmish (+Links)

Fox News
Feb 13 2024
Associated Press

Armenia and Azerbaijan on Tuesday traded accusations over a border skirmish that left at least four Armenian soldiers dead and escalated tensions between the two Caucasus neighbors.

Armenia's Foreign Ministry denounced what it described as a "provocation" by Azerbaijani troops who fired on Armenian forces across the border in the eastern Syunik region early Tuesday. Four Armenian soldiers were killed and one was wounded, the ministry said. It urged Azerbaijan to refrain from "destabilizing" actions.

Azerbaijan's State Border Service said it had fired on an Armenian post in retaliation for Armenian shelling of Azerbaijani positions that wounded one Azerbaijani service member the previous day.

"Any provocations by the Armenian side aimed at escalating tensions along the Azerbaijan-Armenia border will now be met with even more serious and decisive measures," the State Border Service said in a statement. "The military-political leadership of Armenia bears full responsibility for these developments."

Armenia and Azerbaijan have a long history of land disputes. Azerbaijan waged a lightning military campaign last year to reclaim the Karabakh region, which Armenian separatists had ruled for three decades.

The region, which was known internationally as Nagorno-Karabakh, and large swaths of surrounding territory came under full control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia at the end of a separatist war in 1994.

Azerbaijan regained parts of Karabakh and most of the surrounding territory in a six-week war in 2020. It then launched a blitz in September that routed the separatist forces in one day and forced them to lay down arms. More than 100,000 ethnic Armenians fled the region in the following days, leaving it nearly deserted.

With political momentum from the successful military operation, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev last week won another term with 92% of the vote in a snap election.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have pledged to work toward signing a peace treaty, but no visible progress has been made, and tensions have continued to soar amid mutual distrust.

Armenia's Foreign Ministry cited the latest skirmish to accuse Azerbaijan of "searching for pretexts for escalation" and trying to derail peace efforts.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/azerbaijan-armenia-exchange-blame-deadly-border-skirmish

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New Bloodshed Threatens Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Talks

Feb 13 2024
Waqas Arain

A deadly dance of conflict resumes on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, as the first fatal incident since peace talks began claims two Armenian lives. The incident, reportedly instigated by Azerbaijani fire, occurred near the southern Armenian village of Nerkin Hand.

The recent escalation of violence along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border has cast a dark shadow over the ongoing peace negotiations. The conflict, which has claimed the lives of two Armenian soldiers, marks the first major incident since both sides began discussions to end the decades-long dispute.

As tensions rise, the potential for further bloodshed looms large, threatening to derail the fragile peace process. The incident has not only resulted in casualties on both sides but has also led to Azerbaijan issuing stern warnings of more serious measures in response to any future provocations.

The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, characterized by intermittent war and territorial disputes, stretches back over 30 years. The latest incident is a grim reminder of the ongoing tensions between the two nations, despite recent efforts to broker a lasting peace.

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The Deadly Clashes of September 2022 serve as a stark reminder of the volatility of the situation. The clashes, which resulted in numerous casualties, highlighted the urgent need for a resolution to the conflict.

In the aftermath of the September clashes, both Armenia and Azerbaijan have accused each other of launching attacks and instigating incursions. The Armenian Armed Forces allege that Azerbaijani military units initiated the recent attack in the Nerkin Khand area, resulting in Armenian casualties. Conversely, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry claims that the Armenian Armed Forces targeted their military positions in the Tovuz district.

The border conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has had a profound impact on local residents, particularly in the Armenian provinces. The conflict has led to casualties, displacements, and the significant militarization of the border.

The lack of officially demarcated borders since both countries gained independence has further complicated the situation. Issues of exclaves/enclaves and Azerbaijan's expansionist claims to Armenian territory have added fuel to the already contentious dispute.

As the conflict continues to simmer, the human cost of the border war becomes increasingly evident. The recent fatal incident, which claimed the lives of two Armenian soldiers, underscores the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

In the aftermath of the incident, both sides have reaffirmed their commitment to finding a peaceful solution. However, the path to peace remains fraught with challenges, as the recent violence serves as a stark reminder of the tensions that continue to divide Armenia and Azerbaijan.

As the world watches and waits, the people of Armenia and Azerbaijan hope for a future free from the specter of conflict and violence. The recent fatal incident, a tragic interlude in the peace talks, underscores the urgent need for a lasting resolution to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.

Pashinyan refuses to guarantee Putin’s non-arrest if he visits Armenia

feb 13 2024

By bne IntelliNews February 13, 2024

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has refused to give any assurances regarding the possible arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin during a possible visit to Armenia, following the country's recent accession to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a recent interview with the British Daily Telegraph, Pashinyan was asked about the possibility of Putin's arrest during such a visit. His vague response, citing legal complexities and the responsibility of Armenian law enforcement and courts, has fueled speculation and heightened tensions. Pashinyan's government claims that joining the ICC is aimed at taking legal action against Azerbaijan and preventing further attacks on Armenia. Opposition politicians, however, argue that the move is a strategic effort to drive a wedge between Russia and Armenia.

"As for the legal intricacies, I can't make a legal analysis at the moment, because that's more the job of the lawyers," he replied vaguely. "As I said, Armenia … must remain committed to all its international obligations, including the obligations it has in relations with the Russian Federation and in international relations."

The ratification of the ICC's Rome Statute by Armenia's Constitutional Court in March, just a week after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin for alleged war crimes during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has exacerbated already strained relations between Yerevan and Moscow. Although Russian officials denounced the move as "unfriendly" and predicted serious damage to Russian-Armenian relations, Putin appeared to downplay the situation and expressed his intention to visit Armenia again in the future.

As Pashinyan's comments continue to echo, Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, stressed the need for "certain assurances" before the Russian leader would consider travelling to Armenia. The situation remains unresolved and requires bilateral dialogue to address the complex legal and diplomatic implications of Armenia's accession to the ICC in the context of the delicate Armenia-Russia relationship.

Council of Europe Secretary General issues statement after Azerbaijani gunfire kills 4 Armenian troops

 15:17, 13 February 2024

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić has expressed concern on what she described as “exchange of fire” along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border after Azeri forces shot and killed 4 Armenian troops in Syunik province.

“Concerned about reports of exchange of fire along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Call on both sides to abstain from the use of force. Dialogue is the only way to lasting peace,” Marija Pejčinović Burić said in a post on X.

4 Armenian soldiers were killed and 1 was wounded in the early morning of February 13 when Azerbaijani forces opened gunfire at a military position near Nerkin Hand, Syunik Province.

Iran, Armenia expanding economic ties

Iran – Feb 17 2024

Gisoo Misha Ahmadi
Press TV, Tehran

The 18th meeting of the Iran-Armenia Joint Economic Committee has wrapped up with the two sides signing 19 MOUs to expand economic cooperation. The agreements pave the way for the trade volume between the two countries to increase threefold and reach three billion USD.

Watch the video at 

Armenia welcomes Iran-made pharmaceutical products

TEHRAN TIMES
Iran – Feb 17 2024
  1. Society
– 13:49

TEHRAN – The Armenian deputy health minister has announced the country’s willingness to import Iranian medicine and medical equipment.

Talking about the remarkable achievements of Iran in dealing with the coronavirus outbreak by adopting appropriate measures, Lena Nanushyan said that Iran's progress in the field of health is significant, ISNA reported.

She made the remarks in a meeting with Heidar Mohammadi, the head of Iran’s Food and Drug Administration on the sidelines of the 18th session of the Iran-Armenia Joint Economic Committee that was held in Tehran during February 14-15.

At the end of the meeting, the two sides signed 19 documents and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to enhance cooperation in various areas.

The mentioned documents covered a variety of areas including trade, maritime transportation, food, medicine, and customs cooperation.

Noting that Iranian pharmaceutical products are famous worldwide, she said that Armenia has yet to import the products, she added.

Referring to the quality of anti-cancer drugs manufactured in Iran, she said, “We are interested in using Iranian oncology drugs in Armenia, and it is also possible to supply part of the required drugs of the country from Iranian manufacturing companies.”

Nanushyan went on to say, “We are happy to sign an agreement to expand cooperation between the two countries in the field of medicine and medical equipment.”

She further noted once Iranian medicines are registered in Eurasia, it will be much easier to import medicines from Iran.

Nanushyan also voiced the country's readiness to hold an exhibition of Iranian-made medical products in Armenia.

The head of Iran’s Food and Drug Administration, Heidar Mohammadi, for his part, referred to the production of biotech medicines, which has few manufacturers worldwide, in the country as a competitive factor of Iran-made medicines.

The pharmaceutical industry in Iran has grown significantly after the (1979) Islamic Revolution, he said.

Mohammadi went on to say that currently, all medical supplements and some 99 percent of the country's pharmaceutical needs is produced domestically.

Also, over 50 percent of medical equipment is produced in the country and they are exported to foreign markets, he added.

Over 60 countries import Iranian medical equipment

On January 13, the head of Iran’s Union of Medical Equipment Manufacturers and Exporters said that medical equipment worth around $20 million is exported to more than 60 countries annually.

More than 70 percent of medical equipment and 100 percent of normal hospital beds are domestically made, IRNA quoted Abdolreza Yaqoubzadeh as saying.

Also, over 95 percent of specific ICU and CCU beds and more than 85 percent of operating room medical equipment such as anesthesia machines and other equipment are manufactured with cutting-edge technology in the country, he added.

Yaqoubzadeh went on to say that the country's need for medical equipment production is three to four billion dollars per year, some one billion dollars of which is imported.

Export of medicine and medical equipment rise

Iran experienced a significant rise in exports of medicine and medical equipment in the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year that started on March 21, 2023.

“Exports of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment grew by 300 percent in the first four months of the year,” IRNA quoted Mohammadi as saying.

Currently, the production of medicine, medical equipment, and powdered milk is supported by subsidies. So, their exports were very limited, but it is hoped that their exports will increase next year, he explained.

Referring to the shortage of 100 drug items in the country, he said: “Nearly one and a half percent of the country's pharmaceutical need is imported. Along with domestic production, it is done as soon as the domestic production meets the demand.”

A total of 227 knowledge-based firms are supplying medical equipment for health centers across the country, according to the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology.

MT/MG

Iran’s Envoy In Yerevan Defends Armenia’s Territorial Integrity

Iran International
Feb 17 2024

After warnings by Armenia of a fresh Azerbaijani military threat, Iran's Ambassador in Yerevan, Mehdi Sobhani, has reiterated Tehran's stance against any territorial alterations in the region.

In an interview with Armenpress, Sobhani emphasized, “The final position of the Islamic Republic of Iran is that we cannot accept a territorial change in any way. Any territorial changes should take place on the basis of mutual recognition of the territorial integrity of both countries, and this remains our final position…the territorial integrity of the countries of the region should be respected."

Expressing concern over regional stability, the Iranian diplomat stated that Tehran finds it “unacceptable” to witness a volatile situation around Armenia.

His comments come as tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan continue to escalate. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Thursday rejected Azerbaijan's persistent demands for legislative changes in Armenia, warning of potential "large-scale" military aggression from Baku.

Pashinian accused Azerbaijani leadership of pursuing a "policy of military coercion" to seize Armenian territory and extract concessions. He highlighted Azerbaijan's reluctance to demarcate the border, following a ceasefire violation that resulted in the death of four Armenian soldiers on Tuesday.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday maintained his stance, stating that he won't sign a peace treaty unless Armenia revises its legislation, which he claims contains territorial claims on Azerbaijan.

Amidst the tension, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi reaffirmed Tehran's opposition to the presence of external powers in the South Caucasus during discussions with a senior visiting Armenian official.

Iran supports Armenia's stance against Azerbaijani requests for an extraterritorial corridor linking Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave via Syunik, the sole Armenian region sharing a border with the Islamic Republic.

Ararat Mirzoyan discusses security situation in South Caucasus with Foreign Ministers of Austria and Estonia

 15:45,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS.  On February 16, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan had opportunities to talk to Foreign Minister of Austria Alexander Schallenberg and Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna, the foreign ministry said.
They exchanged views on topics of bilateral cooperation and on the prospects of further deepening of the Armenia-EU partnership. The security situation in the South Caucasus and the recent developments were touched upon.