Author: Frangulian Shushan

Armenia wants to establish relations with Turkey without preconditions. Pashinyan

Frangulian Shushan

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 21:15,

YEREVAN, 24 JANUARY, ARMENPRESS. Armenia wants to establish relations with Turkey without preconditions, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan said during an online press conference organized for the representatives of mass media and non-governmental organizations.

“Do we want to open the Armenia-Turkey border? Yes, we are sincere in that position. It did not happen then (ed. In 2009), now we must try to take into account the previous experience,” he said.

Answering the question to what extent it is possible for Turkey to put forward preconditions for the normalization of relations again, Pashinyan emphasized. “Yes, there were no preconditions in the Armenian-Turkish protocols of 2009, but later preconditions appeared. We cannot guarantee that this will not happen again. We need to understand how interested the parties are. The process is transparent from the very beginning of the political negotiations. This has never been the case before.”

The Armenian PM mentioned that they have no secrets from the public. “Our policy will be in the realm of public announcements. But constantly leaking working information will not benefit the process.”

Referring to the failure of the 2009 process, Pashinyan noted that there were factors that were different at that time. “At that time, the negotiations were conducted by the President on the Turkish side and the Armenian President on the Armenian side. But at that time Turkey was a country of parliamentary model of government. It is true that the President of Turkey was a representative of the ruling political team, but nevertheless, he was not the head of the country, the Prime Minister was the head. The dialogue is now taking place under a mandate given by the President of Turkey. In other words, this is one of the factors that can have a certain impact on the process, hopingly, a positive impact”, the PM said.

FM Mirzoyan clarifies what proposal Armenian side made to Azerbaijan

Frangulian Shushan

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 16:58,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian side has prepared a package of measures aimed at de-escalating the situation on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border zone, reducing the tension and increasing the level of security and stability and conveyed it both to the Russian side and at Russia’s mediation to Azerbaijan and partners, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said during the Q&A session in the Parliament.

In her question lawmaker from the ruling Civil Contract faction Hripsime Grigoryan reminded that on January 14 Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference that during his phone talk with the Armenian FM the Armenian side presented new proposals which have already been sent to Azerbaijan. The MP was interested in what proposals the talk is about and whether there is already a reaction from Baku.

FM Mirzoyan confirmed the statement of his Russian counterpart about the proposal of the Armenian side.

“Yes, the Armenian side has prepared a package of measures aimed at the de-escalation of the situation on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border zone, the reduction of tension and the increase of the level of security and stability and transferred it both to the Russian side, and to Azerbaijan and other partners at the mediation of the Russian side. We are currently waiting for a reaction”, he said, adding that he cannot release further details. “I can only say that they are deriving from the concept constantly voiced by the government and the prime minister on the withdrawal of troops in mirrored fashion and the creation of additional security mechanisms”, he said.

Mirzoyan also informed that the aforementioned package has also been presented to the Security Council.

Opposition MP: Unofficial reports suggest Alen Simonyan included his wife in US business trip

Frangulian Shushan
panorama.am
Armenia – Jan 17 2022

Unofficial reports suggest that Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan included his wife in a business trip to the U.S., MP Aregnaz Manukyan from the main opposition Hayastan (Armenia) faction told a parliament session on Monday.

In an official statement, the parliament said Simonyan travelled to the U.S. with some of his colleagues from the ruling Civil Contract faction and parliament staffers.

“Alen Simonyan and his spouse reportedly flew business class,” the lawmaker said, asking Deputy Speaker Hakob Arshakyan to comment on the authenticity of the reports.

“Please tell us how much money has been spent for this visit from the state budget, i.e. from the pockets of the proud citizens of Armenia,” she said.

Manukyan noted that Alen Simonyan visited seven countries in the past 4 months of his tenure, for which nearly $120 thousand were spent from the state budget.

Hakob Arshakyan expressed surprise over the deputy’s questions. “To be honest, I am a little surprised that you are asking such questions. You are an MP and should know that all expenses are transparent, including travel expenses,” he said.

The latter assured that there is no “secret business trip” and all the expenses indicated by the opposition deputy are quite transparent.

“Your answer is ridiculous and demagogic, to say the least, especially when you claim that the expenses are transparent. For example, I submitted an inquiry to find out how much money was spent on the renovation of Alen Simonyan’s government house. I was told that the expenses are considered as secret. Thus, we cannot speak of any transparency here,” Manukyan stressed, adding that the same applies to President Armen Sarkissian’s business trips.

Armenpress: Two cases of COVID Omicron variant detected in Armenia

Frangulian Shushan

Two cases of COVID Omicron variant detected in Armenia 

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 20:30, 8 January, 2022

YEREVAN, JANUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Two cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19 have been detected in Armenia, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement, adding that both are imported cases. 

“As COVID-19 patients they underwent an epidemiological examination. Upon their arrival in Armenia, samples of their nasal mucosa were examined also by sequestration method, as a result of which the Omicron variant was detected. 

Both patients are in satisfactory condition, they have not been hospitalized, receive treatment at home”, the statement says.

The Ministry of Health of Armenia again urges citizens to follow all the rules, to get vaccinated in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its variants.

Putin sends New Year felicitations to Sarkissian

Frangulian Shushan

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 11:34, 29 December, 2021

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian President Armen Sarkissian on New Year and Christmas holidays.

“The Armenian-Russian relations are based on the good traditions of friendship, cultural and spiritual closeness,” Putin said in a message addressed to Sarkissian.  “I am sure that next year our bilateral allied partnership and constructive cooperation in various areas will continue to develop for the benefit of our brotherly nations and strengthening of regional stability and security.”

President Putin also wished “robust health, good luck and happiness” to President Sarkissian and his family, and “peace and welfare” to the citizens of Armenia, the Armenian presidency said in a statement.

What awaits the Armenia-Azerbaijan relations in 2022? [Azerbaijani Opinion]

Frangulian Shushan
Dec 30 2021

 

By

 Dr. Vasif Huseynov

Notwithstanding occasional flare-ups and infrequent deadly clashes, the past year marked a remarkably peaceful and promising period in the post-Soviet history of the Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. Meeting three times via the mediation of third parties, the leaders of the two countries discussed the ways for normalization of their relations and gave important peace messages. The regional situation has passed a long path from the notorious August-2019 speech of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Karabakh where he, in a populist manner, shouted “Karabakh is Armenia, period”.

The Sochi summit of the leaders on November 26 formalized the peace efforts of the sides over the last year where Armenia and Azerbaijan basically recognized their international borders and launched the negotiations on their delimitation and demarcation. In late 2021, Prime Minister Pashinyan’s reference to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions of 1993 as the inevitable legal basis for the talks about the status of the Karabakh region confirmed that the relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan have entered a qualitatively new stage. It is important to recall that the four resolutions adopted by the UNSC amidst the first Karabakh war, the international community recognized Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity with Nagorno-Karabakh being part of it. Referring to the content of peace negotiations between Baku and Yerevan during the rule of his predecessors, Pashinyan said that Karabakh’s status can only be determined within the constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

This, along with the positive accomplishments in the talks over the unblocking of regional transportation and communication channels in line with the trilateral [Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia] ceasefire accord of November 10, 2020, has created an important ground to believe that 2022 promises more peace and security to the South Caucasus. On this account, the following predictions for the Armenia-Azerbaijan relations can be suggested for the upcoming year.

First and foremost, the format of negotiations is expected to remain as it has been since the latest war: i.e., the major decisions are likely going to be made within the trilateral format of the Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia leaders. Since the end of the 44 Day War, Moscow appears to be both supporter and guarantor of the agreements over the most conflictual issues between Baku and Yerevan and does not seem interested in losing its critical role in this process in the foreseeable future.

Along with that, there might be contacts and meetings between the leaders of the two countries mediated by other actors, for instance, the European Union. The Brussels summit of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan on December 14 demonstrated the EU’s capability to bring the two parties to the negotiating table and encourage them towards negotiated solutions to the existing disputes on their agenda. However, although the European Council President Charles Michel succeeded to facilitate a direct meeting of Aliyev and Pashinyan without the mediation of third parties, the regular direct contacts and meetings between them will take some more time to become possible.

Secondly, Baku and Yerevan are expected to announce the establishment of working groups for the delimitation of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border next year. According to the results of the Sochi summit, an international commission of the two countries is expected to be founded with the participation of Russia. The progress towards this end would further stabilize the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia and as such prevent the reoccurrence of violent escalations of 2021. The fact that this process is fully supported by all three countries is significantly important and promising for regional peace and security.

Third, Baku and Yerevan are likely to remain on a good track also in the negotiations over unblocking of transportation and communications in the region. The results of the past year provide a favorable basis for this process. It is worth recalling that the leaders of the two countries agreed on the opening of a railway between the western regions of Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan exclave through the southern Armenian territories at the Sochi summit, after a long period of tug-of war. They have already prepared a timeline and estimated the costs for the reconstruction of this railway. The sides have, nevertheless, yet to reach an agreement about the technical details of a highway along that path which Azerbaijan calls “Zangazur corridor” with a reference to the historical name of the southern Armenian region. We can expect a breakthrough in this direction for next year. In parallel, Armenia is going to get railway access to Iran and Russia via the Azerbaijani territories which will create some degree of interdependency between Armenia and Azerbaijan providing more incentives for peacebuilding in the region.

Fourth, the 3+3 regional cooperation initiative, standing for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia plus Russia, Iran, Turkey and proposed after the 44 Day War, is expected to become an active platform for the discussions and solutions of regional problems in 2022. A summit of the participating countries is possible if all the parties remain interested in this format. Although Georgia is not likely to decide joining this platform next year due to the country’s strained relations with Russia, Tbilisi will have to find a way for engagement with this group if it becomes a real geopolitical force in the region. The 3+3 regional grouping has such a potential as the participating countries are either already in friendly relations with each other or willing to build such relations soon. The rapprochement between Baku and Tehran after the recent tensions in their relations and the progress in the normalization of the Turkey-Armenia relations will make a good contribution to the 3+3 initiative, as well. Hence, this initiative could even serve as a useful platform for the normalization of the Russia-Georgia relations helping the sides resolve their conflicts peacefully.

What is more, the developments of the past year and the prospects for the upcoming year reaffirm that the liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in the 44 Day War of 2020 has created a unique chance for peace not only in the South Caucasus but also amongst the countries neighboring the region. We hope that it will finally be possible for the region to restore peaceful co-existence after the long years of conflicts and violence. This historic chance for peace should not be taken for granted and needs to be protected against the destructive forces that threaten to undermine the post-war peace process.


Hungary sends 100,000 doses of vaccine to Armenia

Frangulian Shushan

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 18:48,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Hungary has sent a 100,000 dose coronavirus vaccine to Armenia, ARMENPRESS reports the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary Peter Siarto said, without specifying which company produced the vaccine.

He said that Hungary has enough vaccines to vaccinate its citizens with the first, second and third doses.

On August 31, 2012, by the decision of the National Security Council of the Republic of Armenia, the diplomatic relations between Armenia and Hungary were suspended. The reason was the extradition of Ramil Safarov, an Azeri officer sentenced to life imprisonment by a Hungarian court for axing Armenian sleeping officer Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest in 2004, to the Azerbaijani authorities, where the criminal was immediately pardoned by President Ilham Aliyev.




‘5165’ opposition movement expresses support for Artsakh parliament

Frangulian Shushan
Panorama, Armenia
Dec 28 2021

The “5165” opposition movement on Tuesday expressed support for the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) parliament, which criticized Nikol Pashinyan’s recent remarks on the Artsakh issue.

“The recent statements made by Nikol Pashinyan demonstrate the implementation of a policy that deprives the Artsakh movement of its meaning, calls into question the right of the Artsakh people to self-determination, and lays the foundation for the de-Armenization of the region,” the movement said in a statement.

The movement believes that the Armenian premier’s statements “belittle” previous military victories won at the cost of the lives of thousands of fighters, disperses diplomatic achievements recorded in the negotiation process, and prepares the Armenian people for the loss of Artsakh.

“It sends a message to the Armenian people that it is pointless to fight for the homeland from now on,” it stressed.

The “5165” opposition movement notes that Pashinyan and his team do not represent the interests of the Armenian people and that their rule leads to the collapse of the Armenian statehood.

Turkish press: Azerbaijan supports normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations

Frangulian Shushan
Ruslan Rehimov   |27.12.2021

BAKU, Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan “fully supports” the normalization of relations between neighboring Turkey and Armenia, the Azerbaijani foreign minister said on Monday.

Speaking at a year-end evaluation of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy, Jeyhun Bayramov said Azerbaijan and Turkey favor relations with all countries on the basis of international law.

“The basis for the normalization of interstate relations can only be international law,” he said. “Both Azerbaijan and Turkey have always shown this attitude. We’re in favor of improving our relations with all countries and neighbors on the basis of international law, and we are doing this. The exception so far on this list has been Armenia. We offer the same proposal to Armenia.”

He added: “I would like to stress the importance of the historical Shusha Declaration signed on June 15, 2021. With this declaration, the relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey were raised to the level of an alliance.”

The declaration affirms joint efforts by the two countries’ armies in the face of foreign threats. It also pledges a wide range of bilateral cooperation in other areas.

Damage done to Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenian occupation

Bayramov emphasized that Azerbaijan’s foreign policy is based on continuity and a systematic and logical approach.

“We have conducted and will conduct a transparent, international law-based, and independent foreign policy,” he said.

Noting that Azerbaijan in 2021 continued its independent, active, open and national foreign policy, Bayramov stressed that they are working to consolidate the diplomatic gains of the fall 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war and to make the world aware of the new reality in the region.

“We’re in favor of the normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations on the basis of the principles of international law. We even declared that we’re ready to work on a peace agreement. We believe that this can form the basis for the normalization of relations between the countries of the region at a wider level.”

Bayramov also said Azerbaijan telling the world about the damage caused to the Nagorno-Karabakh region by the 30-year occupation of Armenian forces before its liberation is among the priorities of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy.

Both countries filed cases against each other in the International Court of Justice, he said, adding that most of Armenia’s “baseless claims” were rejected by the court.

Underlining that Azerbaijan will continue its fight in the international judiciary, he said: “We will soon bring several international conventions to international courts for the first time to address the environmental damage and the illegal use of natural resources. This issue is among our duties in 2022.”

Liberation of Karabakh

Relations between the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Upper Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

When new clashes erupted on Sept. 27, 2020, the Armenian army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces and violated several humanitarian cease-fire agreements.

During the 44-day conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages from the nearly three-decade occupation.

On Nov. 10, 2020, the two countries signed a Russian-brokered agreement to end the fighting and work toward a comprehensive resolution.

On Jan. 11, the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a pact to develop economic ties and infrastructure to benefit the entire region. It included the establishment of a trilateral working group on Karabakh.

The cease-fire is seen as a victory for Azerbaijan and a defeat for Armenia, whose armed forces withdrew in line with the agreement.

Before the victory, about 20% of Azerbaijan’s territory had been under illegal occupation for nearly 30 years.

* Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev from Ankara

Turkish press: Fees for burial plots in Istanbul’s cemeteries increaseFees for burial plots in Istanbul’s cemeteries increase

Frangulian Shushan
  • December 18 2021 07:00:00

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has approved a new hike in prices for empty burial plots starting in April 2022.

The maximum fee for a burial plot in the city’s famous cemeteries will be 41,140 liras ($2,450), a figure slightly higher than the previous fee of 37,400 liras ($2,250).

The lowest price for a burial plot will be 2,640 liras ($157).

The cost of a plot for a child’s coffin was kept the same, between 1,200 liras ($71) and 6,600 liras ($391), the prices applied last year.

While the fee of plots in cemeteries belonging to non-Muslims remained 500 liras ($30), an empty burial spot next to a specific one – reserved usually for relatives or spouses – went up from 4,800 ($285) liras to 5,280 liras ($313).

Istanbul, a metropolis where 70,000 people die every year on average, hosts 502 Muslim and 67 non-Muslim (Armenian, Greek, Jewish and Latin) cemeteries run by the municipality.

However, since some cemeteries are running out of spaces in the megacity, people have started selling cemetery plots on the black market for astronomic prices.