Author: Garo Vardanian

Our efforts for returning Armenian POWs from Azerbaijan will be continuous – President of French Senate

Garo Vardanian

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 20:22, 1 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 1, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who is paying a working visit to France, later today met with President of the Senate of the French Republic Gérard Larcher, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister.

Welcoming Nikol Pashinyan’s delegation to France, Mr. Larcher congratulated Armenia’s Acting Prime Minister on his birthday. The Senate President stressed the importance of Nikol Pashinyan’s visit, considering it another opportunity to discuss issues high on the bilateral agenda and outline steps to counteract the processes unfolding around Armenia.

Gérard Larcher advised that the French Senate is taking steps in this direction. He appreciated the fact the OSCE Minsk Group has intensified its efforts aimed at finding a comprehensive resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. “We raised the issue of Armenian prisoners of war with the President of the European Parliament, which resulted in the European Parliament passing a resolution that we assess as quite a positive step. We are not satisfied with this, our efforts will be continued,” Mr. Larcher said, stressing that Azerbaijan’s latest offensive move raises concerns about Armenia’s territorial integrity.

Taking the opportunity, Nikol Pashinyan once again thanked the authors of Senate’s resolution on the need to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence and everyone who supported the passage of such a document. “The document was of great importance in this difficult situation. The people of Karabakh saw that they were not left alone in their struggle. We hope that France will continue to play an important role in the processes initiated by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, and the Minsk Group will be more active in dealing with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” Nikol Pashinyan said, noting that he had discussed this issue with President Macron.

The Acting Prime Minister introduced the steps taken to resolve the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, and in this context, touched upon the latest regional developments.

Azeris Paving Roads and Digging Trenches in Armenia, Local Mayor Says

Garo Vardanian

June 4, 2021



The Verin Shorja village in Vardenis, Gegharkunik Province (RFE/RL screen capture)

Azerbaijanis who breached Armenia’s border and have advanced into positions in the Gegharkunik and Syunik provinces are actively building roads and digging trenches on Armenia’s sovereign territory.

“This is our land,” Artryom Yeranosyan, the mayor of the Veris Shorja village in the Vardenis region of Armenia’s Gegharkunik Province told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service. “But in that area they [Azeris] are working moving their trenches and paving the road so they can go from one trench to another in vehicles.”

“If they have been sitting on Armenian territory since the 12th [of May], they can do whatever they want,” Yeranosyan added, explaining that the Azerbaijani forces have also occupied the area’s pastures.

He added that the Azeris have occupied the pastures of the village. “If they come any closer, then we must leave Shorja. That is not possible either,” Yeranosyan told RFE/RL.

In the Norabak village, Azerbaijanis have been paving the road for three days, using tractors, said the village head Vazgen Asatryan, adding that the Azeri forces have come down from the hills into his village.

Asatryan said that the Azerbaijani have been descending down from the hills for three days, getting closer to older barns left over from the Soviet era. With their trucks and bulldozers it’s as if a new border post has been added.

The mayor of the Kut village Sima Chitchyan said that she has been monitoring the area with binoculars and she can observe the Azerbaijani doing construction.

Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan, once again, sounded the alarm of the illegal presence of Azerbaijanis on Armenia’s sovereign territory.

“Azerbaijani servicemen are illegally stopping villagers in pastures near villages in the Gegharkunik region, demanding explanations about the locals’ movement, or trying to carry out illegal searches of their vehicles and issuing threats,” said Tatoyan, whose office said that Azerbaijanis are threatening the population in Verin Shorzha by brandishing weapons.

“We have two types of situations here. The first is when the Azerbaijani soldiers are physically present in our specific pasture areas or where the water supply is. The second is when they target the areas under their direct observation,” explained Tatoyan.

The village leaders all agreed that their communities are threatened and the shepherds have been ousted from the pastures in the areas.
Yeranosyan said that the water supply of several villages in Vardenis are under Azerbaijani control.

“Our main water source is where they [the Azeris] are now sitting,” Yeranosyan told RFE/RL.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 02-06-21

Garo Vardanian

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 17:46, 2 June, 2021

YEREVAN, 2 JUNE, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 2 June, USD exchange rate stood at 520.67 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 2.61 drams to 634.12 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 7.08 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 1.82 drams to 736.44 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 10.05 drams to 31794.98 drams. Silver price up by 9.71 drams to 472.23 drams. Platinum price up by 251.09 drams to 19836.81 drams.

Armenian Republican Party: It’s possible to restore borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast with Lachin corridor

Garo Vardanian
News.am, Armenia
June 2 2021
Armenian Republican Party: It’s possible to restore borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast with Lachin corridor
16:50, 02.06.2021

Based on our notion, restoration of the borders of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO), along with the Lachin corridor, is feasible, but will require serious efforts. This is what member of the Executive Body of the Republican Party of Armenia Gagik Minasyan told reporters today.

Minasyan clarified that the document according to which the territory of the NKAO would obtain an interim status is still on the table, and even though it will be very difficult, it is possible to achieve implementation of the provisions stated in the document since Azerbaijani troops are already located in certain areas. “This needs to be done very quickly since we don’t know what document the incumbent authorities have signed. It’s not that easy to destroy all that the Republican Party of Armenia did during its administration. During the first two years in power, the new authorities wouldn’t use the term ‘self-determination’ at all, but this principle is enshrined in the Madrid Principles, as well as in the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) ratified by member states of the European Union,” Minasyan added.

Minasyan recalled the remarks of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, who said he was offered an option according to which “Lachin and Karvachar would be permanently transferred to Armenia”, taking into consideration the fact that those two regions would be transferred to Azerbaijan only after determination of the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We’re running in elections to win

Garo Vardanian
News.am, Armenia
Opposition Armenia bloc representative: We’re running in elections to win
22:48, 31.05.2021

We need to explain the gravity of the situation to our fellow citizens, fellow villagers, relatives, sisters and brothers. This is what member of the opposition Armenia bloc, member of the Supreme Body of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun political party Ishkhan Saghatelyan.

“Armenia is on the brink of a catastrophe, and you all know this very well. Over the next twenty days, we need to enter the homes of all citizens of Armenia and tell them about the future challenge and made them understand the gravity of the situation. On June 20, we need to remove this government of evil and build a strong Armenia,” he stated.

Touching upon the Armenia bloc’s vision for Armenia’s development, Saghatelyan said the following: “Yesterday we presented our five-year plan for Armenia’s development. We know about our country’s problems, the paths for solution, and we have a team to change the main course for normal development. We’re not running in these elections to garner 5%, 7% or 10% of the votes to be represented in parliament. We’re running in these elections to remove this government, form a government and solve the challenges facing our country together.”

Blinken: US remains committed to helping sides negotiate long-term political settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh

Garo Vardanian
Panorama, Armenia
See also US State Department urges Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian POWs, return to previous positions

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated the people of Azerbaijan on Republic Day on behalf of the Government of the United States.

“The United States values the thirty years of partnership with Azerbaijan on economic, energy, and security cooperation, and our ongoing dialogue on improving Azerbaijan’s respect for human rights and the rule of law.  We recognize Azerbaijan’s significant contributions to European energy diversification through the Southern Gas Corridor.  Strong institutions and processes that respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, rule of law, transparency, and accountability, are vital to us achieving our shared goals and building stronger and deeper ties,” he said in a statement on Friday.

“As a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the United States remains committed to helping the sides negotiate a long-term political settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and address the humanitarian impact of the fighting, including the release of all detainees, accounting for those missing, and the full and expeditious exchange of remains,” Blinken said.

BBC: Azerbaijan captures six Armenian troops on border

Garo Vardanian
BBC News

Azerbaijan captures six Armenian troops on border

Azerbaijan captures six Armenian troops on border – BBC News

Azeri troops have captured six Armenian soldiers on Armenia’s border, officials say – the latest incident in continuing tensions since war erupted last year.

Both sides confirmed the incident in Kalbajar region, which lies just west of disputed Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenia’s defence ministry said the six were doing engineering work. Azerbaijan said they had tried to mine supply routes near Azeri army positions.

Azerbaijan made big gains in Nagorno-Karabakh before a November peace deal.

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The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the Caucasus mountains flared up again last September for six weeks. Fighting in the 1990s left Armenia controlling the disputed territory. Internationally, Nagorno-Karabakh is recognised as part of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan’s defence ministry said that on Thursday its troops had taken six prisoners by surrounding an Armenian “sabotage” group near a village called Yukhari Ayrim, in Azeri-held Kalbajar. Two groups had been detected and some of the Armenians had escaped, the foreign ministry in Baku added.

The Armenians said the six soldiers had not crossed the border before they were captured.


Earlier this month Armenia accused Azerbaijani troops of encroaching 3.5km (two miles) inside Armenian territory in Gegharkunik, a region adjacent to Kalbajar. The Armenian authorities said urgent security talks had prevented Azerbaijan from occupying that part of Armenia.

In the same area an exchange of fire killed an Armenian soldier on Tuesday, the Armenian military said. Azerbaijan denied the allegation, calling it an accident.

Why did Armenia and Azerbaijan go to war?

The peace deal was brokered by Russia after six weeks of fighting last year, in which an estimated 6,000 people died. About 2,000 Russian peacekeepers are now patrolling in and around Nagorno-Karabakh.

Opposition Armenia alliance of political parties issues statement demanding termination of powers of acting PM

Garo Vardanian
News.am, Armenia
May 20 2021
21:35, 20.05.2021

The government is obliged to terminate the unlawful exercise of the powers of Nikol Pashinyan. This is stated in the statement issued by the opposition Armenia alliance of political parties. The statement also reads as follows:

“Nikol Pashinyan [acting Prime Minister of Armenia], who is trying to maintain power at any price, has created chaos in the country and is ready to perform any conspiratorial action against the State and homeland. The Turkish-Azerbaijani aggression de facto continues.

Nikol Pashinyan, who resigned as Prime Minister and has de jure lost his powers, does not have the competence to sign any document on behalf of the Republic of Armenia.

Besides, any action prohibited by international, including any agreement reached by use of force or with threat of use of force is null and void.

Based on all this,

1. The government is obliged to terminate the unlawful exercise of powers of Nikol Pashinyan.

2.  Only the new authorities to be formed during the upcoming snap elections can ensure the vital interests of the Armenian people and the territorial integrity of Armenia.

3. it is the duty of the government to organize activities for restoration of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Armenia through all possible means.

20 May 2021”

Turkish press: Parliament speaker asks Iceland not to support ‘genocide’ draft

Garo Vardanian
 ISTANBUL DIPLOMACY 
MAY 18, 2021 9:06 AM GMT+3
Turkey’s Parliament Speaker Mustafa Şentop speaks to reporters at a news conference in front of the parliament in Ankara, Turkey, April 20, 2021. (Sabah Photo)


Turkey’s Parliament Speaker requested his Icelander counterpart not to support the resolution on the 1915 incidents involving Armenians as “genocide.”

Mustafa Şentop sent a letter to Steingrimur Sigfusson on Monday, saying that the draft resolution submitted in Iceland’s parliament was built on groundless allegations.

“I learned that a draft resolution, which built on groundless allegations and aimed at recognizing the events of 1915 as genocide, has been submitted to your parliament. It is obvious that such unfounded attempts, which we know that they emerged with the provocation of some circles, will result in nothing but shadowing the good relations that exist between our countries,” Şentop said in the letter.

He said that considering both historical facts and legal norms, it is not possible to relate these events to any genocide.

“I believe that we should not allow this controversial historical issue, which is not under the jurisdiction of the parliaments, to affect our bilateral relations and cooperation,” he emphasized.

Turkey’s position on the 1915 events is that the death of Armenians in eastern Anatolia took place when some sided with invading Russians and revolted against Ottoman forces. A subsequent relocation of Armenians resulted in numerous casualties, compounded by massacres committed by militaries and militia groups of both sides. The mass arrests of prominent Ottoman Armenian politicians, intellectuals and other community members suspected of links with separatist groups or of harboring nationalist sentiments and hostility toward the Ottoman rule took place in then-capital Istanbul on April 24, 1915, a date commemorated as the beginning of later atrocities.

Turkey objects to the presentation of the incidents as “genocide” but describes the 1915 events as a tragedy in which both sides suffered casualties.

Ankara has repeatedly proposed the creation of a joint commission of historians from Turkey and Armenia plus international experts to tackle the issue.

In 2014, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was the country’s prime minister at the time, expressed condolences to the descendants of Armenians who lost their lives in the events of 1915.

‘Military movements near un-demarcated borders are irresponsible and provocative’ – Jake Sullivan tells Aliyev

Garo Vardanian

‘Military movements near un-demarcated borders are irresponsible and provocative’ – Jake Sullivan tells Aliyev

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 10:07,

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. US President’s National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan spoke separately with caretakter Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, the White House reported.

Mr. Sullivan conveyed the commitment of the United States to peace, security, and prosperity in the South Caucasus. 

He expressed concern over recent tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and emphasized that military movements near un-demarcated borders are irresponsible and provocative. He welcomed the ongoing communication between the two sides and both leaders’ commitment to resolving this issue peacefully. 

In addition, he underscored the need for the two countries to conduct formal discussions to demarcate their international border. Finally, he conveyed the commitment of the United States to achieving regional reconciliation through bilateral engagement and as a Minsk Group Co-Chair.