Author: Jalatian Sonya

Exclusive: New Ambassador of Mexico discusses Lachin Corridor, development of ties with Armenia

Jalatian Sonya

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 10:00, 2 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 2, ARMENPRESS. Mexico has said on numerous occasions that the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict must be resolved through peaceful negotiations prioritizing the interests of the peoples, the new Ambassador of Mexico to Armenia Eduardo Villegas Megías told ARMENPRESS in an exclusive interview.

[SEE VIDEO]
Eduardo Villegas Megías is the non-resident Ambassador of Mexico to Armenia stationed in Moscow, Russia.

The Ambassador is visiting Armenia to present his credentials. During our interview, Ambassador Eduardo Villegas Megías explored the Armenian-Mexican bilateral relations, the Armenian community’s role in Mexico, and discussed the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and the blockade of the Lachin Corridor which has resulted in an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh). He also reiterated that Mexico is in favor of free movement along Lachin Corridor.

ARMENPRESS: – Mr. Ambassador, please present the agenda of your trip to Armenia. What are your plans?

Ambassador Eduardo Villegas Megías: I am here first of all to present my credentials as newly-appointed ambassador. I have other planned meetings during my visit to Armenia, particularly meetings related to the culture sector, for example I will visit the Komitas Museum-Institute and the Tchaikovsky Music School. Of course, there will be political meetings as well, for example meetings with Members of Parliament. Meetings with Armenian businessmen are also scheduled for discussions on economic matters. This is my first visit and I plan to cover all possible aspects.

ARMENPRESS: How would you describe the Armenia-Mexico relations? Which areas of mutual interest have potential for development? Do you see prospects for enhancing trade-economic partnership?

Ambassador Eduardo Villegas Megías: In terms of bilateral relations, I have to mention that warm and friendly relations have developed between Armenia and Mexico. Over the course of the 30 years [of diplomatic relations], the two countries maintained very friendly relations ever since Armenia gained independence. And I came to Armenia in this capacity to intensify and encourage the development of bilateral relations in all areas, such as educational, economic, political, cultural and others.

Regarding the economic sector, as you know trade turnover between our countries isn’t high and this is associated with various factors. We have a neighbor with whom we cooperate a lot, whom we trade with a lot, I am referring to the United States of America. You in turn have trade relations with your neighbors, for example with Russia and the European Union. Actually, there hadn’t been a big impetus for the development of the relations between the two countries, although undoubtedly there is a big potential. In this regard I talked with an Armenian yesterday who lived in Mexico and is very interested to boost Armenian presence in Mexico, and Mexican presence in Armenia.

ARMENPRESS:  You were appointed Ambassador of Mexico to Armenia during a difficult period of time for Armenia. The Lachin corridor – Nagorno Karabakh’s only lifeline – is blocked by Azerbaijan for already 80 days. The blockade has disrupted essential supplies and resulted in a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh. Despite international calls to reopen the corridor, and the recent ruling by the International Court of Justice ordering Azerbaijan to open the corridor, Azerbaijan is still keeping the corridor blocked. What is your attitude for this kind of conduct by Azerbaijan? In your opinion, what actions can be taken by the international community, including by Mexico, in order for the corridor to be opened. Do you think it’s time to consider imposing sanctions against Azerbaijan?

Ambassador Eduardo Villegas Megías: We are aware of the Lachin Corridor and the humanitarian crisis facing the people in Nagorno Karabakh. In turn, Mexico expressed its stance on many occasions during international forums. This issue must be resolved through negotiations. Our country truly aspires to peace and supports peace. We believe that the best way is to sit around the negotiating table and find a solution in a civilized manner, and the interests of the peoples must be a priority in the solution. We don’t believe that in this regard sanctions could be effective. In relation to the special military operation in Ukraine many countries tried to impose sanctions against the sides, especially against Russia, but Mexico did not join these sanctions. During international forums Mexico numerously outlined that the issue must not impact the way of life and quality of life of the people of Nagorno Karabakh. We’ve numerously called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to sit around the negotiating table in order to give a solution to this issue, because ultimately it is the people who’d suffer from sanctions. The sanctions against Russia are a vivid example, they actually don’t produce the desired result and only the people suffer.

ARMENPRESS: Just to clarify, is Mexico in favor of uninterrupted functioning of the Lachin Corridor?

Ambassador Eduardo Villegas Megías: Yes, Mexico expressed its stance and is in favor of free movement in Lachin Corridor.

ARMENPRESS: On February 8 the Mexican Senate adopted a document recognizing the Armenian Genocide, citing the need to protect universal human rights. Is the society in Mexico aware of the Armenian Genocide?

Ambassador Eduardo Villegas Megías: Regrettably, right now the Armenian presence in Mexico is very low. Mexico took in many Armenian migrants throughout the course of history. This topic remains among priorities for these people. Overall, the awareness on what had happened in this region is low, though there are certain organizations which raise awareness about this fact. There is the Memory and Tolerance Museum in Mexico City, where the genocides and massacres that happened over the course of the history of mankind are talked about regularly. What happened to the Armenian people in 1915 in Ottoman Turkey is often recalled there. To answer your question, I will repeat that the awareness is actually low but there are active organizations which pay attention to this issue, and one of them is the Senate of Mexico.   

ARMENPRESS: As you know, Azerbaijan has been occupying sovereign territories of Armenia since 2021 and 2022 and is refusing to release Armenian PoWs of the 2020 Artsakh war. In your opinion, what can the international community do to make Azerbaijan release the PoWs and pull back its troops from territory of Armenia?

Ambassador Eduardo Villegas Megías: There are multilateral mechanisms, the UN, EU and also Asian platforms which can raise their voice and express themselves within the framework of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict in order to ensure free movement in Lachin corridor and for the issues related to the Armenian prisoners of war to receive a concrete solution. All countries should be concerned over the issue of prisoners of war. And during these discussions, Mexico, which isn’t involved in this conflict, will again call on the sides to sit around the negotiating table.

ARMENPRESS: How would you assess the Armenian community’s role in Mexico today? How many Armenians live in Mexico?

Ambassador Eduardo Villegas Megías: There are ethnic Armenian governors, businessmen and cultural figures in Mexico. There are few Armenians in politics, but many in culture. For example, musicians, because I think music has developed a lot in Armenia. Now the estimated size of the Armenian community in Mexico stands at around 3,000 people, with the highest concentration in Mexico City, Cancun and Tijuana.

ARMENPRESS: Mr. Ambassador, does Mexico consider opening an embassy in Armenia?

Ambassador Eduardo Villegas Megías: Like I said, the development of bilateral relations proceeded at a low intensity in the past thirty years. Actually, there are no plans to open an embassy of Mexico in Armenia because at this moment the relations aren’t yet at that level, however this can’t in any way be an obstruction and if we succeed to intensify and develop bilateral relations in the coming years then eventually Mexico could look into the possibility of opening an embassy in Armenia.

Interview by Karen Khachatryan

Cameramen: Hovhannes Mkrtchyan, Hayk Barseghyan

Photos by Hayk Badalyan




Sports: Futsal World Cup qualifiers: Best moments from Armenia’s winning match, marriage proposal

Jalatian Sonya
News.am
Armenia – March 4 2023

Armenia finished the qualifying round of the FIFA Futsal World Cup  with a victory, defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-2 in Yerevan.

Armenia have achieved seven wins in same number of matches in the qualifiers and reached the elite round.
Football Federation of Armenia presented the best moments from this match.

And during the break, Armenia’s player Sargis Margaryan proposed to her girlfriend.

Luxembourg lawmakers condemn Lachin corridor blockade, express concern over humanitarian crisis

Jalatian Sonya

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 12:58,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. A delegation led by Djuna Bernard, the Vice Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies/ Vice President of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial in Yerevan to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Speaking to reporters, Djuna Bernard said that their delegation strongly condemns the blockade of the Lachin Corridor and expressed concern regarding the resulting humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh.

“We strongly condemn what is happening in Lachin corridor and in Nagorno Karabakh. The humanitarian crisis that is happening is very worrying and we have been following the news in Luxembourg very intensely and that’s also why for us this parliamentary visit is very important to send out a strong signal towards the Armenian people in terms of solidarity and support,” Bernard said.

She called on the parties to find a peaceful solution which “is respecting the sovereignty of Armenia and respect of all Armenian people”.

“I think these are very hard times that are happening, multiple crises in Armenia and in the region and we try to support as good as possible by our EU civil mission where we are participating, but also by our bilateral relations that are stronger than ever with the visit of [foreign] minister Asselborn last week, and our parliamentary visit, and I can only underline that we in Luxembourg are going to continue supporting Armenians,” she added.

Member of Parliament of Luxembourg from the CSV party Claude Wiseler, who is the co-author of the resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide and resolutions condemning the Azerbaijani-Turkish aggression against Artsakh, said he always wanted to come to Armenia and visit the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial.

“I have to say this is the first time I am in Armenia, so it is very impressive to be here. And I have to say this monument is very moving. We talked about Armenian genocide, we recognized it eight years ago in Luxembourgish parliament. I always wanted to come here to see that and I have to say that I am very touched,” he said, adding that the parliament of Luxembourg is supporting Armenia.

“….the whole parliament said very clearly on which side we are. We are supporting Armenian people, we are supporting your cause. And we will do it in the next years, as long as you have reached your goals, that’s very clear for us, we are on your side.”

Armenia’s Ambassador to Luxembourg Tigran Balayan and MP Sona Ghazaryan, the Head of the Armenia-Luxembourg Parliamentary Friendship Group were accompanying the MPs.

Dutch lawmakers call for actions to open Lachin corridor as Azeri officials display “absolute ignorance” of ICJ ruling

Jalatian Sonya

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 13:14,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Lawmakers in the Netherlands called on Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra to take action for the immediate opening of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan and restoration of unimpeded access to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), the Federation of Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands (FAON) reported.

FAON said that Dutch MP Pieter Outsight and 12 other MPs of parliamentary factions – Brekelmans (VVD), Mulder (CDA), De Roon (PVV), Van Dijk (SP), Van der Staaij (SGP), Ceder (CU), Piri (PvdA), Van der Lee (GroenLinks), Koekkoek (Volt), Teunissen (PvdD), Eppink (Ja21) and Van der Plas (BBB) have consolidated their voices to address questions to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands urging to take action for the immediate opening of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan.

“The questions call for an unambiguous stance in regards to the application of the ICJ order, according to which Azerbaijan must take all necessary measures to halt the blockade and ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor, in both directions, and asks what steps the Netherlands is planning to take in order to have the Azerbaijani authorities implement the ruling. The MPs ask if the Minister has taken note of the fact that the ambassador of Azerbaijan in the Netherlands made provocative tweets about “ongoing NGO’s peaceful action”, which underscores once again the absolute ignorance of the Azerbaijani officials to the ruling of the ICJ. Among other questions the MPs also inquire, in case the Minister shares the opinion that Azerbaijan does not meet the ruling of the Court, if he intends to address the ambassador of Azerbaijan about it. The MP’s also want to know what steps the Netherlands will take towards EU, Council of Europe and UN for the immediate implementation of the ruling. The MPs also ask about Azerbaijan’s obligation, being a member of organisations as UN and Council of Europe, to stop the ongoing violations of human rights and international law, and also this ruling of the International Court of Justice. The FAON also took note and welcomes the statement by the Dutch MFA calling upon Azerbaijan to abide by the legally binding decision of the ICJ. FAON has been active for the opening of Lachin corridor towards Dutch public, media and politics since December 12th, resulting in several debates and 2 motions (December 14 and January 19) and held a 3-day Silent Protest demonstration in front of the parliament on January 17,18,19, submitting a petition on January 17 to the parliament and a rally at the Peace Palace on January 30 in The Hague,” reads the FAON press release.

The United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice – ordered Azerbaijan to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.

The Lachin Corridor is blocked by Azerbaijan since 12 December 2022.

‘Over 90% of Armenian population says Artsakh will never be part of Azerbaijan’, MP tells Euronest

Jalatian Sonya
Panorama
Armenia – Feb 20 2023

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not a territorial dispute, but an issue of self-determination, Armenian MP Hayk Mamijanyan of the opposition Pativ Unem bloc told a meeting of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly Committee on Social Affairs, Employment, Education, Culture and Civil Society in response to the Azerbaijani delegate’s remarks on Monday. His full statement is provided below.

“Madam chair, please believe me that social issues have no nationality or state of origin, so we all do respect all the victims of other conflicts, people who live in Nagorno-Karabakh have the right to be regarded by their rights.

First of all, I would like to state regarding Azerbaijani delegation, we are not the only ones who are stating that the Luchin corridor is blockaded. The European Parliament states the same, vast majority of PACE officials state the same and very other international organizations, so when you accuse us of telling not the truth as a collateral damage you accuse the European Parliament and other respectful European organizations for saying not truth.

There is nothing special and nothing surprising in this policy, holding hostages is the brand of Azeri diplomacy for a very long time. A few years ago, until now for more than 30, I am speaking about the official number of Armenian POWs there are still kept in Baku as hostages, and now we have 120,000 more hostages who are kept in Artsakh as hostages for Azerbaijan to have a possibility to make diplomacy. It is their brand of diplomacy. The other point I want to share are regarding the experts visit to Baku. I am really surprised because for many years, people who have surname ending “yan”, no matter what passport they are holding, the US, Russian one, or European one, were forbidden to visit Azerbaijan and there are many cases regarding that. I also wanted to clarify for my international colleagues that I do repeat, there are no Armenian troops in Nagorno-Karabakh, and it has been stated very many times. Speaking about the peace treaty and peace discussions, at the moment there are some discussions regarding negotiations between Armenian and Azerbaijan, first of all speaking about the territorial integrity have mentioned, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not and has never been a territorial dispute, it is an issue of self-determination, that’s plain and simple.

I do believe that the so-called peace treaty or peace negotiations had to be conducted on the bases of OSCE Minsk Group framework, five statements made by the co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group and importantly in this chambers by the principles that are stated in the CEPA agreement between Armenia and EU, which was ratified by all the member states of EU, so I do believe that the voice of your legislative organs, parliaments is really important for you, and no matter what are you discussing currently with Nikol Pashinyan. I want you to know that more than 90 percent of the population of the Republic of Armenia says that Artsakh will never be the part of Azerbaijan. So not only Arthur Khachatryan was speaking about it this morning, more than 90 percent of population of Armenia is stating that.

I don’t want to really burden you with more of information regarding what Azerbaijan delegation stated but what currently is happening in Nagorno-Karabakh is consequence, social consequence and assumed to become a humanitarian crisis. Regarding the ammunition and the staff like that, please take into consideration that gas pipeline, electric cable and cable for internet from time to time blocked and injured by the Azeri troops, so I don’t really believe that there can be something discussed about the pseudo or so-called eco-activists. I do repeat that vast majority of terms I have used was expressed in resolution by the European Parliament.”

https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2023/02/20/MP-Euronest/2796813

Armenian Deputy FM presents to PACE co-rapporteurs the situation resulted by Lachin Corridor blockade

Jalatian Sonya

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 21:40, 17 February 2023

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. On February 17, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan received Kimmo Kiljunen (Finland) and Boriana Åberg (Sweden), co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for Armenia, who are on a fact-finding visit in Armenia, ARMENPRESS was informed from MFA Armenia.

The Deputy Minister welcomed the fact-finding mission and expressed hope that it will contribute to the awareness raising and objective assessment of the situation in the region.

Paruyr Hovhannisyan briefed the interlocutors upon the consequences of blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan and the fact of regular disruption of gas supply to Nagorno-Karabakh, stressing that Artsakh is facing the threat of a humanitarian crisis. 

He touched upon the infiltration into the sovereign territories of Armenia by the armed forces of Azerbaijan and the issues on the Armenian prisoners of war. He also emphasized that the illegal actions of the Azerbaijani leadership, warmongering rhetoric and maximalist approach seriously disrupt the efforts towards establishing peace and stability in the South Caucasus.

Opposition MP: Armenian authorities have long turned into a ‘regime symbolizing war, catastrophe’

Jalatian Sonya
Panorama
Armenia – Feb 17 2023

Armenian opposition MP Tigran Abrahamyan claims the proposed draft peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan does not represent the vital interests of Armenia and Artsakh.

“The Armenian-Azerbaijani talks on the “peace treaty” have once again entered an active phase,” the deputy from the Pativ Unem bloc wrote on Facebook on Friday.

“Although the text of the document under discussion has not been publicized yet, its underlying principles presented by the parties indicate that the vital interests of Armenia and Artsakh are not reflected in it.

“And there is another important circumstance: Armenia’s top leadership claims that even if the document is signed, it does not mean that Azerbaijan will implement its provisions or there will be no more war.

“The Armenian authorities have long turned into a regime symbolizing war, catastrophe and insecurity,” Abrahamyan stated.

At a cabinet meeting on Thursday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia had completed the next stage of work on a peace treaty and establishment of relations with Azerbaijan and submitted its proposals to Baku. 

Armenian ombudswoman documents aftermath of Azeri shelling

Jalatian Sonya
Panorama
Armenia – Sept 17 2022

The staff of the Armenian Human Rights Defender’s Office is carrying out fact-finding mission in the border settlements of Gegharkunik, Syunik and Vayots Dzor Provinces targeted by Azerbaijani forces in their latest aggression.

Ombudswoman Kristine Grigoryan has visited the Gegharkunik villages of Sotk, Norabak and Kut to familiarize herself with the situation on the ground and to talk to local residents, her office reported on Saturday.

Azerbaijani forces began a massive attack against Armenia just after midnight on Tuesday, using combat drones, artillery and large-caliber firearms to shell both Armenian military positions and civilian infrastructure.

135 Armenian troops were killed in Azerbaijani attacks in two days.

The Defense Ministry said late on Wednesday that the hostilities stopped at 8pm local time. Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council Armen Grigoryan announced shortly after midnight that Yerevan and Baku had agreed a ceasefire brokered by the international community.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 09/16/2022

Jalatian Sonya 
                                        Friday, 
Pelosi Confirms Surprise Trip To Armenia
        • Naira Nalbandian
USA – The speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, holds a news 
conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 19, 2022.
The speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, confirmed on 
Friday that she will visit Armenia this weekend just days after deadly border 
clashes between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces.
Pelosi told reporters in Berlin that she will fly to Yerevan with two other 
members of Congress, who both are of Armenian descent, “because we've had an 
ongoing invitation from the Armenians." She said at the same time that the 
surprise trip is the result of a "rather spontaneous" decision.
Pelosi declined to give further details about the trip, saying that traveling 
U.S. lawmakers "don't like to be a target."
"In any case, it is all about human rights and respecting the dignity and worth 
of every person," she said, speaking at a Group of Seven (G7) countries meeting 
in the German capital.
Politico was the first to report on Pelosi’s plans to travel to Armenia on 
Thursday, calling it a “show of support for the country.” She will meet with 
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and other Armenian officials, said the U.S. news 
website.
The secretary of Armenia’s Security Council, Armen Grigorian, declined to 
comment on the planned trip when he spoke to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service earlier 
on Friday.
“I think that this is a very important trip because [Pelosi] will be the most 
high-ranking American official to have ever visited Armenia,” said Suren 
Sargsian, an Armenian political analyst.
Armenia, he said, will reeeive “strong diplomatic support” from Washington in 
the wake of the large-scale fighting with Azerbaijan which left more than 200 
soldiers from both sides dead.
“Especially amid the aggression against Armenia, we can show the world that the 
political leadership of the United States is sending a message not only to 
Armenia but also to the Azerbaijani government,” added Sargsian.
Pelosi’s California constituency is home to a large number of Armenian 
Americans. The veteran lawmaker has long backed causes championed by the 
Armenian community in the U.S.
In 2019, Pelosi presided over the passage by the House of Representatives of a 
resolution recognizing the 1915 Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey. “It’s a 
great day for the Congress,” she declared at the time.
Foreign Diplomats Visit War-Hit Armenian Town
        • Anush Mkrtchian
Armenia - A guesthouse in Jermuk damaged by Azerbaijani shelling, September 15, 
2022.
A group of foreign ambassadors and other diplomats visited on Friday the largest 
of the Armenian border settlements shelled by the Azerbaijani army during this 
week’s deadly clashes with Armenian forces.
The Yerevan-based diplomats, among them U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy, toured 
Jermuk, Armenia’s most famous spa town 170 kilometers southeast of the capital, 
and inspected damage to its civilian infrastructure during a trip organized by 
the Armenian military. Journalists were allowed to accompany them.
Jermuk was close to one of the epicenters of heavy fighting that broke out at 
several sections of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on Monday night. The vast 
majority of its residents, notably children and women, were evacuated or fled 
their homes on their own amid cross-border artillery fire. Civilian access to 
the largely deserted town remains strictly limited for security reasons.
Local government officials said that the Azerbaijani shelling damaged a spa 
resort, three guest houses, a children’s playground, an administrative building 
and a cable car line. The cable car director told reporters that about a dozen 
shells landed on the facility and seriously damaged it.
Armenia - The tail of an unexploded rocket sticks out by the main road leading 
out of Jermuk, .
Just outside Jermuk, the tail of an unexploded rocket fired by Azerbaijani 
forces stuck out by the main road leading out of the town.
The fighting also directly affected a dozen other border towns and villages. 
According to the Armenian government, a total of 60 houses and other structures 
were destroyed by the shelling.
Major-General Eduard Asrian, the chief of the Armenian army’s General Staff, met 
with the visiting diplomats and answered their questions. Asrian told them that 
Jermuk and nearby hills were the “main direction of the enemy attacks” launched 
at several sections of the border.
Azerbaijani troops managed to advance a few kilometers into Armenian territory 
in the Jermuk area, he said, adding that they made far more modest territorial 
gains at three other border sections. Although Armenian army units recaptured 
some of their lost positions there, the general went on, a hill 4.5 kilometers 
east of Jermuk remains under Azerbaijani control.
Armenia - Major-General Eduard Asrian meets with foreign diplomats in Jermuk, 
.
Asrian said at the same time that a small Azerbaijani unit occupying the hill is 
nearly surrounded by Armenian forces and will have no choice but to leave it 
within days. He claimed that another group of Azerbaijani soldiers retreated 
towards the Azerbaijani border for the same reason earlier in the day.
According to the Armenian government, at least 135 Armenian soldiers were killed 
during the fighting largely stopped by a ceasefire agreement late on Wednesday.
“Unfortunately, we understand that this number is not the final one,” Pashinian 
told members of his government on Friday.
The government has not yet released the number of Armenian soldiers missing in 
action.
The hostilities also reportedly left one Armenian civilian dead and six others 
wounded.
Aliyev Insists On Major Concessions By Armenia
        • Aza Babayan
Uzbekistan -- Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Recep Tayyip Erdogan of 
Turkey meet in Samarkand, 
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Friday that Armenia must accept his 
terms of a bilateral peace treaty and open a land corridor connecting Azerbaijan 
to its Nakhichevan exclave.
Speaking at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Uzbekistan, 
Aliyev also blamed Yerevan for this week’s large-scale fighting on the 
Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
“Azerbaijan presented Armenia with five basic principles of the peace treaty 
which are based on mutual recognition of each other’s territorial integrity and 
sovereignty,” he said in a speech. “We must now start [formal] discussions on 
the draft without preconditions and artificial delays.”
Those principles were first put forward in March. The Armenian government 
repeatedly said afterwards that they are acceptable to it principles but should 
also be complemented with other elements relating to Nagorno-Karabakh’s future 
status and security. Baku ruled out any talks on Karabakh, saying that Yerevan 
should recognize Azerbaijani sovereignty over Karabakh through the peace treaty.
Aliyev also reiterated Baku’s demands for the opening of the “Zangezur corridor” 
that would pass through Armenia’s southeastern Syunik province which also 
borders Iran.
“The launch of the Zangezur corridor will further increase the transport 
capacity of regional countries,” he said.
The Armenian side rejects these demands, saying that it can only agree to 
conventional transport links between Armenia and Azerbaijan envisaged by a 
Russian-brokered agreement that stopped the 2020 war in Karabakh.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said on Wednesday that Azerbaijan 
unleashed military aggression against Armenia in an attempt to force Yerevan to 
sign the peace deal sought by Baku and cede Armenian territory for the 
“exterritorial corridor.”
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has ruled out such unilateral concessions. 
Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Friday, he demanded that Azerbaijani troops 
withdraw from Armenian border areas captured by them this week and in May 2021.
Pashinian had been scheduled to attend the summit held in the Uzbek city of 
Samarkand. But he cancelled his participation after the outbreak of the border 
clashes on Tuesday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has personally intervened to try to halt the 
hostilities. He was due to meet with Aliyev on the sidelines of the summit later 
on Friday. A Kremlin spokesman said that the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict will 
be high on the meeting’s agenda.
Yerevan Unhappy With Russian-Led Bloc’s Response To Border Clashes
        • Karlen Aslanian
        • Nane Sahakian
RUSSIA - The leaders of Russia and other CSTO member states enter a hall prior 
to their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, May 16, 2022.
The Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has failed to 
properly react to large-scale fighting that erupted on Armenia’s border with 
Azerbaijan earlier this week, a senior Armenian official said on Friday.
The Armenian government appealed to the alliance for help hours after the 
outbreak of the deadly hostilities on the night from Monday to Tuesday. The 
presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan discussed 
the request at an emergency video summit chaired by Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian late on Tuesday.
They stopped short of openly siding with Armenia and decided instead to send a 
fact-finding mission to the South Caucasus state.
Armen Grigorian, the secretary of Armenia’s Security Council, clarified that 
Yerevan sought the CSTO’s “military and military-political assistance” that 
would help it drive Azerbaijani forces out of its territory.
“That was our demand to the CSTO,” Grigorian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service. “Up 
until now it has not been fulfilled. So in this regard, [the CSTO response] 
cannot satisfy us.”
Asked whether Yerevan asked Russia and the other CSTO member states to send 
troops to Armenia, he said: “The international community has many instruments, 
from military-political to diplomatic and economic ones.”
The official also would not be drawn on growing domestic calls for Armenia to 
leave the Russian-led bloc. “It’s the CSTO, not Armenia, that should think about 
that,” he said.
Moscow scrambled to end the deadly fighting, with various Russian officials 
holding urgent phone talks with their Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts. The 
United States and the European Union also engaged in a flurry of diplomatic 
activity aimed at halting the hostilities that left at least 135 Armenian and 77 
Azerbaijani soldiers dead.
Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said on Friday that most key foreign powers 
have voiced support for Armenia’s territory and held Azerbaijani responsible for 
the worst fighting in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone since the 2020 war.
“But I must also admit that we had a bit higher expectations from some countries 
or a country, and it’s no secret that in some cases those expectations were not 
quite met,” Mirzoyan told a weekly cabinet meeting in Yerevan. He did not 
elaborate.
Armenia Warns Of ‘Another Azeri Offensive’
        • Heghine Buniatian
US - A Security Council meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York, 
August 11, 2022.
Armenia accused Azerbaijan of planning another, more large-scale attack on its 
territory on Thursday during an emergency session of the UN Security Council 
which discussed this week’s fighting on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
The fighting broke out on Monday night and practically stopped two days later 
after a ceasefire agreed by the two sides.
During separate phone calls with Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and 
Emmanuel Macron of France, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said that although the 
ceasefire is largely holding, the situation at the border remains “very tense.”
“We are receiving reports that the fragile ceasefire is under threat,” the 
Armenian ambassador to the UN, Mher Margarian, told the Security Council meeting.
“There are credible reports that Azerbaijan is planning yet another military 
offensive by widening the geography of the aggression, including from the 
direction of Nakhichevan, to realize the unlawful ambitions towards establishing 
an extraterritorial corridor through the sovereign territory of Armenia,” he 
said.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan claimed on Wednesday that opening of 
such a corridor connecting Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave is one of the 
key aims of the Azerbaijani “aggression.” He reiterated that Yerevan can only 
agree to conventional transport links between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
UN- Mher Margarian, Armenia's ambassador to UN, addresses UN Security Council, 
New York, .
The corridor sought by Baku would pass through Syunik, the only Armenian 
province bordering Iran. Iranian leaders regularly voice strong opposition to 
its creation, fearing a loss of the common border with Armenia,
Speaking with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov on Wednesday, Iranian 
Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian reportedly stressed that “Iran’s 
border with Armenia is a historical route that must be preserved without any 
change.”
During the Security Council meeting, the U.S., Russian and French diplomats 
called on Armenian and Azerbaijani troops to pull back to border positions 
occupied by them before the outbreak of such hostilities.
Russia’s UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzya said Moscow is making major efforts to 
ensure such troop disengagement and cement the shaky ceasefire.
“Like others, the United States welcomes the cessation of all hostilities and 
encourages both parties to continue to exercise restraint,” said U.S. Ambassador 
Richard Mills. “Military forces should disengage to allow both parties to 
resolve all outstanding issues through peaceful negotiations.”
For his part, France’s Nicolas de Riviere urged Azerbaijan to “pull back troops 
to initial positions.” “The territorial integrity of Armenia must be preserved,” 
he said.
Azerbaijan’s ambassador to the UN, Yashar Aliyev, rejected the Armenian 
accusations and blamed Yerevan for the escalation.
Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2022 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Knowledge and education are main pillars enabling countries to overcome challenges – President’s September 1 address

Jalatian Sonya

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 10:08, 1 September 2022

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan released a congratulatory address on September 1, Knowledge and School Day.

“Dear students, teachers and parents, happy September 1st, congratulations on Knowledge and School Day. The beginning of every academic year is unique and obligating for us all.  In the era of modern changes, knowledge and education are the main pillars with which man, societies and countries must be able to overcome the most various challenges and problems.

Dear first-graders and freshmen, I would like to specially wish you peaceful course in this new phase of your lives where you must learn, acquire knowledge and experience and enrich the potential of our society, which is not only one of the primary guarantees of our country’s development and empowerment but also the precondition of the prosperity of our society and citizens.

I am conveying special congratulations to all teachers and academic staff, wishing good luck in your difficult and responsible work. You bear on your shoulders not only the working or specialized duties, but also the responsibility of developing a conscious and dignified citizen through giving high-quality education to generations.

Dear students, don’t forget that knowledge is your future, the road to big life. It will allow you to find your place in the modern world, do become dignified citizens and patriots of our country.

Dear countrymen, once again congratulations on Knowledge and School Day,” the President said in the address.