Author: Kalashian Nyrie

ArmInfo.Armenia is holding discussions on a new route between Armenia and Artsakh with its Russian partners, Armenia’s Premier Nikol Pashinyan stated at an  online news conference. 

A new road that would be an alternative to the Lachin corridor is  under construction. Under the trilateral agreement of November 9,  2020, during three years, with the parties consent, the corridor  route is to be changed. As a result, the territories beyond the  boundaries of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region will  become part of Azerbaijan. The route will be changed to ensure more  reliable highway service between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. 

“We are solving the Berdzor residents’ problems by means of  government decisions. Of course, the population must be provided with  housing. As regards Ahavno, the Artsakh government can resolve the  villagers’ problems,” the premier said. The route will be changed  after Russian troops establish control over the new route. The  corridor must be under Russian peacekeepers’ full control, Mr  Pashinyan said. 

Speaking of Armenian POWs, the premier said that official Baku is  trying to discredit Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh by not handing  the POW over. 90% of the confirmed captives were taken captive after  the Russian peacekeepers’ were deployed in their responsibility zone,  and the Armenian side has repeatedly stated the fact during meetings  with its Russian partners. One of the examples is Khtsaberd, when a  large group of Armenian servicemen was taken captive after the  November 9 agreement was signed. Khtsaberd must de jure be under  Russian peacekeepers’ control, but some changes have taken place. The  locations have several times been revised based on maps. Armenia,  Russia and thee international community must take measures for all  the prisoners to be returned. Two groups are now in Azerbaijan: one  group officially confirmed by Baku, 38 people; the second group,  people reported captive, but Azerbaijan has not confirmed it. The  Armenian side considers them missing by force. The issue of captives  is being raised at all the working meetings, and international trials  are taking place. “We are going to be consistent to have all of them  return,” Mr Pashinyan said.

ArmInfo.The ruling “Civil Contract” party of Armenia has presented its candidates to the local self-government bodies, who will lead the proportional lists in the  elections to be held in September this year.

 By decision of the board of the party, the lists will be headed by:  Alagyaz – Anzor  Urusyan Alaverdi – Aren Mkrtchyan Akunk – Hunan Rubenyan Areni – Usik  Sahakyan Berd – Vahram Sukiasyan Byureghavan – Vladimir Vardevanyan  Gyulagarak – Khachik Vardanyan Jrvezh – Robert Petrosyan Yeghegis –  Artur Stepanyan Kajaran – Armen Arakelyan Lori Berd – Arayik  Nersisyan Sisian – Armen Hakobjanyan Talin – Tavros Sapeyan Tashir –  Arman Vardanyan Tsaghkahovit – Norayr Hakobyan Charentsavan – Artur  Galstyan The elections will be held on September 25. 

ArmInfo. The European Union (EU) is seeking independent activities in the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict Sergey Markedonov, Leading Researcher  at Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), said in  an interview with ArmInfo.

“Brussels failed to accomplish the set task by itself either in the  Balkans or in Ukraine. The USA’s interference was needed in both  cases. This is the reason for the EU’s desire to show its own ability  to settle conflict at least in the South Caucasus. And Brussels  obviously has its own motives for and interests in it, which are, no  doubt, in conflict with Russia’s interests,” Mr Markedonov said. 

The launch of Russia’s special operation in Ukraine triggered  activities only on the part of the EU in the South Caucasus.  Specifically, Brussels is now actively involved in preparing border  delimitation and demarcation and a peace agreement between Armenia  and Azerbaijan. Certain processes got underway in Transdniestria, and  Tbilisi’s refusal to support the anti-Russian sanctions caused  problems in the Georgian – Ukrainian relations. 

“In other words, the Caucasus agenda is part of the Black Sea  geopolitical agenda – and it is extremely important. By and large,  the EU not being interested in Russia growing stronger does not give  rise to any questions. Rather, what causes questions is the EU’s  desire to ‘skim the cream off’ Moscow’s previous steps to establish  peace in Karabakh. The very same President of the European Council  Charles Michel prefers pretending that Russia is not at all involved  in Karabakh, whereas it was Russia that ended the war and ensured the  trilateral agreements to establish peace in the South Caucasus.  Moscow and Brussels are not in outright confrontation with each other  over Nagorno-Karabakh in contrast to that over Georgia and Ukraine.  They are just trying to ignore Russia,” Mr Markedonov said.