Author: Kanayan Tamar

Pashinyan in Brussels says Azerbaijani forces should be pulled out from Armenia

Kanayan Tamar
TASS, Russia
June 2 2021
Armenia’s prime minister also underlined the necessity for “an appropriate reaction from the international community to Azerbaijan’s provocative actions”

YEREVAN, June 2. /TASS/. Armenia’s acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a meeting with President of the European Council Charles Michel on Wednesday in Brussels and underlined the vital nature of the withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from Armenia, Pashinyan’s press service reported.

“The acting prime minister provided a detailed account about the situation in the Southern Caucasus after the 44-day-long Artsakh war (hostilities in the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic — TASS) and on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in particular. Pashinyan underlined the need to withdraw the Azerbaijani Armed Forces from the sovereign territory of Armenia and provided information about diplomatic and negotiating actions in this area,” the statement reads.

Pashinyan also underlined the necessity for “an appropriate reaction from the international community to Azerbaijan’s provocative actions and actions to ensure the return of Armenian prisoners of war.” “The president of the European Council welcomed the position of the Armenian side on a peaceful and political resolution of the problem on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and expressed readiness of the European Union to facilitate this process,” the statement adds.

Following the end of military action in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone last fall, when seven regions adjacent to Nagorno-Karabakh fell under Azerbaijan’s control, the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan moved to the immediate vicinity of the Syunik and Gegharkunik Provinces. The situation there exacerbated on May 12. Then, the Armenian Defense Ministry announced that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces attempted to carry out “certain operations” in the Syunik Province in a bid to “redefine the border.” The Azerbaijani forces ceased their activities after the Armenian Armed Forces took measures in response.

However, both parties regularly report new incidents. On May 27, Azerbaijan announced that it had captured six Armenian servicemen during an attempt to cross the border. The Armenian side confirmed that the servicemen were captured yet emphasized that at the time they were involved in engineering works in the border area of Armenia’s Gegharkunik Province. Later, Yerevan said that it had turned to the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) with regards to the escalation of the situation on the Armenian-Azeri border. In their turn, the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group on settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh put forward their de-escalation plan, which involves the parties withdrawing troops and beginning the process of demarcating and delimiting the state border with the assistance of the Minsk Group.

Ministries of agriculture, diaspora and culture should be restored – Serzh Sargsyan

Kanayan Tamar
Panorama, Armenia
June 5 2021

The first task after the change of power in Armenia should be the change of the country’s government structure,” Armenia]s ex-president Serzh Sargsyan said at the meeting wit supporters of “The Salute of Honour and Respect” pre-election bloc. 

In Sargsyan’s words, at least three ministries – the ministry of culture, agriculture and diaspora  – should be re-established as standalone entities. 

As to the security challenges Armenia faces, Sargsyan said: “First, we must replace the  people who are in charge of security issues – the defense minister, the Chief of the General Staff. From one hand we should bring back the people who are specialists and understand the role of the Army and then gradually implement reforms, form trust with our allies, since without the military-technical assistance from them we may not be able to restore and have a combat-ready army,” Sargsyan said. 

Nearly 70 CIS observers to monitor Armenia’s upcoming snap polls

Kanayan Tamar

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 16:57, 1 June, 2021

YEREVAN, JUNE 1, ARMENPRESS. The group conducting observer mission of the CIS Executive Committee has already started its monitoring activities in connection with Armenia’s upcoming snap parliamentary elections, member of the group Yevgeny Kozyak told reporters today in Yerevan.

“We have just met with the President of the Central Electoral Commission Tigran Mukuchyan, and today our group has already started its observation work over the holding of the snap elections”, he said.

He informed that nearly 70 observers will be included in the CIS observer mission.

“We will conduct monitoring on the election day not only in the capital, but also in different provinces. And the next day of the elections we will hold a press conference where the head and members of the observer mission will present their conclusions”, he said.

Asked how they assess the organizational works of the snap elections, he said a major work has been done within a short of period of time.

Snap parliamentary elections in Armenia will take place on June 20.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

ECHR sets deadline for providing information about 6 Armenians kept by Azerbaijan as hostages

Kanayan Tamar

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 19:58,

YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. The ECHR has set a deadline for Azerbaijan until June 4 for providing information about the status of the 6 Armenian servicemen that were taken hostage by Azerbaijan in a bordering area in Gegharkunik Province on May 27, ARMENPRESS reports ‘’Lurer’’ news of Public TV informed, adding that the representatives of the Red Cross in Baku have not visited the detainees so far.

Zara Amatuni, head of communications programs at the International Committee of the Red Cross in Armenia told ‘’Lurer’’ news program that the representatives of the Red Cross in Baku have visited the other Armenian POWs and civilian hostages and delivered the video messages of their parents.

Analysts point to political aspect of Armenian-Azerbaijani border conflict

Kanayan Tamar
The Caucasian Knot, EU

If Russian peacemakers are placed on Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the parties may drag Russia into a conflict to be used against each other, the Russian military analysts interviewed by the “Caucasian Knot” believe.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on May 27, Nikol Pashinyan, the Acting Prime Minister of Armenia, stated that Armenia and Azerbaijan should simultaneously withdraw their troops from the border and let international observers to come there. On May 28, the European Union (EU) supported Pashinyan’s idea of placing observers on the border with Azerbaijan.

In mid-May, the Armenian-Azerbaijani border conflict escalated. On May 13, Yerevan stated that Azerbaijani militaries entered the territory of the Syunik and Gegarkunik Regions of Armenia. In their turn, Azerbaijani authorities claim that the border guards only changed their deployment, staying within the Lachin and Kelbadjar Districts of Azerbaijan.

According to Shair Ramaldanov, an Azerbaijani military expert, the Armenia’s active objections to what is happening on the Azerbaijani border are born by the difficult post-war situation and the upcoming elections in the country.

The expert has added that in Armenia, the current situation on the border and a possible demarcation thereof are a subject of political speculations. “And each political grouping, which is striving for power, interprets this situation in its own way; and there is dragging, one might say, of ‘a blanket’ over itself – who will pull more,” the analyst has explained.

The opinion that the situation on the Azerbaijani border is being used by Armenia for political purposes was also expressed by Pavel Felgengauer, a Russian military analyst. “There is an obvious political problem, which has to do with the fact that Armenia, in general, is trying, if possible, to drag Russia into a confrontation with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan wants to occupy the territory that it considers to be its own, but at the same time it does not want to confront with Russia,” he told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

Therefore, there are attempts from the Armenian side to present the case that Azerbaijan is encroaching on Armenian territory, the analyst has added. Meanwhile, in his opinion, Russia absolutely does not need and does not want to get involved in this conflict.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on at 03:05 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

See earlier reports:

Armenia declares its readiness to withdraw troops from Azerbaijani border, Azerbaijani militaries’ invasion deprived Kut villagers of their pastures, EU supports Pashinyan’s idea of observers on Azerbaijani border.

Author: Rustam Djalilov; Source: CK correspondent

Source: ?fbclid=IwAR1yRhK5O6lDkhnZU064ToENMLGE42oUYv4guIR8SzJpiE_6vfRnTA3t_7A
© Caucasian Knot

 

Harutyunyan, Shoigu consider possible ways of resolution of the situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border, agreed over necessary steps

Kanayan Tamar
Aysor, Armenia

Armenia’s Acting Minister of Defense Vagharshak Harutyunyan met today in Moscow with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu.

During the meeting issues on the course of implementation of peacekeeping mission in Nagorno Karabakh, situation created in Armenia’s Syunik and Gegharkunik provinces as well as Armenian-Russian bilateral military cooperation and regional security were discussed.

Harutyunyan briefed to his Russian counterpart the details of the infiltration of Azerbaijani armed forces the territory of Armenia and the measures taken by the Armenian Armed Forces.

Armenia’s acting minister stressed that the Azeri provocations with the false “border adjustment” grounding are absolutely unacceptable and that the Azerbaijani sub-divisions must immediately leave the sovereign territory of Armenia.

The interlocutors considered possible ways of the resolution of the situation and agreed over necessary steps.

French Ambassador congratulates Armenia on Republic Day

Kanayan Tamar

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 08:32,

YEREVAN, MAY 28, ARMENPRESS. French Ambassador to Armenia Jonathan Lacôte congratulated Armenia and its people on the 103rd anniversary of the founding of the First Republic of Armenia.

“On this May 28, on the 103rd anniversary of the First Republic, I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace and prosperity, I wish Armenia, which measures its history by millennia, to have confidence towards its future, I wish Armenia to never doubt its beauty, strengths and talents, I wish Armenia to be proud to give this country to their children.

And I wish France to always love Armenia, like Armenia loves us”, the French Ambassador said on social media.

Armenia marks the 103rd anniversary of the founding of the First Republic of Armenia in 1918.

On May 28, 1918 the Armenian people restored their independence – which was lost over 9 centuries earlier – with the triumphant victories in the fierce battles of Karakilisa, Bash Abaran and Sardarapat.

The Battle of Sardarapat shaped the destiny of Armenia. The whole nation, who survived the genocide, joined forces and entire families, including women, children and elderly, were fighting alongside soldiers.

With this victory, Armenian troops were able to stop the Turkish invasion to Transcaucasia and save Armenia from total destruction.

The First Republic of Armenia lasted only two years: in December 1920 the Red Army entered Yerevan and the country was sovietized.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

‘Azerbaijan’s attack on Armenian territory is despicable’ – US Congresswoman

Kanayan Tamar

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 11:52,

YEREVAN, MAY 28, ARMENPRESS. The United States must freeze all military aid to Azerbaijan, Congresswoman Jackie Speier said on Twitter.

“Azerbaijan’s attack on Armenian territory and the capture of six Armenian soldiers is despicable. Aliyev has shown he has no interest in peace and diplomacy – only aggression”, the Congresswoman said.

On May 27 early morning, 6 servicemen of the Armenian Armed Forces, while conducting engineering works in the territory of an Armenian military base’ protection area in the border section of Armenia’s Gegharkunik province, have been surrounded and taken captive by the Azerbaijani troops.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Levon Aronian to play at Grand Chess Tour under the Armenian flag

Kanayan Tamar
Panorama, Armenia

Armenian Grandmaster Levon Aronian will participate in the 2021 Grand Chess Tour, which returns after its cancellation last year due to the global pandemic. Aronian will play under the Armenian flag, according to the players’ profiles on the official website of the tournament. 

Aronian  will join nine other world elite as full-tour participants in the 2021 GCT schedule, which  features two classical tournaments with prize funds of $325,000 each, including the kickoff event in Romania in June and the tour finale Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis in August.

To remind, in February GM Levon Aronian announced his decision to leave Armenia and switch to the U.S. due to “broken promises” by the current authorities. “After waiting for the fulfillment of the promises of the incumbent authorities for more than a year, I realized that I had to make a breakthrough decision to leave my native country,” he said, stating every year of expecting change is a waste of time in his career.