In the latest edition of Insights With Eric Hacopian, Eric discusses the latest updates regarding the normalization talks between Armenia and Turkey. Eric also reflects on what Armenia’s stance should be towards a country that still denies the Armenian Genocide.
11:08,
YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS. 6 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed over the last 24 hours, the Armenian Ministry of Healthcare said.
The cumulative total number of confirmed cases reached 422,805.
No new deaths were recorded and the total death toll stood at 8,622.
14 people recovered (total recoveries: 410,517).
As of April 21 the number of active cases stood at 1,984.
3,287 tests were administered (total tests: 3,026,628).
20:47,
YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Hellenic Parliament on National Defense and Foreign Affairs Konstantinos Gioulekas took part in an event dedicated to the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Thessaloniki, ARMENPRESS reports he laid a wreath at the monument to the unknown soldier.
He made a note about the event on his Facebook page, noting: “The ties between the Greeks and the Armenians are very strong and multidimensional. The two peoples are also linked by the genocides: the Armenian Genocide, followed by the Genocide of the Pontic Greeks of Asia Minor.”
ArmInfo.In order to avoid a potential big tragedy, Armenia should look carefully, step over its troubles and problems and negotiate directly with Azerbaijan. Former Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov stated in an interview on the Chibukhchyan Live youtube channel.
At the same time, he stressed that European democracy, as an intermediary-guarantor is still better than the President of the Russian Federation with his future imperial values as a guarantor.
At the same time, Avakov recalled the position of the Europeans regarding the generally accepted borders of Nagorno-Karabakh, which, according to the latter, should be part of Azerbaijan.
In his opinion, the balance in such a situation can be maintained, if French President Emmanuel Macron, France, the EU, and the USA are chosen as a grenade. “And get out of this “prison of peoples”, which is now being built again by Mr. Putin,” Avakov stressed.
At the same time, he expressed indignation at the deployment of Russian border guards on the RA border. Such, according to the Ukrainian politician, should not be allowed. In this context, he recalled Russia’s statements about the “fraternal Ukrainian people”, which did not prevent the latter from destroying Ukrainian cities today. Avakov did not rule out a similar scenario for Armenia.
The only advice that can be given to Armenia in such a difficult situation is to go through difficult compromises by consensus. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, according to the former head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, must gather the opposition forces, present the situation and by general consensus, by all the people, choose and support some kind of decision. Only by agreeing among themselves, according to Arsen Avakov, one can have a strong position in the negotiation process. “Moreover, there are few places where you will find such lobbyism as that of the Armenians. You have to use it correctly. This is very important,” he added. According to Avakov, Armenia is able to resolve its issues in a similar way. And after Ukraine coped with Russia, the former head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs expressed the opinion that Armenia should move to a completely different level of relations with Ukraine, which would be quite promising.
PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia has delivered 4 tons of medical supplies to hospitals in Aleppo, Syria, according to a message published by the Center for Humanitarian Demining and Expertise.
In general, 24 tons of medicines have been handed over to the medical institutions of Aleppo since the first day of the deployment of the Armenian mission in Syria.
In February 2019, Armenia sent an 83-person team of sappers, medics, and an accompanying security detail to Aleppo․ The mission, which works in regions outside of active military operations, was sent specifically to the Syrian city with a sizable ethnic Armenian population.
AFP – Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday announced a meeting with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev next week in Belgium amid renewed tensions over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
“I plan to meet on April 6 in Brussels with… the Azerbaijani President,” Ilham Aliyev, Pashinyan told a cabinet meeting, adding that he hoped “to agree on all the questions related to the start of peace talks” with Baku.
ArmInfo.The Office of the President of the Republic of Artsakh considers the statement of the Azerbaijani AzeriGas company about its intention to “rebuild gas infrastructure” of Stepanakert as “unserious”, therefore they do not comment on it. The Office of the President of Artsakh said in response to a query from ARMENPRESS agency.
“We find this statement to be unserious and therefore we don’t comment it,” said the source of the agency.
It should be noted that today the Azerbaijani AzeriGas company stated that it is planned to rebuild the gas infrastructure of Stepanakert, noting that “certain work has already been carried out” on the gas pipeline.
On March 8, the Azerbaijani side damaged the gas pipeline from Armenia to Artsakh. After two weeks of negotiations, Azerbaijan itself repaired the gas pipeline, and as it turned out on March 19, it installed a valve on it, with which it can now control the gas supply to the NKR.
On March 27, the Artsakh Information Center issued a message stating that natural gas is supplied to the territory of the Republic of Artsakh through only one gas pipeline from the territory of the Republic of Armenia, and the Gazprom Armenia CJSC gas supply company is a 100% subsidiary of Gazprom. “ArtsakhGAS” CJSC receives and distributes to its consumers natural gas from the specified gas pipeline. Based on this, the Azerbaijani SOCAR state oil company or its subsidiary AzeriGas cannot have any relation to the process of gas supply to the Republic of Artsakh
21:02, 1 April, 2022
YEREVAN, 1 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. The Russian peacekeeping contingent continues to fulfill its tasks in Nagorno-Karabakh, ARMENPRESS reports the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Russian peacekeepers are monitoring the situation around the clock at 27 checkpoints and are monitoring the ceasefire.
No violations were registered in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent.
“Four convoys of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces were escorted through the Lachin corridor, two to the north and two to the south.
Patrol service was carried out in Askeran, Martakert, Martuni regions, in Lachin corridor.
Continued cooperation with the General Staffs of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and Armenia is maintained to ensure the security of Russian peacekeepers and prevent possible incidents,” the statement said.
10:31,
YEREVAN, MARCH 25, ARMENPRESS. Karen Donfried, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, held telephone conversations with Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, the State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs said on Twitter.
“The US is deeply concerned about gas disruptions and Azerbaijan’s troop movements. Armenia and Azerbaijan need to use direct communications channels to immediately de-escalate”, the statement says.
On March 24, the units of the Azerbaijani armed forces, in gross violation of the requirements of the 2020 November 10 trilateral statement, infiltrated into the responsibility zone of the Russian peacekeeping troops in the Republic of Artsakh, by taking under their control the village of Parukh in Askeran region and the adjacent positions, then attempted to ensure advancement in the eastern border of the Republic of Artsakh.
The authorities of Artsakh said that the main pipeline supplying gas from Armenia to Artsakh was damaged on March 7 and the supply stopped. The Artsakh authorities had said the area where the damage occurred was in Azerbaijani-controlled territory. It was reported that the Azerbaijani military deliberately damaged the pipeline. The Azerbaijani authorities obstructed repair works for days. Only on March 16 the authorities in Artsakh announced that the Azerbaijani side itself began the repair work. However, days later, the gas supply was cut again. Authorities said they have reasons to believe that during the repairs the Azeri authorities installed a valve on the pipeline in order to shut it down whenever they want.
15:16,
YEREVAN, MARCH 21, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan held a phone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov on March 21.
Mirzoyan and Lavrov discussed issues related to the Armenian-Russian cooperation, mutual-visits on the high and highest levels and the events dedicated to the 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Russia, the foreign ministry said in a readout of the call.
The FMs addressed the course of implementation of the agreements reached under the trilateral statements of 2020 November 9, 2021 January 11 and 2021 November 26.
The Armenian FM presented the situation created as a result of Azerbaijani provocations and ceasefire violations in the Armenia-Azerbaijan borderzone and in Nagorno Karabakh.
FM Mirzoyan also presented to FM Lavrov Armenia’s stance regarding launching the negotiations around a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan and in this context attached importance to the role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.
The normalization process of the Armenia-Turkey relations was also discussed.
Mirzoyan and Lavrov also exchanged views on issues related to regional and international security.