Category: 2020

CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas has expressed concern over the ceasefire violation that took place on March 30th at the Armenia-Azerbaijan border which resulted in two Armenian soldiers and one civilian – a 14-year-old child – being wounded.

Zas told ARMENPRESS the fact that this incident is taking place when the international community is unitedly combating the coronavirus pandemic is perplexing.

ARMENPRESS: Days ago, as a result of the Azerbaijani ceasefire violation at the border with Armenia two Armenian servicemen and one 14-year-old resident of the Voskevan village were wounded. As CSTO Secretary General, how would you comment on this type of a provocation against a CSTO member country?

Zas: I’ve been informed by the Armenian side about the incident that took place at the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. The fact that this has resulted in two servicemen and the [14-year-old] resident of Voskevan being wounded is very concerning. At the same time, I would like to express concern regarding this kind of an incident in the CSTO zone of responsibility – at the border of a member country of the organization.

It is perplexing that the escalation is happening at a time when the international community is waging a united battle against the coronavirus pandemic. In this regard I am calling on the parties to the conflict to heed to the UN Secretary General’s calls on a global ceasefire. By the way, as far as I know Armenia has officially endorsed this call. I would also like to underscore the importance of the implementation of the agreements reached by the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in terms of ceasefire in the conflict zone, and I wish the victims of the incident speedy recovery.

On March 30, the Azerbaijani military attempted a subversive incursion in the direction of Armenian positions in the Noyemberyan region of Tavush province. The adversary attack was thwarted, but the Azerbaijani troops also opened fire at civilian settlements, wounding a child.

Artsakh is set to host a second round of voting to decide its next president as none of the candidates garnered at least 50% plus 1 vote in Tuesday’s general elections.

The voter turnout stood at 76,728 people or 73.5% of the eligible voters, Chairperson of the Artsakh Central Electoral Commission (CEC) Srbuhi Arzumanyan said on Wednesday.

A total of 2,625 ballot papers were declared invalid, she said, adding the final election results will be announced on April 7.

As many as 14 candidates were running for president in Artsakh, while 10 parties and 2 alliances were competing for seats in the National Assembly.

According to the initial results, presidential candidates Arayik Harutyunyan garnered 36,076 votes or 49.26% of the votes, Masis Mayilyan – 19,360 votes or 26.4% of the votes, Vitaly Balasanyan – 10,755 votes or 14.7% of the votes and Ashot Ghulyan – 1,683 votes or 2.3% of the votes.

The runoff election will be held on 14 April according to the Artsakh law, she said.

The CEC chair expressed her gratitude to the Artsakh voters for exercising their voting rights in a non-standard situation linked to the coronavirus pandemic, ensuring more than 73% voter turnout.

Number of Armenian charity organizations and volunteers have joint an international online platform “We Join Hands” which aims to bring together elderly people, people with special and volunteers ready to provide help and assistance amid the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.

The initiative is an online platform created by Munich-based Waldheim International GmbH company where people can ask for or offer help and support, receive important information, overcome the anxiety of loneliness in the face of the novel challenges and feel that all are closer and more united than ever.

People who need help or are ready to offer their helping hand to others are encouraged to register using the applicable form at .  The platform is active in Germany, Switzerland, Greece, Cyprus, Armenia, Russia and the US.  

The Armenian Foreign Ministry has issued a statement in regard to the statement of Turkey’s Foreign Ministry on the elections being held in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

Below is the full text of the statement published by the ministry’s press service:

“The statement of the Foreign Ministry of Turkey on the elections being held in Nagorno-Karabakh is yet another _expression_ of Turkey’s hostile policy towards the Armenian people.

In line with its traditional method of selective interpretation of international documents, on one hand Turkey invokes the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and on the other hand ignores their call to refrain from any hostile actions in the context of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict explicitly addressed to the states in the region. While it is Turkey that has been imposing land blockade on the Republic of Armenia for decades and supporting aggressive and atrocious actions unleashed against the people of Artsakh, including in April 2016.

The reference of Turkey’s Foreign Ministry to the OSCE principles and the Minsk process is equally groundless. We recall that the OSCE/CSCE decision of March 24, 1992, which laid a foundation for the Minsk process, refers to the elected representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh as a participant in the process. Elections must be held to have elected representatives, and from this viewpoint, elections conducted in Artsakh don’t contradict, but derive from the logic and fundamental documents of peaceful process.

Turkey’s attempts to act as an international guardian of human rights and its appeals to the international community are more than bankrupted in the light of its constant violations of the rights of peoples and territorial integrity of its neighbors and its aggressive policy which breaches the norms of international law and democracy.”

The presidential and parliamentary elections in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) “cannot prejudice” the determination of its future status, EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano said in a statement on Tuesday.

“In view of the so-called ‘presidential and parliamentary elections’ in Nagorno-Karabakh on , the European Union reiterates that it does not recognise the constitutional and legal framework within which they are being held. This event cannot prejudice the determination of the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh or the outcome of the ongoing negotiation process.

“The EU recalls its firm support to the OSCE Minsk Group and, in particular, to its Co-Chairs’ efforts to bring about progress beyond the status quo and substantive negotiations towards comprehensive and sustainable peace. The EU stands ready to further support efforts, aimed at early, peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” reads the statement.