Category: 2021

Russia doesn’t plan to pull out peacekeepers from Karabakh upon completion of initial term, says analyst Vladimir Evseev

 16:55,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. Russia doesn’t plan to pull out its peacekeeping forces from Nagorno Karabakh, military expert Vladimir Evseev told ARMENPRESS when asked to comment the former commander of the troops Lt. General Rustam Muradov’s latest statement.

“I think Russia doesn’t plan to pull out peacekeepers upon the completion of the 5-year term. But of course everything will depend on the current situation. Azerbaijan will certainly try to somehow drive out Russian peacekeepers, but I don’t think they’ll succeed,” the Russian analyst said.

Lt. General Rustam Muradov, who led the Russian peacekeeping forces in Nagorno Karabakh since the signing of the ceasefire and who was only recently replaced by Major General Mikhail Kosobokov, told TASS that a decision on extending the mission’s term will be made when the 5-year term is completed. Muradov mentioned that he assesses highly the peacekeeping activities, and noted that this assessment is given by the civilian population of Artsakh.

In this context, Evseev said that almost a year since the end of the war Azerbaijan basically hasn’t yet mastered the territories it occupied.

“I don’t see how Azerbaijan is [mastering] Karabakh. This isn’t visible. There is some military mastering, but the territories aren’t being populated. Turns out the 7000 Azerbaijanis which Azerbaijan lost in the war died for nothing. Turns out they captured territories where no one lives. In this case, what was the point in taking so many casualties? What do Arabs for example do in Nagorno Karabakh? Why did they appear there? There are many questions. Therefore I think it’s too early to speak about what could happen in 4 years. But in any case I think Russia doesn’t plan to pull out its peacekeepers. This is my personal opinion,” Evseev said.

Interview by Aram Sargsyan

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 17:33,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. President of the Republic of Artsakh convened a working consultation on September 10.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the President’s Office, during the meeting, the issues related to granting the status of a participant of the defense of Artsakh during the war unleashed by Azerbaijan in 2020 were discussed.

Samvel Shahramanyan, Chairman of the Interdepartmental Commission in charge for the above-mentioned issues, Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Artsakh, made a report on the work done.

President Harutyunyan instructed the responsible bodies to clarify the approaches and procedures for granting the status, excluding unfair decisions.

 18:28,

YEREVAN, 10 SEPTEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 10 September, USD exchange rate is down by 0.32 drams to 492.85 drams. EUR exchange rate is down by 0.13 drams to 583.39 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate is up by 0.02 drams to 6.77 drams. GBP exchange rate is up by 2.22 drams to 683.68 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price is up by 17.27 drams to 28335.7 drams. Silver price is down by 2.94 drams to 382.59 drams. Platinum price is down by 216.24 drams to 15591.97 drams.

 18:46,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. The swearing-in ceremony of the Cabinet members took place at the Presidential Residence in the presence of President Sarkissian on September 10.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the President’s Office, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was the first to swear in, next the Cabinet members swore in, reading the following text, ‘’For the sake of achieving national goals, strengthening the homeland, I swear to fulfill my obligations to the people in good faith, to observe the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, the laws, to contribute to the protection of the sovereignty and interests of the Republic of Armenia, to remain faithful to the high title of member of the Cabinet’’.

At the end of the ceremony, President Armen Sarkissian congratulated the Prime Minister and the Cabinet members, wishing them productive work for the benefit of the state and the people.

 20:29,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, the statement of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky about the danger of starting a war with Russia does not even deserve attention.

՛՛I think that statement is not even worth paying attention to. We are used to those vulgar statements, which are full of anti-Russian sentiment’’, ARMENPRESS reports, citing Ria Novosti, Lavrov said.

The Russian Minister expressed regret that Zelensky, who came to power under completely different slogans and received support also in eastern Ukraine, now declares that anyone who lives in Ukraine but considers himself a Russian, should go to Russia.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he considered a large-scale war with Russia possible.

 13:34,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The new Belgian ambassador to Armenia Marc Michielsen presented the copy of credentials to foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan on September 11.

FM Mirzoyan congratulated the ambassador on assuming office and expressed conviction that Michielsen will contribute to advancing the Armenian-Belgian multi-sector cooperation, political dialogue and bilateral and multilateral agenda.

FM Mirzoyan and Ambassador Michielsen discussed possibilities for enhancing the trade-economic relations and boosting partnership in the high-tech sector. Re-launching the Yerevan-Brussels air communication was highlighted.

The Armenia-European Union cooperation was also discussed. Mirzoyan underscored that the effective implementation of the Armenia-EU CEPA – ratified by Belgium – as well as the implementation of inclusive programs as part of the Eastern Partnership format will contribute to deepening bilateral relations and sectoral partnership.

FM Mirzoyan and Ambassador Michielsen exchanged ideas over regional peace and security matters. Mirzoyan expressed conviction that a lasting and stable peace in the region can be achieved only through a comprehensive solution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmanship. The Armenian FM also welcomed Belgium’s position over this issue.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 14:57,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Defense and Commander of the Defense Army of Artsakh Lt. General Mikayel Arzumanyan resigned.

His resignation was formally accepted by President Arayik Harutyunyan on September 11, the presidency reported.

No replacement has yet been named.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

United States doesn’t consider status of Nagorno Karabakh resolved, reiterates Ambassador Tracy

 16:55,

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The United States has again reiterated that it doesn’t consider the issue of the status of Nagorno Karabakh to be resolved.

United States Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy was asked by reporters on the potential resumption of the Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group. Ambassador Tracy said that the United States, as a Minsk Group Co-Chair, is doing “everything to support bringing the parties together under the auspices of the Minsk Group, because we think that these very fundamental issues of peace and security require negotiations and diplomacy.”

“Secretary Blinken has made our commitment to this process very clear on several occasions. It’s obviously a very tough environment. Thirty years of war and tensions are not going to be resolved overnight. But we understand that there are some fundamental issues that do have to be addressed, and one of them, as I have said before, is that we don’t consider the status of Nagorno Karabakh resolved. And we will continue to keep that on the agenda of the Minsk Group,” Tracy said. 

Earlier in August, the US Ambassador to Armenia had again said that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict has not been resolved because the status of Nagorno Karabakh remains to be decided.

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan