Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Armenian Speaker Reticent About Karabakh’s Status
May 17, 2022
• Astghik Bedevian
Armenia - Speaker Alen Simonian chairs a session of the National Assembly,
Yerevan, September 13, 2021.
Parliament speaker Alen Simonian on Tuesday pointedly declined to say whether
Armenia will champion Nagorno-Karabakh’s right to self-determination in
negotiations on a peace treaty with Azerbaijan.
Responding to Azerbaijani proposals to negotiate such a treaty, the Armenian
government has said that the question of Karabakh’s status must also be on the
agenda of the talks. But it has not publicly clarified its position on the
status or a mechanism for determining it.
Simonian, who is a key political ally of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, was
similarly reticent about the issue when he spoke to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.
Asked whether Pashinian’s administration could recognize Karabakh as a part of
Azerbaijan, he said: “As head of the legislative branch, I cannot be involved in
the negotiating process or somehow predetermine it. The foreign minister, the
head of the government will answer this question.”
Simonian also would not be drawn on the reason for Yerevan’s failure to mention
the Karabakh Armenians’ right to self-determination it its written proposals on
the peace talks communicated to Baku.
“The Armenian proposal is a proposal regarding the status, but that proposal
regarding the status is a subject of discussions,” he said vaguely.
Speaking in the Armenian parliament on April 13, Pashinian said that the
international community is pressing Armenia to “lower a bit the bar on the
question of Nagorno-Karabakh’s status” and recognize Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity. He signaled Yerevan’s intention to make such concessions to Baku,
drawing strong criticism from his political opponents and Karabakh’s leadership.
The authorities in Stepanakert made clear that the Karabakh Armenians will never
agree to live under Azerbaijani rule. Armenian opposition leaders charged, for
their part, that Pashinian has agreed to Azerbaijani control over the disputed
territory.
ARMENIA - Police officers detain opposition supporters who attempted to block
streets in the capital Yerevan on May 17, 2022.
The opposition went on to launch daily street protests in Yerevan aimed at
forcing Pashinian to step down.
“You must quit in order for Artsakh (Karabakh) to remain Armenian,” Ishkhan
Saghatelian, one of the protest leaders, appealed to the prime minister as
thousands of opposition supporters again marched through Yerevan on Tuesday.
Pashinian and his political allies have rejected the opposition demands.
Simonian said the ruling political team won a popular mandate to govern Armenia
for the next five years in parliamentary elections held last June. He also
rejected the opposition criticism of the government’s Karabakh policy.
“What does the opposition propose? Nothing,” said the speaker.
Yerevan Sees Rebound In Russian-Armenian Trade
May 17, 2022
Russia - Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Armenian Prime Minister
Nikol Pashinian, Moscow, May 16, 2022.
Armenia’s vital trade with Russia is showing signs of recovery after shrinking
in the immediate aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Prime Minister
Nikol Pashinian indicated late on Monday.
“Regarding the economy, I also want to note that after a certain decline in
March, there is an intensification of bilateral economic relations looming,”
Pashinian told Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting held following a
Collective Security Treaty Organization summit in Moscow.
In his opening remarks at the meeting, Pashinian thanked Putin for “prodding
Russian businesspeople to invest in Armenia.” He welcomed the “investment
interest” shown by them but did not specify potential projects that could be
launched soon.
Nor did he cite any projections regarding this year’s volume of Russian-Armenian
trade. It rose by almost 21 percent, to $2.6 billion, in 2021. Russia thus
solidified its status as Armenia’s number one trading partner.
Bilateral trade reportedly shrunk in March following the start of the war in
Ukraine and the resulting Western sanctions imposed on Russia. Visiting Moscow
last month, Armenian Economy Minister Kerobian said the two governments should
work together to “urgently eliminate the causes of the decline and restore
growth.”
Russia - Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov (second from right)
meets with Armenian Economy Minister Vahan Kerobian, Moscow, April 13, 2022.
Pashinian discussed the matter with Putin as well as Russian Prime Minister
Mikhail Mishustin when he paid an official visit to Russia later in April. He
spoke of “common challenges” facing Armenia and Russia.
Because of its close economic links with Russia, Armenia is expected to be
significantly affected by the Western sanctions. The World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund have said that economic growth in the South Caucasus
country will slow down considerably this year.
The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) likewise forecast modest growth in early
March. It argued, in particular, that a sharp depreciation of the Russian ruble
will have a negative impact on Armenian exports to Russia and remittances from
Armenian migrant workers.
The ruble has rallied dramatically since then and is now stronger against the
U.S. dollar and the euro than it was before the Russian invasion.
Hundreds Arrested As Armenian Opposition Keeps Up Protests
May 17, 2022
• Artak Khulian
Armenia - Riot police detain an opposition protester in Yerevan, May 17, 2022.
The Armenian police made more than 400 arrests on Tuesday as opposition
supporters again blocked roads across Yerevan in continuing protests aimed at
forcing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian to resign.
Groups of protesters began the blockages at 8 a.m. local time in an attempt to
disrupt traffic and step up pressure on Pashinian’s government. Opposition
leaders claimed to have blocked more than 50 streets in various parts of the
capital.
Riot police stepped in to unblock the streets, clashing with protesters and
detaining many of them. The police reported a total of 414 arrests in the
afternoon, a daily record high since the start of the Armenian opposition’s
“civil disobedience” campaign on May 1.
The protesters included members of Armenia’s parliament affiliated with its two
opposition groups leading the campaign. Security forces tried to detain one of
them, Tadevos Avetisian, but let him go after finding out that he is a
parliament deputy.
Armenia - Opposition supporters block a street in Yerevan, May 17, 2022.
“This is not policing. This is hooliganism,” charged Lilit Galstian, another
opposition lawmaker taking part in the protests.
Some citizens also condemned the police actions as they watched the dramatic
scenes in the city center. They argued that the protests are peaceful.
“Nothing [wrong] was happening,” one woman told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service. “But
they just rounded up [protesters] and took them away.”
The authorities insisted that the police restored public order and did not use
disproportionate forces.
Mobile phone videos posted on social media showed dozens of defiant opposition
supporters chanting anti-Pashinian slogans inside a police bus and a police
station in Yerevan. They and all other detainees were expected to be released a
few hours later.
Armenia - Riot police detain an opposition protester in Yerevan, May 17, 2022.
Ishkhan Saghatelian, an opposition leader, urged supporters to leave the streets
at 11:30 a.m. and gather in the city’s France Square, the site of an opposition
tent camp, in the evening.
“We have fully accomplished the task set by us,” Saghatelian said in a video
message broadcast on Facebook. “We have demonstrated that the people are in
control of the situation.”
Saghatelian said earlier that the opposition objective is to create “diarchy”
that would make Pashinian’s resignation inevitable.
The prime minister and his political allies have rejected the opposition demands
for his resignation fuelled by his recent statements on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2022 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
Category: 2022
The reaction was not encouraging: Pashinyan criticized the inaction of the CSTO during the war in Karabakh
The Saxon
May 17 2022
During his speech, the Armenian prime minister recalled that at one time the member countries of the organization not only refused to defend their ally in organizations, but also sold weapons to Azerbaijan.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan criticized the allies in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) for reacting to the 2020 war in Karabakh and selling weapons to Azerbaijan by some members of the bloc. The head of the Armenian government made a corresponding statement at the summit of the leaders of the CSTO member countries on Monday, May 16.
Pashinyan pointed out that “there are a lot of positive things in the history of the CSTO” and the organization “was, is and will be the most important factor” in ensuring security in the region. At the same time, the Prime Minister noted that the reaction of the CSTO member countries to the war in Karabakh in 2020 was not what Armenia expected.
“… Azerbaijani troops invaded the sovereign territory of Armenia. Armenia turned to the CSTO to activate the mechanisms that are intended in the provision of the CSTO response procedure to crisis situations of December 10, 2010, which was approved by the Collective Security Council. Unfortunately, we cannot say that the organization reacted as expected by the Republic of Armenia,” the prime minister said.
“As a result, these weapons were used against Armenia and against the Armenian people. And this is also a problem. To be honest, the reaction of the CSTO member countries during the 44-day war of 2020 and after the war did not make the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian people in general very happy,” Pashinyan stressed.
The Prime Minister of Armenia also assured that the government continues to adhere to the ceasefire agreements in Karabakh, and expressed gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin for his assistance in concluding such agreements.
“We have a positive attitude in order to fully support the organization and its further development,” Pashinyan added.
It should be noted that on May 16, the leaders of the CSTO member countries – the Russian Federation, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan – met today in Moscow at a summit dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the organization. During a public meeting, Russian President Putin, in particular, stated that NATO expansion in Sweden and Finland does not pose a threat to Russia, and also repeated the thesis about “Nazis” in Ukraine.
In the fall of 2020, the armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan resumed in Karabakh, which lasted from September 27 to November 10. During the war, Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that Moscow has obligations to Yerevan within the framework of the CSTO, but noted that “combat operations are not being conducted on the territory of Armenia.” On the morning of October 31, Pashinyan sent a letter to Putin and asked him for support in connection with the war. In response to this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation also indicated that support would be sent when hostilities begin directly on the territory of Armenia.
Already on the night of November 10, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the head of the Armenian government Pashinyan, through the mediation Putin signed an agreement according to which the Armenian side transferred the territories of the Agdam, Kalbajar, Lachin and part of the Gazakh regions of Karabakh to the control of the Azerbaijani troops.
Since then, clashes between the Azerbaijani and Armenian military have been taking place in the region from time to time, provoking which the parties accuse each other.
Police detain over 400 protestors in Yerevan Armenia following Azerbaijan dispute
May 17 2022
By Joshua Manning • 17 May 2022
Footage of the protests in Yerevan, Armenia, were shared on social media, with many taking to Twitter to share the news:
“15- The opposition march tonight #Armenia #Yerevan
14- The protestors will protest today at 19:00 Local time in France Square
#Armenia #Yerevan,” posted one Twitter user alongside an infographic on the protest as well as footage of the mass of protesters seen in France Square, Yerevan, Armenia.
“Yerevan police detained 414 protesters today. Protests in Armenia have been going on since mid-April, the opposition accuses Prime Minister Pashinyan of intending to “surrender Karabakh”, posted one Twitter user alongside footage of Yerevan police detaining protests.
Police in Armenia reportedly detained over 400 opposition supporters, who blocked streets in Yerevan while carrying out anti-government protests.
Protests in Armenia have been going on since mid-April, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan due to his handling of the dispute over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been involved in two wars over Nagorno Karabakh, once in the 1990s and more recently in 2020, where more than 6,500 lives were lost with Russia ending the conflict by deploying an estimates 2,000 peacekeepers.
Armenia was then forced to cede territory to Azerbaijan, causing many subsequent anti-government protests.
https://euroweeklynews.com/2022/05/17/police-detain-over-400-protestors-in-yerevan-armenia-following-azerbaijan-dispute/
Lawyer: Armenian police beat and insult minors
News.am
Armenia – May 18 2022
15:47, 18.05.2022
During a peaceful protest in the subway, underage children were apprehended, against whom 3-4 police officers voiced sexual insults, the children were not given the opportunity to call a lawyer or parents, and their phones were taken away, lawyer Sergey Harutyunyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am on Wednesday.
He added that minors in the police station were severely beaten, law enforcement officers kicked them.
“We will present a crime report. I don’t know if there were such impudent cases in the history of independent Armenia that underage citizens of 15 and 17 years old were severely beaten just for holding peaceful actions,” Harutyunyan said.
Armenia opposition leader to US envoy: Being silent you contribute to establishment of dictatorship
News.am
Armenia – May 18 2022
20:39, 18.05.2022
Ishkhan Saghatelyan, Vice Speaker of the National Assembly, one of the leaders of the Resistance movement noted that being silent the US embassy contributes to establishment of dictatorship.
“In 2018, the Armenian people followed the false promises of a good life, and not the loss of Artsakh and bloody war, they went for the creation of a more democratic state, and not the establishment of a dictatorship and violence against democracy,” he said.
“Dear Ambassador, I deeply regret your statement today. As for the 2021 elections, despite these shameful elections, the Armenian people did not give Nikol a mandate to cede Artsakh and generally lead the country to new concessions.”
“If some circles believe that the Armenian people will serve their interests, become a bargaining chip, they are deeply mistaken, the Armenian people are now on this square precisely in order to prevent this. This is not a struggle for power, this is a struggle for the sovereignty of Armenia, and let no one try to oppose democracy to security.”
“I confirm that Russia is our strategic ally, and the United States and the EU countries are our important partners. Unlike Nikol, in Moscow we don’t gossip about Americans and Europeans, but in Washington and Brussels we don’t gossip about Moscow,” Ishkhan Saghatelyan added.
Addressing the US Ambassador to Armenia and representatives of international organizations, Saghatelyan said: “Put an end to double standards.”
“You were silent when the authorities blocked the courts. You are silent when there are dozens of political prisoners. You are silent today, when the police use violence and disproportionate force against the people, you, by your silence, contribute to the establishment of a dictatorship in Armenia,” he added.
Saghatelyan said that a letter was sent on behalf of the resistance movement to the President of Lithuania, who is going to arrive in Armenia tomorrow.
Several opposition MPs meet with Armenian police chief
News.am
Armenia – May 18 2022
21:27, 18.05.2022
Several opposition deputies meet with Armenian police chief Vahe Ghazaryan.
Parliament Vice Speaker, representative of the ARF Supreme Council Ishkhan Saghatelyan said at the police building that the Resistance movement has no problems with the police, their problem is Nikol Pashinyan, whose main support is the police.
“You must serve the Republic of Armenia, not this madman,” Saghatelyan said.
Saghatelyan presented the demands of the Resistance movement. The first is to suspend the activities of the police and hold them criminally liable for the use of violence against protesters and deputies these days.
The second is to find out who gave instructions and guarantees to police officers who acted illegally.
The third demand is addressed to the chief of police. Members of the Resistance movement demand that the chief of police condemn the barbaric actions committed these days. The last requirement is a meeting with the chief of police.
Aliyev accuses Armenia of disrupting meeting with Azerbaijani working group on border delimitation
News.am
Armenia – May 18 2022
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accused Armenia of disrupting the agreed meeting with the Azerbaijani working group on border delimitation.
“Azerbaijan set up a working group in a timely manner and was ready to send a delegation. This was agreed with the Armenian side. By the way, the Armenian Foreign Ministry suggested holding the first meeting related to the border.
Azerbaijan accepted this offer and we were ready to send a delegation. However, on the last day – April 29 – Armenia canceled the already agreed meeting. It was very disappointing. Even more disappointing, again based on the initial proposal of Armenia, was Armenia’s refusal to hold a new meeting on the border on May 7-11,” Aliyev said after talks with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, Interfax-Azerbaijan reports.
He noted that Baku is waiting for any new date from Yerevan to start work, but hopes for a responsible approach in this matter.
“We are waiting for any new dates from Armenia in order to start work. Because such an irresponsible position, of course, causes concern,” Aliyev said. “Despite a certain optimism, such maneuvers and very strange steps of the Armenian government, in fact, undermine the existing certain trust.”
Azerbaijani press: Military prosecutor’s office probing criminal case into mine blast that wounded MES officer
The Azerbaijani Military Prosecutor’s office has launched a criminal case into the 13 May mine blast that wounded an officer of the Emergencies Ministry, Azernews reports, citing the prosecutor’s office.
According to the press service of the Military Prosecutor’s Office, the Aghdam Military Prosecutor’s Office has initiated a criminal case under Article 29, 120.2.12 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code (attempted murder with intent to incite national, racial, religious hatred or enmity). Witnesses were interrogated, relevant examinations were appointed and other necessary investigative actions were carried out, the report added.
The investigation is underway and all measures will be taken in line with the law.
Capt Suleyman Heydarov, chief of the fortification and pyrotechnic training department of the Special Risk Rescue Service of the Emergencies Ministry, was injured in a mine-clearing operation in Aghdam, the ministry reported on May 13.
The victim is being provided with necessary medical care, the report said.
Although about 18 months have passed since the 44-day war between Azerbaijan and Armenia, mines of different types planted by Armenia in the formerly occupied territories continue to endanger human lives in the liberated lands.
Almost every day, there is news of civilians or military personnel being injured or killed as a result of mine explosions in Azerbaijan’s liberated lands.
This once again proves that Armenia continues its mine warfare against Azerbaijan’s both civilian and military personnel. Reports coming from official sources indicate that nearly 80 percent of the minefield maps submitted by Armenia to Azerbaijan are wide of the mark. Armenia appears to be committing war crimes by concealing the locations of landmines, allowing more innocent people to die.
Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmat Hajiyev earlier described as accurate only 25 percent of minefield maps provided by Armenia. The Azerbaijani regions liberated from Armenian occupation in the second Karabakh war in 2020 are the most mine-littered region in the world.
In violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention, Armenia deliberately and constantly planted mines on Azerbaijani territories, thereby being a major threat to regional peace, security, and cooperation.
In an address to the 6th Eastern Partnership Summit of the European Union in Brussels on December 15, 2021, President Ilham Aliyev said that about 200 people had been killed or injured in mine explosions to that date. In this regard, he stressed the importance of the European Union and member states providing technical and financial assistance to Azerbaijan in eliminating the mine problem.
Azerbaijani press: Azerbaijan, EBRD to ink deals in alternative energy sector
Azerbaijan and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will sign deals in the alternative energy sector.
The remarks were made by EBRD Head of Azerbaijan Kamola Makhmudova at the EU-Azerbaijan business forum on May 17, Azernews reports citing Trend.
She noted that the bank implemented projects in Azerbaijan in the sphere of green technologies in previous years, ensuring the safety of industrial waste. Makhmudova added that this work was carried out in large cities, and this trend will continue in the future.
“EBRD is involved in other large projects, in particular in the agriculture and transport sectors, and also in the sphere of alternative energy. The bank plans to expand its participation in the sphere of alternative energy,” she said.
Makhmudova also added that it is planned to sign relevant agreements by the end of May as part of the construction of power plants with an installed capacity of 230 mW and 100 mW.
Moreover, she stated that the bank is ready to share its experience with Azerbaijan in the field of boosting control of overpayments.
Stressing that reforms in the banking sector should be aimed at strengthening control of overpayments, she noted that the cooperation of the EBRD with the state structures of Azerbaijan in this direction is an important element.
“We are ready to share our experience with banks and the regulator within these works,” she said.
The EBRD office head also noted that the growth of the Azerbaijani economy and the investment potential of the country creates an opportunity to increase foreign direct investment.
“This is facilitated by the reforms carried out in recent years and the increase in the loan portfolio,” she said.
She noted that the Central Bank of Azerbaijan is carrying out work contributing to the growth of the economy, employment, and the use of preferential mortgages.
“It’s also necessary to note the leading role of the regulator in the field of social security of the population during the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.
Additionally, she added that the economic zones being created in Azerbaijan, including those in the territories liberated from Armenian occupation, also contribute to the growth of foreign direct investments.
Established in 1991, EBRD invests in projects that contribute to the transition to an open market economy, as well as the development of private and business activities.
Earlier, the bank approved a $51 million loan for the construction and subsequent operation of the Garadagh solar power plant, to be built by the UAE’s Masdar in Azerbaijan.
Moreover, on May 12, Azerbaijan and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) signed a loan agreement to finance the “solid waste management” project in Ganja. The project is part of Ganja’s engagement in the EBRD’s Green Cities program and will trigger the development of a Green City Action Plan (GCAP). The €10 million loan will be used to introduce smart waste collection and route optimization systems. New container types, enhancement of the current fleet, and introduction of greener vehicles will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the city’s municipal services.
Azerbaijan has been a member of the EBRD since September 25, 1992. The main strategic directions of the EBRD’s activity in Azerbaijan, are the diversification of the economy, the development of local capital markets, and the support of the green economy. To date, the EBRD has invested over €3.5 billion through 181 projects in the country.
One of the main priorities of EBRD in Azerbaijan is to support the local corporate sector with direct financing. EBRD continues to pursue investments in energy projects, especially where there is a gap to improve efficiency and energy security.
Azerbaijan is the largest recipient of the EBRD funds in the Caucasus, as well as one of the largest recipients of this organization’s funds in the CIS and Eastern Europe.
Azerbaijani press: Azerbaijani delegation to visit Iran to mull multifaceted cooperation
Baku and Tehran will discuss mutual cooperation in transport and transit, logistics, energy, industry, trade, investment, and other areas, Azernews reports.
The discussions will take place as part of an upcoming visit of an Azerbaijani delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev to Iran on May 18, 2022.
The delegation includes officials from the Ministries of Energy, High Technologies and Transport, Foreign Affairs, the Customs Committee, the State Agency for Motor Roads, the Azerbaijan Railways, and other agencies.
During the visit, the delegation will hold meetings at the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, the Foreign Ministry, the General Staff of the Armed Forces, and other agencies of Iran.
One of the main topics of discussion will be the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Azerbaijani and Iranian governments on the establishment of new communication links between the Eastern Zangazur economic region of Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan through Iran.
The role of Iranian companies in the restoration and reconstruction of Azerbaijan’s liberated territories, as well as the steps taken in this regard, will be thoroughly examined.
The Azerbaijani-Iranian relations are developing dynamically based on the principles of good neighborliness, friendship, mutual respect, and effective cooperation.
The meeting of the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Ibrahim Raisi within the framework of the ECO Summit of Heads of State in Ashgabat on November 28, 2021, gave an important impetus to the development of bilateral relations.
Currently, the involvement of Iranian companies in the restoration and reconstruction of the liberated territories of Azerbaijan is a manifestation of the dynamic development of bilateral relations.
Azerbaijan and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on establishing new communication links between the Eastern Zangazur economic region and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through the territory of Iran.
The document was signed by Azerbaijan’s Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev and Iran’s Roads and Urban Development Minister Rostam Ghasemi during the 15th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Iran State Commission on economic, trade, and humanitarian cooperation, held in Baku on March 11.
Meanwhile, the next meeting of the working group of the deputy prime ministers of Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan on unblocking the economic communications of the South Caucasus is scheduled for May, the parties will agree on the exact date, Azernews reports, citing TASS agency.
“The next meeting of the working group of the deputy prime ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia will be held in May, the exact date is being agreed upon,” Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan’s office told Public Television of Armenia on May 17.
An agreement to unblock regional communications was reached at a January 11, 2022 meeting of the leaders of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan in Moscow. At that time, it was decided to create a working group at the level of the deputy prime ministers of the three countries, which would focus on establishing transport and economic ties in the region.