Category: 2022

Armenia expects Russian peacekeepers to restore status quo in Artsakh – Foreign Minister

Ekmekjian Janet
Public Radio of Armenia
April 8 2022
April 8, 2022, 17:32

 1 minute read

The Armenian authorities hope that the Russian peacekeepers will force the Azerbaijani military back to their starting positions and restore the status quo in Artsakh, Foreign Minister Aearat Mirzoyan said at a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.

“When it comes to the invasion of the village of Parukh, violation of the status quo and the Russian peacekeeping contingent, Armenia continues to believe that the Russian peacekeeping contingent will still be able to restore the status quo as of March 23,” he said.

“We also appreciate the mediation efforts of the Russian Federation aimed at implementing the trilateral statements of November 9, 2020, January 11, 2021 and November 26, 2021. I would like to reiterate Armenia’s commitment to the implementation of all agreements,” Minister Mirzoyan said, adding that the issues of the return of prisoners of war and other detainees, preservation of historical and cultural heritage in the territories currently under Azerbaijani control remain urgent.

The Armenian Foreign Minister stressed that solutions can only be reached through peaceful negotiations.

Armenian FM briefs CSTO Secretary General on situation after Azerbaijani invasion of Parukh

Manouk Vasilian
Public Radio of Armenia
April 8 2022
April 8, 2022, 22:41

 1 minute read

On April 8, Armeian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met with CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas in Moscow.

The interlocutors referred to the current activities of the CSTO, the implementation of the decisions of the Collective Security Council and the schedule of upcoming events.

Both sides stressed the importance of implementing the priorities of the Armenian Presidency in the context of developing the Organization’s potential.

Ararat Mirzoyan stressed the need to continue the efforts aimed at improving the organization’s crisis response mechanisms.

The Armenian Foreign Minister also referred to the situation created by the invasion of Azerbaijani troops into the zone of responsibiloty of Russian peacekeepers in Parukh village in Nagorno Karabakh and the adjacent territories.

During the meeting, Stanislav Zas presented the security situation in the CSTO zone and the current challenges, informed about the process of agreeing on the documents negotiated within the CSTO.

The interlocutors touched upon other regional and international issues of importance for the CSTO member states.

Opposition MP: Pashinyan expresses superficial concern over Azerbaijan’s actions in Artsakh

Hambardsumian Paul
Panorama, Armenia
April 8 2022

Armenian MP Tigran Abrahamyan of the opposition With Honor (Pativ Unem) bloc blamed Nikol Pashinyan for failure to raise the issue of the latest Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh in the Brussels meeting with the Azerbaijani president on April 6.

“The Azerbaijani aggression in the village of Parukh of the Askeran region and the Karaghlukh heights, which preceded the Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting in Brussels, has not actually been addressed,” he wrote on Facebook on Friday.

The lawmaker stressed the issue was shifted to the field of Russian-Azerbaijani relations, with the inaction of Russian peacekeepers named the main problem, rather than the Azerbaijani invasion.

“Obviously, Russian peacekeepers did not meet the expectations of the Artsakh people, failing to stop the Azerbaijani aggression and the Azerbaijani troops did not withdraw to their initial positions,” the MP said.

“But there is another painful aspect. In fact, Pashinyan expresses superficial concern over the actions of the Azerbaijani troops, but states that it is not for Armenia to deal with the problem and it cannot impede relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, much less become an agenda issue.

“On the other hand, Azerbaijan continues to reinforce its positions in the parts of Karaghluh it has invaded, making it quite foggy, if not impossible, for the Azerbaijani soldiers to return to their initial positions through negotiations with Russia.

“This means that either the situation around Karaglukh will remain tense with unpredictable developments, or the Artsakh people will be convinced that it is better to come to terms with the current situation and the territorial loss,” Abrahamyan said.

Expert responds to Pashinyan’s statement on ‘Azerbaijani territories’ under Armenia’s control

Emil Karabekian
Panorama
Armenia – April 8 2022

Armenian expert on Iran Vardan Voskanyan, who heads the Chair of Iranian Studies of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at the Yerevan State University (YSU), dismissed the allegations that “there are Azerbaijani territories under Armenia’s control”.

“In fact, it cannot be the case, because when, figuratively speaking, a nomadic tribe, unknown to the history of human culture, once settled on some piece of sacred Armenian land by a decision of some collective farm head, it does not make that piece of land sanctified by the blood and sweat of our ancestors “Azerbaijani” at all,” he wrote on Telegram.

“Finally, the extreme vulnerability or even almost complete lack of strategic depth of the territory of the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh makes every piece of land in our homeland extremely important and vital to ensure our continued existence and strength,” the expert said.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Thursday, Nikol Pashinyan said: “There are Armenian territories that are under the control of Azerbaijan and there are Azerbaijani territories that are under Armenia’s control. These issues should be solved through negotiations, of course, based on de-jure substantiated protocols and facts of legal significance.”

A group of women remain in Artsakh’s Khramort despite Azeri aggression

David Nargizian
Panorama
Armenia – April 8 2022

The normal life of the Khramort and Parukh communities in Artsakh’s Askeran region has been disrupted in the wake of Azerbaijan’s criminal actions.

According to the estimates of Artsakh Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan, more than 400 people have been affected, including women, children and the elderly.

Some of the people displaced from the settlements after the Azerbaijani attack in late March are temporarily housed in the apartments of their relatives and friends, while others have been provided with temporary shelter by the government. 

Meanwhile, despite the evacuation order, a group of women refuse to leave Khramort, saying: “We will bring up the rear so that the men keep the border impregnable.”

One of them is Gayane, a nurse by profession. She has not left the village since day one. She always keeps first aid supplies with her to go to the positions if necessary, the Artsakh Public TV reports.

“I wish that the enemy withdrew from Karaghlukh to its initial positions. This is my only wish, my dream, so that we can live peacefully in Khramort village again,” the woman says.

“We are strong. We can do it and we will definitely achieve our goal,” she adds.

Census to be conducted in Armenia in October

Jhanna Virabian
Panorama
Armenia – April 8 2022

A census will be carried out in Armenia on October 13-22, the government’s press office reported.

Armenia’s Deputy Prime Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan on Friday chaired a session of the commission dealing with the preparation and conduct of the census, during which the preparatory process, methodology and questionnaire were discussed.

Within five days after summarizing all the proposals and making addenda, the draft census program will be submitted to the government for approval. Afterwards, the questionnaire will be approved by a decision of the State Council on Statistics.

The last census was conducted in Armenia in 2011. Under the domestic law, it is carried out every ten years.

Armenian scholar critical of premier`s claims

Emil Lazarian
ARMINFO
Armenia – April 8 2022
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo. Vardan Voskanyan, Head of the Department of Iranian Studies, Yerevan State University (YSU), refutes Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s claims that  Azerbaijani territories are now part of Armenia.  

He points out that the “idea of enemy propaganda” that Azerbaijani  territories are allegedly included in Armenia is being inculcated in  Armenia’s society. 

“In fact, it cannot be so because, by way of illustration, if a  kolkhoz Chairman decided to settle a nomadic tribe in a plot of holy  Armenian land, this land sanctified with tour ancestors’ blood, does  not become ‘Azerbaijani’.   

“Finally, the extreme vulnerability and complete absence of strategic  depth of the Armenian and Artsakh territories makes each plot of our  Homeland infinitely significant for our future existence,” Mr  Vardanyan said.

At the Thursday Cabinet meeting, Armenia’s Premier Nikol Pashinyan,  speaking of the results of his meeting with the Azerbaijani  president, assured the government members that some Azerbaijani  territories are under Armenia’s control and vice versa. According to  him, the issues are expected to be settled as a result of  negotiations and on the basis of legal documents. 

Armenia’s position is that a de jure Armenian-Azerbaijani border  exists. In question is the Soviet-era borderline. 

“And this is the starting point of the work at delimitation, with  simultaneous steps to ensure peace and stability,” Mr Pashinyan said. 

Russian FM speaks of Karabakh conflict, investments in Armenia

Frangulian Shushan
ARMINFO
Armenia – April 8 2022
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo.The Nagorno-Krabakh problem, and the South Caucasus in general, has always been a key issue in Armenian-Russian discussions of regional affairs, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov stated at enlarged talks with an Armenian delegation  led by FM Ararat Mirzoyan. 

“And our meeting is one more good opportunity to review all the  fields of our cooperation and alliance. We are interested in further  development of Armenian-Russian relations. We are appreciating your  contribution to our cooperation as Parliament Speaker and Minister of  Foreign Affairs,” Mr Lavrov said. 

Speaking of the bilateral dialogue, the Russian FM said that a  consultation plan is to be signed on April 8 for the next two years. 

“We are preparing for another all-important event, a summit, and  today we are going to discuss how to impart a new quality to our  alliance. 

“As a key ally, we will continue assisting Armenia in strengthening  its defense potential and ensuing border security. And as Armenia’s  major trade and economic partner and foreign investor, we will go on  seeking new projects that would ensure stability of our trade and  creation of production capacities and jobs,” Mr Lavrov said.  

He reported a package of additional Russian investments in Armenia’s  economy.

The Russian FM also mentioned the traditional bilateral cultural and  humanitarian and educational cooperation. 

In the context of Armenia’s CSTO chairmanship, Mr Lavrov said that  “it is much more important for the CSTO, CIS and EAEU to compare  their actions with the plans Armenia has presented to the  organization members.”

“As regards the Karabakh peace process, we have three groups of  agreements reached at the top level, and we will continue  implementing them, including the activities of the Russian  peacekeeping contingent in Karabakh, under its mandate,” Mr Lavrov  said. 

Lavrov on invasion of Parukh: There are circumstances there that need clarification

Chalian Meline
ARMINFO
Armenia – April 8 2022
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo.From the very beginning of the incident, which occurred on March 24, Russia stated that the Russian military on the ground – the peacekeeping contingent  is engaged in clarifying all the circumstances of this incident. 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated this on April 8 in  Moscow at a press conference following the results of negotiations  with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, at a request to  assess the Azerbaijani invasion of the village of Parukh in  Nagorno-Karabakh. “We talked about this today. There are  circumstances there, that not completely clear to us. I would not  like to get ahead of myself now and not make any final judgments. We  are convinced that our Armenian friends fully trust the Russian  peacekeeping contingent (RPC), and the occasional calls, such as  holding this contingent accountable or to conduct some internal  investigation,  do not reflect the real attitude of the Armenian  people, the Armenian leadership to the role – the huge role that the  Russian peacekeeping contingent plays in maintaining stability in  this region,” the Russian minister said.

According to him, of course there are small incidents. At the same  time, Lavrov once again stressed that in this particular case, Russia  is sorting it out through its military.  “There are things that  require clarification,” the Russian Foreign Minister said.  In turn,  the Armenian minister, speaking about the Azerbaijani invasion of the  village of Parukh of Nagorno-Karabakh, the violation of the status  quo, as well as the activities of the RPC, noted that Yerevan still  believes that the Russian peacekeeping contingent will still be able  to restore the status quo, the situation as of March 23 of the  current year.  “As I said today, the peacekeeping contingent was  deployed around Nagorno-Karabakh in order to ensure the status quo of  November 9, 2020 and ensure the safety of the population of  Nagorno-Karabakh. I repeat, we still believe that the status quo will  be restored and the RPC will continue to fulfill its the most  important mission to ensure and guarantee security,” the Armenian  Foreign Minister summed up.  It should be noted that on March 24 the  Azerbaijani Armed Forces, having violated the line of contact,  invaded the village of Parukh in the Askeran region of Artsakh and  tried to take control over the strategic height of Karaglukh. These  territories are in the zone of responsibility of Russian  peacekeepers. There were local fights. The enemy used attack drones.  There were casualties on both sides. The Armenian side reported the  death of three and the wounding of 15 of its contract soldiers. The  OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries called on Azerbaijan to return to  the positions established on March 23. On March 27, in the evening,  the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Azerbaijani military  retreated to their starting positions, meanwhile, the Azerbaijani  side denies this message from the Russian defense department,  assuring that it is a lie.  According to the latest reports,  Azerbaijani units continue to occupy the Karaglukh height. Official  Yerevan and Stepanakert expect that the Russian peacekeepers in  Artsakh will take measures to return the Azerbaijanis to their  starting positions and will be able to prevent possible military  provocations on the line of contact.  -sh-  

Armenia FM: Armenia believes Russian peacekeepers will restore status quo in Parukh

George Mamian
NEWS.am
Armenia – April 8 2022
16:39, 08.04.2022

Armenia continues to believe that Russian peacekeepers will be able to restore the status quo, to restore the situation as it was on 23 March, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said.

His remarks came at a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, responding to a question about the incursion of Azerbaijani forces into the Karabakh village of Parukh.

“As I said, the peacekeeping contingent was deployed around Nagorno-Karabakh in order to ensure the status quo on the situation of 9 November, 2020 and to ensure the safety of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. I repeat, we continue to believe that the status quo will be restored, and the Russian peacekeeping contingent will continue to perform its most important function, the most important mission to ensure the security of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh,” Mirzoyan said.