Category: 2023

Compliance with the binding ICJ order must be a precondition for any EU-Azerbaijan cooperation – MEP Martin Sonneborn

Talar Tumanian

 13:59,

YEREVAN, JULY 24, ARMENPRESS. Member of the European Parliament Martin Sonneborn (Germany – Die PARTEI )has said that Azerbaijan’s ‘total blockade’ of Nagorno Karabakh is ‘intolerable’ and that Baku is 'terrorizing' the civilian population as part of its agenda of ethnically cleansing Armenians from the region.

“Azerbaijan put the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia under total blockade. The situation is intolerable. We see videos of empty shelves in supermarkets and hear the news about the lack of fuel for ambulances. People are dying. Azerbaijan is terrorising the civilian population as a part of its agenda of ethnically cleansing Armenians from the region,” MEP Sonneborn told ARMENPRESS correspondent Lilit Gasparyan in Brussels.

He noted that Azerbaijan is disregarding the international community’s calls to open the road and is tightening the blockade.

 “Although the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and numerous governments called upon Azerbaijan to open the Lachin corridor, Azerbaijan keeps tightening the blockade and does not even allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to deliver humanitarian aid.  The United Nation’s highest judicial body, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), stated in a legally binding order that Azerbaijan must facilitate unimpeded transport of cargo and persons along the Lachin corridor. While the European Parliament requested sanctions for Azerbaijani government officials in case they do not comply with the court’s order, Council President Charles Michel recently welcomed an Azerbaijani proposal to provide humanitarian aid from their side. This is a disastrous signal since it rewards Azerbaijan once again for its non-compliance with international law. Compliance with the binding ICJ order must be a precondition for any EU-Azerbaijan cooperation. Since the European Union does not exercise pressure regarding the court’s order, it is complicit with Azerbaijan’s inhuman agenda," the MEP added. 

 

Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since late 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.  Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. Moreover, Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medication. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno Karabakh, with officials warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing against Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh. Hospitals have suspended normal operations and the Red Cross has been facilitating the medical evacuations of patients.




President Raisi: Iran hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations will strengthen peace in region

Rose Khoyetsian
IRAN FRONT PAGE

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi emphasized the necessity of solving regional issues by the countries of the region. He stated that Iran, by supporting the peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, hopes that these negotiations will establish and strengthen peace, security and stability in the region as much as possible.

He made the remarks in a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan in Tehran on Monday,

The president stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not accept any geopolitical changes and shifting the borders of the countries in the region, adding, “Iran supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all the countries in the region.”

He emphasized the importance of improving the level of relations between the two countries as much as possible and said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran does not see any obstacle to the development of relations with Armenia”.

Mirzoyan appreciated Iran’s positions regarding the developments in the Caucasus region, stating,, “Armenia will never become a platform for anti-Iranian actions and always emphasises on the development of regional security and peace”.

He considered relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran to be very important for his country and emphasised on increasing diplomatic relations between the two countries and strengthening and deepening the relations between Tehran and Yerevan.

Iran opposes any geopolitical change, supports integrity of regional states: President Raeisi

Hambik Zargarian
Iran –
Monday, 4:09 PM  [ Last Update: Monday, 4:17 PM ]

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi (R) and Armenia's Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan (L) meet in Tehran on . (Photo by president.ir)

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi has said that Tehran supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all regional countries and firmly opposes any geopolitical change in the region.

In a meeting with Armenia's Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Tehran on Monday, Raeisi said regional issues should be settled by the countries in the region.

"Any foreign intervention will only complicate issues. The Islamic Republic of Iran supports the peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan and hopes that these talks will [help] establish and strengthen peace and security in the region as much as possible," he added.

He once again reiterated Iran's stance on opposing any geopolitical change and manipulation of the regional countries' borders.

"Iran supports the right of sovereignty and territorial integrity of all regional countries," Raeisi emphasized.

The Iranian president also stressed the importance of improving ties with Armenia and said no obstacle can hinder the expansion of mutual relations.

The Armenian foreign minister, for his part, commended Iran's positions regarding the developments in the Caucasus region.

Mirzoyan said his country would never be used as a platform for measures against Iran and has always supported the development of regional security and peace.

He added that Yerevan attaches great significance to the expansion of ties with Tehran and stressed the need to boost mutual diplomatic relations.

Sustainable peace, security in Caucasus serves regional states' interests: Iran FM

The Iranian foreign minister reaffirms Tehran

The Armenian foreign minister arrived in Tehran at the head of a delegation on Monday. Earlier in the day, he held talks and attended a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/07/24/707658/Iran-Armenia-Raeisi-Ararat-Mirzoyan-geopolitical-change-meddling-relations-territorial-integrity-sovereignty

Iranian FM: Tehran welcomes peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, 3+3 format

Rose Khoyetsian
IRAN FRONT PAGE

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian says Iran welcomes peace talks between Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Amirabdolalhian added that the Caucasus should not turn into a battlefield for big powers.
He was speaking at a press briefing with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan in Tehran on Monday. Amirabdolalhian noted that if the Caucasus becomes a field for competition between big powers, peace in the region will be delayed.

“We believe that the age of war-based order is over and now is the time for peace-based order in the Caucasus region” the top Iranian diplomat added. Amirabdollahian said unfortunately, some foreign players are looking for alignments and for taking advantage of the situation in the region.

He stressed that Iran welcomes the so-called 3+3 dialogue format between regional countries and that Tehran will continue its efforts to hold a meeting where Armenia and Azerbaijan will attend.

The 3+3 format is comprised on Iran, Russia, Turkey, the Azerbaijan Republic, Armenia and Georgia focusing on unlocking economic and transport communications in the South Caucasus region.

Amirabdollahian further told journalists at the press briefing that he and the Armenian foreign minister discussed bilateral ties and ways of expanding them at their meeting.

The top Armenian diplomat said he extended an invitation to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to again visit Yerevan.

Armenian top diplomat in Tehran for bilateral talks

Karapet Navasardian
MEHR News Agency
Iran –

TEHRAN, Jul. 24 (MNA) – Heading a delegation, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan arrived at the Iranian capital of Tehran to hold talks with his Iranian counterpart.

Upon his arrival at the venue of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian officially welcomed the Armenian foreign ministry's high-ranking officials.

Mirzoyan is visiting Tehran at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart.

Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan is scheduled to hold talks with the other officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

RHM/

Iran Stresses Survival of Land Route with Armenia

Vatche Chakhmakhchian
Iran –
  • July, 24, 2023 – 17:15 
  • Politics news 



Speaking at a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan, held in Tehran on Monday, Amirabdollahian said Tehran and Yerevan emphasize the importance of the transit routes between the two neighbors.

He noted that Azeri President Ilham Aliyev has given an assurance that the Republic of Azerbaijan is not after the closure of the historic route between Iran and Armenia.

Highlighting the significance of relations with Armenia and Iran’s age-old and deep-rooted relations with the South Caucasian nations, Amirabdollahian said Iran welcomes progress in the peace talks between Yerevan and Baku and has actively focused on the course of regional dialogue and peace.

“The Caucasus must not turn into a field of conflict among countries,” he stressed, warning that a series of foreign actors are pursuing delineation and abuse of the region.

Amirabdollahian also pointed to the negotiations on the expansion of relations with Armenia and the implementation of joint projects, saying efforts are underway to increase the value of trade exchanges to $1 billion in the first stage and then to $3 billion.

He further noted that Iran and Armenia have agreed to continue their partnership on bartering gas for electricity, construct the third line of power transfer, and broaden scientific and technological cooperation.

For his part, Mirzoyan highlighted the importance that Armenia attaches to its historic ties with Iran, which he said will remain a friend of his country forever.

Emphasizing the significance of the completion of the North-South Corridor, promotion of economic cooperation between Yerevan and Tehran, and raising the value of trade exchanges to $3 billion, the Armenian foreign minister said, “Armenia and Iran’s engagement within the framework of trilateral relations constitutes an extraordinary basis for cooperation.”

He further highlighted the significance of ensuring stability in the South Caucasus region under the Almaty Declaration, calling for the establishment of a sustainable mechanism for dialogue.

Taking a swipe at the Republic of Azerbaijan for adopting “the policy of ethnic cleansing”, Mirzoyan said the Baku government has stopped the delivery of foodstuffs to the Nagorno-Karabakh region since June 15. “Today, we are witnessing what we had warned of seven months ago.”

He lauded Iran’s stances in support of Armenia’s territorial integrity, saying the Armenian political leaders are resolved to broaden ties with the neighbors on the basis of mutual interests.

Top Diplomats Of Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan To Discuss Karabakh, Peace Treaty – Moscow

Lena Karagyozian
UrduPoint

 Sumaira FH

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his counterparts from Azerbaijan and Armenia, Jeyhun Bayramov and Ararat Mirzoyan, will discuss tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh and preparations of a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan during a meeting on July 25, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik – 24th July, 2023) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his counterparts from Azerbaijan and Armenia, Jeyhun Bayramov and Ararat Mirzoyan, will discuss tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh and preparations of a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan during a meeting on July 25, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

"The heads of the foreign ministries will analyze ways to de-escalate the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh and intensify the implementation of the trilateral agreements between the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia dated November 9, 2020, January 11, November 26, 2021 and October 31, 2022. Particular attention will be paid to the preparation of a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan, the search for solutions to the remaining issues, to which Russia is ready to provide maximum assistance," the ministry said in a statement.

https://www.urdupoint.com/en/world/top-diplomats-of-russia-armenia-azerbaijan-1728223.html

Nagorno Karabakh farmer escapes unharmed after Azerbaijani military opens fire at tractor

Vanyan Gary

 14:14,

YEREVAN, JULY 24, ARMENPRESS. A farmer in Nagorno Karabakh has escaped unharmed after being targeted by Azerbaijani troops, Nagorno Karabakh police said Monday.

The 64-year-old farmer was operating his tractor while carrying out agricultural work in the village of Shosh when Azerbaijani troops opened various caliber small arms fire in his direction on July 24. The farmer did not suffer injuries. The agricultural work has been suspended.

In a statement, the Nagorno Karabakh Ministry of Interior said they’ve briefed the Russian peacekeepers on the shooting.

Iranian Armenians strongly condemn EU’s inaction toward insulting Quran

Varazdat Torgomian
ibna 
Iran –
IBNA- At a meeting, Archbishop Sepuh Sargsyan, the prelate of the Armenian Diocese of Tehran, the Armenian community strongly condemned the European Union's passive stance against the sacrilegious act of the Holy Quran burning in Sweden.

“As an Apostolic clergyman and religious leader, I strictly censure this act. There are sacred beliefs in all religions that people of any faith should respect, like the holy book of Bible in Christianity and Torah in Jewism,” the archbishop of the Armenian Diocese of Tehran located at Saint Sarkis Cathedral said.
 
He appreciated the presence of reporters at the meeting who came to convey the ideas of the Iranian Armenian church in response to the insulting act.
 
Earlier on the eve of Eid al-Adha, a 37-year-old Iraqi refugee in Sweden, tore, burned and kicked the holy Quran in front of the main mosque in Stockholm at a protest initially allowed by the authorities.
 
“Confronted with such inhumane act, unfortunately the West and particularly the European Union adopted silence. The Union has always reacted like this, for example at the moment in the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, it is over 170 days that more than 120,000 people are besieged as the EU has not taken any action to help them and they are suffering in a drastic living condition,” Sargsyan stated.
 
“When they agree and plan to burn the holy book of Islam in Sweden and Denmark they are not able to help the People of Nagorno-Karabakh, of course they can, but they hide themselves under the freedom of speech show. That's why we blast their  method and believe such action is unforgivable,” he added.
 
Earlier, the head of the Catholic Church Pope Francis also lamented the burning of the Quran, ‎Islam's holiest book, in Sweden, while urging individuals take to heart the values ‎promoted in the Document on Human Fraternity.‎
 
The Pope remarked: “Any book considered sacred by its authors must be respected out of respect for its believers, and freedom of _expression_ must never be used as an excuse to despise others, and to allow this, must be rejected and condemned.”
https://www.ibna.ir/en/tolidi/342910/iranian-armenians-strongly-condemn-eu-s-inaction-toward-insulting-quran

Red Cross facilitates medical evacuations from blockaded Nagorno Karabakh

Garnik Zakarian

 14:25,

YEREVAN, JULY 24, ARMENPRESS.  The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has facilitated the transfer of 11 patients, together with attendants, from blockaded Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia for treatment, the Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) Ministry of Healthcare announced on Monday.

Another 13 patients, accompanied by attendants, who’ve completed treatment in Armenia will be taken back to Artsakh later in the day.

The Nagorno Karabakh healthcare authorities said that 20 children remain hospitalized in the Arevik clinic. 7 of them are in neonatal and intensive care.

Meanwhile, 76 patients are hospitalized in the Republican Medical Center in Stepanakert. 12 of them are in intensive care (2 are in critical condition).

Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since late 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.  Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. Moreover, Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medication. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno Karabakh, with officials warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing against Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh. Hospitals have suspended normal operations and the Red Cross has been facilitating the medical evacuations of patients.