Category: 2023

PM Pashinyan calls for ‘strong nerves and restraint’ amid global instability, reiterates commitment to peace agenda

Zhanna Nahapetian

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 11:30, 6 April 2023

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday called for “strong nerves and restraint” in times of what described as “global unstable and uncertain environment.”

“In this global unstable and uncertain environment, we need strong nerves and restraint, in order not to [succumb] to the forces interested in blowing up the regional situation. In spite of all difficulties, the Government of the Republic of Armenia is tirelessly reiterating its commitment to the peace agenda,” Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting.

Border guards deployment locations on Armenian-Azerbaijani border partially clarified

Ani Kharatian

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 11:26, 6 April 2023

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reported “certain improvement” of the situation as a result of clarifications of the Armenian and Azerbaijani border guards’ deployment locations in the Tegh-Kornidzor section.

He said that the locations of deployment in 7 out of 12km are clarified, while work is still ongoing for the other 5km.

The Lachin Corridor is being rerouted due to the opening of the Kornidzor-Tegh road – which is connecting Armenia to the Lachin Corridor. As a result, the Armenian border guards must assume the protection of the 12km section of the Armenia-Azerbaijani border. No direct border protection was carried out in that area neither by Armenia nor Azerbaijan in accordance with a previous agreement on ensuring the temporary route of the Lachin Corridor.

“And as you know, during the assumption of direct border protection some problems emerged, which the NSS informed about, stressing that misinterpretation of maps took place during the deployment of the two sides. In some areas, by our assessment, the Azerbaijani side deployed and conducted engineering works some 100 to 300 meters deep into territory of Armenia. After that, an agreement was reached for cartographers of both sides to clarify the situation. During that time, work has been implemented for clarifying the deployment locations of the border guards. And the situation has improved to some extent. In particular, the deployment locations in 7km of the 12km are clarified, while the work on the other 5km is still in progress,” Pashinyan said.

He reiterated that the Armenian government’s position remains that of avoiding an escalation. Pashinyan expressed hope that the adjustment work will be carried out in a constructive atmosphere.

Tax revenues grow 15,2% in Q1

Lilit Nahapetian

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 12:12, 6 April 2023

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS. State budget tax revenues were outperformed by 14 billion drams in the first quarter of 2023, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Thursday.

“Furthermore, the revenues of the first quarter grew 15,2% or around 60,8 billion drams compared to the first quarter of 2022,” he added.

Pashinyan said that 93,5 billion drams was returned to taxpayers in the reporting period, which is an 82% growth against the previous year’s same period.

Armenian military to call up over 2700 reservists for new round of musters

Emil Lazarian

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 11:40, 6 April 2023

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian military will call up 2715 reservists (Privates, NCOs and Officers) for a new round of mandatory training musters.

The decision was made at the April 6 Cabinet meeting.

2431 of the 2715 reservists will be Privates and NCOs, 124 will be senior NCOs and 160 will be officers with motor-rifle, communication, reconnaissance, engineering and rocket-artillery specialties.

Cairo: Egypt’s Immigration Min. attends Iftar with Armenian Community

Bedik Zaminian
Egypt – April 5 2023

Wed 05 Apr 2023 | 10:18 AM

Israa Farhan

The gathering was in the presence of Hrachya Poladian, the Ambassador of Armenia to Egypt, His Eminence the Catholic Archbishop of the Armenians, Armin Mazloumian, President of the Armenian National Authority, Muhammad Al-Orabi, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ezzat Saad, the former Governor of Luxor, as well as the ambassadors of the countries of Greece, Cyprus, Cuba, and Venezuela, and a number of members of the House of Representatives. Sheikhs, and a number of senior public figures, artists, writers, journalists, and media professionals.

El-Gendy delivered a speech in which she welcomed all the attendees, and expressed her happiness at participating in this ceremony at the kind invitation of the Armenian community in Cairo, stressing that the "Egyptian-Armenians" have played an important role in Egypt's modern history and are still contributing.

She also expressed her sincere thanks and deep appreciation to Poladian and Mazloumian for their warm reception and generous hospitality.

The minister pointed out that she had met a number of the Armenian community in California of Egyptian origin, during her recent visit to the United States, which confirms that the relationship between the two peoples is deeply rooted in history.

El-Gendy invited them to visit Egypt in light of the continued implementation of the presidential initiative "Revive the Roots" launched by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in 2017.

The minister concluded her speech by expressing her hopes that the coming period would witness a real starting point for strengthening "Egyptian-Armenian" relations in various fields, and she also wished the state of Armenia and its friendly people all success, progress, and prosperity.

The Egyptian-Armenian ties enjoy a historical, cultural heritage and strong popular relations, as el-Sisi was the first Egyptian president to visit Armenia in 30 years, in late January, in a positive step aimed at strengthening cooperation relations to come up with fruitful results to formulate a better future for the two countries.

In his speech, Mazloumian, welcomed the attendees and participants, stressing that the Ramadan Iftar represents the national unity that distinguishes Egypt from the rest of the world.

The ceremony permeated a Ramadan atmosphere, which the Armenian Authority was keen to implement, by setting up a Ramadan tent made of Ramadan tent fabrics, and allocating a place for prayer next to the ceremony while making sure to turn on the Holy Quran Radio before the Maghrib call to prayer, and the guests ate their breakfast to the tunes of Ramadan songs. 

“Azerbaijan allowing exit from NK, prohibiting entry”: blockade continues

Vanyan Gary
April 5 2023
  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

New procedure for leaving NK for Armenia

“From now on it will be possible to leave Artsakh for Armenia in case of emergency,” State Minister of the unrecognized NKR Gurgen Nersisyan said. Entry and exit will be organized by the Russian peacekeeping contingent. Anyone needing to leave will first have to contact the RMK Interaction Center and obtain permission.

The new procedure for leaving the Nagorno-Karabakh region was approved after Azerbaijan banned a group of Armenians from entering. Peacekeepers spent five hours unsuccessfully negotiating with the Azerbaijanis blocking the road. Those barred from entry said that “the Azerbaijanis intimidated people in cars by breaking into one of them and openly threatening people.” It is reported that four women had problems with their health and had to be transported to hospital.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the unrecognized republic issued a statement saying that “Azerbaijan’s criminal actions are becoming increasingly threatening in nature and scale.”

Armenian media reported that on April 4, accompanied by Russian peacekeepers, 27 civilians tried to return from the city of Goris to the territory of NK. Azerbaijanis declaring themselves environmental activists who have blocked the Lachin corridor since December 12, 2022, stopped a car near the city of Shushi [Azerbaijanis call it Shusha] and denied them entry. Only four women, who apparently were ill, were allowed through and brougth to a hospital.

  • Azerbaijan has taken control of new heights on the border with Armenia. Comments from Baku
  • The French region of Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes intends to break the blockade of NK
  • Pashinyan on the new road to NK

The state minister of the unrecognized republic stated that the rumors about the evacuation of local residents to Armenia by Russian peacekeepers is “another manifestation of Azerbaijan’s information attacks” and do not correspond to reality. Gurgen Nersisyan recalled that from the beginning of the blockade of the Lachin corridor, people have been deprived of the opportunity to travel to Armenia, and now they will be able to travel only “in case of emergency.” The transportation process will be organized through Russian peacekeepers “in order to protect citizens from possible Azerbaijani provocations” on the blocked section of the road.

He said that the representation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in NK will continue organizing the transportation of people with health problems who need specialized medical care.

Units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces tried to advance in the direction of heights adjacent to the Stepanakert-Lisagor road

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the unrecognized NKR described the actions of Azerbaijanis in the Lachin corridor in April as “psychological terror and intimidation of women, children and the elderly.” The statement says that the citizens who remained in Armenia due to the blockade of the only road were not allowed to reunite with their families:

“This egregious incident clearly demonstrates that the Azerbaijani authorities have embarked on the next level of practical implementation of their criminal plan to carry out ethnic cleansing of Artsakh and expel its people from their historical homeland.

These intentions were publicly announced by the President of Azerbaijan on January 10, 2023 in an interview with the Azerbaijani media. Subsequently, the Azerbaijani political leadership repeatedly repeated the threat that the inhabitants of Artsakh should either submit to the Armenophobic authorities of Azerbaijan or leave their homeland.”

The statement emphasizes that “Azerbaijan operates with absolute impunity”:

“The inaction of the international community in the face of such serious violations of human rights is tantamount to tacit approval, if not complicity in the inhumane actions of official Baku. Urgent and decisive action by the UN Security Council, which has the appropriate mandate and tools, is an absolute necessity for the immediate end of the illegal blockade and the suppression of the ongoing crimes of Azerbaijan before the eyes of the international community.”

The Prime Minister of Armenia stated that the agreement will be based on “written documents” with agreements that the parties worked out “at the highest level”

State Minister’s adviser and former Ombudsman Artak Beglaryan gave details of the incident, which he learned from those denied entry. He wrote on social networks that the Azerbaijanis “intimidated people in cars by breaking into one of them and openly threatening them,” and also put forward a precondition of “accepting Azerbaijani citizenship.”

Four women allegedly lost consciousness during this incident. According to the information received by Beglaryan, the peacekeepers called an ambulance and transported them to a hospital:

“The Azerbaijani side did not allow the peacekeepers to call and use the Artsakh ambulance and tried to transport patients to the hospital of Shushi, a city now under the control of Azerbaijan. However, people began to protest and demanded that the patients be transferred to Stepanakert [Azerbaijanis call this city Khankendi].

In the context of the state policy of racial/ethnic discrimination and hatred in Azerbaijan, as well as its regular manifestations, the international community must understand the level of existential threats to the people of Artsakh under any form of control by Azerbaijan.”

The Office of the Ombudsman of NK has issued a new report on the consequences of the blockade

According to information provided by MK Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan, Azerbaijan “violated an earlier agreement with the Russian peacekeeping forces on the return of the inhabitants of Artsakh, and the negotiations came to nothing.” Of the 27 people who were heading home, 23 returned to Goris.

He recalled that from the beginning of the blockade of the Lachin corridor, Baku has claimed that the road is open:

“This incident proves the essence of the false and fabricated statements of the Azerbaijani leadership, the obvious and undisguised lies and the misleading of the international community. Moreover, by allowing people to leave Artsakh in various ways, but forbidding entry, the Azerbaijani authorities are openly pursuing a policy of ethnic cleansing.”

According to the Ombudsman, the reason for Azerbaijan’s failure to comply with calls of the international community and the decision of the International Court of Justice is

  • “the emerging situation of permissiveness,
  • disrespect, disregard for the peacekeeping mission of Russia,
  • the absence of targeted and practical punitive actions on the part of all interested international actors.”
https://jam-news.net/new-procedure-for-leaving-nk-for-armenia/

John Harker: Armenia needs a Great Leap forward

Boris Nahapetian
Armenia – April 5 2023
John Harker is a leading international expert on responsible mining and multi-stakeholder processes. He was the President and Vice Chancellor of Cape Breton University in Canada. In 1999/2000 he was asked by the Government of Canada to review whether the presence and conduct of the country’s then largest oil company was exacerbating the Sudanese civil war. Dr Harker previously worked for the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and advised President Nelson Mandela on the creation of a National Development Agency in South Africa.

I can’t stop thinking about an article recently written by a former Danish Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen; it stated that “Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan are rising again, raising the prospect of another war.” He had just visited the Lachin corridor, finding it still blocked, under the visible pretext of an “environmental protest” but an action clearly backed by the regime in Baku for “political” reasons. Sincere environmental protests are often necessary, and always need to be absolutely based on best evidence, particularly when and where mining is potentially vital to a country’s future. Armenia’s future is unsettled by Azerbaijan’s assaults, and when these were in full play, I dared to suggest that a vigorous, Responsible, mining sector would be a serious asset for an Armenia facing external danger; I want to make a few observations along this line as I have on my mind Rasmussen’s comments about the Lachin corridor blockade.

A professor at Britain’s Oxford University, Timothy Garton Ash, who specializes in European studies, recently wrote about Russian money moving out of reach of “Western” Sanctions, and part of his piece related to Armenia. He asserted that it has traditionally run a large structural current account deficit for much of the past 30 years, but ran a current account surplus in 2022, and this allowed the central bank to increase foreign exchange reserves by close to one-third, or one billion US dollars.

Well, Armenia must by now know that not only is it situated in a volatile and dangerous region, it needs to make every effort to bolster its economy and society in order to fashion and maintain a future in that region, hopefully as one which can, with luck and effort, be helped to live at peace with itself. A challenge, but efforts towards it would likely contribute good things along the way.

One good thing, I am convinced, is the recently announced prospect of the Amulsar mine re-opening, but it remains my hope that this will not be simply a return to earlier practices but will see serious uptake of changes which were being identified and embraced before closure was imposed. These changes grew out of passions, protest, and best-practice, clearly favoured by Lydian’s key staffers; Participatory Water Monitoring is an example. More and more good practices like this are being taken up by global mining, yes, sometimes as an embrace of “Greenwashing” but undeniably on a real and beneficial basis by most serious entities. Particularly those who see their enterprise as a key element of the global economy.


Centuries ago, it was the King of Lydia’s initial embrace of GOLD as currency which set in motion the emergence of a "global economy". And in these Covid years, we have come to appreciate that COPPER is much more than pots and pans, or wires to conduct electricity. It is now being understood as a vital mineral in coping with Covid or other (and future?) Zoonotic diseases, and is absolutely essential to the Transition to Net Zero we hear so much about. Words, yes, but what about Deeds?

I can’t help thinking that Armenia might actually stand on the brink of a real opportunity, for itself and for its region, if it enables, encourages, Gold and Copper mining and processing to develop Responsibly and impact strongly on Armenia’s future.

I know that Diaspora figures such as Ruben Vardanyan and Noubar Afeyan have stimulated thoughts about this future, including impacts on Education, and on Work. These efforts must certainly be encouraged, but in addition, Armenia’s mining companies, faced with present difficulties and aware of future prospects, should be seen as critical to Armenia’s future and the journey to be made towards it.

There is need here for a Great Leap forward, to use a Chinese phrase. For example, across the globe, there are leaders, in government, in companies, and on the streets, who have taken strides on the matter of Women in Mining. This cannot be allowed to flourish as a mere box to be ticked in an effort to “satisfy” investors who want to “feel good”. It is essential in fact, if companies are to achieve and maintain Sustainability, especially the Licence to Operate. Likewise other aspects of “ESG”, the matter of the impacts of company activity on environmental, social, and governmental realities, which are all too often vulnerable. Embracing “ESG” must not be seen as Risk Management, but as the commitment to “stakeholder involvement” in the search for the overall best ways forward.

And “stakeholders” include citizens, and the better educated are these citizens, the better they can judge situations, propose change, and improve their homeland.

Around the world, Responsible Miners are taking up use of new technologies, and realizing that there are Skills to be learned, workers to be taught. In one country this led to a major development. Australia undertook to revamp its Mining Apprenticeship Training, looking to all the new technologies which were appearing and had to be embraced. There is much to be learned from this exercise.

But no-where was there any focus on ESG or Inclusion so as to improve chances of deserved Sustainability. Armenia must not repeat this mistake, particularly as it needs Change just as it needs to maximize its resources to finance the Change. It can’t rely forever on being a home for Money escaping Sanctions, and must try for both change at home, and in the region it is part of.

And it has an advantage formerly unforeseen. This is the partnership it is building with Masdar, a powerhouse with an unparalleled record in promoting Solar power and the skills which this phenomenon has necessitated.

My first awareness of it was when I visited, in Abu Dhabi, the Masdar Institute, a solar-powered high-tech university research institute. Now, many years later, the Institute has been re-named as the Mohamed Ben Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence. Potentially a great partner for the universities of Armenia, which should be encouraged to be a strong part of Armenia’s future, as should the builders of a strengthened Armenia economy when the country needs this so badly.

If Armenia could make something important of Gold and Copper Mining being re-energized to help Armenia both become a great place for its people and to be seen as central to a much better region, the future would see less of “blockades”, be they of the Lachin corridor or the gates of Amulsar. Or, according to press reports during the heaviest assaults from Azerbaijan, of the gates of reserve Army barracks in Armenia when reinforcements sere needed at the Front.

Not long after my first visit to Armenia, I was stimulated by stopping at a fourteenth-century caravanserai near Amulsar! I had a coffee prepared by a “trader” in the back of his rusty Lada, and stood inside the ancient building where traders on the “Silk Road between China and Europe once rested for a night. It was undoubtedly the right place, at the right time.

And as I contemplate the issues confronting Humanity today, the matter of Armenia, its standing with Europe and Eurasia, and the Challenges facing Humanity, I think of the Armenians engaged in all of these, one way or another, and urge them to press on.

Their country needs it, but so do the rest of us.


Azerbaijanis ‘bar Nagorno-Karabakh residents’ from crossing Lachin Corridor

Maral Takmazian
April 5 2023
 5 April 2023

ByAni Avetisyan
Russian peacekeepers evacuating people out of Nagorno-Karabakh. Image via Marut Vanyan.

The authorities in Stepanakert stated that the Azerbaijanis claiming to be eco-activists blocking the Lachin Corridor prevented a group of Nagorno-Karabakh residents from entering Stepanakert.

On Tuesday, Nagorno-Karabakh’s State Minister Gurgen Nersisyan stated that the 27 Nagorno-Karabakh residents had attempted to enter Stepanakert accompanied by Russian peacekeepers.

Nersisyan has said that the group had been residing in Armenia since the closure of the Lachin Corridor on 12 December.

The corridor — the only way in and out of Nagorno-Karabakh for its Armenian population — is under blockade by Azerbaijanis claiming to be eco-activists protesting illegal mining in the region.

Only four members of the group were reportedly allowed into Stapanakert due to illness, while the rest returned to Goris in southern Armenia after ‘long and persistent negotiations [with the Azerbaijanis] yielded no results’.

‘Azerbaijan, which regularly declares that the road connecting Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh] to Armenia is open, today openly prohibited the entry of Artsakh residents to their place of residence’, the State Minister wrote on Facebook after the incident.

‘Azerbaijan shows the completely opposite approach regarding those leaving Artsakh for Armenia, which directly documents their criminal behaviour and intention to expel Armenians from Artsakh.’

Moscow and Baku have yet to comment on the incident, however Azerbaijani media reported that the group of Nagorno-Karabakh residents were held up by Russian peacekeepers and not Azerbaijani protesters.

Apa, a pro-government Azerbaijani TV channel, reported that the group had departed from Goris in Armenia and was met by Russian peacekeepers on the Lachin Corridor, who accompanied them to Shusha (Shushi).  In Shusha, the group was allegedly stopped by another Russian peacekeeping checkpoint because their trip to Stepanakert had not been pre-arranged.

Apa corroborated State Minister Nersisyan’s claim that four members of the group were transported to Stepanakert due to illness, adding that they were taken there in Azerbaijani ambulances accompanied by Russian peacekeepers.

‘According to obtained facts, some Azerbaijanis even broke into one of the cars’, the Human Rights Defender of Nagorno-Karabakh, Gegham Stepanyan, wrote on Facebook late on Tuesday. 

‘Moreover, by allowing the exit of people from Artsakh in various ways, but prohibiting entry, the Azerbaijani authorities are openly implementing a policy of ethnic cleansing, as Ilham Aliyev once again admitted in his statement on 10 January.’

Stepanyan was referring to a statement made by Aliyev, in which he said: ‘for whoever does not want to become [an Azerbaijani] citizen, the road is not closed, but open. They can leave’.

Nagorno-Karabakh’s Foreign Ministry condemned the incident and called it the ‘next level of practical implementation of [Azerbaijan’s] plan to ethnically cleanse Artsakh and expel its people from their historical homeland’.

The ministry’s statement went on to accuse the international community of ‘tacit approval, if not complicity’ in Baku’s actions.

Only vehicles belonging to the Red Cross or the Russian peacekeepers have been allowed in and out of Nagorno-Karabakh since the blockade of the Lachin Corridor started in mid-December. They are usually stocked with essential medical supplies and food, and are responsible for transporting those needing urgent medical care to hospitals in Yerevan.

The Lachin blockade was condemned by a number of Western countries and the European Union, with the International Court of Justice ordering Azerbaijan to unblock the road in late February.

[Read more on OC Media: ICJ orders Azerbaijan to unblock Lachin Corridor]

This article was amended after publication to include reports of the incident by Azerbaijani media.

 For ease of reading, we choose not to use qualifiers such as ‘de facto’, ‘unrecognised’, or ‘partially recognised’ when discussing institutions or political positions within Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and South Ossetia. This does not imply a position on their status.


PM Nicolae Ciuca, Armenian ForMin Ararat Mirzoyan discuss security situation in Extended Black Sea Region

Manouk Vasilian
Romania – April 5 2023
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca received on Tuesday, at the Victoria Palace of Government, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, who is on an official visit to Romania.

According to a government press release, the security situation in the Extended Black Sea Region, generated by Russia's aggressive war in Ukraine, the events after the 44-day war between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the developments of the peace process in the region.

The parties also discussed at length the state of bilateral relations.

The Romanian prime minister stressed the need to build on the good bilateral relations in order to increase the level of trade for the benefit of both countries. At the same time, Prime Minister Ciuca stressed the importance of stabilizing the region and the steps towards peace, announcing full support for the peace process launched by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and participation in the European peace mission in Armenia.

"The peace process must move forward and the situation in the region must be resolved on the basis of international law, with respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of all states," the Romanian premier said.

According to the cited source, the promotion of democratic reforms in the region is of primary importance, as is the rapprochement with the formats offered by the European Union, including from the perspective of strengthening democracy in this extended Black Sea region, which could give Armenia a more active role from the perspective of economic projects in relation to the European Union.