Category: 2023

Twice displaced: Karabakh refugees in Armenia face new uncertainty and poverty

Ani Kharatian
ArtRocker
Dec 4 2023

Many Armenians from the Nagorno-Karabakh region have been moved from their houses for the second time in their lifetimes. This is the second time that they have been forced to leave their homes.

Following their escape from the war-torn region in the 1990s, they reestablished their lives in Armenia, only to be displaced once more by the conflict that occurred in 2020. They are currently dealing with a sense of belonging that is becoming increasingly weak, as well as poverty and trauma, and they are facing an uncertain future.

Karabakh, which had been under Armenian control for a considerable amount of time, was retaken by Azerbaijan as a result of the current war. Because they were afraid for their lives, thousands of people fled the area as the conflict became more intense. A great number of people crossed the border into Armenia, coming with minimal possessions other than the clothes they were wearing.

Mariam, a 50-year-old woman who arrived in Armenia with her two children mentioned that they left behind everything that they had which included their house, their animals and their memories just so they would be able to survive.

The Armenian government scrambled to provide shelter, but many refugees ended up in overcrowded camps or temporary housing. They face a harsh reality of poverty and unemployment. Many lack proper documentation, making it difficult to access social services and find work.

They felt disoriented and did not know where they would be able to start because they have nothing there, according to David, a young man who lost his leg in the war. David stated that they knew they had nothing there.

Deep psychological trauma is caused by being uprooted from one’s home. A great number of refugees have the wounds of war, having been witnesses to acts of brutality and tragedy. Having trouble falling asleep due to the presence of nightmares. Especially vulnerable are children, who frequently withdraw from others and experience anxiety.

The prospects for these refugees are not clear at this time. There are many who continue to hold on to the hope that they will one day be able to return to Karabakh; nevertheless, the new peace accord has left the status of the territory unclear. Others are making a gradual but steady effort to reconstruct their life in Armenia, but the obstacles they face are enormous..

Mariam stated that they require assistance. In order to find work, to educate their children, and to recover from the trauma that they have experienced. The international community has pledged aid, but it has been slow to trickle down. Local NGOs are doing their best, but their resources are stretched thin. The plight of Karabakh refugees is a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict.

They are caught in a political limbo, their lives uprooted, their futures uncertain. As the world focuses on the geopolitical implications of the war, it must not forget the human stories – the families, the children, the individuals who have lost everything, twice.

Only through sustained support and a commitment to finding a lasting peace can these refugees hope to rebuild their lives and find a place to call home, once again.

Awesome Armenia claim four golds on home soil as 2023 IBA Junior World Boxing Championships end

Emil Lazarian
Dec 4 2023

December 4th, 2023 / Junior World Championships

Armenia closed out the 2023 IBA Junior World Boxing Championships with three more gold medals at the Mika Stadium, on home soil.

Adding to Vagharshak Keyan’s victory yesterday, Tigran Ovsepian, Argishti Hakobyan and Albert Harutyunyan claimed titles in their respective weight categories in Yerevan.

European junior champion Ovsepian faced Angel Dimitrov of Bulgaria in the men’s 50kg final and he utilised his southpaw stance to gain points with judges, but Dimitrov came back late in the first round with a strong right hand to narrowly take the first round. Much like the colour of his vest and shorts, the Armenian saw red, coming out the corner aggressively towards Dimitrov and closing down the space to the Bulgarian, whose body shots were nothing compared to the several southpaw strikes to the head. The Armenian piled pressure on Dimitrov and had him against the ropes, but the Bulgarian had the home favourite bending at the knees with a clear punch to give him a fighting chance. The judges favoured the pressure of Ovsepian, making him the second home gold medallist at the Championships.

In comparison, Hakobyan was relaxed in his men’s 66kg bout with Ivan Siniak of Belarus. Both boxers adopted a loose style, using counter-attacking tactics to get their shots in. The Armenian led after the first round and took the second round unanimously with some perfectly-executed strikes. Siniak had to revert from counterpunching to being the aggressor, going against his natural instincts to try and force a knock down, but Hakobyan held strong for the unanimous victory.

Harutyunyan received a rapturous response from the crowd from the bell, driving into his opponent with quick hands, catching India’s Sahil on several occasions. The Indian looked much more competent afterwards, setting up a nervous final round. When Harutyunyan caused Sahil to receive a standing count, it was game over in the men’s 75kg, despite his opponent rallying in the final minute. A unanimous decision may seem harsh on Sahil who played his part in one of the best final bouts of the tournament.

With a day of defeats yesterday, India would claim its first gold medal of the Championships thanks to Payal in the women’s 48kg. Facing Armenia’s only female finalist, Heghne Petrosyan, it was initially a close affair, before missing swings from Petrosyan allowed Payal to capitalise. From there, she controlled the match.

Even more convincing was her teammate Nisha in the women’s 52kg, who led the charge from the bell, keeping her opponent, Tajikistan’s Farinoz Abdulloeva, on the defence. Once she found her rhythm, the footwork of Abdulloeva looked more comfortable, allowing her to pick her punches, but just as she looked to have an opportunity to come back into the bout, a few clean punches from Nisha in the second round caused the Tajikistan boxer to become passive, making the decision to award the Indian the victory an easy one for the judges.

While there was plenty of heartache in the finals for India – with nine of their 12 boxers losing – it was a strong day for women’s boxing as Akansha Phalaswal defeated Elizabeta Taimazova of Russia in the 70kg category. A scrappy first round was followed by nonstop action that only paused to replace Taimazova’s damaged head guard. The final strike of the second round saw Phalaswal catch the Russian with a left jab, giving her the points advantage which she held on to.

After John Maher’s victory yesterday, Siofra Lawless made it two wins from two for Ireland, putting in the most impressive performance of the day in the women’s 63kg over Shrushti Sachin Suthe from India. Lawless was quick on her feet, maintaining a gap for the majority of the bout and frustrating Sathe who went looking to close and corner the Irish boxer. It was a great response from the Indian, who caught Lawless off her guard; but when the composure was regained, it was Ireland out on top. Several unprotected punches to the face saw Sathe face a standing count, and unsurprisingly, Lawless claimed the gold medal.

Uzbekistan also claimed three titles today, with the gold rush starting with Sevara Mamatova in the women’s 57kg. A calculating first round would go the way of Mamatova, but the bout woke up as the bell rang for the next. While India’s Vini became more active, the Uzbekistan boxer was able to combine enough strikes to hold her at a distance and win unanimously.

It was followed by a win for Firuzjon Sadullaev in the men’s 60kg over home favourite Andranik Martirosyan. A late one-two from Sadullaev gave him the edge in the first round that was dominated by the pair clutching each other when attempting to strike. The second was cleaner, with both boxers getting a scene-stealing strike. Both had a chance to win going into the third, leading to a frenetic, physical pace. It would be Sadullaev who would have his arm raised, showing off his physical prowess in his celebrations too, performing a cartwheel-somersault combination in the ring.

Much like yesterday, Uzbekistan won the final bout of the night – this time it went to Islam Salikhov in the men’s 80+kg. Salikhov was given the nod in the first round and then all but sealed victory by the end of the second, allowing him to control the rest of the bout on his way to the gold, beating a solid opponent in Hemant Sangwan from India.

Russia would finish top of the medal table, securing two more gold medals. The first of these came for Islam Magomedov in the men’s 46kg final against Arno Darchinyan of Armenia. Both had success in the opener, with Darchinyan pushing forward on the front foot, but halted on a few occasions by a clean right uppercut. He kept pushing with his might with an overhand right hook, but Magomedov was magic on his feet, constantly on his toes and able to dodge the offence of the Armenian. A knockout was needed in the final round and to his credit, Darchinyan stirred Magomedov throughout even leading to a referee’s count, but the early damage was already done, giving the Russian the victory.

Anna Buzuleva claimed the women’s 80kg title, with victory over India’s Megha Sheokand, albeit quicker than expected. The Russian focused her attack on the torso, using bent arm punches to bring Sheokand in close and land more points. Both boxers were closely matched in the second round, with a final two minutes seeing the winner take all. Unfortunately, an injury for Sheokand would not see the climax this bout deserved, with Buzuleva taking the gold medal.

Finally, Nurassyl Tulebek made it four wins from four for Kazakhstan, beating India’s Jatin in the men’s 54kg. The speed of Jatin helped him to launch several attacks on Tulebek in the opening round, but judges deemed Tulebek’s shots to be cleaner. With a point to prove, the Indian came charging out of his corner, but looked less tidy as Tulebek had a controlled offence. An understated final round ensured Tulebek would have his arm raised at the end of the bout.

Behind Russia in the medal table were hosts Armenia with four golds, beating Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan by virtue of more silver medals.

Turkish Press: Blinken holds separate calls with Azerbaijani, Armenian leaders to discuss peace process

Maral Takmazian
Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Nov 28 2023
Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held separate phone calls on Monday with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to discuss efforts to reach a peace agreement between the two countries.

According to a readout of the phone call between Blinken and Aliyev, the Secretary welcomed Aliyev’s commitment to "conclude a durable and dignified peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia."

"The Secretary recognized the suffering that this long-standing conflict has caused Azerbaijanis and Armenians alike and underscored the benefits that peace would bring to everyone in the region," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

"The Secretary discussed our enduring relations with Azerbaijan, noted recent points of concern in the relationship and also spoke about opportunities to strengthen cooperation, especially around the peace process, and the importance of high-level engagement," Miller added.

Blinken held a separate phone call with Pashinyan to discuss US support for efforts to reach a "durable and dignified" peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"The Secretary reaffirmed the United States’ ongoing support for Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and outlined efforts to increase bilateral cooperation with Armenia as we work to support its vision for a prosperous and democratic future," said Miller in a statement.

Relations between the two former Soviet republics have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.


Most of the territory was liberated by Azerbaijan during a war in the fall of 2020, which ended after a Russian-brokered peace agreement and also opened the door to normalization.

Azerbaijan established full sovereignty in Karabakh after an "anti-terrorism operation" in September, after which separatist forces in the region surrendered.

In a statement on Nov. 21, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry called on Armenia to resume negotiations and "to avoid new unnecessary delays" in the peace process.

Delegations from Azerbaijan and Armenia are expected to meet on Nov. 30 to discuss border delimitation issues.

US top diplomat discusses possibility of peace treaty with Armenia, Azerbaijan leaders

Jhanna Virabian
Iran Front Page
Nov 28 2023

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has discussed with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan the possibility of concluding a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan.

According to one of the statements distributed by State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller, Blinken “welcomed President Aliyev’s commitment to conclude a durable and dignified peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia”. The top US diplomat pointed out that “this long-standing conflict has caused Azerbaijanis and Armenians” and “underscored the benefits that peace would bring to everyone in the region”.

In addition, Blinken discussed US-Azerbaijan bilateral relations with Aliyev, “noted recent points of concern,” and touched on “opportunities to strengthen cooperation”.

In another statement on the US Secretary of State’s conversation with Pashinyan, it is noted that Blinken “discussed US support for efforts to reach a durable and dignified peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan”. At the same time, the top US diplomat reaffirmed “the United States’ ongoing support for Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” and pointed to “efforts to increase bilateral cooperation with Armenia”.

On November 18, at the opening ceremony of the fall session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in the Armenian capital, the country’s Prime Minister stated that Yerevan and Baku had been able to agree on the basic principles of a peace agreement. Two days later, at a press conference following talks with his Iraqi counterpart Abdul Latif Rashid, the Azerbaijani president said that he was waiting for the Armenian side’s response to the peace treaty proposals that Baku had submitted to Yerevan more than two months ago.

On September 19, tensions flared up again in Nagorno-Karabakh. Baku announced it was launching what it described as “local anti-terrorist measures” and demanded the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the region. Yerevan, in turn, said there were no Armenian forces in Karabakh, calling what was happening “an act of large-scale aggression”.

On September 20, an agreement on the cessation of hostilities was reached. On September 21, representatives of Baku and the Armenian population of Karabakh met in the Azerbaijani city of Yevlakh “to discuss reintegration issues.”

On September 28, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Samvel Shahramanyan signed a decree officially dissolving the unrecognized state effective January 1, 2024. The local ethnic Armenian population has been advised to consider the reintegration proposals being put forward by Baku and decide for themselves whether to remain or to relocate, most likely to nearby Armenia.

RFE/RL Armenian Service – 11/27/2023

Tambiyan Samvel 
                                        Monday, November 27, 2023


Russia Tightens Border Controls For Armenian Trucks
November 27, 2023
        • Narine Ghalechian
        • Shoghik Galstian

RUSSIA - Cars and heavy trucks are lined up near the Upper Lars border crossing 
with Georgia, November 21, 2023.


Hundreds of Armenian trucks were stuck at the main Russian-Georgian border 
crossing on Monday after Russia reportedly tightened import and export controls 
on them amid its unprecedented tensions with Armenia.

Truck drivers said that the Russian customs service is subjecting them to 
stricter sanitary and other checks, causing long lines of the heavy vehicles on 
both sides of the Upper Lars crossing vital for the Armenian economy.

“I’m stuck at Lars for a second day,” one driver told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service. 
“There is a problem with paperwork. It’s not just me but also other Armenian 
trucks.”

“According to our information, several trucks have already returned [to Armenia] 
and about 200 others are waiting in line,” Garnik Danielian, an opposition 
parliamentarian, wrote on Facebook.

Deputy Economy Minister Arman Khojoyan confirmed that Russian customs officers 
have turned away some of the Armenian trucks carrying goods for the Russian 
market. But he did not give any numbers.

“As the head of the State Revenue Committee told me yesterday, it’s not that 
they are turning away all goods or entire categories of goods,” he told 
reporters. “We also have cargo crossing the border.”

Khojoyan would not say whether he believes there is a political reason for the 
stricter border checks introduced by the Russians.

RUSSIA -- An Armenian truck passes through the newly expanded Upper Lars border 
crossing with Georgia, June 21, 2023.

Artur Khachatrian, another Armenian opposition lawmaker, suggested that Moscow 
is retaliating against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s decision to boycott last 
week’s Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit in Minsk which 
highlighted a significant deterioration of Russian-Armenian relations.

“I think that Russia is sending certain messages [to Yerevan],” said 
Khachatrian. “Let’s acknowledge that this is not accidental.”

The truck driver, who did not want to be identified, also felt that he and his 
Armenian colleagues remain stuck at Upper Lars because of the tensions between 
Moscow and Yerevan.

“The [Armenian] government picked a fight with the Russians and the Russians are 
now retaliating in this way,” he said.

Russia is Armenia’s leading trading partner, accounting for more than one-third 
of the South Caucasus nation’s foreign trade. It has long been the main export 
market for Armenian agricultural products, prepared foodstuffs and alcoholic 
drinks.

The total volume of Russian-Armenian trade, mainly carried out through Upper 
Lars, has skyrocketed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting 
barrage of Western sanctions against Moscow.

Armenian entrepreneurs have taken advantage of those sanctions, re-exporting 
various goods manufactured in Western countries to Russia. This explains why 
Armenian exports to Russia nearly doubled to $2.6 billion in January-September 
this year.




Yerevan Won’t Rule Out CSTO Exit
November 27, 2023
        • Shoghik Galstian

Belarus - The presidents of Russia and other CSTO member states meet in Minsk, 
November 23, 2023.


Armenia could leave the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) due to 
the Russian-led alliance’s reluctance to openly support it in the conflict with 
Azerbaijan, a leading member of the ruling Civil Contract party said on Monday.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian also did not rule out such a possibility on 
Friday one day after boycotting a summit of the leaders of Russia and other CSTO 
member states held in Minsk. He again accused the CSTO of not honoring its 
security obligations to Armenia.

“There is a defined situation in which we would definitely leave [the CSTO,]” 
Gevorg Papoyan, the deputy chairman of Civil Contract’s governing board, told 
journalists. “We don’t have that situation yet.”

“But there is also a situation where we would definitely participate in those 
[CSTO] meetings. There is no such situation either,” he said, alluding to an 
effective freeze on Armenia’s participation in the alliance’s activities.

Papoyan did not specify those “situations.” Nor did he say if Pashinian’s 
government wants to obtain security guarantees from Western powers before 
officially reorienting Armenia’s towards the United States and the European 
Union.

The Russian Foreign Ministry accused Yerevan of planning such a reorientation in 
late September as tensions between the two longtime allies rose further 
following Azerbaijan’s military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh which Moscow did 
not prevent, stop or even condemn.

In recent months, Pashinian has repeatedly said that the alliance with Russia 
cannot guarantee Armenia’s national security. His refusal to attend the CSTO 
summit in Minsk stoked speculation about the South Caucasus state’s imminent 
exit from the alliance.

Alen Simonian, the Armenian parliament speaker and another senior Civil Contract 
member, said last week that he will not attend an upcoming session of the CSTO’s 
Parliamentary Assembly.




CSTO Head Downplays Armenian Boycott Of Summit
November 27, 2023

Armenia - CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov at a meeting with 
Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikian, Yerevan, March 16, 2023.


The secretary general of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) on 
Monday downplayed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s refusal to attend last week’s 
summit of the leaders of ex-Soviet states making up the Russian-led military 
alliance.

Imangali Tasmagambetov, who is due to visit Yerevan soon, claimed that Pashinian 
did not fly to Minsk for the summit last Thursday for merely “technical” reasons.

“In my view, it makes no sense to draw any categorical conclusions from this 
situation,” Tasmagambetov told the TASS news agency. “Armenia was and remains 
our ally.”

Pashinian’s boycott of the summit highlighted his government’s mounting tensions 
with the other CSTO member states and Russia in particular. Pashinian on Friday 
again accused the CSTO of not honoring its security commitments to Armenia. What 
is more, he did not rule out the possibility of eventually pulling his country 
out of his alliance.

Speaking on the eve of the Minsk summit, the Russian Foreign Ministry 
spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said that Pashinian’s administration is planning a 
“radical change” of Armenia’s traditional geopolitical orientation at the behest 
of Western powers. The ministry had earlier accused it of “ruining” 
Russian-Armenian relations.

For his part, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed over the weekend the 
criticism of the CSTO voiced by Pashinian as well as other Armenian leaders. 
Peskov expressed hope that Yerevan will soon resume its “full-fledged 
participation in the organization.”

Earlier this year, Armenia also refused to participate in CSTO military 
exercises and boycotted a meeting of the defense ministers of the bloc’s member 
states.




Armenian Authorities Seek To Dispossess Tsarukian
November 27, 2023
        • Naira Bulghadarian

Armenia - Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukian speaks at an election 
campaign rally in Aragatsotn province, June 15, 2021.


The Armenian authorities have moved to confiscate hundreds of millions of 
dollars worth of assets belonging to Gagik Tsarukian, one of Armenia’s richest 
men leading a major opposition party.

The assets include the largest of Tsarukian’s companies and about 90 properties 
owned by him or members of his family. The authorities are also seeking to seize 
over 86 billion drams ($213 million) in revenue generated by them. All this may 
well account for most of the vast fortune made by the tycoon since the early 
1990s.

The Office of the Prosecutor-General announced late last week that it has asked 
an Armenian court to approve the seizures in accordance with a controversial law 
that allows the authorities to confiscate assets deemed to have been acquired 
illegally. It said the court has already agreed to freeze them pending a verdict 
in the case.

A statement released by the law-enforcement agency did not publicize any 
evidence in support of its claims that Tsarukian and his family have amassed 
their wealth illegally. The tycoon’s lawyers were quick to reject the claims and 
insist that “the origin of Gagik Tsarukian’s assets is illegal.”

“There is weighty evidence of that, which will be presented to the court and the 
Office of the Prosecutor-General as soon as possible,” they said in a statement.

The lawyers declined to comment further when contacted by RFE/RL’s Armenian 
Service at the weekend. It thus remained unclear whether they see any political 
motives behind the case.

Armenia -- Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukian arrives for a court 
hearing on his pre-trial arrest, September 25, 2020.

Tsarukian is the founding leader of the opposition Prosperous Armenia Party 
(BHK) that had the second largest group in the country’s former parliament. It 
challenged Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and demanded his resignation even 
before the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Tsarukian was charged with vote buying and arrested in September 2020 just days 
before the outbreak of the war. The BHK leader, who rejected the accusations as 
politically motivated, was freed on bail one month later.

Like other opposition groups, the BHK blamed Pashinian for Armenia’s defeat in 
the six-week war and tried to topple him. It failed to win any parliament seats 
in snap general elections held in June 2021. Tsarukian has kept a low profile 
since then.

The law invoked by the prosecutors allows them to seek asset forfeiture in case 
of having “sufficient grounds to suspect” that the market value of an 
individual’s properties exceeds their “legal income” by at least 50 million 
drams ($100,000). Armenian courts can allow the nationalization of such assets 
even if their owners are not found guilty of corruption or other criminal 
offenses.

Over the past two years the prosecutors have petitioned courts to dispossess 
dozens of former officials, including ex-Presidents Serzh Sarkisian and Robert 
Kocharian, and their relatives. So far there have been no court verdicts in any 
of those cases. Tsarukian is apparently the first person who risks losing his 
assets despite having never held any executive posts in government.

Armenia - A screenshot from an Aravot.am report on expensive property 
acquisitions by current Armenian officials, March 15, 2023.

Pashinian has repeatedly portrayed the law in question as a major 
anti-corruption measure that will help his administration recover “wealth stolen 
from the people.” Opposition figures counter, however, that Pashinian is simply 
keen to suppress dissent and cement his hold on power.

In November 2021, opposition lawmakers appealed to the Constitutional Court to 
declare the law unconstitutional. They said that it contradicts articles of the 
Armenian constitution guaranteeing the presumption of innocence and property 
rights. The court, dominated by judges installed by the current government, has 
still not ruled on the appeal.

Also, Pashinian is facing growing media allegations that members of his 
entourage themselves are enriching themselves or their cronies. In February this 
year, the prime minister publicly urged senior officials to sue publications 
“falsely” accusing them of illicit enrichment. In March, hackers hijacked the 
YouTube channel of an Armenian newspaper just as it was about to publish a video 
report detailing expensive property acquisitions by several senior government 
officials and pro-government lawmakers.



Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2023 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Armenpress: Blinken reaffirms United States’ ongoing support for Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity

Emil Lazarian

 10:00, 28 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has spoken by phone with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Secretary Blinken reaffirmed U.S. support for Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the U.S. State Department said in a readout of the November 27 call.

“Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Armenia’s Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan. They discussed U.S. support for efforts to reach a durable and dignified peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.  The Secretary reaffirmed the United States’ ongoing support for Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and outlined efforts to increase bilateral cooperation with Armenia as we work to support its vision for a prosperous and democratic future,” the U.S. State Department said.

Blinken also spoke by phone with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the same day.

In a readout of the call with Aliyev, the State Department said that Blinken noted “recent points of concern” in the U.S.-Azeri relations.

“The Secretary welcomed President Aliyev’s commitment to conclude a durable and dignified peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.  The Secretary recognized the suffering that this long-standing conflict has caused Azerbaijanis and Armenians alike and underscored the benefits that peace would bring to everyone in the region.  The Secretary discussed our enduring relations with Azerbaijan, noted recent points of concern in the relationship and also spoke about opportunities to strengthen cooperation, especially around the peace process, and the importance of high-level engagement,” the State Department said.

Armenian Prime Minister, U.S. Secretary of State discuss humanitarian issues of NK forcibly displaced persons

Emil Lazarian

 10:23, 28 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has spoken by phone with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss issues related to the regional agenda and bilateral relations, the Prime Minister’s Office has said. 

The Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization process was discussed, the Armenian Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout.

The humanitarian issues of over 100,000 forcibly displaced persons of Nagorno-Karabakh, and the Armenian government’s steps aimed at overcoming these issues were also discussed. The importance of support by the international community was underscored.

U.S. welcomes Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s reforms

Babken Chilingarian

 10:37, 28 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien has praised Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s courage for making clear that he wants Armenia to move forward in opening its borders and in opening its relations with the West.

Speaking at an online press briefing, O’Brien noted the encouraging reforms undertaken by the Pashinyan Administration.

The U.S. official was asked to assess the prospects of supporting Armenia through the European Peace Facility mechanism and whether it may enhance Armenia’s cooperation with NATO.

“I’ll leave any discussion of the European Peace Facility to my EU colleagues.  What I’d say is Prime Minister Pashinyan has been very courageous, has made clear that he wants Armenia to move forward in opening its borders and in opening its relations with the West, that it doesn’t want Armenia to be wholly dependent on Russia in the way that previous leaders sought to have it be.  And he’s undertaken a number of reforms that are – should be very encouraging for Armenian citizens as they look to continue the sort of quick economic growth that they’ve had over the last year or two. And I think Prime Minister Pashinyan has also been a bold voice for a peace agreement with Azerbaijan as a way of allowing Armenia to focus on its economic development, to build out its security relationships, and to expand trade from Central Asia through to Türkiye, and all of which is something we would very much like to see.  So any package that is supportive of Armenia is something to be welcomed; exactly how the EU chooses to get there will be its business.  But we are committed to working with our European partners and with the government in Armenia to see that the people of Armenia are able to benefit from the reform policies that the Pashinyan government has undertaken,” O’Brien said.

I am impressed to see high growth rates in 2023 in Armenia – ADB President

Emil Lazarian

 11:19, 28 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecasts 2,6% average annual inflation for 2023 in Armenia, which is quite low compared to 2022 when inflation reached 8.6%, Masatsugu Asakawa, the President of the Asian Development Bank , said in an interview with Armenpress.

In terms of Armenia’s economic indicators, one of the key factors contributing to this success is the implementation of structural reforms, Masatsugu Asakawa said. The ADB President arrived to Armenia on a two-day visit on November 27.

 

First of all, I would like to ask You to present the purpose of Your visit to Armenia, what meetings and new agreements are expected?

 

Our visit to Armenia is multifaceted and has a comprehensive agenda. We aim to strengthen our collaboration and support for ongoing projects in the country, explore new partnership opportunities, and meet high-level officials.

During our visit, we have had the privilege to meet esteemed leaders, including the Prime Minister and the President of Armenia. One of the most significant highlights is the loan signing for the Yerevan Urban Development Investment Project, or YUDIP, which will construct a 1.8 km road and bridge over the Hrazdan River. This will greatly improve connectivity, reduce traffic congestion, and enhance green spaces for people living in Yerevan.

YUDIP is aligned with Armenia's climate goals and the Paris Agreement, and we’re excited about the prospects for this and other ongoing ADB projects to improve connectivity, boost productivity, and ultimately reduce poverty. We look forward to working together to ensure smooth implementation.

 

What programs is the Asian Development Bank currently implementing in Armenia and how much financial support has it provided to the government and the country?

 

Since Armenia joined the ADB in 2005, the bank has supported the country to diversify its economy and increase opportunities for all Armenians to benefit from economic growth.

Since the beginning of our partnership, ADB has provided financial assistance worth more than $1.8 billion, supporting government priorities in the transport, energy, water, and urban infrastructure sectors.

ADB is currently implementing six projects with the government totaling $525 million in transport and urban infrastructure development. These initiatives are helping land-locked Armenia improve its regional and international connectivity to boost growth and development. Under the new country partnership strategy, ADB will continue supporting Armenia’s regional cooperation and integration.

Our private sector portfolio comprises six projects totaling more than $230 million in the energy, finance, and agriculture sectors. Going forward, ADB will continue to expand its private sector operations and maximize the synergies between sovereign and private sector operations.

 

What are the forecasts of the Asian Development Bank for the economic growth and inflation of Armenia for 2023, how does the Bank assess the economic situation in Armenia in general? What factors greatly influenced that prediction? What are the predictions for 2024?

 

I commend the government for achieving impressive economic growth in 2022, despite facing various global and regional challenges. I am also impressed to see high growth rates in 2023. Our latest forecast for this year's growth is 7%, which I believe is in line with the government's target.

In terms of average annual inflation, our forecast for this year is 2.6%, which is quite low compared to 2022 when inflation reached 8.6%. This reduction is partly due to proactive monetary policy being implemented by the Central Bank of Armenia.

One of the key factors contributing to this success is the implementation of structural reforms. The government has an ambitious reform agenda in several areas, including public administration, governance, anti-corruption, public financial management, tax administration, and digitalization.

Private sector development and domestic resource mobilization are also critical for economic growth and job creation. I am happy to note that the government continues to prioritize investments in infrastructure development – which is crucial for sustaining growth over the long term and ensuring that this growth is more inclusive.

 

As ADB and the Government of Armenia are working together on the new Country Partnership Strategy for the country, how will the new CPS support the government's development priorities?

 

We are committed to supporting Armenia in achieving its long-term development goals. We aim to help Armenia build an export-driven, knowledge-based, and inclusive economy.

We are currently finalizing our new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for 2024–2028, which we plan to submit to ADB's Board of Directors in January 2024. The CPS is in line with Armenia's long-term strategy and the government's program for 2021–2026.

Through the CPS, we aim to help Armenia strengthen private sector-led growth with the ultimate goals of reducing poverty and inequalities and improving connectivity and productivity. These will be achieved by creating job opportunities, improving governance, and enhancing the effectiveness of reforms. ADB will continue supporting the government’s efforts to promote gender equality and gender-inclusive growth by improving the enabling environment and capacity of women. We also aim to help improve the quality of education and healthcare, and address climate and disaster risks.

 

What new projects is the Asian Development Bank preparing to implement in Armenia, in which areas, and at what cost?

 

ADB recently approved an additional financing of $72.3 million for the Seismic Safety Improvement Program which supports the seismic safety and resilience of 46 schools in Armenia. The program is crucial to the country's School Strengthening and Renovation Program and National Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction. This support is testament to the government’s and ADB’s commitment to securing a safe and resilient future for Armenia's children.

As Asia and the Pacific’s climate bank, we are also helping Armenia mitigate and adapt to climate change. Today, I joined senior government members at the launch event of a new ADB report that explores opportunities for Armenia to incorporate climate adaptation into its fiscal planning. We’re also preparing a proposal to help improve food security for vulnerable communities by providing them with climate-sensitive energy solutions which will help to reduce their dependence on the national grid. Through technical assistance, we are helping Armenia build the institutional knowledge needed to meet its Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement.

ADB actively collaborates with counterparts in Armenia to invest in sustainable infrastructure, advance the digital agenda, address fiscal needs, and foster private sector partnerships. This underscores the potential for remarkable growth in this nation and the promise of our partnership.

United States sees ‘real opportunity’ for Armenia and Azerbaijan to make peace

Paul Hambardsumian

 11:56, 28 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. The United States sees a real opportunity for Armenia and Azerbaijan to make peace, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien has said.

“As I’ve said publicly, we see a real opportunity for Azerbaijan and Armenia to make peace. We’re encouraged that the two sides are speaking with one another directly and with mediators.  And with that, we see a real opportunity for the entire region to benefit.  For example, if trade from Central Asia is able to flow through Azerbaijan and Armenia into Türkiye, then it would be a substantial boost for all the countries on that trade route.  And we’d welcome the opportunity to be part of that. At the same time, if the decision is made not to pursue that by peaceful means, then we would have to use whatever tools we could to avoid having that kind of trade route created.  So we’ve been very clear with the parties about what we hope to see and about the consequences of moving forward otherwise.  So we’ll look forward to seeing where the parties come out.  We know they’ve expressed an interest in concluding a peace agreement very soon, and we would love to see that happen,” O’Brien said at a press briefing.