Category: 2024

 16:04,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has been constructively involved in negotiations with Azerbaijan, nevertheless Yerevan has been observing some setbacks in regard to demarcation maps.

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Tuesday highlighted the importance of the peace process, the signing of the peace treaty, launching the demarcation process, as well as unblocking and transport and economic infrastructure in the region.

Furthermore, FM Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized there are several key principles for Armenia.

“First of all, Armenia and Azerbaijan should recognize each other’s territorial integrity without ambiguities and without any wording that could leave room to misinterpretations,” FM Mirzoyan said at a press briefing.

“Next, the border between the two countries should be demarcated on the basis of official maps drawn up by the authorities of the Soviet Union within the framework of their powers, with solid legal foundation. You know that we have always talked about the maps of 1974-1978 as the most recent maps reflecting the principles I mentioned.

“It is interesting that there was a proposal to use the maps from 1974-1990, this proposal was made by the Azerbaijani side itself. After a certain study, we assumed that this wording could be applicable, but going ahead, let me mention that for example, one could assume that certain setbacks have taken place in the Azerbaijani proposal itself [judging by] the Azeri president’s latest interview.

“Maximum clarity and legal invulnerability in the border demarcation process are key for Armenia,” the FM said.

 16:22,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Armenia may provide new minefield maps to Azerbaijan if such information is gathered and trust is strengthened, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has said.

“Armenia wants to continue confidence building measures,” he said, noting that Armenia twice gave minefield maps to Azerbaijan in the past.

“We conveyed to Azerbaijan minefield maps twice, but then, strangely, the Azerbaijani side complained that the maps are ineffective and inaccurate. It is noteworthy that the mine laying in those areas started in the nineties by Azerbaijan itself, but, anyway, we managed to summarize and convey to Azerbaijan the information that was available to us,” Mirzoyan said.

He said that now Armenian authorities are trying to restore, using inquiries among other measures, any information about possible locations of mines.

“In case of constructive approach and steps for strengthening trust from both sides, and if we truly succeed to restore reliable information, I don’t rule out that we will once again convey it to Azerbaijan,” the Armenian Foreign Minister said. He added that this time the process should be carried out through international partners, in order for them to validate that Armenia is conveying reliable information.

 16:38,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. There is currently no agreement about holding a new Armenian-Azeri summit or a foreign ministerial meeting, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has said.

Various countries have been offering to host an Armenian-Azeri summit after the Granada meeting, he said.

“I believe efforts to organize a meeting continue to this day. There’s no agreement yet. At this moment we have no agreements on either a summit or a foreign ministerial meeting,” he said.

 17:03,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is committed to the peace agenda and hopes that Azerbaijan will soon return to the constructive path despite the setbacks, FM Ararat Mirzoyan said at a press briefing.

Mirzoyan told Armenpress at a press briefing that the positive dynamics observed in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations stopped and there was a setback from previous agreements.

However, there is a communication line between the offices of the Armenian prime minister and Azeri president, as well as between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and other government agencies, he said.

“The exchange of amendment proposals regarding the peace treaty, substantive discussions about the treaty are being conducted by the Foreign Ministries. But there are also unofficial contacts through other channels,” said Mirzoyan.

As to the agreement for the release of POWs that took place on December 7, 2023, the minister said the swap was a beneficial agreement for both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“Unfortunately, the positive dynamics did not continue, at least until this moment, [we see] just the contrary both in the context of the text of the peace treaty and in the context of the resumption of high-level meetings. Besides, judging by the interview of the Azeri president, already in the context of the official positions we see the just opposite process: a setback, particularly a setback from the agreements already reached,” said Mirzoyan.

According to the Armenian foreign minister, setbacks have been observed in different tangible and key directions, namely the demarcation. The President of Azerbaijan has insisted that new borders should be drawn, otherwise some pre-Soviet borders should be used as a basis.

Furthermore, FM Ararat Mirzoyan pointed out Aliyev’s statements regarding the territorial integrity of Armenia, and the claim that the Azerbaijani forces would not withdraw from the occupied territories of Armenia, predetermining the work of the demarcation commissions, as well as the unblocking of communication lines.

“However, summarizing, we see that the positive dynamics did not continue. However, the Republic of Armenia remains committed to its peace agenda and the stated principles, most of which have already been agreed upon. We hope that Azerbaijan will soon return to the constructive path and we will manage to complete this peace process that has started long ago,” said the foreign minister.

The Armenian FM said he has an impression that Azerbaijan doesn’t have political will for normalization, and is on the contrary seeking to escalate the problems and create obstacles.

“But the Republic of Armenia remains committed to the peace process, and by and large the peace process has a mission and goal to resolve these issues,” he added.

 17:13,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. There is a risk of escalation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said Tuesday.

“I think that there’s a risk of escalation even at this moment,” FM Mirzoyan said at a press briefing when asked whether the likelihood of tensions would grow during the U.S. presidential elections and the EP elections, when international partners will be focused on domestic agenda. “At least the rhetoric we’ve witnessed in the Azerbaijani president’s interview doesn’t allow us to be off guard, not even for a second.”  

FM Mirzoyan said that the Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, in his interview, made explicit territorial claims against the sovereign territory of Armenia.

“We saw them call various Armenian cities and provinces with distorted names, and they called nearly the entire territory of the Republic of Armenia as Western Azerbaijan. There’s always likelihood of escalation. Would this likelihood grow during ongoing elections in various countries? I think it would be rational not to think that way,” he said.

 17:59,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. During the press conference on Tuesday, the  Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan referred to the expediency of canceling the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020.

"Armenia has always fulfilled its obligations, unlike Azerbaijan and Russia, and the evidence of non-fulfillment is more than clear and tangible, first of all, regarding Nagorno-Karabakh and the Lachin corridor,” Mirzoyan said.

Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized that Armenia has not undertaken any obligations regarding "the corridor."

The Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that the Republic of Armenia is not only ready, but also interested in achieving the unblocking of the transport and economic infrastructure of the region.

 17:58,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. For Armenia, it is not a matter of principle whether the negotiations with Azerbaijan are conducted through direct contacts or mediators. However, the content of the negotiations and the principal points, which have been repeatedly emphasized and around which the negotiations should take place, are a matter of principle.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized this during a press conference while responding to a question from "Armenpress" regarding the preference for negotiations with mediators or direct contacts.

"For us, this issue is not fundamental. But the content of these negotiations and the principles around which these negotiations should take place are fundamental," said Mirzoyan.

According to the Foreign Minister, the meetings, including the negotiations on the text of the peace treaty, could be described as either mediated or direct, as desired.

“By and large, various partners assisted us in organizing meetings. In some cases, tripartite meetings were held or proposals were made for specific formulations. But at the same time, if desired, we can say that they were direct negotiations because the main part was agreed upon by both parties with each other,” said the Armenian Foreign Minister.

“Armenia is ready to continue negotiations,'' said Armenian Foreign Minister.

 18:46,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS.  In Tehran, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reaffirmed the agreement to open the Armenia-Turkey border for citizens of the third countries and the holders of diplomatic passports, however, there has been no result thus far,  said Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan during the press conference.

"It was discussed and an agreement was reached to open the Armenia-Turkey border for citizens of the third countries and holders of diplomatic passports. We also reaffirmed this agreement with Minister Fidan on October 23 in Tehran.

As you can see, tangible and objective steps have not been taken in this direction, and there is no final result. The border is not open to the people of the mentioned group," said Mirzoyan.

The minister mentioned that there was a study of the infrastructure on both sides, including checkpoints, roads, and bridges, but the border remains closed.

 18:50,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, has urged his Russian colleagues to accurately narrate the chronological sequence and refrain from attributing accusations to the Armenian side for which Armenia is not guilty.

Mirzoyan said on Tuesday, referring to the accusation from Russia that the Nagorno Karabakh issue, including the status issue, was closed when Nikol Pashinyan signed a statement in Prague in accordance with the Alma-Ata Declaration.
The Armenian Foreign Minister has accurately presented the sequence of events.

“In August 2022, Russia presented proposals that included the following provision: the status of Nagorno-Karabakh is postponed indefinitely. By the end of August, Armenia agreed to these proposals, but Azerbaijan expressed its disagreement. Subsequently, in September 2022, Azerbaijan initiated an attack on the sovereign territory of Armenia.

Then Armenia turned to Russia and the Russian side stated  that the boundaries are not clear enough, consequently, Russia faces difficulties in assessing the extent to which the sovereign territory of Armenia has been violated.

Afterward, in October 2022, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a quadrilateral statement in Prague, in which they agreed that the delimitation of borders should occur based on the Alma-Ata Declaration. The declaration specifies the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, coinciding with the administrative border between the two former Soviet republics.

I want to urge my Russian colleagues to narrate  the cause-and-effect relationships and chronological sequence correctly and at least not to attribute to the Armenian side accusations in which the Armenian side has no guilt," said the Foreign Minister.

“On the contrary, there were expected and supposed actions by others, and in the absence of that action, Armenia took concrete steps, including in the form of the Prague statement,'' the FM said.

 17:39,

YEREVAN, 23 JANUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 23 January, USD exchange rate down by 0.03 drams to 405.12 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.68 drams to 440.37 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 4.60 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.21 drams to 515.03 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 92.48 drams to 26331.16 drams. Silver price down by 7.84 drams to 289.15 drams.