Category: News

Moscow will welcome any steps that could contribute to resolving the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.

Peskov said he has no information on the preparations for a meeting in Austria’s Vienna between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. “There is nothing to say about this report now.”

“Of course, Moscow will welcome any steps that would have the goal of de-escalating tensions in the conflict area and resuming dialogue with the aim of searching for an option of political settlement,” he stressed.

“The signing of the agreement on cessation of hostilities and military actions on May 12, 1994 between Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan, which has no time limitations, became possible as the leadership of Azerbaijan initiated direct negotiations with the leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan said, commenting on the 22nd anniversary of ceasefire agreement.

“This comes to prove that progress in the conflict resolution is possible only in case of Nagorno-Karabakh’s full participation in the negotiation process,” he said in comments to Armenpress.

“We should also outline that the maintenance of 1994 ceasefire is an international commitment of the sides, and resumption of military actions against Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan on April 2-5 is a gross violation of that commitment, as well, and an explicit demonstration of aggression,” the Deputy Foreign Minister added.

“Azerbaijan’s April aggression proved to everyone that over the past 22 years Baku has used the negotiation process as a cover to arm and resolve the issue through military means, which has been the main reason behind the maintenance of the status-quo in the conflict zone,” Shavarsh Kocharyan noted.

“The calls of the Minsk Group Co-Chair countries to strictly preserve and consolidate the ceasefire established by the 1994 trilateral agreement as a basis for peaceful negotiations are quite understandable,” he concluded.

In order to continue the negotiations with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, it’s necessary to reinforce the ceasefire regime, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan said in an interview with the Austrian Die Presse.

He reminded that despite the periodic violations, the ceasefire agreement signed in 1994 by Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan is still in place. “Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire on April 2, unleashing military actions. The ceasefire was restored under a verbal agreements reached on April 5. Azerbaijan is trying to foil the Minsk process. Now it’s important to reinforce the ceasefire regime, because soldiers were killed even after April 5.”

Asked why the escalation happened now, Shavarsh Kocharyan said “the issue should be addressed to Baku.” “Azerbaijan pursues the policy of solving this conflict through force. Obviously, they cherished the illusion of solving the issue through a Blitzkrieg, but failed.  There is a great discontent in the country connected with the corrupt regime, and war is a means to divert the public attention,” he added.

“War is a threat to all of us, both Armenians and Azerbaijanis,” the Deputy FM noted.

Speaking about the ways out of the situation, Kocharyan said “international mediators should condemn Baku’s attacks.”

“Baku constantly demands return of “occupied territories,” but keeps silent about the occupied regions of Nagorno Karabakh, which remain under Azeri control. The Madrid Principles speak about Karabakh self-determination and Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. There is an opportunity for mutual concessions,” he added.

“Unilateral concessions are excluded. One should realize that there are questions outside Armenia’s competence. Yerevan cannot declare about return of territories, because it’s up to Nagorno Karabakh to decide. Yerevan is not authorized to make a decision on the status of Nagorno Karabakh. It’s also up to NKR. We refrain from recognizing Nagorno Karabakh in order to maintain the negotiation process,” Kocharyan said.

“If Azerbaijan unleashes large-scale aggression, it will lead to the recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic by Armenia,” the Deputy Foreign Minister stressed.

Speaking about Russia, Shavarsh Kocharyan said “Moscow is our ally, but has close economic ties with Baku; therefore, it will be inclined to keep the balance in the South Caucasus.”

As for the sale of Russian weapons to Azerbaijan, the Deputy FM said Armenia has raised the issue on the highest level. “I stand for complete embargo on weapons for all conflicting parties. The Minsk Group co-chairing countries can reach that at the UN Security Council.”

What Armenia wants is just peace, Armenia’s Iveta Mukuchyan told the Winners’ press conference, when asked about the Karabakh flag she took to the Green Room.

“My heart, my thoughts, my feelings and my emotions are with my Motherland. I just want peace on the borders. Armenia wants just peace. That’s why I wrote this song. I just want to spread love waves,” Iveta  said.

“I put up the flag because I want people to concentrate on that. I just want peace in this world,” she added.

Speaking bout the contest, Iveta Mukuchyan said: “You always dream of this situation, and then suddenly it’s reality! Everyone told me that I would make it but when you sit there you cannot believe that it is actually happening. But the whole thing was just too short – only three minutes! That was what I thought.”

She continued to explain her emotions: “I never take anything for granted, and that’s why I feel like this right now. When I get old, I wanna remember everything of this situation, I am really thankful for everyone who made this happen.”

Armenia was drawn to perform in the second half of the Grand Final.

The crews of Mi-8 and Mi-24 attack helicopters held exercises at the Russian military base in Armenia, the Russian Ministry of Defense reports.

The pilots were training to hit targets on the ground and flying the helicopters at high altitudes.

Management of Mi-8 and Mi-24 heavy helicopters in the mountains has its peculiarities.

It is necessary to carefully fly the machine over mountain ridges and peaks, taking into account the features of rarefied air. That’s why all flights were performed under the guidance of instructors.

MEPs have stopped work on plans to give Turks visa-free access to the EU’s Schengen zone, putting a wider migrant deal in doubt, accoridng to .

Group leaders in the European Parliament’s “conference of presidents” quietly suspended work on the file last Wednesday. Some of the lead MEPs on the dossier, the group coordinators in the civil liberties committee (LIBE), found out about the suspension on Monday (9 May).

A car bomb at a crowded market in northern Baghdad has killed at least 64 people and wounded 87 others, Iraqi police and medical sources say.

It happened at the Shia district of Sadr City during the morning rush hour.

So-called Islamic State (IS) claimed it was behind the attack, which it said had targeted Shia militiamen.

The Sunni group, which controls swathes of northern and western Iraq, has frequently targeted Shia, whom it considers heretics.

Many of the victims included women and children, officials said. Several of the injured were said to be in critical condition.

The blast damaged nearby buildings and other vehicles.

On May 11, in accordance with the arrangement reached with the authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, the OSCE Mission conducted reinforced monitoring of the Line of Contact between the armed forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijanin the north-western direction of the Talish village of the NKR Martakert region.

From the positions of the NKR Defense Army, the monitoring was conducted by Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk and staff member of the Office Peter Svedberg (Sweden), as well as by Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Thomas Lenk (Germany).

From the opposite side of the Line of Contact, the monitoring was conducted by Field Assistant of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Khristo Khristov (Bulgaria) and Personal Assistant to the Personal Representative of the CiO Simon Tiller (Great Britain), as well as by Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Gunther Bachler (Germany).

The monitoring passed in accordance with the agreed schedule. No violation of the cease-fire regime was registered.

From the Karabakh side, the monitoring mission was accompanied by representatives of the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense.