12:34, 13 February 2024
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. 4 Armenian soldiers were killed and another was wounded in the February 13 Azerbaijani gunfire attack at an Armenian position in Syunik province.
The 1 wounded soldier is currently in non-life-threatening condition, the defense ministry said.
The Azeri forces opened fire at the Armenian post near Nerkin Hand in Syunik in the early morning of February 13.
13:54, 13 February 2024
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan’s aggressive actions showcase that it is seeking pretexts to escalate the situation on the border, the Armenian foreign ministry said in a statement after the Azeri military killed 4 Armenian troops in Syunik province.
“The Armenian side has 4 casualties and 1 wounded as a result of a new provocation and use of force by the Azerbaijani armed forces near Nerkin Hand community, Kapan municipality of Syunik province of the Republic of Armenia. Despite the February 12 statement released by the authorities of the Republic of Armenia that the images and information released by Azerbaijani media on the same day alleging that Armenian border troops wounded an Azerbaijani soldier is under investigation, nevertheless the Azerbaijani side took aggressive actions in the morning of February 13. This showcases that Azerbaijan is seeking pretexts to commit border escalations. These actions of use of force were preceded by the belligerent statements of the Azerbaijani military-political leadership, as well as the latest information-propaganda preparations. The Azerbaijani leadership is continuously attempting to derail the efforts of the actors interested in the stability and security in South Caucasus to resume the negotiations aimed at the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We strongly condemn Azerbaijan’s actions of resorting to military provocations, and we call for refraining from destabilizing steps, and a return to negotiations. We once again reiterate the previously stated proposals of the Armenian side on implementing reliable measures to increase border security,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
14:02, 13 February 2024
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Locals in the Armenian village of Nerkin Hand in Syunik were terrorized by the Azeri shooting Tuesday morning, the Human Rights Defender’s Office said in a statement.
The Ombudsperson’s Office is studying the impact of the Azeri gunfire of February 13 in Syunik in terms of violations of human rights of the civilians.
Multiple local residents told the Human Rights Defender’s Office that they personally heard the gunshots, which left them in panic and terror, as well as uncertainty.
The Ombudsperson’s office said that the Azeri gunfire disrupted the fundamental rights of the civilian population, such as the right to life, right to live safely and others rights.
The Azeri military’s actions pose a real danger in terms of ensuring the rights of the locals.
4 Armenian soldiers were killed and 1 was wounded in the morning of February 13 when Azerbaijani forces opened fire at a border post in Syunik.
14:18, 13 February 2024
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Defense of Armenia released the names of the 4 soldiers who were killed in action in Syunik when Azerbaijani forces opened gunfire at their post near Nerkin Hand.
The names of the fallen troops: Eduard H. Harutyunyan (born 1974), Gagik V. Manukyan (born 1982), Arsen G. Hambardzumyan (born 1979), Hrachya T. Hovhannisyan (born 1957).
The Ministry of Defense extended condolences to the families and friends of the fallen troops.
15:17, 13 February 2024
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić has expressed concern on what she described as “exchange of fire” along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border after Azeri forces shot and killed 4 Armenian troops in Syunik province.
“Concerned about reports of exchange of fire along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Call on both sides to abstain from the use of force. Dialogue is the only way to lasting peace,” Marija Pejčinović Burić said in a post on X.
4 Armenian soldiers were killed and 1 was wounded in the early morning of February 13 when Azerbaijani forces opened gunfire at a military position near Nerkin Hand, Syunik Province.
16:06, 13 February 2024
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Vice President of the European Commission, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell held a meeting on February 13 in Brussels ahead of the Armenia-EU Partnership Council meeting.
Views were exchanged around Armenia-EU Partnership agenda issues, the foreign ministry said in a readout.
The course of implementation of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), democratic developments in Armenia, as well as the joint steps implemented for developing partnership in new directions and the existing prospects were also discussed.
The security issues in the South Caucasus were discussed.
The February 13 Azerbaijani military provocation in Syunik Province, Armenia was also discussed. FM Mirzoyan emphasized that the provocation once again showcases that Azerbaijan is seeking pretexts to escalate the situation on the border and is continuously attempting to derail the efforts of the actors interested in stability and security in the South Caucasus aimed at resuming the talks. The suppression of further actions aimed at destabilization in the South Caucasus was highlighted.
4 Armenian soldiers were killed and 1 was wounded when Azerbaijani forces opened gunfire at an Armenian military post in Syunik province on February 13.
16:29, 13 February 2024
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. The Investigative Committee of Armenia has opened a criminal case on hate-fueled murder and attempted murder after Azerbaijani forces shot and killed 4 Armenian soldiers in Syunik Province on February 13. Another soldier was wounded in the shooting.
In a statement, the Investigative Committee said the Azerbaijani troops were motivated by racial, ethnic or national hatred when they murdered the 4 Armenian troops near Nerkin Hand, Syunik.
“A preliminary investigation is underway. The necessary and urgent investigative and other procedural actions are being taken,” the Investigative Committee added.
TEHRAN- The 18th meeting of Iran-Armenia Joint Economic Committee began in Tehran on Wednesday.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the mentioned meeting, Masoud Mirzaei, the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran, while welcoming the Armenian delegation, described the political relations between Tehran and Yerevan as good and added: “We believe that the level of economic relations between the two countries should be improved commensurate with the political relations.”
He said the Islamic Republic of Iran is looking for an operational roadmap to expand economic relations in all areas with the Republic of Armenia, and all capacities will be used to expand these relations.
In late October, 2023, Iranian Transport and Urban Development Minister Mehrdad Bazrpash traveled to Armenia to meet the country’s senior officials and discuss ways of expanding trade and transit ties between the two countries.
Speaking to the press prior to the visit, Bazrpash emphasized Iran's readiness to export technical-engineering services to Armenia, announcing the plan of the two countries to strengthen the level of trade and transit, and remove cumbersome regulations in the way of trade development.
Iran and Armenia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cooperate in the fields of labor exchange, technical and professional training, as well as, welfare and empowerment of the disabled.
The MOU, signed by Iranian Labor and Social Welfare Minister Solat Mortazavi and his Armenian counterpart Narek Mkrtchyan in Tehran in late October 2023, also covers economic cooperation between the two countries in the fields of petrochemicals, road and construction materials, and medicine.
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Azerbaijan slams allegations by EU foreign policy chief during news conference in Brussels
Josep Borrell ‘turns a blind eye' to Armenia's military provocation, dismisses ‘unprovoked sniper attack' that injured an Azerbaijani serviceman, says Foreign Ministry
Azerbaijan on Wednesday slammed allegations made by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell during a joint news conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan a day earlier.
In a statement by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Baku accused Borrell of “whitewashing” and “turning a blind eye” to Armenia's military provocation, saying the EU side is dismissive of the Azerbaijani serviceman injured due to an “unprovoked sniper attack.”
The cross-border fire came following five months of stability in the Azerbaijani-Armenian border, the statement stressed, and said Baku's response to the provocation was “totally adequate and of a local character.”
“These response measures have also prevented Armenia from further expanding its military escalation,” it added.
The statement also defined Borrell's proposal to distance forces as “regretful,” and said “mercenaries” deployed by Armenia in border regions under the EU's mission in the country “jeopardize the lives of Azerbaijani servicemen and civilians.”
“Furthermore, it is unacceptable to refer to residents of Armenian origin who voluntarily departed Azerbaijan's Karabakh economic region as displaced people and to utilize non-existent names such as ‘Nagorno-Karabakh' referring to this region,” it noted.
Azerbaijan regrets Borrell's “unilateral pro-Armenian stance” which it said creates an impasse between Azerbaijan and EU institutions, while further isolating himself from the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process, the statement also said.
During a news conference with Mirzoyan, Borrell said Azerbaijan's measures to the cross-border fire “seems to be disproportionate,” expressing that the recent incident illustrates the need for the “distancing of forces” advocated by the EU for a long time.
Azerbaijan's State Border Service said on Monday that one of its soldiers was injured due to shots fired by Armenian forces toward the country's southwestern Zangilan district.
Baku on Tuesday said it carried out a "revenge operation" in response, destroying the combat post from where its servicemen were fired upon.
According to Armenia's Defense Ministry, four of its servicemen were killed and one injured.