18:16,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. On February 14, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and the Special Representative of the Russian Foreign Minister for the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan Igor Khovaev met in Baku.
According to the Azerbaijani media, the meeting covered the current situation of the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, recent developments in the region, and other regional issues.
19:40,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. The Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the special representative for the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan Igor Khovaev is currently in Baku.
Meetings with Azerbaijani partners are planned in order discuss issues related to the peace treaty. A visit to Yerevan is also scheduled.
Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said this at a press briefing Wednesday, speaking about the efforts made by Russia in the direction of the regulation of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations.
According to the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, considering the partnership relations, Khovaev will discuss with the parties all the details related to establishing peace and explore possibilities for their implementation in favor of resolving the issue.
18:43,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan receives the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Greece to Armenia Christos Sofianopoulos, who has just assumed the diplomatic mission in our country, the PM's Office said in a readout.
According to the source, the Prime Minister congratulated the Ambassador and wished him productive activities for the further development and strengthening of Armenia-Greece friendly relations. Nikol Pashinyan emphasized the continuous development of cooperation in all spheres, including the expansion of trade and economic ties, implementation of new joint projects. Noting that Armenia has a comprehensive agenda with Greece, and in the context of its implementation, the Prime Minister emphasized the active and intensive cooperation between the Governments.
It is noted that the interlocutors discussed issues related to the organization of high-level mutual visits in the near future, the agenda of multi-sectoral cooperation between Armenia and Greece, cooperation between Armenia and the European Union, democratic reforms implemented in our country, and the processes taking place in the South Caucasus. The sides exchanged thoughts on other topics of mutual interest.
19:22,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan on February 14 arrived on a working visit in Luxembourg. During his visit Ararat Mirzoyan met with Xavier Bettel, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the foreign ministry said.
The parties noted with satisfaction the solid political dialogue between the two countries based on shared values and interests. Minister Mirzoyan emphasized that establishing a diplomatic presence in Luxembourg, a resident office, reflects Armenia's commitment to promoting partnership with Luxembourg in all areas of mutual interest.
Thoughts were exchanged on the perspectives of cooperation between Armenia and Luxembourg on bilateral and multilateral platforms. In this context, reference was made to several issues related to the Armenian-EU partnership and the possibilities of using the existing mechanisms to the maximum to develop a new, ambitious agenda. Among other topics, the Armenian Foreign Minister highlighted the importance of starting a dialogue on the liberalization of Armenia- EU visas.
The foreign ministers of Armenia and Luxembourg also discussed regional security issues. Ararat Mirzoyan presented to his colleague the developments of the recent days, referring to the incident of another provocation and use of force by the armed forces of Azerbaijan in the village of Nerkin Hand, Armenia’s Syunik region, as a result of which the Armenian side had four casualties. Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized Armenia's efforts to have a stable South Caucasus, attempts to destabilize the situation, and the need to restrain them with the involvement of international partners. In this context, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia highlighted the importance of the activities of the EU observation mission located on the international border with Azerbaijan.
Referring to the draft agreement on regulating relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Minister Mirzoyan emphasized the main principles of territorial integrity and inseparability of borders, in which clear and unambiguous bilateral commitment is imperative to ensure progress in the process.
20:02,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. The press secretary of Armenian Prime Minister Nazeli Baghdasaryan has responded to several statements from official Baku, specifically noting that Azerbaijan continues its strategy of deepening enmity in the region, which poses a continuous threat of destabilization, Baghdasaryan wrote this on her Facebook page.
In response to several announcements from official Baku, I am authorized to announce:
The legislation of the Republic of Armenia is an internal matter of the Republic of Armenia, and no external force has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of our country.
As for territorial claims, Armenia is committed to the agreements reached with Azerbaijan on international platforms to recognize each other's territorial integrity on the basis of the Alma-Ata Declaration, to conduct the demarcation and delimitation of the borders between the two countries based on the Alma-Ata Declaration, to open the regional communications on the basis of the sovereignty, jurisdiction, the principles of equality and reciprocity.
Azerbaijan regularly violates these agreements by persisting in aggressive rhetoric, using force and the threat of force, that contradict the written agreements reached at international platforms. Additionally, Azerbaijan continues to occupy 31 vital territories belonging to the Republic of Armenia. All this shows that Azerbaijan continues the strategy of deepening enmity in the region, which is a continuous threat of destabilization.
Armenia will continue its efforts to establish peace and again offers Azerbaijan the withdrawal of troops, based on the 1991 border line, which will be a cornerstone step for stability and mutual trust in the region. As for the peace treaty, there is an already agreed-upon point in the draft being negotiated between Armenia and Azerbaijan, according to which the parties cannot refer to their legislation to refuse to fulfill any provision of the peace treaty.
We repeat: Armenia and Azerbaijan have already reached an agreement on this point, and the statements from official Baku contradict this agreement as well.
20:15,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. In Luxembourg, with the participation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan and Xavier Bettel, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg, the official opening ceremony of the office of Armenia in Luxembourg was held, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.
The flag of Armenia was raised by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, followed by playing of the national anthems of Armenia and Luxembourg.
21:28,
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. The British parliamentary delegation accompanied by the Chair of the Armenian National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Sargis Khandanyan and Armenian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the UK, Varuzhan Nersisyan visited Jermuk, Jermuk community leader Vahagn Arsenyan said on social media.
The meeting held in the Jermuk community hall was followed by the meeting with the forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno Karabakh.
The delegation also visited parts of the city of Jermuk, which were affected by the Azerbaijani military aggression in September 2022.
Rep. Adam Schiff with Ardy Kassakhian
Congressman Says Kassakhian Has the Experience and Knowledge to Lead Glendale
GLENDALE — Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), announced his endorsement of Glendale City Councilmember Ardy Kassakhian for City Council in the upcoming March 5, 2024 Election. Congressman Schiff has represented Glendale in Congress since his election in 2000.
“Ardy’s commitment to Glendale and his passion for public service is exemplary,” stated Congressman Schiff in a written statement. “His experience, knowledge of issues, and willingness to listen and lead with compassion have helped him be an effective leader and make Glendale a great city. I am proud to endorse Ardy Kassakhian for Glendale City Council and urge Glendale voters to elect Ardy on March 5, 2024.”
“I am honored to have the endorsement of Congressman Adam Schiff and his vote of confidence. He is one of our nation’s great leaders and someone who exemplifies the highest standard of sacrifice, integrity, and public service,” said Kassakhian. “Over the course of his service, Congressman Schiff has helped secure hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of our police DNA crime lab and has helped secure funding for important initiatives and projects that directly benefit our residents.” Congressman Adam Schiff’s endorsement adds to the growing list of elected officials who have endorsed Ardy Kassakhian’s bid for Glendale City Council.
Kassakhian grew up in Glendale after his family moved here in 1985. He attended public Glendale public schools and graduated from Glendale High School. He was first elected Glendale City Clerk in 2005 and was reelected four times before running for City Council in 2020. He served as Mayor of Glendale from 2022-2023 and as Chair of the Glendale Housing Authority.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Chairman of the California State New Motor Vehicle Board. Kassakhian graduated from UCLA (BA) and Northwestern University (MPPA) and the Executive Program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He currently is an adjunct faculty member at Glendale Community College teaching political science and government. He lives with his wife Courtney and their young son in the Pelanconi neighborhood of Glendale.
Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan meets with NATO's Caucasus representative Javier Colomina in Brussels on Feb. 14
Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Wednesday met with NATO’s Special Representative to the Caucasus Javier Colomina in Brussels and discussed further cooperation between Yerevan and the U.S.-led security bloc.
According to Armenia’s foreign ministry, Mirzoyan reiterated Armenia’s vision for overcoming existing challenges, based on well-known principles. The efforts aimed at further enhancing the Armenia-NATO partnership were touched upon.”
The two also touched on regional developments and attempts to destabilize the situation, presumably following Azerbaijan’s attack on Syunik on Tuesday, during which four Armenian soldiers were killed and another was wounded.
Last month Colomina praised Armenia’s partnership with NATO, angering Russia, which quickly said NATO and the West could not be trusted.
After Colomina’s praise of Armenia, in an interview with Armenpress late last month, Moscow warned Yerevan that its recent efforts to forge close relations with NATO and the West might not yield the desired results, saying history has shown that those seeking rapprochement with NATO risk losing their sovereignty and independence.
“We are very encouraged by the decisions that Armenia has decided to take in their foreign policy and defense policy, the shift they have decided to implement,” Colomina told Armenpress.
He also said that Armenia’s decision to become closer with NATO “is difficult to implement and will probably take a long time, but, of course, we encourage our partners to get closer to us, and that is what Armenia is doing.”
Moscow was quick to respond, underscoring that NATO and the United States are not trustworthy allies and said historically those nations that have forged alliances with them have wound up on the losing side, given that “in the last 30 to 40 years” NATO and the U.S. have not fulfilled their promises to their allied nations.
During his inauguration on Feb. 14, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan again made threats against Armenia
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s office on Wednesday accused Baku of deliberately derailing the peace process and “deepening enmity in the region,” after President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan added to the chorus of threats against Armenia from his government officials.
During his inauguration address on Wednesday Aliyev said that there will be no peace treaty if Armenia does not change its laws, ramping up his recent demands for Armenia to change its Constitution because it makes references to Artsakh.
“If territorial claims [by Armenia] against us are not abandoned, if Armenia does not bring its laws into order, of course, there will be no peace treaty,” Aliyev said after he was sworn in as president, a position he has held since 2003.
The Azerbaijani leader made the threat against Armenia a day after his country’s forces attacked the Nerkin Hand region of the Syunik Province killing four soldiers and injuring another.
“Armenia seems to have forgotten the results of the Second Karabakh War [in 2020],” Aliyev continued.
“We have no claim to the territory of Armenia, but they should also give up their claims. Speaking with us in the language of groundless claims and blackmail will cost them dearly, and probably everyone can see that,” Aliyev threatened.
According to Azerbaijan’s legislation, as well as Aliyev’s own assertions, the entire territory of Armenia is “historical Azerbaijani lands.”
Pashinyan’s press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan accused Azerbaijan of continuing to spread enmity and hatred in the region, which, she said threatened the stability.
“The laws of the Republic of Armenia are an internal matter of the Republic of Armenia, and no external force has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of our country,” Baghdasaryan said.
“As for territorial claims, Armenia is committed to the agreements reached with Azerbaijan on international platforms to recognize each other’s territorial integrity on the basis of the Alma-Ata Declaration, to conduct the demarcation and delimitation of the borders between the two countries based on the Alma-Ata Declaration, to open the regional communications on the basis of the sovereignty, jurisdiction, the principles of equality and reciprocity,” added Baghdasaryan.
Just last week, Pashinyan pushed forward with his agenda to change Armenia’s Constitution, saying that it would be impossible to achieve peace in the region if Armenia remained guided by its Declaration of Independence, which calls for the reunification of Armenia and Artsakh.
“Azerbaijan regularly violates these agreements by persisting in aggressive rhetoric, using force and the threat of force, that contradict the written agreements reached at international platforms. Additionally, Azerbaijan continues to occupy 31 vital territories belonging to the Republic of Armenia. All this shows that Azerbaijan continues the strategy of deepening enmity in the region, which is a continuous threat of destabilization,” Baghdasaryan, Pashinyan’s spokesperson, added.
“Armenia will continue its efforts to establish peace and again offers Azerbaijan the withdrawal of troops, based on the 1991 border line, which will be a cornerstone step for stability and mutual trust in the region. As for the peace treaty, there is an already agreed-upon point in the draft being negotiated between Armenia and Azerbaijan, according to which the parties cannot refer to their legislation to refuse to fulfill any provision of the peace treaty,” said Baghdasaryan.
“We repeat: Armenia and Azerbaijan have already reached an agreement on this point, and the statements from official Baku contradict this agreement as well,” the prime minister’s spokesperson declared.