14:02,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Armenian authorities consider introducing new, NATO-standard uniforms in the military.

In comments for Sputnik Armenia, the Ministry of Defense said it has studied ‘uniforms of NATO member countries, including the USA, France, Greece and the Czech Republic’ for the initiative.

“In the selection procedure for the new uniforms, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia is guided by studies carried out through the exchange of international experience and in accordance with NATO standards. Samples of the uniforms of NATO member countries, including the US, France, Greece and the Czech Republic have been studied,” the Ministry of Defense told Sputnik Armenia in written comments.

Furthermore, the Armenian Ministry of Defense also seeks to ban the sale of standard-issue military uniforms.

 14:12,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian National Committee of Canada has urged the Canadian government to maintain the arms embargo on Turkey amid reports suggesting that Ottawa is considering lifting the restrictions.

“The Armenian National Committee of Canada expresses deep concern over recent reports suggesting that Canada may lift its arms embargo on Turkey as part of a larger deal to appease the Turkish regime in exchange for approval of Sweden's accession to NATO,” the Armenian National Committee of Canada said in a statement.

“This potential move is particularly troubling in light of Canada's recent history with arms exports to Turkey.

“Despite Global Affairs Canada imposing a moratorium on arms sales to Turkey in October 2019, Canada allowed the export of L3Harris/WESCAM drone technology to Ankara in the spring of 2020. Disturbingly, substantial evidence confirmed Turkey's illegal diversion of this equipment to Azerbaijan after Azerbaijan invaded the Republic of Artsakh in September 2020, which later resulted in Canada cancelling the relevant permits. This diversion, in violation of Turkey's contractual obligations with Canada, resulted in the illegal use of Canadian-made WESCAM drone avionics by Azerbaijan against civilians in Artsakh.

“Canada must not be complicit in Turkish-Azerbaijani war crimes by contributing to the expansion of their military arsenals. The sale of such weaponry to rogue states violates Canada's arms export regulations, posing a significant risk to domestic and regional stability. In line with Canada's stated priorities of preserving regional peace and security and protecting human rights, Ottawa must go beyond cancellations and implement a comprehensive ban on arms sales to Ankara, rather than lifting them.

“Moreover, Turkey has demonstrated a lack of trustworthiness in honouring contractual agreements with Canada, as evidenced by the illegal diversion of weapons to conflict zones. Canada cannot risk repeating such violations, especially as Azerbaijan – backed by Turkey – continues to threaten Armenia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Therefore, we urge the Canadian government to exercise utmost caution and prioritize regional stability, peace, and human rights by refraining from lifting the arms embargo on Turkey and instead enforcing a comprehensive ban on arms sales to Ankara and Baku.

“The Armenian National Committee of Canada remains committed to advocating for policies that align with Canada's principles of promoting global peace, security, and human rights,” the organization added.

 15:26,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. Armenia strongly condemns exploitation of food security for political purposes, Economy Minister Vahan Kerobyan said at the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) in Berlin, where he participated with his deputy Arman Khojoyan.

“We are deeply concerned about the growing food security crisis in Europe and the Middle East and we strongly condemn the exploitation of food security as a method of achieving political goals. I believe that only together we can create a better future, by initiating changes that would accelerate economic growth and have deep impact on social welfare both nationally and globally,” Kerobyan said, according to a press release issued by the Economy Ministry.

Kerobyan also held meetings with agriculture ministers of Italy, Brazil and Botswana.

The 61 participating nations adopted a during the ministerial meeting.

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1128669.html?fbclid=IwAR1QAC0P5BtwEpaeKKQ-ti51qGHq0_AQyRc44KvPGfQ1Adr4ek-clEmwWoU

 17:52,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, ARMENPRESS. As part of the official visit to Kazakhstan, a welcoming ceremony of Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan was held Tuesday at the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Suren Papikyan said on social media.

It is noted that after the ceremony, the meeting with the Minister of Defense of Kazakhstan, Ruslan Zhaksylykov commenced with an expanded composition. Discussions during the meeting centered on security and various mutual interests concerning Armenian-Kazakh defense cooperation.

At the end of the meeting, the defense cooperation plan for 2024 was signed between the Ministries of Defense of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Kazakhstan, which includes a range of activities both in Armenia and Kazakhstan.

 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.

 17:58,

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.