Author: Adrine Hakobian

Prosecutor Generals of Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan discuss issues of resolving humanitarian- legal issues caused by war

Adrine Hakobian

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 19:06,

YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS. A trilateral meeting took place in Minsk between the Prosecutor General of Armenia Artur Davtyan, the Prosecutor General of Russia Igor Krasnov and the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan Kamran Aliyev.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Prosecutor General’s Office, within the competences of the prosecutor's offices of the three countries the sides discussed ways to find new opportunities for resolving the existing humanitarian and legal issues arising as a result of the war unleashed against Artsakh and issues related to the implementation of the agreements reached during the previous two meetings on the same agenda in 2021.

The parties stressed the importance of maintaining the trilateral format of the Prosecutor Generals as an effective platform for maintaining contacts in the legal sphere for ensuring stability, legitimacy, de-escalation, basic living rights and security of the population in the region.

In this regard, the diligent and consistent efforts of the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation, and personally the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation Igor Krasnov aimed at fully complying with the humanitarian requirements of the November 10 trilateral statement, was emphasized.

Prosecutor General of Armenia Artur Davtyan noted that despite the agreement reached during the previous trilateral meetings on the incidents on the contact line of the Armenian-Azerbaijani armed forces and on the mediated exchange of operative information on the ongoing investigations, ceasefire violations continued, resulting in human casualties, new threats to the realization of vital rights and security have been created for the civilian population.

As an obvious example, the Prosecutor General of Armenia referred to the actions carried out by the Azerbaijani armed forces in the direction of Parukh settlement, as a result of which 3 servicemen were killed and 16 servicemen were injured. Arthur Davtyan stressed the need to properly investigate the actions in the village of Parukh, as well as other cases of gross violations of the ceasefire.

Prosecutor General of Armenia Artur Davtyan raised especially the issue that the 8th point of the trilateral declaration of November 10, 2020 has not been implemented. He stressed that the speedy return of 38 Armenian detainees confirmed by Azerbaijan is crucial for restoring trust between the parties, establishing lasting peace in the region and establishing security guarantees, emphasizing the full fulfillment of the humanitarian requirements of the trilateral declaration by Armenia.

An agreement was reached to continue the talks with the mediation of the Russian side in order to fully resolve the humanitarian issues in a short time.

Secretaries of Security Councils of CSTO states discuss growing security challenges, threats during Yerevan session

Adrine Hakobian

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 12:23,

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. The session of the Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils of CSTO states has been completed in Yerevan on June 17.

After the session, Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan, who was chairing the session, told reporters that the Secretaries of Security Council specifically focused on global security challenges and threats and the situation in the CSTO responsibility zone.

Armen Grigoryan said that the session was held in a constructive and interesting environment.

“Today’s session is specific in a sense that this year is a jubilee year for the organization as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Treaty on the Collective Security and the 20th anniversary of the foundation of CSTO, and on the other hand the session is taking place in the conditions of growing challenges and threats both in the world in general and the CSTO responsibility zone. Of course, this factor requires making effective decisions on time aimed at neutralizing these challenges and threats and ensuring the security of the CSTO member states”, he said.

The session also covered issues relating to counter-terrorism, joint creation of governing bodies, strengthening the organization’s military component, etc.

Armen Grigoryan informed that a number of documents were signed with the session results, which all have passed the respective procedures. Particularly, the Committee approved the draft decision of the CSTO Collective Security Council on giving a regional anti-terrorism operation status to the operational-preventive measures complex named ‘Mercenary’.

Today’s session was held within the frames of Armenia’s chairmanship at the CSTO.

Armenian FM presents situation around Nagorno Karabakh conflict to his Bulgarian counterpart

Adrine Hakobian

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 16:23,

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. On June 14, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan who is in Sofia on an official visit, held a tête-à-tête conversation with the Foreign Minister of Bulgaria Teodora Genchovska which was followed by the meeting in an extended format with the participation of the delegations, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reports.

Ararat Mirzoyan and Teodora Genchovska commended the current level of Armenian-Bulgarian interstate relations based on centuries-old friendship, expressing readiness to promote the cooperation between the two countries in bilateral and multilateral formats. The importance of official reciprocal high-level visits and regular consultations between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries was emphasized. 

The sides touched upon the prospects of expanding the trade turnover and investments and emphasized the utilization of the existing great potential in these spheres. In this regard, the role of the works of the Armenian-Bulgarian Intergovernmental Commission and the promotion of business to business contacts was underlined.

Both sides stressed the importance of the works carried out towards the establishment of the Persian Gulf-Black Sea International Transport Corridor.

The sides exchanged views on the further development of the Armenia-EU partnership.

The interlocutors touched upon the ties between Armenia and Bulgaria in the spheres of education and culture. In this regard, Minister Mirzoyan expressed gratitude to the Bulgarian authorities for their caring attitude towards the Armenian cultural heritage and for organizing the education of Armenian citizens in Bulgarian universities within the framework of a bilateral intergovernmental program.

The sides discussed a number of issues on regional and international security. Minister Mirzoyan presented to his Bulgarian counterpart the situation around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the position of the Armenian side on the processes aimed at establishing regional peace and stability and the negotiations on the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The mediating role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship in promoting the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was underlined. In this regard, Ararat Mirzoyan highly valued the position of Bulgaria.

Minister Mirzoyan expressed concern over the continuous anti-Armenian and warmongering rhetoric of the Azerbaijani authorities, and provocative actions against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. He also drew his colleague's attention to the fact that in gross violation of the norms of international humanitarian law, Azerbaijan continues to hold Armenian prisoners of war and civilian hostages.

Special emphasis was given to the prevention of  Azerbaijan’s policy of distortion and destruction of the identity of Armenian monuments that are part of the universal cultural heritage in the territories fallen under Azerbaijani control due to the 44-day war. In this context, Minister Mirzoyan stressed the urgency of a clear and targeted response of the international community, as well as the imperative of the involvement of relevant international organizations in Nagorno-Karabakh, especially the unimpeded implementation of UNESCO fact-finding mission.

Ararat Mirzoyan briefed his counterpart on the recent developments of the Armenia-Turkey normalization process.  

Within the framework of the visit of the Foreign Minister of Armenia, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria the ceremony of signing the 2022-2025 cooperation program in the sphere of culture between the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia and the Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria took place. From the Armenian side the program was signed by the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, and from the Bulgarian side – the Minister of Culture Atanas Atanasov.




U.S. says interested in facilitating Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue

Adrine Hakobian
PanARMENIAN
Armenia – June 7 2022
June 7, 2022 – 15:14 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The United States is interested in facilitating direct engagement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters on Monday, June 6.

Price's remarks came ahead of a meeting between Assistant Secretary of State Karen Donfried and Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev.

"Assistant Secretary Donfried will convey to Mr. Hajiyev the U.S. interest in facilitating direct engagement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, including our role as a Minsk Group co-chair and our support for recent EU efforts to bring both countries together," Price said.

"This is something that Secretary Blinken has had an opportunity to engage with the leaders of these two countries on in recent days and recent weeks. It continues to be something we wish to promote."

United States Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken earlier welcomed the first joint meeting of the Armenia-Azerbaijan bilateral Border Commissions, which was held on the border between the two countries on May 24. The next meeting of the commissions of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the delimitation of the border will be held in June in Moscow.

No explosive found at Zvartnots International Airport

Adrine Hakobian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia – June 8 2022
June 8, 2022, 18:00

 Less than a minute

No explosives were found at Zvartnots International Airport.

At 2:54 today the Crisis Management Center was alerted about an explosive device placed at the airport.

Fire-fighters, psychologists, cynologist and engineers were dispatched to the scene.

No explosive device was found during the search.

Yerevan and Moscow assured that there can be no question of any corridor logic of unblocking regional communications voiced by Azerbaijan

Adrine Hakobian
ARMINFO
Armenia – June 9 2022
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo.The Foreign Ministers of Russia and Armenia, Sergei Lavrov and Ararat Mirzoyan assured there can be no question of any corridor logic of unblocking regional  communications voiced by Azerbaijan.

So, on June 9, at a press conference in Yerevan, answering a question  about the slow work of the commission to unblock communications,  Lavrov did not agree with such an assessment, saying that the work  was proceeding quite rhythmically.

"First of all, I see positive trends here, based on the results of  the meetings at the level of three vice- premiers on June 3. I do not  think the break is too long, they are working rhythmically. We have  reached the preparations for the issues to be resolved," said the  head of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

In this vein, Lavrov noted that the issue of  railway route has  already been agreed upon, and now the agreement on the road links and  the regime that will be established is being completed. "It will be  simplified, but it will absolutely be based on the recognition of the  sovereignty of the Armenian territory.  There can be no ambiguity  here. These are things related to practical actions on the ground,  which are associated with the creation of infrastructure for many  years, as they say. Therefore, we should carefully consider all this.  And we have a complete feeling that both Azerbaijani and Armenian  partners proceed from this," the Russian Foreign Minister said. In  turn, the Armenian Foreign Minister also expressed his conviction  that the work was not delayed, and discussions continue at a working  pace. He once again stressed that there is a common understanding on  many issues.

According to him, this primarily concerns the fact that all the roads  that open will operate within the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the  countries through which they pass. "Naturally, there can be no  question any corridor logic, which I want to emphasize. This is a  common understanding," Mirzoyan said.

At the same time, he acknowledged the presence of details on which  the parties have equal approaches, but work continues and the  minister hopes that a mutually acceptable solution will be found. 

It should be noted that on January 11, talks between the leaders of  Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia Vladimir Putin, Ilham Aliyev and Nikol  Pashinyan were held in Moscow. After the talks, the Russian leader  announced the formation of a working group, which will be headed by  the vice-premiers of the three countries. The group deals with issues  of unblocking economic, trade and transport links in the region,  opening borders.

On June 3, the 10th meeting of the trilateral working group was held  under the joint chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Ministers of Armenia  – Mher Grigoryan, Russia – Alexei Overchuk and Azerbaijan – Shahin  Mustafayev.

"Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan have brought their positions closer  on border and other types of control, as well as on the safe passage  of citizens, vehicles and goods on roads and railways through the  territories of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The vice-premiers discussed  possible routes for the passage of the highway, which provides  transport links between the western regions of Azerbaijan and  Nakhichevan through the territory of Armenia. The parties will  continue to work on the implementation of the agreements between the  leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan regarding the unblocking of  transport links in the region," it was said following the meeting. 

Lavrov: Working group is completing coordination of Armenia-Azerbaijan auto route

Adrine Hakobian
NEWS.am
Armenia – June 9 2022
13:37, 09.06.2022

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Russia categorically refuted the corridor logic voiced by Azerbaijan.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, answering a question about the slow work of the commission to unblock communications, did not agree with this assessment, saying that the work was proceeding rhythmically.

According to him, the railway route has been agreed, the agreement on the road route and the regime to be established is being completed, it will be simplified and based on the recognition of the sovereignty of the Armenian territory: “There can be no ambiguity here.”

In turn, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan also noted that all roads will be within the sovereignty and jurisdiction of those countries .

He acknowledged the presence of details on which the parties have equal approaches, but work continues and the minister hopes that a mutually acceptable solution will be found.

Turkish press: Turkey, Armenia normalization to benefit region: Lavrov

Adrine Hakobian
 ANKARA JUN 10, 2022 – 10:10 AM GMT+3

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan, Armenia, June 9, 2022. (AFP Photo)

The ongoing steps toward normalization in ties between Ankara and Yerevan will lead to an improvement of the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday.

He also expressed certainty that Armenia will finally settle relations with its another neighbor, Azerbaijan.

"We have a common understanding that the process is moving forward. Maybe a faster pace would be preferred, but nevertheless, the process is underway, and significant positive results are being achieved, so far it is an interim (result). But there is no doubt that there will be final agreements. We are doing our best to contribute to this," he said at a news conference in Yerevan, following a meeting with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan.

Baku and Yerevan have their own "specific vision" regarding how to interact at the current stage, but both sides have "the same understanding" that the latest peace agreements remain a "very clear road map" to follow, he said.

Relations between the two former Soviet countries of Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military illegally occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

New clashes erupted on Sept. 27, 2020, and the 44-day conflict saw Azerbaijan liberate several cities and over 300 settlements and villages that were occupied by Armenia for almost three decades.

Lavrov noted that the meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani commissions on the delimitation of the border was already held and the next meeting will be in Moscow in the near future.

Also, the trilateral working group under the leadership of the deputy prime ministers on unblocking transport and economic ties has made significant progress, he said.

"The (opening of a) railway route (connecting Armenia and Azerbaijan) has been agreed, now the coordination of an automobile route is close to an end," he said

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev said in April that Armenia accepted the five-point proposal and that the two countries' leaders agreed on a working group to prepare a peace agreement, the establishment of a commission on the delimitation of borders and the activities of a working group on transport issues with the involvement of Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia following a meeting with European Council President Charles Michel.

Aliyev then on May 23 announced that Baku and Yerevan had agreed on the opening of the Zangezur corridor, including the construction of both railways and highways.

Russia is ready to help conclude a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan and, in general, solve the humanitarian problems that persist in this region, said Lavrov. Mirzoyan also praised Turkey’s readiness to normalization.

"We are glad to hear the statements of the Turkish top leadership that they are ready to normalize relations and establish diplomatic relations with Armenia, as well as open borders," he said.

Asked about protests against the course of the Armenian authorities, Mirzoyan said people express their right for public gatherings and there is no political crisis in Armenia.

The first meeting of special representatives from Turkey and Armenia toward normalization was held in January. The countries attended what both hailed as "positive and constructive" talks in Moscow, the first in more than a decade, raising hopes that diplomatic relations can be established and their land border – shut since 1993 – reopened.

Turkey and Armenia have also restarted commercial charter flights between Istanbul and Yerevan after two years as part of the normalization process.

Despite being neighbors, Turkey and Armenia have seen many difficulties in their diplomatic relations since the latter's declaration of independence in 1991. The two countries have long been divided by a range of issues – from Armenia’s refusal to recognize their shared border to its occupation of Karabakh and the 1915 events between the Ottoman Empire and Armenians.

The two countries have had no diplomatic or commercial ties since the 1990s. The talks last month were the first attempt to restore links since a 2009 peace accord that was never ratified.

Bilateral relations, however, have taken a new shape and appear to be heading toward normalization recently. Following the war over Karabakh in which Turkey backed Azerbaijan against Armenia, Turkish-Armenian relations have entered a new phase.

Matena School’s new program to make municipal management in Armenia more effective

Adrine Hakobian
Public Radio of Armenia
Armenia – June 6 2022
June 6, 2022, 11:40

 

On June 4, professional development program for municipal authorities “Effectively Managing Communities in Armenia” by the Matena International School was launched in Dilijan. Around two dozen mayors, municipal executives and local councilors from 15 communities of Armenia participated in the program. The program, which aimed to significantly develop the professional and leadership skills of municipal leaders, was jointly developed by Matena and SKOLKOVO schools.

During the first module, the participants will be provided with comprehensive knowledge about modern municipal management, the role of a community leader, team management skills in complex situations, methods of strategic decision-making, key success factors, skills of building an effective team and managing it, peculiarities of external and internal communication and other important skills. 

The next two modules of the program will be held in July and August, respectively, in Yerevan and in Moscow (SKOLKOVO School of Management).

“The consolidation of communities has led to serious changes in terms of control and implementation of the community development programs. Thus, the goal of this program is to bring the best world experience to Armenia so that community leaders and the council members have the opportunity to gain new knowledge. The successfulness of a nation depends on the quality of its managers; and the development of communities is fundamental for the development of a country,” said Ruben Vardanyan, Co-Founder of Matena International School, Founding Partner of UWC Dilijan International School and the SKOLKOVO School of Management.

One of the exceptional components of the program is the co-financing of the best individual projects. Those community leaders, who come up with the best community development projects at the end of the program, will be co-financed by Matena for the implementation of their projects.

“It would be very hard to find an educational program of comparable level for community leaders in any management school in the world, moreover, a program that, in addition to transferring international best practices, is specifically designed and best considers the local governance peculiarities of Armenia. It is important that the participants of the program will not only learn, but will also act, because, at the end of the program, based on the knowledge and skills they have acquired, they will submit projects on effectively managing their communities, the best of which will be co-financed by Matena,” said the Co-Founder and CEO of Matena Ruben Hayrapetyan.

“The research on the competencies of public managers clearly demonstrated that there is a great demand for new knowledge on the development of team and territorial management skills. We see a high interest among the audience. We hope that the program in this format will help to solve the most acute problems and satisfy the demand of municipal authorities,” said Marina Veldanova, Professor of Business Practice, and Director of the Healthcare Development Centre of the SKOLKOVO School of Management.



Armenia’s Mher Margaryan delivers speech on accountability for violations of int’l law at UN Security Council meeting

Adrine Hakobian

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 14:23, 3 June 2022

YEREVAN, JUNE 3, ARMENPRESS. Mher Margaryan, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations, delivered a statement in the UN Security Council open debate on “Strengthening Accountability and Justice for Serious Violations of International Law”, the Permanent Mission of Armenia said.

In his remarks Mher Margaryan touched upon the issue of impunity of crimes that happened in the past, in the context of prevention of genocides, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“Armenia alerted the international community about the level of hate speech and racist rhetoric dominating the political discourse in Azerbaijan, where state-led anti-Armenian policies extensively reported and documented by international institutions seek to dehumanize one particular nation which come to manifest that genocidal ideology does not merely belong to the past. The fact that a large-scale military aggression was unleashed amid the unprecedented global pandemic in the fall of 2020 is a crime of global proportion in itself and should be evaluated and addressed as such”, he said, also touching upon the fact that Azerbaijan is still holding Armenian prisoners of war and civilians in captivity.

“As the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, the International Court of Justice has a central role in ensuring justice and accountability and upholding the faith in international law”, he said.

[see video]