Author: Hovsep Chakrian

 12:25,

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, ARMENPRESS. On April 15, 12 people from Artsakh were transferred to various specialized medical centers in Armenia through the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, ARMENPRESS reports, the Artsakh Ministry of Health said in a message.

"Due to the blocking by Azerbaijan of the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia, 12 people with serious oncological and cardiovascular diseases from the "Republican Medical Center" CJSC of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Artsakh were transferred to the specialized medical centers of the Republic of Armenia with the mediation and escort of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

8 medical patients, who were referred to Armenia for treatment within the framework of the state order, returned to Artsakh. Scheduled surgeries continue to be suspended in the medical facilities operating under the Artsakh Ministry of Health.

3 children are in the neonatal and resuscitation department in "Arevik" medical unit. At the "Republican Medical Center", 6 patients are in the intensive care unit, 3 of them are in an extremely serious condition," reads the message.

Until today, a total of 317 patients have been transferred from Artsakh to Armenia with the mediation and escort of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Since December 12, 2022, a group of Azerbaijanis in civilian clothes blocked the Stepanakert-Goris highway connecting Artsakh to Armenia for environmental pretext. Azerbaijan cuts off the gas supply to Artsakh from time to time, the energy supply from Armenia to Artsakh was also cut off.

 10:15,

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. On April 12, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a telephone conversation with US acting Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Derek Hogan.

Mirzoyan and Hogan discussed regional security issues, the foreign ministry said in a readout.

“Minister Mirzoyan presented the details on the provocation carried out by the Azerbaijani armed forces in the area of Tegh village of the Syunik region of the Republic of Armenia on April 11, noting that it was another manifestation of the general aggressive policy of Azerbaijan, also aimed at disrupting the efforts to continue the peace negotiations. Views were exchanged on the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh and on issues of normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Ararat Mirzoyan reaffirmed Armenia's commitment to the peace process and presented the approaches of the Armenian side to the settlement of existing problems,” the foreign ministry said.

On April 11, Armenian troops carrying out engineering works near the village of Tegh close to the border with Azerbaijan came under heavy gunfire in an unprovoked attack. Four Armenian soldiers were killed and six wounded.

 15:57, 7 April 2023

YEREVAN, APRIL 7, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting on Friday with U.S. Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Global Markets Arun Venkataraman.

PM Pashinyan welcomed the U.S. delegation’s visit and emphasized the importance of expanding the active dialogue around the Armenia-U.S. Strategic Dialogue agenda and implementation of joint programs, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout.

The Armenian Prime Minister said that the bilateral relations are dynamically developing and called for implementing steps for consistently deepening economic partnership.

U.S. Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Global Markets Arun Venkataraman said that the meeting of the Armenia-U.S. Strategic Dialogue in Yerevan was productive and emphasized the United States’ interest to deepen commercial ties with Armenia and promote partnership in various areas, including in energy.

PM Pashinyan and Arun Venkataraman also discussed the opportunities for strengthening cooperation in trade, investments, energy, high technologies and trade turnover, improvement of the business environment and implementation of joint programs.

 10:16, 7 April 2023

YEREVAN, APRIL 7, ARMENPRESS. On April 6, the United States Department of Defense reported on its website that Armenia will participate in the upcoming U.S.-led Defender 2023 multinational military exercises. However, shortly afterwards the report was edited and Armenia was removed from the list of participating nations.

ARMENPRESS asked Defense Ministry spokesperson Aram Torosyan to comment.

ARMENPRESS: The United States Department of Defense reported on its website that Armenia will participate in the upcoming U.S.-led Defender 2023 multinational military exercises. However, shortly afterwards the report was edited and Armenia was removed from the list of participating nations. After all, is the Armenian military going to participate in these exercises?

Torosyan: This year, the Armenian Ministry of Defense is planning to participate in two other military exercises organized by the US army command in Europe – KFOR (Kosovo Force) and Saber Junction military exercises.

 13:07, 31 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov has warned of a “risk of destabilization” stemming from the tense situation in Nagorno Karabakh.

Speaking at a joint meeting of the CSTO Secretariat and Joint Staff, Tasmagambetov said that the situation in Nagorno Karabakh and Afghanistan remains tense and creates “risk of destabilization” in the CSTO countries.

 “The tension in the Caucasus region persists as a result of the many years of disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” Interfax news agency quoted the CSTO Secretary General as saying.

He warned of a serious risk of destabilization because of the risks relating to the situation in Nagorno Karabakh and the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

“The situation in the Central Asian region is also tense, the threat of infiltration of extremist ideology and terrorist groups into the territory of CSTO allies is growing. The difficult threats coming from the territory of Afghanistan are especially concerning,” he said, adding that the organization is working to perfect its mechanisms of withstanding challenges and threats.

 15:21, 20 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan told his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Monday in Moscow that Azerbaijan wants to commit ethnic cleansing in Nagorno Karabakh.

During the meeting with Lavrov the Armenian FM said that Azerbaijan’s aggressive rhetoric on the highest level, as well as its continual military provocations against the territory of both Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia is escalating the situation in South Caucasus even further.

“By blocking the Lachin Corridor, Azerbaijan violates its obligations assumed under the trilateral statements between the Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian leaders. The disruptions of supplies of energy resources to Nagorno Karabakh leave no doubts about the goals of official Baku, this is about ethnic cleansing in Nagorno Karabakh,” Mirzoyan said.

FM Mirzoyan called for the unblocking of the Lachin Corridor by strongly adhering to the 9 November 2020 statement’s terms. Mirzoyan also mentioned the ICJ ruling ordering Azerbaijan to ensure the free movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor.

The Armenian FM said that Azerbaijan has practically violated every single clause of the 9 November 2020 statement.

Mirzoyan mentioned the periodic ceasefire violations by Azerbaijan, occupation of the territories of Armenia, the illegal blockade of Lachin Corridor, the illegal detention of Armenian POWs, obstruction to opening of regional connections and creation of an international mechanism for the return of Armenian IDPs of Nagorno Karabakh.

“With its provocations, Azerbaijan is torpedoing the efforts for establishing long-term peace and stability in the region. In this context I’d like to stress the implementation of active steps by Armenia’s allies and partners in order for Azerbaijan to fulfill its obligations and stop the use of force or threat of force,” Mirzoyan said.