Author: Karapet Navasardian

The UN following with concern the developments on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Karapet Navasardian
Public Radio of Armenia
 

The UN has been following with concern the developments on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary General Stéphane Dujarric told a daily briefing.

“We urge all relevant actors to exercise restraint to avoid any actions that may escalate tensions further.,” the Spokesperson said.

“We understand that negotiations are ongoing. All outstanding bilateral issues should be resolved peacefully, through dialogue and diplomatic means,” Dujarric added. 

“Armenia-Iran dialogue is of strategic importance” – Pashinyan receives Iran’s Foreign Minister

Karapet Navasardian

Save

Share

 14:42,

YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan received Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is in Armenia on a working visit, Pashinyan’s Office told Armenpress.

Welcoming the Iranian Foreign Minister to Yerevan, Nikol Pashinyan said: “Our good-neighborly relations with Iran are of strategic importance. The common border with Iran has ensured the security of our country in a number of ways ever since the first years of Armenia’s independence. It is my pleasure to note that there is a similar perception in Iran about our relationship.

Our economic ties have developed over several decades, especially in Syunik region; there has always been a great interest in implementing joint projects. We have set up a free economic zone in Meghri with a view to deepening economic exchanges with friendly Iran.

A number of adverse factors, including COVID-19, prevented this free economic zone from gaining enough momentum, but we are convinced that it can become a strong fulcrum for our two countries’ economic development. We are indeed interested in it, and we have already discussed the possibility of deepening our high-level political dialogue. We are similarly holding discussions in the security sphere: there are specific issues high on the bilateral agenda. Armenia-Iran dialogue is of strategic importance, and therefore, we must make efforts to succeed.

You may be aware that some tensions have recently emerged on the border with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani armed forces crossed into Armenia’s sovereign territory in several sections. Our position is unequivocal: all units of Azerbaijan’s Armed Forces must leave our territory. And we are making political-diplomatic efforts to this end, first of all, because our partners in the Collective Security Treaty Organization have been urging us from the very first days to try to settle the matter through diplomatic-political means.

You are aware that according to the Collective Security Treaty, aggression against our country implies that other CSTO-member nations should get involved in hostilities. Of course, it is our wish that the issue be resolved through diplomatic and political means. Unfortunately, we had a victim yesterday. A serviceman of the Armenian Armed Forces was killed with a gunshot fired by representatives of Azerbaijan’s Armed Forces. So, the situation is quite tense; this meeting is a good opportunity to learn Iran’s views on ways of addressing the crisis.”

Iran’s Foreign Minister stated, in turn: “Esteemed Prime Minister, let me thank you for providing this opportunity to my colleagues. And let me convey to you warm greetings on behalf of President Rouhani and Mr. Jahangiri. Armenia has always been our good friend; our relations are deeply rooted in centuries. Iran and Armenia are cooperating in several areas as vividly evidenced by the latest visit of the Iranian Minister of Urban Development and Roads, which proved quite successful. And I hope that after the end of this pandemic we will be able to further develop bilateral relations in the economic sphere.

The operations of the Meghri free economic zone, as well as the Iran-Nakhichevan-Armenia railway can be very effective for both countries. A good agreement has been reached. And I hope we will be able to step up the economic activity in Syunik region in the near future. This is the importance we give to bilateral relations.

I have had a very strategic dialogue with our Armenian partners; our representative, our negotiator will arrive in Armenia at the first opportunity as a follow-up to the ongoing dialogue. There are many important issues, both bilateral and regional, that need to be addressed. We want peace in this region. And we have always highlighted the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the peaceful resolution of crises. The Islamic Republic of Iran prioritizes respect for international law.

In order to resolve the recent escalation, three visits were paid from our country to Armenia. I was the first to pay a visit, then our special envoy came to Armenia, and now I am visiting Armenia again. I am sorry that you have been a victim of this new escalation. Yesterday I had a very detailed and meaningful conversation with the President of Azerbaijan. I hope that today’s meeting, like the one I had with my esteemed colleague, will help resolve the crisis. Thank you again.”

The officials went on to discuss the steps aimed at resolving the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The Iranian Foreign Minister assured of his country’s keen interest in reinstating regional stability, preserving and ensuring Armenia’s territorial integrity.

Nikol Pashinyan and Mohammad Javad Zarif touched upon a number of issues related to the further development of cooperation between the two countries in the field of economy. Continued interaction in the frame of the gas / electricity swap program was discussed during the meeting. In particular, the parties considered it necessary to extend the term of the program, step up the volume of gas and electricity exchanged, implement joint infrastructure projects and expand relations in the fields of education and culture.

The caretaker Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran exchanged views on the joint efforts aimed at addressing the current situation and achieving stability and lasting peace in the region.

Influential Australian Church Condemns Azeri Destruction of Christian Sites In Artsakh

Karapet Navasardian

May 19, 2021



The Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi before (left), and after Azerbaijani occupation of the city

SYDNEY—The Uniting Church in Australia, which is the third-largest Christian denomination in the country, condemned acts by the Azerbaijani dictatorship to “to destroy places of religious significance” in light of evidence the regime of Ilham Aliyev is desecrating indigenous Armenian places of worship following their illegal occupation of the Republic of Artsakh, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia.

The Uniting Church in Australia was asked by the ANC-AU to respond to the appropriation of the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral of Holy Savior as images emerged of the sacred site being removed of its domes, angels and Armenian inscriptions under the cover of “restorations” by Baku, and their Assembly has condemned these acts in the strongest of terms.

Their statement “condemns any acts that deliberately seek to destroy places of religious significance for other communities,” “acknowledges that reports coming out of Artsakh are concerning and especially distressing for people in Australia whose cultural and religious heritage is connected to this region,” and “acknowledges that Armenian members of our Uniting Church have expressed to us their anguish at hearing reports and seeing images that are emerging from the region showing the destruction and damage of Armenian cultural and religious structures including churches.”

The statement specifically acknowledges that “one of the major sites impacted, the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral, which was visited by a group of UCA leaders in a visit in 2019,” referring to a visit coordinated by Reverend Krikor Yomshajekian.

Furthermore, the Uniting Church in Australia’s call for international action to “take all possible and appropriate measures to protect the sites” echoes the call by the Bishops of the Australian Catholic Church earlier this week.

ANC-AU Executive Director Haig Kayserian thanked Rev. Yomshajekian and the Uniting Church in Australia for their principles stance.

“The Uniting Church in Australia’s call for a stop to the desecration of Ghazanchetsots and other religious sites in the indigenous Armenian Republic of Artsakh means two of the largest Christian denominations in this country have spoken for action by the Federal Government and UNESCO against Azerbaijan’s criminal occupation and destruction of Nagorno Karabakh’s cultural heritage,” said Kayserian. “We thank Rev. Krikor Yomshajekian for his leadership and the Uniting Church in Australia for their principled condemnation.”

This month, the Armenian National Committee of Australia wrote to prominent religious bodies throughout Australia, requesting their support in response to the destruction of Armenian churches.

Is the Armenian PM considering the surrender of more land to Azerbaijan?

Karapet Navasardian
JAM News
May 20 2021
    JAMnews, Yerevan

Armenia is yet again embroiled in scandal. Representatives of the government and the opposition accuse each other of spying in favor of the interests of Azerbaijan. But the main topic of discussion in society is the alleged willingness of the acting PM Nikol Pashinyan to sign a document on the surrender of several territories of Armenia to Azerbaijan.

It all started when Mikael Minasyan, the former ambassador to the Vatican and the son-in-law of the ex-President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, partially declassified a document being prepared for signing. He did not say where he got the information from, but said that the acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan agreed to conduct demarcation and territorial concessions in return for the withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from the territory of Armenia.

In confirmation, he posted on social media part of the trilateral document, which is at the stage of approval.

Many in Armenia are skeptical about the words of the former president’s son-in-law and expected Pashinyan to refute his words.

But on the morning of the next day, during a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, acting Prime Minister confirmed the existence of such a document on the negotiating table with Azerbaijan. Moreover, he stated that he was ready to sign this document “if Azerbaijan implements our agreements.”

The opposition and the expert community demand that the text of the document be published and not signed until the public becomes familiar with its content.

  • Armenian-Azerbaijan border crisis deepens as Azerbaijan fails to attend negotiations
  • Will upcoming elections in Armenia just be a repeat of the past?

Mikael Minasyan wrote on Facebook that the work on a new statement on the demarcation of the borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been completed and will soon be published.

According to him, Nikol Pashinyan made promises to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev that even Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan is not aware of. And he represents Armenia in the trilateral commission on the implementation of the statements signed by the heads of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on the cessation of hostilities in Karabakh and further actions of the parties.

In particular, as Minasyan says, a commission will be created that will establish rules for the final demarcation between Armenia and Azerbaijan. And it will be conducted on the basis of three principles:

  • maps of the USSR,
  • geographical expediency,
  • real picture at the time of demarcation.

“The last principle will have extremely unfavorable consequences for Armenia, since it is obvious that Azerbaijan will decide in which case which of the principles to apply,” Mikael Minasyan said.

He also warns that the transfer of five villages of the Tavush region and one village of the Ararat region to Azerbaijan is being discussed:

“Pashinyan gave his consent to all this, asking that before the elections Azerbaijan withdraw its troops from the territory of Armenia, return several prisoners and that the clause on five villages in Tavush should be formulated as vaguely and incomprehensibly as possible so that he could hold out until the elections.”

And about. The prime minister confirmed that there is indeed a document on the negotiating table with Azerbaijan. However, in his words, the preliminary agreements are 100% consistent with the interests of Armenia.

Pashinyan explained that he does not publish the text of the document, as negotiations continue and “it is incorrect to publish the working document.”

At the same time, the actions of the ex-president’s son-in-law, acting He considers the head of government to be playing along with Azerbaijani propaganda and disrespect for his own society:

“They show a document on the Internet, 90% of which is smeared. This is as evidence that Armenia is allegedly signing an anti-Armenian document. If so, then on the contrary, you need to show the lines so that everyone is convinced. This cannot be called anything other than agent activity in favor of Azerbaijan, ”he said.

Pashinyan stated that Azerbaijan has its agents of information warfare in Armenia, and these people proposed attacking Armenia back in 2020, and then indicated those sections of the border along which it was possible to enter the territory of Armenia:

“Now they are helping Azerbaijan to disrupt the diplomatic work that Yerevan is doing.”

Leader of the opposition bloc “Enlightened Armenia” Edmon Marukyan stated that another document has been prepared behind the backs of the people, the content of which is unknown to anyone – neither the deputies, nor the majority of members of the government.

Opposition MPs intend to convene an extraordinary session of parliament and find out the details of the document, which the acting president is ready to sign. premiere. According to Marukyan, according to the constitution, no agreement on the borders of Armenia can be implemented without ratification by the parliament.

The oppositionist doubts the statement that the document proceeds from the interests of Armenia:

“I don’t understand if the document is so good for Armenia, then why it is being hidden. Let them say, and the people will be delighted. The authorities are obliged to publish the draft document, explain how it is beneficial to Armenia, substantiate it point by point. And then the people will decide whether Armenia needs him or not ”.

The MP assumes that the authorities are trying to avoid discussion in parliament, since, possibly, after a detailed acquaintance with the document, it will not be ratified.

Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan made a demand to publish the text of the document being prepared for signing with Azerbaijan.

He demanded to publish, if not the entire document, then at least those fragments that would make it possible to get an idea of it:

“The publication of the document proceeds from the interests, first of all, of the state. Thus, the state will prevent the leakage of extremely important information from non-state sources and will not allow the loss of confidence in the state authorities. “

Political columnist Naira Hayrumyan wrote on her Facebook page:

“After it became known about Nikol Pashinyan’s intention to sign a document with Azerbaijan, the controversy in Armenia began to unfold around secondary issues: corridors, surrender of villages, resumption of hostilities. These options are specially replicated to divert attention from the main issue.

Nikol Pashinyan said a sacramental phrase during the government meeting: “We must compare the situation with the trilateral statement on November 9” [document on the cessation of hostilities in Karabakh]. That is, the starting point is not the Constitution of Armenia, not the decisions of international structures, not the interests of Armenia, but the “trilateral statement” on which, apparently, his fate depends.

Armenia is a full-fledged subject of international law, the problems of which, including the borders, should be determined on a horizontal level – at the UN.

The trilateral statement is a Russian-Turkish “subcontracting” that has assumed the “vertical” function of deciding for Armenia.

This is what the trilateral statements mean: we cede the right to determine our fate, boundaries and role in international affairs to the Russian-Turkish tandem. That is why Russia and Turkey are doing everything so that the issue of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict does not reach the level of the OSCE and the UN. “

Russia is doing everything – through the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – so that all issues of Armenia are resolved through Moscow, and not through the UN and OSCE. And Yerevan obediently fulfills all orders ”.
More about this source textSource text required for additional translation information

 

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 05/21/2021

Karapet Navasardian 
                                        Friday, 

Yerevan Insists On Ex-Soviet Common Energy Market


Armenia - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian (C) and other Armenian officials 
participate in a virtual summit of the Eurasian Economic Union, Yerevan, May 21, 
2021.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian again called on Friday for the creation of a 
single energy market that could lower the cost of Russian natural gas imported 
by Armenia and other members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).

The gas price is currently significantly lower for consumers in Russia than 
other ex-Soviet states making up the Russian-led trade bloc. Two of them, 
Armenia and Belarus, have said that this puts their manufactures reliant on gas 
in a disadvantaged position vis-à-vis their Russian competitors. Over the past 
year they have pressed Moscow to agree to uniform EEU energy tariffs.

Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly opposed that in May 2020, implying 
that Yerevan and Minsk should agree first to deeper economic integration with 
Moscow which would result in a “single budget and system of taxation” for all 
EEU member states.

Pashinian insisted on the idea when he spoke at a virtual EEU summit attended by 
Putin. “We attach great importance to the formation of the union’s common gas 
market,” he said.

He added that Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan should also 
agree on “nondiscriminatory” transit fees for gas imported by them from third 
countries.

Pashinian noted that the creation of a “full-fledged common market for goods and 
services” is hampered not only by differences among the EEU member states but 
also “some objective difficulties.” “We continue to look for constructive 
solutions,” he said.



Armenian Official Denies Secret Concessions To Baku

        • Naira Nalbandian
        • Aza Babayan
        • Artak Khulian

Armenia - Yerevan-based foreign military attaches visit an area in Armenia's 
Syunik province where Armenian and Azerbaijani troops are locked in a border 
standoff, .

A senior pro-government lawmaker insisted on Friday that Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian has not secretly agreed to cede any Armenian territory to Azerbaijan 
as part of a demarcation of the border between the two states proposed by Russia.

Pashinian admitted on Thursday Moscow drafted earlier this week an agreement on 
the creation of an Armenian-Azerbaijani intergovernmental commission tasked with 
delimiting and demarcating the border. But he flatly denied the existence of any 
secret protocols to the agreement that would commit Yerevan to making major 
territorial concessions to Baku.

Opposition leaders and other critics of the Armenian government remained 
unconvinced by these assurances, renewing their demands for Pashinian’s 
immediate resignation.

Ruben Rubinian, the chairman of the Armenian parliament committee on foreign 
relations, also dismissed allegations about secret border deals with Baku.

“I want to make it clear to you that there is no agreement, including an oral 
one, on the return or exchange of villages or surrender of territory,” he told 
reporters. “Such an issue has not been a subject of discussions.”

Rubinian also stressed that Yerevan will continue to make the signing of the 
Russian-drafted agreement conditional on the withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces 
from Armenian border areas occupied by them last week.


Armenia - Ruben Rubinian, the chairman of the parliament committee on foreign 
relations, speaks with journaists, .

Russia proposed the creation of the commission on the borer delimitation and 
demarcation as part of its efforts to end a continuing Armenian-Azerbaijani 
military standoff caused by the Azerbaijani troop movements at several sections 
of the frontier.

In remarks that seemed primarily addressed to Armenian factions, Kremlin 
spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday urged all stakeholders to ignore unconfirmed 
reports about the border crisis and possible solutions to it.

“This issue is so sensitive and efforts to resolve this situation are so serious 
that one must react to such frivolous reports in a very restrained manner and to 
follow only official sources,” Peskov said, according to Russian news agencies.

Yerevan maintains that Azerbaijani forces advanced several kilometres into 
Armenia’s Syunik and Gegharkunik provinces on May 12-13. The Armenian military 
sent reinforcements there in a bid to stop and reverse those advances. No 
gunfights or skirmishes between the two sides have been reported so far.

The Azerbaijani side has denied crossing into Armenian territory, saying that 
its troops simply took up new positions on the Azerbaijani side of the border.

Pashinian said on Thursday that between 500 and 600 Azerbaijani soldiers remain 
stationed within Armenia’s internationally recognized borders. The Armenian 
Defense Ministry reported the following day that the situation there remains 
largely unchanged but “stable.”

The epicenter of the standoff is a mountainous area about 10 kilometers north of 
the Syunik town of Goris. According to Syunik Governor Melikset Poghosian, three 
dozen Azerbaijani soldiers advanced on Thursday towards the Armenian village of 
Khoznavar located just east of that area.

Khoznavar residents confirmed the information. They said children and elderly 
persons living in the village were evacuated for security reasons.

Local shepherds said they were the first to notice the Azerbaijani servicemen 
while grazing cattle on nearby hills.

“We approached them, thinking that they are our guys,” one of them told RFE/RL’s 
Armenian Service. “We then saw that they are not wearing [Armenian] uniforms and 
not saying anything. One them signaled me to go away.”

The locals said that Khoznavar, which has about 400 inhabitants and is heavily 
dependent on animal husbandry, now risks losing most of its pastures.

Armenia’s Investigative Committee said on Friday that the Azerbaijani troops 
were forced to retreat from those pastures late on Thursday after brawling with 
Armenian soldiers guarding Khoznavar. Eleven Armenians were injured in that 
clash, the law-enforcement agency said, adding that it occurred on the Armenian 
side of the local border section.

Azerbaijani authorities did not report violent incidents or comment on troop 
movements in that area as of Friday evening.



EU Parliament Demands Release Of Armenian Prisoners Held In Azerbaijan


France - European Union flags fly in front of the European Parliament building 
in Strasbourg, October 6, 2020.

The European Parliament has demanded the “immediate and unconditional” release 
of all Armenian prisoners held by Azerbaijan more than six months after a 
Russian-brokered ceasefire stopped the war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

In a resolution overwhelmingly passed on Thursday, the European Union’s 
legislative body also expressed serious concern over “credible reports” that 
they have been tortured and held in “degrading conditions.” It said at least two 
Armenian civilians have died in Azerbaijani captivity as a result.

The resolution calls on both Azerbaijan and Armenia to fully comply with the 
November 2020 truce agreement that requires the unconditional release of all 
prisoners held by the conflicting sides.

The Russian peacekeepers stationed in Karabakh have arranged several prisoner 
swaps in recent months. No Azerbaijani prisoners are known to be held in Armenia 
or Karabakh at present.

A total of 73 Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians have been freed to 
date. More than 100 others are believed to remain in Azerbaijani captivity.

Azerbaijan says that they are not covered by the truce agreement because they 
were captured after it took effect on November 10. Azerbaijani officials have 
branded them as “terrorists” and said Baku does not intend to release them. 
Yerevan regards this as a gross violation of the accord brokered by Russian 
President Vladimir Putin.

The EU called for the release of the remaining Armenian prisoners in a statement 
released in late April. It also said Baku must also provide the European Court 
of Human Rights (ECHR) with information about their whereabouts and detention 
and health conditions

The European Parliament resolution notes that the Azerbaijani authorities have 
failed to comply with relevant “interim measures” issued by the Strasbourg-based 
court with regard to at least 112 Armenians. It urges them to “cooperate fully 
with the ECHR on the issue of Armenian prisoners.”


Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2021 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

EU Ambassador Says Most of Sev Lidj Falls in Armenia’s Territory

Karapet Navasardian



EU’s Head of Delegation to Armenia Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin

A group of ambassadors representing European countries, as well the European Union’s Head of Delegation to Armenia visited Syunik on Thursday to gain first-hand knowledge of the week-long border standoff, which started when Azerbaijani forces breached the sovereign border of Armenia in the Syunik Province and advanced several kilometers into the Sev Lidj “Black Lake” region with a reported 250 soldiers currently camped out in Armenia proper.

“I have heard about a few maps. Today we were shown the map of 1969. I am not an expert and cannot express a concrete opinion, but it was obvious from today’s map that greater part of the Black Lake is located in the territory of the Republic of Armenia,” EU’s Head of Delegation Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin told reporters.

Before visiting the Sev Lidj area, Armenian Armed Forces corps commander Samvel Minasyan presented to the Ambassadors the map of the Armenian SSR of 1969 ratified by documents, signatures and stamps.

Wiktorin said the EU uses all its levers for contributing to a resolution of the situation and that the European Union firmly supports territorial integrity.

Minasyan briefed 11 ambassadors of European countries and 3 representatives of the European Union who visited Goris on a fact-finding mission to assess the situation at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in the Black Lidj area.

Azerbaijani troop movement to Sev Lidj was detected as of 7 a.m. on May 12, Minasyan told the European envoys, adding that the actual incursion took place at night.

“Before May 12, the Armenian military units were located near the state border and were carrying out border protection. The Azerbaijani servicemen were carrying out combat shifts on the opposite side. In December of 2020, during border adjustments the servicemen of Armenia and Azerbaijan had,” Minasyan said.

The initial 250 Azeri troops who invaded the territory were from various branches of the Azeri military, the border guards and the special forces, explained Minasyan who added that the situation is under control and that the Armenian units are located in conditions of direct contact with Azerbaijani forces.

The ambassadors asked Minasyan whether Azerbaijan had been accumulating troops along the border. Commander Minasyan told the envoys that Azerbaijan is amassing forces at the border adding that “reconnaissance drones were also detected.”

Ambassador Wiktorin, the EU Head of Delegation, also told reporters that the European Union is concerned about the issue of the Armenian prisoners of war, who are being held captive in Azerbaijan, referring to Thursday’s debate in the European Parliament about the issue.

“I am expressing my respect and support to the families of the POWs, whom I met and regularly meet with. This is the issue which must be raised at all levels,” said Wiktorin.

In addition to Wiktorin, the delegation included EU representative Jan Plešinger, EU representative Silvia Zehe and the ambassadors of the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and Greece.

ODIHR observation mission head comments on possible impact of border crisis on Armenia’s elections

Karapet Navasardian

ODIHR observation mission head comments on possible impact of border crisis on Armenia's elections

Save

Share

 12:06,

YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Eoghan Murphy, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission, has commented on the possible influence of the current Armenia-Azerbaijan border tension on the holding of the upcoming early parliamentary elections in Armenia.

During a press conference today in Yerevan, asked how the elections will take place in such tense situation on the border, what obstacles can emerge, Eoghan Murphy said it’s just the second day they are in Armenia.

“We will observe the ongoing developments from the day we arrived in Armenia up to the election day and after it. In particular, we will observe how the legislation requirements are applied in Armenia. We will observe to what extent Armenia, being as a member state of the OSCE, fulfills its commitments and obligations in the election process. We will observe all this process. I can’t now make assumptions what can happen. Our team is here, and we are working”, he said.

Armenia will hold snap parliamentary elections on June 20, 2021.

Recently, on May 12, the Azerbaijani armed forces have illegally crossed into Armenia’s territory, in particular the Sev Lake in Syunik province. Thanks to the actions of the Armenian side, some of the Azerbaijani forces have returned back to their initial positions, but some Azeri troops still remain in some border sections of Armenia’s Syunik and Gegharkunik provinces. Negotiations over the withdrawal of the Azerbaijani forces are taking place.

 

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Armenpress: Putin, Pashinyan share opinion on methodology of solving the situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Karapet Navasardian

Putin, Pashinyan share opinion on methodology of solving the situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Save

Share

 21:08,

YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 19.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan presented the current situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, emphasizing that the Azerbaijani troops, against all the norms of the international law, have violated the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia.

Pashinyan thanked for the efforts made by Russia aimed at the regional peace and stability.

The interlocutors shared opinion on the ways and methodology of solving the situation.


Armenian Ambassador presents situation in Syunik to Iran’s Deputy FM

Karapet Navasardian

Armenian Ambassador presents situation in Syunik to Iran's Deputy FM

Save

Share

 21:22,

YEREVAN, MAY 13, ARMENPRESS. Ambassador of Armenia to Iran Artashes Tumanyan met with Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran Mohsen Baharvand on May 13. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Armenian Embassy in Iran, the Armenian Ambassador presented in detail the situation created in Armenia’s Syunik Province resulted by the actions of the Azerbaijani armed forces since May 12, assessing the encroachment attempts on the sovereign territory of Armenia as inadmissible.

At the request of the Iranian official, Artashes Tumanyan presented the measures aimed at the de-escalation of the situation.

The interlocutors stressed the imperative to neutralize threats to regional security and stability, including through cooperation between the two countries.

COVID-19 latest updates: Global confirmed cases pass 157,6 million

Karapet Navasardian

Save

Share

 15:28, 8 May, 2021

YEREVAN, MAY 8, ARMENPRESS. 157 million 628 thousand 526 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed globally over the past one day, Armenpress reports citing the data of coronavirus research centers.

The global death toll has passed 3 million 286 thousand 444.

More than 135 million 108 thousand people have recovered around the world.

The United States is leading both in terms of the number of confirmed cases (33 million 418 thousand 826) and deaths (594 thousand 911).

The next is India with a total of 21 million 892 thousand 676 confirmed cases and 238 thousand 270 deaths.

Brazil is the third – 15 million 87 thousand 360 confirmed cases and 419 thousand 393 deaths.

Then comes France with a total of 5 million 747 thousand 214 confirmed cases and 106 thousand 101 deaths.

Turkey concludes the top five list, with 4 million 998 thousand 89 confirmed cases and 42,465 deaths.

The top ten list includes Russia, UK, Italy, Spain and Germany.

China, where the COVID-19 outbreak started, is now the 96th, with a total of 90,746 confirmed cases and 4,636 deaths.

According to the World Health Organization, the number of countries and territories which confirmed COVID-19 has passed 222.