Author: Lara Chatinian

On June 1, during the course of his visit to Chisinau, Moldova, to attend the second summit of the European Political Community (EPC), Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that the next meeting of the foreign ministers from his country and Azerbaijan will take place in Washington on June 12 (Armenpress.am, June 1). Although it has been postponed since, the Azerbaijani side declared that the new date will be announced soon (Modern.az, June 8). If it indeed takes place, this will be the second meeting of the two ministers hosted by the United States, after their four-day peace talks in the US capital in early May 2023 (see EDM, May 8). Following this meeting, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the two South Caucasus republics were “within reach of an agreement” (State.gov, May 4). Indeed, multiple meetings have taken place since then between representatives of the two countries at various levels, resulting in some noteworthy advancements.

The European Union–mediated summit of Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders in Brussels on May 14 and the Russian-mediated foreign ministers’ meeting in Moscow on May 19 (see EDM, May 23) had provided a good basis for subsequent talks between the two sides. Most importantly, the recognition of the Karabakh region as part of Azerbaijan by Pashinyan, which has historically been a point of contention between both countries, was a remarkable impetus for the peace process (Consilium.europa.eu, May 14).

In the aftermath of these two meetings, the long-awaited trilateral summit of Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian leaders took place in Moscow on May 25. This trilateral gathering was organized on the sidelines of the summit of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), where Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev took part as a guest for the first time (President.az, May 25).

A few hours before the resumption of high-level peace talks in Moscow, which had not taken place since the summit in Sochi on October 31, 2022, Russian media announced that “at least two documents” would be signed. According to the Russian daily Kommersant, one of these documents was expected to be signed by the deputy prime ministers involved in a separate negotiation track, with a particular emphasis on reopening regional transportation connections as outlined in the trilateral statement issued on January 12, 2021, signed by Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia (Kommersant, May 25). The other document was anticipated to be another joint statement issued by the leaders of the three countries.

However, the trilateral meeting did not deliver any signed documents or yield any major breakthrough. Some Azerbaijani media reported that the Armenian side was not interested in the adoption of any document (Qafqazinfo, May 25). The verbal battle between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the EAEU summit received more attention from observers. Here, Aliyev and Pashinyan, in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and other EAEU leaders, argued about the perception of “corridor,” which is a debatable topic as Armenia rejects this term in relation to the transportation passage widely referred to as the “Zangezur Corridor.” Aliyev reiterated to the Armenian leader that the use of this term does not contain any territorial claims against Armenia and that he uses this term in the same way when referring to the “North-South Corridor and East-West Corridor” (President.az, May 25).

That said, perhaps the most important outcome of the Moscow summit was the re-activation of the working group of both countries’ deputy prime ministers to discuss transportation projects. Following the trilateral summit, Putin noted that the sides were close to a final deal on re-opening transportation links and that the remaining issues were “purely technical” (President.az, May 25). On June 3, the working group met for the 12th time and reported to have reached a “common understanding” concerning “the implementation of concrete steps for the restoration and organization of the railway connection on the Arazdeyan–Julfa–Mehri–Horadiz route” (Apa.az, June 3).

The group statement avoided using the term “Zangezur Corridor,” which is widely used to refer to the aforementioned route. Both sides, nevertheless, reported “important progress” in talks about the “modality” of these transportation links without giving further details. Progress in this direction has also been observed in the increasing use of the Azerbaijani checkpoint on the Lachin road by Armenians traveling in and out of the Karabakh region (Azernews, June 3).

In another positive move, which was commended by the US, Aliyev promised amnesty to the Armenian separatists in the Karabakh region if they disband their illegal entities and abide by Azerbaijani laws (Turan.az, May 28; Apa.az, May 31). The two sides also appear to be closer to an agreement on the exchange of one another’s exclaves that have remained in the territory of the other since the collapse of the Soviet Union (News.am, June 1).

In the meantime, on June 1, on the sidelines of the EPC summit, Aliyev and Pashinyan met again with the mediation of European Council President Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. This format is not entirely supported by Azerbaijan due to the participation of Macron, since the political establishment of his country has almost always been supportive of Armenia (News.az, June 2). Nevertheless, in an apparent demonstration of goodwill in the peace process, Aliyev agreed to join the meeting, which was held informally in a cafeteria. The major outcome of the gathering was the announcement of the next summit of Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders via the mediation of Michel in Brussels on July 21 (Consilium.europa.eu, June 1).

Thus, in the run-up to the next ministerial meeting in Washington, the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks have been marked by significant dynamism and progress. In addition to the aforementioned advancements, the attendance of Pashinyan at the inauguration ceremony of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on June 3 for the first time in history marked a highly symbolic occasion (Armenpress.am, June 3). Thus, the potential is growing that Baku and Yerevan could sign a peace treaty in the near future if they can overcome the remaining challenges on this path (see EDM, May 23) and preserve the positive atmosphere that comes under threat by frequent, albeit small-scale, military clashes along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan (Mod.gov.az, June 1, 2, 3).

https://oilprice.com/Geopolitics/International/A-New-Chapter-In-The-Caucasus-Armenia-And-Azerbaijan-Make-Strides-Towards-Peace.html

Armenia, a small country located in the South Caucasus region, has seen a significant evolution in its internet connectivity over the past few decades. From its early days of dial-up connections to the current widespread availability of high-speed internet, Armenia has come a long way in terms of its internet infrastructure.

The first internet connection in Armenia was established in 1993, just two years after the country gained independence from the Soviet Union. At that time, internet connectivity was limited to a few universities and research institutions. The connection was slow and unreliable, with dial-up connections being the only option available.

However, with the passage of time, the internet infrastructure in Armenia began to improve. In the early 2000s, the government of Armenia started investing in the development of the country’s internet infrastructure. The government’s efforts paid off, and by the mid-2000s, Armenia had a reliable and fast internet connection.

One of the major milestones in the evolution of internet connectivity in Armenia was the introduction of broadband internet in the country. In 2004, the first broadband internet connection was established in Armenia, which provided users with faster and more reliable internet access. This development was a game-changer for the country, as it allowed more people to access the internet and use it for various purposes.

Over the years, the availability of high-speed internet in Armenia has continued to improve. Today, most households in the country have access to broadband internet, and the internet penetration rate in Armenia is around 50%. This means that half of the country’s population has access to the internet, which is a significant achievement considering the country’s size and population.

The availability of high-speed internet in Armenia has had a significant impact on the country’s economy and society. It has opened up new opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs, allowing them to reach a wider audience and expand their operations. It has also made it easier for people to access information and stay connected with friends and family, both within the country and abroad.

In recent years, the government of Armenia has taken steps to further improve the country’s internet infrastructure. In 2019, the government launched a program to provide high-speed internet to all households in the country. The program aims to ensure that every household in Armenia has access to reliable and fast internet, regardless of their location or income level.

Despite the progress made in the evolution of internet connectivity in Armenia, there are still some challenges that need to be addressed. One of the main challenges is the high cost of internet services in the country. The cost of internet services in Armenia is relatively high compared to other countries in the region, which makes it difficult for some people to afford.

Another challenge is the lack of internet access in some rural areas of the country. While the government’s program to provide high-speed internet to all households is a step in the right direction, there are still some areas that are not covered by the program. This means that some people in rural areas still do not have access to reliable and fast internet.

In conclusion, the evolution of internet connectivity in Armenia has been a remarkable journey. From its early days of dial-up connections to the current widespread availability of high-speed internet, Armenia has come a long way in terms of its internet infrastructure. While there are still some challenges that need to be addressed, the progress made so far is a testament to the government’s commitment to improving the country’s internet infrastructure. With continued investment and development, Armenia’s internet connectivity is poised to become even better in the years to come.

https://aboutxinjiang.com/internet-in-armenia/

 Sumaira FH  Published May 25, 2023 | 01:20 PM

MINSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik – 25th May, 2023) It is important that Armenia take part in joint military exercises within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Thursday.

"Armenia is a member of our organization, our ally.

We are interested in establishing peace and are doing everything possible to stabilize the situation in the Transcaucasus. At the same time, I would especially like to note the importance of the participation of the Armenian side in joint operational and combat training activities within the framework of the CSTO," Shoigu said at a meeting of CSTO defense ministers in Minsk.

https://www.urdupoint.com/en/world/shoigu-notes-importance-of-armenias-particip-1697299.html