10:15,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Defense Minister and Commander of the Defense Army Lt. General Mikayel Arzumanyan held a meeting on November 13 with the Commander of the Russian peacekeeping contingent Lt. General Rustam Muradov.
“Issues of organizing and implementing the peacekeeping mission” were discussed, according to a news release issued by the Defense Army.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
TEHRAN – Despite ups and downs in Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan relations, the two countries' relations have entered a new, dynamic, and promising stage of development in recent years.
Azerbaijani-Iranian relations have deep historical roots. These peoples have lived side by side for centuries. The peoples of Iran and Azerbaijan belong to the Islamic world. Scientific, spiritual, and cultural ties have united these peoples throughout history. During the period from 2003 to 2018, Azerbaijani-Iranian relations in the course of their development went through several stages, in each of which bilateral relations have experienced ups and downs. However, since 2013, a new page has been opened in interstate relations, and Azerbaijani-Iranian relations have entered a new, dynamic, and promising stage of their development.
However, the participation of Azerbaijan Republic and Iran in the project of the international transport corridor "North-South", trilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia, as well as between Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey, close ties between the political elites of our countries, as well as frequent meetings of representatives of Azerbaijan and Iran ensured a general improvement in Azerbaijani-Iranian relations at the present stage.
The transport corridor "North-South" plays an increasing role in bringing Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran closer together, which contributes to the preservation of peace and security in the region. It is expected that a significant reduction in transport costs and transportation time from South Asia to Northern Europe will strengthen the geopolitical alliance and attract other countries to it, which will play an important role in the formation of a regional trade center and increase the non-oil revenues of Azerbaijan and Iran. The transport projects "North-South" and "East-West" create a favorable transport network for the countries of Central Asia and form the transit potential of Azerbaijan and Iran, the joint development of which is a priority for both countries.
After signing the Caspian Convention in 2018, new opportunities for cooperation have emerged, primarily in the Caspian. The International Baku Port, today, is making every effort to become a regional transport and logistics center of Eurasia. The construction of new sea gates continues in the Alat settlement. Azerbaijan has already fully commissioned the first phase of the seaport in Alat. Iran has also fortified its ports in the Caspian. Given the existing infrastructure, it can be argued that the delivery of goods will be cheaper compared to other means of maritime transport, and the Caspian Sea will become an important platform for freight and passenger traffic between the two countries.
However, soon new opportunities for deeper cooperation will open between Iran and Azerbaijan. The liberation of the cities of Zangilan and Jebrail, as well as the historic Khudaferin Bridge as a result of the Second Karabakh War, and most importantly, the restoration of full control over the 132-kilometer section of the Azerbaijani-Iranian border will strengthen economic ties between Azerbaijan and Iran.
Four years ago – during the visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Iran on February 23, 2016, an agreement was signed on cooperation between the governments of Azerbaijan and Iran in the field of continuing the construction of hydropower facilities and hydropower plants "Khudaferin" and "Giz Galaxy" on the Aras river, their operation and use of energy and water resources ". This agreement proclaims the principles of respect for Azerbaijan and Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the same rights to water and energy resources of the «Khudaferin» and «Gyz Galasy» hydropower facilities. It also emphasizes the need to restore the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in accordance with UN resolutions. In addition, the agreement reflects that the completion of the construction of hydropower plants and hydroelectric power plants, as well as the protection of water and energy resources at hydropower plants and hydroelectric power stations until the restoration of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, will be provided by Iran. This agreement provides Azerbaijan's access to the occupied territories and makes it possible to carry out economic activities there. The agreement once again emphasized the belonging of these territories to Azerbaijan and completely excluded Armenia's rights to them.
At that time, some political forces argued that the hydroelectric power plants on the Aras River, the construction of which was provided for by the agreement, would allegedly serve to strengthen the communication link between Iran and Armenia. The political forces, who understood absolutely nothing about this agreement's essence and strategic significance, presented it as if this document created conditions for the development of Armenian-Iranian cooperation.
Today, when Azerbaijan managed to fully restore the international border with Iran, it became clear once again that the political forces that criticized this agreement did not understand not only its political significance but also the processes of regional and global significance, including the growing authority, the military and political power of Azerbaijan. They were completely unable to analyze these processes and did not take into account the reality that the occupied Azerbaijani regions adjacent to the Iranian border would be liberated from the armed forces of Armenia. Here you can clearly see that in 2016 Iran and Azerbaijan agreed on the implementation of a very important agreement, which in the post-war period will give a great impetus to the socio-economic development of the region and will open up new opportunities between Iran and Azerbaijan in the implementation of infrastructure projects. An analysis of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Iran allows us to draw a general conclusion that at the present stage, Azerbaijani-Iranian relations are experiencing a new, dynamic, and promising stage in their development, which contributes to the strengthening of peace and good-neighborly cooperation in the region, the search for constructive answers to the challenges of the rapidly changing international situation. Now there is every reason to assert that after the end of the war in Karabakh, another new page will open in the relations between Iran and Azerbaijan in the post-war period. There is a lot of work ahead of both countries – Tehran and Baku have to fulfill their obligations to fulfill the agreement signed on February 23, 2016, in Iran.
Seymur Mammadov is the director of the international expert club EurAsiaAz and editor-in-chief of Azerbaijan news agency Vzglyad.az.
14:22,
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian continues holding political consultations with the parliamentary and extra-parliamentary forces, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.
This time the President received the representatives of the National Agenda party led by chairman of the board Ara Hakobyan.
The meeting sides exchanged views on the trilateral statement signed over the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, as well as the current situation in the country.
The party members presented their concerns over the document and its terms, introducing their views, position and proposals.
The meeting participants highlighted the importance of maintaining stability and national solidarity in the country.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Parts of the critical Shushi-Berdzor road in Karabakh have been temporarily closed. The Karabakh Defense Army says that at present search operations are underway in the area for Azerbaijani hostile subversive groups.
On Wednesday morning around 10:30am, Azerbaijani Armed Forces had launched an attack from the area south-east of Berdzor. Karabakh Defense Army said Armenian units carried out set combat tasks, hitting three enemy tanks and stopping the attack.
Just two hours after that, the the Defense Army said Azerbaijani forces launched yet another attack in the same direction, and was repelled to its starting positions after losing two tanks and two infantry vehicles.
Fighting is still ongoing in this part of the frontline. The Karabakh Defense Army says it is in full controls the operative-tactical situation on the ground.
"I'm not saying we're past our hardest days, no. But I'm here to tell you that the situation was much more intense 10-15 days ago than it is today,” said Artsrun Hovhannisyan, representative of Armenia’s Defense Ministry, on Wednesday.
Azeri aggression against Artsakh serious threat for Europe – Belgian MP meets with Artsakh's FM
21:12,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Artsakh Masis Mayilyan received Georges Dallemagne, Member of House of Representative of Belgium.
As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Artsakh, the Foreign Minister of Artsakh greeted the Belgian MP and highly appreciated his courageous act of standing with Artsakh and its people during the hard period and receiving first-hand information of the situation resulted by the Azerbaijani aggression.
Masis Mayilyan highlighted long years of activities of Georges Dallemagne aimed at awareness raising about Artsakh in the Belgian parliament, as well as protecting its interests. In this context, Masis Mayilyan thanked him for authoring the resolution condemning the military aggression of Azerbaijan, Turkey and international terrorists against the people of Artsakh.
The goal of the 3rd visit of Georges Dallemagne to Artsakh is to get acquainted with the situation on the ground, share the hardships that the people of Artsakh have to overcome and in the future present the real image of Artsakh in various European platforms. He emphasized that the military aggression against Artsakh and violation of the humanitarian laws are a serious threat not only for Artsakh, but for the security of Europe.
At the request of Georges Dallemagne, Masis Mayilyan presented in detail the circumstances and consequences of the large-scale military aggression by Azerbaijan against Artsakh starting from September 27. The Foreign Minister of Artsakh presented the complicated humanitarian situation in Artsakh resulted by the deliberate strikes against settlements, civilian infrastructures and hospitals by the Azerbaijani armed forces, as a result of which nearly 60% of the populations has been forced to abandon their homes.
Masis Mayilyan underlined that in the existing situation it's important that the international community takes practical steps to stop the aggression against Artsakh, de-escalate the situation in the conflict zone and create conditions for a peaceful settlement of Azerbaijan-Artsakh conflict, noting that the recognition of the independence of Artsakh is one of the most productive measures.
Georges Dallemagne thanked for the detailed situation, assuring that he will continue is consistent efforts for presenting true information about Artsakh in Europe, which will set basis for practical steps aimed at prevention of violence in Artsakh and establishment of stability in the region.
01:37,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, ARMENPRESS. An agreement has been reached between the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs on not targeting civilian population and non military objects, ARMENPRESS reports reads the joint statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs.
''The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) released the following statement today:
The Co-Chairs met separately and jointly with Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov in Geneva on October 30. The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson in Office (PRCiO) Andrzej Kasprzyk also participated in the meetings. They also held consultations with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi and ICRC President Peter Maurer.
The Co-Chairs once again called on the sides to implement, in full, their commitments, including the immediate establishment of a humanitarian ceasefire, in accordance with the October 10 Moscow Joint Statement, which the sides reaffirmed with Paris on October 17 and in Washington on October 25.
Without prejudice to the implementation of the ceasefire or other commitments, the sides agreed to take a number of steps on an urgent basis, including:
The sides will not deliberately target civilian populations or non-military objects in accordance with international humanitarian law;
The sides will actively engage in the implementation of the recovery and exchange of remains on the battlefield by providing the ICRC and PRCiO the necessary safety guarantees for facilitation;
The sides will deliver to the ICRC and PRCiO, within one week, a list of currently detained prisoners of war for the purposes of providing access and eventual exchange;
The sides will provide in writing comments and questions related to possible ceasefire verification mechanisms in accordance with item 2 of the October 10 joint statement.
The sides engaged in an open and substantive exchange of views aimed at clarifying their negotiating positions on core elements of a comprehensive solution in accordance with item 3 of the October 10 joint statement.
The Co-Chairs will continue working with the sides intensively to find a peaceful settlement of the conflict'', reads the statement.
11:31,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ministry of Defense reiterated that the Armenian side is strictly adhering to the humanitarian ceasefire set from 08:00 a.m. today.
“The statements of the Azerbaijani side that the Armenian side has allegedly violated the humanitarian ceasefire do not correspond to reality and are of provocative nature.
In this regard Armenia’s Ministry of Defense highlights the immediate introduction of parameters for monitoring the ceasefire and the start of the process of exchanging bodies and prisoners of war with the mediation of the ICRC,” Armenian Defense Ministry spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan said.
The Azerbaijani military violated the new humanitarian ceasefire agreement just 45 minutes into the deal and launched artillery attacks at Artsakh’s military positions in the north-eastern direction, the Armenian Defense Ministry spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan said on October 26.
“Grossly violating the ceasefire agreement reached in the USA, starting from 8.45 a.m. today Azerbaijani armed forces opened artillery fire at the positions of Artsakh’s Defense Army in north-eastern direction,” Stepanyan said in a statement.
Another Azeri violation took place at 09:10. Azerbaijani forces fired 5 artillery shells at the Artsakh positions in the south-eastern direction.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
23:18,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani armed forces again targeted an international reporter working in Artsakh. ARMENPRESS reports Russian reporter Daria Aslamova released a footage in her Telegram Channel, showing a shell dropping 200 meters away from them when Aslamova was interviewing an Armenian serviceman.
''I am alive, this is another birthday for me. The shell exploded 200 meters away from us. The moment of the explosion can be seen in the footage. After driving away nearly 500 meters we understood that the explosion had damaged the oil container and the window'', she wrote.
Azerbaijani armed forces regularly target international reporters. The first incident took place in Martuni city of Artsakh on October 1, injuring two French reporters of Le-Monde. The second incident took place on October 8, when Azerbaijan bombed Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi town of Artsakh from a high precision weapon. Afterwards, when reporters arrived to cover the incident, they again targeted the church from high precision weapon, injuring 3 Russian reporters.
Artsakh's MFA applies to ICRC over footages released by Azerbaijan
22:04,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh appealed to the Stepanakert Office of the Mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on October 23 in connection with the publication in the Azerbaijani mass media of videos of soldiers of the Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh and a civilian held captive by the Azerbaijani side, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Artsakh.
The need for the ICRC representatives to visit the prisoners of war and the hostage held captive in Azerbaijan and to ensure compliance by official Baku with its obligations under international humanitarian law regarding the captives' treatment and conditions of their detention was underlined.