Author: Parkev Tvankchian

Speaker Simonyan meets with Marshal of the Sejm of Poland

Parkev Tvankchian

 17:24, 4 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 4, ARMENPRESS. On July 4, the delegation led by the Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Alen Simonyan met with the Marshal of the Sejm of Poland Elżbieta Witek as part of an official visit to the country.

The parties stated that the meetings and discussions planned during the official visit will have their contribution to the promotion of bilateral cooperation, the parliament’s press service said in a readout.

Alen Simonyan noted that the peoples of the two countries are connected by centuries-old historical relations, reminding that last year marked the 655th anniversary of the formation of the Armenian community in Poland. He expressed gratitude for the care and attitude shown to Armenians at the state level in Poland.

The importance of inter-parliamentary cooperation, including friendship groups, in the expansion of bilateral relations was underlined.

 The holding of joint sittings of the Committees on Foreign Relations of the Armenian National Assembly and the two chambers of the Polish Parliament was highlighted by both sides.

Emphasizing the opportunities for interaction on various international platforms, Speaker Alen Simonyan mentioned that as a co-author of the Eastern Partnership, Poland plays an active role in strengthening Armenia-EU relations, and Armenia expects Poland’s support in the effective implementation of the Agreement.

Touching upon the establishment of stability and security issues in the region, the President of the National Assembly presented details on the situation on the borders of Armenia and in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of the Azerbaijani aggression. Simonyan reminded that since 12 December 2022, Azerbaijan has blocked Nagorno-Karabakh, grossly violating international humanitarian law and the Trilateral Statement of 9 November 2020, and also ignores the legally binding decision of the International Court of Justice against Azerbaijan in February 22. He attached great importance to the deployment of the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMA), which is favorable in terms of security, ensuring stability in the region and building trust on the ground. “We also know that in the middle of this year, Poland plans to expand the involvement of observers in the mission, which is very commendable,” the Speaker underscored. Alen Simonyan noted that during various meetings with all international partners, the Armenian authorities raise the necessity to impose sanctions on Azerbaijan and expect targeted responses.

Elżbieta Witek emphasized that parliamentary diplomacy ensures uninterrupted communication between parliaments, thanks to which accurate information about countries is obtained. Speaking of democratic values, Witek attached importance to accountability to the people, emphasizing the positions regarding international partners as well. In this context, the Marshal of the Polish Sejm opined on further multi-sectoral expansion of cooperation. Regarding the conflicts taking place in different parts of the world, Elżbieta Witek noted that Poles, regardless of political views and differences, always unite against aggression and for peace, making their voices heard.

The Speaker of Parliament of Armenia expressed hope that the voice of Poland will be heard in the matter of the development of democracy and establishment of peace in Armenia.

After the meeting, the members of the delegation took a tour the Parliament building.

Gas cylinder blast rips through garage in Yerevan’s Arabkir district, 1 injured

Parkev Tvankchian

 10:59, 4 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 4, ARMENPRESS. One person has been seriously injured when a gas cylinder stored in a garage outside a residential building in Yerevan exploded, emergency services said on Tuesday.

The explosion took place at 54/1 Komitas Street in the city’s Arabkir district. A 911 call was made at 22:10, on July 3.

Multiple first responders and rescue services were dispatched to the scene.

A 20kg liquid gas cylinder stored in a garage exploded and caused major damage, the Rescue Service said in a statement. Two garages were entirely destroyed, another two were damaged, nine cars parked nearby and windows of 33 apartments and external walls of two balconies were also damaged.

The victim was taken to the National Burns Center and is assessed as seriously injured.




Nagorno-Karabakh calls for negotiations to halt after four killed

Parkev Tvankchian
 

ByAni Avetisyan

Nagorno-Karabakh has demanded that Armenia halt ongoing negotiations with Azerbaijan in Washington after reporting that four soldiers were killed by Azerbaijani forces on Wednesday morning. 

This is the largest recent death toll amidst increasingly frequent mutual accusations of ceasefire violations, and reportedly the largest loss of life in a single incident in Nagorno-Karabakh since the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. 

Nagorno-Karabakh accused Baku of using artillery and combat drones against military positions in the Martuni and Martakert regions of Nagorno-Karabakh, after spreading ‘false reports’ about Nagorno-Karabakh violating the ceasefire. 

‘On 27 June, [Azerbaijan spread] an untrue report about the wounding of a soldier of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces by fire from the Armenian side, creating an informational basis for another provocation’, the Nagorno-Karabakh Defence Army statement read. 

A Tuesday statement by Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministry claimed that Azerbaijani military units ‘took retaliatory measures’ following ceasefire violations by Nagorno-Karabakh. 

On Wednesday, a statement signed by all political parties present in the Nagorno-Karabakh parliament urged the Armenian government to halt ongoing negotiations with Azerbaijan, currently underway in the United States, until a ‘full ceasefire on the line of contact with Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh] and the borders of Armenia’ was established. 

‘Otherwise, the continuation of the negotiations will mean the encouragement of the aggressive behaviour of the Azerbaijani side and privilege at the international level’, the statement read. 

The parliament also called on international actors to take concrete action, and for Russia to stop Azerbaijan’s ‘anti-human, genocidal actions’ using ‘the harshest’ measures. 

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also reacted to the news, noting the high risk of destabilisation in the South Caucasus, and urging the international community to ensure the rights and security of people in Nagorno-Karabakh. 

Tension has been notably high between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and within Nagorno-Karabakh in the past month, with almost daily reports of ceasefire violations. 

Armenia has additionally accused Azerbaijan of targeting a US-funded steel plant in Armenian territory near the border with Nakhchivan. Two Indian citizens were injured at the plant on 14 June, prompting an _expression_ of concern from US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

[Read more: Foreign nationals injured as US investment comes under fire in Armenia]

The United States has emerged as a key mediator between the sides, hosting another round of ongoing peace talks in Washington this week. The talks, attended by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, began on Tuesday and will finish on Thursday. 

In a Tuesday Twitter post, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the US supports ‘Armenia and Azerbaijan working together toward a durable and dignified agreement. Dialogue is key to lasting peace’. 

Along with the tripartite meetings, Blinken has held bilateral meetings with Mirzoyan and Bayramov.

US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller stated on Tuesday that ‘sensitive diplomatic discussions will take place’, aimed at achieving a ‘durable and dignified’ peace. 

 For ease of reading, we choose not to use qualifiers such as ‘de facto’, ‘unrecognised’, or ‘partially recognised’ when discussing institutions or political positions within Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and South Ossetia. This does not imply a position on their status.


Iran opposes any geopolitical change, foreign forces’ presence in Caucasus: President Raeisi tells Armenia PM

Parkev Tvankchian
Iran –
Monday, 4:48 PM

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi says Tehran supports the territorial integrity and historical borders of regional countries and firmly opposes any geopolitical change in the region.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran opposes any geopolitical change or the presence of Western military forces in the Caucasus because the presence of foreigners will not only fail to solve any problem, but will also cause new problems," Raeisi said in a Monday phone call with Armenian Prime minister Nikol Pashinyan.

"In line with the neighborhood policy and improvement of relations, the Islamic Republic of Iran attaches great significance and gives priority to increasing interactions and cooperation with the South Caucasus region," he added.

The Iranian president emphasized that Armenia and Azerbaijan should recognize each other's territorial integrity as an important step towards the establishment of peace.

The common border between the two countries should transcend beyond being just a security issue, and must rather be used to boost economic ties, he said.

For his part, the Armenian prime minister briefed the Iranian president on the latest developments regarding his country's peace talks with Azerbaijan in which they would agree on borders, settle differences over the enclave, and unfreeze relations.

His remarks came against a backdrop of decades of tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region on the border between the two countries.

Armenia, Azerbaijan foreign ministers hold first bilateral talks since 2020

Armenia and Azerbaijan’s top diplomats hold their first talks since the 2020 war over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but has a primarily Armenian population that has resisted Azerbaijani rule since a separatist war there ended in 1994.

In 2020, the second Karabakh war broke out, killing more than 6,500 people on both sides during a six-week conflict. The war ended with a Russian-brokered deal that saw Yerevan cede swathes of the Azerbaijani territory that it had been holding for several decades.

Asbarez: EU, Russia Urge Baku to Lift Lachin Corridor Blockade

Parkev Tvankchian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

Azerbaijan entirely blocks Lachin Corridor by installing cement barrier


Blocking of Lachin is Violation of Agreements, Moscow Warns

Russia and the European Union reacted to Azerbaijan’s decision to further block the Lachin Corridor by installing a cement barrier at the illegally built checkpoint, each calling on Baku to immediately lift the blockade that has been in place since December 12.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Friday that Azerbaijan’s actions were in direct violation of the November 9, 2020 agreement reached between the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan.

“Regarding the closure of the entrance to the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, we would like to draw attention to the fact that such actions are a violation of the provisions of the November 9, 2020 declaration by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia,” Zakharova said.

“Such steps lead to escalation of tensions and do not contribute to maintaining a calm atmosphere in the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia with the support of Russia,” added Zakharova.

Russia also called on Baku to completely unblock traffic through the Lachin Corridor, and also emphasized the importance of “the consistent implementation of the tripartite agreements.”

Also on Friday, the EU voiced its serious concern about the almost complete blockade of the Lachin Corridor and considered it a direct threat to the livelihood of the local population, which “raises serious concerns about a possible humanitarian crisis.”

“The almost complete blocking of the Lachin Corridor since June 15 is very worrying. This directly threatens the livelihood of the local population and raises serious concerns about a possible humanitarian crisis,” said Nabila Massrali, a spokesperson for the EU’s Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

“The EU has been closely following the growing tension between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the past few weeks, with daily shootings along the international border of the two countries, in addition to similar incidents along the Karabakh line of contact,” Massrali added.

“Following a series of recent high-level meetings, the EU continues to engage at the highest political level to help ease these tensions and find mutually acceptable solutions,” the spokesperson added.

“Blocking the Lachin Corridor is illegal and must be stopped,” Nathalie Loiseau, the chair of the European Parliament’s security and defense subcommittee, said on Tuesday after visiting the entrance of the Lachin Corridor with the EU’s monitoring mission in Armenia.

“The rights and well-being of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh must be protected and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Armenia must be respected,” Loiseau told reporters on Tuesday.

Loiseau took to Twitter on Friday to criticize Russia and admonish European countries for their lack of response to the situation in Artsakh.

“We have witnessed the complete closure of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan. The 120,000 Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh are cut off from everything. The Russian soldiers who are there to protect them, they are inert,” Loiseau wrote on social media.

“The EU mission is accurately documenting the situation, and Armenia welcomes its presence there. Thus, the European institutions are fully aware of the situation. Their response is not commensurate with the humanitarian crisis and the perceived military threat,” Loiseau added.

Armenpress: Armenia offers Azerbaijan to hold delimitation commission meeting

Parkev Tvankchian

 19:33,

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan has sent an offer to Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev to hold a meeting of the Armenia-Azerbaijan delimitation commissions.

The purpose of the offer is to discuss current contentious issues which create tension on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, Grigoryan’s office said in a statement.

Armenian Embassy announces launch of direct flights between Kuwait and Armenia

Parkev Tvankchian
June 11 2023

By Majd Othman

KUWAIT: Armenian Ambassador Sarmen Baghdasaryan announced at a press conference on Sunday the launch of direct flights between Armenia and Kuwait from June 22, with two weekly flights by Armenian national carrier Fly Arna. He also announced exempting Kuwaiti citizens from visas and e-visas (or visa on arrival) for foreigners residing in Kuwait (depending on their nationality).

The launch of the direct flights coincides with the Eid al-Adha holiday. Baghdasaryan pointed out this is another example of the developing relationship between Armenia and Kuwait, which are built on mutual trust and respect. He added the direct flights will enhance existing relations and enrich them, especially when it comes to economic ties and people-to-people contacts. “Armenia has many advantages to offer to holiday travelers. It is a nearby destination, with a 2-hour flight.

It is a family-friendly destination with activities suitable for all the members of the family, especially children. The capital Yerevan is considered one of the top 20 safest and secure cities in the world,” he said. “Armenia has also turned into a destination for foodies, given the sensational tastes and variety of cuisines and fusions offered. Young people can also enjoy adventure tourism like mountain climbing, diving, surfing and skiing,” Baghdasaryan added.

The ambassador also mentioned the social values and culture are very similar between Arabs and Armenians, saying Armenia is looking forward to welcoming Kuwaitis to the country. He added the number of foreign tourists who visited Armenia between January to April 2023 increased by more than 700,000 compared to the same period in 2019. Baghdasaryan concluded by pointing out that the number of visitors from the UAE to Armenia is around 10,000, with 36 daily flights between GCC countries and Armenia.

https://www.kuwaittimes.com/armenian-embassy-announces-launch-of-direct-flights-between-kuwait-and-armenia/

The Parliament approves the 2022 state budget implementation report

Parkev Tvankchian

 19:12,

YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. The National Assembly of Armenia adopted the draft decision on approving the annual report on the implementation of the 2022 state budget of the Republic of Armenia.

ARMENPRESS reports, 65 MPs voted in favor of the decision on approving the report, 11 voted against it.

Seyran Ohanyan, head of the "Armenia" faction, announced that the faction will vote against it. The other opposition faction, "I have honor" did not participate in the vote.

The parliament started discussing the budget implementation report in the plenary session from June 14. On June 15, after the speeches of the ministers and deputies, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made a final speech.

A revenue forecast of 1 trillion 947 billion AMD had been made for 2022, revenues increased by 110 billion AMD during the year. And the planned expenses were 2 trillion 184 billion, increased by 103 billion AMD. As a result, the planned deficit decreased by 6.5 billion AMD.




United States says commitment to democracy makes Armenia a bright spot in the region, expresses support

Parkev Tvankchian

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 13:16,

YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. The United States stands with Armenia on its journey towards a more open, accountable, prosperous and secure future, United States Ambassador Kristina Kvien said at the 2nd Armenian Forum for Democracy.

“I’d like to extend my sincere congratulations to Freedom House and to the Union of Informed Citizens for organizing this second annual forum for democracy,” Kvien said at the forum attended by President Vahagn Khachaturyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and other government officials.

“I also want to commend the people of Armenia, for their unwavering commitment to democratic reform despite grave security challenges. This commitment to democracy makes Armenia a bright spot in the region as we saw in the Nations in Transit report the Freedom House published just last week. The United States stands with you on your journey towards a more open, accountable, prosperous and secure future. In America, our concerns for human rights come not from a desire to judge others, but from humility about our own history and our own challenges. As Secretary Blinken has said, our willingness to confront these challenges, to acknowledge our shortcomings, not to ignore them or pretend they don’t exist is what distinguishes democracies from other forms of government. I’m incredibly proud of the work that we are doing together in Armenia to strengthen democracy and safeguard human rights. We are taking steps to eliminate discrimination and foster a society that embraces diversity and the rights of every individual in society regardless of their background, beliefs or social status. The United States is supporting your efforts to combat corruption and strengthen the rule of law which underpins economic growth and public trust in the democratic process. We are working together to promote media freedom, protect journalists’ safety and ensure the unrestricted flow of information and freedom of speech. We are also building a more resilient, democratic foundation by promoting civic education and encouraging the active involvement of Armenia’s very strong civil society. Of course it’s in every democracy, including ours, that work remains to be done. I hope this forum can drive forward conversation about what the next steps are in growing Armenia’s democratic foundation. As we move forward, we are grateful for our partnerships with Freedom House, the Union of Informed Citizens and the Armenian Government, all of you who came today. I hope this second annual Forum for Democracy can serve as a platform for discussion, sharing best practices and forging alliances. Together we can overcome challenges, empower individuals and build a future where freedom, justice and democracy prevail. I wish you all a productive discussion, thank you very much,” the ambassador added.

Major tourism infrastructure development projects in process, says economy minister

Parkev Tvankchian

 11:58,

YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. 1,660,000 tourists visited Armenia in 2022, Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan said at parliamentary discussions on the budget report.

Kerobyan said the government will continue to improve the tourism infrastructures.

“1 million 660 thousand tourists visited Armenia last year. Significant investments were made into the infrastructures during the year, and we plan to expand the tourism cluster development program.  Approximately 20 tourism cluster development programs are under development, which have already been approved under the mid-term spending program for next years,” Kerobyan said.