Armenian judo team members Ferdinand Karapetyan (73 kg) and Arsen Avetisyan (73 kg) left for Hungary.
The athletes will take part in an international training camp in the resort town of Tata, the press service of the Armenian Olympic Committee reported.
They will get ready for the European Championships, which will start on 29 April in Sofia.
ArmInfo.From the very beginning of the incident, which occurred on March 24, Russia stated that the Russian military on the ground – the peacekeeping contingent is engaged in clarifying all the circumstances of this incident.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated this on April 8 in Moscow at a press conference following the results of negotiations with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, at a request to assess the Azerbaijani invasion of the village of Parukh in Nagorno-Karabakh. "We talked about this today. There are circumstances there, that not completely clear to us. I would not like to get ahead of myself now and not make any final judgments. We are convinced that our Armenian friends fully trust the Russian peacekeeping contingent (RPC), and the occasional calls, such as holding this contingent accountable or to conduct some internal investigation, do not reflect the real attitude of the Armenian people, the Armenian leadership to the role – the huge role that the Russian peacekeeping contingent plays in maintaining stability in this region," the Russian minister said.
According to him, of course there are small incidents. At the same time, Lavrov once again stressed that in this particular case, Russia is sorting it out through its military. "There are things that require clarification," the Russian Foreign Minister said. In turn, the Armenian minister, speaking about the Azerbaijani invasion of the village of Parukh of Nagorno-Karabakh, the violation of the status quo, as well as the activities of the RPC, noted that Yerevan still believes that the Russian peacekeeping contingent will still be able to restore the status quo, the situation as of March 23 of the current year. "As I said today, the peacekeeping contingent was deployed around Nagorno-Karabakh in order to ensure the status quo of November 9, 2020 and ensure the safety of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh. I repeat, we still believe that the status quo will be restored and the RPC will continue to fulfill its the most important mission to ensure and guarantee security," the Armenian Foreign Minister summed up. It should be noted that on March 24 the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, having violated the line of contact, invaded the village of Parukh in the Askeran region of Artsakh and tried to take control over the strategic height of Karaglukh. These territories are in the zone of responsibility of Russian peacekeepers. There were local fights. The enemy used attack drones. There were casualties on both sides. The Armenian side reported the death of three and the wounding of 15 of its contract soldiers. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries called on Azerbaijan to return to the positions established on March 23. On March 27, in the evening, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Azerbaijani military retreated to their starting positions, meanwhile, the Azerbaijani side denies this message from the Russian defense department, assuring that it is a lie. According to the latest reports, Azerbaijani units continue to occupy the Karaglukh height. Official Yerevan and Stepanakert expect that the Russian peacekeepers in Artsakh will take measures to return the Azerbaijanis to their starting positions and will be able to prevent possible military provocations on the line of contact. -sh-
14:34, 31 March, 2022
YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS. The government of Armenia approved today the proposal to sign a memorandum of understanding with the United Arab Emirates about regulating the working activity of Armenian citizens in the UAE.
The signing of the memorandum will contribute to settling the working relations of Armenian citizens, who work or are ready to work in the United Arab Emirates, as well as protecting the rights and interests of working migrants.
In 2017 the UAE came up with an initiative to sign a memorandum of understanding about the use of labor force between the Armenian and the UAE governments. The Armenian Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs completely amended and submitted a draft memorandum to the Foreign Ministry, including key provisions for the settlement of working relations.
During the visit of the UAE delegation to Armenia in August 2021, the provisions of the draft memorandum were discussed in details and were amended as a result of the talks.
Armenian MP Tigran Abrahamyan of the opposition With Honor faction has commented on Thursday’s visit of the NATO and EU defense attachés accredited in Armenia to the Defense Ministry airbase where SU-30SM aircrafts are deployed.
“It turns out the purpose of the visit was to check whether the fighters were in the home base or, as the Azerbaijani and Turkish media reports suggested, they were taking part in hostilities in Ukraine,” the lawmaker wrote on Facebook.
“The fact that the Armenian authorities enjoy no authority, respect or trust in the world has long been nothing new. Our tragedy comes from this as well.
“The fact that many NATO and EU member states don't react, don't take practical steps in response to Azerbaijan’s aggression in Artsakh, its occupation of the sovereign Armenian territory in the post-war period, but wonder if our aircrafts are still there, is now causing indignation.
“The subjects showing interest towards our region are, of course, guided by their own interests, while the Armenian authorities are following the developments in observer status, waiting who, moving back and forth, will slap or kick them, as long as the Civil Contract party remains in power and nothing interferes with brotherhood with the Turks,” Abrahamyan said.
14:05,
YEREVAN, MARCH 26, ARMENPRESS. State Minister of Artsakh Artak Beglaryan expressed hope that the Azerbaijani troops will pull back through Russia’s efforts and that Azerbaijan will stop violations against the security of the people of Artsakh and Russia’s guarantees.
“From midday March 25 until the morning of March 26 there haven’t been any changes of positions along the frontline of Artsakh, and the Azerbaijani armed forces remain in the village of Parukh and on one side of the adjacent Karaglukh height, and a short while ago they made an unsuccessful attack attempt against our military unit,” Beglaryan said in a statement on social media.
Beglaryan said the Artsakh military is taking appropriate warning and suppressive measures to neutralize potential threats.
He said the Russian peacekeepers’ posts continue to function in Parukh and Khramort, and that “the Russian side made significant efforts for ensuring the ceasefire regime in its area of responsibility.”
“We expect that through Russian efforts the Azerbaijani troops will pull back to their initial positions and won’t make more violations against the security of the people of Artsakh and the Russian Federation’s guarantees. We stand firmly in our homeland and we are ready to withstand whatever challenges may come,” Beglaryan said.
On March 24-25 the Azerbaijani troops attacked Artsakh military positions and invaded the Parukh village.
Azeri drone strikes killed 3 Artsakh troops and wounded 15 others.
ArmInfo. The Venice Commission welcomes the Armenian authorities' intention to reform the judiciary. It also understands the motivation behind the preparation of the Draft Amendments, notably to free the judiciary of judges who, in the past, had committed serious human rights violations and thus undermined the general public trust in the judiciary.
The Venice Commission does not see the need for new preventive measures, as they already seem to exist in the current Judicial Code, which provides strong grounds to hold judges liable for the violation of human rights which take place in the future, according to the Joint Opinion of the Venice Commission and the CE Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law.
The 18-page documents reads, in particular that "By letter of 16 December 2021, Mr Karen Andreasyan, Minister of Justice of Armenia, requested an opinion from the Venice Commission on the draft Laws on making amendments to the Constitutional Law on the Judicial Code and to the Constitutional Law on the Constitutional Court."
The full version of the document is available here:
https://arminfo.info/full_news.php?id=68364&lang=3
09:46, 17 March, 2022
YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPRESS. Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers will hold online talks on March 17 to discuss the situation around Ukraine, TASS reports citing the Japanese foreign ministry.
Japan will be represented by Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi.
The ministers will discuss the current situation around Ukraine and will exchange views on further actions and steps to strengthen cooperation within G7.
Tuesday,
France ‘Ready’ To Help Armenia, Azerbaijan Reach Peace
• Karine Simonian
French Ambassador to Armenia Anne Louyot. .
As one of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, France is ready to respond to
the request of the Armenian government and do everything possible to achieve a
lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the country’s envoy in Yerevan
said on Tuesday.
On March 14, official Yerevan said that it had turned to the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs with a request to organize negotiations with Azerbaijan on a peace
treaty “on the basis of the UN Charter, the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, and the Helsinki Final Act.”
Armenia’s request for French, U.S. and Russian mediation comes amid
unprecedented tensions between the West and Moscow over Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine. The OSCE Minsk Group, which has an international mandate to broker a
negotiated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, has not yet provided an
official response to Armenia’s request.
In an interview with RFE/RL’s Armenian Service today, French Ambassador to
Armenia Anne Anne Louyot reaffirmed the statement of French President Emmanuel
Macron made during the March 9 Armenian-French Cooperation Forum in Paris, in
which he expressed his readiness “to assist the parties in finding mutually
acceptable conditions and achieving peace.”
“French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that the war in Ukraine should not
make us forget about the previous conflict that took place between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, and we must definitely try to resolve this issue,” the ambassador
said.
When asked about how she feels about Azerbaijan’s statements that the Karabakh
conflict has been resolved by Baku as a result of the 2020 war and that there is
nothing left for the OSCE Minsk Group to do, Louyot said: “I would like you
again to pay attention to the answer of President Macron, who said that the
problem does exist and that this problem needs to be addressed.”
The French ambassador said that she does not know when the visit of the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs to the region is planned and whether it is planned at all.
The mediating troika have not been able to visit Nagorno-Karabakh since the
six-week war in 2020 that ended in a Russian-brokered ceasefire.
Armenian Central Bank Again Hikes Key Interest Rate
A statue symbolizing the national currency, the dram, outside the Armenian
Central Bank building in Yerevan.
The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) raised its benchmark interest rate on Tuesday,
citing uncertainty and risks for the country’s economy related to crippling
Western sanctions imposed against Russia over the war in Ukraine.
The CBA’s governing board set the refinancing rate at 9.25 percent – up by 1.25
percentage points.
The CBA expects that Armenia may experience a significant slowdown in its
economic growth as one of the impacts of the sanctions imposed against Russia.
“This will happen mostly at the expense of a decline in the industry. Total
demand will be affected by declining remittances and a weakening external
demand. Positive contribution is expected from the tourism sector. Increased
geopolitical risks in the region and a high degree of uncertainty have led to
increased volatility in Armenia’s financial markets. Existing uncertainties are
also reflected in inflation and inflation expectations,” the CBA said.
“In the current situation, the Board considers it expedient to increase the
refinancing rate by a relatively large step,” it added.
The CBA expects that as a result of such policy measures, 12-month inflation
will gradually decrease, reaching the target of 4 percent.
This is the second time the CBA raises its key interest rate. On February 1, it
raised it by 0.25 percentage points to 8 percent.
Speaking at a press conference in Yerevan today, CBA governor Martin Galstian
said that the CBA has revised its economic growth forecast for Armenia for 2022
from 5.3 percent down to 1.6 percent.
Yerevan Denies Azerbaijan’s Taking Control Of More Armenian Territory
• Susan Badalian
Armenia -- Azeri soldiers near the Armenian village of Nerkin Khndzoresk, Syunik
(file photo)
Military authorities in Yerevan denied on Tuesday that Baku has taken control of
more sovereign Armenian territory in the southeast of the country despite
reports by locals about advancements of the Azerbaijani army in recent days.
Khachatur Baghdasarian, mayor of the village of Nerkin Hand in Armenia’s Syunik
province, told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service today that Azerbaijani servicemen set
up five tents within the administrative territory of the community more than a
week ago.
“They moved some 800-900 meters down into our administrative territory. They set
up five tents and are now digging trenches,” the local leader said.
Baghdasarian said that Russian servicemen deployed in the area had been informed
about the movement of the Azerbaijani military, but no reaction from them has
followed yet.
Deputy Defense Minister Arman Sargsian said today that Azerbaijani servicemen
did not enter Armenia’s sovereign territory. “They didn’t enter our sovereign
territory. The situation now is stable, but still we can’t say that there is no
problem,” he said.
The press service of the Defense Ministry also dismissed allegations about the
advancement of the Azerbaijani military. In particular, it said that Azerbaijani
servicemen had simply returned to positions that they previously controlled, but
recently had to leave temporarily due to winter conditions.
“There can be no question of any [Azeri] advancement. In this and all other
sections of the border the Armenian Armed Forces are fully fulfilling their
tasks, including monitoring any movement of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces and
keeping the situation under control,” the Defense Ministry said.
Residents of Nerkin Hand, however, rejected that version of events. They told
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service that Azerbaijan never controlled those positions
before.
The situation along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border escalated after the 2020 war
in Nagorno-Karabakh in which Azerbaijan defeated the region’s ethnic Armenian
forces and regained control of territories adjacent to the Soviet-era
Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
Last May, Armenia accused Azerbaijan of moving its troops across the border and
taking control of more than 40 square kilometers of its sovereign territory in
the Syunik and Gegharkunik provinces.
Baku denied any violation of the border with Armenia, maintaining that its
troops had been stationed within the Soviet-era borders of Azerbaijan.
Both Armenia and Azerbaijan acknowledge the need for conducting the delimitation
and demarcation of their border, but Yerevan insists that before that a
“mirrored withdrawal” of both Armenian and Azerbaijani troops should take place
and an international monitoring mechanism should be introduced.
Armenia Insists On Peace Talks With Azerbaijan ‘Without Preconditions’
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan speaking in parliament, Yerevan, March
2, 2022.
Any negotiations over a peace treaty with Azerbaijan must be held without
preconditions, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan insisted on Tuesday.
In an interview with Armenia’s state-run Armenpress news agency Mirzoyan was
asked to comment on the publication by Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry of five
fundamental principles that Baku insists should underlie a future peace treaty
with Yerevan.
These, in particular, include mutual recognition of each other’s sovereignty and
territorial integrity, mutual reaffirmation of the absence of territorial claims
to each other and a legally binding obligation not to make such claims in the
future, abstaining from threatening each other’s security, delimitation and
demarcation of the border with the establishment of diplomatic relations and
unblocking of transport links.
Mirzoyan today implied that despite the existence of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict Armenia has had no territorial claims against Azerbaijan
“Signing the Agreement on the Establishment of Cooperation of Independent States
on December 8, 1991, the two countries, in fact, already recognized each other’s
territorial integrity and accepted that they have no territorial claims against
each other,” he said.
Mirzoyan noted that the provisions mentioned in Azerbaijan’s proposal “do not
fully reflect the whole agenda of the existing problems.”
“It is vital for the Armenian side that the rights and freedoms of the Armenians
of Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh – ed.] are clearly guaranteed, and the status of
Nagorno-Karabakh is finally clarified. For us, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is
not a territorial issue, but a matter of rights,” the top Armenian diplomat
underscored.
As for the process of delimitation and demarcation of the border between the two
countries, as well as the unblocking of transport links in the region, Mirzoyan
said: “We believe that the agreements reached within the Trilateral Statements
of November 9, 2020, January 11, 2021, and November 26, 2021, should be fully
implemented, and we are consistent in this regard.”
“As you know, we have even made comprehensive proposals for the implementation
of these agreements, such as the proposal to launch a delimitation process
through the mirrored withdrawal of troops and the introduction of an
international monitoring mechanism, which, however, was rejected by the
Azerbaijani side,” he added.
Asked about what format Armenia sees for the possible negotiations on a peace
treaty with Azerbaijan, Mirzoyan referred to the earlier statement by the
country’s Foreign Ministry that said that it “had applied to the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chairmanship to organize negotiations on a peace treaty on the basis of
the UN Charter, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and
the Helsinki Final Act.”
Later on Tuesday the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reacted to Mirzoyan’s
statements, stressing that Baku’s position on normalization with Armenia is
“clear and consistent.”
“Given the importance of normalizing relations between the two countries after
the conflict and establishing peace in the region, Azerbaijan has put forward
its proposals and is ready to move in this direction. If Armenia takes this
issue seriously, then it should submit its specific proposals and thereby
demonstrate its readiness to start substantive and result-oriented
negotiations,” the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in its comment.
Armenian PM Discusses Karabakh, Ukraine With Western Leaders
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinain (file photo)
The press office of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian late on Monday reported about
phone calls of the Armenian leader with United States Secretary of State Antony
Blinken and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
According to the official transcripts of the calls released by Pashinian’s press
office, the main focus of the discussions was the escalation of tensions around
Nagorno-Karabakh. But the ongoing war in Ukraine was also reportedly addressed
during the conversations.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and U.S. Secretary of State Antony
Blinken
The transcript of Pashinian’s phone call with Blinken, in particular, said that
“the parties stressed the need for stability and peace in the region,
emphasizing the need for a comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, which will
contribute to the establishment of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.”
It added that Pashinian and Blinken also “exchanged views on the delimitation
and demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the chances for unblocking
communications in the region, as well as the ongoing dialogue between Armenia
and Turkey.”
“The sides also referred to the processes taking place in the international
arena, including the situation in Ukraine,” the statement said.
On the phone call with Trudeau, Pashinian’s press office said that the prime
ministers of Armenia and Canada “highlighted the importance of a comprehensive
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the framework of the OSCE
Minsk Group Co-Chairs aimed at ensuring stability and peace in the region.”
“The interlocutors exchanged views on the processes taking place in the South
Caucasus, including the opportunities of delimitation and demarcation of the
border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as the Armenian-Turkish dialogue.
The situation in Ukraine was touched upon,” it said.
Pashinian’s phone calls with the Western leaders come amid an escalation of
tensions in and around Nagorno-Karabakh, but also amid statements issued in
Yerevan, Baku as well as Ankara, raising prospects of normalization and peace in
the South Caucasus region, including possible peace talks between Armenia and
Azerbaijan and Turkish-Armenian rapprochement.
Blinken, Pashinian Discuss Karabakh In Phone Call
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian had a telephone conversation with U.S.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian discussed escalating tensions around
Nagorno-Karabakh and other regional issues in a telephone conversation with
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday.
“The parties stressed the need for stability and peace in the region,
emphasizing the need for a comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, which will
contribute to the establishment of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” a
statement issued by the Armenian prime minister’s press office said.
It added that Pashinian and Blinken also “exchanged views on the delimitation
and demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the chances for unblocking
communications in the region, as well as the ongoing dialogue between Armenia
and Turkey.”
“The sides also referred to the processes taking place in the international
arena, including the situation in Ukraine,” the statement said.
During their telephone conversation Pashinian and Blinken also reportedly
addressed issues on the U.S.-Armenian agenda.
“[They] attached importance to ensuring the continuity of the strategic dialogue
in order to develop and strengthen bilateral cooperation in various spheres. The
[Armenian] prime minister thanked the American side for its consistent support
to Armenia in the democratic reforms, stressed that the further strengthening of
democracy is the absolute priority of the Armenian Government, and that our
country will resolutely continue to move in that direction,” the statement reads.
Ban On Smoking In Cafes And Restaurants Introduced In Armenia
• Marine Khachatrian
Customers in an outdoor cafe in Yerevan (file photo)
Armenians smoking in cafes and restaurants will risk paying a hefty fine after a
new law banning smoking in all indoor and outdoor public places has been
enforced in their country.
The law that came into effect on March 15 is part of the government’s public
health strategy that also included a blanket ban on any form of tobacco
advertising enforced earlier this year.
Authorities in Armenia believe that fines ranging from 50,000 drams (about $100)
for citizens to 200,000 drams (about $400) for business owners will deter
visitors of bars, cafes and restaurants from smoking there and thus protect
nonsmokers from secondhand smoke.
“The enforcement of this law will help us lead a healthier lifestyle and will
help our young generations not to have bad habits that affect their health,”
Armenian Health Minister Anahit Avanesian said.
Armenia is a nation of heavy smokers. According to official data, more than 52
percent of Armenian men are regular smokers. In general, more than 28 percent of
Armenians aged 18-69 smoke. Medics blame this for a high incidence of lung
cancer among them. It is believed that up to 5,500 people die in Armenia every
year from diseases caused by smoking. According to a United Nations report,
annually Armenian authorities allocate funding amounting to over 4 percent of
the country’s GDP for treating diseases caused by smoking. The smoking rate
among women in Armenia is much lower than among men, but healthcare specialists
believe that women in Armenia have been heavily exposed to secondhand smoke
because of the absence of restrictions on smoking in public spaces, including
cafes and restaurants.
The ban on smoking in public places has elicited mixed reactions among
Armenians. One restaurant manager in Yerevan said that while he was in favor of
the measure that reduces the serious health hazard, he also feared that his
restaurant would inevitably lose quite a few customers visiting particularly for
hookah smoking.
“Our restaurant has been open from early morning, but as you can see the area
that was originally designed for hookah smoking has been empty. We are
definitely going to see a decline in the number of visitors,” Suren Abgarian
said.
Some residents approached by RFE/RL’s Armenian Service in Yerevan streets hailed
the measure as progress in Armenia’s public health sphere, others spoke in favor
of designating special areas for smokers in outdoor cafes. Still others spoke
skeptically about the ability of the authorities to properly enforce the law.
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2022 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
Armenian MFA presents Azerbaijan's actions to provoke a humanitarian crisis in Artsakh to the diplomatic corps
21:26,
YEREVAN, 14 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. On March 14, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia held meetings with the heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Armenia and representatives of international organizations.
As ARMENPRESS was infomred from the press service of the MFA Armenia, during the meetings the foreign diplomats were briefed on Azerbaijan's actions aimed at causing a humanitarian crisis in Artsakh, including the continuous disruption of gas supplies, targeting of infrastructure and civilians, and other psychological pressures on Artsakh population.
In the context of preventing the humanitarian crisis, the need for a balanced, clear response from the international community was emphasized.