Author: Vanyan Gary

Armenia to leave the CSTO Russian military bloc? Opinion from Yerevan

Vanyan Gary
  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Armenia-CSTO relations

In the CSTO military bloc, which allows members to assume leadership posts under a quota system, Armenia has abandoned its own quota for the post of Deputy Secretary General. This was confirmed by Foreign Ministry spokesman Vahan Hunanyan, who did not comment on the reasons for this decision by Yerevan.

This is the second controversial decision by Armenia concerning the bloc operating under the leadership of Russia this year. On January 10, the Prime Minister of Armenia announced that the country was refusing to conduct CSTO military exercises on its territory.

Political commentator Hakob Badalyan believes it is important to understand whether this decision is “the result of existing or new grievances.” He believes it is possible that in this way Armenia is making it clear that it does not want to take sides in the Russian-Ukrainian war.

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In the context of a collapsing world order, security systems are changing significantly, Badalyan believes, and the CSTO was not a “strong, ideological alliance based on common interests.”

“Most of the states that are members of this bloc have no desire to take sides in the Russian-Ukrainian war. Here internal problems and aggravations also arise, which are expressed in different ways, including in the context of Armenia-CSTO relations,” he told JAMnews.

In addition to being involved in the ongoing war in Ukraine, Armenia has another rhetorical question for the CSTO — how ready are the members of the organization to take practical responsibility for Armenia, which of course means “against Azerbaijan”?

The members of the CSTO are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The majority of Armenian society is disappointed that both Russia and the entire bloc operating under its auspices did not provide military assistance to the country, despite numerous appeals.

The country’s authorities have more than once openly expressed their claims that the CSTO is not ready to defend “the sovereign territory of Armenia from occupation by the armed forces of Azerbaijan”, to which the President of Belarus said that the members of the CSTO “have very strong ties with the Muslim state of Azerbaijan.” Ilham Aliyev himself said that in this organization “Azerbaijan has more friends than Armenia.”

Badalyan does not believe that Armenia will have to “pay dearly” for the decision to abandon the post of the Deputy Secretary General, despite the “touchiness of Moscow.” In his opinion, it should be understood whether this issue is of great importance for other CSTO member countries or whether it has “little weight compared to deep issues.”

Badalyan believes that Armenia must find out “what prospects of security architecture we are creating for ourselves.”

About the meeting with the participation of Putin in Yerevan and the protest taking place in parallel with the CSTO summit

Badalyan recalls that a few weeks ago, Alexander Lukashenko, at a meeting with the CSTO Secretary General, said that the members of the organization should develop a common position on the issue of Ukraine, as they would not be able to “sit quietly” and endlessly evade a decision.

In his view, Russia considers Belarus a “resource of possible war scenarios.” And Lukashenko, who has no desire to get involved in a war, is trying to achieve “collective resistance” through the CSTO countries, to form a “field for maneuver”:

“Perhaps, in this situation, Yerevan is simply trying not to be represented in such discussions, even at the level of deputy secretary general, in order to avoid direct or indirect responsibility. Of course, it will not be possible to completely move away from all this, because we are a member of the CSTO. And if the issue reaches the organization, it will affect us one way or another.”

According to political scientist Surenyants, Russia and the CSTO are unscrupulous partners, but failing a major upset, Armenia will not leave the Russian military bloc.

According to Badalyan, despite all the discontent, Armenia declares that it is not going to leave the CSTO.

In his opinion, the possibility of such an extreme measure as Armenia’s withdrawal from the CSTO or, what amounts to the same, a break in relations with Russia, is doubtful:

“If we are not able to withstand the challenges and risks in the status of a member of the CSTO, then by refusing this status, we are unlikely to get the opportunity to solve any significant problem.”

Badalyan considers allegations that Armenia will receive military support from the West if it leaves the CSTO a “delusion or deliberately manipulative assessment”:

“In the issue of our security, the West has set a very clear bar of responsibility — to regulate relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey. Due to the existing risk factors, no one will take responsibility on our behalf. It will not provide the protection.”

Nor does he count on the active participation of the CSTO in ensuring the security of Armenia. He says that these illusions have long been dispelled.

A day before the CSTO summit in Yerevan, the political scientist presented his view on Armenian-Russian relations, the expediency of membership in the CSTO, Armenia’s to reform the army and establish new military partnerships.

According to Badalyan, in the current situation Armenia and Russia manage to resolve some issues, some being postponed. He says that this is not about behind-the-scenes agreements, but about “tacit consensus”:

“Yerevan expresses its dissatisfaction and is pleased with it. Russia does not interfere, does not use the CSTO as a tool, and it has no problems with Azerbaijan. Other CSTO member states are also satisfied, who, again, do not get involved in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, because it is not in their interests.”

Behind the scenes, according to Badalyan, lies the crisis of the world order that existed before and the collapse of security systems, which is also observed in the CSTO — a bloc that has never been an integral, stable security system.

https://jam-news.net/armenia-csto-relations/

Opposition MP: Noose around Armenia, Artsakh keeps tightening

Vanyan Gary
Panorama
Armenia – March 9 2023

Azerbaijan is actively running a propaganda campaign against Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), also accusing Russia of failure to fulfil its commitments, says MP Tigran Abrahamyan of the opposition Pativ Unem bloc.

“It is aimed at convincing the international community that Armenia and Artsakh have adopted a destructive stance, while Russia not only fails to fulfil its commitments, but also contributes to dangerous developments, Thus, Azerbaijan has to take tough measures to ‘save the situation’,” he wrote on Facebook on Thursday.

“The noose around Armenia and Artsakh continues tightening,” the deputy stated.

Three Artsakh police officers were killed and another was wounded after an Azerbaijani sabotage group ambushed their vehicle near Stepanakert on Sunday morning.

Two Azeri soldiers were killed in the ensuing firefight which was stopped by Russian peacekeepers stationed in Artsakh.

Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry threatened to take “resolute” actions in Nagorno-Karabakh two days after the incident.

Central Bank of Armenia: exchange rates and prices of precious metals – 01-03-23

Vanyan Gary

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 17:44, 1 March 2023

YEREVAN, 1 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 1 March, USD exchange rate down by 0.33 drams to 389.01 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.48 drams to 414.88 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 5.17 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 2.89 drams to 468.48 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 55.12 drams to 22820.20 drams. Silver price down by 2.78 drams to 256.71 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.

Last Armenians and Assyrians of Malatya flee city after quakes

Vanyan Gary
 duvaR.english 
Turkey – Feb 7 2023
Tuesday 04:10 pm

Fırat Bulut / Gazete Duvar

The Çavuşoğlu and Salköprü neighborhoods, where almost all of Malatya's Armenians and Assyrians resided, were heavily damaged by the major earthquakes that hit southeastern Turkey in February. In both neighborhoods with old buildings, 90 percent of the houses collapsed or are severely damaged.

Some 60 people from both communities lived in the neighborhoods before the quakes on Feb. 6. Four people lost their lives, and most survivors left the province. 

Many houses on Boncuk Street, where massacred Agos Editor-in-Chief Hrant Dink was born, also took damage.

In the first earthquake on Feb. 6, the Armenian Tabaş family of 4 was trapped under the rubble in the Salköprü neighborhood. While the couple Ayda Tabaş and Sami Tabaş died under the rubble, their child Aleks Tabaş, who was pulled out of the rubble by neighbors, died in the hospital.

On the morning of the earthquake, snowfall and freezing temperatures forced some earthquake survivors to enter their homes. Maryam Kabataş, one of these survivors, was caught in the second earthquake afternoon, and her dead body was pulled out from the rubble.

Taşharon Church was also severely damaged by the earthquake. Large cracks formed in the historic church's walls, which was built in the second half of the 18th century in Malatya's Çavuşoğlu Neighborhood. After being idle for a long time, the church was restored and opened for worship in 2021.  

Yusuf Bayyiğit, an Assyrian blacksmith master who moved his family out of Malatya after the two major earthquakes and returned later, said that the Armenian and Assyrian population in the city does not "exceed the fingers of a hand" (a Turkish idiom used for describing fewness).

Yusuf Bayyiğit, an Assyrian blacksmith, does not leave the city.

Bayyiğit stated that Malatya's Armenian and Assyrian population have been emigrating since the past and that the limited number of Armenians and Assyrians had to leave the city due to natural disasters.

He explained that their population was much higher in the past but decreased over time. Bayyiğit stated that the Armenian and Assyrian populations had to migrate due to political developments in Turkey, the first time during World War I, the second time during the 1974 Cyprus Operation, and the third time during the 1980 military coup.

Bayyiğit stated that they had sent their families to other places after the earthquake and said, "Unfortunately, this time, we were scattered like everyone else due to the quakes. We also lost some families. There is another person like me who sent his family to the city center after the earthquake; there are two of us left. We also have two families who settled in a village near Malatya. Apart from that, all the Armenian and Assyrian families living here took refuge with their relatives outside Malatya. Of course, this asylum is temporary. But I don't know how they will return later or if they will be able to stay when they come back. Most of the houses are destroyed, and the rest is inhabitable."

He concluded that “I wish there were more of us left, and we could rebuild our city together. I think even picking up a safe from the ground and putting it there is a service to the city.”

(English version by Can Bodrumlu)

https://www.duvarenglish.com/last-armenians-and-assyrians-of-malatya-flee-city-after-quakes-news-61975

Nagorno-Karabakh claims Azerbaijan offered ‘integration’ or ‘tougher measures’

Vanyan Gary
March 7 2023
 7 March 2023

ByIsmi AghayevandAni Avetisyan

Nagorno-Karabakh’s President, Arayik Harutyunyan, said on Monday that Azerbaijan had threatened ‘tougher and more drastic steps’ if Nagorno-Karabakh did not agree to integration with Azerbaijan. 

This comes as Nagorno-Karabakh approaches the end of its third month under blockade, after Azerbaijani protesters obstructed the Lachin Corridor in December. 

Over the past months, the region’s electricity and gas supply, which passes through Azerbaijan-controlled territories, has also been repeatedly disrupted. 

Speaking at Monday’s meeting of Nagorno-Karabakh’s Security Council, Harutyunyan said that they had refused Baku’s demands for the region to ‘integrate’ with Azerbaijan. 

Azerbaijan considers Nagorno-Karabakh to be territory of Azerbaijan temporarily under the control of Russian peacekeeping forces, while Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh claim that Azerbaijan is attempting to effect a ‘genocide’ of Nagorno-Karabakh’s Armenian population.  

‘We did not accept [and] do not accept, and today I want to state again that it is not only a decision of the Security Council, but the overwhelming majority of our people accept that we will not deviate from our right to independence and self-determination’, said Harutyunyan. ‘And that means that in the near future, we will have various developments, situations that we will have to face.’

The Security Council meeting came a day after the death of three Nagorno-Karabakh police officers and two Azerbaijani soldiers in Nagorno-Karabakh. 

Azerbaijani authorities claimed to have received information that a vehicle was transporting ammunition from Armenia, and stated that the police officers on board opened fire in response to demands to stop for inspection. Stepanakert maintains that the minibus that came under fire was on a regular police patrol. 

On Tuesday, Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministry said another ‘convoy’ along the road had been spotted, this time escorted by Russian peacekeepers. They called this is ‘unacceptable’ and a ‘gross violation’ of the 2020 ceasefire agreement.

Following the incident, the Azerbaijani authorities repeated their demand that Azerbaijani checkpoints be installed on the Lachin Corridor, which connects Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. Both Yerevan and Stepanakert have repeatedly and firmly rejected such offers. 

Armenia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson told RFE/RL that Armenia’s position on the matter of checkpoints had not changed since last week’s attack, which Yerevan described as an act of terrorism. 

In a visit to Baku in late February, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that establishing checkpoints on the corridor, which according to the 2020 ceasefire agreement should be controlled by Russian peacekeepers, was ‘not envisaged’. 

‘But it is possible to dispel, by technical means, suspicions that the corridor is not functioning as intended’, added the minister. 

The announcement also followed two meetings between representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan in late February and early March, the only such meetings to have taken place since the region’s blockade began on 12 December. 

President Harutyunyan said that Azerbaijan had expressed its ultimatum through ‘its channels’ following the meetings, stating that there would be ‘no solution to the current issues’ if Stepanakert did not agree to integration. 

The Nagorno-Karabakh authorities stated that the meetings did not concern the region’s political status, instead focusing on ‘technical issues’: the opening of the Lachin Corridor, restoration of the electricity supply from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh, restoration of the region’s gas supply, and resuming mining operations in Nagorno-Karabakh. 

Harutyunyan noted that during the second meeting, an Azerbaijani representative had raised the issue of integration, but was met with objection from his Nagorno-Karabakh counterparts. 

‘We have two options: either we have to continue the struggle, or if there are people in the public who think that the proposal put forward by Azerbaijan should be accepted, people can speak about their civil rights. They have the right to say that we have not chosen the right path, to formalise their statements, and to establish a new government in the country’, Harutyunyan said.

The spokesperson for Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry, Aykhan Hajizadeh, told Meydan TV that Azerbaijan ‘did not threaten the Armenian community living in Nagorno-Karabakh’. 

On Monday, Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministry also stated that ‘Armenian troops should be completely withdrawn from the territory of Azerbaijan’ and repeated accusations that Armenia was laying mines in Nagorno-Karabakh. 

No Armenian troops are officially stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the UN’s International Court of Justice in February rejected a request from Baku to order Armenia to stop planting landmines in ‘areas to which Azerbaijani civilians will return in Azerbaijan’s territory’. 

The statement continued by saying that, if the demands stated were not met, Azerbaijan would be ‘forced to take absolutely necessary measures using all possibilities to disarm and neutralise illegal armed forces’. 

https://oc-media.org/nagorno-karabakh-claims-azerbaijan-offered-integration-or-tougher-measures/

Former Armenian official urges immediate end to talks with Turkey, Azerbaijan

Vanyan Gary
Panorama
Armenia – Feb 21 2023

Former MP and National Security Service chief David Shahnazaryan claims the Armenian opposition sought to come to power rather than to oust Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his team during its anti-government campaign last year.

"There wasn't really a plan to remove the current government. There was a plan to come to power," Shahnazaryan, who served as Armenia’s ambassador-at-large in 1992-1995, told Aysor TV in an interview on Monday, pointing to “intrigues” in the country’s domestic political life.

"It's all intrigues. No one promotes Armenia’s interests. Some defend Russia’s interests, while others oppose it, thus trampling the interests of Armenia itself. The country’s interests are not defended today,” he claimed.

“As I previously said, our current national agenda requires an immediate end to all negotiations both with Azerbaijan and Turkey," Shahnazaryan stressed.

Referring to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s statements at a panel discussion with Pashinyan in Munich on February 18, the ex-official stated they confirmed that the Armenian authorities had made “new concessions" to Azerbaijan, while Pashinyan “didn't say a word about the occupied Armenian territories, Armenian prisoners of war held in Baku or call attention to Azerbaijan’s occupation of Artsakh.”

"I would like to remind you what I said back in 2019; many did not understand that Artsakh is the guarantor of Armenia's security. The Artsakh issue has been closed by the current government, while Russia agrees with it. The only forum to discuss this issue should be the Minsk Group. It’s little likely amid the current geopolitical situation, but the Armenian authorities do not make any effort to that end, and we understand very well that Russia is against it. So long as the issue of Artsakh remains unresolved, no peace will be established here," he said.

Armenian Deputy FM presents the vision of Armenia on the future of the Eastern Partnership at the Euronest session

Vanyan Gary

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 20:15,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan delivered a video message during the 10th regular session of the "Euronest" Parliamentary Assembly, which referred to Armenia's vision for the future of the Eastern Partnership.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Paruyr Hovhannisyan said,

“Dear Parliamentarians,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear colleagues,

I am pleased for this opportunity to send a message on Armenia’s vision on the future of the Eastern Partnership.

Although last year, when we were hosting the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly Bureau and Standing Committees meetings in Yerevan, the geopolitical situation was quite different, nevertheless most of the Eastern Partners had already been facing serious challenges, causing further complications in the preservation of this format.

Today, the challenges we are facing are even more diverse, we have to deal with serious situations of humanitarian crisis when thousands of people can be simply cut from their connection with the rest of the world. As you may know today, the most urgent and pressing issue before us is the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh. Since December 12 last year, a group of Azerbaijanis have blocked the Lachin corridor – the only road, connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia and the rest of the world. With this action 120 thousand people in Nagorno-Karabakh appeared in isolation. The situation in the Lachin corridor remains unchanged. For two months now, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh remain under factual siege. After around eight weeks of the blockade, there is a severe shortage of all essential goods.

Despite those challenges and the uncertainties, we remain convinced that under the current situation in the region the imperative of strengthening resilience of our countries and societies is even more urgent. In this regard, the Eastern Partnership and its post-2020 agenda have a key role to play.

We also believe that as far as Europe is concerned, security cannot be comprehensive without respect of human rights and democracy. In a world where democracy faces stiff competition from autocraticism, too few countries are moving in the right direction. Armenia is in this short list. And it is not without the support of the European Union, just the opposite: the EU not only remains Armenia’s primary partner in promoting the institution building and supporting our reform agenda, but also, in general, the Armenia-EU partnership is being enhanced with new dimensions. The participation in the Eastern Partnership has also played an important positive role in this regard, in particular in advancement of the institutional reforms in Armenia and contributed immensely to the democratic transition of some of the EaP countries, specifically of Armenia.

Given the mentioned factors, we are convinced that the format should continue operating, it should not be replaced by any other initiative or limit the possibility of engagement in other formats.

Dear colleagues,

Using this opportunity, I would like to convey our words of gratitude to the European Parliament for all the unambiguous statements and resolutions related to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh as well as to the European Union for the decision on the deployment of the EU civilian mission in Armenia. It can play an important role in enhancing the human security on the ground and further contribute to stabilization of the overall situation.

Thank you”.

“The humanitarian crisis has escalated”: on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh

Vanyan Gary
Feb 17 2023

  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Nagorno-Karabakh blockade

“The European Union is deeply concerned about the suffering endured by the local population due to ongoing restrictions on free movement and the supply of essential goods,” EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said regarding the situation in the unrecognized NKR, which has been under blockade for more than two months.

Borrell also said that the EU is closely following developments and again called for the opening of the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting NK with the outside world. He added that humanitarian funding from the European Union to overcome the consequences of the Armenian–Azerbaijani conflict was 3.6 million euros in 2022, transmitted through the Red Cross, the only international organization with access to NK and the ability to move along the Lachin corridor currently blocked by Azerbaijanis claiming to be environmental activists.

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At a government meeting, Nikol Pashinyan stated that “as a result of the energy blockade, the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh has become even more aggravated.”

Further, the international community “was skeptical about Armenia’s assertions that the goal of Azerbaijan’s actions is ethnic cleansing of the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.” But now it’s all out in the open:

“It is no coincidence that the Lemkin International Institute for the Prevention of Genocides has made statements three times over the past three months about the illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor and the rhetoric of the Azerbaijani leadership. In a recent statement, the institute is asking world leaders to take the threat of an Armenian genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh seriously.”

The international human rights organization has published results of its study on the situation in NK

The authorities of the unrecognized NKR again appealed to the international community, in particular to the co-chairing countries of the OSCE Minsk Group (Russia, the United States and France) to jointly or separately take effective measures to unblock the “lifeline of Artsakh and prevent new crimes”:

“We urge sanctions on the state of Azerbaijan and all authors and accomplices of the crime against the people of Artsakh. Along with other sanctions, we call for them to be banned from entering their territories, and that their movable and immovable property in their countries be frozen.”

Calls for Baku to open the Lachin corridor have come from many countries and from various international organizations. However, none of these statements has so far mentioned the possibility of imposing sanctions.

Hearings in the Hague on Nagorno-Karabakh – Armenia continues to demand interim measures related to Azerbaijan’s actions

Starting February 21, the list of goods sold by coupons will expand. Since mid-January sugar, rice, pasta, vegetable oil have been sold only by coupons. This measure was taken in order to provide food for all residents from available stocks.

The local information headquarters reports that eight more patients were transported to Armenia by the Red Cross. Four patients who were previously transferred to Armenia went back to NK after completing the treatment.

Since the beginning of the blockade, 105 patients have been transported to Armenia to provide specialized medical care. Elective operations in NK are still not carried out.

“Three children are in the departments of neonatology and intensive care at the Arevik medical clinic. There are eight patients in intensive care at the Republican Medical Center, 5 of them are in extremely serious condition,” the headquarters said in a statement.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan calls for urgent humanitarian intervention in the European Parliament

On February 15, Azerbaijan partially restored the gas supply to Nagorno-Karabakh. However, a few hours later, information came out that “Azerbaijan again blocked the operation of the only gas pipeline through which gas is supplied from Armenia.”

According to the director of Artsakhenergo Andranik Khachatryan, in the absence of gas and the unrelenting cold, “the energy system cannot withstand the load, accidents have become more frequent, the distribution network is in an emergency condition.”

He also reports that since January 9, Azerbaijan has not allowed repair of the damaged section of the only high-voltage line through which electricity comes from Armenia. The capacities of local small hydroelectric power stations are used, which is why electricity is supplied to the houses by the hour.

The state minister of the unrecognized republic presented the situation there on HardTalk – full transcript

Due to the lack of gas it is very cold in schools, and due to power outages it is impossible to organize online classes.

The first round of admission to the universities of Armenia has ended, and applicants from Nagorno-Karabakh could not take part, since the road is closed.

At the end of the academic year another round of admissions will be organized. But it is unclear whether the Lachin corridor will open before then. Armenia is discussing alternative ways to administer exams, including online.

https://jam-news.net/nagorno-karabakh-blockade/







EU mission deployment on Armenia-Azerbaijan border causes unease: Baku

Vanyan Gary
Al Mayadeen
Feb 17 2023
  • By Al Mayadeen English 
  • Source: Agencies
  • Today 16:38 
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Azerbaijan voices its disapproval of the EU's decision to deploy the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA)

Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Sahiba Gafarova commented on the scheduled deployment of an EU mission on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border, saying that this decision may impede normalization between the two countries. 

In order to promote additional stability in the Nagorno-Karabakh border areas, EU foreign ministers approved on January 23 the creation of a civilian European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA). The mission, according to the EU, is meant to normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and foster stability in the border areas.

"Sending an observer mission from Europe to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border may hinder the process of normalization of relations [between Baku and Yerevan]," Baku's Speaker said, adding "I have voiced my position regarding the deployment of the EU observation mission in Armenia on the border with Azerbaijan at meetings in Russia."

Russia's Foreign Ministry had earlier in January voiced its disapproval regarding the EU decision, saying that it could lead to geopolitical confrontation and exacerbate tensions between the countries involved, noting the presence of Russia's peacekeeping contingent on the borders.

Read more: Peace talks underway between Armenia, Azerbaijan

Six weeks of violence in the autumn of 2020 between Baku and Yerevan claimed over 6,500 lives and ended with a ceasefire accord sponsored by Russia. Russia sent 2,000 peacekeepers to monitor the truce, but tensions remain despite a ceasefire deal.

Armenia delivered a peace proposal to Azerbaijan on Wednesday that aims to end the decades-long dispute between the neighboring nations and normalize bilateral relations.

"Armenia completed the next stage of work on a peace treaty and the establishment of relations with Azerbaijan yesterday, and our proposals were submitted to the Azerbaijani side," said the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday, adding that the document was also handed over to co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group: Russian ambassador Igor Khovaev; Brice Roquefeuil of France, and Andrew Schofer of the US.

Pashinyan also confirmed that negotiations with Azerbaijan are witnessing progress.