Author: Vicken Chmshkian

Pashinyan promises to spare no effort for the effective implementation of the Armenian-French programs

Vicken Chmshkian

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 21:51, 9 March, 2022

YEREVAN, 9 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan is hopeful that the discussions held within the framework of the "Ambitions: Armenia-France" conference, the contacts between the specialists will be really effective, leading to the launch of the implementation of new and promising programs, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan said in his concluding speech at the Paris conference.

He stressed that it is a great honor to conclude the conference in Paris dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and France.

The Prime Minister touched upon the successful Armenian-French cooperation in various spheres, particularly, in education and healthcare.

"We are thankful to France for sharing Armenia's success. A shining example of cooperation in the field of innovative education and it was inspiring for Armenia the opening of TUMO centers in Paris, and recently in Lyon. New programs are being outlined in close cooperation with the existing Paris and Lyon Hospital Network, Doctors Without Borders, and Armenian medical institutions. Cooperation in this area was best demonstrated during and after the recent Artsakh war, when several dozen doctors visited Armenia to treat the wounded Armenians.

In terms of cooperation within international organizations, I could not fail to mention the Francophonie Summit held in Armenia in 2018, which was the largest international event in our country since Armenia's independence," Pashinyan said.

He noted that after the 44-day war in 2020, as well as in the context of the current global challenges, Armenia today has a vital need to strengthen its economy, to bring new breath to the economic policy, including by attracting new investment programs.

"We are glad that after the war France expressed political will to support Armenia economically, to foster the Armenian-French economic cooperation in a new way," Pashinyan said.

He noted that having successful examples of representation with French capital in Armenia, the 5-year roadmap for Armenian-French economic cooperation signed in December 2021 provides a wide opportunity and is a strong basis for promoting ambitious cooperation in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare and high technologies.

"Today's conference, its rich and impressive agenda, is the logical continuation of the consistent steps taken in recent months, and one of the first steps towards the implementation of the signed roadmap. Therefore, let me express the opinion that the discussions that took place during the conference and the contacts between the Armenian-French partners will be really effective, leading to the launch of a fruitful working cooperation and the implementation of new and promising programs. On behalf of the Armenian government, I can assure you that we will spare no effort and energy for the effective implementation of joint programs," Pashinyan said.

He noted that although this year we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and France, but it is only a part of the rich mosaic of Armenian-French interactions and relations. Armenian-French contacts have been multilayered since the Middle Ages.

"The living symbol of modern Armenian-French relations is the presence of a vibrant Armenian community of 700,000 in France, which is one of the strong driving forces of our effective cooperation, the guarantor of unhindered cooperation and perpetual brotherhood between our peoples," Pashinyan said.

Government plans to increase number of centers of Armenian studies abroad

Vicken Chmshkian

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 10:02, 1 March, 2022

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, ARMENPRESS. Programs are being implemented in 11 universities of 9 countries aimed at promoting Armenian studies, Armenian language and culture in universities, museum-institutes and research centers abroad, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Artur Martirosyan said in an interview to ARMENPRESS.

He informed that three of these programs are new as the contracts were signed in 2021-2022. The list includes the Cairo University, the University of Uruguay and the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. Additional funding was provided for 2 research projects in Argentina and the Mashtots Center for Armenian Studies in Germany.

“We are trying to expand the centers of Armenian studies and establish at least 2 such centers annually with the state budget, give a new content so that various such centers create relations and implement joint projects, research. We will soon hold a conference of Armenian studies which will be attended by all 11 centers of Armenian studies. We will try to understand our next steps and different cooperation formats within these centers, with the ministry and these kind of centers existing Armenia”, he added.

The deputy minister said they are planning to expand the list of universities teaching Armenian language in 2022. The possibilities of holding other events relating to Armenia and the Armenian culture are also being discussed. Programs are planned to be implemented in Poland, Portugal, Spain, Iran and Georgia.  

According to the deputy minister, the best way to counter the anti-Armenian propaganda in the world is to spread the Armenian culture, increase the interest towards the Armenian language, people and Armenia. “In terms of increasing the interest towards Armenia, the centers of Armenian studies, of course, play a significant role, and this is the reason that we continue expanding these centers so that the interest towards Armenia and its people, as a nation and state with a rich cultural history, only grows”, Artur Martirosyan said.

 

Interview by Gayane Gaboyan

Armenia: Donbass recognition not on the table

Vicken Chmshkian
Feb 23 2022
February 23, 2022 – 11:26 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The recognition of Ukraine's breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk are not on the table, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan said on Wednesday, February 23.

When asked by Armenpress whether he considers the recognition of the self-proclaimed People's Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk by Armenia possible, Hunanyan said "there is no such issue on the agenda."

The spokesperson also said that Yerevan wants issues between "the two friendly states" – Russia and Ukraine – to be resolved through diplomatic dialogue, negotiations, and in accordance with the norms and principles of international law and the UN Charter.

"We hope for the necessary steps to be undertaken towards reducing the tension and resolving the situation peacefully," he added.

Western allies imposed economic sanctions on Russia after President Vladimir Putin recognized the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as independent states.

Azerbaijani soldiers threaten civilians in Artsakh’s Khramort

Vicken Chmshkian
panorama.am
Armenia – Feb 26 2022


The Azerbaijani troops have been terrorizing the residents of the village of Khramort in Artsakh’s Askeran region for several days now.

They are using loudspeakers to demand that the civilians leave the village voluntarily, threatening to “use force” otherwise, Artsakh Public TV reporter Tsovinar Barkhudaryan said in a Facebook post on Friday, adding the Azeris are making the threats in Armenian.

“The threats are followed by the claims that Khramort is Azerbaijan, and, in general, Kharabakh is Azerbaijan, that we have allegedly occupied their lands,” the reporter wrote.

She said a total 98 families, including 11 displaced during the 2020 war, currently live in the village.

“Can you imagine hearing that voice every half an hour, when going to school, working in the garden, hanging out the laundry or eating?” Barkhudaryan said, stressing the Azeris are spreading panic among the Artsakh civilians.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 02/14/2022

Vicken Chmshkian 
                                        Monday, February 14, 2022


Russian, Armenian Officials Again Discuss Talks With Turkey
February 14, 2022

RUSSIA - Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko, June 18, 2021.


Deputy parliament speaker Ruben Rubinian on Monday discussed with a senior 
Russian diplomat the upcoming second round of negotiations on normalizing 
relations between Armenia and Turkey.

Rubinian, who represents Armenia in the negotiations, had already spoken with 
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko ahead of his first meeting with 
Turkish negotiator Serdar Kilic held in Moscow on January 14. Ankara and Yerevan 
described that meeting as “positive and constructive.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Rudenko discussed with Rubinian by phone the 
implementation of the latter’s “understandings” with Kilic reached in Moscow as 
well as their second meeting that will take place in Vienna on February 24.

“The Russian side reaffirmed its readiness to further assist in the search for 
common ground between Yerevan and Ankara in the interests of stability and 
sustainable development in the region,” read a statement released by the 
ministry.

According to the official Armenian readout of Rubinian’s phone call with 
Rudenko, the two men expressed hope that the Vienna meeting will be productive.

Earlier this month, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan voiced cautious 
optimism over the success of the Turkish-Armenian dialogue which has also been 
welcomed by the United States and the European Union.

Ankara has for decades linked the establishment of diplomatic relations with 
Yerevan and the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border to a resolution of the 
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict acceptable to Azerbaijan. Turkish Foreign Minister 
Mevlut Cavusoglu has repeatedly made clear that his government will coordinate 
the Turkish-Armenian normalization talks with Baku.



Armenia Not Evacuating Embassy In Ukraine
February 14, 2022
        • Sargis Harutyunyan

UKRAINE -- View on Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky monument and Saint Sophia Cathedral 
on Sofia square in Kyiv, 14Mar2016


Armenia indicated on Monday that it has no plans yet to follow the example of 
Western nations and evacuate its diplomatic missions in Ukraine despite the 
looming threat of a Russian invasion.

It also refrained from urging Armenian nationals to leave the country.

“We are closely monitoring developments in Ukraine,” said Vahan Hunanian, the 
Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesman.

“Armenia’s diplomatic missions in Ukraine (the Embassy in Kyiv and the Consulate 
General in Odessa) work normally, being in constant contact with Armenian 
citizens, who will be given additional recommendations, if necessary,” he added 
in written comments.

The United States, most European Union member states and other Western nations 
have fully or partly pulled their diplomatic staff out of Kyiv in recent days as 
they stepped up their warnings of an imminent attack by Russia on Ukraine. They 
have also told their citizens to leave the country.

In addition, a number of European airlines have suspended their flights to 
Ukraine for security reasons. By contrast, daily flights between Yerevan and 
Kyiv, carried out by Ukrainian airlines, are continuing unabated.


Belarus - Multiple rocket launchers fire during the Belarusian and Russian joint 
military drills at Brestsky firing range, February 4, 2022.

Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops on its border with Ukraine but 
denies it plans to invade. At the same time, Moscow has demanded far-reaching 
“security guarantees” from the West, including a pledge not to admit Ukraine to 
NATO and to scale back NATO military presence near its borders. Western powers 
reject these demands.

Armenia, which has close political, military and economic ties with Russia, has 
been careful not to publicly comment on the deepening international crisis. The 
South Caucasus state has become even more dependent on Moscow for security since 
the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Ukraine is home to an estimated 120,000 ethnic Armenians. Most of them are 
Ukrainian citizens.

Boris Yeghiazarian, a Ukrainian-Armenian painter and activist living in Kyiv, 
said on Monday that he does not know of any local Armenians who have fled the 
country because of the deteriorating situation on the Ukraine-Russia border.

Yeghiazarian said many members of the Armenian community are ready to “take up 
arms” and defend the country “just like Ukrainians.” Only a small percentage of 
them have pro-Russian views, he told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.



Armenia Jolted By Another Earthquake
February 14, 2022
        • Satenik Kaghzvantsian
        • Anush Mkrtchian

Armenia - New apartment blocks in Gyumri constructed for people who lost their 
homes in the 1988 earthquake, 15Oct2012.


A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Armenia and neighboring Georgia late on 
Sunday, causing brief panic among some people.

According to the Armenian seismic protection agency, the epicenter of the 
earthquake was at a section of the Armenian-Georgian border about 40 kilometers 
north of Gyumri. Tremors were felt in Yerevan and six of Armenia’s ten provinces 
as well as Tbilisi and southern Georgia.

The quake did not kill or injure anyone. The Armenian Ministry of Emergencies 
reported minor damage caused to buildings in Yerevan, Gyumri and three other 
towns.

Many Gyumri residents rushed out of their homes immediate after the quake, which 
knocked out power supplies in one of the city’s districts. The supplies were 
restored about 90 minutes later.

“Residents can return to their homes,” the Ministry of Emergencies said in a 
late-night statement. It urged them not to “succumb to panic,” saying that they 
should only expect weaker aftershocks.

The ministry’s seismic protection service recorded 165 aftershocks by Monday 
morning. A senior official from the service, Sos Margarian, described the 
earthquake as “moderately powerful.”

“It’s probably the strongest since the Spitak earthquake,” Margarian said, 
referring to 1988 calamity that killed more than 25,000 people and devastated 
much of northwestern Armenia, including Gyumri.

The latest tremors came one year after two quakes measuring at magnitude 4.7 in 
their epicenters jolted some Armenian regions in the space of one week. The 
authorities urged residents of Yerevan and surrounding communities at the time 
to stay outdoors for several hours.


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.

Azerbaijani president to receive EUR 2bln financial aid from EU for anti-Russian stance over Ukraine – Stepan Grigoryan

Vicken Chmshkian
ARM INFO
Feb 16 2022
David Stepanyan

ArmInfo.Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will receive Euro 2bln financial aid from the European Union (EU) for his anti-Russian stance over Ukraine, Stepan  Grigoryan, Director of the Analytical Centre on Globalisation and  Regional Cooperation (ACGRC), told ArmInfo. 

"By going to Kiev and speaking up for Ukraine's territorial integrity  Aliyev showed the West his own stance on the Ukraine crisis. And, of  course, Azerbaijan's second – quite real rather than declarative -  step toward the European Union should be stressed, namely, a contract  for supply of 10bln cubic meters of gas to Europe. In the context of  Russia's policy of energy monopoly, it was an obviously anti-Russian  step by Azerbaijan, with Brussels appreciating it," Mr Grigoryan.  

As regards the European billions to be provided to Azerbaijan, these  are nothing but investments. However, in the case o the EUR 2.6bln to  be provided to Armenia, grants constitute 60% of the total amount.  The Azerbaijani president is sparing no effort now to prevent the  provision of part of the EU aid to the Armenian army. 

According to Mr Grigoryan, Aliyev is seeking to convince the West of  the Armenian leadership's planning and preparing for a vengeful war,  as well as of Yerevan's intention to use part of the  Brussels-provided aid to re-arm and upgrade its armed forces, whereas  Yerevan's response to Baku's activity is sluggish and  situation-dependent. 

In this context, the expert notes it was several months ago that he  heard the Armenian leadership mention the EU aid to Armenia, to say  nothing of real steps to prepare specific projects in Armenia. Mr  Grigoryan cannot understand the Armenian authorities' passivity in  the context of Brussels' intentions. 

"I do not rule out at all that something is being done to implement  the programmes in Armenia, but the public is not at all informed of  the steps. I and consider it inadmissible – primarily in view of the  fact that the projects to be implemented are of vital importance for  Armenia. Among them are the North-South motorway and the Euro 600mln  aid to SME development, especially in the Syunik region. Moreover,  the provision of Euro 2.6bln by the EU has nothing to do with the  Armenia-EU cooperation under SEPA. And, with grants constituting the  larger part of the aid package, I consider it a present worthy of  appreciation," Mr Grigoryan. 

The EU is not putting a single obstacle to developing its cooperation  with Armenia. Moreover, the recent initiatives by French President  Emmanuel Macron and President of the European Council Charles Michel  have shown the EU's intensified efforts to settle the Artsakh  problem. In this context, the major problem in implementing the  projects as part of the EU financial aid to Armenia is the Armenian  leadership's sluggishness, which is "too expensive a luxury" against  Azerbaijan's activity. 

Azerbaijani delegation to arrive in Yerevan to participate in Euronest meeting

Vicken Chmshkian
ARM INFO
Feb 17 2022
Marianna Mkrtchyan

ArmInfo.The delegation of Azerbaijan will arrive in Yerevan to participate in the meeting of the bureau and committees of the Euronest PA.

As the press service of the RA Parliament reports" On February 21-22,  the meetings of the Bureau and the Committees of the Euronest  Parliamentary Assembly (PA) were held in Yerevan.

Members of the parliaments of the Eastern Partnership countries and  the European Parliament will take part in the meetings. The visit of  the members of the European Parliament, as well as the parliaments of  Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Georgia to Yerevan is planned.

The meetings of the Committee on Political Affairs, Human Rights and  Democracy and on Energy Security, on Economic Integration, on Legal  Approximation and Convergence with EU Policies and on Social Affairs,  Employment, Education, Culture and Civil Society will be held at  Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex on February 22.

The Committee meetings will be webstreamed.

On February 22, at 10:30, the briefing of the Head of the Armenian  Delegation to the Euronest PA will take place in the foyer of Karen  Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex." 

Armenian wines win medals at the ProdExpo 2022 exhibition in Moscow

Vicken Chmshkian

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 18:32,

YEREVAN, 16 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. The 29th ProdExpo 2022 International Exhibition was held in Moscow on February 7-11. The Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia presented the Armenian wines. Deputy Minister of Economy Arman Khojoyan also took part in the exhibition.

As ARMENPRESS was infomred from the Ministry of Economy, "ProdExpo" is the largest international exhibition of food and alcohol in Russia and Eastern Europe. This year the exhibition had about 2660 participants from 73 countries.

15 Armenian wine companies participated in the “ProdExpo” in the united pavillion of the Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia, 4 of which presented their product in Russia for the first time.

A tasting competition was also held within the framework of the exhibition, where the pomegranate wine of "Tiran" of the Armenian GS Wine Company, which participated in the exhibition for the first time, was awarded a with a gold medal and a diploma. More than two dozen wines of Armenia Wine Company won gold and silver-bronze medals.

"For us, ProdExpo is one of the most important exhibitions, taking into account that Russia is the largest market for the export of Armenian wine. Consumption of Armenian fruit wines has been declining in Russia since January as a result of the adoption of a law on fruit wine labeling. Therefore, our participation was very important, which gave our producers the opportunity to establish new partnerships with companies engaged in the import and sale of wines," said Zaruhi Muradyan, Executive Director of the Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia.

30 years of diplomatic ties: Iran is Armenia’s 3rd top trading partner

Vicken Chmshkian

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 10:04,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Iran are marking the 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on February 9, 1992.

The Armenian-Iranian relations have as much of potential and promising future as they have a rich history. This prospect is outlined not only by the close and friendly ties of the two countries and peoples, but also by the fact that Iran is among Armenia’s most trusted and key partners both regionally and internationally, as well as in energy, trade and transport relations.

The dynamic growth in trade turnover in the last years is especially promising, and Iran has become Armenia’s 3rd largest trading partner with a $502 million dollar trade turnover. Now, Yerevan and Tehran plan to develop trade and reach $1 billion turnover.

The development and enhancement of ties with Iran has always been among the priorities of the Armenian foreign policy.

The Pashinyan Administration’s 2021-2026 Government Program notes that “the government will take steps to ensure the further development of the special relations with Iran.”

The Armenian and Iranian foreign ministers exchanged felicitations on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said in the message that the Armenian-Iranian relations are marked with close and firm cooperation anchored on mutual respect and many centuries of history molded in difficult and hard paths of different trials, the foreign ministry said in a press release.

The Armenian FM expressed conviction that through effective partnership the friendly relations of the two countries will be further strengthened for the benefit of the welfare of the peoples of the two countries and lasting peace in the region.

In turn, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said in his message that Iran was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of the Republic of Armenia and to establish official diplomatic relations. The Iranian foreign minister stressed the determination of the Islamic Republic of Iran to further bolster bilateral and regional cooperation with the Republic of Armenia.

During the 30 years of diplomatic relations, Yerevan and Tehran implemented dozens of important projects in energy, transport and trade. A number of new projects are underway and are aimed at economic development of both countries.

According to most recent official data, trade turnover between Armenia and Iran in 2021 totaled 502 million 842 thousand USD (exports from Armenia stood at 65 million USD, while imports stood at 437 million USD.) Trade grew more than 25%, or 101 million USD, compared to the previous year.

Normalisation after 31 years of tension?

Vicken Chmshkian
Germany – Feb 7 2022
Turkish-Armenian rapprochement kicked off in Moscow in January, after a break of 13 years. This time, focusing on relatively easy fixes such as trade and transportation, both countries are emphasising a lack of pre-conditions. Turkey is nevertheless reluctant to let third countries, such as Russia, to play a role in the process. 

By Leyla Egeli

On 14 January representatives from Turkey and Armenia met in Moscow with the aim of building diplomatic relations, the first such talks to take place since 2009. Even though no press conference was held following the meeting, lasting 90 minutes, sources confirmed the mood was upbeat. Considering the weight of the issues under discussion, however, it is likely too soon for unbridled optimism.

The representatives in question – Serdar Kilic of Turkey and Ruben Rubenyan of Armenia – have agreed to continue the meetings. Their goal: to ease existing problems, while helping defuse reactions from within both countries and the Armenian diaspora.

Ultimately, the hope is that the Turkish and Armenian leadership will meet round the table, shake hands and resume diplomatic relations – following a caesura of more than 30 years.

When Armenia declared independence in September 1991, the Turkish government sent a team of diplomats in an effort to start diplomatic relations. Still bearing the collective scars of the mass deportation of Armenians from Ottoman territory in 1915, the reaction of the Armenian administration was cautious. Some in the administration even argued there should be a re-drawing of borders before establishing relations with Turkey.

Despite Armenia's hesitant response, Turkey recognised the country's independence in December 1991. But before ambassadors could be assigned, Armenia occupied Nagorno-Karabakh. Turkey supported Azerbaijan, a nation the Turks refer to as their "brothers and sisters".

In 1993, Turkey closed the borders, cancelled its air and train connections and cut all transit trade routes; it requested Armenia withdraw from Nagorno-Karabakh, a mostly Armenian populated region internationally recognised as belonging to Azerbaijan. Since then, the events of 1915, the Nagorno-Karabakh issue and the border claims have been in the deep freeze, waiting to be solved. 

This time, Yerevan and Ankara have decided to focus on issues that are easier to tackle, those that would be beneficial to both sides, such as trade and transportation. For its part, Armenia ended the ban on Turkish goods in January.

Before the meeting was held in Moscow, another confidence-building measure was declared; flights between Yerevan and Istanbul resumed on 2 February. That was a ground-breaking and concrete step to improve relations.

According to a Turkish diplomatic source, both sides are now trying to set a timeline for the start of trade. Since no systems are currently installed, the opening of the land borders represents a long-term project. Once this has been achieved and both peoples begin to realise the benefits, ambassadors will be assigned.

The decision to proceed by increments stems from fresh memories of the process breaking down in 2009. Back then, the two countries attempted to bury the hatchet with the help of the United States, with numerous high-level meetings held over the course of a year. They signed protocols to begin diplomatic relations and open the borders.

But resistance on the part of several Armenian politicians, backed by some Armenian voters, ended up in the Armenian Constitutional Court. Those involved requested various amendments be made to the protocols – amendments that Turkey rejected.

Azerbaijan also reacted harshly, angered by Turkey's push to normalise relations with Armenia while Armenian troops remained in Nagorno-Karabakh. President Aliyev refused to attend the summits in Turkey and negative statements were issued to the press. Ultimately Azerbaijan threatened to hike the price of its gas exports to Turkey, arguably one of the main reasons the process stalled.

With Nagorno-Karabakh once again under Azerbaijani control following the conflict in autumn 2020, the administration in Azerbaijan is likely to present less of an obstacle to rapprochement than it did in 2009. Indeed, according to a Turkish diplomatic source, Ankara started the process of resuming talks with Yerevan immediately after the region was regained by Azerbaijan.

The source argued that "normalisation will improve the stability in the region and everybody needs it. If Armenia maintains a positive approach, the borders will open and relations will be established."

Nevertheless, the forced migration and killing en route of hundreds of thousands of Armenians in 1915 – considered by Armenia and a number of European countries as genocide – still stands as a potential obstacle. There are some in Armenia, politicians among them, who believe Turkey behaved similarly to the Ottomans in the Nagorno-Karabakh war in 2020, by supporting Azerbaijan with armed drones.

The Armenian government now has the task of convincing its people that Turkey could be a trusted trade partner, presenting huge market potential with its population of 80 million. Despite losing Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan, Armenian President Nikol Pashinyan has managed to consolidate his power with a second victory at the polls. 

All indications were positive following the first meeting on 14 January. Both sides decided to continue the talks without any preconditions. 

Another target for the first meeting was to create a roadmap for direct dialogue, without the need for third-party intervention, allowing Armenia and Turkey to write new protocols setting out the legal and political infrastructure for normalisation based only on their interests.

Since the "special representatives" idea came from Moscow, however, Ankara was duty-bound to welcome Russia's positive impact on the negotiations and therefore agreed to hold the meeting in Moscow.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on 30 December, "We understand that both Russia and Armenia want this meeting to be held in Moscow. To us, it really doesn't matter which third country is involved. Nevertheless, we are grateful to Russia for helping realise the current initiative."

Russia’s role is particularly important to Armenia. Turkey, for its part, is taking every precaution not to rile Moscow, owing to the very close economic and strategic ties linking the two countries, especially bearing in mind the rocky nature of Turkey’s relations with the West.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said repeatedly that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin approves of the process. What's more, the United States and the majority of European countries are also backing the latest initiative, as they did in 2009. This may be seen as a good sign for Turkey: it no doubt boosted the confidence of the Turkish delegation when negotiating the terms of Russian involvement during the first meeting. 

A consensus regarding the venue for the second meeting was not reached in January. So the question remains: will Russia continue to hold its hand over the negotiations, or not?

https://en.qantara.de/content/turkey-armenia-relations-normalisation-after-31-years-of-tension