Category: 2023

Brussels hosts Armenia and Azerbaijan leaders for new Nagorno-Karabakh talks

Kevo Kalantarian
euronews
By Euronews  with AFP  •  Updated: 14/05/2023 - 15:19

Tensions over restive contested region are mounting, with effectiveness of Russian peacekeeping mission a serious concern

The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan have met for talks in Brussels amid renewed tension on the border between the two countries, which have been battling for control of the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave for some 30 years.

The discussion between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev were mediated by European Council President Charles Michel, who also held a bilateral meeting with Pashinian on Saturday evening and with Aliyev on Sunday morning.

The talks come in the wake of fresh clashes on the border between the two Caucasus countries. On Thursday, an Azerbaijani soldier was killed and four Armenian soldiers wounded in other clashes, and on Friday,  Yerevan announced that an Armenian soldier had been killed and two others wounded by Azerbaijani forces.

Pashinian has accused Azerbaijan of seeking to "undermine the talks" planned in Brussels and said there was "very little" chance of reaching a peace agreement with Aliyev at the meeting.

In early May, Armenian and Azerbaijani delegations met for intense four-day talks sponsored by the United States. The American secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said he was pleased with "tangible progress" at the talks in Washington, saying that a peace agreement was "in sight".

A new meeting between Pashinian and Aliyev is already scheduled to take place in Moldova on 1 June on the sidelines of the second summit of the European Political Community. Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will all be involved.

The two Caucasus countries fought two wars in the early 1990s and in 2020 for control of Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous region with a majority Armenian population that seceded from Azerbaijan more than three decades ago.

Following the short war that saw Azerbaijan retake territory in the separatist region in the autumn of 2020, Baku and Yerevan reached a ceasefire promoted by Russia. Since then, Russian peacekeepers have been deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh, but Armenia has complained for several months about their ineffectiveness.

The Russian government has been irked by western attempts to negotiate a new peace agreement, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisting that there is "no alternative" to the ceasefire deal the Kremlin brokered in 2020.

Tensions recently flared up again when Baku announced on 23 April that it had set up a first road checkpoint at the entrance to the Latchine corridor, the only route linking Armenia to the separatist enclave, which is already subject to a blockade that has caused shortages and power cuts. 

Washington called on the two leaders on Thursday to "agree to move their troops away from the border".

Ilham Aliyev held meeting with President of European Council and Prime Minister of Armenia in Brussels

Christine Harutyunian
AZERBAIJAN, May 14 – From Rabbi Arthur Schneier, President of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation

His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Your Excellency, dear President Aliyev,

I join with you and the people of your country as you mark the anniversary of the birth of your father, President Heydar Aliyev, of blessed memory, and…

11 May 2023, 18:40 

In Armenia, the tower of the Haghpat monastery, included in the UNESCO list, collapsed.

Yeghisabet Vorskanian
EDWARD SWENSSON

The tower of the fortress wall of the 10th-century Haghpat monastery complex located in northern Armenia collapsed on Sunday afternoon, the rescue service of the country’s Interior Ministry reported.

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According to the department, the incident was reported to the crisis management center of Lori region this morning. A fire brigade was dispatched to the scene.

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“It turned out that 12 square meters of one of the towers of the fortress wall of the Haghpat monastery complex (165 kilometers from Yerevan) with a total area of 20 square meters had partially collapsed. There is a danger of collapse of the remaining part. There were no casualties,” the telegram channel of the service says.

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According to the press service, the rescuers demarcated the territory. Located in the Lori region of Armenia, the Haghpat monastery complex was founded at the end of the 10th century. It was one of the spiritual and cultural centers of medieval Armenia. Included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Turkish Press: EU Council President Michel made statements after the tripartite meeting

Emma Nadirian
Politics  

2023-05-14 21:10:41 | Son Güncelleme : 2023-05-14 22:04:42

The trilateral summit organized by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and President of the European Union (EU) Council Charles Michel in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, came to an end.

Making a press statement after the tripartite summit, Michel stated that he is pleased to host the fifth meeting of Azerbaijani President Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan in Brussels and said, “Armenia and Azerbaijan have focused on progress towards normalization. The leaders jointly expressed their desire for a peaceful South Caucasus,” he said.

Michel appreciated the efforts of the two countries. He stated that they reviewed all the issues on the agenda.

"After the recent positive talks in the US on the peace treaty, the momentum must be maintained for decisive steps to be taken towards the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan," he said.

Stressing that they reviewed the work and steps to be taken regarding the demarcation of borders between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Michel said, “In this context, the leaders agreed on the resumption of bilateral talks on border issues.”

Expressing that there is an opinion that more detainees will be released in the coming weeks on humanitarian issues, Michel said, "I believe it is important to avoid hostile rhetoric, act in good faith and show leadership in order to reach mutually acceptable solutions."

Stating that the sole purpose of the EU is to help Armenia and Azerbaijan achieve a comprehensive and just peace, Michel said, “We are ready to contribute to their joint efforts. We agreed to hold the Brussels meetings as often as necessary."

Michel said the leaders will meet again in Brussels in July.

At the same time, he added, as previously announced, the very soon reunion in Chisinau with French President Macron and German Chancellor Scholz.

"I intend to invite leaders to another such meeting as part of the third EPC summit to be held in Granada in October," he said.

Source: Ihlas News Agency

https://www.turkiyenewspaper.com/politics/14978

Armenia, Azerbaijan leaders meet in Brussels as tensions simmer

Emil Lazarian
Egypt –
AFP , Sunday

Armenia and Azerbaijan's leaders met Sunday for talks in Brussels amid heightened tensions on the tense border between the two countries over control of a contested enclave.

The talks between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev are being hosted by European Council President Charles Michel.

The meeting, the fifth of its kind under European mediation, began shortly after 1:00 pm (1100 GMT), Michel's spokesman said.

Michel held bilateral talks with Pashinyan on Saturday evening and with Aliyev on Sunday morning.

The talks come a day after fresh clashes erupted on the border between the two Caucasus countries.

On Friday, the Armenian government announced that one Armenian soldier had been killed and two others wounded by Azerbaijani forces.

On Thursday, an Azerbaijani soldier was killed and four Armenian soldiers wounded in other clashes.

Pashinyan accused Azerbaijan of seeking to "undermine the talks" in Brussels and said there was "very little" chance of signing a peace accord with Aliyev during the meeting.

The neighbours fought two wars in the early 1990s and 2020 over control of Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous region mostly populated by Armenians that seceded from Azerbaijan more than three decades ago.

After a brief war that saw Azerbaijan retake territory in the separatist region in the autumn of 2020, Baku and Yerevan agreed to a ceasefire brokered by Russia.

Russian peacekeepers have since been deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh, but Armenia has complained for several months that they are ineffective.

Tensions flared recently when Baku announced on April 23 that it had set up a first road checkpoint at the entrance to the Lachin corridor, the only route linking Armenia to the separatist enclave.

It is already under a blockade that has caused shortages and power cuts.


EU says latest Armenia-Azerbaijan talks should build momentum for peace

George Mamian

(Reuters) – The European Union on Sunday welcomed the latest meeting between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan as a positive step toward clinching a durable peace agreement between the two neighbouring states which have fought two major wars in 30 years.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met in Brussels at the EU's invitation.

Neither leader commented after the meeting, the latest in a series since a six-week conflict between the two countries in 2020. During that fighting, Azerbaijan recaptured chunks of territory it had lost in a war that engulfed the region as Soviet rule was collapsing in the 1990s.

The two countries' foreign ministers also met in the United States this month. Russia, which brokered a truce to halt the 2020 fighting, has also been active in peacekeeping.

Charles Michel, president of the EU's Council, said the leaders made progress on issues including return of prisoners, demarcation of borders and access through each other's territory to reach isolated regions in the Caucasus.

He said talks will continue on the conflict's focal point: the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, but populated mainly by ethnic Armenians.

"The leaders shared a common willingness for a South Caucasus at peace. I commend their respective efforts," Michel said in a statement on the EU Council website.

"Following the recent positive talks held in the United States on the peace treaty, the momentum should be maintained to take decisive steps towards the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan."

As talks have proceeded, border clashes remain constant.

At least two Armenian soldiers and one Azerbaijani serviceman died in incidents last week and Azerbaijan accused Armenia on Sunday of training mortar fire on its positions in Kalbajar district near the border, an allegation denied by Armenia.

In his statement, Michel said both sides agreed to recognise the borders set down after the end of Soviet rule in 1991.

Referring to Nagorno-Karabakh, Michel said he encouraged Azerbaijan to "engage in developing a positive agenda with the aim of guaranteeing the rights and security of this population."

He told both sides to "refrain from hostile rhetoric, engage in good faith and show leadership" to find solutions.

The two leaders are due to meet again on June 1 at a development conference in Moldova, another ex-Soviet state lying between Ukraine and EU member Romania. Both French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are to attend.

(Reporting by Nailia Bagirova in Baku, Azerbaijan, and Ron Popeski in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

EU hails progress after Armenia, Azerbaijan leaders meet

Markos Nalchajian
Iraqi News
AFP - Brussels – European Council President Charles Michel spoke of progress in talks between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Brussels on Sunday, adding that “momentum should be maintained” towards a final peace deal.

Michel hosted talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev amid heightened tensions on their common border over control of the contested enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. 

Michel had already met with Pashinyan on Saturday evening and with Aliyev on Sunday morning.

The EU officials assured, at the end of the meetings, that the two leaders “shared a common willingness for a south Caucasus at peace,” describing their exchanges as “frank, open and result oriented”.

Sunday’s meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders was the fifth of its kind under European mediation.

“Following the recent positive talks held in the United States on a peace treaty, the momentum should be maintained to take decisive steps towards the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” Michel said afterwards.

The two leaders met in Brussels after fresh clashes on the border between the two Caucasus countries.

On Friday, the Armenian government announced that one Armenian soldier had been killed and two others wounded by Azerbaijani forces.

On Thursday, an Azerbaijani soldier was killed and four Armenian soldiers wounded in other clashes.

– Further talks planned –

Pashinyan accused Azerbaijan of seeking to “undermine the talks” in Brussels and said there was “very little” chance of signing a peace accord with Aliyev during the meeting.

But after the talks, Michel said the two leaders had made “clear progress” in their discussions aimed at unblocking transport and economic links in the region.

“On border issues we reviewed progress and the next steps regarding the delimitation of the border, and in this context the leaders agreed on resumption of the bilateral meetings on border issues,” he added.

In another sign of progress, there was “an understanding” between Pashinyan and Aliyev that “further detainees would be released in the coming weeks,” said Michel.

The neighbours fought two wars in the early 1990s and 2020 over control of Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous region mostly populated by Armenians that seceded from Azerbaijan more than three decades ago. 

After a brief war that saw Azerbaijan retake territory in the separatist region in the autumn of 2020, Baku and Yerevan agreed to a ceasefire brokered by Russia. 

Russian peacekeepers have since been deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh, but Armenia has complained for several months that they are ineffective. 

Tensions flared recently when Baku announced on April 23 that it had set up a first road checkpoint at the entrance to the Lachin corridor, the only route linking Armenia to the separatist enclave. 

It is already under a blockade that has caused shortages and power cuts. 

Another meeting between Pashinyan and Aliyev has already been scheduled for June 1 in Moldova, also involving French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Eurovision 2023 viewers say ‘nobody told me’ as they’re left stunned by Armenia singer’s lookalike

Ani Tigranian
Manchester Evening News, UK

Viewers thought a pop star had 'invaded' the Eurovision Song Contest

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Jessica SansomeTV and showbiz writer

Those tuning in to watch the Eurovision Song Contest were left doing a double take as they thought a famous pop star invaded the show. After months of build-up the grand final of the biggest music competition in the world finally kicked off on Saturday night (May 13).

Tens of millions across the world tuned in to watch 26 acts and bands take to the stage at Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena as they performed their hearts out in a bid to be crowned the Eurovision 2023 winner and walk away with the coveted trophy.

The city is hosting on behalf of war-torn Ukraine, who won last year’s contest but are unable to host due to the Russian invasion. And the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest kicked off with a skit featuring last year’s winners Kalush Orchestra performing their hit Stefania with runner-up Sam Ryder playing guitar on the top of the Liver Building and Andrew Lloyd Webber on piano.

There was also a cameo from the Princess of Wales who made an appearance after she was recorded playing the piano earlier this month at Windsor Castle, Kensington Palace said. Viewers saw Kate playing a short instrumental piece lasting around 10 seconds.

The official Twitter account for the Prince and Princess of Wales tweeted: "A #Eurovision surprise A pleasure to join Kalush Orchestra in a special performance of last year’s winning @eurovision entry. Enjoy the show, Liverpool"

But as the show well and truly got underway, following an appearance from Graham Norton who welcomed viewers to the final alongside co-hosts Alesha Dixon, Hannah Waddingham and Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina, all eyes were on the acts battling out for the title.

Among those performing was singer Brunette. She was representing Armenia in this year's contest and was seen performing her song Future Lover. However, viewers were distracted as they couldn't help byt notice she looked like American singer Ariana Grande.

EU’s Michel hails prospect of peace after high-stakes Armenia-Azerbaijan talks

Albert Nalbandian
POLITICO

The negotiations in Brussels came amid a series of fatal clashes along the shared border between the two former Soviet republics.

BY GABRIEL GAVIN
 



BRUSSELS — An end to decades of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan could be in sight, European Council President Charles Michel said Sunday following negotiations between the two sides.

Speaking at a press conference in Brussels after hosting a trilateral meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Michel said the two leaders “shared a common willingness for a South Caucasus at peace.”

“Following the recent positive talks held in the U.S. on the peace treaty, the momentum should be maintained to take decisive steps towards the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement,” Michel added.

At the same time, he declared that the two sides had “made clear progress” in talks over unblocking transport links and suggested a prisoner exchange could be carried out in the coming days.

Michel also encouraged direct negotiations between Baku and the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, an unrecognized breakaway region over which the two former Soviet republics fought a brutal war in 2020.

In April, Azerbaijan installed a checkpoint on the internationally-recognized border, taking control of the only road into or out of the region. While officials say the move is necessary to stop illegal arms shipments, Yerevan says it could be a precedent for “ethnic cleansing” of Nagorno-Karabakh’s Armenian population.

Diplomats from the two countries met in Washington earlier this month, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying “tangible” progress had been made toward a peace deal. Their foreign ministers are expected to meet again in Moscow starting Friday.

Later on Sunday after the talks with Michel, however, Azerbaijan accused Armenia of opening fire with mortars from across the border. Yerevan denies the claims. Both sides have reported casualties in fierce firefights on the tense frontier in recent days.

 

Eurovision: Viewers Mistake Armenian Eurovision Entry for Ariana Grande

Eduard Nalbandian
NNN, Nigeria
On , Eurovision Song Contest’s grand final took place at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena where 26 acts and bands from across the world participated. Tens of millions of viewers across the globe tuned in to watch the biggest music competition and to see which act would be crowned the champion of Eurovision Song Contest 2023.

The competition was held in Liverpool this year on behalf of Ukraine, as they were unable to host due to the Russian invasion. The event started with a skit that featured last year’s winners Kalush Orchestra, followed by a performance from 26 musicians who performed their hearts out to win the coveted trophy.

However, a minor confusion occurred when singer Brunette, who was representing Armenia in this year’s contest, appeared on the stage. The viewers were distracted as they mistook her for American singer Ariana Grande. They took to their Twitter accounts to express their opinion, with some saying that Ariana Grande had invaded the show.

One of the Twitter users who posted about the confusion said “For a second I thought Ariana was at #Eurovision Armenia’s entry looked good tho.” Another user posted, “ARIANA WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?! #Eurovision.”

Despite the confusion, Brunette was able to deliver a smashing performance of her song Future Lover. Her performance managed to win many hearts, even though the viewers first thought it was Ariana Grande performing for Armenia.