Category: 2023

 12:30,

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS. 1,4 km of the 5km problematic part in the section of Tegh village has been clarified, border guards worked together and are deployed at a certain distance from each other, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told ARMENPRESS during a press briefing in parliament when asked on the security situation in Tegh village.

“We have a 11km part there, and we consider 5km in this 11km to be problematic. As of today, I can say that this problematic part has been cut by another 1,4km. This means that an additional that much of the border has been clarified. What do I mean by saying clarified? This means that we and the Azerbaijanis have a common opinion on that part, and our border line passes there. This also means that border guards of Armenia are deployed at a certain distance from that border, and the Azerbaijani border guards also at a certain distance from that border,” Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan said that the Azerbaijanis were in territory of Armenia.

“In my previous statement that problematic part was more than 5km, now that 5km is reduced to 3,6. Meaning, the border guards worked together, clarified the border point and were deployed at a certain distance,” he added.

Pashinyan added that experience shows that when border guards work together it could lead to certain result.  Armenia hopes that the remaining 3,6km section will be clarified and the subject will be closed.

 13:01,

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS. Not only Russia but Armenia is also ready for the deployment of a CSTO monitoring mission to its border with Azerbaijan, PM Nikol Pashinyan said.

“Not only Russia is ready, Armenia is also ready. We’ve outlined the circle of our concerns, and basically our desire is for the possible mission to be effective. This is important for both Armenia, the CSTO and the region. And we continue to work in this direction,” he said.

Pashinyan urged to differentiate the CSTO from the EU mission when asked on the work of the EU monitors.

“The CSTO has security obligations towards the Republic of Armenia, so does Armenia, which, as a member state, and Chairman in 2022, it fully implemented. The EU mission can’t be placed in the same dimension as the CSTO mission. Thus, our expectations from the CSTO mission must be a lot higher than from the EU mission,” Pashinyan said.

He added that the EU mission is a long-term mission, and it’s only been two months since its launch, and it hasn’t even fully deployed yet and the process in ongoing.

 13:09,

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS. The EU clearly recorded in its statement on the latest Azeri aggression in the Tegh village section that the 1991 border must be maintained, PM Nikol Pashinyan said in response to a reporter’s observation that the EU monitors did not give a targeted assessment regarding the attack.

“I think that the EU statement, which didn’t contain an assessment emotionally, but indeed contained a very clear political record that the 1991 border must be maintained. And we agree with this. This is a highly important, fundamental record and assessment. And this means that the violation of the state border of Armenia has been recorded,” Pashinyan said.

On April 11, Armenian troops carrying out engineering works near the village of Tegh close to the border with Azerbaijan came under heavy gunfire in an unprovoked attack. Four Armenian soldiers were killed and six wounded.

The European Union issued a statement over the April 11 deadly Azeri attack on Armenian troops near the village of Tegh.

In a statement, the European Union External Action Service said the EU “deplores the armed clashes.”

Below is the full statement.

“The EU deplores the armed clashes that yesterday led to several Armenian and Azerbaijani servicemen being killed or injured on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border in the area of Tegh.

This incident yet again emphasises that in the absence of a delimited border, the 1991 line must be respected the forces of either side withdrawn to safe distances from this line to prevent any similar incidents from occurring.

Previous commitments must be respected, including those reached in Prague in October 2022 regarding the mutual recognition of territorial integrity in line with the 1991 Almaty Declaration. The EU also urges the intensification of negotiations on the delimitation of the border and continues to stand ready to support this process.

We renew our calls for restraint and for the settlement of all disputes by peaceful means. The EU continues to support these efforts, including at the highest level, and also through the presence of the EU Mission in Armenia.”

Afterwards, PM Pashinyan said Armenia welcomes the EU’s statement and is ready to withdraw its forces to a safe distance from the 1991 line, as proposed by the EU.

 13:22,

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS. A group of school students in Armenia were given the opportunity to speak with the crew of Shenzhou 15, the Chinese spaceflight that launched on 29 November 2022.

China’s Ambassador to Armenia Fan Yong said that this event – first of its kind organized in Armenia – is a very good chance for Armenian young people to get to know China’s achievements in space.

“Because Armenia and China are very good partners and friends, we try to share our experience of development with Armenia. I think this is a very good chance to spark interest for space among Armenian young people, which will then develop the country. The development of astronautics played a big role in China’s path of development,” the Ambassador said.

“I think the knowledge in this sector is highly important for Armenia because Armenia has also launched a satellite into space,” he added.

Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Artur Martirosyan said the event is a sign of the friendship between Armenia and the People’s Republic of China.

“Around 60 children are participating in this online dialogue. I am sure that this will be a very good opportunity for them to choose a future profession,” he said.

Students from 14 other countries from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation were also participating in the video conference with the crew of the Shenzhou 15 .

The students got to know the activities of the crew, their daily routine and work.

 13:38,

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS. The possible peace treaty with Azerbaijan must include a relevant system of guarantees that would maintain the terms of the treaty, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told reporters in parliament on April 20.

At the same time, he said that in the present-day international situation no country can clearly guarantee anything, including in relation to its security.

Asked why Armenia should sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan if even international guarantees are no guarantees, Pashinyan said: “First of all it’s not yet a fact that we will sign [it]. I hope and I am ready to sign within the framework of the issues that I have raised. And if we are signing, then we are signing it because without doing so it is guaranteed that everything will be the way we don’t want it to be. While by signing it the probability that it won’t happen that way increases significantly,” PM Pashinyan said, explaining that possible negative developments in the event of not signing a treaty will be worse than the possible negative developments in the event of signing it.

The Armenian Prime Minister added that Azerbaijan is now in euphoria and is making provocative statements seeking to make Armenia give in to these provocations.

Pashinyan said that the April 19 statement by the foreign ministry is a response to these provocative statements and that he himself will respond when needed.

 13:46,

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Defense of Armenia Suren Papikyan held a meeting on April 20 with the Ambassador of Brazil Fabio Vaz Pitaluga to discuss opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the defense sector, the defense ministry said in a press release.

At the request of the ambassador, Papikyan presented the course of the ongoing reforms in the military.

They also discussed issues relating to regional security.