Category: 2023

Azerbaijan, Russian peacekeepers have obligation to keep Lachin corridor operable – PM Pashinyan at MSC2023

Alex Jidarian

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 20:59,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS.  Chairman of the Munich Security Conference Christoph Heusgen asked Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan to comment on the blockade of Lachin corridor during a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference.

“You are right, it is already 70 days that Lachin corridor is blocked and now unfortunately we have humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh, and an anergy crisis as well because electricity supplies to Nagorno Karabakh have been shut down, and the gas supplies as well have been shut down, and we counted and during last 70 days the gas supplies were cut at least 10 times and it is a problem that should be addressed. And our position is that in the trilateral statement from 9 November 2020 we have very precise provisions connected with Lachin corridor, and according to that statement it is the obligation of Azerbaijan and Russian peacekeepers to keep Lachin corridor operable, but now, unfortunately we have totally different situation and I meant Lachin corridor as well saying that international attention should be kept on this situation, because we are afraid that continuation of this situation can cause unturnable humanitarian consequences for Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh,” PM Nikol Pashinyan said at a panel discussion alongside Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the Secretary General of the OSCE Helga Schmid at the Munich Security Conference, moderated by Chairman of the Munich Security Conference Christoph Heusgen.

Armenpress: What is the meaning of our leadership? Pashinyan calls on Aliyev to use historic meeting constructively

Elizabeth Jabejian

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 21:49,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan responded to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s usual narratives and fake claims, such as ‘there is no such administrative unit as Nagorno Karabakh, the word Nagorno Karabakh is no longer valid’, as well as about “destroyed and desecrated mosques”, and that the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement constitutes a "capitulation" during the Munich Security Conference panel discussion. 

The Armenian Prime Minister reminded Aliyev that the 9 November 2020 statement signed by Aliyev himself contains the wording ‘Nagorno Karabakh’ and cautioned the Azerbaijani leader against making highly dangerous statements that could be viewed as attempts to give religious context to the situation or deepen enmity. Pashinyan said the platform must be used to make things better.

“About Nagorno Karabakh, you know, President [Aliyev] mentioned trilateral statement, on that trilateral statement we have provision, and we have Nagorno Karabakh on trilateral statement and we have signature of the president of Azerbaijan under this document. And we have Lachin corridor that should be freely operable – and by the way according to that trilateral statement – out of control of Azerbaijan, and it is according to the signature of president of Azerbaijan. And recently you know, some Armenian children from Nagorno Karabakh tried to travel by bus through Lachin corridor and they were stopped, and some masked Azerbaijani persons intruded into the bus and children there were screaming and that was the last attempt of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh to freely commute through Lachin corridor. President Aliyev mentioned ‘destroyed mosques’. You know, I would like to say that in 2017 in Azerbaijan several mosques were destroyed for building new roads. And president Aliyev mentioned that I don’t know how many thousands of mosques were destroyed, and by the way in the Soviet times in Azerbaijan approximately 1,560 mosques were destroyed, it was usual thing for Soviet Union. In Soviet Armenia, churches were destroyed, mosques were destroyed, and you know the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh shouldn’t pay the debts from Soviet times. And it is very important, it is a very dangerous narrative because I am afraid sometime there is an impression that Azerbaijan wants to give some religious context to this whole situation. It is very dangerous there is no any religious context in the conflict, and by the way in our country we have Muslim minority, in our country we have an acting mosque, and that is the reality. And you know the wording of Azerbaijan, what is concerning? Using the wording of such kind of almost offensive wording, ‘capitulation’ et cetera, you know from a side there could be an impression that now Azerbaijan wants to show – and that is maybe reality – that Azerbaijan adopted a revenge policy, and maybe that is the policy of Azerbaijan? But as it was mentioned we have very complicated history, I just said, yes maybe it is a historical meeting, but for what purpose we want to use this? For inflaming intolerance, hate, aggressive rhetoric in our region? Or in opposite, we want to use this platform for making things better, we think that this platform ought to be used for constructive purposes. Of course, we can now tell many stories of enmity. But what is the meaning of our leadership? To deepen that enmity? Or to use our capacities our authorities our mandates? I am proud that I have been able, that our government was able even after the devastating war to have free, democratic elections in our country that was worldwide acknowledged as free, democratic and transparent and competitive. And as I said, from our point of view the solution is democracy, the solution is transparency, solution is dialogue, respect, for all countries in our region. And we are ready to work in that direction,” PM Pashinyan said in response to Aliyev at a panel discussion alongside the Azerbaijani President, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the Secretary General of the OSCE Helga Schmid at the Munich Security Conference, moderated by Chairman of the Munich Security Conference Christoph Heusgen.




Asbarez: Aram I Assesses Earthquake Damage in Aleppo

Emil Lazarian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Latest, News, Top Stories

Catholicos Aram I assesses earthquake damage in Aleppo on Feb. 16


His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia paid a one-day visit to Aleppo to assess the damage caused by the massive February 6 earthquake.

The Catholicos was met by Aleppo Prelate, Executive Council members, community leaders and parishioners at the entrance of the St. Mary’s Church.

In his pontifical address during a Divine Liturgy, Aram I expressed his solidarity with the people and appealed to the community to remain strong in their faith and cling to the church and to its affiliated structures.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the Catholicos met with parishioners at the atrium of the church, where he conveyed his speech and gave them his blessings.

Aram I also toured various neighborhoods affected by the earthquake, assessed the damages, and prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims. He then met with the representatives of the community organizations and institutions, and became acquainted with their concerns and challenges, and the work they have accomplished thus far.

At the conclusion of his visit, the Catholicos met with the governor of Aleppo and conveyed his condolences and readiness to assist in the aftermath of the earthquake.

EU Again Urges Azerbaijan to End Artsakh Blockade

Ani Kharatian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

EU's foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell


The European Union renewed its call to Azerbaijan to end the now more than two-month blockade of Artsakh.

In response to a question from a European Parliament member, the EU’s foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said the “EU remains seriously concerned about the distress the ongoing restrictions to freedom of movement and to the supply of vital goods are causing for the local population.”

“The EU has called on Azerbaijan to take the measures that are within its jurisdiction to ensure freedom and security of movement along the corridor, in line with its obligations deriving from the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020,” Borrell’s statement said.

“The responsibility of Russia, whose peacekeeping contingent is in control of the Lachin corridor, as per the same trilateral statement, should also be highlighted,” the EU leader added.

Borrell also outlined that EU’s humanitarian funding mobilized to address the consequences of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict amounted to 3.6 million euros for 2022, saying that the funds have been entirely allocated to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is the only international humanitarian organization able to operate on the ground along the Lachin corridor.

“Since the escalation of the conflict in 2020, the EU has provided close to 27 million euros in humanitarian aid and early recovery to support the most vulnerable populations affected by the hostilities,” Borrell said.

Moscow Accuses West of Derailing Armenia-Azerbaijan Settlement; Hails ‘Historic’ Agreement with Baku

Emil Lazarian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

A military post along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border


Russia on Friday accused the West of derailing the process to normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and hailed an “allied cooperation” agreement signed with Baku last year as a historic document that will help stabilize the region.

Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan, Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev, signed an agreement last year ahead of the Russian-Ukraine war. The document serves as a blueprint for the advancement of relations between the two countries and includes military components.

On the first anniversary of the signing of the document, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Friday hailed it as a historic agreement saying that its provisions of the will not only stabilize the region, but also international relations.

Reacting to a recent State Department statement, which accused Russia of disrupting the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group in the mediation of a settlement for the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Zakharova accused the West and the United States of derailing those efforts.

“If anyone has derailed the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement efforts then it’s they themselves, the Western countries, led by the United States. The OSCE Minsk Group format was sent into the ash heap of history after the American and French co-chairs stopped cooperating with their Russian counterpart in February of 2022 under a made-up pretext,” Zakharova said, adding that no explanation has been issued since.

“Taking this into consideration, we are focused on providing support to Yerevan and Baku as part of trilateral formats, based on the respective agreements on the highest level, which we have talked about on many occasions,” the foreign ministry spokesperson said.

Zakharova said the Russian Foreign Ministry does not see that U.S. mediation in the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement can include “real steps or have any added value.”

Zakharova reiterated Russia’s readiness to organize a meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers.

Zakharova added that Russia continues to support the process of signing a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan. She said that in this context the Russian special envoy Igor Khovaev recently conducted “useful” visits to Yerevan and Baku.

“Both the Armenian and Azerbaijani parties have confirmed their interest on our country’s mediation in this matter,” Zakharova said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Azerbaijan is currently being planned, the spokesperson added.

Asbarez: Blinken Mediates Meeting between Pashinyan and Aliyev in Munich

Emil Lazarian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Main, Latest, News, Top Stories

Secretary of State Antony Blinken mediates a meeting between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Munich on Feb. 18


Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, along with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on Saturday on the margins of the Munich Security Conference.

During the meeting the process of finalizing a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan was discussed, according to a press statement from Pashinyan’s office. The unblocking of transport routes in the region, as well as the delimitation and demarcation of borders were also discussed, based on agreements in reached in Prague last year.

When Pashinyan and Aliyev met in the Czech capital in October they pledged to continue the border opening process and announced that they will respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. That meeting was held weeks after Azerbaijan invaded Armenia on September 13.

Pashinyan reportedly discussed Azerbaijan’s illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor and the humanitarian, environmental and energy crisis that has resulted from the closure of the road on December 12.

The sides have emphasized the importance to continue the so-called peace process.

“I want to thank President Aliyev, Prime Minister Pashinyan for being here today.  We believe that Armenia and Azerbaijan have a genuinely historic opportunity to secure an enduring peace after more than 30 years of conflict.  The parties themselves have renewed their focus on a peace process, including through direct conversation as well as with the EU and ourselves.  The United States is committed to doing anything we can to support these efforts, whether it’s directly with our friends, whether it’s in a trilateral format such as this, or with other international partners,” Blinken said in a statement prior to the meeting.
 
Meanwhile, Aliyev and his chief adviser Hikmet Hajiyev were met with Azerbaijani protesters outside of the Bayerischer Hof hotel, where the Munich Conference is taking place.

Azerbaijani refugees living in Germany staged the protest demanding that Aliyev be punished for his oppressive policies against his own people.

Calling Aliyev a “dictator,” the protesters called on the Azerbaijani president to not sacrifice democracy for the sake of oil and gas profits, calling for the release of political prisoners in the county.

RFE/RL Armenian Report – 02/18/2023

Emil Lazarian 
                                        Saturday, 


Aliyev, Pashinian Hold U.S.-Mediated Talks


Germany - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, Azerbaijani President Ilham 
Aliyev and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meet in Munich, February 18, 
2023.


The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan met in Munich on Saturday for talks 
organized by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

“We believe that Armenia and Azerbaijan have a genuinely historic opportunity to 
secure enduring peace after more than 30 years of conflict,” Blinken said at the 
start of his trilateral meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and 
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

“The parties themselves have renewed their focus on the peace process, including 
through direct conversation as well as with the EU and ourselves,” he said. “The 
United States is committed to doing anything we can to support these efforts, 
whether it’s directly with our friends, whether it’s in a trilateral format such 
as this or with other international partners.”

Neither Blinken nor the conflicting sides announced any concrete agreements 
after the talks held on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

An Armenian government statement said that the three men discussed ongoing 
negotiations on an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty as well as transport links 
between the two South Caucasus states and a demarcation of their border.

“Prime Minister Pashinian reaffirmed the Armenian side’s determination to 
achieve the signing of a treaty that will truly guarantee long-term peace and 
stability in the region,” added the statement.

It said Pashinian also “stressed the fact” of Azerbaijan’s two-month blockade of 
the sole road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. It did not say whether he 
made further progress in Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks conditional on the 
lifting of the blockade.

Aliyev told Azerbaijani television that the summit was “constructive.” He spoke 
of “progress” in Armenia’s position on the peace treaty sought by Baku.

Aliyev again defended Azerbaijani government-backed protesters blocking the 
Lachin corridor to Karabakh on ostensibly environmental grounds. He reportedly 
said that Azerbaijan should be able to set up a permanent checkpoint in the 
corridor.

The Russian-brokered agreement that stopped the 2020 Armenian-Azerbaijani war 
placed Karabakh’s land link with Armenia under the control of Russian 
peacekeepers. It also committed Baku to guaranteeing safe passage through it. 
Yerevan has repeatedly condemned the blockade as a gross violation of these 
provisions.

Pashinian’s previous meeting with Aliyev was hosted by Russia’s President 
Vladimir Putin in the Russian city of Sochi in late October. The Armenian and 
Azerbaijani leaders were due to meet again in Brussels in early December. Aliyev 
cancelled that meeting, objecting to French President Emmanuel Macron’s 
participation in it.




EU’s Michel Meets Armenian, Azeri Leaders


Belgium - European Council President Charles Michel speaks to the media as he 
arrives for a European Union leaders' summit in Brussels, December 15, 2022.


European Council President Charles Michel has held separate talks with the 
leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the sidelines of an international security 
forum held in Munich.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s office said he discussed with Michel on 
Friday the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and, in particular, a 
possible peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan. It cited the European Union’s 
top official as saying that the EU will continue to facilitate such an accord.

The two men also discussed the upcoming launch of an EU monitoring mission along 
Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan. Baku criticized earlier the EU’s decision to 
deploy more than 100 monitors there.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian held what an Armenian government statement 
described as an “informal meeting” with Michel in the German city late on 
Thursday. They spoke about “regional security,” the short statement said without 
elaborating.

Michel, who heads the EU’s top decision-making body, hosted last year a series 
of meetings between Aliyev and Pashinian in Brussels. The three leaders as well 
as French President Emmanuel Macron were due to meet again in early December.

Aliyev cancelled that meeting, objecting to Macron’s participation in it. He 
said France can no longer be an honest broker in Armenian-Azerbaijani peace 
talks because of pro-Armenian statements made by Macron and French lawmakers.

Aliyev was reported to tell Michel on Friday that Azerbaijan supports “the 
Brussels peace process.”

It remained unclear whether the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders could meet on 
the margins of the annual Munich Security Conference. Pashinian’s office said 
earlier in the day that no such talks have been scheduled yet.

Aliyev and Pashinian most recently met in the Russian city of Sochi in late 
October 31 for talks hosted by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. The trilateral 
talks underlined Russia’s efforts to regain the initiative in the 
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

Moscow has repeatedly accused the EU and the United States of trying to hijack 
the process and use it in the standoff over Ukraine.

The foreign ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan were due to discuss the 
Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty at a meeting in Moscow slated for December 23. 
Yerevan cancelled it in protest against Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin 
corridor.

The Russian Foreign Ministry reiterated on Friday that Foreign Minister Sergei 
Lavrov is still ready to meet with his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts. A 
ministry spokeswoman said both conflicting sides are interested in continued 
Russian mediation of their peace talks.


Reposted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2023 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Armenian, Azerbaijani leaders meet for truce talks in Munich

Suren Karakhanian
TVP World
Feb 18 2023
PS/RL 

The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan met for the first time since October at trilateral talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Munich Security Conference. Works are underway to reach an agreement on monitoring mechanisms designed to prevent war in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Tensions have escalated between the two South Caucasus nations over a two-month blockade of the Lachin corridor, the only land route giving Armenia direct access to the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region – the bone of contention between the two states since 1917.

Blinken said he welcomed the meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev. The politicians are attending the three-day Munich Security Conference.

"The United States is committed to doing anything we can to support these efforts, whether it's directly with our friends or whether it's in a trilateral format such as this or with other international partners, but I'm very grateful for the presence of both the President and the Prime Minister today and look forward to a good conversation," Blinken said.

As per the statement of Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan: “A project of a comprehensive agreement has been handed to Azerbaijan. The document has to be acceptable to Azerbaijan… its signing must bring about a lasting peace”.

Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but its 120,000 inhabitants are predominantly ethnic Armenians, and it broke away from Baku in a first war in the early 1990s. Azeri civilians identifying themselves as environmental activists have been facing off since Dec. 12 with Russian peacekeepers on the Lachin corridor. Saturday's meeting was the two leaders' first face-to-face encounter since late October, when Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted talks in the Black Sea city of Sochi. A Dec. 7 meeting in Brussels was scrapped.

At the beginning of february Azerbaijan opened a new front against Armenia — but this one does not include warfare – it involves legal briefs and claims of environmental damage. Azerbaijan is alleging that Armenia despoiled the environment of Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnically Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan that has been warred over for 30 years; in 2020, a surprise offensive by Azerbaijan recaptured large chunks of the region which came out to be in tragic ecological state. According to Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov, over 500 species in Nagorno-Karabakh are now at risk, including leopards, brown bears, gray wolves and eagles.






US Sees ‘Historic’ Chance For Peace In Nagorno-Karabakh

Zhanna Nahapetian
International Business Times
Feb 18 2023
By AFP News
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to seize a "historic opportunity" to end their decades-long dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The two countries have fought two wars for control of Azerbaijan's Armenian-populated enclave that have claimed tens of thousands of lives.

Internationally mediated peace talks between the ex-Soviet republics have since produced little, if any, result.

But Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday said he had presented to arch-foe Baku a project for a full peace treaty to end the Caucasus neighbours' dispute.

"We believe that Armenia and Azerbaijan have a genuinely historic opportunity to secure an enduring peace after more than 30 years of conflict," Blinken said ahead of a meeting with Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

"The parties themselves have renewed their focus on a peace process, including through direct conversation as well as with the EU and ourselves," Blinken said.

The United States remains "committed to doing anything we can to support these efforts", he added.

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, ethnic Armenian separatists in Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijan. The ensuing conflict claimed around 30,000 lives.

Another flare-up in violence in 2020 left more than 6,500 dead and ended with a Russian-brokered truce that saw Armenia cede territories it had controlled for decades.

Pashinyan's announcement about the peace treaty came after Yerevan accused Baku of conducting a "policy of ethnic cleansing" and forcing ethnic Armenians to leave the breakaway region.

Since mid-December, a group of self-styled Azerbaijani environmental activists has barred the only road linking Karabakh to Armenia to protest what they say is illegal mining.

In a statement after the meeting in Munich, Pashinyan's office confirmed that the draft peace treaty had been discussed.

"Pashinyan reaffirmed the determination of the Armenian side to achieve a treaty that will truly guarantee long-term peace and stability in the region," his office said.

However, he had also denounced "Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor and the resulting humanitarian, environmental and energy crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh", the statement said.

Aliyev told journalists after the meeting that it had taken place "in a constructive manner", and he was "studying" the Armenian proposals, according to the RIA Novosti news agency.

"At first sight, there is progress regarding Armenia's position, but it is not enough," he said.

US calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to seize ‘historic’ chance for peace in Nagorno-Karabakh

Andranik Taslakhchian
South China Morning Post
Feb 18 2023

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to seize a “historic opportunity” to end their decades-long dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The two countries have fought two wars for control of Azerbaijan’s Armenian-populated enclave that have claimed tens of thousands of lives.

Internationally mediated peace talks between the ex-Soviet republics have since produced little, if any, result.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to seize a “historic opportunity” to end their decades-long dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The two countries have fought two wars for control of Azerbaijan’s Armenian-populated enclave that have claimed tens of thousands of lives.

Internationally mediated peace talks between the ex-Soviet republics have since produced little, if any, result.

Since mid-December, a group of self-styled Azerbaijani environmental activists has barred the only road linking Karabakh to Armenia to protest what they say is illegal mining.

In a statement after the meeting in Munich, Pashinyan’s office confirmed that the draft peace treaty had been discussed.

“Pashinyan reaffirmed the determination of the Armenian side to achieve a treaty that will truly guarantee long-term peace and stability in the region,” his office said.

However, he had also denounced “Azerbaijan’s illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor and the resulting humanitarian, environmental and energy crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh”, the statement said.

Aliyev told journalists after the meeting that it had taken place “in a constructive manner”, and he was “studying” the Armenian proposals, according to the RIA Novosti news agency.

“At first sight, there is progress regarding Armenia’s position, but it is not enough,” he said.