Armenia declared shortage of specialists for construction of new NPP

Jane Topchian
SB.BY
Belarus
Feb 13 2024

Armenia needs to build a new nuclear power plant, but this process is moving very slowly – as noted by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at a government meeting, TASS reports

The PM noted that the country has set the task of building a new nuclear power plant, “However, tomorrow we will be faced with reality: there is money

The operation of the existing Armenian nuclear power plant in Metsamor will be extended thanks to the co-operation of the country’s government and Russia’s Rusatom Service company. Armenia has allocated $65m to implement the programme aiming to extend the life of the second power unit of the nuclear power plant until 2036.

https://www.sb.by/en/armenia-declared-shortage-of-specialists-for-construction-of-new-npp.html

Turkish Press: Azerbaijan says it conducted ‘revenge operation’ in response to cross-border fire by Armenia

Hovik Karapetian
Yeni Şafak
Turkey - Feb 13 2024

Azerbaijan says it conducted 'revenge operation' in response to cross-border fire by Armenia

Combat post of Armenian army from which Azerbaijani soldiers were fired upon on Monday was completely destroyed, says State Border Service

Baku early Tuesday said it carried out a "revenge operation" in response to a cross-border fire by Armenia a day earlier, injuring one Azerbaijani serviceman.

"As a result of the operation, the combat post of the Armenian Armed Forces near the Nerkin-And settlement of Gafan district, where our soldiers were fired upon yesterday (Monday), was completely destroyed, and the combat positions were silenced," said a statement by Azerbaijan's State Border Service.

There are reports of serious casualties among the personnel of the destroyed combat post, the statement noted, saying: "Every provocation of the Armenian side aimed at aggravating the operational conditions at the Azerbaijan-Armenia conditional state border will be answered with more serious and decisive measures from now on."

"The military and political leadership of Armenia is fully responsible for the incident," it added.

Meanwhile, the Armenian Defense Ministry said two of its servicemen were killed, according to preliminary information.

Earlier, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry also said its military positions in the country's northwestern Tovuz district were fired on by Armenia late Monday.

The cross-border fire came as Azerbaijan's State Border Service said Monday that one of its soldiers was injured due to shots fired by Armenian forces toward the country's southwestern Zangilan district.

Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

Azerbaijan liberated most of the region during the war in the fall of 2020, which ended with a Russian-brokered peace agreement, opening the door to normalization.

The Azerbaijani army initiated an anti-terrorism operation in Karabakh last September to establish constitutional order, after which illegal separatist forces in the region surrendered.

 

New Bloodshed Threatens Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Talks

Lara Chatinian
Feb 13 2024
Waqas Arain

A deadly dance of conflict resumes on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, as the first fatal incident since peace talks began claims two Armenian lives. The incident, reportedly instigated by Azerbaijani fire, occurred near the southern Armenian village of Nerkin Hand.

The recent escalation of violence along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border has cast a dark shadow over the ongoing peace negotiations. The conflict, which has claimed the lives of two Armenian soldiers, marks the first major incident since both sides began discussions to end the decades-long dispute.

As tensions rise, the potential for further bloodshed looms large, threatening to derail the fragile peace process. The incident has not only resulted in casualties on both sides but has also led to Azerbaijan issuing stern warnings of more serious measures in response to any future provocations.

The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, characterized by intermittent war and territorial disputes, stretches back over 30 years. The latest incident is a grim reminder of the ongoing tensions between the two nations, despite recent efforts to broker a lasting peace.

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The Deadly Clashes of September 2022 serve as a stark reminder of the volatility of the situation. The clashes, which resulted in numerous casualties, highlighted the urgent need for a resolution to the conflict.

In the aftermath of the September clashes, both Armenia and Azerbaijan have accused each other of launching attacks and instigating incursions. The Armenian Armed Forces allege that Azerbaijani military units initiated the recent attack in the Nerkin Khand area, resulting in Armenian casualties. Conversely, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry claims that the Armenian Armed Forces targeted their military positions in the Tovuz district.

The border conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has had a profound impact on local residents, particularly in the Armenian provinces. The conflict has led to casualties, displacements, and the significant militarization of the border.

The lack of officially demarcated borders since both countries gained independence has further complicated the situation. Issues of exclaves/enclaves and Azerbaijan's expansionist claims to Armenian territory have added fuel to the already contentious dispute.

As the conflict continues to simmer, the human cost of the border war becomes increasingly evident. The recent fatal incident, which claimed the lives of two Armenian soldiers, underscores the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

In the aftermath of the incident, both sides have reaffirmed their commitment to finding a peaceful solution. However, the path to peace remains fraught with challenges, as the recent violence serves as a stark reminder of the tensions that continue to divide Armenia and Azerbaijan.

As the world watches and waits, the people of Armenia and Azerbaijan hope for a future free from the specter of conflict and violence. The recent fatal incident, a tragic interlude in the peace talks, underscores the urgent need for a lasting resolution to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.

EU and Armenia to hold Brussels summit to bolster relations DPA

Nyrie Kalashian
yahoo!news
Feb 13 2024
DPA

Representatives from the European Union and Armenia are scheduled to meet in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss cooperation between the Caucasus nation and the 27-country bloc.

The summit is the fifth meeting of the EU-Armenia Partnership Council, first held in 2018.

The two sides plan to discuss the potential for a "dialogue" on liberalizing the visa regime between the EU and Armenia. Also on the agenda are political reform, democracy, the rule of law and human rights, as well as economic and trade cooperation.

Leading the talks is the EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

The forum is the product of an "Enhanced Partnership Agreement" signed in 2017 to deepen cooperation on a broad array of matters such as security, the environment, energy, migration, and combatting terrorism, money laundering and the illegal drug trade.

In January 2023, EU member states agreed to establish a civilian mission to patrol and monitor the the region of Armenia near the Azerbaijani border, amid hostilities between the two countries.

Iran urges Armenia, Azerbaijan to exercise restraint amid border tensions

Emil Lazarian
PRESS TV, Iran
Feb 13 2024
Tuesday, 13 February 2024 4:45 PM  [ Last Update: Tuesday, 13 February 2024 4:48 PM ]


Iran has voiced concern over the escalation of border tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, urging the two neighbors to exercise restraint.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kan’ani expressed Tehran’s concern during a news briefing on Tuesday, following the border conflict earlier in the day which resulted in the death of four Armenian soldiers.  

Kan’ani called for a peaceful solution – through diplomacy – to the dispute between the two sides. The Iranian official said to that end, it was necessary to speed up the conclusion of a peace agreement between the two countries.

Armenia and Azerbaijan traded blame in the wake of new clashes.

The Armenian Defense Ministry said “four people were killed and one injured as a result of fire on Armenian positions from Azerbaijani troops.”

But Azerbaijan’s border guards said this was a “riposte” to a “provocation” Armenian troops committed on Monday, which, according to Baku, left one Azerbaijani soldier injured.

Armenia says 4 soldiers killed in border clashes with Azerbaijan

Armenia and Azerbaijan have traded blame on fire fight that erupted along the volatile border between the two arch-foes, with Yerevan saying four of its soldiers were killed in the southern region of Siunik.

Azerbaijan’s defense ministry also said Armenian forces had opened fire twice late Monday at positions on Kokhanabi village in the Tovuz region. Yerevan denied the allegation, saying the claim “does not align with reality.”

Nagorno-Karabakh has been at the center of a dispute between Baku and Yerevan for more than three decades.

Since gaining independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991, the two neighboring countries have fought two wars, in 1994 and 2020, over the mountainous territory.

Karabakh, while acknowledged as a part of Azerbaijan by the international community, has a predominantly Armenian population that has persistently opposed Azerbaijani governance since a separatist war in 1994.

Last year, Azerbaijan recaptured Karabakh in a lightning offensive that prompted an exodus of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians.

The latest border skirmish was the first fatal incident since the two sides began negotiating a treaty in 2023 to formally end the conflict.

Iran urges restraint after new Azerbaijan-Armenia border skirmish

Christine Harutyunian
TEHRAN TIMES, Iran
Feb 13 2024
  1. Politics
February 13, 2024 – 22:55

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has expressed concern about the escalating tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia, asking the two countries to refrain from upping the ante and instead engage in dialogue. 

“Sustainable peace in the region can only be achieved through dialogue and diplomacy,” the diplomat stressed. He also encouraged the two countries to move more swiftly towards securing a peace agreement during ongoing talks. 

Armenia said on Tuesday that four of its soldiers were killed by Azerbaijani fire along the heavily militarized border. The attack was the first deadly skirmish since Baku withdrew its forces from Karabakh in September, spurring a mass exodus of the region’s Armenian population. 

After hundreds of people died during the war, the two countries agreed to sit at the negotiating table to put an end to their decades-long hostilities. Some Azerbaijani media outlets, however, have been promoting new attacks this time on Armenian soil, repeating President Ilham Aliyev’s previous remarks that claimed Armenia is part of Azerbaijani lands. 

Iran has always emphasized that Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan while warning that it would not tolerate any new changes to its historic borders with Armenia. 
 

US Dept. of State : Press Briefing – February 12, 2024

Vardan Badalian
US Department of State
Feb 12 2024

MATTHEW MILLER, DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON

FEBRUARY 12, 2024

[Armenian News note: Only parts pertaining to Armenia are posted here; for full press briefing, please go to the link below]

QUESTION: And finally, if I may, on South Caucasus – Azerbaijan and Armenia. Looks like they are trying to move along through negotiation process without any mediator. Where do you stand on this?

MR MILLER: I don’t – I don’t want to comment on that specifically, but I’ll say that we do obviously support continued dialogue around that issue. We believe it’s the best way to reach a sustainable end to the conflict, and we will continue to pursue it.

QUESTION: And Azerbaijan has —

QUESTION: You say – you said several times that you want Russia to pay for the damage that it’s caused. Is that because you – they were – they are the – you see them as the aggressor here, or they are the aggressor?

MR MILLER: They very much are the aggressor, yeah.

————————————-

https://www.state.gov/briefings/department-press-briefing-february-12-2024/

Pashinyan refuses to guarantee Putin’s non-arrest if he visits Armenia

Garnik Tadevosian
feb 13 2024

By bne IntelliNews February 13, 2024

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has refused to give any assurances regarding the possible arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin during a possible visit to Armenia, following the country's recent accession to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a recent interview with the British Daily Telegraph, Pashinyan was asked about the possibility of Putin's arrest during such a visit. His vague response, citing legal complexities and the responsibility of Armenian law enforcement and courts, has fueled speculation and heightened tensions. Pashinyan's government claims that joining the ICC is aimed at taking legal action against Azerbaijan and preventing further attacks on Armenia. Opposition politicians, however, argue that the move is a strategic effort to drive a wedge between Russia and Armenia.

"As for the legal intricacies, I can't make a legal analysis at the moment, because that's more the job of the lawyers," he replied vaguely. "As I said, Armenia … must remain committed to all its international obligations, including the obligations it has in relations with the Russian Federation and in international relations."

The ratification of the ICC's Rome Statute by Armenia's Constitutional Court in March, just a week after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin for alleged war crimes during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has exacerbated already strained relations between Yerevan and Moscow. Although Russian officials denounced the move as "unfriendly" and predicted serious damage to Russian-Armenian relations, Putin appeared to downplay the situation and expressed his intention to visit Armenia again in the future.

As Pashinyan's comments continue to echo, Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, stressed the need for "certain assurances" before the Russian leader would consider travelling to Armenia. The situation remains unresolved and requires bilateral dialogue to address the complex legal and diplomatic implications of Armenia's accession to the ICC in the context of the delicate Armenia-Russia relationship.

Los Angeles Celebrates TUMO Center’s Groundbreaking

Emil Lazarian
Feb 12 2024

Groundbreaking of First U.S. TUMO Center in North Hollywood: Los Angeles city officials celebrated the groundbreaking of the first TUMO Technology Learning Center in the United States.

TUMO's Mission and Program: TUMO is a free educational program from Armenia, focusing on maximizing teen learning in 14 areas, including music, filmmaking, robotics, and 3D modeling.

Support for Low-Income Youth: Council President Paul Krekorian emphasized the center's role in providing creative and educational resources to low-income youth, fostering future creative leaders.

Officials' Statements: Mayor Karen Bass and Paul Krekorian, joined by former Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian and TUMO founder Sam Simonian, expressed commitment to empowering Los Angeles' youth with technology skills.

Center's Location and Funding: TUMO LA will be housed in a remodeled three-floor office space at 4146 Lankershim Blvd., with funding from a $23.25 million state grant and $3 million in federal funds.

Additional Funding for Amphitheater: A motion for an additional $2.5 million to create an amphitheater on the building's roof was approved by the L.A. City Council.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD – Los Angeles city officials Monday celebrated the groundbreaking of the first TUMO Technology Learning Center in the United States.

TUMO, originally founded in Armenia, is a free-of-charge educational program that aims to maximize teens' learning by building skills and self- confidence. The program offers educational and training opportunities in 14 different subjects, including music, filmmaking, robotics and 3D modeling.

"The creation of TUMO in the east San Fernando Valley will bring much needed creative and educational resources to low-income youth and teenagers that would otherwise not be exposed to the fantastic learning opportunities that TUMO creates," L.A. City Council President Paul Krekorian said in a statement. "This center will shape the next generation of creative leaders that will keep our entertainment industry strong and thriving."

During a morning conference, Mayor Karen Bass joined Krekorian, as well as former Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian and Sam Simonian, founder of Tumo, at the future site of TUMO LA, located at 4146 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood.

"We are committed to empowering Los Angeles' next generation of youth to gain skills that will prepare them for jobs in the technology industry," Bass said in a statement.

She added, "This center will allow Los Angeles youth to maximize their potential by discovering their passions for creative technologies and building the cutting-edge skills essential for navigating the ever-evolving digital world."

According to Krekorian's office, the center is expected to open in December 2024. It be located at an existing three-floor office space that requires remodeling.

The center was made possible through a $23.25 million dollar grant from the state, secured by Nazarian. Additionally, $3 million in federal funds also contributed to the project, thanks to efforts from Krekorian.

Last week, the L.A. City Council approved a motion seeking to allocate another $2.5 million to create an amphitheater on the building's roof.

Nazarian, who formerly represented parts of the east San Fernando Valley, said he was proud to support the TUMO center.

" The TUMO Technology Learning Center focuses on placing teenagers, aged 12 to 18 years, in control of their learning experiences and enabling them to unlock their full potential by identifying their passions and equipping them with the skills necessary to shape their future," Nazarian said in a statement. "This center will create life-changing experiences for our children and build the next generation of leaders for our communities."

  

Armenpress: Azerbaijani gunfire kills 2 Armenian soldiers near border

Shushan Frangulian

 08:34, 13 February 2024

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani forces on early morning Tuesday opened small arms fire at Armenian military positions in the Nerkin Hand section in Syunik Province, killing two Armenian servicemen and wounding others, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

The Defense Ministry did not specify the number of wounded troops.

“As a result of the Azerbaijani armed forces firing towards Nerkin Hand, the Armenian side has, according to preliminary information, reported 2 killed in action and wounded. The Ministry of Defense will issue an additional statement,” the Defense Ministry said.

The Azeri forces started firing at Armenian positions near Nerkin Hand at 05:30, February 13.