11:38,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has commented on the latest Azeri aggression targeting Armenia which left 4 soldiers dead and 1 wounded.

Speaking at the Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that 4 on-duty servicemen near Nerkin Hand in Syunik Province were killed as a result of the aggressive actions of Azerbaijan on February 13. He expressed condolences to the families and friends of the fallen troops and said that the shooting was yet another manifestation of Azerbaijan’s destructive policy.

He reminded that Armenian authorities had launched an investigation into Azeri allegations that a day before an Armenian border guard had opened fire and wounded an Azeri soldier. Troops are instructed to not allow ceasefire violations and not give in to provocations, and thus, if the investigation were to conclude that a violation had taken place, those guilty would face consequences. “Nonetheless, the next morning Azerbaijan opened intense fire at the abovementioned position, which resulted in four deaths. The description of events shows that Azerbaijan’s intentions remain the same: to engage in a policy of military coercion against the Republic of Armenia. It is our impression that Azerbaijan doesn’t display any interest in ensuring border stability and security and there are numerous grounds for this. For example, back in 2022, we reached an agreement that the delimitation commissions’ mandate should include also border security issues. In accordance with the agreement, the Republic of Armenia created the Commission on State Border Delimitation and Border Security Issues between the Republic of Armenia and Republic of Azerbaijan, assuming that the commissions would also work around matters of border security, but Azerbaijan, despite the agreement, named its commission the State Commission for State Border Delimitation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, skipping the security component. This and several other circumstances give the grounds to conclude that Azerbaijan continues to engage in the so-called ‘give me what I want through talks otherwise I will take it through war’ policy,” Pashinyan said.

 12:16,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Azerbaijan is avoiding by all means all options proposed for border delimitation with Armenia.

Speaking at the February 15 Cabinet meeting, Pashinyan warned that this could mean that Azerbaijan intends to launch military actions in some parts of the border with the prospect of turning it into an all-out war against Armenia.

“Have you seen Azerbaijan regularly speak about what it describes as the territories of the four villages, at the same time refusing to accept that the territories of vital importance of 31 non-enclave villages of the Republic of Armenia are under Azerbaijani occupation. Our position in this situation is highly constructive. What we are saying is that in order for the troops to pull back from their positions, it is necessary to reproduce the Armenia-Azerbaijan border on the map and on the ground and pull back the troops of the two countries from that line of the border. After the reproduction, if it turns out that there are troops before that line, they must be withdrawn from both sides against the already demarcated border. Official Baku is trying to formulate this event in a way so that the Azeri troops won’t anyhow pull back from the territories of the 31 villages in Armenia. This is not a constructive stance,” Pashinyan said.

He reiterated Armenia’s readiness for concrete solutions, principles of which are already agreed upon.

He said that the principles include the agreements signed in international platforms: the Armenia-Azerbaijan reciprocal recognition of territorial integrity based on the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration, which should serve as the political framework for the delimitation process.

“This means that we are only left with technical work: to reproduce on the maps and on the ground the de jure 1991 border of the Armenian and Azerbaijani SSRs and solve the issue by identifying the legal grounds. The so-called exclave-enclave issue must be addressed in the same way. For example, in order to determine the territory of Artsvashen, it should be drawn based on legal documents and solve that issue as result of future talks. But Azerbaijan is regularly refusing to go for solutions, trying to take the path of localization. We are ready even for that option and to carry out demarcation province by province, by reproducing the border in every section, and then carry out the adjustment of troops deployment, according to the reproduced border line, and then go to the next section, and leave the exclave issues for the last phase,” Pashinyan said, adding that Armenia is ready for both options: to either carry out demarcation along the entire border at once or by sections.

“But it seems that Azerbaijan is rejecting this option as well. Our analysis shows that there can only be one reason for this, and the reasons could be their [intentions] to launch military actions in some parts of the border with the prospect of turning the military escalation into a large-scale war against the Republic of Armenia. This intention is read in all statements and actions made by Baku,” Pashinyan said.

 12:36,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has responded to Azerbaijan’s accusations regarding Armenia’s arms acquisitions.

“Azerbaijan continues threatening rhetoric regarding our military reforms and arms acquisitions by Armenia. Having a strong and combat ready military is the legitimate right of every country,” Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting. “No one can deny this. Armenia recognizes the territorial integrity of all neighboring countries and doesn’t have any goals outside its own territory. By the way, this is our long-term strategy because we believe that legitimacy is a highly important component for ensuring the security of the Republic of Armenia. The Republic of Armenia has exclusively legitimate goals in the defense sector, which is the protection of its internationally recognized territories,” Pashinyan said.

 13:41,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has confirmed his participation in the Nuclear Energy Summit to be held in Brussels in March 2024, according to the Ambassador of Belgium to Armenia Eric De Muynck.

“A nuclear energy summit will be organized on March 21 in Brussels and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has already confirmed his participation,” the Belgian Ambassador said in an interview with Armenpress when asked on possible bilateral visits between the two countries. “He will be in Brussels during that time and will have the chance to meet with representatives of the Belgian government.”

Following the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Atoms4NetZero initiative, leaders from around the world will gather at a Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels in March to highlight the role of nuclear energy in addressing the global challenges to reduce the use of fossil fuels, enhance energy security and boost economic development.

Hosted jointly by the IAEA and Belgium, the Summit will take place on 21-22 March 2024.

Co-chaired by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, it will be the highest-level meeting to date exclusively focused on the topic of nuclear energy, which is attracting growing interest from many countries because it can both help to cut the consumption of fossil fuels while meeting rising demand for low-carbon dispatchable electricity.

 14:23,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS. The Amaryan Charitable Foundation announced a 18 million AMD donation to the Senior Center program in Goris, Syunik region, implemented by the WINNET Goris Development Foundation with the support of 301 Land of Wisdom Foundation. The Senior Center’s goal is to ensure the well-being of displaced elderly people from Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) who are without family. The money will go towards the purchase of the Center’s building.

The center, developed by WINNET Goris Development Foundation, will feature 24 rooms, a social canteen, and a daytime activity center, ensuring access to basic necessities and social services. Additionally, it will offer a safe and secure environment for this vulnerable group, enabling them to combat the feeling of loneliness and isolation through social interaction and activities.

"This initiative deeply resonates with our Foundation’s beliefs and values," said David Amaryan, co-founder of The Amaryan Charitable Foundation. "What happened in Artsakh created a serious humanitarian challenge, and by contributing to organizations like WINNET Goris Development Foundation, which has been engaged in social programs in Syunik for over 15 years, The Amaryan Charitable Foundation aims to make a real difference in the lives of those affected by this crisis”.

 “Our roots are from Syunik and this region holds a special place in our hearts. We knew we had to contribute to this initiative addressing the urgent needs and challenges faced by Syunik,” stated Vardan Amaryan, co-founder of The Amaryan Charitable Foundation emphasizing the importance of coordinated relief efforts. “This Social center will provide much-needed shelter and support for elderly individuals who have lost their homes and loved ones."

Ruzanna Torozyan, Executive Director of WINNET Goris Development Foundation shared that after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, their Development Foundation expanded the scope of its activities, providing humanitarian relief to families displaced from NK. “It was obvious that the most vulnerable in this difficult situation are the elderly remained without care, pensioners who feel the need to be taken care of. It is important to create conditions so that elderly people can be provided with decent social services, activities, and entertainment. There are many initiatives, and we need partners to implement them. The Amaryan Charitable Foundation was the first to respond for which we are grateful. We value the trust and willingness to take care of the issues of older people. We are sure that this cooperation will positively change the lives of hundreds of elderly people. Their warm smiles, bringing some happiness in their lives is the most important thing for us. All efforts and contributions for the implementation of this big initiative are undoubtedly welcome” noted Ruzanna Torozyan.

About The Amaryan Charitable Foundation

The Amaryan Charitable Foundation, established by David Amaryan, an Armenian entrepreneur and investor, the founder and executive director of the Balchug Capital and Vardan Amaryan, a businessman and the founder of the Apricot Capital investment company. The Foundation aims to cultivate growth of individuals and communities through initiatives in education, sports, culture, and youth development.

About WINNET Goris Development Foundation

WINNET Goris Development Foundation's activities are aimed at expanding socio-economic opportunities for women and promoting their active participation in public life. Since 2020, the Foundation has expanded the scope of its activities, providing humanitarian relief to families forcibly displaced from Artsakh, providing development and social programs for women and the elderly.

About 301 Land of Wisdom Foundation

301 Land of Wisdom Foundation implements projects in Armenia in the fields of culture, science and education aimed at preserving and developing the cultural identity and values of the Armenian people.

 17:57,

 18:16,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. On February 14, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and the Special Representative of the Russian Foreign Minister for the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan Igor Khovaev met in Baku.

 According to the Azerbaijani media, the meeting covered the current situation of the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, recent developments in the region, and other regional issues.

 19:40,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS.  The Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the special representative for the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan Igor Khovaev is currently in Baku.

Meetings with Azerbaijani partners are planned in order  discuss issues related to the peace treaty. A visit to Yerevan is also scheduled.

Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said this at a press briefing Wednesday, speaking about the efforts made by Russia in the direction of the regulation of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations.

According to the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, considering the partnership relations, Khovaev will discuss with the parties all the details related to establishing peace and explore possibilities for their implementation in favor of resolving the issue.