new promising era New Promising Era "President" & VP Nikol Pashinian

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wow

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fast forward to 3.40mm


 

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July 17 2023

 

Did ‘Hotel Rwanda’’s Paul Rusesabagina Just Sabotage Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace?

By Michael Rubin

AEIdeas

July 17, 2023

Paul Rusesabagina came to fame two decades ago as the hero in the movie Hotel Rwanda. While reality was not as Hollywood depicted, fame sparked first ambition and then, failing to gain support in Rwanda, bitterness. He spoke about the necessity to overthrow the Rwandan government by any means necessary and then acted on it, wiring money to a terrorist group. Under Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, one of the State Department’s top goals in Africa was to convince Burundi, the continent’s poorest country, to cease allowing cross-border insurgents to use its territory. He succeeded. Rusesabagina fumed.

In June 2020, Évariste Ndayishimiye became president of Burundi. Rusesabagina sought to convince him to cease stopping the terrorists Rusesabagina funded. After his capture, Rusesabagina’s story that he was taking a private jet to Burundi to talk to a church never made sense given Burundi’s poverty and the expense of international private charters.

After the plane diverted to Rwanda, a deception international law allows, Rwandan forces arrested Rusesabagina and tried him for crimes relating to terrorist attacks in southern Rwanda. The evidence was overwhelming. Behind the scenes, the State Department believed it. Rusesabagina’s supporters lobbied, Hollywood donors rallied, image trumped truth, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan intervened.

Negotiations were tough. Rusesabagina was a Belgian citizen. Belgian police certified the validity of evidence against him. Despite claims to the contrary, his trial was transparent and the Rwandans treated him well in prison. Privately, State Department officials acknowledged no evidence supported his adopted daughters’ claims of mistreatment.

Negotiators had to address not only Rusesabagina, but also his co-conspirators as it would be an affront to pardon one among many involved in the crime. Under Rwandan law, criminals can seek amnesty if they show contrition. Sullivan, Rusesabagina’s lawyers, and the former hotelier himself agreed he would. Rusesabagina penned a letter, seeking clemency, and acknowledging his calls to and support for violence and terrorism. He promised, “If I am granted a pardon and released, I understand fully that I will spend the remainder of my days in the United States in quiet reflection. I can assure you through this letter that I hold no personal or political ambitions otherwise. I will leave questions regarding Rwandan politics behind me.”

That lasted two months. Rusesabagina’s downfall has always been addiction to limelight. In late June, the New York Times published a lengthy interview in which Rusesabagina said, “‘They expected me to be silent. To be a good guy and behave . . . . No one can silence me that easily.”

The issue was never Rusesabagina’s silence but rather his terrorism sponsorship. While Rusesabagina’s supporters parry by criticizing Rwandan President Paul Kagame, these complaints are immaterial to his case: They do not justify the terror attack on Nyabimata that killed nine civilians.

Sullivan and Blinken have a problem. They gave their word to Rwanda to achieve a short-term goal and relieve donor pressure. Should they not respond to the deal’s violation, for example by deporting Rusesabagina to Belgium, then they signal that the agreements they broker are meaningless.

Sullivan and Blinken now turn their efforts to peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The chief sticking point is Armenian insistence that Azerbaijan guarantees the rights and safety of the ancient Christian community in Nagorno-Karabakh and their cultural heritage.

Rwanda may be a long way from Armenia, but the trauma of genocide links the two countries. Their ministers pay homage at each other’s memorials. The rhetoric in which Azerbaijan now engages parallels the genocide minimization if not denial that Hutu génocidaires and Rusesabagina himself engage. As Armenians seek American guarantees, they should recognize the cynicism with which Sullivan and Blinken conduct diplomacy. They should not gamble on the sanctity of any agreement Blinken negotiates or Sullivan guarantees, for neither keeps promises. For the government of Armenia or residents of Nagorno-Karabakh to trust either man now would be suicide.

https://www.aei.org/foreign-and-defense-policy/did-hotel-rwandas-paul-rusesabagina-just-sabotage-armenia-azerbaijan-peace/

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Armenpress.am

There are many steps that Armenia and Turkey can take towards the normalization of relations. FM Mirzoyan

19:51, 18 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 18, ARMENPRESS. There are many steps that can be taken by Armenia and Turkey to make sure that the parties are on the right track towards a final, comprehensive and complete settlement of relations, opening of the border between the two countries and establishment of diplomatic relations.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from MFA Armenia, Foreign Minister Mirzoyan announced, answering the question of a journalist in Austria following the meeting with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg.

Question: “Mr Schallenberg offered Vienna as a place of talks between Turkey and Armenia. What is your answer to that? Are you considering this?”

Ararat Mirzoyan: Well, once again, my appreciation to my dear colleague for offering Vienna to become a space for Armenian Turkish normalization process. I believe a couple of times our representatives already met here in Vienna and had an opportunity to discuss the normalization, and they will hopefully continue doing so. We had a pause, I would like to add this, in this process, I believe due to the electoral campaign and elections in Turkey. Now it is time to continue the talks on the normalization, and there are very concrete steps that already can be implemented by both sides to make sure that we are on the right track and the things are moving towards the final, comprehensive and holistic normalization of relations, opening the border between the two countries and establishing diplomatic relations. And here, of course, I primarily speak about opening the border between Armenia and Turkey for third country nationals, but also Armenian and Turkish nationals with diplomatic passports, and there are some other projects which are being discussed as well.

Follow-up question: “There are no further talks planned right now?”

Ararat Mirzoyan: There is no concrete date agreed.

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1115706.html?fbclid=IwAR2Uir44B7Y00RffNigJtDDFz4wD2Wo9d9j90JGa_3yDBhctgUXcbdPMB_I

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Asbarez.com

Yerevan Sets Security Guarantees for Artsakh as Precondition for Regional Peace

by Asbarez Staff

July 18, 2023

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

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan (left) with his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg in Vienna on Jul. 19

 

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said that guaranteeing the security of the people of Artsakh was an important precondition for peace in the South Caucasus.

He made the statement on Tuesday in Vienna after meeting with his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg, adding that the lifting of the now seven-month-old Azerbaijani blockade of Lachin is a priority to Armenia and sought the assistance of international partners for compelling Baku to adhere to decisions and orders to that end.

“We are confident, and I believe that Armenia is not alone in this, that stable peace in the region is possible if the issues of the rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh are properly addressed within the framework of an international mechanism, through the Stepanakert-Baku dialogue,” Mirzoyan told reporters during a joint press conference with Schallenberg.

“In this context, it is regrettable to state that instead of engaging in such a dialogue, Azerbaijan is currently pursuing a policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh, a clear manifestation of which is the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh which has been going on for more than seven months now,” Mirzoyan added.

“Nagorno-Karabakh is now on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe. This is happening in violation of international humanitarian norms and contrary to numerous appeals of international actors, resolutions and the legally binding Order of the International Court of Justice of February 22, which, by the way, the Court reaffirmed with its Order of July 6 this year,” explained the foreign minister.

Mirzoyan voiced Yerevan’s readiness to advance the peace talks and also open transportation routes between Armenia and Azerbaijan. However, he said, these elements may be achieved without the ongoing use and threat of force by Azerbaijan, which continues to employ aggressive rhetoric toward Armenia and Armenians.

He also said that the release of all Armenian prisoners of war being held in Azerbaijan must also serve as a precondition for the advancement of processes to attain peace.

https://asbarez.com/yerevan-sets-security-guarantees-for-artsakh-as-precondition-for-regional-peace/?fbclid=IwAR18d0gZnWZcA_NhFxYyIx_gSFWTOwus-k40r6Dleoyh0UPZx3K5ZUrQWFk

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this is truly depressing

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UrduPoint

July 19 2023

 

Armenia, Azerbaijan Yet To Agree On Border Demarcation Map - Yerevan

Sumaira FH Published July 19, 2023 | 06:56 PM

Yerevan and Baku failed to reach an agreement on a map to be used in the demarcation process at the fourth meeting of the commission on the delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the office of Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan said on Wednesday

YEREVAN (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th July, 2023) Yerevan and Baku failed to reach an agreement on a map to be used in the demarcation process at the fourth meeting of the commission on the delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the office of Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan said on Wednesday.

The fourth meeting of the commission was held on July 12, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said. It was co-chaired by Grigoryan and his Azerbaijani counterpart, Shahin Mustafayev. The ministry noted that Grigoryan and Mustafayev, taking into account the agreements reached at the level of the heads of state, continued to discuss the issue of delimitation and addressed several organizational and procedural issues.

"There has not been any decision on any map. The Armenian Foreign Ministry has already published an official statement on the issues under discussion," the deputy prime minister's office was quoted as saying by Armenian news agency Pastinfo.

Grigoryan's office added that the date and place of the next meeting were unknown.

In 2022, Yerevan and Baku, mediated by Russia, the United States and the European Union, began discussing a future peace treaty. In May 2023, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Yerevan was ready to recognize Azerbaijan's 86,600-square-kilometer (33,430-square-mile) territorial integrity, which includes Nagorno-Karabakh. In late May, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that if Armenia does not change its position on the issue, Baku and Yerevan could sign a peace treaty in the near future.

https://www.urdupoint.com/en/world/armenia-azerbaijan-yet-to-agree-on-border-de-1725681.html

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Armenpress.am

Brussels summit didn’t provide concrete result in terms of opening Lachin Corridor - Pashinyan

11:25, 20 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Azerbaijan continues its ethnic cleansing plan in Nagorno Karabakh and that his latest trilateral meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and President of the European Council Charles Michel in Brussels did not provide any concrete result in terms of opening the Lachin Corridor and overcoming the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh.

“Unfortunately this meeting did not provide any concrete result in terms of opening the Lachin Corridor and overcoming the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh,” Pashinyan said at the July 20 Cabinet meeting. “Politically, in his post-meeting statement the President of the European Council emphasized the need to open the Lachin Corridor and the need to address the agenda of the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh through dialogue between Stepanakert and Baku,” Pashinyan added. This dialogue cannot be productive without international involvement and mechanisms, at least due to the fact that Baku continues its aggressive and threatening rhetoric against Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh, with a goal to commit ethnic cleansing in Nagorno Karabakh, he noted.

“This is no longer a theoretical claim, but a concrete plan being carried out through the illegal blockade of Lachin Corridor, directly demonstrated by the complete absence of electricity, natural gas, food and other essential supplies into Nagorno Karabakh aimed at making life in Nagorno Karabakh impossible for Armenians,” Pashinyan warned.

The Armenian PM noted with regret that the International Court of Justice rulings of February 22 and July 6 ordering Azerbaijan to reopen the Lachin Corridor haven’t been implemented.

Nonetheless, Pashinyan emphasized the need to continue to work in this direction and attract broader international media coverage of the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh.

Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since December 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) - ordered Azerbaijan to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. Moreover, Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medication. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno Karabakh, with officials warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing against Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh. Hospitals have suspended normal operations and the Red Cross has been facilitating the medical evacuations of patients.

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1115817.html?fbclid=IwAR3HT4FxDrTWx3YBQhtAZ_LcjUBqD9mZYjXi7HNQ0klo4BB2Bypb25KqqQk

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Armenpress.am

French lawmakers call for opening of consulate in Syunik as ‘important step’ to protect Armenia’s territorial integrity

18:32, 20 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS. Two prominent French Members of Parliament have called on the French government to open a consulate representation in the province of Syunik, a move they described would be an “important step” by France for preserving Armenia’s territorial integrity.

In a letter to French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, Member of Parliament Anne-Laurence Petel, the Chair of the National Assembly’s France-Armenia Friendship Group, and Senator Gilbert-Luc Devinaz, the Chair of the France-Armenia Friendship Group of the Senate, said that France ought to open a consulate either in Kapan or Goris, like other countries have done.

Opening a consulate would be a strong move for the benefit of regional stability, and will act as a valuable outpost in terms of developing cooperation between France and Armenia.

The French lawmakers noted that despite being the least populated mountainous province, Syunik has a central place in terms of geopolitics in South Caucasus, first of all because of its rich mineral deposits, which are significant for the Armenian economy.

“Although Syunik is linked with Yerevan only with one mountain road, it is an important corridor for establishing contact with the outside world through the border with Iran. The 35km long Armenian-Iranian border is of vital importance for Armenia. It was the only one to remain open in the autumn on 2020 during the 44-Day War, safeguarding Armenia from total suffocation,” reads the letter.

“After all, the Azerbaijani regime has aspirations towards Syunik and wants to achieve the land connection of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Nakhijevan. This aspiration is part of a larger pan-Turkic plan, which aims to connect the Turkic population of the Bosporus with the Caspian Sea region. In this context, when the military imbalance is growing in favor of Azerbaijan every day, a new possible aggression by Azerbaijan could have disastrous consequences. Armenia has few allies to withstand this threat. Among them, France is the most dedicated country acting as guarantor of Armenia’s territorial integrity and the Armenian population’s security,” the French lawmakers added.

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1115868.html?fbclid=IwAR3to1jumMx-FPesdHlXI-BWGZoZslLRR7pCkawXTa1FDBnsyKIf_Zwn0tc

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Armenpress.am

China supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia

19:29, 21 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS. On July 21, regular political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and the People's Republic of China were held in Beijing. The Armenian delegation was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan, and the PRC delegation was led by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu, ARMENPRESS was informed from MFA Armenia.

During the consultations, the parties discussed a wide range of issues on bilateral regional and international agenda, including cooperation within the framework of international organizations. Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan presented Azerbaijan's policy of using force against Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia which undermines the efforts of the Armenian side aimed at maintaining peace and stability in the South Caucasus. The Deputy Minister presented the details of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan and the threat of ethnic cleansing of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu emphasized that China supports the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia, underscoring that the settlement of conflicts through peaceful negotiations is the key to maintaining peace and security in the region. The Armenian side reiterated its support to the One China principle.

Both sides commended the dynamics of bilateral cooperation in the trade, economic, cultural and educational spheres and discussed issues regarding the development and deepening of cooperation in the spheres of connectivity, investments, tourism and air communication.

On the same day, the delegation led by Mnatsakan Safaryan had a meeting with Mr Li Yongquan, the Director of the Institute of Eurasian Social Development, Development Research Center of the State Council, the leading "think tank" of the PRC government, and the institute's experts. Issues on international and regional politics were discussed.

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1115950.html?fbclid=IwAR2PbkVrakNeXgGwTSc_s7M8sprfCwjM_5MNqAtYpJy1mRVg4ZEiKsiJDMU

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Armenpress.am

Canada is committed to supporting the peaceful resolution of NK conflict. Mirzoyan highly appreciates Canada's presence

21:47, 21 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS. Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly stated that Canada is committed to supporting a peaceful political solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan praised Canada's decision to become part of the EU civilian mission in Armenia.

ARMENPRESS reports, Mélanie Joly wrote on her Twitter page: "Canada is committed to supporting a peaceful political solution to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and ensuring stability in the region. That is why we have increased our footprint in the region.

Now we are announcing that Canada will participate in the EU mission in Armenia."

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan also commented on this post on his Twitter page.

"We really appreciate Canada's contribution and presence in Armenia for the sake of peace and stability in our region, as well as for enhancing bilateral relations based on shared commitment to democratic principles," Mirzoyan noted.

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1115960.html?fbclid=IwAR1Eq27OQmz3PNtLY0JGADpgECwaLu6zZPwFIp536JRPKWL3RgvmN82VjPo

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Armenia - July 22 2023

“Armenian Genocide happened because Russia had to exit the region”, PM says

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that Armenian Genocide of 1915 happened because Russia had to exit the region.

He said this in an interview with AFP, the transcript of which is posted on Prime Minister’s website. Talking about the prospect of leaving CSTO one day, Nikol Pashinyan said:

“No organization in the world is eternal, and every country makes decisions in accordance with its interests. The issue here is that we had and we still have an issue in terms of the effectivenes of the CSTO and the implementation of its commitments. We have discussed this issue transparently with our partners.

The question is not whether Armenia leaves or will leave the CSTO or not. The question is whether the CSTO is leaving or exiting Armenia. There are many experts in Armenia, independent expers, who regularly send me reports stating that these processes demonstrate that the CSTO is exiting Armenia.

Moreover, there are many experts whose assessment is that Russia is exiting the region. This may seem like a science fiction, but unfortunately, our people have seen this in hostory. After all, a consequence of what was the 1915 genocide of the Armenians, when Russia essentially had to exit the conflicting region under its domestic burden? And the Armenians, that had made a clear geopolitical choice, were left to face Turkey.

And naturally, this analysis has intensified because of an event that recently happened in Russia, an even that we all know very well. True, it lasted one and a half days, but dozens of analytical statements were sent to me during the one and a half days, saying that this is the 1915 scenario.

1915, 1917, 1918 – years of instability in Russia, Russia having to withdraw from the region and the genocide carried against the Armenian people. But now the problem is that in 1915 the Armenian people did not have a state, a statehood that would have the obligation of safeguarding its own people. Now the Armenians have a state, and the policy of the state must be built in accordance with this logic, because the likelihood that one day we will see Iran or Turkey leaving this region is zero, there is no such likelihood, but the likelihood that any geopolitical center which is currently present here, we may wake up one morning and find they have left, that likelihood is greater than zero, not necessarily with the intention of doing harm, not necessarily with the reluctance to carry out their obligations towards anyone, including Armenia”.

https://mediamax.am/en/news/politics/52002/

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Armenia - July 22 2023

“Azerbaijan is creating a ghetto in Karabakh, what’s the international reaction?”

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that “Azerbaijan is creating a ghetto in Nagorno Karabakh today”.

He said this in an interview with AFP, the transcript of which is posted on Prime Minister’s website.

“Any genocide you know wasn’t like that they woke up one day and started killing people, slaughtering people. Let’s go back to the Holocaust, the one that the world knows the best. Did Hitler come to power and the next morning pulled out the sword and started chasing the Jews in the streets? It lasted years, it was a process, which could have been well predicted. It was expressed in rhetoric, it was expressed in policy.

Now in Nagorno Karabakh they have created a ghetto, in the most literal meaning of the word. I say again, sometimes we do not deliver the terms understandably, we just give people headlines, “humanitarian crisis”. Some percentage of our audience well understands all the details of what’s going on, but the majority does not understand, that’s not their business, that’s not their activity.

But Azerbaijan is creating a ghetto in Nagorno Karabakh today. What’s the international community’s reaction? Russia asks us how we justify our good relationships with the West, is that what you expect of them to make a semi-statement that the Lachin Corridor should be opened? Yes, the Lachin Corridor has to be opened. The International Court of Justice rendered a decision back on February 22. That is a decision of the highest international court.

By the way, Russia really doesn’t well recognize the jurisdiction of that court, but the international community, with the exception of Russia, recognizes it as the highest court. And now Russia asks us “Is this what you expected of the West, when establishing such close relations with the EU and other partners, your expectation was that they would say, for example once a week that the Lachin Corridor should be opened?” In the same way as we justify our relations with the West, in the same way we justify our relations with Russia. Like according to the logic of some western circles our relationship with Russia is not justified, because Russia is not fulfilling all its obligations, and is not meeting all of our expectations, similarly, Russia tells us the same about the West”, said Pashinyan.

https://mediamax.am/en/news/karabakh/52003/

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Armenpress.am

Armenian Foreign Minister to visit Iran

09:36, 24 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 24, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan will travel to Tehran on July 24 to meet with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Armenian foreign ministry announced Monday.

“On July 24, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan will pay a visit to Tehran. The meeting of Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Iran is scheduled. It will be followed by statements for the press,” foreign ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan said in a statement on social media.

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1116015.html?fbclid=IwAR3DAIBwBotOMEMPJWEQlstkyMnp6ZFgQZvMIbWnJ1L1xd0_Byz5EX9BiU4

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Armenpress.am

Armenia, India discuss defense cooperation

15:10, 24 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 24, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan has held a meeting with the Ambassador of India to Armenia Nilakshi Saha Sinha.

A readout released by the defense ministry on Monday said that Minister Papikyan and Ambassador Nilakshi Saha Sinha discussed “a number of issues related to the course and development of bilateral cooperation in the defense sector, as well as regional security.”

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1116052.html?fbclid=IwAR3DVcYppN4uo5tSBf9n8RPSIyuXSi11MgYqq0L7koSg-2zHABJah-7wThs

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Armenpress.am

Right now, the biggest obstacle to peace is the aggressive and illegal actions of Azerbaijan – Pashinyan for Le Monde

15:53, 24 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 24, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has proven by its deeds that there is a genuine will on the part of the government and people of Armenia to develop a lasting peace in the region and it believes that lasting peace in the South Caucasus could bring significant global benefits, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an article published in the French Le Monde newspaper.

Below is the English translation of the article.

“Last weekend, I met with European Council President Charles Michel and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. It is the latest in a series of meetings I have held with Azerbaijan's President over the last four months in different forms and capitals. Armenia has proven by its deeds that there is a genuine will on the part of the government and people of Armenia to develop a lasting peace in the region.

"We firmly believe that lasting peace in the South Caucasus could bring significant global benefits. Over the last years, Armenia has become a stable democratic country in a difficult region. Geographically we sit at a crossroads. If we succeed in achieving progress in our peace agenda, normalize relations with our neighbors, and establish solid transport and energy infrastructure, it will bring increased prosperity, build bridges between Asia and Europe, and could be a significant boon for global commerce and international stability.

"Although the contours of a peace agreement are forming, there remain significant barriers to making it a reality. Overcoming these decade long hurdles will only be possible with robust support from partners, who truly believe in peace in the South Caucasus.

"Right now, the biggest obstacle to peace are the aggressive and illegal actions of Azerbaijan around Nagorno-Karabakh, particularly in the Lachin corridor but also within Armenia’s borders. The Lachin corridor is the only road linking the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh with the outside world. Since December, access to the corridor was severely restricted by Azerbaijan, under the false pretext of an environmental protest. Now, Baku has gone further, installing a border checkpoint at the entrance to the corridor, even impeding access by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). This means the supply of food, medicine, and basic necessities are severely disrupted. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe, and other influential institutions have warned of an unfolding humanitarian crisis.

"As well as blocking access to people and vehicles, Azerbaijan is deliberately disrupting gas and electricity supply to Nagorno-Karabakh. These actions have coincided with increasingly aggressive rhetoric, propaganda, and even Azerbaijani forces opening fire on local farmers. The aim is clear: to make life as difficult as possible for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, and ultimately force them to leave their homes. It is a textbook example of ethnic cleansing. If the international community does not react, it will be another failure of humanity.

"The international community should undertake bold steps to stop the Sarajevo-style siege of Nagorno-Karabakh. The blockade is a violation by Azerbaijan of its legally binding commitments and most importantly of numerous unequivocal decisions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In February, the ICJ declared Azerbaijan must “take all measures necessary to guarantee the uninterrupted movement of citizens, vehicles, and cargo in both directions through the Lachin Corridor in both directions”. However, five months have passed, and the situation has deteriorated further.

"The European Union has been clear that Azerbaijan’s actions are unacceptable. Now it must use its leverage as a significant energy partner to pressure Baku to implement the ICJ’s binding decision without delay. The European Parliament and various national parliaments in EU member states have adopted decisions pushing the EU to do just this.

"The current crisis highlights why ensuring the rights and security of the 120,000 Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh is central to a sustainable peace in the South Caucasus. The European Union and other international partners have a vital role to play. There needs to be a formal dialogue between Baku and the democratically elected authorities in Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh. To be effective this requires the establishment of an international mechanism and guarantees from international partners to bring security and ensure obligations are fulfilled.

"The rights and security of the people living in Nagorno-Karabakh is a key question that must be addressed to reach a dignified and durable peace in our region. Other issues must also be addressed: Azerbaijan still refuses to recognize internationally accepted borders, occupies parts of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, and holds prisoners of war that they committed to return in 2020. The authorities in Baku use force, and the threat of further military escalation, to achieve their irredentist aims. This should not be tolerated; the consistent torpedoing of the peace process must have consequences. Otherwise, the Azerbaijani forces that have encircled Nagorno-Karabakh will believe they are free to act with impunity.

"Armenia deeply values the mediation and facilitation efforts by the EU, particularly the establishment of the EU mission in Armenia. This is performing a vital task in monitoring our international border with Azerbaijan, increasing stability on the ground, and helping build confidence with those living in border areas.

"Strengthening relations with the European Union is among the main foreign policy goals of my government. The EU was founded on the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. These are principles that are core to Armenia’s identity. The Armenian government and people have consciously pursued a path of political and institutional reforms to safeguard human rights, reinforce the rule of law, media freedom, and combat corruption. The progress of Armenia in international rankings reflects our achievements and determination, and the EU’s support in these processes is very much appreciated.

"This unwavering commitment to a democratic future has helped the Armenian people persevere through challenging times. It will continue to do so as we seek to forge a lasting peace in the region. Right now, there is a window of opportunity to reach such an agreement. The government of Armenia is committed to this process and has taken significant steps to achieve it. We now need the support of Europe and partners around the world to ensure that Azerbaijan also lives up to its commitments and legal obligations. If we succeed, a sustainable peace agreement can bring truly global benefits.”

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1116059.html?fbclid=IwAR3SN9Fsy1OwZSVG6xO5iCjh7JfCaAZi8ywbq1NgySSSDwGfVurHi-jFsbc

[MosJan]