Nagorno-Karabakh: Putin meets with Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents

June 21, 2016 By administrator

russia-armenia-azerbaijan-meeting Moscow, June 20, 2016 (AFP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin met on Monday his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan and Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to try to consolidate the cease-fire in Nagorno-Karabakh, a region that both countries vie to and where intense fighting took place in April.

First, Putin met both leaders separately before lunch at three in St. Petersburg.

The two sides “are in particular agreed on increasing the number of international observers in the conflict zone,” said a joint statement released after the meeting.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has not yet only six unarmed observers in the region.

“We want the conflict to be settled peacefully. I want to thank you and the leaders of other countries as co-chairs of the Minsk Group (for Karabakh), for your efforts on this issue, “said Serzh Sargsyan at the beginning of his meeting with Vladimir Putin, it said in a statement from the Kremlin.

He also called for “making progress in the implementation of signed agreements, including creating a monitoring mechanism of the cease-fire,” according to Russian news agencies.

Ilham Aliyev for his part, thanked Russia for its “constructive role in resolving” the conflict during his meeting with Putin, while calling for the “decolonization of the territory of Azerbaijan (…) occupied for over 20 years, “according to a statement from the Kremlin.

“The main task is to guard against a resumption of hostilities,” warned the spokesman of the Kremlin Dmitry Peskov.

Russia was on the initiative of the cease-fire signed in April, after four days of clashes that left at least 110 dead in total.

The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh is an old quarter century. The fighting of April were the worst violence since a cease-fire agreement in 1994 after a war that is 30,000 dead and hundreds of thousands of refugees, mostly Azerbaijanis.

No peace treaty has however been signed between Baku and Yerevan on the Nagorno-Karabakh region populated mainly by Armenians but recognized as part of Azerbaijan by the international community.

Russia is close to the two countries, it is the main supplier of arms but concluded a military alliance with Yerevan.

Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev met in Vienna in mid-May by an international mediation, pledged to respect the cease-fire and to implement a monitoring mechanism of the cease-fire under the auspices the Organization for security and co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

However, the situation remains extremely volatile, sporadic fighting continues to erupt along the line.

Azerbaijan also announced last week that military maneuvers near the magnitude of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016,
Stéphane © armenews.com

Trilateral meeting of Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani leaders kicks off in St. Petersburg

June 20, 2016 By administrator

armenia-azerbaijan-russia The trilateral meeting of the Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani presidents has kicked off in St. Petersburg, spokesperson for Armenian President Vladimir Hakobyan wrote on his Twitter page.

Earlier, Armenian News – NEWS.am reported on the meeting of the Armenian and Russian Presidents, as well as the Russian and Azerbaijani leaders.

Cyprus: President cancels a meeting on reunification of the island

May 26, 2016 By administrator

Cyprus cancel Nicosia – Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades on Tuesday canceled a meeting scheduled in the framework of peace talks, denouncing what he sees as an attempt to recognize the northern part of the island, occupied by Turkey.

The decision comes after Mr Anastasiades, a Greek Cypriot, had given up attending a dinner in Istanbul for heads of state which was also invited at the last minute the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, who has no rank of president.

This is the first serious snag in the peace negotiations launched one year ago between Mr. Anastasiades and Akinci and to reunify the Mediterranean island divided since 1974.

With regret, President Anastasiades has established that the land was not suitable to hold a meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader on May 27, said in a statement the government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides.

While he was on Monday in Istanbul to attend the World Humanitarian Summit, Mr. Anastasiades has decided not to attend the dinner when he learned that Mr. Akinci there would also be present, calling it unacceptable invitation.

Mustafa Akinci heads the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, proclaimed and recognized only by Turkey.

The invitation to Mr Akinci by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been seen, the Greek Cypriot side as an attempt to undermine the authority of the President of Cyprus and to give more credit to the Turkish Cypriot leader.

In New York, the deputy spokesman Farhan Haq UN stressed that it was an invitation from the Turkish authorities and that the UN was not involved.

The UN has not been formally informed of the decision of the Greek party not to participate in the next round of negotiations, he said.

At this important stage of the process, the secretary general (Ban) wishes to emphasize that the two leaders have shown great courage and great perseverance in the process and have made much progress, so it encourages them to redouble efforts, added the spokesman.

Mr. Anastasiades said he was determined to continue the peace talks provided there is mutual respect (…) and not unilateral decisions to raise the status of a pseudo-state.

Such decisions (…) not only does not help the ongoing process but harm it, the statement said.

After several failures the past 40 years of peace talks under the auspices of the UN were relaunched in May 2015 and are seen as the last chance to reunify the island.

Many feel that the good relations between the two leaders, who meet on a regular basis, can create a climate of confidence in the conclusion of a peace agreement but this latest incident may burden the atmosphere of the negotiations.

Cyprus has been divided in two since the invasion in 1974 of its northern part by Turkey in response to a coup aimed at connecting the country with Greece.

The authorities of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise authority on the Greek Cypriot side of the island, or two-thirds the south.

Thursday, May 26, 2016,
Stéphane © armenews.com

Armenia Hosted Eurasian Economic Union Meeting to Discuss Cooperation

May 24, 2016 By administrator

Eurasian Intergovernmental Council Meets to Discuss Furtherance of Cooperation between EAEU Member States (Photo: Press Office of the Government of Armenia)

YEREVAN (News.am)—A regular meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council was held on May 20 in Yerevan to discuss economic cooperation between the coalition’s member states.

The Prime Minster of Armenia, Hovik Abrahamyan, welcomed those presented and noted the positive dynamics in the establishment of a common market of goods and services at the current stage of the Eurasian Economic Union’s (EAEU) development.

Abrahamyan also spoke about expansion of cooperation in international and other formats, as well as the closer trade and economic cooperation of EAEU with separate states, enabling to raise the EAEU development level.

In this context, Abrahamyan considered cooperation with China as one of the key issues on the meeting agenda. According to him, the establishment of legal framework of cooperation between EAEU and China will enable to not only increase the volume of trade, but also involve investments for large infrastructure projects and diversify logistical opportunities. The Prime Minster stressed the importance of the work aimed at establishing China’s Silk Road Economic Belt.

“Having a historical experience, and being the only EAEU country to have land border with Iran, Armenia is ready to implement that project,” Abrahamyan said.

The meeting also spoke about the formation of common markets in the EAEU, whose activity will enable to eliminate the obstacles on the way to the movement of goods, as well as increase the speed and volume of economic cooperation between the states.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev highlighted that regular meetings are imperative in the integration processes and solving the issues set before them. He considered it necessary to reinforce the legal framework of the Union, fully ensure the free movement of goods, services, capital and persons, eliminate the obstacles and limitations, as well as form common markets in key areas of economy.

Medvedev also attached importance to the speedy adoption of the EAEU Customs Code in order to ensure clear, foreseeable and favorable legal framework for the business community. He noted that it is necessary to develop trade and economic ties with the key partners, including China, Vietnam, Southeastern Asia and other states.

Kazakhstan’s Prime Minster Karim Massimov attached importance to the trade between EAEU and states such as India, Egypt, Iran, etc.

In his speech, Belarus Prime Minister, Andrei Kobyakov, considered formation of common markets of oil and oil products a priority, attaching importance to the adoption of the Eurasian Union Customs Code.

The session also addressed this issue, and suggested implementation of the provisions of the report on coordinated transportation policy, draft decisions of the Eurasian Economic Commission, etc.

During the meeting, Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister Sooronbai Zheenbekov stressed that targeted and consistent work with the EAEU countries is a key direction.

As a result of the session, the aforementioned documents, which strengthen the economic cooperation between the member states, were approved and signed. The document on the negotiations on signing a trade and economic agreement between EAEU member states and China was also signed.

The next session of the Eurasian Economic Commission will be held on August 12 in Sochi.

Karabakh: Armenian soldier killed amid Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting

May 17, 2016 By administrator

soldier-karabakh-border-696x464 Military authorities in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) said an Armenian soldier was killed overnight as an internationally mediated meeting between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan aimed at reinforcing the ceasefire regime in the conflict zone was in progress in Vienna, Austria.

According to the NKR Defense Ministry, 20-year-old conscript Khachatur Harutyunyan was fatally wounded at 00:50 Yerevan time at one of the positions in the southern direction of the line of contact with Azerbaijan.

The Karabakh side accused Azerbaijan of continuing to violate the terms of the April 5 verbal agreement on cease-fire on the night of May 17 by using firearms of different calibers as well as armored vehicle guns, mortars and grenade-launchers.

Particularly intensive ceasefire violations were reported in the southern (Hadrut) and eastern (Martuni) directions.

“The NKR Defense Ministry states that the whole responsibility for the consequences of the situation in the frontline lies with the Azerbaijani side,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry also reported a casualty near Karabakh overnight, accusing the Armenian side of violating the ceasefire. In a statement the military authorities in Baku also reportedly stressed the circumstance that the Azerbaijani serviceman was killed shortly after the Vienna meeting.

President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan reportedly agreed late on Monday to respect ceasefire in the conflict zone and soon resume internationally mediated talks aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the dispute.

VIENNA: Meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents kicks off in Vienna

May 16, 2016 By administrator

VIENNA armenian Azeri VIENNA. – The meeting of the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev, together with the foreign ministers of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries and Co-Chairs, has kicked off in Vienna, Spokesperson for the Armenian President Vladmir Hakobyan wrote on his Twitter page.

Earlier, President Sargsyan met with the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

Lavrov planning to join Armenian, Azeri Presidents in May 16 meeting

May 12, 2016 By administrator

Russian-Foreign-Minister-Sergei-Lavrov Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, as well as the U.S. and French foreign policy chiefs are planning to participate in an upcoming meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, RIA Novosti cited a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson as saying Thursday, May 12.

“The Presidents’ meeting is scheduled to take place in Vienna next week,” Maria Zakharova said.

A possible meeting between the leaders was said to be slated for May 16, with the parties set to discuss the situation in Nagorno Karabakh.

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, James Warlick of the United States of America, and Pierre Andrieu of France, remain fully committed to mediating a lasting settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, a statement published at OSCE website said.

“In light of the recent violence and the urgency of reducing tensions along the line of lontact, we believe the time has come for the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to meet,” the Co-chairs said.

“Our Foreign Ministers are prepared to facilitate this meeting next week in Vienna. Their main objectives will be to reinforce the ceasefire regime, and to seek agreement on confidence-building measures that would create favorable conditions for resuming negotiations on a comprehensive settlement on the basis of elements and principles under discussion.”

Syria opposition calls off meeting with UN envoy

February 2, 2016 By administrator

The main Syria opposition coalition, the so-called High Negotiations Committee (HNC), says it will not attend a planned meeting with the United Nations special envoy for Syria.

“There is no meeting with (Staffan) de Mistura,” planned for Tuesday afternoon, HNC member Farah Atassi told reporters outside of the UN headquarters in the Swiss city of Geneva, where the Syria peace talks are going on.

“We presented the demands that we wanted to demand. At this moment, there is no reason to repeat ourselves with de Mistura,” she added.

The gathering was to be the opposition delegation’s second meeting with the Swedish-Italian diplomat as part of the UN-brokered peace Geneva negotiations aimed at finding a political solution to the conflict in Syria.

United Nations spokeswoman Khawla Mattar also confirmed that there would be “no other meetings today” in Geneva with de Mistura.

Earlier in the day, the UN envoy held talks with the Damascus government delegation. The meeting came one day after de Mistura announced the beginning of peace talks proper in the Swiss city of Geneva.

Following the event, however, Syria’s ambassador to the UN, Bashar al-Jaafari, who has represented the Syrian government in the peace talks, said the negotiations are still in a preliminary phase and called the opposition “not serious”.

The ongoing Syria talks are to be held in an 18-month timetable under a resolution unanimously approved by the UN Security Council.

Adopted on December 18, 2015, the resolution calls for a nationwide ceasefire in Syria and the formation of a “credible, inclusive and non-sectarian” government within six months as well as UN-supervised “free and fair elections” within 18 months.

Some 17 nations – including the United States, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iran – held several rounds of talks last year in the broadest international push to end the crisis in Syria.

The foreign-sponsored Syrian conflict, which began in March 2011, has reportedly claimed the lives of more than 260,000 people, and displaced almost eight million others.

Karabakg: Aliyev Sargsyan meeting Saturday in Bern

December 18, 2015 By administrator

arton119994-480x270 The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet in Bern, the capital of Switzerland on Saturday for talks with international mediators hope they soothe tensions in the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The office of President Serzh Sargsyan announced the date and place of the meeting with Ilham Aliyev in a short statement. He said that the Russian and French American diplomats who cooperate with the head of the OSCE Minsk Group will also be present at the Armenian-Azerbaijani summit. The announcement was not immediately confirmed by Aliyev’s office or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan.

Mediators insist for months to the meeting being held in a context of increasing violations of the cease-fire along the “line of contact” around the heavily militarized Karabakh and Armenian-Azerbaijani border. In a joint statement issued on December 3, US Secretary of State John Kerry, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Secretary of European Affairs of France Harlem Désir had looked forward the next meeting Sargsyan-Aliyev. They urged both sides to “dispel any misunderstandings that they are not serious in order to reach a negotiated settlement.” Sarkisian and Aliyev met recently in Paris in October last year. The two leaders had considered positive the talks.

However, tensions on the front lines were revived in November 2014 by the destruction of an Armenian attack helicopter near the border of Karabakh. What had led to a resurgence of deadly violations of the truce in January.

The fighting in the conflict area, with mortars and other heavy weapons, have again intensified in early and appear to be continuing unabated. The Defense Minister of Azerbaijan Zakir Hasanov said Tuesday that his forces will lead “even more devastating strikes against the enemy. “

The Azerbaijani army has reported two other victims who died in battle in its ranks since. She said one of the soldiers, Jafarzade Rashad, was killed by an Armenian mortar fire on Wednesday night. The defense ministry in Baku said Thursday morning that the Armenian forces violated the ceasefire regime with mortars, heavy weapons and other automatic weapons 84 times over the past 24 hours.

The Karabakh Armenian army contended, for its part, that the Azerbaijani forces fired more than 260 mortar shells on front-line positions in the night from Wednesday to Thursday. In a separate statement, she also said that Azerbaijani commando units tried nocturnal incursions unsuccessful in three sections of the “line of contact” east of Karabakh. “The enemy was forced to retreat, leaving behind a number of military equipment designed for special operations,” the statement said. “The Defense Army [Karabakh] has suffered no loss in the exchange of fire that resulted in”.

Iran MP calls for postponing Erdogan’s Tehran trip

March 28, 2015 By administrator

By Arash Karami,
Iranian officials have condemned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his comments against Iran’s regional reach, and an Iranian member of parliament has asked the Foreign Ministry to postpone Erdogan’s scheduled trip to Tehran in April.

Conservative Iranian member of parliemant Ahmad Tavakoli said, “In consideration of Mr. Erdogan’s baseless comments, our Foreign Ministry must postpone his trip to Iran,” adding, “When an individual who holds the post of president of a country lacks so much respect for a neighboring country that at the beginning of his trip talks about Iran’s foreign policy, it is not necessary to show eagerness for the creation of relations.”

Tavakoli was responding to comments made by Erdogan at a March 26 press conference, when he said that “Iran is trying to dominate the region,” and that it “cannot be tolerated.” Erdogan called on Iran to withdraw forces from Yemen, Iraq and Syria. Previously, in an interview with France 24, Erdogan also expressed support for Saudi Arabia’s bombing of Yemen and said that Turkey may offer “logistical support.”

Despite supporting opposing sides in the civil war in Syria, Iran and Turkey have been able to maintain political and economic relations. But these statements by Erdogan are the harshest against Iran since the peak of Tehran-Ankara ties in 2010, when Turkey, along with Brazil, tried to broker a nuclear deal between Iran and the West.

Erdogan’s comments did not sit well with a number of other officials either. Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said, “Those who have brought about irreparable damages from their own strategic mistakes, it is better for them to adopt responsible policies toward the existing capacities to create calm in the region.” Zarif continued, “We give importance and have respect for our strategic relationship with Turkey in various fields.”

On the issue of Yemen, Zarif said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to participate with all of its brothers in the region to facilitate talks between all the various groups in Yemen to secure unity and to return stability and security to the country.”

Tavakoli said that Zarif’s comments “were not enough” and that he needs to take a firmer stance. He also rejected Erdogan’s comments that Iran is trying to dominate the region.

Spokesman for Erdogan Abrahim Kalin said that no changes have been made to Erdogan’s trip to Iran, adding that Iran is an important neighbor with strong trading ties. He added, “The latest developments in Yemen show the importance of Erdogan’s trip to Iran.”

Given that both Iran and Turkey have survived supporting opposing sides in the very bloody war in Syria, it’s doubtful at this point that Yemen will cause a drastic deterioration in ties. Syria is much more important to both Iran and Turkey. Iran has spent considerable resources supporting President Bashar al-Assad while Turkey has done the same supporting his opposition. Neither side has much of a stake in Yemen. Iran’s support for Houthi rebels is marginal for now. And Saudi Arabian bombing of Houthi rebels and forces of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh has so far received verbal support from Erdogan.

Arash Karami is the editor of Al-Monitor’s Iran Pulse and covers the Iranian media for Iran Pulse. On Twitter: @thekarami
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