Weekly update
25 February
Representatives of Artsakh and Azerbaijan met with the mediation of the Russian peacekeeping command on Saturday, Artsakh’s presidential office reported. The blockade, however, has not been lifted. According to asbarez.com presidential spokespersons Lusine Avanesyan said issued related to the lifting of the Artsakh blockade, stable and uninterrupted gas and electricity supplies were discussed. During the meeting an agreement was reached on ensuring the uninterrupted operation of the Armenia-Artsakh gas pipeline, the repair of the power grid at the Shinuhair-Stepanakert road and the complete restoration of the power supply. “We are waiting for appropriate steps from the Azerbaijani side, which will enable our specialists to reach the place of power supply failure, assess the damage and start repair work,” Avanesyan said. “As for the removal of the roadblock, according to our data, the Russian side continues to make efforts in that direction, and we hope that there will be a positive change in that regard in a short period of time,” Avanesyan added.
https://asbarez.com/developing-agreements-reached-between-artsakh-and-azerbaijan-lachin-corridor-not-open-yet/
24 February
Following their visit to Armenia on 17-19th of February to assess the situation on the border with Azerbaijan and at the entrance of the Lachin Corridor, the co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for the monitoring of Armenia Kimmo Kiljunen (Finland, SOC) and Boriana Åberg (Sweden, EPP/CD) today made a statement on Lachin Corridor. As armenpress.am was informed from the website of the PACE, the statement reads as follows, “The situation in the Lachin corridor requires immediate action. As of today, inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh cannot travel freely out of the region and, as we were informed, 954 are still stranded on either side of the corridor. Only International Committee of the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers’ vehicles are allowed to travel along this corridor, which is clearly insufficient to fulfill the needs of the population. Moreover, it is vitally important that goods can get through in time for the sowing season. The free circulation of all vehicles must be restored urgently in accordance with the Trilateral Statement of 10 November 2020. Furthermore, the repeated disruption of gas and electricity supply to the territory has resulted in serious violations of the rights of the inhabitants: many people have already lost their jobs and children are deprived of education since schools had to close.
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1105001.html
23 February
On February 23, President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan chaired a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers. The Head of the State presented the military political and socio-economic situation developed in the republic as a result of the blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan, as well as the measures taken by the authorities aimed at the solution of the emerging issues. During the meeting, President Harutyunyan also publicized the decree on the dismissal of Ruben Vardanyan from the position of State Minister. According to armradio.am he highly appreciated Vardanyan’s efforts both in raising international awareness of Artsakh and solving numerous domestic problems during the blockade. “Ruben Vardanyan and I have been together during this whole time, following the events and developments happening both in Artsakh and in the outer world on a daily basis, we have constantly exchanged ideas about finding solutions to the current situation. I am grateful to Mr. Vardanyan for his eagerness to always share the responsibility with me to the maximum extent in both friendly and partnership relations and did not try to put it on me referring to the constitutional norms. But on the other hand, he approached with awareness and understanding to the scope and extent of my personal responsibility for the situation created in Artsakh and all future problems,” the Head of the State highlighted.
https://en.armradio.am/2023/02/23/ruben-vardanyan-dismissed-from-the-post-of-artsakhs-minister-of-state/
22 February
The International Court of Justice published the decision on Armenia's request to apply provisional measures regarding the unblocking of the Lachin Corridor. Thus, the court concludes that Azerbaijan is obliged, in accordance with its obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, to take all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions, armenpress.am reports, the decision was published on February 22. The Court reminded that by the December 7, 2021 decision, the following provisional measures were applied, The Republic of Azerbaijan shall, in accordance with its obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, (a) Protect from violence and bodily harm all persons captured in relation to the 2020 Conflict who remain in detention, and ensure their security and equality before the law; (b) Take all necessary measures to prevent the incitement and promotion of racial hatred and discrimination, including by its officials and public institutions, targeted at persons of Armenian national or ethnic origin; (c) Take all necessary measures to prevent and punish acts of vandalism and desecration affecting Armenian cultural heritage, including but not limited to churches and other places of worship, monuments, landmarks, cemeteries and artefacts. The Court further recalls that by a letter dated 16 September 2022, Armenia, referring to Article 76 of the Rules of Court, requested the modification of the Court’s Order of 7 December 2021 (the “second Request”).
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1104797.html
21 February
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received today the Civilian Operations Commander of the European External Action Service, Stefano Tomat, and his delegation, which also included the Head of the new EU monitoring mission in Armenia, Markus Ritter, armenpress.am was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister welcomed the decision to deploy the EU's long-term civilian monitoring mission in Armenia and emphasized that it will contribute to regional stability and peace. The EU Civilian Operations Commander expressed gratitude to the Armenian side for the assistance provided to the mission and referred to the work to be carried out in Armenia. At the meeting, the sides exchanged ideas on issues related to the EU civilian monitoring mission and the cooperation agenda.
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1104680.html
20 February
The European Union announced on Monday the launch of a new and more long-term monitoring mission to Armenia’s volatile border with Azerbaijan which is strongly opposed by Russia. In line with azatutyun.am it said that the 100 or so monitors sent by various EU member states will strive to “contribute to stability in the border areas of Armenia, build confidence and human security in conflict affected areas, and ensure an environment conducive to the normalization efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan.” “The total -- exclusively civilian -- staff of the EUMA [EU Mission in Armenia] will be approximately 100, including around 50 unarmed observers,” the EU added in a statement. It did not specify whether the other members of the two-year mission will carry weapons. Recent news reports said that the EU monitors will include officers of the German police and the French gendarmerie. The EU already deployed 40 civilian monitors to Armenian border areas in late October on a two-month mission agreed during an Armenian-Azerbaijani summit in in Prague. The agreement followed the September border clashes between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces which left more than 300 soldiers dead.
https://www.azatutyun.am/a/32279747.html
19 February
The European Union (EU) foreign policy chief stated that Ukraine is in dire need of ammunition to counter the Russian troops; and in order to help Kyiv, the EU plans to allocate large amounts of funds for the purchase of ammunition, writes DW. According to news.am due to the sharp shortage of ammunition in Ukraine, the EU is developing a new funding program that will enable the EU to increase its own production and transfer the necessary funds to Kyiv, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, confirmed during the Munich Security Conference. The EU is the army of Ukraine because this conflict is an existential threat to European security, Borrell said. According to him, Ukraine is now in a critical situation with respect to ammunition and military equipment, so new deliveries should take place as soon as possible—in the coming weeks. Borrell slammed the slowness of the European countries in supplying tanks and other weapons to Ukraine, and advised to move from words to action.
https://news.am/eng/news/745750.html
18 February
The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan met in Munich on Saturday for talks organized by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. According to azatutyun.am “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.
https://www.azatutyun.am/a/32277415.html