The Armenian Institute of International and Security Affairs
09 Sep 2022 623

December, 2022

Date

Reacting Country

Countriy(es) Concerned

Event, position, or reaction

24-Dec-22

Armenia

Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Artsakh

24 December, 2022

The interview of the Foreign Minister of Armenia to RFE/RL


Question: During the press conference with the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan in Moscow, the Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov expressed his surprise upon being informed about the non-participation of the Foreign Minister of Armenia in the trilateral meeting scheduled for December 23 from the press release of the Armenian side, but not through diplomatic channels. How would you comment on this?


Answer: And I express my surprise at the surprise of my esteemed colleague Sergey Lavrov. Taking into account the humanitarian crisis resulting from the  illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, the request of the Armenian side to postpone my meeting with he Foreign Ministers of Russia and Azerbaijan scheduled in Moscow was forwarded by the Foreign Ministry of Armenia and the  Embassy of Armenia in Russia to both representatives of the central apparatus of the Foreign Ministry of Russian Federation and the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Armenia. Otherwise, it is inexplicable how the  Foreign Ministry of Russia could announce that the Armenian side hadn’t departed to Moscow in its press release much earlier than the Foreign Ministry of Armenia announced about it and the reasons for it.


Question: Minister Lavrov's speech expressed conviction that the incidents might be continuous in case if one of the parties refuses to participate in pre-agreed negotiations each time. In your opinion, how should this be perceived?


Answer: The Armenian side has clearly indicated the reason and the necessity of postponing the meeting. The one can’t disagree that it is difficult to have constructive and productive meetings in the face of constant threats and ever-new manifestations of the use of force.
As for the conviction about further continuation of these manifestations, I believe that the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020 and the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh are meant to exclude exactly this kind of convictions..


Question: At the  press conference with Sergey Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Bayramov stated that Armenia promised to “free” eight villages in November 2020, but failed to fulfil that arrangement. How would you comment on this one?


Answer: As we have repeatedly stated, the Armenian side did not undertake such commitment either under the November 9, 2020 Trilateral Statement or in any other way. Nothing but the written, signed and publicised agreements does exist.
We believe that by speaking about such fictitious agreements the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan attempts to justify his country’s continuous and flagrant violations of the provisions of November 9, 2020 Statement.
At the same time, I must remind that Armenia has repeatedly proposed the withdrawal of troops and the deployment of the armed forces of Armenia and Azerbaijan along the administrative border between the Armenian and Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republics.

Source: https://www.mfa.am/en/interviews-articles-and-comments/2022/12/24/am_int/11802  

23-Dec-22

France

Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Artsakh

24 December 2022

President of France calls on Aliyev to ensure free movement in Lachin Corridor

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. French President Emmanuel Macron called on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to ensure free movement in Lachin Corridor.

Macron expressed deep concern over the renewed tension in South Caucasus, the Elysee Palace said in a readout of the French President’s call with Aliyev.

The French leader called for adherence to the 9 November 2020 ceasefire agreement and ensure free movement through Lachin Corridor.

President Macron spoke about the urgent need to ensure unimpeded access of humanitarian organizations and UN agencies to the affected population. “Aliyev stated his intention to ensure free movement through the corridor,” according to the readout.

Speaking about Azerbaijan’s concerns regarding “illegal extraction of natural resources”, the two presidents attached importance to maintaining the norms that are in force.

“Macron and Aliyev agreed to continue negotiations with stakeholder parties to find a sustainable political solution in the region and they will once again talk to each other in the coming weeks,” the French presidency said.
 
Azerbaijan is keeping the Lachin Corridor blocked since December 12.

Source: https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1100460/

23-Dec-22

Armenia

Armenia, France, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, OSCE, UN

23 December, 2022


Phone conversation of Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair of France Brice Roquefeuil


On December 23, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a phone conversation with Brice Roquefeuil, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair of France.


The interlocutors touched upon issues related to the normalisation of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations and the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.


Presenting the situation resulting from blockade of the Lachin Corridor, Ararat Mirzoyan emphasised that Azerbaijan's actions are aimed at creating a large-scale humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh and subjecting Nagorno-Karabakh to ethnic cleansing.


Minister Mirzoyan stressed that the international community should take efficient steps to force Azerbaijan to fully respect the provisions of the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020 and unconditionally unblock the Lachin Corridor, removing all obstacles for safe and unhindered transport communication. He emphasised the importance of sending the fact-finding mission to Nagorno-Karabakh and Lachin Corridor in order to assess the humanitarian situation, as well as the provision of unimpeded humanitarian access to Nagorno-Karabakh for relevant UN bodies.

Source: https://www.mfa.am/en/press-releases/2022/12/23/arm_fr/11800

23-Dec-22

Armenia

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Artsakh

23 December, 2022

Phone conversation of the Foreign Minister of Armenia with the EU Special Representative


On December 23, the Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a phone conversation with Toivo Klaar, the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia.


During the phone conversation the regional security and stability issues were touched upon.


Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan presented the situation resulting from the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, including the humanitarian consequences for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.


https://www.mfa.am/en/press-releases/2022/12/23/mirzoyan_klaar/11799

23-Dec-22

Armenia, USA

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Artsakh

23 December, 2022

Phone conversation of Ararat Mirzoyan and Philip Reeker


On December 23, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a phone conversation with Philip Reeker, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair of US, Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations.


During the phone conversation the security situation in the South Caucasus region, the normalization process of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, and the recent developments around the Nagorno Karabakh conflict were touched upon.

The Foreign Minister of Armenia briefed his counterpart on the situation resulting from the blockade of the Lachine Corridor by Azerbaijan since December 12, emphasizing that Azerbaijan's actions are aimed at creating a humanitarian catastrophe in Nagorno-Karabakh and subjecting the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to ethnic cleansing.


Ararat Mirzoyan also underscored that Azerbaijan violates its commitments assumed by the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020 and grossly violates international humanitarian law, highlighting the importance of a targeted response by the international community in the context of restoring the unimpeded movement through the Lachin Corridor.

https://www.mfa.am/en/press-releases/2022/12/23/mirzoyan_reeker/11798

23-Dec-22

Armenia

Հայաստան, Արցախ

Foreign Minister Mirzoyan met with the delegation of Artsakh


23 December, 2022


On December 23, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received the delegation of Artsakh headed by Acting Foreign Minister David Babayan.


During the meeting, the counterparts discussed the consequences of the blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan and the details of humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.


https://www.mfa.am/en/press-releases/2022/12/23/arm_artsakh/11797

Expert(s)

Styopa Safaryan