Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson of US State Department referred to the withdrawal of Russian Peacekeepers from Nagorno-Karabakh.    “We were not party to the negotiated trilateral arrangement that ended the fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020 and established Russian troops in that region. Frankly, we’ve not seen anything to indicate that Russia’s military was contributing…

Georgia’s parliament on Wednesday (April 17) approved the first reading of a bill on “foreign agents” that the European Union said risked stifling freedoms and blocking the country’s path to membership.   The fate of the bill is widely seen as a test of whether Georgia, 33 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union,…

Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, stated that the so-called “Foreign Agents Law” re-introduced by the ruling Georgian Dream party “is not consistent with Georgia’s EU aspiration and its accession trajectory.” He emphasized that the adoption of this law “will bring Georgia further away” from the EU.   “The Georgian people have chosen…

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned on Wednesday that the “tiniest invasion” by Israel would bring a “massive and harsh” response, as the region braces for potential Israeli retaliation after Iran’s attack over the weekend, Asharq Al-Awsat reports.   Raisi spoke at an annual army parade that was relocated to a barracks north of the capital,…

A physical confrontation occurred between rally participants and police on Chichinadze Street, the area adjacent to the Georgian Parliament building, 1tv.ge reports.   The rally participants claim that law enforcement officers are trying to force them to leave Chichinadze Street, where they are now located.   “They are already jazzing hands. They have moved on…

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has said that carrying out the defensive operation and punishing the Zionist regime was the only option left for Iran, IRNA reports.    He made the remarks in a phone call with Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres while referring to Operation Truthful Promise.    He said that although…

Head of the Office of The Representative on International Legal Matters Yeghishe Kirakosyan delivered opening remarks during a hearing of Application of The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination (Armenia V. Azerbaijan) in International Court Of Justice, The Hague, The Netherlands, on April 16, 2024. He spoke on it during oral…

The first Canadian expert has joined the EU Mission in Armenia.   “Thrilled to welcome the first Canadian expert Alexander Grushevskiy to EUMA. Canada is the first Third Contributing State supporting the Mission,” the EU Mission said in a post on X.  

Recently, the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross visited the Armenians held in Azerbaijan, including the former military and political leadership of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).   Zara Amatuni, head of the ICRC delegation’s communication programs, informed ‘Lurer’ that the delegates checked the health condition of the persons, the way they are treated there,…

On April 12 Ambassador Lilit Makunts had a meeting with Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Alabama), Armenian Embassy to the USA reports. “The interlocutors discussed current security challenges in the South Caucasus, the prospects of peace process between Armenia and Azebaijan, pending humanitarian issues”, the Embassy said in a statement.

On April 12 Ambassador Lilit Makunts had a meeting with Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Alabama), Armenian Embassy to the USA reports. “The interlocutors discussed current security challenges in the South Caucasus, the prospects of peace process between Armenia and Azebaijan, pending humanitarian issues”, the Embassy said in a statement.

Swedish delegation from the Swedish Agency for Peace, Security and Development, the Swedish Police and the Swedish Contingencies Agency visited the Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in Yeghegnadzor, Ijevan, Martuni, Jermuk, Goris and Kapan to meet with the Swedish Mission Members, the EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) said in a post on X.   “Sweden is…

“The Transparency bill fully aligns with legal principles. We are ready to engage in discussions with our European, American, or local Georgian partners,” stated the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Georgian Public Broadcaster reports.   Kobakhidze emphasized that transparency is indispensable in a democratic society…

Ali Akbar Velayati, adviser on international affairs of the spiritual leader of Iran, referred to the Armenia-US-EU trilateral meeting held in Brussels. According to the Tasnim news agency, Velayati accused the West of interfering in the affairs of the South Caucasus, creating threats to the security of countries in the region and preparing the ground…

The international organization “Freedom House” published the “Nations in transit 2024” report, where Armenia received 35 points out of a possible 100 and was ranked among the countries with “Transition or hybrid regime”. Azerbaijan received 1 out of 100, thus being considered as authoritarian regime.   The report in particular said:    In the South…

The Armenian Foreign Ministry mentioned the victims of the Maragha pogroms on its X page.   “On this day, 32 years ago pogroms against Armenians in town of Maragha in Nagorno-Karabakh became yet another part of Azerbaijan’s policy of ethnic cleansing. More than 50 civilians were brutally killed, as many were taken captive, the rest…

The launching event of the Council of Europe’s comprehensive response package to the refugee influx in Armenia will be organized on April 11, Council of Europe Press office reports.   This package includes six Council of Europe projects, which aim to safeguard the human rights of the affected population.   Deputy Prime Minister of the…

Matthew Miller, US State Department Spokesperson referred to  latest development in South Caucasus and possible upcoming meetings between Armenian and Azerbaijani delegations.    “We have made very clear that the path forward for resolving this conflict is ultimately at the bargaining table. I don’t want to speak to any upcoming meetings, but we have always…

French Ambassador to Armenia Olivier Decottignies, said his country provides Armenia with weapons, many would love to have.    “France has a military gear everyone’s desperate to get – and France is providing it to Armenia!”, said the diplomat on X, sharing POLITICO’s article about the arms deal between France and Armenia.

A third individual died in hospital following a tragic explosion at the shooting range on Bochorma Street in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi earlier today, agenda.ge reports.   The Interior Ministry said one of its employees was among the deceased and extended condolences to the families of the victims of the incident, which killed three people and…

Former Turkish Foreign Minister  Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu issued a statement warning the West not to empower Armenia.   “Turkey will give Azerbaijan three times more than the West has transferred to Armenia. If the West provokes a war, strengthening Armenia again, Turkey will be on Azerbaijan’s side,” Çavuşoğlu said and added that if the West gives…

From April 20, the visa regime for citizens of Tajikistan will begin to operate in Turkey, the Tajik ‘Khovar’ state agency reports, referring to the country’s Foreign Ministry. Following Ankara’s decision, Dushanbe advised its citizens not to use Turkey as a transit travel country. This was announced by the Press Secretary of the Ministry of…

Speaking to Radio Liberty station, EU foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano referred to the proposals of former European officials on strengthening Armenia’s security. ՞We are aware of many proposals from various actors, but according to the working rules of the European Union, issues related to relations with third countries are discussed by the member states,…

Iran vowed on Friday to avenge Israel’s killing of senior commanders and other officers of its elite Quds Force, at a public funeral held for the dead men, elevating fears of open war but leaving unsaid how it would retaliate or when, The New Times reports.   U.S. officials in Washington and the Middle East…

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan referred to his meeting with USA and EU leadership in Brussels.    “Had excellent consultations with US and EU colleagues on expanding cooperation to strengthen Armenia’s economic, humanitarian, democratic resilience”, Pashinyan said in a post on X.

Ani Badalyan, Spokesperson of Armenian Foreign Ministry announced the upcoming visit by Secretary General of the Council of Europe.   “Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić will pay an official visit to Armenia on April 8. Along with other high-level engagements, Council of Europe  Secretary General will have a meeting with…

In response to the “Voice of America” inquiry about US-France cooperation and possible perspectives in the South Caucasus, the United States Department of State stated: “The United States, together with our EU partners, is committed to promoting a peaceful and prosperous future for the South Caucasus region. We are committed to support Armenia-Azerbaijan peace negotiations….

Reuters. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the start of a cabinet meeting on Thursday (April 4) that Israel will “hurt Iran” to defend itself against Tehran that he said “has been working against us directly and through its proxies”.   Israel has not claimed responsibility for an attack on an Iranian consular building in…

Turkey says USA-EU-Armenia meeting on April 5 “will not contribute to peace in the South Caucasus region”.    Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement, which says: “It is our responsibility to underline clearly that the trilateral meeting between Armenia, the EU and the USA on 5 April will undermine the neutral approach that should be…

The Supreme Election Council (YSK) has accepted the appeal of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) against Van Provincial Electoral Board’s decision to “deem Abdullah Zeydan unelected” as the mayor of Van Metropolitan Municipality and to hand over the mandate to the second ranked candidate.    The Van Provincial Election Board had decided…