EU-Armenia relations are at a historic stage | Petros Ghazaryan’s interview with EU Ambassador to Armenia Vasilis Maragos.

The work on the peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan can be completed already this year. Toivo Klaar, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, on Friday stated this at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey, and adding that the EU is engaged in the process of establishing stability and…

The U.S. Senate on Thursday soundly defeated an effort to stop the $23 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits to Turkey, which President Joe Biden’s administration approved after Turkey approved Sweden’s joining the NATO alliance, Reuters reports.   The Senate voted 79 to 13 against a resolution of disapproval of the sale…

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock referred to her meeting with Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts.    “Armenia and Azerbaijan take the courageous and at the same time difficult path to a peace treaty. We as the Federal Government support the peace talks wherever possible. So that wounds can heal and peace can be successful for people….

The Freedom House published the “Freedom in the World 2024” report, in which it was noted that in 2023, freedom in the world declined for the 18th year in a row. Political rights and civil liberties have been violated in 52 countries, and only 21 countries have recorded improvement.   The document referred to the…

The European Union cannot afford to let Russia win the war in Ukraine regardless of what happens in the United States after the presidential elections, Ursula von der Leyen has said, Euronews reports.   “The simple truth is we do not have the luxury of comfort. We do not have control of elections or decisions…

The authorities of Armenia have spoken about the readiness to open regional communications on the basis of the principle of sovereignty and jurisdiction within the framework of equality and reciprocity. Azerbaijan, in fact, did not refuse such an approach. Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), stated this at…

Russia said on Wednesday it would adopt unspecified military-technical and other counter measures to protect itself against Sweden joining NATO, a move it cast as aggressive and as a mistake, Reuters reports.   Sweden cleared a last hurdle towards NATO accession on Monday after Hungary’s parliament approved membership of the traditionally neutral Nordic country.  …

Former premier of the ex-USSR Nikolay Ryzhkov died, Valentina Matviyenko, Chairperson of the Federation Council of Russia, informed about this on Telegram.   Matviyenko, however, did not mention the causes of Ryzhkov’s death.   Ryzhkov was the last chairman of the Council of Ministers of the former USSR; his successor, Valentin Pavlov, was already the…

Reuters. Chief of Ukraine’s intelligence Kyrylo Budanov said on Sunday (February 25) that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died from a blood clot.   Speaking to media on the sidelines of a panel discussion devoted to the second anniversary of war in Ukraine, Budanov said Navalny’s death was due to natural causes and “it was…

The EU Delegation in Yerevan joins Armenians in mourning Sumgait pogroms victims.   “The EU Delegation expresses its deep condolences to all those who lost relatives and friends 36 years ago in Sumgait. We all need to continue with strongest efforts to achieve reconciliation and a sustainable and lasting peace in order to make sure…

Iran demands elimination of the entire global stockpile of nuclear weapons, because it poses the greatest threat for humanity, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said at the Conference on Disarmament.    “Iran demands total elimination of all nuclear weapons, which is the greatest man-made threat for the entire humanity. A total elimination of nuclear weapons…

China has introduced a visa-free travel regime for Georgian citizens, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced at today’s Cabinet meeting, Georgian Public Broadcaster reports.   Georgian citizens can now stay in China visa-free for up to 30 consecutive days.   “This decision is of great significance as it not only facilitates travel for our fellow citizens…

Nobody is privatizing Armenia, French Ambassador to Armenia Olivier Decottignies wrote in his X microblog. “No flag planting here. Armenia is nobody’s backyard, but a friendly country and democratic nation whose sovereignty and territorial integrity France supports,” Decottignies wrote in X (former Twitter) commenting on the article of the Politico periodical, in which it was mentioned…

The US Department of State responded to the inquiry of the Armenian service of Voice of America regarding the statements made by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan about Armenia’s membership in the CSTO and the steps taken by Yerevan in the field of defense.   “We respect the desire of Armenia as an independent country to…

The Russian Foreign Ministry also responded to the statement of Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in an interview with France 24, according to which Armenia practically “froze participation in the CSTO structures”, because the alliance did not fulfill its obligations towards Armenia.   The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that Armenia continues to be a full…

 U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday (February 22) met the wife and daughter of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died last week, “to express his heartfelt condolences,” the White House said.   During the meeting in California, Biden expressed his admiration for Navalny’s “extraordinary courage and his legacy of fighting against corruption and…

Seven economies within the Northern Africa and Western Asia region move up the ranking, including notable improvers Georgia (65th), Bahrain (67th), Jordan (71st) and Armenia (72nd), said the Global Innovation index report.    “Switzerland continues to be the uncontested innovation world champion, Singapore makes the top five, and Indonesia joins China, Turkey, India, the Islamic…

Matthew Miller, US State Department Spokesperson, referred to the prospects of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations during his regular press briefing.    In Munich last week, the US State Secretary Antony Blinken met with Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders. “Does he still believe that the peace is within reach?”, Miller was asked   “He still does believe that peace…

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in Brussels on Wednesday (21 February 2024) to discuss further strengthening the Alliance’s long-standing partnership with Georgia, NATO press office reports.   The Secretary General emphasised that Georgia is a close partner and reiterated NATO’s full support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity….

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal described the current position of the country’s army on the battlefield as unfavorable and noted that the Russian Armed Forces have an advantage in the air. He spoke about the situation in the conflict zone in an interview with a Japanese television channel NHK.   Last week, Russian troops dropped…

Azerbaijani fitness trainer Kamil Zeynalli was detained at Moscow’s ՛Domodedovo՛ airport. The issue of his detention is under the control of the Embassy of Azerbaijan to Russia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic informed.   Zeynalli stated on his Instagram social network page that he was brought to the police station because Armenia…

Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Tuesday said Georgia had to accelerate the implementation of reforms, including those of the Association Agreement, to meet the nine steps outlined by the bloc to open accession talks with the country, agenda.ge reports.   Being a candidate country requires a…

Eighty years to the day after his execution by the Nazis at Mont-Valérien Fort (near Paris), Armenian resistance fighter Missak Manouchian will enter the Panthéon on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, accompanied by his wife Mélinée, France Television reports.    Missak Manouchian is the first foreign and Communist resistance fighter to be buried at the Panthéon.  …

President of the European Council Charles Michel referred to his meeting with Armenian Prime Minster Nikol Pashinyan.    “Good discussion with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on EU-Armenia relations and Armenia-Azerbaijan normalisation. The agenda of peace, stability and prosperity for the South Caucasus is high on EU’s agenda”, Michel said in a post on X.

An extended meeting between the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan took place in Ankara.   During the negotiations, the parties discussed the entire range of bilateral relations, as well as the steps aimed at further deepening of cooperation. In addition, current regional issues were in the center…

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that the goal of Armenia’s foreign policy is the protection of the country’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.   “Our country’s interest should be the goal of our foreign policy vector,” Pashinyan said when asked whether the Armenian government plans to change the vector. “Now, are we pursuing the…

In the provision 9 of the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, there is nothing that a corridor will pass through the territory of Armenia, it is impossible to find it, there is no such thing that any other country will control any territory of Armenia, we are talking about regional communications. You also know…

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.   According to an Ukrinform correspondent, the two leaders spoke in English.   At the beginning of the meeting, President Zelensky wished peace to the people of Azerbaijan and emphasized the good ties between the…

US State Secretary Antony Blinken and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met in Munich, US State Department reports.  Secretary Blinken:  Well, good afternoon, everyone, Mr. President.  I very much appreciate this opportunity to spend time with President Aliyev.  We’ve had many opportunities over the last few years to speak and to meet.  I think this…