Karabakh violence: Armenian Catholicos cutting short Vatican tripSeptember 27, 2020 - 11:47 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II is cutting short his visit to the Vatican to return to Armenia after Azerbaijan launched a large-scale offensive against Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) and is shelling civilian settlements on Sunday, September 27. “Our homeland is calling on all of us to defend the rights of our nation, our sacred land, our future and our national dignity,” the Catholicos said in a statement. The Catholicos was supposed to meet Pope Francis at the Vatican but said he would be cutting short his trip to immediately return to Armenia. Armenian Defense Ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanyan has said that the Karabakh army has downed two helicopters, 14 drones, destroyed tanks of the Azerbaijani army. According to the spokesperson, the Azerbaijani military has launched an air and missile attack on Artsakh. Karabakh Human Rights Defender Artak Beglaryan has said a woman and a child were killed in Azerbaijan's shelling of civilian settlements of Martuni province in Karabakh, while two other civilians were injured. Armenian Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan has already briefed Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office, on the situation along the Karabakh contact line. Karabakh President’s spokesperson Vahram Poghosyan has said the Azerbaijani military has been shelling the civilian settlements of Karabakh, including the capital Stepanakert. The last major escalation on the contact line of Nagorno-Karabakh was in April 2016 when Azerbaijan resumed hostilities against Karabakh. Throughout the four-day military campaign, 64 soldiers, 13 volunteers and four civilians, including a child, were killed and more than 120 people were wounded on the Armenian side. According to information from the U.S. Department of State, Azerbaijan lost more than 270 people in total. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24 PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE. Cyprus parliament honors Armenian genocide victims Acting House President Zacharias Koulias noted that April 24 marks the “black anniversary” of the Armenian genocide. Armenia PM, France envoy discuss regional matters Issues related to the consistent development of Armenia-France cooperation were discussed. |