Macron involved in Armenian POW issue, ambassador saysMay 1, 2021 - 11:45 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - France is involved in the issue of the return of the Armenian prisoners of war from Azerbaijan at the level of President Emmanuel Macron, French ambassador to Yerevan Jonathan Lacôte said Friday, April 30, the Armenian service of RFE/RL reports. The ambassador noted that one of the reasons for a recent phone call between Macron and Russian leader Vladimir Putin was that there was no progress in the release of Armenian prisoners of war, whereas the matter needs to be settled urgently. Lacôte revealed that Macron spoke to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the evening of April 24, one day before the phone call with Putin. The French President is trying to activate the OSCE Minsk Group, and Russia, a part of that process, is present in Nagorno-Karabakh, he added. According to the ambassador, the goal is to resume the political process to discuss problems that are not regulated by the November 9 document, as there are "a number of issues" that need to be addressed by the OSCE Minsk Group. Several dozen Armenian POWs have returned from Azerbaijan so far, although Armenian officials say many more people were being held in Baku. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev claims, however, that persons being kept in Baku are not prisoners of war but “terrorists and saboteurs”. Officials and human rights advocates from the Armenian side, however, maintain Azerbaijan is still holding hundreds of people hostage, pledging to submit evidence proving the capture of said persons to international agencies and courts. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. |