Russia's special envoy "actively engaged" in Yerevan-Baku talksApril 21, 2022 - 11:38 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Special Representative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia to promote the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia Igor Khovaev is "actively engaged" in that process, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told a briefing on Wednesday, April 20. "He has already held useful consultations in Yerevan. His trip to Baku in the near future has been agreed upon," Zakharova said. "The basis for dialogue are the basic principles for the establishment of international relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which were proposed by Baku, and the constructive reaction of Yerevan to these proposals." Zakharova noted that Russia’s mediation efforts are based on the "indispensable experience" of developing statements by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia dated November 9, 2020, January 11 and November 26, 2021, which "made it possible to stop the bloodshed in the region and opened up real prospects for solving the complex humanitarian tasks of restoring transport communications and delimiting Armenian-Azerbaijani border." Khovaev is also Russia's Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group. However, Zakharova said earlier that Washington and Paris curbed all contacts with Moscow within the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship on February 24 – the day Russia unleashed a war against Ukraine. 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 | 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. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” |