Artsakh Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan delivered a video message on December 13 warning the international community that Azerbaijanis blocking Artsakh’s only route to the outside world will lead to a humanitarian disaster.
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Business Week Armenia: Armenia leads region in economic growth
In this week’s edition of CivilNet’s weekly business digest, we take a look back at how Armenia’s economy fared last year — and what we can expect in the coming one. We also explore the Central Bank’s decision this week not to raise its refinancing rate further, as well as the annual list of Armenia’s top taxpayers. Armenia’s economic activity index tops 14% in 2022 Central Bank leaves key rate unchanged as inflation eases Mining, energy, tobacco firms dominate top taxpayers list Central Bank head predicts over 4% growth in 2023
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Karabakh blockade deprives 20,000 children of right to education
As Azerbaijan’s blockade of the only road connecting Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh stretches beyond its 50th day, schools in the region are being forced to close their doors to about 20,000 students. Breadlines too have been forming in Stepanakert. Due to the lack of power, bakeries cannot keep up with demand, and once a fresh batch is ready, residents are quick to buy whatever’s available. In response to all of this, a group of women co-signed a letter addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, calling for the EU to take action to lift the blockade.
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CSTO mission to Armenia still on the table, insists Russian
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken appointed senior foreign service officer Louis Bono as Washington’s new senior advisor for Caucasus negotiations and Minsk Group co-chair. A proposal from the CSTO, a Russian-led military alliance, to deploy a mission to the Armenia-Azerbaijan border is still on the table, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said. The Armenian government approved plans to introduce a new comprehensive health insurance system in the country.
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EU monitors head to Armenia, despite Moscow and Baku’s anger
In the latest episode of Insights with Eric Hacopian, Eric talks about Armenia’s new state budget and economic growth rates in the country. Eric also discusses the European Union’s decision to deploy a monitoring mission to Armenia, and what he thinks about angry responses coming out of Moscow and Baku about the monitors. UPDATE: The EU Delegation to Armenia notes that the author makes unverified reference about “70 French gendarmes” and the number of civilian monitors contradicting the official information about European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA – https://www.eeas.europa.eu/european-union-mission-armenia/about-european-union-mission-armenia_en).
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US pledges ‘deep engagement’ in region as Blinken appoints new
By Mark Dovich State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel pledged Wednesday that the United States is “going to continue to remain deeply engaged” in efforts to resolve the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, as Secretary of State Antony Blinken appointed a new envoy to the region. In a statement, Blinken announced he was appointing senior foreign service officer Louis Bono as Washington’s new senior advisor for Caucasus negotiations. Bono previously served at U.S. diplomatic missions to the United Nations and Holy See, among other positions. He replaces Philip Reeker, who retired last month after less than half a year in the role. Speaking […]
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Russia ready to facilitate fresh talks between Armenia, Azerbaijan
Russia has reiterated its readiness to facilitate another round of talks between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers regarding a future peace treaty between the two countries. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against an Armenian army officer in connection with last month’s fire at a military barracks in eastern Armenia, which left 15 servicemen dead.
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Action Request to End the Blockade of Artsakh
Since 12 December 2022, Azerbaijan has imposed a blockade on the only road, a lifeline, between Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) through the Lachin Corridor, isolating some 120,000 Armenians in Artsakh and causing a dire humanitarian emergency. The Lachin Corridor, a span of 10 Km, separates Artsakh from Armenia. Food, medicine and other vital supplies in Artsakh are depleting rapidly. Prior to the Azerbaijani blockade, over 400 tons of essential supplies were trucked daily from Armenia to Artsakh. As well, Azerbaijan has blocked and sabotaged intermittently the supply of gas and electricity from Armenia to Artsakh. Without reliable means for heating […]
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What can be done to avoid a new war between
The Brussels-based International Crisis Group has published a new report warning of a high probability of a new round of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan and providing a number of recommendations on what can be done to avert another catastrophic war. Credits: Ruptly