Day: June 24, 2024

Armenia’s Prime Minister’s office has formally proposed to Baku to set up a collaborative mechanism for investigating ceasefire violations, after a series of accusations from Azerbaijan. 

Yerevan made the proposal through diplomatic channels on Saturday, based on ‘the will of Armenia’s Government not to allow tension’.

Earlier the same day, Armenia’s Defence Ministry refuted two accusations that they had fired at Azerbaijani positions. Over the weekend, Azerbaijan claimed that Armenian forces opened fire on their positions in Kalbajar District.

Toivo Klaar, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus welcomed the proposal, adding that the EU had for 15 years helped organise similar meetings through the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia, and was ‘ready to share its experiences’. 

This offer was first put forward by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in mid-June, in the wake of ongoing Azerbaijani accusations that Armenia had opened fire towards Azerbaijani combat positions, which Armenia has consistently denied.

[Read more: Armenia denies repeated Azerbaijani claims of clashes on border]

At the time, Pashinyan stated that the Azerbaijani accusations could have two possible motives. 

‘In one case, there is indeed a violation of the ceasefire regime; in the other, this information is being used as an attempt to escalate the situation or to create a backdrop for escalation. In all cases, neither the first nor the second is our political will,’ said Pashinyan.

The post Armenia floats ceasefire monitoring mechanism as Azerbaijan continues accusations appeared first on OC Media.

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced on June 24 that China has decided to implement a 15-day unilateral visa-free policy for Polish citizens

Azerbaijan exported just over 394.7 million kilowatt hours of electricity to Türkiye, valued at $25.14 million in the first four months of the current year, Report informs, citing the Azerbaijan State Statistical Committee.

Israel will consider the sale of additional weapon systems to Azerbaijan  Zona Militar

ISW: Islamic extremism rears its head again in the Caucasus  Факти

The Parliamentary Assembly today marked the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe at a ceremony during which the President of the National Council of Austria, Wolfgang Sobotka, directed a chamber orchestra in a performance of the Ode to Joy, and addressed the parliamentarians, meeting in plenary session.

“Since its creation, the Council of Europe has adopted more than 200 conventions, which are an essential basis for peaceful cohabitation and democratic ‘living together’ in Europe. The Parliamentary Assembly has been and will continue to be the driving force behind democracy in political matters,” Mr Sobotka said. “However, peace cannot be taken for granted; it requires the commitment of all of us, and we must defend it”, he stressed, highlighting examples of many deficits in democracy.

“In order to have the history, we need to have symbols that deeply influence people, give motivation, and uphold our values. This is why the Council of Europe decided to have its own symbols – its flag, its day, and its anthem,” said PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos, welcoming Mr Sobotka.

Underlining that the idea of the anthem took a long path, M. Rousopoulos recalled that in 1971, the Parliamentary Assembly adopted the Ode to Joy – in the fourth movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony – to be the European anthem, on the basis of the arrangement by Austrian conductor Herbert Von Karajan.

  Agenda.ge

NPR News: 06-24-2024 10AM EDT

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