Day: June 28, 2024

YEREVAN (Azatutyun.am)—The head of the European Union’s monitoring mission on Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan, Markus Ritter, on Friday backed Yerevan’s proposal to jointly investigate with Baku ceasefire violations reported from there.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan floated the idea on June 15 following a series of statements by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry that accused Armenian forces of opening fire at its troops at various sections of the border. The Armenian side categorically denied the claims.

Pashinyan’s office said on June 22 that it has communicated to Baku through unnamed “diplomatic channels” a proposal to create a “bilateral mechanism for investigation” of such claims. The EU’s special envoy for the South Caucasus, Toivo Klaar, welcomed the proposal.
Ritter also hailed it when he spoke during a security conference in Yerevan. What is more, he said his monitoring mission is ready to participate in the proposed joint investigations.

“But it is up to the two conflicting sides to decide whether the EU could have a role there,” added Ritter. “This is a political decision that needs to be made in Yerevan and Baku. Of course, it would be very good to involve the EU monitoring mission.”

Azerbaijan has still not responded to the Armenian proposal. For its part, Yerevan has publicized no details of the mechanism suggested by it.

The Azerbaijani government has previously rejected repeated Armenian calls for a mutual withdrawal of the two countries’ troops from their long and volatile border. Observers believe that it is unlikely to accept the proposed joint inquiries either and will keep up instead pressure on Yerevan in ongoing talks on an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty.

Azerbaijan as well as Russia have repeatedly criticized the EU mission over the past year. Despite the criticism, the 27-nation bloc decided late last year to deploy more observers in Armenia.

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The United States on Friday signaled its support for Armenia’s recent arms acquisitions from France, telling reporters that “every state has the right to self-defense.”

The statements were made by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James O’Brien, who is visiting Baku and addressed Azerbaijani officials’ concerns about the recent announcements made by Yerevan and Paris.

“We see that Azerbaijan also is working in this direction,” O’Brien said, referring to Baku’s own buttressing of its military capabilities.

“We have heard the reports about Armenia buying weapons from France. This is also an indication that there is little trust between the parties, which is understandable given the 30-year conflict,” O’Brien added.

He noted that the parties are working towards peace and confidence-building measures. O’Brien also cited Armenia’s support for Baku in hosting the upcoming United Nations climate summit, known as COP29, later this year. mentioned that Armenia’s supporting Azerbaijan’s hosting of COP29, the release of Armenian detainees, and the border delimitation process were positive steps, and he appreciated these steps.

After holding talks with President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and his foreign minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, O’Brien wrote on the X social media platform that he and Aliyev had a “serious discussion on a range of issues.”

“The U.S. wants a strong relationship with Azerbaijan. We welcome bold leadership to complete a peace agreement with Armenia without delay,” O’Brien said.

“We are very clear with President Aliyev that this is a time to make peace,” O’Brien told the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday, ahead of his visit to Baku.

In Baku, O’Brien emphasized that the U.S. sees a real opportunity for peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

He added that “resolving the conflict comprehensively would be beneficial for the region as a whole, as well as will have economic benefits.”

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Armenia’s Accepts Invitation

The United States has invited Armenia and Azerbaijan to an upcoming NATO summit in Washington that will mark the 75th anniversary of the Western security alliance.

Jame O’Brien, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, announced the invitation during a press briefing on Friday in Baku, where he is meeting with Azerbaijani officials to discuss regional matters including the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is hosting an event for all of NATO’s partners. That includes Armenia and Azerbaijan, so we expect them both to attend it. That’s the foreign ministerial level. So they will attend along with the other, a total of 30 partners,” O’Brien emphasized.

Armenia’s Foreign Ministry was quick to confirm the invitation and Yerevan’s participation in the event.

“Armenia has received an invitation to participate in the partner event of the NATO summit in Washington and related events marking the organization’s 75th anniversary, and has confirmed its participation,” Armenia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan told Armenpress.

The Azerbaijani Turan news agency had reported Thursday, citing diplomatic sources, that on July 15, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will be in Washington, where they may hold talks.

Armenia’s foreign ministry did not confirm whether Pashinyan will attend the event or hold talks with Aliyev.

The U.S. has been pushing Armenia and Azerbaijan to sign a peace treaty as quickly as possible.

While visiting Yerevan earlier this month, O’Brien told Azatutyun.am that a peace deal is important to Washington, because it would not only end the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, but also reduce Russian influence in the region and facilitate a new trade route from Central Asia to Turkey passing through Armenia.

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Amnesty law in Georgia

The Georgian government plans to pass an amnesty law before the elections, announced prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze during his report to parliament. According to Kobakhidze, the law will be adopted in September, a month before the parliamentary elections.

Kobakhidze highlighted the importance of “significantly reducing” the number of inmates, which currently stands at about 10,000.

Herman Sabo, a member of the Girchi party, questioned Kobakhidze about the amnesty.

“A list of relevant articles and provisions of the Georgian Criminal Code that may be associated with the release of individuals under the amnesty has already been compiled. In the coming days, we plan to introduce the corresponding bill. We will likely need to hold a special session in July to discuss these issues. The bill can be passed in its first reading in July, with the final adoption of the amnesty law in three readings by September,” stated Irakli Kobakhidze.

Amnesty law proposal by opposition

On February 28, part of the opposition submitted an amnesty bill to parliament. The bill was authored by the Girchi party, with co-authors from the National Movement, Strategy Aghmashenebeli, European Socialists, Aleko Elisashvili, Khatia Dekanoidze, and Tariel Nakhaidze.

If passed, the bill would reduce the sentences of nearly all inmates, except those convicted of crimes against minors.

Girchi party leader Iago Khvichia claims that the amnesty would also apply to Mikheil Saakashvili, but Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili insists that amnesty for the former president is “out of the question.”

Former prime minister Giorgi Gakharia’s party also opposes amnesty for those convicted of official misconduct. “Looking at history and considering today’s context, we cannot accept concessions regarding official crimes,” says For Georgia party member Alexandre Motserelia.

According to the bill:

• Sentences for serious and especially serious crimes would be reduced by one-quarter.
• Sentences for less serious crimes would be halved.
• Sentences for drug-related and official crimes would be halved.
• Life sentences would be reclassified to 30 years.

The explanatory note states that Georgia today has one of the highest incarceration rates in Europe and that its criminal code is more “repressive than Soviet-era legislation.”