“We welcome that Armenia’s Government assumed investigation of the reports. We’ll attentively follow the development of that investigation. We call on the Government to apply equal and just attitude within the law on people participating in confrontation of the police station building.”
“For two decades have I supported settlement of Armenia-Turkey relations. Yes, let me repeat once again that Turkey should actively settle its relations with Armenia, to assume new positions in the South Caucasus,” she said. However, in her words, Turkey has more actual issues demanding solution.
There is no shortage of people who could make it into the bad books of the European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, reports The Guardian.
At the end of the siege of police headquarters in Yerevan, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today sought reassurance from the foreign minister of Armenia that journalists’ rights and safety during times of civil unrest would be protected.
Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian says the peaceful settlement of the situation in the Police station was possible thanks to the Armenian leadership’s prudent, patient and balanced approach.
“I agree that dependency from Russia should be decreased, but it’s impossible to reduce that dependency without NK conflict settlement and finding proper variant in relations with neighboring countries. In fact, Armenia needs not Russia’s support but security guarantees, which all its neighboring countries may give, both Georgia and Iran, and Turkey and Azerbaijan. Without such guarantees the situation in the country will continue and will lead to more and more radicalization of the situation.”
The agreement on export of Iranian natural gas to Georgia has been concluded, Iranian bureau of Azerbaijani APA Agency reported. The signed agreement will be valid for 4 months. On the whole, 40 million cubic meters of gas will be transported to Georgia from Iran.
The gunmen are demanding the release of jailed opposition leader Jirair Sefilian as well as President Serge Sarkisian’s resignation. Sefilian is accused by the ex-Soviet state’s authorities of plotting civil unrest. He was jailed in June over allegations of illegally possessing weapons. A former military commander, Sefilian has accused Armenian leader Sarksyan of mishandling a long-running conflict between Armenian-backed separatists in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and Azeri forces.
“We are following developments with growing concern. We deplore the death of another police officer this afternoon and wish to express our condolences to his family. With a view to the growing risk of escalation, we call on all sides to show maximum restraint from violence and to refrain from provocations. The situation should be resolved and public order restored in compliance with the rule of law.”
