https://twitter.com/liveuamap/status/1481920198651387905?s=21
https://twitter.com/theragex/status/1481598008559120385?s=21
Gayane Abrahamyan - journalist, former My Step MP
Arshaluys Mghdesyan - journalist, CivilNet
Tatul Hakobyan - journalist, ANI Research Center
Abrahamyan: Armenian and Turkish envoys met today. What's interesting is Turkish side wants future meetings to be one-on-one, held in Armenia or Turkey.
Mghdesyan: we witnessed a certain cooperative approach today. The post-meeting statements released by AM and TR were almost identical. It's possible that there already are some diplomatic channels between the two. The important part of the message is that Turkey agrees to continue the talks without preconditions.
This time the AM-TR negotiations have a slightly better chance to succeed. Obviously, "success" means different things for each side. For Armenia it's important to open the borders, not to tie this issue to the Karabakh conflict, etc. For Turkey, it's about the Karabakh conflict and Azerbaijan.
But after the war, it's beneficial for Turkey to normalize the relations. What they had asked Armenia to do in 2008 has been accomplished through the war, and even more. Of course, they could try to corner Armenia and demand more, but they understand that doing so would lead to no results and would only strengthen Russia's role and sponsorship of Armenia.
If Turkey ever wants to become an "alternative" in the region, it should want open borders, establish relations with Armenia, and hope that the future Armenian generation doesn't view it as a threat anymore.
Hakobyan: Turkey will of course gradually demand conditions as the negotiations advance. Nevertheless, the situation has changed and Turkey doesn't want to have a 320km Turkey-Russia border. If Turkey threatens Armenia's sovereignty, it will have a Russia-Turkey border again.
Turkey is not yet a regional "player". They only have around 60 soldiers deployed in Azerbaijan to monitor Karabakh. That's not much. It's not Turkey, after all, that deployed the peacekeepers.
Mghdesyan: for Turkey to become "second Russia" in the region, it needs Armenia. Armenia is the key.
Hakobyan: the question is, is it possible that Russia might not want AM-TR border to open? ... Armenia should establish good relations with all neighbors to be an independent and sovereign state.
Mghdesyan: if we keep our border closed by focusing on the idea that Turkey is a potential threat because opening the border could allow them to conduct "dangerous economic expansion", then by that logic, Russia sho
... keep reading on reddit ➡This is your 13-minute Tuesday briefing in 3377 words.
##the Hague court demands Azerbaijan to prevent the spread of racial hatred against Armenians
The International Court of Justice has published the decision over Armenia’s application on taking interim measures against Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan must prevent the spread of racial hatred against Armenians.
Azerbaijan must ensure the security of those taken captive during or after the war and guarantee their equality before the law [but doesn't have to return them as part of this verdict.]
Azerbaijan should take measures to prevent the spread of racial hatred against people of Armenian descent, including by officials and state bodies.
Azerbaijan should take all necessary measures to prevent and punish all cases of vandalism and acts of desecration of Armenian cultural heritage.
The Court has essentially ruled that Armenophobia is at the state level in Azerbaijan. The court did not require Azerbaijan to close the Saddam Park in Baku.
As for Azerbaijan's counter-claim against Armenia, only a small part was satisfied. Armenia will take measures to prevent individuals and organizations from spreading anti-Azeri ethnic hatred. [so it doesn't find that the racism is at the state level in Armenia?]
The court did not require Armenia to share landmine maps.
Both parties are asked to "calm down".
Armenia's lawyer Yeghishe Kirakosyan welcomed the verdict and hopes it will be implemented ASAP.
https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070122.html https://hetq.am/hy/article/138728 https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070134.html
Tags: #Hague
##Foreign Ministry provides details about Sochi meeting and prior negotiations about unblocking regional communication:
[Nothing new if you've been reading the daily news.]
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None of the statements made on Nov 9, Jan 11, and Sochi (Nov 26) include any agreements or promises about a "corridor".
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Nov 9 says both parties are willing to open the routes. Armenia guarantees the safety of transport communication between Azerbaijan and the Nakhijevan Autonomous Republic.
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Jan 11 meeting led to the formation of a working group tasked with unblocking routes.
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Jan 11 states that deputy premiers will explore the main directions of unblocking efforts, by forming a working group consisting of various experts.
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Jan 11 says the working group will draft a document for leaders to sign. It will be about conducting international transfe
So Belarus is getting absorbed into Russia?
