RA Ambassador to NATO briefs on history and consequences on Karabakh conflictMarch 27, 2010 - 11:35 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Ambassador to NATO Samvel Mkrtchyan addressed the students and teaching staff of Lessius University College, Antwerp, with a lecture on Armenian and South Caucasus security. Representatives of European Commission and other international organizations were also attending. Ambassador Mkrtchyan briefed on priorities of Armenia's security policy, membership in the CSTO, development of partnership with NATO, relations with Georgia and Iran. He dwelled on the history and consequences on Nagorno Karabakh conflict, discrimination policy of Azerbaijan and its aggression against the peaceful population of Artsakh. Besides, he touched upon the process of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, RA MFA press office reported. The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |