(MENAFN- AzerNews)
By Vugar Khalilov
South Caucasus Weekly Review: 15-21 Aug 22
This project of Azernews is designed to cover major
weekly developments in the South Caucasus nations
HIGHLIGHTS
Market explosion in Yerevan kills at least 16 people,
injures 60 more
Armenian, Georgian premiers inaugurate new bridge on state
border
Georgia's Shida Kartli region gets new governor
FM hails UN Security Council members for joint statement in
support of Georgia
Georgian opposition announces renewal of protests
Armenians setting fire to woodlands in Azerbaijan's Lachin
District
Azerbaijan unwilling to see peace talks imitation with
Armenia - spokesperson
Azerbaijani, Armenian security officials hold another
EU-mediated meeting in Brussels
ARMENIA
Market explosion in Yerevan kills at least 16 people,
injures 60 more
A huge explosion at a fireworks storage area destroyed a popular
market in Armenia's capital, Yerevan on August 14.
According to the country's Emergencies Ministry, the early
afternoon blast at Surmalu market killed at least 16 people,
wounded 60 others, and caused a massive fire that lasted into the
night.
The ministry added that preliminary evidence suggested that two
massive explosions pulled down part of a building containing
pyrotechnics, sparking a fire.
Around 350 firemen and rescue workers, as well as multiple
vehicles and construction machines, were dispatched to the
location. They extinguished the fires with long water hoses and
ladders, leaving charred, smoldering wreckage.
The Armenian Prosecutor-General's Office announced an inquiry
into alleged violations of 'fire regulations,' or laws governing
the storage of hazardous items.
On Sundays, the Surmalu wholesale market is typically highly
active. Eyewitness reports that the explosion happened in an area
where pyrotechnics were kept.
The market, located two kilometers south of the city center, is
popular with residents due to its inexpensive pricing and wide
range of items.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the scene of the
explosion on August 16, according to his press office.
Mourning was announced on August 17-18, by Pashinyan in
remembrance of the citizens, who perished as a result of the fire
and explosion at the Surmalu market.
Armenian, Georgian premiers inaugurate new bridge on
state border
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his Georgian
counterpart inaugurated a new Bagratashen-Sadakhlo bridge on the
state border on August 19, Azernew reports, citing the Armenian
media.
Addressing the ceremony the prime ministers congratulated each
other on the opening of the bridge, which symbolizes
Armenian-Georgian close collegial relationship and comprehensive
cooperation.
Pashinyan stated that despite the present challenging obstacles,
a considerable increase in commerce between Armenia and Georgia has
been documented as a consequence of cooperative, uninterrupted, and
persistent work.
“Nevertheless the Armenian-Georgian trade-economic relations
have greater potential. There are serious opportunities for
deepening cooperation in industry, agriculture, pharmaceuticals,
information and communication, transport, energy, tourism, and
other sectors. It is obvious that connection routes have key
significance for developing trade relations, which enable to
integrate into the world economy and ensure vital connection on the
national, regional and international levels,” he added.
The Armenian prime minister emphasized that Georgia, as a
transit nation, plays an important role for Armenia in terms of
sustainable supply of energy resources, connectivity, and
communication.
GEORGIA
Georgia's Shida Kartli region gets new
governor
Mikheil Shakulashvili has been appointed as a State
Representative in Shida Kartli.
On August 15, Georgia's Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili met
with the new governor and discussed current and pending regional
development initiatives.
Mikheil Shakulashvili was wished well in his future undertakings
by Garibashvili. In reply, the new governor expressed appreciation
to Georgia's prime minister for his confidence in him.
Shida Karli's new State Representative is a lawyer by
profession. He holds a doctorate in law. Shakulashvili held several
posts at Georgia's Prosecutor-General's Office. He is also an
adjunct professor at Alte University and Tbilisi Open University
(TOU).
FM hails UN Security Council members for joint statement
in support of Georgia
Georgia's Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili praised the United
Nations Security Council members for their united statement
commemorating the 14th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia
conflict.
“Thankful to the UNSC current (USA, Albania, the United Kingdom,
Ireland, Norway, and France), as well as incoming members (Japan
and Malta) for their joint statement to mark the 14th anniversary
of the Russia-Georgia war. Through such statements, the
international community manifests its support to Georgia and calls
on Russia to implement the EU-mediated 2008 Ceasefire Agreement,”
the minister tweeted.
The UN Security Council met behind closed doors on the 14th
anniversary of the 2008 Russia-Georgia war to address the situation
in Georgia's seized territories as well as matters related to the
Russia-Georgia conflict. Following the conference, officials from
the United Nations Member States issued a joint statement.
“We reiterate our 14 years old call to Russia to reverse the
recognition of the so-called independence of Georgia's Abkhazia and
the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, and not to impede the creation
of an international security mechanism and allow access of
international human rights organizations to both regions,” the
statement reads.
Georgian opposition to renew protests
Zurab Girchi Japaridze, a politician and the founder of the
Girchi More Freedom party, has declared a fresh round of protests
and political upheaval, Azernews reports, citing the Georgian
media.
“When we have a government that has rigged the elections and has
no legitimacy, I believe it's an obligation for every citizen not
to obey them. We must sabotage this government or the actions of
this government and do our best to get rid of them as soon as
possible. That's why I said that the aim now is to achieve snap
elections as quickly as possible by all means possible and when I
say, by all means, I mean, of course, non-violently,” he
stressed.
Instead of awarding Georgia a candidacy status, the EU issued a
list of 12 proposals with a deadline to implement them.
This decision resulted in a significant shift in the conduct of
the country's political parties. Dissatisfied with the decision,
the ruling party has become increasingly critical of their Western
allies, while the opposition is dragging its feet on implementing
the 12 principles as long as the Georgian Dream is in office.
AZERBAIJAN
Armenians setting fire to woodlands in Azerbaijan's
Lachin District
Armenians are setting fire to woodlands in Azerbaijan's Lachin
District, Azernews reports.
New photos and videos confirming the destruction of Azerbaijani
lands by Armenians have been circulating on social media for many
days. A video was released showing Armenians setting fire to the
woodlands in Azerbaijan's Lachin District. This once again
demonstrates Armenians' disregard for international law.
Armenians performed the same procedures before departing
Azerbaijan's Kalbajar District, which was agreed to be handed over
to Azerbaijan in line with the trilateral statement by the
Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders on November 10, 2020.
Currently, Lachin city is temporarily controlled by the Russian
peacekeepers to provide communication between Armenia and Karabakh
region. According to the November 10, 2020, trilateral statement,
signed by the Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders, the city
should be handed over to Azerbaijan after the completion of a new
road, which will be an alternative to the Lachin corridor.
Following the completion of the new road bypassing Lachin,
Azerbaijan has demanded Armenia clear the unlawfully occupied city
and adjacent settlements by August 25.
Azerbaijan unwilling to see peace talks imitation with
Armenia - spokesperson
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Leyla Abdullayeva has
said that Baku is unwilling to see another imitation of peace talks
with Armenia that had been going on for about 30 years prior to the
second Karabakh war (2020), Azernews reports.
She made the remarks during an interview with Musulmans de
France online magazine.
Abdullayeva stated that following the 44-day war in November
2020, Azerbaijan regained control of its regions, which had been
occupied for over 30 years.
Despite the extent of damage perpetrated by Armenia on these
territories, Azerbaijan was the side that offered a hand of
friendship to Armenia, she stressed.
“Because Azerbaijan has always kept saying that the only thing
that hampers peace between Azerbaijan and Armenian is the fact of
occupation. As the fact of occupation has been eliminated we said
that now we are ready to move and normalize the relations with
Armenia. And that's why President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was
the first one to come up with an idea of peace to sign a
comprehensive peace agreement with Armenia,” she underlined.
According to Abdullayeva, the political will of both sides is
very important for establishing sustainable peace in the
region.
She, however, clarified that Azerbaijan does not want to repeat
the imitation of peace talks that had been carried out by Armenia
for almost 30 years.
Azerbaijani, Armenian security officials hold another
EU-mediated meeting in Brussels
EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis
in Georgia Toivo Klaar met with Azerbaijani presidential aide
Hikmat Haciyev and Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen
Grigoryan in Brussels on August 19, the EU Special Representative
said in a tweet.
“Good and substantive discussions in Brussels today on
Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and EU engagement with
@HikmetHajiyev and Armen Grigoryan,' the tweet read. No details of
the meeting have been reported yet.
Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan and the
Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmat Haciyev met in Brussels in
early May. The meeting was also hosted by EU Special Representative
for the South Caucasus Toivo Klaar.
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