(MENAFN- AzerNews)
By Vugar Khalilov
South Caucasus Weekly Review: 29 Aug-4 Sep
22
This project of Azernews is designed to cover major
weekly developments in the South Caucasus nations.
HIGHLIGHTS
Iran launches new power transmission line to
Armenia
Armenian, Russian leaders mull cooperation, Karabakh
issue
Armenia, Iran eye strengthening economic co-op, boosting
trade turnover
Georgia pledges steadfast support to Ukraine
Georgia, Israel eye expanding cooperation
Georgian parliament to discuss EU's 12-point
recommendations
Azerbaijani, Armenian leaders meeting in Brussels in
anticipation of achieving a breakthrough in negotiations
Azerbaijani defense chief attends various Victory Day events
in Turkiye
Turkish air force pilots arrive in Azerbaijan to join
upcoming drills
Iran launches new power transmission line to
Armenia
A new power transmission line to Armenia has been launched as
part of over 2,000 electricity-related projects in Iran's East
Azerbaijan region, Azernews reports, citing Armenian media.
The 90-kilometer Jerez-Meghri power transmission line can export
400 kilowatts of electricity from Armenia.
Armenian, Russian leaders mull cooperation, Karabakh
issue
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President
Vladimir Putin discussed mutual cooperation and the situation
around Karabakh on August 29, Azernews reports, per the Armenian
PM's Office.
During the phone conversation, the leaders expressed optimism
that the mutually beneficial Armenian-Russian ties will continue to
develop and flourish in an effective manner. They also discussed a
variety of issues on the Armenian-Russian agenda.
The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh was also discussed. The need
to constantly follow the trilateral accords of November 10, 2020,
January 11 and November 26, 2021, was highlighted in
particular.
Meanwhile, Moscow expressed support for Yerevan's efforts to
bolster its defense capabilities and border security, as well as
normalize relations with its neighbors.
This was highlighted in the Russian Foreign Ministry statement
issued on the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on
Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between Armenia and
Russia.
“We are inclined to help Yerevan in the future as well from the
positions of a key ally in strengthening its defense capabilities
and border security, normalizing relations with its neighbors. We
are convinced that the strict observance of November 10, 2020,
January 11 and November 26, 2021, trilateral agreements are the
path to stability in the region. The Russian peacekeeping
contingent remains a key factor in ensuring security in Nagorno
Karabakh. We sincerely value the friendship with brotherly Armenia
and are inclined to further strengthen the Russian-Armenian allied
relations for the prosperity of our countries and peoples”, the
Russian FM stated.
On September 1, during a phone call, Armenian Foreign Minister
Ararat Mirzoyan and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov discussed
the course of implementation of the trilateral agreements (November
10, 2020, January 11, and November 26, 2021) on Karabakh.
“An agreement was reached to continue contacts soon,” the
Russian foreign ministry said.
Armenia, Iran eye strengthening economic co-op, boosting
trade turnover
Armenia and Iran intend to strengthen bilateral economic
cooperation, improve trade turnover volumes, and strengthen
contacts between the two nations' businessmen, Azernews reports,
citing Armenia's Deputy Economy Minister Armen Arzumanyan.
Arzumanyan made the remarks during a meeting with the delegation
led by Governor of Iran's East Azerbaijan Province Abedin Khorram
held as part of the Armenian-Iranian Business Forum in Yerevan on
September 1.
Armenia and Iran's commercial turnover is increasing. When
compared to the same period in 2021, the first six months of 2022
saw a significant increase. It was roughly $307 million in 2022 and
$224 million in the same period of the previous year. We anticipate
more intense growth in the second part of the year, Arzumanyan
said.
In turn, Khorram emphasized that Iran's purpose is to contribute
to increasing bilateral trade turnover with Armenia. The provincial
governor also addressed various issues in the customs sector,
noting that efforts should be made to resolve them. He expressed
optimism that significant accomplishments will be recorded during
the visit.
“We are here in order to be able to further develop the
bilateral relations. Our key goal is to develop the relations of
the East Azerbaijan province with the Armenian side so that as a
bordering province to be able to increase that cooperation and the
export volumes,” Khorram said.
He added that Iran also plans to enter the markets of the
Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the European Union (EU) through
Armenia.
GEORGIA
Georgia pledges steadfast support to
Ukraine
Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili pledged Georgia's support to
Ukraine during a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro
Kuleba, Azernews reports, citing the Georgian media.
The top diplomats came together within the framework of the
informal ministerial meeting of the EU foreign ministers that took
place in Prague.
Darchiashvili reiterated to his Ukrainian colleague Georgia's
unwavering support for Ukraine and expressed optimism that the war
would stop soon and peace and stability would be restored in the
country.
Darchiashvili, along with his Ukrainian and Moldovan colleagues,
attended the informal Gymnich conference of the European Union
foreign ministers on August 30-31, in Prague, at the invitation of
the Czech Republic (which is now rotating chair of the EU).
The Georgian minister stressed the Associated Trio's (Georgia,
Ukraine, Moldova) importance in the region and their European
integration efforts. The ministers appreciated the Associated Trio
countries' invitation to the informal meeting of EU foreign
ministers as a demonstration of the EU's strong and ongoing support
for these nations.
The European Commission's decision to open the European
perspective for the Trio countries was highlighted and the
implementation of the European Commission's recommendations by the
countries was discussed.
Georgian, Israel eye expanding cooperation
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and the new Israeli
ambassador to Georgia, Hadas Meitzad, discussed the expansion of
bilateral cooperation between their countries on August 30.
In conformity with the Georgian Foreign Ministry (MFA), the
meeting focus was on deepening cooperation in trade, economics, and
tourism, as well as evaluating the two nations' views.
“The dignitaries also reviewed the regional challenges and
confirmed their readiness to continue active work on bilateral and
multilateral agenda issues,” the ministry added.
Georgian parliament to discuss EU's 12-point
recommendations
In its fall session, which begins on September 6, the Georgian
Parliament will assess the EU's 12-point proposals on the country's
candidacy for membership in the organization.
During the same timeframe, the parliament will have to make
various personnel choices, including the election of the CEC
chairperson and professional members, as well as the new Public
Defender.
Furthermore, during the fall session, the ruling team takes the
initiative to implement constitutional revisions and recommends to
parliament that the prosecutor-general be elected with a 90-vote
quorum. The constitutional revisions to be tabled will be presented
before the parliament's bureau session on September 5.
Meanwhile, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has criticized
the government for not attending the discussion of the 12-point
proposals in Brussels.
“It is very strange to me that no one from the Georgian
government has gone to Brussels in order to have at least some
initial discussion on these twelve recommendations,” President of
Georgia Salome Zurabishvili said at a briefing.
She noted that the Association Council will be held the next
week, where the prime minister is also invited, and this will be a
good opportunity that should not be missed.
“A very serious moment is starting now, as in a week the
association council will be held, where the prime minister is
invited to, and this will be the first important meeting after the
summer and the recommendations. I would like to emphasize once
again that it is very strange to me that no one from the government
went to Brussels to have at least some initial discussion on these
twelve recommendations,” she stressed.
AZERBAIJAN
Azerbaijani, Armenian leaders meeting in Brussels in
anticipation of achieving a breakthrough in
negotiations
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister
Nikol Pashinyan met for the fourth time in Brussels on August 31
under the auspices of EU Council President Charles Michel to look
into ways of expediting preparations for drafting a peace deal,
Azernews reports.
This was the fourth meeting of its kind being held under the
auspices of EU Council President Charles Michel. The meeting
discussed the normalization process between Azerbaijan and
Armenia.
The third Brussels meeting took place between the leaders at the
initiative of European Council President Charles Michel on May 22.
At that meeting, the sides focused on the situation in the South
Caucasus, the development of relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan
with the EU as well as the broader region.
After the meeting, Michel said that Azerbaijan and Armenia
decided to accelerate substantive work on the peace treaty
governing inter-state ties between the two countries and tasked the
foreign ministers to meet within a month to work on a draft text of
a peace deal.
The parties also thoroughly discussed humanitarian matters like
demining, detainees, and the fate of missing people.
The leaders assessed progress on all issues relating to border
delimitation and how to best guarantee a stable situation and
agreed that the next Border Commissions meeting to be held in
Brussels in November.
The parties discussed the status of negotiations on the
mechanisms for unblocking transportation lines.
Michel emphasized the need for bringing the populations on both
sides along and preparing them for long-term sustainable peace.
“Public messaging is critical in this regard – in a sensitive
situation as every word spoken in public is obviously listened to
by the other side and weighed,” he said.
Azerbaijani defense chief attends various Victory Day
events in Turkiye
Azerbaijani Defense Minister Col-Gen Zakir Hasanov attended
various Victory Day ceremonies organized in Turkiye, Azernews
reports per the Defense Ministry.
On August 31, Hasanov visited the Turkish National Defense
University as part of his working visit to Turkiye and attended a
concert program commemorating the 100th anniversary of Victory
Day.
Similarly, Azerbaijan's defense minister participated in the
graduation ceremony of the Turkish Naval and Air Force academies,
where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a congratulatory
speech on August 31, the ministry said.
The representatives of the Azerbaijani military attache's office
in Turkiye congratulated the Azerbaijani troops, who were given the
military ranks of warrant officer, and wished them good luck in
their future military duty.
Turkish air force pilots arrive in Azerbaijan to join
upcoming drills
A group of Turkish air force flight and technical personnel
arrived in Azerbaijan to attend the TurAz Falcon -2022 (TurAz
Qartali) joint flight-tactical drills, Azernews reports, citing the
Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.
“The work on staff accommodation, exercise planning, and other
organizational issues are underway to get prepared for the
exercises,” the ministry said.
The joint flight-tactical drills kicked off on September 5, it
added.
Azerbaijan and Turkiye actively collaborate in various military
spheres. Often the air, sea, and naval forces of the two countries
conduct joint tactical drills.
The joint exercises aimed to improve the interaction between the
two countries' army units during combat operations and develop the
commanders' military decision-making and unit management
skills.
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