Armenian PM reports on 2020 government program, US to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, Apr14 digest

Armenian PM presents report on 2020 government program, US to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, 14.04.21 digest

Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 14.04.21:

PASHINYAN

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan presented the report on the implementation and results of the government program for 2020 during the parliament's regular session on Wednesday.

During his speech, Pashinyan referred to the recent Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and noted that the death toll of the Armenian side will reach nearly 4,000-4,050 people.

The PM blamed ex-authorities for the failures during the war and army generals for failure to take control of the important “Lele Tepe” hill in Artsakh.

The PM also said that Azerbaijan is doing everything to torpedo the process of opening communications.

He also noted that oil and gas played an important role in the economic strengthening of Azerbaijan. “But Armenia has a huge potential for oil in the 21st century - copper and water. Armenia should be able to do so as to export not ore, but finished products. And this is directly related to the opening of communications since the availability of a railway connection is important for investment,” the PM said.

Speaking about the Russian military base, PM said that they are discussing the issue of enriching the capabilities of the Russian 102nd military base in Gyumri city of Armenia, as well as there are effective discussions with our Russian partners on establishing an outpost of the 102nd military base in Syunik Province.

Pashinyan also said that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs expressed their readiness to continue negotiations around Nagorno-Karabakh within the previous principles.

"And one of these principles presupposes the final determination of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh," Pashinyan added.

In their statement, OSCE Minsk Group mediators also noted that they are ready to resume working trips to the region, including to Nagorno-Karabakh.

The co-chairs also urged sides to the conflict to resume political dialogue.

PARK

A “park” which displays “trophy” helmets and dummies of Armenian soldiers who were martyred in last year's war in Nagorno-Karabakh [(Artsakh)], was inaugurated on Monday by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and was widely condemned by the international community.

MEP Nikos Androulakis denounced the country’s president and stressed that he “insults the memory of the Armenian soldiers” by establishing a park of “barbarism.”

Meanwhile, System of a down star Serj Tankian noted that Aliyev will be treated like Saddam Hussein in time.

The 'trophy park' opening has been condemned by international reporters as well.

COVID-19

As of Wednesday morning, 1,075 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in Armenia, and the total number of these cases has reached 205,128 in the country.

Also, 19 more deaths from COVID-19 were registered, making the respective total 3,794 cases.

The number of people who have recovered over the past one day is 583, the total respective number so far is 184,243.

TROOPS

President Joe Biden plans to withdraw the remaining 2,500 US troops from Afghanistan by September 11, twenty years to the day after the al Qaeda attacks that triggered America’s longest war, US officials said on Tuesday.

However, the withdrawal of troops will be based on certain security guarantees. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are expected to discuss the decision with NATO allies in Brussels on Wednesday.

Biden’s decision would miss a May 1 deadline for withdrawal agreed to with the Taliban by his predecessor Donald Trump. In March, the Taliban had threatened to resume hostilities against foreign troops if that deadline was missed.