Phone conversation between Armenia and France

21 November, 2020

 Foreign Ministers of Both Countries discussed the matter 

On November 21, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Aivazian held a phone conversation with the Foreign Minister of France Jean-Yves Le Drian.

The Foreign Minister of France congratulated Ara Aivazian on assuming the position of the Foreign Minister and wished him every success in that important mission. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Aivazian reiterated the commitment of the Armenian side to undertake joint steps towards further development of the privileged relations and multidimensional cooperation between the two countries.

The Foreign Ministers exchanged views on regional situation and developments following the joint statement of November 9 on the establishment of ceasefire and the deployment of peacekeepers in Artsakh. The humanitarian situation resulting from the Turkish-Azerbaijani aggression in Artsakh and the steps undertaken to address it was touched upon. In this regard, Minister Aivazian highlighted the involvement of the international community in the work carried out on the ground aimed at ensuring conditions for restoration of normal life of the Armenians in Artsakh.

Both sides emphasized the priority of preserving the monuments of the Armenian historical-cultural heritage in Artsakh.

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and France: Ara Aivazian and Jean-Yves Le Drian, highlighted the importance of cooperation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to fully address the rights and interests of the Armenians of Artsakh.

Armenia circulated a Note

 On the suspension of military inspections 

Armenia circulated a Note Verbale in the OSCE on the suspension of military inspections by Turkey on the territory of the Republic of Armenia.

ISIS no longer in control of physical territory

 OIR Follows in Predecessors' Footsteps in Defeating ISIS 

23rd July 2020//By Terri Moon Cronk DOD News

A member of the Iraq Federal Police with the 13th Brigade practices an assault movement at Besmaya Range Complex, Iraq, Aug. 6, 2018. A coalition created from a diverse international community will continue its support of the people of Iraq to enhance the capabilities of the nation to ensure security and stability.

The Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve coalition has achieved great success in its mission to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the deputy commander of CTJF-OIR said in a live satellite feed from Baghdad.

In an update on the coalition's operations, Air Force Maj. Gen. Kenneth P. Ekman emphasized that the success in defeating ISIS is built on the triumphs of predecessors and Iraqi and Syria partners. 

With ISIS no longer in control of physical territory, Ekman said the organization struggles to conduct coordinated activities, because Iraqi security forces find and destroy their hideouts and weapons caches. ISF efforts are enabled by coalition support, including advising, intelligence planning and precision airstrikes, he added. 

Four members of the Iraq Federal Police conduct an exercise.

Members of the Iraq Federal Police assigned to the 13th Brigade, practice squad movement drills at Besmaya Range Complex, Iraq, Aug. 5, 2018. A coalition created from a diverse international community continues its support to the people of Iraq to enhance the capabilities of the nation to ensure security and stability.

''The ISF continues to prove their capabilities as a cohesive force, even in complex operations,'' he said, citing how the Iraqi Joint Operations Command recently wrapped up the fourth phase of the Heroes of Iraq Campaign. They showed outstanding cooperation among the Iraqi army, Federal Police intelligence service and anti-terrorism troops in clearing ISIS hideouts in remote areas. 

''Wherever [ISIS] seeks sanctuary, the ISF will find them,'' Ekman said.

Progress also is evident in coalition reposturing, he said. 

''We are getting smaller. In the early days of the coalition, a broad network of bases was essential. We were battling ISIS in Mosul, Anbar and Abu Kamal ,'' he said, noting that the bases were used to foster U.S. relationships with the ISF and stage training and tactical capabilities. 

Members of the Iraq Federal Police practice urban squad movements at Besmaya Range Complex, Iraq, Aug. 1, 2018. A coalition created from a diverse international community will continue its support to the people of Iraq to enhance the capabilities of the nation to ensure security and stability.

A member of the Iraq Federal Police kicks in a door as two other police men back him up during training in Iraq.

Now, more than six years later, the coalition has trained in excess of 250,000 ISF and has built strong relationships based on trust and mutual interests, the general said, adding, ''The ISF is doing things for itself — training forces and even developing training cadre that we used to do for them.'' 

On July 25, he added, ''we will take another step by handing over control of the base Besmaya to the Iraqis. Spain led the coalition effort in their training of 50,000 ISF since 2015. Their work is done there.''

So the coalition in Spain can depart — divesting equipment and facilities to include enhanced weapons ranges and mock-urban villages, valued at almost $5 million to the Iraqi government. 

Base transfers to include Besmaya reflect a shift to providing high-end advice and support at the operational command level. Because the Iraqis still need coalition help with planning, intelligence and surveillance capabilities and coalition airpower, OIR activated a military advisory group July 2 in Baghdad, Ekman said. 

The centralized location allows military advisors from 13 coalition nations to work alongside senior Iraqi officers to plan and execute operations against ISIS across all provinces in the country, he noted. 

A member of the Iraq Federal Police aims a gun.

''This approach has already proven its value in recent large-scale operations, to clear [ISIS] remnants,'' Ekman said. ''The ISF is already stronger than ISIS. Our high-level advising approach is moving our Iraqi partners to improve self-reliance. Together, we remain united and resolved to achieve the enduring defeat of [ISIS] and regional stability.''

After recently traveling to northeast Syria, the deputy commander highlighted the coalition's close partnership with the Syrian Democratic Forces and their success against ISIS. 

''They are capturing ISIS lieutenants, busting smuggling networks and denying [ISIS] territory, critical infrastructure and revenues. Overall, the SDF is a strong, capable force, and we are committed to partnership with them,'' Ekman said.

The general reminded reporters of the selfless service of U.S. troops. ''Yesterday, we lost one of our young warriors, who was conducting a security patrol in northeastern Syria,'' he said. ''On behalf of our commander, [Army] Lt. Gen. Pat White and the entire 82-member coalition, we send our condolences and prayers to the families of our fallen comrade.'' 

Now is the time to show solidarity

30 March 2020//Statement

Our common goal is enhancing food security  

Millions of people around the world depend on international trade for their food security and livelihoods. As countries move to enact measures aiming to halt the accelerating COVID-19 pandemic, care must be taken to minimize potential impacts on the food supply or unintended consequences on global trade and food security. 

When acting to protect the health and well-being of their citizens, countries should ensure that any trade-related measures do not disrupt the food supply chain. Such disruptions including hampering the movement of agricultural and food industry workers and extending border delays for food containers, result in the spoilage of perishables and increasing food waste. Food trade restrictions could also be linked to unjustified concerns on food safety. If such a scenario were to materialize, it would disrupt the food supply chain, with particularly pronounced consequences for the most vulnerable and food insecure populations. 

Uncertainty about food availability can spark a wave of export restrictions, creating a shortage on the global market. Such reactions can alter the balance between food supply and demand, resulting in price spikes and increased price volatility. We learned from previous crises that such measures are particularly damaging for low-income, food-deficit countries and to the efforts of humanitarian organizations to procure food for those in desperate need.

We must prevent the repeat of such damaging measures. It is at times like this that more, not less, international cooperation becomes vital. In the midst of the COVID-19 lockdowns, every effort must be made to ensure that trade flows as freely as possible, specially to avoid food shortage. Similarly, it is also critical that food producers and food workers at processing and retail level are protected to minimise the spread of the disease within this sector and maintain food supply chains. Consumers, in particular the most vulnerable, must continue to be able to access food within their communities under strict safety requirements.  

We must also ensure that information on food-related trade measures, levels of food production, consumption and stocks, as well as on food prices, is available to all in real time. This reduces uncertainty and allows producers, consumers and traders to make informed decisions. Above all, it helps contain ‘panic buying’ and the hoarding of food and other essential items.

Now is the time to show solidarity, act responsibly and adhere to our common goal of enhancing food security, food safety and nutrition and improving the general welfare of people around the world.  We must ensure that our response to COVID-19 does not unintentionally create unwarranted shortages of essential items and exacerbate hunger and malnutrition.