Exchange of Accusations Despite Peace Agreement Announcement... Tensions Threaten Azerbaijani-Armenian Peace Deal
The reconciliation process between the two countries faces fundamental challenges related to mutual trust, especially with continuing border incidents and repeated accusations of violating agreements
March 16, 2025, 8:55 pm

Exchange of Accusations Despite Peace Agreement Announcement... Tensions Threaten Azerbaijani-Armenian Peace Deal

Photo by Specna Arms: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-wearing-military-uniform-and-walking-through-woods-1927974/

Azerbaijan reported today, Sunday, that the Armenian armed forces opened fire toward positions in its territory from the Syunik region in southern Armenia, while Yerevan categorically denied these claims.

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense stated in an official statement that Armenian elements used light weapons this morning from the Goris area, without providing additional information about the incident.

In contrast, the Armenian Ministry of Defense emphasized that Azerbaijan's statements do not match the reality on the ground.

The neighboring countries had announced last Thursday that they reached a "peace agreement" after rounds of negotiations aimed at ending the decades-long conflict between them.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov told the media that "the negotiation process on the text of a peace agreement with Armenia has been completed."

Following this, the Armenian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that "the peace agreement is ready for signing. The Republic of Armenia is ready to start consultations with the Republic of Azerbaijan regarding the date and place of signing."

In an indication of the ongoing tensions clouding relations between the two Caucasus countries, Armenia criticized in its statement Azerbaijan's issuance of a "unilateral" announcement, while Yerevan preferred that the announcement be "joint."

Baku and Yerevan fought two wars for control of Azerbaijan's Karabakh region, which is predominantly populated by Armenians. The first war followed the collapse of the Soviet Union and was won by Armenia, while the second in 2020 was won by Azerbaijan, before Baku completely took control of the region through a 24-hour attack in September 2023.

Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the two countries have been involved in multiple border clashes, with Russia, European Union countries, and the United States making efforts to mediate between the parties to resolve existing disputes.

Bilateral negotiations continued throughout the past years, swinging between progress at times and escalation at others.

In January, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan revealed significant progress, indicating that only two items of the agreement remained unresolved.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Minister announced that "Armenia has accepted Azerbaijan's proposals regarding the two items of the peace treaty."

Baku, which enjoys greater economic resources and broader military capabilities than its neighbor thanks to its strategic alliance with Turkey, looks to Armenia to amend its constitution with regard to the declaration of independence and its references concerning the disputed Karabakh region.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.