10:30,
DUSHANBE, SEPTEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The narrow-format meeting of leaders of the CSTO member states has kicked off in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
The Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is also in attendance.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is taking part online.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
The solemn opening ceremony of the Salento International Film Festival took place with the screening of “Gate to Heaven”, a film about the April 2016 war in Artsakh by Jivan Avetisyan, the Union of Cinematographers of Armenia reported on Friday.
“Gate to Heaven” centers around 50-year-old Robert Stenvall, a European journalist, who returns to Artsakh in 2016 to cover the war which has been reignited after a 22-year ceasefire. During his time in Artsakh, Stenvall meets Sophia Marti, 35, a young opera singer, who happens to be the daughter of missing photojournalist Edgar Martirosyan, whom Robert abandoned in captivity during the fall of the village of Talish in 1992. Robert and Sophia’s frequent rendezvouses ignite a passionate romance.
The film features Tatiana Spivakova, Sos Janibekyan and Naira Zakaryan in lead roles and its Armenian and Artsakh premiere took place in 2019.
“Gate to Heaven” is a co-production of Armenia, Lithuania, Finland and France.
15:45, 7 September, 2021
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received today Ambassador of France to Armenia Jonathan Lacôte on the occasion of the completion of his diplomatic mission, the PM’s Office told Armenpress.
Pashinyan stated that Mr. Lacôte’s tenure in Armenia coincided with the period full of various developments for Armenia and the region.
“That period not only did not leave a negative impact on the Armenian-French unique relations, but also made the bilateral partnership more closer”, Pashinyan said.
He added that there are broad opportunities for developing the partnership between the two friendly countries in different areas.
Pashinyan noted that the governments of Armenia and France are interested in developing and expanding the cooperation which is based on centuries-old friendship between the Armenian and French peoples.
At the same time, he highlighted the key role of France as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair country.
Touching upon Armenia’s chairmanship at the International Organization of La Francophonie, Pashinyan said that the challenges caused by the pandemic and the war didn’t allow Armenia to be active within the organization. However, he expressed confidence that the cooperation within the organization will become more effective and closer.
“All these difficulties have not put a shadow on our relations with France, and we should highlight your personal contribution to this. We will view you as friend of Armenia and will be happy to see you again in our country”, Pashinyan told the French Ambassador.
The Ambassador thanked the Armenian PM for the appreciation and stated that his tenure was marked by both heavy and happy moments for Armenia.
“I have emotional memories from the peaceful revolution held in Armenia. The recent events in the country showed that democracy is irreversible in Armenia, and that the Armenian people could be proud of it”, Jonathan Lacôte said, adding that France will continue the close cooperation with Armenia in different areas, including in promoting the reforms.
The meeting also touched upon the process of joint programs and the future activities.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Heads of Armenian, Georgian parliaments meet in the sidelines of 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments
20:02, 7 September, 2021
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS. In the sidelines of the 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Kakha Kuchava on September 7.
As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the parliament, during the meeting the President of the National Assembly of Armenia noted that Armenia attaches great importance to the sustainable development of friendly relations with Georgia and the deepening of multidimensional cooperation, adding that the cooperation based on the Armenian-Georgian mutual trust is an important factor for security, peace and sustainable development in the region. Alen Simonyan informed his colleague that he attaches great importance to the close cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries and the Armenian-Georgian friendship group will be re-formed in the parliament soon, which will promote further effective cooperation.
Speaking about the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Alen Simonyan thanked for all the efforts made by Georgia in this process. Speaker of the Georgian parliament Kakha Kuchava once again congratulated Alen Simonyan on the occasion of being elected President of the National Assembly, assessing it as a good opportunity for giving new impetus to bilateral cooperation. He expressed satisfaction over the activities of the parliamentary friendship groups during the previous convocation of the National Assembly, expressing confidence for more effective cooperation in the future.
Alen Simonyan pointed out the construction of the "Friendship Bridge", which is of strategic importance, expressing conviction that it would best contribute to the deepening of the cooperation of the neighboring states, the growth of trade turnover, development of infrastructures and tourism. He noted that this program, funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the governments of Armenia and Georgia, can become a symbol of centuries-old Armenian-Georgian friendship.
20:50, 6 September, 2021
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Suren Papikyan met with Regional Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for Caucasus, Moldova and Belarus Catarina Bjorlin Hansen, who was accompanied by Head of EBRD Yerevan Office Dmitry Gvintadze.
As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of Suren Papikyan, the Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the close cooperation of the Government of the Republic of Armenia with the EBRD, noting that as a result, many ongoing and already successful programs have been implemented. He singled out the construction of the Kotayk-Gegharkunik landfill as the first of its kind in Armenia and as a successful example of joint work with the EBRD. Suren Papikyan stressed that the development of infrastructure is one of the priorities of the Armenian Government, where there are broad opportunities for cooperation. Taking into account the new programs to be launched in the sidelines of the EU €2.6 billion assistance, the Deputy Prime Minister stressed the role of the EBRD in their implementation, considering it as one of the main partners.
Regional Director of the EBRD for Caucasus, Moldova and Belarus Catarina Bjorlin Hansen congratulated Suren Papikyan on assuming the post of the Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia, noting that given the experience of productive cooperation in the past, understanding each other and moving forward will be easy.
The parties discussed the medium-term, long-term priorities of the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the ways of working together with the EBRD. Deputy Prime Minister Suren Papikyan noted that the development of the sphere of infrastructures is extremely important for the Government, in particular, emphasizing the implementation of programs in that direction in Syunik. He pointed out the directions of road construction, water pipeline installation, construction of reserviors, tourism development and use of green energy. The Deputy Prime Minister touched upon the importance of the construction of the "North-South" highway corridor for Armenia, focusing particularly on the construction of the Sisian-Kajaran section with all its components.
During the meeting, the issues of modernization of Yerevan buses, development of green energy, reservoir construction, construction of landfills were touched upon. The parties expressed readiness for intensive and full cooperation for the implementation of the programs.
The residents of several villages of Armenia’s Ararat Province on Saturday closed off the Pokr Vedi village section of the Yerevan-Yeraskh motorway—and again in protest in connection with grape procurement, shamshyan.com reported.
A large number of police officers arrived at the scene.
These grape growers demand a meeting with the governor of Ararat and a representative of the government.
During the last Cabinet session of the government, Deputy Prime Minister Suren Papikyan announced that there would be no more cases when the grape growers would block roads without justifications.
15:24, 3 September, 2021
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS. A magnitude 3,3 earthquake hit near the Armenian-Georgian border at 14:29 on September 3, the Armenian Seismic Protection service said.
The quake was recorded at a 10km depth some 13km north-east from the village of Bavra in Shirak province. It measured 4-5 on the MSK scale at the epicenter.
The earthquake was felt in nearby villages at MSK 3.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
01:36,
STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 28, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh’s Minister of Labor, Social and Migration Affairs Mane Tandilyan has announced on social media that she is going to resign on September 1.
Mrs. Tandilyan informed that from September 1 she will continue her service to Artsakh within the frames of the activity of “Artsakh To Live” foundation which will implement numerous programs in Artsakh.
“Nearly 80% of the population of Artsakh has returned to live. This means that Artsakh is getting rid of the post-war social-psychological burden and stands on the development and strengthening path which became possible due to work and commitment. Now it’s the time for long-term programs and economic boost”, she said in a statement.
Tandilyan thanked all her colleagues in the government, the ministry staff for the joint work and for the opportunity to serve Artsakh.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
TEHRAN – As Azerbaijan moves forward with reconstruction projects in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, new spheres of cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan have emerged, an Azerbaijani expert tells the Tehran Times.
Decades-long disagreements between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh came to an end in November last year, when the two warring sides agreed to a Russian brokered ceasefire deal that put an end to a 44-day devastating war between Baku and Yerevan.
The war wreaked further havoc on a region already suffering from destruction and rubble. But the Russian-brokered ceasefire paved the way for Azerbaijan to reconstruct the region and prepare it for the return of the displaced people who fled the region as a result of the war in the 1990s.
Many foreign firms are involved in the Nagorno-Karabakh reconstruction, with Iran being a geographically well-positioned party to play a role in that regard.
The Azerbaijani expert, Seymur Mammadov, who is the director of the international expert club EurAsiaAz and editor-in-chief of Azerbaijani news agency Baku Tribune, explained to the Tehran Times how Iran can play a role in the reconstruction.
“Iran and Azerbaijan have great potential for expanding cooperation in many areas. In the post-war period, there is a possibility of increasing bilateral trade turnover several times. At the moment, there are new conditions for expanding bilateral cooperation in the field of rehabilitation of the recently liberated areas,” Mammadov told the Tehran Times.
“For example, Iranian companies producing industrial and building materials could participate in construction projects in the liberated areas. As far as I know, Iran intends to create a market for building materials near the liberated territories of Azerbaijan,” he continued.
Following is the full text of the interview:
Q: In what stage is the process of reconstruction of the liberated cities of Nagorno-Karabakh? What are the plans of the Azerbaijani government in this regard? Is there a specific deadline for reconstruction projects?
A: The process of restoration of the liberated regions of Azerbaijan is being actively pursued and taking into account the historical traditions of the region. Azerbaijan has developed comprehensive programs to restore the liberated territories of the country, taking into account the most modern trends in the field of urbanization. On the lands liberated from the 30-year-old Armenian occupation in the Karabakh region new settlements will be built and large infrastructure projects will be implemented. Most of the settlements in the liberated regions of the country, including the cities of Aghdam, Fizuli, Jebrail and Zangilan, were virtually wiped out and turned into “ghost towns”.
In the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, it is planned not only to restore and reconstruct [the] destroyed and abandoned settlements, but also to implement modern concepts for their arrangement, including such as Smart City and Smart Village. The foundation of one of the first “smart villages” was laid in the Zangilan region. The first smart village in the area will be ready by January 2022. Internally displaced persons will be provided with new housing completely free of charge. The creation of “smart” villages in the liberated territories consists of five components: "smart housing", social security facilities, agricultural functions, production and ecology. Solar energy, wind energy and hydroelectric power plants will be used to support the new settlements. According to the state program until 2030, "green" alternative energy should become the main priority of the country. What is the concept of "Smart Village" for? One of the main goals of creating such villages in the world is to prevent urbanization. The second important point is that the “Smart Village” concept allows people to earn more than in the city.
As for the specific deadlines for the implementation of projects, it all depends on how quickly the process of demining the liberated territories will proceed. In order to resolve this issue, Yerevan should transfer all minefield maps to Baku. The Armenian side has handed over to Azerbaijan all the maps of minefields in the Aghdam, Fizuli and Zangilan regions. Of course, the availability of these maps will facilitate and speed up the work of the repair and construction companies involved in the restoration of the liberated areas. However, as the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said, by the end of 2021, the entire electric economy will be established in the liberated lands – both in Karabakh and in “Eastern Zangezur.”
Q: Is Iran involved in the Karabakh reconstruction projects? If so, in what areas is it involved? What plans does the Republic of Azerbaijan have for reconstruction in the liberated areas bordering Iran? Does the Republic of Azerbaijan have joint projects with Iran?
A: As you know, the Azerbaijan-Iran border was completely restored after the Second Karabakh war. And in 2016, an Iranian-Azerbaijani agreement was signed on hydropower facilities and reservoirs Khudaferin and Giz Galasy.
After the end of the war, President Ilham Aliyev instructed the government to create a working group from the Azerbaijani side. And today the construction of the Khudaferin and Gyz Galasy reservoirs on the Araz River is already being completed in Azerbaijan. In accordance with the agreement signed with Iran, Baku and Tehran will jointly use these reservoirs.
Today Iran and Azerbaijan have great potential for expanding cooperation in many areas. In the post-war period, there is a possibility of increasing bilateral trade turnover several times. At the moment, there are new conditions for expanding bilateral cooperation in the field of rehabilitation of the recently liberated areas.
For example, Iranian companies producing industrial and building materials could participate in construction projects in liberated areas. As far as I know, Iran intends to create a market for building materials near the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. It is also expected that in the near future a Khudaferin border-customs point will open on the state border of Iran with Azerbaijan.
In addition, I would like to add that after the Second Karabakh War, cases of illegal drug trafficking from Iran to Azerbaijan have become more frequent. Border guards are killed during the shootings from the Azerbaijani side. This factor causes concern in Azerbaijani society. It seems to me that Baku and Tehran should create a joint working group of law enforcement agencies to prevent such incidents on the Iranian-Azerbaijani border.
Q: Israel is said to be involved in the Karabakh reconstruction and even intends to build a smart town in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. What Israeli companies are present in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and what projects are they involved in?
A: It's no secret that Azerbaijan and Israel cooperate in many areas, including cooperation in the military sphere. Modern Israeli weapons purchased by Azerbaijan, especially drones, played an important role in the Karabakh conflict. Therefore, it is not surprising that today Israeli companies are interested in cooperating with Azerbaijan in the liberated territories. Azerbaijan, in turn, is interested in attracting foreign investments to restore the liberated territories. Of course, official Baku will give preference, first of all, to those countries that supported Azerbaijan in the Second Karabakh War. An Israeli company intends to create a buffalo farm in the liberated Zangilan. This project will be managed by an Azerbaijani company. The essence of this project is that an Azerbaijani company is building housing and all the infrastructure in the area, and an Israeli company is building a dairy farm for breeding buffaloes. The products will be transferred to an Italian company, which will open a processing plant to use this milk to produce cheese that will be sold on the local and foreign markets.
Q: Is the speed of accomplishing transportation projects in Karabakh has something to do with the corridor connecting the region to the Nakhchivan exclave? Does the Azerbaijani government have a plan to build trade links between Nagorno-Karabakh and the Nakhchivan region?
A: Today, Azerbaijan is interested in the early implementation of transport projects in the liberated territories. Most of the road and rail projects are implemented here. An international airport in Fizuli is also under construction. All these projects in the future will be integrated into the transport project "Zanguzur corridor", which will connect Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through the territory of Armenia.
On November 9, 2020, the heads of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia signed a tripartite ceasefire statement. According to the 9th paragraph of the statement, "The Republic of Armenia guarantees the safety of transport links between the western regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic in order to organize the unimpeded movement of citizens, vehicles and goods in both directions."
By agreement of Azerbaijan and Armenia, as noted in the statement, the construction of new transport communications linking the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic with the western regions of Azerbaijan will be provided. Unblocking of transport communications will allow Azerbaijan for the first time in 30 years to establish communication with the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, and Armenia through the territory of Azerbaijan will receive railway access to Russia and Iran, and potentially to Turkey. This will create additional opportunities for the development of Armenia. In addition, there will be access to the Turkish market and to the Turkish and Russian railway arteries. Thus, a new five-sided cooperation platform with the participation of Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran and Armenia can be created in the South Caucasus region.
Several road projects have already been launched in the territories liberated from the occupation and are being successfully continued. These projects will play an important role in the socio-economic development of the regions and villages liberated from the occupation. The Horadiz-Jebrail-Zangilan-Agbend road is also of strategic importance, since it is part of the Hajigabul-Horadiz-Agbend-Zangezur transport corridor and is very important in terms of connecting Zangilan with other regions of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
In addition, Azerbaijan plans to complete the construction of a railway to the border with Armenia within two, maximum 2.5 years. Budget funds have already been allocated for this and work is underway.
15:20,
YEREVAN, JULY 26, ARMENPRESS. Coronavirus cases have been growing in Armenia recently, however, the growth is not so drastic, caretaker Minister of Healthcare Anahit Avanesyan told reporters.
“The growth is not drastic, is quite gradual. Nevertheless, we understand that we will have a danger of a new wave in the future, especially in the first half of autumn”, she added.
As for the Delta variant of COVID-19, Anahit Avanesyan said they do not have a sample yet. According to her, that variant is already circulated in Armenia because its borders are open both with Russia and Georgia which have confirmed coronavirus cases with Delta variant.
According to the latest data, 112 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Armenia, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 228,910. 5049 COVID-19 tests were conducted on July 25. 106 patients have recovered in one day. The total number of recoveries has reached 219,168. The death toll has risen to 4590 (3 death cases have been registered in the past one day). The number of active cases is 4037.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan