Author: Boris Nahapetian

 19:30,

YEREVAN, JUNE 22, ARMENPRESS. Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Ani Badalyan, in response to the media's inquiry, commented on the June 21 statement of the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, regarding the incident that took place in the Lachin Corridor on June 15, urging the signatories of November 9, 2020 declaration and other tripartite statements accepted by the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan, to steadily implement their commitments, instead of seeking justifications.

ARMENPRESS reports, answering the question "how will you interpret the statements made by the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry on June 21 regarding the incident near the Hakari Bridge on June 15?", the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia stated,

"In response to the comment of the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, I consider it necessary to mention the following.

1. The incident of June 15 did not take place in the Lachin Corridor, as the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry notes, but in the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, on the Armenian side of the Hakari Bridge.
2. There is a clear contradiction in the interpretation of the Russian side. If, due to the lack of delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, it is not possible to say exactly where the border line passes, and this is the reason for the ongoing problems, as the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry claims, then the question arises on what basis and principle the Azerbaijani flag was being raised on June 15 on this particular part of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, on this side of the bridge. By the way, let us record that this same thesis is regularly repeated verbatim by the Azerbaijani side when carrying out aggressive actions against the borders of the Republic of Armenia and invading the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia.
3. It is not clear why Russian peacekeepers participated in that operation of Azerbaijan, when both the purpose and even the location of the operation were clearly outside the scope of the peacekeepers' functions and responsibility. We remind that the only function of the Russian peacekeepers was to keep the 5 km wide corridor of Lachin under control.
4. By the way, after the June 15 incident, the Azerbaijani side completely blocked the Lachin Corridor, as a result of which even humanitarian supplies, including food and medicine, are not being delivered to Nagorno-Karabakh, even seriously ill persons in need of medical care are not being transported from Nagorno Karabakh to Armenian medical institutions through the ICRC, , gas and electricity supply continues to be interrupted.

In conclusion, we would like to urge the signatories of November 9, 2020 declaration and other tripartite statements accepted by the leaders of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan, to steadily implement their commitments, instead of seeking justifications.

 12:06,

YEREVAN, JUNE 19, ARMENPRESS. The parliamentary committee on foreign relations has approved the simplified travel agreement between Armenia and Georgia signed in early 2023. The agreement will be included in the plenary session of parliament for ratification.

Armenian and Georgian nationals will be enabled to enter the two countries by producing only ID cards. Passports will no longer be required upon crossing the border. 

Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sargis Khandanyan attached importance to the agreement in terms of bilateral relations. He said the agreement will simplify the life of citizens, especially those who travel frequently to the neighboring country.

 18:43,

 11:23,

YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. A meeting between Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov is planned to take place soon in Washington D.C., Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Friday.

“As difficult as it is, our work in the direction of normalizing relations with Azerbaijan and establishing peace must be continuous, we must be consistent in this issue,” PM Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting.

“A meeting between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan is planned to take place soon in Washington. And I hope that the certain progress recorded during the previous Washington meeting will develop,” Pashinyan added.

 19:58,

YEREVAN, JUNE 12, ARMENPRESS. Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Artsakh Gegham Stepanyan and Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan had an online discussion with representatives of the Armenian Bar Association of America, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh.

During the meeting, information was provided on the fact-finding activities carried out by the Human Rights Defenders’ institutions regarding human rights violations in Artsakh and border communities of Armenia as a result of the crimes committed by Azerbaijan, as well as information on the work carried out on the international platforms regarding the humanitarian conditions created in Artsakh under the ongoing blockade and existing problems.

Representatives of the Armenian Bar Association presented the Association’s work aimed at raising international awareness on human rights violations in Armenia and Artsakh and ensuring international engagement.  

The necessity of using legal instruments for the protection of human rights and ensuring the continuity of effective partnership was mutually emphasized.

 13:40,

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS. The Council of Paris recently unanimously adopted a resolution on "the provision of urgent aid to the population of Artsakh and the people of Artsakh who have taken refuge in the Republic of Armenia", ARMENPRESS reports, the Armenian Embassy in France informed.

The resolution emphasizes that as a result of the illegal blocking of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan since December 12, 2022, 120,000 people of Artsakh are cut off from the rest of the world, notes that on November 27, the Council of Paris adopted a call-resolution addressed to the French government regarding the recognition of the Republic of Artsakh, the assistance provided to the population of Artsakh by the various administrative territorial units of France, the many calls of support and solidarity addressed to the Armenian people by the Paris Municipality, Yerevan's membership in the International Association of Francophone Mayors, highlights providing another support to Artsakh Armenians by the city of Paris.

The City Council also authorizes the Mayor of Paris to call on other administrative territorial units of France and foreign cities that are members of the IAFM to join the initiative of urgent support, the aim of which is to support the people of Artsakh who have taken refuge in the Republic of Armenia and to deliver food to the people of Artsakh through a humanitarian convoy.

 11:53, 9 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 9, ARMENPRESS. The delegation led by the Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Alen Simonyan met with the Members of the delegation of Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Simonyan noted that he has repeatedly witnessed the active work of the British group, which is a good example for the parliamentarians.

Alen Simonyan presented the post-war situation and detailed issues regarding the complex situation in the region. He mentioned that Armenia is following the developments taking place in the UK Parliament and the activities of all those parliamentarians who demonstrated the level of perception of the situation in our region after the 2020 war. “We believe that the targeted statements and pressure of our international partners can prevent further aggression by Azerbaijan, as well as contribute to the elimination of the atmosphere of impunity,” Alen Simonyan said, according to a readout.

The Members of the Armenian parliamentary delegation thoroughly informed their British colleagues about the blockade of Artsakh Armenians, the crisis of the Lachin Corridor and the encroachments of the Azerbaijani military forces against the territorial integrity of Armenia.

The sides stated that Armenia and the United Kingdom have formed an ambitious agenda for bilateral relations based on common values and principles, such as rule of law, the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the strengthening of democratic institutions.

They also discussed the necessity to have a common agenda within the framework of the Inter-Parliamentary Union at the meeting to support the strengthening of the democratic institutions of the countries.

 16:54, 2 June 2023

YEREVAN, 2 JUNE, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 2 June, USD exchange rate up by 0.24 drams to 387.22 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 2.43 drams to 416.92 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 4.78 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 2.66 drams to 485.19 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 139.03 drams to 24579.49 drams. Silver price up by 3.11 drams to 292.44 drams.

 11:36,

YEREVAN, MAY 29, ARMENPRESS. Gymnasts of the Armenian team have won four medals in the World Challenge Cup held in Varna.

Olympic bronze medalist Artur Davtyan took gold in vault and two bronze medals in the pommel horse and the rings.

Artur Avetisyan won gold in the rings.