Author: Diana Dabaghian

 13:05,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. The Artsakh Information Center commented on the Azerbaijani media reports about the visit of the employees of the Azerbaijan "Amelioration and Water Management" Company to the Sarsang reservoir with the participation of representatives of the Artsakh Republic, which caused certain concerns and questions among the public.

“Yesterday, on August 22, the Azerbaijani media published information about the visit of the employees of the Azerbaijan "Amelioration and Water Management" Company to the Sarsang reservoir with the participation of representatives of the Artsakh Republic, which caused certain concerns and questions among the public.

In this regard, we inform you that considering the situation created after the 44-day war of 2020, in order to manage water resources and ensure the safety of drinking and irrigation water supplied to the public, the representatives of the Water Committee of the Artsakh Republic, with the mediation of the Russian peacekeeping troops deployed in Artsakh, have been in contact with the Azerbaijani side since 2021 and make periodic visits to the areas under the control of Azerbaijan to reach mutual agreements on the use of drinking and irrigation water supplied to a number of communities of the Republic (Stepanakert, inclusive) and settle some issues.

Within that framework, another meeting was organized near the Sarsang reservoir to discuss the issue of use of Sarsang waters on mutually beneficial terms. Ideas on the possible options for rational use of water were exchanged on the spot, taking into consideration the control of the Artsakh Republic over the Sarsang reservoir, and the control of Azerbaijan over the irrigation infrastructures. In the near future, discussions will continue and decisions will be made in the interests of the Artsakh Republic, based on the needs of both electricity generation and irrigation in the Sarsang region, as well as drinking and irrigation water needs in other parts of the Republic.

Although we understand the criticism addressed to the state structures of the Artsakh Republic, we would like to inform that the authorities of Artsakh do not seek to hide any event, they are guided merely by the interest of the Artsakh Republic and the people of Artsakh, tactfully taking all possible measures in the current situation to increase the level of security of the state and the public and neutralize the phenomena causing tension”, the statement says.

 11:01,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS. Enterprise Armenia (Investment Support Center) and the Japan Institute for Overseas Investment signed a memorandum of understanding, the Armenian Embassy in Japan said in a statement.

The signing ceremony was attended by the Armenian Ambassador to Japan Areg Hovhannisyan, Enterprise Armenia CEO Levon Ohanesyan, Japan Institute for Overseas Investment Director Toshiyuki Kosugi and representatives of the Japanese embassy in Armenia.

Ambassador Hovhannisyan expressed hope that the memorandum will act as an instrument to deepen the cooperation in investments, strengthening the investment liberalization, promotion and protection agreement signed in 2018 and contributing to revealing existing potential. 

The parties agreed to develop an action plan soon and in addition to online meetings also organize mutual-visits and hold in-person meetings.

 08:12,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 16, ARMENPRESS. A pregnant woman and a child are among those who were killed in the market explosion on August 14, the Minister of Emergency Situations Armen Pambukhchyan said in a statement.

“As a result of relentless search and rescue operations during the entire night, rescuers recovered 8 more bodies, bringing the death toll to 15, including the bodies of a child and a pregnant woman. Search and rescue operations continue,” he said.

UPDATES:

08:51 – Death toll reaches 16

 14:25, 8 August 2022

YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. The air pollution in Yerevan and other cities in Armenia reached concerning levels, the Deputy Minister of Environment Gayane Gabrielyan said at a news conference.

“In Yerevan, we have both functioning mines and active construction works,” she said. “Our biggest problem is the dust and the bad situation with air pollution. You don’t have to install equipment to understand the situation. People open up their windows and a short time later their home gets dirty, the cars get dirty faster and so on. These are simple, household indicators. One of the reasons is the construction boom in Yerevan. On one hand its good, investments and jobs, but on the other hand the construction businesses aren’t maintaining the requirements. We don’t need any new laws or changes. The current law envisages the necessary requirements and norms, but the construction workers are ignoring them,” Gabrielyan said.

Gabrielyan said it is the inspection agency’s job to monitor the situation, but they in turn need huge resources to supervise everyone. She said that the construction businesses themselves must maintain the requirements.

The air pollution levels are high in Gyumri and Vanadzor as well. Overall, Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor now have the worst air pollution in the entire country, already categorized in the “red zone”.

The main reasons are construction, mining and the open burning of landfills.  “The open burning of landfills, waste is inadmissible. This is a serious hazard for health. We have a lot of work to do in raising awareness here,” she said.